Gritty City Garage's topics - tribe.net

Pay To Play!!

gratephil — Mon, 19 May 2008 04:58:04 GMT

......at least that's the Girl Trouble ethos. Part of the national reaction to Hollywood-style rock club promotions, the 20 some odd year old local Trouble bash it out for bucks at Hell's Kitchen on the 28th. Sharing in a spirit of gas money solidarity, no doubt, are the Lucky Devils-singing old and new renditions concocted in the South Sound Bureau offices.

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Bob's Bookings Better

gratephil — Sun, 18 May 2008 06:11:35 GMT

......NOT to discredit any and all bands....and Sadie(!)... who play/played at the Java Jive....nor the atmosphere and French Fries which are ssssssoooooneedful now the Firwood has gone up in flames.....but...

Tonight, the double-headlined four band bill of Roy Loney (remember the Phantom Movers?==shore ya do!) and F***ing Eagles shows folks the JJ can book for security and stability over on S. Tacoma Wy.

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Feeling Cross.......

gratephil — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:55:31 GMT

....I would be a' missin' without mention of the (supposed) Tacoma magazine mention of the Sonics on the front cover of City Arts (published in Seattle, of course...) in Mr. Chas. Cross' latest homage to our guys. Cross......whoo boy...got as little mention of the Tacoma aspect of the Tacoma band he was interviewing as humanly possible. Carping on "seattle sound" ...these guys were great...featured powerful organ...but weren't Dave Lewis and didn't try to do more than emulate Jerry Lee Lewis fused with Buck Ormsby's Fab. Wailers. (Buck is clear this is HI$ band, again...)
Cross threw out some bogus claim that The Witch never got airplay....when I was 7 yrs old and listening to KJR non-stop, that song was ALWAYS being played. Cross led on how the transplanted heart of the newly-emerged (and friendly..!) Jerry Rosilee will tour with Lind and Papyra in European dates this summer. If we're lucky, they'll get the same reception Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf got in the early '60's. Maybe a band like Thee Headgoatees will do a Yardbirds-esqe thing with our boys. Who knows? We can count, however upon one local lame, lame appearance at Bumbershoot in .......Seattle. Like we didn't see this coming. Look....I'm FROM Seattle (refugee since 1991...) and looked upon Rosilee and the Papyra's as Jet City property, when I was young and ignorant. Cross is no longer young and needs to go back to slobbering all over Bruce Springstone......and Buck need$ to stop looking so blatent.....

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Ventures Induction Day

gratephil — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:30:19 GMT

..........felt better than xmas in South Tacoma, today. Jeff Miller of Golden Oldies tossed me a hearty regards of the holiday handshake on Portland Ave. this AM--the 'lecticity was in the air for people who wanted it.....much like the Biggest Thing In The World, themselves.
This is a wondrous front and center page one celebration from this morning-and confirmation that Earnest Jasmine should put together a local version of CREEM- with hisself as primary contributor. Enjoy the Day we've all been waiting for.........

http://www.thenewstribune.com/ae/story/304997.html

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Wayback Machine 3/5....silence at the Evergreen Ballroom, 1965

gratephil — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:18:59 GMT

......a beautiful venue outside Lacey, WA. that had held rock and rhythm dances for decades underwent a massive paradigm shift 43 years ago tonight. For one evening, the 'Green stood silent. A club which had recently held forth with the Triumphs as house band, while showcasing west coast R&B touring action from the likes of Bobby "Blue" Bland and Johnny Moore prepared to flip the switch to the new generation of beat bands which played tribute to rhythm and blues...yet were decidedly rock...teen rock...britesque teen rock. The Regents were set to play the 6th..and south Puget Sound would grow accustomed to Raiders, Statics and Bootmen in the coming weeks.

Also this evening, giant shows compensated: at the Tacoma Armory, it was Castlemen/Statesmen/Stick Willie. We're...pretty sure...St. Mary's Parish Hall was the site for....Wailers/Galaxies/Rooks *wow!*

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Cake and Ice Cream

gratephil — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:15:05 GMT

.........so, the 9th of this month was a hysterical event at Puyallup's Liberty Theater. The official celebration of Big Daddy Don Wilson's 75th birthday was a relatively low-key event, compared to the sort of deal which would have happened at, say, the Nakano Sun Plaza. The jokes came fast. The jokes were bad. Lt. Gov. Brad Owens represented the People....Don represented...hisself. Norse humor and self-effacing barbs were placed aside for the surreal appearance of The Boys From Tacoma and Ventures videos going on......simultaneously. Yup....the Fab. Wailers played the sounds of the origins of the universe in front of a giant wallpaper screen of The Biggest Thing In The World playing instrumental rock and roll in Japan. This was the biggest birthday party you never attended.......

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The Standard "Welcome Newcomers" thread

gratephil — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:27:19 GMT

Welcome, Spike. Tho I was willing to allow this to end up a typical middlesized geotribe for visiting hostelers, perhaps we shall now begin the annointment. For example, that Tacoma neo-drinker/Volcano habituate known as "Glam-o-rama" could use your touch as Fine Arts Editor.......

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Wayback Machine 2/18

gratephil — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 02:57:35 GMT

.......the house band at the Red Carpet (located in what is still the swillinglist, bikerest part of South Tacoma Wy.) was the Regents. Their west coast mercy-influenced R&B rock kept the paisley at bay in early 1966. This dance was still grease-city; the Red Carpet considered a 'safe' family niteclub for underaged army brats and their Lincoln High jock dates.....of both genders!

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Wayback Machine 1/25

gratephil — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:48:57 GMT

...it had been a chilling period of reflection for some.....the demise of steamy weekend dances packed like sardines at the Spanish Castle's infamous 'nutural ground' in Midway spelled the end of the R&B influence purist era....we didn't know what was going to hit via Ed Sullivan, yet.
At the Armory, downtown, a resolute group of young musicians and $tarry-eyed promotion rabbits came together to toss a triple bill at the rock-hungry masses. The gig included: The Solitudes....the Elegents....and a bunch out of the tony part of town influenced by Ben E. King:
The Galaxies. It was the dawn of 1963...and the dawn of a new phase of garage rock history.

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Our Best Known Export----showcased in NYC this weekend

gratephil — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:50:16 GMT

.....I'm speaking, of course, of the most influencial garage rock band of all time: The Sonics.
Jerry Rosilee has decided to leave the lil cabin alongside the 'crossroads' of his mind to join Rob Lind, Bob Bennett and Larry Papyra this weekend (with additional musicians in support, ala the current New York Dolls approach....) at Steve Van Zant's Cavestomp fest.

This reunion made the front page of the Trib. yesterday; a salute to Ernest Jasmine and the staff for such appropriate perspective has been communicated. The Sonics were, in their time, bigger than the Beatles or Stones in the Northwest. The reuinion will affect Seattle more than the Stooges reunion shook Detroit---Iggy never had top10 hits in the '60's.

Larry has stated success this weekend will result in searching out an "appropriate venue for a local appearance. UPS Fieldhouse?

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New Year, New Direction

gratephil — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:41:53 GMT

.......the cumulative effect of minimal current participation by post members here, the blatent disrespect from 'professional' Arts people for the rare and rich cultural grounds of the South End and outer environs, as well as the observation that most of the posts here have.....yes...been Garage Rock or peripheral, have caused me to make a few changes on this tribe. Your interests in Art, History Reenactment, general geek culture and anything responsive-rather than dismissive of local lore are still most welcome.....

....we're just tryin' to clean up the tribe in time for the start of Japanese tourist season......

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"In Tacoma we place a high value on individuality"

gratephil — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:10:48 GMT

In my perfect world, the civic and business life of this uberburb would reflect that statement. Well...there it is...sittin' on the site of a strident local/small biz advocacy thingee placed in front of us by the sometimes...ok, often squirrely-appearing "business district" community.

golocaltacoma.com seems to be a decent enough way to find those niche shops and proverbial mom and pop places I continue to maintain are the lifeblood of any community of any size...city...small town...village....co-op.
The built-in gentrification aspect continues to make me wince...one of my very fave biz's in town, Stadium Video, is owned by interests not bashful at all about 'cleaning up downtown'...history will show them to have been....confused.

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From Tacoma To The World......

gratephil — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 06:54:01 GMT

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/230102.html

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Rock and Roll Digest

gratephil — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:11:42 GMT

....the Golden Oldies shop on 6th has Peter Blecha NW rock books swimmin' around there...with Wiley the Lab in hot persuit....

Thee Lucky Devils plus the Glamarama Girlie Show and ...we think..the Mopars will play Hells Kitchen Fri. 12/14 for a Breast Cancer research benefit. Show up and balance out the pit with some more long-assed hair farmers like me.....

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Aids Quilt @ TAM

gratephil — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:01:08 GMT

..through the weekend. Today is World Aids Awareness Day; expectation the reported new US HIV cases are half the actual number give one pause......

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NAE @ B&I

gratephil — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:45:41 GMT

Ed Shadel's gang of Land Speed Record-chasin' challengers will bring the North American Eagle (fresh from a dust bath at Black Rock) to S. Tacoma Wy. this Sat. 12/1. The BandI is an official sponsor, a loyal supporter, and the closest thing to a laison to 'the people' in this Fortune 500 world we're likely to see. These guys run with Jay Leon, fer goodness' sake!
Ed and I go back over a decade on this; c'mon out and support noble achievements of humans....
I may use this as a kickoff (provided Mr. Pincus will abide....) of a stronger emphasis on south of the S. 38th st."38th parallel" on this tribe....

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This information disseminated for entertainment purposes only ;)

gratephil — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:41:41 GMT

http://nowanais.htmlplanet.com/GuerillaGardening/home.html

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Really, Really Free (Zing...)

gratephil — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:34:35 GMT

This month's edition of that Really, Really Free Market will take the stage this afternoon at the Infoshop Lending Library....from 2 til 4. You can borrow thought-provoking books, find cool things you need....bring cool things for others'..and, maybe have tea with a few folks on this tribe. What laffs!

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"....the ultimate rockabilly frontwoman"

gratephil — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 02:34:08 GMT

Normally, I wouldn't point out a feature preview from the Volcano, but the 11/15-21 ish brought up the Lucky Devils show last night in Olympia's famous Fourth Ave. tav--opening for the Boneyard Crawlers.
Someone...Brad Allen, probably, pointed out the LD's bein' "all that embodies the genre" of rockabilly. In a tuff town, where a dozen candidate bands can swarm the Swiss for a car club shindig, the Lucky Devils may have found an receptive audience for their bemused, full americana-tinged songs about ridin' in the pohlease wagon and more unsavory topics. As our own Spike Hammer is personal handler to 'Miss Kitty', the band's lead foil, I think it appropo to mention the Lucky Devils upswing---and suggest freaking showing up next time they play the Java Jive, Hell's Kitchen...or the 4th Ave.
Thanks to Spike for arranging a Miss Kitty autograph and a way to escape with my scawny hippie ass intact.....

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Tacoma Info Source

gratephil — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:44:32 GMT

.....after ....forever...I want to recommend those of you stalking....I mean lurking this tribe from out of town (hugs! Kisses!) to moniter www.thenewstribune.com/blogs .
You'll get as much 'official news and information'-written, by and large, by people who like to write- as anywhere else.
You'll get the CofC party line, of course. This tribe was thrown together to discuss; not so much to report. If you want to know what's going on around here, go to that link.

If you want to know why....

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The Housing Market

gratephil — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:38:37 GMT

...of Ideas has begun swinging it's pendulum back to an actual dialogue downtown. Could it be the wane of easy development money and lousy 'market response' is behind recent Trib columns and bylines.....on a daily basis...discussing urban life and the viability of a community built upon the 400K Condo?
New Home Trends R&D Director Deanna Sihon recently disclosed a study-made last March- of TtownDowntown revealed serious lacking. This Lady makes her living, mind you, with upscale dwellings; she's not a dang community organizer pain-in-the-backside like me;) Ms.Sihon saith: "You want diversity in a community and, from my perspective, you need the economic diversity to make up a true sort of urban center." Wow. If any of us would have said that a year ago, we would have been accused of obstructionist negativity and brushed aside the bulldozer path of "new Tacoma".

Meanwhile, the debate of having working poor and subsistance elderly residents at the Winthrop continue to be....allowed downtown....continues. That we are having this debate at all in this city is like a bad, futuristic Heinlein novel. Horrific......

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St. Nicholas Greek Fest

gratephil — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:25:35 GMT

There is a small, rabid culture that has us by the 'nads in Tacoma. The Greek Orthy Church in town knows we must obey.....we will troupe in busses and bikes down to Yakima Av. and 15th all weekend and slam baklava, suck down a gallon of Avgolomeno and eat fun things wrapped in grape leaves til we're a lovely shade of purple. It starts this afternoon and runs down and out late Sunday. Buy tokens and be picky-you can afford to get choosy; all the booths got stuff!

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Really Really Free Market

gratephil — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:04:41 GMT

....something which has been liberally announced throughout Tribe. We had a nice chat with Glenn and some other opt-out'ers within a beautous grove at Hilltop's People's Park. For all the promo out there (on Tribe....on flyers....), not many of you folk came to do the circuitous tradin'. But we did! I scored a pair of new condition Dickies for every day of the week, a barn coat, the kewl purple hoodie I'm wearin' right now, some used up swooshoe- and E gotta pair of the brightest redest "onions" you'll ever see. BM bright. Really freaking bright.

Anyway, they'll do it again the last weekend of Oct. Needin' indoor digs, as the park is too blustery for 4 hrs. of this. A nice library meeting room sized space will accomodate for now-if you've got a suggestion for a place above downtown, plz to sing out......

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Ventures nominated for RnR Hall of Fame

gratephil — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 02:55:06 GMT

......finally!

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Buck's Boogie

gratephil — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 18:17:25 GMT

The annual attempt to break the Guiness Book record for most people playing a tune with geetahrs may actually succeed this year at Lake Spanaway. Louiefest is underway with a slightly lower crowd count than anticipated due to weather....but the blatently vendor-centric site should be a decent mix of unknown garage rock and all manner of services rendered.
Free admission trumped 'killer' names; with the exceptions of Barry Curtis and pals (representing the Kingsmen contingent) and the now-infamous Leon Hendrix with his "Mysterience" band....'course you know the Fab. Wailers and Paul Revere will be on-premises tomorrow. Bike show today, Car show tomorrow, msuical theme park both daze....

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Women Who Run With The......Hot Clubs

gratephil — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:53:38 GMT

....not often anymore one gets to catch new talent "First Time Out". This morning was a great exception...sitting in with the Gypsy Swing ensemble at the Mandolin (my 'other' parish...) was the funny and fresh Linda Fahlgren. You might recognize the face around town, but I guarantee most of us had NO IDEA how hard that lady could swing a vocal. Range, tone, technique that doesn't kill a delivery. Hhoo. The best part was watching the 16th note-mad band invite her to rise to the challenge of performing REAL hot jazz at 1930 tempos. Linda arrived knowing she could tackle Nelson Riddle-and left with a handle on Nuages, as well. Blistering Honeysuckle Rose and Lady Be Good-and no one flung a clam in any direction. Welcome to the scene, Ms. F.

A fresh vocalist deserves a fresh resume'. Cut and paste away, Linda!

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Pierce County Fair

gratephil — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 21:31:09 GMT

....moderately scaled, reasonable gate fee. Nice 4H scene in the goat barn; you usually don't have to put up with snotty attitudes from the kids stewarding the Kids at this fair. No cotton candy on a stick rates a neg from my main squeeze, but you can still get sconed at the Fisher trailer...which shut down early last night before I could get my dose. Sigh. Say hi to the Smith Brothers lady and convince her to give it all up for Goat milk. She's almost there! JP Patches concludes this years' fete at S228th and SR 161 in Graham tomorrow. You can't get through Seattle, anyway...
Take SR 7 to Fred Meyer and go east to....Fred Meyer-down the hill to Graham (....home of the fighting crackers....). If you miss this weekend, put the second wknd of Aug. on your calander for next year

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The annual pre-'65 car show at the Swiss

gratephil — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:27:12 GMT

...aka the hotroddawhatever may not be the penultimate thingee they claim, but it is the biggest wildcat street party involving hot rods allowed. For a second year, we expect the Bucky Austin extended crew to have arranged a top fuel "cackle" late Sat. I plan to be there-not Bremerton this year...(last year's version of how-can-you-be-two-places-at-once-if-you're-not-anywhere-at-all was pretty sad for those hopping over the Narrows bridge repeatedly the first Sat. of Aug.)
The...um...Glamarama gurls will try to be both Swiss-side and at Hells Kitchen (with Deadbolt, who one can still find on indie release CDs at Goodwill- and those Lucky Devils-who will play without me in the crowd this weekend, cuz I think it will be more soothing that way.....)

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Vicci Martinez

gratephil — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:13:19 GMT

....is appearing at this monster freak festival at Darrington the weekend of Aug. 12th- in the midst of a bill featuring, amongst others, Sky Cries Mary.
Vicci has, as you may know, dropped her localized management system (and, we assume, the services of mediathwapper Steve "Easy Rider" Harris) for a big New Yawk firm familiar with herding the likes of Melissa Ethridge. As the likes of Greater Gritty City are certainly not needed to further promulgate more hits on engines, I expect I'll be mentioning her..not much, really. Best wishes, tho....

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Fast Lucy Griswold

gratephil — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:05:15 GMT

.....the only real singer in Tacoma is hanging on for her dear, wonderful life at TG., following a stroke suffered baking bread with her 101 year old hands. Our prayers and cuddly, swingin' thoughts are with the former OWL party Sec. of State candidate (41,000 votes were not enough...but I voted for her...) nightclub chanteuse and mother-in-law of the late Red Kelly who continues to be a force of nature....

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The weekly Volcano's Best Of Tacoma

gratephil — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:40 GMT

.....is a sore dissapointment. Nearly the whole shebang is dedicated to downtown trendspots with a few hot 6th ave. watering holes for good measure. Of note, the Tower Lanes and our Highland Hills Dennys DID make the cut....for all the alcoholic reasons.
Restating the obvious, the west Hilltop, south and east ends of town are getting shorted all around. Considering the Volcano's legacy is built on southend/military resources....I don't get this....

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Losing Our Faith

gratephil — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 15:04:23 GMT

One of a literal handful of indie operating full service dairy businesses.
When I checked in last night, the demand was keeping the doors open a possible couple more days. Monday..yes...possibly Tues.

What a tragic loss of a health resource to the community...and an opportune time to discuss land use and what really is the greater good with your neighbors.....

www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/107392.html

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Happy Birthday Jerry Miller

gratephil — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:56:23 GMT

...you may be a guitar 'wanker' to some- but we remember when you brought the 'Grape to the Fillmore and scared Jorma and the Airplane stupid. Much respect....

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Art Chantey

gratephil — Sun, 06 May 2007 02:27:34 GMT

..appears in the new City Arts, Tacoma edition. Ironic how a Seattle-based publication that reserves a seperate well-distributed Tacoma-centric magazine would coverboy the man that has done more within Seattle popular to reveal the grime of the Jet City, slam said town to our north (which, mind you, raised me....) thoroughly and give the Gritty City one hell of a positive face forward, I say. Seattle will hate it. The CofC in T will pucker in desperation. I think it's an idealistic celebration of a man and his home town which makes Tacoma more real in print than I remember in ages.....

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Kevin Freitas

gratephil — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:20:19 GMT

.....is a community organizer of a slightly different stripe. Kev has had a mission of a bit under a years' duration to collect the biz interests and link them with consumers. Y'know...that Free Market thing. Done on a pretty localized level, I expect it would present itself in a stripped-down and fairly accessible looking thing called www.feedtacoma.com
Volcano readers should recognize much of the style..sans alcohol humor.

My take is that feedtacoma presents an outlet for those 'creative class' residents and their college student little siblings to indulge. This tribe is more focused on those who profit from-and observe that indulgance...so it's not a bad idea to moniter these activities from just outside the splash-zone......

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State of the Farm

gratephil — Sun, 13 May 2007 15:03:28 GMT

The local L'arche farm, located south of town, has reassembled a relationship with urban Catholic Worker anarchists doing the Guadalupe Gardens and are helping them bring this needful resource back from the hillside hellhole.....
I am getting to know Holly Hunt, the L'arche grower. Her coordination of the literal roots of the farm has withstood the freakshow transitions that our weather will continue to exhibit as the planet changes. Adding to her arsenel of plants: big sky echinacea; definately not what I expected from this geranium-centric scene. Spinich, Broc., and fruit trees are loved into maturety for those of us who prefer to eat any beauty we plant....Farmers Market season is up and taking those 'donations' from upscale residents. L'arche strives to convert these dollars into closer margins-and eventually be totally self-sufficient. Community without corporate underwriting would be the healthiest thing raised up out there.....

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Nothing going on in Tacoma?

Spike — Sun, 06 May 2007 19:59:01 GMT

How come none of the members never post in this fucking thing besides Phil?

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Lincoln Hardware, Inc.

gratephil — Sat, 12 May 2007 20:43:53 GMT

Steve, I'm sorry. Mostly for myself. I flitted 'round the corner to the bigbox mess in search of hardware cloth, an employee who knew what that was and anyone with both a sense of humor and the desire to be at their job that day. What I got instead was a management rep who reminded me of the guy in Shindler's List...and not the nice one, either.
After realizing the west side is pitifully deprived (and depraved, but that's another post...) of small biz hardware stores, I climbed back into my F150 and stomped it down 16 to 38th and G st.
It was like comin' home. Steve Feist even wore an Irwindale drag strip t shirt! What a gentle, agreeable, humorous, helpful, totally into being there dude. I got exactly what I needed and a source for ag., hobby and beatin' round the house project supplies- including bulk feeds. Open since 1929- and I sure hope it, too, doesn't get gentrified outa town.....

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"Savage Young Sonics"

gratephil — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:15:03 GMT

...which, I trust, you know has nothing to do with bucketball......
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B00005OLCH/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/104-3830504-4046327?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music

We're still digging through this morass of what may be the penultimate Tacoma Garage Rock archeological dig. Please note-near the end of the review, I see they..um..must have confused Skip Spence with Jerry. I've SEEN Jerry Miller lookin' sorta near the astral, at times, but he's still playin' Blues Vespers and the Swiss on an irregular basis; so not to worry, my Brit-side friends.....

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Jim Riswold- "Witty Artist"

gratephil — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:15:12 GMT

I about swollowed my gum picking up the Sound Life section of the mighty Trib yesterday. Rosie Ponnerkanti wrote a review of the latest..um...satirical.....pomo...ah, fuggedaboutit...showing by Jim Riswold, former Nike promotional conjurer from my ol' hood, who single-handedly flipped the interactivity of consumer/corporate advertising back at the dawn of the '90's and then...abruptly...left this pinnacle to answer the loaded question..."But how do you REALLY feel?!"

www.ups.edu/x4542 will give you particulars on the Kittredge Gallery encampment of Riswold's work. I won't give away TOO much..except his work does represent the subtle underpinnings of a mind influenced by growing up along the Aurora corridor. The neighborhood does ....things to you. We each respond and utilize this energy differently in our lives....and Riswold encapsulates the viseral results better than any visual artist spawned from that cultural hatchery.

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Nostril News

gratephil — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 01:32:56 GMT

The closest thing to dissent in the New Tacoma you'll find in the press is the "Nose" column which many of us see as the primary reason to read the local daily. Obvious where I get my source material.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/columnists/nose/story/6417708p-5721016c.html

So, I've been working on Ag Activism...and an occasional UPS Grad Student...at the Mandy Cafe...gone home to view Mayor of the Sunset Strip..and I'll be back for the intensity of post Paddy's hangovers digging the G Swing tomorrow AM. See y'all there....

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Jerry Douglas is in the house...

gratephil — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 15:01:18 GMT

...Wintergrass is upon us; go to the midnight shows, if this deal is your bag. I love the music. Hate the creeping commercialism, but the point of all this art is to support artists and the surrounding biz community...that's the name of the game. From the huge, free mags to website info you can't avoid if you google Wintergrass, the info on this festival is hard to avoid. Go....or don't! I'll be hangin' with hot rodders and watching the community count the cost and benefits again this year. Bonus points for anyone sneaking a guitar into the Sheraton and finding a free stairwell jam session.....formerly the bain of this event...

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Atta-Biz

gratephil — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:12:52 GMT

If for no other reason than someone might need something, I want to string along a running commentary of businesses that get it right! By right, I personally emphasize complete focus on my needs as a customer; not so much the quantitative product. This would tend to level the playing field for working class Tacoma-area consumers who want their needs met in a way they can't DIY. If I can help your keyword search along, I've done good customer service for you. After (once again this morning) trying the place across from TCC for printing off a disc without being 'scheduled'- I want to atta-biz the people who consistantly train the OFFICE DEPOT staff at their Union location..just off Hwy.16. I can run the dog at the Petco next door and let him have fun spooking the little yippie dogs, then get a quick, quality job done from any disc without scrutiny or footdragging. The idea I'd have to wait days for printing ANYTHING is appaling. Portland, Eugene, Seattle...all would die without good service from small printing/copying services. I want to document when Tacoma Tries...and when Tacoma Lies. All contributions here, obviously, welcome. No reason not to keep this thread going a while.

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Hysterical Building Preservation

gratephil — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 07:16:30 GMT

...what started last year as comtemplative protest when a Pill Hill Hospital dealt for a legacy church has followed hot on the heels of the 6th Av. brick cathedrals' demolition with immenent threats against USA Yesterday's circa '51ish Buick dealership and......yesterday's raid on Bob's Java Jive by Building, Fire, Press etc. etc. A cry to Neko Case and Ventures fans all over is out to elicit aid for electrical contractor services and/or go in as a partner to preserve the early 20th century deco masterpiece on South Tacoma Wy. A likely sore thumb in the eyes of corporate planners visioning the area under Hwy 16, the Jive has a scant 5 days left to make repairs before the box is pulled.
...This city needs a new hobby.

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Quality of Life support in Tacoma

gratephil — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:06:26 GMT

....within which I will automatically delete references to condoowner lifestyle resources ie, 'where does one obtain Baron of Beef at 8pm in this town, dahling?'

I have recieved several inquieries, for example, from outatowners searching for Kambucha- the live creatures one can brew healthful tea from..not just the bottled product. Since our neighbors to the north in the Seattle area seem more and more sustained upon prepared foods and bevvies..healthful or not...I'd just like to point out that I found my Bucha from a Tacoma resident (thx. CL..)without major hassles. We are so nonchalant about the per capita abundance progressive self-reliance and availability of herbal therapy (Lincoln District..Fran's Magical Garden on 6th...etc..) and non-traditional health consult resources...never mind the abundant grass roots arts/music resources that add to overall feelin' good. I'd scoot up to Seattle more often if I needed to...but I rarely do....

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Jen Graves

gratephil — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:20:18 GMT

...is back in Seattle, following a period writing the finest Arts-related content any area periodical should have the privvie to print. We miss her column in the Trib, which is lacking in her absence. Near the end of last year, Ms. Graves wrote a summation of the so-called "Broadway" district (a buisness neighborhood seemingly in perpetual adolesence) and the state of recovery....this time.
When I left Ttown in '97, the constant feeling of 'we're almost there...' was getting redundant. The fact that no one could quite state what 'There' consisted of, other than financial gain from the arts, was too obvious. I did what any freak in my shoes would do. I moved to the desert to raise goats.
The first stop in my first trip downtown, upon my return 5 years ago, brought me to a (now franchised..) lil' coffeehouse at the apex of the Winthop. The Barista on duty recognized me and, rather than say 'Hi', devulged that "They're pushing all the artists out of here." Ulp!

Jen Graves reports on the aftermath quite accurately in the City Arts issue now on da streets. The magazine, a 'Group'-ala the Village Voice network that took over Seattle Weekly-keep Jen safely away from the local drama she knows too well. Like myself, she seemed to find affection for a creative city of scale with some semblence of humor and sensitivity that stood outside cold commerce. Jen reports well from an apparent upper-middie class perspective in: www.cityartstacoma.com

As an obvious lowermiddie class mineon, I have more than mere reservations about the same approach to supplanting percieved "seediness" (read: lower income people..disabled adults, blue collar and 'unclean' service workers) in precisely the manner that downtown LA is currently persuing. Pierce County is safe for workers...and I'd like to see someone TRY to gentrify the B&I. Still, I miss the days when the Hui household and I would sweep the first year of the Broadway Farmers Market, interviewing the merchants and sculpters with impunity and with no more leeriness than any military town might note free-range unitarian journalists.

As a result, officially, nothing surprises me about the state of Downtown Tacoma.

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Dar Williams

gratephil — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:32:14 GMT

at the Rialto February the 1st has our full attention! The Rialto is a nifty place to see live music. If the Broadway square is going to pull Seattle yup$cale infusion, that's the night. Hope the resteraunteers are prepared to do business....

The music will, of course, be great. Still get misty every Dec., hearing "The Christians and the Pagans".

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Blown Away

gratephil — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 10:02:41 GMT

We who made it through that nasty storm and the powersucker that followed should be congratulated for our perseverence. Just like a craiglistpetite, don't be bashful checking in here and stating your needs for some networking solutions--building materials...change of shorts.....

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Animal Control ordinance and Livestock in Tacoma

gratephil — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 14:18:19 GMT

I testified on 12/12 at the Public Hearing in front of City Council and hizzoner re: the revised Spay/Neuter/Euth'ing population control changes in the city as they pertain to Pierce County Humane Society and the shelter....tagging a total BAN on livestock in the city was bungus..and I may have facilitatied that portion off the porposal before it hit the Public Safety committee. I will provide particulars to anyone interested...and will post the path of this in committee first of the year on this board..and in Progressive Agrarianism.

Lovely Dawn Lightning Storm as I write this!

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Winter Solstice at Fireman's Park

gratephil — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 20:21:18 GMT

..is hardly hushhush in this town. The media have freely given it front page Trib coverage, recently. The TERRA-founded event is in the meetup.org, but is so commonly bcast, I feel unencombered announcing the 7AM-for a 7:45ish sunrise on THURSDAY (emphasis intentional-Solstice doesn't actually happen til 12:22AM Friday AM) the 21st.
The Shak will be filled with Pagans of various trads n stripes 'mmediatly afterwards.

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Ballroom histories

gratephil — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:46:48 GMT

I'm getting few takers over at the Seattle History tribe on the legacy of live music played in local-sized venues by both regional and national touring bands since the time of Ellington, Basie..and my own grandfather's (Jerry Lemke) bands. The Century and Evergreen were powerful cultural influences in the South Sound. Some next gen reflections of how this phenom affected us--via our families or music listening habits would be nice to read, here.

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Swing at the Mandolin

gratephil — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 14:43:55 GMT

...continues roughly alternate Sunday morn's. The Rom-based family ensemble is now calling itself "T-Ville Swing", which lessens the Gword emphasis and will help expand their potential audience beyond Django devotees. A CD is in process; a website to coincide.

I exited the cafe to a great wind chill that apparently kept Seattle's snow at bay...to allow the "little Chicago of the West" to roll up its' sleeves and go back to work this crisp Monday Morning.
Yawn and Stretch!

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Bobi Cespedes

gratephil — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 18:25:28 GMT

...is a comin'. The Mickey Hart/Planet Drum recording artist and spiritual teacher is performing this Tues. 11/28 at the Panteges Theater. A protege of Baba Denizulu's storytelling approach, combined with the huge body of experience touring with Afro Cuban musicians and dancers for over 10 years will give Tacoma a digestable expression of Lucumi and African mythology. Ms. Cespedes is the driving force in the Bay Area Carnival Celebration and an artist in residence with Discovery Museum. To be blunt, it will be refreshing to have a professiona performer with an abundance of SUBSTANCE in town.
7:30PM for 25.00 admitteeness.

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Lakeweird Mayor

gratephil — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 22:30:07 GMT

...Dr. Thomas had herself a nice interphew on local TeeVee last night, wherein she decried the use of 'holiday' tree labels..and declared that Lakewood's town stump would be known as a Christmas Tree, this year, goldurnit! The rationale? American "traditional"roots and cultural norms...and...and...well, she just needs to fuss about it!
Her ignorance of the orgins of 'the tree' in druidic and earth-centered cultures and how it passes from Brit/Celt and Germanic trads to our fair land...and reletively recently, I might add, is laughable. But, then, this tribe is all about funnin'.

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November Arts

gratephil — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 23:05:03 GMT

..are 'paid for' by an amalgaman of locals who perpetuate art=the future of Tacktown. What it means for working class Tacoma is, for example, Pearl Django at Mandolin Cafe' 1st Sat in Nov.-no cover...what was Jazz Alley charging at the door last time? The Cafe has folders along the back wall with month-long platitudes and calander fillin'. It's paid for..we might as well attend.....

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Orgs and Resources

gratephil — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 13:41:26 GMT

...checked into the dealie spawned by Howard Dean peeps in the last prez election, meetup.org. My conclusion is that Tacoma is still in the..um..experimental stage using this vehicle. The Seattle listings outnumber South Sound by a far cry. The tried and ..tried News Tribune still compiles organization, arts and selfcare resources at least weekly. A luddite approach to seeking out compadres from our own little world(s) and common interests seems to work best. Also a good way to vet out flakes and predatory biz opportunists within 'hobby' affiliations. I'm just not finding a solid database covering this area, as yet.

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Hey, they asked me.

gratephil — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 19:05:54 GMT

A new Lions chapter is forming tonight to represent the eastside-38th to 72nd..PDX ave. out to I-5. Energy center at this point seems to be Four Corners. Who knows; lotsa teachers expressed interest. I'll try to avoid doing a Jello Biafra at the dindin. If this sounds like a thinger you'd be entertained by, contact me; you might be occifer material...no kiddin'.

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Representing..

gratephil — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 01:28:11 GMT

...outside the Burner culture for the wide range of diverse interests and humor in Pierce County. If you found this, welcome.

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