April 25th, 2025 - Weekly Volcano Media

Arts & Entertainment

Paint and Pour with Payette Still, Limited Spots Left RSVP Now: 4/26 2-4pm
- Get ready to experiment with everything from rollers to toothbrushes, palette knives to brushes—all using acrylic medium as you create stunning poppy-themed artwork on a 24×18 canvas. Payette Still is a Pacific Northwest mixed media artist known for her unique style and love of texture, this session is all about embracing spontaneity and creativity. Payette incorporates gemstones and other embellishments into her work, drawing inspiration from nature and the vibrant energy of flowers. Your ticket includes: 24×18 Canvas, all painting supplies, instruction by a professional artist in a small group setting, refreshments. Book your ticket today.

Walter Lieberman’s “Are you the guy who does the chalk drawings in the Hot Shop?” Glass Museum Exhibition Opens April 26th
- In traditional glassblowing, it is common for artists to make chalk drawings on a hot shop floor to serve as guides to the glassblowers for the exact look of the final piece. For many, this is a crucial part of the process. It is a way to map out the methods they will use, consider composition, and lock in the overall design. World-renowned illustrator Walter Lieberman has provided a unique layer of artistry and education to Museum of Glass as Hot Shop Emcee for over a decade. Lieberman takes the practical tradition of floor chalk drawings to a new level – using his detailed, instructive sketches to educate and engage the public and share the intricate techniques being used by the glassblowers. These works of art allow audiences to better follow along with the glassblowing process. His art is often a live demonstration, mirroring the Hot Shop Team’s work, with chalk as his medium. Lieberman’s drawings don’t just explain the process — they bring it to life, acting as visual performances that parallel the live glassblowing demonstrations. This exhibition views his chalk drawings as artworks in their own right. Like ephemeral chalk outlines left on the floor, they hint at the artistry and effort of each day’s work in the Hot Shop, remaining as faint reminders after the pieces are complete. In this new gallery context, his drawings are paired with the glass objects whose process they once recorded, reversing the drawings’ original purpose. Now, the glass objects illustrate Lieberman’s works, giving them the spotlight as art pieces and lasting evidence of the craft they served to explain.

Tacoma Sister Cities Concert is Almost Here!
- TICKETS ARE LIMITED!! GET YOURS BEFORE THEY ARE GONE!! TSC is hosting two world-famous Jazz Musicians for a private house concert in one of our Member’s lovely homes overlooking Commencement Bay. Sunday, April 27 at 1:00pm. Music begins at 2:00pm, with food and wine/beverages served at 1:00pm. This is a unique chance to see world-class musicians up close and personal as they play for a small group of our Friends, Members, and Supporters. Show your continued support for Tacoma Sister Cities by purchasing your ticket(s) and join us for an afternoon of friends, fun, food, and fantastic music. Tickets are $53 and include food, drinks/wine, and the private concert. A portion of the proceeds will support Tacoma Sister Cities. After enjoying a catered lunch, guests will sit back, relax, and delight in the incredible talents of John Proulx, jazz musician, singer, and Grammy Award-winning composer, and Alyssa Allgood, named the 2024 best “Rising Star Female Vocalist” by Downbeat Jazz Magazine. The address of the event will be provided after the purchase of your ticket(s).

Lakewood Playhouse Presents “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf” May 23rd – June 8th
- Lakewood Playhouse is proud to present Ntozake Shange’s landmark choreopoem for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. Join the circle as seven women share their stories and find strength in each other’s truth, passion and humor. This fusion of poetry, dance, music and song explodes off the stage and touches the hearts and minds of all those who experience it. It’s time for joy. It’s time for sisterhood. It’s time for colored girls. The stories within these 20 monologues are sacred – they are history, they are testimony, they are truth. In this production, these stories become a ritual of remembrance, carried out by women who already know their power. They are not broken, they are not waiting to be saved. They come together as a community, as leaders of a new and sustainable world, to honor and recall the lived experiences of their foremothers. for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf runs from May 23rd-June 8th, 2025, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. Our Pay What You Can and Industry Night is Sunday, June 1st at 7:30pm. Get your tickets at www.lakewoodplayhouse.org

Vashon Art Studio Tour the First Two Weekends in May
- Vashon Art Studio Tour is the first two weekends in May, the 3rd & 4th and the 10th & 11th, from 10AM top 5PM. Gretchen Hancock will be showing her paintings at her studio. Tour Stop #24, located at 28405 101st Ave SW, SOUTH of Dockton. Tour Maps are available at https://vivartists.com/viva/events/spring-tour-2025/.

What’s Happening at the Grand Cinema?
- Fresh Grand Cinema news! Right off the press! Leaving Thursday 5/1: The Ballad of Wallis Island & The Friend. Opening Friday 5/2: The Shrouds, On Swift Horses, One to One: John & Yoko, Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie Here for another week: Pride & Prejudice 20th Anniversary (Saturday only), Sinners & The Wedding Banquet. The 253 Short Film Party is Friday night 5/2 at Urban Grace! Doors at 5:30pm, show at 7pm! Soylent Green plays for Weird Elephant Friday & Saturday night at 10pm. In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis plays this Sunday 4/27 at 3pm. This year’s FREE TCC Diversity Film Festival at The Grand starts this Sunday 4/27!

Tacoma Little Theater Presents BUG
- Tacoma Little Theatre brings the disturbing thriller, BUG, to its stage beginning in April. BUG is written by the Pulitzer and Tony-Award winning author, Tracy Letts, and will be directed by Blake R. York. BUG centers on the meeting between Agnes, a lonely divorcee, and Peter, a soft-spoken Gulf War drifter. Agnes stays at a seedy motel in hopes of avoiding her abusive ex-husband, Jerry. At first, she lets Peter sleep platonically on her floor, but not long after he is promoted to the bed. Matters become more complicated as Jerry eagerly returns expecting to resume their relationship. On top of that, there’s a hidden bug infestation that has both Agnes and Peter dealing with scathing welts and festering sores—which has Peter believing this is the result of experiments conducted on him during his stay at an Army hospital. Their fears soon escalate to paranoia, conspiracy theories, and twisted psychological motives. Tacoma Little Theatre’s production of BUG features the talents of: Cassie Jo Fastabend as Agnes, Katrina Mattson as R.C., Bil Nowicki as Peter, Josh Johnson as Jerry, and Evan Collier as Dr. Sweet. BUG will run Friday, April 25, through Sunday, May 11, 2025, for a total of 10 performances. Evening showings are at 7:30pm and matinees are at 2:00pm. BUG is recommended for mature audiences only. It contains graphic sexual content, nudity, simulated drug use, hypoallergenic fog, PTSD themes, non-nicotine/tobacco/tar based theatrical cigarettes, blood, and simulated violence. (If you are a Season Ticket holder and feel that this show is not appropriate for people in your party, you can contact the Box Office to have your tickets for Bug transferred to Rocky to bring additional guests or see the show more than once.) There will be a special “Pay What You Can” performance on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 7:30pm. Tickets for that performance are available now online, in person, or over the phone. The performance on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 2:00pm will be an ASL interpreted performance. Tickets are $29.00 (Adults), $27.00 (Seniors 60+/Students/Military), and $22.00 (Children 12 and under). Tickets may be purchased online at www.tacomalittletheatre.com, or by calling our Box Office at (253) 272-2281. Group rates are available for 10 or more, and special FLEX passes for 6 are only $155.00.

Neighborhood News

Planning Commission Hearing and Informational Session Re: South Tacoma Ground Water
- The City of Tacoma Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 regarding the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District Code Update and associated amendments to Tacoma Municipal Code Title 13. The meeting will be hybrid and can be attended in person or on ZOOM. To review draft documents, access meetings, and learn more about opportunities to provide comment, please visit cityoftacoma.org/stgpd. The City of Tacoma Planning and Development Services Department will host an informational meeting in advance of the public hearing to provide information on the code update and how to provide comments during the Planning Commission public hearing comment period. Community Informational Meeting: Date/Time: May 15, 2025, 6:00 – 7:30 PM, Location: STAR Center, 3873 S 66th St, Tacoma, WA 98409, Community members with questions or who would like to request information in an alternate format can email [email protected]. More information is available at cityoftacoma.org/stgpd.

Tacoma’s City Plan Update: Environmental Study Not Required for Long Term Plans
- The City of Tacoma is updating its long-term plan, known as the “One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan,” which guides how the city grows and develops. This update includes several key areas: Growth Strategy: Deciding where new homes, businesses, and transportation options should go. Complete Neighborhoods: Ensuring neighborhoods have everything residents need, like shops, parks, and schools, within a short distance. Environment & Watershed Health: Protecting natural areas and ensuring clean water and air. Housing: Providing a variety of housing options that are affordable and meet different needs. Transportation: Improving roads, public transit, and bike paths to make getting around easier. Economic Development: Creating jobs and supporting local businesses. Parks & Recreation: Maintaining and enhancing parks and recreational facilities. Public Facilities & Services: Ensuring public services like libraries, fire stations, and utilities meet community needs. In addition to these updates, the city is proposing minor changes to its development rules, such as: Clarifying definitions used in planning documents, Removing outdated programs, like the Residential Infill Pilot Program, Aligning enforcement procedures across different city codes, The city has determined that these updates won’t significantly impact the environment, so a full environmental study isn’t required. However, residents can still provide feedback on this decision until May 9, 2025. If no major concerns are raised, the decision will become final on May 16, 2025.

Local Governance

Property Tax Deadline is Quickly Approaching… April 30th
- One more week until the property tax deadline on Wednesday, April 30! The closer we get to the end of the month, we’re seeing long lines at the Assessor-Treasurer’s Office. Did you know you can save time and skip the wait by paying online? It’s quick, easy and secure. Search your parcel number or address and click “Pay Online” at the top. PierceCountyWa.gov/PropertyTax

How Proposition 1 Fared in This Week’s Election
- Tacoma voters appear to have rejected Proposition 1, a measure to raise property and utility taxes to fund street repairs and improvements. As of 8:15 p.m. on election night, 54.05% voted against the measure, with about 19.17% voter turnout and 200 ballots left to count. The proposal, known as Streets Initiative II, would have permanently raised property taxes by 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and increased the utility-earnings tax by 2%. These hikes would have replaced previous, temporary tax increases set to expire in late 2025 and early 2026. The average household would have paid about $8 more per month combined. Supporters argued the funds would improve safety and create jobs. Opponents, citing rising living costs and property values, said the timing was wrong. Steven Cook, a key opponent, said voters were thinking about their financial strain. Council member Kristina Walker, a supporter, acknowledged economic uncertainty likely played a role in the measure’s rejection. The Yes on Prop 1 campaign raised nearly $24,000, spent over $37,000 (mostly on mailers), and reported over $24,000 in debt.

Business & Opportunities

Local Independent Film Maker Looking for Actors for Roles for New Project
- Local independent filmmaker Donovan Wilson of Tacoma has made a few shorts that have recently screened at film festivals around the country. He is working toward producing a new, larger project this summer and fall. While actively looking for funding, he wants to meet people that may want to act in these roles. For now there is no pay for any role. If you are interested in learning more, click here. Casting “Echo of the Jade Lion,” a stylized short film blending noir and magical realism. Note: This is a no-pay learning project focused on visual storytelling and atmosphere, set in a dreamy Pacific Northwest coastal town. Logline: A daydreaming musician, distracted by grief and uncertainty about her future inherits a mysterious jade artifact from her aging grandfather. As strange visions and unsettling encounters blur the line between reality and dream, she must untangle a web of deception to reclaim her future.

5 Things Every Founder Should Know About Social Entrepreneurship Workshop April 30th
- Neetal Parekh is a social impact ecosystem builder and licensed attorney, with expertise in digital strategy, storytelling, and communications. She is the author of book 51 Questions on Social Entrepreneurship, host of The Impact Podcast by Innov8social, convener of Impactathon®, and a frequent speaker, facilitator, and moderator on topics including social enterprise, social entrepreneurship, and ways entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and consumers can build and strengthen ecosystems for social impact. A passionate advocate for social entrepreneurship and impact innovation, Neetal believes that this field empowers us to creatively re-imagine how businesses and individuals can create meaningful impact and lasting value. This free workshop, April 30th 6-8pm at Hive Co (5436 South Tacoma Way) helps creative entrepreneurs with essential knowledge for building sustainable, impactful businesses that balance profit and purpose. This interactive in-person session provides an actionable framework, practical tools, and community connections. We’ll be taking a dive into 5 critical areas: Legal structures for impact-driven enterprises, sustainable business models for creative professionals, funding pathways for social ventures, measuring impact through practical metrics, and ecosystem resources for social entrepreneurs. Space is limited, reserve your seat here!

TCC is Accepting Applications for Write in the Harbor Conference
- Tacoma Community College’s Continuing Education department is thrilled to announce the 11th Annual Write in the Harbor regional writers conference. This exciting event will take place November 7 and 8, 2025, in beautiful Gig Harbor, Washington’s Maritime City. We anticipate that the conference will be attended by a diverse community of aspiring writers, established authors, and industry professionals. The Write in the Harbor Writers Conference has become a highly anticipated event in the writing community. The conference provides a unique opportunity for writers to connect with fellow creatives, learn from industry professionals, and develop their skills in a supportive environment. They are currently accepting proposals for workshops and panels supporting this year’s theme; “Craft, Creativity & Connection” They hope to feature a group of presenters as diverse as our attendees and community. An ideal presenter and/or panelist is someone knowledgeable in their chosen topic, able to actively engage adults in a workshop setting, is culturally responsive in presentation content and style, and has experience in the craft and/or business of writing. They encourage proposals on ‘Theme’ as an aspect of writing. Workshops are laid out in 60-minute blocks. Presenters are compensated $150 per workshop, $50 per panelist. Panels are limited to 4 people. Submission deadline is April 30th. Include an outline of your workshop, current CV and detailed proposal. Conference staff will review all submissions. Notification of acceptance or refusal for all proposals will be sent at the end of June. You may direct questions to Melody Griggs, at [email protected] or 253.460.2354.

A Word From Our Sponsors…

Recreation & Wellness

Go On a Bear and Rhodie Hunt Through Fircrest
- The Fircrest Bear & Rhodie Tour is officially under way! This Fircrest FUN blast from the past is a special part of their Centennial Celebration! Enjoy the whimsy of Fircrest’s carved bears, starting with our majestic Murphy at the TOT LOT! There are over 50 carved bears (and a trio of pigs!) scattered around the community. And of course, so many beautiful rhodies that create a magnificent backdrop! So take a casual stroll and seek out the bears and blossoms!
  All the registered bears are marked with a red dot on the map! Paper copies of the map are available at the Fircrest Community Center. If you have a carved bear, but you aren’t on the map, please register by following this link. Thank you Marc Rieke and Paul Kelsay for your help in creating this Fircrest FUN activity! See you at the Park!

TV & Movie Reviews

Film Review: The Legend of Ohci by Elizabeth Mulloy
- The Legend of Ochi is a whimsical family adventure set on the remote island of Carpathia, where we meet Yuri (Helena Zengel), a spirited farm girl raised in a village that fears the mysterious, nocturnal creatures known as the Ochi. Warned never to venture out after dark, Yuri’s world is turned upside down when she stumbles upon an injured baby Ochi. Determined to reunite it with its kin, she embarks on a perilous journey that challenges everything she’s been taught. Clearly inspired by classics like E.T., The Goonies, The NeverEnding Story, and The Dark Crystal, The Legend of Ochi aims to capture that same sense of wonder and heart. Yet, while it borrows their visual flair and story beats, it struggles to replicate the emotional depth and narrative magic that made those films endure.
- Before delving into its shortcomings, it’s only fair to acknowledge what The Legend of Ochi gets right. Writer-director Isaiah Saxon demonstrates a clear visual sensibility, crafting a world steeped in wonder through soft, whimsical cinematography and the breathtaking natural backdrop of the Apuseni Mountains. There’s a tangible magic in the film’s aesthetic, one that evokes a storybook charm rarely captured so organically. The use of practical puppetry to bring the Ochi to life is a particularly inspired choice, imbuing the creatures with a tactile presence and emotional resonance that CGI often fails to achieve.
- Performances from seasoned actors like Willem Dafoe and Emily Watson also provide much-needed gravitas; their appearances elevate the film whenever they’re on screen. Regrettably, the film’s more admirable qualities are consistently undermined by its most glaring flaw: a protagonist who lacks both vitality and emotional depth. Despite the meticulous world-building and the occasional spark from its supporting cast, The Legend of Ochi fails to locate a compelling emotional core—leaving the narrative to drift without a true center of gravity.
- It’s never easy to critique a child performance, but Helena Zengel, in the lead role, struggles to carry the film’s emotional weight. Her delivery is often reduced to mumbled lines and hushed whispers, which renders much of her dialogue nearly inaudible and strips her performance of the expressiveness needed to anchor such a fantastical journey. Whether this subdued approach is a directorial choice or simply a matter of miscasting is unclear, but the result is a portrayal so stiff and inward that it creates a disconcerting distance between the character and the audience. In stories like this, where the bond between a human and a mythical creature is meant to stir something deeply primal, it’s vital that the emotional connection feels genuine. Here, it simply doesn’t. In fact, the pivotal scene in which Yuri “sings” with the Ochi, meant to evoke awe or tenderness, borders on the unintentionally comedic. It’s a moment that crystallizes the film’s central misstep: a lack of emotional resonance in a genre that lives and dies by it.
- Ultimately, The Legend of Ochi is a film rich in imagination but lacking in emotional resonance. Its breathtaking visuals and lovingly crafted world hint at the kind of timeless fantasy it aspires to be, and Isaiah Saxon, in his debut, shows genuine promise as a visual storyteller. However, that promise is undercut by a central performance too subdued to carry the film’s emotional stakes, and a narrative that never quite connects where it matters most. For all its ambition and artistry, The Legend of Ochi serves as a reminder that wonder alone isn’t enough, without a beating heart at its center, even the most beautiful worlds can feel hollow.
- My Rating: C+

Film Review: Sinners by Elizabeth Mulloy
- After spending the last decade tied up in Marvel’s superhero machine, Ryan Coogler is finally out, and he’s not wasting any time getting back to what he does best. Sinners is his big swing back into original filmmaking, and it lands hard. It’s a moody, genre-blending Southern Gothic epic that mixes folklore, horror, and social tension into something rich, dark, and deeply unsettling. Set in the sticky, sun-scorched backwoods of Mississippi during the Great Depression, the film follows the Smoke Stack Twins, both played by Michael B. Jordan, who returns to their hometown after making it big in Chicago. Their goal? Open a juke joint where the local Black community can find joy, music, and a little escape. But like any good Southern Gothic, there’s something rotten just beneath the surface. Something old. Something evil. And it’s creeping its way through the roots of the town.
- Coogler blends genres like a pro. What starts off feeling like a slow-burn gangster drama slowly morphs into something stranger, part supernatural horror, part Southern tragedy. As Smoke and Stack begin building their dream, reconnecting with old friends and family, people start to wonder how exactly they made their money. The twins brush it off, “just got lucky in Chicago,” but their flashy clothes and shiny car hint at something a lot more violent. The first hour lets you soak in the heat and tension. You can almost feel the sweat on your neck, hear the constant hum of crickets and frogs. On the surface, it’s calm. But underneath, there’s this quiet dread.
- People talk like the Klan is a thing of the past, but no one really believes that, not deep down. Everyone knows something is coming. You just don’t know when. It’s in this simmering atmosphere that we really get to know Smoke and Stack. Smoke, always in blue, keeps things close to the chest, quiet, thoughtful, way softer than he looks. Stack, in red, is loud and brash, always making his presence known. Michael B. Jordan does some incredible work here, making both characters feel totally distinct even though he’s playing both. It’s all in the details, tiny shifts in posture, a glance, a smirk. He disappears into both roles in a way that feels effortless.
- As the sun dips below the horizon and dusk paints the Mississippi sky in shades of amber and violet, the Smoke Stack Twins finally open the doors to their long-awaited Juke Joint. Inside, the air thrums with life, and at the center of it all is Sammy, played by rising star Miles Caton, whose voice soars with the kind of raw emotion that makes time feel like it’s standing still. The music is electric, a seamless fusion of R&B, Soul, Jazz, and even touches of Irish Folk, creating a sound that feels both timeless and otherworldly. The rhythm pulses through the walls, through the floorboards, through your bones. You don’t just hear it, you feel it. It shakes the theater, draws you in, makes you a part of the celebration. The score isn’t just background, it’s a living, breathing presence. It’s as much a character as Smoke, Stack, or Sammy. And it sings with a kind of beauty that reaches beyond this world. It stirs something ancestral, something primal. It calls out to those long gone, and maybe even those yet to come. But in summoning that kind of deep, soulful energy, the music also awakens something else, something far more dangerous, lurking just beyond the veil. A supernatural force hears the call. And it answers.
- As with all of Ryan Coogler’s films, Sinners offers more than just genre thrills. While it plays with the familiar beats of a vampire flick, drawing clear influence from From Dusk Till Dawn, Coogler brings a fresh, thoughtful twist. His vampires operate as a hive mind, turning them into a metaphor for cultural assimilation and appropriation. Immortality comes at the cost of identity; you might gain eternal life and even share a dance with the effortlessly charming Jack O’Connell, but you lose your soul in the process. It’s a sharp commentary on the erasure of culture in the name of conformity, and a reminder that Coogler has a knack for transforming familiar stories into something far more resonant.
- That said, Sinners isn’t without flaws. As much as I admire the ambition, the film does stumble a bit with its pacing. It runs about 15 minutes too long, and the climax, ironically, feels rushed. I’m all for a slow build, especially when it comes to rich world-building and character work, but waiting until nearly 70% of the film for the vampires to fully show up felt like a missed opportunity. They’re a central part of the story, but end up feeling a bit underused. And when they do arrive, their abilities are all over the place. Sometimes they’re bulletproof, lightning-fast, practically unstoppable. Other times, they go down with a single shot, like they’re made of tissue paper. This inconsistency really stands out during the final showdown, where, somehow, less than ten humans manage to hold their own against a swarm of 50+ vampires in an open room. It stretches credibility, even within the film’s supernatural logic, and kind of undercuts the sense of threat the movie had been building.
- In the end, Sinners is a bold, electrifying piece of cinema, anchored by a stellar cast, guided by Coogler’s confident direction, and driven by a soul-stirring score that practically begs you to move. It’s a film that swings big and mostly lands, weaving together genre, history, and metaphor with real ambition. While a few pacing missteps and a slightly rushed finale hold it back from true greatness, there’s no denying the power and originality on display. It may not be a perfect film, but it’s a thrilling, resonant, and deeply memorable one, proof that Ryan Coogler is still one of the most vital voices in modern filmmaking.
- My Rating: A-