NIKKI TALOTTA: GETTING HOME SAFELY JUST GOT A LITTLE EASIER â€" AND COOLER â€" IN OLYMPIA >>>

It’s Friday night at the bar. Your boyfriend has just finished his hiccup-filled rendition of AC/DC’s “Back in Black.” You’re out of smokes, and Jägermeister is dripped down the front of your favorite white hoodie. The bartender is shooting dirty looks, and the bathroom has a line a mile long.

Yep, it’s the end of the night.

Time to get home.

In Olympia, there are four ways to get safely home. Discover the options here.

MATT DRISCOLL: TASTY THURSDAY AT CHENEY STADIUM >>>

Sure, you may love Tacoma, but do you Love Tacoma?

While that question may seem confusing at first, really it’s not.

Love Tacoma is a group of Grit City enthusiasts who meet monthly to, well, love Tacoma. According to Love Tacoma’s Web site, the club is “a great way to celebrate the places, people, and activities that make Tacoma great.” Tonight they’ll be heading to Cheney Stadium to catch a 7:30 7 p.m. Rainers game, not to mention suck down a bunch of $2 beers and $1 hot dogs.

Prediction
At first, nothing will seem amiss. A strong and vocal group of what seems like T-town supporters will fill Cheney Stadium’s fourth level beer garden, and the suds will start flowing freely. However, near the seventh inning stretch, it will be revealed that not all in the group actually love Tacoma. In fact, some of these imposters will claim, after being loosened up by a little waterboarding, to actually love places like Federal Way and Graham. This, of course, will NOT be the right answer â€" and the waterboarding will continue until Rhubarb intervenes.

ANNOUNCER: THE BOYS GET BUSY THIS WEEK >>>

This week the boys head out at lunchtime to two very different eateries in equally different downtown sections of Puget Sound cities. They visit The Press in Olympia and Dock Street Sandwich Co. in Tacoma.

A self described coffeehouse and lounge that serves a little food, The Press sits in Olympia’s Theatre District in a recently remodeled space retaining much of the original Security Building charm. Warm cream and brown interior colors complement a stuffed, black leather couch, wooden bistro tables and chairs. Housed on the main floor of Thea’s Landing, a slick condo high-rise,

Dock Street Sandwich Co. is just north of the Museum of Glass. Strings of stars adorn the windows, and homemade fudge beckons from a display case. Both serve only breakfast and lunch, though nibbles at The Press are offered later in the night.

Readwhat they discovered at there two spots here.

JOSE S. GUTIERREZ: SWEATSHOP UNION AT THE ROYAL TONIGHT >>>

The award-winning Canadian hip-hop group, Sweatshop Union will rock the crowd at Olympia’s Royal Lounge tonight combining conscious lyrics, crowd-rocking tactics and a long and rich history of representing the best of hip-hop straight from the ‘much-slept-on, vastly beautifully land of British Columbia.

The group came together initially as a collective in Vancouver, B.C. at the beginning of the millennium and eventually morphed into a powerful group with a conscious voice, a meaningful message and the ability to rock the party.  I can remember their music getting independent rotation as a DJ/producer at The Beat 94.5 FM in 2002 and this was just their beginning.

Now Sweatshop Union is on a whirlwind tour that will take them from Washington to Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, California and eventually back home to Canada, where they have received critical accolades and awards from The Junos (Canadian music awards) and Much Music (Canadian version of MTV).

The group who promoter Nicatine of Homeland Security calls “Canada’s Finest Import” will hit the stage tonight along with local party rockers, Junkyard Gang.  Icky Spitz, The Elements and DJ Deadbeat will support the show in the safe, fresh and festive fashion that has become so familiar with Homeland Security shows.  “It’s gonna be a dope show,” says Nicatine.

[The Royal Lounge, Sweatshop Union, Junkyard Gang, The Elements, Icky Spitz and DJ Deadbeat, Thursday, Aug. 20, 9 p.m. doors, $5, 311 Capital Way, Olympia]

P.S. Read my column on the Weekly Volcano Web site for my thoughts on Michael Vick.

JAKE DE PAUL: JULIA, LOBSTER, TASTY THURSDAY AND MORE >>>

TASTY THURSDAY: Love Tacoma attends the Tacoma Rainier's Tasty Thursday night.

TACOMA FOOD CO-OP BENEFIT: Food, Inc. continues its run at The Grand Cinema with screenings today at 2:35, 7 and 9:10 p.m. Mention the Tacoma Food Co-op when purchasing your ticket and the organization will receive a dollar from the admission.

COOKING DEMONSTRATION: Garfield Book Company hosts “Julia! A Cooking Celebration,” today from 6-8 p.m. at 405 Garfield St. in Tacoma. The class is free.

LOBSTER SUMMER: The Keg Steakhouse & Bar’s summer lobster dishes will end Aug. 23.

Thursday Food Link Dump

TACOMA BREWS TRIBUNE: Complete list of beers at Saturday's IPA Fest at the Parkway Tavern.

THE ATLANTIC: When meat becomes dessert.

EAT ME DAILY: Stephen Colbert freaks out over sugar shortage.

LINK: South Sound Rest Guide

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Oh No!: Igor pulled out of the Luzon deal. City of Tacoma is sweatin' it.

Where All The Women Folk Will Be This Week: Firefighters from all over the world will test their skills this week are in the South Hill Mall parking lot.

Pole? What Pole?: That One!

The CIA And Its Contract Killers: Plan to kill Jihadists.

Health-care Reform Is A Moral Obligation: Obama to preach his healthcare message to religious leaders.

Reporters Beware: Police crack down on journalists during Afghan election.

True Reality: VH1 can't run fast enough from reality show contestant.

Feeling A Little Threatened Are We?: MySpace acquires social music start-up iLike.

Fat Chance: Iconic bridge closed for obese man.

MICHAEL SWAN: REMEMBER >>>

LINK: A fond farewell

MICHAEL SWAN: TODAY'S HAPPY HOUR DISCUSSION TOPIC >>>

Today's Happy Hour Suggestion:

2 Mile House Pub & Eatery
3447 Mud Bay Road W., Olympia, 360.753.9964
Happy Hours: 3-6 p.m.
Drink Specials: $2.75 wells, $2.25 domestic, $5 bomb (Jaegerbomb, cherry bomb) special every day
Food Specials: 6-inch pita pizzas for $3.99, first topping free

LINK: South Sound happy hours

MICHEAL SWAN: CRIME STOPPERS NEEDS YOUR HELP >>>

MICHAEL SWAN: FRIDAY, AUG. 21, 2009 >>>

1. UrbanXchange Records opens today offering cash for old CDs, tapes and vinyl or 30 percent more in store credit that you can use throughout the UrbanXchange clothing store.

2. As part of a national tour, Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser will be at the Pantages Theater from 9-11 a.m. to present Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative.

3. Blue Mouse Theater hosts a fundraiser featuring a Filipino dinner and a screening of Gawad Kalinga at 6:30 p.m.

4. The Le Cabaret Noir Variety Show featuring Fuchsia Foxxx, Sydni Deveraux, Ernie Von Schmaltz, Indigo Blu, Jenny Penny, Inga Ingenue, Lou Henry Hoover, MC Harlot O Scara performs before an all-ages crowd at 8 p.m. inside the Capitol Theater.

5. Hotter Than A Crotch, Dusty Santamaria & The Singing Knives, and Retox play in Le Voyeur's back room at 9 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide