WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Portland school bans hugs

Jamie Oliver's mission is to bring healthy food to fat, slothful Americans, at taxpayer expense, of course.

Bank of America and Wells Fargo might not pay federal taxes this year. It's good to be them.

Feeling a little low? Need to bounce back from a bad day? This looks like a dizzy way to do it.

Diesel has created a limited edition Iron Man 2 cologne.

WINE NEWS >>>

(Sip. closed Monday, May 24, 2010)

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Sip. at the wine bar & restaurant in the Uptown Gig Harbor shopping center. To mark the special day, the wine bar - which now serves booze, too - will release its spring menu. Here are a few new additions:

• BBQ Shrimp-Jumbo shrimp, apple-wood bacon, fresh basil and housemade
• Asian BBQ sauce, $13.
• Fried California Roll-Spicy crab with soy dipping sauce and wasabi aioli, $12.
• Crab Salad-Fresh Dungeness crab, watercress, marinated tomato, hard-boiled
• egg and lemon-caper vinaigrette, $13.
• Duo of Duck-Seared breast and leg confit with cherry sauce, potato gratin,
• fresh daily vegetable, $27.
• BBQ Salmon-Wild Alaskan salmon, grilled and basted with housemade Asian
• BBQ sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes, fresh daily vegetable, $23.
• Hand Cut Ribeye-10 oz. Certified Angus with housemade steak sauce, duck fat-whipped potatoes, fresh daily vegetable, $25.

The restaurant also adds Gig Harbor local Daniel Jackson as its lead wine captain. Jackson developed the award-winning wine program at Brix 25 Restaurant in Gig Harbor. His love for Northwest wines will no doubt influence Sip's wine menu.

[Sip. at the wine bar & restaurant, 4793 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor, 253.853.3020]

MUSIC IN THE SOUTH SOUND TONIGHT >>>

World Beat A Capella: Ladysmith Black Mambazo's lineup, as we know it today, was formed in 1964 by Joseph Shabalala. Why? It came to him in a dream. He'd been the bandleader of a choral group specializing in isicathamiya, traditional Zulu music. But the sounds he heard in his dream were these gorgeous harmonies that he'd never heard before. This spurned him on to reform the group as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and replicate the music of his dreams.

With this new sound, the group quickly rose in popularity, eventually becoming one of Africa's most acclaimed and best-selling acts. Read the full story here. Friday, March 26, 7:30 p.m., pre-show lecture 6:30 p.m., $35-$59, Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma - Rev. Adam McKinney

Post-Grunge: Whatever your viewpoint on Green Apple Quick Step, one fact is undeniable: The band struck a chord, and is still remembered. Aside from a handful of songs at a Caffé Vita employee party at the Showbox in December, Green Apple Quick Step - in any form - hasn't taken the stage in more than 12 years.

That all changes tonight at Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma - Willman's hometown. Along with drummer Geoff Reading, guitarists Dana Turner and Mike Squires, and vocalist Christa Wells - none of whom are technically original members other than Willman - Green Apple Quick Step - at least for the evening - will be reborn in T-town.

The connection is no coincidence. Read the full story here. With The Jet City Fix and Broken Cannon, Friday, March 26, 9 p.m., $10, Hell's Kitchen, 928 Pacific Ave., downtown Tacoma - Matt Driscoll

LINK: More music in the South Sound tonight

TELL YOUR FREINDS >>>

If our stylist spent 8 minutes on our hair, or our favorite chef 8 minutes on our lasagna, we might be upset. But for some strange reason we're perfectly happy watching our favorite performance artist for 8 minutes.

Unfortunately, it won't be this Monday as planned.

The Barefoot Collective has canceled its 8@8 scheduled for Monday, March 29 due to artist cancellations and lack of interest, which is sad. The next 8@8 will be Monday, May 24 at 8 p.m.

8@8 offers local artists an opportunity to unveil their works in progress. Each artist receives a maximum of 8 minutes to show new material. After the show, the performing artists may receive feedback from the audience.

Tickets are $5 at the door.

If you are interested in performing, call Barefoot at 253.272.4219.

BRING ON THE WEEKEND >>>

After escaping last week to Texas - the land of Oak wilt, Lone Star Beer and George W. Bush - I'm back this week with what's sure to be another enthralling installment of The Prefunk.

How could it not be? "Enthralling" is The Prefunk's middle name.

For those unschooled in the whimsical methods of The Prefunk, here's how it works: Every Friday I choose a couple events happening over the weekend and provide suggestions for ways to prime you and your liver for them - in classic Prefunk fashion. Prefunking, after all, is the art of partying before the party - and it's this madness that The Prefunk is based on.

Then, to top it all off, I include a picture of a household pet drinking beer - the drunken icing on the drunken Prefunk cake.

Here we go...

KEITH SWEAT @ The Emerald Queen Casino

Saturday, March 27

If you're anything like me, you feel oppressed by shirt buttons - they're just always there, always trying to keep my sexy-ass chest down.

Keith Sweat feels me on this - I'm certain. There's a reason 75 percent of Keith Sweat photos available online feature unbuttoned dress shirts - the man's silky (dare I say Sweaty) chest just can't be contained.

On Saturday, proudly announcing his membership in the annals of hip-hop's gone-but-not-forgotten, Sweat will swagger into Tacoma for a performance at the Emerald Queen Casino. It's an evening that seems certain to be "Twisted".

PREFUNK: Sweat's musical resume was built in the ‘90s, so it's only appropriate to pay tribute to the bygone era before heading out the EQC.

Here are a few suggestions:

Freshen up on the first season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Carlton jokes still hold water today.

Get your belly button pierced.

Get the "Rachel" haircut from Friends.

Can you say "Hypercolor"?

Dig out that old Kriss Kross record.

Log onto dial up AOL

Go to a rave.

Play Magic the Gathering

EASTER BUNNY PHOTOS @ The South Hill Mall

Sunday, March 28

You knew the Easter Bunny wouldn't stand it for long. Constantly relegated to second-class holiday icon status, the Easter Bunny watched for years and years as Santa Claus ate up all the good mall photography action. The Easter Bunny just sat there - all fluffy - biding its time, munching on carrots, and silently plotting revenge.

Well, the Easter Bunny mall infiltration is upon us, and this Sunday, a week before "He is Risen" once again, the Easter Bunny will hop up to the South Hill Mall in Puyallup for a day full of fun photo-ops for the kiddies. Be there, be square.

PREFUNK: Did you know Peeps pack a buzz? Well, they do - trust us. Just like that kid at sixth grade camp that got drunk off mouthwash in attempt to illustrate his maturity, if you down four or five boxes of yellow marshmallow bunny rabbits you will start to feel a little messed up. It's awesome. Trust us. And it'd be a great way to get your Sunday at the South Hill Mall off to a good start. Trust us.

Until next week...

THIS JUST IN >>>

The Children's Museum of Tacoma just released this bit of news.

TACOMA, Wash.- United Way of Pierce County and the Children's Museum of Tacoma entered into a potential 25-year partnership today with the signing of a ten-year lease, with options for three five-year extensions. As of March 26, 2010, the Museum will lease approximately 8,700 square feet on the first floor of United Way's historic Betye Martin Baker Human Service Center at 1501 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Museum administrative offices will take up part of the second floor.

Read more...

Comment On This Post

LET'S CHANGE THE MOOD FROM GLAD TO MADNESS >>>

Glam metalists L.A. Guns will appear – presumably all decked out in Spandex and hair plugs and ready to help you take a trip back to a time when the 5.0 Trans Am was king, Andrew McCarthy had a acting future and Hollywood actually rocked – April 7 at Jazzbones. Opening will be Terry Mriglot's the pUrPs and the band High.

Tickets are $10.

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2010 >>>

1. Tacoma's oldest and only Rocky Horror Picture Show "shadow cast" the Blue Mouseketeers will help you enjoy the movie at 11:30 p.m. inside The Blue Mouse Theater.

2. The Parks Campaign Kick-Off rally featuring Footloose the Moose, Rodney Raccoon, facepainting, sack races, and words from Tacoma City Councilmember Victoria Woodards and Executive Director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society Kathleen Olson at noon in South Park at 4851 S. Tacoma Way.

3. The Proctor Farmers Market opens for the season from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will continue to do so every Saturday until Nov. 20. If that wasn't magical enough, the Junior Daffodil Parade will pass by it around 10 a.m.

4. Another Artifakt Art Show hits Jazzbones at 9 p.m. featuring music from Yirim Seck, Graves, Life Cycle, B-Awake, AurasWon, DJ Reign, DJ SlimRock and art by Erik Soderquist, Graves, CASH, Laura Eklund, AcidTest, Mike Smith and Joey Rodrigez.

5. Agent Orange, South 11th, Broken Oars, The Dirty Birds, and Victor Cutoff take Hell's Kitchen beginning at 9 p.m.

Well, crap, OK 6 today:

6. The Dockyard Derby Dames return to the flat track with sharpened elbows for a roller derby bout at 6 p.m. inside the Pierce College Health Education Building in Lakewood.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

SATURDAY, MARCH 27: ROUND TWO >>>

Game 1: Vuelve A La Vida (5312 Pacific Ave, Tacoma) vs. Taqueria El Antojo (3801 McKinley Ave., Tacoma)

Here's proof that there are not any easy games in the Round Two.  This match-up pits two East Tacoma powerhouses against each other. Will El Antojo be able to prevent pre-tournament favorite Vuelve from getting inside its head? Does the fact that Vuelve doesn't serve chips and salsa hurt its chances in Round Two?

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: The Funky Iguana (2941 S 38^th St., Tacoma) vs. El Toro (various locations)

This game features two restaurants that pulled mild upsets in Round One.  The Funky Iguana must pull out all the punches to overcome El Toro's army of fans that comes with longevity and multiple locations.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Taqueria La Carreta (8302 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood) vs. La Huerta International Market #2 (5605 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

La Huerta #2 looks to stay hot coming of its big win just two days.  But like we have written before, the ability to drink beer will watching Mexican daytime television inside a grocery stores is a plus for Huerta. Taqueria La Carreta, toughened by its position in B&I's shadow, will not go down easily.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: Hell's Kitchen (928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. Dave's Meat & Produce (1312 N I St., Tacoma)

Hell's Kitchen, still basking in the glow of a first round Swiss beatdown, will need to stay focused as they face sneaky Dave's Meat & Produce who dispatched the Tacoma Golf & Country Club earlier. They both serve tacos every Tuesday at a discount. However, you can't overlook the fact that Hell's Kitchen can add $2 beers and wells to the order.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Taco Battles

Game 1: Azteca vs. Moctezuma's

Game 2: Josefina's vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito

Game 3: Los Tres Hermanos vs. MI Taqueria

Game 4: Taco Bell vs. Tijuana Taco

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON FRIDAY, MARCH 26 >>>

There are as many ways to express our love of food, as there are people on this planet. Some of us live in kitchens, some travel in search of new tasty tidbits and some create a game (ahem). Significantly fewer foodies declare their obsession with that most permanent of expressions: the tattoo. In honor of this paper's Tournament of Tacos contest, send us a photo of your taco tattoo and we'll post them.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Los Reyes Del Taco vs. Taqueria El Guadalajara

Masa vs. La Fondita II

Taqueria La Fondita vs. El Pulgarcito

Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe vs. Duke's Chowder House  

In the battle of small, sit-down Mexican restaurants, the East beat the South. Los Reyes Del Taco on East McKinley squeaked out a victory over El Guadalajara in Lakewood with 54.1 percent of the vote. Los Reyes will take of the winner of today's battle between Vuelve A La Vida and Taqueria El Antojo - that you can vote on here.

Masa incorporates high-quality ingredients to create tasty fare with an authenticity that is rare among Northwest Mexican-themed restaurants.  They skip the massive plate of rice and refried beans. Plus, thir menu choices allow for good eats for a variety of budgets. Those factors, plus a well-tuned marketing machine, propelled Masa over La Fondita II with 58.8 percent of the votes. Masa will compete with the winner of today's battle between The Funky Iguana and El Toro - that you can vote on here.

South Sound Salvadorans are sobbing today as their beloved El Pulgarcito in Lakewood fell yesterday to the powerful taco truck Taqueria La Fondita, which sits in the Lincoln District.  Rain, wobbly flooring, potholed graveled parking lot - these factors didn't detour voters as the taco truck advances with 71.4 percent of the votes.

Mexican music doesn't blare from the speakers. Owners Jason J and Jaime Kay Jones don't don Caporal suits. And the joint doesn't have piñatas hanging from the ceiling. Yet this popular neighborhood bar rules Tacoma's taco world according to its fan base. People adore Top of Tacoma Bar & Café's tacos. "Best Taco in Tacoma fosho!" commented one voter yesterday. And the mighty tasty fish tacos that Duke's Chowder House creates were no match for the Top's taco, which grabbed 84.4 percent of the vote yesterday.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.