Take two things I love â€" Tacoma, and boutiques â€" mix ‘em together with a little bit of liquid spirit, and call me in Heaven!

Love Tacoma’s Hipster Boutique Tour covered some mileage with a mix of Link and good old-fashioned foot power, attended by about 12 Beautiful People (one of whom was male, and appeared to be loving the True Religion jeans at Rocky & Coco’s).

At Dame Lola, the shopping got serious, with the work Zoobilee thrown around with frequency and force. I loved hearing Rebecca’s wisdom on the trends, and the subsequent moments of “Ohmygosh, this is THE dress!!”

I loved the boutique-oriented conversations, like the exclamations about how fab Tiki Lounge is (pity its distance â€" really not far at all, but considering the hour and the close-proximity boutiques we covered, it put us out of walking range) and other enthusiastic, Tacoma-loving moments.

Especially fun, talking to two lovelies from Boston â€" one a recent transplant, one just visiting â€" whose positivity about the city made me glow with pride.  They had a pretty amazing basis for comparison after all.

Junior Bizarre and urbanXchange were also covered in the tour, with a stop off at 21 Commerce after all the shopping love was over.  But for me, I had a kid and a curfew so had to call it an early evening, pity, pity, pity, for I could have shopped and reveled in Tacoma Love all night. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

Around half of the 11,000 spots for KISW's Pain in the Grass Aug. 11 concert at Cheney Stadium have been sold without any promotion except the radio station.  Tickets to see Godsmack, Buckcherry, Candlebox, Finger Eleven, Operator, Black Light Burns, Evans Blue and Point One are $40 in advance and $50 day of the show.  Tickets are available through ticketreturn.com, by phone at 253.752.7700, or at Cheney Stadium's box office Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you bought your ticket and expect to kick back in left field and what this, you might want to rethink your concert wear.  The show will take place outside the Stadium on the parking lot.  Not sure where they got the "grass" part. â€" Brad Allen

Christmas in July

Chestnuts roasting outdoors in the sun,
Jack Frost nipping at the brew;
Yuletide carols being slurred by the crowd,
And folks dressed up like J. Crew.

We read in Mel Torme’s autobiography how Mel and a buddy banged out “The Christmas Song” in 45 minutes one sweltering July afternoon.  You have to admire that.  You also have to admire Doyle's Public House’s Christmas in July celebration Wednesday, July 25.  The joint pushes holiday cheer in the form of Belgian beer as the sun melts us like freakin' Frosty.

The Belgian offerings will be Delrium Noel, Chouffe N'Ice, Grimbergen,  Scaldis Noel and Bad Elf. Sample one for $3 or buy the sample card and try all five for $12. The beer will be near until the kegs run dry. The Tacoma Beer Society will be in the house so the kegs will go quick. â€" Brad Allen

[Doyle's Public House, Wednesday, July 25, 5-8 p.m., expect gifts in the form of a raffle, 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468]

THE DAILY WORD
Learn it, use it, spell it

Sang-froid \sang-FRWAH\, noun;
also sangfroid:

Freedom from agitation or excitement of mind; coolness in trying circumstances; calmness.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Reminiscent of his days behind center for the Denver Broncos, Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway reminded everyone of his remarkable sang-froid during the recent ABC reality show “Fast Cars and Superstars â€" Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Racing.” Fending off competition from the likes of Jewel, William Shatner, WWE meathead John Cena, and rodeo champion Ty Murray, Elway stayed cool (as usual) under pressure, and proved yet again that no matter how old and bloated you look in NASCAR jumpsuit, if you’re a two time Super Bowl Champion and the King of Denver, you’ll always have a toothy grin on your face and a hot, 20-something girlfriend named Paige on your rocket of a right arm.

THE MORNING NEWS

IRAQ: A Guide to the Struggle Over Oil.

BRIDGE: Narrows opens.

NEW YORK: Trial marriage.

POTTER: Harry tastes like butter.

MONDAY BLOWDOWN
You can stand atop the mountain and scream your naked desires to the universe or shed that synapse epilepsy and hug the South Sound today with your fellow man:

TODAY'S MUSIC: You choose.

TUESDAY'S MUSIC: Bobble Tiki knows there are two types of people in this world: those who liked the Postal Service and those who didn’t. Actually, scratch that. Bobble Tiki thinks there might be three types of people in this world since the um-pa Mexican tunes coming from Bobble Tiki’s neighbor’s house seems to provide another variable. Either way, Bobble Tiki loved Ben Gibbard’s affair with a drum machine, which is why he’s excited about Jack Conte’s show at Le Voyeur on Tuesday night. Up from San Francisco, Conte’s beautifully feeble voice â€" perfect for his endeavor â€" teams nicely with his general songwriting skill and liking for technology, to produce something that ends up sounding…well, a lot like the Postal Service. But see for yourself. Bobble Tiki, like most Americans, can’t help but classify everything. He’s simple minded. Something tells Bobble Tiki there’s far more to Jack Conte than MySpace can illustrate. 

DRINK: Potter gets his drink on.

THE SOUTH SOUND FACTOID
Dance with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge back on Nov. 7. 1940 when it collapsed.

BOBBLE TIKI'S THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN

Bobble Tiki thinks robots are about as cool as it gets. Except for aliens or zombies, Bobble Tiki sees robots as, probably, the coolest thing ever. When Bobble Tiki was a little Tiki, he had an erector set. Then later in life Bobble Tiki saw “Robocop.” Bobble Tiki has been stuck on robots ever since.  It's only natural that Robots vs. Humans intrigues Bobble Tiki.

As always, Bobble Tiki doesn't care what you do today because he doesn't even know you.  And unless you check out the Weekly Volcano's Web site, Bobble Tiki doesn't want to me you.  Besides, it's time to blow this joint because it's so obvious you are becoming further and further removed from all that is genuine and real and visceral and virtuous and Bobble Tiki doesn't play that with his morning bowl of Quisp.

OK, Bobble Tiki apologizes.  Please be his friend here.

Breakfast with Bobble Tiki runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  Deal with it.

Silverdale is the closest town to the South Sound that made Money magazine’s Best Places To Live 2007 list.

Eat it Middleton. â€" Suzy Stump

THE DAILY WORD
Learn it, use it, spell it

Pusillanimous \pyoo-suh-LAN-uh-muhs\, adjective:

Lacking in courage and resolution; contemptibly fearful; cowardly.

USAGE EXAMPLE: The resignation of VA Secretary Jim Nicholson on Tuesday ended the former Republican National Committee Chairman’s stint as Bush’s top crony within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Unfortunately for veterans, or anyone who thinks those who serve in Iraq or Afghanistan deserve adequate health care, the loss of one pusillanimous politician within the Bush Administration only paves the way for the addition of another.

THE MORNING NEWS

PAKISTAN: Counterterrorism advisers explain what sucks.

BRAZIL: 189 killed in Brazilian air crash.

POKER: Yang he's good.

HEAD: Will the Tooth Fairy visit?

WEDNESDAY BLOWDOWN
You can stand atop the mountain and scream your naked desires to the universe or shed that synapse epilepsy and hug the South Sound today with your fellow man:

MUSIC: Kari Ehli at the Kitchen.

DRINK: Potter gets his drink on.
http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/2007-07-12/drink-of-the-week/747/

SPIN THE BLACK CIRCLE

MxPx
If you’re old enough to remember radio DJ Marco Collins, you’re old enough to remember a time when Bremerton’s MxPx were a truly exciting band. At least some remember it that way. They were young, they were from a place you’d probably driven through, and they wrote catchy-as-all-get- out pop punk that seemed destine to spread nation wide. What was not to be excited about?

Ten plus years later, we know how things developed.

Yesterday, MxPx officially dropped Secret Weapon â€" the band’s latest record, released on Tooth and Nail. In accordance, the band will be in a promoting mood, including an in store performance at Seattle’s Silver Platters record store, and a number of dates on the Warped Tour.

Bobble Tiki's just taking a stab in the dark here, but his guess is the Secret Weapon is Jesus.

THE SOUTH SOUND FACTOID
White settlement of what later became Olympia began in 1846 with a joint claim filed under a homestead law by partners Edmund Sylvester, a Maine fisherman, and Levi Lathrop Smith, an easterner who wanted to be a minister but was prevented by epilepsy from pursuing that career. Smith called his portion of the claim Smithfield. For two years, Smith and Sylvester were the only white residents in Smithfield (then Oregon Territory); the area was covered with virgin forest. The dances sucked.

BOBBLE TIKI'S THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN

Bobble Tiki thinks robots are about as cool as it gets. Except for aliens or zombies, Bobble Tiki sees robots as, probably, the coolest thing ever. When Bobble Tiki was a little Tiki, he had an erector set. Then later in life Bobble Tiki saw “Robocop.” Bobble Tiki has been stuck on robots ever since.  It's only natural that Robots vs. Humans intrigues Bobble Tiki.

As always, Bobble Tiki doesn't care what you do today because he doesn't even know you.  And unless you check out the Weekly Volcano's Web site, Bobble Tiki doesn't want to me you.  Besides, it's time to blow this joint because it's so obvious you are becoming further and further removed from all that is genuine and real and visceral and virtuous and Bobble Tiki doesn't play that with his morning bowl of Quisp.

OK, Bobble Tiki apologizes.  Please be his friend here.

Breakfast with Bobble Tiki runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  Deal with it.

Tacoma punk band the Broken Oars are currently ripping up the West Coast.  Hated Entertainment shot on of their songs at The Broncos in Santa Clara. 

Check it. â€" Brad Allen

THE DAILY WORD
Learn it, use it, spell it

Egregious \ih-GREE-juhs\, adjective:

Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible.

NFL superstar and Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick was indicted Tuesday on federal charges relating to dog fighting. Among other gruesome allegations, the indictment alleges that losing dogs either died in the pit or were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot.  Vick, along with three other men, are named in the indictment. If Vick is found guilty of these egregious acts, common wisdom says proper justice would be to electrocute, drown, hang, or shoot Atlanta’s number 7.

THE MORNING NEWS

FEMA: Formaldehyde smeldehyde.

BICYCLING: Tour de Drugs.

CEMETERY: Yo Casper! Fore!

FOOD: Wrath of grapes.

WEEKEND BLOWDOWN
You can stand atop the mountain and scream your naked desires to the universe or shed that synapse epilepsy and hug the South Sound today with your fellow man:

MUSIC: Holy shit! The Alano Club! Tonight!

On June 9 the Alano Club celebrated its grand opening, with a slew of bands including the Drug Purse, Sleazy Streets, Zepher, and the Cutwinkles 2.0, then the fire marshal shut it down due to code violations. According to a show poster, the Alano is back open at 17th and Market in downtown Tacoma.   

While obviously Bobble Tiki doesn’t know nearly enough at this point about the Alano, what he does know is Sleazy Streets, Space Creatures From The Year 3000, and Durango 95 will play there tonight, and the cover is 5 bucks. Bobble Tiki also knows there’s more info here.

MUSIC: Rocky jabs inside the Kitchen tonight.

CULTURE: Crabby people at the Tempest Saturday.

THE ARTS: Native art on the Ave.

FILM: "Hairspray" will stick to you.

DRINK: Potter gets his drink on.

THE SOUTH SOUND FACTOID
Tonight as hundreds of drunks trample through Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium during Zoobilee they should raise their glass to two young Tacomans who in 1936 built a saltwater aquarium on the concrete pavilion over Commencement Bay, which was relocated to its present site within the Zoo in 1963.

BOBBLE TIKI'S THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN

All week the University of Washington Tacoma Bookstore has been having a massive Potter blowout â€" complete with movie showings, wand making, prediction taking, and Harry and the Potters (the band). Saturday, the day the book hits shelves, the Switchblade Kittens â€" promoting their recently released CD The Weird Sisters â€" will culminate the week-long Potter bonanza with a lesson in wizard rock â€" taking the stage at UW Tacoma’s Bookstore.

As always, Bobble Tiki doesn't care what you do today because he doesn't even know you.  And unless you check out the Weekly Volcano's Web site, Bobble Tiki doesn't want to me you.  Besides, it's time to blow this joint because it's so obvious you are becoming further and further removed from all that is genuine and real and visceral and virtuous and Bobble Tiki doesn't play that with his morning bowl of Quisp.

OK, Bobble Tiki apologizes.  Please be his friend here.

Breakfast with Bobble Tiki runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  Deal with it.

Not that you need an excuse to eat out, but you might need an excuse to break bread at, say, Le Le’s, Tempest Lounge, and Monsoon Room all in one night. Enter Love Tacoma’s MLK Nosh.

Held Wednesday, July 25, at the same time as the 100th Monkey party and the Christmas in July/Tacoma Beer Society get-together at Doyle's, the MLK Nosh provides an opportunity to discover Hilltop Tacoma with people who love Tacoma.

Here’s the schedule

• 5:30 p.m.: Everyone meets at Le Le’s.
• 7 p.m. Group splits in two with Group A noshing and sipping at the Tempest Lounge and Group B getting its drink on at The Monsoon Room.
• 8:30 p.m.: Group A and Group B switch joints, possibly with a kiss during the transfer.

The night ends back at the Tempest with DJ Fuel spinning and Matt Anderson of Uniting Souls rocking the house. â€" Suzy Stump

You loved ‘em for the best baked goods, now love ‘em for the best décor.

Hanging out at Corina Bakery, I did notice â€" and hear about â€" a lot of love, with a steady stream of customers coming through and double-taking much like I did when I first saw the remodeled space.  A brick red, brown, and an occasional pop of turquoise sets the space off, with '50s-inspired tables and a super chic lounge area encouraging cake eaters to linger.

Scott Neste of Inspired Design helped with the interior choices, while owners Walter and Jessica Gaya themselves, along with Casey Coen, put a fair amount of sweat into the remodel process, enlarging the kitchen  and putting it upstairs to expand the dining room and create barrier-free restroom facilities.

What results is an open, airy, homey, chic place that feels like the cakes they serve, sweet and delicious. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler