I would never, ever call the Significant One “cheap” but he is very cautious about where his money goes. 

This is the man who has been known to balk at a $12 buzz cut (his preferred coiffure) but when I was explaining the Tight Cuts concept to him, he perked up a bit. (I think the words “leather,” and “hot chicks” might have had something to do with it.)

He still was a bit unsure about the cost: “28 bucks?” he wondered, with that skeptical little scowl he gets.

So I went in on the Tacoma store opening Friday, and watched a steady stream of clients mosey on up to the chairs, perhaps with a bit of curiosity on their faces.

Resting their eyes on Michelle Machale and Marian Johnson, stylists on duty, the curiosity turned to appreciation; as they left that appreciation seemed to have morphed into respect.

The guys I saw walk out of there not only got good hair, but they got a hot towel face wrap while their scalps (and necks and shoulders) enjoyed a bit of massage and excellent product loving (Tight Cuts uses Crew products, mmm, nice).

As for the Significant One, he was initially put right to comfort by the atmosphere.  (“It’s like where we stay at Vegas,” he explained, likening the atmosphere to The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, where he goes to hang with friends to recharge every now and again.) He also seemed to appreciate the fact that when he said what he needed â€" not a guard, but a regular clipper â€" they “got it” and gave him a great cut with Marian, as per his expectations.  His expectations were exceededâ€"as proposed by CEO Dominic Casey â€" by the personal-basin wash, and more, more, more.  In this salon, each high-end chair gets a basin, and each cut gets a massage; each service gets a tech who cares.

And much as the Significant One hated to admit how much he liked the end result â€" and, in fact, the whole experienceâ€"my suspicion is, the Tight Cuts folks just got a client for life. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

Rain could have dampened the spirits of the gussied up Zoobilee-goers last night, but come on, kids â€" this is Tacoma!  We know rain, and we know how to cope with it.

Consequently, the accessory de riguer for the event was the umbrella, with a close second place going to galoshes.

And the fine folks of the Zoo Society who threw the event upped the temperature of the entertainment this year, so within the confines of the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, it was still sizzling hot summertime.

The Burlesque performances by Orchestra L’Pow were divine, with a “zoo” full of bodacious bodies, while the fire dancing antics of Pyrosutra Incendiary Dance were … well, hell, I was gonna use the word incendiary, but they already did.

Other live performances, ranging from the Chopsticks piano dudes and a variety of acts like Cambalache Salsa, who greeted guests on a festive note outside the zoo, as well as the Beatniks, $5 Fine, and the Darren Motamedy Band, who entertained and got booties shaking inside the zoo.

I noted the availability of more water than I had noticed last year (nice!), as well as an unobtrusive upping of the recycling effort.  I heard someone comment, “more dining coverage would have been nice,” but my thinking was the AA Party Rental guys outdid themselves putting up all the shelters that were there â€" even in peak wedding season! â€" not to mention how not-fun it must have been to put all that stuff up in the torrents of rain earlier in the week.

Food, drink, and socialization were all well and good, but the truly fun part of Zoobilee was, as always the people watching as the night â€" and general inebriation level â€" progressed; it was also very fun in a surreal way to walk the darkened trails in the zoo, under a canopy of opened umbrellas, eating yummy, yummy food and sipping yummy, yummy drinks as the rain came down.   

My own favorite part, seeing Zoobilee neophyte Chef Pete Weikel with his ear to ear grin, and his comment, “I had no idea this was gonna be so COOL!”

Yep, it was. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

THE DAILY WORD
Learn it, use it, spell it

Louche \LOOSH\, adjective:

Of questionable taste or morality; disreputable or indecent; dubious; shady.

USAGE EXAMPLE: According to the tabloids, Nicole Ritchie is currently pregnant, drunk, drug-addicted, anorexic, and stupid â€" making her now more known for her louche behavior than for being the daughter of ‘80s superstar Lionel Ritchie. Though her former friend Paris Hilton never referred to Ritchie as louche, and in actuality doesn’t know the word, she has been heard to call Ritchie a douche on a number of occasions.

THE MORNING NEWS

SAFETY: Get rid of cable.

LAW: Saddle up partner.

GAS: Time to ration?

BIKINI: How would you like to mow Bobble Tiki's lawn?

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:

MUSIC: Tonight!
Though Bobble Tiki knows as well as anyone that getting shitfaced drunk on a Monday only leads to a week full of cotton mouth and hating life, he’s been told it’s possible to go out and not get shitfaced drunk. Bobble Tiki will believe it when he pulls it off. Tonight, Junkyard Jane is playing the Swiss, the River City Rebels are playing Hell’s Kitchen, and the Brackish Water Band is playing the Eastside in Oly. Bobble Tiki sees plenty of temptation in front of him, and foresees a Tuesday morning hangover more annoying than hearing about the polyps removed from President Bush’s colon all weekend.   

DRINK: Last beer before Point Defiance.

THE SOUTH SOUND FACTOID
In September 1873, Tacoma was selected at the western terminus for the Northern Pacific Railroad with the terminus at the end of Commence Bay, thereby creating "New Tacoma." Rapid development ensued when Tacoma was linked by rail to the rest of the nation in 1883, and "City of Destiny" became the town's popular moniker. Lumber and coal from the nearby Cascade foothills were the major rail exports.

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.

The Freighthouse Square 20th Birthday event proved drier than Zoobilee, with the rain holding off for the majority of the day, so that people milling about could check out the cool cars outside while staying dry.

I heard many comments of surprise, with people enjoying and appreciating the changes seen in the Square; the good energy and family feeling between the merchants was palpable, and the food was, as usual, wonderful.  While I think it’s great to have so many amazing choices of food, all indie-great, I think the people who have to wait for me to make up my mind think it’s less wonderful (think about that annoying person at the ice cream shop who asks to taste all the flavors, then reverts back to vanillaâ€"that’s me). My default at Freighthouse is Greek, though the Burgers and Frites are my new favorite indulgence, ever.

Good times, all day, and I can’t wait to try the Spirit of Washington dinner train after it begins its run out of Tacoma on Aug. 4. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler

Velvet Revolver, Alice In Chains and Sparta will play The Gorge Amphitheatre Saturday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.  Tickets are $39.95, $49.95 and $65 at Ticketmaster Outlets.  Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 28 at 9 a.m.  â€" Brad Allen

I can’t begin to tell you about how many people ask for my opinion as to what the absolute best pizza spot is here in T-Town.  And since the Weekly Volcano didn't have enough room for my Best Pizza listing for Thursday's Best of Tacoma issue, here you go fine Spew readers.

The bottom line is that I can’t point to one, single pizza place as the best of all time because they’re each so uniquely significant.

Really, the best Tacoma pizza depends on what you fancy, and weighing one as better than the other would be illegal since they all have such individual redeeming qualities.

As such, I broke down Tacoma’s best pizza joints into categories because they’re each champions.

BEST SAUCE
I would eat the pizza sauce from The Cloverleaf by the spoonful. This Tacoma staple restaurant and bar is always packed with people who are willing to wait for their a pizza with finger-licking goodness.

BEST HAPPY HOUR PIZZA
Alfred’s Café and Bubble Room will sell you full $5 pepperoni pizzas during their happy hour from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Their pizza is brushed with a secret herb blending that’s scrumptious. Alfred’s is smart for not telling me what’s in the sauce, which keeps me going back.

BEST WOOD FIRED
I roll into The Rock for their true wood firing that really brings out their signature smoky flavor. One of the best ways to get to know their food is to show up for their lunch buffet where they rotate several different kinds of the pies, all you can eat. But just so you know, the Founders Pie is so good that I want to cry.

BEST GREEK PIZZA
I’m sure that Farrelli’s has other kinds of pizza that are great, but I’ve had only the Greek, and I’m like Rainman: When I find something good, I stick to it with the force of consistent autism. Take a seat. Order the Greek. Devour it and fall in love. Repeat.

BEST GREASY PIZZA
I don’t know why people create such negative connotations with the word greasy. Sure, it might lead to heart problems later in life, but no one can deny how good it is going down. That’s especially true when it comes to the most delicious greasy pizza in Tacoma at Spud’s Pizza Parlor. Hop into the legendary Trophy Room for a salad that’s overflowing with cheese and enough napkins to do that just-enough proportion of pizza grease justice. YUM!

BEST TACOMA STYLE PIZZA
Just like their saying goes, “It’s not New York or Chicago … It’s Puget Sound Pizza!” Everything about the pizza dished up here is perfect, which is why PSP is what I call a Tacoma requirement. The matrimony of their garlic-butter brushed crust, spirited sauce, the perfect amount of gooey cheese, with pepperoni, olives and peppers is what brings me back time and time again.

PIZZAGASM
Ravenous is fabulous. Their little gourmet pizzas, which can also be ordered as calzones, are orgasmic. If you order the Tuscany, you'll never regret it. â€" Natasha

THE PARTY
Wonder Twin Powers ... activate! Form of a pink elephant! Form of a pink girlie drink! Hey, Kool-Aid! Ad nauseam. 1978 was awful, except for Loni Anderson's hair and funk.

That’s not stopping Chopstix Tacoma from hosting “Funky Town” on a special ladies night. Dress in your favorite bell bottoms and polyester shirts as Chopstix will give prizes to the best dressed male and female.

So grab a Nehi and witness as I recalibrate my being with another superfluous journey through days gone by. Funky days gone by. â€" Suzy Stump

[Chopstix, Thursday, July 26, 8 p.m., 2702 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.7555]

The Museum of Glass is expecting its one millionth visitor to walk through the front doors Aug. 2-4.  This guest will be flooded with gifts and feel very important.  Gifts will include: a one-year family membership, a gift of glass made in the Hot Shop, special recognition by Museum director Tim Close and a $100 gift certificate to El Gaucho Restaurant. Cool. â€" Suzy Stump

The Museum of Glass is expecting its one millionth visitor to walk through the front doors Aug. 2-4.  This guest will be flooded with gifts and feel very important.  Gifts will include: a one-year family membership, a gift of glass made in the Hot Shop, special recognition by Museum director Tim Close and a $100 gift certificate to El Gaucho Restaurant. Cool. â€" Suzy Stump