JAKE DE PAUL: DINE OUTSIDE TODAY >>>

Though the South Sound dining scene has improved markedly over the past decade, something the rainy climate makes difficult is the coveted outdoor nosh. We’re not talking about the faux “outdoor” settings provided by themed shopping complexes (though those can be enjoyable too). We mean honest al fresco munching, under the bright blue (or starstruck) sky. With the sun forecasted to hang on through the weekend, click on this link for local patio/deck dining â€" although call and confirm that their decks will be open.

LINK: South Sound Patio/Deck Dining

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Latitudinarian \lat-uh-too-din-AIR-ee-un; -tyoo-\, adjective:

1. Having or expressing broad and tolerant views, especially in religious matters.
2. A person who is broad-minded and tolerant; one who displays freedom in thinking, especially in religious matters.
3. [Often capitalized] A member of the Church of England, in the time of Charles II, who adopted more liberal notions in respect to the authority, government, and doctrines of the church than generally prevailed.

USAGE EXAMPLE: While trying to choose a name to blog under, the Rev. Wright turned to his associate and said, “How about Latitudinarian69?” His associate replied, “I like the 69, but I’m not sure latitudinarian really sums you up.”

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Speed at your own risk today

OLYMPIA: Trial date for brewery water deal

SEATTLE: Cheap stay

UNITED STATES: Obama and his flag pin

UNITED STATES: Ted Kennedy has a stroke, or something...

JUST BIZARRE: Big sinkhole, big gator

MORE STRANGENESS: Resting his eyes

ONE MORE STRANGE STORY: Hot for teacher

THINGS TO DO TODAY

FILM LISTINGS: Look here

MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening

HEALTH CARE IN PIERCE COUNTY: Read this

SHOOT THE SHIT: The Weekly Volcano forums

ROCK THE CAUSE TOMORROW: Plan for it today

WALKABILITY: Everyone's talking 'bout it

GET DRUNK: On beer

BENEFIT
Rock the Cause
Today Love Tacoma and Project:U have teamed up to create Rock the Cause, a fund-raiser for the United Way of Pierce County set to go down at Jazzbones from 2-9 p.m. It’ll be a multifarious mix of great local rock and roll talent and a hip-hop band, all available to an all-ages crowd, and all in the name of raising cash for the United Way of Pierce County. I spoke with United Way of Pierce County president Rick Allen for this week’s cover story, and what the organization does for the uninsured alone should be enough to inspire your donations and intrigue you into spending Sunday at Jazzbones. Couple that with a lineup consisting of Evan Purcell, Fear Train Caravan, Matt Coughlin, Nasty Left, Paris Spleen, the Vamanos, and Trip the Light Fantastic, and you’ve really no good reason to miss this show. â€" Matt Driscoll
[Jazzbones, Sunday, May 18, 2-9 p.m., all ages, $8, 2803Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

STAGE
Man of La Mancha
This show had a lot of hype behind it, but it has proven to deliver as promised. Capital Playhouse's Artistic Director Jeff Kingsbury is that good, dispatches from the front report. Now I could draw some real-life parallels between Kingsbury playing the role of a knight who is fighting against an imaginary foe and his debates on the Olympia City Council, but that comparison would be cheap and hackish.

For anyone not in the know, the show follows the tale of Cervantes, who finds himself in prison during a time when folks didn't want to find themselves behind bars â€" the Spanish Inquisition. Facing less-than-kind treatment at the hands of the court's prosecutors, Cervantes presents his defense against the nebulous charges of presenting entertainment offensive to the Spanish Inquisition by taking on the role of Don Quixote. While in prison awaiting his trial, he portrays the legendary tale of valiant fights and battles for idealistic justice against all odds or hope of success. â€" Steve Dunkelberger
[Capital Playhouse, Man of La Mancha, through May 31 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $21-$33, 612 E. Fourth Ave., downtown Olympia, 360.943.2744, www.capitalplayhouse.com]

LINK: Relay For Life Benefit and more in the clubs today.
LINK: Let’s eat outside again.

BRAD ALLEN: DECK DRINKING >>>

I loved Miami Vice, with its sexy yachts, fast cars and dangerous criminals. And since it went off the air in 1989, life has never been the same for me â€" I still miss Sonny Crockett. But life goes on. And if, like me, you prowl the streets of Tacoma sunny days looking for trouble â€" or hot chicks â€" head over to C.I. Shenanigans deck for their Signature Mojito, a cool cocktail that will take you straight to South Beach.

Shenanigans muddles fresh mint, Barcardi Limon rum and sugar, pours it over ice with soda water, and serves this simultaneously sweet and tart baby in Shenanigan’s signature hurricane glass.  Its striking appearance resembles an unstrained salad in a glass. 

The beautiful people flock to this Ruston Way waterfront restaurant on sunny days. They’re all laughing out loud, too, which makes this a place to practice careful drinking.  It’s never attractive to have red liquid shooting out of my nose, after all, and I wouldn’t want to stain my white Don Johnson jacket.  So I play it safe and order the mostly clear Mojito. 

[C.I. Shenanigans, 3017 N. Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253.752.8811]

MATT DRISCOLL: IGNORE THE WEATHER AND ROCK >>>

If you’re not familiar with Trip the Light Fantastic, there’s a good chance you are familiar with the now defunct band Weather. It doesn’t seem like that long ago that www.myspace.com/weather ">Weather was one of the hottest bands on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

Weather broke up in 2006. Tyler Pratt and Joseph Yohann, suddenly bandless, recruited drummer David Balaam. Next thing you know, Trip the Light Fantastic was born.

What Trip the Light Fantastic is, besides a band name that could be a reference to about a gazillion different things, is an instrumental experiment of brainy rock seemingly created for the dirt under the fingernails crowd of Grit City.

Trip the Light Fantastic joins the Rock the Cause benefit show at Jazzbones today starting at 2 p.m.

STEPH DEROSA: WHOA OH OOOOOH LISTEN TO THE MUSIC >>>

Hands down best Caesar salad I’ve ever had was at Crown Bar.  They take a whole head of romaine, cut it down the middle, then throw one half face down on the grill.  The dressing is drizzled on top of the partially cool, partially warm grilled romaine and then laced with Parmesan shavings.  Un-freakin’-believable.  This fine salad is what we’ll be serving at this week’s Dinner with DeRosa.*

Our server for DWD is going to be the beautiful an illustrious Chelsea from Crown Bar.  I really know nothing about her than the fact that she brings me food and wine.  This is actually the best thing a stranger in a restaurant with a black apron on can do for me. 

The rest of my guests are all musically talented, and they’re all invited to my dinner.  If anything we at least have an alarmingly large amount of entertainment for the evening.  This is something that makes me extra tingly in my special girl-spot.

Geoffrey A. Klok is a professional guitarist.  How do I know?  He has business cards.  Business cards make you important.  You can’t deny someone’s significance in the world when they have their name and title on a three-inch piece of card stock.

I met Klok as he wooed me with his acoustic Beatles covers during one of Babblin’ Babs Bistro’s private dinners. Klok was there as background to our incredibly delicious six-course meal prepared by Chef William Meuller.  I love the way Klok could tell that his Beatles tunes were making me giddy, and the way he’d glance over at me each time the first chords of a song were struck.  I also loved how he whipped out a special songbook to field my request for “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”  Whew, I’m swooning right now as I type this. 

Next guest is Ben Lee. He has some qualities I can admire in a performer.  He’s talented on the guitar. He’s playful with the audience. He has a good voice. He seems somewhat humble.  There’s nothing worse than a cocky performer.  Lee’s notches include a theme song for a Kohl’s commercial, dating Clare Daines, and opening for Ben Folds last month at UPS.  (Sometimes along with Ben Kweller calling themselves “The Bens”) â€" Just to name just a few.

Aaron Bigler, host of open mic nights at all Farrelli’s Pizza joints will be attending this week’s DWD.  He’s cool and slick on the guitar. Bigler pulls off some amazing covers by tweaking them into something that reflects his personality, his voice, and his individualism.  Open mic nights at Farelli’s are fun to watch and Bigler is always up for making your night that much more entertaining.

Speaking of entertaining â€" do I have a guy for you all to meet.  His name is Steve Lehman and I caught him doing naughty things to a karaoke machine the other night at the Engine House No. 9. I had stopped by E9 to check up on Bandito Betty while she was slingin’ drinks behind the bar.  Even before I had entered the building, I could see Lehman’s ass shaking away to the tune of “Jump” by Van Halen.  It’s times like these where my quick camera draw talent comes into play.  Catching shit like this on camera makes the endless nights of ‘camera draw’ practice all worthwhile.

I can’t have Lehman to dinner without inviting his crew along.  The party was goin’ down at E9 for one of Lehman’s cronies that night. Apparently two of them mated and produced an offspring that had made it through college at UPS and was subsequently graduating that weekend. All these yahoos you see here at the table are somehow affiliated with Sigma Chi fraternity, and are alumni of Tacoma’s very own UPS.  From an old Texas Sigma Chi Sweetheart, I send you guys nothing but warm wishes.  And maybe some Geritol.  I certainly hope Lehman didn’t break a hip or anything performing all those crazy maneuvers on the E9 stage.

Mangiamo!

*This dinner is purely a figment of my imagination.  My imagination is unusually large and takes over most of my brain, thus smothering out any signs of real intelligence, focus, or ability to follow directions.