RON SWARNER: FOOD MATTERS >>>

US Too Fundraiser: Joeseppi’s Italian Restaurant in Tacoma will donate 25 percent of its profits during its 4-8 p.m. dinner hour tonight to fight prostate cancer.

Half-price Wine: Tentwentytwo South and Maxwell’s Speakeasy offer discounted bottles of wine tonight.

Tightwad Tuesdays: It’s about $2 tacos, $2 beers, and $2 wells at Hell’s Kitchen tonight.

Plan Ahead: Classically-trained French Chef Thierry Liot teaches French Holiday Cuisine Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. inside the Bayview School of Cooking in Olympia. The class costs $45. Reserve your spot at 360.754.1448.

Food For Thought: What your taste in beer says about you.

LINK: Weekly Volcano’s Eat & Drink section

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

LINK: Wine and beer tastings

RON SWARNER: GOOD TIMES >>>

Sometimes, when I'm really tired, and the couch is calling, is when I have the most fun in Tacoma. Here are eight things I ran into last night.

Pearl Django kicked off Maxwell's Speakeasy new Saturday night live music series. The gypsy jazz band fit like a glove in Maxwell's upscale speakeasy environment. Next Saturday Jazz trumpeter Lance Buller and crew will entertain.

Speaking of speakeasy, the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative in Tacoma hosted an Art Door Auction to benefit Tacoma Art Place.  A broken toed Alan Gorsuch, co-owner of Sanford and Son Antiques, auctioned off all 13 doors. There's good energy in this downtown Tacoma artist co-op space. Keep your eye here for future events.

The Rollin' Hots hotdog truck parked outside of the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative serving tasty wieners with a sense of humor. The hilarious owners Kelly and Carrie will come to your event. Send them an email at rollinhots@gmail.com.

Someone asked me what was the reason for the large crowd at The New Frontier Lounge. I pointed to the two guys on stage. Mr. Fusion, original acoustic music by longtime songwriting partners Joe Izenman and Erich Sachs, has a huge following for a good reason: They're talented.

Ryan Purcell and the Last Round reminds me of Paul Westerberg's The Replacements with an added Kenny Loggins feel ... something. I don't know. I do know this band equals a fun night. They followed Mr. Fusion at the New Frontier.

Renee Timmer moved like lighting when drumsticks were thrown.

Higher Vibes saxophonist Brett Cummings didn't have a reason to pretend shoot lead singer Zach Lujan while on Jazzbones' stage. The joint was packed.

I found The Trampires mascot sweet pea hanging out at the Tentwentytwo South lounge past midnight. He was still out for blood after the Femme Fianna won the Dockyard Derby Dames 2009 Championship Bout earlier in the evening.

RON SWARNER: TODAY IN TEMPEST LOUNGE >>>

The liquor board sent Denise Tempest and Michelle Douglas the official letter. Their Tempest Lounge has been given the green light to be an all-ages spot â€" as soon as the two owners build the barrier in front of the bar.

In other Tempest news, their benefit Sunday for Ref. 71 raised $7,773. Not bad. They built a stage for the occasion for the musical stylings of Evan Purcell and The Kim Archer Band. A bigger stage is in the works next summer.

Here are a couple of pics from the benefit show:

By the way, it’s iPod Tuesday at the Tempest.

[Tempest Lounge, 913 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma, 253.272.4904]

MICHAEL SWAN: HELP OUT THE EMERGENCY FOOD NETWORK >>>

The Emergency Food Network never takes a day off. They can’t while there are mouths to feed. Sunday, Oct. 11 its annual fund raising event Empty Bowls combines art, community, giving and fine eats. Local and regional artisans have donated one-of-a-kind bowls made from hand-tooled carved wood, colorful glass, hand-thrown clay by Pacific Northwest Potters, and placemats by Tacoma Weavers’ Guild.

Bowls are $10 each.

This event is very popular; the bowls go fast. Tasty soup and hearty breads from local chefs accompany purchases.

[St. Charles Borromeo Church, 2-5 p.m., $10, 7112 S.12th St., Tacoma, 253.224-6967]

MATT DRISCOLL: BRIAN REDMAN MEMORIAL TONIGHT >>>

The sadness has been heavy, and it has suffocated Tacoma since sometime Sunday morning. The most painful blows are the ones you don't see coming, the ones you just can't explain, the ones that feel so unfair. When Tacoma lost Brian Redman, we lost a huge chunk of our town and ourselves. We will never be the same. On Friday, Doyle's Public House will fittingly play host to Brian Redman's memorial - which, naturally, will include a heavy dose of rock and music. Based on the astounding number of people Redman touched during his too short time on this earth, it's likely all of Tacoma will be there.

Music Schedule
Acoustic sets start at 6 p.m.
Kyong Kim
Geoff Whittal (Romeos)
Daniel Blue (Motopony)
Josh (Westerly)
Jeff Angell (Missionary Position)

7:00  Ockham's Razor
7:25  Toughtimes
7:50 Speeches from Family and Close Friends
8:30  The Fucking Eagles
8:55 The Revengers
9:20 Blanco Bronco
9:45 Pioneers West
10:10 Goldwing
10:35 Top Heavy Crush
11:00 Helms Alee
11:25 Monuments Collide
11:50 Roxx, Brown, Takata
12:15 Zeke
12:40 Glimpse/Doxology
1:05 Harkonen
1:30(or time allowing)  Epic Proportions of Chaos

[Doyle's Public House, Friday, Oct. 2, memorial starts at 5 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m., $5 suggested donation for funeral expenses and endowment fund, 208 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.7468]

MATT DRISCOLL: ANTIQUES! >>>

I wasn’t always living the dream. Yes, it’s true. I know it might sound crazy to some, but there was a time â€" not all that long ago, even â€" when I didn’t have cable (gasp!). Life was simpler back then. Options were fewer, and I came to love Antique Road Show on PBS. How much is this piece of crap worth? Let’s find out! This was my tube watching thought pattern on most nights back then.

On Saturday at the Museum of Glass, longstanding and well-respected non-profit Tacoma Community House, which was established in 1910 and provides services to refugees, immigrants, and English speaking adults and youth, will hold its Third Annual Antique Quest and Wine Fest. Expect food from around the world, plenty of wine, live music, and â€" oh hell yes! â€" antique appraising.

I might camp out early for a good spot.

[Museum of Glass, Saturday, Oct. 3, 7-10 p.m., $75, 1801 Dock Street, Tacoma, 253.396.1768]

MICHAEL SWAN: SUNDAY BENEFIT FOR LITTLE BAILY >>>

Tuesday April 7 little Baily was diagnosed with Advanced Stage Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Since that dreadful day, little Baily has undergone intensive chemotherapy â€" twice. The tumor is aggressive.

According to Baily’s mom, the little boy has been a trooper. “He knows that he is sick and cannot do most of the things that he loves; zoos, petting zoos, church group, preschool, train store, library, even riding his bike can be hard for him because of how weak he is,” she states in a press release. “He tells me that ‘it’s okay mom, I know I can’t do that because I’m sick’ â€" and it breaks my heart. This is his ‘normal’ life now and he has accepted it. He says that he will never leave us and that he will get better. He is a good strong 4-year-old boy who is fighting for his life.”

Baily needs a boost of joy, folks. Please join Baily’s family and friends Sunday, Sept. 27, for an afternoon of cupcakes, balloons and a silent auction at the Life Center Church Gymnasium. The event runs from 12:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. The silent auction begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 4.

For more information, go to Baily’s support Web site.

RON SWARNER: GREAT AMERICAN DESSERT >>>

Pacific Grill is participating in the Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out, a week-long national restaurant event. Through Sept. 26, thousands of restaurants, including Pacific Grill, have joined together to raise funds to help end childhood hunger in America. After you donate to the Great American Dine Out at Pacific Grill a complimentary Julia Child Warm Brownie Sundae dessert will arrive to your table.

I stopped by to donate and try the brownie sundae. The dessert is amazing. I couldn’t finish it even after a light lunch.

I simply had to have the recipe. Now you have it, too:

JULIA CHILD’S “Best Ever Brownies” from Baking with Julia
18 servings

1 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

8 ounces unsalted butter

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

4 large eggs

Eleven steps to heaven
1. Center a rack in the oven and preheat oven to 350 F degrees.

2. Sift the flour and salt together and set aside

3. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a medium saucepan over low eat, stirring frequently and keeping a watchful eye on the pot to make certain the chocolate doesn’t scorch (alternatively, you can melt the ingredients in the top of a double boiler over, not touching, simmering water.) Add 1 cup of the sugar to the sugar to the mixture and stir for half a minute, then remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

4. Pour the mixture into a large bowl

5. Put the remaining 1 cup sugar and the eggs into a bowl and mix or whisk by hand just to combine

6. Little by little, pour half of the sugar and eggs into the chocolate mixture, stirring gently but constantly with a rubber so that the eggs don’t set from the heat.

7. Fit the whisk attachment to the mixer and whip the remaining sugar and eggs until they are thick, pale and double in volume, about 3 minutes

8. Using the rubber spatula, delicately fold the whipped eggs into the chocolate mixture

9. When the eggs are almost completely incorporated, gently fold in the dry ingredients

10. Pour and scrape batter into an unbuttered 9-inch square pan

11. Bake brownies for 25-28 minutes.

Cool before slicing and serving.

The key here is a heated ganache and Olympic Mountain Vanilla Bean ice cream.

Enjoy.

[Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific ave., Tacoma, 253.722.1490]

JENNIFER JOHNSON: THE HOTTEST SPOT NORTH OF HAVANA >>>

Last night red, yellow and green lights, zigzagging streamers and paper palm trees transformed The Library at Sanford and Son into the tropical setting for The Prom, a night of dancing and cavorting in the name of charity. It was another successful year for this annual adult fundraising event benefiting CARS, Companion Animal Rescue Society. With “Copacabana” as the theme, partygoers sported all manner of island dress, Cuban linen suits, skimpy showgirl dresses and headpieces of glittery feathers, fruit, and shiny fabric.

Sadly arriving too late to catch band Si Si Si, I was blown away by Anthony Astrada and his band The Toughtimes. Blending blues, punk and surf rock, Astrada worked the crowd as a true showman would.

Later DJ Infinity taught the crowd of flush-faced revelers a 4-step shuffle. Hilarity unfolded. Grinning, laughing and clapping along, even people that swear they don’t dance were caught up by the energy and did a little sashaying.

I took mini-breaks from dancing in the Copa-Feel lounge with delicious teas from Mad Hat Tea Company, icy cold beers, glasses of wines and tasty hor d'oeuvres.

After the king and queen were crowned, the raffle tickets drawn, and my picture taken prom-style, I ended the evening sipping handcrafted martinis at 1022 Lounge.

More Prom photos are at the Photo Hot Spot.

Photography by Steve Dunkelberger

PAUL SCHRAG: RANDY OXFORD AND THE 9-11 BENEFIT >>>

Horn man Randy Oxford will be back at Jazzbones tonight. Surely, you've noticed Oxford's break from Jazzbones Wednesday blues jam appearances. They became almost taken for granted until ceasing to be.

This time Oxford is back at Jazzbones with a cause - firefighters.

Fitting, no?

Oxford is an award-winning blues artist with a long, celebrated history in Tacoma. Oxford lived in Chicago, at the age of 11, when jazz was in everyone's ears. A trip to see The Music Man, its prolific use of trombones, and a dire need in the school band encouraged Oxford to pick up his first piece of brass. After struggling with music for years, he found a mentor that helped launch a career that took Oxford around the world, eventually returning to the South Sound. He and his trombone have been here ever since.

We're lucky to have them.

[Jazzbones, Randy Oxford and Pals Present Remember the Fallen, Friday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m., $12, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]