A SEND UP OF ALL THINGS TACOMA >>>

Fabulous Tacoman Doug Mackey has retool his Fab Four-themed variety show that he staged at the City Club of Tacoma's 25th Anniversary Gala last October and will present it for the general public Thursday, May 6 at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse.  Accompanied by keyboardist Terry O'Hara and a chorus of talented young singers/performers, Mackey ­- sporting a Beatles accent and wig - will take the audience on a musical journey through Tacoma's dark side. Mackey has reworked famous Beatles songs changing the lyrics to poke fun at the Luzon building, Frank Russell, The proposed spire, Tollefson Plaza, Bicentennial Pavilion, downtown condos, LeMay Car Museum, Rep. Norm Dicks, potholes, and unfortunately for Tacoma, much more.

Here's a sneak peek:

"ALL YOU NEED IS CASH" (sung to the Beatles' "All You Need is Love")

There's nothing you can do that can't be done

No museum downtown that can't be funded

A four hundred foot spire built at the bottom of a hill?

It's easy

Read more...

SNEAK PEEK IS OUR MIDDLE NAME >>>

Consuming the old Stadium Bistro space, and sitting just below The Hub - in Tacoma's Stadium District - The Harmon Tap Room is slated to be open for business mid-May according to restaurant owner, Pat Nagle. Bandito Betty and I were given a tour by Nagle and Hub manager Jason Gatliff as we were prodded for opinions such as, "Are two pool tables, one Golden Tee, some dart boards, a pinball machine, and a trivia game going to be enough entertainment in this back room of the Harmon Tap Room?"  As we smiled in happy anticipation at the thought of it all, we both suggested at least one more pinball machine. 

Whether they take our gaming advice or not doesn't matter, these guys are pros by now. (Harmon Brewery and Restaurant, The Hub, and now this?  They must have some balls.)

What was made abundantly clear during our tour was that the soon-to-be-open

Harmon Tap Room was created out of sheer desire to have some sort of downtown beer establishment where Tacomans could either stop by an outdoor pick-up window for a quick fill up of a non-disposable growler, or drop in to hang out with friends for a while.  Not to mention a large, kick ass outdoor beer garden. Note the word: LARGE.

Two, 500 pound 14-foot tables - made from a single tree by some dude in Olalla, Wash. - fill the front room, which resides beside an area reserved for counter service (where you will order your goods), and in front of a glassed-in, fully viewable brewery.  Seating approximately 50-60 people, with room for 100 when standing, I have a feeling this place will quickly become Tacoma's new hot spot for beer, friends, and fun nights out.

I freakin' can't wait to do a 3 Drink Minimum there.

CUT! PRINT IT! >>>

Andrew and Brooke Finnegan, Tacoma locals and co-owners or Old Loyal Films, were on location today at Sixth Avenue's Posh Home shooting scenes for their latest movie, Half Empty. Last year these two pulled a fantastic "Audience Choice Award" at the 2009 Tacoma Film Festival for their short, The Stairwell.  In post-production is their latest full feature film, The Next 9, which Andrew "exploits his wife's real-life pregnancy by making a fictional story about a factual event," as he put it.

Producer Rick Walters approached Posh Home owner Jennifer Colley a few months ago while searching for locations to shoot Half Empty.  After responding to Colley's initial concerns about exactly what "kind" of movie they were trying to shoot at her popular, eclectic home store, a deal was made. Today, Bandito Betty and I were on the set watching this brilliantly acted and keenly scripted movie being shot.

I immediately fell in love with the people behind the scenes (Hello, Chris Taylor), as well as Andrew Finnegan who plays main character, "Ray," and Darlene Sellers who plays "Julie."  Ray and Julie fall in love after meeting in the hospital while Ray recovers from suffering a brain aneurism.

Throughout the movie, Ray struggles to save his lifelong friendship with "Wes" - played by David "Harley" Harlos - who is suffering from the after effects of an aneurism.

Word is these filmmakers have also shot scenes at Tacoma Financial Center, Fircrest Golf Club, and King's Books. 

I simply can't wait to see this film in its entirety.  Tacoma born and Tacoma strong - I give that right there a big "two thumbs up."

LINK: Old Loyal Films blog

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 >>>

1. Sacramento's Not An Airplane will fill the Mandolin Café with Americana pop at 7 p.m.

2. It's crime chat with Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist at 11:30 a.m. inside Tacoma Community College's Student Center.

3. Northwest poet Dan Peters will be reading selections from his newest book, Down the Road the Children Go at 7 p.m. for an adult audience inside the Gig Harbor/Peninsula Library.

4. So Many Things To Do Yet: The saga of Thea Foss, a one-woman living history performance by storyteller Karen Hass, begins at 7 p.m. inside the Scandinavian Cultural Center.

5. Blessed By A Broken Heart plays an all-ages show at 6 p.m. inside the Viaduct.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

NOSH PIT >>>

Opening Today: All signs point to El Guadalajara opening back up today at its new location inside the Neighborhood Market building at 3002 Sixth Avenue. The menu will be the same as it was in the Stadium District. The low ceiling freaks me out a bit.

Sushi And Dessert: Sushi Station - the newest conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Puyallup - offers two interesting desserts: deep-fried Oreos and deep-fried cream puffs drizzled with chocolate. Watch them go round and round daily at 10305 156th St. E. in Puyallup.

Tightwad Tuesday: $2 beer, $2 wells, and $2 tacos are the new black from 4 p.m. to close at Hell's Kitchen.

Tuesday Is The New Thursday: Thursday, April 29, restaurants in Pierce and Thurston counties will donate 25 percent of their food revenue to local AIDS service organizations as part of Dining Out For Life. Click here for the list of participating resturants. New this year will be the discount loyalty card that will be awarded to Dining Out For Life diners who donate $25 or more at 12 participating Dining Out restaurants. The card is good for 20 percent discount off Tuesday dining for one year at: Doyle's Public House, East West Proctor, Gateway to India, Happy Dragon Chinese Restaurant, Harmon Brewing, HG Bistro, The Mandolin Café, Marzano Restaurant, Old Milwaukee Café, Ravenous Restaurant, Southern Kitchen and Tempest Lounge.

LINK: Wine and beer tastings, dinners and events

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Send us your restaurant and lounge news

Here is a snapshot of El Guad's new bar.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Not even kidding here, folks. Today is National Hairball Awareness Day. Did you know that it's not just cats that get hairballs? Your pet goat also gets them. So do kids who complusively eat hair. Bezoars, as they were called, used to be cherished, and would be set with jewelry. They can also be made of nondigestible food, like celery (celery?!?) or gum (don't swallow gum!).

Today in queer wildlife news

Emerson died on this day in 1882. 

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to grow and expand.

Dude robs a Nebraska convenience store with his head wrapped in toilet paper.

Daily Star Pulled From Airports Over Volcano Ash Splash

The Weekly Volcano follows the people you're too embarrassed to >>>

Just like most good, new-age, social media applications, Twitter allows people to share and be privy to once personal, almost wholly pointless information about peoples' lives. It's seemingly endless. While Twitter is mostly full of everyday, ho-hum people - just like you and me, sharing info about what type of oatmeal we ate for breakfast and where we get our hair cut - Twitter is also a magnet for the moderately-famous.

Stars of yesterday, illiterate millionaire athletes, former cast members of Saved By the Bell - you can follow them all, intimately, on Twitter.

Even better - we'll do it for you, in a feature we like to call Weekly Volcano Twitter Stalker.

This week, checking in with...

New Kid on the Block Jordan Knight

April 14: Jordan Knight has a job just like the rest of us - his just happens to be sexy!

"WORK!" via via Twitpic, 12:15 a.m.

April 13: Jordan Knight preaches the importance of flexibility while snapping a photo of Danny, the slightly less talented yet alarming ripped New Kid on the Block

"Danny's making me proud with his stretchin..." via Twitpic, 11:47 p.m.

April 4: In NKOTB Land, Easter is for da ladies - and kind of cryptic and stalker-ish

"Ladies!!! I hope you all had a great Easter Day with your families and loved ones....see you all REALLY soon!!!!!! MUAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" via Web, 6:29 p.m.

Tune in tomorrow for more tweets from the life of @jordanknight

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

We've come a long way. If you need proof, know that I just I wrote that while Skyping in a pizza order, text-messaging my grandma and Tweeting about my last bowel movement.

However, sometimes it is nice to look back - as James Venturini and the Lakewood Players will help us do Sunday, May 2 when they present The Maltese Falcon and The Red Wind in classic, old time radio form at King's Books. The classic mysteries - in old school radio form - should hold audiences captive, if not completely Twitter-free.

[King's Books, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., free, registration required call 253.591.5666, 218 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

LINK: Reserve space online

LINK: Tacoma Reads Together The Maltese Falcon

CLARINET CLARITY >>>

I burned the midnight oil the other night in front of the 1956 The Benny Goodman Story flick on the boob tube. If it weren't for the music, it's a film to avoid. It's a bit stiff for me. Oh, but the music ... "Sing, Sing Sing," "Stompin' at the Savoy," "Memories of You" - I'm a sucker for swinging melodies and rhythms ... and the clarinet. From woody depths to light, fluffy heights, Goodman, Artie Shaw and Sidney Bechet mastered the "licorice stick" with fluid fingering.

The clarinet popped into my mind again after just learning that Tacoma's Alea Publishing just published "That's Life" for clarinet - new work by Tacoma composer Deborah Anderson.  According to the press release, "This three-movement piece is an excellent addition to the clarinet quartet repertoire. The work is melodic and cheerful, perhaps providing a nice contrast on a recital program. Additionally, ‘That's Life' is accessible enough for student performers to work well for a student recital or community music venue."

Details of Anderson's new work can be found on bassclarinet.org, including the option of purchasing the sheet music.

Dear City of Fife,

Your easy truck access to Port of Tacoma makes driving difficult and scary next to huge 18-wheelers as I leave my little hidden residential Fife hilltop every morning. 

You give me delicious sushi by means of Sapporo Sushi and Teriyaki off Pacific Highway, and true dive bar awesomeness in The Right Spot behind the Poodle Dog, but not much else when it comes to dining and entertainment.

I appreciate how you've alleviated traffic going to your grand Emerald Queen Casino, but I don't gamble, so that doesn't help me.

Thank you for FINALLY beginning road expansion on Valley Avenue, it was about damn time you did something with all that money you've been collecting from the businesses along 70th.  Now as for the traffic cameras, I'm not quite OK with that yet - but we can talk later.

Fife, I love your police officers, I really, really do.  They've helped me with my (2) tickets, always being professional and friendly.  There was even that one time my car was mauled by an 18-wheeler at a stoplight - the officer was beyond approachable.

It's a love/hate thing I have with you, Fife.  I love to love you, yet you give me reasons to hate you. Example? Oh, sure. How about RESTAURANT DEPOT? C'mon, Fife!  Opening up this famous and popular culinary delight on May 12, right here in Fife?  It's torture!  Only restaurants can shop there, and I don't own a restaurant. How am I supposed to sneak my way in?

Torture!

Guess I'll have to be crafty with this one.  But just watch, I'll find my way inside - you can count on it.

Can't ticket me for admiring a grocery store from afar.

Steph DeRosa