ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Sean Armentrout, vice president of Community Education & Resource Development for United Way Pierce County, in response to our recap of Project: U's Get Involved Gala held Saturday night at the Tacoma Art Museum.

Armentrout writes,

The final totals are still being tallied. However, the event will have raised a substantive amount of money for our community. From affordable housing, programs to prepare kids for school and success in life, to access to health care. Perhaps even more significant is the number of people who came together to learn more and find ways to get involved and support our community. Overall it was a phenomenal evening and It would not have been possible without the support of sponsors like The Volcano. Go to www.getinvolvedgala.org/ to see who else helped support this event.

TUESDAY, NOV. 8, 2011 >>>

1. Looking forward to the day when the Twilight franchise is pushing up daisies? Then skip past this one. However, if you love the mopey bestselling saga of sparkly vampires, shirtless werewolves and a cloyingly vapid heroine who makes Carrie Bradshaw seem generous and self-aware, then you are probably knee deep in Twilight Saga Tuesdays at the Regal Lakewood Stadium 15. NCM Fathom and Summit Entertainment are in the midst of screening the first three Twilight flicks, every Tuesday, until Breaking Dawn breaks Nov. 18. Tonight at 7:30 p.m., New Moon is in the house. The event will begin with exclusive introductions from the cast members, interviews with the stars and clips from the many fan fests over the years. The Twilight Saga: New Moon will immediately follow the behind-the-scenes content. (We removed our shirts to write this blurb, because everything in New Moon seems better when it happens without shirts.)

2. The Tacoma Art Place opens its doors for Cat Grey's Tuesday "Die Jack Die" post-Halloween pumpkin carving workshop from 3-8 p.m. Bring your leftover candy and pumpkins.

3. Hell's Kitchen hosts Tumbledown, Love Songs From The Hated, Phasers On Kill and Looking For Lizards to rock its Tightwad Tuesday night, where tacos, beers and wells are $2 each.

4. Whether you are a through-hiker, a section hiker, a day hiker or an arm chair hiker, the Master of Environmental Studies program at The Evergreen State College invites you to share an evening of laughter, reflection and celebration of the Pacific Crest Trail from 7-8 p.m. at the LOTT Board Room.  The guest speaker is Rees Hughes, co-editor of a new two-volume anthology called Pacific Crest Trailside Reader: Adventure, History and Legend on the Long-Distance Trail. Hughes will provide a brief overview presentation on the Pacific Crest Trail followed by a reading of a selection of stories from the anthology. 

5. Classical Tuesdays in Old Town: The Manette Trio will perform Beethoven, Mozart, Kodaly and Dohnanyi as part of Classical Tuesdays inside the Slavonian Hall in Old Town Tacoma.

LINK: Best freebies this week

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight in the South Sound

DO YOU KNOW YOUR TACOMA HISTORY ... AND LOVE FOOD? >>

Foodcaching is a new smart phone app alerting customers of awesome food deals at 16 restaurants in the greater Tacoma area. You may download the app for free on your iPhone and Android here.

The Weekly Volcano has teamed up with Foodcaching for the True Tacoman game. Every Tuesday and Friday right here on Spew, we post a Tacoma history trivia provided by the Washington State History Museum. If you know the answer, run to one of the 16 participating restaurants, come clean with answer and you'll receive points on your Foodcaching app, which you downloaded free here. We'll be running the True Tacoman trivia game through the end of the year.

The person will the most points on Dec. 31 will be crowned the True Tacoma and be flooded with various food prizes.

Last week's Tacoma trivia answer

The present day building which houses the Washington State History Research Center in Tacoma dates back to 1911, when the Washington State Historical Society shared space with another historical organization, the Ferry Museum. Clinton P. Ferry - the Tacoma businessman for whom the Ferry Museum was named - was given a special name in the City of Destiny. What was the special name? The name was The Duke of Tacoma. Clinton was the son-in-law of Morton Matthew McCarver who named Tacoma after the Salish word.

Here's today's Tacoma trivia question

The first civilian jail in the Puget Sound was located:

A) Sumner

B) Tacoma

C) Steilacoom

Answer the question correctly at one of the 16 participating restaurants below and score points - besides the awesome food deals from the restaurant. The correct answer will be revealed Friday, Nov. 11 on Spew. Also keep an eye on this blog for bonus game points and a special invite to the True Tacoman Game Party in early 2012.

Oh, you can download the free app here.

Participating restaurants

• 1022 South, 1022 South J St., Tacoma, 253.627.8588, Facebook
• Capers Cafe & Take Home, 2602 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.761.4444, Facebook
• Dirty Oscar's Annex, 2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.0588, Facebook
• Dorky's Arcade, 754 Pacfic Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.4156, Facebook
• Harmon Brewery & Eatery, 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.2739, Facebook
• Harmon Tap Room, 204 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.212.2725, Facebook
• The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.683.4606, Facebook
• Jake's Bar & Bistro, 215 Wilkes St., Steilacoom, 253.581.3300, Website
• Massimo Italian Bar & Grill, 4020 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.503.1902, Facebook
• Marrow Kitchen & Bar, 2717 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.267.5299, Facebook
• Over The Moon Cafe, 709 Court C/Opera Alley, Tacoma, 253.284.3722, Facebook
• Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.3535, Facebook
• The Social Bar & Grill, 1715 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.301.3835, Facebook
• STINK Cheese & Meat, 628 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.426.1347, Facebook
• Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe, 3529 Mckinley Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1502, Facebook
• TWOKOI Japanese Restaurant, 1552 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.274.8999, Facebook

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Election Tuesday: Mail those suckers in! (Pierce County Auditor)

Let's Look At a Timeline: The Asarco smelter's toxic legacy. (News Tribune)

Spring Tacoma Public Schools Audit: "Labor relations are strained." (News Tribune)

Drive Down From Bellingham: Learn about redesign for Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. (The Bellingham Herald)

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Wins: Italy's parliament today voted to approve crucial budget reform measures. (CNN)

Blondie's Debbie Harry: She hates Sean Parker. (NME)

Blog Battle: New York Times wants to put the Huffington Post in a time out. (Reuters)

Hey King's Books Geeks!: Publishers weekly selects its best graphic novels of 2011. (Robot 6)

Adorable: Kina Grannis' new music video uses 288,000 jelly beans. (YouTube)

Fruit!

ONE CITY. 30 DAYS. WHAT WILL YOU DO? >>>
 
November 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month. There is something for everyone to enjoy throughout the month: lectures, music, dance performances, readings, workshops, theater performances, visual art exhibits and more.

Here are today's highlights:

TUESDAY FILM SERIES: The Grand Cinema yanks a worth film from the archives and fill your popcorn bucket every Tuesday. Today, The Grand screens Green Fire, a documentary about the life and legacy of conservationist Aldo Leopold, who helped develop modern, scientifically-based wildlife management. Sink in a seat at 1:45 and 6:30 p.m. today.

REGENCY CONCERT SERIES: The Regency String Quartet performs at 8 p.m. inside Lagerquist Concert Hall on the Pacific Lutheran University campus. Admission is $3-$8.

VICTORY MUSIC OPEN MIC: Yea, like you're going to have an arts month and not include one of the longest running open mics in the state. Victory Music pulls out the microphones from 7-10 p.m. inside the Antique Sandwich Company.

PLUS: Classical Tuesdays concert and Cat Grey Tuesdays listed in our 5 Things To Do Today

LINK: Art at Work 2011 feature story

COOL WINE TASTING >>>

Many wine tastings are stylish and graceful events held inside fancy restaurants. The wines are perfectly matched with complicated, delicious food that I wouldn't take the time to prepare even if I had the recipes.

Or there's the other kind of wine tasting, where everyone shows up at someone's house with a bottle of his or her favorite wine. This is the optimum way to taste some cheap wine that you normally wouldn't drink on a bet. You enjoy RITZ crackers and spray cheese, and maybe someone brings hummus. You're guaranteed to have a headache the next day.

Or, there's a third option: A wine bar invites the public to a decade old bottle from their cellars, asks everyone to pony up $10 and then pour the wines in a communal tasting while the owner of the wine explain the story behind it.

Morso Wine Bar will run with option three Saturday night. Its staff will open, decant and pour the wines, as well as serve complimentary appetizers. All Morso asks is the wine be at least 10 years old and you tell its story.

[Morso Wine Bar, Saturday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m., $10, 9014 Peacock Hill Ave., Gig Harbor, RSVP at 253.530.3463]

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 9, 2011 >>>

1. At age 4 Joshua Bell tossed his bobba across the room and snatched a violin. At age 14 Bell dropped the slingshot and joined Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra on stage. In 1999 while you checking out your Prince outfit in the mirror, Bell was bathed in roses from his performance in the Academy Award-winning Red Violin. Tonight at 7:30 p.m. while you're sitting in the Pantages Theater, Bell will blow you away with sonatas by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Isaye and Franck. 

2. Professional thinkers-about-the-future Rowan Schmidt and Zac Christin from Earth Economics are next in line to unleash their brains as part of the Individuality and Sustainability seminar series, sponsored by the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences program at UW Tacoma. From 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Room 117 of the Joy Building, will push the boundaries of watershed economics for the 21^st century, specifically the value of ecosystem services with a case study in the Puyallup River Watershed. Get ready to learn something you couldn't even imagine was possible five days ago.

3. There's talk of a print arts center opening in Tacoma. Is it possible? Rory Sparks from Portland's Em Space Book Arts Center might have a clue. Listen to her him at 7 p.m. inside The Nurture Healing Center, where there are a free things in print.

4. Northern Pacific Coffee Co. next to Pacific Lutheran University hosts an all-ages open mic from 8-11 p.m.

5. One of the most influential hip-hop artists of the '80s, KRS-One will perform at Jazzbones's Wednesday Sessions with Dirt Nasty and The Breaklites at 8 9 p.m.

LINK: Freebies for the week

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Download the new Tacoma foodie app

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Costco Is Celebrating With Giant Bags Of Something: Liquor is coming to a corner grocery store near you. (Seattle Times)

Election Results So Far: Hello Ibsen, Boe, Mello, Walker, medical pot users, 911 upgrade ... (Pierce County Auditor)

Tacoma Budget Cuts: Interim City Manager Rey Arellano will start swinging. (News Tribune)

The Word Out Of Greece: Prime Minister George Papandreou will address the nation on what's next for Greece and then resign, his office says. (CNN)

R.I.P. Heavy D: The hip-hop legend died yesterday afternoon after collapsing on the walkway outside his Beverly Hills home. (L.A. Times)

Led Zeppelin IV: Happy 40^th birthday! (Dangerous Minds)

A Girl Ought To Have A Sense Of Humor: Sarak Silverman sings Broadway. (The New York Times)

Hey You Eating The Bowl Of Corn Flakes!: Want to be an extra in Iron Man 3? (Superhero Hype)

May The Rock Be With You!

BOOZE >>>

We imagine you've heard Initiative 1183 passed with 60 percent of the vote allowing grocery stores in Washington to sell selling liquor beginning June 1. Liquor sales will shift from the state to grocery and warehouse stores, including Costco - and more than 900 state employees will lose their jobs.

How does the Liquor Control Board feel about the whole deal?  Pretty shitty. Here's the LCB's press release that just hit the Internets:

OLYMPIA - We are, of course, deeply disappointed by the election result on Initiative 1183.

Weighing most heavily on our hearts and minds are the more than 900 Liquor Control Board employees who will lose their jobs. Our employees have been working under the cloud of initiatives for nearly two years. Despite operating under a microscope, they have carried out their responsibilities with dignity and professionalism. We owe our employees a debt of gratitude for the professional way in which they have conducted themselves during a difficult time.

Moving Forward

We will begin moving forward to ensure that we are meeting the timelines established by the initiative. Our goal is to have an orderly transition from public to private business operations. Our agency leaders are meeting now to develop a contingency plan.

• We will continue to maximize revenue in responsible ways through the holiday season.
• In January, our operational focus will be on divesting ourselves from the business as prescribed in the initiative.
• By June 1, 2012, all liquor business operations - including purchasing, distribution and retail -- will be transitioned of the private sector.

Our state liquor stores have among the highest no-sale-to-minors compliance rate in the nation at more than 94 percent. The private sector's overall compliance rate is 77 percent. As the sale and distribution of liquor will soon be completely in the hands of the private sector, we hope it will treat this public safety responsibility with the utmost importance.

The Liquor Control Board will continue carrying out its highest priority of public safety. While the agency is ending its business operations, it will continue to carry out our enforcement, licensing, adjudicative and policy-setting functions affecting over 16,000 liquor licensees statewide.

Note to Editors: A good source of information will be the Liquor Control Board website at www.liq.wa.gov. We will keep the site up-to-date with the latest information regarding the transition.

The Liquor Control Board includes Board Chair Sharon Foster and Board Members Ruthann Kurose and Chris Marr.

Contact: Brian Smith, WSLCB Communications Director, 360-664-1774

PERSON: Daniel Denison

Place: Fatburger

Thing: 1.5 pound, three-patty XXXL hamburger

Price: $9.79

He added: Jalapeños

And almost added: An egg (WTF?)

Everything was: Swimming in grease

Which promptly made: Daniel ill

I think: He barely made it to the bathroom

After: Our conversation

Which unfortunately: Is usually the case

When: Steph DeRosa talks to men

As Mr. DeRosa peered over the partition separating us from Daniel Denison and his Fatburger-eating cohorts, I received a personalized play-by-play on what seemed to be the most hysterical display of greasy-hamburger gluttony ever witnessed. 

MR. DEROSA: "Oh my God, Steph, he can't even fit it in his mouth!"

ME: "If I turn around and look, will it be obvious?"

MR. DEROSA: "No. You gotta look. I can't believe what I'm seeing!"

ME: "Oh good lord, you're right!  I have to go talk to him."

To read what happened next, click here.