SUZY STUMP: DON'T EAT THEM â€" VOTE! >>>

The Old House Café in the Proctor District wants you to help predict the next president of the United States.  A jellybean (Ronald Reagan represent) will accompany every meal served with the hopes that patrons will deposit said jellybean into one of two labeled jars â€" McCain or Obama â€" as an informal poll to be tallied Nov. 3. It's part of a national campaign to predict the winner.

The Old House Café, of course, would like you to vote many times. To help draw you in the restaurant offers reduced prices for Twilight Dinners 5-6 p.m.

Drop by and vote with your stomach at 2717 N. Proctor in Tacoma.

STEPH DEROSA: MONDAY MADNESS >>>

Do the schools even give away “fair days” anymore? I heard all the Western Washington kids used to get a day off of school to go to the fair. Down in Texas we got a day off to go to the rodeo, but not before we had “western wear week” all week. It’s surprising how one 8-year-old can own so many plaid shirts and cowboy hats when you live in Houston. Who the hell cares about Washington school’s “fair day” regulations anyway?  I took my mini-me to the Puyallup Fair Monday, and it was well worth the call to CPS I’m sure her teacher made.*

Every parking spot in every lot is a fund-raiser. Whether it’s raising money to go to a church, a PTA, or some Puyallup alcoholic’s beer fund â€" your hard earned money is dropped into the hands of some dude waving a small orange flag. And you’ll pay, no matter how much it hurts. I thought it would be a good idea if Mr. DeRosa just dropped us off, but that served to be quite a challenge as well. Traffic was horrendous.

Remember, even though your kindergartener (or younger) may get a free fair ticket from school, 5-year-olds still get in for free. So it’s best you take your free ticket and scalp that shit. Soccer moms pay big bucks for that stuff. I kid, I kid â€" give it away like I did. Either way, I made a soccer mom very happy.

Inside those pearly farm gates lies Krusty Pups, scones, and household appliance demonstrations farther than the eye can see. All three of these things are a “must” if you’re going to do the Puyallup Fair right. Forget the Jenny Craig diet for just one day â€" that Krusty Pup is worth every calorie. Hell, I even heard somewhere that prisoners are willing to be somebody’s bitch for a day in order to score a Krusty Pup and scone. I know I would.

Another sizzling score for fairgoers yesterday was “Monday Madness.” Get this: All rides were just ONE ticket. That’s right, I said ONE ticket. So instead of sinking the normal four bucks on a sketchy ride, you are only spending ONE! Let the pukefest begin!

The best part of the Puyallup Fair (along with the cheap fair rides and unbelievably tasty fair food) was the sun. Dammit, it was hot, sunny, blue skies, and a perfect fair day. We had a blast, wore our shoes thin, and soaked up some rays. I may bitch and moan about prices and parking, but the Puyallup Fair is not something you can miss and still live with yourself, especially if you have a child. Make the Puyallup Fair a memory â€" not just for your kids, but also for your family as a whole.

*Just kidding, my daughter received a day off school to go to the fair. I’m not as terrible of a mom as most might think.

[Puyallup Fairgrounds, Through Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., $8-$10, Ninth and Meridian, Puyallup, 253.841.5045]

STEPH DEROSA: HARVEST FEAST >>>

The Tacoma Farmers Market has done it again. Harvest Feast is just in its first year of conception, and already they’ve sold out above and beyond. As I spoke to Laura Edwards, one-girl-show of Harvest Feast, she sounded surprised that things had gone so well for a first-year event. I gave her the cliché “Oh, no Laura. Build it and they will come.” And that’s exactly what the Tacoma Farmers Market did.

This Saturday the Tacoma Farmers Market, along with local farmers and chefs, come together for a feast of the ages to be held at Terry’s Berries. There will be no tent for the elegant yet casually dressed dinner guests to hide under. Being out on the farm, under the stars, and focusing on the farmland is what Laura Edwards of the Harvest Feast wants the main focus to be. Team beautiful scenery with local musicians and poets â€" and you have yourself a remarkable evening for all to savor.

Charlie McManus of Primo Grill will prepare a pit roasting pig (a locally raised, very happy pig), and serve up side dishes that will amaze the feast’s guest to no end. Local farmers have donated large quantities of fresh vegetables, and this city’s finest chefs have joined forces in order to create an extraordinary spread of delicacies. Guests can expect to see the culinary likes of Over the Moon Cafe, Maria’s Tamales, Masa, Pinwheel/Herban Café, Gateway to India, Woody’s on the water, Hotel Murano, and Brix 25- all of whom have donated their time and materials to this weekend’s event.
With a national assembly of non-profit “Chef’s Collaborative” already in place, Tacoma Farmers Market has started their own chapter, respectfully named “South Sound Chef’s Collaborative.”

Harvest Feast has been created in order to support this brand new entity, and hopefully raise not only funds, but also community support. Edwards credits Chef Charlie McManus with playing a key role in making this event happen.

[Terry’s Berries, 5-9 p.m., $75, 4520 River Road, Tacoma, 253.922.1604]

KEN SWARNER:JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD 2010 >>>

Fort Lewis and McChord officials reiterated and updated plans for making Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base one installation by Oct. 1, 2010 as required by the Base Realignment and Closure laws.

Speaking to the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee this morning, Public Affairs officials from both installations said the process to establish Joint Base Lewis-McChord continues to move forward.

Under the current plan, Fort Lewis will provide control of installation services such as public works and recreation for both installations as originally envisioned. The joint base commander will be an Army colonel, similar to the current garrison commander position. The joint base deputy commander will be an Air Force colonel.

Army and Air Force units will continue to train and report to their Army or Air Force commands, as it is now. The 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord will also maintain management of McChord’s airfield on behalf of the joint base commander.

In total, 12 joint bases will be developed across the United States. The first five finish the process in September 2009, while the remaining seven, including Fort Lewis, officially transform to a joint base January 2010 and complete the transition in September 2010.

While the Army takes the lead for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, it is only one of two joint bases to be led by the Army. Seven of the 12 joint bases are to be commanded by the Air Force, and four by the Navy.

Currently there is no plan to create a thoroughfare between the two installations, though that may change once the Cross Base Highway is built. For the time being, people moving from one base to the next will need to re-enter security gates.

BOBBLE TIKI: FINALLY CATCHES UP WITH JOE HAEGE >>>

In last week’s edition of the Weekly Volcano, Bobble Tiki took a moment to wax poetic about one of his favorite Portland based band, www.myspace.com/31knots ">31 Knots â€" who will play Hell’s Kitchen tomorrow night (Thursday, Sept 11).

While Bobble Tiki did plenty of waxing last week about 31 Knots, what he didn’t do was interview the band. If you read the column than you know the story, but suffice to say Bobble Tiki was awfully disappointed about the development.

This week, however, 31 Knots frontman Joe Haege took a moment to speak with Bobble Tiki about his band’s new record, the tour that currently has him in Japan, and his thoughts on the City of Destiny.

Here’s how it went down:

Bobble Tiki: You just released Worried Well. How does it pick up where The Days and
Nights of Everything Anywhere left off? It seemed like Bobble Tiki noticed a few new flares this time around. Where did your inspiration for this latest record come from?
Hage: Honestly, I don't know if we ever have a concrete influence for a particular album. Our influences or inspirations are always on and always pretty equal. We could want to sound like Bowie and the MinuteMen one day and the next day Sparks and some 80's new age composer.

Tiki: You're about to embark on an extensive tour - bringing you to Japan and Tacoma. How is the reaction to what you do in far away places like Asia? What was your impression the last time you were in Tacoma â€" at the Helm Gallery, if I'm not mistaken? Did you find the audience receptive?
Haege: We had  a great time in Tacoma. The show was a lot of fun and it was nice to see a scene in Tacoma that was its own burgeoning thing. We've always had people tell us, though, that Hell's Kitchen is where we should play, so we'll see. Its hard to top an all age antique gallery where people are getting their drink on.
      
Japan…wow. You can't beat Japan. The food is amazing and everyone is very nice. This is our 3rd time here so we also get to see some friends we haven't seen in a while. Tonight we're playing with Melt Bannana and our friends Balloons in Tokyo. The only downside I can think of is the humidity. It reminds me of the Midwest. Ugh.

Tiki: The last time Bobble Tiki saw you - which, admittedly was a long time ago at the
Doug Fir in Portland - the show was energetic to say the least. Do you have any tricks up your sleeve for this tour, or is the 31 Knots live show all off the cuff, spur of the moment stuff? Do you plan it or does it just happen?
Haege: By tricks I assume you mean my cheap stage antics. Yes, I have a few. It's getting hard to come up with new ideas that I really like and that don't involve large sums of money or adding a member. I just can't be a straight rock and roll guy anymore. Something seems disingenuous about it, or, rather if you're going to play the part of something or someone make it obvious you're playing a part. There is a lot of posturing that goes on in the world of bands and musicians and its just not my thing. Though, I fucking love to play rock music and have irony not invited to the dinner table.

Tiki: You told Bobble Tiki when you guys released the last record that it was the closest you'd come to satisfaction. How does Worried Well stack up?
Haege: I think this one we blazed through so fast none of us have been able to come up with an answer yet. People seem to not like the fact that every song is quite different from each other, but you can't please them all.

Overall, I think we're really happy with it, but I may be happiest because I feel like my voice is finally getting to somewhere that I feel is mine.

Tiki: Are you mainly in PDX these days, or is the band split between there and SF? I'm only assuming here, but why is PDX such a good home for what you do musically? It seems like you guys are just one of many ultra creative groups pushing the boundaries. Do you find this to be true? With all the attention on PDX these days, where do you think it's all headed for the Rose City?
Haege: Portland is a city that I truly love and feel is my home, but, man, is it a bummer to see it change so fast and get so much hype about it. Still, it's an amazing place to want to be creative and not have a lot of money. Hell, we still practice in my basement. That is truly great.  We spend most of the band time on tour or in Portland. Going to SF means 2 of us flying or driving down as opposed to 1 of us coming up. It’s finances that bind us.

BRAD ALLEN: ANOTHER GREAT DEAL >>>

Today only, Live Nation is offering $10 tickets to see Maroon 5, Counting Crows and Sara Bareilles Sept. 21 at the White River Amphitheatre. Jump on that deal here.

BOBBLE TIKI: HE'S THE KING OF NEWS, THERE AIN’T MUCH HIGHER >>>

Bobble Tiki had a sneezing attack last night during the Kid Rock show at the Puyallup Fair. He thinks it had to do when Rev. Run of Run-DMC fame made a special appearance and the light show became much brighter. Reflexive sneezing induced by light is estimated to occur in 18 to 35 percent of the population and is known as ACHOO (automatic compulsive helio-ophthalmic outbursts of sneezing) syndrome. Unfortunately, in Bobble Tiki’s case, might be having flashbacks about his former job toiling under the harsh fluorescent glare at the pepper factory. The best Bobble Tiki can do is spring three times and with a Krusty Pup in each hand exclaim there's no place like the South Sound … there’s no place like the South Sound:

TRASHED: California garbage handlers are about to make a fortune. And we're all going to pay.

HUGE TRASH PILE: A look behind the Tacoma-Pierce County Solid Waste Management Plan.

NUKES IN OLYMPIA: Olympia City Council voted to repeal the popular law.

EXPIRED: Minus 5 kind of week in Pierce County.

KEN SWARNER: I WAS A JUDGE >>>

Budding bakers, canners and the like may have a large fan base at home, but how do you stack up to the local competition?

This week I delved into the world of fairground culinary competitions and met a few long-term winners. But it’s not too late for you to enter your classic salsa recipe. The Salsa Showdown is tonight â€" turn in your sample between 5 and 7 p.m. The judging starts at 7:30 p.m. The grand prize is $100, while second place takes home $50 and third place gets $25. No pre-registration is required. No meat in salsa, place in a half-pint canning jar, only fresh products acceptable.

For more information, check out teh Fair's Web Site â€" and good luck.

LINK: Ken Swarner Judged chocolate at the Fair
LINK: Jake and Jason de Paul eat the Puyallup
LINK: Sandee Glib welcomes autumn
LINK: Steph DeRosa hangs at the Ruston Inn