Guides
I regret that I didn't visit Crater Lake while stationed in the Pacific Northwest. The 380 miles between Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the national park in southern Oregon that's home to the nation's deepest lake may seem a deterrent, but the breathtaking views and fascinating geological history awaiting those who
Guides
I see about 40 plays a year in the South Sound. Some are better than others, and some make more money. At least two will tank despite being quite good indeed. End Days at Harlequin and Next to Normal at Capital Playhouse struggled to find audiences, and those were my
Guides
Enjoying a great movie with the whole family is a terrific summertime activity, but who says you have to be cooped up in a dark movie theater to do it? Wouldn't it be more fun to catch a flick under the stars on a balmy and beautiful summer evening and
Guides
If I may be so bold as to offer one piece of advice for first-time zip-liners, it would be this: you really do need to thrust your legs straight out in front of you. Pretend you're a kid on a swing set. My wife had trouble with that. It didn't
Guides
Vacation Bible School, aka VBS, isn't what it used to be. It's better! In fact, the summertime day camp where children learn about and experience the Christian faith has a new name at some churches. "We refer to our week as Vacation Bible CAMP; it's way too much fun to be
Guides
Some activities described as "fun for the whole family" are mostly fun for the younger members. But you can make the next outing with the kids a memorable one for everyone with this list of Thurston County favorites that have grownup appeal, too. Hands On Children's Museum For kids: With climbing structures,
Guides
Few things mean summer more than a festival, and many of the South Sound's summer festivals are family-friendly in every way. Take the kids, enjoy some fair food, arts and crafts vendors, live music and often a few rides, too. The South Sound lights up with festivals throughout the summer
Reviews
Location, location, location. This has been preached for decades and has an inkling of truth, but folks have also been known to say, "build it and they will come." Whether the slogan applies to Bar Bistro in Midland has yet to be determined. It's only been open since September of last
Features
Culinary artist and bladesmith Mareko Maumasi recently attended the Seattle International Knife Show. His 222-mm Babbling Brook Damascus Chef's Knife with Thuya Burl Western Handle swooped up two awards out of five categories - Best Chef's and People's Choice. This was Maumasi's first trade show. "To win those awards was a
Critics' Picks
[JAM] + FRI, MAY 9 I have a confession. I love The Grateful Dead. I own Steal-Your-Face shirts. I have dropped and been "enlightened" by Garcia. I sometimes sing "Ripple" as a lullaby to my kids. The reason I'm telling you this is because the Andy Coe Band is coming to
Music
Certain terms get used ad nauseam in writing about pop music to describe things that "folky" and "dancy" and "fuzzy" just can't cover. I know, I know, what other kind of music is there? Well, one word that gets used frequently by frazzled writers with a deadline is "cinematic." It's
Music
"Where are we going?" "Nowhere!" "Where's nowhere?" "Tacoma!" So goes the rallying cry of Girl Trouble, as depicted in archival footage as they ready themselves to go onstage sometime in the mid-'80s. This is not only just one small example of the awe-inspiring mountain of footage dug up for the forthcoming documentary, Strictly Sacred:
Concert Alert
We list major concerts going on sale this weekend, as well as national touring acts
Show And Tell
If you're a film buff, I have a job for you. Check the Internet Movie Database's "Top 250" for any movies you haven't seen yet. Hopefully the gaps in your resume are minimal, because the Top 250 includes some of the greatest films ever made. Still, as great as they
Archives
Back to fashion education Gotta get some small humans off to school this fall but don’t know what they should wear? The SuperMall’s fashion show, set to happen August 25 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Great Outdoors Court, will give you some ideas and some outlet stores to
We Recommend
Prom Queen is cinematic. The soundtracks and scores of movies are valuable, and can be great, but when we use the word "cinematic" to describe a band, what we're really talking about is the idea of a soundtrack - the music accompanying an impossible film, one that features a dizzying
Food Matters
SEATTLE BEER WEEK HUG Pint Defiance 2049 Mildred Street, Fircrest) challenges lovers of local craft beer with their Seattle Beer Week Marathon. From May 8-18, the PD crew will be featuring a line-up of 26 excellent Washington state brews. Visit throughout the week to fill a pint or growler with these featured
Viva South Sound
The South Sound has had a few talented jokesters emerge and stay relevant over the years - namely Ralph Porter (Tacoma) and Nate Jackson (Lacey). Hopefully, the area can add another to the list. The Sampan's Laughs & Lyrics series launches Wednesday, presenting host/DJ Backpack Chris and other DJs spinning
We Recommend
Kye Alfred Hillig has produced an incredible body of work over the past few years. Wednesday, he'll release his latest set of songs, on the Real Snow LP. On record, Hillig is a restless explorer of delicate melodies and grandiose styles, dipping his toe in electro-pop, U2-esque melodrama and dusky
We Recommend
There was a decent stretch of time, starting from the '80s and working its way through the middle of last decade, when indie rock and dancing may as well have been antithetical concepts. It's hard to pinpoint exactly when artists started striving to reintroduce dance into the language of indie
