TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012 >>>

1. At noon inside the Lagerquist Concert Hall, the Ung Youth Sinfoni from Bergen, Norway returns to PLU to perform works from their tour repertoire, including the "100 Folk Tunes of Hardanger" by Geirr Tveitt, "Spring" by Edvard Grieg, and "Fanfare and Chorale" by Kjell Seim. The youth Symphony will be joined by violinist and Hardanger Fiddler, Eldbjorg Hemsing, regarded as one of Norway's most promising young artists. What you'll hear will be nothing short of beautiful. So much so, that you'll quickly forget about the diet of dried cod and salted reindeer testicles that the denizens of Norway are forced to subsist on. Plus, it's nice to see a Norwegian use a horn for something other than announcing a Viking raid.

2. Maria Callas was one of the 20th century's most legendary opera singers. Born to Greek parents in 1923 in New York City, Callas received operatic training in Athens before making her official debut at Italy's La Scala in 1951. Now, more than 33 years after her death, Callas remains one of opera's most popular recording artists. Norm Hollingshead, a Seattle Opera preview lecturer, will speak on Callas at 10:30 a.m. inside the Garfield Book Company.

3. Jobs are personal. If you don't have one, you're probably job-obsessed. If you don't like the one you have, then you are probably looking for a better one. Both scenarios will have an opportunity to connect with a wide range of employers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Marcus Pavilion on the Saint Martin's University campus. The fair provides a valuable opportunity to gather information, polish your professional image, make connections for future employment, and learn to market yourself more effectively.

4. Vegucated is one of the newest documentaries on the block attempting to expose the realities of food systems and the threat to our health and the environment. The feature-length documentary follows three meat-and-cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. Vegucated plays at 2 and 6:45 p.m. at The Grand Cinema in Tacoma. We're eating a carrot as we write this.

5. Ricky J's Restaurant and Sports Lounge in Puyallup doesn't exactly sound like the name of a meat market haven. But in fact, Ricky J's has some of the most reasonably priced meat in town. Every Tuesday night Ricky J's offers a bar steak special for $4.95. That's a heaping pile of meat for under $5. Other specials include free pool and $1 off draft beer. But what's that you say? What about the chicks? Jeez, here we mention cheap meat and you're still concerned about chicks. ...

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound happy hours

THURSDAY, MARCH 29: FOUR POACHED EIGHT BREAKFAST BATTLES ON THE DOCKET >>>

The Poached Eight is fully fleshed out: Homestead Restaurant, Moon Rise Cafe, Norma's Burgers, Cicada Restaurant, Alfred's Cafe, Boxcar Grill, Shakabrah Java and Dirty Oscar's Annex. Eight establishments that - according to our readers' poll - serve the best breakfast in the South Sound.

It's all come down to eight. All the signs in the restaurants, the mass emailings to customers and friends, the breakfast phone trees have paid off for these eight egg slingers. It's now crunch (or Cap'n Crunch) time for the breakfast royalty.

On to today's Tournament of Breakfast action and yesterday's results.

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

Here were the match-ups:

Alfred's Cafe (Tacoma) vs. Poodle Dog (Fife)

Fife City Bar and Grill (Tacoma) vs. Boxcar Grill (Tacoma) 

Shakabrah Java (Tacoma) vs. Masa (Tacoma)

The Hub (Tacoma) vs. Dirty Oscar's Annex (Tacoma)

Alfred's Cafe, the heavy favorite to win the East Region after perceived contenders such as Johnny's Dock and Buttered Biscuit were dismissed in earlier rounds, cruised to an easy win over the aging Poodle Dog with 70 percent of the votes. Alfred's decorated big dishes, blueberry pancakes and corned beef hash, enjoyed solid days, with the Monte Cristo turning it on late in the game.

Despite an early lead from the heralded Fife City Bar and Grill, Boxcar Grill and its large, devoted Sounder Train-riding fans proved too powerful in yesterday's action, catapulting into the Poached Eight with a resounding victory. Boxcar Grill is known for sausage gravy, with 67 percent of the gravy pure sausage. Strangely, that's exactly the percentage of the vote Boxcar received yesterday. Weird. Today Boxcar will face neighboring Alfred's Cafe.

The way Shakabrah Java has managed to bring it during this year's Tournament of Breakfast has been nothing short of amazing. Yesterday, many already had established competitor Masa penciled in as a winner. Those people, however, were foolish - as Shakabrah Java once again proved its breakfast prowess. The votes don't lie, and when the final buzzer sounded Shakabrah Java had racked up roughly 58 percent of the vote. It was the closest game of the day.

We feel bad for the Stadium District on this one ... especially those denizens who love to mix an amazing chicken fried steak with their Bloody Marys and extreme sports TV watching. But something tells us they'll survive, and they'll do so in tasty style with The Hub breakfast they (and much of the area, it seems) have come to love. Unfortunately for The Hub, the task yesterday of taking down Dirty Oscar's Annex was simply too much - and the votes told the story. When all was said and done, D.O.A. moved on with nearly 67 percent of the votes in the day's most active contest.

Let's take a look at the stack. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Alfred's Cafe
  
• Boxcar Grill
  
• Shakabrah Java
  
• Dirty Oscar's Annex
  

The daily breakfast battles here on Spew are sponsored by Shakabrah Java on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

OK, let's check out today's Poached Eight breakfast battles. Vote for one breakfast joint per battle. Voting for today's breakfast battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR MARCH 28 <<<

You know how yesterday we said you, much-appreciated readers, had responded in droves to our Tournament of Breakfast so far this year.

Well, we lied. We hadn't seen anything yet.

Yesterday was droves, people, perhaps more. Yesterday was just plain freakin' nuts. When it comes to breakfast, it's obvious you really care.

Maybe too much ...

On to today's Tournament of Breakfast action and yesterday's results.

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

Here were the match-ups:

Marcia's Silver Soon Cafe (Tacoma) vs. The Homestead Restaurant (Tacoma)

Affairs Cafe and Bakery (University Place) vs. Moon Rise Cafe (Lakewood) 

Norma's Burgers (Lacey) vs. Hawk's Prairie Restaurant (Lacey)

McMenamins Spar Cafe (Olympia) vs. Cicada Restaurant (Olympia)

Once this game began it reaffirmed our opinion that there is no substitution for seeing a game like this in person, despite all of the advances in home entertainment technology. No screen or monitor can adequately capture the vividness of the strawberries, or convey the towering physical presence of a stack of pancakes. On television, hash browns look like an afterthought. In person, hash browns look ferocious. And according to statistics, hash browns were the deciding factor in this game. Twelfth seed Homestead Restaurant, behind its spuds, knocked off number one seed Marcia's with 54 percent of the votes.

The Moon Rise's raspberry jam has been surprisingly quiet throughout this tournament. Created in-house by owner Christine Curren, the jam was a key factor in bringing the Lakewood restaurant into the tournament. For most of the second half in its battle with Affairs Cafe, it was a different story. The jam came to life for the Moon Rise - as did many of Moon Rise's Benedicts. Affairs didn't want to go to its truffles, but it had to in the final six hours of voting. But the chocolate awesomeness wasn't enough. The Moon Rise Cafe grabbed 59 percent of the votes, and will battle The Homestead Thursday in the Poached Eight.

The Weekly Volcano's food tournaments mean everything - perhaps too much, as a team that dominates its regions during regular season play can have one bad day and see its season go down the drain. Certainly there is drama of the highest kind when it comes to mixing batter. The breakfast quiche kept pouring out of sixth seed Hawk's Prairie Restaurant's kitchen all day. It's only 450 calories! What was Hawk's Prairie thinking? You can't expect to start 450 calories and beat a powerhouse like number one seed Norma's Burgers. Seizing the opportunity, Norma's pulled in its I-5 Pile Up -  large buttermilk biscuits on top of hash browns and topped with two eggs then smothered with sausage gravy - and pounded the Hawk's quiche until it squeaked out a win with 52 percent of the votes.

McMenamins Spar Café got demolished by Cicada Restaurant, which was mildly surprising not because they lost but because they lost so badly - by 1,200 votes. The Spar Cafe kept all three of its Benedicts on the floor most of the game, with the Dungeness crab variation using the grilled tomato to its advantage.  For crying out loud, the Spar even pulled its Willapa Bay oyster shooter off the bench. What the hell happened to this Olympia institution? Cicada's green eggs and ham is what happened. The breakfast dish was unstoppable. It was ordered in the dining room. It was ordered in the fancy lounge. Someone even ate it at the hostess stand! Who says it's not easy being green? Cicada moves into the Poached Eight Thursday for a breakfast date with Norma's Burgers. Oh boy.

Let's take a look at the stack. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Homestead Restaurant
  
• Moon Rise Cafe
  
• Norma's Burgers
  
• Cicada Restaurant
  

The daily breakfast battles here on Spew are sponsored by Shakabrah Java on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

OK, let's check out today's Scrambled 16 breakfast battles. Vote for one breakfast joint per battle. Voting for today's breakfast battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR MARCH 27 <<<

For the last two weeks we presented you with a compelling question: Who makes the best breakfast in the South Sound? And you have responded in droves. Sick days have been used. Friendships have fallen apart. Kellogg's is considering producing South Sound Mystery Crunch - mass hysteria!

The competition has been whittled down to the Scrambled 16. Yes, 16 South Sound breakfast joints are poised to make the final push to the Final Four, which will be held Friday.

So, read up on yesterday's action, and then vote on the first four games of the Scrambled 16. It’s in your hands, mouth, and stomach, folks. Do us proud.

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

Here were the match-ups:

Fife City Bar & Grill (Fife) vs. Rock The Dock Pub & Grill (Tacoma)

Dixie's Home Cookin' (Sumner) vs. Boxcar Grill (Tacoma) 

Shakabrah Java (Tacoma) vs. C.I. Shenanigans (Tacoma)

Masa (Tacoma) vs. Hob Nob (Tacoma)

Fife City Bar & Grill figured its game against Rock The Dock Pub & Grill to be low scoring, a natural expectation with two of the Port of Tacoma area's best breakfasts butting heads. Dominating the griddle, Fife City delivered an amazing New York steak skillet breakfast - topping it with cheese - and pushed its Polish sausage to anchor a stifling defense that helped Fife City Bar & Grill knock off Rock The Dock and its deck with 53 percent of the votes. Fife City has one big advantage in the Tournament of Breakfast: Chef/owner Diana Prine and her Culinary Institute of American training.

Dixie's Home Cookin's friendly service gave Boxcar Grill fits all day. Instead of promoting the big-ticket items - The Caboose, The Boxcar Steak and Eggs and The Freight-Train - like it normally does, Boxcar Grill played a bait-and-switch game with the Build-Your Own Omelet, with the awesome combination of three category ingredients. The idea was to confuse Dixie's with the combinations and, hopefully, wear them out. It worked, in large part because corned beef was an omelet option - a move rarely seen in build-your-own-omelet offenses. Boxcar Grill, with the largest percentage point win of the day - 60 percent - moves on to the Scrambled 16.

Shakabrah Java shifted gears. It had to go big against Shenanigans big ol' brunch. To open this game, Shakabrah went to its four big Shaka-Combos players - all with its signature potatoes. Its quick breakfast sandwiches did the trick in earlier matches, but it needed more girth for this battle. Shenanigans followed pushing its in-house pastry chef hard, winning hearts with mini tarts, which countered its typical slow-down offense and ran Shakabrah reckless. Shakabrah gave in, and went to its quick The Brian breakfast sandwich with its French toast base. "He played an exceptional game," said Bob from Tacoma's Trafton Street. The Brian did indeed, and in the end, Shakabrah Java squeaked by 51.2 percent of the vote. Wow.

Masa co-owner John Xitco coaxed this win out of his breakfast by making his chefs pound Masa's huevos rancheros and insisting on the kind of defense that Masa played during this remarkable run, but which often got overshadowed by the Hob Nob's Side Door Lounge theatrics. Xitco's biggest offensive highlight: Probably when 10 Masa Smirnoff Jalapeno Marys hit the floor all at once. However, the Hob Nob's strawberry French toast was on fire, keeping the game close. In fact, Masa's 51 percent of the votes victory wasn't secured until the final 20 minutes of the game. Masa wins and will face Shakabrah Java in the Scrambled 16.

Let's take a look at the stack. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Fife City Bar and Grill
  
• Boxcar Grill
  
• Shakabrah Java
  
• Masa
  

The daily breakfast battles here on Spew are sponsored by Shakabrah Java on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

OK, let's check out today's Scrambled 16 breakfast battles. Vote for one breakfast joint per battle. Voting for today's breakfast battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR MARCH 26 <<<

Laid-back is the essence of Sunday. That means a lazy mid-afternoon brunch, no work, phone off the hook, flip-flops ... you know the routine. The mere thought of lifting a finger to wash the mountain of dishes in the sink should make you shudder. Yesterday, a good chunk of the South Sound changed its Sunday routine. Voting in the Tournament of Breakfast was added to the mix. Yesterday's vote was the second hishest of the tournament.

But, it's Monday. You're still in chill mode. Your boss' view of what is priority is far from the top of your priority list. And there's four South Sound breakfast games to vote on today. Before you vote, take a gander at yesterday's results. Woah.

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

Here were the match-ups:

Pine Cone Cafe (University Place) vs. Affairs Cafe & Bakery (University Place)

Moon Rise Cafe (Lakewood) vs. Old Milwaukee Cafe (Tacoma) 

Norma's Burgers (Olympia) vs. Sage's Brunch House (Tacoma)

Hawk's Prairie Restaurant (Lacey) vs. Black Bear Diner (Olympia)

Affairs Cafe started the game with a psychological ploy, as owner Gay Landry pushed her delicious strawberry crepes hard, while dropping the egg dishes back to set up its zone defense. Affairs veggie skillet was red hot yesterday. The Pine Cone Café, even with its malted Belgium waffle having a good day, couldn't keep up with Affairs. Affairs Cafe ended up with 58 percent of the vote, and a seat in the Scrambled 16.

The Moon Rise Cafe triple teamed Old Milwaukee Cafe for nearly the entire game, forcing owners Pat and Chad to rely on their powerhouse griddle. Old Milwaukee took an early lead due to Chad's handy work with four spatulas, before the Moon Rise would close the gap with a strong showing from its salmon scramble. The triple team worked, and the North End Tacoma favorite fell, with the Moon Rise Cafe capturing 55 percent of the votes and a spot in the Scrambled 16.

Norma's Burgers held an advantage in volume yesterday, turning tables with cat-like quickness. Sage's Brunch House worked the biscuits and gravy hard, shuffling in and out the Migas at opportune moments. In the end Norma's held on to a comfortable lead, ending up with 62 percent of the votes, and a seat in the Scrambled 16.

Hawk's Prairie cruised to an easy win yesterday over Black Bear Diner with 66 percent of the votes, largely due to its relentless bear traps. Analysts agreed it was wise for Hawk's to give its broiled pit ham steak a breather yesterday. It will need the power dish in the Scrambled 16 when it takes on Norma's Burgers.

Let's take a look at the stack. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Affairs Cafe and Bakery
  
• Moon Rise Cafe
  
• Norma's Burgers
  
• Hawk's Prairie Restaurant
  

The daily breakfast battles here on Spew are sponsored by Shakabrah Java on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

OK, let's check out today's Second Round breakfast battles. Vote for one breakfast joint per battle. Voting for today's breakfast battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Snow: Oh, sure. (News Tribune)

The World Is Going Bonkers, Part 54: SWAT in Lacey. (News Tribune)

Puyallup City Council: It has entered the red-light camera think tank. (News Tribune)

When Terrorist Die: Police burst into the apartment of a suspected militant accused of killing 7 people, prompting a shootout that ended with Mohammed Merah, gun in hand, jumping out a window to his death. (CNN)

Checking In with The Supreme Court: Because about 95 percent of criminal convictions arise from guilty pleas, two Supreme Court decisions represent a vast expansion of judicial supervision of the criminal justice system. (The New York Times)

Male Baldness: It's all about key protein called prostaglandin D synthase, which are elevated in the cells of hair follicles located in bald patches on the scalp, but not in hairy areas. (CNN)

Oh, Goodie: Are you excited about the remastered Smiths albums? (Paste Magazine)

This Cinco De Mayo: Drink with George Clooney. (New York Daily News)

Cyndi Lauper: She has a new reality show. (Vulture)

How Do You Know It's Spring?: These 18 photos will tell you. (Pleated Jeans)

AquaDom: The Radisson Blue Hotel in Berlin-Mitte, German is home to one of the most spectacular pieces of architecture. (Inthralld)

This Hurts Our Brain

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Tacoma City Council: It's expected to impose a 5 percent tax on admissions to some of Tacoma's largest nonprofit museums, theaters and performing arts groups tonight - a long-term sustainable solution for Tacoma's arts programs, but not popular with the large arts organizations. (News Tribune)

Lacey Shooting: The gunman is still on the loose. (News Tribune)

Pugnetti Park: Jerry Pugnetti says the park named after his father should be saved. (News Tribune)

GOP Presidential Primary: The pressure is on Mitt Romney in Illinois today. (CNN)

Justice Department: It's investigating the fatal shooting of an unarmed 17-year-old boy by a crime watch volunteer last month in Florida. (The New York Times)

Housing For The Homeless: 14 smart and sensitive solutions. (Web Urbanist)

Daniel Radcliffe: One of his first post-Hogwarts roles will be Beat poet Allen Ginsberg. (Slash Film)

Burger Battle: Wendy's unseats Burger King as country's second biggest hamburger chain. (Huffington Post)

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations behind-the-scenes TV crew videos. (Laughing Squid)

Yes!: 29 of fashion's mysteries solved. (Refinery 29)

When Critics Mattered: Kael, Ebert and '70s film. (Boston Review)

Is Slactivism Better Than Doing Nothing at All?: Watch to find out. (Mother Jones)

>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR MARCH 17 <<<<

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Remember, today is a marathon, not a sprint. Especially if you plan to start early, water and even a couple snacks deserve a reserved space in your plaid fanny pack. In fact, hacktheday.com offers an excellent guide on how to drink properly. They suggest never to drink on an empty stomach, make your own decisions when it comes to volume of consumption, sip don't chug, try not to mix types of alcohol (liquor, beer, wine, etc.), eat oily food and if you feel sick, excuse yourself to the port-o-john for a refreshing upchuck.

We say kick off your St. Patrick's Day with a tasty breakfast.

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

The Tournament of Breakfast was seeded by readers' votes through the month of February. Norma's Burgers received the most votes, placing it in the Number One position in the South region. It's no surprise then that Norma's grabbed 75.6 percent of the votes. Eastside Big Tom was sent packing.

Yes, Sage's Brunch House's potato pancakes are seriously delicious. So is the migas - a mix of red and ancho peppers, garlic, beans, corn tortillas, onions, eggs and Portuguese sausage. However, what also might have contributed to Sage's win over Budd Bay Café, grabbing 55.6 percent of the votes, is Sage's awesome selection of kid's toys. Parents know whiny kids can kill a pancake zen.

While River's Edge has the serene view of a golf course, Hawk's Prairie Restaurant serves stiff drinks and ginormous portions. With nearly 60 percent of the votes, Hawk's moves into the Second Round.

The Black Bear Diner is part of a chain that spans a good chunk of the West Coast. Maybe 80 stores as of this writing, according to its website. Its large portions for low prices really strike a chord with a good chunk of the local populace, as put a hurt on the Red Wind Casino grabbing 62 percent of the votes. The Black Bear Diner faces off with Hawk's Prairie Restaurant March 25 in Second Round action.

Let's take a look at the griddle iron. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Norma's Burgers
  
• Sage's Brunch House
  
• Hawk's Prairie Restaurant
  
• Black Bear Diner
  

The daily breakfast battles here on Spew are sponsored by Shakabrah Java on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

OK, let's check out today's First Round breakfast battles. Vote for one breakfast joint per battle. Voting for today's breakfast battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment of the day comes from Mr. McCoullagh in regards to the Tournament of Breakfast battles currently underway. We can only assume he speaks of the famous Mundo Chicken Fried Steak from Norma's Burgers in Lacey.

Mr. McCoullagh writes,

You haven't lived until you polish off the Mundo Chicken Fried Steak. The wife always orders the vanilla cinnamon French toast{I don't know what kind of bread they use but it seems like french bread, much better than regular bread}. Sundays they give free fruit plates, with alot of seasons best fruit. The servers always know your name and you feel like they wan't to adopt you.

SPEND YOUR MORNINGS WISELY THIS WEEK >>>

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

We speak, of course, of the Weekly Volcano's Tournament of Breakfast, which kicks off March 15 right here on Spew. This year's Tournament of Breakfast marks the continuation of an epic winning streak that began in 2010 with the Volcano's Tournament of Tacos, and continued in 2011 with the Tournament of Pizza.

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

Through the end of March, and keeping pace with the national excitement on the college basketball courts (though far more tasty), 64 area breakfast joints will compete in the Volcano's 2012 Tournament of Breakfast. These pancake-serving and egg-frying establishments were selected and seeded by readers throughout February, and now the time has come to see who's best. Marcia's Silver Spoon, Shakabrah or Old Milwaukee Cafe in Tacoma? Carrs or Burs? Darby's or the New Moon Cafe down south?

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

Then, on April 2, join us at the Meconi's Tacoma Pub & Eatery for the Official Tournament of Breakfast Party - our winner will be announced during halftime of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game.

See you back here Thursday, March 15.

Sponsored by ...