NOSH PIT >>>

Here's Something Cool: MIJAS Transitional Restaurant in Olympia (109 Legion Way SW) is a new social organization conceived by a group of Latina women wanting to help women in crisis of domestic violence. Through working and learning new job skills in a restaurant, titled Chica's Cafe, MIJAS helps empower and increase self-esteem. Currently, MIJAS is only hosting special dinners. The next one — a three-course traditional Mexican meal — will be Saturday, Jan. 23 from 3-9 p.m. For reservations, call 360.951.9982.

Haiti Relief: Primo Grill, Crown Bar and McGavick Winery have partnered with Doctors Without Borders to raise funs for Haiti relief. Now through Feb 28, McGavick Winery will donate 100 percent of proceeds of wine sales to DWB, and Primo and Crown will donate $5 for every bottle of McGavick merlot sold.

Plan Ahead: The Pacific Grill hosts a five-course Chef Tasting Beer Dinner featuring dishes paired with Belgian Abbey beers Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. The cost is $65. Reserve your spot at 253.627.3541.

Food For Thought: Five foods that taste better the next day.

FOUND THIS ON THE TACOMA ART LISTSERV >>>

Ruby Chambers, she of the Ruby Collection in Tacoma's Opera Alley, posted this on the TacomaArt listserv:

I am currently putting together a beautiful studio in downtown Tacoma, it will be 900 sq ft, cork floors and floor to ceiling windows, with 13 ft tall ceilings, exposed beams in a historical building. I will manage the space and rent the studio out by the hour, or day. Instructors can reserve space ahead of time to promote it and send schedules out to their students. It can be used for a multiple of workout uses, Pilates, yoga, karate, dance, etc. It is scheduled to open in May of this year. Please contact me if you are interested in using something like this. Please email me at rubychambers@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20, 2010 >>>

1. Tempest Lounge hosts The Hayburners at 7 p.m.

2. City Club of Tacoma Lunch Program welcomes UW President Mark Emmert who will speak on education in the current economic environment at 11:30 a.m. inside The Tacoma Art Museum.

3. Kittredge Gallery holds an opening reception from 4-6 p.m. for the Michael Johnson Sculpture and Ted Vogel Shadow shows.

4. The Purpose Driven Networking event runs 5:30-7:30 p.m. at SAX on 6th. Go meet some businesspeople for crying out loud.

5. EVG 4 Life and 6 Gunz Muzik present Mic Control: The Emcee Battle at 9 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

HOPPY BEERTHDAY, 99 BOTTLES! >>>

Cake and beer, oh yes. Sweet, tasty carrot cake, and a frothy pint o' brew - the perfect way to end a Wednesday, or punctuate a particularly monotonous stretch of existence. Any excuse is a good excuse when it comes to beer and cake.

The Federal Way beer store 99 Bottles celebrates its third year of business with a "Beerthday Bash" today from 4-8 p.m. Yes, you guessed it — carrot cake and beer will be served. The TNT Diner has the scoop.

You must be 21 and older to attend. The cake and beer samples cost a buck.

[99 Bottles, 35002 Pacific Hwy. E., Federal Way, 253.838.2558]

LINK: 99 Bottles ran into Trouble once

LINK: We held 3 Drink Minimum at 99 Bottles

IT'S LIKE WELCOME BACK, KOTTER >>>

In case you haven't received the heads up yet, Portland's Drew Grow and Pastors' Wives are headed back to Tacoma this weekend for a show at the Warehouse on Saturday. With Tacoma ties, and having made plenty of connections in our beloved T-Town, the occasion will be celebrated not just for Grow's amply provided, skuzzy blues, but as the return of a friend.

In preparation for Grow's Saturday show at the Warehouse, I caught up Grow this week to chew the fat about T-Town, singles, Conan and the marrying habits of pastors. Check it.

(Note: This interview will post in two installments. The second installment will post on Friday.)

Read more...

THURSDAY, JAN. 21, 2010 >>>

1. Beer enthusiasts from near and far will be gathering for the Varsity Grill's annual Ice Block Party from 5-8 p.m. A $10 pass nabs you winter beer samples from the likes of Red Hook Winterbrook, Alaskan Winter, Deschutes Jubelale, Pyramid Snow Cap, Widmer Brrr, Sam Adams Winter, Snoqualmie Avalanche, Rogue Mogul and New Belgium 2º Below.

2. Grab an early look at Giants in the Mountains: The Search for Sasquatch inside the Washington State History Museum Saturday when they offer a special "sneak peek" of the exhibit at 6:30 p.m. during Third Thursday ArtWalk.

3. Organist Dennis James performs during the screening of the classic silent film Flesh & the Devil at 7 p.m. inside the Washington Center.

4. At 7 p.m. inside King's Books writer and playwright Carla Seaquist will take a break from her gig as a regular Huffington Post blogger to host a discussion about the first 365 days of the Obama Administration.

5. The Plastards perform at 9 p.m. at The Swiss.

NOSH PIT >>>

Tonight: Minoela Wine House and Bistro is pouring Oyster Bay out of New Zealand tonight from 6-7:30 p.m. Four tastes for $5. Click here for more tastings this week.

Plan Ahead: Babblin' Babs Bistro will present another chef's dinner, this time featuring dishes Chef William came across when he studied under Chef Michael Foley in Chicago. The dinner is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 31 at 4:15 p.m. Reserve your space at 253.761.9099.

Food For Thought: A thorough flow chart on whether to eat that bacon you dropped on the floor.

MANY ART SHOWS OPEN TONIGHT >>>

"Here's another!" I shouted at Weekly Volcano editor Matt Driscoll. "And another" I said waving a press release from a Tacoma gallery that announced an exhibit opening during Third Thursday ArtWalk.

It's common for galleries to open shows during the monthly Tacoma ArtWalk for obvious reasons. This month, the openings appeared to be greater than normal. And as I plotted my ArtWalk path, I noticed it would be impossible to hit my desired galleries during the allotted ArtWalk time - 5 to 8 p.m. The path required a full tank of gas.

The hamster hit the wheel, the ideas came rolling in - turn my ArtWalk preview into a "ArtDrive," complete with sightseeing suggestions, tips on car safety, pitch ideas on how to "do" a gallery quick and jet to the next one. Brilliant. The gallery openings were spread all over town. It could be a fun piece.

Then City Arts Tacoma posted an "Art Drive" Itinerary yesterday. Shit. (Backspace, backspace, backspacebackspacebackspacebackspace)

As City Arts eloquently explained, tonight's ArtWalk is a worthy night of gallery viewing.

COLLINS MEMORIAL LIBRARY: Artist and writer Shereen LaPlantz (1947-2003) created unique, colorful handmade books in the early 1990s. Some had secret compartments. And hidden messages. Cover to Cover: The Art of Shereen LaPlantz opens today at the Collins Memorial Library featuring the Tacoma Book Arts Group folding paper for your enjoyment. Tonight 4:30-6 p.m., through March 13, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma, 253.879.3100.

THE ART STOP: Mix it up in style. Batter's Up! is "a celebration of form, function, comfort and creativity" according to the hype. It's batter bowls created by Puget Sound ceramists. Yup, fancy ceramics for your Krusteaz Waffle Mix. Tonight's opening sadly won't include pancakes. Pappi Swarner has the Batter scoop here. Tonight 5-8 p.m., through Feb. 27, 940 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.272.3377.

THE SPEAKEASY ARTS COOPERATIVE: New abstract junk collage gestural paintings by the scavenging scoundrel Aaron Trotter-Voronoff. He says his performance art is on, too. Pappi interviewed Trotter-Voronoff here. With 16 other artists, 5-8 p.m., 746 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.426.5704.

BRICK HOUSE GALLERY: Northwest artist Nancy Johnson has been putting brush to canvas since the 1950s. The Brick House Gallery grabbed her works between 1968 (ethereal landscapes) through 2002 (realist) for a retrospective show. Artist reception 5-9 p.m., 1123 S. Fawcett St., Tacoma, 253.627.0426.

MINERAL: Although TINY: New Works by Chris Sharp opened last month, the official celebration for Sharp's figurative paintings and abstract compositions is tonight at the Dome District gallery. 6-9 p.m., 301 Puyallup Ave., Suite A, Tacoma, 253.250.7745.

TAHOMA CENTER GALLERY: Also a delayed reception, The Follies Return, photographer Jim Oliver's 40-piece collection of works, will be celebrated featuring percussionist Dean Tsapralis and a drawing for an Oliver print. 5:30-7:30 p.m., 1323 S Yakima St., on the second floor of Catholic Community Services, Tacoma.

MAD HAT TEA COMPANY: The fabulous talented Smiraldos take center stage at the downtown teashop tonight. Mario, the father, showcases his playful abstracts. Lucas, the son, performs spoken word. Love to be a fly on the wall during Smiraldo family dinners. 7-10 p.m., 1130 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.441.2111.

OH, AND A SNEAK PEEK: Giants in the Mountains: The Search for Sasquatch opens at the Washington State History Museum Saturday. A special "sneak peek" of the exhibit will happen during Third Thursday ArtWalk. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., co-curators Gwen Perkins and Susan Rohrer will lead a tour through the hairy show.

PLACES WE LOVE >>>

Engine House No. 9

Why We Go: We enjoy the sense of Tacoma's history in spirit, as the "E-9" - a converted 1907 fire station - has been around for more than 35 years, with proof in the old photographs that deck the walls. When the sun is out we hang in the side patio, drink beer, and eavesdrop on party stories from the University of Puget Sound students.

What We Eat: Eighty percent of the time we dine on E-9's famous, delicious soft taco. The huge sucker has been around since E9 opened its doors 35 years ago. With veggie, chicken or beef options - and lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, guacamole, cheddar and jack cheeses stuffed inside - the taco is baked until the flour tortilla is slightly crispy, then topped with sour cream on one end. Even better is the large pile of delicious French fries riding shotgun. They're long, medium-sized and crispy - one of the best in the city.

What We'd Change: Parking is an issue, as with all the Sixth Avenue restaurants in the area. We also know E9 can't expand the bar area, but it does get crowded. Fewer UPS frat boys would also help, but then the college girls would stay home. So never mind.

[Engine House No. 9, 11:30 a.m. to midnight Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to Midnight Sunday, 611 N. Pine St., Tacoma, 253.272.3435]

FRIDAY, JAN. 22, 2010 >>>

1. Paradise Theatre stages Arthur Miller's The Crucible at 7:30 p.m.

2. Timefighters! Film Festival features locally shot films and animation screened for free at 11:30 p.m. inside the Capitol Theater.

3. Gaelic Storm will combine traditional Irish songs with world rhythms at 7:30 p.m. inside the Pantages Theater.

4. Jonathan Larson's Rent opens at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse tonight at 8 p.m.

5. Shenandoah Davis, Kaylee Cole, Eleanor Murray, and Black Tail Deer play an all-ages show at 7 p.m. inside Northern in Olympia.