ACTOR-PRODUCER TONYA YORKE PUTS THE WESTERN IN WESTERN WASHINGTON >>>

Growing up, did you go through that cowboy phase? You know - the oversized hat and boots, plastic sheriff's badge, popgun, the works. You'd hoot and holler through all the rooms in the house and imagine every sibling and/or pet was a villainous land baron. Truthfully, I always saw myself more as a Ghostbuster or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. (Leonardo really rocked the blue.)

These days, I can't help but enjoy a good Western movie that idealizes a period in American history while showing off this country's natural beauty.

When it comes to gorgeous vistas, the Pacific Northwest has plenty, just not the arid, evergreen-starved variety we've seen in countless films from this genre. Or does it?

Tonya Yorke of Tacoma seems to think so. Yorke is currently producing a short Western called The Shootout, shot entirely here in Washington state. Craig Muller's script takes a page from history and looks back at legendary outlaw Jesse James. Though rooted in the past, The Shootout transmits themes relevant to today.

"It's a story about faith and choices, and the paths that those choices lead us down," says Yorke.

Location scouting meant finding both interiors and exteriors true to the time, which posed some difficulty. "You're working in the Northwest, (so) you got to work around things," Yorke admits, but believes in her crew's ingenuity. "Creative camerawork will save us."

Beyond producing, she will also appear in front of the camera, playing wife to Seattle actor Ernie Joseph's U.S. Marshal assigned to hunt down James. Get the lowdown on The Shootout here. And if you feel mighty kind this holiday season, donate some moola to the production here.

Yorke moseyed into the studio this week - hear us chat and stuff on Volcano Radio, which airs Thursday from 8-9 p.m. on www.nwczradio.com and is available as a podcast at weeklyvolcano.com directly following.

WE SCENE IT >>>

If you're a frequent bar-goer in the South Sound, then you've surely been corralled into going to a trivia night, only to be stumped by the name of Jupiter's second moon. We all know the empty feeling of watching geekier teams chug beer after free beer after winning each round of trivia, then continuing to drink and win while much drunker than you, and it aint pretty. We all know the feeling of being beat by individuals with one eye on the English football on the boob tube. And we all know what it's like to be mocked unmercifully by someone who calls himself Trivia Newton John.

If you seek a mellower atmosphere to share your knowledge of actor Abe Vigoda or the difference of a traverse stage from a three-quarter thrust, may we suggest Monday nights at the Mandolin Café.

From 6-8 p.m. host Jeff Ross tosses out random trivia questions about movies, sports, news and geography to teams of players - while students study in the corner, ladies knit and that one guy dozes next to the fire. The winning team of each round - six total - receives a bowl of candy. The overall winning team scores a free drink, which means beer and wine.

It's a challenging, fun night.

Last night Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger dropped in on the Mandolin to watch seven teams battle it out.

Team Awesome

Team Bob Loblaw

Team Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

[Mandolin Café, Monday Trivia Night, 6-8 p.m., 3923 S. 12^th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]

LINK: More photos of Mandolin's Trivia Night

TUESDAYS ARE A GOOD BOOZE DAY >>>

Do the early-workweek doldrums have you down? Just need to escape? The Weekly Volcano has a few suggestions. Who really cares if you have poli sci at 8 a.m.?

The Red Hot

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]

1022 South

Not much can be said about 1022 South that hasn't already been said. Everyone has sung the bar's praises. I mean, even a writer from New York called 1022, "home to some of the most fascinating apothecary cocktail work on the West Coast." And I agree.

As a drinker's destination, 1022 is certainly a treat. Its dark, stylized interior and gorgeous bar are nothing short of stunning. Beautiful bartenders and an in-vogue music selection add to the appeal. Of course, the real draw of 1022 is the cocktails. From perfectly prepared Old Fashions to the perfectly named Under the Volcano's, 1022 is unbeatable when it comes to drinks. Trusting the waitress, I order a whiskey-based apothecary cup (bartender's choice). It's served in a fancy glass and tastes like a Jamba Juice infused with booze.

Please don't let this poor-man's description turn you off. New York Times drink critic I am not. The cocktails are really, really good.

[1022 South, happy hour 4-8 p.m., 1022 South J St., Tacoma, 253.627.8588]

Puget Sound Pizza

Featuring karaoke three nights a week, starting at 9 p.m. and going until last call, the real appeal of Puget Sound Pizza's karaoke is its inimitable host, the Reverend Colin. A tall, bearded man who always sports an utilikilt, Rev. Colin possesses a wealth of oddball musical knowledge and a disarming ease for calling everyone "baby." Having hosted karaoke for a little more than 12 years, Rev. Colin conducts karaoke with a sure hand and a sense of fairness with who gets to sing and how often; he once told me that he prides himself on not accepting bribes from people to be moved to the top of the singing rotation.

Pro tip: if you're looking through the list of songs at Puget Sound Pizza and you don't see the one you want, ask Rev. Colin if he has it in his "secret stash." He always has a little bit set aside for the people who really want it.

[Puget Sound Pizza, karaoke Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 p.m. to close, 317 S. Seventh St., Tacoma, 253.383.4777]

Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub

Tuesdays seem to be the hottest night for the overeducated South Sound masses to prove their intellectual worth. And where do such brainiacs head? Glad you asked.

The Geeks head to Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub.

The Tacoma watering hole is the site of John Dicker's Geeks Who Drink pub quiz night. Dicker, a genius from Colorado, has taken the Irish Pub quiz tradition to a new level with Geeks Who Drink games across the nation, including every Tuesday night at the downtown pub, hosted by graphic artist and Weekly Volcano production assistant Holland Hume.

The quiz consists of eight rounds of eight questions and is played in teams of up to six people. Questions are read aloud by the quizmaster; teams write their answers on provided sheets and turn them in at the end of each round. The team with the most points after eight rounds is the winner.

To read Pappi Swarner's full story about the night, click here.

[Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub, 8 p.m. Tuesdays, no cover or entry fee, 815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6963]

LINK: Happy hours!

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

City Of Tacoma Manager Job Update: Five candidates remain. (News Tribune)

Thank A First Responder: Do it today. (News Tribune)

Just In Time For Christmas: Puyallup School District employees have to give back money. (News Tribune)

Global Financial System: The U.S. Federal Reserve, acting with other nations' central banks, to make it cheaper for banks around the world to borrow U.S. dollars. (CNN)

Well, It's Really Laughable Ha, Ha, Ha ...: Morrissey is on a U.S. stamp. (What Would Tyler Durden Do?)

Here They Come: Uncut's to 50 Albums of 2011. (Stereogum)

Pull Up! Pull Up!: Pan Am isn't doing so well. (E)

Fans Should Set Their DVRs To Play: Star Trek documentary airing tomorrow on the Science Channel. (USA Today)

Smart: The lampshade of silence. (Core77)

Stanley!

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30, 2011 >>>

1. Scout Niblett, originally hailing from England, manages to wring more tremulous menace out of her guitar than seems quite possible. A singer/songwriter with a taste for the ominous, Niblett has a way of making songs that straddle the line between intimate and violently standoffish. The moment her vocals lull you into a feeling of personal connection, a guitar stab crashes in to create a separation. Echoes of Nirvana and the Beatles run through Niblett's music, which tends toward the minimal. Rarely are more than a guitar and drums featured, and this starkness transforms the music into a sort of void, open, waiting to be fallen into. Tonight Scout Niblett plays the Capital Theater Backstage in Olympia.

2. Can you guess what "Pin a Dorito on an American" is about? This art installation by Lynn Di Nino is part of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's Fourth Annual Foundation of Art Award exhibit show, which itself is a part of Spaceworks Tacoma, a program that utilizes vacant storefronts to display various forms of art. "Dorito" features five sculptures of people, each around 16-inches tall, and each enormously fat. Di Nino says her inspiration came from the United States' unhealthy relationship with corn byproducts. It's humorous examination of what is quite a real problem. Catch Di Nino's "Dorito" today at the Chamber of Commerce Building in Tacoma between 5 - 7 p.m. as part of a celebration of (and showing of work from) the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation's artist of the year nominees.

3. This week's installment of Wednesday Sessions at Jazzbones brings the hot country licks of Aces Up. The best part: It's all ages. The show kicks off at 9 p.m.

4. MetroGruv on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue (formerly Hell's Kitchen) busts out the burlesque shows tonight - surely enough to get the rainbow unicorn painted on the front of the building all riled up.

5. And it's "Quiz Night" at Engine House No. 9 - get your smarty-pants on.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

LINK: This week's freebies

PERSON, PLACE OR THING WITH STEPH DEROSA >>>

Location: Puyallup

River Road: And Meridian

Dubbed: Five Guys Calories and Fries

By: Mr. DeRosa

I've done a damn fine job staying away from my beloved bacon cheeseburger the last three months.  It's been a challenge, but very worth it. 

I was doing just fine passing by Quick Pick on a daily basis. And I've substituted ground turkey breast on those rare occasions when hamburger-type cravings have struck. 

I was doing ... just ... fine.

Until Five Guys Burgers and Fries moved to town.

Those bastards. All five of them. Bastards!

With my will power was shrinking with every passing moment, I knew it was only a matter of time until my cravings got the best of me and I succumbed to the awesome macerated beef goodness. To rationalize, I convinced myself that there was a small, barely possible chance that the "Five Guys" part of the newly opened FGBF in Puyallup referred to the five members of N'Sync, thus creating a need to visit.

To read Steph DeRosa's full column, click here.

NOW WITH MORE TACOS >>>

Play bingo with those not just killing time before the Grim Reaper calls their number.

Every Wednesday at The New Frontier, players are treated to a rather boisterous evening of number-calling by the lovely Brooke.

The music rocks, the prizes are craptastic and there's something very satisfying about yelling "It's not a tumor!" when B-9 is pulled from the hopper (Schwarzenegger anyone?).

Sessions are free with $2 margaritas and $4 Cuervo Gold shots during bingo.

Every Wednesday night is also Taco Night with $1 beef, $1 black bean and $2 chicken in soft or crunchy shells.

[The New Frontier Lounge, Wednesdays, 10 p.m., free, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

LINK: Rock & Roll Bingo photos!

BURN BAN IS ON! >>>

The fire marshall has thrown down a Pierce County burn ban prompted by forecasted stagnant weather conditions and rising air pollution levels. You have to stop burning your crap beginning at 5 p.m. today. You can't light up until further notice.

For those who like details, click here.