FROM FARM TO TABLE >>>

Eating green has awareness and education at its core. To some, eating green means growing fresh herbs in a personal garden rather than driving to a store and purchasing a dried version in a plastic container delivered by semi-truck from a dozen states away. To others, it's volunteering with the fledgling Pierce County Gleaning Project, a group whose website describes its goal as "to provide more fresh food in county food banks, to reduce the amount of produce wasted in our community, and to build community."

From start to finish, eating green can feel like an overwhelming challenge. Food growing and harvesting methods, packaging and transportation, preparation and preservation all come into play - and that's just a start.

To read Jennifer Johnson's full article on eating green click here.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES >>>

As you know if you read my review of what I called Cannibal! the Rehearsal, it's a tragically bad idea to invite your critics eight days early when you're still putting in lights and sound equipment, your costumes aren't finished, and you still have cast members you're not going to use. I regret nothing I said about that "performance," as it was true at the time. It isn't now. I felt so bad about what happened that I took the liberty of seeing the finished show at its final dress performance. Boy howdy, what a difference a week can make.

To read Christian Carvajal's NEW full review of Cannibal! the Musical click here. 

[Theater Artists Olympia, Cannibal! the Musical, $15, April 15 - May 1, 8 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 805 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.357.3471]

STILL TIME >>>

You might want to sit down for this. You're never going to be on CBS reality show The Amazing Race. No matter how many times you mail in your cute videotape, the producers aren't going to be calling you back anytime soon. After swallowing that bitter pill, soothe your anxious ass by signing up to compete in Saturday's obstacle course challenge ELEV8(TION) GAIN in Tacoma's Northend neighborhood.

What I learned since posting this story on the event: Vertical Club Tacoma and Comeback Sports will each erect an obstacle for the event. (We smell a climbing wall.) We also learned that volunteers are still needed. Give them a buzz at 253.228.3574 to help out.

There's still time to register for tomorrow's obstacle challenge. Click here for more information.

RAINIERS COME HOME TO NEW CHENEY STADIUM >>>

The Rainiers play their first game at new Cheney Stadium tonight after finishing up an eight game road trip by losing to the Fresno Grizzlies last night in extra innings.  The loss sent them to 3-5 on the season.

The road trip was a rough way for the Rainiers open up the season. The starting pitchers were beat up, the bullpen gave up runs and the batters failed to get any timely hits. Hell, the Rainiers failed to hit much at all. The most runs they scored in a victory was four. Dustin Ackley, Alex Liddi, Jose Yapez and Mike Carp are all batting under .200.

That's OK, though. The season is young. They're still feeling out the lineup, still settling into their positions. There have been some bright spots, too. Chris Seddon has pitched 13 scoreless innings.  Carlos Peguero is hitting well. Their problems could be explained because they were on the road. Life is hard on the road, especially at the start the season.

Now they're coming homing.

Tonight's game marks the first home game at the renovated stadium. Fans will finally get to stand in line at new concession stands, take a piss in the new urinals and admire new suites.

The game starts at 7:05. Before the game, the Rainiers there will be a ceremony celebrating last year's Pacific Coast League Championship. After the game there will be fireworks.

Fireworks because tonight is special. The first Rainiers game at new Cheney Stadium. And like we've said before: everyone remembers their first time. But unlike your first time, this one will be followed by fireworks.

REAL STORIES FROM REAL BARTENDERS >>>

I've been a bartender for a long time. I have met countless freaks, jerks, pervs, sweethearts, rockstars and crazies. Even though it's a physically and mentally exhausting job, these are the colorful people that make it all worthwhile. Well, that and the tips.

I'd like to share with you some of my personal experiences behind the bar, along with the stories from some of my fellow bartenders. Each week - under the clever heading of "Behind Bars" - I will dig into my memory bank - and the incident log books that all bars keep - to bring you some of my favorite stories.

Names of bars, bartenders and patrons have been changed or withheld to protect the innocent.

And the not so innocent.

Cheers!

This week...

Say Cheese

This week's story comes from a sassy little bartender friend of mine who now lives in New York. It was one of her favorite accounts of working in the service industry.

I will tell it as though I were she. ...

I was working at this great little Italian place, one with great wine and martinis, and even better food. It was a busy Saturday night, and I had been working an extra long shift. I barely had time to eat and was starving.

Now, if you've ever worked in the service industry, you know it's eat and run. And if you've ever worked in a restaurant, then you know dinner can sometimes come from the order window - whether it be a fallen crouton off a salad plate or a tater tot from the stack that's going to table 10.

Now, in this particular instance, my snack was a giant, saucy cheese blob that had escaped from an order of lasagna. It looked bad hanging on the side of the plate anyway, so I just popped it in my mouth as I picked up the order and rushed it to the table.

Naturally, I was mortified as I set the plate down ... there was a string of cheese leading directly from the customer's dish to my mouth.

Needless to say, there were embarrassed apologies and free meals, but at least now I have this great story.

She would chortle as she told this, leaving her patrons with their beers and a great conversation starter. It seems many people have service industry horror stories.

I wonder how she's doing these days ... I think I'll whip up a drink and find her on Facebook.

Until next week - Cheers!

"BEHIND BARS" LINK HUB

LINK: The importance of details

LINK: Exotic tastes

LINK: Lactose intoxicated

LINK: Thanks for playing!

LINK: After hours trivia

LINK: Bartending abroad

LINK: Oh puck!

LINK: 86'd

LINK: More Aural Adventures

LINK: Big & Rich

LINK: Tales From the Incident Log Book

LINK: The Tip Jar

LINK: Aural Adventures

LINK: Smooth Transitions

LINK: The Pooper

MIXTAPE HYPE >>>

We've already had a bunch of high-profile mixtapes and/or albums drop this year from some of the top Tacoma MC's. One in particular is getting mad spins, critical acclaim and props from heads all over Sea-Tac.

I speak of Havi Blaze's solo mixtape, Purple and Gold the Balance.

To read Josh Rizeberg's full column on Havi Blaze click here.

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment of the day comes from tornado in response to our Green Guide story on The Evergreen State College's foray into biomass gasification by Brett Chihon.

tornado writes,

Good article. I'd like to see a follow-up on the Simpson Kraft biomass plant at their paper mill. Is it really carbon neutral? How does it impact our already marginal air quality? Does it make the pulp mill's aroma better, worse, or no effect? Does the surplus energy generated help reduce coal and gas emissions in the Northwest and allow for more salmon friendly dam operations, or is it all sent to California for renewable energy credits?

LINK: Our 2011 Green Guide

SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2011 >>>

1. The best time to enjoy Cicada's New Orleans meets Northwest awesome food is when master pianist Joe Baque, bassist Steve Luceno and percussionist Michael Olson fill the room with Latin jazz - like at 8 p.m. tonight.

2. Prom: It was a night of teenage majesty with shiny tuxedo shoes and (hopefully) a hidden flask full of Popov's Vodka and Tahitian Treat to take the edge off - how else could you muster up the confidence to seductively grind your date during " I Wanna Sex U Up"? However, for the women, prom is all about the dress. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., prom and party dresses, along with accessories, shoes and jewelry, will be featured at the "It's All About The Dress" sale in store space adjacent to Tacoma Goodwill's North Tacoma Store, 5401 Sixth Ave. in the Sixth Avenue Place shopping center.

3. Indiana Jones with the rousing fanfare, the bullwhip, and, yes, the fedora will hit The Grand Cinema's screen at 10:30 p.m. More specifically, Click! TV presents Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for free to the first 100 people through the door, which opens at 10 a.m.

4. Those naughty Renegade Calendar Girls will participate in a photo shoot at Ink Spot Tattoo at 52^nd and South Tacoma Way beginning at noon. Maybe you can sneak your smile into a shot - next to their cleavage. Maybe you'll get thrown out the door. Either way, EXCITING!

5. The dedication of the Harry P. Cain Promenade in downtown Tacoma between the Murano Hotel and the Tacoma Convention Center went down yesterday. Today, at 2 p.m., Author C. Mark Smith speaks about conservative-libertarian philosophy of Sen. Harry P. Cain inside the Tacoma Public Library's Main downtown branch. Only 34 in 1940 when he was first elected mayor of Tacoma, Cain's unpredictable and sometimes contradictory politics followed him to the U.S. Senate, the Subversive Activities Control Board during the Eisenhower Administration, and finally, even to the Miami-Dade County Commission in his adopted Florida.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Concerts go on sale today

LINK: Wine tastings!

THINGS THAT GO WELL WITH WINE >>>

Linda Jacobus is a local oil painter. She's an oil painter with a show going on at Morso Wine Bar in Gig Harbor until April 24.

If you haven't checked out Morso before, it's a beautiful harborside restaurant with tasty food and an array of wines.

If you haven't checked out a wine bar before, you should - because everything is better while drunk.

And because I said so.

Linda Jacobus is originally from California, but has been in the Northwest since 2003. She paints in the style of classical realism, meaning her artwork centers around skill and beauty, and she has an insane eye for realistic details and is wicked talented. Jacobus's paintings capture a variety of subjects including flowers, still life, landscapes and people, but they all share her passion for light and an interesting interplay of shadows and highlights.

To read Kristin Kendle's full article on Linda Jacobus click here.

PEDAL POWER >>>

It just makes sense that Duncan Green coordinates the Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Contest: A bicycle has always been his primary mode of transportation.

"In high school, I pretty much rode my bike to school every day, including through the snow and ice and stuff like that," says Green - and he grew up in Chicago. "I didn't get a car until I was 23."

In 1976, while he was a student at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Green wrote a paper about the environmental benefits of biking versus driving a car. But that's not why he rides just about everywhere he goes.

"The primary reason that I ride my bike to get around is just that I enjoy it so much more than being in a car," he says. "It's just so much more fun and pleasant and less frustrating."

Every May the Bicycle Commuter Contest aims to give people another reason to ride, with prizes, drawings and events. Run by Intercity Transit, it's open to anyone who lives and/or works in Thurston County.

To read Molly Gilmore's full article on Duncan Green and the Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Contest click here.

Thurston County Bicycle Commuter Contest

Sign up by May 6 and log miles throughout May; $5 fee for ages 18 and older, intercitytransit.com or bccblog.com