Karaoke watchers are now on alert that Linsey Brooke is doing her thing at Cheers West in University Place Mondays and Tuesdays and at O'Malley's in Tacoma on Wednesday. The news prompted a quick swing by the University Place Tuesday for an update on the world of closet rock stars in the making. The feature that is sorta cool is that the song books are gone. They have been replaced by cell phone apps that people can use to select their songs from the clouds and get into the rotation without leaving their bar stools. Thanks Steve Jobs. An iPad is also available for self-proclaimed songsters to use if they still use their cells for calls and stuff. But the night brought more than whisky inspired-ballads of love and lose for the light 20s to 40s crowd of suburbanites. A gaggle of slackers racked some balls like the table owed them money. Drink specials were beer buckets for $8 to $10 and $2 tacos. Bottled beer, gut bomb tacos and drunk singing. A good night was had by all.
SEE THE PICTURES HERE

When undertaking a sprawling 15-hour film (yes, FIFTEEN) about the history of global cinema, one can start just about anywhere. Mark Cousins, who wrote and narrates The Story of Film: An Odyssey, begins near the end, 103 years after the invention of motion pictures. For his documentary's first images he selects a segment from the long D-Day sequence in 1998's Saving Private Ryan. With a soft-spoken voice and accent that I can't quite place (Irish, perhaps?), Cousins lets us in on a secret: Spielberg filmed this scene not in Normandy, but in reality on a quiet beach in Ireland. "A lie to tell the truth" - this is the paradox of cinema, and its very essence.

Odyssey's creator also sees lies in the traditional telling of film history, a version he calls "racist by omission." So besides focusing only on American pioneers like Edison, Griffith, Chaplin, Keaton and the rise of Hollywood, he drops other names too, names you may not recognize - Ozu, Dreyer, Eisenstein - and their groundbreaking yet largely unsung contributions to this international art form.

The Seattle International Film Festival wisely decided to break Odyssey up into more manageable chunks, with 5 three-hour screenings spread out over two weeks. The first part last Tuesday evening whisked viewers along from cinema's thrilling baby steps in a new century to its creative maturation only two decades later, right up to 1928.

The calamity that befell film that year is the subject of part two (playing at 7 P.M. this Thursday, May 24 at SIFF Film Center), and the reason we can now more viscerally feel bullets pinging off helmets in Private Ryan: the invention of sound. Care to travel this cinematic odyssey with me? Yes, five round trips to Seattle for this mammoth production has hints of insanity. But when it ends, you'll feel like you just ran a marathon (and a century) without leaving your theater seat.

The details are here: www.siff.net/index.aspx

As I approached my vehicle after lunching with Alicia Lawver a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but take notice of four sexy glass blowers from Tacoma Glass Blowing Studio as they dined out in the sun.

They all though I was crazy for asking to take their picture, but obviously used to the attention.  After all, being sexy glass blowers must take a toll on your body from posing for constant photographs.  Not to mention the extremely high temperatures they must endure, spinning wads of melted glass...in that very, very hot room...so sexy...

Weekly Volcano World Headquarters poo-pooed my suggestion to add a "Most Sexy Glass Blower" to the voting poll this year, but that's not going to stop me from presenting my own personal sexy award.

Feel free to check out these sexy artists as their work is highlighted throughout the summer at Tacoma Glass Blowing Studio and during Tacoma's Third Thursday Art Walk.

Billy Carson- June

Jake Merrritt - July

Brian Farmer - August

Chris Downing - September

If you dare to turn your own artistic ways towards sexy glass blowing, experience it yourself by creating glass art with the help of one of those sexy glass blowing guys.  No experience necessary, appointments needed, sexiness optional.

Do you dare try Buffalo Wild Wing's blazin hot challenge? For the challenge, BWW takes 12 wings and soaks them in their hottest sauce - Blazin Wing Sauce. Contestants must then fight through the sweat, the burning tongue, and the tears to successfully complete the challenge in 6 mins or less. 
Makes me sweat just typing this. 
4219 South Steele Street Tacoma, WA 98409. (253) 473-7699.

People are in love with the iconic, giant Yard Bird that has roosted in a Chehalis parking lot for nearly 40 years.  It just won Evening Magazine's best roadside attraction for the second year, a testament to the fact that the Yard Bird has long been a symbol of community and culture in the Northwest. Thanks to Yard Bird historian Jason Mattson, the bird has made a regional resurgence. Mattson has hosted a plethora of events to restore the well-weathered bird to its original state and has earned close to all the money needed. All that's left is repair to the tail feathers. Enter big sister cities Olympia and Portland burlesque troupes. That's right, members of Olympia's Own Tush Burlesque and Portland's Rose City Shimmy will be in at the Shire in Centralia Saturday night shaking their tail feathers for the cause.

"I think burlesque and the bird fit great together because they're both fun and are two blasts from the past that deserve to make a comeback," says Mattson.

"This area is alive with music, arts, and the unusual. I hope the Yard Bird can be a way to rally people with creative interests together now and in the future," he says.

The show is 21+, starts at 9 p.m. and is $10. Visit www.savetheyardbird.com

Filmmaker Denny Tedesco has spent the last several years touring the world with his labor of love, a documentary entitled The Wrecking Crew, and this week it arrives in Tacoma for one day only. The Grand Cinema will host afternoon and evening screenings of the film on Wednesday, May 23, with Tedesco in attendance for both.

Since our town has secured its own little niche in rock history, I think local audiences can appreciate this true story of musicians long overdue for recognition. Back in the 1960s, The Wrecking Crew was an eclectic group of instrumentalists responsible for recording many of the day's hits for artists like The Byrds, Cher and Elvis. Yet credit and fame always went to the pop star, and never to those talented craftsmen and women behind the scenes, the ones really pulling (or plucking) the strings.

Tedesco's dad Tommy played for The WC, and has worked tirelessly on this cinematic tribute since 1996, the year doctors diagnosed the guitarist with cancer. At that point, Tedesco knew he had to do something.

"If I don't do it (make this movie), it's not going to happen," he says. "I'm going to be really killing myself later after (my dad) is gone that I didn't do it."

Good luck finding an excuse not to like this doc. Crew includes interviews with band buddies and celebrities conducted by Tedesco over the years, as well as selections from plenty of toe-tapping tunes - 133 music cues, actually. With approximately seventy-five percent of the music royalties already paid to various record companies, Tedesco still has about $150,000 left to raise. Any amount helps, so stop by The Grand this Wednesday and raise a (metaphorical) lighter to the fun-loving sounds of the Crew.

Watch The Wrecking Crew trailer and donate online at http://www.wreckingcrewfilm.com.

South Sound Wedding & Event magazine presents the South Sound Wedding Workshop for South Sound engaged couples. Brides- and grooms-to-be are invited to attend the South Sound Wedding Workshop today in Olympia. Each couple will receive a goody bag with gifts. Visit with local wedding professionals who will help you plan your day, your way! Meet staff from Cortney Kelley Photography, The Guardsman, Amanda's DFB Flower Co., Don Vintage videography, Pellegrino's Catering, South Bay Sound (DJ), Irish Alana Salon & Spa, City of Olympia. and South Sound Wedding & Event Magazine. Register for the workshop at: rsvp@weddingandeventmagazine.com.

Where

The Olympia Center: 222 Columbia St. NW., Olympia WA

Event Hours

6-8 pm

Event Price

Free admission

Metro Parks is hosting a display of classic wood boats, newer fiberglass boats and classic cars today at the Marina.  Could be cool!

Where

Point Defiance Marina
5912 North Waterfront Drive
Tacoma, WA 98407-6521
(253) 591-5325

Contact

metroparkstacoma.org

Event Hours

11 am-3 pm

Event Price

$3

Add some flavor in your life with two of Panera's new salads. If your in the mood for a fruity flavor try the roasted turkey fuji apple salad. Combining all natural roasted turkey, field greens, romaine, vine-ripened tomatoes, onions, pecans, gorgonzola apple chips, and white balsamic fuji apple vinaigrette. If your looking for a more hardy salad, try the chopped chicken cobb with avocado. It's all-natural antibiotic-free chicken, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, Applewood-smoked bacon, gorgonzola, hard-boiled eggs, tossed with herb vinaigrette, and topped off with avocado.
Panera. 5606 Lakewood Towne Center Boulevard Southwest Lakewood, WA (253) 588-4669.

Is it possible to put a market and trademark breakfast names more than I-HOP does?  Their newest concotion from the lab is the CINN-A-STACK Pancakes. A stack of buttermilk pancakes layered with cinnamon roll filling, drizzled with cream cheese icing and topped off with whipped cream. We are too afraid to try them.