Military Life
The Steilacoom Historical School District made history last Friday. On the sun-drenched Blair Taylor Athletic Field at Steilacoom High School, more than 120 differently abled children from the district's schools participated in the first Day of Champions' track and field event. "We're so proud to be doing this," exclaimed Kathi Weight, the
News Front
Lacey-based motorcycle dealership Northwest Harley-Davidson will be awarded the American Legion's Employer of Veterans Award for Washington State. Company co-owner Joe Deck will receive the plaque on behalf of Northwest Harley in Spokane during the American Legion Department of Washington's annual convention on July 17. The dealership is also in the
Stage
Watching Agamemnon at Dukesbay Theater opening night was a totally immersive theatrical experience. This is the way theater was in the beginning when many theatrical traditions still in common use were first invented, and it plays as well in 21st century Tacoma as it must have in Greece 2,400 years
Music
Years ago, when I was making my first little excursions into the world of the deeply nerdy and wonderfully heartfelt world of artists like They Might Be Giants, Daniel Johnston, and Jonathan Richman, my dad would poke fun at me by pointing out the frivolity and randomness of their song
News Front
On June 11 and 12, active-duty servicemembers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord will be treated to a unique experience made possible by the NBA, PlayStation and USO Northwest. JBLM will be the seventh military base visited this year by Hoops for Troops, a two-day program that offers opportunities for military servicemembers to
Archives
Lakewood Playhouse has hit a long ball with its first time at bat this season. The community theater’s staging of Agatha Chirstie’s “The Hollow” simply was entertaining from first line to curtain call. I have to admit that I wasn’t particularly looking forward to seeing the show since I had seen
Archives
THE 11TH HOUR: A dire warning about the demise of planet Earth, presented in a deadening format of talking heads and what often looks like stock nature footage. The doc has a lot of valuable information, but fails to convey it in an effective, involving way. Rent Al Gore’s “An
Archives
Billy Bob Thornton is in full “Bad Santa” mode in “Mr. Woodcock,” an uneasy comedy about an adult who returns home to discover his mother is planning to marry the gym teacher who made his high school days a living hell. The thing about Thornton is, he makes no compromises
Archives
The Brave One How many films have there been about victims of violence who turn into avengers? Charles Bronson made five. Kevin Bacon’s “Death Sentence” was released two weeks ago. How are we supposed to respond to them? When Bronson’s kill count got above 50, why didn’t the scales of justice
Reviews
Cruising down Sixth Avenue in Tacoma, you will pass restaurant after restaurant, but tucked in on the corner of 6th Ave. and one of the many side alleys in Tacoma, you might miss Dirty Oscar's Annex if you're not paying attention. There's not a lot to look at when you
Arts
Are you running out of wall space for your child's artistic creations? Have papers covered with colorful crayon images covering every horizontal surface throughout your home? Can't bring yourself to toss any of junior's masterpieces? Here's a cool alternative to the recycling bin: Opening in June, the Young At Art Gallery,
News Front
Maj. Eric Reid will represent Joint Base Lewis-McChord as a member of the All Army Triathlon team from June 4-8 at the Armed Forces Championship in Hammond, Indiana. An officer with the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, this will be his third year participating in the event. Reid said he's always had
Benefits & Deals
Veterans, whether old timers or recently discharged and living in Thurston County can look forward to a wide range of new services available to them. "There are a lot of big changes coming for vets," said Lou McElroy, chairperson of the Thurston County Veterans' council. For starters, the Tacoma and Federal Way
News
In the very back row of chairs sat Albert Cortes. I sat down next to him. "I feel I should be here to pay my respects," the veteran of the Korean War and 21 years of service quietly said to me. "There are guys here who gave their lives for us, and
Military Life
Going to war can be hard on the body, mind and spirit of the soldier and his or her spouse and children. Derrick Bostic, a retired U.S. Army sergeant first class, said he knows this all too well from personal experience. "I'm on my third marriage," he said. "When you look at
Arts
Every kid loves Legos - those fantastically versatile, brightly colored interlocking little blocks that hurt like nobody's business when you step on them in the dark. Even so, parents love them, too, for the hours of creative play they provide. And how many architects and engineers launched their start building
Music
Even though it shouldn't be, it's a surprise when a musician takes a new direction. We've been conditioned to think of artists in one way or another, so any stray movement is met with derision and disbelief. Straying from what we perceive as an artist's sweet spot is a controversial
Stage
Theater-goers accustomed to the intense drama of David Mamet plays such as Oleanna and Glengarry Glen Ross might be surprised at his A Life in the Theatre, a small play in which the less is said, the more is implied, a bittersweet comic drama that runs about an hour and
Arts
"Ahoy, A Maritime Exhibition" at B2 Gallery features paintings of ships and boats and people at work on the water by Mary Pacios, Susanna Rodriguez, James Cole and Austin Dwyer. In many ways, Dwyer dominates the show, due to his technical skill and the high drama of his work. But his
South Sound Cinema
It used to be that documentaries were the medicine you took to feel better about seeing untold quantities of garbage at the movie theater. Documentaries were like Flintstone vitamins to make us feel better about seeing whatever Nicolas Cage action abomination came roaring through the cinema. Slowly, though, people like