WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 2013 >>>

1. Derde Verde continues the grand journey set forth by bands such as Radiohead and Hawkwind. The LA-based band's new EP, Let Me Be A Light, glows with the organic warmth of the band's indie-electronica, while possessing the mechanical propulsion of Krautrock bands like Neu!. If those names don't pique your interest, then we can't help you. Intentionally dense, minimalist, electronics-heavy, post-rock opera with layers of blips and synthetic sounds blending into lush orchestral pieces and starkly original compositions just isn't your thing. Therefore, we don't expect to see you at 9 p.m. when Derde Verde joins The Hard Way and Babysolf at Le Voyeur. 

2. Seattle-based glass artist Ginny Ruffner spent five weeks in a coma followed by five years in a wheel chair after a car crash. And as the film A Not So Still Life, the misfortune that left her with speech and mobility problems didn't make her bitter, it made her stronger. Ruffner is this week's visiting artist at the Museum of Glass. She's probably going all mixed-media on the folks in the Hot Shop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. The Washington Center board of directors and the city of Olympia will unveil the new exterior design for the Center during an open house from 5-7 p.m. The construction timeline, architectural renderings and a historical perspective of the theater building will be on display. I think the new exterior siding that will keep the rain on the outside is the biggest improvement and the most needed," Washington Center Marketing Director Anne Larson told the Weekly Volcano.  "But staff is most excited about the new grand entrance. It will be a beacon for patrons and help lead the revitalization of downtown."

4. So you're three months into 2013 and that Dec. 31 vow to quit carbs is already starting to feel onerous. Here's a better idea: How 'bout you actually go out and, like, learn something. C.L.A.W. presents Northwest illustrator, cartoonist and game designer Chuck Knigge for a digital painting and drawing workshop at 8 p.m. inside King's Books.

5. Every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Dorky's Arcade hosts Trivia for Dorks — a free, all-ages affair with such prizes as gift certificates to Dorky's. Sure, prizes are nice, but even better is dropping your win at your next round table D & D discussion. Teams can earn bonus points for correctly identifying the night's theme.

LINK: Wednesday, March 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

<<< VOTING CLOSED FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 >>>

Well whaddaya know! It's still March, and dagnabit if all that "Madness" isn't still in the air! What's one to do with all that pent up "madness?" It can make for quite a dilemma. ...

Unless, of course, you've found something like the Weekly Volcano's Tournament of Sandwiches to help get you through. Throughout the month (and into early April, even) the Volcano's readers will be voting on the South Sound's best sandwiches through daily head-to-head matchups here on Spew. We started with 64 South Sound sandwiches, and only one can be crowned king.

Without further ado, let's get down to business.

Yesterday's Results

GAME ONE: Club House (Old Milwaukee Café, 3102 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Jake's Sandwich (Dirty Dave's Pizza Parlor, 3939 Martin Way E., Olympia)

For a relatively small town, Olympia has more than its fair share of top-notch sandwiches - which is going to make for some interesting battles down the road. With 5th Ave Sandwich Shop and Darby's grabbing most of the headlines, Dirty Dave's can fly relatively under the radar. Oh, but the eaters of the area know - which is probably why Dirty Dave's Jake's Sandwich took down the beloved Old Milwaukee Café's Club House, nabbing almost 60 percent of the votes.

GAME TWO: Reuben (Peterson Bros. 1111, 1111 S. 11th St., Tacoma) vs. Hammock Sandwich (Schooner Pub and Galley, 5429 100th St. SW, Lakewood)

The Eleven Eleven is a relatively newcomer on the sandwich scene, creating goodness and slinging drinks in a lively, neighborhood joint. The Schooner Pub has been a neighborhood hangout for years, where the game or your daily meeting with your old friends is more the focus than sandwiches. In terms of comparing the two joints, at least in regards to a hangout, it's a dead heat. Comparing the two sandwiches that battled yesterday, it's not even close. Eleven Eleven grabbed 75 percent of the votes, and moves onto the Second Round.

GAME THREE: Steak Torta (Vuelve a la Vida, 5310 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. Ikonos Gyro (Ikonos Real Greek Souvlaki, 4920 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor)

Vuelve A La Vida started up in 1995. Six months after its inception, the owner sold it to the mysteriously named Senor Douglas, who's owned it ever since. Most people know the joint for its authentic Mexican food, featuring prizes such as tongue and goat and featuring banners boasting no chips & salsa. That said, Tournament of Sandwiches officials were a bit surprised Vuelve's Steak Torta grabbed 71 percent of the votes over Ikonos Gyro, which is one tasty treat. It doesn't matter now, the Steak Torta moves onto the Second Round.

GAME FOUR: Vietnamese Banh Mi (Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. Italian Grinder (Shamrock Tavern, 11118 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma)

Unexpectedly, this was an epic battle ... the kind of thing Tournament of Sandwiches "instant classics" are made of. A surprisingly low scoring affair, with much of the action on defense, the fourth seeded Pacific Grill and the 13th seeded Shamrock Tavern were in a dead heat - literally tied - going into the final hours of the competition. Back at Weekly Volcano World Headquarters, Tournament of Sandwiches officials frantically discussed what to do in the case of a tie? Overtime? Coin flip? See which establishment could deliver a sandwich to our Lakewood office the fastest? Then, our guess is, the drinks kicked in at the Shamrock, phones came out and the Parkland tavern edged out the win, securing exactly 53 percent of the vote. This one will go down in the history books.

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

• Dirty Dave's Pizza Parlor's Jake's Sandwich
• Peterson Bros. 1111's Reuben
• Vuelve a la Vida's Steak Torta
• Shamrock Tavern's Italian Grinder

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.

H MART TO THE RESCUE >>>

For some people, an Asian grocery store can be a bit of a mystery - a misunderstood landscape of often unfamiliar prepared foods and ingredients that can be a little daunting to approach. However, getting past those insecurities to explore these specialty stores can introduce you to new culinary delights and hidden sweet and savory treasures. Such is the case in the newly opened H Mart, a Korean grocery on Lakewood's South Tacoma Way. The 40,000 square foot location is the perfect place to begin your Asian market shopping experience.

With a well laid-out, spacious floor plan filled with abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and seafood, housewares and dry goods, H Mart appears on its surface to be your typical grocery store. On a recent trip there, however, I found a mix of delicious and curious Asian delights to keep my palate guessing. Fresh turmeric (which I've never seen before), kimchi of various sorts, ready-to-eat eggs marinated in soy sauce, bonito flakes that resemble wood chips used for making dashi (Japanese soup stock), frozen flavored mochi, savory shrimp crackers and gorgeous, delicate enoki mushrooms were some of my favorite finds.

The staff is helpful and approachable when asked where and what certain things are.

The prices are some of the best I've seen in the area as far as fresh fruits and vegetables go.

For experienced Asian market shoppers and newbies alike, a pleasurable shopping experience overall.

H MART, 8 A.M. TO 9:30 P.M. DAILY, 8720 SOUTH TACOMA WAY, LAKEWOOD,

SIPPING OUT >>>

Hundreds of coffee-starved citizens in Olympia's South Capitol neighborhood and beyond are eagerly waiting for tomorrow, their knuckles white around their crappy cup of coffee in anticipation.

The neighborhood folks are waiting the arrival of one of Thurston County's most prized coffee providers - and three-year Weekly Volcano Best of Olympia winner Olympia Coffee Roasting Company  - to open its doors at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, March 28 at its new location at 2824 Capitol Blvd.

Customers aren't the only ones excited about the grand opening of the company's third location, the owners and baristas have been spotted brewing coffee and entertaining would-be customers on the sidewalk in front of the new store, half freezing, half basking in the sun as the northwest shifts into spring.

And like the season's gifts of new growth, expansion and well being, Olympia Coffee Roasters will gift the community with a place to gather, grow, and finally have a decent cup of joe.

Here's to new beginnings!

KICKED IN THE HEAD >>>

For seven years, Rocket Records has sat on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Proctor in Tacoma. With fliers plastered to the walls, and sweet Bruno, the shop dog, spending time at Rocket Records was more like walking into a buddy's house - one that just happens to have an awesome assortment of music and merchandise, including music from local bands.

Sadly, Rocket Records current location is on the chopping block. Owner Steve Gaydich has until April 30 to move out.

When probed about why, Gaydich says, "I don't know and I don't care. I'm out of here."
A new tenant will move into the Rocket Records location, as an expansion on a mixed martial arts academy next door.

Gaydich says he is meeting with a realtor this week for a location a few doors down, and that he hopes to have a moving sale, and not a going out of business sale.

"I'm an onry son of a ...," says Gaydich. "I want to stay around here."

Rocket Records is more than a record store, it's also been a cool all-ages music venue to see such bands as Before Cars, Stone Axe, Bacchus, Kramer, CFA and many others.

Big Wheel Stunt Show will play a free show at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6 as a promotion for its latest vinyl release. Also, a big event is planned as a final show for this location of Record Store Day, April 20. While names aren't confirmed, expect some loud and heavy local favorites.

"We're going to blow the roof off," says Gaydich.

The Weekly Volcano will keep you posted on the outcome of Rocket Records' fate. In the meantime, go see some live music and buy some records. Bruno will appreciate it.

ROCKET RECORDS, 3843 SIXTH AVE., TACOMA, 253.756.5186

THURSDAY, MARCH 28 2013 >>>

Organist Cameron Carpenter began studying the piano and the organ at age 5. At 11, he completed Bach's entire Well-Tempered Clavier, which is like the bible of baroque keyboard music. Now, in his early 30s, he performs around the world. His technique is superb and musicality stunning. He is blessed with a sense of perfect pitch. He has a photographic musical memory. Needless to say, he always performs without music. AND, as if being a musical genius wasn't enough, he designs his concert attire and has a reputation of being a stud. Catch his studliness at 7:30 p.m. inside the Washington Center on the mighty Andy Crow Wurlizter.

Let's talk ham. Kurobuta, Japanese black hog, is revered as an exquisite breed with superior flavor, texture, and marbling. It's smoked using hardwood chips to create a slightly sweet taste, suggesting a mild essence of smoke, truly highlighting the incredible taste. From 1-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m., Metropolitan Market in Tacoma's Proctor District will offer tastes of the precious Kurobuta. Here's how the Weekly Volcano would play it. Arrive at 2:55 p.m., load up on ham, then hit the free cheese samples by the deli, grab an espresso and read the Weekly Volcano (it's on the top shelf of the newsstand), then hit the cheese again on your way to the 4 p.m. ham tastings.

The Ale House Sports Pub & Grille hosts Georgetown Brewing Company for a beer tasting of Roger's Pilsner, Manny's Pale, Lucille IPA, Imperial IPA, Porter and Lisa's Nitro Chocolate Stout at 6 p.m.

4. Heels on Wheels Glitter Roadshow - the New York City based queer performance art cabaret of radical extravagance and thought-provoking glamour - will be fabulous at 8 p.m. inside the Olympia all-ages venue Northern. Expect poetic theater, comedic performance art and rock 'n' roll from Shomi Noise, The Lady Ms. Vagina Jenkins, Heather Acs, Damien Luxe, Adelaide Windsome and others.

5. Barleywine Revue credits itself simply as a bluegrass band, but to hear it, the band somehow transforms that format into something more. Depending on whose lead vocals you get (in a very egalitarian move, the members trade off lead vocal duty), you'll either find yourself in a jumping jam like "Sunshine in Tacoma," a Fleet Foxes-esque reverie like "Burb on the Rocks" or the stately sway of "Ghost Woman Blues." Catch the band at 9 p.m. inside The Swiss.

LINK: Thursday, March 28 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

I know the truth dear readers. Some of you have a dirty little secret. You read the Volcano to stay hip and relevant. To always know where the new hottest spot is, or the best sandwich and beer can be had. You read us so there is never a question of what to do on date night and sometimes live vicariously through us because of your dirty little secret. You have children.

This is a perfectly natural progression of life. One day your life could be featured in the social pages of our fine publication, the slightly reserved hipster who has always seen the latest art and can be found eating and drinking their way through our fine city. Then you meet an equally attractive partner, live it up as that couple everyone envies, get married in a disgustingly perfect and beautiful summer wedding, go on the adventurous honeymoon to Costa Rica, buy a lovely historic home, and have a perfect baby. Wait. What just happened? Real life can sometimes feel like it happens as fast as that last sentence. But never fear dear reader. Small children may cramp your bar hopping style, but they don't need to cramp your outdoor style.

I have the perfect place to take the kids on a Saturday morning when you are still hung over from date night. Head to the Tacoma Nature Center, tots in tow, for a magical experience all will enjoy. The Nature Center and Snake Lake wetlands are made up of 71 acres, the Nature Center building, Discovery Pond, and about 2 miles of trails. There's something for everyone so if you don't have small children to entertain don't count it out. Wandering the trails is still a pretty sweet date.

If your disgustingly cute little rug rats are younger than 10, they will enjoy Discovery Pond. It's kind of like a playground with more nature. A nice path circles the small waterfalls and pond. There's a small rock to climb on and a great little play structure that is every kids tree house dream. The slides also look like logs, and there are plenty of benches for mom and dad to relax, drink some strong coffee, and supervise from. The Nature Center itself is also worth a stop. The gift shop has some neat toys and they do lots of programs for kids to learn about the environment. The programming is diverse, for all ages, and very affordable. You can also rent the Center for birthday parties. No need to have 10 screaming children in your house, instead take them to be entertained by someone else!

I prefer to venture down the trails and into the wetlands. Even as an adult you can see the opportunities for kids and their imaginations to run wild. A play area is located near the parking lot and is the perfect place for imaginary kingdoms and animal friends. The trails are nice and wide, level and well maintained - easy to wander down with all ages. But leave the stroller in the car and Fido at home. This area is a nature preserve and has lots of animals, as a result they ask you to leave pets at home to let the natural animals live in peace. To me, the Nature Center is the perfect place to take kids to get them to flex their imaginations. No iPads or cell phones, just pure imagination run wild.

So dear readers, no need to hide it any more. Kids happen. In the Outdoor Addict space we can all be ourselves because there is something for everyone. Next week perhaps some four legged fun?

Tacoma Nature Center

Center open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Saturday

Trails open 8 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset

1919 S. Tyler St., Tacoma

253.591.6439

<<< VOTING CLOSED FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 28 2013 >>>

A week ago we began pitting 64 of the South Sound's best sandwiches - voted in by the Weekly Volcano readers - in head-to-head battles. Today marks the end of First Round action. The last eight sandwiches will enter the area bright eyed and fresh. At the end of the day, four sandwiches will join the other winning 28 sandwiches in the Second Round, four will pick up the crumbs and go home. This is a tournament, folks, not a playoff. Each match is do or die - one misstep and you're out of the dance. Leave the bread out on the counter a little too long, forget to add lettuce, and you can pack your sandwich bag and go home.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Cuban Fish Sandwich (Asado, 2810 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Albacore Tuna Po'Boy (Tides Tavern, 2925 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor)

In a battle over the Narrows Bridge, Asado cruised to victory and securing roughly 60 percent of the vote by the time things were said and done. This one was over early, and the pummeling lasted all day. Luckily for all of us, Tide's Tavern doesn't need the Tournament of Sandwiches to get by ... it has an awesome deck, not to mention a grubbin' Albacore Tuna Po-Boy. The high-powered Asado moves on to Second Round action.

Game 2: Philly Cheesesteak Tempeh (Le Voyeur, 404 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia) vs. Egg Salad Sandwich (Steilacoom Pub & Grill, 1202 Rainier St., Steilacoom)

In a back and forth matchup pitting two fairly evenly matched competitors (at least in the eyes of voters, it seems), Le Voyeur was eventually able to pull ahead of the Egg Salad Sandwich at the Steilacoom Pub thanks to a late run - grabby 52 percent of the votes. The loss has to be especially tough for Steilacoom Pub, as they entered the Tournament of Sandwiches with plenty of hype, mainly coming from, well, the entire town of Steilacoom. That said, Le Voyeur thanks its lucky stars every time it makes a bank deposit for the damaged livers of Evergreen students, and it has its eclectic music scene, so the fact it's moving on to the second round isn't shocking. You can't question Le Voyeur's following, and sometimes a following is just what it takes in the Tournament of Sandwiches.

Game 3: Farmhouse Philly (Dirty Oscar's Annex, 2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Notorious P.I.G. (The Ram, 3001 Ruston Way, Tacoma)

It would have been an upset of monumental proportion had The Ram somehow managed to defeat Dirty Oscar's Annex, but - alas - it was never meant to be. Dirty Oscar's dominated from tip-off to the final seconds yesterday, collecting votes at almost a three to one ratio and securing 73 percent of the votes. Rock stars and moonshine lovers unite - Dirty Oscar's will not be denied!

Game 4: The Chief (Sparks Firehouse Deli, 621 Fifth St., Puyallup) vs. Jan's Mufalletta (Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante, 2207 N. Pearl St., Tacoma)

Everyone loves a good comeback, and this may have been one of the better clutch performances in the (obviously short) history of the Tournament of Sandwiches. Down by a substantial margin by midday, Sparks Firehouse was able to rally the troops at halftime, and by the time the final buzzer sounded the Puyallup deli had walked away with an impressive victory, racking up 57 percent of the vote. Next up for Sparks' Chief sandwich, a Second Round dogfight with Dirty Oscar's Farmhouse Philly. ...

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

• Asado's Cuban Fish Sandwich
• Le Voyeur's Philly Cheesesteak Tempeh
• Dirty Oscar's Farmhouse Philly
• Sparks Firehouse's The Chief

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 joint per battle. Voting for today's sandwich battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

GO LOCAL ON A STICK >>>

It seems as though spring has finally arrived. With the warmer weather and subsiding drizzle of raindrops come outdoor birthday parties, baby showers and weddings. Naturally, as it has been for many years now, delectable slices of cake will abound, it is, after all, the celebratory baked good of choice.

In my cake world, I skip the slices and the dirty dishes and scoop up cake pops. These mobile edible morsels make party clean up a piece of cake.  That said, these goodies could be a let down. There's an art to the cake pop and, if not done properly, they can be too small, too dry or just plain ugly.

Terry DeJohnette, owner of the retail space Consignment Queens, on the main floor inside Sanford and Son Antiques in Tacoma's Antique Row, has a winner: Mimi's Cake Pops.

DeJohnette began her cake pop-concocting journey after asked to make some for a church fundraiser. "They were just baked cake on a stick. They looked great and tasted good. Then, I found a cake pop that was pretty good in a hospital lobby that was moist, made different than just baked cake," explains DeJohnette "I started looking around coffee shops and all I saw were the Starbucks cake pops. They were a bit smaller than mine and not as moist. So I went online and learned how to make them moist, yummy, and really pretty."

Having sampled these morsels of baked goodness I can attest to the quality. Her research paid off. First, they are lovely, peppered with sprinkles and swirls. Second, the cake pops are larger than most - with a good three or four healthy bites per pop. Last, and most important, the center remains a moist, sweet treat.

Satisfied, DeJohnette obtained a business license, food permit and off she went. She found happy customers at Sweets n Stuff candy store, Jazzy's Cafe and Dorky's Arcade, as well as many at birthday parties, baby showers and weddings.

Flavors currently include chocolate fudge, vanilla butter cream, red velvet, lemon spice, orange cream, strawberry kiss, dark chocolate mint, peppermint chocolate, key lime and vanilla white chocolate chip. "There's more to come," she says.

Prices are very approachable with a five-piece gift box for $12 and an eight-piece box for $20. Individual cake pops are $2. Catering fees may vary for larger orders.

Has she reached her pops top?

"I would love to be able to participate in the Tacoma Spaceworks program for a retail space. I've recently become a member of the Tacoma Chamber and have enjoyed networking with other business owners. Through those interactions, I'm looking forward to working with local catering services to have my cake pops on their menus. It's really become a labor of passion and love."

MIMI'S CAKE POPS, SANFORD AND SON, 743 BROADWAY, SUITE 222, TACOMA

Anyone can be a poet, you say?  Actually, it doesn't work that way. It takes dedication, more work than play. The hours are long, there is no pay. Benefits? What do you think?  You're lucky if someone buys you a drink. Then you find as you sip from your cup — they only did it to shut you up.

Every April, the Academy of American Poets commands us to pay attention to poetry, with National Poetry Month — which is funny, because most poets spend their lifetimes trying just to figure out what poetry is. How is the layperson supposed to do it in a month?

Anyway, local poet Maria Chong Gudaitis has compiled readings, workshops and other poetry happenings in Tacoma over the next month. More details can be found on her website, www.poetrytacoma.com.

Gudaitis will join Tacoma Poet Laureate Josie Emmons Turner and former TPL Tammy Robacker for an official National Poetry Month in Tacoma launch party at 6 p.m. Friday, April at Anthem Coffee, where you can hear and hug poets.

Gudaitis sent a list of local poetry events happening over the next month, which you can find below. Keep an eye on the Poetry Tacoma website for updates, cool pictures and awesome words.

Writing the City: Poetry Workshop for Youth

Saturday, March 30, 1-3pm / FREE / write@253

Youth ages 12-18: write  poetry about our city, with writer Renee Simms & educator Catalina Ocampo. We'll take inspiration from the city, and then take our poems out into the streets! Bring comfortable shoes. Info/register: Mary Fox, mfox@tacomacc.edu.

Behind the Masc w/ Carlos Andrés Gómez

Tuesday, April 2, 7 pm / FREE / PLU (Chris Knutsen Hall)

A special interactive performance and dialogue on masculinity and manhood, with the 2006 Toronto Intl. Poetry Slam champ and author of "Man Up: Cracking the Code of Modern Manhood." An innovative mix of town hall dialogue and spoken word performance.

The Fantastic Four

Thursday, April 4, 7pm / FREE / King's Books

Derek Sheffield, Arlene Kim, Marjorie Manwaring & Rebecca Hoogs. Join host & TCC professor Allen Braden as four acclaimed Northwest poets read from new works at the crossroads of clarity and magic.

Tacoma Poetry Month Kick-Off Party & Reading

Friday, April 5, 6pm / FREE / Anthem Coffee

Tammy Robacker & Maria Gudaitis invite the city to the poetry month kick-off celebration. Hear featured poetry readers and mingle with working poets. Pick up a free copy of the Tacoma poetry month anthology + win poetry prizes!

SWAN Day Event

Sunday, April 7, 2-5pm / FREE / King's Books

A showcase of the power and diversity of women's creativity. Features poets, creative writers, playwrights, & spoken word artists. Email Johnnie at luminousspirit@gmail.com to participate. Benefit for the YWCA of Pierce County's Domestic Violence Program.

Read more...