GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 3.26.14 >>>

Army leaders push for another BRAC round.

Congress' multiple investigations of the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, have cost the Pentagon millions of dollars and thousands of hours of personnel time.

The bilateral security agreement between the United States and Afghanistan has still not been signed, sealed and delivered, creating budget uncertainty and potentially significant logistical problem.

The head of U.S. Pacific Command believes America does not possess the capacity to conduct amphibious assaults in the wake of a crisis, as it did during World War II.

The Senate Intelligence Committee has pushed back a vote on its controversial report on Bush-era interrogation techniques until next week.

U.S. Army Human Resources Command established a provisional Cyber Branch, to provide career management, development and readiness to the Army's cyber forces.

Are aircraft carriers the new West Berlin?

The U-2 spy plane is a better suited than the Global Hawk for early warning of a North Korean attack.

The admiral in charge of all U.S. military forces in the Pacific says some of his needs for attack submarines are going unmet.

The secretary of the Army said he will have the final say on whether a disgraced Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair at the center of a sexual misconduct case retires at a lower rank with sharply reduced retirement pay.

As South America continues increasing its defense expenditures, air fleet modernization is driving numerous requirements and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.

Three things have to happen before infantry robots hit the battlefield.

The Defense Health Agency is moving ahead with plans to cover the costs of some laboratory tests that Tricare, by law, cannot.

Training and operations can put such tremendous physical and psychological stresses on warfighters that their immune systems may be compromised.

This is not only a story about disgraced U.S. Army Special Forces major James Gant. This is also a story about a story about Jim Gant.

Neat shot of two Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft supercarriers-the USS George H.W. Bush and USS Harry S. Truman-cruising together in the Arabian Sea.

In your face Facebook.

Video of the Chicago subway jumping its tracks.

Good News: You can spend the night in a television antenna above Prague.

Neil Patrick Harris and Billy Eichner ambush New Yorkers.

The History Channel has renewed Vikings.

Welcome...

It all starts with Pacific Beer.

Puget Sound Brewing and Malting Co., founded by German immigrant Anton Huth, opens for business at 2501 Jefferson Ave. in Tacoma, in 1888. Pacific Beer is its home brew, which exports as Tacoma Beer to faraway lands. Pacific/Tacoma Beer is a pilsner. By 1906, it's renamed Pacific Brewing and controls neighboring brewery Columbia Brewing Co., which it helped fund a few years earlier (in 1949, Columbia will be renamed Heidelberg Brewing Co.). Before state prohibition stricks in 1916, Pacific Brewing is the second largest brewery in the state, behind Seattle Brewing with its Rainier Beer. Prohibition sucks, Pacific pushes "near" beer, Huth dies, Pacific makes soap and the smokestack falls during an earthquake.

Along comes Dusty Trail, the man. In 1995, he converts the landmark Engine House No. 9 into Tacoma's first brewpub. With the help of Douglas McDonnell, the grandnephew of the German immigrants who founded Columbia Brewing, E-9 produces Tacoma Brew, a salute to the original Puget Sound Brewing beer. Trail and McDonnell research, tinker and trademark the beer, producing apparently a more pale ale version of the original recipe. Dick Dickens buys E-9 in 2002 and resident head brewer Doug Tiede uses two hops in the Tacoma Brew formula: Czech Saaz hops, the variety used in the original pilsner, and Hallertau, found in Bavarian-style lagers. In 2011, X group (Asado, Masa) purchases E-9, with Shane Johns running the kettles. For several years Johns asks ownership to steer away from the current ale yeast and convert Tacoma Brew to the pilsner recipe of Tacoma's past. In three weeks, it will be so.

With the new tanks in place, and successful productions of its Oktoberfest pilsner, Johns receives the nod from owners John Xitco and Jeff Paradise to take a run at the 28-day pilsner fermentation. The exact release date of the seasonal isn't in stone. With E-9's new distribution grabbing a lot of the company's beers, a tasting is also up in the air.

So, in roughly three weeks, another date will be added to Puget Sound Brewing and Malting Co.'s timeline, marking Tacoma Brew's coversation to a pilsner recipe from Tacoma's past and a latest chapter in Tacoma's brewing history ... until the resurrection of Pacific Brewing & Malting Co. happens later this year.

BEER HERE

Wednesday, March 26

Joe Walts, head brewer at Narrows Brewing Co., says he's bringing his Oatmeal Stout, Imperial Red, Neo Noir (city-wide collaborative Black Belgian ale) and IPA (pouring through a Randall) to The Swiss from 6-9 p.m. There will be a raffle for NBC swag, although it's not the focus. "We're trying to get away from that sort of brewers night and make them more about me being available to talk about the beers and our brewing processes to people who are interested," says Walts.

Pint Defiance hosts the Speakeasy Brewing ales and lagers from 5-7 p.m. The San Francisco brewery specializes in big IPAs, Rey Reds and barrel-aged blends.

Double Mountain Brewers will park it at the ParkWay Tavern from 5-9 p.m. The Hood River, Ore. brewery is hot off its seventh anniversary party.

Thursday, March 27

Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer (4.8 percent ABV) will hit the wooden bar at Doyle's Public House in Tacoma's Stadium District. From 6 to 8 p.m. Doyle's will offer Crabbie's Original and the new Spiced Orange, which recently became available throughout Washington, served chilled over ice with a slice of citrus, for $4 and in a special cocktail - The Ginger and Jamey, Crabbie's Ginger Beer and Jameson Irish whiskey - for $7. For guests who'd like a bite with their Crabbie's, the kitchen will prepare a special dish for the evening - Crabbie's Ginger Wings for $4, to complement the ginger beer. 

Friday, March 28

Saisons are traditionally delicate but flavorful, complex but not overt. Narrows Brewing Co. will release its Hibiscus Saison "Siren's Call" at 5 p.m. Friday, pairing it and several other beers with M Street popcorn popped at the brewery. "The base beer for the Hibiscus Saison is a rustic farmhouse ale in the same ballpark as Saison Dupont," says Narrows Brewing head brewer Joe Walt. "From there, I added hibiscus flowers to give the beer a dark pink color and a little extra fruit flavor." The Siren's Call screams a 6.2 percent ABV and will hang around for two to three months.

Salty's at Redondo Beach hosts a Mac & Jack's brewmaster's dinner at 6 p.m. The Two Tun IPA, Serengeti Wheat, African Amber and Blackcat Porter will be paired with Chef Gabriel Cabrera's steelhead, Hibachi chicken, braised short ribs and cobbler. The cost is $65.

Sad News

According to the Parkway's Facebook, manager John O'Gara has passed. Sad news, indeed. RIP John.

Good morning PW family and friends. We are sad to post that our friend and manager John O'Gara passed away this morning. You were as much a part of his life as he is yours. We will be open today to share hugs and tears, cheers and beers, and to give you terrible service that only John would approve of. John, you will be celebrated. Cheeeeerrrrrsssss!

SEE ALSO

Odd Otter Brewing Company to open in downtown Tacoma this summer

If gopher wood could withstand a world-killing flood, you'd think we'd be using still be using the stuff. Well, maybe Noah took the last bit of it with him for his boat.

Here we're, once again, greeting another entrant in 2014's Year of Religious Movies^TM. This time, though, we're going about as Old Testament-y as you can get. No washing of feet to be had in Noah, just blood-soaked soil and the madness of Darren Aronofsky.

Even before its release, Noah has garnered more than its share of controversy - from jumpy studio executives, to confused test audiences, to scores of Christian groups who bristle at the (Biblically accurate) telling of Noah's story - and will now arrive at theaters bearing the following disclaimer:

"The film is inspired by the story of Noah. While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide. The biblical story of Noah can be found in the book of Genesis."

No doubt, if all of these huffing and puffing Catholics would ever follow that disclaimer's advice and, you know, actually read the story of Noah, I'm sure they'd find a much more complex tale than the one they were told in Sunday school. Many-armed fallen angels, a drunk ark-builder and an epically violent, petty god - these are just a few aspects of the story that don't quite gel with cartoons about fluffy animals having a boat trip (and those poor dinosaurs who got left behind).

If the trailer for Noah is any indication, this a return for Aronofsky to the batshit operatics of The Fountain, and less a somber character study of a man on the brink, like The Wrestler. If religious groups are incensed already, I wonder what'll happen once they finally see the thing.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25: FIRST ROUND BURGER ACTION >>>

Southern California burger chain Slater's 50/50 has spent the past couple years making a name for itself through its flagship burger patty made from 100 percent ground bacon: 'Merica Burger. The bacon patty is topped off with a sunny side up egg and more bacon, in the form of bacon cheddar cheese, "bacon island" dressing and, oh yeah, actual bacon. Foodbeast.com decided that this wasn't enough and set out to make a 100 percent bacon burger, where every single thing on the burger has a bit of bacon in it. The foodie website decided even the bun should coated with bacon bits and pork rinds, as the photo below dictates. Will a South Sound burger joint follow suit to secure a few extra votes during the Tournament of Burgers? Stay tuned. In the meantime, below are yesterday's game results and eight new burger joints up for vote.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Lunchbox Laboratory vs. The Office Bar & Grill

The nice thing about a number one seed is it usually means you have a paddy-cake game in the first round. Not so much the case yesterday. The Office Bar and Grill rallied The Steno Pool and the folks in the mailroom, surging here and there. In the end, the number one seed did prevail, and Lunchbox Laboratory moves into the Second Round with 68 percent of the votes.

Game 2: Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery vs. El Gaucho

The Powerhouse and El Gaucho battled back and forth all day, changing leads several times. Then, the Powerhouse put the Jolly Pumpkin Artesianal Ales Maraciabo Especial Sour Belgian on the guest tap. Not so fast, my fancy friend. El Gaucho's lounge pianist busted out "It's The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and the whole restaurant laughed and clinked martini glasses. The Powerhouse moves into the Second Round with 51 percent of the votes and a date with Lunchbox Laboratory March 30.

Game 3: Boathouse 19 vs. The Spar - Old Town

Unexpectedly, this was an epic battle ... the kind of thing Tournament of Burgers "instant classic" are made of. A surprisingly low scoring affair, with much of the action on defense, sixth seeded Boathouse 19 and the 11th seeded Spar in Old Town Tacoma were in a dead heat - literally tied - going into the final hours of the competition. Tournament of Burgers officials frantically discussed what to do in case of a tie. Overtime? Coin Flip? Shotgun a beer? Then, in a brilliant move, cook Tony walked to the middle of The Spar, slammed down a catsup and mustard bottle and walked back to the grill. That display of condiments was a dagger! The Spar edged out the win, securing exactly 51 percent of the vote. This one will go down in the burger history books.

Game 4: Norma's Burgers vs. Tides Tavern

Norma's Burgers quickly comes to the lips of many when discussing the best South Sound burger. So, perhaps it isn't a surprise that the burger house next to Interstate 5 won handily, kicking the Tides Tavern to the dock while garnering a respectable 63 percent of the vote. Norma's moves into the Second Round to face The Spar March 30.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Second Round:

• Lunchbox Laboratory
• Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery
• The Spar - Old Town
• Norma's Burgers

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's First Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 25 2014 >>>

1. The Salon Professional Academy is playing host to a special benefit, hair, makeup and fashion show and silent auction to support 2014 Ms. Wheelchair America Jennifer Adams' platform, "Inclusion Revolution," at 6:30 p.m. The event, "Shine Bright Like a Diamond Hair Show and Auction" will be held at the academy, which is located at 3702 S. Fife Street in Tacoma. This special evening will feature a runway haute couture hair and makeup show that showcases the extraordinary student talent at the academy. Featured clothing from up-and-coming designer Victor Aguirre will also be featured. Adams will be on hand to serve as master of ceremonies and will wear one of Aguirre's custom creations.

2. When it comes to documentaries, it's nothing short of the Wild West out there. There are just so many, from theatrical to television to stuff that just shows up on Netflix or Hulu one day in your recommended list. And while we're a bit perturbed Pink Hearts! Yellow Moons! Orange Stars! Green Clovers! White Toe Tags! didn't make this year's list, The Grand Cinema does have quite the Documentary Week going. Check out today's screenings here.

3. Sinatra-esque crooner Chris Anderson takes his show to the Red Wind Casino at 6:30 p.m., hitting all the notes and making the ladies swoon in the process. Anderson has repeatedly proven to offer a throwback good time.

4. It's nice existing so close to Mama Nature, but living in the city - surrounded by concrete, neon, strip malls and bikini espresso shacks - it's still easy to be oblivious to the natural world. If you're looking for a little salt, breeze and fresh air action, David Kaynor's tour of lighthouses will make you see the, er, light. Washington state has a long saltwater coastline and many of its lighthouses are inaccessible and difficult to view. At 7 p.m. in the Olympia Center, Kaynor will present a one-hour slide tour that will take you to 10 of the more accessible lights starting from the south sound. Handouts include directions and maps so you can bust out of the city.

5. On any night of the week, one can meander past the main bar in Olympia's China Clipper Club Cafe, to the back room where a disco ball, stage, stellar PA system, extensive song list, savvy DJ and lively, often tipsy, crowd scribbles on tiny, colorful paper then waits ... for Clipper Karaoke. "We're different - at least that's the ambition," says Steve Yonkers, who has been hosting Clipper Karaoke since 2007. "We want to run more of a variety show. We don't just call up your name and sing. I interact with the audience. I think its more interesting. "It's not a diva contest here," he continues. "I want it to be fun and relaxing and encourage people to have a good time." Get in on the party at 9 p.m. 

LINK: Tuesday, March 25 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 3.25.2014 >>>

Aboard a guided-missile destroyer docked at the world's largest naval base, a sailor was fatally shot and security forces killed the lone suspect late Monday.

Pres. Obama to call for end to N.S.A.'s bulk data collection.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Republicans may have helped Russia annex Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, delivering a surprisingly sharp attack just before lawmakers advanced a bill authorizing sweeping U.S. sanctions on Russia and $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine. 

Two lawmakers have introduced a bill that would eliminate the $100,000 cap on payments to wounded warriors for multiple, severe injuries under the Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program.

North Korea warned it would take new nuclear "measures" if the United States did not end its alleged provocations toward Pyongyang.

Government Accountability Office predicts F-35 software troubles may drive annual costs up to $15 billion.

The Republic of Korea has officially selected the F-35 as its next-generation fighter.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert says he doesn't see a great need for the Navy to go through another round of base closures.

Abolishing nuclear weapons would make the world more violent and, paradoxically, more prone to nuclear warfare.

The Navy is on the verge of eliminating tobacco sales on all its bases and ships.

The Navy has published a thorough breakdown of what it needs for future surface operations in the Arctic, from new doctrine to platform assessments and an updated cold-weather handbook for sailors.

Lt. Gen. Robert Ferrell, U.S. Army chief information officer/G-6, outlined priorities for network modernization as the Army plans for Force 2025.

Changes at AAFES aimed at improved shopping experience.

White Sands Missile Range hosted about 6,200 participants during this year's 25th annual Bataan Memorial Death March.

Five questions on special ops and scotch with Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Lumpkin.

Hello nightmares: Crabster crab robot scuttles out of Korean lab.

Listen: Hear a new Chrissie Hynde song; hear a new Afghan Whigs song; the Pixies plan to release a new album.

Finally: Star Trek beer is here.

Here come the Sentinels!

As you wish, this is Nerd Alert, the Weekly Volcano's recurring events calendar devoted to all things nerdy. I myself am a Star Wars fan, mathlete, and spelling bee champion of long standing, so trust me: I grok whereof I speak.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

There's something inherently goofy about the story of Noah's Ark. For geeks of a certain age, it calls to mind Bill Cosby making "voopah" sawing noises and wondering, "What's a cubit?" You may be more familiar with Ricky Gervais reading a children's picture-book summary of the Great Deluge. Either way, it's likely nothing about that story made you think, "Hey! Y'know who'd be great at directing the movie version of this? Darren Aronofsky! Yeah, something about Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan just screams Biblical epic to me." And yet here we are. For good measure, let's have Hermione Granger play Noah's daughter. Righteous. Early reviews are mixed, but at least Russell Crowe doesn't sing.

And of course there's Emerald City Comicon, running all this weekend in Seattle's Washington State Convention Center. While San Diego's fable con slides more into the realm of movies and TV, this is one gathering that keeps its primary focus on the comics. Featured writers include Mike Allred, Kurt Busiek, Erik Larsen, Jim Lee (Friday only), Mark Miller and Jeff Smith. Star Wars novelists Kevin J. Anderson and Dave Wolverton will be on hand, as will John Scalzi, whose Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas won the Hugo last year. It's about a security officer aboard the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, Ensign Andrew Dahl, who suddenly realizes his colleagues don't fare well on away missions. Think 320 pages of "Guy" from Galaxy Quest, and if that doesn't make you desperate for a copy then I don't know what.

Have no fear, TV and movie geeks, you haven't been exiled into the Phantom Zone. Celebrity guests include Richard Dean Anderson (who'll fashion a crude Orion vehicle from two paper clips and a Hot Pocket), Michael Biehn (who'll claim to be from the future, then impregnate a coffee shop waitress), John de Lancie (Q who?), Michael Dorn, Eliza Dushku, Cary Elwes, Kelly Hu, Nichelle Nichols, Ron Perlman, Lance Reddick, Alan Tudyk and Karl Urban. I'm tellin' ya, you put those people around a mic for two hours, and you've got a pretty good LEGO Movie sequel. Did LEGO ever make a Hellboy set? Because that'd be awesome.

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

After last week's history-heavy installment, Cosmos explores "A Sky Full of Ghosts." Patrick Stewart voices astronomer William Herschel, best known for his catchphrase "You go, business pro." Also, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's Ship of the Imagination buzzes the event horizon of a black hole, beating Disney's reboot department by years.

Meanwhile, in the improbably walker-ful woods around Atlanta, Sheriff Rick is in for an even less happy installment than usual in the season-four finale of The Walking Dead. Shortly thereafter, Nerdist Chris Hardwick will admit even he's not sure what's going on with this show anymore.

Next week, of course, it's back to Westeros for season four of Game of Thrones.

Tuesday, April 1

Avoid obnoxious April Fools' Day pranks by hiding in your living room with a fresh supply of cinematic brain candy. New on Blu-ray and DVD this week: 47 Ronin, Anchorman 2 and Knights of Badassdom.

Until next week, may the Force be with you, may the odds be ever in your favor, and may we all be reunited in Terminus.

The South Sound attracts beer lovers the way a keg attracts red Solo cups, and five friends recently announced their Odd Otter Brewing Company, a taproom and brewery in downtown Tacoma, will open this summer.

I checked in with John Hotchkiss, a former Army physician, and chief operations officer for Odd Otter, to find out a little more about Odd Otter Brewing Company, its history and its future. Here's our Q&A:

WALIE TALKIE: Congratulations on your new venture.

JOHN HOTCHKISS: Thanks. We are very excited to get our products, our mission and our energy into the public eye.

WT: Five owners and a military presence?

HOTCHKISS: Yes, five owners and three have ties to the military. Owen McGrane is currently an Army physician at Madigan Army Medical Center, Pablo Monroy was previously in the Navy and is currently in the Army National Guard and I was an Army physician at Madigan for six years. The other two owners - Derrick Monroy and Teresa Smith - have extensive managerial experience and both have previously managed at Starbucks and Target. Teresa is currently managing a Hertz location at SeaTac, and Derrick is currently managing a legal office in the area. Derrick will serve as CEO, Pablo will serve as chief of daily brewery operations, Owen will be our head brewer and has designed all of our signature brews, Teresa Smith will be our CAO, and I'm our COO.

WT: What inspired the group to start a brewery?

HOTCHKISS: Odd Otter was born out of a confluence of relationships that began years ago. I was Pablo and Derrick's neighbor in Tacoma, and I recognized Pablo's excellent homebrewing instincts after Pablo replicated nearly perfectly a beer that cannot be purchased in the United States. I brought it back from Canada. The concept developed over a period of months, and incorporated ideas that emanated from Pablo and Derrick's group of friends including Teresa Smith. Once the project was conceived, I began discussing it on his Facebook page and reconnected with a friend from his medical internship at Madigan, Owen. Owen has been homebrewing for nearly a decade and has created several award winning beers. Owen then joined the group and brought with him his extensive brewing knowledge and background.

WT: Why the name Odd Otter?

HOTCHKISS: We love our communities, both our geographical community in the Tacoma area, and our various social and subcultural communities. And we like to have fun. As stated before, we have a strong military background in our ownership group. Pablo and Derrick are married, and are actively engaged in the LGBT community. Owen and I are physicians with strong ties to the military medical community at JBLM. We have all lived in the Tacoma area for many years, and we want to support the local economy - to bring something new and fresh to the craft beer community. We appreciate how our various and diverse communities that we represent have come together over beer as we have as brewers. The name Odd Otter refers to the uniqueness of our concepts, the fun we will have brewing delicious and innovative beers, and it also refers to the Pacific Northwest area that we live in. We will have two families of beers and they will be joined together under the umbrella of Odd Otter Brewing Company.

WT: What will we be drinking from Team Odd Otter?

HOTCHKISS: We aim to brew beer that will appeal to everyone, even those that do not consider themselves beer drinkers. We will produce beers that will follow suit with some of the well-recognized craft beer categories - IPA, ESB, Porters, blondes, amber and hefeweizens - but we will also brew outside the box as well, such as our Mama Otter's Pancake Porter made with Vermont maple syrup, a cherry chipotle cider, and a barrel-aged 24 percent behemoth called Blind Otter, and many others.  We have very exciting things planned for the Washington craft beer palate.

WT: When will the Odd Otter dam open for business?

HOTCHKISS: Our brewing equipment should be delivered in June, and we'll be anticipating a summertime opening pending permitting from the city and the completion of our relatively simple build-out.

WT: Can the community drink on site?

HOTCHKISS: Oh, yes there will be a tasting room. We anticipate having four of our own beers when we open and expanding up to six within the first month. We will continue expand that selection as our first year continues. We will eventually have between 12 and 16 tap handles with a variety of locally brewed delights that we will rotate through our taps. Our next-door neighbor is Cafe Vincero, and there is a door in the back of both of our spaces that allows us to move between them. We have a very good working relationship with Kevin Cornwall, the owner of Cafe Vincero, and have agreed to serve a selection of his menu including pizzas from his wood-fired oven in our space as delivery to our space. Additionally, outside food will be welcome.

There you go South Sound. Expect to be drinking pancakes around July. Hotchkiss and friends are building their dream through a Kickstarter page. Read more beer descriptions and get in on the goods before the Kickstarter ends in 11 days.

Update: Tacoma attorney Erik Bjornson informs me Odd Otter Brewery Company has filed for the "Queer Beer" trademark. According to the application, "The mark consists of Unicorn head with open mouth inside a circle resembling the capital letter "Q" with the words "Queer Beer" below the symbol." It's genius considering Tacoma was voted "Gayest City in America" by The Advocate magazine in 2013.

ODD OTTER BREWING COMPANY, 716 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, facebook.com/OddOtterBrewing

"This is a great event to introduce the culinary art schools, high schools and the individuals in the community to the Washington National Guard and what we do for our entity," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Frank Gibson. "We are a small group of people that do a big job when it comes to feeding our soldiers."

The Washington Army National Guard's (WAARNG) Fiscal Year (FY) 14 Food Service Menu Board review and approval event was held in the 66th Aviation building at Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord this weekend. The purpose of the event was to select the FY14 menu option for the WAARNG throughout the year and specifically during drill weekends.

This event gave dozens of vendors the opportunity to showcase their food, as well as giving service members the opportunity to try the meals that they will be enjoying for the next year.

"This is a chance to see what's available in the marketplace, to get menu ideas and get to experience a lot of different flavors," said Dale Holland of Coastal Marketing Consultants, Inc. "Knowledge is powerful and if they don't know about it, how can they broaden their food knowledge."

>>> A food demonstration showed the proper way to prepare ahi as well as how to conduct large prep for large fish orders. Photo credit: Gary Lott

Along with a plethora of available food selection items such as bacon pancakes, fresh salads and freshly-sliced roast beef, food demonstrations were held, including deconstructing meat, bulk fish prepping, omelet cooking and dessert making.

>>> Culinary students from Heritage High School in Vancouver explain their craft before Washington National Guard judges. One school will be selected to provide menu options for drilling servicemembers in fiscal year 2014. Photo by Gary Lott

A WAARNG Culinary Competition also was held during the weekend. Students from the Northwest Culinary Institute, Steilacoom High School, Heritage High School, Bates Technical College's culinary arts program and the Art Institute of Seattle had two hours to prepare their competing dishes for judging command staff members, who score based on appearance, taste and enhancements.

>>> Students from Bates Technical College Culinary School cooked for the Washington Army National Guard over the weekend. Photo credit: Gary Lott

The food was the star of the show, but that didn't stop the WAARNG from still taking some time to connect with the youth. 1st Lt. Chris Herring (168th) took the high school students on a tour of the flight line on JBLM. 

"It's important to show the kids the many opportunities of the Guard," said Herring.  "They did a great job feeding us so we figured we'd show them a little of what we do."

>>> The Washington Army National Guard dissected many at JBLM over the weekend. Photo credit: Gary Lott

<<< MONDAY, MARCH 24 GAMES CLOSED >>>

If the South Sound had a signature dish, what would it be? I think it must be the hamburger. And who doesn't adore a juicy ground patty of beef in the mellow embrace of a good bun? In fact, the most common last meal requested by death row inmates is the cheeseburger, and it's a favorite of office workers, too, who only feel like they're on death row.

Welcome to day five of the Tournament of Burgers, featuring 64 of the South Sound's best against one another in the mother of all burger brackets. Below is a recap of yesterday's burger action followed by eight new burger joints hitting the grill today.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: NetShed No. 9 vs. Harmon Brewery & Eatery

NetShead No. 9 beat The Harmon in downtown Tacoma by 270 votes. That's a mind blower.

Game 2: Five Guys Burger and Fries vs. Engine House No. 9

The buzz about Five Guys' famous burgers being the best burgers ever flipped into existence has reached the Tournament of Burgers. The thinnish, griddle-cooked patties grabbed 62 percent of the votes yesterday against E-9. Five Guys' daily-ground beef is lightly packed and grilled to a savory, caramelized crunch, then stacked into twos and loaded into a supple, sesame-seed bun. It faces off with NetShed No. 9 in the Second Round March 29.

Game 3: Meconi's Pub Tacoma vs. The Hub-Gig Harbor

The Hub in Gig Harbor led the game at noon, riding the back of its delicious Stumpjumper Burger and used a strong burger flipping style to build a working margin. The Hub took its biggest lead at 1 p.m. Then The Hub suddenly went cold, going 60 minutes without a point while Meconi's started inching back into the game. By 6 p.m., under the leadership of its Mushroom Burger, Meconi's shot ahead in the vote count. It doesn't matter The Hub in Gig Harbor has a better view and airplane rides. Meconi's grabbed 72 percent of the votes and a spot in the Second Round.

Game 4: Tatanka Takeout vs. The Swiss

"If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be a 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you." That famous quote comes from the beloved Winner the Pooh. That quote could have easily come from a regular at Tatanka Takeout speaking on his or her love for the Ruston joint's bison burgers. And while Tatanka makes a tasty bison burger, I imagine if this were the Tournament of Chalk Board Writing, Tatanka would still have gathered 75 percent of the votes. Don't mess with Tatanka, at least until March 29 when Meconi's Pub gives it a shot.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Second Round:

• NetShed No. 9
• Five Guys Burger and Fries
• Meconi's Pub Tacoma
• Tatanka Takeout

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's First Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m.