LAKEWOOD CLUB TO REOPEN FRIDAY >>>

The former McDonald's restaurant at the edge of the Lakewood neighborhood of Oakbrook that morphed into several nightclubs the past 15 years will reopen Friday as the third version of the Fan Club Sports Bar. Original Fan Club owners Don and Lisa Daniels (they sold it to the last Fan Club owners) are giving it a go again at the same spot. The Daniels will kick off their new old life with one of their favorite local rock cover bands, Igneous Rocks, which will perform this Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. with no cover.

[Fan Club, 8315 83rd Ave. SW, Lakewood, 253.584.1290]

GRAND OPENING PARTY >>>

Last night after a short speech Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland performed the time honored act of ribbon cutting at the downtown Tacoma Smooth and Juicey/Satellite Coffee Grand Opening celebration. Large picture windows lined with counters, swivel stools and a stand-up bar occupy the street-facing building front.

Attendees enjoyed French press Satellite coffee; tasty treats Masa style, and antioxidant rich Smooth and Juicey juice blends and über delicious smoothies. I found the naturally sweet Coco Loco smoothie made of banana, coconut, chocolate syrup, ice cream, dates and cold espresso the closest thing to guiltless dessert.

Across the aisle, Satellite Coffee - its third location in Tacoma - kicked up a symphony of its own-espresso machine awhirl with the fresh grinding of Stumptown beans into silky dark grounds while frothing milk gurgles. Teas from Remedy (Seattle) were in the mix, as well as tasty pastries.

I noticed a few changes since Smooth and Juicey opened Jan. 3 of this year. Wheat grass shots, Myoplex drinks, beef and ostrich sticks, protein bars, and canned energy drinks are now available. For the fitness freaks, Smooth and Juicy co-creator Patricia Lecy-Davis told me posted nutritional information will be added soon.

Thane Davis (Smooth and Juicey visionary) promised outdoor tables and benches corralled by patio fencing salvaged from the old Jillian's will be installed shortly for those interested in lingering.

Smooth and Juicey - yes, that's how they're spelling it - has a new Web site: www.smoothandjuicey.com.

[Smooth and Juicey/Satellite Coffee, 1122 Market St., Tacoma, 253.365.6706]

SAD DAY >>>

The word out of the il Trattoria di Merende camp is that they are throwing in the towel.

The times are tough. Even with delicious food, the downtown Tacoma Italian restaurant couldn't get enough butts in the seats.

They are going out with a bang, though. Tonight, Merende will throw a party with live music by the Malcolm Clark Band. Stop by for dinner and raise a glass or two.

They will remain open through the weenkend.

[Merende, 813 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.722.1993]

S.O.L. >>>

For Your entertainment, or f.y.e., the music, movie and video game store owned by Trans World Entertainment Corp. located at 2330 South 37^th St. by the Tacoma Mall, will close Sunday. Most everything in the store is marked down 60 to 80 percent of the original price.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20, 2010 >>>

1. Tempest Lounge hosts The Hayburners at 7 p.m.

2. City Club of Tacoma Lunch Program welcomes UW President Mark Emmert who will speak on education in the current economic environment at 11:30 a.m. inside The Tacoma Art Museum.

3. Kittredge Gallery holds an opening reception from 4-6 p.m. for the Michael Johnson Sculpture and Ted Vogel Shadow shows.

4. The Purpose Driven Networking event runs 5:30-7:30 p.m. at SAX on 6th. Go meet some businesspeople for crying out loud.

5. EVG 4 Life and 6 Gunz Muzik present Mic Control: The Emcee Battle at 9 p.m. inside Hell's Kitchen.

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight in the South Sound

FOUND THIS ON THE TACOMA ART LISTSERV >>>

Ruby Chambers, she of the Ruby Collection in Tacoma's Opera Alley, posted this on the TacomaArt listserv:

I am currently putting together a beautiful studio in downtown Tacoma, it will be 900 sq ft, cork floors and floor to ceiling windows, with 13 ft tall ceilings, exposed beams in a historical building. I will manage the space and rent the studio out by the hour, or day. Instructors can reserve space ahead of time to promote it and send schedules out to their students. It can be used for a multiple of workout uses, Pilates, yoga, karate, dance, etc. It is scheduled to open in May of this year. Please contact me if you are interested in using something like this. Please email me at rubychambers@gmail.com.

RON SWARNER: A DOUBLE SHOT OF GOODNESS FOR DOWNTOWN TACOMA >>>

Over the holidays tangerines wreaked havoc on me. I took around seven juice shots to the eyes. Peel lodged under my finger nails. Seeds that I didn’t spit like a heathen were swallowed. Fruit's nasty little secret — the elephant in the living room about which, like an alcoholic uncle, everyone knows but which no one dares discuss — is that it is not so much fun to eat at all, especially if others are watching.

Yesterday, in a former downtown garage, I consumed fruit unscathed. No stains. No tears. No laughter. I sucked the delicious hit of vitamins through a straw.

Eight months after its press conference, Smooth & Juicey opened yesterday. And as promised, Satellite Coffee Co. was there, too.

“There’s a lack of interesting options in Pierce County, hence my excitement at learning about the alternative beverage destination (alt-bev bar) opening in Tacoma appropriately named Smooth & Juicey — which is part organic juice bar, part coffee bar co-owned by Satellite Coffee Co. and the brainchild of Thane and Patricia Lecy-Davis of Embellish Multispace Salon,” Weekly Volcano scribe Jennifer Johnson reported this past April. Read her full story here.

There’s still work to be done, especially on the Smooth & Juicey side, which is 10 feet across the concrete floor from the Satellite Coffee operation — but they are both open. Bring cash as both are sans electronic credit card machines, although Satellite is swiping the cards old school. S&J has a limited juice menu — four set options right now. Build your own juices will be available soon, including bulk-up options for those who pushed steel next door at the YMCA. Also on the horizon will be twice a day deliveries to downtown denizens.

Both owners are smiling ear to ear despite not being fully completed. This Satellite Coffee location was basically a clean slate for owner Pat Brown’s dream — unrestricted by previous set building structures. Thane Davis and company built an impressive, modern showroom for the two businesses.

Drop by 1122 Market St. in downtown Tacoma and have a shot of wheatgrass and espresso.

LINK: More photos at the Photo Hot Spot

RON SWARNER: PACIFIC GRILL INTRODUCES BREAKFAST BURRITOS >>>

It’s a lovely breakfast option. Its large windows are perfect for watching the traffic craziness; the delicious coffee and free Wi-Fi keep the place busy. And now Forza Coffee in Lakewood offers three types of breakfast frittata burritos prepared by Pacific Grill: Black Forest Ham and Egg, Italian Egg and Sausage, and the Bacon, Potato and Egg. All priced just over $5.

All three, please! I’m talking ingredients such as vintage white cheddar and fontina cheeses, pesto, apple-smoked bacon, coriander, crème fraiche and on and on.

And hey, these aren’t tiny burritos. They’re big enough for a horse. Let’s just say they’ll keep you going until you finish going through your emails and need to head back up to the counter to order lunch, which Pacific Grill also provides.

Currently, Pacific Grill provides burritos for five Forza corporate stores, including the Lakewood store at 8813 Edgewater Drive close to the Oakbrook neighborhood.

Pacific Grill owner Gordon Naccarato smiles when discussing his food wholesale side business.

“We just added the food account at the Cutter's Point Coffee Shop next to Kmart at Sixth and Orchard in Tacoma,” explains Naccarato. “We also are wholesaling salads and some other things to Johnnie's Dog House at the Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Business at Pacific Grill has been ahead of last year for five straight months in a row. And ahead of two years ago, which was our best year ever."

I will celebrate that good news with another delicious PG burrito. Goodbye.

MICHAEL SWAN: SOMETHING TO KNOW >>>

Shunpike, the Seattle-based organization that assists arts organizations with the business side of er, the art business - participated in the Art at Work 2009 Arts Symposium Nov. 14 at the University of Puget Sound. Being the smart business people they are, they recorded their sessions:

Executive Director Andy Fife on "Financial Management" - budgeting and bookkeeping tips for small arts organizations: Download the MP3

Deputy Director Michelle Chiachiere on "Fundraising" - understanding your support base and building a fundraising voice: Download the MP3

JAKE DE PAUL: TOUGH CALL >>>

Marcia's Silver Spoon Café will install new high-gloss tables with glass tops in its dining room soon. Underneath the glass will be local advertisements.  Owner Marcia Crelling has contracted out the sales portion of the job.

Certainly Marcia’s tasty food makes it an interesting business opportunity. However, we all know the portions are gigantic. I’m not sure how much table space will be visible while you chow down flapjacks the size of your head.

If interested, drop by Marcia’s at 2601 S. Tacoma Way and fill out a query postcard.