MICHAEL SWAN: PUYALLUP FAIR WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 2009 >>>

Check it: 101 free things to do at The Fair. Snug.

Stuff to do today
10:30 a.m.: Coal Train Express, Showplace Stage

12 p.m.: Rubber Stamping, Hobby Hall

12:30 p.m.: Doggies of the Wild West, Fountain Plaza Stage

1:30 p.m.: Crazy Quilt, Pavilion, 2nd Floor

3:30 p.m.: Mutton Bustin', Green Gate Area

4 p.m.: Open Class Pygmy Goats, Town & Country I

6:30 p.m.: Spinning, Pavilion, 2nd Floor

7 p.m.: Coheed and Cambria, Brand New, Grandstand

8 p.m.: Let's Pretend Farm Time, SillyVille

More things to do today here

Hours
10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday.

Admission
$11 adults, $8 seniors (62 and older) and students (age 6-18); free age 5 and younger. Advance discount tickets at Safeway, Fred Meyer and Columbia Bank.

Parking
$10 Monday-Friday, $12 Saturday-Sunday

Transportation
Pierce Transit “Fair Express” for $3 round trip. Details are here.

More Information
Do their Web site.

SIMON MOON: HOW IS THIS ALLOWED? >>>

Miley Cyrus. Billy Ray Cyrus. Hannah Montana. “Achy Breaky Heart.” It’s a generational echo.

Miley Cyrus, a.k.a. Disney construct Hannah Montana, will be at the Tacoma Dome tonight.

Tweens â€" kids ages 10-12 â€" are into her stuff, and they have more buying power than the entire country of Iran. Disney knows this, and has sculpted Cyrus a nice career â€" and maybe even a comeback for her one-hit-wonder dad.

If she does well enough, maybe Billy Ray can get a gig at the Emerald Queen. Oh, wait, that’s already happened.

[Tacoma Dome, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m., $39.50-$79.50, 2727 E. D. St., Tacoma, 253.572.3663]

BOBBLE TIKI: KILL AUDIO >>>

Bobble Tiki thinks this band is frenetic, herky-jerky, and musically a little confusing. Sure, Coheed and Cambria are lyrically introspective, but when the hell did “poor me” replace “fuck you” in rock music? 

There’s no questioning this band’s talent â€" or motives for that matter â€" but Bobble Tiki thinks there’s a little too much thinking going on here, that’s all. Let’s get some of that uncontrollable urge back.

Anyway, Coheed and Cambria’s music consists of swift prog-rock tempo shifts that still soothe the neck they threaten to break. Interesting, but though it occasionally rocks out, the music is next to impossible to dance to. Give it a shot tonight at the Puyallup Fair.

By the way, it’s not surprising that Coheed and Cambria's heady concept albums paint dark scenes of desolate stretches tainted with wilted grain and black barbed-wire propped up against blank skies like charred skeleton fingers. Lead singer Claudio Sanchez writes a couple sci-fi mythological comic books series, including The Armory Wars, and his new series, a goofier Kill Audio â€" complete with scary self-portrait vinyl toy. As part of the band’s tour Sanchez will be popping into comic book stores before concerts to sign Kill Audio, which includes Comic Evolution in Puyallup Wednesday from 4:30-6 p.m. If you purchase the scary toy Wednesday, you’ll receive special VIP status at the concert. Just so you know, it doesn’t bobble. Just sayin’.

[Comic Evolution, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 4:30-6 p.m., no cover, 206 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253.770.6464]

[Puyallup Fair, with Brand New, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m., $25-$37 at Ticketmaster, Ninth and Meridian, Puyallup, 253.841.5045]

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Adventure Continues: Venture Bank's road to First Citizens.

Judging Judges: Federal Way judge Michael Morgan's computer scrutinized; Witness located in case against Judge Hecht.

Carter: Racism key in opposition to Obama.

Climate Bill: Know the seven key senators in the battle.

Worth A Read: How alt and indie media got ahead of the curve on the mortgage crisis story.

Consumer Prices: Rose 0.4 percent last month; are down 1.5 percent over the past year.

Tracing His son's Last Days: After son's death in Iraq, father embeds with unit to tell his story.

Weird: Tot shooting for ball park record.

SUZY STUMP: CHEAP AND FREE DEALS IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Got a great deal? E-mail it to us at feedback@weeklyvolcano.com.

BUCK FOR BEER: Every Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. 99 Bottles in Federal Way offers healthy samples of two beers of the same type for $1. Today, it's all about the rye â€" light, dry and spicy in flavor. The two lucky beers are Great Divide Hoss Rye Lager and Dick's Rye Ale.
[99 Bottles, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 4-8 p.m.,  35002 Pacific Hwy. S., Federal Way, 253.838.2558, 99bottles.net]

ECHOES, FIRE, AND SHADOWS FOR FREE: As breakable and potentially humiliating as glass may be â€" it’s also beautiful, versatile and comes in a whole range of extremely intense colors. The exhibit Preston Singletary: Echoes, Fire, and Shadows â€"the first mid-career survey of this renowned artist â€" will close Saturday at the Museum of Glass. You must check out Singletary's mad skills melding glass and his melding his Tlingit ancestry. During Third Thursday Artwalk â€" 5-8 p.m. â€" you can see the exhibit for free. In fact, glass pops up in several galleries along the downtown Tacoma ArtWalk route. Pretty
[Museum of Glass, Thursday, Sept. 17, free from 5-8 p.m., 1801 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.396.1768, museumofglass.org]

HOPE IT'S "BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY": Like the popularity of crop circles and Reba McEntire, we cannot explain why so many people enjoy singing in public. All we can do is shrug our rangy shoulders and tell you that if this sort of thing is your bag, then you must make your way to downtown Tacoma Thursday for Puget Sound Revels’ Tacoma Sings! First you sing in front of the Museum of Glass, then you sing on the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, then you belt it out next to the History Museum.  Rain or shine, you’re singing your ass off â€" for free.
[Pacific Avenue between 17th and 21st Avenues, Thursday, Sept. 17, 6:30-8 p.m., downtown Tacoma, pugetsoundrevels.org]

WE'D JOIN THIS: The Varsity Grill’s third Thursday Martini Club will feature Hendrick’s Gin this month. Five bucks gets you access to an appetizer buffet, samples of the gin, prizes and $5 martinis from 5-7 p.m. Hit it before or after downtown Tacoma's Third Thursday ArtWalk.
[Varsity Grill, Thursday, Sept. 17, 5-7 p.m., 1114 Broadway, Tacoma, varsitygrill.com]

FOR THE CHILDREN: Every third Saturday The Grand Cinema teams up with Click! to present The Click! Family Flick. The first 100 through the door beginning at 10:30 a.m. get to see the flick for free. Children younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult (watching a maniac running up and down the aisles isn't worth the free ticket). The film this Saturday: The Neverending Story.
[The Grand Cinema, Saturday, Sept. 19, 10:30 a.m., 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474, grandcinema.com]

TIGHTWAD TUESDAY: $2 tacos, $2 beers, and $2 wells. Enough said.
[Hell's Kitchen, every Tuesday, Hell’s Kitchen, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003, hellskitchenonline.com]

MICHAEL SWAN: HILLTOP ARTS SCHOOL STILL NEEDS HELP >>>

Back in August we posted a plea for help from the D.A.S.H. Center located on Hilltop Tacoma.  Apparently, they didn’t receive the help they needed.

Here is the latest news out of the D.A.S.H. Center:

TACOMA, Wash.  â€" The turbulent economy and a significant reduction in student-generated revenue could force one of Tacoma’s most vibrant non-profit organizations out of business.
 
The D.A.S.H. Center, a school of the arts located on Tacoma’s Hilltop, has fallen behind on rent because of the economic downturn. The Center, whose acronym stands for “Dancing, Acting, Singing and Harmony,” must raise $6,000 by the end of September or close its doors for good.
 
Candi Hall, the D.A.S.H. Center’s executive director, will be the featured speaker at a press conference intended to raise awareness about the potential closure. The press conference will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Center, located at 1504 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Hall will be joined by D.A.S.H. Center instructors and volunteers.
 

A native of Atlanta, Hall was visiting family in Tacoma back in 2001 when she recognized a need to establish a place where at-risk youth could engage in safe and productive activities. 
 
“Through dance and theater, children can express themselves freely, allowing them to share their talents and explore the creativity within each of them,” said Hall. “Far too many youth fall victim to the pitfalls of the world. Today, children contend daily with gangs, drugs, teen pregnancy, and teen domestic violence.”
 
The D.A.S.H. Center provides classes in ballet, hip-hop, tumbling, jazz, break-dancing, yoga and creative writing. Every year, Center performers produce six full stage shows, as well as a summer park concert event and a summer musical.
 
“In an area where many families are living under, or dangerously close to, the poverty line, the children of this community need a safe place to study and create,” Hall said. “Through artistic expression, ‘at risk’ youth can escape the many dangers of the street and find hope and the promise of a brighter future.”
 
To address its financial problems, the D.A.S.H. Center will host a benefit event on Pacific Lutheran University’s campus that will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27.
 
D.A.S.H. Center 1504 MLK Jr. Way, Tacoma, WA. 98405 (253) 572-DASH

SUZY STUMP: BRING A BOX OF CLOTHES TO THE FAIR STARTING TOMORROW >>>

No matter how amazing a piece of clothing is, sometimes it just isn’t right for you. If you’re anything like me, you probably have tons of items of clothing that don’t fit right. When you have more useful clothing than you know what to do with, have the heart and donate it.

Goodwill will set up donation stations in the Gold Parking lot at the Puyallup Fair Sept. 17-20 during Fair hours.
 
“Even a single box of clothes can help make the difference in supporting our job training and placement services,” said Terry A. Hayes, CEO, in a press release. “Donors know they’re helping people go to work while enjoying the fair.”
 
According to the release, donors will receive a coupon good for 50 percent off breakfast or lunch at the Neighborhood Bistro or one free coffee drink at Goodwill’s Coffee Buzz. The Bistro and Coffee Buzz are located in Goodwill’s new Milgard Work Opportunity Center, which opened Sept. 14 at 714 S. 27th St. in Tacoma.
 
For information about donation locations, stores or services at Goodwill, visit their Web site here or visit the Puyallup Fair Web site.

JENNIFER JOHNSON: FAM"S IS FAB >>>

Fam’s Southern Fried Chicken opened at Tacoma’s Freighthouse Square about five months ago. What a relief: real fried chicken done the right way â€" golden hued and crispy, breaded skin on the outside with moist, tender flesh plump with savory juice underneath.

The ultimate comfort food â€" fried chicken â€" sure isn’t the healthiest, but certainly satisfies lusty finger lickin’ carnivorous cravings. And Fam's satisfies.

Oh, and don’t forget about the heat. That’s the secret at family owned and operated Fam’s. They cook up chicken in perfect hot, hot heat turning out an end product that’s a crisp winner and not a greasy loser.

Wallet friendly family combo dinners feed six people for $19.49, or dinner for one goes for $6.79. 

Beside yardbird, check out catfish, prawns, dirty rice, baked beans, jalapeno corn bread, baked mac ’n’ cheese and hot wings.

[Fam’s Southern Fried Chicken, 430 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.627.9500]

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

Discuss the above video over happy hour at:

Harvester Restaurant & Lounge
29 Tacoma Ave. N., Tacoma, 253.272.1193
Happy Hour: 3-7 p.m. daily
Drink Specials: $2.50 wells, $1.75 Coors Light
Food Specials: half off appetizers Monday, Wednesday and Friday

LINK: Other South Sound happy hours

SUZY STUMP: ADULT PROM THIS SATURDAY IN TACOMA >>>

Saturday at 7 p.m., Sanford and Son Antiques hosts an adult prom with the theme “Copacabana,” featuring music by The Toughtimes, Si Si Si and DJ Infinity. Which reminds me: What ever happened to Barry Manilow’s nose? I vaguely remember hearing terrible news reports that the man who writes the songs that make the whole world sing walked into a wall and maimed his precious proboscis. It was so bad that he was even talking about surgery. Oh Mandy, I can’t bear the thought.

Anyway, Sanford and Son’s adult proms are a serious blast â€" with prom photos, dancing, food and booze.

Everyone will dress fancy â€" on the Cuban side I imagine â€" because music and passion always require fashion … or something.

So while you salsa and merengue Saturday in a dress cut down to there, take a moment and think of Barry and his treasure of a nose. 

For ticket information, check out the Sanford and Son MySpace page.

[Sanford and Son Antiques, Saturday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m. to midnight, 21 and older, $20 advance, $25 door, 744 Commerce, Tacoma, 253.272.0334]