IF YOU KNOW IT, GO FOR IT >>>

Exquisite Disarray Publishing, a Tacoma-based literary arts organization, has launched its First Book Poetry Contest with a call for poetry manuscripts this spring.  The deadline for poetry manuscript submission: May 15, 2010.  

This contest is open to all Washington state residents 18 and older who have not yet published a full-length book of poetry. 

Full contest guidelines can be found at www.exquisitedisarray.org.

Tammy Robacker, our new Tacoma Poet Laureate, is the vice president at Exquisite

THERE'S TALENT IN THIS CITY >>>

Sometimes I leave poetry readings feeling like I just attended a grade-school piano recital. That wasn't the case last night at the "Mouths & Mics: Poetry in the 253" that featured seven Tacoma poets hand picked by outgoing Tacoma Poet Laureate Antonio Edwards, which took place inside the Washington State History Museum. Poets Emilie Rommel Shimkus, Josh Rizeberg, Ariel Zimmer, Korama Williams, Zeek Green, Elliot Trotter and 15-year-old Kiah Lee - literati gliterati, if you will ­- presented the emotional equivalent of a victory lap for the artsy, literary-y, near capacity crowd. Even thought the seven poets knew they were not Urban Grace's next Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate, each performed as if they would carry the torch for the next year.

But maybe "reading" is too loose of a term, so if you're envisioning a bunch of gray-haired professors sitting in an auditorium reading Dickinson and Shakespeare in low, expressionless tones, you've got it wrong. The majority of the work at this reading were backed by visuals, performance art and music. The crowd could feel the exhilarating rush of emotions right along with each performer.

All seven poets - eight including Poet Laureate Edwards - gave strong, emotional performances that took listeners from soft whisper to enraged yelling in less than 10 seconds. Their poems were enhanced by the people in the audience, who clapped, encouraged and shouted out affirmations. The poetry covered the gritty (sex, relationships, drugs) - which never reached depressing levels due to the poets' upbeat deliveries - as well as humor, especially from the clever Rizeberg. Edwards gave the performers poet carte blanche; the only similarity was the sharing of flutist Donnel White who stood on the stage many times.

"Mouths & Mics: Poetry in the 253" was an impressive, amazing night of poetry.

Talk about burying the lead

After the Magnificent Seven, Urban Grace Director of Worship Arts Kali Kucera took the stage to announce the 2010 Urban Grace Soul of the City Tacoma Poet Laureate. The five judges - Edwards, 2008 Tacoma Poet Laureate William Kupinse, UW-Tacoma Prof. Emily Noelle Ignacio, PLU librarian and artist Holly Senn, and UPS Prof. Grace Livingston - chose Tammy Robacker as the new poet laureate for Tacoma.

"We finally have a poet laureate who wears panty hose," Robacker said as she approached the podium, referring to the preceding two male poet laureates.

Robacker thanked those she believed helped her reach the level worthy of being poet laureate, especially Kupinse. She read several poetry pieces from her new book, The Vicissitudes - including a hilarious piece about wanting to sleep with the sheriff from Mayberry - and announced her poetic plans for the upcoming year, which will include poetry classes for those eager to learn the craft.

You may follow Robacker's poetic journey on her Web site. Click The Community button as she is all about community.

ADD ANOTHER ONE TO THE LIST >>>

Finally, after what was probably about five seconds but what seemed to me like a year later, I spoke the all-important words: "I'll start off with a Michael Collins, please." Of course, it was probably obvious to everyone around me, including the lovely Paddy Coyne's server Brianne, that I've "started off" a long time ago - like around 1993 - but that's beside the point, isn't it? She seemed quite pleased with my order as it officially made me a potential member of her club - and by that I mean the Paddy Coyne's Irish Club.

I told Pappi Swarner that he left Paddy Coyne's Irish Club off his South Sound eating and drinking challenge story. He directed me to grab information on the club and report back. So as am ... as a potential member. I have accepted the challenge of drinking the 25 signature Paddy Coyne's beverages - aiming for my name to be placed with the others behind Paddy Coyne's bar. Before my name can be added, I'll have to polish off the 25 drinks four times. Performing the task once earns me a T-shirt and a membership card, which is nice since I'll receive 10 percent discount every time I plop my fat ass in one if Paddy Coyne's dark, but cozy booths. If I drink the list twice, I'll be able to hang the Paddy Coyne's Membership Jacket in my closet next to my Member's Only jacket.

I'll keep you updated on my progress. If you want to play at home, I've polished off a shot of Michael Collins and a pint of Harp. The remaining drinks are Irish beers, Irish whiskies and Irish-themed drinks such as an Irish Car Bomb and Irish Hot Toddy. Wish me luck.

On a side note, you must try Paddy Coyne's Irish BLTC sandwich ($10.95) – if you enjoy sharp, salty buttery goodness. Imagine house made sweet soda bread, marinated in butter for a year (can't confirm that fact), sliced open, grilled then make room for salty Irish rashers (think ham), mayo, sharp white cheddar, tomato and very crisp lettuce. It was a fork and knife task that required half a tree in napkins. All that said it was devilishly delicious. The colossal dish arrived with a thousand shoestring fries, too.

[Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday (includes breakfast options), 815 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6963]

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010 >>>

1. King's Books hosts a special Murder Mystery edition of Scrabble rousers of all ages from 6:30-9 p.m. Entrance fee is $10 per person with proceeds directly benefit the Tacoma Community House Student Scholarship Fund, which assists students as they transfer from TCH to community college.

2. Beginning at 5 p.m. Inside the Crown Bar on Sixth Avenue bartender Dino will serve a martini made with fresh local rhubarb and a Tacoma-made IPA called Jack Rabbit, Chef Charlie McManus will grill up his Walla Walla Thundering Hooves 100 percent organic grass-fed beef burger, and local artist Susie Russell Hall will be showing her hummingbird painting in the lobby. There will also be trivia contest and prizes including two seats to a Primo Grill cooking class. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Tahoma Audubon Society and their mission of Connecting People to Nature.

3. Tacoma Little Theatre's final performance of Samuel Beckett's Endgame goes down at 7:30 p.m.

4. Billy Roy Danger & The Rectifiers perform their rockin' blues at 7:30 p.m. inside the Happy Days Casino in Lakewood.

5. Hell's Kitchen celebrates Earth Day with The Keeper, Vallor, Cold Cold Ground, Voxxy Vallejo, and 4th Dimensional Nightmare at 8 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

GO BIG OR GO HOME >>

Tacoma has several competitive eating and drinking competitions underway.I list of few of them in our Restaurants section.

BRINGING THE TACO TRUCK INDOORS >>>

During last month's Weekly Volcano Tournament of Tacos I ruined a pair of slacks, froze, and deposited beef tidbits between my car seat and console. I felt like a circus performer on many occasions - balancing, juggling and acting as if I wore a red wig and a red ball on my nose.

While very tasty, purchasing tacos from taco trucks definitely has its downsides.

Today I ate authentic taco truck style tacos in a seat, inside a warm building, with good music and a beer.

Masa has just added street vendor style tacos to its menu. Small, double white corn tortillas served open faced with seven varieties of smoked, grilled and braised meats and fish.

"I finally added the tacos I always wanted on the Masa menu," explains Masa (and Asado) managing partner John Xitco. We've experimented a while with our tacos - adding this and subtracting that - and I'm finally satisfied with our tacos. They look and tasted like the tacos you find in your typical, good, authentic taco truck. Simple, but good."

Well, not quite. The Masa signature touch still exists: they're beautiful, and certainly not simple.

Read more...

WE HAVE A TACO CHAMPION >>>

After more than two weeks of voting the Weekly Volcano readers have picked the most popular taco in the greater Tacoma area.

The Tournament of Tacos Championship match pitted two longtime Pierce County Mexican restaurants against each other: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant in Tacoma and Tijuana Taco in Lakewood. Moctezuma's was a narrow hole-in-the-wall joint (next to where JC Penney once stood) on South Tacoma Way in the '70s that eventually made its way to its current grand spot at 56^th and Tyler. Tijuana Taco was born in the late '60s, and battled McDonald's, Shakey's Pizza, and Herfy's for customers on the edge of the Villa Plaza. It's still in the same spot at 10005 Bristol Ave. SW just off 100^th Street.

Yesterday's championship battle saw the most active daytime online voting of the tournament, which ended at 5 p.m. Moctezuma's had a commanding lead by time the voting switched to the 6 p.m. Tournament of Tacos Party at Station 56. At the party people filled out taco voting ballots and rang up $12 tabs for three margaritas and three tacos (thanks Station 56!). The taco voting couldn't help but take a second seat to the outstanding NCAA Men's Championship game in which Duke just squeaked by the underdog Butler. But, as promised, we tallied the on-location votes during halftime of the hoop game and announced the winner: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant. The loose voting during the inexpensive margarita fest at Station 56 didn't affect the huge lead Moctezuma's had going into the party.

Congrats to both worthy competitors.

Moctezuma's will be receiving the Tournament of Tacos Championship trophy once the engraving is finished. Also, look for an upcoming feature on Arturo Garcia's Moctezuma's in the Weekly Volcano. Those who didn't vote for Moctezuma's, we suggest you stop by their Tacoma or Gig Harbor locations to try their outstanding Mexico City tacos.

Thanks to all who voted in the Tournament of Tacos. We hope you had as much fun as we did.

See you next March for ... the Tournament of Pizza!

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - VOTE NOW >>>

The titanic taco throwdown finale in on! Voting for the 2010 Weekly Volcano Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Championship game is live right now.

After more than two weeks of voting, you guys have picked the most popular tacos in the greater Tacoma area. What began as 64 taco-slinging joints has been narrowed down to two: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant and Tijuana Taco.

Who do you think has the best tacos: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant or Tijuana Taco?

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Voting will close at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. we'll hand out taco voting ballots at our Tournament of Tacos Party inside Station 56 at 56^th and South Tacoma Way. Station 56 will be broadcasting the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game on all its screens while serving dollar tacos and $2 tequila shots. Throughout the first half of the game we'll be handing our taco voting ballots for a final push of voting. At half time of the hoop game, we'll announce the winner of the 2010 Tournament of Tacos. Then there will be much rejoicing.

Confused? Click here for an explanation of our Tournament of Tacos.

Favorites or underdogs, fancy restaurants or taco trucks, it's all the same. In the end, they all have one chance to put some meat on a tortilla that can take the prize. That's the nature of the Weekly Volcano's Tournament of Tacos.

Yesterday's Final Cuatro match-ups

GAME 1: Taqueria El Rinconsito vs. Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant

GAME 2: Taqueria Burrito Loco vs. Tijuana Taco

The Final Cuatro voting was a little puzzling. Blame it on Good Friday, the weather, or the announcement the American Idol Season 2 winner Ruben Studdardwill reunite with runner-upClay Aiken for a summer tour that will bring the joy the Snoqualmie Casino July 29 - whatever the reason, the voting crept along in the morning hours. Then, around happy hour, the voting exploded actually reversing the leads for both games.

With the second largest tally of votes in the tournament  - and, as we mentioned, a fairly close tally through two-thirds of the day - Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant and Tijuana Taco managed to knock Taqueria El Rinconsito and Taqueria Burrito Loco out of the Readers' Poll.

In the end, old school ruled.

In 1978 Arturo Garcia opened Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant in a hole-in-the wall establishment on South Tacoma Way. Slowly Moctezuma's built a loyal fanbase and in 1988 Garcia moved his restaurant to its present location at 4102 S. 56th St. in Tacoma. Garcia opened a second location at 4803 Point Fosdick Dr. NW in Gig Harbor.

Tijuana Taco "Fine Mexican Food" has been serving Lakewood tacos and other fast Mexican fare for 41 years from its tiny spot at 10005 Bristol Ave. SW. In 1969 Rocky Van Scyoc opened the restaurant next to the Villa Plaza (now Lakewood Towne Center) working in the kitchen, serving food and busing tables. His daughter, Kelli Van Scyoc-Gomez, now runs the restaurant.

Championship Game

Monday morning is the date to vote for the biggest match of all, the battle across Pierce County, the titanic taco throwdown finale, the 2010 Weekly Volcano Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll Championship. We'll launch the voting platform in the wee hours Monday, April 5. At 5 p.m. we'll close the online poll and move the voting process to our taco party at 6 p.m. inside Station 56 at 56^th and South Tacoma Way. Load up the car with friends and head for the this restaurant housed in a large brick building in the Historic South Tacoma Neighborhood. Station 56 will be broadcasting the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game on all its screens while serving dollar tacos and $2 tequila shots. Nice. Throughout the first half of the game we'll be handing our taco voting ballots for a final push of voting. At half time of the hoop game, we'll announce the winner of the Tournament of Tacos.

Will it be massive Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant or tiny Tijuana Taco? That's your call.

YOUR CREATIVITY IS NEEDED >>>

Remember when you used to write on your dolls' shirts with Magic Markers? There they were all lined up on the bed, and Barbie had the words "I'm With Stupid" written on her shirt with an arrow pointing to the Cabbage Patch doll, with the other passive-aggressive little stuffed animal children hiding their eyes.

Yep, you've always been strange.

But the point of this is that there are better venues for your art.

Tacoma Art Place - the ultra-cool non-profit art center that provides access to equipment and training for all levels of creativity and budgets - is holding a T-shirt contest aimed at Tacoma's creative community. The Hilltop art center wants an ultra-cool Tacoma Art Place T-shirt.

If that appeals to you - and it should because you're creative and could use the $250 prize money - then read the rules that Tacoma Art Place provided after the break.

Read more...

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