RON SWARNER: IT’S RECORD RELEASE DAY >>>

The Flaming Lips, Embryonic

Bob Dylan, Christmas in the Heart

Five for Fighting, Slice

Sugarland, Gold and Green

Hall & Oates, Do What You Want Be What You Are: The Music of Daryl Hall & John Oates

Mario, D.N.A.

Nellie McKay, Normal as Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day

RON SWARNER: NEW MENU'S DEBUT TASTING >>>

In the kitchens, the end of summer is just something you have to get through, a grinding slog through the last hot days, the last slow nights. Everyone's eyes are on the approaching holiday season â€" distant but just visible over the horizon. Chefs are dreaming of potatoes, of pork loins and root vegetables, of pumpkin and cinnamon and apples and winter stews.

Primo Grill, celebrating its 10th anniversary this week â€" Chef Charlie McManus left the Sheraton Hotel’s Altezzo Ristorante and with partner Jacqueline Plattner opened the first artistic dining spot in Tacoma â€" has added a few menu items to its Mediterranean fare.

With the sweet smell of apple wood wafting over a packed house Friday night, I tried three new items: aglio e olio (pictured), pumpkin ravioli and the grilled pork rib chop.

Primo’s aglio e olio ($13.95) showed exactly why this dish deserves to be a classic: oil and garlic, fresh herbs and parmesan all in perfect harmony. Then hot peppers to seal the deal. It was amazing.

The raviolis ($14.95) arrived with tartness intact and the optimal mushy-warm level on the pumpkin-nutmeg paste. Parmesan dotted the ravioli's top, and sage butter hid below each one. Slippers and a warm fire were the only items missing.

The moderate sweetness of the sun-dried cherry sauce didn’t overpower the grilled pork rib chop ($18.95), which was perfectly cooked. The highlight of the dish was the garlic mashed potatoes. McManus crushes a whole roasted clove with the spuds therefore a pocket toothpaste isn’t needed.

Also this fall Primo Grill introduced its “Happiest Hour” featuring $8.95 pastas and $7.95 appetizers, plus $5 wells, $3 micros and $6.50 crafted cocktails, from 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and 9-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.

[Primo Grill, 601 S. Pine St., Tacoma, 253.383.7000]

MICHAEL SWAN: WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14, 2009 >>>

1. The Parkway Tavern hosts its popular Jubelpalooza beginning at 6 p.m.

2. As part of the Nationwide Theatre Festival Centerstage Theatre stages a free reading of A Piece Of My Heart, a story about seven nurses returning from the Vietnam War at 8 p.m.

3. Billy Farmer & Rockin’ Chair Money plays an all-ages show at 7 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café.

4. Hell’s Kitchen’s Live Hip Hop Wednesday features Beat, with Wicked, Chris Crazy, and Paper Chase at 9 p.m.

5. Vicci Martinez plays a 9 p.m. at The Swiss.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

JAKE DE PAUL: FOOD MATTERS >>>

Twilight Menu: The Lobster Shop on Ruston Way serves a Twilight Menu from 4:30-6 p.m. every day. The new menu presents delectable meal options of a slightly smaller size and lower cost â€" two course for $14.99 and three course for $16.99.

Cocktail Recipes: Sue Kidd over at The Trib has her drink on.

Back In Black: The Red Hot hosts 21st Amendment Brewing for a night of their brews including Back In Black IPA at 7 p.m.

Plan Ahead: The final day of the Tacoma Farmers Market will feature community groups hosting conversations on eco-sustainability and community development Thursday, Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Food For Thought: Whoa! Subway is about to overtake McDonald’s. OK, I’m not talking sales; we’re talking number of locations, but still. …

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Eat & Drink section

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

LINK: South Sound Dive Bars

MICHAEL SWAN: KILN OR BE KILN >>>

More often than not, clay goes unappreciated among people who otherwise identify themselves as art enthusiasts. Maybe it's the craftsy reputation of the medium, with its associated images of grimy hippie practitioners. And remember those Christmas trees studded with Lite-Brite-style bulbs and frosted with opalescent glitter "snow" that Grandma churned out back in 1973? Sure, they've achieved heirloom status now, but even Grandma would have scoffed at the thought of displaying them in a fine art setting. Or perhaps people simply overdosed on "whimsical teapot"-themed exhibits the '90s.

Here’s your chance to become better acquainted with quality clay art.

The Washington Clay Arts Juried Exhibition will open Thursday at The Art Stop inside Le Roy's Jewelers in downtown Tacoma. Artwork by Thirty-two clay artists will be on display through Nov. 21, 2009. An artist reception will be held Thursday, oct. 15, 5-8 p.m., during Third Thursday ArtWalk.

[The Art Stop, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, 940 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.272.3377]

JOSE GUTIERREZ JR.: DEVON THE DUDE IN OLY >>>

One of the most underrated MCs on the map will slinkily and smoothly make his way to the stage tonight at Olympia’s Royal Lounge, when Devin The Dude headlines a strong show and line-up featuring Tac-Town’s Jay Barz, Olympia’s party crew, Junkyard Gang and DJ Luvva J (yours truly) on the 1s and 2s.

Since his days with Houston’s Odd Squad in the mid-‘90s, Devin has captured the minds and hearts of his listeners with blistering comedy, wordplay and an uncanny ability to tell stories â€" many of a sexual nature (check for his verses on “F**k Faces” with Scarface and “F**k You” with Dr. Dre).  Still for some reason or another, one of the most respected and sought after talents in the rap game is still slipping in and out of the mainstream radar. That’s OK though â€" those who know â€" KNOW.  Those who don’t can come and get a dose of the Texas legend tonight at the Royal in Oly. 

Devon The Dude plays Tacoma's Station 56 tomorrow night.

[The Royal, Devin The Dude, Jay Barz, Junkyard Gang & Luvva J, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 9:30 p.m., $15, 311 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360.705.0760]

MICHAEL SWAN: ALL TOGETHER NOW >>>

Last week the City Club of Tacoma celebrated its 25th anniversary party at the Washington State History Museum. It was quite lovely.

The night’s entertainment was Doug Mackey’s song and dance presentation titled “All Together Now,” which roasted Tacoma’s “mistakes” to the music of the Beatles. If you know Mackey, then you know the songs’ lyrics were reworked to poke fun of Tacoma. Mackey, keyboardist Gavin Guss and six talented high school age singers, under the guidance of Lynn Di Nino, sang their way through 11 song and dance numbers.

The Weekly Volcano got a hold of the lyrics.

Below are the lyrics to Mackey’s roast of Tollefson Plaza set to the music of “Eleanor Rigby.” Click the YouTube video below for the music.

Ah, where are all Tacoma’s people?
Ah, where are all Tacoma’s people?

Tollefson Plaza sits in a dead zone downtown where a gas station’s been
It’s a bad dream
Between Pacific, and 17th street, by the LINK, it’s concrete, it’s a bore.
Who is it for?

Tacoma’s bad ideas
Where do they all come from?
Tacoma’s politicians
Where do they all belong?

Ah, where are all Tacoma’s people?
Ah, where are all Tacoma’s people?

The City Council planning a concert on Friday that no one will hear
No one comes near
Tables and planters, walking away in the night until nothing is there.
Except for one chair.

Tacoma’s bad ideas
Where do they all come from?
Tacoma’s politicians
Where do they all get off?

LINK: Previously on Spew

MICHAEL SWAN: THURSDAY, OCT. 15, 2009 >>>

1. Tacoma Fall Home & Garden Show kicks off today at 10 a.m. inside the Tacoma Dome.
       
2. The Washington Clay Arts Juried Exhibition opening reception is from 5-8 p.m. inside The Art Stop.

3. As part of the Nationwide Theatre Festival Centerstage Theatre stages a free reading of Just The Ticket, a comedy about an older lady, who in her 60s, decides to emigrate to Australia, at 8 p.m.
 
4. Portland’s Mississippi Delta blues stomp rock band Hillstomp performs inside Olympia Eastside Club Tavern at 8 p.m.

5. The Fulcrum Gallery hosts James R. Cobb III’s Quiet Music Cultivation show at 6 p.m. followed by DJs at 9 p.m. 

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

JAKE DE PAUL: FOOD MATTERS >>>

Sustainable Community Day: The downtown Tacoma Farmers Market ends today. Sad. It’s also Sustainable Community Day at the market with community groups hosting conversations on eco-sustainability and community development 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Soup!: Downtown Tacoma Cutters Point will be serving Tomato Florentine soup today.

Martini Club: Varsity Grill’s martini club runs from 5-7 p.m. today. They also will a feature Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum infused menu including Rum-spiked Barbecue Pork Sliders and Drunken Sailor Cake.

Plan Ahead: Dr. Mark Thomson from Ferris (can we get a Bueller?) State University will give a free lecture on “The Role of Chemistry in the Development of Regional Styles of Beer and Ale” Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. at The Evergreen State College’s Seminar II Building. Admission is free.

Food For Thought: So you think you know pasta?

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Eat & Drink section

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

LINK: South Sound Dive Bars

MATT DRISCOLL: SOUTH SOUTH GUIDE TO BARGAIN GRUB >>>

It seems things are finally swinging my direction. The timing couldn’t be better.

For the longest time, since well before I became the editor of this fine rag, I’ve been the foodie laughing stock at Weekly Volcano World Headquarters. That bitch Suzy Stump doesn’t even wait until I’ve left the room. She just stands there, pointing and cracking up, as I contently microwave my Red Baron French Bread Pizza for the 47th day in a row. Fucking Suzy Stump.

Then there’s Publisher Pappi Swarner, original editor of the Volcano, the man who created this beast.  He’s still around, of course â€" he just focuses on the Internet side of the operation these days. For those of you that aren’t very tech-savvy, that just means he wears flip-flops on a fairly regular basis and Twitters a lot â€" but his influence is still felt strongly. While Pappi Swarner has a taste for all the finer things in life, is well versed in the art of dining, often brings leftovers to work in his refrigerated lunchbox that are more exotic than anything I’ve eaten in the last four and a half years, and is the kind of guy that orders croissants when it’s his turn to rule donut day, I roll at the other end of the spectrum.

I know all 12 flavors of Pillsbury Toaster Strudels. And if the world suddenly got turned on its ear and we were all forced to eat bacon cheeseburgers and waffle fries for the rest of eternity, well, I could totally deal with that.

I dine cheap.

And this, friends, is my very first restaurant guide as editor of the Weekly Volcano. It should come as no surprise that the focus, then, is on dining cheap. I know nothing else. If the prison in Shawshank Redemption were a Shari’s, I’d be the Morgan Freeman character.

But the real beauty lies in the circumstances of this situation. The stars have all aligned. My ascent to editor of the Weekly Volcano just so happened to correspond with the economic crapfest. Just as I took the reigns, things I’ve built myself on â€" like Canadian Bacon sandwiches from Spud’s and feeding myself on pocket change â€" suddenly became a lot cooler.

One of these days that tease Suzy Stump is going to wobble into my office and ask me what to order at the Flying Boots Café. I fucking know it.  How ironic it will be. We will have come full circle.

Dining for less is what it’s all about â€" and the Weekly Volcano’s 2009 Dining on the Cheap Restaurant Guide will help you do it. From Suzy Stump’s trip out in her grandpa’s Buick to invade our area’s fine dining establishments to Rev. Adam McKinney’s “Sandwich Smackdown” â€" the Weekly Volcano has cheapskates like me AND frugal foodies like the rest of you covered.

My time has finally come. I’m going to eat it up.

Pass the A1.