STEPH DEROSA: ONE CRAZY SATURDAY NIGHT >>>

Amongst the wide variety of Korean, Japanese, and Asian restaurants located on South Tacoma Way, Kyoto Japanese Restaurant is where one can find some of the best service and best sushi around.  Just ask my girls The KAke, Jenny Fab, and New Girl Erin.  Erin immediately fit into our dysfunctional crew seeing as how she laughed at my politically incorrect jokes and signed my new stop-imitation-crabmeat-in-sushi-rolls petition I’ve recently drawn up.  Yes, we like New Girl Erin.  Dinner this week will involve the crafty delicacies of Kyoto’s menu, which the four of us dined on during our recent escapades. 

The group of us had a fantastic girl’s night out, and from whom we ran into during our time together, I’d first like to apologize to them, and then invite to this week’s Dinner with DeRosa.  It really is the least we can do.  We simply don’t have the money to pay back the cost of all damages.  Instead, enjoy your imaginary blogger-net dinner.

Our first stop was the humble abode of Mr. Joe Izenman.  I consider him a friend, so when he says, “Steph, there’s a ‘Rawk Show’ in my basement tonight,” I say, “What time?” and,  “I’ll be there.”  I adore the acoustic musical talents of Mr. Fusion, Izenman and This Shirt is Pants, so naturally they will be providing the music to this week’s dinner.

While we were down in Izenman’s basement, The KAke noticed a lovely decorative addition to the concrete floor.  It didn’t take us long until someone squealed as to whose they were.  Ashlee B., you’re invited to dinner this week.  Upon your arrival you may reclaim your yellow thong panties. You’re welcome.

Shawna Cantwell scored high points with my crew, and is definitely invited to Dinner with DeRosa.  When we asked to take a picture of a different group of girls, they all insisted they were too ugly and then scattered upstairs.  Insecure much, girls?  Then came Shawna Cantwell. She had the backbone we had been looking for.  When asked to snap a picture of her beautiful dress, she happily obliged and posed like a champ.  You’re cool, Shawna.  Now come have some sushi.

Two other phenomenally cool people we met at Izenman’s were Jake Westhoff and Chelsea Crooks.  Here you see The KAke as she extends a dinner invitation in a manner only The KAke can â€" with style.

After Izenman’s basement “Rawk Show” Jenny Fab, The KAke and I headed down to our Tacoma Convention Center for the craziest party ever thrown by the Boy’s and Girl’s Club.  No, wait â€" it was the craziest party ever thrown, period.  What went on inside those Tacoma Convention Center walls is indescribable.  You will simply have to look at the pictures yourself in the Weekly Volcano's Photo Hot Spot. The place was absolutely NUTS.  Thank you Gary Yazwa and Rickard W. Guild (www.bg-clubs.com), for those three tickets.  We had a fantastic evening and y’all are welcome to be my dinner guest any time you want. I definitely owe you one!

After the Tacoma Convention Center, it was time to catch Motopony do their thing inside Doyle’s brick walls. What a cool (and sexy) gaggle of talent these Motopony guys are.  If you’ve yet to see them in action, then listen up: They ROCK.  I’m already ready to go another round with Motopony â€" I’m ready for them to Give. Me. More!

Our last dinner guest this week is Hamilton Lancaster.  We like him because he’s sweet, cool, and all together awesome.  We also like him because he schooled Jenny Fab on Doyle’s “Bacon Mondays.”  That’s right, Doyle’s now has “Bacon Mondays.  For a measly one-dollar-bill, you too can enjoy three of the most delicious pieces of pork fat Hamilton Lancaster has ever encountered.  Once Doyle’s owner Russ Heaton begins a bacon-themed day, we know the bacon craze has reached it’s all-time high.  And Mondays just became a tad bit more tolerable.

Mangiamo!

LINK: Dinner with DeRosa archive

STEPH DEROSA: I WENT TO SUSHI TOWN >>>

Word in the DeRosa household is that Sushi Town was THE place to dig down on tasty sushi. My non-raw-fish-eating husband swore by this place, so I had to go. The KAke and I jumped at the opportunity to take her brother, Ike Shanaman of the Tacoma punk band Broken Oars, out for his birthday lunch at this Bonney Lake legend called Sushi Town.

What makes this place crowded, line out the door, stuffed to the gills busy is their terrific sushi bar lunchtime deal. For $17.95, and only at the bar, can you scarf down all the sushi rolls you can eat in an hour. The catch is that you have to eat at least half within the hour in order to pay only $17.95. Otherwise you have to pay full price for all rolls.

I’m talking about 8-inch rolls piled with sushi extras such as tobiko, shrimp, imitation crabmeat, and tempura. They’re not on the small side of sushi rolls by any stretch of the imagination. What I did find lacking, and what I have come to realize is the reason my non-raw-fish eating husband likes this place, is that about 80 percent of their rolls are made with cooked ingredients. There are lots of vegetables, cooked shrimp, tempura everything, and of course imitation crabmeat (which I loathe) in almost all rolls. In order to get my fill of what I consider real “sushi” I ordered shiro maguro nigiri (raw albacore tuna). But guess what? They were out. (Thank you Ike for sharing your tuna with me.)

I ordered what appeared to be one of the few rolls that included sashimi in its ingredients: the mountain roll. Unfortunately, in order for me to get to the thin slices of fish atop the sushi roll I had to uncover it by scraping off the gynormous mound of imitation crabmeat that covered my food.

Contrary to how I felt about my initial visit to Sushi Town, I will definitely return. The service was friendly and I have yet to try the $17.95 all you can eat sushi bar. Although next time I will most likely jump on the “build your own” roll that allows you to add up to six ingredients and starts at the price of $6.50. I just hope they have more albacore by then.

[Sushi Town, 20649 State Route 410 E., Bonney Lake, 253.891.2046]

STEVE DUNKELBERGER: CARIBBEAN COMBO >>>

The ukulele revolution continues with another strategy session set for this week. Captain Swing hosts Trader Tom and his Caribbean Combo from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24. Bill Merwin and his Hawaiian guitar and Tom Brooks with his ukulele have combined forces for a spell to create the "tropical swing" sound of the Caribbean Combo.

"It's new for me as it is the first 'gig' I've done where I'm not playing bass," Brooks says. "It is also refreshing because, as a bassist, I am more often in a supportive role where in this case I have selected the musicians, the instrumentation, most of the tunes and arranged how they will be played. It is always fun to bring together musicians from different elements to collaborate and perform something that may be new for each of us."

The crew includes Rick Mellenbacher on bass, Mark Runions on accordion, Tom Hume on drums and Margie Pasero on percussion.

The ship sails at A Rhapsody in Bloom Florist and Café Latte.

Check it out.

[A Rhapsody in Bloom Florist and Café Latte, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 7-9 p.m., no cover, 3709 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.761.7673]

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

STEPH DEROSA: CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF TACOMA >>>

My editor wants me to shy away from schmoopy kid stuff for this alternative newsweekly blog. You know what? Screw him.

Since my days as a YMCA camp counselor, long before my days of mommy-hood, I’ve been a huge Children’s Museum of Tacoma fan. I remember the Children’s Museum before it was on Broadway. Back when there was a tiny alley entrance off Court C, just behind the Rialto. The love for children, community and playfulness that the CMT has always had just seems to bust out of any space they are confined to. They keep growing, building, and searching for that bigger and better venue to keep their thousands of fans (like myself) busy and happy with positive learning through play.

Amongst other key fundraisers the CMT has throughout the year: Playing Under the Stars dinner auction and Gingerbread Jamboree family event, I’ve attended their Power of Play Luncheon a few times in my past. Every time I’m enlightened and motivated to make this world a better place for the future of our children. (I bet you now have Whitney Houston stuck in your head.)

I attended the Power of Play Lunch last Wednesday held in the Bicentennial Pavilion at the Hotel Murano. The luncheon simultaneously raises awareness of early learning in our community and raises critical dollars for the Children's Museum of Tacoma. The CMT must’ve caught on to my celebrity-ness because they respectfully put me at the farthest table away from the speaker, tucked into the back corner. You know, so the paparazzi wouldn’t bother me.

A perfect chicken salad was served before Washington’s very own Gov. Christine Gregoire addressed us. She humbly spoke of her parenting memories and encouraged everyone to support the CMT and what they represent. I was trying really hard to pay attention, but my naughty seat buddy, Cynthia Tanis of Parent Map, kept distracting me by passing notes and giggling uncontrollably.  

Somewhere amongst the adult play next to me, I managed to catch Gregoire’s words: “For every $1 the state spends on early childhood education, we get $7 back,” and “ By seventh grade teachers can tell a difference between a child who was in full day kindergarten and who wasn’t,” and “Teachers of early childhood education are professionals, not babysitters.” Preach on Gregoire, preach on!

Next up was Charley Bingham. Bingham was this year’s Power of Play Luncheon chair. He’s also a retired VP of Weyerhaeuser. After warming up to us about his memories of fatherhood, Mr. Bingham presented Rick Allen, president of United Way of Pierce County, the Pierce County’s Great Friend to Kids Award. Mr. Allen credited those around him who work the hardest, “I don’t do any work. I’m the Chief Cheerleader.”

Finally Tanya Andrews, executive director of the Children’s Museum of Tacoma, stepped up to fill us in on the skinny of CMT. Here’s what I learned:

• Hopefully there will be news in the New Year about the CMT’s new space in Tacoma.
• You can check out free passes to the CMT at the library. (And they get used a lot, according to Ms. Andrews.)
• $42K was used last year to help with the 35 percent of people who attend the museum for free. (Thanks to the fund-raising!)
• In four weeks the CMT will launch a new program called “Play to Learn,” a weekly drop-in playtime that is actually brought TO the neighborhoods. You know, not everyone can make it down to Broadway so easily.
• This fall/winter “Play to Learn” will outreach the neighborhoods of Hilltop, Lakewood, Spanaway, and Parkland.
• Come springtime, the “Play to Learn” program will grow by 3 times it’s size and into it’s full scale.
• A large portion of childcare is unlicensed. Parents rely on family, friends and neighbors. Although quality childcare, these caregivers are usually unaware of necessary group play and social development that children need. This being the reason CMT will be bringing it to the neighborhoods.

Take the time to support our Children’s Museum and look for this holiday season’s Gingerbread Jamboree. Most importantly, don’t ever forget those profound Whitney Houston lyrics, “ I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way …”

Gotcha again. You’ll be singing that stuff all day. You can thank me later.

LINK: ViVA South Sound arts and entertainment calendar

STEPH DEROSA: MORE REASONS TO LOVE DAVE'S >>>

Dave's Meat and Produce has very recently turned in an application to sell beer and wine. The (handsome) butchers have already begun discontinuing most bulk spices with an intent to display wine on the old spice shelves (Not to be confused with Matt Driscoll's favorite cologne â€" Old Spice). 

Upscale beers of high quality will be kept in the large refrigerated wall cooler, and will also be for sale.

The process to obtain a beer/wine sale permit has only just begun.  So to all my fellow winos, hang tight. One stop shopping at Dave's is steadily on its way. 

MICHAEL SWAN: ART AT WORK MONTH >>>

The Tacoma Arts Commission has announced this year’s AMOCAT Arts Awards winners. The awards, according to a press release, “recognize community members’ vision, dedication and action in creating a lively arts community in Tacoma. The three categories support community outreach in the arts by a patron, an organization and an individual.”

And … the winners are:

The Arts Patron award goes to the Hotel Murano. This beautiful hotel, which replaced the Sheraton Tacoma in downtown Tacoma, is designed around glass and showcases more than 45 artists from around the world. Why its sleek lobby bar remains unused most nights is beyond the Weekly Volcano. Maybe this award will be the ticket. The Weekly Volcano grabbed this award last year. Now we can’t go anywhere without the Paparazzi tailing us.

The award for “Community Outreach by an Organization” goes to King’s Books. No brainer. Not only do they open their space to every artistic and cultural event under the sun, they also host their own events, too, such as poetry readings and Banned Book Week, which kicks off Sept. 27. Oh, and they also give money to local public schools.

The “Community Outreach by an Artist” award goes to Linda Danforth, a local jewelry artist who has become the Queen of Cooperatives, as in Jet Artist Cooperative and the Broadway Artist Cooperative.  She also founded Tacoma Art Place that provides the community with affordable art instruction.

The awardees will be honored at the Art at Work Opening Celebration on Oct. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Tacoma Art Museum. Besides speeches by each winner, the night will include music by gypsy jazz band Pearl Django, poetry readings, a hands-on art activity, hors d’oeuvres and an opportunity to view the museum’s galleries.

Visit the Tacoma Culture Web site for more information about November Art at Work month.

SUZY STUMP: CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU >>>

In my mind's eye, wine events are sophisticated and elegant events. The wines are perfectly matched with complicated, delicious food that I wouldn't take the time to prepare even if I had the recipes.

A handsome man representing an unpronounceable vineyard in a country I can't quite pinpoint makes me realize how little I know about wine â€" and the etiquette. Do I spit it into the bucket after swishing it around like Scope? Do I get to swallow it, or is that crass? Can I ask for seconds? Why am I paying someone to make me feel inferior?

Or there's the other kind of wine tasting, where everyone shows up at someone's house with a bottle of their favorite wine. This is the optimum way to taste some cheap wine that you normally wouldn't drink on a bet. You get some Triscuits and some Cheez Whiz, and maybe someone brings hummus. You're guaranteed to have a headache the next day.

Or, there's a third option: Enjoy wines from around the world during an auction to raise funds for the Tacoma Neighborhood Business Districts inside the Wheelock Student Center Rotunda Room on the University of Puget Sound campus.

If the third option looks appealing, grab $60 and head over to said Rotunda Room Saturday, Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m., bid on stuff from the business districts, and thank Tacoma Neighborhoods Together in a guaranteed drunk slur.

For reservations, Ron Michael at 253.627.5277.