It's March ... meaning Madness is once again in the air. Soon, 64 Dagwoods will tip off and do battle as part of an annual South Sound tradition - working their way through the tediously-constructed bracket and toward ultimate supremacy.

We speak, of course, of the Weekly Volcano's Tournament of Sandwiches, which kicks off March 21 right here on Spew. This year's Tournament of Sandwiches marks the continuation of an epic winning streak that began in 2010 with the Volcano's Tournament of Tacos, continued in 2011 with the Tournament of Pizza and, of course, last year's Tournament of Breakfast. Let's give a round of applause to the three winners: Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant, Kate Downs and Moon Rise Café, respectively.

This year, the Volcano has the South Sound's best sandwiches in its crosshairs, and it's up to readers to decide who walks away the winner.

Through April 8, and keeping pace with the national excitement on the college basketball courts (though far more tasty), sixty-four area sandwich joints will compete in the Volcano's 2013 Tournament of Sandwiches. These meat-slicing and mustard-spreading establishments were selected and seeded by readers throughout February, and now the time has come to see who's best. MSM Deli, Eleven Eleven, Babblin' Babs or Pho King in Tacoma? French Hen or Sparks Firehouse? Meconi's or 5th Ave Sandwich Shop down south?

Only one can be crowned king - so vote early, often and DAILY on this blog beginning March 21. Use the bracket inside the print version of the Weekly Volcano to guide you through the daily matchups.

Then, on April 8, join us at Masa on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue for the Official Tournament of Sandwiches Party - our winner will be announced during halftime of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game.

See you back here Thursday, March 21.

The Tournament of Sandwiches is sponsored by ...

FRIDAY, MARCH 1 2013 >>>

1. La Luz is the latest additions to the fun, lo-fi DIY label Burger Records - although the band has a long association through past ensembles with Olympia's K Records. La Luz is able to craft songs that feature catchy, upbeat, surfy interludes, combined with a dream-pop sensibility that features multi-part harmonies, which sets them above a lot of its contemporaries. Such an airy, garage-born entity is perfect for a setting such as Northern, where the band will play at 9 p.m. with fellow K companions Angelo Spencer and the Calvin Johnson led group, the Hive Dwellers.

2. Opera soprano Erin Guinup will sing solo with the Tacoma Community College orchestra in Bach’s Cantata no. 51 at 7 p.m. in a free concert at Tacoma Community College building 2 auditorium. The TCC orchestra will also perform Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” suite and music by Purcell.

3. What better to do with an evening out than see an oft-banned rock musical? Spring Awakening: The Musical follows a group of German students as they come of age and explore their sexuality - providing an afternoon or evening of entertainment for you. The content is explicit as it chronicles the consequences of oppressed sexuality so this is not your best bet for a family night out. In fact, it might just be your worst bet unless you want to fit in about four years of Sex Ed courses into one evening of song and dance. Catch the musical at 7:30 p.m. inside the Norton Clapp Theatre on the University of Puget Sound campus.

4. In the modern age, beards are seen as something of an anachronism. A relic from our unwashed past in the primordial soup, a beard is thought uncouth or eccentric. Most white collar work still carries a strict prohibition on male facial hair, which begs the question – are you a beardist? Beardism, (beer-diz-um,) noun. Hatred and intolerance of beards, and those who sport them. If, so, it's best you stay away from Rock The Dock Pub and Grill tonight. At 9:45 p.m. the joint will host a beard contest with $100 to the ones who sport the fullest, sexiest and most tonnage.

5. The Dignitaries, The FHoles and MILK will rock The New Frontier Lounge at 9 p.m.

LINK: Friday, March 1 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

REAL LIFE COMICS >>>

Readers of the Weekly Volcano, be you man, woman, child, beast or alien, I am quite sure that whomever you may be, you have all thought about creating your very own comic book or cartoon. Well, would be painters, artists, geniuses and future Alan Moores of the world, it seems that the fez wearing, secret handshaking and world domination task force known as The Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians, or C.L.A.W., have just the opportunity for you. Wednesday, Feb. 27, this brilliantly tongue in cheek cult like group will be teaming up with the lovely, local cosplay group Super Sirens for an event at King's Books that will likely shake the foundations of the world, as we know it. The event entitled "Real Life Comics" will give the public the ability to create its own cartoon creation based on the models of the wonderful ladies of the aforementioned Super Sirens. To provide more detail on this event and C.L.A.W. in general, I sought to prove my worth and contacted the evil genius mastermind behind this event - and one of the high council members of CLAW - Michael Daley and fellow member Mark Monlux.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What's the C.L.A.W. story?

MICHAEL DALEY: The C.L.A.W.'s primary purpose is to unite cartoonists and inform the general public of the common truth that art is the voice of the community; that creative expression holds fiscal as well as emotional value and that the Robotic Overlords are on their way. To that end the C.L.A.W. avails upon the talent of its membership to engage with the public in ways that dare and strain comprehension. We also like to give a scholarship to art students learning the ways of cartooning, because, boy, they sure need the money. 

VOLCANO: Was C.L.A.W. born from a secret society in Tacoma's Chinese Tunnels?

DALEY: No, C.L.A.W. was founded by Electric Elliot Trotter, RR Anderson, Mark Monlux and James Stowe above ground - finding a common ground chalking at Frost Park.

MARK MONLUX: More than anything else I think we were all looking for an excuse just to sit down with other artists and have fun doodling. Oh, that and wear a fez and have a secret handshake.

VOLCANO: What's the story behind the Real Life Comics event?

DALEY: I wanted to do a live drawing - not in a traditional sense.  I contacted Nemrac the Destroyer of the Super Sirens about possibly using the Sirens cosplay group for a live drawing session. Why not have people make a comic page utilizing live models to build their stories?

SUPER SIRENS: Photo courtesy of Facebook

VOLCANO: Do you need to know a secret handshake to participate?

DALEY: It absolutely is open for anyone to come down and participate.  We encourage others to come and draw along side us and partake in the fun that is a C.L.A.W. Open Swim.  Our Open Swim's take place every fourth Wednesday of the month at King's Books. We utilize the Swim's to meet new potential members and, at this particular event, we are inducting Travis Bundy as a new member of C.L.A.W.

VOLCANO: Does the winner receive an encoder ring?

DALEY: Typically, there isn't. For this particular event, we do have prizes.  Everyone - models included - will be able to cast their vote for their favorite pieces. I won't say what the prizes are - but there definitely are prizes.

The event will commence at 7:30 p.m. and will continue into the evening. Everyone is welcome to come, create his or her own piece of art and witness the beginning of a new modern era lead by the elite CLAW. I for one, will be there, and will be shaking the hands of the cartoonist overlords looking for a clue to their secret handshake.

KING'S BOOKS, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27, 7:30-9:30 P.M., FREE ADMISSION, 218 ST. HELENS AVE., TACOMA, 253.272.8801

WHERE TO EAT MARCH 23 >>>

Organizers of the annual Slider Cook-off have announced the contestants in this year's cook-off competition. And the gustatory gladiators are: Asado, Bite Restaurant and Bar, Boathouse 19, Brix 25, Dirty Oscars Annex, Social Bar and Grill, Maxwell's Speakeasy + Lounge and Marrow Kitchen and Bar. An impressive lineup to be sure.

Full details on the upcoming event in press release form below:

Tacoma, Wash. (February 11, 2013) - On Saturday, March 23 at 6:30 pm the Museum of Glass will host the second annual Slider Cook-off featuring a cooking competition showcasing nine South Sound area restaurants battling to create the best slider for local celebrity judges and guests. The event will feature slider tastings for guests, dancing to 1950s rock and roll classics performed by Daryl and the Diptones and glassblowing by John Miller in the Hot Shop.

The special event was inspired by John Miller's signature artwork Slider which features a giant cheeseburger and was showcased in last year's exhibition Gathering: John Miller and Friends. The piece is currently on view at the Museum.

Participating restaurants include Asado, Bite Restaurant and Bar, Boathouse 19, Brix 25, Dirty Oscars Annex, Social Bar and Grill, Maxwell's Speakeasy + Lounge and Marrow Kitchen and Bar. Art House Café will be offering a dessert slider. A panel of judges will choose the winner of the Best Slider Award and a People's Choice Award will also be named from votes by event guests. Winning chefs will receive a trophy made by John Miller.

 "Last year's Slider Cook-off was so much fun," said Hudson Slater, chef at Maxwell's Speakeasy + Lounge and winner of 2012 Best Slider Award. "It was an honor to participate last year. We've been having a great time coming up with ideas for this year's event and I am looking forward to another special evening at the Museum of Glass."

Tickets for the event are $35 in advance ($30 for Museum members) and $40 at the door. VIP tickets are $100 and include access to a private lounge with hosted bar and a gift bag. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Museum's admission desk or online: www.museumofglass.org/slider-cookoff. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.

CONTEST BASED ON HIDDEN NUTS >>>

Tacoma City Ballet is in the midst of a yearlong scavenger hunt for Golden Krakatuk Nuts. You heard right. Nuts. The nuts tie into the company's highly anticipated Dec. 7, 2013 performance, Prequel to The Nutcracker.

The contest in a nutshell: TCB hides hand-painted Golden Krakatuk Nuts inside jewel boxes around Tacoma; inside the boxes is a scroll with prize details, such as gift certificates, merchandise or tickets to Tacoma City Ballet's World Premier of said Nutcracker in December. Each month through the year, Golden Krakatuk Nuts will be hidden at businesses throughout Tacoma. To find the nuts, decipher the poetic clues, which will be posted at Tacoma City Ballet's website, Facebook page, as well as this blog. You find the Golden Krakatuk Nuts and great riches will be heaped upon you! For complete on the contest and Nutcracker performance, click here.

Somehow, through all this nutty scavenher hunting, Tacoma City Ballet will host another free preview performance - this time for its upcoming event Mid-Winter Masquerade Ball Soirée - tonight at 7:30 p.m. inside the Tacoma City Ballet studio at the Merlino Building at Sixth and Fawcett.

The second Golden Krakatuk Nut clue dropped this morning. This clue will guide you to a restaurant, shop or other business at which the nuts may be in plain sight or may be behind the counter.

Here you go you nuts:

Searching for the Krakatuk Nut, you are?

Then like Drosselmeyer you must travel far.

Look for beautiful boxes containing the Golden Nut

and other delightful prizes - Who can imagine what?

Only one box is hidden this month in our fair city

And to figure out February's clue, you must be quite witty.

February's Krakatuk Clue

For some royal reading with two cats both friendly and furry

Come shop downtown where you won't have to hurry.

Do you know what that means? Are you off to find the golden nut? A limited number of prizes will be available at each location, so speed counts.

CONTEST BASED ON HIDDEN NUTS >>>

Tacoma City Ballet kicks off a scavenger hunt today the likes of which Tacoma has never seen - a yearlong search for nuts. You heard right. Nuts. The nuts tie into the company's highly anticipated Dec. 7, 2013 performance, Prequel to The Nutcracker.

The contest in a nutshell: TCB hides hand-painted Golden Krakatuk Nuts inside jewel boxes around Tacoma; inside the boxes is a scroll with prize details, such as gift certificates, merchandise or tickets to Tacoma City Ballet's World Premier of said Nutcracker in December. You find the Golden Krakatuk Nuts and great riches will be heaped upon you!

"The grand prize every month will include tickets to the Nutcracker this year," says Melissa Goldman, director of Community Relations, Development, and Marketing at TCB. "The grand prize will also have something that the participating business contributed. If it's a restaurant, it might be a gift certificate for dinner. If it's at a store, it might be a specific piece of merchandise or a gift certificate at that store. There will also be smaller prizes."

No, this is not nuts. It's a cool way to introduce the new Nutcracker act. TCB Artistic Director Erin M. Ceragioli hand painted a limited number of Golden Krakatuk Nuts too.

The Prequel to The Nutcracker performance will explain why a prince is trapped inside a nutcracker doll. Apparently, a beautiful princess is cursed into ugliness by the evil Mouse Queen. To break the curse, Christian Elias Drosselmeyer has to find the magical Golden Krakatuk Nut - the hardest nut in the entire world - and the young man who is fated to crack it. Except, as we now know, Drosselmeyer needs the entire city of Tacoma to help him.

Is your head spinning like a Sugar Plum Fairy?

Each month through the year, Golden Krakatuk Nuts will be hidden at businesses throughout Tacoma. To find the nuts, decipher the poetic clues, which will be posted at Tacoma City Ballet's website, Facebook page, as well as this blog.

The first clue dropped this morning. A second clue will follow close behind on Feb. 1. January will have only a single nut, but the rest of the months this year will have several. Clues will guide you to a restaurant, shop or other business at which the nuts may be in plain sight or may be behind the counter.

Ready for the clue to the first location? Here you go you nuts:

Searching for the Krakatuk Nut, you are? Then like Drosselmeyer you must travel far. Look for beautiful boxes containing the Golden Nut and other delightful prizes - Who can imagine what? Only one box is hidden this month in our fair city And to figure out January's clue, you must be quite witty.

January's Krakatuk Clue

Follow Pearl to the Land of Thai

Where you can dine on delectable delights as the evening draws nigh.

Do you know what that means? Are you off to find the golden nut? A limited number of prizes will be available at each location, so speed counts.

Below is your soundtrack for today:

CALL FOR ARTISTS >>>

Dirty Oscar's Annex, Primo Grill and Hotel Murano have teamed up with Pierce County farms Zestful Gardens, Terry's Berries and Cheryl the Pig Lady in an agritourism partnership that will produce events beginning in 2013. The partnership intends to take the "far" out of farms, producing farm to table events celebrating regional cuisine - from the land and in the kitchen - with an educational focus on issues of sustainability in food production and distribution.

The partnership is looking for help with branding. The partnership asks artists to submit a logo design for its vision, including naming the union. The chosen design will be featured on promotional materials such as event posters and T-shirts. The chosen artwork will be featured in many various forms of media for the event. Please note that, although the partnership will strive to preserve the integrity of the submitted design, the artwork may be slightly altered to suit different media. The winning designer should be able to provide an Adobe Illustrator EPS file (with fonts converted to objects or outlines). An Adobe Photoshop PSD (don't flatten layers) is also acceptable, but EPS is preferred.

The partnership, which you will name, will judge the artwork. The winning artist will be showered with gifts from the restaurants and farms.

Deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Submit information to Agritourism Partnership, c/o, Weekly Volcano, PO Box 98801, Lakewood, WA 98496 or via email at feedback@weeklyvolcano.com. Chosen artist will be notified via email.

PUNCHING UP THE DOLDRUMS OF AUTUMN >>>

Last spring Jennifer Johnson raved about Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles. "Bold, vibrant flavor and a nice low burn of (Lynnae Schneller's) Hot Mama pickles satisfied my need for heat. Jalapeno, garlic and pimento swim next to dill spears," Johnson wrote.

Well, Schneller's pickle world is about to become red hot.

According to a press release hot off the newswire, Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles will host a city-wide "pickle hunt" Wednesday, Nov. 14 in celebration of National Pickle Day. 

Let's read the press release. ...

A total of eight jars of pickles will be placed in local businesses and on historic Tacoma monuments for fans to locate and win $1200 worth of prizes.  To officially launch the pickle hunt, Tacoma's Mayor Marilyn Strickland will announce the first clue for the location of the first jar of pickles via her Facebook page at 10 AM followed by seven remaining clues that will be posted every half hour on the Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles Facebook page.

Each jar of pickles will be worth at least $50 in cash prizes and gift cards from local businesses.  In order to win a prize pack, fans must locate a jar of pickles, take a picture of the jar at the location and post the image on Facebook tagging Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles in the picture. Other participating local businesses include:  Katie downs, The Ollin, Celebrity Cake Studio, Chuckals Office Supply, Rainier Connect, Wingman Brewery, Luv Handles, Veggies Northwest,  Doyle's Public House , FishWife Salmon , Wish Candles, Grassfed Direct, Westgate Physical Therapy and Exercise, Point Defiance Zoo, McPhee Dental Group, Murano Hotel, Wingman Brewery.

To conclude the National Pickle Day "pickle hunt," Lynnae's Gourmets Pickles invites all to a happy hour at Doyle's Public House from 3 PM-6 PM where branded Lynnae's Gourmet Pickleback shots will be served.  Lynnae will also be on site for interviews and photo opportunities.

Calling all brides and grooms! Here's a chance to share your unique wedding stories in a one-of-a-kind exhibit at the White River Valley Museum in Auburn.

The museum wants to hear your wedding stories in correlation with a new exhibit, I DO! Traditions of the American White Weddingsponsored by Auburn's own Nelson's Jewelry and Gifts .  The exhibit uses antique wedding gowns and accessories to explore the histories and myths surrounding the traditions of the American white wedding. 

Do you have a special wedding tradition in your family?  Will people not believe what your "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" was?  If your "white wedding" has a unique twist, the White River Valley Museum would like to hear from you and possibly use your story in an exhibit!

To submit your white wedding story: Please mail a short description of your unique wedding tradition or happening, no more than 250 words, and a photo copy of one of your favorite wedding photos to the museum. Please do not include original photos-no submissions will be returned. Please include your: name, address, phone number, email address and the year of your wedding.

Please Mail all Entries by December 1^stto:
White River Valley Museum
918 H St. S.E.
Auburn, WA 98002
attn: White Wedding Stories

ABOUT THE WHITE RIVER VALLEY MUSEUM
The White River Valley Museum combines history and culture to create an exciting and educational experience for visitors though a series of award-winning exhibits. Museum collections focus on Puget Sound history, Northwest Indian culture, Japanese immigration and the Northern Pacific Railway. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. and is located at 918 H St. S.E. in Auburn. Regular admission is $2 adults, $1 seniors and children. Admission is free on Wednesdays and the fourth Sunday of the month. Call 253-288-7433 or visitwww.wrvmuseum.orgfor event information.

HELP US FIND THE SEXIEST PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Once again, the Weekly Volcano is unleashing The Sexy Issue, giving one and all the chance to gaze at the sexiest people in the South Sound - as voted on by all of you, our dear readers. The great thing about the Volcano's annual Sexy Issue, if we do say so ourselves, is how it manages to prove, year after year, that you don't have to be on a Kia Super Bowl ad to be smoking hot. Our annual Sexy Issue is the Weekly Volcano's way of showcasing the South Sound's sexiest denizens - and by denizens we don't mean celebrities; we're talking about regular dudes and dudettes who just happen to look sexy as hell when taking us on test drives, trimming our meat or brewing our beer. These folks can be just as hot - and a hell of a lot more accessible, theoretically - as anyone you typically see on TV and in magazines. 

This year, we are asking you to nominate the person who makes you all hot and bothered in the following categories: Actor/Actress, Artist, Brewer, Karaoke Host, Lead singer, Lawyer, Butcher, Car Salesperson, Blogger and Personal Trainer.

On Thursday, June 7, the Weekly Volcano will publish The Sexy Issue, immortalizing the sexy, chosen few forever.

Help us find them.

Voting ends May 11 at 5 p.m. - so help the Weekly Volcano find the South Sound's hottest citizens. Vote today!

Vote for the South Sound's sexiest people