SATURDAY, MARCH 26: ROUND TWO ACTION CONTINUES >>>

Pizza construction isn't rocket science. Take some dough, spread some sauce, throw on a few toppings, serve and enjoy. But hidden within those folds is a complexity that defies the short ingredients list. Making a pizza is child's play; making a great pizza is another thing entirely. Opening a discussion on which South Sound pizza joints offer a great pizza serves as our mission for the Tournament of Pizza - that and trying to score free pizza slices from the competitors.

Before we examine today's pizza battles - only two games due to pre-tournament scheduling conflicts - let's take a look at yesterday's dough-slinging results.

Wow. WOW! Yesterday's voting action saw nearly double the numbers as the previous top voting day, which was March 17.

Yesterday's Results

Cloverleaf Pizza vs. Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante

Back in the '70s, after their Wednesday couples tennis night at the club, parents would head to the Cloverleaf Tavern to discuss their forehands and the craziness that was Tricky Dick. The next morning, their kids would open the refrigerator and steal bites off the Cloverleaf's crispy pizza crust goodness. Today, those kids take their kids to Joeseppi's for their ham and pineapple pizza and a giant slice of that towering chocolate cake. Yup, Joeseppi's smoked the Cloverleaf with 65 percent of the votes, and moves into the Stuffed 16.

Delbrocco's Philly Style Pizza vs. Pizza Casa

We suspect Delbrocco's pushed hard their "Drexel Hill" Jano pie during this matchup. We're talking seven toppings - sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, roasted peppers, black olives and extra cheese - and with free delivery. Pizza Casa, a longtime Italian restaurant so beloved by Lakewood residents that a Christmas morning reservation contemplation wouldn't be considered ridiculous by most of their friends, serves a delicious, square-shaped pizza and has pictures of cocktails on their paper placemats. Delbrocco's plan worked as they grabbed 54 percent of the votes and move on to the Stuffed 16 to battle Joeseppi's March 29.

Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza vs. Ricardo's Ristorante

If you're one of the estimated 3 million Americans who suffer from wheat-gluten allergies, your eating habits might resemble those of Atkins dieters. Farrelli's knows this fact, and offers a "Still Riding Gluten-Free Dough," using separate un-floured pizza peels and keep all gluten-free ingredients gluten-free. The DuPont pizza joint also has honey whole-wheat dough in its arsenal. What Ricardo's has in its arsenal is a cozy setting, local fresh ingredients, the Toni Tony Tone Pizza: Dungeness crab and prawns, bisque, cheese and sautéed spinach ... and a whole bunch of fans. Farrelli's marketing machine was no match for Ricardo's pizzas. The Lacey Italian restaurant secured 64 percent of the votes for the victory.

Casa Mia vs. Vic's Pizzeria

Casa Mia has an atrium. They haven't been really pushing that attribute but we suspect they had to pull it out yesterday to compete with the powerhouse that is Vic's Pizzeria. Enjoy Mia's award-winning vegetarian Pizza Sole, their "pizza of the sun," actually underneath the sun is a smile-producing assembly line. Vic's, which by the way serves a damn tasty hand-tossed New York style pizza, opens at 8 a.m. Monday-Saturday serving baked goods, espresso and boasts free WiFi. These two Olympia pizza joints battled hard all day, trading leads almost every hour. When the polls closed at 11:45 p.m. Casa Mia and its award-winning pies edged out Vic's with 50.4 percent of the votes.

The following four pizza joints will advance to the Stuffed 16:

• Joeseppi's Italain Ristorante
  
• Delbrocco's Philly Style Pizza
• Ricardo's Ristorante
  
• Casa Mia
  

Today's Competition

Sponsored by al Forno Ferruzza Traditional Sicilian Cuisine

OK, time to move on to today's pizza battles. 

>>> CONTEST CLOSED. FOR RESULTS OF THE BATTLES BELOW AND NEW MATCHUPS TO VOTE ON, SEE SUNDAY'S POSTS ON SPEW.

Spud's Pizza Parlor vs. Louie G's Pizza

Both of these places have rabid fans and die-hard supporters, as well as great pizza, so this pizza-a-pizza matchup may be the most hotly contested of the competition so far. Spud's piles the cheese on high and you can't find a stool at the bar in the back. Louie's G's throws the dough in the air and hosts riff-heavy RAWK Atomic Outlaws for an all-ages show tonight at 8 p.m. Mobilize your base, Spud's and Louie G's, and get out the vote!

• Spud's Pizza Parlor (7025 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)
• Louie G's Pizza (4802 Pacific Hwy. E., Fife)

Milton Tavern vs. Trackside Pizza

The Milton Tavern might pull out the Kid Card in this round. The TAVERN welcomes kids until 9 p.m. Saturday through Thursday, and until 4 p.m. Friday (TGIF!). It should also be known the Milton Tavern offers eight pizza sauces including garlic butter, black and blue and a "secret red sauce." Trackside Pizza laughs at those stats as it hosts kids at all hours and offers all-you-can-eat pizza slice bar during lunchtime. Can the kid-friendly sauce factory beat the $6.99 slice fest? Which pizza deserves to move up to the Stuffed 16?

• Milton Tavern (7320 Pacific Hwy. E., Milton)
• Trackside Pizza (201 N. Meridian, Puyallup)

Tomorrow's Pizza Battles: Battle in the East

Game 1: Terry's Office Tavern (3410 N. Proctor, Tacoma) vs. Fondi Pizzeria (4621 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor)

Game 2: Blue Cannon Pizza (4726 Borgen Blvd. NW, Gig Harbor) vs. The Fan Club Sports Bar (8315 83rd Ave. SW, Lakewood)

Game 3: Oldschool Pizzeria (108 Franklin St. NE, Olympia) vs. Apollo's Pizza & Pasta (2302 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia)

Game 4: Dirty Dave's Pizza Parlor (3939 Martin Way E., Olympia) vs. Infernos Brick Oven Pizza (111 Tumwater Blvd. SE, Olympia)

LINK: What's up with this pizza tournament?

LINK: Oh hell yes I want the Weekly Volcano newsletter!

THURSDAY, MARCH 24: GREAT MATCHUPS TODAY >>>

Low and behold, today marks the closing of the Tournament of Pizza's first round. After today's battles the bracket will officially be down to only 32 area pizza joints, and the competitions are getting fiercer by the minute. Honestly, if it gets any more exciting we'll start to understand why Dick Vitale is always yelling. Plus we'll have serious heartburn.

Without wasting anyone's time with pepperoni related basketball innuendo, on to today's Weekly Volcano Tournament of Pizza action, which comes from the Downtown Tacoma Region.

Yesterday's Results

Aversano's vs. Big Nick's Pizza & Pasta

Unexpectedly, this was an epic battle ... the kind of thing Tournament of Pizza "instant classics" are made of. A surprisingly low scoring affair, with much of the action on defense, the third seeded Aversano's and the 14th seeded Big Nick's were in a dead heat - literally tied - going into the final hours of the competition. Back at Weekly Volcano World Headquarters, Tournament of Pizza officials frantically discussed what to do in the case of a tie? Overtime? Coin flip? See which establishment could deliver a pizza to our Lakewood office the fastest? Luckily, after a late social media push on our part (we were checking our Facebook anyway ...) Aversano's edged out the win, securing exactly 52.2 percent of the vote. This one will go down in the history books.

Big Wheel Steakhouse vs. Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery

Honestly, if you haven't had a little bit too much to drink during a construction business related lunch meeting at Puyallup's Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery, well, my friend, you've never lived. The landscaping can wait. Mixing dank-ass beer (that's a good thing, older readers) with pizzas with kick like "the Overload" is just so right in so many ways. The Powerhouse emerges victorious, having secured roughly 61 percent of the vote in a first round battle with Big Wheel Steakhouse.

Flying Tomato Italian Grill vs. Vince's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

Honestly, we're not sure why Vince's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria was the only Federal Way restaurant nominated by readers in this year's Tournament of Pizza (other than the obvious reason that our readership is largely based in Tacoma, Olympia and the closely surrounding areas), but what we do understand is Vince's has a following - so strong of a following, in fact, that the longtime pizza player was able to easily defeat Flying Tomato Italian Grill in Graham in yesterday's action in what amounted to a blowout. Vince's, after scoring 71 percent of the vote yesterday in a resounding victory, moves on to the second round ... still the only Federal Way establishment in the competition (here's lookin' at you, Federal Way comment section guy from yesterday).

Rollies Tavern vs. Right Spot

Rollies Tavern quickly comes to the lips of many when discussing the best South Sound pizzas. So, perhaps it's no surprise that the bar frequented by military types and pie-lovers alike did serious damage in yesterday's action, kicking Fife's Right Spot to the curb while garnering a staggering 74 percent of the vote. The final score included a late surge by the Right Spot in what basically amounted to Tournament of Pizza garbage time - with Rollies rolling with almost 85 percent of the vote for most of the day. Rollies moves on as a pizza to reckon with in later rounds of Tournament of Pizza action.

The following four pizza joints will advance to the next round:

• Aversano's
• Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery
  
• Vince's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
  
• Rollies Tavern
  

Today's Competition

Sponsored by al Forno Ferruzza Traditional Sicilian Cuisine

OK, time to move on to today's pizza battles. 

>>> CONTEST CLOSED. CHECK FRIDAY'S SPEW POSTS FOR THE RESULTS OF THE BATTLES LISTED BELOW AND THE NEXT PIZZA BATTLES.

Katie Downs vs. Alfred's Café & Bubble Room

Katie Downs bills its pizza as "award winning," and it's no lie. The Ruston Way destination for stiff drinks and good hangs boasts one of the more well known pizzas in town. With unique creations like the Mariner and the Rainier, it's easy to understand why word has spread. And word has spread plenty since Katie Downs opened in the early '80s. Facing this storied past will be underdog Alfred's Café & Bubble Room, not necessarily known for its pizza, but a Tacoma institution nonetheless. Which Tacoma landmark will advance?

• Katie Downs (3211 Ruston Way, Tacoma)
• Alfred's Cafe & Bubble Room (402 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma)

Engine House No. 9 vs. Abella Pizzeria

Whoever wins this contest, you can't deny both have business savy. Engine House No. 9 has staked a claim in this city by providing a fun and relaxing atmosphere for college kids from nearby UPS to come drink beer and eat quintessential bar food - the pizza high on that list. On the other end, Abella Pizzeria knew enough to open its storefront smack-dab in the center of all the University of Tacoma Washington action - knowing damn well college kids love their pizza. Understandably, both intuitions have amassed strong followings. The Tournament of Pizza is the only logical way to handle this. ...

• Engine House No. 9 (611 N. Pine St., Tacoma)
• Abella Pizzeria (1946 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza vs. The Harmon Hub

Earlier in the Volcano's Tournament of Pizza, the DuPont Farrelli's location showed its dominance - advancing to second round action. Now it's time for the Farrelli's Tacoma location to see if it can duplicate that success. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere as its well-stocked bar area built well enough and stocked with enough fire water to contain the revelers, Farrelli's on Sixth Avenue is very rarely empty. But will it be up to the massive test of facing Pat Nagle's The Harmon Hub? Part of the Harmon collective of T-Town restaurants (see: The Harmon and The Harmon Tap Room), readers chose pizza from the Hub as the best of any Harmon enterprise has to offer. This one should be close.

• Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza (3518 S. Sixth Ave., Tacoma)
• The Harmon Hub (203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma)

Puget Sound Pizza vs. Sidebar Bistro

Whenever we pick up a pie from Puget Sound Pizza we always feel the need to tip heavily; we fear we'll come off as "uncool" otherwise. But the truth of that statement lies in the fact we keep coming back despite this - the pie is that good. Throw in some drunken karaoke and you've got yourself the perfect Grit City night on the town. Will the lawyer type hangout and relative newbie that calls the former Red Kelly's spot home, the Sidebar Bistro, be up to the challenge of taking on Tacoma's "coolest" pizza joint? Again, only the votes will decide. ...

• Puget Sound Pizza (317 S. Seventh St., Tacoma)
• Sidebar Bistro (1101 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma)

Tomorrow's Pizza Battles: SECOND ROUND BABY!

Game 1: Cloverleaf Pizza (6430 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante (2207 N. Pearl St., Tacoma)

Game 2: Delbrocco's Philly Style Pizza (3908 Sixth Ave., Tacoma) vs. Pizza Casa (12924 Pacific Hwy. SW, Lakewood)

Game 3: Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza (1590 Wilmington Dr., DuPont) vs. Ricardo's Restaurant (5211 Lacey Blvd. S, Lacey)

Game 4: Casa Mia (716 Plum St., Olympia) vs. Vic's Pizzeria (233 Division St. NW, Olympia)

LINK: What's up with this pizza tournament?

LINK: Oh hell yes I want the Weekly Volcano newsletter!

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Tony Antony, in regard to our recent feature on new Macau Casino executive chef King Heun Wai.

Antony writes,

King Heun Wai is the king of Macau. He is professionally a chef ,and he is the top 100 Chinese Chef in America.

SUNDAY, MARCH 20: GREATER DOWNTOWN TACOMA, FIRST ROUND >>>

Let's see, your boss is on vacation next week, meaning there's no need to actually show up on time to work Monday morning, meaning the party train should continue to chug through the wee hours of today. Everybody all aboard!

However, you need to check off a couple items first. Number one: check out yesterday's Tournament of Pizza winners below. Number two: Vote on the eight pizza joints battling it out today - also below. Number three: Scroll to the very bottom, examine the eight pizza places that will compete in the tournament Monday and go grab a pizza from one of them.

After you have completed those three tasks, head off into the night as the boss will be on a plane tomorrow morning.

Yesterday's Results

Spud's Pizza Parlor grabbed 74 percent of the votes over Papa Murphy's Take ‘N' Bake. If we had to guess the reason for Spud's dominance, it would have to be Spud's reputation of being "like a mullet: business in the front and party in the back." It's true. The front half of Spud's is a pizza parlor/family restaurant complete with video games for restless little kids. The back half holds a lounge/large sports bar with a big-screen television for catching sports games for restless big kids. It's a good choice for grabbing a cocktail and pulling up a seat to watch a game with friends, or vote in the Tournament of Pizza on your smart phone.

Family time bores you. Graveyards are damp. Starbucks stains you, and drugs cause cramp. Booze is not lawful, malls are awful ... . Umm, the Weekly Volcano can't rhyme anything else, and apologize to Dorothy Parker. Basically, being "not of age" can suck.  The Weekly Volcano remembers. We have hung out at McDonald's. Browns Point Pizzeria and Louie G's Pizzeria both make awesome pizza pies. However, Louie G's hosts all-ages live music shows. Could that be why the G pulled in 62 percent of the votes over Browns Point?  What kid doesn't enjoy pizza with their rock and roll?

You sneer at things like that. You snigger. But deep down, underneath it all, you know who you are. And you know you secretly crave (crave, we say, crave!) any sort of association with a group or event that has the words "Long Dogs" in the title. You can practically see it emblazoned on the back of a motorcycle jacket. Or... on a menu as the name of an 8-inch by 24-inch pizza size option. Whatever. The Milton Tavern has tagged their largest pizza option with the words "Long Dogs." That's fine by you. You order a Long Dogs sized "Gut Buster" - mozzarella, smoked bacon bits, ham, sausage and salami - and don't care what people think. The Milton Tavern grabbed 59 percent of the votes over Neo Wood Fired Pizza yesterday. You will celebrate that victory with another Long Dogs pizza today. That's the kind of person you are.

Trackside Pizza titles their pizzas with names associated with trains, which by the way chug by the downtown Puyallup pizza joint on a regular basis. One of their pizzas is titled "The B & O," not "B.O." Twice we've heard folks order the "B.O." at Trackside. Black Forest ham, pepperoni, Italian sausage, mushroom, black olive does not smell like B.O. It smells - and tastes - delicious. So does the "Grand Trunk Express," which is basically the B & O but with green pepper, tomato, oregano and garlic added. That's Grand Trunk Express" not "Grand Funk Express." Whatever you decide to call Trackside's pizzas, you can still keep track of them in the Tournament of Pizza as Trackside pulled in 65 percent of the votes over Round Table Pizza.

The following four pizza joints will advance to the next round:

• Spud's Pizza Parlor
• Louie G's Pizzeria
• The Milton Tavern
• Trackside Pizza

Today's Competition

Sponsored by al Forno Ferruzza Traditional Sicilian Cuisine

OK, time to move on to today's pizza battles.

(CONTEST CLOSED: CHECK MONDAY'S SPEW POSTS FOR WINNERS)

Primo Grill vs. The New Frontier Lounge

Primo Grill's menu is a wonderful blend of Mediterranean and Northwest cuisine. And one of many items that you may order is delicious wood-fired pizza baked in an oven averaging 624 degrees. After the thin crust is delicately topped with caramelized onions, pancetta, house smoked salmon or some other gourmet treat, the concoction slides into the oven for roughly five minutes until the crust develops that irresistible char and crunchiness.  The New Frontier Lounge is a Tacoma Dome District hangout that hosts live music, as well as the awesome Wednesday night Rock & Roll Bingo. Their pizza seems to be their most popular food item. Has anyone tried their chicken finger pizza?

• Primo Grill (601 S. Pine)
• The New Frontier Lounge (301 E. 25th St.)

Upper Crust Bistro vs. Adriatic Grill

Upper Crust knows how to bake. They excel at it. Their breadsticks are the best in all of the land. Their scones are to die for. And their pizza crust is amazing. If you love pasta, garlic and the aromas, the flavors and the global influence of food from Italy and the Mediterranean, then you'll enjoy Chef Bill and Monique Trudnowski's restaurant, The Adriatic Grill. Their sevens pizzas offer a combination of thin, fire-toasted crust with just enough oil, spicy sauce and creamy cheese.

• Upper Crust Bistro (2714 N. 21st St.)
• Adriatic Grill (4201 S. Steele St.)

Harmon Tap Room vs. Ravenous

Harmon Brewery Company has built a space where folks can gather to drink beer, eat pizza, watch the game and gab away. During breaks in conversation or the game, patrons may watch brewers craft beer through huge windows. The Tap Room pizza with spicy sausage, black olives, red onions and a delicious buttery crust is our game buddy.  Ravenous is an intimate Italian restaurant in Tacoma's Theater District that serves delicious Italian dishes including pizzas - our favorite being a zippy little number with fennel sausage, sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella with a mild jalapeño white sauce. 

• Harmon Tap Room (208 St. Helens Ave.)
• Ravenous (785 Broadway)

The Rock Wood Fired Pizza vs. Meconi's Pub & Eatery

The rock and roll themed Rock serves red and white sauce pizzas with tons of toppings and lots of mozzarella for a hearty meal. The Rock Wood Fired Pizza piles the cheese on to the point of perfection. Do not order extra cheese; you will create a super-saturated slice.  Meconi's sports a classic pub-like environment in a Pacific Avenue storefront. Its medium-sized menu includes burgers, salads, sandwiches, and, of course, pizza. They offer seven, 12-inch Italian-style pizzas with additional toppings for variations. It's an inviting place to hang out with friends.

• The Rock Wood Fired Pizza (1920 S. Jefferson Ave.)
• Meconi's Pub & Eatery (709 Pacific Ave.)

Tomorrow's Pizza Battles: West Region

Game 1: Tides Tavern (2925 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor) vs. Terry's Office Tavern (3410 N. Proctor St., Tacoma)

Game 2: Nick-N-Willy's Pizza (2602 N. Proctor, Tacoma)vs. Fondi Pizzeria (4621 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor) 

Game 3: Blue Cannon Pizza Co. (4726 Borgen Blvd. NW, Gig Harbor) vs. Lakewood Pub & Grill (7505 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood)

Game 4: Stonegate Pizza (5419 South Tacoma Way) vs. The Fan Club (8315 83rd Ave SW, Lakewood)

LINK: What's up with this pizza tournament?

LINK: Oh hell yes I want the Weekly Volcano newsletter!

THURSDAY, MARCH 17: FOUR PIZZA BATTLES ON THE DOCKET >>>

It's March ... meaning Madness is in the air. Beginning today, 64 well-oiled competitors (for the most part) 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 Pizza, which kicks off this morning right here on Spew. Sixty-four area pizza joints 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, often and DAILY here on Spew. Use the bracket attached to his post to guide you through the daily matchups.

Then, on April 4, join us at the Schooner Pub in Lakewood for the Official Tournament of Pizza Party - our winner will be announced during halftime of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game.

The daily pizza battles here on Spew are sponsored by al Forno Ferruzza Sicilian Cuisine.

OK, let's check out today's First Round pizza battles. Vote for one pizza joint per battle.

(THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED)

GAME 1: The Cloverleaf Pizza (6430 Sixth Ave.) vs. Papa Johns Pizza (various locations)

A year after Larry Turco purchased the Cloverleaf Tavern; he added the famous pizza recipe to the Sixth Avenue joint. The rest, as they say, is pizza history. Lennard Manke bought it in 1971, and then turned it over to his family in 2004, which has since been renamed The Cloverleaf Pizza. Many consider the pizza - with its thin crispy crust and tangy red sauce - a Tournament of Pizza final four contender. The historic pizza battles Papa Johns Pizza, a pizza franchise out of Jeffersonville, Ind.

GAME 2: Ale House Sports Pub (2122 Mildred St. W.) vs. Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante (2207 N. Pearl St.)

Embedded in the Narrows Plaza area with ownership roots in Tacoma's E-9, the Ale House is know for its 64 beers on tap and clear view of the game on the tube. They claim their pizza is "famous" on their website, and it's a tasty, strong contender. The Ale House will need all 64 of those beers as they face off with Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante and its famous owner Joe Stortini, the former Pierce County executive. Joeseppi's has a talented roster with six pizzas on its menu, including their popular Lisa Marie pie with its five-cheese blend, and the good will the Stortini's spread throughout the community.

GAME 3: DelBrocco's (3908 Sixth Ave.) vs. Mona Pizza and Pasta (6104 Sixth Ave.)

With its East Coast feel, and bevy of cheese steaks and grinders, DelBrocco's serves Philly-style thin crust pizza, including by the slice. They also deliver the goods - for free! Mona, with its cozy fireplace, sports an impressive array of specialty pizzas, including six without meat. They offer both a traditional and thin crust, and are open to add or delete any topping to your desire. They also deliver. This game is too close to call. Good early match-up.

GAME 4: Pizza Casa (12924 Pacific Hwy. SW) vs. Cerello's Pizza (4916 Center St.)

A great match up to close out day one. Pizza Casa is a Lakewood icon that transcends all peoples. You'll find as many of the international jet set crowd of Gravelly Lake estates dining there, as you will common folk like us.  And, yet, it is located in the infamous Ponders Corner region once better known for late night lady walking clubs (admission applied) than good dining. But, the Casa has weathered all geographic storms and remains open seven nights a week serving the best spaghetti and (square) pizza in Lakewood (did we just write that?). Cerello's, known for its tasty crust and quick delivery out of it's tiny strip-mall location off Center Street, will need a strong defense today to stay close. 

RIP MARCUS WALKER >>>

Reporters aren't supposed to feel. We report the news in articles and voice our opinions in reviews with no feelings or bias. That's how it works in textbooks and movies. That's now how it works in real life.

Such is the case with Marcus Walker. He died this morning after a valiant fight with metastatic melanoma. Not only was he the artistic director of the Lakewood Playhouse while it expanded and grew its programs as it staged great community theater season after season, he was my friend. At least I would be honored if he considered me one too. We talked religion, theater and life, well outside the realm of a "source" and a "reporter."

He spiritually supported me during my divorce with kind words and letters of encouragement. And now he is gone. I will miss him. But I am not alone. Theater folks, church folks and Lakewood boosters will all miss him. But most of all, hear dear wife, Lauren, will miss him. We could only pray we have such love as what they shared.

Marcus is gone. We must move on as he is lifted to the Lord. A celebration of his entrance into glory has been scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, March 20, at Mason United Methodist Church, 2710 N. Madison St., Tacoma.

EXECUTIVE CHEF KING HEUN WAIN COMES TO LAKEWOOD >>>

Just over a month ago, a Pacific Northwest culinary celebrity set up shop at Macau Casino in Lakewood. Chef King Heun Wai has won local and national awards, repeatedly been distinguished as one of America's top 100 Chinese Chefs, and earned House of Hong in Seattle's Chinatown a place on King 5's Best of Western Washington list of the top five Chinese restaurants. Now he brings his talent and more than 30 years of experience to Lakewood's Macau Casino as executive chef.

Macau Casino Marketing Manager David Feldhammer stresses that intense focus is placed on authenticity in the kitchen. The Chinese menu has 87 different items. "Our clientele is probably over 60 percent Asian," Feldhammer says. "This isn't Americanized Chinese food, they wouldn't put up with it."

Feldhammer says quality and fresh ingredients are used at Macau Casino. Live lobster and crab are supplied by Seattle's Lucky Seafood.

Since opening in 2007, the menu at Macau has been expanded beyond common Chinese dishes. Chef King will continue to expand the menu,  please palates and entice visitors to the eye-catching building replete with dragons and Chinese architecture. While making customer favorites like Mongolian beef and pan-fried squid, Chef King holds himself and his staff to a high standard. King will add Japanese and Thai dishes in the near future.

An American menu is also available for those just dying to try a clubhouse sandwich or two-egg breakfast.

[Macau Casino, 9811 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.983.1777]

CARV'S SNARKY BLOG OF THE WEEK: OUR CRITIC SEES HIMSELF IN ASHER LEV >>>

I was scheduled to review My Name Is Asher Lev at Lakewood Playhouse, but numerous hurdles, including my own absentmindedness, got in the way. Instead, I recruited my friend Brie Yost to review the production, as she'd already seen it at Broadway Center Tacoma. This was a fortuitous choice, as Brie is Jewish, and the play is about the artistic struggles of a young "Torah Jew" (Hasid) in 1950s Brooklyn. The script, based on a popular novel, immerses us quickly in kabbalistic spirituality and Yiddish jargon. One would think a guy like me, a Mexican-American agnostic who spent his formative years in Oklahoma, would find little of himself in the story of young Asher Lev.

I went to see the show last Thursday, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I was well aware of the devastating illness suffered by its director, Marcus Walker, who worked with assistants to complete what will almost certainly be his final production. I've never met Mr. Walker, but I gather he's something of a spiritual leader in the Tacoma theater community. He's also a Baptist minister, whose life in the arts has clashed with his mostly fundamentalist religion. I knew Mr. Walker saw himself in Asher Lev, and this production would be his passion project. That usually makes for excellent theater.

Well, this may surprise you, but I saw myself in Asher, too. Regardless of the man I became, I was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I wrote science fiction stories as a boy; but I hid them from everyone but my mother, because we were discouraged from envisioning any future other than the one foretold in Revelation. Like the Hasidim, we had our own ecclesiastical jargon, and the diphthongs of Hebrew were familiar to my lips even as a child. Like the Hasidim, we dressed as if we were time travelers from the past. And like the Hasidim, and like Oklahoma Baptists, we had strict taboos about subject matter fit for discussion or artistic representation. Like Asher, I felt compelled to break all those taboos; and as I grew into an actor and writer, I found it all but impossible to reconcile my two lives and thought patterns.

Even now I feel this conflict. I've written a book about the Rapture, and I'm working (very slowly) on another about modern American sexuality. These are not fit subjects for the dinner table, and my future in-laws would be thrilled if I'd invest my limited talent in more "noble" pursuits. I just can't. That's not me. It's in the nature of an artist to find himself on the Other Side, the shadow realm that Asher's faith calls the Sitra Achra. My mind is more comfortable in the wilderness outside the walls of civilization.

I won't review My Name Is Asher Lev. I'm kind of glad I don't have to, actually; not in detail, anyway. While it is very good, it isn't quite perfect, and I'd be obliged to say why...though it hit me as if it were. It's talky and melodramatic and slathered in Hebrew, yes, but it's also the story of my life. It landed over and over again. So if, in any way, it seems as if it might be the story of your life, too, you should see it just as quickly as you can. Help its fine cast and crew pay fitting tribute to an artist, Marcus Walker, and to the artist in all of us.

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from Xixong Chan in regard to our recent review of Lakewood Playhouse's My Name Is Asher Lev, penned by guest critic Brie Yost.

Chan writes,

It sounds like a very interesting play that everyone can universally relate, the conflict of leaving social norms to pursuit your passions and beliefs. Thanks for the review.

SEASON FIVE OPENER >>>

Last night inside the Pierce College Health Ed. Center, Tacoma's roller derby league - the Dockyard Derby Dames - opened its fifth season with fierce battles. It was a sold out bout that had some of the closes scores on record. The Femme Fianna would pull away from the Marauding Mollys with incredible moves and strategy, only to have the gap diminished. In the end, the Fianna edged the Mollys 138 to 125. And how many times was Femme Fianna's Snickerbrutal in the penalty box?

The Trampires and Hellbound Homewreckers match was just brutal - the floor was littered with bodies. After around five minutes of tally, and tally again, the season four champions The Trampires bit the Homewreckers by one point, 145 to 144.

Here are a few photos from last night's bout.

Check out more photos in our Photo Hot Spot.

LINK: Upcoming DyDD bouts