This week ...

Thing: Faux cupcakes

Where: Feeling Smitten

Serving: Ice cream cones

And: Cupcakes

They look: Delicious!

They taste: Awful

Soft & Warm: No

Gooey & Sweet: Not at all

Taste disappointment: 100%

Skin softness & relaxation: 100%

To read this week's full column click here.

[Feeling Smitten, 2503 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, feelingsmitten.com]

NEW SOUNDS AND VISUALS FROM THE MAKER OF "TWO FIVE THREE" >>>

Most Tacomans with an Internet connection know the name Fice. The Tacoma-repping rapper made a splash last year with the video for "Two Five Three," a cinematic effort that landed Fice's mug on the cover of City Arts Tacoma, among other things.

Though we're a day late and a dollar short (as they say), Fice sent word yesterday of his latest effort, "In the Kitchen."

The song and official video for "In the Kitchen" were released yesterday. As of the writing of this blog post the video had already been viewed 2,663 times.

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Ctash in response to our SPEW post from January on the closing of Water to Wine in Gig Harbor.

Ctash writes,

It is sad to see a respectable wine store go out of business. There are a small percent of really good wine stores operating. The ones that actually can tell you if the wine you are purchasing is ranked at an 80 or a 90+ rating. I would like to know if you will continue to do business elsewhere or some how revise your business by have bi-annual wine tastings for a ticket cost that is profitable to you and stirs up the wine drinkers in the community.

OH THANK HEAVEN NO ONE WAS HURT >>>

Two 32-ounce Gatorades for $3 was too much for one unlucky driver this morning at the 7-Eleven on the corner of Sixth Avenue and North Alder. Their attention must have been on the banner announcing the incredible deal instead of the storefront window.

DINING NEWS, NIBBLES, AND BITES >>>

Craft Beer Tasting: 99 Bottles in Federal Way hosts beer talk radio hostess and author Lisa Morrison for a signing of her Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest from 4-6 p.m. today. Five Northwest craft beers will also be up for tasting for $3 a person.

Wine Tasting: Wildside Wines in Tacoma will pull out a bunch of wines that pair well with barbecues for you to taste today from 4-7 p.m. The cost is $5 a person.

Do The Fish ‘N' Chips: The Northwest grown fish and chips chain Ivar's is now open at 13101 Meridian Ave. E. in Puyallup.

Duke's Deal: Drop by Duke's Chowder House on Tacoma's Ruston Way, write your email address on a napkin and the follow day they'll send you a prize.  But Wait! It gets even better. You'll be entered to win: $500 Alaska Airlines Gift Card, a $250 Alaska Airlines Gift Card, a $150 Duke's Chowder House Gift Card or a $100 Duke's Chowder House Gift Card - every 3 months. Bonus: Here's a video of the Duke reading from his own menu.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2011 >>>

1. That Mad Rad show you’ve heard so much about, with SOTA, Friday Knights, QDot and City Hall also on the bill, is tonight at Hell's Kitchen, yo. Find all the details here.

2. Have yet to check out the Gritty City Sirens Burlesque troupe? Tonight’s your night at Jazzbones. The show starts at 9 p.m. and there’s no cover.

3. Bingo! It’s free bingo night at Applini's Two Clean and Sober Club in Puyallup.

4. Catch Shotgun Red and The Moonshiners tonight at Golden West Restaurant and Lounge in Tacoma. Or, if that’s not your musical cup of tea, try browsing the Volcano’s extensive South Sound live local music calendar here.

5.The OMG! Teen Gaming Club meets tonight at the Lakewood Pierce County Library. There’s no doubt you’ll LOL if you go.  But, if gaming isn’t your thing, take a look at the Volcano’s comprehensive South Sound arts and events calendar here.

EVERGREEN CLUB STAGES LGBT "ROMEO & JULIET IN FOUND SPACES >>>

In Evergreen Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, the star-crossed couple consists of two women - and that's just the beginning of the production's gender play. The show will also feature cross-dressing and drag performances.

Different as that is, the free production's locations are even more so. Romeo opens at 8 p.m. Friday, May 27, at the Soccer Pavilion (an indoor sports space) at The Evergreen State College (2700 Evergreen Pkwy. N.W., Olympia). This weekend's other shows, also in the pavilion, are at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 28, and 6 p.m. Sunday, May 29.

For the closing weekend, however, the show moves downtown to a concrete courtyard space at 308 Fourth Ave. S.E., Olympia. That's the former home of Griswold's Office Supply, which burned to the ground in 2004 and has stood empty ever since. The building was recently sold, says Jeff Painter of Evergreen Shakespeare, and the new owners have begun renovations to create a Green Living Center, which will include a performance space.

Performances will be in the graffiti-covered outdoor space on Friday, June 3, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 4, at 9 p.m.; and Sunday, June 5, at 8 p.m. The intention is to call attention to the plans for the building. Painter suggests dressing warmly and bringing rain gear for the outdoor performances.

[Evergreen State College, May 27-29, 8 p.m. Friday - Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, free, 2700 Evergreen Pkwy. N.W., Olympia]

[Griswold Building, June 3-5, 8 p.m. Friday - Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, free, 308 Fourth Ave. S.E., Olympia]

WORKING TITLE FOR THIS POST - "INTERVIEWS BY OTHER PEOPLE">>>

As we've reported on several times (as recently as yesterday, in fact) Tacoma-loved filmmakers Scott Stone and Joe Rosati are two of the driving forces behind Chad Ruin's A Perfect Life, a film creating an impressive amount of buzz for itself screening at the Seattle True International Film Festival June 7. For Tacomans, there will be a pre-party for the film's STIFF screening Friday, June 3 at Doyle's Public House featuring the bands Looking For Lizards and Ten Miles of Bad Road. With Stone and Rosati having relocated to Park City, Utah, it will also be a chance for old friends to catch up.

Here's a clip of a recent interview Rosati and Stone did about A Perfect Life on Park City TV. (Trust me, the interview is there ... the trailer intro is just long.)

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Jessica in response to this week's "Person, Place or Thing" column by Steph DeRosa on Sixth Avenue's Feeling Smitten - a store that sells cupcakes for your bath.

Jessica writes,

I drive by this place almost everyday, and figured it was yet ANOTHER cupcake shop in the neighborhood. Glad to hear it ain't. I may actually go in now. Thanks for the article it saves me from having to wander town looking for gud stuf.

THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011 >>>

1. Catch comedian Nate Jackson's "Super Funny Comedy Show" every Thursday at Varsity Grill in Tacoma. And hot damn! It's Thursday! Look at that!

2. Check out the "Come Out And Play Open Mic," hosted by Kim Archer and Nick Sandy at the Tempest Lounge in Tacoma. The fun runs from 7-10 p.m. and it's all ages. Or, if that doesn't tickle your musical fancy, find the Volcano's comprehensive live local music listings here.

3. Explore the deeper social meanings running through If You Give the Mouse a Cookie, currently being produced by Olympia Family Theater. Or just watch it for fun. Either way it cool. Find details on the show here. And find the Volcano's extensive South Sound arts and events calendar here.

4. It's a good day for farmers market action, as both the Downtown Tacoma Broadway version and the Olympia version will be in full effect. Coincidentally, the Volcano's Jennifer Johnson recently had lunch at the Downtown Tacoma Broadway Farmers Market.

5. Pick up the latest issue of the Weekly Volcano, and read Zach Powers's cover story on education in Tacoma plus all the other regularly scheduled editorial goodness.