RON SWARNER: HEAVEN >>>

Ah, weather. It’s cold, it’s aggressive, it’s bitter. Food â€" hot, rich, fatty, and abundant â€" is solace right now as we live in Jack Frost’s left nostril. And what I like to eat during this cold weather is macaroni and cheese, and plenty of it.

Last night I popped in for Stanley & Seafort’s weekly Wednesday night jazz, a 3 Drink Minimum session (which will appear in an upcoming Weekly Volcano issue) and their lobster mac ‘n’ cheese ($24).

Stanley’s has perfected the cheese combination â€" Gruyère, cheddar and fontina â€" adds huge chunks of lobster, truffle oil, tops it with baked breadcrumbs then arranges it with two granny apple and lobster kabobs. Yum. Comfort.

The bar was packed with drinkers, festive decorations, animated music by Collaboration Jazz, and me smiling in the corner â€" especially after my third drink.

Stanley’s offers complimentary valet parking after 4:30 p.m. for a limited time, too.

[Stanley & Seafort’s, 115 E. 34th St., Tacoma, 253.473.7300]

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

JOSE GUTIERREZ JR.: LIVE FROM I-5: HIP-HOP IN THE 25360 >>>

“Grindeeng … Grindeeng… You betta know what I keep in the lining!” â€" The Clipse

Haha! You better know that only the real hustlas eat! At least they eat how they like to eat and not how YOU might want them to eat. Ask 253 representative, Jay Barz aka Tacoma’s Favorite White Boy! Just saw how he’s grindin’. You can catch him EVERYWHERE including tomorrow at Chop Suey (Seattle) with GMK, on Dec. 21 with E-40’s little cousin, Turf Talk at Maggie O’Toole’s in Lakewood and Dec. 27 with DJ Keri of Playboy at Station 56 in The Tac. People may be mumblin’ to themselves … ‘Why does Jay Barz appear in The 25360 so often?” Simple … He’s a hustla, hustlin’ his work! That kind of drive is ALWAYS rewarded in one way or another. Go hard!

Read the rest of my column on the Weekly Volcano's Web site.

SUZY STUMP: STUPID BEAUTIFUL SNOW >>>

The Museum of Glass is closed today. They plan to open tomorrow.

The Tacoma Art Museum is closed today.

But the Washington State History Museum is open!

BANDITO BETTY LOU WHO LEAP 19 >>>

This school is too hot for snow.

PROF. REEVES: DRINKOLOGY >>>

Bob's Java Jive

Outward appearance indicative of this monkeyâ��s heart of hearts.  Relatively unchanged in 50 years of evolution.  Sure, there were horrified, deeply depressed little bobos barreled up against one wall and the singular experience that was the Showmanship of The Maestro Bobby Floyd (rest his soul) and Steve and His Sexy Sticks, but Bobâ��s (rest his soul, too) Java Jive is still the place to get lost in the jungle. The shows are still gloriously uncommon, and the regulars are boss.  Caution: Smoking out back is MANDATORY!

Drink Choice: PBR, on tap or in cans.  The tap is cheaper, but the can allows you to hold the hallowed PBR logo right there in your rapidly cooling hand. 

Praise be! 

[Bob�s Java Jive, 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]

LINK: Local bands rock Christmas carols Saturday night at Jive!

MATT DRISCOLL: THE FUCKING EAGLES/HANSON BROTHERS AT HK >>>

Tonight, while it may be cold outside, it'll be searing hot inside Hell's Kitchen. That's because one of Tacoma's all time best rock 'n' roll bands - the Fucking Eagles - will take the stage supporting headliners the Hanson Brothers. (See: Nomeansno.)

In celebration of this, Friday's best rock 'n' roll show, I caught up with the Fucking Eagles to get the band's thoughts on the situation. You can catch that fine piece of journalism by clicking here.

And if you've got any sense at all, you'll find your way to Hell's Kitchen tonight. You wont regret it.

MICHAEL SWAN: SNOW WREAKS HAVOC IN PUYALLUP, TOO >>>

This just in from the City of Puyallup:

We're posting pictures of police training exercises at Stadium HS.