FUNDRAISER GALA >>>

Get out your wallets, big spenders. The Star Chefs on Broadway 2013 will consume the Pantages Theater Sunday, April 14 bringing along with it an evening of incredible cabaret performances, a delicious dinner and auctions to help the event raise funds for Broadway Center's groundbreaking arts education programs. This year, an online auction serves up some supplementary action - an auction in three parts, all titled after the 2013 Star Chef's theme of The Wizard of Oz.

Monday, March 25, the last of the three online auctions is opening up an entirely new lineup of awesomeness. Get ready to get your bid on!

"Our goal is to raise over $10,000 on the online auction and that we are well on our way having raised $7,412 thus far," says Broadway Center development manager, Jane Bell. "We could realistically reach our goal in phase 2. We have had 103 bidders, a total of 219 bids and 3,558 visitors to the site. Many auction bidders swoop in at the last hour to win their items - we call them auction snipers!"

So far, there are 46 items up for bid and more may be listed. Some of the raddest and baddest items on the list include:

Glassbaby Class in Seattle for Two - How can you call yourself a true Northwesterner if you've never stood in front of a raging fire hole and forged hot glass into a creation? You can't! Fix that. Fix it now. Bid on the Glassbaby Class for two and work one-on-one with a glass artist at Glassbaby, blow and shape your own piece of glass, and take your creation home two days later. Classes take place every day from 5 to 8 p.m.

Total Wine Tasting for 20 - It's not every day you get to go wine tasting, much less with 19 of your BFFs. Win this auction and you can take your pick from a seated, class-style event or a stand-up mingle. Guests will get to sample and learn about wines from California, Italy, France or Australia as well as light appetizers at Total Wine in Bellevue.

Harbor Fibers Studio Hat Felting Class - Like to crochet or knit? Those are just the gateway crafts. Learn to create felted creations just over the bridge at Harbor Fibers Studio. Win the auction and win a class valid between April 14 and May 30, 2013.

"I am excited about all the great getaways especially to Silver Reef Casino which includes lodging, dinner plus spa experiences for two!" says Bell. There are several getaways up for bid. Others include the Weinhard Hotel in Dayton, Wash., Oregon Garden Resort in the Willamette Valley, and the Eagle Crest Resort with some golf included in Redmond, Ore.

Bidding remains open until April 14.

PANTAGES THEATER, STAR CHEFS "OVER THE RAINBOW," SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 4 P.M., $200, $700 VIP, 901 BROADWAY, TACOMA, 253.591.5894

LINK: Weekly Volcano has crashed Star Chefs

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Partly cloudy, hi 47, lo 32

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, hi 50, lo 33

Sunday: Sunny, hi 57, lo 37

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 23: UPS FLEA MARKET

You spend hours wandering around consignment stores, yard sales, and nothing. Break the cycle. Rethink your thought process. Antiques - The older they are the better. And, unlike the average retail giant's merchandise, you can sometimes get a deal. So come check out the annual University of Puget Sound Flea Market and peruse 60 vendor booths of previously owned and "family friendly" (oh, thank heavens) antiques and collectibles. It's the University of Puget Sound Women's League's 45th flea market to fund student scholarships. A silent auction runs throughout the day. Not so silent? You ... when you happen across an art nouveau nail buffer, seven-piece marble fruit set, American legion auto badge, Chinese rice basket, duck decoy with glass eye, Hungerford Schroeder doll, homemade phaser made out of a staple gun and 20 D batteries, Taylor Swift's single "I Have Never Ever Done Anything Wrong in a Relationship" and a SKU: 500-DB-Lighted, aka the Batphone! - Weekly Volcano

• University of Puget Sound Flea Market, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., $3, North 11th and Union, Tacoma, Facebook

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 23: OLYMPIA YOUTH CHORUS A CHORAL TAPESTRY

According to the Olympia Youth Chorus website, the organization's mission is to, "nurture the appreciation of choral art and the shared experience of creating fine choral music for young singers in South Puget Sound." The Youth Chorus does this, at least in part, with help from presentations like Saturday's A Choral Tapestry, which according to billing will feature "folk music, light-hearted fare by our littlest singers, to energetic gospel tunes, and beautiful lilting melodies by our older singers."  The Olympia Youth Chorus will be joined by Olympia's Sweet Adelines, a harmony that will only add to the awesomeness. - Weekly Volcano

• Washington Center, 7 p.m., $5-$27, 512 Washington Street SE, Olympia, 360.753.8585

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 23: EDGAR MARTINEZ

For most of us, the name Edger Martinez is nostalgia-inducing. The former major league baseball player spent his entire 18-year career with Seattle's Mariners and was most know for his double play that sent the team to the 1995 American League Championships. This Saturday, T-Brothers Liquor Lodge in Olympia will host a meet and greet with the retired superstar, who will be promoting and signing purchased bottles of his premium, organically grown Mezcal, Zac Mezcal. Lick, slam, suck and sign. — Nikki McCoy

• T-brothers Liquor Lodge, 4-6 p.m., 417 Plum St., Olympia, 360.539.7978

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 23: HYNOTIST RON STUBBS

You are getting sleepy, v-e-r-y sleepy. Now, go see the hypnotist show at The Royal Lounge this Saturday. Whether a skeptic or believer, the show will be sure to entertain with its comedy, rock and roll and outrageous hypnosis, like people sneezing and having orgasms (!) when Ron Stubbs, the man behind the magic utters the word "pepper." Hype on his webpage reads, "If you're looking for an old fashioned, out dated, boring show, well my friends, this isn't it. But if you are looking for a modern, fast paced, laugh a minute, mind bending, hell bent for leather excursion through the inner mind, then you have found the right place... So buckle up Sparky, it can be one wild ride!" - NM

• The Royal Lounge, 8:30 p.m., $12/advance, 311 Capitol Way N., Olympia, 360.705.0760

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 23: JOBE HIMSELF

Oh yeah, I almost forgot about The Loch's. You know the place - the old Hell's Kitchen in downtown Tacoma. Well, here's a good reminder that this venue is still cranking out shows. This Saturday, enjoy some quality, melt your face punk rock with a Jobe Himself demo release show with Poorsport, Omega Moo and DJ Reign. - NM

• The Loch's, 9 pm. $5, 928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.221.1587

>>> SUNDAY, MARCH 24: PIANIST RICH RIDENOUR AND THE TSO

Rich Ridenour, a 54-year-old Michigan native, has been playing the piano most of his life. He wasn't old enough to drive when he joined his first rock band. He met his future wife, Stacy, who is in the front office at the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, when both were students at the University of Michigan. She went into musical administration, he went on to a master's from Juilliard and a career as a pianist that has taken him from piano bars to the nation's finest concert halls, such as the Pantages Theater Sunday when he join the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra in concert. Expect the greatest hits of Elton John, Billy Joel, George Gershwin, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven and more with a pinch of Victor Borge humor, a grand Steinway and the full Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. - WV

• Pantages Theater, 2:30 p.m., $24-$77, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894
  

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
It's load-in and the start of tech week for a show my wife and I are in, The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood for Olympia Family Theater. I'm also hoping to beat this cold into submission.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
This weekend is my birthday. Not sure what I'm gonna do, besides maybe check out Stoker at the Grand. I love that director's other movie, Oldboy. Other than that, I dunno, birthdays don't mean all that much to me anymore. #SadSack

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
I'm no party animal. I'll probably just hang around the house. Maybe watch a little TV.

NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
Friday: drinks, food and friends. Saturday: rinse well and repeat. Sunday: helping my mom move. She's now part of the tiny house movement. She even has a tiny china hutch and tiny dishwasher. I'll have to try hard to resist buying her every tiny knick-knack I see. ...

JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
This weekend starts for me on Saturday. I'll be teaching my class at D.A.S.H. At night, Beanz & Rize has a show in Seattle. Sunday night I'll be having a little Sedar at My Mom's house for Passover.

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
This weekend I will be taking my adorable son to Olympia to review The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood at Olympia Family Theater where we get to watch fellow theater critic Christian Carvajal show off his acting skills. Also hoping to take my son to see some of my students perform in Tacoma Youth Theatre's production of A Midsummer's Night Dream. Long live theater!

TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer
Three words: Richard Hell, Portland. The legendary punk will be signing his new tomb at Powells. Then off to Slabtown to catch btpnlsl.

ADRIENNE KUEHL Food Writer
On Saturday, I'm excited to be a judge at the Museum of Glass Slider Cook-Off. If you see me in a slider-induced haze on Sunday, chalk it up to that. If the weather is decent, I'll be heading to Chambers Bay at some point to walk it out with my dogs.

MOLLY GILMORE Feature Writer
Friday, I'm going to see Harlequin Productions' The Philadelphia Story. Saturday, I am going to the first meeting of a detox program — which involves giving up sugar, dairy, coffee and alcohol for three weeks. Sunday morning is dance, as usual!

NIC LEANOARD Music Writer
I will be spending most of the weekend at my house sipping bottom shelf whiskey while watching March Madness. Sunday afternoon, I will finally leave my house, though. I have go out to Evergreen to flyer for Wednesday's Darktime Sunshine show at The Olympia Ballroom.

STEVE DUNKELBRGER Nightlife Correspondent
Going to the Slider Challenge and just hanging around T-town - like going to see Midsummer Night's Dream at Tacoma Youth Theatre.

ROCKFORD ROWLEY All-ages Music Columnist
I'll be sitting in front of my turntable, familiarizing myself with the partially-local BOAT's newly released album, Pretend to Be Brave. Similar to Pavement but occupying the more melodic, poppy side of things, music is always better coming from a multi-colored vinyl disc that looks like a Willy Wonka product when it rotates.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar

THE WORD >>>

This weekend looks to be a busy one in the regional hip-hop scene.

Tonight, you could go to Nuemo's in Seattle to see Thee Satisfaction, OC Notes and more. This show is $12 advance, $15 at the door, which, honestly, is a steal. Dropping $12-15 is nothing to see this level of talent. I mention this show because Thee Satisfaction and OC Notes have roots and ties to Tacoma. If you're unfamiliar with Seattle hip-hop - this would be the show to hip yourself to.

However, even if you are broke - there is still a really good show tonight in Tacoma - for free! The Loop, J-Stat, Tha Committee with D.J. Reign and host by Kdueski will be in O'Malley's Irish Pub's music room. This is an incredible show to see, especially for free. It is a well-rounded hip-hop show. Kdueski is a natural up on stage - the flows and the jokes roll off him with ease. I'm sure he'll make a fantastic host.

Saturday, you could go see legendary DJs Michael 5000 Watts and Hawksee at the New World V.I.P. Lounge in Lakewood. The show is $10 presale, $15 at door, and there is a $30 V.I.P. package. Local openers Starr, Stuey Newton, Watchyatone, El Solo and others will be on hand. It is also Makkk Hussein's bornday party!

Finally, even Sunday could be a pretty busy day. At 1 p.m., there is the Graffiti Cyphers put on by the Northwest MC League. This event is all-ages, free and held at the Graffiti Garages in Tacoma's Antique Row. Sunday night there is a pretty good open mic going on at The Mix. The fun begins at 7:30.

There ya'll go. Now ya know what to do!

LINK: Josh Rizeberg's What's The Word? column featuring Tacnology Entertainment

South Sound Sidekick series offers advice from experts living in the, well, South Sound. It posts every Friday. Today, Kevin Smyth has advice on how to raise a rock star. Smyth teaches history and English at Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup. He knows a thing or two about teenagers - especially ones that want to be rock stars. He's the father of two sons, including Patrick Galactic of the Tacoma band Death By Stars.

Kevin Smyth writes,

When my son was 3 he was already an entertainer singing and dancing on coffee tables to whatever was on MTV or the radio.  It should have been clear to me - even then - that my dream he'd earn his PhD in French medieval history from Stanford was probably illusory. Today he's 33 and playing in a local band poised for commercial success. It's been a long road pitted with potholes for him and me.  I have a few tips that might get you through those early awful years when you're ready to kill them and they're ready to kill you.

1. It's gonna be loud

If your kid's serious they'll want to practice. No, I don't just mean the crap they'll do if they take lessons; they'll want to play all the time. You'll buy 'em a quiet little practice amp, but it won't be enough. They'll rock their siblings' world when you're away. They'll literally drive the pets up the wall. The neighbors will complain. They'll want to practice with their band mates in your garage. My advice: don't surrender, negotiate. Establish some times when it's OK to practice. Have a realistic conversation about noise levels. Determine whether it's even possible for his band to practice in your neighborhood without triggering some horrible homeowner's association sanction. If it is, be sure to take a half rack of really good beer over to your neighbors and be prepared to apologize regularly for the noise. Don't make the mistake of making it so hard your rock and roller feels they can only play at somebody else's house. Keeping your options open means you can keep an eye on your future star. And get earplugs, really good earplugs.

DEATH BY STARS: Patrick galactice on the left. Photo courtesy of Facebook

2. You gotta believe

Becoming a rock star is really hard. There are a whole lotta people saying "No!" You're not good enough! You're not old enough! You don't fit in with our target audience! Your band is full of high school seniors and everyone is going off to college but you. If this is the life they've chosen, it's really tough. So when those moments happen when your kid and his buddies get those gigs, you gotta be there. Even if it's a roach-infested, smoke-impregnated dive, you have to go and show your support. Look, you went to those horrible orchestra concerts in fifth-grade didn't you? All those Saturday morning soccer games standing in the November rain, remember when you were there? These are at least as important, not only to offer confidence, but for head count. Bands only get gigs if they can bring in their peeps. You have to buy their CDs, and you persuade family members and friends to go to shows and buy CDs. But in the end it's worth it to see your kid perform, to see him adored, even if the crowds are small and it isn't Madison Square Garden. 

3. It's not your dream

This was the hardest lesson for me to learn. I teach high school history and English. My son is every bit as smart and a better writer than me. I dreamed of him getting into a great school and using his amazing mind to be, well, amazing with his first rate education. His dream was to be Thom Yorke or Gene Simmons or Kurt Cobain. We had heated arguments about all the important questions - why, when, how, you name it and the answers were never satisfactory. The more we pressed, the more strident the rebellion became. "What if you don't make it, what if you can't be a rock star, what's your back up plan?" That was my favorite question. Every time I asked it was like lighting a match near a leaking gas main. I still have scars. But the bottom line is my son has given himself a solid education about the profession of being a musician. He's taught himself to play multiple instruments; he's learned the business of band management and understands the marketplace of live music in the Puget Sound region. He's developed an outstanding work ethic. It's important to have dreams, and I'm proud that he stuck to his.

4. Be the parent, but be patient

I know what you're thinking. How could you let your kid bulldoze you? I'd never let mine get away with this. That's a fair criticism. It's critical that you act like a parent to set effective limits. Drug and alcohol use are not OK. You have to finish school. You want a new guitar, a new amp - that swell new effects box? How are you going to pay for it? Bring your budding superstar into the conversation, set some guidelines and limits you both can agree to and enforce them, with logical consequences when they cross the line. But let go of the silly things. Hair length and hair color? That's big, really? Clothing? Do you want people telling you what to wear on your own time? Offer your help to transport your rocker and his equipment. Your support will buy lots of good will. If he was playing in the Northwest Sinfonietta, or playing for a U-17 select soccer team would you say no? Expect there will be bumps along the way. Kids are kids. They make mistakes including poor choices. Hold him accountable, but don't give a death sentence. Your patience will pay dividends down the road.

Though my plan for my son was to get a really good education, my dream was always that he would have choices to do whatever he wanted to do in his life. Education can help you do that. Talent and determination can do that for you too. I always planned to attend his Stanford commencement, watch him walk up and take his diploma and scream in delight with the whole family. Last week I sat in my empty classroom and listened to the radio as his band played live on the Bob Rivers show in front a hundred thousand listeners. They never sounded better; he was living his dream and I couldn't have been more proud.

LINK: How to be a scenester

LINK: How to be a bartender

LINK: How to manage a band from your office cubicle without getting fired

LINK: How to tell if you're clown material

LINK: Make film gore with household items

LINK: Parenting advice for punk rockers

LINK: How to improve your photography skills

LINK: Get fit the Dungeons and Dragons way

LINK: More South Sound Sidekick advice

SATURDAY, MARCH 23 2013 >>>

1. Copenhagen's young punkers Iceage will bring its Polaroid-picture-fuzzy punk - that draws from Fugazi's neo-classicism and Gang of Four's bounce - to Olympia's Capitol Theater at 9 p.m. If you want to know what the next round of American punk bands will sound like, attend this show.

2. Judy Cullen rocked the Tacoma theater community when she stepped down from her role at artistic director of Tacoma Little Theatre in 2006, an organization she served in many capacities since 1993. Thankfully, she didn't leave the area. In fact, you can see, and hear, her today at 2 p.m. She'll be reading from the recently released A Trio of Irish Tales, as well as from the about-to-be-released Reflections from The Golden Wheel, inside the Mason United Methodist Church in Tacoma.

3. The 2nd Annual Museum of Glass Slider Cook-Off will consume the Museum of Glass tonight beginning at 6:30 p.m. With nine local restaurants bringing creativity to the table to compete for the title of best slider, attendees will taste their way through the competition, dance to Daryl & the Diptones, and enjoy games and live glassblowing by artist John Miller, who is also creating the trophies. Newcomers Marrow Kitchen and Bar, Boathouse 19, Art House Café and Brix 25 will be competing against returning restaurants Asado, BITE Restaurant and Bar, Dirty Oscar's Annex, The Social Bar and Grill and Maxwell's Restaurant and Lounge. Read Adrienne Kuehl's full feature on the event in the Weekly Volcano's Restaurants section.

4. Joel Sartore travels the world photographing rare and endangered animals in some of the planet’s most wild and pristine places. His images are stunning; his stories mesmerizing; his job awesome. He’s an acclaimed National Geographic photographer who captivates his audiences with the same enthusiasm and excitement with which he captures his subjects. Sartore will pack his lifetime of photography experience and passion for animals into a special appearance at Puyallup High School from 7 to 9 p.m., thanks to the folks at Northwest Trek.

5. Ich Hunger is a German expressionist freakout concerning a "creature boy" who lives in the forests of Germany and eats people. At 9 p.m., as if Ich Hunger wasn't visually and aurally stimulating enough, the film will be screened along with musical accompaniment by the onslaught of local garage-rockers Red Hex (featuring Isaac's brother, Sam Olsen), as well as original electronic music. Afterward, the melted brains of the audience will be invited to disco dance. It all goes down at The New Frontier Lounge.

PLUS: The UPS Flea Market, Olympia Youth Chorus, Edgar Martinez, hypnotist Ron Stubbs and Jobe Himself in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, March 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

<<< VOTING CLOSED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 23 >>>

For the past four months the Weekly Volcano has been hanging out in delis gathering intel for our Tournament of Sandwiches. Besides smelling like meat and cheese, we have learned a couple things. You don't hear fake orgasms followed by the phrase, "I'll have what she had" much in the South Sound delis. What you do hear is, "With the economy being in the dumps this past year and my having even less free time than normal, I found myself eating more sandwiches than usual." That's a statement that makes sense. What the Weekly Volcano has learned most through all the prep work involved with hosting a Tournament of Sandwiches is - you don't have to sacrifice flavor to save a little money and get portable eats.

Yesterday's Results

GAME ONE: Lobster Shop's Dungeness Crab & Rock Shrimp Melt vs. Enoteca's Quattro Fromaggio Panini

If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's don't mess with the Tacoma's waterfront. Back in the day the Ruston Way area, which us to be called Front Street, was lined with industry - boatyards, warehouses and mills. Today, it's home to joggers, scuba divers, restaurants and a delicious Crab Melt. The Lobster Shop's Dungeness Crab & Rock Shrimp Melt - loaded with artichoke hearts, onion, tomato, cheddar cheese and served on a toasted croissant - edged out Enoteca's delicious cheese sandwich with 52.5 percent of the votes. Congrats to The Lobster Shop as it advances to the Second Round.

GAME TWO: The Swiss' Heart Smart Art vs. The French Hen Bistro's Veggie Sandwich

Jump on The Swiss' website, and the first message that jumps out is, "You're A Stranger Here But Once." How do you compete against that? You don't, if you are a Veggie Sandwich from The French Hen Bistro. The Heart Smart Art sandwich reached deep into its heart - and sliced artichoke hearts and sundried tomato pesto - and squeaked out a victory by 30 votes over the Lakewood powerhouse. The Heart Smart Art will need every bit of its grilled whole grain ciabatta to beat that Melt at The Lobster Shop in Second Round action.

GAME THREE: Nordstrom Café's Braised Short Ribs Sandwich vs. Moon Rise Café's Monte Cristo

The Monte Cristo at Lakewood's Moon Rise Cafe beat the Braised Short Ribs Sandwich at Nordstrom Cafe with 74.2 percent of the votes. Who's fancy now?

GAME FOUR: Fish Tale Brew Pub's Ham and Brie vs. The Hub's BLT

Finally, in yesterday's closest battle, The Hub's BLT edged out The Fish Tale Brew Pub's Ham and Brie by half a percentage vote. Loaded with deli ham, smothered in nutty melted Brie and nestled between two slices of grilled sourdough with sliced granny smith apples and mellow horseradish, the Ham and Brie had the making to go all the way ... if The Hub's BLT with turkey on grilled sourdough wasn't in the way. That's the power of bicycle-themed neighborhood gathering spots. The Hub's BLT will head into the Second Round to take on Moon Rise Café's Monte Cristo March 29.

Let's lift the top bread slice and reveal the goods. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Lobster Shop's Dungeness Crab & Rock Shrimp Melt
• The Swiss' Heart Smart Art
• Moon Rise Café's Monte Cristo
• The Hub's BLT

The daily sandwich battles here on Spew are sponsored by Subway in Orting, Puyallup, Tacoma, Spanaway and Lakewood.

OK, let's check out today's First Round sandwich battles. Vote for one sandwich per battle. Voting for today's sandwich battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

HOW TWEET IT IS >>>

Whether you've been on Twitter since its beginnings in 2006 or you're a Twitter neophyte, you know keeping up on important tweets can be overwhelming. If you follow everything and everyone that you find interesting, you can end up with hundreds and hundreds of Tweets showing up in your feed on a daily basis.

Don't despair. Every Saturday the Weekly Volcano shares important and pointless Tweets from South Sound Twitter accounts, and sometimes beyond, so you may stay on top of bookstore, neck tattoos and shoelace tying class news - as well as the latest action on the streets.

Crunch! It's National Chip and Dip Day... stop by to snack up! ow.ly/i/1Igfk

— Stadium Thriftway (@StadiumTWay) March 23, 2013

This hipster's Bible cover matches his cardigan. I can't tell if this makes me angry or jealous.

— Kenny Coble (@kennycoble) March 23, 2013

Party in #tacoma , see more neck tattoos than a federal state prison. #takemehome #scaredformyblondeAss ????

— DEMiiiiRYERSON (@DatGuRLDEB) March 23, 2013

Tacoma News Tribune: Niche spirits: New South Sound distilleries are on the way bit.ly/YhCK2W #tacoma

— The News Tribune (@tacomaupdates) March 22, 2013

Fill out this Sound Transit survey. Help move 6th Ave (B1) and MLK (E1) to the next phase! surveygizmo.com/s3/1195336/Tac… #Tacoma #lightrail

— Chris Karnes (@TacomaTransit) March 22, 2013

Late night 38th St Safeway run and it smells of freshly smoked marijuana in here. My cart was the only one without liquor in it #Tacoma

— Meredith (@Mere253) March 23, 2013

For #tacoma tweeter-eaters going to Marrow this Sun, enjoy! I hv other plans, but will be thinking of u! Btw-who wants to help me move? ;-)

— TacomaTweetAndEat (@TacomaTweetAndE) March 22, 2013

Ain't no city quite like mine! #Tacoma #253

— Jonté Joseph (@MisterMcElroni) March 22, 2013

#Tacoma council approves sale of Swan Creek library below appraisal; planned day care viewed as "community benefit" bit.ly/YINBwe

— Lewis Kamb (@lewiskamb) March 21, 2013

Community garden plots available at Orchard & Vine community garden - 45th & Orchard in North #Tacoma. Contact me for more info!

— Liz Satterthwaite (@LizSattert) March 21, 2013

New pot law means big change for drug-sniffing dogs. ACLU upset with how #tacoma PD dealing #liveonkomo @ 4. twitter.com/ElisaJaffe/sta…

— Elisa Jaffe (@ElisaJaffe) March 20, 2013

New @beautifulangle posters out in #Tacoma! twitter.com/theredhot/stat…

— theredhot (@theredhot) March 20, 2013

Did you know that it isn't a true equinox? And did you know it has nothing to do with Vern Fonk?#Tacoma

— Tacomama (@_tacomama) March 20, 2013

#exclusive photo @kiro7seattle of #tacoma daycare rape and beating suspect Andrake Morris being held on $1M bail twitter.com/TerryKIRO/stat…

— TerryKIRO (@TerryKIRO) March 20, 2013

NEW SONG! Stephan Nance — The Sound Narrows (on out-of-tune #piano) youtu.be/QIf0veay3F4 via @youtube #music #Tacoma #pistachios

— Stephan Nance (@stephannance) March 19, 2013

The City is considering changes to purchasing policy to allow it to give local companies an edge. exit133.com/7488/local-sus… #Tacoma

— Exit133 (@exit133) March 19, 2013

Tacoma News Tribune: Boats damaged during Murray Morgan Bridge restoration bit.ly/11hcDtN #tacoma

— The News Tribune (@tacomaupdates) March 20, 2013

Downtown on the Go kicks off a series of free walks on April 3 to explore downtown, exercise & socialize. downtownonthego.com/2013-walk-taco… #Tacoma

— Liz Satterthwaite (@LizSattert) March 19, 2013

Check our Youtube channel each week as new visiting artists come to the museum! youtube.com/museumofglass #museum #tacoma

— Museum of Glass (@MuseumofGlass) March 18, 2013

Someone just asked if we are a bookstore. How should I have responded to that? #blankstare

— King's Books (@kingsbooks) March 18, 2013

Tacoma News Tribune: Hillary Clinton announces support for gay marriage bit.ly/15hHNOi #tacoma

— The News Tribune (@tacomaupdates) March 18, 2013

#tacoma police process the scene of a "brutal attack" of daycare worker @ 84th and Pacific. Suspect info soon twitter.com/TerryKIRO/stat…

— TerryKIRO (@TerryKIRO) March 18, 2013

I'm just an average dude from Tacoma, chasing above average dreams. But I'll never forget where I came from. #Tacoma #2?5?3? #??'? #MK

— T-Flacko (@T_Hunt_36) March 18, 2013

Two local #Tacoma food business's Kickstarter campaigns, Purdy Organics and Infinite Soups. Show them your support!tacomafoodie.com/two-local-busi…

— Adrienne (@TacomaFoodie) March 18, 2013

The styles of shows that are being thrown are awesome & out of the ordinary, and they are only going to get better as time goes on. #Tacoma

— A-Hyp (@A_Hyp) March 17, 2013

Tacoma News Tribune: Police Beat: Prostitution sting catches Tacoma city employee bit.ly/ZgLanI #tacoma

— The News Tribune (@tacomaupdates) March 17, 2013

Another reason to take part in our first Walk-A-Thon: Tacoma's own Sonic Guy will be our MC! Learn more- anewho.pe/8B #Tacoma

— The Rescue Mission (@RescueMissionUS) March 16, 2013

Tacoma News Tribune: Former Gov. Booth Gardner dies bit.ly/XLp9kp #tacoma

— The News Tribune (@tacomaupdates) March 16, 2013

Tacoma News Tribune: ACLU: Everett school searched student's Facebook page bit.ly/YDS8TG #tacoma

— The News Tribune (@tacomaupdates) March 16, 2013

Sailboats in the #Tacoma Narrows as seen from Point Defiance Park on my run this morning. campl.us/ojoD

— Rob McNair-Huff (@RobMcNairHuff) March 16, 2013

Did you know #Tacoma #Nordstrom offers a shoelace tying class for kids?When Henry leaves velcro, I am all over this. Sign up in store.

— Maegen Blue (@SoundsFunMom) March 16, 2013

Follow the Weekly Volcano on Twitter. Because otherwise we're coming to your house, and while we will bring wine, we will not, under any circumstances, take off our shoes.

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Halcion Halo, Blacstahl, Deborah Page. 9 pm.

Bob's Java Jive Tacoma - Central. SleepyPilot, Psycho 78 & Devil On A Leash. 9 pm. $.

C.I. Shenanigans Tacoma - Northend. KC Brakes presents pop folk rock night. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Kareem Kandi Band. 9 pm. NC.

Harmon Tap Room Tacoma - Stadium District. Half Of Infinity. 9 pm.

Live Room Sumner. Innocent Bystander, The Informal Gentlemen, I for Eye, Front Seat Fiasco, Destination Unknown, and Cosmic Avenue. All Ages. Doors 6:30 pm. $8 adv, $12 at door.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Leroy Bell & His Only Friends. 8 pm. $15.

Le Voyeur Café and Lounge Olympia - Downtown. The Chain, Fridge Scum. All Ages. 6 pm.

The Lochs Tacoma - Downtown. Jobe Himself demo release show with Poorsport, Omega Moo, DJ Reign. 9 pm. $5.

• Oh yeah, I almost forgot about The Loch's. You know the place - the old Hell's Kitchen in downtown Tacoma. Well, here's a good reminder that this venue is still cranking out shows. This Saturday, enjoy some quality, melt your face punk rock with a Jobe Himself demo release show with Poorsport, Omega Moo and DJ Reign. - NM

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. Clear The Chaos, Fistful Of Dollars. All Ages. 8 pm.

Morso Wine Bar Gig Harbor. Anais Mitchell, Jefferson Hamer, 8 pm. $25.

• To ask if you have been paying attention to Michael ONeill's Americana Series at Morso Wine Bar in Gig Harbor would be a bit reckless, since the concerts regularly sell out. But have you been paying attention?! Tommy Tutone, Peter Case, Grant Peeples, Susan Gibson, Jaime Wyatt, Ian Moore, the Bobs, Lucy Kaplansky, Steve Poltz ... the list goes on. Saturday, ONeill hosts Vermont-born songwriter Anaïs Mitchell who has been pushing the conventional parameters of modern folk with her epic, allegorical themes and, most recently, lush, impressionistic arrangements. She's touring behind her new release, Young Man in America, which has enough raw-nerved, psychedelic balladry to rattle your Cabernet glass. - Ron Swarner
  

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Olsen Brothers Present: A Night Of Sights & Sounds: Red Hex & Ich Hunger, plus Ace Tone Fuzzmaster. 9 pm.

• For weeks, now, I've been trying to shake the images of Ich Hunger from my brain. Made by local filmmaker Isaac Olsen, Ich Hunger is a German expressionist freakout concerning a "creature boy" who lives in the forests of Germany and eats people. Saturday, as if Ich Hunger wasn't visually and aurally stimulating enough, the film will be screened along with musical accompaniment by the onslaught of local garage-rockers Red Hex (featuring Isaac's brother, Sam Olsen), as well as original electronic music. Afterward, the melted brains of the audience will be invited to disco dance. It'll be an experiment in (slightly) ordered chaos. How far can your ears and eyes be stretched, and when that breaking point is reached, will you ever really be the same? Wear a helmet to this one, dear reader. - Rev. Adam McKinney
  

Olympia Ballroom Olympia - Downtown. Olympia Acoustic Festival. 1 pm to 1 am.

• Saturday, a new celebration hits the area - the Olympia Acoustic Festival. The event, held at the increasingly popular Olympia Ballroom, is sponsored by KAOS and features local vendors such as Tamale Fusion and La Dee Dee Da Jewelry. And, of course, a regional line up of many great acoustic acts, including Olympia bands Erev Rav, The Pine Hearts, Oly Mountain Boys and Oly singer-songwriters Gabriel Wolf Child, Jonah Tolchin, Paul Mauer as well as musicians from Seattle and Portland such as Aaron English, Impossible Bird and others. "Anyone who comes will have their ears filled by a potpourri of really talented musicians," says Jabi Shriki, co-coordinator of the event. Sounds awesome. - NM
  

The Red Room Tacoma - Downtown. Alarms. All Ages. 7 pm.

Rock the Dock Pub & Grill Tacoma - Downtown. Man Shower for Eddie Flores featuring bands Trees Without Leaves and Stay Grounded. 5:30 pm.

The Spar Tacoma - Old Town. Tatoosh. 9 pm.

Tacoma Cabana and Rum Bar Tacoma - Downtown. Big Huge with vocalist Kayla Snell. All ages until 10 pm. All Ages. 8 pm. NC.

Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill Spanaway. Killing Dove. 9 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, MARCH 24 2013 >>>

1. Rich Ridenour, a 54-year-old Michigan native, has been playing the piano most of his life. He wasn't old enough to drive when he joined his first rock band. He met his future wife, Stacy, who is in the front office at the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, when both were students at the University of Michigan. She went into musical administration, he went on to a master's from Juilliard and a career as a pianist that has taken him from piano bars to the nation's finest concert halls, such as the Pantages Theater at 2:30 p.m. when he join the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra in concert. Expect the greatest hits of Elton John, Billy Joel, George Gershwin, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven and more with a pinch of Victor Borge humor, a grand Steinway and the full Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. 

2. Heritage Park and Capitol Lake are great to visit for more than just the people watching. An abundance of ducks provides ample opportunity to impersonate David Attenborough with your own narration of their activities, and the dog watching is always entertaining. Where else would you find a Chihuahua dressed as an Ewok in March? (True story. Outdoor Addict columnist Whitney Rhoades saw it on her last visit.) And the scenery is stunning. From one side of the lake you can admire the Capitol Dome, from the other the Olympic Mountains peek out at you.

3. Orca Books in Olympia hosts local author Anthea Sharp at 3 p.m. to celebrate the release of her newest book, Feyland: The Twilight Kingdom.  This is the final installment and thrilling conclusion to her Feyland Trilogy.

4. Saxophonist Kareem Kandi's sound is virtually unrelated to the roomy traditions of soul saxes, honking saxes or deep-chested boudoir ballad saxes. It derives from the classic, free, often enthusiastic tradition of Joshua Redman as filtered through Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt, all of whose shadows can be traced-Redman in Kandi's funky organicism, Gordon in his dynamic harmonics, Stitt in the intensity that coats his every note with a Gritty City finish. Catch the Kareem Kandi Band from 3-6 p.m. at Uncle Thurm's BBQ in Tacoma's Lincoln District.

5. Tacoma artist Maria Jost has created an eight-piece permanent installation for the 1022 South lounge. Each of this commissioned series' eight collage-drawings pays homage to one of the natural ingredients featured in owner Chris Keil's distinctive cocktails. A reception will be held at 4 p.m.

LINK: Sunday, March 24 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, MARCH 24 2013: FOUR SANDWICH BATTLES ON THE DOCKET >>>

Sure, most of us look at lunch as an excuse to escape the desk for an hour (or two), unwind with friends and talk smack about everyone else at the office. But to many South Sounders, lunch is the most important meal of the day. This is when deals are well done, potential employees are informally grilled and the dirtiest dirt is dished from the backroom to the boardroom. Have your people call our people.

Of course the sandwich is the star of most lunches, as well as this year's Weekly Volcano food tournament. We have the results from yesterday's games and a preview of today's matches. Be sure to vote for the four sandwiches below.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Tempeh Reuben (Darby's Café, 211 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia) vs. Mushroom Panini (Toscanos Café and Wine Bar, 437 29^th St. NE, Puyallup)

Darby's Cafe turned out the troops to propel it into the next round of the tournament, despite Toscanos Cafe's exceptional Mushroom Panini. Darby's wall of hot sauces, shelves full of Wizard of Oz memorabilia and a starring role on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives could have been factors against the Puyallup Italian bistro. With 51.5 percent of the vote, the Tempeh Reuben moves on.

Game 2: Beet & Blue (1022 South, 1022 S. J St., Tacoma) vs. Tempeh Reuben (Wally's Sandwich Bar, 2106 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia)

Tacoma loves 1022 South. Where else can you drink craft cocktails and discuss fermentation yeasts and ice density? So it's a bit of a surprise that Wally's sandwich Bar with its boxed lunches and build your own option lost by only three votes to the Hilltop Tacoma lounge. However, Wally's has "Sandwich" in its name and creates crazy good sandwiches so you knew the race was going to be tight, which it was. The fancy Beet & Blue moves on to the Second Round to face Darby's Tempeh Reuben on March 30.

Game 3: The Comanche (Rock The Dock Pub & Grill, 535 Dock St., Tacoma) vs. Southwest Chicken Sandwich (Loose Wheel Bar & Grill, 6108 Sixth Ave., Tacoma)

Rock The Dock's Comanche put the hurt on Loose Wheel capturing 61.4 percent of the votes. Inside, Rock The Dock doesn't have the fancy giant wall of pull tabs or the hundreds of televisions found inside the Loose Wheel. However, The Comanche with its grilled chicken breast and zesty white sauce is a beautiful thing.

Game 4: Mom's Sloppy Joe (Crockett's Public House, 118 E. Stewart Ave., Puyallup) vs. Ancho BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich (Masa, 2811 Sixth Ave., Tacoma)

A trend has emerged in the Tournament of Sandwiches. Guy Fieri. If the host of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives visits drops in on South Sound restaurant, the restaurant and its sandwich has emerged victorious in this food tournament. Yesterday, the trend continued as Crockett's Public House and its Mom's Sloppy Joe edged out Masa's pulled pork sandwich by four votes. Masa will have the last laugh when hordes show up for the Tournament of Sandwiches Championship Party Monday, April 8 and drink loads of margaritas.

Stick a toothpick in them! The following are advancing to the next round:

• Darby's Cafe's Tempeh Reuben
• 1022 South's Beet & Blue
• Rock The Dock's The Comanche
• Crockett's Public House's Mom's Sloppy Joe
  

The daily sandwich battles here on Spew are sponsored by Subway in Orting, Puyallup, Tacoma, Spanaway and Lakewood.

OK, let's check out today's First Round sandwich battles. Vote for one sandwich per battle. Voting for today's sandwich battles ends at 11:45 p.m.