TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010 >>>

1. The Garfield Book Company will celebrate Pres. Abe Lincoln's 200th birthday by hosting Dr. William Breitenbach from University of Puget Sound who will speak to Lincoln's accomplishments while serving as the 16h president from 861 to 1865, from 10:30-12:30 p.m.

2. The Hub in Tacoma's Stadium District hosts Trivia Night with cash prizes at 6 p.m.

3. Danny Vernon brings his Illusions Of Elvis show to the Red Wind Casino at 6:30 p.m.

4. Tough Guys Tuesdays action film double feature begins at 7 p.m. inside the Urban Onion Restaurant and Lounge.

5. The Brothers Comatose play an all-ages Americana concert at 7 p.m. inside the Mandolin Cafe.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

TUESDAY, MARCH 23: FOUR BATTLES ON THE DOCKET >>>

Yesterday's Results

Favorites or underdogs, fancy restaurants or dive bars, it's all the same. In the end, they all have one chance to put some meat in a shell that can take the prize.

Here were the match-ups:

Taqueria El Guadalajara (Lakewood) vs. Taqueria El Guadalajara (Tacoma)

Duke's Chowder House vs. Anthony's At Point Defiance

The Funky Iguana vs. Taco De Mar

MI Taqueria vs. Puerto Del Sol

In the battle of the Guads, the Lakewood version smoked the Tacoma restaurant with 64.7 percent of the votes. Could the fact that the Tacoma store is in the process of moving affected the outcome? Whatever, what's done is done. The Lakewood El Guadalajara moves to the next round. The Tacoma is sent packing ... while packing.

Fried fish, corn tortillas, shredded cabbage, salsa, crema: Fish tacos sound easy enough, but alas, there's not. We cast our fishnets far and wide in search of greatness, tasting tacos at every turn. Muchas margaritas were required to wash down some of the dried out, less-than-fresh samples and fried fish that had lost its crunch. But we quickly sobered up when we came across two particularly good versions at Duke's Chowder House and Anthony's At Point Defiance. Yesterday, voters agreed with our findings - Duke's won with 70 percent of the votes. The waterfront restaurant now moves on to battle Top of Tacoma's meat version.

A trend has emerged in the Tournament of Tacos. Go local. When up against the chain restaurants, the local taco slinger has emerged victorious. Yesterday, the trend continued as The Funky Iguana off 38^th Street walked all over the Taco Del Mar chain with 77.8 percent of the votes. The Funky Ig will practice its moves while waiting for the outcome between Matador and El Toro.

Last, MI Taqueria on Hosmer Street put the hurt on Puerto Del Sol capturing 76.5 percent of the votes. Inside, MI Taqueria looks sparse like many restaurants in Mexico itself. Nothing fancy - a few tables spread around with vinyl chairs. However, their pork taco on a classic soft corn tortilla is a beautiful thing.

Let's get down to the hard shell facts. The following are advancing to the next round:

Taqueria El Guadalajara Lakewood

Duke's Chowder House

The Funky Iguana

MI Taqueria

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's Competition

OK, time to move on to today's competition. ...

GAME 1: Tijuana Taco (10005 Bristol Ave. SW, Lakewood) vs. Taco Time (various locations)

A Weekly Volcano Facebook friend labeled Tijuana Taco as having the "best fast food taco in Tacoma."  The long-time Lakewood business, owned by a guy named Rocky, will need all the friends it can get to clock the national juggernaut that is Taco Time. 

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

GAME 2: Taqueria La Sinaloense (4002 Center St., Tacoma) vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food (6402 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma)

Both competitors serve authentic tacos with tasty steak versions. Both caught the attention of Weekly Volcano staff foodies. Both will not win design awards from Architectural Digest.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

GAME 3: Moctezuma Mexican Restaurant (4102 S 56^th St., Tacoma) vs. Puerto Vallarta (3834 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

This game could elicit riots.  Both Mexican restaurants have large fan bases. Who will have the bigger home court advantage? Tough call.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

GAME 4: Taqueria El Rinconsito (72^nd and Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. El Patio Taqueria (14506 Pacific Ave., Tacoma/Parkland)

El Patio might fly under the radar with most Weekly Volcano readers but the quaint Parkland restaurant brings with them a strong and loyal following. El Rinconsito, with several locations in Western Washington and sporting a new Tacoma location in the Fred Meyer parking lot at 72^nd and Pacific, will be a tough competitor for the Patio. The taco truck serves dishes typically not found in mobile Mexican joints such as menudo. Its beef tacos are spicy good.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Taco Battles

Game 1: El Perran (131st and Pacific Avenue) vs. El Tenampa (38th Street)

Game 2: Reyna's (411 Garfield St., Parkland) vs. La Fondita II (Proctor District)

Game 3: Beach Tavern (8612 Sixth Ave.) vs. Powerhouse (Puyallup)

Game 4: El Pulgarcito (Ponders Corner in Lakewood) vs. Taqueria Los Parados (5604 E. Portland Ave.)

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

R.I.P. Peter Graves

Obamacare starts today. Can you feel the SOCIALISM?

Bill Gates wants his own nuclear reactor.

The Chinese government lashes out against Google's attempt to give mainland users access to Hong Kong's uncensored site by blocking computers' content and questionable search queries.

Not a tourist: On the evolving role of the travel writer in the age of mass tourism and YouTube

Tiny Mix Tapes reports that Sleater-Kinney, that went on indefinite hiatus four years back, may get together to release a new record.

NIBBLETS OF INFORMATION >>>

Today IS Starbucks Free Pastry Day: We would have to add "sort of," because you do have to buy some coffee in order to get the benefits of a sugary treat, but still, the offer is there. Starbucks holds the free pastry offer only in the morning hours. It ends at 10:30 a.m.

Matlagning!: The Scandinavian Cultural Center hosts a Swedish cooking class from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 253.584.2690.

Happy Birthday: Today would have been Ivar Haglund's 105th birthday. To celebrate, Ivar's restaurants offer a special deal for the day: buy one entrée, get the second entrée for only $1.05. Nice. For South Sound locations, go here.

HERE COMES THE JUDGE >>>

Today, we polished off two of Hot Rod Dog's most popular dogs - the mozzarella sausage and the kielbasa, both made and smoked by Blue Max Sausage Company in Puyallup. And we were nowhere near their tiny restaurant on Pacific Avenue.

A month ago, Hot Rod Dog opened a second location at 1103 Tacoma Ave. S. close to the County-City Building. We're still surprised there hasn't been a parade cxreated by the building's employees. Another lunch option within walking distance must be nice.

After the dogs, we peeked inside the new SideBar Bistro, which is owned by the Hot Rod Dog folks. Located next door to the new hot dog joint, the SideBar Bistro is set to open any day. We hear the "Kevin McCann for Judge" kickoff party will be held inside the SideBar this Thursday night. It's a wise move since the new bistro wants to cater to the legal community.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010 >>>

1. Olivia De La Cruz performs a free show from 7-9 p.m. at SAX Restaurant and Lounge.

2. Anything Goes - a classic musical comedy set in the 1930s that takes place on board the S.S. American, a luxury liner sailing from New York to England - opens at 7:30 p.m. inside the Norton Clapp Theatre in Jones Hall at the University of Puget Sound.

3. The Love Tacoma group will talk about Tacoma lovingly while watching the NIT basketball Tournament beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Varsity Grill.

4. The CLAW (Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians) will play "win, Lose or CLAW" during their monthly Open Swim tonight at 7:40 p.m. inside the Mandolin Café.

5. Friday Knights, The Volunteers, Rory OK & The Worst Band Ever and Gonken perform at 9 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24: FOUR BATTLES ON THE DOCKET >>>

Yesterday's Results

We don't know about you but we're dreaming in greens, whites and reds. In fact, our co-publisher Pappi Swarner had a dream last night that he was eating chips and dip from the sombrero of a foot-tall statue in a restaurant with a striped poncho on the wall as its only decoration. The tacos are starting to mess with us folks. But we press on. ...

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Tijuana Taco (Lakewood) vs. Taco Time (every freaking where)

Taqueria La Sinaloense (Tacoma)vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food (Tacoma)

Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant (Tacoma) vs. Puerto Vallarta (Tacoma)

Taqueria El Rinconsito (Tacoma) vs. El Patio Taqueria (Parkland)

Tijuana Taco in Lakewood did it. It held a narrow lead over Taco Time all day yesterday finishing with 54.3 percent of the votes. Could it be its 300-year history in Lakewood? How about the young women behind the counter? Or that the owner's name is Rocky and he has a vicious jab? Hey Taco Time! Time to go.

Even though Taqueria La Sinaloense donned lights this past Christmas, the taco truck on Center Street might be a little Grinchy now with its loss to Los Amigos Mexican Food at 64^th and South Tacoma Way. Los Amigos will have its hands full when it battle Taqueria Burrito Loco on Monday.

We had our first come from behind win yesterday. Puerto Vallarta Family Mexican Restaurant led the popular Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant all day. Then, around 9 p.m., the tide turned. Maybe the Pina Coladas kicked in. Moctezuma's sought revenge (we have no idea what that means) and inched past PV with 51.2 percent of the votes. Moctezuma's will have to get its game face on if it wants to beat the marketing machine behind Azteca when they battle Sunday.

Taqueria El Rinconsito took El Patio Taqueria out on the patio and whipped its ass with 64.2 percent of the votes. This popular joint located on the Fred Meyer's property at 72^nd and Pacific will be tough to beat.  Its food is flavorful and cheap. If we were the flamboyant Josefina's, we'd hide on Sunday.

Let's get down to the hard shell facts. The following are advancing to the next round:

Tijuana Taco

Los Amigos Mexican Food

Moctezuma's

Taqueria El Rinconsito

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's Competition

OK, time to move on to today's competition. ...

GAME 1: El Perran (131^st and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma/Parkland)  vs. El Tenampa (3121 38^th St., Tacoma)

El Perran is not your typical Tacoma Mexican restaurant.  It's more like a Mexican sports bar - and the tacos hit a home run.  El Tenampa occupies the former Great Wall of China Restaurant (we miss their almond chicken) spot on 38^th Street.  Despite its spacious interior that throws "cozy" out the window, the tacos are the real thing.    

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

GAME 2: Reyna's Mexican Restaurant (411 Garfield St., Parkland) vs. La Fondita II (2620 N Proctor St., Tacoma)

Located in the shadows of Pacific Lutheran University, not only will you find delicious tacos al carbon at Reyna's, but if you need to brush up on some chemistry or trigonometry, just check with the student pounding the books in the booth next to you. This is a tiny joint.

La Fondita represents the Proctor District. It's known for its cozy, charming atmosphere and above average service. We typically throw back a couple shrimp tacos before heading across the street to the Blue Mouse to catch a flick.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

GAME 3: The Beach Tavern (8612 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Powerhouse Restaurant Brewery (454 E Main, Puyallup)

The Beach Tavern brings a strong all-around game to the competition.  The picturesque Titlow Beach location, old-time shuffleboard and friendly regulars only accentuate the Beach Tavern's tacos.  The Powerhouse brewpub is known more for its ribs and ales, but it does have grilled bass fish taco on its menu. OK, Powerhouse will need to rally the Puyallup people to bury the Beach Tavern.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: El Pulgarcito (12134 Pacific Hwy. SW, Lakewood) vs. Taqueria Los Parados (5604 E Portland Ave., Tacoma)

We don't want to rain on Parados' parados, but El Pulgarcito in Lakewood distinguishes itself with its amazing Salvadorian tacos. And now that the El Pug sports a larger space with its recent move next door, the East Tacoma El Parados can't afford to look ahead.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Taco Battles

Game 1: Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant (East Tacoma) vs. Bonita Restaurant & Lounge (East Tacoma)

Game 2: The Swiss vs. Hell's Kitchen

Game 3: Matador (downtown) vs. El Toro (various locations)

Game 4: La Huertas 2 International Market (Tacoma) vs. La Pecera Taqueria (Tacoma)

ACOUSTIC QUIRKY ELECTRO-PUNK-ROCK >>>

Johnny Gonken - he of a band profile on our Web site - will perform an acoustic set tonight at Hell's Kitchen in support of his new acoustic EP, Live From Steve's Mom's House. Energetic synthaholic Gonken always seemed to have a wacky new synth sound to pound into ours skulls — with equally wacky lyrics. It's a bit refreshing to hear him sing "I hate your guts" without the pounding industrial noise. Think Flight of the Conchords.

You can download a free version of his new EP here.

To purchase the CD version and get three bonus tracks, click here.

[Hell's Kitchen, with Friday Knights, The Volunteers, Rory OK & The Worst Band Ever, Wednesday, March 24, 9 p.m., $5, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

DISCUSS >>>

Coffee is awesome! I always ignored it, thinking, "Why start a bad habit?" This is an awesome habit! I get more done in an hour than I used to get done in a week. Coffee! And soon I will be able to visit four coffee shops all withn a quarter mile of each  on Market Street in downtown Tacoma. That's awesome! Villa Café and Imbibery is at 13^th and Market. Imbibery is a funny name. Then Satellite Coffee is next to the YMCA at 1122 Market St. I like rocket ships! Coffee! I want to go on a real rocket ship. Where are they? Houston? Let's go! Then Café Messina opened last week or something at 744 Market St. It has cool lighting inside. And coffee! And soon the Amocat Café will open next to the Mix at Sixth and Market. I wonder where I would be today if I had started drinking coffee earlier? It doesn't matter, I live in the now, now!

IT'S NOT TACO TIME YET >>>

While snapping a few photos for Kris Blondin's Grocery Stories column today, we peeked our heads into the future home of Taqueria El Guadalajara inside the Neighborhood Market building at 3002 Sith Ave. A spokesperson for El Guad told us earlier this month that it will move from its Stadium District home to the new location by the end of the month.

Hmmm, do these photos we snapped today support that move date?

By the way, the Stadium District El Guad lost to the Lakewood version in our Tournament of Tacos. Be sure to vote for your favorite taco today.