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.

Tuesday's Tacoma trivia answer

In 1867 the U. S. Congress authorized a prison for Washington state along with $20,000 for the building project. Two sites considered were Fort Vancouver to the south and Port Townsend to the north. Steilacoom, a growing industrious community with a busy seaport, was located in the middle and was chosen by the legislature to be the site for the new prison.

Today's Tacoma trivia question

Two British companies claimed much of Pierce County after the Civil War. Name the two:

A) The Puget Sound's Agricultural Company

B) The Hudson's Bay Company

C) The Northwest Company

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 Tuesday, Nov. 15 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

SOUTH SOUND DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND SIPS >>>

Veterans Day Thank You: Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza offers $11 12-inch pizza and $11 craft beer pitchers to everyone, as well as accepting donations for the Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Volunteer Service Organization. The Ram Restaurant & Brewery will award those with valid military IDs a "buy one entrée, get one free" deal.

Customer Appreciation Day: Norma's Burgers in Olympia hosts a customer appreciation day today awarding $1.11 chocolate or vanilla shakes and $1.11 burgers per person.

30th Anniversary: Salty's at Redondo Beach celebrates its 30th anniversary with a free slice of its signature white chocolate mousse cake for those who wish them a "happy birthday." Friday, Dec. 2, Salty's at Redondo Beach will host a Rockin' ‘80s Party.

Dim Sum In Tacoma: TNT Diner found some in the Lincoln District.

Plan Ahead: Create a sticky and sweet gingerbread house in a festive holiday setting Nov. 26 and 27 at the Gingerbread Jamboree inside the Bicentennial Pavilion in downtown Tacoma. The cost is $36 per house. To register, call 253.527.6031.

LINK: Happy hours!

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Pays To Stay In School: Tacoma Public Schools Board awards incoming superintendent a bunch of money. (News Tribune)

Murray Morgan Bridge Update: Tacoma City Council looks up. (News Tribune)

Veterans Day: Where to honor our nation's heroes. (Northwest Military)

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta: Military strike against Iran could have "unintended consequences." (BBC)

The Simpsons: Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay in the house. (Television Blend)

Nearly One Month Later: LEGO people still occupying LEGO Land. (Gothamist)

Sid Loves Cookies: 10 things you didn't know about Sesame Street. (Buzz Feed)

Notorious B.I.G. is so soothing

FRIDAY, NOV. 11, 2011 >>>

1. With an ambitious 10-day lineup spanning the ages of cinema, the Olympia Film Festival literally is something for everyone - of any age. OFF kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres served by ladies of TUSH! Burlesque, the stage fantastic of Saul Tannenbaum and Mona Van Horne, sparkly dancers and the 1933 film, Gold Diggers of 1933. The Weekly Volcano previews OFF here.

2. We all know Elmo. Even if you don't have kids, will never have kids, in fact hate kids and everything about them, and have never even been a kid yourself, you know who Elmo is ... or at least you think you do. Elmo, of course, is the hug-giving, furry little red dude from Sesame Street - a staple of the last 25 years. In real life, however, Elmo is puppeteer Kevin Clash, who created the character we've come to know and love and has portrayed Elmo on TV since 1985. The award-winning documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey opens today at The Grand Cinema at 11:45 a.m., 1:40 and 6:20 p.m., allowing the old and young alike a chance to meet the man behind the puppet. 

3. Investigative journalist David Barsamian will discuss "Uprisings: From Kashmir to Egypt to Wall Street" at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington State Labor Council office in downtown Olympia.

4. The fifth Jacobsen Series classical concert hits Schneebeck Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. with Masterworks for String Quartet. Under the masterful hands of violinist Maria Sampen, violinist Tim Christie, violist Joyce A. Ramée and cellist David Requiro, the audience will hear Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet No. 5, Opus 18, Aaron Copland's Two Pieces for String Quartet and Johannes Brahms' String Quartet No. 1 in c minor, Opus 51.

5. The Angels of Mayhem present the Murder Masquerade Ball featuring with Sad Face, The Hardcount, Cityfaire, Angels Of Mayhem Burlesque, DJ Traxx, DJ Berry and Magician Cary Durgin hits Stonegate Pizza at 9 p.m. The party benefits the independent short horror film, The Resolution.

PLUS: The ICONIC performance and new Warren Miller flick in our Weekend Hustle

PLUS: Veterans Day events

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

THINGS TO WATCH INSTEAD OF DOING WORK >>>

The layout of our blog kind of requires I stick some words in this space before posting a video. It's unfortunate. Because sometimes I just want to post shit like the new Garfunkel & Oates video for "Save The Rich" that I stumbled upon last night (read: found on The Stranger's blog), and not be forced to come up with something to say about it. But if I just post the video it looks funny. So what you end up with is pointless paragraphs like this one simply to fill the space before the video goodness follows below. Like I said, it's unfortunate.

But still, "Save The Rich."

YOUR VOTE WILL HELP PIERCE COUNTY FAMILIES >>>

Laugh all you want, but on Election Day the Weekly Volcano likes to be near the SeaTac International Airport. If a military coup breaks out, we want to be the first to take off to another land. But, security being what it is these days, we've had a bit of trouble just hanging out and getting our drink on at the airport the last few elections. We'd rather not go into the details.

It's safe to say a military coup will not break out before today's election, which ends tonight at 9 p.m.

Emergency Food Network Executive Director Helen McGovern is a finalist for a "Harlequin: More than Words" contest. If she beats the other "real-life heroines" across the nation, she could bring thousands of dollars to needy families of Pierce County.

Each year, Harlequin Enterprises selects three women to receive the Harlequin More Than Words award from hundreds of nominations solicited from readers and the general public. Each recipient receives $15,000 to advance the work of her charity, and three of Harlequin's bestselling authors donate their time and talent to write novellas inspired by the life and work of the recipients. McGovern is a poster woman for the contest. She left her successful commercial Realtor job left to lead EFN's effort to serve those in need, especially through this time of economic hardship.

The voting phase ends tonight at 9 p.m. McGovern is currently fighting for third place.

The Weekly Volcano caught up with McGovern on this final stretch of the contest.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What drew you to the Emergency Food Network?

HELEN MCGOVERN: It was a several month process I went through when I decided to leave the corporate world and take my skills and contacts into a more purposeful pursuit. The timing was so perfect for this transition to EFN.  David Ottey had been a force to be reckoned with and had left a strong foundation ready to move on to face the challenge. My skill set was a match for that challenge. I truly feel it was where I was meant to be.

VOLCANO: What do you miss most about selling real estate?

MCGOVERN: What I miss most is the wonderful group of colleagues I was privileged to work with on a daily basis. I still get together monthly with some of them, however it isn't the same. 

VOLCANO: What is your favorite moment so far at EFN?

MCGOVERN: One of my favorite moments was receiving a call from J.T. Wilcox of Wilcox Farms informing us that EFN would be receiving 6,000 dozen eggs.  What an amazing and generous donation. Protein is our most difficult item to obtain. Those eggs were in and out of our warehouse and into clients' homes in a matter of days.

VOLCANO: What does EFN need most?

MCGOVERN: EFN needs money. This $15,000 can be used for freight to pick up donated produce. We could have access to almost one million pounds of fresh vegetables and fruit with this money. Farmers have generously donated produce in Eastern Washington, if we can come get it.  The 56,000 pounds costs us approximately $600 in freight. 

VOLCANO: If you win and a novella is written about you, who would play you in the movie version?

MCGOVERN: I couldn't do it myself? If not me, then whoever would donate their acting fee to us can have the job. 

To vote for Helen McGovern and help thousands in need, click here.

LINK: Donate to the Emergency Food Network

IRON ARTISTS COMPETITION >>>

How do you escape the pressures of the holidays, like, really quickly? Bundle up, drop your packages in the trunk, pinch your cheeks until they glow and strap on a pair of silver skates, Hans Brinker, for a glide across the frozen expanse at ... Tollefson Plaza. Yup, as you no doubt heard, an ice rink will open on top of the downtown Tacoma concrete slab at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 25 and run through the holidays. And unless you're Apolo Ohno, keep your sense of humor intact and be prepared to end up on your heinie at least once during the ride.

The Tacoma Art Museum, the angel behind the holiday happens at Tollefson Plaza, is looking for local artists and community groups to create community art for Franciscan Polar Plaza in an Iron Artist competition at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 in its building.

The museum is sending out the call for 12 local artists or community groups to decorate a "mystery item" – that represents our Tacoma community – in an Iron Artists head-to-head- competition. The adorned items will stay in the ice rink's warming area for all to see.

If this is so you, here's the press release:

Read more...

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LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Horace Pickett & Guests. 9 pm.

Amocat Cafe Tacoma - Downtown. Amocat Live! featuring the Amocat House Band. All Ages. 7 pm.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. From The Sea, Thou Shall Kill, Flying Fortress, Big Red Sun, Aelotrope. 6 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. James King & The Southsiders. 7:30 pm. $7.

LakeBridge Forza Lakewood. Crimson Thread. All Ages. 7-9 pm. NC.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Wax Idols, Terry Malts, Red Hex. 9 pm. $5.

• As I'm sure we're all aware, there's a sort of renaissance happening right now with young bands rediscovering and reinterpreting the sunny, fuzzy garage pop sounds of the past few decades, particularly in California. These are bands that have the benefit of an enormous back catalogue of music to sift through and disseminate however they wish - to mix and match and come up with a composite sound, which will exist thanks entirely to the passing of time and muddying of cultural touchstones. One such band is Wax Idols, a steadily rising fixture in this California scene. Headed by Hether Fortune, a former member of contemporaries like Hunx and His Punx and Bare Wires, Wax Idols has a similarly freewheeling sound that allows the band to experiment in punk, new wave and early Goth. Fortune is adamant, however, at addressing certain comparisons. Read what she had to say here. — Rev. Adam McKinney

The Spar Olympia. Paul Mauer. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Murder Masquerade Party, with Sad Face, The Hardcount, Cityfaire, Angels Of Mayhem Burlesque, DJ Traxx, DJ Berry, Magician Cary Durgin. 9 pm.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. Kim Archer. All Ages. 7:30 pm. NC.

Uncle Thurm's Finger Licken Ribs & Chicken Tacoma - Lincoln District. G Street Jazz Series with Hipbone. 8-11 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

SATURDAY, NOV. 12, 2011 >>>

1. As part of Tacoma Art at Work Month, the Tacoma Arts Commission will lead a free, 2 p.m. tour of the historic Prairie Line Trail that dissects the University of Washington-Tacoma campus - the significance and future of the Prairie Line Trail - as well as discussing a series of temporary public art interventions. Artwork includes Thoughtbarn's artificial landforms created from everyday materials like cardboard and zip ties and five other site-responsive, ephemeral works created by teams of Tacoma artists. The tour begins from Tollefson Plaza.

2. Weekly Volcano food critic Jennifer Johnson recently wrote about the awesomeness that is the Proctor Farmers Market. She also wrote a feature story on where to find warm and soothing soups in Pierce County. If we had to put money on it, we'd bet Johnson will be front and center at the Farm to Table Soup Event at the Proctor Farmers Market, held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Babblin' Babs, Capers and Alina Soups will be behind the ladles.

3. When was the last time you had an evening off?  Everything is aiming you in that direction: ready-made food companies now make microwavable dishes large enough to feed eight; the weather has turned colder. Put on your PJs and kick back with a pint of Cherry Garcia. Read a book in bed. Make cookies. Play Twister. Write a letter. Yeah, right. Morso Wine Bar hosts an artist reception for Northwest painters Sharon Carr, Joan Teed, and William Turner from 4-6 p.m., which you'll turn into dinner, and then blow everyone away with your fabulous bottle of wine. You can always rest tomorrow. Yeah, right.

4. It's a debate we've all had over beers with our buddies - Mozart or Salieri? Who's better? Wait ... you've never had that debate? Well, you're missing out. Hear for yourself at 7:30 p.m. inside the Rialto Theater when the Northwest Sinfonietta presents "Mozart & Salieri," a side-by-side comparison of sorts drawing form the work of both composers.

5. To be sure, the fluttering drum beats and cortex-rattling bass lines are an acquired taste, but there's no better serving of the stuff to be found than during DrumAndBassElectroDubStep tonight at the Tempest Lounge, where DJs dAb, Habit and SugaJones drops 'em beginning at 9:30 p.m.

PLUS: Tacoma Fall Classic Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and Frank Fairfield in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Concerts go on sale today

LINK: Wine tastings!

Tacoma is a living, breathing example of the powerful positive impact art can have on a community. So it's not surprising to see Saturday bringing an event at Tacoma Art Place simply known as Community Art Day. And the title pretty much says it all. Expect workshops, demonstrations and family fun all day, and all for free. There's a raffle and silent auction too! The Weekly Volcano is a proud sponsor of Community Art Day.

All day

Plein Air Drawing: Large easels under a tent outside all day long for anyone who wants to draw.

Pin Design: Bring your own objects (old earrings, a small odd object, small handmade pieces) or use TAP supplies and leave with a wearable piece of art.

Clay Medallions: Learn to work with clay and how to use glazes.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Community Scarf Project: Knit a few rows on the community scarf.

Clay Orchid Pot Demo ...

Quilting demonstration: See how fabric scraps become a useful work of art.

Kid's Corner with Lori: Origami, paper collage and glitter galore.

Noon to 5 p.m.

Digitally-altered Portraits: Selma will take your picture and give you an opportunity to pick the background. The photos will be printed later for pick up at TAP.

2-6 p.m.

Pot Throwing: Susan will show you how to use the wheel

[Tacoma Art Place, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, 1116 S. 11^th St., Tacoma, 253.238.1006]