Vine Tales Wine Club may be the new best thing since sliced bread. Sensational wines from different regions of the world are selected for you and then delivered directly to your front doorstep every two months along with informative and interesting touring and tasting notes, plus tidbits on the wineries, wines and regions themselves. Just in time for Mother's Day, during the month of May the club focuses on the Columbia Valley wines. Vine Tales stresses three factors in selecting which wines make the cut and what gets left behind: how well the wine represents the region, that it is from a reputable cellar actively striving to make advances in turning out a superior product, and that the wines represent a superb value. We all know that just because something is expensive doesn't mean it's good. Vine Tales takes out the guesswork and allows one to be daring and try new varietals. Other locales throughout the year include New Zealand wines, British Columbia vino and palate pleasers from Italy. A case of 12 bottles runs just under $300; half-cases of six are also available. Crunch those numbers and you'll see $25 for primo vino is a rarely seen good deal. Sign up online at Vine Tales or call (888) 883-VINE. - Jennifer Johnson

PERMANENT LIPSTICK by Ginger Knoxx

THURSDAY, APRIL 20
Oh 420, what fond memories I have of you from high school and the years immediately following. It was sad when we said good-bye, but it was just time. I know you forgive me for barely visiting, but you understand. Third Thursday Art Walk is full of fun people: the ones I know, the ones I meet and the ones whose names I forget (sorry Dawn, I suck). The preview of artist Ryan Loiselle's solo show at the University of Washington, Tacoma Gallery was chill. His paintings are amazing. If you haven't seen them, go before May 12. Loiselle has a portrait of Kelly Mickelson that will blow your mind and one of James Bender that's equally impressive. There was a strangely blank spot on the wall with the portrait of James Hume. It looked like somebody walked in and stole a painting. Weird. Anyway, Smooth and I left from there and headed to Rampart's 420 party. DJ Lulu Spice and Suga' Jones were spinning hefty beats. Uncle Steve played a good host, and Mr. Olson brought me up to speed on the changes that are imminent for Rampart's interior - new paint, a redo of the floor, featured monthly artists. Way cool.
The Eklunds passed out invites to one of the fund-raiser shows for the Urban Arts Festival this June, and I realized it hurts to smile so much without booze. Later a menagerie of folks from different Art Walk spots converged on Doyle's, the new joint by the Temple Theatre. Rosati entertained with a running monologue of one-liners and whiplash quick comedic returns. Hollywood, who had an art show at Embellish earlier, picked up any slack there may have been in the volleys. Ebony and Chesty Meow represented the ladies in full force, and I even heard that Nasty Natasha and Brad Allen made an appearance. Holy crap, can you imagine the conversations? Hilarious!

FRIDAY, APRIL 21
Wanting to see for myself, The Italian and I dipped into Doyle's around 7 p.m. and scored the last open seats at the bar. A good five minutes later, I flagged down a bartender and ordered drinks - Sofia Mini for me and Jameson for my sexy man. The menu didn't entice, and we tired of watching the new bartenders - er, mixologists, as one referred to the other - scramble to keep up with the rapidly forming line. I swear one of them used to be a beer vendor. The Posies at The Boneyard were killa, fo' rilla. Weather really stole the show though. Since they punched the rock up, it's stellar. I do not recommend drinking a bottle's worth of Manhattans. As good as that might sound, it's just not as fun for the people around you as you think. People missing in action, missing manners, missing phones, missing minds - yeah, not recommended. Rejjie did fill me in on the Woofstock Festival in August - bands and food all day. There's talk of a BIG name being on board. I'll keep you posted on the lineup.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22
Didn't you read my warning about the Manhattans? Do you really think I went anywhere besides back to bed?

SUNDAY, APRIL 23
A decidedly great way to wind up the weekend is with a mellow dinner gathering of good friends. Especially if they can cook, and man, Erin can cook (she also cuts rad hair at Embellish). I never thought red and yellow peppers in marinara sauce could be that good. Fear Train Caravan's Ben Fuller and his friend stopped by after finishing a session working on the upcoming CD. And because Hollywood is everywhere, he and a friend arrived in time for the fabulous pasta with some fine wine and good beer in hand.

Young and Restless
107.7 The End's Young and The Restless puts on shows every now and again that are always worth paying attention to. This Friday's lineup ranges from the indie rap sample happy beats of The Saturday Knights to sassy all-girl rock of The Catch to the ultra pop of The Lashes - never mind their girl pants or cropped jackets. Am I saying you should like these bands because The End says so? Nope. I'm saying it's a good opportunity to see three very diverse musical acts for one manageable cover of $8. Friday, April 28, 6 p.m., all ages, Hell's Kitchen, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, (253) 752-6009.

Give me a wink and a kiss here.  Knoxx knows.

SCENE OF THE CRIME by Natasha
An acquaintance of mine once turned to me and said, "Dude, I don't understand why you like going to the West End - it's for 30-something townies."
My response was simple: A 30-something townie is exactly what I am.
But I think the West End Pub & Grill attracts much more than that.
You really, really get every walk of life there. University of Puget Sound party animals, summer teeth (some are there, some aren't) locals, pretty people, ghetto, ghetto fabulous, yuppies, yuckies, mechanics, doctors - the list could go on forever. Watching people at the West End is like being at Disneyland.
And gawd, do the people pile in there. It's packed on Fridays and Saturdays. Even with its gritty edge, that place is always busy, day or night, weeknight or otherwise.
When I first went to the West End, I didn't understand the attraction. I've never really trusted a bar with carpeted floors and pull tabs. But when you add big-screen sports, karaoke greats like "Love Shack" and "Black Betty" (you know, the Bam-ba-Lam song) and beautiful bald bartenders providing good service (you, too, Precious Patty), you get a business model to reckon with.
If you really want to fit in, you should go there often. The entire crowd at the West End seems united by Tacoma's one degree of separation.
A seat at the long bar is premium for getting the swerve on. You can distance yourself from the karaoke killers, and hold a conversation with the people next to you - all while not getting run over by the hustlers hustling about.
Now, I have seen a fight or two in this establishment, and the West End's reputation does precede itself, but the situations are always quickly resolved. Getting on the "protected list" is beneficial, girls, which is probably why there are so many hot chicks there.
This schmuck once tried to blow me off after he spilt his drink on my belongings. When I asked him to apologize, he cussed me out (winner). The Napoleon complex tends to appear in the likeliest of places. The door guy swiftly swept in and took care of it - thank you very much.
Dear Napoleon Dynamite: Don't mess with the girl who has the fire in her eyes and the fury in her column (right, Ginger?!).
The food at the West End is definitely an artery clog, but it's affordable and awesome. I love the steaks, the Philly sandwich and yes, yes - the cheesy bacon fries.
Yet another Sixth Ave success story, a stop at the West End is worth it.
Cheers!
West End Pub & Grill, 3840 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, (253) 759-2896.

House of Blues will open another concert venue/restaurant/bar in Seattle next to the Paramount Theatre, according to an early morning press release.  Opening inside the Paramount Tower, the fun should hit the stage in 2007. - Brad Allen

Pop and Politics: "Anyone can funk and go to war, we all got soldiers but it takes real men to make peace. Peace may not sell these squares' magazines but it can save a community and bring prosperity to our people."
So goes MC Hammer as he speaks on the state of hip-hop. - Brad Allen

The pivotal scene in the 1986 classic "Pretty In Pink" was not when Molly Ringwald's character finally managed to land the wealthy preppy. The key moment of this film was when Ringwald proudly emerged in her homemade prom frock. To this day, that pink dress remains one of the most ugly pieces of couture ever captured on celluloid. If you have a similarly striking leftover prom dress, or perhaps a powder blue tuxedo that is in need of airing out, Bobble Tiki has just the soundtrack for you. Eighteen hits from the '80s have formed Pure '80s: #1s (Hip-O/UMe), filled with songs that reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, landing in stores on May 9. Check out these Pure hits:

01. Survivor "Eye Of The Tiger"
02. Yes "Owner Of A Lonely Heart"
03. Robert Palmer "Addicted To Love"
04. Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"
05. Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
06. Steve Winwood "Higher Love"
07. Tina Turner "What's Love Got To Do With It"
08. The Police "Every Breath You Take"
09. Christopher Cross "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
10. Mike + The Mechanics "The Living Years"
There are eight more painful songs.  Check it out at Antimusic. - Bobble Tiki

Cafe Pegasus in downtown Dupont has added Italian wines to their menu.  The coffee and sandwich shop plans to add beer in the near future. - Jason de Paul

Biff Bigelow will host The Ol' Howl & Smash on his KAOS Friday Rock 'n' Rollercoaster show today, 3-5 p.m.  After the Eugene rock band appears on the 89.3-FM dail, they'll head to the all-ages venue Yes Yes to perform in front of the Olympia Art Walk crowd. - Brad Allen

The Super Buffet announced today it will open its doors at 975 Ross Ave. in DuPont in two weeks. The Chinese buffet is behind the bandstand area in the center of DuPont's business district. - Jason de Paul

It's worth noting that Phillip Roebuck, whom I apparently gushed over last week, has been added to the Post Stardom Depression/The Jet City Fix bill tonight at Hell’s Kitchen. It wasn't my intention to "gush," but now that I've heard that comment from a number of people, I guess I probably did.
Sorry. Roebuck's the shit.
If you miss him at Le Voyeur in Olympia on Thursday, be sure to catch him at the Kitchen. Everybody's talking about him â€" for good reason.  Saturday, April 29, 9 p.m., $7, Hell's Kitchen, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, (253) 759-6003. â€" Matt Driscoll