MICHAEL SWAN: PALINTOLOGY >>>

The Republicans want their party to be more like Sarah Palin.

TPM: "A majority of GOP voters now say that the party should be more like Sarah Palin.The numbers: 55% of Republicans say the party should be like Palin, compared to 24% who say they should be like John McCain."

With better spin, the GOP may have won with Palin had they prepped her better and not insulted the public’s intelligence in arguing that she had real foreign-relations experience. Of course, they could have gone even more maverick-y and chosen Tyra Banks.

RON SWARNER: I SAY DO BOTH >>>

It was a long, hard day, and the weekend seems so far away. You need to wash away your Hump Day woes with some wine. Hell, bring the whole work crew to The Red Hot. The hot dog-serving tavern will pour Montpellier Vineyards’ Viognier and Pinot Noir during Wino Wednesday, which falls on the first Wednesday of every month. Each pour is $3.

Along the same budget lines, just a little bump up, the Sea Grill hosts a “$20 Tasting” tonight featuring five bite-size seafood creations paired with five wines from Terra Blanca. No reservations are needed for the 5 to 7 p.m. tasting.

[The Red Hot, 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229]
[Sea Grill, 1498 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.5656]

LINK: Noshing and Sipping in the South Sound

STEPH DEROSA: WHERE IS MY GRASS SKIRT? >>>

It’s time for you, my dear South Puget Sound habitants, to uncover any questions or misunderstandings you never knew you had and join me in a celebration of all things Asia-Pacific. More specifically, let’s celebrate Tonga. What’s Tonga, you ask. See now, I can tell you already need to follow me and my grass skirt-wearing ass over to the Tacoma Dome this Saturday for the 2009 Asian Pacific New Year Celebration.

Tonga, which lies deep in the South Pacific, happens to be the featured community for this year’s celebration. Created by the Asian Pacific Cultural Center, this Saturday’s event could easily be labeled as an invitation to expand your knowledge of all things Vietnamese, Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Chinese. Oh, and let’s not forget those beautiful cultural islands lying in the Pacific Ocean. Those are simple parcels of sheer paradise.

Story telling, Bonsai workshops, shopping, food, singing, Tai Chi, Haiku, and dancing demonstrations that include the likes of hula, Bollywood, and Belly dancing will be offered throughout the day in various areas of the Tacoma Dome. There truly is something for everyone. And don’t worry about having to get tickets to this multi-faceted happening, entry into an Asia-Pacific country for the day is absolutely free.

[Tacoma Dome, Saturday, Feb. 7, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma, 253.383.3900]

MICHAEL SWAN: I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH NANCY WILSON >>>

Before Seattle became synonymous with Starbucks, Nirvana, and flannel shirts, Heart was the Emerald City's biggest musical export.

Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson are still kicking it, and will perform “Crazy On You,” “Magic Man,” “Barracuda” and their other hits Wednesday, Sept. 23 when they play the Puyallup Fair.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster. Prices are $20 to $40, $50 for Golden Circle, and include Fair gate admission.

RON SWARNER: HOW IRONIC >>>

The signs are everywhere: Bleached white skin emerges from months hidden in fluffy coats. Tops roll down on convertibles. Hormones that seemed dormant, frozen by winter’s chill, bounce back to lusty life with a speed and vigor that would frighten Larry Flynt, and thoughts that were only yesterday directed at snowy steeps and chutes turn to barbecues and beaches.

OK, not really. But today's weather is quite lovely.

Ironically, Brix 25 rolls out its 2009 Winter Menu tonight. Seems a bit late to me, but with mangalitsa pork raviolo ($25), Oregon elk ribeye with a sun-dried blueberry foam ($38), pan=seared deep sea scallops accented with bacon onion relish ($28) and phyllo triangles stuffed with pear and Oregon blue cheese ($12) on the menu, I don't give a crap about the weather.

LINK: Brix 25 capsule review

[Brix 25, 7707 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, 253.858.6626]

OWEN TAYLOR: YOU CAN HELP STOP LASTCALLITIS >>>

Fresh off their explosive 10th anniversary show last Saturday in Seattle, Oldominion stalwarts Mr. Hill and Barfly have joined forces with Cancer Rising’s Gatsby to form Nite Owls, a tribute band born from the need to help those stricken with the debilitating disease, Lastcallitis. Symptoms may include blurred vision, which is sometimes referred to as Beer Goggles, and can result in many things including regret and other diseases. They often form lasting personal relationships with bartenders, lapses in memory, missing bank funds, and may also lead to impromptu freestyle dance-offs, many times on pool tables or bar tops. Victims sometimes appear randomly naked and confused but jovial. It is best in this situation to just buy them another beer and move on. Tonight at the Royal these gentlemen, who also suffer from the disease, will be performing a benefit for themselves, to help extinguish a little bit of the pain of being superstar rap icons.

[The Royal, with AKA, Deadbeat, Billy the Fridge. 9 p.m., $5, 311 Capitol Way North, Olympia, 360.705. 0760]

MATT DRISCOLL: LAUREN NAPIER PRESENTS "ROCKIN' THE CRADLE" >>> 

Look, we all know kids are important. 

I've heard, actually, that the children are our future. I've heard we need to teach them well and let them lead the way. We need to show them all the beauty they posses inside, and give them a sense of pride to make it easier. I've heard we should let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be.

But beyond all that happy horse shit, we also need to support the all ages music scene. If Whitney wasn't smoking crack out of a pipe she fashioned from an old Grammy, I'm sure she'd agree.

This being the case, the Weekly Volcano is proud to announce the debut of Lauren Napier's (pictured above) "Rockin' the Cradle" column, which will provide an intimate glimpse into the all ages world of the South Sound every week.

To check out the very first "Rockin' the Cradle," click here.

CHUCK DULA: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE PECULIAR ELIXER >>>

“Absinthe has a wonderful color, green. A glass of Absinthe is as poetical as anything in the world. What difference is there between a glass of Absinthe and a sunset?” â€" Oscar Wilde

Well, besides the fact that I have never tried to punch a police officer after seeing the beautiful glowing orb cross the horizon, then … nothing.

Recently, it was brought to my attention that many people in Tacoma may not have a strong grasp of what absinthe truly is. So, while bartenders spend their nights having no choice but to drown out the insipid yipping of hipsters, douche bags, pretentious debutantes and horrible writers (myself included), they can help put a metaphorical gag in the mouth of the clueless barflies who spend their nights explaining to deaf ears why absinthe makes you hallucinate. I pray to God that these pubprentrenuers consider reading this article instead of using it for a coaster.

To get a full sense of what absinthe is all about, I went to Paddy Coyne’s (Eighth and Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma) where bartender Joe Korbuszewski took me and two friends (Lynzi and Trish) on a tour of three different varieties of absinthe. Check out what happened to me on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

LINK: Wine and beer tastings this week