MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2010 >>>

1. Microcosm Publishing's Post Punk Extravaganza West Coast Author Tour hits Northern in Olympia at 7 p.m. The free show will feature: traveling vegan chef/author Joshua Ploeg doing a "cooking show" from his book In Search of the Lost Taste as well as making some interesting vegan snacks for all; Joe Biel will be showing the Plan-It X Records documentary, If It Ain't Cheap, It Ain't Punk!, hosting a Q&A on DIY publishing, and setting up a well-stocked zine/book table; Mia Partlow and Michael Hoerger of the upcoming Edible Secrets book and the brand-new Curious Case of the Communist Jell-O Box poster zine will be showing up with a mobile museum and document library on the fascinating secret history of food and espionage.

2. The Artist's Cut - a retrospective of Toot Reid's body of work - will show from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside the University Gallery at Pacific Luthern University.

3. The Washington State History Museum staff will discuss volatile volcanoes from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Garfield Book Company next to PLU. Then the Weekly Volcano's phone lines and email boxes will be flooded with complaints.

4. Fallujah, Fallen Figure, and Super Happy Story Time Land will play an all-ages show at 7 p.m. inside The Viaduct in Tacoma.

5. Jazzbones' notorious Rockaraoke live band karaoke begins at 9 p.m.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - VOTE NOW >>>

The titanic taco throwdown finale in on! Voting for the 2010 Weekly Volcano Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Championship game is live right now.

After more than two weeks of voting, you guys have picked the most popular tacos in the greater Tacoma area. What began as 64 taco-slinging joints has been narrowed down to two: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant and Tijuana Taco.

Who do you think has the best tacos: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant or Tijuana Taco?

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Voting will close at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. we'll hand out taco voting ballots at our Tournament of Tacos Party inside Station 56 at 56^th and South Tacoma Way. Station 56 will be broadcasting the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game on all its screens while serving dollar tacos and $2 tequila shots. Throughout the first half of the game we'll be handing our taco voting ballots for a final push of voting. At half time of the hoop game, we'll announce the winner of the 2010 Tournament of Tacos. Then there will be much rejoicing.

Confused? Click here for an explanation of our Tournament of Tacos.

BENEFIT CONCERT >>>

Carol Parsons was murdered by her ex-husband on March 17, 2010 during a marriage counseling session at a Federal Way church. Read the full story here.

Northwest Music Scene, Northwest Convergence Zone and Music Giving Back will produce a benefit concert for Carol Parsons' children Saturday, April 10 at Happy Days Casino in Lakewood. Rockfish from KZOK will emcee the show that features such bands as Voxxy Vallejo, Deborah Page, O'Dark 30, China Davis and ML3.

Admission to the all-ages show is $12. All proceeds go directly to Carol Parsons family.

[Happy Days Casino, Saturday, April 10, 6 p.m. to midnight, $12, 11521 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, 253.306.1574]

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

Every summer, Vans Warped Tour organizers enlist about 60 popular bands that would normally play the club circuit and assign them to consecutive, half-hour long, afternoon sets in front of a dirty, thirsty, sunburned audience who number in the thousands. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

Now in its 16^th year, the 43-date 2010 Vans Warped Tour commences June 25 in Carson, Calif. and finishes Aug. 15 in Hillsboro, Ore. Before it packs up the shoes, the tour will hit the Gorge Amphitheatre Aug. 14. The artists include Andrew W.K., The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, The Pretty Reckless, Pierce the Veil and Death Punch as well as recent Tacoma visitors Agent Orange and FunkyJahPunkys. 

Tickets are $35.45 in advance and $40 day of show and go on sale Friday, April 9 at 4 p.m. at LiveNation.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone 1.800.745.3000.

THE WORD ON CHLOE AND FISH TANK >>>

Opening at The Grand Cinema on Friday will be the films Chloe and Fish Tank. Roger Ebert has the scoop on both films:

Chloe: A woman doctor (Julianne Moore) suspects her husband (Liam Neeson) of cheating, and hires a young call girl (Amanda Seyfried) to test how he might respond. She is fascinated by the girl's reports. Her jealousy shifts into curiosity. And the call girl? What's in this for her? Egoyan weaves a deceptive erotic web. Read full review here. Rated R, three and a half out of four stars

Fish Tank: The harrowing portrait of a 15-year-old girl on a reckless path toward self-destruction. Her mother, only about 30, is a drunken slut, and the girl seems on the same path. Covers a few days of fraught experiences with sex and anger. Superbly acted by newcomer Katie Jarvis. Winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes 2009. Read full review here. Directed by Andrea Arnold. Not rated, four out of four stars

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

IT'S OPEN AGAIN >>>

Vinum Wine and Coffee Lounge is back open in downtown Tacoma across from Hell's Kitchen on Pacific Avenue. Several weeks back owners Cliff and Annie closed the coffee/wine bar due to difficulties with the lease. Annie's brother and sister have since reopened Vinum. 

We'll drop by soon for a peek, and a glass of Cab.

[Vinum Coffee and Wine Lounge, 1001 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.9901]

LINK: Vinum in the South Sound Restaurant Guide

THE ART BUS IS BACK >>>

Third Thursday ArtWalk is on the move again, or at least its artsy people are. Last month, fourteen people and I enjoyed touring Tacoma's Third Thursday ArtWalk on a bus. We laughed, we cried, and we discussed art while navigating the streets of downtown Tacoma on a large school bus.

Riding the wave of positive vibes the ART BUS is back this month with more art venue stops, professionally designed promotional materials, and a sponsor - the Weekly Volcano.

Angela Jossy of the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative runs this traveling spectacle. Here's the press release she just sent out:

Read more...

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IMAGES FROM T-TOWN >>>

Looks as if El Guadalajara is making its move to its new Sixth Avenue location.

YOU SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY >>>

Most of Bobble Tiki's friends, many of them reclusive sorts who emerge from their dank, squalid apartments only to grab groceries and report for jury duty, aren't really into their birthdays that much.  Bobble Tiki hangs out with them one day, doing very little of consequence, and he finds out a week later, by accident, that it was their birthday, and all Bobble Tiki did to celebrate it was watch some court show on television. Honestly, Bobble Tiki doesn't understand these people. 

Rev. Colin Sannes is not about to let that happen with his Tacoma Cult Movie Club. The Tacoma monthly film club turns 1 year old Sunday and he's telling everyone.

Appropriately, the films screened that night at The Acme Grub Cage will carry a "birthday" theme. Expect cake in addition to the selection of films, shorts, popcorn and amazing raffle.

Bobble Tiki is hoping this 1-year-old birthday party is different than Bobble Tiki's first birthday soiree where guests danced around to Sesame Street cassettes. None of his guests even went so far as to stand up; most opted to nap the whole time. One vomited on his mother. Bobble Tiki always thought it was the result of an undercooked cake.

[The Acme Grub Cage, Sunday, April 11, 7 p.m., no cover, 1310 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.272.1892]

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2010 >>>

1. Ha Ha Tuesdays live comedy show featuring Chris Schipper, James Inman and host Ralph Poter begins at 8 p.m. inside Jazzbones.

2. Hell's Kitchen hosts Tightwad Tuesday featuring $2 wells, $2 beers and $2 for two tacos.

3. The women's monthly networking group Sips and Tips meets from 5-6 p.m. at Sip at the Wine Bar Restaurant in Gig Harbor.

4. The Urban Onion Restaurant in Olympia hosts Tough Guys Tuesdays action film double feature with drink specials at 7 p.m.

5. Olympia Songwriter's Circle goes down at 7 p.m. inside Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art in Olympia.

LINKS: Movie showtimes in the South Sound