Lots of FREE home and yard improvement workshops (April 23-28, 2012)... COOL

Sign up for FREE home and yard improvement workshops April 23-28

Learn easy ways to improve your home and yard at one of the free Neighborhood Makeover Week Workshops April 23-28. This series of workshops is part of the City of Tacoma?s Safe, Clean & Attractive initiative. Space is limited, so registration is required. To register, email classes@tacomamakeoverweek.org or call (253) 591-5414. Classes are free and open to everyone.

*Interior Home Maintenance, Part 1 ? Basics of painting, drywall, patch repair, caulking, etc.

(Note: This workshop is limited to 18, so please RSVP as soon as possible if you are interested.)

Presenter: Dale Trombley, Bates instructor

4-6 p.m. Monday, April 23, at Bates Technical College, South Campus, 2201 S. 78^th St.

Weeds & Weed Control

Presenter: Irene Reed, Master Gardener

Tentatively 6 p.m. Monday, April 23, at a South Tacoma home (confirmed time and location will be given upon registration)

*Interior Home Maintenance, Part II ? Basics of painting, drywall, patch repair, caulking, etc.

(Note: This workshop is limited to 18, so please RSVP as soon as possible if you are interested.)

Presenter: Dale Trombley, Bates instructor

4-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at Bates Technical College, South Campus, 2201 S. 78^th St.

Tree Basics: Selection, planting, care and pruning

Presenter: Ramie Pierce, City of Tacoma urban forester

6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, at Fern Hill Library, 765 S. 84^th St.

*Exterior Home Maintenance, Part I: Basics of caulking, siding repair, shingle replacement, etc.

(Note: This workshop is limited to 18, so please RSVP as soon as possible if you are interested.)

Presenter: Dale Trombley, Bates instructor

4-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, Bates Technical College, South Campus, 2201 S. 78^th St.

Natural Yard Care 101: Designing your natural yard care landscape

Presenter: Greg Butler, landscape designer

6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, Moore Library, 3411 S. 56^th St., Tacoma

Edible Landscaping

Presenter: Vicki Farnsworth, Master Gardener

6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, Fire Station #8, community meeting room, 4911 S. Alaska

*Exterior Home Maintenance, Part II: Basics of caulking, siding repair, shingle replacement, etc.

(Note: This workshop is limited to 18, so please RSVP as soon as possible if you are interested.)

Presenter: Dale Trombley, Bates instructor

4-6 p.m. Thursday, April 26, Bates Technical College, South Campus, 2201 S. 78^th St.

Keep Tacoma Safe: Fight Crime at Home (CPTED Strategies for Making Your Home Safer)

Presenters: Dave Lovrak (LESA) and Thomas Strickland (Tacoma Police Department)

6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, Fire Station #8, community meeting room, 4911 S. Alaska

Rain Barrels Workshop

Presenter: Dan Borba, Natural Rain Water

6 p.m. Friday, April 27, at a South Tacoma home (location sent upon registration)

Introduction to Rain Gardens

Presenter: Jessica Knickerbocker, City of Tacoma

6 p.m. Friday, April 27, Fire Station #8, community meeting room, 4911 S. Alaska

25 Ways to Green Your Home

Presenter: Mike Schoonover, Washington Stat Realtors? Association

1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Fire Station #8, community meeting room, 4911 S. Alaska St.

*The interior and exterior home maintenance workshops are intended to each be two-day series, so registration for Part 1 and Part II of the interior or exterior workshops is recommended. However, if you can only make one you may still register. If demand is high, priority will be given to people who can make both days.

For more information about Tacoma?s Neighborhood Makeover Week, go to www.TacomaMakeoverWeek.org, or www.Facebook.com/TacomaNMW.

Gritty Eateries With Hearts of Gold

I have a special place in my heart for places that look all gritty on the outside, but their heart of awesome shines through when you get inside and order some grub.

Here are some of my T-town "Gritty With a Heart of Gold" favs:

Dirty Oscar's Annex
http://m.yelp.com/biz/dirty-oscars-annex-tacoma
Seriously. This 6th Ave establishment has a banner for a sign, you can't really see inside, and for goodness sake it's called DIRTY OSCAR'S ANNEX. But I'm in love. The first time I went here was late night out with some girlfriends and the drinks were amazing. More recently the Other Half and I snuck out to try one of their breakfasts, and WOW! I took a risky and tried the Habenero Shrimp and Sausage Eggs Benedict, which had definite kick without making me cry. The waitress was awesome and kept refilling my Irish Coffee with coffee, so I got the kick of the whiskey drawn out without needing to sleep the day away. The other half's gluten-free needs were made happy by one of their breakfast hashes. *bliss*

Gari Sushi
http://gariofsushi.net/
Hidden away on South 38th Street between I-5 and the Lincoln District is this little treasure. On the outside it looks kind of like a shuttered strip club. Subtle signage and window you can't see through. Inside is quite delightful ... nice and airy, plenty of seating, great and fast service (you can get in and out on a lunch hour!) and scrumptious eats! Plenty for the teriyaki-leaning crowd, and a sushi combo plate I just can't say no to. Their lunch sushi roll special is pretty great too... you get to pick a roll or two of choice I believe, and it comes with YAM ROLLS ... which is like the dessert of the sushi roll. The other half adores the Chirashi lunch, which is basically a bunch of fish meats on top of sushi rice ... Kind I like a teriyaki bowl, but with yummy sushi cuts instead of chicken and sauce.

Marcia's Silver Spoon
http://m.yelp.com/biz/marcias-silver-spoon-cafe-tacoma
All I can say is OH! EM! GEE! Totally greasy spoon-style diner hidden on South Tacoma Way, but the food is beyond basic comfort diner food ... it is amazingly melts-in-your-mouth French toast, hand pressed sausage parties rather than pre-formed, and all kinds of other goodness. (I just haven't been able to pry myself away from the French toast yet.) The gluten-free hubby sticks with the eggs and bacon and is a happy man, but admits to nom-ing lustfully on their to-die-for Eggs Benedict back before he made the switch. Ok, they serve lunch and dinner food, too, but their breakfasts are so fabulous they now offer them 7 days a week. Yay!

What's your favorite "Gritty Eatery With a Heart of Gold?"

TOXIC SPILL: Toxic 253 debut derby bout this Saturday!!!!

Reasons I haven't blogged in awhile: kids, roller derby, kids, breaking my leg, kids, learning to walk again, kids, missing roller derby, kids, and other lovely life stuff.

Reasons you should come to TOXIC 253's virgin roller derby bout against the Rainy City Rolling Thunders:

1) We be gritty.
2) Variety! We have juniors and guys and derby girlz galore!
3) You can bring the kids if you want (7 & under are free)
4) We'll prove t-shirts look better drenched in sweat.
5) You can mock me trying to figure out the microphone. (Sad me, not on skates, still mending from my little summer tumble at practice.)

Plus, it's just darn good fun. And while the nurse at my doctor's office gave me strange looks the first time I came it with a hurt knee and bruises on my wrists and asked me "Roller derby? You mean that stuff that used to be on TV in the 70s? why would you DO that?" ... it's fun, really. We knock each other over and kiss and make up later. (Ok, usually just hugs.)

Doors open at 5 at Wheelz Skate Arena in Fircrest. Skating starts about 6. We plant to play until 9 or 9:30 ... then the Poison Ivy Junior Derby girls and pals will after-party at the Narrows Bowling alley while the Toxic 253 ladies head over to the Loose Wheel Bar & Grill. (BTW, if you go to Loose Wheel and get a "Pit Pass," you can ask to dedicate your points to Toxic 253 and help support future derby girl fun!) Tickets are $10, an extra $2 for the "VIP area". 7 & younger are free. And T-shirts will be on sale for $10!



P.S. I'm collecting crazy phrases and words and sayings to work into my announcer duties ... any nominations? Then come and see if I use them ... heehee.


http://toxic253.com/events

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150111430238541&id=533653540#!/event.php?eid=192833094061269

For those of us with a certain craving: "Tastes Like a Burgerville Cheeseburger Mac N Cheese"

For those of us who are ancy for the the Burgerville Nomad to announce its first Tacoma stop, here is a made-up-in-my-head mac n cheese recipe that makes my daughter smile and say ...

"Tastes Like a Burgerville Cheeseburger!"

This has been a big hit with the kids, and was even requested by the Diva for lunch on her birthday. I make it a little diff every time, and you can adjust to taste ... but basically, I add the following to a big pot in the below order (some prep work - cheese shredding and meat browning) required.

1 lb macaroni noodles - boiled 6-7 min

Drain, return to pot and then return to hot burner, but turn heat down to low ... just enough to help melt the cheese)

Stir in butter (1/2 to 1 stick, depending on your preferred taste)

Some milk as needed to keep it stirrable and from burning (prob a 1/4-1/2 cup depending)

1-4 scoops of mayo (to taste) -- scoop = a heaping scoop with a normal or large table spoon (not a serving spoon) ...

3-4 scoops of Grey Poupon (to taste) -- this one is more important than you might think!!!!

****If you are cautious on the mayo or Grey Poupon, you can always add more to taste while you're stirring in the cheese. They add extra "zing" ... especially the mustard!

Stir

A mixture of ideally 3 different cheeses, ideally one being swiss (I use Swiss -- jarslburg or even cheap stuff, Tillamook cheddar, and low-moisture or cheap mozzerella ... and whatever leftover cheese is around) ... add by the handful to taste (I usually prep a small mixing bowl full ... if you don't use it all, that's what Tupperware is for!)

Keep stirring - this is really where you must start tasting if you haven't already ... you may need more mustard, more cheese ... once it starts getting cheese webs while stirring you're probably good ... all depends on how you like it. And you an always add milk if it's getting a little stiff.

OPTIONAL: stir in 1 pound of browned ground beef (I like to season mine with Greek seasoning)

Eat!!! :)

Tacoma music: Waking me up from a long winter's nap

Spring must be here (or maybe I finally got some sleep)! Either way, my love for T-Town has hardly faded, but recent exposure to some fabulous songbirds and crooners have me twitterpated about Tacoma all over again, and twitching to get out to more local music shows ... especially now that the kids are getting older. So, in no particular order, some luscious local vocals to check out (listed in no particular order) ...

Goldfinch
I'd been hearing about Goldfinch and hearing about Goldfinch and hearing about Goldfinch ... and last night I actually got to HEAR GOLDFINCH! And now I can love Goldfinch honestly. Last night this fab five serenaded the MLK Ballet company dancers three times at Tacoma's School of the Arts for MOVE! #16 (a fundraiser for MLK Ballet's tuition-free ballet school, where my Diva is a student). Love them! I'm going to have to seek them locally more often.

Goldfinch "Yellow Wings" from goldfinchstatebird on Vimeo.

Handful of Lovin'
This is a band who, until this last month, I'd only heard on Adam The Alien's video of First Night festivities from two years ago. (And technically not sure if they're "Tacoma", but I haven only heard them in Tacoma, and I believe they used to be the house band at Masa.) Fun, fun bad. And I finally got to hear them myself at a CD release show at Jazzbones a couple weeks ago. Even more fun, fun, fun! In trying to describe their sound, I can only say that the vocals frequently remind me of Dave Matthews, the energy is ska without the horns, and the rest is a definite Celtic influence and they know how to rock a crowd. Their description: A rock quartet featuring a rocking classically trained violinist, Handful refers to their music as "fiddle driven roots rock," and their cheerful blend of folk-rock, reggae and world rhythms, plus secondhand baroque and Celtic influences with catchy pop hooks, strongly recalls the vintage sound of Actual Tigers, the madness of Flogging Molly, and the moodier, more experimental side of Wilco. At Jazzbones, Handful of Lovin' (put your hands together, that's how you show your love -- CLAP!) was playin' a little overtime as a late-night DJ/dance crowd began to gather ... and even they were getting into it. You can't help but move when these folks are on stage ... whether it's on the dance floor or in your seat. Sitting still is impossible ... I left the show in a happy daze from all the energy. And while some of the songs are basically fun drinking songs, others have lyrics that if you pay attention to, make you think a little harder. Good times.

The Fun Police
I had no idea what to think about this band when I first heard of them ... but finally got to see them open recently for Handful of Lovin', and I can confirm: They are fun. They should be cited! I hope to see them again sometime soon. :)

Deborah Page
Love, love, love Deborah Page. This duo, consisting of Deborah Page & Paul Uhl, always reminds me of Annie Lennox/Eurythmics. Haunting vocals, meaningful lyrics, presence on stage, artful visuals, pushing the envelope in an inviting fashion ... and I don't know about the Eurythmics, but Deborah and Paul are two of the sweetest, most fun people. I feel silly for ever being intimidated by their talent. I first discovered them at First Night, followed them to their Third Thursday Artwalk stage at Sanford & Son, and even hired them to surprise my dad for his 60th birthday (and then infected the rest of my extended family with their fabulousness). Deborah and Paul know how to rock out, sound great, and have fun. I so want to see them on a really big stage someday ... something big enough to match their talent and personalities. :)

The F***ing Eagles
Ok ... I haven't heard these folks in person yet, but enjoyed their CD and many friends are fans ... and I plan on going with friends to their April show at the Swiss. And I'm sure I will enjoy.

And, if you haven't already heard her stuff, you need to check out Tacoma legend Neko Case ... who finally made it back to her hometown to sing last year at the Pantages, who asked when the f*** someone was going to do something about the Elks hall ... and then magically, the McMenamins stepped up. Coincidence? Perhaps. But I was happy to hear a Prairie Home Companion rerun this weekend where Neko Case and non-Tacomans (but still fabulous) Wilco rocked the stage and, while she's more widely known to be living in Virginia, she did declare that Tacoma is where she's from. There's the love. And I'm loving her newest album, Middle Cyclone.

Happy Spring, Tacoma. I plan to get out and enjoy you more ...

First Night approaches ... but there's fun stuff starting NOW!

Join in the New Year's fun a little early with hands-on workshops and opportunities to join in the Tacoma-Pierce County area's truly community-focused, all-ages New Year's Eve event.

The Dec. 31 festivities will be fabulous, and give you plenty of opportunity to join in the singing, dancing, puppet play ... even a 1 mile fun run to kick off the night. For details: www.firstnighttacoma.org

But before then, there's now ... come on out for:

Workshop: Grand Procession Lanterns
7-10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16
Speakeasy Artists Coperative, 746 Broadway, Tacoma
FREE
Come join this hands-on workshop and make your own procession lantern with balloons and paper mache. This workshop is great for families. Kids 5 & up are welcome with an adult. All materials provided. Workshop instructor and artist Leslie Zenz has been leading lantern workshops for 15 years. She loves a parade!

Workshop: Mardi Gras Masks
1-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 (Session 1: 1-3; Session 2: 3-6)
Speakeasy Artists Cooperative, 746 Broadway, Tacoma
FREE
Make your own Mardi Gras mask! This participatory workshop is a hands-on experience in mask-making. Masks blanks provided as well as materials to decorate with. Jewels, feathers, sequins and paints all provide beautiful options for your own unique design. All families 5 & up are welcome with an adult. Workshop instructor and artist Oleana Perry has been leading artists workshops for 10 years and she loves to facilitate art for children and adults.

First Night Work Party
Noon-4 p.m. Saturday Dec. 19
LeRoy Jewelry store, 940 Broadway, Tacoma
Come out and help prepare for First Night by participating in a "work party" (a fun way to get things done). We will be meeting at LeRoy jeweler. Be dressed in work clothes and ready to build community!

Workshop: Puppet Wrangling
Noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27
Speakeasy Artists Cooperative, 746 Broadway, Tacoma
FREE
We will be teaching the operation of Giant Puppets for the First Night Grand Procession. Puppet Master Annett Mateo from Seattle Children's Theatre will be on hand to facilitate and help you learn the skills needed to operate a Giant Puppet. Puppets provided.


***And First Night is still looking for volunteers to help set up on both Dec. 30 & 31, tear down on Jan. 1, or help out the night of the event with button checking, checking in artists and volunteers, keeping the coffeepot full and even wrangling giant puppets. Sign up online: http://www.firstnighttacoma.org/page.php?id=19

NOV 20-21: Move it on over to MOVE! this weekend

Come check out some homegrown musical talent and amazing contemporary dance from Seattle and Tacoma -- IN TACOMA! Don't think you're into dance? I didn't think I was either ... but these folks have changed my mind ...




This event is a fundraiser for Tacoma's MLK Ballet Company, which my daughter happens to be in ... and I can't say enough good things about this program. I've watched my daughter go from a 7-year-old sometimes frustrated with the repetitiveness of learning early steps to now a 9-year-old with poise and passion and some darn good MOVES.

What: MOVE! #15
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21
Where: SOTA (School of the Arts) Theater, 1118 Commerce St., downtown Tacoma
Tickets: Purchasing tickets now saves you money! $12 in advance, $15 at the door
Go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/87235

Performers:

Spectrum Dance Theater brings five of its best dancers, including local dancer Joel Myers, with a brand new work by their Artistic Director Donald Byrd. The MLKBallet Company's Artistic Director Kate Monthy collaborates with musician Vicci Martinez. The full length piece features all original music by Vicci, and costumes by local designer Lisa Fruchanti. Tacoma Dance Collective brings a new excerpt from the Furniture Series - Chair, a giant rocking chair sure to keep you on your toes while you watch this fun and lively piece. Also from Seattle MOVE! brings: Coriolis Dance and Alloy Dance.

MLKBallet students will be performing a piece choreographed by Joel Myers, come and support our youth!

All proceeds benefit MLKBallet's tuition-free ballet program. Students receive training, uniforms, performance opportunities and quality instruction with the help of your generous support by coming to a MOVE! show.