STEPH DEROSA: SAD DAY >>>

I’ll admit it again as it’s probably no secret â€" I have a history with the Dave Matthews Band.  My first show was 1998 at the Tacoma Dome.  I’ve been to the Gorge almost every year and seen them in various cities around this country â€" Fenway Park in Boston to Los Angeles, CA.  Although my show count is somewhere in the high 20s, it’s nowhere near some of my friends who have a show count of 35, 40, even 50.

Every year a group of close friends from all over the USA and Canada, whom I’ve developed lifelong relationships with through DMB, fly into SeaTac in order to attend DMB’s three-night stand at the Gorge over Labor Day Weekend.  With only a week before my annual Gorgers arrive, this afternoon I get a phone call from a close friend who tells me LeRoi Moore, the DMB Saxophonist, has passed away.

The people in my community learn the news hours before it is released on Associated Press, so we keep it hush-hush until the coast is clear to talk about the loss.

Rumors have been out that the tour may or may not be cancelled.  We do know that what the rest of the summer may hold for fans is still under discussion.  Tonight’s show at Staple Center (Los Angeles) has been slated to go on.

This is a sad day for our music community, and we all will sorely miss his talents on the sax, flute, and penny whistle.  I’d like to show tribute to my fellow fans, and all others who might be touched by the loss of a great musician.

MATT DRISCOLL: WEEKLY VOLCANO PRIMARY TRACKER '08 >>>

As noted earlier, 354 people have voted for Will Baker for Governor so far in today's primary.

But in case you'd like some info that really matters, here are some early results care of the Pierce County Auditor's Web site â€" which was last updated at 8:29 p.m.

Norm Dicks is holding off challenger Paul Richmond from Port Townsend, with a commanding 63.56% of the vote. Richmond unofficially has 7.60%, while Republican candidate Doug Cloud has 26.10%.

Chris Gregoire has 50.29% of the vote compared to Dino Rossi's 44.14%

Allan Martin and Jim McIntire are well ahead of ChangMook Sohn in State Treasure voting.

For a look at all of the early primary numbers, check out the Pierce County Auditor's Web site yourself.

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SUZY STUMP: 5 THINGS TO DO TODAY >>>

10 A.M.: Train enthusiasts embody both the history (choo-choo trains, cow catchers, waving handkerchiefs from the platform) and the future (mass transit, commuter rails, park and ride) of transportation. Further study of their beliefs and practices is encouraged- try, for example The West the Railroads Made, the Washington State History Museum's salute to the tracks and equipment from the Great Northern, Northern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads beginning in the 1840s. Climb aboard here.

6:30 P.M.: The Olympia Poetry Network hosts the "poets of Bellingham" followed by a traditional open mic (that's your que) at Traditions Café in Olympia.

7 P.M.: Blues trombonist Randy Oxford has moved his Blues Theatre jam back to Wednesdays at Jazzbones. And he's giving away $50 in Jazzbones cash every week.

7 P.M.: Every Wednesday Doyle's Public House in Tacoma hosts Knowledge Night where individuals or teams answer two pages of brain teasers, trivia and current events for shirts, tickets and gift certificates. It's a challenging, fun night.

7:30 P.M.: The rules are simple: bring food and drink to share and introduce yourself to at least three people you've never met before. That's the core basics of the 100th Monkey parties, which consumes the Theatre on the Square tonight. Expect works or art by Lynn Mackey, Dayton Knipher, Lisa Fruichanti, Joel Myer and Claudia Riedener. And Deborah Page will entertain the masses with her incredible guitar and voice. Tonight's Monkey tiles are created by Jim Francis. Be the Monkey.

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

JAKE DE PAUL: THE MORNING BREW >>>

1. In Napa, some wineries choose the old route (New York Times)

2. Coffee's trained tasters know their beans and brews (LA Times)

3. A craving for riblets and change at Applebee’s (New York Times)

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD

Bruit \BROOT\, transitive verb:
To report; to noise abroad.

USAGE EXAMPLE: It has been bruited that Bobble Tiki prefers boxed wine. In actuality, Bobble Tiki has no preference - he just loves wine of any sort.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Primary results so far

OLYMPIA: A look at Thurston County primary numbers

SEATTLE: West Nile in King County

UNITED STATES: Obama's summer vacation

ENVIRONMENT: Green soap

JUST BIZARRE: Too small to see

MORE STRANGE NEWS: Picked the wrong house

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

DANIEL BLUE: MEET JASON HEMINGER >>>

Jason Heminger knows how to make things out of wood.  His dream is to live in the forest, cleave his own home from the arms of the mighty fir, and raise his son August to be a mountain man. 

He and his wife Sayde, currently live in the Stadium district near the Parkway Tavern in a Victorian home that they have been carefully restoring for the past few years. Having moved to the city several years ago in an attempt to discover a community different from the one they knew in the suburbs, The Heminger family has had a rough go in luring the people of their city out of their own homes and yards. 

For the first several years that I knew him, Jason worked as a baggage handler for Alaska Airlines. This afforded him the opportunity to travel most anywhere at the drop of a hat. He has been to many places, and celebrated many traditions. His well rounded world view and hardworking nature have brought him to a good place in life, but the uncertainties of the times have given him pause.   

He is currently working on the Port of Tacoma and attempting to sell his house while he and his family decide where to invest their souls next.

LINK: The Tacoma Files archive

STEPH DEROSA: URBAN GOURMET CLASS >>>

At least six times a month Urban Gourmet & Garden opens its back kitchen for normal people like you and me who like to pretend they can cook. Local chefs from all areas of culinary expertise don the white apron, roll up their sleeves, and pound out some recipes for basic instruction that anyone on any cooking level can follow. Themes such as “Handmade Ice Cream,” “Grillin’ Lite,” and “Italian Seafood Dinner” are just a few among their wide selection of creative cooking classes.

This Saturday Urban Gourmet hosts a hands-on “Handmade Pasta” class with Chef Traci Garrett for an all-inclusive fee of $65. The classes have a history of feeding you more food than Michael Phelps’ daily diet and more wine than a bored housewives’ book club meeting; so don’t go thinking the $65 isn’t worth every penny. Bring your mom or bring a date, but you better hurry in to Urban Gourmet and reserve a spot for one of their upcoming classes â€" there are only 12 spots per class, and they fill up quicker than lager turns to piss.

[Urban Gourmet, 2602 B Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.3111]

MATT DRISCOLL: ELECTION RESULTS >>>

Tacoma seems to have finally elected Robert “the Traveller” Hill to office â€" kind of. According to early election results Hill is well on his way to becoming a precinct officer for the 27th â€" having received a whopping 65.88 percent of the vote. For those with the strange belief that government should be interesting, the news can be considered nothing but good.

LINK: Unofficial Primary Election results

SUZY STUMP: CONGRATULATIONS LAURIE DAVENPORT >>>

Forty-six artists competed in the 2008 Tacoma Film Festival Poster Competition. The quality of most was amazing. However, only one can win. The Grand Cinema Executive Director Philip Cowan just announced that Laurie Davenport won.

"It displays an artistic touch along with the image of a filmmaker and will represent the festival well the fall," states Cowan via email.

The Tacoma Film will run Oct. 2-9, 2008 at The Grand Cinema and other downtown Tacoma venues.

Congratulations Laurie.