NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Pipe Dreams: Milton couple questioned about their three metal pipes with capped ends.

Airplane Dreams: Gov. Chris Gregoire asks Boeing to open that second Dreamliner assembly line in Washington state.

You Go Girl: Michelle Obama vows to strike Olympic gold for Chicago.

Facebook: Secret Service investigating poll on Obama.

Nuclear Debate Brews: Is Iran designing warheads?

WTF?: Wisconsin Tourism Federation changes name after Internet jokes.

Yee-haw!: 1,400-pound bull drags officers down NJ street.

MICHAEL SWAN: IT’S NATIONAL COFFEE DAY; DRINK UP >>>

Today is National Coffee Day (though most probably believe that day is every day).

So how does Starbucks celebrate it? With a free cup of java? Nope. They launched their instant coffee today.

JAKE DE PAUL: I FEEL COMFY >>>

Comfort food is something that cures all and reminds me of happy times â€" especially meatloaf.  Meatloaf brings to mind family dinners. It is something that is easily made and fills your stomach. 

Everyone has their favorite meatloaf recipe. Some, make it fancy by adding cheese or bacon.  Others stretch it out by putting in green beans and bread.  Many put a topping of either tomato or potato on it.  There really aren’t any requirements.  Almost any kind of ground meat can be used in any proportion â€" the Roman one called for peacock, if you have some on hand. There are even vegetarian meatloaves made with cheese and eggs.  The only commonality seems to be baking something that resembles ground meat, although Italians braise theirs.  Many recipes have a starchy filler and something tomato based sauce (usually ketchup) added.

The Mandolin Café’s meatloaf recipe incorporates chicken sausage and lean ground beef as its base. Then, they stuff it with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and smoked gouda. It’s beautiful.

Most restaurants fail to take into consideration the variations in cooking times lent by the amalgamation of different meats or the loaf's propensity to desiccate in the heat of the oven. But not The Mandolin Cafe. It’s cooked perfectly â€" solid and heavy in texture, topped with just a light nap of scratch demi gravy. It's absolutely delicious.

Today, the Mandolin Café is serving said meatloaf as a sandwich with sprouts ($6.50) and a full meal ($10) with chunky mashed potatoes â€" Yukon gold potato with garlic, sour cream and gorgonzola â€" and asparagus spears.

I suggest hitting the Mandolin for both lunch and dinner.

[The Mandolin Café, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]

RON SWARNER: A CELEBRATION OF LIFE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY (UPDATE 5) >>>

A memorial service for Brian Redman will be held Friday, Oct. 2, at Doyle’s Public House in Tacoma’s Stadium District. The services will begin at 5 p.m.

Afterward, at 6 p.m., live bands will rock in his honor and memory in Doyle’s parking lot.

As those who knew Brian can imagine, whittling the bands down to something manageable will be difficult. Everyone wants to perform. Band names and details will follow as the information arrives.

UPDATE: Due to the overwhelming support of the musical community, Jesse Turcotte, booking agent at Doyle's Public House, has no choice but to start the music at 6 p.m. Friday.  The music portion of the memorial will start with acoustic solos and duos from, but not limited to, Daniel Blue, Westerly, Last Chance Romeos, Kyong Kim, and Jeff Angell.  Following that, Doyle's will host short performances on two stages with quick turnaround from, but not limited to, Ockham's Razor, Toughtimes, Blanco Bronco, Goldwing, Pioneers West, Helms Alee, The Revengers, The Fucking Eagles, Zeke, Top Heavy Crush, Glimpse, and members of Dirty Knockers and Left With Nothing. 

"It'll start slow and sensitive and end hot and heavy, just like Brian would have wanted," says Turcotte.  

There will be a taco truck in the parking lot for late night eats.
 
Doyle's is also establishing an endowment for music with Greater Tacoma Community Foundation. They are asking for either cash donations directly to this fund or items to be used for the raffle on the day of the event. After funeral expenses are covered all donations will go toward the endowment. All items and checks may be dropped off at Doyle's â€" 208 St. Helens Ave. in Tacoma's Stadium District. Checks may also be mailed to: The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, 950 Pacific Avenue, Suite 1220, Tacoma, WA 98402

Doyle's is asking for a $5 donation at the door. All proceeds will go toward Brian's funeral expenses and endowment fund.
 

SECOND MEMORIAL ADDED: A second memorial service will take place Thursday, Oct. 1 at the New Frontier Lounge. Zook, 12 Gauge Saint and Mico de Noche will perform.

MICHAEL SWAN: WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30, 2009 >>>

1. Tap Dogs â€" the rough, tough, rocking theatrical performance that was created in 1995 by six guys from a steel town north of Sydney, Australia â€" hit the Washington Center stage at 7:30 p.m.

2. The artist reception for the fashion design exhibit at Tacoma Art Place will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the TAP Gallery at 1116 11th S.

3. The Tacoma Art Museum presents Speaking Parts: Conversations between Works in the Collection, a look at how TAM chooses works for its collection, at 7 p.m.

4. The Tacoma Public Library and The League of Women Voters host a community conversation exploring issues facing voters in Tacoma and Pierce County at 7 p.m. inside the Olympic Room at the Tacoma Public Library’s Main Branch in downtown Tacoma.

5. Jazz saxophonist Kareem Kandi and guitarist Mason Hargrove will perform at Pour At Four wine bar at 7:30 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

CERVEZA SISTERS: THE TASTY ROAD TO THE TACOMA CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL >>>

The Tacoma Craft Beer Fest will host 43 breweries and 88 beers Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Foss Waterway Seaport in downtown Tacoma. Here is another beer that will be poured at the festival:

Full Sail Lupulin Fresh Hop Ale
This beer is a veritable hop loverâ��s delight. Named for those tiny lupulin glands inside hop flowers, they are packed with sticky resins and essential oils that provide bitterness, flavor and aroma. This beer â�" which was released mid-September â�" is all about hops: itâ��s wet hopped, kettle hopped, hop back hopped, wet hopped and dry hopped in the fermenter with 135 pounds of hops per 24 barrel batch.

It�s tasty, clean and flowery with a super long finish that keeps our mouths watering long after the empty glass. The fresh combo of crystal and cascade hops no doubt work out the citrusy, flowery, clean taste.

Hey stats!: The ABV is 5.8 percent; the IBU is 70.

Yay for the Lupulin gland in every hop flower, bursting with the resin that makes this a new favorite for us!

[Foss Waterway Seaport, the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival, Saturday, Oct. 3, noon to 9 p.m., $18 advance, $20 day of, 25 percent military discount at door only, 705 Dock St., Tacoma]

LINK: Full Sail Brewing

LINK: Tacoma Craft Beer Festival

LINK: Weekly Volcano�s Tacoma Craft Beer Festival cover story

There's simply no need to dump sub-par "beer" down your throat. It's just not cool, bra. ...

NEWS TEAM: GOOD MORNING SOUTH SOUND >>>

Drat! Smart Hookers: Lakewood considers law to outwit prostitutes.

No Cheer For Cheer: Study blames laundry for toxin in Puget Sound.

Signgate: Tacoma mayoral candidate Jim Merritt wants his signs back.

Yikes: Quake under water means tsunami.

Nevermind The 65 Percent That Support It: Senate rejects two public-option health care proposals.

And Then There’s This: Pressure builds for Obama Administration to make decision on committing more troops in Afghanistan.

OK, Yay: U.S. economy shrank 0.7 percent, less than anticipated.

This Is Something: Dwarves found “theme park” commune to escape bullying.

Just Because: A picture of Bernie Madoff being crushed by a farting bull.

Best Friends Are The Best

MICHAEL SWAN: REEL TACOMA â€" A DAY EARLY >>>

Beginning tomorrow the Tacoma Film Festival presents 132 films from around the region, country and the world, a sampling of myriad creative worlds that any weekend of web surfing would have trouble equaling, all projected on the big silver at seven Tacoma venues â€" an experience no laptop screen can match. The week-long festival also brings in the filmmakers themselves, to host screenings and answer questions, narrowing that usually yawning gap between those who make the movies and those who watch them and providing the kind of rich viewing experience that no DVD extras menu could.

And then there's the opportunity to ask one of the TFF executives how they went about whittling the 300 film submissions down to a manageable festival.

Tonight, Rachel Marecle, director of Community Development for The Grand Cinema, will answer questions and screen seven films scheduled to run at this year’s Tacoma Film Festival at The Garfield Book Company at 7 p.m. She will play short 2-3 minute clips from the following films:

• Four of a Kind
• Otis v. Monster (pictured)
  
• White on Rice
• Schizofredic
• Signs of the Time
• The Day My Parents Became Cool
• Sebation's Voodoo
• Short Term 12

[The Garfield Book Company’s Fireside Lounge, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m., no cover, 208 Garfield St. Suite 100, Tacoma, 253.535.7665]

MATT DRISCOLL: ANTIQUES! >>>

I wasn’t always living the dream. Yes, it’s true. I know it might sound crazy to some, but there was a time â€" not all that long ago, even â€" when I didn’t have cable (gasp!). Life was simpler back then. Options were fewer, and I came to love Antique Road Show on PBS. How much is this piece of crap worth? Let’s find out! This was my tube watching thought pattern on most nights back then.

On Saturday at the Museum of Glass, longstanding and well-respected non-profit Tacoma Community House, which was established in 1910 and provides services to refugees, immigrants, and English speaking adults and youth, will hold its Third Annual Antique Quest and Wine Fest. Expect food from around the world, plenty of wine, live music, and â€" oh hell yes! â€" antique appraising.

I might camp out early for a good spot.

[Museum of Glass, Saturday, Oct. 3, 7-10 p.m., $75, 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, 253.396.1768]