RON SWARNER: WATERFRONT SEAFOOD GRILL VS. SEA GRILL >>>

I cheered and danced and happily picked trash out of Tacoma fountains when Sea Grill sent me a $25 gift certificate via email for being a lover of their downtown Tacoma restaurant.

I just received a $50 email kiss from the Waterfront Seafood Grill in downtown Seattle.

They are both Mackay Restaurants.

Wah-whaaa.

RON SWARNER: NEARY-SIGHTED KNOWS >>>

Our friend on the Lakewood City Council Walter Neary announced on his blog that Red Robin has submitted permits to build north of Key Bank. Soon Lakewood will enjoy big burger and bigger drinks, hopefully this summer.

LINK: Neary-Sighted

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

KRISTA CURRY: SECOND STOP, SIXTH AVENUE >>>

It is amazing how many items Melanie Peterson can cram into Vanity, her tiny fashion boutique on Sixth Avenue. Ladies, if you're looking for that perfect, uniquely funky item at a great price, this is certainly the place to go. Peterson describes her women's clothing store as half vintage, half modern consignment.

Upon walking in, I made a beeline for the rack of vintage dresses. And the dress that yielded my most high-pitched and enthusiastic “Aw!” was a 1950s pink lace prom dress with flower detailing, size small and $98. And, as far as I could tell, in perfect condition. All right, so there are a very limited number of places you can wear a dress like that. Just watch television in it and feel like a Happy Days princess.

Besides the special-occasion styles, the everyday clothing is also rather unique. A blue wool miniskirt that looks like it came from Marcia Brady’s dressing room was $12; a size small or medium. An ivory, satin circle skirt with a diamond print, size medium, was $18 (another Aw!-inducing item). Tall, brown Bandolino boots were $34; fleece-lined tall rain boots (which are terribly difficult to find for under $65) were $20 in a size 9. Damn my size 7 1/2-or-maybe-8 feet!

Vanity, with its wide selection of unique, hard-to-find pieces (Peterson buys about 70 percent of the clothing from places like estate sales), is fun just to look through. I’ll bet it’s even more fun to watch television in that pink princess dress, though.

[Vanity Fashion Boutique, 3108 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.985.7845]

Bargain Guide Feb. 5

ANNOUNCER: Krista’s post on Vanity is the second of many second-hand store reports she’ll be dropping on Spew in preparation for the Weekly Volcano’s Bargain Guide issue Feb. 5, 2009. The South Puget Sound is full of free and ridiculously cheap stuff â€" you just need to know where to look. Leave it to The Weekly Volcano to uncover all the ins and outs and exclusive bargains to be had.

To advertise in the section, call 253.584.1212 or email us at advertising@weeklyvolcano.com.

RON SWARNER: BARGAIN GUIDE FEB. 5 >>>

Regular Spew readers know the Weekly Volcano will produce a special Bargain Guide Feb. 5. We will uncover all the ins and outs and exclusive bargains to be had in this great but soggy South Puget Sound.

But we need your help finding the best deals in your neighborhood. Does your local bar have cheap calamari on Wednesdays? Does your dry cleaner offer kick ass two-for-one deal? Does your corner Thai restaurant discount the Phad Thai every Sunday? Calling all dollar beers!

If you have a great South Puget Sound deal to share, email us at feedback@weeklyvolcano.com.

Many thanks.

MATT DRISCOLL: TACOMA'S FAVORITE INDIE BAND CHANGES NAMES >>>

All good things come to an end.

And so it is with Tacoma’s favorite indie sons, the Elephants.

But wait, before you get all emo, look for powerful intoxicants to dull the pain and start calling your therapist to discuss a new episode of suicidal urges, know this: the Elephants â€" as a band name â€" has ceased to be. But the actual band â€" made up of Cody Jones, Trevor Dickson, BJ Robertson and Kyle Brunette â€" is going stronger than ever.

They’re just called the Nightgowns now. Things change. Surely, with time, you’ll be able to adjust, Tacoma.

The music makes it easy. There’s good reason the Elephants â€" a band that originally formed in 2004 with Jason Freet (he of the Drug Purse) filling the creative space between Jones and Dickinson â€" catapulted into the ears and hearts of Tacoma’s budding indie rock scene. It’s because they’re legit â€" and very good. And they’ve maintained that goodness, even after Freet’s departure. The songs the Elephants wrote fit no niche, and the sound the band became known for â€" while staying true to a certain twee-popish, garage, electronically enhanced aesthetic â€" was constantly morphing and shape-shifting.

From this point forward, you can expect nothing but the same and more from the Nightgowns, who will take their new moniker for a spin, as well as raise money for a new album slated to be released as early as late February, this Friday at the Warehouse in Tacoma. According to Jones, the event will be like a “house party” or “private party that everyone is invited to.”

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

MICHAEL SWAN: NORTHWEST REGIONAL BARISTA COMPETITION >>>

Prepare to be awake for a very, very long time. Spend an hour or two at today's Northwest Regional Barista Competition, an extravaganza of everything muddy. But once you've caffeinated liberally on joe that's anything but average, you'll be ready to watch the best of the best compete for the best pull of espresso.

Check out the Weekly Volcano’s cover story on the event here.

Photo by Krista Curry

BOBBLE TIKI: TONIGHT AT THE NEW FRONTIER >>>

Bobble Tiki fears the rapid technological advancements of the 21st century may lead to our demise â€" or at the very least the demise of things he holds near and dear to his heart.

Like music.

Luckily for Bobble Tiki, he’s not alone in his futile fight to stop the hands of time from moving forward â€" and stop the “progress” that’s seeping into every aspect of our lives. There are plenty of old-schoolers just like Bobble Tiki out there.

The Moonspinners, who will play the New Frontier Lounge in Tacoma tonight, are just such a group.

To read the full version of Bobble Tiki's column on the Moonspinners click here.