DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITS >>>

Tap This: Recognizing the burgeoning craft beer market in the Tacoma area, five local watering holes - The Red Hot, The Parkway Tavern, Doyle's Public House, The Swiss, and Engine House No. 9 - have joined forces for a monthly beer event.  Every second Monday of the month - that's tonight people - the five locally owned and operated joints will simultaneously tap a fresh cask of ale at 6 p.m. then yell "Tap Night Tacoma is on!" The Red Hot will tap Everybody's Brewing Dry-Hop Country Boy IPA, The Parkway will unleash Everybody's Brewing Imperial IPA, Doyle's will pour Fullers ESB, The Swiss will serve Pike Dry-Hop Double IPA and Engine House No. 9 will tap their E-9 Imperial Bourbon Barrel Stout.

Ice Cream Storm: Dairy Queen serves up a German Chocolate Brownie as its featured Blizzard for May.

Future Things Are Coming: The Harmon Brewery & Eatery hosts a four-course spring beer dinner with dishes paired with its own brews at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12. The cost is $27 per person. Reserve your spot at 253.683.4606.

Drink Matters: The rise of the plastic, disposable coffee cup lid

LINK: Happy hours!