NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

What Are You Made Of?: Car tab renewals will start including parks fee option.

Diploma Investigation Unit (DUI): Eight troopers may lose jobs over use of fake diplomas.

Clinton Gets It Done: Former president’s visit is boon for Kim Jong Il.

Afghan Election Security: Allied forces have developed a plan to provide security for the millions of voters expected at the polls.

WTF?: Russian subs patrolling off East Coast of U.S.

Rekindling The Competition: Sony launches new line of eibook readers.

E-mail Is Too Easy: U.S. postal service faces a $700 million shortfall.

Seriously?

JAKE DE PAUL: WEDNESDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

Tijuana Taco: The Lakewood Mexican joint turns 40 this summer. To celebrate Lakewood Chamber of Commerce will go nuts in front of the restaurant tonight at 5:30 p.m.

Half-price Wine: A big night for drinking good wine on the cheap.

Coffee Talk: Which chain brews the best cup? Starbucks, McDonald's, or Dunkin'?

Future Things Are Coming
Minoela has beefed up its wine list a bit. They will celebrate with a tasting of four Argentinean wines Thursday, Aug. 6 from 6-8 p.m. for $5. Check it out at 604 Fawcett Ave. in Tacoma.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

MICHAEL SWAN: THIS JUST IN >>>

The Puyallup Fair Media Center sent this to us:

Entries may be submitted on Saturday, Aug. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. only, and will be received inside the grounds through the Red Gate area on 9th Ave. SW. Entries will be judged on Aug. 30.
 
Both beer and wine will be judged based upon a variety of criteria such as aroma, body, clarity, color, drinkability, flavor, method, and overall impression. Categories are based on type of beer and wine. All hobbyists must have no affiliation, past or present, with a commercial brewery or winery.
 
Judges will determine a Best in Show from First Place winners. A cash prize is given to First, Second, and Best in Show standings.

For more information on contest entry and rules, visit www.thefair.com. Click on Puyallup Fair, and then proceed to Exhibit Entries followed by Amateur Beer and Wine Making. For further questions please contact the Puyallup Fair Entry office at (253) 841-5017 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

RON SWARNER: BEST OF TACOMA 2009 >>>

Ever wonder where your favorite vintage clothing store owners shop? Most days and nights, they’re slaving away in their own shops, or buying new stock.

Weekly Volcano readers chose urbanXchange as their favorite vintage clothing store in our Best of Tacoma 2009 issue. Owner Julie Bennett sent us a kind note of appreciation â€" and while we dig the store and its lovely owner, it wasn’t our doing. Our readers chose her store as the best in the City of Destiny.

On the eve of our Best of Tacoma 2009 issue launching on our Web site, I thought I’d ask Bennett where she shops for vintage clothing in Tacoma.

There you go. Three more vintage clothing shopping options from one of the best in Tacoma.

Here are the Bought and Sold Readers’ Picks from our Best of Tacoma 2009

BEST PAWN SHOP: Hilltop Pawn Shop
BEST THRIFT STORE: Goodwill
BEST FLOWER VENDOR: J Robbins Florist
BEST FREE SERVICE: The Link
BEST TACOMA NEIGHBORHOOD FOR YARD SALES: North Tacoma
BEST PLACE TO BUY A USED CAR: Goodfellas Motor Co
BEST FURNITURE STORE: Posh Home
BEST ECO-STORE: Marlene’s
BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE: urbanXchange
BEST PLACE TO PUT GUESTS: Hotel Murano
BEST PLACE TO BUY SHOES: Nordstrom
BEST TATTOO SHOP: Supernova (with House of Tattoo a close second)
BEST PLACE TO BUY EYEGLASSES: Costco
BEST HAIRCUTTER: Andrea McKillip â€" Baroque Salon
BEST SPA: Savi Day Spa
BEST INDEPENDENT RECORD STORE: Buzzard’s
BEST PLACE TO BUY VINYL: Buzzard’s
BEST OCCULT STORE: Crystal Voyage
BEST WINE SHOP: Tacoma Wine Merchants
BEST POST OFFICE: Downtown
BEST ATTORNEY: Eric Bjornson
BEST COMIC BOOK STORE: Comic Book Ink
BEST PLACE TO RENT MOVIES: Stadium Video
BEST BIKE SHOP: Old Town Bicycle

For the Weekly Volcano Bought and Sold category staff picks, pick up the issue on the street or check out our Web site tomorrow.

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

Today’s happy hour suggestion:
Engine House #9
611 N. Pine St., 253.272.3435
Hours: 3-6 p.m., 10 p.m. to close daily
Drink Specials: $2.50 pints, $3 wells, $4 wine pours
Food Specials: Half off selected appetizers

LINK: South Sound happy hours

RON SWARNER:IT'S GONNA BE LIVE FRIDAY NIGHT >>>

Inspired by the lack of variety in dance music in Tacoma, Calvin Murphy and Omar Stokes founded Ocean Grooves Entertainment in January 1999. They started off strong that February with Monday night shows at the 6th & Proctor Bar & Grill (now Hell’s Kitchen) and dedicated it to underground dance music â€" showcasing various DJs from Seattle, plus Tacoma favorites such as Donald Glaude and DJ dAb.

Over the past 10 years Ocean Grooves has held regular nights in all the major Tacoma clubs, spinning underground techno and introducing the likes of DJ Cyphers, Mr. Clean, J. Fresh, Jason Diamond, Sonic MC, Charles Feelgood and DJ Flave to sweaty bodies working off frosty beverages.

Friday, Ocean Grooves throws 10 candles on the cake, and Glaude, Omar and dAb behind the turntables, for a party Tacoma hasn’t seen since, well, Ocean Grooves’ ninth anniversary.

Congrats Calvin and crew.

[The Swiss, Friday, Aug. 7, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., $10, 1904 S. Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2821]

JENNIFER JOHNSON: AN UPDATE >>>

A visit to SAX Restaurant and Lounge at the end of May revealed a pleasant staff lacking in menu knowledge.

Two months later?

Obviously, studying has occurred.

Our server informed us soups are freshly made â€" not frozen from a bag.

She was also honest, sharing that the dressings arrived on a truck, which we appreciated and earned her an A+. 

Giant ravioli appetizer with sherry cognac cream sauce was an instant fav.

Large sea scallops remained tender and moist inside while perfectly seared and firm outside.

Baked chicken caprese was juicy; basil added a headiness that was complimented by garlic pasta.

More than dinner and music, SAX joins Sixth Avenue’s lunchtime dining options, offering up burgers, sandwiches, and pasta dishes.

It’s even open for breakfast, serving three-egg omelettes, steak and eggs, Eggs Benedict, waffles, Monte Cristo, and pancakes along with breakfast wraps, corned beef and hash, and old school classic chicken fried steak.

[SAX Restaurant and Lounge, 2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.0588]

RON SWARNER: OUR REPORTER CRAWLS INSIDE >>>

Weekly Volcano reporter Mark Thomas Deming sports a theory that Tacoma has one of the most tight-knit music communities anywhere partly because so many bands jam in the basement hidden below Sharp & Sons USA of Yesterday Motors. 

He tested his theory firsthand. He maneuvered past guitars, amps, drums, speakers, microphones, mixers, a yellow bicycle, pinup girls posters, framed picture of Yorkshire terriers, a rotating Jesus lamp, a portrait of John Wayne, and many empty beer cans to file his full report here.

PAUL SCHRAG: MUSIC & ART IN WRIGHT PARK BENEFIT >>>

I need a beer. My head hurts. This sun is f-ing ridiculous. I hate the man. I hate everything. I hate my shoes. I need a beer. Never mind that it will probably lead to my death by dehydration. Never mind that it’ll probably make my skull implode. I need a beer.

I also need some good, old-fashioned, blue-collar-rage music. Something with a lot of double bass pounding, down-tuned guitars, a wicked groove and bass that will make my teeth hurt. Some stoner metal that won’t make me think too hard. Some stoner metal that siphons all the rage that’s bubbled up in this heat, and channels it into a searing blast of pile-driving, head-thrashing sound vomit.

And a beer.

Thank old man winter for Carl Zook. Because I think he has what I need. He’s got a new band, appropriately named Zook, and enough dirty sound to heal me. 

[Hell’s Kitchen, with Mico De Noche, Thursday, Aug. 6, 9 p.m., $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma 253.759.6003]

ANNOUNCER: REVIEW OF SUSHI GO ROUND IN LACEY >>>

Last week’s symbol coded menu at Winger’s Grill & Bar makes way for color coding at Sushi Go Round, a kaiten-zushi, or conveyor belt sushi restaurant, in Lacey. This novelty dining experience came to the Pacific Northwest about four years ago. Quantity over quality, this is Japan’s answer to fast food.

JASON: If I get sick you’re taking me to the hospital.

JAKE: Won’t happen. Sushi Go Round chefs toss out plates of sushi after an hour or so. They’re pretty good about it. Besides, I’ve seen you chow 3 a.m. crusty convenience store hot dogs.

JASON: Point taken.

ANNOUNCER: Read the rest of the review on the Weekly Volcano Web site.