GET IN ON THE PARTY >>>

For those who feel that music has hit rock bottom, that it just can't get any worse -  well, there's always the South by Southwest South Music Conference in Austin, Texas, March 13-18, 2012. There's nothing like the thought of 2,000 musical acts from around the globe spread across 90 stages, all in a downtown area the same size as downtown Tacoma. It's a perfect anecdote to cure what ails you, the music biz's spring break, a time when you can shake off the winter blahs (not to mention that heavy coat) and think about nothing but music. 

Nikon and Warner Music are looking for a band to play the "Warner Sound Captured by Nikon" showcase on Wednesday, March 14 at SXSW. 

Bands just have to submit a video of an original performance or music video for their chance to get an all expenses paid trip to Austin. 

For more details, click here.

LINK: Weekly Volcano at SXSW

MONDAY, FEB. 13, 2012 >>>

1. The Graphic Novel Book Club most likely will skip the lure of craft cocktails and delve into 1022 South's wine cellar as it discusses the manga comic The Drops of God: Volume 1, whichtells the story of Shizuku Kanzaki, who works as a beer company sales rep mainly out of a sense of rebellion against his estranged father, legendary wine expert Yutaka Kanzaki. Yup, no monsters, martial arts or effervescent young girls in this Japanese manga tale. Join the Graphic Novel Book Club at 7 p.m. inside the 1022 South for a night of reading right to left.

2. Consider the Danish waffle. It's more of a cookie filled with cream and raspberry jam. Why is called a waffle? And how the hell do you make one? Garfield Book Company will host a Danish waffle demonstration at noon and 5 p.m. in its Fireside Lounge. Don't even get us started on Tasmanian waffles.

3. To celebrate Gov. Gregoire's historic signing into law the Marriage Equality Act, the Pierce County Marriage Equality Leadership Team is hosting a party to "Raise a Glass for Marriage Equality."  Beginning at 5:30 p.m. at King's Books, Tacoma Mayor Strickland, Tacoma Council Member Ryan Mello, State Rep. Laurie Jinkins, Benjii Bittle and the entire PCME Leadership Team will hug it out with the public.

4. Singer Maia Santell will be joined by guitarist Jho Blenis, bassist Tom Austin, drummer Billy Barner and guitarist Jumpin' Josh Violette for an evening of blues at The Swiss beginning at 8 p.m.

Jho Blenis, guitar, Tom Austin, bass, Billy Barner, drums, Jumpin' Josh Violette, guitar for an evening of

5. The Royal Lounge is a haven for jazz heads Monday nights. Tonight at 8 p.m. The Jazz Twigs featuring trumpeter and saxophonist Jay Thomas will fire it up. At 9:30 p.m., the Greta Jane Quartet carry it through the night.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: South Sound happy hours

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Marriage Equality Act: Not everyone will be happy today. (News Tribune)

GOP Presidential Race Vs. South Sound: Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum will check out the Washington History Museum tonight. (News Tribune)

Skeeter Update: Apparently he didn't know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. (News Tribune)

Sea-Tac Airport: Say goodbye to the 1950s. (Seattle PI)

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Blames Iran after bombers apparently targeted diplomats in India and Georgia, injuring four. (BBC)

Whitney Houston's Death Update: Coroners on Sunday completed an autopsy on Houston, who was found dead Saturday in her suite in the upscale Beverly Hilton hours before she was to attend a pre-Grammy Awards bash at the hotel. (CNN)

Grammy Awards: Whitney remembered, Adele wins big. (CNN)

Saturday Night Live With Zooey Deschanel: The best and worst. (Flavorwire)

Celebrities: Photo gallery showing their real names. (Huffington Post)

No-Holds-Barred Laptop: Origin EON17-X. (Gizmodo)

FOOD MATTERS >>>

Spew sifts through the Internets for local food stories so you don't have to.

Of course we're going to lead off with our goodies. The Weekly Volcano tells you how to get your chocolate on Valentine's Day. Also, Jennifer Johnson explains how local restaurants are going smaller, fresher and more local to adapt with the times. And don't forget to vote for your favorite South Sound breakfast. Our Tournament of Breakfast will be here before you know it.

Derrick Robinson and Adam Morrell at Gritty City Food give a brief glimpse of the new Dirty Oscar's breakfast menu featuring an interview with chef Aaron and behind the scenes look at DOA.

Over at Post Defiance, Jason Sipe says if you dive deep enough you'll discover some real dining treasure in Tacoma.

Sue Kidd on her TNT diner blog gives a few suggestions on local chocolate gifts for Valentine's Day.

Marisa licks the Iron Man Popsicle and gives her report on Clearance Cuisine.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

HEART NIGHT BATTLE >>>

"So what are we doing for Valentine's Day, Babe?"

Going to The Hub for happy hour, staying for dinner and trivia, with the possibly of hanging for its late-night happy hour.

"Omg, I love you!"

Yeah, from 3-6 p.m. and 9 to close Harmon pints are only $3, house wines are $4 and premium wells are also $4. At 6 p.m. Andrew grabs the microphone and launches two rounds of trivia. Honey, The Hub gives away $50 to the winner of each of the two rounds.

Oh, The Hub's bartender Ahmand Toussaint is known for his chocolate martinis, Hub Hydrations and margarita frescos, which he uses all fresh juices.

"OMG what an amazing thing to do! I'm so happy you're taking me, let's just have sex right now!"

[The Hub, 6 p.m. Tuesday trivia, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.683.4606]

The Hub bartender Ahmand Toussaint

Erin Laycock and Paolo Liloc rocked The Hub's trivia contest last Tuesday.

LINK: More photos from last Tuesday's trivia night at The Hub

LINK: More Valentine's Day stuff to do

HEART DAY, FEB. 14, 2012 >>>

1. Cattle-prodding the oyster ditch with the lap rocket. Cannonballing the fiddlecove with a park steeple. Pulling the station wagon into the old creaky garage. No matter what clever name you have for it, sexual reproduction typically requires the involvement of two individuals or gametes, one each from opposite type of sex - although asexual reproduction, an individual can reproduce without involvement with another individual of that species. Oh, it's so confusing. At 6:30 p.m., University of Puget Sound biology professor Peter Wimberger will step in front of the Tacoma Science Café crowd at The Swiss and discuss the reproductive behavior of sea creatures. No word if Wimberger will show his anemone or flatworm. What?

2. Yes, the Museum of Glass Store is open today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Yes, the store has all jewelry marked 20 percent off. And yes, you should be panicky if this is an issue for you.

3. According to the press release, Jilly Eddy - appearing at Morso from 6-9 p.m. as part of the wine bar's slew of Valentine's-related specials - is the world's leading expert in lip reading. In fact, Eddy is billed as a Lipsology Expert, which sounds pretty darn official. But we're not talking about deciphering the f-bombs dropped by coaches on the sidelines during the Super Bowl here. Rather, we're talking about reading and interpreting - quite literally - what peoples' lips say about their personalities.

4. Maybe you like your songs of romance to be sacred in nature? Perhaps you prefer them secular? Either way, according to the press release, the Canonici Vocal Quartet will have you covered on Valentines when the group busts out a collection of Renaissance love songs in English, French and Italian as part of the Classical Tuesdays in Old Town performance series, which begins at 7 p.m. inside the Old Town Slavonian Hall. Completely free - meaning you'll have more to spend on ridiculously priced flowers or stale chocolates - the Canonici Vocal Quartet's presentation of Plaisir d' Amour: The Pleasure of Love seems likely to seal at least a few deals this Valentine's Day.

5. Comedian Kermit Apio headlines a Valentine's Day "Clean Comedy Show" at 8 p.m. inside the Tacoma Comedy Club. The show benefits the House Of Matthews.

PLUS: Sweet & Spicy: A Valentine's Day Burlesques at the Pantages Theater

PLUS: Daniel Blue and Kurt Lindsay at Metronome Coffee

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: South Sound happy hours

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Courtyard By Marriott Tacoma - Downtown. Pacific Grill Presents A Sweet Evening, featuring Chris Anderson, Karen Motherway as Marilyn Monroe. 8 pm. $60.

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Jho Blenis & Shelly Elly Open Jam. 8 pm.

El Gaucho Tacoma - Downtown. Butch Harrison piano Lounge. 6 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Valentine Boobie Bash, with Moron Broz, Blood Hunger, Pistolita, Czar Moonshine, Molly Minksi, Deathbed Confessions. 9 pm. donations.

• What's our favorite thing about the "Boobie Bash" scheduled for Valentine's Day at Hell's Kitchen? Well, you'll be happy to know the fact it inspired the Tacoma Weekly to run with the headline "Show your love for boobies this Valentine's Day" is only second on our list. Yes, it's hard to top the cause behind this event, even for schmucks like us. Raising money for the "Team Lisa' Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure account - who's namesake, Lisa Gauthun, is diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer according to Clare Jensen's story in the Tacoma Weekly - the "Boobie Bash" promises live music from Moron Broz, Blood Hunger, Deathbed Confessions and Czar, as well as burlesque performances and raffle prizes galore. - Weekly Volcano

Lagerquist Concert Hall Tacoma - Parkland. Composers Of The Great American Songbook Valentine's Concert, featuring David Deacon-Joyner & Friends. All Ages. 8 pm.

Metronome Coffee Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Daniel Blue, Kurt Lindsay. All Ages. 8 pm.

• Oh shit. Yeah, we went and did it. We're previewing Daniel Blue's Valentine's Day show with Kurt Lindsay at Metronome Coffee on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. That should make for an interesting week of comments online. But, as they say, "No pain, no gain." Plus, a show involving Blue gives Volcano editor Matt Driscoll and music columnist Rev. Adam McKinney an excuse to sing their "King of Diamonds" parody song all week around the Volcano office. Maybe you've heard it: "I've ... been ... looking for a polar bear jacket." So that's awesome, right? Anyway, Blue, as you know, has had a pretty stellar year - watching his band, Motopony, achieve Seattle-darling status while receiving gushes from everywhere from KEXP to NPR in the process. It's been good times, one can only assume. Perhaps the best of times. Recently holed up writing and recording Motopony's second album in the mountains of north central Washington, Blue returns to Tacoma for a rare performance on Valentine's Day. Does this give us at true indication of where his heart lies? Probably not. Because that would be dumb. But it does give us something to do on a Tuesday night - which is nothing to be taken lightly. - WV

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Rafael Tranquilino Band rockin' blues. 8:30 pm. NC.

Summit Pub Puyallup. Tim Hall & The Band Real Times. 7:30 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Occupying The History Museum: Rick Santorum vs. Occupy Tacoma and glitter. (Slog)

Gay Marriage Bill: It's signed. (News Tribune)

Syria: Residents brace for a full-blown war. (CNN)

China In The United States: The man likely to become China's next leader, Vice-President Xi Jinping, begins a closely watched visit to the United States. (BBC)

Valentine's Day: The lost art of romance. (CNN)

Sure Why Not Of The Day: All 22 Bond film intros, shown simultaneously side by side. (The Daily What)

Hey Mattel!: Shouldn't your Back to the Future hoverboards actually hover? (Slash Film)

Finally!: Scratch-n-Sniff Raspberry Scented Denim Jeans. (Laughing Squid)

I Saw U Eating Those Peanuts: When your airplane seatmate becomes your soul mate. (Time)

We're Outta Here

How to Build a Time Machine - Doc Ignite Campaign Video from Jay Cheel on Vimeo.

LOVE IN THE DARK >>>

As many of you probably know, Valentine's Day has arrived. (And for those of you who didn't know, you better grab a bag of Valentine's Day hearts from the half-off bin at Rite Aid.)  Whether you're single or married; straight, gay, bisexual, asexual; a virgin or a floozy - you'll need something to do today. Hell, we all need something to do every Tuesday but let's not make ourselves crazy. One Tuesday at a time.

Weekly Volcano directs you away from a Valentine's evening of $10 valet parking and dance-floor grindations and instead suggests a movie. Whether you hate love or love to love, everyone can appreciate a good flick - such as Sidewalls (Medianeras) screening today at The Grand Cinema.

Sidewalls fits nicely in with Valentine's Day AND The Grand's Tuesday indie film series with its intellectually playful romantic comedy about love amid the three million folks milling about in Buenos Aires. Martin and Mariana live on the same street, in opposite buildings, but they never met until new technologies unites them ... and keeps them apart at the same time.

Sidewalls screens today at 2:05 and 7:10 p.m.

[The Grand Cinema, Sidewalls (Medianeras), Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2:05 and 7:10 p.m., $5.50-$9, 606 S. Fawcett, Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE >>>

Tacoma art instigator Lynn Di Nino sent us word the 9th and 10th (Horse) Calvary Buffalo Soldiers Museum on the edge of Tacoma's Museum District has undergone a refocus and a renaming. It's now called the Buffalo Soldier Museum, and according to the press release Di Nino sent, it's worthy of your attention.

To keep the memory of pioneering black soldiers alive, William Jones created the Buffalo Soldier Museum in a cottage on his property situated on the edge of Tacoma's Downtown Museum District.  Following his death on December 3^rd, 2009 at age 91, his daughter Jackie Jones-Hook began the process of formalizing the entity by filing articles of incorporation. 

The Museum, formally known as the 9^th and 10^th (Horse) Calvary Buffalo Soldiers Museum would like to announce its readiness to further educate the public on aspects of American history, to depict and illustrate the story of the all black regiment on the United States military, and to preserve memorabilia of historical significance.

According to his daughter Jackie Jones-Hook, who currently serves as the director of the private museum, "the collection contains military artifacts, an extensive library of books, articles and DVD's from her father's military career with the 10^th Calvary - the Buffalo Horse Calvary."  The Tacoma Museum is one of only two museums dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers in the nation, the other being the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston.

Upon receipt of the legal non-profit status, the board met for the first time on February 4^th, 2012, to establish immediate goals, which include designing a program for youth educational tours of the museum.

Board members include, in addition to PresidentJackie Jones-Hook:

• Edvine Evans, vice president (retired Army Sergeant Major)
• William Watkins, treasurer (Union representative and Mr. Jones' grandson)
• Willie Stewart (former Tacoma school board member, past principal Lincoln High School)
• Lynn Di Nino (community organizer and long time family friend)

Scheduling for Museum Tours: 253-272-4257