CH-CH-CH-CHANGES >>>

Changes are afoot at Dirty Oscar's Annex. Chef Aaron Grissom, known for his bold originality in the kitchen, has moved on to a position in California. A new chef, Geoffrey Yahn, has taken the helm of the restaurant and bar.

"We are selfishly sad to see Aaron Grissom's talent and palate leave the Pacific Northwest, but do support his move to Manhattan Beach, California and are excited for him to continue his culinary journey there," says Operations Manager Jennifer Johnson. However, she notes that she and the staff are excited about what the future holds with Chef Yahn. "The staff is very happy with the level of experience, maturity and leadership that Yahn brings, and are looking forward to learning from him."

With more than 20 years of experience in restaurants in Seattle, San Diego and most recently, Chicago, Chef Yahn plans to take Dirty Oscar's in a more fresh direction, with lighter dishes, local produce sourcing and more gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.

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IT CAN BE DONE >>>

Here's how art gets created: the artist gets an idea then makes a sketch of what he envisions and then makes it. Pretty simple, huh? But what if the vision is something he has no idea how to make or he simply doesn't have access to the tools needed to make it? That's where Tacoma's FabLab comes in.

Michael Johnson's sculptural installation at Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound (see my review in this week's Weekly Volcano) is a prime example. His sculptural forms comprise intertwined curvilinear shapes that hover above the floor. How he could possibly make those shapes is as incomprehensible to me as the building of the Golden Gate Bridge or the International Space Station.

Read more...

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 2013 >>>

1. Mayor Marilyn Strickland. It just flows off the lips. The likelihood of that very thing being on the lips of everyone in Tacoma for a few more years just increased dramatically, as Mayor Strickland has formally announced her reelection campaign and will hold a kick-off at 5:30 p.m. inside the Pantages Theater.

2. Maybe your ex never splurged on roses. Or maybe your experience in gardening consists solely of ogling the neighbor's help. Either way, we're guessing you're ready to start your own garden. If that's the case, stop by Gallucci Learning Garden from 5-7 p.m. for a free workshop on growing calendars, succession planting and how to best utilize your garden's space.

3. In 2011, readers of this fine rag voted the Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe the best bar in Tacoma. This was due in no small part to their well drink Wednesdays. Two dolar well drinks after 7 p.m. Are you kidding? That's, like, riding the train to funkytown for only eight bucks. Yes, please. The kitchen stay sopen to midnight. Choo, choooo!

4. Pub trivia nights can either ignite the party or stifle the mood. McNamara's Pub & Eatery in DuPont does everything possible to avoid being a major buzz kill. Every Wednesday McNamara's Pub starts team trivia at 7 p.m. Irish-inspired food helps trivia players stock up on brainpower before the trivia starts. Beer and drink specials happen at trivia intermission. Because everyone knows a good buzz makes trivia that much easier. What's the capital of Kazakhstan? Take a drink and think.

5. After two-and-a-half years, the Tallhouse Arts Consortium is back in full swing with its first Wednesday of the month free performances at The Brotherhood Lounge in Olympia, which is tonight at 8 p.m. The aerialists, whose Facebook profile states, "Farting rhinestones since... ah, we can't even remember," will delight audiences with its strong and sturdy flips, flying and artistic trapeze. The group brings in interesting songs, unique performances, flirty fun and guest trapeze artist Lara Paxton - all for free.

LINK: Wednesday, April 3 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

<<< VOTING CLOSED FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 2013 >>>

Everyone eats it. Everyone has a favorite. Loyalty? It can inspire the rabid fandom of a true sandwich devotee. Maybe your obsession is with the deli with the effed up reader board - or perhaps you drive across town for ginormous portions. Maybe you're an adherent of a particular country's style, declaring all others, in your jingoistic ethnic fervor, treasonous.

The best sandwich in the South Sound? You think you know where to find it. We all do.

After weeks of feverish voting (and with the help of a complicated computer program stolen from cavemen) we at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters have watched you, beloved readers, narrow down the region's sandwiches to the very best 16, the cream of the lunch pales. Yesterday, the first eight sandwiches did battle. Today, the remaining eight go at it. Wrap us up in Saran wrap and stick a toothpick stabbed with an olive between our new rolls of fat - this is exciting!

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Mike's Deluxe (MSM Deli, 2220 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Big Tacoma (Pacific Coffee House & Deli, 1201 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

When first discussing the Tournament of Sandwiches, in editorial meetings that seem like they were many moons ago, MSM Deli was mentioned almost immediately. It's got a following, and everyone knows it. MSM quickly comes to the lips of many when discussing the best South Sound sandwiches, and obviously the Weekly Volcano readers chose wisely when they nominated the Mike's Deluxe for the tournament. With 78 percent of the vote Mike's Deluxe dominated downtown Tacoma's Pacific Coffee House and its Big Tacoma sandwich, a venue and a sandwich that defied the expectations of many simply because it's a brand new business. Hold your head high Big Tacoma. That was one helluva run.

Game 2: Dungeness Crab & Shrimp Melt (The Lobster Shop, 4015 Ruston Way, Tacoma) vs. Tempeh Reuben (Darby's Café, 211 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T is how the song goes, and that's just what the Dungeness Crab & Shrimp Melt has been earning so far in the Tournament of Sandwiches, knocking off Darby's Tempeh Reuben yesterday and garnering - get this! - 75 percent of the vote. This is all the more impressive when you consider The Lobster Shop took out The Swiss just a round earlier. The Melt moves into the Grilled Eight round.

Game 3: Mom's Sloppy Joe (Crockett's Public House, 118 E. Stewart Ave., Puyallup) vs. Turkey BLT (The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma)

The way The Hub has managed to bring it during this year's Tournament of Sandwiches has been nothing short of amazing. Yesterday, many already had the much-publicized competitor Crockett's and its Mom's Sloppy Joe penciled in as a winner. Those people, however, where foolish as The Hub's Turkey BLT once again proved its sandwich prowess. The votes don't lie, and when the final buzzer sounded The Hub squeaked by with 53 percent of the vote and moves into Grilled Eight competition.

Game 4: Italian Sub (Meconi's Italian Subs, 5225 Lacey Blvd. SE, Lacey) vs. The Cubana (El Zocalo Tortas Y Bakery, 701 S. 38^th St., Tacoma)

Despite a late push from the Lincoln District's El Zocalo, Meconi's Italian Subs and its large, devoted, Lacey following proved too powerful in yesterday's action, catapulting into the Grilled Eight with a narrow victory. Meconi's is known for its soft bread, and some analysts say the popular Lacey sandwich joint was too soft on El Zocalo, winning by a margin of 22 votes. Whatever. The Italian Sub has one day to rest before it begins Grilled Eight play. 

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

• MSM Deli's Mike's Deluxe
• The Lobster Shop's Dungeness Crab & Shrimp Melt
• The Hub's Turkey BLT
• Meconi's Italian Sub's Italian Sub

>>> 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 Sliced 16 sandwich battles. Vote for one sandwich joint per battle. Voting for today's sandwich battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

GO GRAB IDEAS >>>

In a manner of speaking, Lakewood was made for getaways, beginning with the founding of a number of country estates in the 19th-century by Tacoma area business leaders.  And although the then-bedroom community has since grown up, some of those estates remain, clustered around the local lakeshores. One such estate on Gravelly Lake now belongs to a nonprofit group that maintains its long-celebrated gardens for public enjoyment. The estate's name is Lakewold Gardens. Today marks a three-week run of publicity for the Gardens as the Designer Showhouse 2013 moves in.

Nothing like bringing the outside elements of beauty inside - a splash of color inspired by a favorite rose bush, a furniture arrangement that mimics an outside design, or window treatments that let the sun shine in just so. That's exactly what will happen as several professional designers have transformed the rooms of Lakewold's Wagner House Mansion into works of art, allowing visitors to explore rooms and view them as never before, even allowing entrance to rooms that have previously unavailable to the public.

This pairing of interior design and the breath-taking array of gardens on the 10-acre estate at Lakewold Gardens will surely delight and inspire visitors of all ages.

LAKEWOLD GARDENS, WEDNESDAYS 11 A.M. TO 8 P.M., THURSDAYS-SATURDAYS 11 A.M. TO 6 P.M., SUNDAYS 11 A.M. TO 5 P.M., $18-$22, 12317 GRAVELLY LAKE DR. SW, LAKEWOOD, 253.584.4106

A SPLENDID WAY TO START THE DAY >>>

Thad Lyman and Katie Doherty, the husband-wife team behind Brix 25 in Gig Harbor, have launched a new waterfront breakfast destination. The duo opened Netshed No. 9 just off Harborview Drive with a splendid view of quiet waters and boats. As you enter you're welcomed with a warm ambiance complete with natural light. The warm, spring vibe is wonderful. I can't wait for warmer weather to hit Netshed's outdoor seating.

To begin my culinary journey I sipped on the popular housemade hot chocolate ($4). "A cup full of liquid, chocolate-y goodness," pretty much sums it up. It's smooth and rich and reminds me of my grandmamma. If you need to start your day with a caffeinated beverage you can amp it up with a shot of espresso for an extra dollar. It's a must try.

The menu features traditional breakfast favorites with a touch of flair, such as a ricotta and sourdough pancakes served with a vanilla bourbon maple syrup, and a bacon mac and cheese pie - an intriguing combo. It sounded too rich paired with my cup of sweet blissful death by chocolate.

After much consideration I settled on the least of the traditional dishes - locally speaking - the chilaquiles. This Mexican dish is done eloquently at Netshed No. 9 with a healthy portion highlighting crispy house made tortilla chips, cheeses, black beans and eggs with chorizo and salsa verde balanced in each bite. The spice level was appropriate for morning consumption, approachable and not hot for the sake of being hot. The key here is flavor.

Service is extraordinarily friendly and matches the warmth of the ambiance and my meal. My next visit will absolutely have to include the chicken and waffle, which is topped with spicy syrup.

Netshed No. 9 offers a breakfast for those who seek a bit of adventure (but not too much) in their morning and afternoon dining experiences.

NETSHED NO. 9, 8 A.M. TO 4 P.M. THURSDAY-MONDAY, 3313 HARBORVIEW DR., GIG HARBOR, 253.858.7175

THURSDAY, APRIL 4 2013 >>>

1. EMA, aka Erika Anderson of defunct psych-folk outfit Gowns, is all about contradictions. She's lo-fi and blown-out, folk-minded but tentatively danceable, ethereal and explosively percussive. The reductive way to describe her music would be to say that it's experimental, but, well, dammit everything's experimental now. Catch her with Arrington de Dionyso's Malaikat Dan Singa and The Mother Ruckus at 9 p.m. inside the all-ages venue Northern.

2. The Bayview School of Cooking hosts two free classes on cooking with eggs. Barb Agee, a long-time instructor at BSC, will demonstrate how to make a hearty dish of Migas, Rosemary-Parmesan Popovers and more using ... eggs. Jump in at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m.

3. The Olympia Farmers Market opens today at 10 a.m. and produce vendors and artisans aren't the only ones preparing for the onslaught of strollers and tourists. Food vendors are busy stocking coolers and napkin holders in order to help happy shoppers make it through a trip to the market with tempting treats like soba, chowder, Belgian waffles and more. "It's cool - everyone is excited to be back open," says Matt Cummings, who runs the rock 'n' roll themed HeyDay Cafe with his family. "It's like a tribe down here." Read Nikki McCoy's full interview with Mike Cummings of HeyDay Cafe in the Weekly Volcano's Restaurants section.

4. As part of National Poetry Month, and specifically Tacoma Poetry Month, four acclaimed Northwest poets — Derek Sheffield, Arlene Kim, Marjorie Manwaring and Rebecca Hoogs — as well as host and TCC professor Allen Braden will read from new works at the crossroads of clarity and magic at 7 p.m. inside King's Books.

5. For generations, Southern prisons have been a key incubator of American music, from gospel, folk, and country to - mostly famously - the blues. Ben Harbert's film Follow Me Down: Portraits of Louisiana Prison Musicians explores music and culture focusing on the "serious, sad, and politically frustrating stories" of today's prison inmates, revealing the role music plays in personal expression, entertainment, escape and camaraderie behind bars. Catch it at 7 p.m. in Rausch Auditorium at the University of Puget Sound. The man behind Follow Me Down, Ben Harbert, will introduce the film and host a Q & A after the screening.

LINK: Thursday, April 4 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

<<< VOTING CLOSED FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 4 2013 >>>

For the last two weeks the Weekly Volcano presented you with a compelling question: What is the best sandwich in the South Sound?

Well, we're closer than we've ever been to finding out - at least based on the voice of you, the readers and voters.

Today is a very special day in the Volcano's Tournament of Sandwiches - the Grilled Eight. Yes, only eight out of an original 64 area sandwiches remain, each doing battle today to stay alive and fight on toward ultimate Tournament of Sandwiches glory.

If we were you we'd just call in sick, grab some Rolaids and watch it all unfold.

Short of that, a good place to start would be by voting below.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: 5th Avenue Sandwich Shop vs. Reuben (Eleven Eleven, 1111 S. 11th St., Tacoma)

You can get a sandwich just about anywhere, but if you want to wrap your muzzle around a monument, then you need to go to the new masters of sandwich-making  - Peterson Bros. 1111. Justin and Robbie Peterson opened the "Eleven Eleven" this summer in the Hilltop Tacoma neighborhood. From the moment the idea sparked, the brothers set out to make the best sandwiches in the South Sound. Man, we think they have done it, at least according to the voters. The Reuben nabbed 61 percent of the votes over what thousands call the best sandwich shop in Olympia - 5th Avenue Sandwich Shop. Eleven Eleven could hang it up right now and be damn proud. Instead, the brothers and their powerhouse Reuben face the biggest challenge of their lives today - MSM Deli's Mike's Deluxe.

Game 2: Cuban Fish Sandwich (Asado, 2810 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Lobster Sandwich (Oliver's Sandwiches, 900 Meridian Ave. E., Milton)

The little town of Milton has a hidden gem. Oliver's Sandwiches has the same set-up as franchise sandwich shops with one glaring exception - customer service. The owners, a husband and wife team, are hands-on and work the counter.  The lobster sandwich alone is worth the drive ... and worth calling your friends around the nation. The amount of votes logged into this game is larger than the population of Milton. With a shocking 86 percent of the votes, the Lobster Sandwich moves on to battle The Lobster Shop's Dungeness Crab & Shrimp Melt.

Game 3: Farmhouse Philly (Dirty Oscar's Annex, 2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Stinker (STINK - Cheese & Meat, 628 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma)

STINK, the heavy favorite to win the Specialty Region after perceived contenders such as Varsity Grill and Babblin' Babs Bistro were dismissed in earlier rounds, won another game beating Dirty Oscar's Farmhouse Philly with 58 percent of the votes.

Game 4: Hot Italian Sub (Meconi's Pub, 709 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. Steak Torta (Vuelve a la Vida, 5310 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

Despite an early lead from the heralded Meconi's Pub, Vueve a la Vida poured it on late in yesterday's action, sneaking into the Grilled Eight by six votes. At one point Vuelve considered breaking its house rule and provide free chips and salsa to help garner votes. It didn't need to and its popular Steak Torta won and battles the other Meconi's today.

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

• Eleven Eleven's Reuben
• Oliver's Sandwiches' Lobster Sandwich
• STINK - Cheese & Meat's Stinker
• Vuelve a la Vida's Steak Torta

>>> 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 Grilled Eight sandwich battles. Vote for one sandwich joint per battle. Voting for today's sandwich battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

Well dear readers, my outdoor addiction has stopped to a new low today. The weather gets nice and everyone brings out their dogs and I get dog envy. So, like any good addict, I decided to get my fix by whatever means necessary. Yes dear readers, I kidnapped a dog today. He was a squirrelly one to catch. Skiddish, shy, and completely adorable. Tiny too. An easy target.

You see, I needed a dog so I would fit in at the dog park. Dog park people are very particular. They bring their doggies to the park to frolic and socialize, but spend a lot of their time eyeing other dog owners. I couldn't exactly wander in dogless and ogle their dogs. My weakness is the big, happy, slightly dumb ones. But it's kind of like going to a playground to watch kids play when you don't bring one of your own. Slightly creepy.

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BIG NEWS IN OLYMPIA >>>

Opened in 1985, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts has played host to thousands of events, with more than two million people crossing its threshold. However, its history did not start in 1985. The Washington Center is really the grandchild of the Liberty Theater, a 1924 vaudeville house which stood on the same ground the Washington Center does today.

Anyhoo, you've seen the Center, you've enjoyed local and national productions inside this grand venue, but did you know it has a new executive director? It's true.

Read more...