One of my favorite, FAVORITE places to fill my tummy, stroke my taste buds, and drain my bladder is Babblin' Babs Bistro in the Proctor District.

And Babblin' built beautiful potties, too.

Great food and great potties. The two go hand-in-hand. Speaking of two and speaking of potties, Babblin' Babs has two potties. One is in the main dining area, and the other is in the back with the new art-inspired 12-person private dining room. Both are spectacular.

I think a grand dinner party at Babblin' Babs Bistro would be spectacular, too. I would invite the interesting, the cool, the diverse. Oh, and the hot, too.

I'd ask actor/photographer Jason Ganwich to my dinner party. He's freakin funny. You might've seen him around Tacoma frequenting the downtown area coffee shops, or possibly at Vin Grotto Cafe and Wine Bar. He always has me in stitches. He's one of the great men who co-founded CACA.

Another absolute must at my dinner party is Elizabeth and Lawrence Huffines. He runs Pop Culture Productions, and he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met. One thing that I love is that they sometimes go barhopping on bikes. He bought Elizabeth this bike.
The idea of bike barhopping and the bike are both kick ass.

She, like me, hails from the Houston, Texas area. We have become fast friends as our kids twirl their hair at the same school. Elizabeth does not meet the mental image of your everyday Tacoma's soccer mom Read: She's cool. Just like me.

I'd also have to have the entire Ryan Montbleau Band there. I'd have them sit on each other's laps, and I'd sit on top. They are my absolute favorite band, and I want to secretly make little Jr. Ryan Montbleau Bands with them. They are from Boston, here for their first cross-country tour. I saw them when they were FINALLY in Seattle at the High Dive Saturday night. I then had the fortunate opportunity of lunching with them the next day. I'm going to hold a gun up to Pappi Swarner's head until he lets me print 1,200 words about that lunch.                              

I of course will invite my best friends www.myspace.com/thekake">KAke and Bandito Betty. I suppose Damon, my husband, can come. Someone has to pay. As long as he doesn't mind me making out with the Ryan Montbleau Band. Naked.

The other two seats are going to be taken by Chad Fitzgerald and his wife, Joy. I appreciate Chad for being the superdiculous (that's right, I just made a word up) Tacoma Beer Society member that he is, for his extensive knowledge of beer and the fine collection of brew he has hidden in his basement. Joy is damn cool, but she gained superdiculous status because she married Chad. Someone had to do it, and she took one for the team. Whatta girl!

I walk out of Babblin Babs Bistro's hand-painted floral bathroom with a head full of dinner invites and a smile across to Chef William.

I think this year for Thanksgiving I am going to be thankful for those who have given to our growing, close Tacoma community. This year I will be dining at Babblin' Babs on Nov. 22. And I will also be thankful for giving more time to people who appreciate me. People who value their beliefs and stick up for them. People who are thankful for kindness and want to give it in return. People I have the privy of dining with, and people I look forward to meeting in the future. Naked.