THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Partly cloudy, hi 66, lo 43

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, hi 72, lo 46

Sunday: Sunny, hi 72, lo 48

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 29-SUNDAY, MARCH 31: THE SOMEWHAT TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD

Here we recommend seeing Olympia Family Theater's rendition of The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood. With an impressive cast of Olympia actors - our own Christian Carvajal plays Little John - and the talented direction of Tom Sanders, the show should entertain with it's twisted tale. Hype for the play reads, "The countryside remains under the greedy and corrupt control of Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. It's up to (the-ever-so-modest) Robin and his (not-so-very-bright) Merry Men to free Maid Marian from her terrible fate...Come see what swashbuckling looks like when wooden spoons come in to play." This show runs Thursday-Sunday through April 13. - Nikki McCoy

• Washington Center, 7 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 512 Washington St., Olympia, 360.570.1638

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 29: SAMI AWARDS

Who doesn't love an awesome fundraiser? You get to rub elbows, participate in raffles and support your community. Get ready for the "Second Likely Only Annual Sami Awards" Friday night. Hosted by Erik Hill, Pug Bujeaud and Samantha Camp, this ridiculously fun music, dance and laughter-filled evening will benefit Lakewood Playhouse. This event is a smokin' deal, too. Tickets are only $20 and include snacks in the lobby at intermission and a digital copy of your red carpet affair. For information on performers currently scheduled to appear, awards to be presented, and to purchase tickets online, jump on Brown Paper Tickets. - NM

• Lakewood Playhouse, 8 p.m., $20, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. SW, Lakewood, 253.588.0042

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 29-SUNDAY, MARCH 30: OLIVER!

Coming off a smaller-scale, future-gen production, Next to Normal, the bombast of Oliver! represents a smart shift of programming for Capital Playhouse. We know what we want from a show like this, and thanks to director Colleen Powers and an obviously dedicated cast; we get almost all of it. The choreography is intricate and perfectly executed. The madrigal harmonies of "Who Will Buy?" come off beautifully. Sixth-grader Skyler Wyatt Zimmerman, last seen as, you guessed it, Gavroche, looks good in a newsboy cap. Bruce Haasl's set transforms quickly from a workhouse to a mansion to the heights of London Bridge. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of Oliver! in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

• Capital Playhouse, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 612 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.943.2744

>>> FRIDAY, MARCH 29: ADULT FLASHLIGHT EGG HUNT

Egg-citing times at night: Certain traditions adapt themselves as time travels on. Take the Easter egg hunt. It was fun when you were a kid - watching your parents crawl around, trying to hide a bright pink egg behind a sprinkler head. And there was always the added joy of finding one (hopefully unbroken) three months later. But now you're a parent, and well, it's lost its charm. Or has it? The lovely folks at the Lacey Parks and Recreation host an Adult Flashlight Egg Hunt Friday night. You can now have an egg-ceptional (no, really, ceptions of eggs) time hunting for the eggs hidden on the Regional Atheltic Complex ball fields. Maybe someone will even paint your face. - Weekly Volcano

• Regional Athletic Complex, 9 p.m., $5, 8345 Steilacoom Rd. SE, Olympia, 360.491.0857

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 30: WASHINGTON STATE PARK'S 100TH BIRTHDAY

How about taking a nice stroll through a Washington State Park this Saturday when the weather is going to be super fine and the normal Discover Pass fee will be waived in honor of Washington State Park's 100th birthday. Check in with our Outdoor Addict Whitney Rhodes for some ideas on where to trek. Just make sure and bring sunscreen. There's nothing like a burnt Washingtonian the first weekend we break 65 degrees. - NM

>>> SATURDAY, MARCH 30: PROCTOR FARMERS MARKET

The rites of spring are coming fast and furious these days. Valhalla will unfold on earth once again when the weekly Proctor Farmers Market opens for the season from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. While your best bets for fresh produce this time of year include asparagus, rhubarb, salad greens, edible flowers, fiddleheads, wild mushrooms and green onions, this popular farmers markets doesn't stop there: You'll also find meats and cheeses, fresh-cut flowers, garden gadgets, artisanal crafts and concessions, with plenty of free samples being doled out. New vendors include A&K Shellfish, Bluebeard Coffee, Cascadia Terrior, Loki Fish and Rising River Farms. The Pine Hearts and Mike Coucoules will entertain. Come see the farmers market the Weekly Volcano readers voted Super Best Farmers Market of 2011.

• Proctor Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., North 27th and Proctor St., Tacoma

WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
My wife and I and our respective colds are all in The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, opening at the Washington Center.

REV. ADAM MCKINNEY Music Writer
Oh dear lord but I'm staying inside. You won't fool me this time, weekend. Fool me with your tawdry wares. Weekend, you're the only person I can afford to lose to anymore.

ALEC CLAYTON Arts Critic
Friday night I'll be a presenter at the Second Likely Only Annual Sami Awards at Lakewood Playhouse. Saturday I'm going to see Olympia Family Theater's The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood.

NIKKI MCCOY Feature Writer
Friday night I'm going to swing by the Oly Ballroom for some Hillstomp, then head over to The Royal for some Rock Candy Burlesque. Saturday is sun and no plans - just like every day should be. Sunday is Easter with the in-laws. Eggs + Ham + Candy + three boys = Stinky house and lots of giggles. Good times indeed.

JOSH RIZEBERG Music Columnist
Saturday the founding 15 and myself will be getting our Universal Zulu Nation orientation/training in Seattle all day. Sunday, I'm working on my wife's parent's farm all day, ugh!

JOANN VARNELL Theater Critic
Saturday is packed with a trip to Olympia Family Theater to review The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood and then back to Tacoma for a wedding. We'll head somewhere for an Easter service and then relax and then it's Spring Break!!

TIMOTHY GRISHAM Music Writer
Friday is the first day of the Skyline Drive-in in Taylor Town (Shelton), Wash. I love the place, I go every other week. This is the single biggest day of the month; I don't care about anything else. Seriously, so very excited. And while you read this, please take the time to donate to them upgrading their projection unit so they can stay in business. Please!

ADRIENNE KUEHL Food Writer
Definitely going to hit the Proctor Farmer's Market and embrace the bounty of our land. ... Seriously, though, it's awesome. Go there.

NIC LEANOARD Music Writer
Friday night I will be at the Urban Onion for Afrok's birthday celebration. Saturday, I will be shooting the new Free Whiskey video all day. Once the sun goes down I will be heading to the Track House for the Everybody Weekend show. Also included in my weekend will be whiskey and college basketball

JACKIE FENDER Food Writer
Slinging breakfast boozes and bites over the weekend as usual. I'm also looking forward to copious amounts of candy and playing the Easter Bunny on Sunday. A coffee date with a fellow scribe squeezed in there somewhere and some late night reading. Devouring Cinder by Marissa Meyer right now. Nothing too riveting.

LINK: Even more local events that we recommend

LINK: Comprehensive South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar

<<< VOTING CLOSED FRIDAY, MARCH 29 2013 >>>

It's a simple equation: Bread slices plus edible foodstuffs equals sandwich. But hidden within this simple formula is a universe of variety. Cold or grilled? Butter or condiments? Meat or turnips? Everyone who makes this classic American staple, from national fast-food joints to local mom and pops, has choices to make. And in those choices lie the path to greatness.

The field of 64 South Sound sandwiches was been voted down to 32 in the mother of all sandwich brackets. You've seen the carnage: No. 1 seeds fell, powerhouses butted heads, and Cubans are making a run at the prize. Welcome to the Second Round. ...

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Rick's Dip (Rosewood Café, 3323 N. 26th St., Tacoma) vs. Beast of Burden (Top of Tacoma Bar & Café, 3529 McKinley Ave. E., Tacoma)

East Tacoma's scrappy, gritty Top of Tacoma Bar & Café grabbed the lead early in this game and never looked back, nabbing 55 percent of the votes when all was said and done. Some believe the Top's famous Taco Thursday night could have swung the vote in the Top's favor, due to its party atmosphere. Most believe the sandwich's pile of Angus roast beef, layered with sweet caramelized onions and cherry pepper relish, creamy melted havarti cheese and just the right kick of horseradish-herb mayonnaise is the reason why the Beast moves into the Second Round.

Game 2: Club Sandwich (5th Avenue Sandwich Shop, 117 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia) vs. French Dip (Ramblin' Jacks, 520 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia)

These two downtown Olympia spots traded pepperoni shots all day until around 4:20 p.m. when the 5th Avenue Sandwich Shop began to pull away. Rumor has it the 5th Ave got behind its awesome pies and pushed through Ramblin' Jacks wood-fired oven wall. As the clock hit 11:45 p.m., 5th Avenue Sandwich Shop had 70 percent of the votes, and a spot in the Second Round. That's the definition of a surge.

Game 3: Banh Mi (Pho King, 1020 MLK Way, Tacoma) vs. Banh Mi Dac Biet (Pho V&V Vietnamese Restaurant, 5434 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma)

Pho King, with its funny name and tender bursts of flavor from its Banh Mi sandwich put the hurt on Pho V&V yesterday. Pho King doesn't care if the V&V plays awesome jazz during operating hours. It cares about sandwiches, at its 82 percent of the votes victory margin proves it.

Game 4: Hot Italian Sub (Meconi's Pub & Eatery, 709 Pacific Ave., Tacoma) vs. Banh Mi (Nammy's Deli & Bakery, 513 Capitol Way S., Olympia)

Located downtown in the oldest building on one of the city's oldest blocks is a local Tacoma pub which boasts a true Tacoma atmosphere - part working class grit and part unabashed optimism for the future. That, of course, is Meconi's Pub. And its optimism shined yesterday when its Hot Italian Sub grabbed 77 percent of the votes against the popular Nammy's Deli.

Stick a toothpick in them! The following are advancing to the next round:

• Top of Tacoma Bar and Café's Beast of Burden
• 5th Avenue Sandwich Shop's Club Sandwich
• Pho King's Banh Mi
• Meconi's Pub's Hot Italian Sub

The daily sandwich battles here on Spew are sponsored by Subway in Orting, Puyallup, Tacoma, Spanaway and Lakewood.

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 29 2013 >>>

1. They don't come with a much better pedigree than fiddler Mark O'Connor. Having started under the aegis of Stephane Grappelli and Texas legend Benny Thomasson, O'Connor has gone on to become one of Nashville's most sought-after musicians, and one of world renown. The Grammy award winning fiddler brings with him a fleet of fiddlers for a 7:30 p.m. performance at the Rialto Theater.

2. From 4 p.m. to close, 1022 South - the craft cocktail lounge in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood - will throw a party to celebrate its fourth anniversary and spring menu release. Patrons will be able to sip the new concoctions for $6 a pop, as well as taste new treats out of the kitchen. Read Pappi Swarner's story on the event here.

3. Awards given will include: Didn't Know You Could Do That, Best Off Stage Kiss, Best Tantrum - onstage or off, Best Wearing of a Costume, Best Paraphraser. Lucky Duck, Best Normal Scene with Unnecessary Sexual Overtones, Oh, were you in that show?, Best Ignoring of Direction, Best Grace Under Pressure, Best Acting Injury, Most Smooched, Best Range and Best "Silent" Performance (with no spoken lines)." The $20 ticket benefits the Lakewood Playhouse, where the 8 p.m. show is held.

4. At 8 and 10:30 p.m. inside The Royal Lounge, Rock Candy Burlesque presents "Icing on the Cake," a celebration of its first full year of tassels and tushes with a hard, sweet and sticky theme followed by a down and dirty dance party. Read Nikki McCoy's feature story on the Rock Candy Burlesque in the Weekly Volcano's Events section.

5. Stoner comic Ngaio Bealum, who got his start as a street performer at San Francisco's Pier 39, then smoked his way to ABC, MTV, BET and Comedy Central shows  - most recently on The Sarah Silverman Program - brings his hilarity to Tacoma Comedy Underground at 8:30 p.m. as a fundraiser for the Seattle Hempfest. Read Nikki McCoy's interview with Ngaio Bealum and their discussion about Tacoma, weed, writing, weed, cooking and weed in the Weekly Volcano's Bars & Clubs section.

LINK: Friday, March 29 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

H MART TO THE RESCUE >>>

For some people, an Asian grocery store can be a bit of a mystery - a misunderstood landscape of often unfamiliar prepared foods and ingredients that can be a little daunting to approach. However, getting past those insecurities to explore these specialty stores can introduce you to new culinary delights and hidden sweet and savory treasures. Such is the case in the newly opened H Mart, a Korean grocery on Lakewood's South Tacoma Way. The 40,000 square foot location is the perfect place to begin your Asian market shopping experience.

With a well laid-out, spacious floor plan filled with abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and seafood, housewares and dry goods, H Mart appears on its surface to be your typical grocery store. On a recent trip there, however, I found a mix of delicious and curious Asian delights to keep my palate guessing. Fresh turmeric (which I've never seen before), kimchi of various sorts, ready-to-eat eggs marinated in soy sauce, bonito flakes that resemble wood chips used for making dashi (Japanese soup stock), frozen flavored mochi, savory shrimp crackers and gorgeous, delicate enoki mushrooms were some of my favorite finds.

The staff is helpful and approachable when asked where and what certain things are.

The prices are some of the best I've seen in the area as far as fresh fruits and vegetables go.

For experienced Asian market shoppers and newbies alike, a pleasurable shopping experience overall.

H MART, 8 A.M. TO 9:30 P.M. DAILY, 8720 SOUTH TACOMA WAY, LAKEWOOD,

<<< VOTING CLOSED FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 26 >>>

Favorites or underdogs, fancy restaurants or dive bars, it's all the same. In the end, they all have one chance to put some tasty morsels between two slices of bread that can take the prize. Sixty-four South Sound sandwiches were selected and seeded by readers throughout February for the Tournament of Sandwiches, which is now six days into the competition. Apparently sandwiches were on the minds of South Sounders yesterday as it was the second largest voting day for the Tournament of Sandwiches behind Thursday's opening bell.

Yesterday's Results

GAME ONE: TLT (Quickie Too, 1324 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma) vs. Fishwich (Spar Tavern, 2121 N. 30th St., Tacoma)

Cod filet rolled in crispy panko breading served on a Kaiser roll: The Fishwich at The Spar sound easy enough, but alas, it's not. Coddies - those who live for cod filets - claim The Spar has one of the best fish sandwiches in the South Sound. Yesterday, voters agreed. Tacoma's oldest tavern moves into the Second Round after beating Hilltop's beloved Quickie Too by 20 votes.

GAME TWO: Catfish Sandwich (Fish House Café, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma) vs. Lobster Sandwich (Oliver's Sandwiches, 900 Meridian Ave. E., Milton)

Oliver's Sandwiches turned out the troops to propel it into the next round of the tournament, despite Fish House Café's exceptional Catfish Sandwich. Although it's what sandwich experts call a "hidden gem," Oliver's Sandwiches treats diners like family, and that had to be a factor against the Hilltop Tacoma cafe. With 93 percent of the vote, Oliver's moves on.

GAME THREE: The All Star Grilled Frenchy Cheese and Ham (Babblin' Babs Bistro, 2724 N. Proctor St., Tacoma) vs. Nutty Chicken Sandwich (Varsity Grill, 1114 Broadway, Tacoma)

Babblin' Babs Bistro doesn't have a mini theater in the middle of its restaurant. It doesn't have a huge happy hour menu. And kids don't eat free. Those are the attributes of the Varsity Grill sports bar in downtown Tacoma. What Babs does have are gourmet sandwiches and an ownership that can squeeze ever bit of goodness out of a Chardonnay seed. Babblin' Babs and its famous All Star Grilled Frenchy Cheese and Ham moves into the Second Round after grabbing 64 percent of the votes over the Varsity Grill.

GAME FOUR: Stinker (STINK - Cheese & Meat, 628 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma) vs. Papa Bair (Bair Bistro, 1617 Lafayette St., Steilacoom)

STINK owner Kris Blondin has found the perfect formula. Create gourmet comfort food recipes, teach hip kids how to recreate them, play kick ass music and serve big beers and soft wines to movers and shakers in Tacoma. Yesterday, this formula paid off when STINK's famous Stinker sandwich beat Bair Bistro's delicious Papa Bair - and all the history the town of Steilacoom could muster up - by 70 votes.

Stick a toothpick in them! The following are advancing to the next round:

• The Spar's Fishwich
• Oliver's Sandwiches' Lobster Sandwich
• Babblin' Babs Bistro's All Star Grilled Frenchy Cheese and Ham
• STINK Cheese & Meat's Stinker

The daily sandwich battles here on Spew are sponsored by Subway in Orting, Puyallup, Tacoma, Spanaway and Lakewood.

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

<<< VOTING CLOSED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 23 >>>

For the past four months the Weekly Volcano has been hanging out in delis gathering intel for our Tournament of Sandwiches. Besides smelling like meat and cheese, we have learned a couple things. You don't hear fake orgasms followed by the phrase, "I'll have what she had" much in the South Sound delis. What you do hear is, "With the economy being in the dumps this past year and my having even less free time than normal, I found myself eating more sandwiches than usual." That's a statement that makes sense. What the Weekly Volcano has learned most through all the prep work involved with hosting a Tournament of Sandwiches is - you don't have to sacrifice flavor to save a little money and get portable eats.

Yesterday's Results

GAME ONE: Lobster Shop's Dungeness Crab & Rock Shrimp Melt vs. Enoteca's Quattro Fromaggio Panini

If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's don't mess with the Tacoma's waterfront. Back in the day the Ruston Way area, which us to be called Front Street, was lined with industry - boatyards, warehouses and mills. Today, it's home to joggers, scuba divers, restaurants and a delicious Crab Melt. The Lobster Shop's Dungeness Crab & Rock Shrimp Melt - loaded with artichoke hearts, onion, tomato, cheddar cheese and served on a toasted croissant - edged out Enoteca's delicious cheese sandwich with 52.5 percent of the votes. Congrats to The Lobster Shop as it advances to the Second Round.

GAME TWO: The Swiss' Heart Smart Art vs. The French Hen Bistro's Veggie Sandwich

Jump on The Swiss' website, and the first message that jumps out is, "You're A Stranger Here But Once." How do you compete against that? You don't, if you are a Veggie Sandwich from The French Hen Bistro. The Heart Smart Art sandwich reached deep into its heart - and sliced artichoke hearts and sundried tomato pesto - and squeaked out a victory by 30 votes over the Lakewood powerhouse. The Heart Smart Art will need every bit of its grilled whole grain ciabatta to beat that Melt at The Lobster Shop in Second Round action.

GAME THREE: Nordstrom Café's Braised Short Ribs Sandwich vs. Moon Rise Café's Monte Cristo

The Monte Cristo at Lakewood's Moon Rise Cafe beat the Braised Short Ribs Sandwich at Nordstrom Cafe with 74.2 percent of the votes. Who's fancy now?

GAME FOUR: Fish Tale Brew Pub's Ham and Brie vs. The Hub's BLT

Finally, in yesterday's closest battle, The Hub's BLT edged out The Fish Tale Brew Pub's Ham and Brie by half a percentage vote. Loaded with deli ham, smothered in nutty melted Brie and nestled between two slices of grilled sourdough with sliced granny smith apples and mellow horseradish, the Ham and Brie had the making to go all the way ... if The Hub's BLT with turkey on grilled sourdough wasn't in the way. That's the power of bicycle-themed neighborhood gathering spots. The Hub's BLT will head into the Second Round to take on Moon Rise Café's Monte Cristo March 29.

Let's lift the top bread slice and reveal the goods. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Lobster Shop's Dungeness Crab & Rock Shrimp Melt
• The Swiss' Heart Smart Art
• Moon Rise Café's Monte Cristo
• The Hub's BLT

The daily sandwich battles here on Spew are sponsored by Subway in Orting, Puyallup, Tacoma, Spanaway and Lakewood.

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

<<< VOTED CLOSED FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 22 >>>

The Weekly Volcano loves sandwiches. Let us say that again: We LOVE sandwiches. We still get giddy over a food item designed almost specifically for children. And we're not really all that picky. A good P, B and J is perfectly awesome. We probably would even dive back into a bologna and Miracle Whip on Wonder Bread if it were served with some Hawaiian Punch.

The South Sound also loves sandwiches. And voting. Yesterday's vote total was the largest Weekly Volcano food tournament opening day tally, surpassing our tacos, pizza and breakfast tournaments' opening bell numbers. Yes, the South Sound turned out in force to vote in yesterday's kickoff of the Tournament of Sandwiches competition. Phone trees were instigated. Neighbors were harassed. Computer labs were invaded. Our poor little blog had to work overtime as droves voted in First Round action.

Yesterday's Results

GAME ONE: MSM Deli's Mike's Deluxe vs. Embers Restaurant's Clubhouse

When a sandwich beats another sandwich by 94.5 percent of the votes, it's called being "clubbed" in the sandwich world. No truly, look it up. MSM's Mike's Deluxe clubbed the Embers Restaurant's Clubhouse sandwich. Will that stop folks from playing a round of golf at Indian Summers Golf & Country Club - where Embers is embedded - while we all work? Nope.

GAME TWO: Doyle's Public House's Cheesy British vs. The Harmon's Tacoma Dome Dip

If you erect a 4,000 square foot tent complete with a 20-foot TV screen to celebrate a holiday, say St. Patrick's Day, then you're labeled as a serious player. That's exactly what happened March 17 at Doyle's. The U.K.-style pub is also serious about its signature Cheesy British sandwich, which grabbed 60 percent of the votes yesterday over The Harmon's Tacoma Dome Dip. The Cheesy British will face off with Mike's Deluxe March 29. Expect skirmishes up and down Division Avenue.

GAME THREE: Sorci's Italian Café's Italian Grinder vs. Metropolitan Market's El Cubano

We know what you're thinking. Italian Grinder vs. El Cubano. This was a grudge match after Italy posted a 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, and 27-25) victory over Cuba at the 2011 FIVB World League of men's volleyball. At first, that motivation seemed obvious. However, Metropolitan Market's doors see a lot of action compared to the doors of the quaint Sorci's Italian Café in Sumner. Or, it could be the fact that Met Market's El Cubano is one tasty sandwich. Whatever the reason, the El Cubano racked up 62.4 percent of the votes and moves on to Second Round.

GAME FOUR: El Zocalo's The Cubana vs. Vinum's Cuban

On New Years' Day of 1959, Fidel Castro, whom the civilian population supported, overthrew Cuban president Fulgencio Batista. On Thursday, March 21, 2013, El Zocalo's The Cubana edged out Vinum's Cuban sandwich with 57.5 percent of the votes. The results of this battle will not change the relationship Cuba has with the United States. Cubans will still not legally be allowed to enter the United States unless they have an overpowering fastball. The next Cuban vs. Cuban face off happens when Met Market and El Zocalo's meets March 29 in Round Two.

Let's weed through the gobs of mayo. The following are advancing to the next round:

• MSM Deli's Mike's Deluxe
• Doyle's Public House's Cheesy British
• Metropolitan Market's El Cubano
• El Zocalo's The Cubana

The daily sandwich battles here on Spew are sponsored by Subway in Orting, Puyallup, Tacoma, Spanaway and Lakewood.

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2013 >>>

1. Tommy Castro is Delbert McClinton's more talented kid brother. We have been waiting for this San Francisco rockin' blues guitarist to put another one in the ditches. Finally, this past November the blistering "Greedy" / "That's All I Got" (Alligator Records) arrived. Nobody plays roadhouse like this anymore: the rock snarl and the soul heart. His songs don't make us want to sing along; they make us want to scream along. Tommy Castro and the Painkillers will play Jazzbones at 8 p.m.

2. The Bayview School of Cooking in Olympia will pour cider and meads with complementary cheeses from 5-7:30 p.m. The cost is $12 per person. No RSVP is required.

3. Tacoma's first artisan children's clothing shop, Dandelion Wishes, will hold an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. before the store officially opens March 23 at 10 a.m. in the old Corina Bakery space at 510 Sixth Ave. Appropriately, Corina Bakery will provide snacks.

4. Have you visited the Science Dome? At 7 p.m. the South Sound's only planetarium will host an interactive tour of our current night sky, exploring the stars, planets, constellations and other celestial objects followed by a 20-35 minute full dome show.  A question and answer period will follow.

5. As if Horace Pickett's awesome name wasn't enough, the band actually does well at evoking the cheesy party vibe of "Monster Mash." Though the band claims that it often gets comparisons to the Kinks, They Might Be Giants and Beck, to us it couldn't be more perfectly channeling Devo. Stiffly voiced robot-funk, surging electro-pop, concerning topics such as the Milky Way and the weirdness of having a body - and all that entails. Check the band out with The Whorewoods at 10 p.m. inside Le Voyeur.

LINK: Friday, March 22 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 21>>>

Three years ago, the Weekly Volcano challenged 64 taco slingers to enter tournament-style culinary combat, shell versus shell, with Moctezuma's crowned best taco. The next year, pizza took center-stage in our quest for gustatory greatness, with Katie Downs' pie reigning supreme. In 2012, it was breakfast time, baby, with Moon Rise Cafe grabbing all the bacon, eggs and hot cakes.

This year, the tradition continues.

Beginning today, 64 well-stacked competitors (some with the crusts trimmed off) will tip off and do battle - 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 this morning right here on Spew. Sixty-four South Sound sandwiches were selected and seeded by readers throughout February, and now the time has come to see who's best. Only one can be crowned king - so vote early, and DAILY here on Spew. Use the bracket attached to his post 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.

The daily sandwich battles here on Spew are sponsored by Subway in Orting, Puyallup, Tacoma, Spanaway and Lakewood.

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 16 2013 >>>

1. Good news. The folks behind the annual summer Urban Art Festival have fired up the fundraising machine, hosting a drum 'n' bass night at 9 p.m. inside The Loch's. DJ Iris will headline the night. Her dirty, deep and sub-heavy vibe destroyed the soles of UAF attendees last summer. With tunes signed to Metalheadz and Hospital - two of the biggest DnB labels in the world - Iris started collaborating on original productions with DnB veteran Quadrant. Their first tune, "Anthropocene," was spotted by Goldie himself, and snapped up for the Metalheadz Genesis Vol. 4 EP. Iris will receive 253 support from Habit featuring The Specialist MC, D:Fi and Suga, so expect a little ragga influenced dance floor and bangin' roughneck tunes. If all goes well, the speedy, dark beats might have a regular home on Pacific Avenue. 

2. Northwest Mosaic Today, an invitational exhibition of artwork by 15 artists from the Pacific Northwest is on display at Tacoma Public Library's Handforth Gallery. An artist reception will be held from 2-5 p.m.

3. Rachel Corrie was 23 years old when she traveled from Olympia to the Gaza strip to fight for Palestinian rights. Tragically, she was killed when a bulldozer ran over her as she defended a Palestinian family home. In recognition of the 10th anniversary of Corrie's stand in Gaza, several events will be held from 1-9 p.m. in downtown Olympia. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on the Rachel Corrie memorial events in the Weekly Volcano's Mudroom section.

4. Today and tomorrow are your last chances to catch The Woman in Black at the Lakewood Playhouse. It's a masterful production that demonstrates what talent, commitment, hard work, and impeccable direction can accomplish on a relatively minor budget. Read Christian Carvajal's full review of The Woman in Black in the Weekly Volcano's Arts section.

5. If you've seen AKA and The Heart Hurt Goods perform, you've seen how much the band loves its art. You can see it in the band member's fist pumps and facial expressions; in their hip shakes and smiles and in the way they administer their music, be it through a microphone, keyboard, guitar or turn table. Catch the group before it rakes its new album on tour at 9 p.m. inside McCoy's in downtown Olympia.

PLUS: Harmony Sweepstakes, Northwest Sinfonietta and live music suggestions in our Weekend Hustle

LINK: Saturday, March 16 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area