WEEKLY VOLCANO: THIS JUST IN >>>

Tacoma Goodwill sent us a release regarding sad news that has hit the agency. Help out if you can.

TACOMA - Tacoma Goodwill today mourned the tragic loss of the wife of an employee who was found deceased in the Lakewood apartment fire yesterday. The agency has established a fund to help the family
 
Eduardo Vilog's wife, Aida, 63, was lost in the Village Apartments fire. Eduardo, 73, was working at Goodwill's production facility when the blaze occurred. He has been with the agency since 1998. Tacoma Goodwill established the Eduardo Vilog Family Fund with Columbia Bank to assist with immediate needs, including funeral-related expenses.
 

"Our hearts and prayers are with Eduardo and his family as they go through this tragedy, which is especially hard to take at this time of year," said Terry A. Hayes, Tacoma Goodwill CEO, who noted the agency has made counseling available to all its employees. "We want them to know they have friends here who will help them through this horrible time."
 
A second employee was also a resident of the apartment complex and was at work at the time of the blaze. Goodwill is supporting the work of The Red Cross with whatever emergency requests for clothes and household items are needed for all the families the fire impacted.
 
"We will offer all the help possible to support our employees, and help them and other victims through this tragedy," Hayes said.

RON SWARNER: FOOD MATTERS >>>

Cookies And Ribs: Here’s the deal. Taste Duke’s Chowder House’s ribs and they’ll buy you a cup of any of one of their chowders. If you finish their ribs they’ll buy you a chocolate chip cookie. Step up to the challenge at 3327 Ruston Way in Tacoma.

Santa Silvia: Once again, El Gaucho bartender Silvia Tapia is holding a toy drive to benefit Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Drop by El Gaucho at 2119 Pacific Ave. with toys for the kids. Tapia will deliver all the toys Christmas morning.

Plan Ahead: Wine guru Michael Nolet will open Christmas and New Year’s Eve wines for a taste Saturday, Dec. 19, 2-4:30 p.m., at the Wine Bank in University Place.

Food For Thought: WSJ says the restaurant of the future will have lots of small plates on the menu and will be in the lobby of a hotel.

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Eat & Drink section

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

LINK: Wine and beer tastings

WEEKLY VOLCANO: COMING TOGETHER >>>

Benefits for the four tragically slain Lakewood police officers are everywhere right now - and rightfully so. With so much pain, it's only naturally for people to want to help. It aids the healing process for our entire community.

Sunday at The Swiss in Tacoma, China Davis' Ben Fuller has helped throw together what, musically speaking, may be one of the best benefits going - collecting money for the Lakewood Police Independent Guild Charity Fund and offering music from The Missionary Position, Mom's Rocket, China Davis (naturally), Matt Eklund, Daniel Blue, Voxxy Vallejo and a host of others. The event - which has a $10 suggested donation - kicks of at 3 p.m. and has snowballed into a serious happening, with even KZOK getting involved to help promote it.

The Weekly Volcano caught up with Fuller earlier this week get his thoughts on the tragedy in Lakewood and organizing the benefit at the Swiss.

The interview will be posted in two parts. Part one posted on Thursday, Dec. 10. 

UPDATE: Fuller tells the Weekly Volcano that a benefit CD is being compiled and will be sold for $5 at Sunday's show at the Swiss. The CD will feature many of the artists scheduled to appear at the benefit.

WV: Talk about the lineup. What was your goal with it? How did you choose artists, and what were people's reactions when you approached them?

FULLER: The Northwest has a lot of music and no shortage of quality people offering to play events like this. My first goal was to put something together that Tacoma would want to see and show good taste. I kind of feel like this is a collection of some of the people I appreciate within the community. Actually, when Jeff Angell and Daniel Blue said they'd do it I knew we really had something. They are really the best of what Tacoma has to offer in their genre; it'd be a good event if they were the only ones on the bill. I really appreciate Jeff. He just jumped on this with no questions asked.

It's going to be good variety on Sunday. I'm really happy with the bill. We've got Dudley from Sweat Water and Voxxy Vallejo, who have four members who are longtime Lakewood residents finishing the night out. Mom's Rocket, who has been the KJR house band for the last year, will be playing.

I have my own personal favorites, too. People like Jim Basnight, who has a great back-story as a do-it-yourselfer from the late seventies punk and early eighties indie-rock scene.  

WV: Besides the music, what else are you doing at the event? Where does the money go?

FULLER: There will be $10 donation at the door and we are also putting together a raffle and all of the money goes to the Lakewood Police Independent Guild Charity Fund. http://lpig.us/ 

We also would love to offer any officer who would like to say something the chance to speak. This event is really about the community showing our appreciation for our policemen and policewomen. 

WV: How have the horrific murders in Lakewood that inspired this event personally affected you? Explain the emotions behind your involvement in this event.

FULLER: On a personal note, I found out that Officer Griswold was my daughter's mom's cousin. So, I guess in a way I am still trying to comprehend it all. I've been listening to music through different ears; I guess mortality is much more of a reality to me now. 

WEEKLY VOLCANO: COMING TOGETHER >>>

Benefits for the four tragically slain Lakewood police officers are everywhere right now - and rightfully so. With so much pain, it's only naturally for people to want to help. It aids the healing process for our entire community.

Sunday at The Swiss in Tacoma, China Davis' Ben Fuller has helped throw together what, musically speaking, may be one of the best benefits going - collecting money for the Lakewood Police Independent Guild Charity Fund and offering music from The Missionary Position, Mom's Rocket, China Davis (naturally), Matt Eklund, Daniel Blue, Voxxy Vallejo and a host of others. The event - which has a $10 suggested donation - kicks of at 3 p.m. and has snowballed into a serious happening, with even KZOK getting involved to help promote it.

The Weekly Volcano caught up with Fuller earlier this week get his thoughts on the tragedy in Lakewood and organizing the benefit at the Swiss.

The interview will be posted in two parts. Part one will post on Thursday, Dec. 10. The second part of the interview will post on Saturday, Dec. 12.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: If you can, briefly describe how this event came about. Why did you get involved, and why was it something you felt strongly about?

BEN FULLER: Like everyone else, hearing the news of this horrible shooting really blindsided me. My dad was a Pierce County Deputy for 33 years and in the back of my mind growing up I knew that something like this could happen. Also, my dad is a friend of Brad Carpenter who owns Forza Coffee, so knowing Brad really made it surreal to me. 

I actually went to the Forza website first because I wanted to donate to the families; the whole idea of nine children losing one of their parents just kills me. My girlfriend is a widow, so I know first hand what it's like for kids to miss their parent. I was about to donate, but I started thinking about doing some kind of event at that point. I emailed Brad first because I thought it might be a good idea to do coffee shop fundraisers of some kind, maybe even a CD. 

My mind was just going crazy so I started thinking about maybe doing something where the music community could contribute. I didn't figure it out right away; this event just grew very organically.

WV: Why was it important for you to have an event like this in Tacoma and at the Swiss? What purpose do you envision it serving - and who does it serve?

FULLER: The Swiss, at it's best, is a place where really just about anyone can feel comfortable. It feels like Tacoma to me; it feels like home. Everyone at the Swiss are either brothers or act like brothers, The Swiss represents family. I also think it's a great central location. 

When KZOK got involved they really wanted to move the show to a bigger venue, which ended up being the EMP. I really fought for keeping the Swiss show because I felt like we needed something in Tacoma. I like how everything worked out because the Bob Rivers Show is helping push this event, and Seattle also get'\s a great benefit out of it. The goal is to raise money for the families. If there are two shows, I think that can only be a good thing.

Check back Saturday for the second half of the Weekly Volcano's interview with Ben Fuller of China Davis.

RON SWARNER: FOOD MATTERS >>>

Santa Silvia: Once again, El Gaucho bartender Silvia Tapia will be holding a toy drive to benefit the children at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Drop by El Gaucho at 2119 Pacific Ave. with toys for the kids. Tapia will deliver all the toys Christmas morning.

Ho! Ho! Harbor Holidays: Sip. At the wine bar & restaurant will host a holiday event featuring a fashion show, appetizer bar, cooking demonstration and more today from 3-5 p.m. Reserve your spot at 253.853.3020.

Plan Ahead: The Northwest Baptist Seminary (4301 N. Stevens, Tacoma) will serve tea Dec. 11 1:30-4 p.m. and Dec. 12 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $18.

Food For Thought: Enthusiasts are worried that young people aren't interested in beer-can collecting hobby.

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Eat & Drink section

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

LINK: Wine and beer tastings

RON SWARNER: WINE AND TANGO BENEFIT CONCERT >>>

Traffic congestion in Old Town Tacoma after quitting time is no fun â�" especially when a train is added. Instead of the road rage you're bound to encounter, wouldn't you rather just tango? The folks behind Classical Tuesdays in Old Town are betting you would, which are why they're hosting the TangoHeart Quartet as the main attraction for their benefit concert Tuesday. Led by Bertram Lecy, the quartet dedicates their lives to performing the music of Astor Piazzolla and the classic orchestrations of the golden age of tango.

I caught up with Pamela Ryker, the mastermind behind Classical Tuesdays in Old Town, for the scoop.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Why did you choose TangoHeart Quartet for the Classical Tuesdays benefit concert?

PAMELA RYKER: Tango is festive and a little out of the ordinary for a holiday event. And TangoHeart Quartet is one of the best. The quartet's leader, Bertram Levy, is a terrific raconteur and musician who divides his time between Argentina and the Puget Sound region. We like to create a convivial atmosphere at our gatherings and Bertram is great at that. The quartet is the perfect size group for the intimacy of this gathering.

VOLCANO: Do the Old Town Tacoma merchants rally behind your events?

RYKER: Absolutely. The reception for Tuesday�s concert will showcase Old Town gems. The Spar and Cafe Divino are donating the wines. Proprietress Nancy Oltman of Pampeana will provide the empanadas. The coffee will be donated by Old Town Starbucks.

VOLCANO: Will folks be able to dance?

RYKER: I have something up my sleeve.

VOLCANO: Why did you choose Old Town Tacoma to host Classical Tuesdays?

RYKER: Old Town Business & Professional Association approached me some five years ago asking that I start up a chamber music series for the Old Town District, to provide cultural balance with the Wine & Jazz Festival and the Blues Fest the district was already sponsoring. From the get-go the idea was to present a series of free chamber music concerts to be held on a regular basis in an Old Town venue. The series has generated strong community support, both in the in-kind and financial support of the Business Association members and North End neighbors, and also in the large core audience constituency and the Puget Sound musicians eager to perform on the series.

There you go. Throw a rose between your teeth and support classical music in Old Town. Upcoming Classical Tuesdays concerts can be found here.

[Connelly Law Offices, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m., $25, 2301 N. 30th St., Old Town Tacoma, 253.752.2135]

MICHAEL SWAN: TWO OF THE FINEST >>>

Weekly Volcano Publisher Pappi Swarner shared some disturbing news with us - sometime this weekend (most likely Sunday night), his autographed Cheryl Ladd poster was pilfered from his private office restroom. No one seems to have seen the large framed poster make an exit out of the front door, which has led to some speculation that someone actually unscrewed it from the wall above his jetted tub, removed the screen in the bathroom window and lowered the thing onto our back parking lot, kinda like a dumb-ass Thomas Crown Affair.

Pappi claims he's hitting both The Grand Cinema's Annual Movie Poster Sale and the Beautiful Angle 2009 Holiday Party Benefit Sale Saturday in case the master poster thief tries to sell it.

[The Grand Cinema, Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to noon, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

[King's Books, Beautiful Angle poster sale, Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY: THE GIVING SEASON >>>

We at the Weekly Volcano are unselfish, socially aware, philanthropic folk. We like to give back (the very definition of philanthropic, if you will). As such, around this time of year we all get together and sing “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in joyous unison. But we’re only one massive, symbiotic unit. There’s only so much we can do.

It’s time for you to give back.

4th Annual World AIDS Day Harmony Benefit Drag Show
Pacific Lutheran University students and alumni will be coming together in its Columbia Center Conference Room Friday, Dec. 4, 7-10 p.m., to benefit the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. On that night, ladies will be men and men will be ladies. Extra points should go to ladies pretending to be men pretending to be ladies. It’s not easy. As you probably know, the show will be comprised of drag queens and kings lip-synching absolutely fabulous songs. The cover is only $1, but donations will be accepted throughout the night. But if you take a shine to any of the performers, tips are also accepted and subsequently donated.

Steve Stefanowicz Plays Everything He Knows
Saturday, Dec. 5 you can catch Steve Stefanowicz at the Mandolin Café. Bring some non-perishable food along with you, as this performance will benefit the Food Connection. Stefanowicz, it seems, fancies himself a “Human Jukebox.” He claims to know more than a thousand songs, and the Mandolin aims to put him to the test. Starting at noon, he will play and play and play until he runs out of songs. Audience members are encouraged to make requests, taking this challenge up a notch or two. You know what I’d request? “MacArthur Park” by Richard Harris. Even if he could play it, why would he want to? Tire him out early and often.

Saturday Night Feed!
It’s easy to forget, with all this Black Friday, gift-givin’, eggnog-drinkin’ mumbo jumbo that Christmas is supposed to be about Jesus. (Christ, that is. Black gold. Texas tea.) If that’s your bag, then you’d be hard-pressed to find a more suitable way to give back than to visit the Saturday Night Feed. True, this happens every Saturday, but the holiday season is the toughest time of year for the homeless, the beneficiaries of this charitable event. On Saturday nights, the homeless gather at the Tacoma Rescue Mission, where they are given clothes and food. Meanwhile, StreetLight performs for them and the volunteers. I’ve listened to StreetLight and, as far as Christian rock bands go, they’re actually pretty good.

Friends of the Holidays
The next day, Friends of the Holidays hosts a super-gigantic bash inside The Swiss. Sunday, Dec. 6, 1-10:30 p.m., nine (count ‘em nine!) bands will gather and rock the Christmas spirit into you. Your $10 donation gets you admission, and raffles and silent auctions round out the evening to ensure that just about everyone leaves with some goodies. In between beers and ear-shattering sets, you sit comfortably knowing that you’ve contributed to a cause that provides aid to underprivileged families.

Look, these times are tough for everyone, but if you can have a fun night out while also making someone else’s life a little better, I’d call that Yahtzee.

MATT DRISCOLL: O EH, O EH, O EH, O EH >>>

Remember that time in elementary school you took 7th place in the talent show with your lip-synced version of Miami Sound Machine’s “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You”? Yeah, well, Raw Talent #2, a local talent show at The New Frontier Lounge on Saturday, isn’t going to be anything like that.

Benefiting Second Cycle, Hilltop’s loved bicycle co-op, Raw Talent #2 will be a chance for anyone to check out a cast of local performers â€" many of them relative newbies â€" busting out spoken word, poetry, music, comedy and maybe even a puppet show or two.

Only time will tell, but one thing is certain â€" Raw #2 should be a sight to see and experience.

[The New Frontier Lounge, Saturday, Nov. 28, 7 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

PAUL SCHRAG: BENEFIT FOR BRIAN REDMAN >>>

Metal has evolved. Apparently there are enough enraged teens to have catapulted a full on pop phenomenon, with new metal bands emerging daily.

And, forgive me, most of them suck. Instrumentation is sloppy, riffs are tired and repetitive, and grooves are barren. Even the rage, the heart of it all, seems staged.

But there is hope. And you can find it on a tour of new work by Vancouver, B.C.'s 3 Inches of Blood, a Tacoma staple and one of the best things to happen to metal in a long while.

With a show tonight at Hellâ's Kitchen, and the recent tragic loss of former 3 Inches bass player Brian Redman, the time to appreciate this band has never been better. 3 Inches of Blood are tight, brutal and as on-point as ever.

Redman, wherever he is, must be proud.

[Hell,s Kitchen, with The Jet City Fix, Glimpse, Monuments Collide, Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 p.m., $10 suggested donation goes to the family of Brian Redman, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]