JAKE DE PAUL: MAXWELL'S ENLARGES AND REDUCES >>>

What is it about tapas that has captured the attention of so many restaurateurs while simultaneously attracting the disdain of so many critics? On the one hand, tapas are a fun, natural way to eat, particularly while drinking. Customers like the variety and freedom of choosing many dishes to make up one meal. On the other hand, it gives mediocre restaurants a new way to present themselves. The trend allows anyone to take their average food, put it on small plates and call it tapas. No other trend has lent itself so well to that pedaling of bad food under the guise of hipness.

So, why would a hip, happening restaurant with a talented kitchen staff delivering delicious entrees switch to small plates?

Ask Maxwell's Speakeasy and Lounge. They made the switch.

Well, kind of. Half of their previous menu delivered small plates, most in the $6-$21 range. However, they also churned out big-ticket items such as a rib steak priced more than $30. As of this week, their menu sports only small plates, priced from $3 for citrus-herb marinated olives to $19 for grilled marinated lamb. In between, 15 dishes grace a long, narrow menu such as treats as cheese with whiskey-date jam ($8), roasted tomato and garlic Tuscan style soup ($7), whole grilled artichoke ($8), grilled tiger prawns ($10), their delicious slow cooked pork sliders ($11), corner cheeseburger ($10), duck leg confit ($14) and the rolled cut rib eye ($19).

As it was explained to me, they made the switch for several reasons. One, it's the new trend. Diners don't want to be tied to the traditional four or five course option. Two, diners are looking for ways to save money. After two or three small plates and a drink you're out the door for less than $30. Three, Maxwell's morphed its space into a more speakeasy atmosphere â€"  the tables up front have been replaced with modern lounge chairs and low tables extending the lounge to the front door â€" and small plates fit the change.

Two desserts, both $5, sit on the menu too: cinnamon roll bread pudding and bittersweet chocolate brownie.

I dig the new change. With a DJ spinning in the corner every Friday and Saturday night, small plates, a modern lounge atmosphere, and one of the best bartenders in town, the spot has a chance to capture the happy hour and late-night crowds.

[Maxwell’s Speakeasy + Lounge, 454 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.683.4115]

MICHAEL SWAN: KEEP HAPPY, SUNSHINE THOUGHTS ALIVE TONIGHT >>>

When he’s not molding glass or hanging at his Fulcrum Gallery genreless DJ Broam, aka Oliver Doriss, is spinning somewhere in town. He drops beats, bleeps, and some unexpected treats to ensure that the groove gets on. Tonight, Broam’s groove won’t be blasting ears as he helps launch the Pacific Grill’s Lounge @ PG night. More of a mixer than a raging party, Lounge @ PG will offer free hors d'oeuvres, gift cards, a raffle and one free drink for a $10 cover.

[Pacific Grill, 7-11 p.m., $10, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, loungeatpg@gmail.com]

MICHAEL SWAN: MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009 >>>

1. Billy Roy Danger & The Rectifiers take The Swiss stage at 8 p.m.

2. Malkovich goes mental at The Grand.

3. Chandler O'Leary's To The Letter show at the Collins Memorial Library on the UPS campus.

4. T.R. Stewart plays an all-ages show at Rhapsody in Bloom beginning at 7 p.m.

5. Rockaraoke at Jazzbones

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Orting: one-strike rule on aggressive canines

State Senate OKs pension, sales tax bills

This is a neat trick: Bank of America triples its profit for the first three months of 2009.

Tomas van “Wonka” Houtryve: Photographs of North Korea

Waterboarding, not good

This is not a prediction: Oracle buys Sun.

WTF: Father of Slumdog Millionaire child star denies rumor that he tried to “sell” her.

NEWS TEAMS: WANKERS OF THE DAY >>>

Team Lechuza Caracas

Miss California

The CIA

Rafiq Qureshi

JAKE DE PAUL: MONDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

Maxwell’s steers its menu toward small plates.

1970s lifestyle protects planet

Man, now that was coffee!

Today’s South Sound Specials

$5 Wine Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., $5 glass of wines, Rosewood Café, 3323 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.752.7999.

Half Price Wine Night, Budd Bay Café, 525 Columbia St. N.W., Olympia, 360.357.6963.

Future Things Are Coming

Dockside Bistro & Wine Bar in Olympia hosts Douglas McRea for a McCrea Cellars wine dinner Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $70 per person. Reserve your space quick at 360.956.1928.

99 Bottles presents Dish’n Beer With Tiffany, an eight beer tasting paired with fancy snacks Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m. next door at WineStyle (35002 Pacific Hwy. S., Federal Way). The cost is $39 per person. Reserve your spot at 253.838.2558 or online.

LINK: South Sound happy hours

TAMMY ROBACKER: RUMI IN OLY >>>

Each month the Paul Gillie Memorial Poetry Workshop Series offers a free poetry writing class in Olympia.  This Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. class leaders and local poets Analisa Lee and Casey Fuller will be co-presenting the poetry of Rumi at the workshop. Rumi was a 13th century Persian poet and philosopher whose poetry articulated mystical love and celebration of the beloved. Explore Rumi’s technique, structure and subject matter at this series. Writers will be invited to try their hand at some Rumi-inspired poetry writing exercises.

Sponsored by the Olympia Poetry Network (OPN) â€" a non-profit organization that sponsors readings, open mics and other cool literary activities â€" these free writers’ classes feature monthly workshops led by talented guest poetry teachers. Students enjoy free lectures on poetry topics that cover myriad techniques, forms and structures. The workshops are held at the Downtown Olympia Library at 313 Eighth Ave. S.E. Visit the OPN Web site for more information about their scheduled events.

Analisa Lee
Lee's poems have appeared in various journals, including Alaska Quarterly Review. She recently received an Art Smith Residency for Poetry.  The following poem submitted by her here is an "Erasure" poemâ€" a contemporary form of “Found” poetry that is created when poets literally erase words from an existing text in prose or verse and then frame the results on the page as an entirely new poem.

Man, Woman, Child
(Part 2)
By Analisa Lee

Like a hound, time whimpered
against the shut, and she cried strongly
as the seconds heavily fell. 

The country, returning to her aid, came up
nimbly, from the low lily beds.
Clinging, somewhat dazed, she appeared. 

A vast maudlin, he swept her crushingly
against him, pointed to his wounds and forgot death. 

The sight of him remembered to her
the dissolved partnership,
its incessant mountain of low.

Your father was horsewhipped paying his
debts with truth he said.
Posture hard as he worked upon calm.

She rejoined the woman meal
of pocket soup.  She thrust a ladle.

The girl, heavy with the rich odor of pears
fire and pine sticks,
burst into a flow, whitefaced.

I'll bring you more poetry ditties Wednesday. Check out the Poem-A-Tacoma archives.

Poem-A-Tacoma is sponsored by Embellish Multispace Salon in downtown Tacoma.

TAMMY ROBACKER is a poet and writer living, breathing, typing and spitting words in Tacoma. She owns a freelance writing and marketing communications company called Pearle Publications. Her poetry has appeared in Plazm, Women's Work, The Wild Goose Poetry Review, and the Allegheny Review. A recent recipient of the 2009/10 TAIP grant, she will be publishing her first book of poetry, The Vicissitudes, through the generous support of this funding made possible by the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Arts Commission.

MICHAEL SWAN: DRINK ROCKSTAR AND ROCK OUT >>>

Live Nation is bringing Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival 2009 to the White River Amphitheater Tuesday, July 14. The musical stylings of Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Killswitch Engage, Bullet for My Valentine, trivium, Cannibal Corpse and many move lovelies will take the stage beginning at 2:15 p.m.

Tickets are $25, $29, $39.50, $49.50, $55.55 and $99. They go on sale this Friday, April 24 at 10 a.m. through livenation.com, select Blockbuster locations or 877.598.6659.