SOMETHING TO KNOW >>>

TobyMac is one of the few Christian rock artists a secularist might have actually heard of.

The former member of celebrated trio DC Talk and now a solo star in his own right will perform at the Puyallup Fair Thursday, Sept. 13.

Tickets are $25, $30, $40 and $50, and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 17 on the Fair website, www.thefair.com/concerts or by phone (888) 559-FAIR (3247).

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 ...

TUESDAYS ARE A GOOD BOOZE DAYS >>>

Midweek tends to be dangerous territory for restaurants. Empty tables lead to idle wait staff, and as our mother always told us, the devil will find work for idle hands. Frankly, we never saw a problem with the devil finding work for slothful folks. It sounds like a good way to keep unemployment under control. However, listing Satan on your resume as a reference could probably be seen as detrimental in some circles. But restaurant owners don't want waitrons standing around looking for work from Beelzebub, so they tempt folks to stop by with clever promotions.

Toscanos Café and Wine Bar is on it. Each March, the Puyallup valley restaurant gives away thousands of hand-painted martini glasses - with a new glass launched every Tuesday. All diners have to do is order the week's special martini concoction, which happen to be five this week under the title "Peacock Week."

According to hype, "All week long purchase one of our featured cocktails and take home a hand-painted Toscanos Wild Animal martini glass. Each week in March features a new  glass design. Collect the whole set, while supplies last."

Here are the five martini options this week:

Raspberry Attraction $10.95
(Drink 3 of these & the Peacock at the end of the bar
suddenly looks handsome)

Grape Cosmo $9.95
(Favorite cocktail of New York City Peahens)

Peacock Lemon Drop $9.95
(Don't let the color fool you)

Pretty as a Peahen $10.95
(OK, Peahens aren't pretty, but it's a great cocktail)

The Madness Martini $9.95
(Beautiful in it's simplicity. A classic martini made with
Absolut Vodka or Bombay Gin)

Toscanos' goal is to give away 2,500 martini glasses by the end of March. Start drinking!

[Toscanos Café and Wine Bar, lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 3:30-9:30 p.m. dinner, 437 29^th St. NE, Puyallup, 253.864.8600]

LINK: South Sound happy hours

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Puyallup School District's Next Superintendent: Let's look at the candidates. (News Tribune)

Occupy Tacoma: In like a lion, out like a lamb. (News Tribune)

President Barack Obama's New Budget: It includes no new money for the Puyallup River study in 2013. (News Tribune)

Live Blog: Four students shot at Ohio high school. (CNN)

Afghanistan: Administration officials described growing concern about a drawdown by the United States that hinges on the close training of Afghan army and police forces. (The New York Times)

Oscars 2012: Live coverage of the Academy Awards ceremony. (The Guardian)

Oscars 2012: Complete list of winners. (USA Today)

Oscars 2012: The breakout star at the Academy Awards was Angelina Jolie's right leg. (BuzzFeed)

Golden Raspberry Awards 2012: Adam Sandler has received a record number of them. (Den Of Geek)

Run For Your Lives 5K: Runners will be chased by zombies. (The Mary Sue)

SUNDAY, FEB. 26, 2012 >>>

1. If you're bored with watching the Academy Awards from the couch, or your space is too small to host your own soiree, consider joining the fun at the live Oscar broadcast parties in Tacoma, Puyallup and Olympia.

2. The Tacoma Public Library downtown branch deserves some props. Not only does it perform all the requisite library duties while also making sure vagrants don't shit and piss all over the bathroom, but the powers that be also line up some pretty solid events - like the 1:30 p.m. screening of Miss Representation: A Documentary. Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, according to hype posted to the Tacoma Public Library's website, Miss Representation "exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America." A panel discussion directly follows the afternoon screening.

3. You love television. You always have. It's part of being American, like processed cheese and alarming obesity statistics. Most of all, you love the really old TV shows you grew up on (or at the very least grew up smoking weed out of a Mountain Dew can to on Nick at Nite). For all of these reasons and more today's Big Shoe VI-The Golden Age of Television, heading to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts at 2 p.m., is the show for you, offering a glitz and glitter homage to TV of yesteryear.  According to the Washington Center's website, The Golden Age of Television, which focuses on 1948-70, is a "variety show with reminders of anything from Amateur Hour to Zorro with stops at Petticoat Junction, Bonanza and Laugh-In."

4. Tacoma Children's Musical Theater at Tacoma Musical Playhouse has the golden ticket for a musical for all ages. The stage version of Willy Wonka hits the stage at 2 p.m., formatted for children. At an hour and a half (including intermission), it's the perfect length for young children. The play is recommended for ages four and up. Based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl this adaptation also includes songs from the classic film with Gene Wilder, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Read Joann Varnell's full review of Willy Wonka in the Arts & Entertainment section at weeklyvolcano.com.

5. The T-Town Aces will fill The Spar in Old Town Tacoma with blues beginning at 8 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music and DJs tonight

LINK: South Sound Happy Hours

DID SHE LIKE IT? >>>

As a fresh-faced co-ed, sometimes you just need action. You can't blame it on puberty now, but why should you? You're a free adult.

That cute brunette from Environmental Studies is standing outside RiekeScience Center. You say, "Hello." You are a language and literature major, and she asks if Dostoevsky is a brand of vodka. But she's close. Right?

Hooking up doesn't require common interests or even the same IQ range. It does require you to be responsible. Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest wants you wake up the next morning smelling like flowers, not stinking of treachery. The organization has built a new website www.WhereDidYouWearIt.com, dedicated to promoting safe sex and normalizing condom use.  

Last week as part of National Condom Week, PPGNW distributed 55,000 condoms to Northwest community colleges and universities, including Green River Community College, Pacific Lutheran University, Pierce College - Puyallup, Tacoma Community College, The Evergreen State College and the University of Washington - Tacoma campus. The condoms include a QR code that directed users to its website that - similar to other geo-location services like Foursquare or Facebook Places - allow someone to "check-in" their safe sex activity. 

You should "check-in" with www.wheredidyouwearit.com after you hook up with Miss Green, but don't be surprised if you are not the Mayor.

IT'S PRESSURE, BUT NOT >>>

Community-wide book clubs are awesome. They get people reading and talking about literature.

The Pierce County Library System selected the New York Times Best Seller and award-winning Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by nationally known, prize-winning author Jamie Ford as the Pierce County READS book for 2012, which begins today and runs through April 13. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet tells a gripping account of the Japanese American internment during World War II, through the eyes and voice of a child as he matures through life.

Pierce County Library System has a packed menu full of 30 local events associated with the reading of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Courtyard By Marriott Tacoma - Downtown. Pacific Grill Presents A Sweet Evening, featuring Chris Anderson, Karen Motherway as Marilyn Monroe. 8 pm. $60.

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Jho Blenis & Shelly Elly Open Jam. 8 pm.

El Gaucho Tacoma - Downtown. Butch Harrison piano Lounge. 6 pm. NC.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Valentine Boobie Bash, with Moron Broz, Blood Hunger, Pistolita, Czar Moonshine, Molly Minksi, Deathbed Confessions. 9 pm. donations.

• What's our favorite thing about the "Boobie Bash" scheduled for Valentine's Day at Hell's Kitchen? Well, you'll be happy to know the fact it inspired the Tacoma Weekly to run with the headline "Show your love for boobies this Valentine's Day" is only second on our list. Yes, it's hard to top the cause behind this event, even for schmucks like us. Raising money for the "Team Lisa' Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure account - who's namesake, Lisa Gauthun, is diagnosed with stage 4 terminal cancer according to Clare Jensen's story in the Tacoma Weekly - the "Boobie Bash" promises live music from Moron Broz, Blood Hunger, Deathbed Confessions and Czar, as well as burlesque performances and raffle prizes galore. - Weekly Volcano

Lagerquist Concert Hall Tacoma - Parkland. Composers Of The Great American Songbook Valentine's Concert, featuring David Deacon-Joyner & Friends. All Ages. 8 pm.

Metronome Coffee Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Daniel Blue, Kurt Lindsay. All Ages. 8 pm.

• Oh shit. Yeah, we went and did it. We're previewing Daniel Blue's Valentine's Day show with Kurt Lindsay at Metronome Coffee on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. That should make for an interesting week of comments online. But, as they say, "No pain, no gain." Plus, a show involving Blue gives Volcano editor Matt Driscoll and music columnist Rev. Adam McKinney an excuse to sing their "King of Diamonds" parody song all week around the Volcano office. Maybe you've heard it: "I've ... been ... looking for a polar bear jacket." So that's awesome, right? Anyway, Blue, as you know, has had a pretty stellar year - watching his band, Motopony, achieve Seattle-darling status while receiving gushes from everywhere from KEXP to NPR in the process. It's been good times, one can only assume. Perhaps the best of times. Recently holed up writing and recording Motopony's second album in the mountains of north central Washington, Blue returns to Tacoma for a rare performance on Valentine's Day. Does this give us at true indication of where his heart lies? Probably not. Because that would be dumb. But it does give us something to do on a Tuesday night - which is nothing to be taken lightly. - WV

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Rafael Tranquilino Band rockin' blues. 8:30 pm. NC.

Summit Pub Puyallup. Tim Hall & The Band Real Times. 7:30 pm.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

FUTURE THINGS ARE COMING >>>

If you heart Heart - "Barracuda," "Crazy on You," "These Dreams," "Alone" - and its edgy classic-rock stylings, then you probably looking at your computer screen through your heart-shaped hands right now. Chunky guitar chords plus scones equal the Puyallup Fair Sept. 10. Check it:

Puyallup, WA - Feb. 10, 2012 - Ann Wilson and her younger sister, Nancy Wilson first showed the world that women can rock when their band, Heart stormed the charts in the ‘70s, and the music scene has never been the same since. Whether it was hits "Crazy On You," "Magic Man," or "Barracuda" - the first decade they performed - or later works like "These Dreams," "Alone," or "What About Love" of the ‘80s and '90s, their music has had a profound influence on rock music.

Heart will perform on Monday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Puyallup Fair's 2012 Concert Series, Presented by Columbia Bank. Tickets go on sale on Saturday, Feb. 18^th at 10:00 a.m. on the Fair website, www.thefair.com/concerts or by phone (888) 559-FAIR (3247) daily, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. PST. To save the convenience charges, purchase tickets in person at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center box office at 9^th Avenue SW and Meridian Street on Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Ticket prices are $65 golden circle; $50 infield; grandstand seating at $50, $40 and $25. Seats are reserved and include Fair gate admission.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Puyallup City Council: A moment of silence before discussing daffodils? (News Tribune)

We're Number 15!: Tacoma is overpriced, according to Forbes magazine. (Tacoma KOMO)

Olympia Coffee Roasting: They know what they're doing. (The Olympian)

Hacked While Discussing Hacking: Anonymous releases what it says is a recording of a phone call between the FBI and UK police discussing their efforts against hacking. (BBC)

National Jobless Rate: Employers added 243,000 jobs in January, higher than anticipated. Hiring numbers for 2011 were also revised, with 180,000 more jobs added than originally thought. (CNN)

Football Anger: Egyptian protesters clash with security forces for a second day in Cairo, as anger over the deaths of dozens of football fans threatens political unrest. (BBC)

Sasquatch! 2012: The lineup has been announced. (KEXP)

Rock Star TV: Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and comedian Dana Gould are working on a TV show that would revolve around a rock band on the verge of stardom and breaking up. (The Hollywood Reporter)

It is its Density: Will Back To The Future become the latest film to get a Broadway stage production? (Deadline)

Unluckiest Person Ever?: Entire town wins lottery, except for one man. (Time)

Screw The X Games: Until you've strapped an ironing board to your back and climbed a 14er to iron the fuck out of a dress shirt, you haven't lived. (BuzzFeed)

To Cap Off A Slow News Morning