"Cinco de Mayo," Spanish for "the sink is full of mayonnaise." OK, not really. I made that up, which is only fitting, because the idea that May 5 is a big holiday celebrated throughout Mexico is also made up. This yarn was spun by some PR hack for Corona beer back in the '80s, when the company was looking for a way to get Americans to drink more beer.

Since this is not an especially hard task, they didn't work especially hard on the idea, not even hard enough to note that Mexico's real Day of Independence is Sept. 16. Cinco de Mayo commemorates The Battle of Puebla, where Mexicans defeated the French army, and in Mexico is mostly a regional holiday. Ordinarily, Americans don't cotton to anyone except Oliver Stone replacing facts with fabrications, but in this case, with beer consumption at stake, we were more than willing to overlook a little lie.

So here we are, decades later, stuffing our faces with nachos (another American invention) and toasting each other with mugs of Corona as we celebrate the truly American tradition of making up holidays to boost sales.

Holy mole! Why celebrate the fake holiday by drinking tasteless beer? It's the perfect opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture and drink Mexican craft beer.  Mexico's beer market is the 5th largest in the world by volume: 1.77 billion gallons per year to be exact. Certainly beer-loving Tacoma has a few Mexican craft beer bottles ready for Monday's holiday.

OK, a little research proves grabbing a craft beer created South of the Border might be a challenge. Apparently, of those billions of gallons that are exported - 58 percent of it is Anheuser Busch (Modelo, Corona, Dos Equis) and 41 percent of it is Heineken (Tecate, Sol) - (divide number x by number y, then multiply by 100) that leaves a mere one percent for other Mexican brewers, fighting for space on shelves and taps.

I'm still up for the challenge.

Read more...

THURSDAY, MAY 1 2014 >>>

1. It ain't easy being green, which means that committed folks such as the Tacoma Green Drinks contingent are worth their weight in gold. Over the past five years or so, this Mother Earth loving group has gathered every month at a local watering hole to talk sustainability, conservation and the environment, while tossing back drinks. It's a beautiful thing. Also a beautiful thing is the VeloFemmes, a grassroots group dedicated to providing opportunities for more women to cycle. Tacoma Green Drinks and VeloFemmes will collide at 6 p.m. in The Office Bar and Grill. You're totally invited - unless you insist on driving that Dodge Ram SRT10. These fine folks suggest you ride a bike.

2. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Broadway Farmers Market invites everyone to experience the fine wears of the land, and the natural abilities of camaraderie and free spirits, support the local farmers and eat food all at on Broadway between Ninth and 11th in downtown Tacoma.

3. The Harmon Brewing Company will host an all-day fundraiser to help the families affected by the Oso mudslide. You may drop off donations of clothing, blankets or money at the Harmon Brewery & Eatery in downtown Tacoma, The Hub and Harmon Tap Room in Tacoma's Stadium District and The Hub at the Narrows Airport in Gig Harbor, and the Harmon folks will forward them to the Red Cross. Bonus: Steve Stefanowicz will be live at the downtown Tacoma Harmon from 6-9 p.m., and the band Yowees will perform 6:30-9 p.m. at the Gig Harbor Hub.

4. Chamber Music by Arthur Kopit is an absurdist one-act play set in 1939 and performed by Theater Artists Olympia, or TAO. It is TAO's 11th season and their website states, "TAO is a collective of local artists committed to producing high quality theater. TAO's focus is on producing more thematically provocative materials, and experimental interpretations of classics than generally found in the Olympia area. Our mission is to present creative theatrical pieces that are under-represented in the community." Chamber Music definitely fills that role. Read Joann Varnell's full review of Chamber Music in the Music & Culture section, then catch the show at 8 p.m. in The Midnight Sun.

5. C Average, Lord Dying and Vanguard will rock The Brotherhood Lounge beginning at 9 p.m. 

LINK: Thursday, May 1 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Imagine a food store in the heart of downtown Olympia. One that is quaint and colorful and smartly-designed. One that offers organic produce, grab-and-go sandwiches, specialty snacks, beer/wine, meat, cheese and more.

Imagine no further, friends. This is now a reality. Little General Food Shop, located next to Rainy Day Records, at 313 Fifth Ave., officially opened Friday April 25, and is now open for business 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

Owner Kim Murillo is a former engineer and current seamstress, who rented space in downtown Olympia before deciding to open Little General.

"I wanted to bring in things that I couldn't find in town," said Murillo. "There wasn't a lot of focus on sourcing artisan foods and things that were fun ... especially downtown, like when I was in my sewing studio space, I often found that I didn't want to go to a restaurant and I didn't bring a lunch, I just wanted to grab a couple things."

For the hundreds of people that work, play and live in downtown Olympia, Little General is nothing short of a blessing. No more having to head out of downtown just to get a snack, or some Band-Aids or a beer or a tub of organic salad for dinner.

Now, you can find all this, plus more (need some panty liners, ladies?) - all locally sourced or from small batch companies.

The 600-square-foot shop also has a seating area and Wi-Fi available.

"I wanted a space people can use to study, or have lunch, or a date," laughed Murillo. "This is a community space."

Fun Fact: Little General is the endearing nickname Murillo's husband gave her. She thought it would be the perfect name for the store.

Cool Fact: Bearded Lady Food Company sandwiches are available at the Little General Food Shop.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 2014 >>>

1. Art is most effective when it can evoke the essence or the spirit, of a person, place or event without necessarily looking like that person, place or event. More often than not it is most effective when it does not look like the subject because illusory depiction often detracts from the core of the artistic statement. Coastal Alchemy at Museum of Glass beautifully, inventively and powerfully evokes the natural world of our Pacific Northwest in painting, sculpture and poetry by artists Anna Skibska, Meg Holgate and Trenton Flock. Read Alec Clayton's full review of "Coastal Alchemy" in the Music & Culture section, then see the show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2. For those interested in something with a more scientific take on, er, science, than Star Trek has to offer, a fascinating documentary hits The Grand Cinema screen at 1:55, 4:25 and 6:50 p.m. Particle Fever is the exploration of the development and launch of the Large Hadron Collider. Ten thousand scientists from all around the world collaborated to create the Collider, which was designed to recreate the conditions that existed in the wake of the Big Bang. Those following the news of the past couple years know that the result was the discovery of the Higgs boson (AKA the "God particle"), which has long been the missing link in our understanding of just why we exist.

3. Pour at Four wine bar in Tacoma's Proctor District will pour complimentary tastes from Southard Winery. This small, boutique winery located in Selah, Wash., has flown under the radar, but makes outstanding wines. Meet Scott Southard and enjoy tasty wines from 5:30-8 p.m.

4. Ah, the clarinet. It's the godfather of the woodwinds. You only have, say, a half-inch diameter to blow through. If you don't blow properly, it makes a loud, annoying noise. But if it's blown through properly, it's a beautiful instrument. The sound is so mellow, and soothing, and healing and quiet and serene. Unless Eddie Daniels is blowing. While an accomplished classical musician, Daniels is best known as the rarest of rare, hard-bop clarinetist. He's the modern Benny Goodman. And the Grammy winner will sit in with the University of Puget Sound Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m. in Schneebeck Concert Hall.

5. Philly folk-punkersMike Bell & the Movies join Handwritings and Trout Stream for an 8 p.m. show at Northern in downtown Olympia.

LINK: Wednesday, April 30 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Coffee house nibbles are often slim pickings featuring delectable baked goods and not much else. B Sharp Coffee House though is a whole other beast with a menu highlighting housemade sandwiches, flatbreads and starter platters featuring veggies, cheeses and charcuteries - though yummy baked goods are within arm's reach.

Among the selection is their hummus plate ($6.99). This dish is simple. Tasty hummus sits atop of a bed of fresh spinach leaves surrounded by generous amounts of broccoli, carrots, grape tomatoes and pita slices. With a dash of pepper for taste, this shareable starter is a healthy light snack.

Pair with a Bluebeard Coffee concoction, glass of vino or a cold one from B Sharp's impressive craft beer selection and you have yourself a winner.

B Sharp Coffee House's ambiance is cool to boot, meshing artsy and comfort in a nice little package.

Keep an eye on bsharpcoffeehouse.com for its Friday and Saturday live entertainment.

B SHARP COFFEE HOUSE, 406 Opera Alley, Tacoma, 253.292.9969

TUESDAY, APRIL 29 2014 >>>

1. Thursday marks the beginning of National Bike Month. In Tacoma and Pierce County, employees are encouraged to do lots of bike stuff, and ride their bicycles to work.  According to commute co-op Pierce Trips, if you live within five miles of your workplace, biking may not be as hard as you think. With gas hitting $3.75 a gallon, we thinks Bike to Work Month is gonna be crackin' this year. Planning to organize a Tacoma-Pierce County Bike Commuter Challenge Team? Enjoy food and drink specials while picking up special Captain's Packet with Bike Month incentives to help you and your team get in gear from 5-7 p.m. at the Harmon Tap Room.

2. Sure, you know about cow-tipping and daffodils ... but what do you really know about Sumner? Carmen Palmer and Paul Rogerson will share the histories and stories of Sumner at 6 p.m. in the Sumner Pierce County Library. They will discuss their book, Sumner, a new volume in the award-winning local history series, Images of America.

3. "Now Wally, I want you to go in the living room and pick up those orange peels that you left on the coffee table. If your father comes home and sees them he'll be in a terrible mood all through dinner and won't let you and The Beaves rock the Red Wind Casino at 6:30 p.m." - June Cleaver

4. Not that anyone needs another excuse to eat tacos, but Southbay Dickerson's BBQ in Olympia has declared Tuesday the day of the taco. And while barbecue and tacos may not sound harmonious on the surface, the principle behind "low and slow" cooking crosses any border. These hybrid tacos come with slow-cooked pork shoulder or smoked chicken for $1.50 a piece. To take Taco Tuesday to the next level, Southbay invites the Don Cohen Jazz Quartet to fill its Pig Bar with jazz at 8 p.m. Five dollar margaritas just make the night crazy delicious.

5. Pacific Lutheran University Singers and Men's Chorus under the direction of Brian Galante and Nathan Frank perform at 8 p.m. in Lagerquist Concert Hall.

LINK: Tuesday, April 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Harmon Brewing Company announced today that on May Day, Thursday May 1, all four HBC locations will donate 10 percent of food sales to the American Red Cross in support of disaster relief for the OSO community. Those locations are: Harmon Brewing Company at South 19th and Pacific Avenue downtown Tacoma, The Hub and Harmon Tap Room complex near Tacoma's Stadium District and the new Hub at the Narrows Airport in Gig Harbor.

"We will also collect blankets, clothes, and other useful items as people see fit to donate," said co-owner Pat Nagle in a news release. The human Jukebox Steve Stefanowicz will perform as part of the benefit from 6-9 p.m. at the Harmon Brewery & Eatery in downtown Tacoma.

For more information, keep an eye on Harmon's Facebook page. 

ALSO TODAY

The Swiss Restaurant and Pub celebrates its 21st birthday today with a special Imperial Red Ale brewed with 7 Seas Brewing, Junkyard Jane band, raffles and more. For the full story, click here.

99 Bottles in Federal Way has announced its special tasting pours of the week: Pedal Strike Pale Ale, Resignation Brewery's KCCO Black Lager, Port Townsend Brewing's Porter and The Lost Abbey's Agave Maria Ale.

TUESDAY, APRIL 27

The Topside Bar & Grill in Steilacoom hosts Elysian Brewing for a brewery night beginning at 6 p.m. Four Elysian beers will be on tap, next to the Men's Room Red, which is its featured brew of the month.

THEN THERE'S THIS...

Did you hear about Wingman Brewers in Tacoma making HiConsumption lifestyle magazine's list of the 15 best American porters? It's true.

Let's look at a few photos from Saturday's Barleywine Festival at the ParkWay Tavern.

SEE ALSO

Gig Harbor Beer Festival is on its way

Regardless of whether the weather in mid-June is chilly in Tacoma, it will be a chili June, thanks to the 100.7 The Wolf inaugural Hometown Throwdown Concert and Homestyle Chili Cook Off, which is slated for June 14 at Cheney Stadium. Let's read après release:

Entercom Seattle's 100.7 The Wolf (KKWF) announced its lineup today for the inaugural Hometown Throwdown Concert. A full day of fun for the whole family, Hometown Throwdown features an all day concert and Homestyle Chili Cook Off for just $25. The Wolf Rising Stars playing June 14^th include Dan + Shay, Danielle Bradbery, Lindsay Ell, American Young, Joel Crause, Kelleigh Bannen, Joey Hyde, Rae Solomon, Sammy Steele, and Robbie Walden.

Read more...

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MONDAY, APRIL 28 2014 >>>

1. The Swiss Restaurant & Pub celebrates its 21st birthday will run 11 a.m. to close. The Swiss and 7 Seas Brewing in Gig Harbor collaborated on a special imperial red ale for the occasion, which will be released at 11 a.m. Raffle prizes will be doled out on the 21st minute of every hour. Junkyard Jane will hit the stage at 8 p.m., normal starting time for bands during The Swiss' popular weekly Monday Night Blues sessions. The show and party are free. 

2. Cocktail aficionado Hilltop Kitchen hosts a Vino de Mezcal tasting at 2 p.m. That's right, artisanal mezcal on a Monday afternoon. So nice. The entire line of Vino de Mezcal from Fundación Agaves Silvestres will be poured as daylight shines through the Hilltop Tacoma lounge. The $45 ticket price includes the taster flight of seven mezcals and light snacks. This is a delightful opportunity to discover something new and gain boozy insight and knowledge. The man behind these spirits, Erick "Alma Mezcalera," will be in the house. Tickets are at brownpapertickets.com.

3. The Weekly Volcano's art critic's prose will be read by the Weekly Volcano's theater critic at Creative Colloquay, which was founded by the Weekly Volcano's food critic. The literary event will also feature storytellers Jack Cameron, Titus Burley, J Anne Fullerton and David Mucklow reading from their works. An open mic follows. Talk may be cheap, but Creative Colloquay is free. Step up at 7 p.m. in the B Sharp Coffee House.

4. The Tacoma Cult Movie Club continues its homage to Mike Vraney of Something Weird Video with screenings at 7 p.m. in the Acme Grub Cage. Besides free admission and popcorn, expect a large raffle, which will include gift certificates from Olympic Cards and Comics.

5. Jazzbones has amped up its weekly live band karaoke. For the past six weeks it has hosted a singing contest with the grand prize being two nights and flight to Las Vegas. Tonight at 9 p.m. is the finals. 

LINK: Monday, April 28 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 4.26.14 >>>

Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has called on Muslims to kidnap Westerners, particularly Americans.

Russian jets cross into Ukraine airspace.

With Ukraine in turmoil, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel can't get Russian counterpart to take his calls.

Hagel is taking a backseat to other players in the Obama administration when it comes to the crisis in Ukraine. 

Leaders of the Group of Seven major economies agreed to impose extra sanctions on Russia over its intervention in Ukraine.

Five NATO-led service members were killed when a helicopter crashed due to technical failure in southern Afghanistan.

Did Obama just draw another red line in the East China Sea?

Military officials in Europe are pushing back against reports the U.S. was conducting humanitarian assistance projects in Crimea as a ruse to establish a military base in the region.

North Korea denies drones were sent to South.

Military suicides down for active duty, up for reservists.

Army's basic training is no longer basic: Lessons for business.

SpaceX has filed a protest against the U.S. Air Force over the service's decision to award the United Launch Alliance a sole-source block buy of 36 launch cores.

Reserve soldiers augment active-duty drill sergeants.

Cadet Command looking for professors of military science.

With final approach, U-2 pilot's career makes celebrated landing.

5 best submarines of the Cold War.

New rule: Recruits must buy U.S.-made athletic shoes.

The Internet is buzzing right now with the latest, greatest (and potentially fake) Worst Thing Ever. Meet Code Babes, the stripping amalgam of everything that's wrong with tech culture today.

Chances are, you missed Dinner with Friends with Brett Gelman and Friends comedy special that aired late last night on Adult Swim, but you can catch up online. Guests at the wonderfully random table include True Blood's Dale Dickey, Gilbert Gottfried, Fred Melamed, The Newsroom's Alison Pill and Girls' Alex Karpovsky.

The world premiere of Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed debuts on Comedy Central April 27. Here's a taste.

Hmmm: Beer lollipops

The British Pathé on YouTube newsreel archive has posted more than 80,000 clips of cultural milestones and memories. Check 'em out, even just for all the Mick Jagger stuff.

The former member of Joy Division and New Order has a new book out about one of England's most famous clubs in the '80s and '90s.

Finally: Thanks to Petit Tube, we can graze the surface of all the weird, wonderful, an often disturbing YouTube clips.

Star Wars as you've never seen it before: with really terrible sound effects dubbed in...

Original photo by Defense Imagery Management Operations Center