NATASHA GORBACHEV: MUST. KEEP. FAITH. >>>

This afternoon I ran into Dominic, who will be the front-of-the-house manager at Merende, and offered some exciting news about this downtown Tacoma restaurant that each of us are looking forward to trying out.

Merende is currently going through inspections, and if all goes well, they should be opened in two weeks.

Their staff is being trained, and they'll be ready to move as soon as all of the OKs are in place.

If you stop by this location 813 Pacific Ave., you can sneak a peek at their menu, which will certainly please those of us who adore nibbles and small plates.

I was also so excited to get a message from chef/owner Jeff Bishop over the weekend letting me know that Merende is indeed coming soon.

We really, really can't wait!

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

BRAD ALLEN: NEWS FLASH >>>


This just in:

MATT DRISCOLL: HANDING OUT THICK-ASS TURKEY PARTS >>>

In honor of my favorite holiday, the Weekly Volcano would like to hand out a few turkey awards of our own to a few of the many people and organizations in Tacoma and Pierce County who we’re particularly thankful for this year.

Check out the winners in tomorrow's Weekly Volcano. It hits the streets a day early due to Turkey Day.

Can't wait? Here's a snapshot of one of the winners.

STEPH DEROSA: TOP 5 LISTS >>>

For some time now In Between Place has successfully catered to the young imagination of kids from the ages of preschool to pre-teen. Somewhere in there, my maturity level fits in perfectly. It was on their porcelain throne that my mind wandered into a magical, fairytale place leading me toward thoughts of Tacoma. I recalled the recent discussion over a letter that everyone including Santa Claus received about the upcoming visit to the Pacific Northwest from Food Network's Diners Drive-Ins and Dives television show. The discussion via comment section coaxed readers into listing their top local venues who deserved a visit from this popular foodie show. As I sat upon In Between Place's potty, I began to mentally create other lists of favorites.

A la Nick Hornby's High Fidelity book (and later movie starring John Cusak), I have become quite fond of making Top 5 lists. Most of the time it is extremely hard to limit categories to only five favorites, thus creating the need for sub-categories. Is anyone else as crazy about this as I am?

Check out some of my Top 5 lists in today's Toilet Tales on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

CHRISTOPHER WOOD: FUNNY BUCKET >>>

I have to go.

This thought emerges as I look upon row after polished row of Honey Buckets. What cinematic mischief has driven me from a warm bed this chilly November morning to Puyallup's premiere receptacle repository? Today this lot of loos serves as a worthy backdrop for filmmaker Randy Sparks' It Don't Rain on Sunny Days. I guess one person's waste is another's inspiration.

The genuinely funny script - rare for an independent comedy - centers around Jason Feldman (played by Sunny's co-producer Joe Rosati), a thirty-something going nowhere in life. He spends his days scrubbing out portable toilets and taking abuse from his hot-tempered boss Mr. Cross (Seattle comedian Rod Long), and Cross's burly, brownnosing lackey Andre (Jason McKibbin). But when Jason wins the lottery, things REALLY start going down the drain.

Read the rest of my story here. 

LINK: New films open today on local screens

CHUCK DULA: FIVE STUDIO MUSICIANS AND A MICROPHONE >>>

In the early '70s, a Japanese musician by the name of Daisuke Inoue invented the first ever Karaoke machine. The name Karaoke comes from a combination of the word Kara-meaning empty and Okesutora- meaning orchestra. However, even Daisuke's Sadist ass couldn't have fathomed what I experienced last night.

Rockaroake is the brainchild of George Aragon and Rusty Urie, formerly of Hit Explosion. I spoke with George about what ingredients were required to make the current Rockaroake stew. "Rockaraoke is comprised of a rotating group of local studio musicians," Aragon told me.

Do any of you participate in original projects, I asked?

"Of course. A couple of our guys recently went on tour with one of the former member's of the highly successful Christian band, Petra."

Cool.

I wanted to see, firsthand, what was going on with this Rockaraoke, which meant a trip to Jazzbones in Tacoma. Every Monday night the club hosts the most raucous Rockaraoke in town. Here is my story.

MICHAEL SWAN: IT'S ON THE STREETS AND INTERWEB TODAY >>>

Here are a few of the stories in today's Weekly Volcano:

TURKEY AWARDS
Pierce County people who impressed us this year, by Volcano Staff

YOUR ART HERE
Tacoma Art Center Building paints a brighter future for brewery district, by Paul Schrag

CRAZY TALK
Tacoma’s original crazy, Will Baker, sticks up for the Traveller, by Matt Driscoll

RUN FOR YOUR WIFE
Laugh it up in Gig Harbor, by Steve Dunkelberger

PIERCE AT PIERCE
Juried art exhibit at Pierce College, by Alec Clayton

WHAT AC/DC DO THEY SEE?
Asking Tacoma’s music scene if AC/DC shakes them all night long, by Matt Driscoll

CHICKS ON BLACK ICE
Hell's Belles are back at Hell's Kitchen, by Bobble Tiki

I HEART NEW YORK
Big city foods in the South Sound, by Ken Swarner

THE GOOD SHIP
Grabbing sushi in Lacey, by Jake and Jason de Paul

BENNETT THURMON
A look at Mr. First Night, by Steve Dunkelberger

HOME IS FOR TURKEYS
Where to hang the next two days, by Natasha Gorbachev

TROUBLE WITH DEROSA
Erica Booth is a good sport, by Steph DeRosa

LINK: Weekly Volcano online

PAUL SCHRAG: FRESH BLENDS TONIGHT AT HELL'S KITCHEN >>>

TacomaTacoma Hells Kitchen continues to build its hip-hop legion this Wednesday, with Fresh Blends founding father Evergreen One, beatmaster/rhymesayer Todd Sykes, Pioneers West, Nasty Left, Mighty High and Black Pussy. Evergreen One is a true hustler and has worked his rappin’ ass off, along with Flash, DJ Reign and the Fab 5 crew, to build what is perhaps  longest-running weekly. While he does double duty as a promoter and performer, Evergreen One is reported to be working on an album with homey Todd Sykes â€" a prospect with a lot of promise. Sykes’ dirty grooves are usually bona-fide noggin nodders â€" he’s got crate digging skills for sure, and weaves cuts like a master. Put them together with Evergreen One’s silky flows, a case of PBR, Saves NW Clothing, and room full of heads, and you’ve got a mf’n party on your hands.

[Hell’s Kitchen, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m., all ages, $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

STEPH DEROSA: BAR EXAM >>>

Admittedly I’ve fallen in love with Sumner. Yeah, it has cute little shops and all, but it’s the dive bars that really get me going. Something about Sumner makes me feel like I’m far enough away from home to not know anyone, yet close enough to make it home on time. You know what I’m talking about. That feeling of “I don’t care what I say or do or look like, no one here knows me.” Like that time you made out with that guy who had three nipples in Spanaway.

We were drawn in after hearing about the 99.9 KISW Tattoo Competition held a month ago at Sharky’s Pub. Events like that make me bitter that someone is dropping the ball on getting the word out.

Check out my review of Sharkey's here.