BIFF! POW! WOW! >>>

Word has been floating amid the circle of regulars for the past week, but today it is official: Comic Book Ink will no longer be Tacoma's largest comic retailer.

Proprietor John Munn this morning signed a fresh lease on a new storefront in the Lakewood Cinema Plaza (2510 84th St. S.), home of the 15 screen Regal movie theater, on Aug. 1, placing the shop just outside Tacoma's city limits for the first time in its eight-year history.

The new space will provide "500 more square feet of space, more interior space and more parking," according to Munn, for what is reportedly significantly less cost than their current location at 72nd Street's Johnsborough Station. The shop originally opened in the Proctor District in 2002, but was forced by construction to move to East Tacoma in 2005.

Comic Book Ink has also had a longstanding partnership with their new neighbor, manning a booth with giveaways at midnight premieres of comic-inspired films such as this Spring's Iron Man 2. Whether this will evolve into late-night openings and promotions for the shop itself remains to be seen.

APPLY NOW >>>

The Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau is looking to hire a Marketing Coordinator. Here is the job description:

Provide graphic design and creative services for the Marketing + Communications Department to include online eBlasts, major publications, advertising campaigns, website graphics and more! The Marketing Coordinator is also responsible for placing media buys and coordinating co-op ads with TRCVB members in addition to producing video content for social media sites and updating the TRCVB's image library. This position will work collaboratively with the marketing and communications team. 

Visit www.traveltacoma.com/careers for full job description and instructions to apply. Applications due June 23, 2010.

WHISKEYS, ROCK 'N' ROLL AND COWBOY HATS >>>

Whiskey has always been the drink of dangerous men - cowboys - the ultimate macho accoutrement. Whiskey is what mom warned you about, and there has never been anything dainty about drinking the stuff. In accordance with myth, whiskey is to be belted back in a quick, neck-snapping gesture, from a shot glass or straight from the bottle, by those who are tough enough to take it. 

You can now test your manliness at the new Big Whisky Saloon at the corner of Ninth and A Street in downtown Tacoma. The country music joint that opened last night in the spot that once housed Cans Tacoma - and 53 other restaurants, or so it seems - has dubbed itself a "Whisky Bar" carrying more than 50 whiskeys from around the world.

Yup, no "e." According to a press release, co-owner Roger Rahill who has dual citizenship with Canada "came up with the concept, name and the logo and preferred the Canadian spelling of whisky."

Rahill and business partner Jon Tartaglia (Varsity Grill, The Loft, 21 Commerce) want to make it clear that while the 6000 square foot venue does have a country feel to it with a whisky barrel wall, a true hardwood dance floor, a mounted moose head, staff donning cowboy hats and skimpy jean shorts - plus General Manager Paul Muller came from McCabe's American Music Café - they will play a mix of country and rock via music videos and DJs.

"Roger and I have been dreaming of the country and rock concept for a long time," Tartaglia told me yesterday just after opening the doors. "Funny, Cans was just finding its legs, gaining a large crowd, but we really wanted to open this kind of joint."

Last night's opening saw a mixture of country music fans and folks waiting for the Comedy Underground show to start, which has been housed in the building's basement for years.

"Country and comedy are a natural fit," Tartaglia explains. "Typically, a majority of the comedy crowd comes from Puyallup, Sumner and Orting."

Right now, food consists of burgers, nachos, fries, tater tots and such. A giant projector screen is also on it's way soon.

Big Whisky Saloon will host a Brooks & Dunn pre-concert party with 100.7 The Wolf tonight.

LINK: More photos in our Photo Hot Spot

Dear City of Fife,

Your easy truck access to Port of Tacoma makes driving difficult and scary next to huge 18-wheelers as I leave my little hidden residential Fife hilltop every morning. 

You give me delicious sushi by means of Sapporo Sushi and Teriyaki off Pacific Highway, and true dive bar awesomeness in The Right Spot behind the Poodle Dog, but not much else when it comes to dining and entertainment.

I appreciate how you've alleviated traffic going to your grand Emerald Queen Casino, but I don't gamble, so that doesn't help me.

Thank you for FINALLY beginning road expansion on Valley Avenue, it was about damn time you did something with all that money you've been collecting from the businesses along 70th.  Now as for the traffic cameras, I'm not quite OK with that yet - but we can talk later.

Fife, I love your police officers, I really, really do.  They've helped me with my (2) tickets, always being professional and friendly.  There was even that one time my car was mauled by an 18-wheeler at a stoplight - the officer was beyond approachable.

It's a love/hate thing I have with you, Fife.  I love to love you, yet you give me reasons to hate you. Example? Oh, sure. How about RESTAURANT DEPOT? C'mon, Fife!  Opening up this famous and popular culinary delight on May 12, right here in Fife?  It's torture!  Only restaurants can shop there, and I don't own a restaurant. How am I supposed to sneak my way in?

Torture!

Guess I'll have to be crafty with this one.  But just watch, I'll find my way inside - you can count on it.

Can't ticket me for admiring a grocery store from afar.

Steph DeRosa

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

David Meinert: Chihuly museum is a fine idea for Seattle Center.

There's a new porno mag ... for the blind.

Twitter announced that they will be incorporating ads, "Promoted Tweets," when you search for a sponsored word.

Apple is creating iSpecs to watch 3D films on the go.

IT'S OPEN AGAIN >>>

Vinum Wine and Coffee Lounge is back open in downtown Tacoma across from Hell's Kitchen on Pacific Avenue. Several weeks back owners Cliff and Annie closed the coffee/wine bar due to difficulties with the lease. Annie's brother and sister have since reopened Vinum. 

We'll drop by soon for a peek, and a glass of Cab.

[Vinum Coffee and Wine Lounge, 1001 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.9901]

LINK: Vinum in the South Sound Restaurant Guide

THIS JUST IN >>>

The Children's Museum of Tacoma just released this bit of news.

TACOMA, Wash.- United Way of Pierce County and the Children's Museum of Tacoma entered into a potential 25-year partnership today with the signing of a ten-year lease, with options for three five-year extensions. As of March 26, 2010, the Museum will lease approximately 8,700 square feet on the first floor of United Way's historic Betye Martin Baker Human Service Center at 1501 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Museum administrative offices will take up part of the second floor.

Read more...

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WHAT WE'VE FOUND TODAY >>>

Nerd Alert! Whatever happened to the cast of Revenge of the Nerds?

RIP: Cory Haim

Rosemary Ponnekanti reports that MLKBallet founding director Kate Monthy will move after MOVE! #16.

The Weekly Volcano's jetpacks are ready.

X Sigma Partners LLC introduced a new iPhone app 'Tiger Text," inspired by the Tiger Woods scandal, which allows users to permanently delete texts that have already been sent.

Fuhgeddaboudit being mayor. Mayor Pringle of Belmar, N.J., announces that he will not run for re-election this November after 20 years of office, after he made fun of Jersey Shore guidos in his blog.

Bank of America is ending overdraft fees on debit cards. Really?

Seriously? Halpert from The Office is playing Captain America?

OH, CLICK! >>>

Three years ago Mitch Robinson, marketing and business operations manager at Click! Network, challenged his staff to a major milestone. As an incentive, he pledged to dye his hair "Click! purple" if they reached the goal.

The goal was met.

"For the next 6-8 weeks, my hair color will match our direct mail, billboards and service vehicles," states Robinson in a press release.

Looks good Mitch. Be thankful you don't work for Crayola.

HERE COMES SONIC DRIVE IN >>>

The old Godfather's Pizza/Classy Casuals building came crumbling down this morning making way for a future Sonic Drive In.

Does anyone know if RR Anderson reported from inside this demolition as he did during the Luzon Building's destruction?