STEPH DEROSA: THE RED HOT ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY >>>

In order to emphasize the seriousness of The Red Hot’s upcoming one-year anniversary party, I’m vowing to keep all meat tube jokes to a minimum.

This Saturday, Aug. 16, The Red Hot embarks on another well-manufactured year of manufactured beef sales.  This powerful Tacoma hot dog eatery and beer house has pushed the limits when it comes to both unique dog toppings and small town micro-brew beers on tap. Owner Chris Trashcan and his loyal employees promise a throw down of an anniversary bash that one will never forget.

Not only is this party to be taken outside at 7 p.m. ala back patio, it will also be equipped with a specially brewed Fish Tale “Red Hot Augustfest Bier” on tap.  Free gifts, nifty swag and a brand spankin’ new Pabst Blue Ribbon old-school cruiser bicycle will be given away. As if that wasn’t enough, a hot dog eating contest is in the works to be held that same glorious evening. 

Now go ahead and try to tell me there’s something better to do than watch Tacoma’s finest citizens shove wieners down their throat for fun.

The Red Hot party doors open at 2 p.m. Saturday, the patio opens at 7 p.m., and bike raffle begins at 8 p.m.

[The Red Hot, 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229]

SUZY STUMP: 5 THINGS TO DO TODAY >>>

10:A.M.-5 P.M.: Learn the history of glassmaking with fire gods Ash and Burnie in the 10-minute film Fire Gods, which plays all day at the Museum of Glass.  Fire it up here.

3:30-7:30 P.M.: Every Tuesday, residents walk, bike and drive to the 6th Ave Farmers Market to shop at vendors set up in front of Engine House No. 9 and Masa. Pine Street smells of fresh berries, crisp tomatoes and bunches of flowers. People hover over award-winning cheeses sold by Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano. Neighbors greet each other and chat as they pick a bottle of local honey to bring home. Fresh today will be cucumbers, Romano beans. peaches, pluots, and plums. Chef Diane of Herban Café will be cooking at 5:30 p.m. Singer/songwriter Joshua Adams will perform after the Chef Demo.

5 P.M.: Toscano’s Café & Wine Bar throws a beach party with summer cocktail coolers, beach blanket trivia and fruit on a stick.

7 P.M.: Where the hell are you?  Find out tonight at REI’s free GPS 101 class. Dial in here.

9 P.M.: Every Tuesday during Cans’ Industry night the concussive toom-toom-toom of DJ J-Fresh’s urban groove pulsates inside like the frantic heartbeat of a junkie. DJ J-Fresh watches the crowd.  Judges.  Predicts.  He’s been in the clubs since 1999, and has the eye of an old school veteran.  He collected records as a kid: Gap Band, SOS, James Brown â€" artists everyone works these days.  J-Fresh made tapes for friends.  He did private parties and rave-style events for years before pleasing club fans. Check it.

LINK: Viva South Sound arts and entertainment calendar
LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

JAKE DE PAUL: THE MORNING BREW >>>

1. Mini Fridge-Warmer keeps drinks cold or food warm (CNet)

2. Wine competitions are one big racket (Vinography)

3. I like my ice chilled just so (New York Times)

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide
LINK: Have you eaten anywhere good lately?

DANIEL BLUE: MEET JEFF THOMAS >>>

Jeff Thomas moved here recently from the Midwest. He plays bluegrass bass and means to live a conscious and healthy life. He and his wife, Amy, are calm people with well thought things to say about most educated subjects.

Jeff can in one sitting hit me with two to three anecdotes that I am forced to record on my notepad due to their mountain-man-esque wisdom and simple delivery.

It seems there is a bit of the old pioneer spirit written into Jeff's very soul. I sometimes find him to be altogether too darn happy for my cloudy spirit, and find myself jealous of his easy-going nature. To be fair, I'm sure it's not easy being the new guy in town, and it makes sense to have a good attitude about it and put one's best foot forward. This simple kind of decision making is what distinguishes Mr. Thomas's character to me in my memory. He is logical and straightforward.

Currently he is attempting to operate a house-painting rig, where in college children are hired to recolor domestic settings.  As frustrating as I have seen this become, his diligence and stick-to-it nature are inspiring and speak to the standup man that I believe him to be.

LINK: The Tacoma Files archive

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Enervate \EN-ur-vayt\, transitive verb:
1. To deprive of vigor, force, or strength; to render feeble; to weaken.
2. To reduce the moral or mental vigor of.

USAGE EXAMPLE: The night of booze and no sleep acted to enervate Mario Lopez’s mental capabilities â€" which weren’t amazing to begin with.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Stranded in Georgia

OLYMPIA: New Children's Museum ideas

SEATTLE: The price of trash

UNITED STATES: Getting to know Obama

ENVIRONMENT: Green deodorants

JUST BIZARRE: Another silly PETA idea

MORE STRANGE NEWS: Restraining order foils wedding afterparty

THINGS TO DO TODAY
FILM LISTINGS: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening
SHOOT THE SHIT: Weekly Volcano forums

BILL TIMNICK: EXPLORING SPANAPARK >>>

At first sight, Parkland and Spanaway seem more like crossroad communities than potential destination spots.  But for those who take the time to explore or who are on the road to Mount Rainier, these two communities south of Tacoma offer a selection of opportunities to stop and stay awhile.

Behind the rows of strip malls along southern Pacific Avenue in Parkland are reasons to detour, both to the west and the east.  Westward at South Garfield Street, for example, there is a pair of destinations â€" different in purpose and appearance, yet somehow belonging together.  You see, if Parkland could be called a town, it would be a college town, because a few blocks down Garfield from the Avenue is the campus of Pacific Lutheran University.  And leading to the university are a couple of blocks of small shops and eateries that would seem at home in any college town â€" multiple coffeehouses, tiny restaurants and shops.  And the food at Marzano’s Italian restaurant, across from the PLU entrance at the end of Garfield, is probably reason enough to make the trip to Parkland.

But the university campus provides a destination for visitors, too. Founded in 1890, PLU is a celebrated liberal arts university with a student body of about 3,600.  The campus is spread around a parklike, carefully landscaped setting.  Outdoor art is placed throughout the site.  PLU also serves as a venue for musical, theatrical, sporting, and cultural live events.  The university also houses a cultural heritage center and museum that help to maintain PLU’s ties to its Scandinavian heritage.  To learn more about upcoming events at PLU visit their Web site. 

And what lies farther to the south?  The Spanaway area attracts those looking for outdoor, as well as indoor, recreational opportunities. Just off Pacific Avenue at14824 South “C” Street is Sprinker Recreation Center.  This Pierce County Parks and Recreation facility features an indoor ice arena, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, racquetball courts, outdoor sports fields, a skateboard park, an outdoor rock climbing practice “spire,” and a nearby forested walking trail.

Sprinker’s ice arena provides public skating sessions as well as skating lessons.  The center also hosts ice skating competitions, some of which are open to students in the facility’s lesson programs.  The SPIRE rock facility is open year-round to area climbers unless in use by climbing clubs.  Pierce County Parks also offers climbing lessons that make use of the practice rock.  The walking trails are spread over a 70-acre section of Breseman Forest, located west of Sprinker.

For more information about facilities and programs available at Sprinker Recreation Center, call 253.798.4000.

Near Sprinker Recreation Center is another Pierce County Parks set of facilities.  Spanaway Lake Park is a 135-acre site set on the shore of the lake from which it takes its name.  The park features picnic and play areas boating and fishing facilities and sports fields as well as a trail system.  Near the park, along Pacific Avenue, is the Lake Spanaway Golf Course, an 18-hole public course.  For information about these or other Pierce County Parks facilities, call 253.798.4176.

Finally, for visitors looking for out-of-the ordinary overnight accommodations while exploring the Parkland-Spanaway area, consider the De Voe Mansion Bed and Breakfast at South 133rd and “B” Avenue in Parkland east of Pacific Avenue.  The De Voe is a 1911-built colonial-style mansion set on 1.5 landscaped acres.  The house is on the National Historic Register.  The B&B’s hosts serve a full breakfast to their guests.  Past delicacies have included smoked salmon croissants, Italian parmesan eggs, and strawberry Belgian waffles. How’s that for a way to start the day?

For more information, call 253.539.3991 or visit thier Web site.

STEPH DEROSA: I'M IN A FUNK >>>

As I relax inside the blue walls of Renaissance Cafe's private restroom, I find myself staring hypnotically at the retro posters hanging all around me. It's that psychedelic curvy-style writing that seemed to take over any and all posters developed in the 1960s. I'm sure I sound like a complete idiot, as there is most likely a name for this trippy writing style¬" but you know what? I'm just too damn tired these days to even Google the small shit anymore. Renaissance's fairy and concert posters alike send me into a daydream trance that spins me into an imaginary world of pink ponies, glittery unicorns and singing leprechauns.

Just kidding.

I feel old. That's all I can think at this moment. Any daydream trances I'm having these days are of laundry, errands, groceries, what I'm making for dinner, how I haven't made it into the gym in a long while, the high price of gas, what the fuck I'm going to be doing this weekend to entertain my mind, and if I'm going to have to find a babysitter in order to do it. Most times I feel invincible, full of energy, and full of positive light. But lately I feel simply full of battery acid.

Yesterday I stopped by The Red Hot so I could hand over some very valuable Weekly Volcano goods to owner Chris Trashcan's parents. I mentioned how I felt old and run down. They laughed in my face. Literally, I could smell their breath as they profusely bellowed out gaping chords of laughter thrown my way. Kevin the beer guy (I think his name's Kevin) rolled his eyes and continued to chow on his lunchtime hot dog. I had spent the last two nights drinking¬" but not drunk.I had stayed up late, but not past midnight. I had been with friends, but not partying.Why the hell did I feel like I had been on a weekend-long binger? What the eff is wrong with me?

I'm feeling my body get older, that's what's wrong with me.

Right now all I feel like doing is hijacking a plane to Hawaii, stocking up on Oxycodone, and sleeping a week or two away while being fanned by a beautifully tattooed local who goes by the name of Kekipi.But I can't. Gas prices, remember?

It's summer in the Pacific Northwest¬" one of the most beautiful times of year in the most beautiful part of the United States. Yet here I am bitching and moaning, sticking myself in a tired rut. Am I the only one? c-mon, someone has to be with me on this. I know you're out there. What do you do to overcome it? Acupuncture? Massage? Vacation? Soduku?

In the meantime I'll be reviewing the Trax from the 253 submissions and hoping some bad-ass local music will snap me out of it. Maybe I'll stock an ice cream cart and give away free ice cream this week. Maybe I'll rip off all my clothes and streak down Pacific Ave. Something silly needs to happen, something different. I'm open to any ideas.

Let's chat about it here.

MATT DRISCOLL: BIG DAY! HUGE DAY! >>>

While today, Tuesday, Aug 12 2008, might not seem like anything special â€" let me assure you, Tacoma and South Sound readers, it most certainly is.

After months of hype and much frenzied anticipation, Madden 09 hit shelves today. The best football video game of all time is finally back, updated and improved as usual, and dudely, video game loving flat asses everywhere are rejoicing.

While much of the attention around the release of Madden 09 is bound to center on the picture of Brett Favre in a Packers jersey on the cover â€" fans of the game know there are bigger things to discuss. What’s new? What’s improved? What’s the deal with this year’s Madden IQ feature? As you read this gamers across the country are answering these questions for themselves.

Unfortunately, I’ll have to wait to find out. I’ve got this damn job and a few responsibilities, which makes it tough to rationalize spending an entire Tuesday playing a video game â€" even one as important as Madden.

Luckily, I have friends who aren’t tied down by such inconveniences. Brett Potter, the Construction Supervisor with Blue Sky Landscaping in Fife, took the entire week off for the release of Madden ’09. I caught up with him early this afternoon, from his smoke filled apartment near Wright Park, to get the lowdown on this year’s game.

“I’m intimidated right now,” says Potter. “I’m afraid I might not be able to make the jump this year. This game is crazy.”

The craziness of this year’s Madden, at least according to Potter, can be attributed to a number of things. For one, this year’s game puts a great emphasis on adapting to the player. Basically, the skill level of the player decides the difficulty of the game. This, in theory, keeps games close and competition fierce. Before playing a real game, Madden ’09 leads players through a Madden IQ test â€" where passing, rushing, and defensive skill levels are accessed. Once your Madden IQ is established, the computer adjusts the difficulty of game play in accordance. After each game you play, depending on how the player has improved or declined, this Madden IQ is adjusted. It’s a brilliant idea, but one that will need time to prove itself.

“I think this means anyone can play against each other and the game won’t be a blow out,” says Potter. “When I did the rushing test I did pretty well, and when I got to a game it was really tough.”

Potter, who plays Madden on a Playstation 3, says running the football has proven difficult for him so far. In his first game he logged 14 yards on 22 rushes â€" which for those playing at home is not a very impressive average. Potter says graphically the holes that open up for the running back to hit are bigger and easier to see, but there seems to be less emphasis on the “speed burst” button this year and more on “juke” moves. 3 ½ hours after bringing Madden ’09 home, it was and adjustment Potter had yet to make.

“Madden is still a passing game,” says Potter, obviously frustrated by the game so far.

“I think I’ve aged.”

Indeed, since we graduated high school the same year, I know he has. I certainly have. That said, Madden is timeless, and with a whole week off from work to master the game something tells me Potter won’t be throwing in the towel any time soon. While he says this year’s game seems more designed for “gamers” than those who’ve grown up playing Madden, and the fact that Chris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond actually do the video game play by play this year is a bit weird, overall Potter was pleased.

“It’s crazy and intimidating, but it’s still Madden,” says Potter. “This game is fucking awesome.”