DONATE TO A LOCAL CHARITY >>>

There's no better way to support your community than supporting your neighbors in need, especially during the holiday season. We'll feature local charities on Spew throughout this holiday season with links to donate your money, supplies and time.

Give the karmic wheel a spin for today's charity focus:

Lakewood Area Shelter Association

Open 10 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday
8956 Gravelly Lake Drive, SW, Lakewood
253.581.8689

The Lakewood Area Shelter Association is a support agency that works to prevent homelessness and the recurrence of homelessness.

The agency faces a constant challenge during the current economic times.

"The need for housing does not stop," said Janne Hutchins executive director of LASA.

Read more...

DONATE TO A LOCAL CHARITY >>>

There's no better way to support your community than supporting your neighbors in need, especially during the holiday season. We'll feature local charities on Spew throughout this holiday season with links to donate your money, supplies and time.

Give the karmic wheel a spin for today's charity focus:

Emergency Food Network

3318 92nd St. S., Lakewood
253.584.1040

The ongoing economic downturn is costing people their jobs, stressing family budgets, and putting people out of their homes. People who never needed help before have been forced to look to public assistance for the first time. To meet that need, the Emergency Food Network has been working since 1982 "to provide a reliable food supply so that no person in Pierce County goes hungry." Each month in Pierce County, more than 140,000 people seek emergency food assistance. EFN provides food and other essentials at no cost to more than 65 food banks, hot meal sites and shelters for distribution to low-income families and individuals.

Stephanie Genton, a volunteer coordinator with EFN in Lakewood, sent us word that they're short volunteers to stuff their annual appeal letter into envelopes. We're talking 3,000 envelopes people. The letters need to get out Friday. Therefore, EFN is asking volunteers to drop by their Lakewood office at 3318 92^nd St. S beginning at 10 a.m. Friday to stuff. Give Genton a jingle at 253.584.1040 for more details.

When asked what else the EFN is short on this holiday season, Genton said anything and everything food related. "The need is so high. Money donations are always great since we can turn $1 into $12 of food. We offer daily bulk-food repacking Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.," she explained. More information about the repacking can be found here.

LINK: Donate to the Emergency Food Network

Previous Mistledole charities

• Tacoma Community House
• Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children
• Olive Crest

WHAT WE CHEWED ON THIS PAST WEEK >>>

Flying Food: Mizu in Gig Harbor is part presentation, part atmosphere and part taste by Jason and Jake de Paul

Pass The Gravy: Japanese curry, love it or leave it by Ken Swarner

Feedbag: Nibblets of information on all things food and drink in the South Sound

Sipping Out: Wine and beer dinners, tastings and events in the South Sound

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

KEEPING LAKEWOOD BEAUTIFUL ... AND EMPLOYED >>>

Things are getting done at the corner of 93rd Street Southwest and Whitman Avenue Southwest in Lakewood.

PERRITOS CALIENTES EN CUSTER >>>

No longer exiled to the kid's menu, frankfurters are becoming the stars of the show at an increasing number of places around the South Sound ... including the recently opened Maria Bonita in Lakewood. The Mexican restaurant just opened in the spot formerly occupied by El Guadalajara. I did't notice any significant changes to the interior and exterior. And the menu is still in development. Currently, a dozen or so traditional Mexican dishes - typically served by chain restaurants - grace the menu. However, one of the dishes caught my eye - Mexican Hotdogs. Plated with rice and beans, two TURKEY dogs - plump and juicy - are topped with diced tomato and onion, cilantro and avocado slices. Tasty!

How are the other entrees at Maria Bonita?

Maria Bonita

7421 Custer Road W., Lakewood

MAIDEN VOYAGE >>>

Last Sunday, I threw on my Zelda T-shirt and headed out to attend Comic Book Ink's 24 Hour Comic Book Day. The event, which is in its second year, was organized by C.L.A.W. (the Cartoonists' League of Absurd Washingtonians) in order to raise money for their student scholarship fund.  Amateur and professional illustrators alike were invited to participate in the challenge: to complete a 24-page comic book within 24 hours.  The madness started at 10 a.m. Saturday morning and didn't conclude until the same time Sunday.

I, freshly established intern and comic-book novice, arrived during the final hours (7 a.m.-ish on Sunday) hoping to learn a little about how comic books are created, but more hoping to see grown men in full fantasy costume. 

This was my first time ever in a comic book store.  And I have to admit I've made fun of those who are "into that sort of thing." Generally, I lump them in the same category as those who dress up for Harry Potter movies, and those who prefer hentai to real porn.  But, I was ready to cast aside all previous judgments and explore the comic book world with an open mind.   

I entered Comic Book Ink and took in the enormous wall of colorful action figures, realistic Spiderman weaponry, and a long line of comic books.  At 7 a.m. it appeared as though I'd missed most of the action (and all of the spandex).

C.L.A.W. member Mark Monolux

I was immediately greeted by a very friendly and enthusiastic staff. I'm not sure if their enthusiasm spurred from their love of the Weekly Volcano or if having a female want to talk to them was just that much of a rarity. Comic Book Ink owner, John Munn, gave me a quick tour around the mostly empty shop, telling me, "The party peaked at around 3 a.m. with about 25 people, which was a lot more than last year."

"The whole point of the event is to raise money," Munn continued. Between a crystal skull mug stuffed with small bills and a Paypal account setup for donations, C.L.A.W. had already raised a total of $734.40 - more than doubling last year's total. The donations are granted to students attending or just graduating art school.

The biggest draw of the event, besides the warm fuzzy feeling of donating to a good cause, was watching the comic writers at work. Several tables were lined up in a large corner of the store, and in the 22nd hour only five comic writers remained. They sat diligently sketching on electronic pads and drawing in notebooks, pausing only for coffee, and also, thankfully, to talk with me.

James Stowe, freelance illustrator and full-time cake designer ("If you've bought a cake at DQ, chances are I designed it," he told me.) set up a live feed on Ustream so anyone interested could watch his comic scenes unfold.  Stowe took suggestions through the website, Mad-libs style. Some creative suggestions he incorporated into his storyline included: "bearded dragon" and "wedgie corset."

Guest star Clayton Crain, best known for his work on Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation, Venom vs. Carnage and Sensational Spider-Man (vol. 2), according to a quick Wikipedia search, labored out a tedious design for an upcoming Marvel comic book. Just how tedious? He'd cranked out three pages in 22 hours.  But it was three pages of the most graphically intricate work I've ever seen.

So, what did I learn from my maiden exploration into the comic book world? Are comic book writers nerds? Hell yes. Probably the nerdiest of nerds. But DAMN, are they talented. These guys are imaginative writers, talented illustrators and masters of technology for the medium.

Intern Julie Holt punches a Comic Book Ink employee.

The bottom line: If you missed this year's Comic Book Ink marathon, make sure you mark next year's calendar. The talent is beyond, the action figures aplenty, and tights and capes are optional ... but highly encouraged (by me).

DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITS >>>

Fifty Brewing Companies: The Tacoma Craft Beer Festival runs tonight from 5 to 9 pm and Saturday, Oct. 2nd from noon to 8 pm at the Foss Waterway Seaport in downtown Tacoma. For all the details, click here.

Grand Opening: The Green Coconut Tree celebrates its grand opening today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. serving samples of its Jamaican, Chinese, and Vietnamese specialties.  Oh yes, all three. Read our review of the Lakewood restaurant here.

Washington State Represent: Today through Oct. 11 The Red Hot pairs up with their beer buddies at The Parkway, both pledging to serve nothing but Washington State beers on every handle, which is nice.

Future Things Are Coming: The Stadium District Art and Wine Walk will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 throughout the district. Tickets are $25, and that money will go toward the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. This event will feature local artists, original artwork, Washington wines, tasty hors d'oeuvres and desserts and music at select locations. For more information, click here.

Food Matters: "Naturally, hotness will secure you a better table." Oh, no.

LINK: Wine tastings!

THE CLOCK STOPS FOR NOTHING >>>

Can you create a comic in 24 hours? That's the question the comic-book world asks every October when it challenges cartoonists to come up with 24 pages in 24 hours, complete with story, art and lettering. The local cartoonist league C.L.A.W. are down with the idea.

You?

Click here for details.

LISTEN WHILE YOU WORK >>>

During the past 18-plus years as an international DJ, Lakewood-grown Donald Glaude has been responsible for seeding vibrant musical landscapes for audiences up and down the West Coast.

Las Vegas Weekly spent time with Glaude, recording the chat for the newspaper's Nocturnal Admissions podcast. Download it here.

BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A MILLION IN THE AREA >>>

Neightborhood: Korean Town, Lakewood

Address/phone: 3615 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, 253.584.0999

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

Noshing/Sipping: Five sandwiches including the delicious Rancho Californian with ham, precisely cut tomatoes, precisely cut cucumber and precisely torn lettuce stacked high between two slices of white bread. Other food items include frozen yogurt with choice of toppings and assorted bagged pastries. Typical espresso drinks represent plus frappe, Italian sodas, tea and Boba tea.

Standard Cup o' Joe: $1.70 for 12-ounce drip

Bean Source: Seattle's Best Coffee

Crowd: Mostly Korean including many Korean businessmen in suits

Soundtrack: Korean pop music including what sounded like the Korean Olivia Newton John

Bonus Points: Wacky Korean TV shows, assorted American games, assorted Korean magazines, and black mesh-like screens for privacy.

WiFi: Yes

The House:

Stepping inside Miro Café I'm immediately reminded of the coffeehouses in Vancouver, B.C. - that modern, international feel. Flip open a Dania catalog to the circular glass tables with black high-back chairs for an idea of Miro's furnishings. With the exception of the windows, the walls are completely covered in off-white protruding vinyl - think padded cells of a mental ward, only a modern take with patches of red surrounding coffee cup art. Low, square-cut velvet couches in front of coffee tables create two sitting areas.

After 10 visits to Miro Café, and even though I'm the center of attention until I sit down, I feel welcomed every time. And every time I step back outside, I dream of being on Robson Street.