MICHAEL SWAN: A PHOTO SERIES CURATED BY MISS TAKES >>>

Seen anything? Send your photo here.

MICHAEL SWAN: MEH >>>

I’m not a huge fan American Idol.  Set aside the reality TV circus tone, cruel and wacky judges, or, I believe, tone-deaf plants early in the season to draw viewers â€" it irks me that a glitzy karaoke show helps shapes mainstream music. Yes, there are worthy singers, but they end up losing their creativity in order to follow the blueprint of the show.

Oh well.

American Idol Live! Tour 2009 hits the Tacoma Dome Tuesday, July 7. The ticket prices haven’t been announced; they will go on sale Saturday, May 9 at Ticketmaster outlets.

MICHAEL SWAN: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009 >>>

1. America's Got Talent tapes live at 1 and 6 p.m. inside the Pantages Theater. Details here.

2. Chandler O'Leary's To The Letter show ends its run tomorrow at the Collins Memorial Library on the UPS campus.

3. Every Wednesday Doyle's Public House in Tacoma hosts Knowledge Night where individuals or teams answer two pages of brain teasers, trivia and current events for shirts, tickets and gift certificates.

4. Randy Oxford Blues Theatre open jam starts at 8 p.m. at Jazzbones.

5. Fresh Blends hip-hop night hosts The Wright Family, B-Awake, DJ Reing, QRive and DJ J Fresh at 9 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

The Budget Is In: Tacoma City Council hears bad news.

LeMay Way: Tacoma council members approved a resolution clearing the way for the museum to apply for a $3.5 million loan from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development â€" not the city’s general fund.

A Kinder, More Gentle Tacoma Municipal Court: May and June discounts!

They Need Cheerleaders: Bad news for UWT

The Old Switcheroo: Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania

Obamanator: Furious President Orders orders review of NY plane flyover

Hugging It Out: Talent agencies William Morris and Endeavor merge

We believe this is Swine Flu related. Sad.

JAKE DE PAUL: WEDNESDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

Tacoma’s Star Chef’s Dinner explained

Boxed wine is better than ever, and now even DOC-quality wines can be sold in a box.

Cacao tejate: ancient choco drink

Today’s South Sound Specials

Two Tacoma Public Library librarians find the good, the bad and the yummy food-related Web sites tonight at 7 p.m. at the Wheelock Library, 3722 N. 26th St. in Tacoma.

Wino Wednesday $3 pours and $5 Rainier Pitchers Night, The Red Hot, 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229.

Half-price Wine Night, Merende Restaurant, 813 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.722.1993.

Half-price Wine Night, 4 p.m. to close, Brix 25, 7707 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, 253.858.6626.

Sample two beers for $1, 4-9 p.m., 99 Bottles, 35002 Pacific Hwy. S., Federal Way, 253.838.2558.

Half-price Wine Night, 4-9:30 p.m., Primo Grill, 601 S. Pine, Tacoma, 253.383.7000.

Half-price Wine Night with every bottle on regular wine list is half price, 5-9 p.m., Il Fiasco, 2717 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6688.

Half-price Wine Night, 5-10 p.m., Woody’s On The Water, 1715 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.272.1433.

Wine tasting, noon to 6 p.m., complimentary, Walter Dacon Winery, 50 S.E. Skookum Inlet Road, Shelton, 360.426.5913.

Future Things Are Coming

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock makes himself a test subject in SuperSize Me about the commercial food industry. It screen Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. inside the Olympic Room of the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: SCREAM!

Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first. 

The Weekly Volcano owns stock in that maxim.

As a newspaper, our days are make-it-or-break-it, depending on which stories and photos come through. 

But beyond our editorial hive, we know Fate and her fickle friend Mother Nature have itchy fingers, dying to reach out and touch others. 

So, we couldn’t agree more in putting the sweets before the Brussel sprouts.

We recommend you do the same.  To coax you to our way of thinking, may we suggest 31 cent ice cream.  Baskin Robbins offers 31 Cent Scoop Night tonight beginning at 5 p.m.  You don’t have to sing.  You don’t have to juggle.  Just log on to baskinrobbins.com and discover which store has the goods for 31 cents. Proceeds benefit the National Volunteer Fire Council’s National Junior Firefighter Program.

TAMMY ROBACKER: THE LAST POEM-A-TACOMA >>>

As National Poetry Month comes to an end, let’s not close the chapter on poetry. As I post this final Poem-A-Tacoma blog topic, I want to be sure and share some of the resources and upcoming events the South Sound offers to keep poets and writers productive and entertained.

Upcoming lit events and poetry readings

P.S. Keep Writing
A new workshop group called P.S. Keep Writing! is forming to help writers keep producing new material. The Tacoma Public Library Main Branch’s Olympic Room has been reserved for Puget Sound Keep Writing! on the second and fourth Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. beginning June 11 and 25. This group will be especially helpful to those embarking upon a large body of work such as a book, as it provides a bi-monthly deadline, and an audience to give helpful feedback. Most importantly, the group will strive to get people to keep writing. Folks interested in joining or to read group guidelines, please email: bonnie@pskeepwriting.com.

In Tahoma’s Shadow Readings
Two In Tahoma’s Shadow poetry anthology readings are scheduled for the month of May. The first reading at which poets collected in the anthology are invited to read takes place Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. at King’s Books, 218 St. Helen’s Ave. in Tacoma. A second reading from contributing poets is scheduled for the following Thursday, May 28 at 7 p.m. at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S.

Puget Sound Poetry Connection
The City of Tacoma and Puget Sound Poetry Connection present The Distinguished Writer Series Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Kings Books, 218 St. Helens. Featuring Poet Jeff Lair. Open mic follows featured reader. Host: Connie Walle.

King’s Book Store Literary Events
Tuesday, May 19 at 7 p.m. Banned Book Club meets at Tempest Lounge, 913 MLK Way, Tacoma. Join this perverse book group reading books that have been banned or challenged. The next selection is My Father's Scar by Michael Cart. Come join the discussion. BBC meets the third Tuesday of every month at Tempest Lounge â€" a 21 and older venue. Call 253.272.4904 or e-mail sweet pea for more information.

Olympia Poetry Network
Wednesday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. Olympia Poetry Network invites you to a free poetry reading by Jenifer Lawrence at Traditions Fair Trade Café in Olympia. Open mic to follow.

Thursday, May 28 at 7 p.m., poet and teacher, Allen Braden will lead the Paul Gillie Memorial Poetry Workshop sponsored by the OPN. This free workshop takes place at the Downtown Olympia Library, 313 8th Ave. S.E., Olympia.

River and Sound Review
Pierce County’s organization, River and Sound Review, will be performing a live production Thursday, May 7 at the Richard Hugo House in Seattle. They welcome best-selling novelist Stephanie Kallos (whose book Broken For You was a Today Show Book Club Selection), essayist and poet Anne McDuffie, and guest musician, Patrick Bradshaw. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to support future productions of RSR. 

In closing, I also leave you with one of my own labors of love â€" a poem dedicated to readers and all the fantastic poets, authors, students, organizations, businesses and poetry groups that keep Tacoma writing.

I WANT THIS POEM TO BE
by Tammy Robacker

I want this poem to be
found by you
like it’s been folded
so carefully in form
it is origami. A pointy
pure white dove
flown straight for you.

I want this poem to be
discovered by you                                                                                   
like it always existed.
But others just missed it.
Like it was winking
up in the milky way
for so long, for utter eons
even if the whole atmosphere
of it is already burned out
by the time it reaches you
it will still light up the world.

I want this poem to be
bloomed by you
like a fresh-born lily.
Like a stargazer waits bud-shut
in the hush hours of morning.
But it chooses now to open.
Like the petals knew all along
when and how to flourish. Since
your hand finally holds it.

Poem-A-Tacoma was sponsored by Embellish Multispace Salon in downtown Tacoma. Thank you Embellish!

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.

MISS TAKES: A PHOTO SERIES >>>

Seen anything? Send your photo here.

MATT DRISCOLL: PRIMING THE PUMP FOR A MEMORABLE ELECTION SEASON  >>>

It’s all happening, Tacoma, right before our eyes.

Election season. God love it. Soon Tacoma will have a new mayor and many new faces on the City Council.

Throughout the coming months the Weekly Volcano will do our best to bring you the news and information that really matters when it comes to choosing who will lead our City of Destiny into the future. What are the issues that impact Tacoma â€" and its districts â€" most? Who has a real plan for bringing our city out of the dark ages? When Joe Lonergan grows up will he wear suspenders like his father? These are the questions we’ll answer.

Here’s a look at how the races are shaping up so far:

Mayor

Two hats are in the ring, and both carry clout in Tacoma. Current Tacoma City Councilmember Marilyn Strickland â€" a visionary, former Obama delegate and all around legit voice for Tacoma’s often unheard and almost entirely un-represented masses â€" will be facing off against Jim Merritt, he of Merritt Architecture. Both candidates have plenty of supporters, and it should definitely be interesting to see how this one boils down.

District 2
So far, incumbent Jake Fey is the only candidate officially running. Unless something surprising happens, or a candidate comes out of the woodwork, expect Fey to triumph in this one-person race. If he manages to lose, he obviously didn’t deserve it.

District 4
Oh, this one is going to be hot â€" and probably get a little ugly. Democrats Roxanne Murphy and Marty Campbell, both well-respected and supported in Tacoma, are vying for the Eastside seat. Campbell’s got a longer resume, but Murphy has a history of being one of Tacoma’s finest employees and also has an obvious passion for lifting up the Eastside. This one is particularly difficult for us at the Weekly Volcano, since Murphy has contributed to the paper in the past. Of course, we also love the hell out of Campbell’s Stadium Video and Buzzard Records. Decisions …

District 5
Connie Ladenburg is out (damn term limits, she screams!) so fresh faces Joe Lonergan (yes, Mike’s son) and Rebecca Summers-Kirby (yes, State Rep. Steve Kirby’s wife) will do battle to see who takes this South Tacoma seat.

At large position 6
Replacing Mike Lonergan â€" who’s been nothing short of masterful at wooing the at-large voters â€" firefighter Keven (I spell my name funky) Rojecki and Victoria (very few people want to mess with me) Woodards will be dueling for at-large position 6. Woodards seems like the early favorite, but if we’ve learned anything here at the Weekly Volcano it’s to never doubt a firefighter. You’ve seen Backdraft, right?

So, there you have it, Tacoma. It’s setting up to be quite an election season, and the Weekly Volcano will be right in the middle of it all â€" your source for the questions that matter most.