WHAT HAVE YOU MADE THE LAST THREE YEARS? >>>

Gig Harbor sculptor Mardie Rees knows big. She actually knows huge. For the last three years Rees has created an eight-foot-high sculpture not including his pedestal) of a man named C.W. Lonsdale.

That's right. Three years.

I can hear the questions forming in your noggin: Eight feet? Three years? Who the hell is C. W. Lonsdale?

Ask her. Rees will unveil this piece tomorrow and Jan. 19 at the Real Carriage Door Company in Gig Harbor - the very spot where Rees has worked to complete said sculpture ... for three years!

Because Rees goes big, you will hear live music by the Zizzy Zi Zixxy band, refreshments including 7 Seas brews and Philly Pretzels as well as door prizes at both unveilings.

Lonsdale is the founder of Shawnigan Lake School in B.C. Perhaps you haven't heard of it, but it's quite ritzy. Rees was specifically commissioned to do this work for Shawnigan's 100-year anniversary after a sculpture she created for Saint Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor - now in the lobby of the hospital. Rees has also won a First Honor Award from the Portrait Society of America in 2010 for her piece at Saint Anthony - significant since this award is normally granted to painters.

"The commission of C.W. Lonsdale is the largest scale piece I have completed in my career so far," says Rees. "I really enjoy the challenge of working large-scale and hope to continue to do many more large works and monuments that are significant and meaningful to the people they are created for."

The artist reception/unveilings will be held 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17 and 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19. Real Carriage Door Company is at 9803 44th Ave. NW, Gig Harbor.

If you plan to attend, make sure to fill out the form on Real Carriage Door's website. 

TASTING NEW DISHES >>>

Since summer of 2011, Marrow Kitchen and Bar has been tempting taste buds with artful, compelling and quite frankly, delicious masterpieces. The dishes are inventive. The mood it creates is lively and engaging. Dining out at Marrow is more than dining out; it's a full-on social event that binds our community together. When Marrow announces a new menu; people change plans.

Drop those plans.

Marrow launched its winter menu a week ago. Some staples have stayed, such as the potato doughnuts. While other dishes have gone through a metamorphosis, like the marrow, of course. It hasn't gone, and won't be going anywhere but is now presented with a rich and salty duck confit.

I began my venture through the new menu items with roasted wild mushrooms with lemon shallot vinaigrette, mache, grilled baguette and pecorino Romano cheese ($11). The server who recommended it is now on my Christmas card list. The trio was lovely, light and refreshing. The roasted mushrooms were flavor forward producing a lovely and soft earthiness.

I dabbled from the "Marrow" (for the meat eaters) and "Arrow" (for the herbivores) sides of the menu.

I recommend the hangar steak poutine with Beechers cheese curds, marrow gravy and shoestring fries ($17) for the red meat lovers. The steak - while a bit tough and chewy in some bites - was seasoned perfectly with peppery undertones. I'm a woman of simple pleasures and the cheese curds, gravy and fries beneath were all amazing on their lonesome but together created a trifecta of perfection, salted just right and just enough gravy and cheese curds to not make it too rich.

Lovers of earth grown grub will enjoy the red pepper capellini with spaghetti squash, sun-dried tomato pesto, pine nuts, broccolini, basil chips, pecorino Romano and grilled baguette ($16). The sun-dried tomato pesto and red pepper throughout the squash was a light, not overbearing balance of flavor. The seasoning on the broccolini couldn't have been better. All and all the dish was a tango of flavors, dancing together in harmony. The basil chips protruded from my dish in a lovely presentation and lent a light crisp earthiness to a couple of bites, I wish there were a couple more. I wish I had some right now.

I only scratched the surface of the new menu. Word on the street claims the escargot, foie gras and tender elk osso bucco are worthy.

As always the staff's menu knowledge was impressive, which came with prompt, efficient and witty service to boot. - Jackie Fender

MARROW KITCHEN AND BAR, 4 P.M. TO 2 A.M. TUESDAY-SATURDAY, 21 AND OLDER, 2717 SIXTH AVE., TACOMA 253.267.5299

IT'S A SANDWICH SERIES! >>>

It's hard to elevate the sandwich into something truly extraordinary. There are a few spots in South Sound that manage, though, turning out masterful creations that put those mediocre ham-and-cheese-on-white-bread creations to shame. One of those spots is the Fish Tale Brew Pub in downtown Olympia.

In addition to brewing delectable local ciders, ales and lagers, the Fish Tale also creates awesome sandwiches, each with its own unique twist.

The sandwich Fish tale could mount on the wall would be its ham and Brie. Loaded with deli ham, smothered in nutty melted Brie and nestled between two slices of grilled sourdough, this one takes the trophy with the inclusion of sliced granny smith apples and mellow horseradish.

There's nothing like biting into a sammy and experiencing the sweetness, tartness and spiciness, all mixed together.

It's filling, but doesn't induce a food coma.

FISH TALE BREW PUB, 11 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT MONDAY-FRIDAY, 9 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT SATURDAY, 9 A.M. TO 10 P.M. SUNDAY, 515 JEFFERSON ST. SE, OLYMPIA, 360.943.6480

Other South Sound sandwiches I've reviewed:

LINK: The Swiss Dip

LINK: MSM Deli's Mike's Deluxe

LINK: Antique Sandwich Company's turkey sandwich

LINK: Meconi's Hot Italian Sub

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WATCH IT WITH FRIENDS >>>

Back in November, Weekly Volcano reported Guy Fieri was srusing his red convertible through the South Sound, filming his Food Network show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and making stops in Tacoma, Puyallup and Olympia.

Passersby on the day filming went down at Darby's Cafe in Olympia barely grabbed peeks of Fieri's spikey hair through Darby's window. Monday, Jan. 21 you may grab a full view of his hair and that day's action when the Capitol Theater hosts the televised premiere of "Hometown Haunts" — the epsiode that includes Fieri's visit to Darby's Cafe.

The night kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a screening of the documentary I Like Killing Flies about a famous New York diner. A raffle will also take place, including gift certificates to local restaurants.

"Hometown Haunts" airs 10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21 on national television. The Capitol Theater will show the 7 p.m. East Coast feed on its big screen.

Admission is $5 or two cans of food. All proceeds benefit the Thurston County Food Bank.

Bonus: Three Darby's Cafe recipes are posted on the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives website.

Monday, Feb. 11 Fish Tale Brew Pub will receive Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives love as Fieri visited it on the same visit to Olympia. No word on when the show will broadcast the visits Fieri made to Tacoma and Puyallup.

LINK: Guy Fieri toured the South Sound

SOTA INTERN REPORT >>>

On your next trip to the South Hill Mall, I highly suggest you lunch at Trapper's Sushi. Trapper's is across the bus stop near Macy's. It's the perfect break after a long day of walking through the mall.

Now, I know some find sushi restaurants fishy. If that's you, I suggest sitting at the sushi bar where you can see the sushi being made. You'll discover it's fresh. No one wants to pick and choose his or her fish off a moving belt. It just feels uncomfortable and rushed. I always feel I have to hurry and grab the plate out of fear — that if I wait to make my decision it will be taken by another table.

I'm a regular at Trapper's. I have a pretty good feel of its menu. I believe Trapper's offers unique dishes that you won't find at any other restaurants. That said, I would suggest you try the Puyallup roll or the Boney Lake roll. If you like something spicy, like my father prefers, then I suggest you try the Mt. Rainer roll. I typically start off with a squid salad. It's the perfect kick-starter. If you want to be a risk taker, then for dessert I highly recommend you try mochi ice cream, which is a traditional Japanese dessert. It's sticky rice cake with ice cream filling. It is my personal favorite, but it is not for people who are texture eaters.

The best part is Trapper's has the most reasonable prices. Sushi is expensive, making it difficult to afford on a daily basis. Trapper's Sushi's prices range from $4.50-$11. That is like a plate of about six rolls for only $4.50! Now if that isn't a good price then I don't know what is. They also offer an all you can eat menu for $26.95, which includes any hand rolls, long rolls and an appetizer.

While Trapper's is a fun place to visit with friends, it's also a nice place to meet new people. I enjoy striking up a conversation with the people sitting in the bar around me. It is hard for anyone to be in a bad mood there when the servers are so friendly. The other day Loren, one of the cooks, offered to sing me a song while he made me my favorite long roll — the Captain Crunch. He said, "I will sing you anything!" To that I challenged him to sing me an opera piece, to which he replied, "Oh, she shut me up." So as long as it's not opera I am sure they would be glad to sing you your favorite song while making you your food.

I hope you give this place a try. I guarantee you won't regret it.

TRAPPER'S SUSHI, 11 A.M. TO 9 P.M. DAILY, 206 39TH AVE. SW, PUYALLUP, 253.604.4582

LINK: Hi, I'm Mckenna. I'm a student at the Tacoma School of the Arts. Thanks for following my Daily Trip

THIRD THURSDAY ARTWALK IS NOW TACOMA ART MINGLE >>>

Why is tonight's art walk different from all the past third Thursday art walks in Tacoma? In most ways, it isn't, and that's the real beauty of it. But it is the third Thursday of the month, which means museums, galleries and business focus an extra spotlight or two on their art, complimenting the works with free nibbles and sips.

For all you Spew readers, you know the official Third Thursday Artwalk has been replaced with the Tacoma Art Mingle. A few weeks back we reported the Tacoma Art Group grabbed command of the special art focus night, giving it a wider scope in terms of venues, and added a map.

Here are a few snippets from our earlier post:

"We wanted to be more inclusive of what we call show spaces," says Gary Boone, B2 Fine Art Gallery owner and co-president of Tacoma Art Group, which heads up the Mingle. "These are basically opportunities for business that are not art-related to have an opportunity to show emerging artists, who are not showing in a museum or gallery. We wanted to broaden our approach, and bring to the table opportunities for our entire community."

Therefore, when you head out on third Thursdays, there will no longer be a few static locations to visit. Instead, each month will bring a new map, designed by local design students. Eventually, the map will be available in both a printed brochure as well as on Tacoma Art Group's website. This month, venues are listed online only.

It looks as if the website isn't quite up to snuff yet.

There you go. It's still a night of art, just with different folks running the show.

Here are a few of our recommendations:

"HALF MOON”: Oil and encaustic by Judy Hintz Cox

Azul at B2 Fine Art Gallery

The word "Azul" means "blue" in Spanish and Portugese, and blue is the theme of the show - whether the color blue or blues music or blue as a mood, or however the individual artists may choose to interpret it. "Seven of my paintings will be included in a show called Azul at B2 Fine Art Gallery, which opens Thursday night," says Weekly Volcano art critic Alec Clayton. "Also in the show are Judy Hintz Cox, Leonardo Lanzolo, William Quinn, Susana Rodriguez and Franciso Salgado. Read Clayton's thoughts on the show here. 5-9 p.m., 711 St. Helens Ave., 253.238.5065.

“MICROCOSM IV": by Fumiko Kimura. Photo courtesy of Flow

Kimura sumi-e at Flow

The stunning sumi-e work of Tacoma veteran artist Fumiko Kimura is still up at Flow Gallery through February, featuring work from the last three decades in different styles. In addition Flow has lovely jewelry by Lisa Von Wendel and shrink-wrap artwork by various artists. 5-8 p.m., 301A Puyallup Ave., 253.255.4675

Group Show at 253 Collective Art Gallery

A new group show featuring new artists - including watercolor artist Hossein Peigahl - kicks off tonight at the 253 Collective Art Gallery. 3-8 p.m., 1901 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 100

"Resolutions" at Brick House Gallery

The downtown art gallery asked artists to riff on resolutions. Some are literal. Some are conceptual. Many are eclectic. 5-9 p.m., 1123 S. Fawcett, 253.230.4880

Merlino Art Center

The Merlino Art Center in Tacoma's Triangle District invites Art Minglers to tour the art inside its arts studios and businesses such as Chelsia Berry Clothing Design, artist Kelly Yorek, sumi-e artist Lois Yoshida and Tacoma City Ballet. Arts and business owners will be on hand to chat and answer questions. 5-8 p.m., 508 Sixth Ave.

Michael Ferguson at American Art Company

Catch Michael Ferguson's "Impressions" show before it closes Saturday. The Northwest native and outdoor enthusiast finds inspiration in his immediate surroundings. 5-8 p.m., 1126 Broadway Plaza, 253.272.4327

Throwing Mud Gallery

The Old Town Tacoma art gallery and working pottery studio hosts an open house highlighting unique items created by 80 different local and regional artists. As a bonus, one of its pottery classes will be in session in the back room. 5-8 p.m., 2212 N. 30th St., 253.254.7961

Then, of course, there's "Andy Warhol's Flowers for Tacoma" at the Tacoma Art Museum, which is free during Tacoma Art Mingle.

NOTE: Museum of Glass will close at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17 for a private event, which means it will not be open for tonight's Art Mingle. However, the Museum will offer visitors free admission between 2-5 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

THURSDAY, JAN. 17 2013 >>>

1. If you're going to be strung out, you may as well be strung out on twang. Enter the Twang Junkies, who perform at 8 p.m. inside The Swiss.

2. The United Way of Pierce County has partnered with Comprehensive Clinical Development to present a free health resource fair from 1-7 p.m. at 3615 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma. Participating vendors include the YMCA, Cascade Regional Blood Services, Asian Pacific Cultural Center, American Lung Association and others.

3. With the launch of Tacoma Art Mingle tonight, the art world's critical eye will be squarely on Tacoma, comparing it to years of Third Thursday Artwalks. OK, maybe only a handful of people will notice any difference. Bottom line: From 5-9 p.m. you may walk, ride and drive around Tacoma, examing art and, if available, noshing and sipping. The Weekly Volcano recommends several stops here.

4. Go Ballz Deep at Boathouse 19! And by Ballz Deep we mean 7 Seas Brewing's Double IPA, which will be celebrated 6:30-9 p.m. at the Tacoma restaurant (9001 S. 19^th St., Tacoma). The Gig Harbor brewery will pour tastes, hand out swag and say "Ballz" over and over.

5. The New Frontier Lounge hosts the monthly hip-hop showcase Word 3rd Thursday featuring Supreme Sound Architects and Leezy Soprano, J-Stat and DJ Semaj. Hosts Mr. Von and Weekly Volcano columnist Josh Rizeberg kick it off at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: Thursday, Jan. 17 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

40 YEARS! FOR...TY YEARS! >>>

This Sunday, celebrate 40 years of records, skateboards, rock shirts and nag champa at Rainy Day Record's birthday celebration at The Brotherhood Lounge. We caught up with Rainy Day store manager Adam Hardaway to ask a few questions about working at Olympia's long-time record store.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What's the best thing about turning 40?

ADAM HARDAWAY: To me, the best thing about turning 40 is that it gives everyone who has worked and shopped at Rainy Day and grown up with the store over all these years a good reason to reflect on what Rainy Day means to them, which is why we are having a party. It's for our extended family of longtime customers as much as it is for us. Rainy Day is an institution in our community that a lot of very different people love and go out of their way to support, which is why we have stayed in business for so long.

VOLCANO: What are some fond memories of time spent at Rainy Day?

HARDAWAY: My fondest Rainy Day memories are really all the times we've managed to pull off challenging customer requests, like when someone comes in and sings a tiny bit of a weird song that they heard somewhere a long time ago and they don't know any words, but we can still figure it out for them. Or when a loyal vinyl customer tells us they are looking for three specific records that we don't get in used very often and they all show up the very next week. I also really miss the old crew that worked at Rainy Day when I first started out in 2004. I still consider the people who worked at the store then to be major role models in how I approach my job to this day. I'm especially happy that Shannon and Chris are gonna be DJing at the Brotherhood party. Hopefully all the other folks from those days will be there too! 

VOLCANO: Why is Rainy Day such an institution in Olympia?

HARDAWAY: Rainy Day is important to Olympia for a lot of reasons. We keep cultural rituals like renting movies and listening to vinyl alive as a viable option for people who still love to do those things - even if those practices don't make us a lot of money. And I think that it is really grounding for people to have a constant like Rainy Day around to fall back on when times get tough or the winter days get boring. You always know that you can go to Rainy Day and find a new record to listen to or rent an amazing movie, and it's pretty cheap compared to other things you could be doing that probably aren't nearly as good for you.

VOLCANO: What's in the cards for Rainy Day?

HARDAWAY: A lot of what we do these days is helping diehard 20th century people - ourselves included - navigate the future that we all now live in. We are constantly finding ways to adapt and make subtle shifts in focus. We are doing everything we can to help folks who are interested in committing or recommitting to vinyl as a way of life, and we are also staying true to CDs, which are certain to be the hottest thing in five years. As long as Olympia and we stick together, Rainy Day is bound to make it to 50 and beyond.

THE BROTHERHOOD LOUNGE, SUNDAY, JAN 20, 9 P.M., $3, 119 CAPITOL WAY, OLYMPIA, 360.352.4153

THE WEEK OF JAN. 17-23, 2013 >>>

In this week's issue of the Weekly Volcano ...

Talking to Tacomans Chiara Wood and Prof. Kate Stirling, you get the idea they know something you don't. It has something to do with the Happiness Initiative Project, which they are still kind of working out. The Happiness Initiative Project is about economics, and measuring the success of economic models based on one fundamental criterion - the happiness of the people who live within them. Read Paul Schrag's interview with Wood and Prof. Stirling here.

Forty-five years ago John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised black-gloved fist in the air and the whole world took note. That image remains indelible even today. The event was the Olympics in Mexico City. Smith had won the gold medal in the 200 meter race and Carlos had won bronze. They mounted the victory stand and raised their fists in a black power salute as a statement about how far the United States still had to go in its struggle for full civil rights. It was one of the most overtly political statements ever made in the Olympics. Carlos and Smith were called heroes by some, traitors by others. Carlos will lecture Tuesday at the University of Puget Sound. Alec Clayton revisted the black power salute with Carlos.

Ricos Taco truck has re-parked at the Tacoma gas station after several issues. Having built a hearty clientele of authentic Mexican food lovers since opening in April 2012, the owners of Ricos experienced a couple of setbacks during the summer, including a car accident totaling their truck. Ricos dream of expansion was smashed with the smash; Ricos Taco Truck II was garaged until the original truck could be rebuilt. Jackie Fender drops by Ricos Tacos for a taste.

There is an old expression in show business that goes something like this: "All comedians want to be rock stars, and all rock stars want to be funny." This Friday, the Backstage Bar and Grill and Puddin' Pie Productions melds the two genres with their Rockin' Comedy Extravaganza featuring two bands and five comedians grabbing the stage respectively. Nikki McCoy has the story behind the event.

As with any talky drama, Lakewood Playhouse's production of The Children's Hour depends on compelling, charismatic performances. What it gets, Christian Carvajal is obliged to say, is a mixed bag. Read his review of the show here.

LINK: Music picks of the week

LINK: Hip-Hop 4 Homeless show

SOTA INTERN REPORT >>>

Downtown Puyallup is mostly known for its pretty parks and small town feel — and, of course, the Puyallup Fair. But, what is not known about Puyallup is some of its unique history, such as The Spite wall and the ghost that still haunts the area.

On a recent outing to Central Perk Espresso and Deli I dropped in on nearby Ace Pawn and Loan, which is owned by an acquaintance of mine, Eli Reed. Striking up a conversation with a customer at Ace Pawn — which the customer calls "The Pawn Stars of Puyallup — I inquired about the building's history. Apparently, the building was originally the site of "The Spite Wall." Ezra Meeker, a remarkable pioneer that is best known for his 25 year old struggle to interest Congress in marketing the Old Oregon Trail, built The Spite Wall to keep people away from his Meeker Mansion.

Today, the wall is the home to several businesses and office spaces, including The Pawn Stars of Puyallup. Ace Pawn is chock-full of electronics, tools, firearms, musical instruments, jewelry and ski gear.

My history lesson continued. ... I was told about the apparition people claimed to have seen on the stairs in the scary alley behind the building. People claim to have seen the figure of a person standing on the back staircase that would suddenly disappear. If that wasn't scary enough, the ghost can move things, such as shutting doors and windows, and in one case, actually poked someone.

The poking ghost hasn't hurt the businesses. People find the ghost more interesting than scary. 

Intrigued by the stories, I checked out the back alley. I didn't see any ghosts. Even if I did, I didn't have the proper ghost hunting equipment, such as a Ghostbuster trap.

I highly suggest you drop by Ace Pawn and Loan, and hear the stories first hand. Tell them "Mckenna sent me" and you could receive a Valentine's Day discount on their jewelry.

Happy pawning! 

ACE PAWN AND LOAN, 212 S. MERIDIAN, PUYALLUP, 253.848.4118

LINK: Hi, I'm Mckenna. I'm a student at the Tacoma School of the Arts. Thanks for following my Daily Trip