THURSDAY, APRIL 10 2014 >>>

1. Last year, we sat above the fairgrounds in a wobbly umbrella-covered enclosure, surging over that precarious point in the Ferris wheel where we swore to corn dog we would be pitched over, knocked off balance with our missing partner, and die a horrible death. We didn't, and we will freely admit that yes, we are a ride-wuss (and afraid of heights, to boot!). Even still, there is more to be enjoyed at the Washington State Spring Fair than rides. We also saw the baby animals, which included the sweetest 5-week-old pygmy goats ever, as well as freshly hatched chicks, and adult animals such as a huge male pig, sheep, dancing horses and cattle. Oh, he said herpetology? Whew. See, touch and learn about captive raised turtles, frogs, lizards, snakes and insects from around the world at Brad's Reptile World Show. The four-day Spring Fair  - which opens at 2 p.m. - will include carnival rides, music, food, animal shows, fashion show, monster trucks, pig races, dockdogs and much more.

2. More than 40 downtown Gig Harbor waterfront businesses will be open from 5-8:30 p.m. offering special offers, activities, demonstrations, refreshments and live music at the inaugural Thursday Night Out. A complimentary Thursday Night Out shuttle bus will be on the scene.

3. What Moondog Matinee lack in innovation they make up for in execution. Though their professed influences are a staggering assembly of just about every musical touchstone of the past 50 years (Talking Heads, the Band, Nick Cave, the White Stripes, Arcade Fire, and Edith Piaf [of all people], just to name a fraction of them), it's clear that they mostly take their cues from heavy blues, approached with an admirable widescreen expansiveness. Catch the band with Fox and the Law and Our Burgundy at 7 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

4. Based in Portland, Ore., BodyVox dance group marries dance, athleticism, theatrics and humor. Both complex and refreshingly simple, BodyVox's Reverie is inspired by the impressionist era and builds from an overriding belief in the power of beauty. Check it out at 7:30 p.m. in the Washington Center.

5. Tom Cotter finished second on America's Got Talent in 2012.Cotter lost to a dog act, but don't hold that against him; he was the first comedian ever to be a finalist on the show and was the highest finishing human being on the show that year. Welcome Cotter to the Tacoma Comedy Club at 8 p.m.

LINK: Thursday, April 10 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

FRIDAY, APRIL 4 2014 >>>

1. Some say that size doesn't matter. Tell that to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, which is hosting a six-week-long program series with an insanely-lengthy title, "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway." Each week, the AM:AFHoOPMfBtBtB (which, by the way, is pronounced AM-AFF-HOOP-EM-fuh-BEAT-BEAT-BEEEE! and should be immediately declared a musical genre unto itself) will seek to enlighten audiences by highlighting uniquely American forms of music through film. The first installment goes down at 6:30 p.m. and covers blues and gospel music and features excerpts from the almost-as-lengthily-titled documentary Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues, Episode 1: Feel Like Going Home, and cinéma vérité classic Say Amen, Somebody. Andrew "Drew" Buchman, Expressive Arts (read: Music) faculty member at The Evergreen State College, will be on hand to introduce the film portion of the evening, and lead a discussion afterward.

2. You might think swinging and flipping over high bars and prancing on two-inch-wide beams are skills only Olympic athletes such as Jordyn Wiebercan pull off with any degree of grace. But the performers of the Jordan World Circus have mastered those gymnastic feats, and much more. Their show is full of extremely flexible performers who could wow even the most jaded Olympian. The circus's troupe includes acrobats, jugglers, and contortionists between the ages of 11 and 50. Where else can you watch men your dad's age twist their bodies into pretzel shapes?  Marvel at the exotic animals, gasp in awe at the death-defying aerial acts, and be deeply, deeply frightened by the clowns at 4 and 7 p.m. at the Washington State Fairgrounds.

3. Lee Oskar founded the band WAR with Eric Burden. His harmonica can be heard on classics such as "Low Rider," "The Cisco Kid," and others. Most recently, his playing was sampled on the pop song "Timber" by Pitbull and Ke$ha. Oskar is known for his improvisational skill on the harmonica and animated stage presence. Oskar will hold a harmonic clinic and autograph session at 6 p.m. in Ted Brown Music.

4. At 6 p.m. in the Landmark Temple Theatre, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist will kick off his bid for re-election with what we can only be described as a star-studded "kick off party" - which in the business of politics, is code for warm and fuzzy fundraising event. Lindquist promises the event will feature Peter Buck of R.E.M., actress and singer Molly Ringwald, The Beatniks, as well as speakers Gov. Jay Inslee, Sheriff Paul Pastor, Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, and Detective Ed Troyer, executive director of Crime Stoppers.

5. "Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supreme are as fun a funk dance party as I can imagine," says Daniel Landin, booker and Weekly Volcano reader-voted Best Music Scenester in its Best of Olympia issue. Thirteen strong on stage, Eldridge Gravy's incredible soul vocals blend with three back-up singers, pour over a four-piece horn section, and all this bakes to groove perfection with a relentless full rhythm section. Catch the band with DBST at 9 p.m. in The Olympia Ballroom.

LINK: Friday, April 4 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

TUESDAY, APRIL 1: SWEET PICKLE 16 BURGER ACTION >>>

For the last two weeks we presented you with a compelling question: Who makes the best burgers in the South Sound? And you have responded in multitudes. Sick days have been used. Friendships have fallen apart. Pickle Girls and Fry Guys living together - mass hysteria!

The competition had been whittled down to the Sweet Pickle 16. Yes, 16 South Sound burger flippers are poised to make the final push to the Final Four, which will begin Friday.

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

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Lefty's Burger Shack (8317 27th St. W., University Place) vs. Alfred's Café and Bubble Room (402 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma)

Lefty's Burger Shack kept a lead all day with ferocious play from their one-pound beef patty Viking Burger. The behemoth was too much for Alfred's. Lefty's grabbed 61 percent of the vote and moves into the Sweet pickle 16 to battle The Forum tomorrow.

Game 2: Classics Café at LeMay (2702 E. D St., Tacoma) vs. Crown Bar (2705 6th Ave, Tacoma)

These two Tacoma restaurants bounced buns off each other all day until around 4 p.m. when the Crown Bar began to pull away. Rumor has it the Crown Bar got behind their Cougar Gold Burger with its housemade pickles and pushed through Classics Café's wall of chili cheese tots protecting their classic, hard-working cheeseburger. As the clock hit 11:45 p.m., the Crown Bar had 62 percent of the vote, and a spot in the Sweet Pickle 16.

Game 3: Herfy's (10417 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, Lakewood) vs. Dirty Oscars (2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma)

Herfy's in Lakewood grabbed the lead early and never looked back, nabbing 66 percent of the vote when all was said and done. Our Steno Pool believes Herfy's rode a bit of nostalgic momentum, drawing huge numbers of Lakewood's old-timers who remember the original Herfy's from the Villa Plaza days. It was too much for Dirty Oscar's gourmet burgers. Herfy's moves into the Sweet Pickle 16 to take on The Spar tomorrow.

Game 4: Shake Shake Shake (124 N. Tacoma Ave., Tacoma) vs. Frugals (10727 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma)

In NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament history, when a ninth seed team has battled a number one seed, the ninth has emerged victorious less than 10 percent of the time. In the Tournament of Burgers, the percentage drops to zero. In the largest victory margin of the day, Tacoma's Stadium District burger joint Shake Shake Shake clobbered longtime Tacoma burger slinger Frugals with 69 percent of the vote. Shake Shake Shake moves moves moves into the Sweet Pickle 16 to battle the Seinfeld-loving Little Jerry's tomorrow.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Sweet 16:

• Lefty's Burger Shack
• Crown Bar
• Herfy's
• Shake Shake Shake

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's Sweet Pickle 16 burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 

While the weather doesn't seem ready to share warmer temperatures, it is technically spring, which for the South Sound means one thing: the Spring Fair in Puyallup.

This 25-year tradition is back at the downtown fairgrounds April 10 to 13 with food, rides, livestock and performances. All military servicemembers, retirees, disabled veterans and their families get in free April 11 with valid identification.

For more information, check out excerpts the news release from the Spring Fair folks below. ...

Read more...

<<< MONDAY, MARCH 31 GAMES CLOSED >>>

Beginning tomorrow, we'll cut the field of 64 South Sound burger joints to the Sweet Pickle 16. No joke. April 3, it'll drop to eight. Monday, April 7, we'll announce the winner of the Tournament of Burgers - picked by you, of course - at Meconi's Pub in downtown Tacoma during halftime of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. On that Monday, we'll cut the online voting at 5 p.m. and take the voting live at Meconi's, handing out ballots while you pound beers.

That's all fine and dandy, but it's Monday and you don't have time for idle chitchat. You need to know yesterday's results and get to voting on today's games.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: The Forum vs. Frisko Freeze

Ah, history. The factor we all owe so much but for the most part choose to ignore. Frisko Freeze is still going strong after more than 50 years in the biz and its delicious burgers are the reason for its success. But the modern electric hum lies with The Forum - the new kid on the block - and its fancy burgers. The new restaurant at the historic Olympus Hotel grabbed 65 percent of the vote yesterday over Frisko Freeze, and moves into the Sweet Pickle 16.

Game 2: Lunchbox Laboratory vs. Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery

Let's face it. It is more fun to drink shakes out of beakers, munch on a burger made of duck and pork (affectionately called the "dork"), or order cocktails made with Tang. Lunchbox Laboratory positions itself as a laboratory where amazing burgers are created and the customization options are endless. It's a winning formula, at least in terms of the Tournament of Burgers. Lunchbox Laboratory grabbed 59 percent of the votes over the Puyallup mainstay Powerhouse Restaurant, and nabs a spot in the Sweet Pickle 16.

Game 3: The Spar vs. Norma's Burger Hut

Eleventh seed The Spar knocked three seed Norma's Burger Hut out of the tournament yesterday. I don't have any idea if The Spar's weekly Sunday night blues concert played into the historic tavern's whooping of the popular Lacey burger shack, but its handful of burgers grabbed 65 percent of the vote, and an April 2 date in the Sweet Pickle 16.

Game 4: Little Jerry's vs. Mikie Burger

Mikie Burger has history and fans. For years the tiny mom-and-pop restaurant defied the odds, going head to head with nearby national franchises. Despite having no indoor seating and very little parking - despite eccentric hours and long waits - despite being literally overshadowed by new construction - the home of the Mikie Burger endured, until the summer of 2009. The Little Holland burger joint - which now bares a sign reading "Mikie Burgers" - officially reopened on Center Street Jan. 4, 2010. Little Jerry's knew it had to go big against the history and long list of burgers. The Seinfeld-crazed café pulled out The Mimbo. Remember Elaine's man-bimbo, Tony? Yes, Little Jerry's creates dishes from Seinfeld episodes. Yes, the burger sandwiched between grilled cheese sandwiches and topped with a fried egg put the hurt on Mikie. Little Jerry's nabbed 64 percent of the vote and has made the Sweet Pickle 16.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Sweet 16:

• The Forum Tacoma
• Lunchbox Laboratory
• The Spar
• Little Jerry's

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's Second Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 

<<< SUNDAY, MARCH 30 GAMES CLOSED >>>

The subject of burgers is, like the subject of barbecue, vexed and fraught with controversy. What constitutes a great burger? Who makes the best? Everyone seems to have his or her own favorite, and everyone's an expert. Throughout the month of February we polled our readers asking what are the top 64 burger joints in the South Sound. You chimed in. Thursday, March 20 we launched the Tournament of Burgers, pitting your 64 burger joints against each other, similar to the NCAA Basketball Tournament, only with more pickles. It's the 11th day of action, and we're deep into the Second Round. Let's take a look at yesterday's results and today's four games.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: NetShed No. 9 vs. Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Thad Lyman and Katie Doherty, the husband-wife team behind Brix 24 in Gig Harbor, opened the waterfront breakfast and launch destination Netshed No. 9 a year ago. Just off Harborview Drive, it has a splendid view of quiet waters and boats. It also has a breakfast burger that smoked Five Guys Burgers and Fries with 88 percent of the vote. NetShed No. 9 moves into the Sweet 16 to face Eastside Big Tom April 1.

Game 2: DeLong's DeLuxe vs. Maxwell's Restaurant

Robert Walker, who was the president of Walker Cut Stone Company, built a seven-story apartment hotel building at the corner of Sixth and St. Helens in 1927. The building was designed in a classical revival style. While the building appears rectangular from the street, it is actually L-shaped with a small garden court. It was the first apartment house to be faced with stone in the Northwest, where others were brick. Today, the fine-dining restaurant Maxwell's anchors the building, serving a namesake "Walker Burger," which has remained on the menu through several ownership changes. It's an historic building and an historic burger. Yesterday, the gourmet Walker Burger beat a tough opponent, Lakewood's DeLong's DeLuxe, with 80 percent of the vote. There's chatter of putting Maxwell's Walker Burger on the Historic Register.

Game 3: Asado vs. Marrow Kitchen + Bar

Tacoma is Asado, and the Commonwealth of X Group. Tacoma is Marrow, and the Republic of Jones. At 62.34 square miles, Tacoma is hardly big enough for the both gourmet burgers, and that includes Saturday night in the Second Round. Asado vs. Marrow. Few sentences in Tournament of Burgers come with more buzz, especially in March. A half-hour after No. 1 seed Asado beat No. 8 seed Marrow by two points, Asado co-owner John Xitco stepped into the entrance of Asado. Chefs were texting family members, conducting interviews and watching themselves on YouTube when the familiar voice of Xitco cut through the joyous din. "You guys have a hell of burger," Xitco probably said, pausing for a moment. "You just beat the best. You should be proud." This game will be the enduring legacy of the Tournament of Burgers, etched in the record books as Asado 50.42%, Marrow 49.58%. Epic.

Game 4: Meconi's Pub Tacoma vs. Tatanka Takeout

We can't thank Meconi's Pub in downtown Tacoma for hosting the Tournament of Burgers Championship Party at 6 p.m. Monday, April 7. The final two South Sound burger joints will battle live through paper ballots, and the burger winner will be announced during halftime of the NCAA Basketball Championship Game. Yes, I'm softening the news for Mecoini's, "Tacoma's friendliest place to eat and drink," as the pub fell to Tatanka, who's bison burger captured 68 percent of the vote. The remain burger joints need to pay close attention to the Ruston joint specializing in bison, especially Best Burgers who takes on Tatanka April 1 in the Sweet 16. This cross-region game will be a bruiser.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Sweet 16:

• NetShed No. 9
• Maxwell's Restaurant
• Asado
• Tatanka Takeout

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's Second Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 

<<< FRIDAY, MARCH 28 GAMES CLOSED >>>

Now it's getting exciting. The pickles are really starting to fly, and the patties are getting so thick you could cut it with a knife. OK, so that's a horrible analogy.

Point is: This is serious.

Today the Tournament of Burgers officially kicks off its Second Round, meaning 32 South Sound burger joints remain, and the competition is as hot as ever. Who will be crowned champ Monday, April 7? The path to burger greatness starts today.

Here's a look at today's Tournament of Burgers action and a recap of yesterday's results. Squirt some mustard on it if you know what's good for you and get rolling.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Lefty's Burger Shack vs. Bob's Burgers & Brew

Bob's Burgers & Brews, an 11th, is the youngest burger joint in the Tournament of Burgers, opening a franchise in South Hill two months ago. Inexperience could have been a factor in its loss to popular Lefty's Burger Shack in University Place. Behind solid play of its bacon cheeseburger on a warm Kaiser bun and the surprise play from their bacon dog (is that legal?), Lefty's moves easily into the Second Round with 84 percent of the vote.

Game 2: Alfred's Café vs. Twisted Kilt Irish Pub

Everyone loves a good comeback, and this may have been one of the better clutch performances in the (obviously short) history of the Tournament of Burgers. Down by a substantial margin at midday, Alfred's Café, was able to rally the troops at halftime, and by troops I mean the Port of Tacoma. By the time the final buzzer sounded the Puyallup Avenue, speakeasy-ish, often colorful characters loaded Alfred's walked away with an impressive victory, racking up 59 percent of the vote. Next up for Alfred's Café, a Second Round dogfight with Lefty's Burger Shack.

Game 3: Shake Shake Shake vs. Terry's Office Tavern

It's safe to say it would have been an upset of monumental proportion has Terry's Office Tavern somehow managed to defeat Shake Shake Shake, but - alas - it was never meant to be. Shake Shake Shake dominated from tip-off to the final seconds yesterday, collecting votes at almost a three to one ratio and securing 72 percent of the vote.

Game 4: Han's Burger & Teriyaki vs. Frugals

Fruglas has been serving custom, workingman's burgers in Tacoma since 1990. Their experience showed during yesterday's game against Han's. Ignoring the late-afternoon penalty Han's received for excessive catsup, Frugals' 66 percent of the vote victory came from the one-two punch of fresh mushrooms and a sesame seed bun. Sometimes, you have to go with what you know. Frugals moves into the Second Round for a March 31 game against number one seed Shake Shake Shake. Oh, baby!

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Second Round:

• Lefty's Burger Shake
• Alfred's Café
• Shake Shake Shake
• Frugals

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's Second Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 

<<< THURSDAY, MARCH 27 GAMES CLOSED >>>

Low and behold, today marks the closing of the Tournament of Burger's First Round. After today's battles, the bracket will officially be down to 32 area burger joints. If what we learned from our taco, pizza, breakfast and sandwich tournaments holds true, the remaining burger joints will hire cheerleaders for their Second Round games. Honestly, if it gets any more exciting we'll start to understand why Dick Vitale is always yelling.

Without wasting anyone's time with patty-related basketball innuendo, on to a recap of yesterday's games and today's Tournament of Burgers action.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Flipping Out Burgers and Fries vs. Classics Cafe at LeMay

Flipping Out must have flipped out. It was quiet during its game with Classics Café, the diner embedded at LeMay - Amerca's Car Museum. Classics included a Facebook post as part of its game plan, a plan that also included cooking tasty cheeseburgers. Classics Café grabbed 78 percent of the vote and moves into the Second Round.

Game 2: Friesenburgers vs. Crown Bar

In the closest battle of the day, Crown Bar grabbed 55 percent of the vote for the win. Surprisingly, Friesenburgers team of Gluten-free burgers wasn't really a factor. Once Crown's Crispy Onion burger got hot, it was over. The Crown Bar moves into the Second Round with a March 31 date with Classic Café.

Game 3: Herfy's Lakewood vs. Herfy's Olympia

The Herfy's in Lakewood beat the Herfy's in Olympia with 78 percent of the vote. Somewhere there's photo-realistic cow's face with a tear.

Game 4: Dirty Oscar's vs. Red Robin

Yesterday, I was accused of over hyping Dirty Oscar's. It's funny. One of the highlights of my childhood, besides spending summers in Rangoon, was post-Husky games outings at Red Robin. The family would gather around ginormous burgers at the Montlake Seattle Red Robin and discuss Joe Steele's rushing plays. It was always a disappointment if the car diverted instead to the Salmon House. I guess I might have gone Vitale on Dirty Oscar's Dead Elvis Burger. Its deliciousness is hard to ignore. Anyway, Dirty Oscar's smoked Red Robin with 90 percent of the vote and moves into the Second Round to face the Lakewood Herfy's March 31.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Second Round:

• Classic Cafe
• Crown Bar
• Herfy's Lakewood
• Dirty Oscar's

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's First Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 

<<< WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 GAMES CLOSED >>>

The history of the hamburger is fairly mythical. The Menches family of Ohio says they invented the hamburger at an 1885 fair in Hamburg, New York, when heat and humidity forced them to stop butchering pigs. In all probability, the hamburger was a good idea waiting to happen, and a bunch of folks stumbled upon it around the same time. Thankfully someone did invent the burger, because the forecast calls for wet weather in the South Sound through Sunday, and nothing says spring like rain and burgers. So, huddle around your comforting operating system, catch up on yesterday's Tournament of Burgers action and vote on today's four South Sound burger battles.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: The Ram vs. The Forum

In a back and forth match-up pitting two fairly evenly matched competitors (at least in the eyes of voters, it seems), The Forum was eventually able to pull ahead of the stout Ram thanks to a late run - grabbing 53 percent of the vote. The loss has to be especially tough for The Ram, as they entered the Tournament of Burgers with plenty of hype, and the large clientele to back it.

Game 2: Frisko Freeze vs. Tacoma Cabana

You will not get lei'd as much at Frisko Freeze as you can at Tacoma Cabana tiki bar, but you will find a pretty freakin' delicious burger, at least according to yesterday's vote. Frisko Freeze grabbed 62 percent of the vote, and moves into the Second Round to battle The Forum March 30.

Game 3: Gourmet Burger Shop vs. Little Jerry's

"It's more like a full-body dry heave set to music." That's how George described the Elaine dance in Seinfeld. Today, the folks at Little Jerry's, the Seinfeld-loving café in Tacoma, will probably bust out a few Elaine moves as it grabbed 52 percent of the vote over the Gourmet Burger Shop and dances its way into the Second Round.

Game 4: Mikie Burgers vs. Carl's Jr.

Right now Mikie Burgers on Tacoma's Center Street is the Center of the Burger Universe as it put the hurt on Junior with 85 percent of the vote. Mikie moves into the Second Round to face Little Jerry's March 30.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Second Round:

• The Forum
• Frisko Freeze
• Little Jerry's
• Mikie Burgers

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's First Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 25: FIRST ROUND BURGER ACTION >>>

Southern California burger chain Slater's 50/50 has spent the past couple years making a name for itself through its flagship burger patty made from 100 percent ground bacon: 'Merica Burger. The bacon patty is topped off with a sunny side up egg and more bacon, in the form of bacon cheddar cheese, "bacon island" dressing and, oh yeah, actual bacon. Foodbeast.com decided that this wasn't enough and set out to make a 100 percent bacon burger, where every single thing on the burger has a bit of bacon in it. The foodie website decided even the bun should coated with bacon bits and pork rinds, as the photo below dictates. Will a South Sound burger joint follow suit to secure a few extra votes during the Tournament of Burgers? Stay tuned. In the meantime, below are yesterday's game results and eight new burger joints up for vote.

Yesterday's Results

Game 1: Lunchbox Laboratory vs. The Office Bar & Grill

The nice thing about a number one seed is it usually means you have a paddy-cake game in the first round. Not so much the case yesterday. The Office Bar and Grill rallied The Steno Pool and the folks in the mailroom, surging here and there. In the end, the number one seed did prevail, and Lunchbox Laboratory moves into the Second Round with 68 percent of the votes.

Game 2: Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery vs. El Gaucho

The Powerhouse and El Gaucho battled back and forth all day, changing leads several times. Then, the Powerhouse put the Jolly Pumpkin Artesianal Ales Maraciabo Especial Sour Belgian on the guest tap. Not so fast, my fancy friend. El Gaucho's lounge pianist busted out "It's The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and the whole restaurant laughed and clinked martini glasses. The Powerhouse moves into the Second Round with 51 percent of the votes and a date with Lunchbox Laboratory March 30.

Game 3: Boathouse 19 vs. The Spar - Old Town

Unexpectedly, this was an epic battle ... the kind of thing Tournament of Burgers "instant classic" are made of. A surprisingly low scoring affair, with much of the action on defense, sixth seeded Boathouse 19 and the 11th seeded Spar in Old Town Tacoma were in a dead heat - literally tied - going into the final hours of the competition. Tournament of Burgers officials frantically discussed what to do in case of a tie. Overtime? Coin Flip? Shotgun a beer? Then, in a brilliant move, cook Tony walked to the middle of The Spar, slammed down a catsup and mustard bottle and walked back to the grill. That display of condiments was a dagger! The Spar edged out the win, securing exactly 51 percent of the vote. This one will go down in the burger history books.

Game 4: Norma's Burgers vs. Tides Tavern

Norma's Burgers quickly comes to the lips of many when discussing the best South Sound burger. So, perhaps it isn't a surprise that the burger house next to Interstate 5 won handily, kicking the Tides Tavern to the dock while garnering a respectable 63 percent of the vote. Norma's moves into the Second Round to face The Spar March 30.

Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Second Round:

• Lunchbox Laboratory
• Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery
• The Spar - Old Town
• Norma's Burgers

The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.

OK, let's dive into today's First Round burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m.