BOBBLE TIKI: LUNCH WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Camarilla \kam-uh-RIL-uh; -REE-yuh\, noun:
A group of secret and often scheming advisers, as of a king; a cabal or clique.

USAGE EXAMPLE: It was then that Bobble Tiki’s camarilla, after mulling it over, reached a decision. Bobble Tiki’s top advisers leaned into Bobble Tiki’s ear and whispered the command Bobble Tiki had been waiting for. “Take off your pants.”

AFTERNOON NEWS

TACOMA: More news on L&I and Atlas

OLYMPIA: The brewery and fraud

SEATTLE: Sonics get irritated

UNITED STATES: Edwards and the V.P. slot

THINGS TO DO TODAY
FILM LISTINGS: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening

RON SWARNER: SAD >>>

A much needed day unplugged, immersed in Babblin' Babs, Jr. Daffodil Parade, Rosewood Cafe and an inspirational session at Mad Hat Tea Company, and I'm late posting this sad news from my inbox:

Our Last Day is Today...
Come on down to the Bistro one last time!

Today, Saturday, April 5, is our last day … what a wonderful time we have had meeting, and cooking, for so many fabulous friends.
This was a difficult decision because we have many, many friends who believe in what we're doing, and so enjoy Chef Peter's scratch cooking. Many of our customers and friends want to invest in Stadium Bistro, however, with the economy slowing, and so many restaurants struggling, as we have, as folks curtail their spending, we've decided to close rather than put our friends' money at an unreasonable risk.

If you get this e-mail and have a chance, please stop by, we would love to see you all one last time!


Thanks for a great ride!
Pete, Cathryn and Chef Peter

I feel fortunate to have experienced all facets of Stadium Bistro â€" lunch, dinner, brunch, late night drinks and a night at their chef's kitchen table.  I wish the Weikels much success in their future ventures. Thank you for the great food and great chats.

LINK: Volcano's last interview with Chef Pete.

RON SWARNER: MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY >>>

I viewed the  Junior Daffodil Parade this morning up close and personnal at Babblin' Babs Bistro in Proctor.  Grabbed glances of clowns, schools and campaigning politicians (!) inbetween bites of the most amazing waffle â€" a Riesling-based, light on the flour waffle covered with thin, smoked lox and a dill crème fraîche with capers. Yum.

I ended my Babblin' breakfast with a lavender latte while Chef William Mueller put the final touches on his lemon muffins sprinkled with roasted Chardonnay grape seeds.

RON SWARNER: ONCE UPON A TIME >>>

I spotted Tacoma artist Ms. Darcy dressed as Little Red Riding Hood this morning at the Junior Daffodil Parade. She was strolling with the North Tacoma Montessori Center peeps.  The Big Bad Wolf was hot on her trail.

Hey, could that Big Bad Wolf really be ...

DA da duh duuuuum ...

OK, Tacoma Urbanist beat me to the draw.

FILM
The First 10
April 17 marks the beginning of the Grand’s 11th year. They will celebrate with a film series, of course. “The First 10” will define what makes The Grand grand â€" art and independent films that could only be found at the little film house that can. Playing today, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Sideways will screen at 6 and 8:15 p.m., respectively, before Napoleon Dynamite and Memento take over next Friday.
[The Grand Cinema, 6 and 8:15 p.m., $4.50-$8, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

BLUES
Phil Berkowitz & The Dirty Cats
Harmonica Tip number one: In order to blend the low notes (holes two, three, and four), draw in your breath then drop your tongue down to the bottom of your mouth â€" kind of like you're swallowing.

Harmonica tip number three: Check out one for the best harmonica players, Phil Berkowitz, Sunday at The Spar.

Harmonica tip number three: Don't share harmonicas. You wouldn't share toothbrushes, would you?

Back to tip number two: Berkowitz, a San Francisco Bay Area-based blues harmonica player and vocalist, has shared his talent for the better part of a decade. He founded the High Rollers in 1996 and plays regularly in clubs and blues jams throughout the Bay Area. His love of the blues has also taken him to New Orleans, Memphis, and, hey! Tacoma Sunday. â€" Brad Allen
[The Spar, 7 p.m., no cover, 2121 N. 30th St., Tacoma, 253.627.8215]

LINK: Coco Montoya and others in the clubs tonight.
LINK: Catch a flick on a local screen.
LINK: Let’s eat Caribbean today.

MICHAEL SWAN: DOWNTOWN OLYMPIA REVITALIZATION >>>

Olympia has seen the future of downtown development, and its name is Olympia 2012.

The newly formed grassroots organization has its sights on moving downtown Olympia in a positive direction. Parking, safety, and increased population density are issues posted on their to do list bulletin board with one foot firmly placed in keeping downtown Olympia quirky.

Olympia 2012 hopes to build a database of supporters through e-mail. If you are interested in keeping abreast of the Olympia 2012 steering committee’s action, join here.

NATASHA GORBACHEV: COOL NEIGHBORHOOD HANGOUT >>>

The Hub, T-Town's newest nightlife establishment featuring pizza, pasta and pints, held its grand opening Friday night at 203 Tacoma Ave. S. (the former St. Helens Cafe location), and a grand event it was.

After dropping in right after work, my friends and I were stoked to have a big table in the back while others waited in line for a seat in the front of the house.

The Hub proprietors Pat Nagle and Carole Holder have done an excellent job of redeveloping this hurkin space by creating a comfortable and inviting bar, a huddled mass of seating in the front, the large space in the back felt right-sized with a supreme amount of art that graced all of the walls, and subtle, modern colors.

There's even an easy chair section. Chill!

The food was crankin out all night long, and Harmon (which The Hub is an offshoot of) beers were everywhere.

The Hub was able to attract a real who's who of Tacomans Friday night (even the Tacoma police chief Don Ramsdell was there with his loved ones), and they were also able to successfully pull in their target demographic:

The Hub wants to be a cool place where families can go to relax with their kids, while enjoying comfort food and a good brew or beverage.

But this establishment is also good for the rest of us young and restless singles.

Speakin of, my friends and I took particular note of the following sign that hangs in the back.

And we just wanted to show The Hub that we're not going to oblidge, especially the self-proclaimed hippie Maleia who is very proudly using The Hub's front door. Take THAT!

All poking fun aside, The Hub is a great addition to the downtown nightlife scene because new places bring even more faces to our city center.

And when I look into my magical crystal ball, and I say with great certainty that The Hub will do juuuust fine.

LINK: Natasha's Scene of the Crime column.

MICHAEL SWAN: SCANNING OUR RUSSELL PROPOSAL COPY >>>

This is without doubt the fastest we’ve ever seen this community’s power players move. They’ve come up with $40 million in direct investments, including more than $70 million in local, state and federal tax breaks, and more than $80 million worth of infrastructure and cash.

The big news for everyday Tacomans?

Investment of at least $66 million to turn parts of downtown into a financial services sector, and development of a “grand entrance” to the city. Tacoma Partnership officials promise a fast track development of a “world class” downtown, which won’t be so embarrassing to Russell executives when visiting investors come to town.

We hate scanning. Thanks News Tribune.
LINK: Download executive_summary.pdf
LINK: Download Proposal.pdf
LINK: Download Funding.pdf
LINK: Download real_estate_options.pdf
LINK: Download tacoma_partnership_letter.pdf
LINK: Download where_russell_employees_live.pdf
LINK: Download community_letters.pdf
LINK: Download agency_letters.pdf
LINK: Download Appendix.pdf

Story links
LINK: Dan Voelpel asks what's next
LINK: Tacoma Urbanist gives props to Voelpel
LINK: Exit133 runs the numbers

Bonus Russell coverage
Police activity went down this afternoon at the proposed Frank Russell relocation site on the Marcato property at South 15th Street and Fawcett.

End result. Dude walked away without his passengers and car.

STEPH DEROSA: WARM AND FUZZY OF THE DAY >>>

Approximately one week ago a group from the Missoula Children’s Theatre traipsed into Tacoma-land to meet what talent our grand city had to offer.  There were tryouts held for the upcoming children’s play The Little Mermaid.  Oh, and by “upcoming” I mean: the very next weekend.  The entire cast, minus one main adult lead, was comprised of local kids with a knack for acting. 

You read that right: ONE WEEK for practicing, memorizing lines, learning positions, rehearsing the songs, and gaining the confidence to perform.  That’s a tough job, and a tall order if you ask me.  That’s how Missoula Children’s Theatre rolls.  They have an extremely strong travel team who tour from Canada to Guam, recruiting child actor-wannabes and amazing all communities.

KAke and I, along with some very cool family members, took our little ladies to the 1 p.m. performance yesterday at Theatre on the Square.  We laughed and smiled the entire time.  There were a ton of fish puns:  “I’ll get you a birthday cod or maybe a nice bouquet of flounders.” 

The play was cleverly written, and our 5-year-old girls’ eyes were glued to the stage.  I have one word for this performance, and for the Missoula Children’s Theatre: Remarkable. 

I give all of you a very warm standing ovation.  Keep up the good work!

STEPH DEROSA: DINNER WITH DEROSA >>>

Mmmmmmm ... pink cookies!  Herban Café is where I am having this week’s Dinner with DeRosa.  So grab a bottle of wine, peruse the extensive, flawless Herban Café menu, take a seat, and get to know this week’s guests:

Located right next door to Herban Café is my own personal, local Caldrea supplier: Urban Gourmet & Garden.  Robin Jensed and Catherine Attebery (I love saying their names out loud) are the dynamic duo that own and operate this astounding kitchen store.  It’s a few times a month these girls see me wander in breathless and in a state of fret.  I’m usually in dire need of a last minute gift of some sort.  With a smile on their faces, and a complimentary laugh, they drop what they are doing to ease my unprepared-ness.  Within minutes they’ve found the cure for what ails my needs, and they send me on my way.  I’m sure they are aware that the quicker they find what I need, the quicker I am out of their hair â€" so it’s really a win-win situation on both parts. 

Have you ever taken the time to step into Great Northwest Popcorn on Pacific Avenue to chat corn with Pat or Kathy?  They are just a few spaces down from urbanXchange, toward 21st Street South (Can we get a few more stores in Tacoma with the word “urban” in the name?)  KAke and I have special ordered pink popcorn for a certain duo’s fourth birthday last year, and the service was exemplary.  She made the popcorn whatever color we wanted, whatever flavor we wanted, and at the exact serving amount we wanted.  This was all done for a very reasonable price, and made a really creative party favor for our girls.  If you’ve never been into Great Northwest Popcorn, take the time to stop by and be over stimulated with many bins of old school candy that will take you back to your childhood.  Well, your childhood minus the bully ass-kickings, at least.

How did I know you had your ass kicked in school?  Lyndean told me.

With just a tiny amount of skepticism and only a half-bottle of wine in me, KAke took me to meet a tarot card reader.  Her name is Lyndean, and as I discovered shortly after meeting her: she’s pretty friggen’ cool.  I won’t go into detail what was discussed, but she was just about dead-on reality when it came to my personal life.  I was amazed and astonished after my reading, and actually had a change in my outlook on life.

Not only did I ask Lyndean about my personal life, but also I asked her what my local community could look forward to.  I find it my duty to declassify this pertinent information having to do with the future of Tacoma.  Read slowly, and pay attention: Religious disambiguation, symbolic clarification on all romantic reveries, and lots of fresh broccoli.  Consider yourself warned.

Melinda was the best part about my Hub lunch experience last week.  It’s the new pub from the Harmon Brewery folks. I look forward to getting to know this extremely friendly and outgoing girl at our theoretical Herban Café dinner. 

Bringing the beer, liquor, and wine to our dinner this week will be Mike, one of Doyle’s über-cool bartenders.  I adore Mike.  He helped the Tacoma Beer Society get its start at Stadium Bistro, and helped fight for us when things got sticky.  Doyle’s owner Russ Heaton rescued us on more than one occasion with the TBS, and we owe him and Mike noting but gratitude.

Mangiamo!