WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Don't Want To Mess With The Duck: The University Place City Council voted down a $16,000 proposal involving tax dollars and donations to install a 50-foot flagpole at the public plaza fronting the building over concerns about the use of tax dollars and the possibility of it overshadowing the bronze duck sculpture. (News Tribune)

Tacoma Alcohol Impact Areas: The new liquor law will bring booze into Tacoma's two AIA areas. (News Tribune)

Nice Knowing Ya: North Korea has a long-range rocket on the launch pad, but says it's in the name of science. (Aljazeera)

Syria: Hope dims for pullout as bloodshed crosses border. (CNN)

Technology Arms Race: AOL strikes $1.1 billion patent deal with Microsoft. (The New York Times)

R.I.P: Mike Wallace. (USA Today)

Letters To Kurt: Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson talks about Kurt Cobain. (Rolling Stone)

Thrillsville: A This American Life segment spins off to become a new HBO series. (Screen Rant)

Today In Timelines About Attention: Kanye West. (Flavorwire)

Breakfast Meats TV: Bacon reality show. (New York Post)

What Life Might Become

MOVE OVER CUPCAKES >>>

It seems everywhere I look, frozen yogurt shops are popping up. I began to think I was going crazy. Am I imagining it or is frozen yogurt the new cupcake?

Frozen yogurt has long drawn patrons looking for a low fat frozen treat. To investigate the trend, I recently visited The Freeze in University Place (3806 Bridgeport Way W.), which opened in mid-March. The flavors ranged from standards like chocolate and vanilla to red velvet and mango. Sure, the yogurt is low fat, but then I had my way with the toppings. Cookie crumbles, caramel syrup and gummy worms, oh my.

Gibson's Frozen Yogurt Shoppe in Tacoma's Stadium District (8 N. Tacoma Ave.) opened in February 2011 and has been a go-to dessert fix in the area ever since. In fact, Gibson's has been so well received that they're opening a second location at North 26th and Pearl in Tacoma's Westgate neighborhood they'll be in the old Little Caesar's building.

Ben Hall hangs at The Freeze in University Place.

Fueling my cupcake-turned-fro-yo conspiracy theory, the old Jubilee Cupcakes space in Tacoma's Proctor District will soon be home to Proctor Frozen Yogurt (2510 N. Proctor), with an anticipated opening date in early May.

Last July, Elements Frozen Yogurt (333 South Meridian, #111) opened in downtown Puyallup. South Hill now has a place to get their frozen yogurt fix at Menchie's in Sunrise Village (10306 156th St. E.). It opens April 5.

The range of flavors and toppings makes frozen yogurt irresistible to kids and adults alike. Add the fact that it's self-serve and pay-by-weight, and it's easy to see why frozen yogurt is the newest trend to hit the area.

>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR MARCH 28 <<<

You know how yesterday we said you, much-appreciated readers, had responded in droves to our Tournament of Breakfast so far this year.

Well, we lied. We hadn't seen anything yet.

Yesterday was droves, people, perhaps more. Yesterday was just plain freakin' nuts. When it comes to breakfast, it's obvious you really care.

Maybe too much ...

On to today's Tournament of Breakfast action and yesterday's results.

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

Here were the match-ups:

Marcia's Silver Soon Cafe (Tacoma) vs. The Homestead Restaurant (Tacoma)

Affairs Cafe and Bakery (University Place) vs. Moon Rise Cafe (Lakewood) 

Norma's Burgers (Lacey) vs. Hawk's Prairie Restaurant (Lacey)

McMenamins Spar Cafe (Olympia) vs. Cicada Restaurant (Olympia)

Once this game began it reaffirmed our opinion that there is no substitution for seeing a game like this in person, despite all of the advances in home entertainment technology. No screen or monitor can adequately capture the vividness of the strawberries, or convey the towering physical presence of a stack of pancakes. On television, hash browns look like an afterthought. In person, hash browns look ferocious. And according to statistics, hash browns were the deciding factor in this game. Twelfth seed Homestead Restaurant, behind its spuds, knocked off number one seed Marcia's with 54 percent of the votes.

The Moon Rise's raspberry jam has been surprisingly quiet throughout this tournament. Created in-house by owner Christine Curren, the jam was a key factor in bringing the Lakewood restaurant into the tournament. For most of the second half in its battle with Affairs Cafe, it was a different story. The jam came to life for the Moon Rise - as did many of Moon Rise's Benedicts. Affairs didn't want to go to its truffles, but it had to in the final six hours of voting. But the chocolate awesomeness wasn't enough. The Moon Rise Cafe grabbed 59 percent of the votes, and will battle The Homestead Thursday in the Poached Eight.

The Weekly Volcano's food tournaments mean everything - perhaps too much, as a team that dominates its regions during regular season play can have one bad day and see its season go down the drain. Certainly there is drama of the highest kind when it comes to mixing batter. The breakfast quiche kept pouring out of sixth seed Hawk's Prairie Restaurant's kitchen all day. It's only 450 calories! What was Hawk's Prairie thinking? You can't expect to start 450 calories and beat a powerhouse like number one seed Norma's Burgers. Seizing the opportunity, Norma's pulled in its I-5 Pile Up -  large buttermilk biscuits on top of hash browns and topped with two eggs then smothered with sausage gravy - and pounded the Hawk's quiche until it squeaked out a win with 52 percent of the votes.

McMenamins Spar Café got demolished by Cicada Restaurant, which was mildly surprising not because they lost but because they lost so badly - by 1,200 votes. The Spar Cafe kept all three of its Benedicts on the floor most of the game, with the Dungeness crab variation using the grilled tomato to its advantage.  For crying out loud, the Spar even pulled its Willapa Bay oyster shooter off the bench. What the hell happened to this Olympia institution? Cicada's green eggs and ham is what happened. The breakfast dish was unstoppable. It was ordered in the dining room. It was ordered in the fancy lounge. Someone even ate it at the hostess stand! Who says it's not easy being green? Cicada moves into the Poached Eight Thursday for a breakfast date with Norma's Burgers. Oh boy.

Let's take a look at the stack. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Homestead Restaurant
  
• Moon Rise Cafe
  
• Norma's Burgers
  
• Cicada Restaurant
  

The daily breakfast battles here on Spew are sponsored by Shakabrah Java on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

OK, let's check out today's Scrambled 16 breakfast battles. Vote for one breakfast joint per battle. Voting for today's breakfast battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR MARCH 27 <<<

For the last two weeks we presented you with a compelling question: Who makes the best breakfast in the South Sound? And you have responded in droves. Sick days have been used. Friendships have fallen apart. Kellogg's is considering producing South Sound Mystery Crunch - mass hysteria!

The competition has been whittled down to the Scrambled 16. Yes, 16 South Sound breakfast joints are poised to make the final push to the Final Four, which will be held Friday.

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

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

Here were the match-ups:

Fife City Bar & Grill (Fife) vs. Rock The Dock Pub & Grill (Tacoma)

Dixie's Home Cookin' (Sumner) vs. Boxcar Grill (Tacoma) 

Shakabrah Java (Tacoma) vs. C.I. Shenanigans (Tacoma)

Masa (Tacoma) vs. Hob Nob (Tacoma)

Fife City Bar & Grill figured its game against Rock The Dock Pub & Grill to be low scoring, a natural expectation with two of the Port of Tacoma area's best breakfasts butting heads. Dominating the griddle, Fife City delivered an amazing New York steak skillet breakfast - topping it with cheese - and pushed its Polish sausage to anchor a stifling defense that helped Fife City Bar & Grill knock off Rock The Dock and its deck with 53 percent of the votes. Fife City has one big advantage in the Tournament of Breakfast: Chef/owner Diana Prine and her Culinary Institute of American training.

Dixie's Home Cookin's friendly service gave Boxcar Grill fits all day. Instead of promoting the big-ticket items - The Caboose, The Boxcar Steak and Eggs and The Freight-Train - like it normally does, Boxcar Grill played a bait-and-switch game with the Build-Your Own Omelet, with the awesome combination of three category ingredients. The idea was to confuse Dixie's with the combinations and, hopefully, wear them out. It worked, in large part because corned beef was an omelet option - a move rarely seen in build-your-own-omelet offenses. Boxcar Grill, with the largest percentage point win of the day - 60 percent - moves on to the Scrambled 16.

Shakabrah Java shifted gears. It had to go big against Shenanigans big ol' brunch. To open this game, Shakabrah went to its four big Shaka-Combos players - all with its signature potatoes. Its quick breakfast sandwiches did the trick in earlier matches, but it needed more girth for this battle. Shenanigans followed pushing its in-house pastry chef hard, winning hearts with mini tarts, which countered its typical slow-down offense and ran Shakabrah reckless. Shakabrah gave in, and went to its quick The Brian breakfast sandwich with its French toast base. "He played an exceptional game," said Bob from Tacoma's Trafton Street. The Brian did indeed, and in the end, Shakabrah Java squeaked by 51.2 percent of the vote. Wow.

Masa co-owner John Xitco coaxed this win out of his breakfast by making his chefs pound Masa's huevos rancheros and insisting on the kind of defense that Masa played during this remarkable run, but which often got overshadowed by the Hob Nob's Side Door Lounge theatrics. Xitco's biggest offensive highlight: Probably when 10 Masa Smirnoff Jalapeno Marys hit the floor all at once. However, the Hob Nob's strawberry French toast was on fire, keeping the game close. In fact, Masa's 51 percent of the votes victory wasn't secured until the final 20 minutes of the game. Masa wins and will face Shakabrah Java in the Scrambled 16.

Let's take a look at the stack. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Fife City Bar and Grill
  
• Boxcar Grill
  
• Shakabrah Java
  
• Masa
  

The daily breakfast battles here on Spew are sponsored by Shakabrah Java on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

OK, let's check out today's Scrambled 16 breakfast battles. Vote for one breakfast joint per battle. Voting for today's breakfast battles ends at 11:45 p.m.

>>> VOTING CLOSED FOR MARCH 26 <<<

Laid-back is the essence of Sunday. That means a lazy mid-afternoon brunch, no work, phone off the hook, flip-flops ... you know the routine. The mere thought of lifting a finger to wash the mountain of dishes in the sink should make you shudder. Yesterday, a good chunk of the South Sound changed its Sunday routine. Voting in the Tournament of Breakfast was added to the mix. Yesterday's vote was the second hishest of the tournament.

But, it's Monday. You're still in chill mode. Your boss' view of what is priority is far from the top of your priority list. And there's four South Sound breakfast games to vote on today. Before you vote, take a gander at yesterday's results. Woah.

Yesterday's Tournament of Breakfast Results

Here were the match-ups:

Pine Cone Cafe (University Place) vs. Affairs Cafe & Bakery (University Place)

Moon Rise Cafe (Lakewood) vs. Old Milwaukee Cafe (Tacoma) 

Norma's Burgers (Olympia) vs. Sage's Brunch House (Tacoma)

Hawk's Prairie Restaurant (Lacey) vs. Black Bear Diner (Olympia)

Affairs Cafe started the game with a psychological ploy, as owner Gay Landry pushed her delicious strawberry crepes hard, while dropping the egg dishes back to set up its zone defense. Affairs veggie skillet was red hot yesterday. The Pine Cone Café, even with its malted Belgium waffle having a good day, couldn't keep up with Affairs. Affairs Cafe ended up with 58 percent of the vote, and a seat in the Scrambled 16.

The Moon Rise Cafe triple teamed Old Milwaukee Cafe for nearly the entire game, forcing owners Pat and Chad to rely on their powerhouse griddle. Old Milwaukee took an early lead due to Chad's handy work with four spatulas, before the Moon Rise would close the gap with a strong showing from its salmon scramble. The triple team worked, and the North End Tacoma favorite fell, with the Moon Rise Cafe capturing 55 percent of the votes and a spot in the Scrambled 16.

Norma's Burgers held an advantage in volume yesterday, turning tables with cat-like quickness. Sage's Brunch House worked the biscuits and gravy hard, shuffling in and out the Migas at opportune moments. In the end Norma's held on to a comfortable lead, ending up with 62 percent of the votes, and a seat in the Scrambled 16.

Hawk's Prairie cruised to an easy win yesterday over Black Bear Diner with 66 percent of the votes, largely due to its relentless bear traps. Analysts agreed it was wise for Hawk's to give its broiled pit ham steak a breather yesterday. It will need the power dish in the Scrambled 16 when it takes on Norma's Burgers.

Let's take a look at the stack. The following are advancing to the next round:

• Affairs Cafe and Bakery
  
• Moon Rise Cafe
  
• Norma's Burgers
  
• Hawk's Prairie Restaurant
  

The daily breakfast battles here on Spew are sponsored by Shakabrah Java on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue.

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

INSTANT ST. PATRICK'S DAY >>>

Tacoma Irish bars on St. Patrick's Day are like casinos on the Vegas Strip: loud, crammed packed, and catalysts for regret.

I'm spending my St. Patrick's Day in front of the fire with a bottle of Jameson and food to go from Affairs in University Place. Owner Gay Landry offers slow-roasted corned beef brisket, cabbage, roasted onions, potatoes and carrots - hot or cold - for pickup Friday and Saturday. The cost is $38 for 2-3 servings, $69 for 5-6 servings and $98 for 7-9 servings. Orders must be placed at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 15.

[Affairs, pickup 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 16-Saturday, March 17, $38-$98, 2811 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.565.8604]

LINK: St. Patrick's Day parties in the South Sound

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 ...

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Ale House Sports Pub & Grille University Place. Steve Stefanowicz. 8 pm. NC.

Backstage Bar & Grill Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Guttermouth, Boldtype, Neutralboy, The Unevil, South 11th. 8 pm. $12-$15.

• This blurb officially marks the 87th time I've written about Guttermouth coming to Tacoma. Something tells me that while I may be running out of things to say about the iconic Huntington Beach punk rockers, Tacoma's many fans of the band aren't getting tired seeing them. This Friday, Guttermouth again returns to T-Town, this time hitting up the Backstage Bar & Grill. The band has typically played Hell's Kitchen in the past, but this time around it appears former Hell's Kitchen booker Flash Connel - now a show-making free agent of sorts - has lured the band to the ass-end of Sixth Avenue and the Backstage. I expect the results of the show to be similar: loud, fast and balls-to-the-proverbial-wall. - Matt Driscoll

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. Psycho 78, Artimus Maximus, Triple Sixes, Dead Giveaways. 9 pm. $5.

Jazzbones Tacoma. The Green reggae show. All Ages. 4 pm doors. $10. With Mighty High. 21+. 7 pm. $15.

Lucky Eagle Casino Rochester. George Jones. 8 pm. $45-$65.

Little Creek Casino Shelton. Glen Campbell. 8 pm. $30-$50.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. High Noon Horizon, River Of Disdain, Jobe Himself. All Ages. 8 pm.

Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. Ches Ferguson, Julie Campbell. All Ages. 6 pm. Ravin' Wolf. All Ages. 8 pm.

Maxwell's Speakeasy Tacoma - Downtown. Lance Buller Trio. All Ages. 7-10 pm. NC.

McCoy's Tavern Olympia - Downtown. Resident Kings, Last Watch, Hong Kong Banana. 9 pm. $5.

• Resident Kings (an Oly band featuring members of Dirty Birds and Fitz of Depression), Last Watch (featuring John Johnson of Hillstomp), and Hong Kong Banana were all set to play the Eastside Club in Olympia this week. But, last minute changes have put Oly's most reliable weekend venue on hiatus until further notice. Lucky for Olympia, we have each other's back - and McCoy's will host Friday night's hoorah. Expect a variety of sounds from these three bands, from the heavy melodic rock of Resident Kings, to the punk rock and roots of Last Watch, to the garage and soul of Portland's Hong Kong Banana. Eat it up, South Sound. It's good for the soul. - Nikki Talotta

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Crypts, DBC, Bronze, DJ sets by Delicious Brown, Ninja Monique. 9 pm.

• Upon first being confronted with Crypts, the most immediate impression is a blast of non-directional aggression. Crypts is a band that seems intent on creating a vibe of barely contained chaos and vicious noise. Crypts want the audience to be conflicted, to be challenged. If you make it past those first intense minutes, however, Crypts has a way of revealing surprisingly beautiful compositions - bathed, as it always is, in scuzzy shock and awe. Read my full feature on the Crypts in the Music section at weeklyvolcano.com. - Rev. Adam McKinney

Olyphant Art Supply and Gallery Olympia - Downtown. Christian Mistress. 8 p.m., $5.

• For Oly home-towners, there's a lot of pride when people you see in your daily life - people who've made you a killer pizza pie, who you've listened to at house parties, or who've rocked your head in the middle of Fourth Ave - are on the cusp of greatness. Such is the case with Olympia's Christian Mistress, preparing to celebrate the release of their debut effort on Relapse Records, Possession, with a show Friday at Olyphant Art Supply and Gallery in Olympia. The music of Christian Mistress speaks straight to the heart. It's nostalgic, yet eye-opening. It's metal, yet soul. It's a twisted, yet straightforward way of playing good fucking rock music. See all of this firsthand Friday in a show that will also serve as a release party for the latest installment of Nuts Magazine. - Weekly Volcano

Southbay Dickerson's BBQ Olympia - Downtown. Oly Mountain Boys CD release Party. 8 pm. NC.

Spar Cafe Olympia. Vince Brown. 8 pm. NC.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop. Raeanne Phillips. 7:30 pm. NC.

Traditions Cafe and World Folk Art Olympia - Downtown. Holly Gwinn Graham, Joe Baque. All Ages. 8 pm. $8-$12.

LINK: More live music tonight in the South Sound

VIVA LAS VEGAS-LIKE >>>

Breakfast is my favorite meal in Mexico, especially when I'm sitting on some beach, drinking cinnamon-laced hot chocolate while eating ripe papayas and platters of huevos rancheros - fried eggs with salsa on top of crisp corn tortillas.

Breakfast is also my favorite meal at the new Taqueria El Antojo in University Place – even with the blinking lights under the counter, animated video screen menus on the wall and the courteous staff and shouting orders into a microphone to the three cooks six feet behind the counter.

It's a thing of beauty.

Huevos rancheros are also a thing of beauty at Taqueria El Antojo in University Place: three eggs, Ranchero sauce and fresh homemade tortillas, accompanied by the peerless house refried beans and a pile of Mexican rice ($5.99).

I also fancy its four breakfast burritos ($2.99 each), torpedo-heavy and the perfect size for a large, hungry man. Really, though, these little models of engineering perfection - combining the ideal quantities of green chile, scallions, scrambled eggs, crispy hashbrowns, a mild hot sauce and optional ham, sausage, bacon or chorizo. The bacon burrito is the winner with a remarkable amount of chewy chunks. Yum.

Bonus: Taqueria El Antojo hung giant comic strips telling stories of great Mexican inventions on its walls.

[Taqueria El Antojo, 8-11 a.m. daily, ample seating, 5502 Orchard St. W., University Place, 253.212.0914]

FAT TUESDAY >>>

Can't make it to the Big Easy for Mardi Gras? Relax. There's plenty of beads 'n' beer revelry to be had right here in Tacoma. One of the better ones will go down at the Ale House Sports Pub & Grille on the edge of University Place. The party starts when the joint opens at 11 a.m. with food specials such as chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, blackened catfish and jambalaya.

And the Hurricane cocktails will flow out of the box, too, as well as $4 rum drinks and $2.75 beers.

But the raffle prizes and beads will not hit you in the face until after 6 p.m.

While the Ale House can't promise all of the gratuitous nudity and open liquor laws of New Orleans, they can guarantee 64 beers on tap and a good time.

[Ale House Sports Pub & Grille, 2122 Mildred St., University Place, 253.565.9367]

Where will you party on Fat Tuesday?