MICHAEL SWAN: ALL-STAR CELEBRITY WEEKEND >>>

Nick Lachey, singer and co-owner of your Tacoma Rainiers, will host an all-star celebrity weekend Sept. 22 and 22 to benefit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Tacoma General Hospital and the Mary Bridge Parenting Partnership.

Nick Lachey and his posse of important people will partake in a celebrity softball game, a celebrity golf classic, a celebrity dinner and a celebrity live auction.

Who are the celebrities? Check out the list here.

The details can best be digested at the Tacoma Celebrity Weekend Web site here.

It will be celeberific.

STEPH DEROSA: GOOD MIX THIS WEEK >>>

Sumner has recently brought me unexpected happiness.  This little city’s downtown shopping district reminds me of the ambiance that also draws me to the likes of downtown Olympia.  Park your car and stroll through Sumner’s tiny gift shops, bakeries, book shops, retail stores, and restaurants â€" and you’ll see what I’m talking about.  One definite stop along the way that I highly recommend is on Ryan Ave in Sumner called Sorci’s Italian Café and Market. 

Traditional Italian meats, pastas, gelatos, and vino come served with personality at this family-owned café.  This week’s Dinner with DeRosa will be accompanied by Italian wine and plenty of Sorci’s thin crust Italian-style pizza.  I’ll be honest â€" I don’t recommend any of the raviolis, but if pasta is what you have a hankering for â€" then I suggest a serving of their homemade gnocchi.  Let’s eat!

Maria DeVore is one of those people I seem to run into everywhere.  We met at the Love Tacoma cruise a few months ago, and we’ve to bumped into each other at pretty much every fund-raiser held in Tacoma city limits since then.  I finally snapped a shot of her at Zoobilee, along with Charlotte Boutz of Rusty George Creative.  Boutz called her dress a “mullet dress â€" business in the front, party in the back.”  A sense of humor is always welcome at my dinner table.

Outside Friday night’s Live @ BBC (Beyond the Bridge Café), and directly in front of my parked car, sat Fennison James and Brian Johnson.  The two were collaborating on songs, one in particular being “Lorili” â€" a beautiful story of a girl Fennison once loved.  I stopped dead in my tracks and listened to the impromptu session.  Unrehearsed and full of emotion â€" just as any great jam session should be.  These guys are definitely guests this week.

Along with Puget Sound Pizza having great pizza, it is also one of my favorite Tacoma breakfast joints.  My favorite PSP breakfast server is Lyndzi, and she’s a guest at this week’s DWD.  Lyndzi does what any awesome server would do for me â€" She helps me decide what to have for breakfast by giving me a little bit of everything.  It is like asking me to pick my favorite glass of wine at Enoteca when it comes to picking just one thing from that damn PSP breakfast menu.  Granted, this is only if the kitchen isn’t swamped, but just the other day she hooked me up with: One huevos rancheros, one biscuit with gravy, and one slice of French toast. Friggen perfect breakfast, Lyndzi, friggen perfect.   Sometimes a little bit of everything is a lot to ask for, and you made that breakfast easy and awesome for me.

For our listening pleasure Starstruck will be belting out the old-school cover tunes while we mosh on Sorci’s.  This tweenie girl band rocked the streets at the opening day of the 6th Ave Farmers Market a couple of weeks ago.  Rock on, girl bands!  We need more of you around Tacoma, that’s for sure.

Lastly, I’ve found someone that needs a good, carby Italian dinner: Bargain Bucky the Bates skeleton.  He’s lovingly given the name “Bargain Bucky” because he comes from the cheaper side when it comes to the educational skeleton family.  He’s a little shorter, and made from a less-expensive material than the high tech med school type skeletons.  He’s about $300 when others can cost upward of a few thousand dollars.  Fortunately Bucky is not alone in his new Bates home, as his cousin “tabletop Timmy” has been adopted as well.  Timmy is a skeleton of a human body from the chest up â€" and you guessed it â€" he sits on a table.  Sorry Timmy, but you aren’t invited this week, just your cousin Bucky.  A torso is mandatory to be a guest with this fine group of DeRosa guests.

Mangiamo!

LINK: Dinner with DeRosa archive

STEPH DEROSA: WHO DOES THAT? >>>

Look, I don't blame some of the folks at Jazzbones. I wouldn't want to clean a damn public bathroom- no matter how much you paid me. And let's just all come to terms with the fact that the ladies room at Jazzbones is always going to be one of the worst public restrooms in Tacoma. Hundreds of drunken idiots are using those facilites on any given weekend, so it's bound to be a torn-up mess by the time I step foot in there.

Guaranteed there's either going to be no toilet paper, or no hand soap, or a clogged toilet, or no paper towels, or a wet floor (not fun for flip-flops), or a toilet that you have to flush by lifting the back lid and pulling up the plug manually. And can I just mention that aside from the handicapped toilet, the only other stall is about as big as a shoebox? I'm not talkin' a big ol' Doc Martin's shoebox either, I'm talkin' 'bout my 5-year-old daughter's shoebox. Seriously, who has hundreds of people inside a venue for a packed live performance and only two girl's stalls? Who does that? Yeah, yeah, I know- there's another bathroom upstairs. But when you're tearin' up the dance floor in front of Bumma Stoge, who wants to haul their ass all the way up to those rooms?

While I waited in the inevitable girls' restroom pee-line, I started to ponder other unbelievable "Who does that?" situations.

Most recent example: Zoobilee last Friday. Steph DeRosa did not dress up as much as some of the other gals. I donned a simple black dress, but accessorized with some hot pink décor. (The small hot pink handbag was on sale, OK?) Well, a woman walked up to me, and this was the conversation:
Her: I have that same scarf!
Me: Oh cool!
Her: I got mine in Santa Cruz.
Me: Wow, nice.
Her: Where did you get yours?
Me: Macy's.
Her: Oh, well mine is just like yours but I got it in Santa Cruz. I probably paid too much for it.
Me: Yeah but you have a way better story to tell about where you got it! Unlike Macy's.
Her: Yeah, and I was staying in a twenty-million-dollar house, so...

Who does that? Who says stuff like that to a complete stranger, and out of nowhere? I just replied, "Oh, cool" and then walked away. What was she trying to prove? Was she threatened by me? Or my stupid Macy's scarf? Was she an insecure money-grubber, or what? Seriously, who says that?

Example number two: Pearly Whites Laser Dentistry on Ruston Way. I have extremely sensitive teeth, so I was looking for a less intrusive way to have my teeth cleaned. I personally went into their Ruston Way office, talked to the receptionist, asked my questions, etc., etc., etc. I made an appointment, but told them that I would be checking in with my dental insurance to make sure that they would cover some of the costs of laser dentistry.

The morning before the appointment at about 10 a.m., I still had not clarified things with my dental insurance, so I called Pearly Whites to reschedule my appointment. Now, just for clarification- my appointment wasn't until 1:30 p.m. the next day, so this was over 24 hours notice. Here's the conversation:

Me: I still haven't spoken with my insurance, so I need to reschedule my appointment I have tomorrow.
Them: Do you have a day yet that you want to reschedule?
Me: Let me look at my calendar.
Them: Make sure it's a day that you are sure you can make it.
Me: Excuse me?
Them: Make sure it's a day that you know you're not going to have to reschedule.
Me: What do you mean? (Disbelief)
Them: We don't like it when people reschedule their appointments. That's why we send out reminder cards.
Me: Then maybe I should just cancel my appointment altogether.
Them: Yeah, and then you can call back and make an appointment when you know you aren't going to cancel.

Who says that? Answer me! I'm appalled that this kind of shit comes out of people's mouths! Especially when they are a business like that-no one NEEDS laser dentistry, it is a luxury and they should come off as appealing and welcoming to the consumer. Am I right? Give me a fucking break.

I could go on and on with examples, mainly with ones about my mother-in-law. People say the dumbest shit to me. I think it's a brain disease that causes people not to think before they open their mouths. In the meantime, here's a video that cheers me up.

LINK: Toilet Tales archive

BRAD ALLEN: I AM HUNGER >>>

I would not, could not, at Hell’s Kitchen. I could not, would not, at a Tacoma Little Theatre audition. I will not wear it in the form of a shirt. I will not wear it privately in a miniskirt. I will not wear it at Club Silverstone â€" inside or out. I will not wear if I decided to come out. I do not like wearing clothes as pink as ham. I do not like them, Brad Allen-I-am.

I believed that pink is a color that only girls and really preppy Polo-wearing bastards should wear. I recently received a pink shirt for my birthday. I hate it. I’m going to spray paint it green and give it away at the I Am Hunger event Aug. 24 during the Glassroots Arts Festival.

Press release from Jennevieve Schlemmer and Lynn Di Nino:

Each person is asked to find 3 gently used items and paint them all the same shade of LIME GREEN.  Once you have RSVP'd, you will receive the full list of instructions.  We need your help.

This is a one-day event, a "yard sale" to raise awareness about all of the objects that come in and out of our lives.  Give new life to an object that might otherwise go to a landfill!  All objects will be priced at a $5 suggested donation with all proceeds to benefit the EMERGENCY FOOD NETWORK.

If you are interested in participating, please email Lynn Di Nino and you will receive further instructions. 

STEPH DEROSA: OH WE OH WE OH >>>

My dates last night at Zoobilee included not only my husband, but also Pappi Swarner, Ginger Knoxx, Chiara Wood, and The KAke.  So fortunately for the wild animals at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, last night I had to be on my best behavior.  I was fine with that, actually. Really all I felt like doing was eating, drinking, and dancing anyway.  What a perfect venue Zoobilee was for me to fulfill all my glutinous needs.

Zoobilee is traditionally voted as one of Tacoma’s “must do” events of the year.   Last night we shelled out the some-odd $200 a piece to check out what all the hubbub was about.  To me what it was all about a classier, drama-free prom.  Except this time the food was significantly better and I could legally get my drunk on.

First things first â€" as with any prom or sorority event I’ve ever been to, a pre-function (pre-func) is in order.  A deep, warm glass of Cabernet warmed my tummy at Maxwell’s Speakeasy + Lounge as my group enjoyed taking the edge off from a long Friday at work. 

The bumpy, yellow bus-ride in from the sandy go-kart parking lots to the zoo entrance made me thankful I had visited the restrooms before boarding the illustrious magic school bus.  I dusted off my freshly manicured toenails as I reached up and caught a snap of the bus crowd.

Directly inside the entrance was a table filled with champagne glasses available for a $20 purchase.  Buyers were told to keep the plastic glass, and later a number would be called (printed on the glass) for a chance to win a two-karat diamond.  My mind was not on diamonds last night, but more on finding some wine, so off to the vendor tents we headed.

My all-time favorite cupcake store, Indulge Cupcakes, was in da’ house.  I was told they had prepared for Zoobilee by baking 4,300 mini-cupcakes.  Hot damn those things are delicious. 

Other vendors made me happy with simple cheese plates to accompany my wine â€" Metropolitan market, for example.

It was nice to see the men not take dressing up so seriously last night.  I loved the short-tuxedo look.  Many men wore tennis shoes and flip-flops with their suits.  I was happy to be with Pappi and Mr. DeRosa who swore off penguin outfits this year and donned simple dress shirts with jackets. 

It was also nice to see that even the men’s restroom had a line for once. 

One of my favorite steakhouses, Goodfella’s Steakhouse, was serving up perfectly cooked steak skewers.  They also had one of the longest food lines all night, one that was well worth waiting in.

Ginger Knoxx tasted Dry Fly Distillery â€" Washington’s first distillery, and she actually liked it.  Being the boozehound that she is, this is quite a compliment.  Plenty of other Tacoma food and drink vendors were represented such as: Masa/Asado, CANS, Pinwheel Catering’s Herban Café, Pacific Grill, Ravenous Restaurant & Unique Wines, Doyle’s Public House, CI Shenanigans, Katie Downs, Duke’s Chowder House, Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante, and The Melting Pot â€" just to name a few.  The food was decadent, the drinks were flowing, and the night was my own personal heaven â€" aside from the crowds.

Finally we scored a sweet spot on the sidelines of the Morris Day and The Time performance.  This gave us ample viewing of all Zoobilee-things inebriated.  People watching at its finest.

Thank you Zoo Society, it’s event chairs, and all the sponsors for one damn fantastic evening.  I loved my Zoobilee 2008 prom almost as much as my high school 1990 one â€"you guys really know how to throw a party!

CARMEN JONES: LET. ME OUT. OF HERE. >>>

I'm stuck in my overly-air-conditioned office right now wishing it was 5 p.m. like never before because I really, really can't wait for Zoobilee.

I had some dress anxiety because I was on a very limited timeline to find one. After eyeing some disappointing special occasion dresses for grannies at Nordstrom, I speed walked into Macy's, and within five minutes of being in their fancy-girl corner, I found the absolute perfect black full-length strapless dress with striking swirls and tasteful bling in all the right places. Even better, the dress fits like a glove. I tested out the danceability of it in the dressing room as onlookers laughed. I explained that it was for Zoobilee and they all ahhhhed and nodded their heads in approval. Thank you, Macy's!

I'm also extra stoked because Senor Gato scored us a limo for our safe transportation that will be filled with all kinds of friends, including NatAsha and Jaime Kay and Jason from the Top of Tacoma. I'm pretty sure I can certify that this will be the first time ever that a limo has transported people from the Eastside to Zoobilee.

What's even better is that I convinced The Lawyer and The Revered to go. K to the K just scored a ticket, and I'm looking forward to rollin’ with Little Lizzle (and check out what I'm sure will be a gorgeous dress!). My Gay Husband has promised that he'll save me some dances, but only dirty ones.

OK … and can I mention just how much I LOVE Morris Day and The Time? I truly hope that they'll play "Jerk Out" cuz I'm already planning on "jerkin’ everything in sight."

So, if you're on the fence about going, I can't encourage you enough to buy a ticket, throw on a dress or a nice suit or tux and GO! Sure, it's $200 plus, but the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium is such a very worthy cause, and I feel great about that donation (tax writeoff, too!).

The Zoo will be selling the tickets right up until the event itself. Call 253.404.3677 and save a dance for me when the Time plays "Jungle Love."

Oh we oh we oh.

MATT DRISCOLL: LIKES THE SOUND OF THIS EVENT >>>

Ever wanted to get shitty drunk with Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma, not to mention six former mayors from Tacoma’s illustrious past? And I’m not just talking about getting a little tipsy here; I’m talking about shirt off, falling down, rolling in the grass, not going to remember anything in the morning drunk.

Well, while I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, you’ll have that opportunity this weekend. Even better, it’ll be for a good cause.

This weekend during the Taste of Tacoma, the Metro Parks Foundation will hold their annual Wine and Roses fundraiser. The idea is to turn the Rose Garden at Point Defiance into a big, wine swilling, money raising fracas. Even better, Friday, between 5 and 8 p.m., the Metro Parks Foundation will welcome Mayor Baarsma and six other mayors from Tacoma’s past to turn things up a few notches. Admission to the event is free, but if you want to taste, it’s going to cost you $15 â€" a small price to pay, in my book. Big names scheduled to be on hand â€" and pouring- include Mike Crowley (MBA President), Brian Ebersole (Former Speaker of the House), Karen Vialle, Harold Moss (Former Pierce County Council), and Doug Sutherland (Commissioner of Public Lands). As for all the Tacoma mayors set to be on hand on Friday, according to Drew Ebersole, Executive Director of the Greater Metro Parks Foundation, “It is the first time they have ever gathered together, much less united for a single cause by supporting the Greater Metro Parks Foundation.”

The money raised at the Wine and Roses event will go to worthy Metro Parks causes â€" like further whitening of the lions at Wright Park.

DANIEL BLUE: ENVIROHOUSE >>>

If you have ever visited the Tacoma Landfill, I'm sure you've noticed the conspicuous miniature house that sits on the little slip of land between the incoming and outgoing traffic for the dump.    This is the EnviroHouse, the City of Tacoma's green building and natural landscape exhibit.  The EnviroHouse highlights readily available products for new and existing homes and yards and is soon hosting the fourth recycled-content art installation, where artwork made from at least 95 percent salvaged material is showcased.

Fourteen professional works of art from local artists Karen BenVeniste, Karen Fabiano and Ellen Miffitt will be on display at the EnviroHouse June 19 through mid-October.  Meet the artists and learn about their environmental inspiration at the artists' reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 19.

If trash is paint, then the dump is an art supply even oil friendly Chuck Norris would love.

NATASHA GORBACHEV: I SO SAVED DARFUR >>>

It's no secret at all that I'm such a fan of Emily Adler, Jessica Gavre, Aurora Jewell, and Kendra Varadi.

They're the spirited bunch that pulled together the Stand Up For Darfur fundraiser as mere volunteers, heads filled with intellect and hearts on their sleeves that were overflowing with passion.

Their event yesterday at Doyle's Pubic House was successful in so many ways.

It brought incredible awareness to the minds of the masses on the atrocious genocide occurring in Darfur, Sudan.

A sweet lineup of bands and exposure for each of them commenced: Sea Navy, Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden, Stephanie Johnson, Blanco Bronco, Heidi Vladyka, Matt Coughlin, The Joshua Cain Band, Negative 7 and John Walker at the Hitchhikers.

People donated to the cause through swag sales (I LOVE my new hoodie), a silent auction and cool raffle items (I even scored a Save Darfur T-shirt!).

This event also packed out Doyle's Public House during hours that might not have such high volumes.

It included all kinds of T-Town celebrities, including Pretty-Face Patrick who was supporting the event in a cast due to a soccer injury. He claims his cast glows in the dark (I would've tried to request camouflage myself), and I'm wondering if that's just a ploy to get girls in his bedroom. But what I'm really trying to say is that several stories were told and so much fun was had that made giving all of money to this worthy cause all the better.

Best of all, by the time I took off (they still had three more bands to go), these four female volunteers, their powerful community partners, and the friends and family who supported them had raised $6,100 for the cause.

If you ask me, that's grassroots support and love at its best.

Congratulations to these girls and to all who supported and worked to save Darfur.

I'll be contacting my legislators this week.

LINK: Stand Up For Darfur MySpace.