THE WEEK OF JAN. 31-FEB. 6, 2013 >>>

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

Here you go sweethearts. The Weekly Volcano presents our favorite restaurant seats in the South Sound. Love ya!

In the cold and blustery January 2010, three intrepid runners planned a three-mile run followed by celebratory beverages at the Parkway Tavern. These three runners - Mike Hahn, Derek Young and Rob McNair-Huff - announced their plans online. When they met up, rather than just the three of them, there were seven runners waiting to dash and drink. Tacoma Runners was born. Since that fateful day, the group has met up at different Tacoma bars every Thursday evening. Tonight, the Tacoma Runners celebrates its three-year anniversary. Read up on its history, and find out where you are running tonight (you know you want to join the party).

Originally known as the 11th Street Bridge - also the City Waterway Bridge - the Murray Morgan bridge has served as the gateway for the Thea Foss Waterway for one hundred years. The bridge we know today replaced an original single span bridge in 1913. The reason for the change was that a single span bridge does not move, so to allow for increased boat traffic the new bridge was built. With the bridge reopening Friday, the Weekly Volcano takes a look at the Murray Morgan Bridge's history and its coming-out parties.

Super Bowl is Sunday, and the Weekly Volcano has to confess to feeling a tad bipolar about the whole thing: glad to see the 49ers in it again, but also bored to distraction at the thought of subjecting ourselves to a four-hour advertising blitz interrupted by a few minutes of pro football. We could invest loads of man hours baking hot wings, making deviled eggs and concocting some clever pig skin themed cocktail OR we could leave it up to the professionals and ante up to a bar where testosterone swirls in the air, hoots and hollers fill the room and someone else makes the barbecue ribs and cocktails.

Weekly Volcano theater critic Christian Carvajal read Liz Duffy Adams' script Or, (the comma is part of the show title) a few months ago, when he admired rather than enjoyed it. He couldn't visualize all its chaotic comings and goings. As with any sex farce, it turns out Or, has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Read Carv's review of Harlequin Production's OR, in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

Australian Circus Oz is kicking off its new North American tour with three performances this weekend in Tacoma. Formed in 1978, Oz is a rock and roll, animal-free circus of musicians, acrobats, contortionists and artsy clowns. However, because Oz doesn't have the financial backing of Cirque du Soleil, it only has a dozen or so performers doing all the acts. Whether you've been awaiting its show or have never heard of them before, here are five reasons you should be Circus Oz's new biggest fan.

PLUS: Deep Sea Diver is blowing up