SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED >>>

In 1885, the Goddess of Commerce statue graced the top of the former Chamber of Commerce building at 12^th and Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma.  The 7-foot copper statue, designed by C. Augustus Darmer, exhibited symbols of commerce. In 1950, the building and statue came down. History tells us that it was melted down.

In 2008, Griselda "Babe" Lehrer and the Tacoma Historical Society raised funds then hired artist Marilyn Mahoney to create a replica of the Goddess of Commerce. Later, the Tacoma Theater District Association contacted the Goddess group asking the statue be placed at the intersection of St Helens, Sixth Avenue and Baker to beautify the intersection. Tacoma Daily Index has all the Goddess history here.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31 a ceremony unveiling the New Goddess of Commerce at said intersection will celebrate the private effort to beautify the public space. Scheduled to speak are Marilyn Strickland, Dan Voelpel Marilyn Mahoney, Babe Lehrer and Tom Pierson. There's a rumor Assistant Fire Chief Faith Mueller will climb a fire truck ladder and unveil the statue.

BOWLING FOR BOE >>>

You have drunk Merlot with Boe. You have ridden the Art Bus with Boe. Now you may bowl with Tacoma City Councilman David Boe.

Boe's City Council campaign get-togethers continue with a special Bowling For Boe Thursday, Sept. 1 at Chalet Bowl in Tacoma's Proctor's District. Wearing the same shoe style as the public, Boe will shake hands, bend ears and pick up 7-10 splits just like Earl Anthony did back in the day.

Why bowling?

"We couldn't get the insurance coverage for Bow & Arrows with Boe and Boxing with Boe," explains Carly Snapp, Boe's campaign manager. "We are trying to keep the campaign as reflective of David's personality as we can.

"You should have seen the ones that didn't make the cut - such as Bada-bing, Bada-BOE," replies Boe.

Here's what to expect Thursday at the Chalet Bowel:

After Boe throws his first strike, he'll explain the need to keep working on all levels of municipal government to attract high-density residential development - and how this is really going to require "revisioning" of the expectations of downtown and the neighborhood centers.

After Boe picks up a 4-6-7-10 spare, he'll go into detail about making the zoning code closer to the "reality" of development in Tacoma. He hopes to have the archaic off-street parking regs removed this year. 

After Boe nails the "Greek Church" spare, he'll discuss his plan to promote micro and small business - especially start-up businesses. He believes Tacoma has the potential to be the Start-up Capitol of the Pacific Northwest. "Weyerhaeuser, Russell, Hillhaven, DaVita, etc. ... some get too big and need to leave - just like my kids," Boe tells the Weekly Volcano.  "And really this is by leveraging what many see as our weakness - too much Class A and B space, lower housing costs - for start-ups that want green power, great water, historic neighborhoods that are affordable and within 20-minutes bike ride of the county's major urban center."

After Boe accidentally bowls down the wrong lane, he'll launch into his lecture about working to creatively solve the infrastructure and transportation conundrum in Tacoma. He'd like to see Tacoma as a true transportation hub - expanding the streetcar to provide incentives for transit-oriented development for residential and start-ups in an urban center.

Then, after Boe finishes his last frame, he'll turn to the spectators and proclaim the arts in Tacoma is an economic engine that should be explored further.  "It maybe small but small engines can accomplish quite a bit with a good maintenance and reliable fuel intake," Boe says.

Bowling For Boe

Thursday, Sept. 1, 6-8:30 p.m.
Free, campaign donations are encouraged
Chalet Bowl, 3806 N. 26^th St., Tacoma
Facebook Event Page

POPCORN AT 11 AM >>>

UPDATE: The video is posted below.

This morning I had the pleasure of joining a small theater full of folks at the Grand Cinema to see the debut of the new "Tacoma + Pierce County Destination Video," which will soon be coming to a trade show near you thanks to the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau - with plenty of help from JayRay Ads, Bellingham's Hand Crank Films and others. The short (2-3 minute) commercial for Tacoma and Pierce County is designed to help the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau  sell our region to potential travelers and event planners, created, according to an official press release, to be used, "on social media, in presentations to clients, for media purposes and shared with global audiences."

(I assume studies have shown potential visitors prefer the plus sign to the actual word "and.")

So who and what gets featured in the video? Obviously, Tacoma's many museums come up big. There's the obligatory cupcake shot from hello, cupcake. Terry's Berries makes an appearance, as does the Hotel Murano, Bite Restaurant and superstar bell captain Dale Rush. Crystal Mountain gets some face time. And Chambers Creek makes John Ladenburg proud.

The video ends with one of the prominent actors offering, "See you tomorrow." In all, while not exactly as real as something like this, it's sharp packaging of the marketable amenities and natural wonder Tacoma and Pierce County residents experience every day.

Local singer songwriter Heidi Vladyka opened the event, doling out acoustic versions of Bush's "Glycerine," Dido's "Thank You," and even a surprisingly-great rendition of the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling." The pairing makes sense, as Vladyka's still photography was included in the video.

Because building hype is the name of the game, the video won't officially drop until Aug. 31. When it does it will be available at traveltacoma.com.

WE SCENE IT >>>

So, you picked up a free and excellent - if we do say so myself - alt rag. You checked out the stories. You read the reviews. You grabbed some expert sex advice. What's a person to do after all that on a Saturday in Tacoma?

How about the Tacoma Maritime Festival, Mackeywood at The Spar, Kim Archer Band at the Tempest Lounge and Grit City Fest inside Hell's Kitchen?

That's the path Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger chose.

Young pirates invaded the Tacoma Maritime Festival.

Doug Mackey and Joe Wood at The Spar.

Kim Archer Band packed the Tempest Lounge.

Deborah Page performed at Hell's Kitchen as part of the Grit City Fest.

Big Wheel Stunt Show rocked the Grit City Fest.

LINK: Many more photos from Saturday in Tacoma

C'MON ON! >>>

Monday's suck. It's a well-known fact. The party-of-a-lifetime hangover is still ripe and pounding. Your boss's view of what is priority is far from the top of your priority list.

You might be able to cure that horrible case of the Mondays with the follow South Sound specials:

Man Day Monday

Fast Eddie Felson from the 1961 classic The Hustler wasn't good with booze, money or women. But he could sure shoot a mean game of pool, and that made all the difference. Malarkey‘s Pool & Brew offers Man Day Mondays with half-priced burgers, 25 percent off drinks and free pool on the 9-foot tables. Half-priced burgers and free pool? Fast Eddie would be proud.

[Malarkey‘s Pool & Brew, Open until 2 a.m. daily, no cover, 445 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.383.3301]

Rockaraoke

Let's tally up the score for Jazzbones Rockaraoke, shall we? A chance to sing onstage with a live band? Yes. Two dollar Miller High Life? Yes. A valid excuse to drink on a Monday (repeat, Monday) night? Yes, yes and, oh God, yes.

[Jazzbones Restaurant and Nightclub, live band karaoke, 9 p.m., no cover ladies, $3 men, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]

Pasta And Pints

If you've noticed we're pushing local breweries lately, you've caught us. We can't stay away from local beer. Plus, there's something about a local brewery that screams perfect date night. A couple pints of lager, a couple side salads, a doggy bag for the happy couple. ... Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery in Puyallup offers a pasta and pint combination every Monday that's easy on the wallet. Buy pasta off the menu and get any one of Powerhouse's seven beers free of charge. 

[Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery, Open until 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, 454 E. Main, Puyallup, 253.845.1370]

LINK: Happy hours on right now

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Myk Jowett in response to a recent Damage Report with Jason McKibbin column, in which our local punk and metal expert dishes on the new Metal Shoppe/PPU group on Facebook that's become a place for old school Tacoma music scene stalwarts to reminisce and post videos of back in the day.

Jowett writes

Helluva 1st paragraph there! Sorta rivals my BIG 4 trip to Indio! Yes the videos will continue to appear. I communicated with Dwayne Howe today, (Cybernet Infomedia, Rock Hard TV), produced most of the choice videos from South Puget Sound in the early-mid 90's. He is looking fwd to seein the page and playin catch-up with us all! BTW Gary Holt played Hannamens part and Exodus too? Sounds extreme!

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Gene Pankey: Owner of the Gene Pankey Motor Co., philanthropist with the Clover Park Rotary, always cool to teen Pappi Swarner when he came to collect advertising copy, is dead. (News Tribune)

They Should Set This Up Under The Viaduct Where They All Smoke: Pacific Plaza to beg City Council for DaVita health clinic. (News Tribune)

Where's The Super Hero?: Astronomers discover planet made of diamond. (Yahoo News)

Hurricane Irene: The photos (CNN)

Hurricane Irene Vs. Sebastian Bach: Irene wins (People)

Oh Brother: Tropical storm Katia forms in the Atlantic. (CNN)

Cool: Stream the new Wild Flag album (NPR)

Oh, And This: Chris Cornell has a new track. (Stereogum)

Today In Yuck: Hot dog potato chips. (Huffington Post)

LINK: Weekly Volcano crime column Ragnet

ALWAYS WRONG HAS A PROBLEM >>>

QUESTION: My husband is extremely analytical, to the point where he has a negative or argumentative response to almost anything I say - including positive or even insignificant things. Then, when he makes some remark, unless I respond with "I agree" or "uh-huh," he debates me. I've repeatedly asked him to stop making everything an argument, but he insists that he's just giving his "honest opinion." I go for counseling, but he refuses to, saying he won't talk to "some stranger" about us. He's turning my happy self into a miserable, depressed self. - Always Wrong

Click here for the Advice Goddess's answer.

TUESDAY, AUG. 30, 2011 >>>

1. Get your groove on tonight in Parkland. DJ Adam Ant spins during "Twisted Tuesday" at Lady Luck Cowgirl Up, offering Top 40 action and karaoke. The good times start at 9 p.m. Or, if you're looking for something more, peruse the Volcano's extensive live local music listings here.

2. Tacoma's Backstage Bar & Grill has stormed onto the scene - quickly becoming this town's go-to location for nostalgic drunken fun and devil horns. Tonight witness the awesomeness of a "DJ & Drummer Duo Battle," featuring DJ Switch and Chris Dahl. Magic starts at 9:30 p.m.

3. Looking for a good all-ages comedy open mic? Look no further than Tuesdays at Northern Pacific Coffee Co., where each week Jennifae hosts just that. Sign-ups kick off at 7:29 p.m. and the laughs stretch from 8 - 11 p.m. The hype promises, "some of Tacoma's finest and also littered with some novice acts."

4. Speaking of laughs, and venturing down to Olympia, the Royal Lounge offers a Comedy Lounge night every Tuesday, featuring an open-mic from 9-9:30 p.m. and headlining comics from 9:30 - 11 p.m.

5. It's "Trivia Night" at the Mix in downtown Tacoma.

LINK: Arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

TACOMA'S ALL-AGES SCENE >>>

House in the space of the former all-ages venue the Viaduct, The Conquering Lion live music venue has reorganized with October set as the opening date. The all-ages venue had been hosting occasional Rasta shows, but will switch to a local rock/metal/hardcore format - with the occasional national touring act - as a result of the building owner handing the operation over to Patt Lucas and Lonnie Reed, who will amp of the volume of shows.

"We are aiming to open up a multi-genre all ages venue with no politics," explains Reed. "We have multiple nationals coming in this fall and winter, along with a ton of local talent. The Conquering Lion comes with a larger stage, larger and upgraded sound system, new lighting and a complete remodel."

The 500-plus capacity club will open Saturday, Oct. 1, with a huge metal/hardcore show featuring I Am The Monster, They Charge Like Warriors, Until The Sunrise, Behold The Colossus, Dismember The Dream, Doom of Babylon, I Delilah and A Typical Throwdown. The all-ages show will begin at 5 p.m. with a $10 cover at the door.

The Conquering Lion

5412 South Tacoma way, Tacoma
253.282.1833
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