RON SWARNER: SOUNDS GOOD >>>

 Even with this wet night everyone is chipper on the phone tonight. Jump on that enthusiasm and head out to eat. Here are tonight’s specials at three South Sound restaurants.

Pacific Grill
1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.3535
pacificgrilltacoma.com

• Cioppino made from cod, mussels, clams, prawns, sweet onions and more in a red sauce

Sofia Bistro
2700 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.460.9446
sofiabistro.net

• Apple wood smoked pork appetizer with a Bing cherry and fig sauce
• Seared tenderloin with a brandy crème chanterelle sauce and rainbow chard

Doyle’s Public House
208 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468
doylespublichouse.com

• Ham and Brie sandwich with lagonberry jelly on a hoagie
• Harvest pie with ground turkey, apples, walnuts, cinnamon and other harvest-y ingredients

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MATT DRISCOLL: SECOND TIME'S THE CHARM >>>

In June, I published a small story on the Spew about Station 56 being bought by the folks behind the Jazzbones empire.

Unfortunately, at the time I was wrong. Station 56 had not yet been purchased by Terry Suzuki and Jazzbones.

Today I'm hearing it's actually official. According to an email I received, the papers on the transaction were signed on October 24th.  The same people that own Jazzbones now own Station 56.

Or so I'm told. I've been wrong before.

Either way, it seems that sushi I was promising at Station 56 may actually become a reality someday.

SUZY STUMP: JUDGING THEM BY THEIR COVERS >>>

Quests to make oneself different too frequently end in tragic artistic debacles. Gods of fortune do not often smile on those who feel the simultaneous urge to be creative and unique. Witness the travesty that is your Tollefson Plaza. Once again, I digress. Point is, when something is different and good, well, all your excuses for sitting at home with Seinfeld reruns sort of sound really pathetic. Check out the Rock, Paper, Scissors: 3rd Annual Book Arts Exhibition and Auction at King’s Books. There will be food to nibble on, wine and cider to pound and art to bid on. Money raised goes toward buying books for Tacoma’s Public School libraries. Now this is how it should be.

[King’s Books, 5 p.m. preview, 6 p.m. auction, no cover, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

SUZY STUMP: AN EVENING IN VERMONT >>>

Last week, I had a lumberjack for the first time. Too much information? Well, consider that the lumberjack in question was a crêpe the size of a vinyl record folded over slices of Vermont ham and cheddar, with the optional smattering of tart apple slices. Sitting in the kitchen of my friend’s mother’s house where the salty-sweet concoction was made, I devoured it and licked the last bits of cheese from my fingertips. Then she served us dessert â€" "Traditional Swiss with a Vermont Twist" she said, a fondue that incorporated Jarlsberg, Swiss Gruyere and Vermont Gruyere.

I have no idea if this is how folks from Vermont eat. If they do, I have no idea how they can live so long.

Scanning the “Evening in Vermont” menu William and Shannon Mueller will serve Sunday night at their Babblin’ Babs Bistro, I have no idea if it’s a true representation of Vermont. I do know it won’t kill you as I suspect my friend’s mom’s cooking can.
Wild sea scallops with maple apricot chipotle glaze, tomato white cheddar soup, maple pecan spinach salad, braised rabbit with artichokes, capers and lemon, and an apple-cranberry brown butter tart can be yours â€" severed over several hours with music â€" for $75.

[Babblin’ Babs Bistro, Sunday, Nov. 16, 4 p.m., $75, 2724 N. proctor, Tacoma, RSVP at 253.761.9099]

RON SWARNER: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TACOMA >>>

Today is the 133rd birthday of Tacoma and Zach Street and the folks behind Speak Your Soul have a gift for the city: The Community Composed Tacoma Tribute Poem posted (in streaming audio) here.

Update: The Melon announced this first

MICHAEL SWAN: PROPOSITION 8 RALLY >>>

Olympia is joining in a nationwide protest of the passage of Proposition 8 in California. That's the citizens' initiative that took away the hard-earned right of gays and lesbians to get married.

There will be a rally at Olympia’s City Hall, Eighth Avenue and Plum Street, at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15. Bring signs and umbrellas. There will be guest speakers.

For more information, visit the Join The Impact Web site. Local contacts in Olympia are Weekly Volcano visual arts critic Alec Clayton at alec@alecclayton.com and Anna Schlect at aschlecht@juno.com.

SUZY STUMP: SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR >>>

Turkey Day is right around the corner. And it’s always around this time when I start to ponder: which calorie-laden delight will I gorge on first? At the Stump house, we load up on the traditional bread stuffing spiked with country sausage, roast turkey and tart homemade cranberry sauce, but also the less traditional: Dad’s famous spicy pork barbecue and salty, soft butter peas. Yes, we’re a gluttonous bunch, and then we add wine on top of all that. I imagine the excess and I feel fat just thinking about it. But excited, too â€" I love Thanksgiving.

The holiday is the pinnacle of gluttony, a food bacchanal, an excuse to eat 20 pounds of bird. And a fabulous excuse to open a bottle after bottle of wine.

I suggest you start tasting what wines you’ll be serving this Thanksgiving.  Here are a few wine happenings this week in the South Sound:

• Thursday, Nov. 13: Lange Estate Winery tasting, 5:30-8 p.m., $5, Pour At Four, 3814 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.761.8015.
• Thursday, Nov. 13: Walla Walla Waterbrook Winery Dinner, 7 p.m., $89.99, Salty’s at Redondo Beach, 28201 Redondo Beach Dr. S., Des Moines, 253.946.0636.
• Thursdays: Wine tastings, 5-7 p.m., complimentary, Cork!, 3012 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.212.1492.
• Friday, Nov. 14: Spanish Wines and Tapas Dinner, 6:30 p.m., $50, Affairs Café & Bakery, 2811 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.565.8604.
• Friday, Nov. 14: Tacoma French Club celebrates Beaujolais Nouveau, 7-9 p.m., $7, Mad Hat Tea Company, 1130 Commerce St., Tacoma, info@tacomafrenchclub.org.
• Mondays: $5 Wine Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., $5 glass of wines, Rosewood Café, 3323 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.752.7999.
• Tuesday, Nov. 18: Bonterra Wine Dinner, 6 p.m., $80, Duke’s Chowder House, 3327 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253.752.5444.
• Wednesday, Nov. 19: Wines For Your Thanksgiving Dinner tasting, 5:30-8 p.m., complimentary, Pour At Four, 3814 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.761.8015.

Food and drink stories in this week’s Volcano

PIZZA CASA: 50 candles on the pizza pie

JIMMY JOHNS: Add the franchise with two first names to your lunch rotation

SANDEE GLIB: a good spore

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

STEPH DEROSA: FORT LEWIS ROLLER DERBY >>>

Three words for you: blood, bitches and beer. No, I’m not talking about my last evening out with The KAke, I’m talking about Ft. Lewis’ newest weapon of choice â€" the Fort Lewis Rollergirls. We’ve got a new roller-kid in town, and she’s not about to skate in quietly.

The league will be composed of females interested in skating, but that doesn’t mean you have to know how to skate. It also doesn’t mean you have to live inside the Fort Lewis gate. Nov. 29 from 6-8 p.m. in the post’s Summit Arena, the Fort Lewis Rollergirls will hold their first official “meet & greet.” They are looking for rollergirls, referees, and volunteers.

Hailing from Fayetteville, N.C.’s Rogue Rollergirls, Tamazon is one of the masterminds behind this new group of vixens. I spoke with Tamazon about what the girls can expect during the informational meet & greet.

“We will show the girls a little demonstration of roller derby, tell them what they'll learn and answer questions,” she explained.

She is looking into how civilians will be able to get past the Main Gate, and is willing to pass on her phone number to anyone who needs it in the meantime for admittance that evening. And by “anyone” I don’t mean “perverted men.” Brad Allen â€" I’m looking at you.

Found on the streets of Tacoma. Thanks Angela Jossy