TODAY'S POLL >>>

Good morning, sweet readers! Did you have some Brown and Haley candy sandwiched between Roman Meal bread while strolling around Simpson Tacoma Kraft this morning?

Ridiculous, yes, but if you bleed Tacoma it might not be that far-fetched.

Tacoma brands have been swimming in our noggins ever since the Puget Sound Business Journal held its "most respected brand" in Seattle online poll.

It got us to thinking: What are the most respected Tacoma brands?

Let's vote the hell out of it. We'll announce the results tomorrow.

25 NEW FACES FEST SCREENS WITHOUT  >>>

In The Weekly Volcano's recent "Super Best of Tacoma" issue, I named last year's 25 New Faces of Independent Film "Best New Film Fest," emphasis on new. At a time in which Hollywood has other buzzwords in its lexicon - prequel, sequel, reboot, adaptation - a collection of raw, original indies feels like cold water in a draught.

So with The Grand Cinema's event returning last Friday, I knew I had to catch at least some of this fresh crop of faces.

But what to see? Besides a mention in Filmmaker magazine, on which the concept of this festival is based, you won't find much critical response available on these movies. Luckily, some months ago I fell upon Charles Mudede's glowing review of a feature entitled Without, which played at The Grand Saturday evening - a perfect day to bask outdoors yes, but the theater's air-conditioned interior beckoned me.

And the promise, from one critic at least, that Without would prove worthwhile.

Writer/director/editor Mark Jackson, though based in Brooklyn, shot his entire film in a place we Northwest folk instantly recognize: Whidbey Island. Within a festival about faces, the first shot appropriately gives us a close-up of a pretty girl named Joslyn (actor Joslyn Jensen) staring somewhat sadly below frame. The cut to her profile reveals more of the surroundings - the interior of a ferry, steadily whisking its seemingly sole traveler to her destination.

Read more...

UPDATE >>>

Tacoma is on the cusp of a new era in how we get around town. This city is poised to transform downtown biking from a simple recreational activity into a legitimate form of transportation for residents. Downtown On the Go and the City of Tacoma have made bike parking a priority this summer, culminating with the official opening of the Bike Cage in Park Plaza North Garage at 923 Commerce. A ribbon cutting and group hug (in spandex spadex shorts we imagine) will happen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31. The public is encouraged to attend.

Here's the scoop via a statement released by the Tacoma Chamber:

Tacoma's newest bike parking, the Park Plaza North Bike Cage, is conveniently located on the 5th floor of the garage, directly across from the skybridge to Broadway. Designed to remove barriers to bicycle commuting by providing a secure area to store bicycles, the bike cage was a collaboration of Downtown On the Go and City of Tacoma staff. Early studies found that many offices in downtown do not allow bicycles to sit in offices and do not provide bicycle parking, yet there are many downtown employees who like to commute by bike.

Read more...

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RESIDENT KINGS >>>

In early July of this year Weekly Volcano scribe Nikki Talotta sat down with Dirty Birds frontman Jimmi Davies to discuss his latest band, Resident Kings. The new band is a who's who of Olympia music veterans including Dirty Birds bassist Tim Brown; Michael Esparza of Chief; Brian Sparhawk of Death Squad, former member of Fitz of Depression, Two Ton Boa, the Tide; drummer Ryan Mungia of Simple Ritual, the Pitz, and God knows what else; and singer/sax/harmonica player Davies.

In the interview, which you may read here, Davies stated the band might perform mid-to-late summer. Well, they did perform recently - at a house party, which has been captured on YouTube.

Davies tells us a club date hasn't been booked as the band is in the final stages of orchestrating a set list.

Stay tuned.

TUESDAYS ARE A GOOD BOOZE DAY >>>

You have dragged your weekend-weary, sorry self through the first two days of work-week drudgery. It wasn't easy, though, and you deserve a little reward. Here are a few Tuesday specials in the greater Tacoma area.

$1 PBRs

We have news: Goldfish Tavern on Pearl Street offers $1 PBR every Tuesday. That's right, every Tuesday citizens wake out of their mid-week funk to the alluring call of $1 oat sodas. Then - and only then - the Goldfish ceases to exist as an average, middle-of-the-week pub and becomes a bustling hub of beer drinkers and party seekers. We can hear the cries from here: Rejoice all around, beer is only $1. Screw the Tuesday blues. Rejoice, Rejoice!

[Goldfish Tavern, Tuesday $1 PBR, 5310 N. Pearl St., Tacoma, 253.759.7474]

$3 Pints

The best bars are named after ex-wives. Or defunct rock bands. Or candy. Yep, candy. That's why we knew The Red Hot in Tacoma was destined to be a classic. How could a place known for its beer and hot dog selection not bring the noise? Especially on Tuesday's, when The Red Hot features various happy hour specials including $3 pints. Yes, sir, The Red Hot is up there for sweetest joint in the area. That is until the Skittles moves into town.

[The Red Hot, Tuesday happy hour 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229]

$4.75 Big Beers

Swanky bars and restaurants can be intimidating. You know, the hostess in a pantsuit, the expensive looking votives, the dim lighting. Oh God, the price tag. But sometimes you get all the swank without all the intimidation. Indochine in downtown Tacoma is certainly known for its swank. Luckily, they offer a happy hour Monday through Thursday that has "big beers" priced at $4.75. Big beers. Down a couple of those bad boys and the pyramid bar with the excruciatingly expensive top shelf loses some of its scare. Not all, but some. 

[Indochine, 1924 Pacific Ave., happy hour from 4-10 p.m., Tacoma, 253.272.8200]

$2.75 Wells

It sucks to cruise to the bar with only a pocketful of quarters. It also sucks to make a beer selection based on, "whatever's the cheapest." Luckily, White Horse Tavern in Yelm has a solution for those who are a little short on the dough. Every Tuesday night, White Horse celebrates Tightwad Tuesdays (will Hell's Kitchen sue?) with happy hour prices all day long. Draft beers pour for $2.50 and wells for $2.75. That's a price even the stingiest can love.

[White Horse Tavern, 107 East Yelm Ave., Yelm, 360.458.4555]

$5 Jager

Whether you're into washboard abs or a long set of stems, a summertime beach typically doesn't disappoint in the eye candy department. One problem: the Northwest isn't overflowing with warm, beach-bod-scoping locations. Especially in January. Thankfully, The Beach Tavern fills us with enough alcohol to help us forget about those sunny days and beach bodies that are so far away. The Beach's Tipsy Tuesdays feature alternating drink specials. Tonight, it's Jager Promo Night from 6-8 p.m. plus Jager on special for $5 all day.

[The Beach Tavern, Open until 2 a.m. Monday-Saturday, unitl midnight Sunday, no cover, 8612 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.564.9984]

What other Tuesday night specials are out there?

LINK: 227 happy hours in the South Sound

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from tornado in response to a SPEW post on the official opening of the Bike Cage in Park Plaza North Garage.

Tornado writes,

This is a nice step forward by the city, but it didn't take a bike cage to make cycling a legitimate form of transportation in Tacoma (or anywhere else). And it's truly a spandex optional sport -- I've logged thousands of spandex-free miles legitimately (as far as I can tell) commuting to work.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2011 >>>

1. Prepare ye for a rowdy Talk Like a Pirate Day edition of Scrabble Rousers, a competition suitable for all levels, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at King's Books. Mateys establish their own skill level: beginner, intermediate, or expert. Scalliwags are then paired off to battle it out in two successive games. Entrance fee is $10 per person with proceeds directly benefiting the Tacoma Community House Student Scholarship Fund, which assists students as they transfer from TCH to community college.

2. Flame-worker Keiko teaches the art of beadwork using glass rods and a torch from noon to 4 p.m. inside the Museum of Glass.

3. The last Music in the Park concert of the season hits Olympia's Sylvester Park  at 7 p.m. when Locust Street Taxi fills the downtown park with lively swing and pop. Enter the free raffle for two outdoor folding chairs before the concert begins.

4. Doyle's Public House in Tacoma's Stadium District mixes it up Wednesday nights. First, if the Sounder's game is on, the place is packed. Then the info geeks arrive for the Knowledge Night trivia games. Toss in the regulars, and thrill seekers trying to nab the last shot of a Jameson bottle in hopes of winning a trip for two to Ireland - and the crowd is complete. The trivia begins at 8 p.m. Witness the awesome here.

5. The Sammy Steele Band adds soul to a country-roots-indie-rock sound at 8 p.m. inside Lady Luck's Cowgirl Up Military Appreciation night.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hours!

WHAT WE FOUND TODAY >>>

Will They Have Pot Leaf Emblems On Their Chests?: Tacoma OKs medical pot panel. (News Tribune)

Will There Be Pop Up Ads?: Website shows DUI patrols in Pierce County. (Seattle Times)

Wednesday Bloody Wednesday: Rebel leader says 80 percent of Tripoli under their control (CNN)

Now They're Talking: The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, has agreed to consider a moratorium on nuclear weapons tests and production and to return to stalled six-party talks on the nation's nuclear program. (New York Times)

Nevermind Is 20 Years Old: Nirvana members open the vault on the making of the classic album (Rolling Stone)

Glassblowing Reality Show: Would you watch it? (Deadline)

Nauseating Video Of The Day

DAY SIX OF THE 25 NEW FACES IN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL >>>

By now you know the 14th edition of Filmmaker Magazine's annual look at the new, up-and-coming talent who are transforming the current film scene has been screening at The Grand Cinema since Friday. If you haven't heard yet, read our preview here.

Among the magazine's "25 New Faces of Independent Film" is 20-something Gingger Shankar - she of musical family that includes Ravi Shankar and Norah Jones - who will introduce the film Homecoming at 2:15 p.m. today inside The Grand Cinema. Shankar provided the original music for the film, which tells the story of Estelle Szymanski, an Army medic who returns to her Central Florida home and reconnects with her community.

Also on the festival's docket today:

"Best Of" repeat screening at 4:30 p.m.
Alrick Brown's Kinyarwanda at 6:45 p.m.

[Grand Cinema, $6.50-$8.50, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

TIME TO JUMP IN THE WAYBACK MACHINE >>>

I have a request for Dan Whyms and Rock Island Line's Johnny Cash tribute show this Saturday at the Rock At The Dock III party: no versions of "I Still Miss Someone." It is, without doubt, a gorgeous song, but after being covered by everyone from Hasil Adkins to Linda Ronstadt, it simply can't take any more interpretation. I reached my own personal "I Still Miss Someone" tipping point 10 years ago when Robert Earl Keen recorded a particularly banal version. That said, I'd suffer through a half-dozen new variations of the song if that were the price of admission for Saturday's event, which will be bigger and better than the two previous years.

Every promoter claims his or her event will be bigger and better. It's true for Rock At The Dock III in front of Johnny's Dock Restaurant. After last year's capacity show, the City of Tacoma allowed DOCK III promoters Mike Mitchell and Ken Collins to stretch their classic car show and street dance three blocks longer. No doubt lovers of classic cars, retro clothes, pin curls and Johnny Cash will fill those extra blocks - and Johnny's will see a sudden spike in Pabst Blue Ribbon beer sales.

Mitchell says the vintage, custom, rat rods and ilk will be more like works of art than an operable machine. And it's an open invite to all classic car owners. A $20 fee allows owners to display their cars, as well as earn them a wristband for the Cash tribute show. Johnny's will serve coffee and pastries to the drivers as the roll in at 7:30 p.m. The restaurant will serve an 8 a.m. breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as run the outdoor beer garden.

"Three years ago Ken Collins contacted me about helping with this event, explaining the Johnny's was hurting due to the D Street Bridge construction closure," says Mitchell. "Everything I do is a fundraiser, so it was a no-brainer."

Rock At The Dock III is, in fact, a fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Research Center - an organization Mitchell and Ted Brown target for their annual Old Town Blues Festival. Besides the $20 car entry fee, the $10 Cash tribute street dance ticket will also be earmarked for the Research Center.

You will be able to rock out for free in the afternoon. At 2 p.m., Tacoma's champion of ‘50s and ‘60s rock, The Rockodiles, will crank out Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Wilson Pickett and Jimmy Hanna & The Dynamics while you weave through the cars.

At 7:30 p.m.,Whyms and his band, which includes Johnny Cash's former right-hand piano man Earl Poole Ball, will rip through the Man in Black's classics. I just hope not "I Still Miss Someone."

[Johnny's Dock Restaurant, Saturday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., $10 Cash tribute dance at 7:30 p.m., 1900 E. D St., Tacoma, rockatthedock.net]