STEVE DUNKELBERGER: BREW NEWS >>>

I was chatting with Mike Davis, Harmon’s master brewer, regarding the state of brew pubs in a down economy. He shook his head early in the conversation. See, not only are patrons fewer and harder to come by as they seek ways to cut their expenses during these uncertain times, but the costs of brewing the beer is continuing its climb. The raw materials are at least double what they were just a few years ago. And now that the state is facing a historic budget shortfall and will likely fill that gap with taxes, brewers are bracing for the worst. Beer is seen as a vice that falls under the state’s “sin tax” categories politicians see as a cash cow when it comes to raising money since few folks protest increases on taxes for beer, cigarettes or other such immoral products.

That could mean the cost of a pint or a six pack will likely continue to go up in the year ahead. Buy now and stock up.

These likely increases further come at a bad time for the industry. Restaurants make a good margin on booze sales and generally keep the food operations from going under. With diners cutting back and higher costs on the way, restaurant owners are trying to find ways to make ends meet.

LINK: More beer news here

LINK: Wine and beer tastings, dinners and events

LINK: Noshing and sipping in the South Sound

RON SWARNER: TOUGH CHOICE TONIGHT >>>

UPDATE: D.A.S.H. says the snow set them back a bit and they won't open until Saturday, Jan. 24.

How can anyone tire of that feline, flaxen, and ferrous (close enough) pack who accompany Dorothy down that long and winding road? Certainly not when a bit of hipness is added. D.A.S.H. opens The Wiz musical tonight Saturday at Mt. Tahoma High School.

Not to be outdone, the SOTA kids explore WALLS through music, dance and visual arts at The Armory.

Read about both productions on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

SUZY STUMP: HIDDEN HAND-BLOWN GLASS BALLS >>>

Monkeyshines, an anonymous, slightly crazed Tacoma art project, will unleash marauding gangs of craftspeople, artisans, and their multitudinous admirers on the genteel people of Tacoma placing about 600 hand-blown glass balls throughout the streets and neighborhoods of Tacoma on the eve of the Chinese New Year, which is Monday, Jan. 26.

The glass balls, each stamped with the image of a ox (Year of the Ox!), will be hidden throughout the city and are meant to be gifts for whoever finds them.

Run for your art!

PROF. REEVES: DRINKOLOGY >>>

Café Divino

Almost since the day this animal opened in Old Town Tacoma, it�s been a hit with locals who sit and sip a glass of Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Reserve 1998 while discussing the merits of matching Pinot Noir with salmon or Chablis with oysters. Plus this dainty creature offers a smattering of wine friendly foods, including a few brie plates that are perfect with a bubbly glass of champagne. Really, nothing to wiiiiine about?

Drink Choice: We always go with the California Cabs, but thatâ��s so us. 

[Cafe Divino, 2112 N. 30th, Old Town Tacoma, 253.779.4226]

KRISTA CURRY: GREAT DEALS INSIDE SANFORD AND SON >>>

Re-Fine Clothier, on the bottom level of Sanford and Son Antiques, is "aimed mostly toward business ladies," says Nanette Colby, the owner. I asked her what her favorite pieces were, and I was glad to see that she pointed to my favorite from my brief glance-around, a green, wool Lilli Ann vintage coat with a mink collar for $145. I also loved the second coat she pulled out, a long, red wool Ellen Tracy coat with gold buttons for $25.

All tall boots are $20, and I love the leather ones with big bows on the side. Vintage Pendleton suits on display are so darn cool, and the lingerie section is adorable. "I have a big thing for vintage lingerie," Colby explains.

"My store is mostly upper-end designer and vintage," Colby says. Brands like Nordstrom, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor are all prevalent.

Re-Fine Clothier is having a four-week sale, with a theme of rebellion against Valentine's Day (read the flier, it's very amusing). Jan. 21-25 â€" everything black is 10 percent off. Jan. 28-Feb. 1 â€" everything green is 15 percent off. Feb. 4-8 everything red is 20 percent off. Feb. 11-15 everything is 25 percent off.

Sanford and Son is a fun place to spend a day, with Re-Fine Clothier only one of the great vendors. Why have I never been in there before?

[Re-Fine Clothier, Middle Floor Merchants, Sanford and Son Antiques, 743 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.272.0334]

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Bargain Guide is Feb. 5. Details here.

MICHAEL SWAN: PAPPI SWARNER'S JUKEBOX >>>

It’s Friday afternoon and Pappi Swarner is still sick. He can’t seem to shake this bug. He looks disheveled. He’s a bit delirious, too. And he’s running around the office â€" pretending he’s a foot shorter â€" mumbling something about Gozer the Traveler arriving in some pre-chosen form and how many Shuvs and Zuuls will know what it will be like to be roasted in the depths of the Slor. We’re a bit worried here at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters. The Steno Pool had to be let go early today due to his rants.

This week he has fired up Cliff Richard’s “Devil Woman” on his '70s jukebox. No doubt it’s feeding his fire.

BOBBLE TIKI: IT'S NOT A SNOW JOB >>>

If you are anything like Bobble Tiki you dig eBay. Some sad sack just swooped in on an ending eBay auction and blew $40 on Bobble Tiki’s rusted-out Six Million Dollar Man lunchbox. Sweet!

The latest items that pique Bobble Tiki’s interest on eBay are the Snow Job sweaters that covered Richard Rhode’s stone wave sculpture in the middle of the Tacoma Art Museum last December. The sweaters â€" one of three exhibits created by Tacoma artists Marc Dombrosky and Shannon Eakins as part of their Snow Job installation â€" currently sit on Goodwill’s eBay page waiting for your hard earned money.  Dombrosky and Eakins donated the sweaters to Tacoma Goodwill and Tacoma Rescue Mission through its Need-a-Break agency. The artists blog about it here and here buy not here.

The sweaters came from various estate sales and bulk-clothing lots with help from Jordan Tart at Pure Clothing. Shannon and Marc are known for their unique ways to re-purpose and recycle materials in their work. With this, they saved the sweaters from the landfill, added value to them, and donated them back to the community. So nice.

With Goodwill, they’ve divided up the sweaters and are listing them over a four-week period. New auctions are posted every Wednesday, starting at $9.59 each.

Cool fact: The stone wave has more than 650 stones. Dombrosky and Eakins only covered the top stones, which total close to 500. There were several hundred sweaters, but they didn’t keep an exact count.

Well Bobble Tiki’s friends, it’s time to blow this joint and squish all of the dollar stores with Bobble’s new Everything's Ten Bucks So Shut The Hell Up And Quit Asking store. Bobble Tiki’s gonna make a mint on this one. Maybe he’ll sell some of the goods on eBay. TGIF!