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

Tacoma Tar Pits
Expansion of the Northwest Detention Center is causing contaminated soil to rise to the surface by Paul Schrag

Tacoma’s urban forester
Ramie Pierce makes life better with trees by Matt Driscoll

Rockin' week
New Apple Store announcement tilts the meter by Volcano Staff

BANDITO BETTY LOU WHO LEAP 18 >>>

JAKE DE PAUL: FLAPJACKS FOR THE KIDS >>>
 
The International House of Pancakes, or IHOP to most folks, announced its goal to raise $1 million for local children’s hospitals and charities with its celebration of National Pancake Day on Feb. 24, 2009. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., IHOP restaurants nationwide will offer their guests a free short stack of IHOP’s buttermilk pancakes, and in return, ask guests to donate what they would have paid for the pancakes, or more, to local children’s hospitals and other local charities.

I bet Santa will stop by IHOP’s brain trust this season.

Start training you stomach at the following IHOP locations:

1802 S. Mildred St., Tacoma, 253.566-1777

7445 S Hosmer St., Tacoma, 253.474.5320

10005 Lakewood Dr. S.W., Lakewood, 253.588.7898

STEPH DEROSA: BAR EXAM >>>

Bad carpeting, excessive beer signage, and simply being located in Parkland made me want to categorize All Seasons Sports Tavern as a dive bar. But the warm feeling of Christmas parties, potlucks, and adopting a local family for Christmas made me re-think my initial dive suspicions. Twenty-five competitive, trophy-winning dart teams in the house didn�t hurt either. The walls were lined with shiny awards of recognition. By the time my stay was over at All Seasons, I felt like part of the family. Maybe next year they will adopt me for Christmas as well.

Check out what I also discovered at the All Seasons Sports Tavern on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

RON SWARNER: WHEN A NEW YORK SIRLOIN WAS $4.50 >>>

South South Eats posted vintage menus on its site. Check the menus out here.

Above is a vintage menu from my collection â€" El Gaucho's first menu circa 1953. Back then, El Gaucho's New York sirloin and filet were $4.50 each, broiled fresh salmon steak was $3.25, and a whole squab chicken, with baked potato mind you, was $3.50. They even had the nerve to charge $1.25 extra to split a meal.

OWEN TAYLOR: MG THE VISIONARY AND SLEEP SET TO BRING IT >>>

This week we are all offered a glimpse of hope. Homeland Security,Olympia’s premier promotions crew, is throwing what they are billing as “Oly’s Last Dope Hip-Hop Show of 2008,” and they couldn’t be more correct.Phoenix transfer and Northwest native MG The Visionary is coming back to town and will bless Olympia with his absolutely stunning stage presence honed over many years of touring nationally. Haven’t heard of him? Go see the show. You’ll buy the CD. Oh, did I mention he’s the guy that taught fellow Olympian Smoke of Oldominion how to make beats? No? Oh, my bad. Speaking of Oldominion, uber-veteran Sleep will be headlining the show with his classic showcase of crowd-hyping speed raps and magnetic energy. I first met Sleep in 1998 â€" along with Onry Ozzborn and Pale Soul they were killing it as a group called Oracle’s Creed, which later birthed Oldominion. None of these dudes have slowed their roll in the last decade, and a very strong Northwest scene has been the result. Come show your thanks to those who have strived to keep the scene honest, hungry and legit. 

Oly's Last Dope Hip-Hop SHow of 2008 will go down tonight at the Royal Lounge in Olympia.

[The Royal Lounge, Sleep, MG The Visionary, Rocket One, 9 p.m., $5, 311 Capital Way N., Olympia, 360.705.0760]

PAUL SCHRAG: BEWARE OF THE CLAW >>>

It’s a sign of Tacoma’s maturity, and it’s about time. Though the details are necessarily hazy, a small group of locals has created Tacoma’s first secret society. Currently comprising four adepts of the dark visual arts, the Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians, or The CLAW, is coming for your kids.

Well, maybe not your kids. Not yet anyway.

Without hesitation or coyness, co-founder Elliot Trotter heralds the group as heroes of sorts. They wear Fez, meeting in smoke-filled rooms surrounded by strange, musky women and ashy, pinched-faced old Mullahs, chanting to forgotten gods through the ambient mist of whiskey breath and candle wax. They are bent on ridding the world of zombies (not the undead kind â€" the “you’re probably one of them” kind). They scheme to prepare humanity for its inevitable transmutation into a race of robots, says Elliot.

Plus they draw stuff.

Read the full story on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

MATT DRISCOLL: TRASHCAN'S BAND AT THE TOP >>>

Tacoma is a rock and roll type of town. There’s dirt under these fingernails and grease on these jeans. There’s a warm can of Rainer rolling around this back seat. There’s a love of things real and rock that’s obvious to all interested enough to observe.

For those who’ve observed, hopefully you’re familiar with Gold Teeth â€" quite possibly the most rock and roll band in Tacoma. If you’re not familiar with Gold Teeth â€" which might have something to do with the fact the band plays only a handful of shows a year â€" you probably are familiar with some of the quintessential bands from Tacoma’s past that have helped spawn Gold Teeth â€" which brazenly claims former members of the Plastards, Argonaut, The Mexican Blackbirds, Nomovingparts and Bonzort.

Tonight, Gold Teeth along with Blanco Bronco and the Coloffs will rock the fuck out of the Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe. If ever there was a truly rock and roll show â€" a gig that truly represents the beefy, beer and grease pumping heart of T-town â€" this just may be it.

To read the complete story in this week's Volcano, click here.

[Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe, Gold Teeth, Blanco Bronco, the Coloffs, 9 p.m., no cover, 3529 McKinley Ave.,Tacoma, 253.272.1502]

SUZY STUMP: SNOW SORT OF WINS >>>

This just in from the Museum of Glass: