A LATTE WORK >>>

Every coffee snob has his favorite barista; it's sort of like rooting for your home state football team.

Wait. Bad example since our home state teams sucked this weekend.

Anyway - how do you determine who's actually the best barista? The answer is the Latte Art Competition tonight at Beyond the Bridge Café. South Sound baristas will battle it out - pouring a perfect espresso topped by a smooth, airy layer of foamy crema art - in front of judges Angie Hill of Caffe D'arte, Pat Brown of Satellite Coffee, A.J. Anderson of Valhalla Coffee Company and Bryan Reynolds of Puyallup Forza.

Drop by the new coffeehouse on Sixth Avenue tonight and check out the crema of the crop.

Latte Art Competition

Monday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m., no cover
Beyond the Bridge Café
2717 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
253.572.9199

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Bassist Chuck Panozzo (Styx) is 63.

Exit133 takes a light-hearted look at the history of Tacoma.

Super salmon or Frankenfish?

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said the Tea Party isn't a real movement.

Make your own miniature chalkboards.

Lindsay Lohan tweeted about failing her latest drug test.

LISTEN WHILE YOU WORK >>>

During the past 18-plus years as an international DJ, Lakewood-grown Donald Glaude has been responsible for seeding vibrant musical landscapes for audiences up and down the West Coast.

Las Vegas Weekly spent time with Glaude, recording the chat for the newspaper's Nocturnal Admissions podcast. Download it here.

MUMBAI MEETS DISCO >>>

Sanford and Son Antiques received a big slap of fabulous for its adult prom Saturday night. Gigantic red, pink, silver, gold and black flowers clung to ceiling and walls amid colorful lighting and shiny metallic streamers as the store's library was transformed into a Bollywood movie set, the theme for the annual fundraiser this year benefiting the Companion Animal Rescue Society.

The costumes matched the décor. Lovely ladies attending went all out East Indian in saris, churidar, kurti pants, and belly dancing outfits in lace, chiffon and satin with gems and bells and teasingly draped sheer silks and scarves while others went as high-glam as possible in red carpet worthy gowns and skyscraper highs. Men wore suits, tuxedos and traditional kurtas and sherwanis to the dance party.

And then there was the food: horsd'oeuvres had an Indian slant with cucumber and lemon, and beet yogurt salads, hummus and pita, and seriously tasty Indian meatballs courtesy of Dan Briggs. Refreshing teas from Mad Hat Tea Company, Naughty Nellie and other tasty beers, glasses of Arrogant Bastard, Estrella and Flying Fish wines went down like water.

Tacoma's favorite garage band Girl Trouble kicked the night off to a roaring start. Partygoers danced till they were sweaty and the Library almost tropically humid. Band Si Si Si was welcomed back for a second year delivering ear-piercing and overly loud surf punk and pop tunes. Prom goers had just enough liquid merriment to make it through the set though some were looking a little tired of the volume. The second Si Si Si finished, memorable dance hits "I Will Survive," "Dancing Queen," "Billie Jean" and "YMCA," which had hilarious crowd participation, were merely a handful of the fun songs played by DJ Infinity above the black and white checkered dance floor.

DJ Infinity also acted as master of ceremonies until it was time for prom committee member Donna Herren, who looked smashing in a gold tube dress, to take the mic and reveal the year's theme winners. Sanford and Son owner Alan Gorsuch was crowned prom king and surprisingly not his wife, Cheryl, but Michelle Smith of Fleur de Lis was prom queen - as well as picking up title of Most Imaginative Female costume. Male Best Dressed and Most Imaginative Male costume saw a two and three way tie. People also voted for a giant black and white cow used in the photo backdrop for Female Best Dressed.

DJ Infinity reinvigorated the crowd after titles were awarded with Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. and other '80s pop songs. Giddy laughter floated above the smiling dancing crowd as the evening wore to a happily exhausted end.

LINK: More photos of the night in our Photo Hot Spot

TUESDAY, SEPT. 21, 2010 >>>

1. Celebrate local food and the change of seasons with your friends and neighbors at the 6^th Avenue Farmers Market's 2010 Harvest Festival at 5:30 p.m. On the menu will be "Soulstainable Soups," seasonal salads and chilled microbrews courtesy of Engine House No. 9. Events include a pie eating contests, arts and crafts, face-painting and a bounce house. And Billy Farmer will rock the market at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Pine. Admission is $10.

2. The Banned Book Club discusses Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld at 7 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge. Relive those angst-filled, self-conscious years of high school over cocktails.

3. Polka Dot Dot Dot, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Sam Doores and The Tumbleweeds. Play an all-ages 8 p.m. show at Northern in Olympia.

4. The Grand Cinema screens Bruce Springsteen's London Calling: Live in Hyde Park - which was filmed during a massive set in London's Hyde Park during the Hard Rock Calling fest in 2009 - at 8:45 p.m.

5. DJs Sticky J and dAb spin house, techno, trance and remixes beginning at 9 p.m. as part of the infamous I Heart House night at Surreal Ultra Lounge.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

FAST CARS AND ICE CREAM >>>

Back when arcades were overrun with burnouts, jeans tucked into their high-tops, I'd seek out the Elevator Action arcade game at Space Port on "The Ave." Between classes at UW, I played an agent whose goal was to dart through a building grabbing secrets from behind red doors. I dodged, shot or kicked spies and rode the elevator to my getaway car in the basement. The colors were dull, and movement was a bit mechanical. The tech part was shooting out the lights, flipping the screen to midnight blue.

Today, arcades are filled with 12th-level demigods and geeky hoodrats playing virtual anything. And thanks to the recently opened Dorky's Bar Arcade in downtown Tacoma, arcades are also filled with beer (although the beer is not pouring yet at Dorky's).

Dorky's opened over the weekend and already a challenge has been thrown down. Tacoma attorney Erik Bjornson - under the name "ACE" – has racked up 169,335 points on Dorky's Spy Hunter game. For those who actually studied during the '80s instead of hanging out in arcades, you migtht not know that this driving combat game puts the player in a spy vehicle complete with machine guns and missiles in the front, and oil slicks and smoke screens out the back. And when the road ends and water begins, the automobile of this vertical-scrolling driving adventure turns into a speedboat - all with the Peter Gunn theme in the background.

"Are any members of your hipster entourage sober enough to beat my score on Spy Hunter at Dorky's?" Bjornson challenged the Weekly Volcano readers, calling them "hipsters" for the 1000th time.

If you beat his high score before Oct. 19, Bjornson will award you $35 worth of ice cream from Jeff's Ice Cream.

Bjornson's challenge might prove difficult in more ways than one. Everyone knows drunken hipsters hate ice cream.

Dorky's Bar Arcade

Ninth and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma

THE WEEKLY VOLCANO RECOMMENDS THESE LIVE MUSIC SHOWS TONIGHT >>>

6th Ave Farmers Market Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Billy Farmer. All Ages. 4:30 pm. NC.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Patrick Dethlefs. All Ages. 7 pm. NC.

Northern Olympia - Downtown. Polka Dot Dot Dot, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Sam Doores, The Tumbleweeds. All Ages. 8 pm.

• While rustic Northwestern folk gilded with gorgeous multi-part harmonies is a type of music that may have already peaked in local and national popularity (what with the Fleet Foxes' recent meteoric ascension from Emerald City darlings to Saturday Night Live musical guests), it's also something that'll likely never grow tiresome, especially when properly executed. Olympia's Polka Dot Dot Dot is a trio of talented folkies with a winning take on old-timey musical stylings. Their arsenal of acoustic elements (guitar, banjo, harp, ukulele and clement vocals) coalesces in lovely - if not entirely unsurprising - ways, and their lyrics name-check everything from the Puget Sound to Calvino-esque "cities we built in our minds." It's a backwoods sensibility with academic pretensions, backed by familiar stomp-clap rhythms. Fans of the Cave Singers and Alela Diane should take notice. – Jason Baxter
  

Sax Restaurant and Lounge Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Open Jazz Jam. Hosted by Kareem Kandi. 21+. 9 pm. NC.

Summit Pub Puyallup. Tim Hall & The Band Real Times. 21+. 7:30 pm.

LINK: More music tonight in the South Sound

TRUE OLD SCHOOL NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEEHOUSE >>>

Neighborhood: Fircrest

Address/phone: 1009 Regents Blvd., 253.564.3066

Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Standard Cup o' Joe: $1.24-$2.16

Bean Source: "We roast our own beans daily," says the morning baristas.

Crowd: Fircrest locals, dads in North Face apparel, and seniors providing a battle ground for White Shoulders by Evyan and Aviance Night Musk by Prince Matchabelli to face off.

Soundtrack: Often too low to hear over the crowd, but I have caught "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's, Taylor Swift's "Love Story" and "My Heart Is The Worst Kind of Weapon" by Fall Out Boy.

WiFi: Yes

Noshing/Sipping: Bakery goods, breakfast sandwiches, 10 sandwiches (including three different turkey pairings, chicken salad, shrimp croissant), soups, salads, and specials. Most items are made in-house. The sandwiches and soups are tasty. They offer all the standard espresso drinks, plus ice cream shakes and fruit smoothies.

Bonus: Their in-house made buttery scones are 99 cents during the Puyallup Fair. They've recently added a hummus plate. They sport a drive-thru window, but it's a tight squeeze in a small parking lot. Morning sun reaches the front outdoor deck.

The House:

As any of the loyal regulars will tell you, Espresso Yourself makes a perfect home away from home. Located off the turnabout on Regents Boulevard this cozy spot is the perfect refuge from the cold community center, overcrowded retirement community dining hall, and undercaffeinated library rooms. For a chunk of the Fircrest population, it provides a spot to show off pictures of the grandchildren and catch up with friends. Over the summer, the outside deck was a sea of North Face warm-up jackets worn by men discussing outdoor adventures and the stock market.

Inside, the room resembles an apartment complex community room, but with cool antique coffee signs and accessories. Seven low tables and three hightops give just enough room to squeeze by, providing an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Marge's 7-year-old grandson, Mikey.

HERE COMES ANOTHER NIGHTCLUB >>>

Gary Grape - the man behind the South Sound Blues Association and husband to awesome jazz and blues singer Maia Santell - sent us a little ditty announcing that the Rhythm & Brews nightclub in downtown Tacoma will finally open Friday, Oct. 1:

The celebration begins on Friday, October 1st with the popular jazz and blues group, Maia Santell and House Blend. On Saturday, October 2nd, the South Sound Blues Association's 2010 International Blues Challenge winner, Blues Redemption, takes the stage. The music starts at 8:30 PM and ends at 11:30 PM both nights. Under 21 are allowed until 10:30 PM. There is no cover charge. 

Rhythm & Brews Restaurant/Bar

933 Market St., Tacoma
253.627.0137

DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITS >>>

Perfect Pairing: The Red Hot hosts Jeff The Ice Cream Man for a night of beer and ice cream pairings at 6 p.m. tonight.

Brewer's Night: The 7 Seas Brewing crew will invade The Swiss tonight at ... wait for it ... 7 p.m. with awesome raffle prizes and beer. Some guy named Matt Coughlin will rock the joint, too.

Smoked Beer Night: Beach-Fore Smoked Scotch Ale from Slip Point Brewing of Clallum Bay and Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen from Mabburg, Germany, are the featured beers from 4-8 p.m. at 99 Bottles in Federal Way. Try two for $1.

Future Things Are Coming: Brix 25 in Gig Harbor presents a dinner featuring late summer crops at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 at Peace of the Earth Farm in Rosedale. The cost is $128 per person for the first 24 people. To reserve your spot, call 253.858.6626.

Food Matters: Menu items with 2K+ calories served at Quiznos, Chipotle, and elsewhere.

LINK: Say, do you like happy Hours?