KEN SWARNER: SOUTH SOUND SNACKS >>>

Row after row of cars lined up with everyday fans camped out under purple awnings or exposed to the open sky at last week’s Husky Stadium tailgater. Sitting on camping chairs, enjoying beer and wine that the police turn a blind eye to, and preparing traditional football fare known the country over â€" these die-hard foodie fans share in an international tradition known by many different names. These fans don’t skewer slugs on a stick or pass around a possum’s tail to gnaw on, but they will grill a mean bratwurst, boil a pot of meaty chili or pass around chips and a spicy bean dip.

In today’s Weekly Volcano I recommend several places to get great tailgate fare, but due to space, I left out the Crown Bar. The Crown Bar (2705 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) celebrates the snack world with tastes he discovered while traveling through foreign food markets. Stop by and grab the Charmoula beef to go â€" tender steak on skewers marinated in a North Africa sauce consisting mostly of cumin, clove, olive oil, and coriander â€" exceptional.

Also in today’s Weekly Volcano

Sandee Glib talks Monkey Bread

Jake and Jason de Paul reviews Southbay Dickerson’s Slow & Low BBQ

MICHAEL SWAN: NEWS STORIES IN THIS WEEK'S VOLCANO >>>

Manor must move
There’s good news and bad news for the residents of Country Aire Manor Park in Puyallup. Scratch that. For the nearly 93-year-old woman who has already moved into an apartment where the bathroom and bedroom are far apart and where she shattered her ankle trying to get to the toilet, there’s no good news. For the family of four who are dealing with debilitating illnesses such as cancer and don’t know how they’ll survive, there’s really no good news. More than 150 Country Aire residents received notice earlier this year that local developer Verus Puyallup LLC would like them to leave so someone can build a Kohl’s department store and a Home Depot on the land currently occupied by their homes.
Read full story here.

Office of Sustainability
Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Tacoma City Council voted unanimously to create the Office of Sustainability â€" which will work with City Manager Eric Anderson to make sure Tacoma’s environmental goals are being met and citywide efforts are being coordinated. It’s a vote that goes along with advice from Tacoma’s Green Ribbon Task Force, which in early July recommended the City Council create just such an office. In addition, an 11 member Sustainable Tacoma Commission will be assembled â€" likely made up of some of the same folks that helped to make up the Green Ribbon Task Force â€" and that commission will report back and work hand-in-hand with both the City Council and the Office of Sustainability. 
Read full story here.

Numbered Spaces
Economic times are tough on everyone right now. That said, news like this from Puyallup is particularly disheartening. Apparently, late last week some schmuck stole the gas out of the Puyallup Salvation Army’s 15-person van â€" which it uses to transport senior citizens on shopping trips. Not only did the schmuck steal the gas, but he did so by cutting the gas line â€" meaning the Salvation Army of Puyallup now will need to pay a few hundred dollars to get it up and running again. All this at a time when the Puyallup Salvation Army is already considering closing its food bank one more day a week because of money problems. Anyone that would steal from the Salvation Army deserves to be shot, or at the very least shit on by every one of those seniors affected by their pathetic crime.
Find out how this and other happenings in Pierce County affected the meter reading here.

STEPH DEROSA: I’M READY FOR MY CLOSEUP >>>

My job here at the world-renowned Weekly Volcano has just been raised into a class of individuals who require DNA tests and biological background checks in order to take part of its illustrious meetings.

Ok, maybe I made up the part about DNA tests, but I sent them some of mine anyway.  Also, I now am entitled to a cameraperson. 

I am looking for someone to fill this VERY part-time, no-pay position.  Could it be you?

Here’s what I’m looking for:

Own a video camera that works, and preferably know how to use it.  Bonus points if you have editing software and editing knowledge

Not ask too many questions, just go with it and laugh.

Be able to go on secret missions with me a couple of times a month, and KEEP IT A SECRET.  Remember, I have friends in low places that will hurt you.

Willing to work for just fame right now.  Payment will be being able to say that you are the official videographer of the Weekly Volcano.  There’s no amount of money that can equal that title, it’s priceless.

And no, Driscoll, this is not for making my porn movies.  This is for reals, yo.  I’m serious.  E-mail me with any questions or to tell me you’ll do it.

STEPH DEROSA: PADDED FOR YOUR PROTECTION >>>

The last time I was at The Beach Tavern on Titlow Beach, let’s be brutally honest, I was in a drunken stupor and wasted as all hell.  It was one of three dates I had with a cute guy named Mitch who had a cat named Steve. Needless to say, I barely remember what The Beach Tavern looked like back then, and I sure as hell don’t remember if Mitch and I had fun.  Well, wait, I do remember a little fun happening that night, but I’ll save that story for my next porn flick.  This time The Beach Tavern was all new to me.

Check out what I found here.

PAUL SCHRAG: DANNY BARNES IN OLY TONIGHT >>>

Danny Barnes has a song called “The Adventures of Pee Pee the Sailor.” I’ve had it stuck in my head for three hours, and I’m feeling better about life than I have in years. I’ve quietly been singing “Sleepy, sleepy Pee Pee, somebody carry him home,” which fits nicely with the melody and rhythm of the Davey Crockett TV theme, under my breath all evening. Barnes is a banjo and guitar player, has an amazing, resonating voice, and writes the most amazing songs. He plays the banjo like a sumbitch. Rarely predictable, he draws groove and influence from country, jazz and punk, usually to amazing effect. Barnes is connected intimately to the Butthole Surfers, and produced an album with the help of Surfer’s guitarist Paul Leary. In my Universe, being down with the Butthole Surfers gets you, like, 10,000 points. John E. Smokes changed the course of my life. Barnes lives in Seattle. Oh, and he’ll be at the Capitol Theater in Olympia tonight with the Waybacks. Go.

[Capitol Theater, Thursday, Oct. 23, 8 p.m., all ages, $10-$15, 206 5th Avenue SE, Olympia, 360.754.5378]

TONY ENGELHART: TWILIGHT DRIVE AT THE SWISS TONIGHT >>>

If you’re riding the current popularity wave of emo bands â€" like Deathcab For Cutie and Snow Patrol â€" then Twilight Drive will definitely appeal to your sensitive side. With atmospheric guitar progressions, lo-fi rhythms and creeping bass lines, the Tacoma-based quartet stay true to the genre but add some psychedelic tones to the mix that sets them apart from the onslaught of emo-influenced bands fighting over KEXP airtime. Born out of a handful of demos recorded by Patrick Smyth (guitar/vocal), Twilight Drive formed in the summer of 2007 when members Eric Crozier (drums) and Vinny Beatty (bass) signed up to back the gifted singer/songwriter. The later addition of guitarist Rafael Martinez in late ’07 solidified the lineup. Take my word for it â€" this band is the shit.

[The Swiss, Thursday, Oct. 23, 8:30 p.m., $5, 1904 S. Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821]

JENNIFER JOHNSON: UTTERANCE SET TO UNLEASH ON HK >>>

Those that have been to a few Utterance shows share the knowledge that the four-piece Tacoma band has an awesome ability to get the whole crowd involved and easily develop fans. They’ve been compared to Rage Against the Machine, new and old Slipknot, hed P.E., and locally, The Outfit. With Jerod Wallace on drums seriously beating the crap out of his kit, Dan Hatfield’s pounding bass playing, and the ferocious guttural guitar of Tracy Beardsley â€" massive energy will pour from the stage. Zack Pearson pulls it all tight with vocals and lyrics that you can actually understand (yes, even the screaming), but that still remains raw and true to metal/hardcore rock. The result: a hyper-live stage show tonight at Hell’s Kitchen. Sam Morrow, formerly of Bumma Stoge â€" an acoustic-based Tacoma rock band â€" will celebrate his birthday this same evening. We’re told there’s a chance that Morrow will be performing, but that it’s a better bet he’ll just be cheers-ing and yelling “LLAMA” along with the rest of the crowd and Utterance. Also playing are Violence Unfolds, Six Ounce Gloves and Saydocarah.

[Hell’s Kitchen, Thursday, Oct. 23, 9 p.m. $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

SUZY STUMP: THE ARTS â€" TACOMA STYLE >>>

Tacoma’s Art at Work month â€" November 2008 â€" will be a Godzilla’s feast of literary, visual and performing arts.

Check out Alec Clayton's cover story on Art at Work month, which focuses on the studio tours, in today’s Weekly Volcano. You can read it online here.

Special thanks to Lance Kagey of Beautiful Angle for this week’s cover. Check it out to your right. It’s awesome.

LINK: Find out how we were fortunate to have Lance Kagey design our cover.