SUZY STUMP: WILLOW ESKRIDGE IS THE BEST >>>

Tacoma Professional photographer Willow Eskridge grabbed “Best Portrait” and “Best of Show” titles for her Color Me Bad portrait during the Fall Competition at the Pierce County professional photographers association meeting last month.

She was chosen from a panel of local peers from the Seattle Association of Professional Photographers of America.

MATT DRISCOLL: WSLCB JUST SAYS NO >>>

According to a press release we received earlier today at Weekly Volcano World Headquarters, the Washington State Liquor Control Board has decided not to renew the liquor license at McCabe’s American Music Café in Tacoma. The decision is based on an objection by the City of Tacoma to the licenses renewal â€" citing a history of illegal activity at the club.

According to the press release, which was sent out by the WSLCB:

“The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) decided on October 29 to pursue non-renewal of McCabes American Music Cafe’s liquor license. The decision comes after reviewing information submitted by the City of Tacoma as part of its objection to the renewal.
 
Liquor licenses are renewed yearly, and state law gives local authorities, such as a city or county, the opportunity to submit an objection to a renewal. The City of Tacoma’s objection was given substantial weight under RCW 66.24.010(12), which that states that the WSLCB shall give such weight to objections based upon chronic illegal activity and documented in the objection.
 
McCabes’ liquor license expires Nov. 30. The establishment, which is located at 2611 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma, may request a hearing before an administrative law judge to appeal the Board’s decision. If McCabes requests a hearing, it may continue to serve alcohol until the Board’s final order is handed down. If McCabes does not appeal, it may no longer serve alcohol after Nov. 30.”

Also according to the press release, in regard to the illegal activity cited by Tacoma in its objection to McCabe’s liquor license renewal:

“The City of Tacoma provided the WSLCB with a large number of police reports that demonstrate crowd control problems, fights and assaults, and other violent crimes.”

Those incidents include at least one episode of lewd or disorderly conduct, and one instance where booze was sold to a minor. Both instances, specifically referenced in the press release, took place between Oct. and Nov. of ’07.

STEPH DEROSA: IS AT THE MIX FOR TONIGHT'S ELECTION ACTION >>>

Below you'll find live blogging action from the Weekly Volcano's own Steph DeRosa. She'll be at the Mix all night tonight watching the electoral madness unfold â€" not to mention the drinks flow like, well, drinks.

Enjoy.

5:07 p.m. - After climbing up a dirt hill from South 7th Street, I finally made it to The Mix.  Out front I found a gaggle of men pondering the Broadway LID project.  One smartass had me convinced they were installing a kiddie pool on Market Street.  Jerk.

They've pulled out the balloons.  Yes, balloons.  This election party is no joke.  I'm a little dissapointed they won't let me play with any helium.

5:24 p.m. - Bandito Betty has arrived!  She says if this is another "too close to call" election she's going to have to shoot someone.  And she has a new tattoo.

5:30 p.m. - A funky smell has overtaken The Mix.  It's mysteriously close to my table.  I've asked Bandito Betty to close her legs as a precautionary measure.

5:36 p.m. - Thanks to my observant and keen senses, I have saved The Mix from burning down.  A gentleman's pea coat was smoking against a light bulb.  They've refused to pay me any reward money. 

5:45 p.m. - Erik Emery Hanberg is in the house!

5:50 p.m. - A lot of booing going on for the states of Virginia and West Virginia.  Are they going to boo every red state?  Not that it's right or wrong, but I may have to pop a balloon just to break up all the hub bub.

6:20 p.m. - I went outside to warn the smokers that they need to be standing 25 feet away from the building.  Thankfully Market Street is closed, so standing in the middle of it is the safest it's ever been.
 
Bandito and I are wondering what the politicians are doing right now.  Are they at a bar like we are?  Are they in a secret tunnel deep in the Poconos?  Or is McCain at home in his La-Z-Boy sippin' a tall one?
 
Jonathan and Brock are tearin' it up tonight.  Seriously.  These fake smiles say it all.

6:30 p.m. - Breaking News on the TV!  Some guy won something in Kentucky!  I'd love to say the Mix is going wild, but nobody noticed. It was McCain by the way.

6:34 p.m. - CNN has Obama with 194 electoral votes to McCain's 69.

6:35 p.m. - CNN projects Barack Obama the winner of the battleground state of Ohio. Drew Carey would be proud.

6:36 p.m. - WOW.  Obama won that red state.  You know what that is?  That's army wives not wanting their husbands to be deployed anymore.  Bandito filled me in on that one.
 
Commercial Break

We're headed to Maxwell's Speakeasy up the road to check out their action.  Not that there aren't enough gorgeous men here at The Mix, but I need some more eye candy.  Cute Maxwell's bartenders â€" here I come!

6:45 p.m. - MSNBC reports Obama now has 200 electoral votes to McCain's 90.

6:48 p.m. - I lied.  We haven't left yet.  This guy is yelling obnoxiously loud into his cell phone.  He's talking to his mom about something that's in the refrigerator.  It's almost as exciting as Obama taking hold of Ohio.
 
OK, now he's yelling about the microwave, "Did you take the plastic off the top?  It's been three minutes!"  Our country is reaching a historical milestone and his mom has something in the microwave.

7:03 p.m. - MSNBC reports Obama still with 200 electoral votes with McCain gaining with 124.

7:05 p.m. - It's now 207 to 129 Obama.

7:06 p.m. - By the way, I'm updating this thing through my phone now. There isn't any wireless at Maxwell's, but they do have 30 percent off wine!

7:14 p.m. - McCain now has 135 to Obama's 207. Is Driscoll pooping his pants?

7:15 p.m. - The conversation I'm eavesdropping on next to me in Maxwell's lounge is both nauseating and priceless.

7:23 p.m. - It's so dark in here I can't see my food. Bandito says it's on my shirt. Crap.

7:26 p.m. - Looks as if Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, and Indiana are still too close to call.

7:27 p.m. - Looks as if my wine glass wasn't too close to call. Thanks to the fast bartender, it's now a McCain wine glass again.

7:33 p.m. - Fox News reports that California, Hawaii, Idaho and Washington are also too close to call. Nothing regarding the results of my wine glass level.

7:39 p.m. - The polls close in 20 minutes. I'm sure no one here at Maxwell's cares.

7:40 p.m. - NBC News reports that the marijuana decriminalization passes in Massachusetts, and Michigan OKs medical marijuana. 

Matt Driscoll: Ohio sealed the deal. We're literally witnessing history. This is by far the most important event I've seen in my life. The scene in Grant Park is something people will talk about as long as there's a United States of America. I'm so proud of my country right now.

7:42 p.m. - Driscoll must be in the Obama Zone not to have commented on my last post.

7:51 p.m. - The folks at The Mix predicted Maxwell's would be full of 80-year-old Republicans. They were wrong. It's full of 40-year-old Republican salad eaters. So there!

Matt Driscoll: I am in the Zone. And yes â€" in fact â€" I have pooped. I named it Sarah Palin, and now keep it in my room and refer to it fondly as one of the reasons Barack Obama is the next president of our great country.

7:56 p.m. - McCain has climbed to 142 electoral votes to Obama's 207.

Wait! Correction: Obama has 284 to McCain's 146!

8:03 p.m. - CNN and most of the other news networks report that Barack Obama is the new president of the United States. Obama has 297 electoral votes.

8:04 p.m. - Funny that the server had to inform some people here that Obama just won. Bandito reports that I will be having another glass of wine. Steph wins!

8:16 p.m. - People are on the phone as if they found out they were pregnant with Michael Douglas' child. And you know he's too old to have more kids, so ...

8:25 p.m. - Watching McCain congratulate Obama. Obama won Florida and has 333 electoral votes to McCain's 155.

8:26 p.m. - Bandito congratulates me for the ability to still stand.

ROXANNE MURPHY:  CHANGE HAS COME TO PIERCE COUNTY TOO >>>

At this very moment, I'm surrounded by fellow Pierce County Democrats who are listening to the nation's first black U.S. President-elect address his nation of people that he'll be leading for the next four years, and hopefully beyond that.

At the end of each of his statements, they're screaming so loud that it's rattling my ears, but in such a very, very good way.

It's packed here at the Pierce County Democrats Party at the IBEW, and I could barely cut through the crowd to find this Wifi connection.

But I could care less about the fact that I'm sweaty and in close quarters because this really is one of the most exciting moments of all of U.S. history.

All kinds of big deals are in the house tonight. So far I've spotted Norm Dicks, Adam Smith, and local greats including John and Connie Ladenburg, Bill Baarsma, Jake Fey, Mark Lindquist (how can you miss that tall man), Tim Reid (another one who's easy to spot), Ryan Mellow and all kinds of concerned citizens like me who believed that it is indeed time for a change.

Here's a pic from this incredible gathering. Hopefully you'll be able to see the excitement and hope in each of these people's eyes, a very same excitement that is spreading throughout or whole nation, and the world.

GOBAMA!!!!!!!

MICHAEL SWAN: WASHINGTON STATE ELECTION RESULTS >>>

Election results for governor and other major statewide offices can be found here. Gregorie currently has the lead.

STEPH DEROSA: IGNORANT AND CLOSE MINDED >>>

The Red Hot is a place where anyone can go.  Anyone can go from any demographic, and from any realm of life.  I would venture to list off specific types of people found warming the barstools of Sixth Ave's most popular beer & hotdoggery¬" but that would be stereotyping.  Lots of Tacoma venues claim to be that place that anyone can go,but you know it's usually a lie. Close your eyes and roll your mind through a mental list of local hot spots, and tell me you don't immediately think if you would or would not feel comfortable hanging out for hours on end inside the walls of said establishments.

Check out my thoughts on ignorant people here.

MICHAEL SWAN: NOV. 4 GENERAL ELECTION >>>

Here are the unofficial results of the General Election according to the Pierce County Auditor’s Web site as of Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 3:05 a.m.:

Pierce County Proposition No. 1
YES     61,042  64.45%
NO     33,665  35.55%

Sound Transit Proposition No. 1
APPROVED     43,549   51.31%
REJECTED     41,319   48.69%

Governor
Christine Gregoire 59,094   54.18%
Dino Rossi     49,535   45.41%

County Executive
Mike Lonergan     14,898   14.66%
Pat McCarthy       29,692   29.22%
Calvin Goings     23,793   23.42%
Shawn Bunney     33,110   32.58%

County Sheriff
Paul A. Pastor     64,952   71.53%
R. P. Kollu           6,887   7.58%
Jesse Hill            18,540   20.42%

For complete results, check out the Pierce County Auditor’s Web site here.

BOBBLE TIKI: FORCE TO BE SAFE AND CLEAN >>>

Bobble Tiki’s things that Mrs. Tiki has thrown out so he’ll be safe and clean:

1. Ikea-type desk/bookcase with fake-teak laminate inherited from a roommate ("accidentally" broken)

2. Paperback books purchased from library discard sales

3. Clothes Bobble Tiki hasn’t worn in more than a year

4. Pair of flip-flops that had somehow lasted from when he was 15

5. Chair stolen (by a friend â€" Bobble Tiki was only the look-out) from his college during a pub night

6. Magnetic traveling chess set with lost men replaced by fridge magnets

Things the City of Tacoma is doing to make it safe and clean:

1. Operate a Web site so Tacomans may follow the 22 teams working to Make Tacoma Safe and Clean, as requested by City Manager Eric Anderson back in April 2008. Daily updates are now being posted here.

2. Offer a newsfeed so the public may follow efforts to make Tacoma safe and clean.