SUZY STUMP: FASHION FIGHTS BREAST CANCER >>>

Sister, you tan is fading. Fast. Please store your summer blouses next to that Thighmaster. The time has come to once again to evaluate your fashion-preparedness for winter. To help remedy this situation, the Rebecca V Gallery has teamed up with a handful of Tacoma designers for a fashion auction Oct. 24 to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Resource Center in Tacoma. With a kicking soundtrack by keyboardist Robcat, models roaming about smartly, treats by Asado and Masa, the event’s main attraction will be a silent auction loaded with outfits and vacation packages.

Rebecca V Gallery Director Odessa Poole says gifts of cash or checks made out to the Breast Cancer Resource Center will be accepted and greatly appreciated.

Just remember: If you don’t look good, your town doesn’t look good and, in turn, you don’t look good again. 

[Rebecca V Gallery, Friday, Oct. 24, 6-9 p.m., $10 donation, which includes a raffle entry, 3010 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253 572 9111]

ROXANNE MURPHY: NEW SIDE CAR GALLERY >>>

Now as the leaves are falling, it's time to return to our lives filled with snug indoor activities, and here's one for the books this Thursday, Oct. 9.

The Weekly Volcano's good friend Steve Naccarato will be a fine host for an open house at Tacoma's newest art space, the Harmon Hub Side Car Gallery (and event space) from 6 to 8 p.m.

This open house will include pieces of Naccarato's photography, paintings from his close friends, and to keep you warm as the evening temperature dips, appetizers, Harmon ales and wines will be offered.

Painter P.S. Woods’ work will also be on display.

Last week the event space was christened with a surprise 30th birthday party with 40 friends, and I hear their hearts and tummies were satisfied.

That's why you'll wanna check out the gallery open house on Thursday.

I'll see ya there.

[Harmon Hub Side Car Gallery, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma]

STEPH DEROSA: CROSSBREEDING >>>

The Polish have done some weird things in their existence, but I’ve recently learned of a new Polish fad: crossbreeding.  Forget the cruel, illegal ways of cockfighting, raising Pit Bulls to attack, and kitten juggling; crossbreeding is the new animal no-no of 2008.  Apparently Polish farmers find it an intelligent move to mate a Muppet and a chicken, this resulting in a “Polish Chicken.   Today I took a gruesome, undercover look at these so-called “Polish chickens” and was able to catch a video of what results when Muppet tragedy happens. Be warned: this video is not for the weak-hearted.

Polish Chickens â€" we’re servin’ them sonsabitches for Dinner with DeRosa this week!

Yum!

Jennifer from Puget Sound Pizza, another one of my favorite PSP servers, will be joining us.  She recently had her 10-year high school reunion. I didn’t want her to feel down about her age, or that it had been 10 years since her graduation, so I quickly pointed out the The KAke was much older than she was. KAke recently attended her 20-year reunion. Now THAT’S old.

I met Maria as she was about to straddle her bike and take off after a weekday lunch break.  She is passionately involved in a local Hispanic non-profit biker group.  What’s the name of it?  I have no idea.  She told me, and I didn’t write it down. I suck, I know. I don’t think she is a part of Latino Riderz, but who knows. All I know is I was intrigued by a female on a motorcycle. I was also jealous. I want her to come to dinner so she can teach me to ride. I love being on the back of a bike, but to be able to be in control of one? Oh yeah, baby. 

Dani and Dain are my new BFF. They’ve recently up and moved themselves and their family from Hawaii to Washington state. Did you know that milk costs an upwards of $7 a gallon in on the Hawaiian Islands? Can you believe it? We should feel lucky to only pay the amount we do here in Washington. Dani and Dain are as outgoing and talkative as I am, so they for sure will fit into my gaggle of cohorts. You all should be very jealous, as they’re in for some scrumptious Polish Chicken nuggets this week. 

Lastly, I’d like to invite Queen Bee from Spooner Farms. Seriously, her name is Queen Bee. It was on her nametag, so that’s her name. Queen Bee got confused and flustered and a tad bit cranky when we asked to split our bill in half and pay separately for some pumpkins. How hard is that? Not very hard, right? You divide by two and pay each half separately. Queen Bee called us “weird” and stated, “That is SO strange, but whatever,” when we asked her to split the bill. She then hastily glared and the receipt as she tried to figure out half of 74 pounds. I wanted to throw my pumpkin carving set at her and her nasty attitude. Instead Mr. DeRosa shooed me outside to avoid any major squabbles.  Smart man.

Mangiamo!

RON SWARNER: HURRY BACK â€" IT'S SOUP TIME >>>

Pinwheel Catering’s Herban Café on Sixth Avenue has temporarily closed to concentrate on its catering business and search for a new chef for the café.

“We've decided to take a hiatus from the daily ala carte Cafe,  concentrate on the catering side of the business, (we do have several contracts in our file), while we try to find a chef/investor who could give us some ownership from the kitchen side,” explains co-owner Steve Nogler via e-mail.  “Our goal is to be open for daily business by the end of October with a scaled-down menu, and add a breakfast meal period.”

Nogler intends to have a art show for the Frost Park retrospective in October as well.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MATT DRISCOLL: RAINY DAY MIRACLE? >>>

Here at the Weekly Volcano we get a lot of news tips. Sometimes they’re big, and, yes, sometimes they’re small. But that doesn’t stop them from coming in.

I arrived at the office today to find an email from Tacoma’s Cory Bober. Apparently, Mr. Bober has found some interesting stuff popping up on the condensation on his back door.

And by interesting, I mean images that â€" at least to Mr. Bober â€" look a lot like the Virgin Mary and Jesus.

“No one in the local mainstream media / press even cared to see my photos / images of this 'Apparition' and would NEVER do any story about it,” wrote Bober in his email.

Tough to believe.

Here’s a look at what Mr. Bober has been seeing. Whether it’s a real deal condensation miracle or simply beaded water is up to you.

BRAD ALLEN: THIS WEATHER SUCKS >>>

I need a happy hour. Bad.

LINK: Weekly Volcano's Happy Hour Guide