Look here, Tacoma Farmers Market. If you served alcohol, I wouldn't have to drag my ass outside of your barricaded confines for a little hooch after lunch; I'd have one-stop gluttonous shopping all within one downtown Tacoma block.  But NO.  Instead, you heed all county/city permits, rules and regulations - ignoring and poo-pooing any form of vodka-detox my body might go through come lunchtime. Bah humbug.

Thankfully, I had Bandito Betty with me last week at the Tacoma Farmers Market, whose brilliant brain often makes up for the massive cerebellum abuse I've endured in my life. She suggested after-market drinks at nearby Varsity Grill.

So, after accosting the Paprika Catering personnel, buying cheese from the very cute, college-aged cheese monger (yummy on ALL aspects), and dropping unwanted random business cards into all of the musicians' opened guitar cases (Tips only? I don't think so.), we hoofed it down the street for a few fruity cool ones.

Drink One: Blueberry Lemondrop (bartender's choice) - Sunshine!  Sunshine was our server, and oh how we love us some Sunshine.  Once upon a time, way back in my Tacoma Beer Society days, Sunshine was our server at Engine House No. 9 when photographers showed up to take pictures for what would be the Tacoma Beer Society's front page debut in an upcoming News Tribune Soundlife section.

Funny thing is, instead of taking a picture of, oh, let's say the actual FOUNDER of the Tacoma Beer Society; the Trib instead snapped a very unbecoming shot of our server, Sunshine, from a nose goblin's angle. 

That's right - you could see right up her nose.

Drink Two: Strawberry/Dragonfruit Mojito (most popular drink within last hour) - Check it: Sunshine still had the infamous TNT photo.  As a matter of fact, she had it with her in her server wallet-book-thingy, which she cheerfully pulled out and showed us. 

Reason No. 43 why we love Sunshine: She relishes every moment, even when that includes every nose hair a TNT staff photographer's zoom lens can capture.

Drink Three: Varsity Peach (my choice) - Reason No. 44 why we love Sunshine: Varsity Peach = YUM. Anytime you're served vanilla and peach vodka chilled in a martini glass, it's a time to be happy. 

What also made me happy was remembering Reason No. 45 why we love Sunshine: The nap needed after being around any variation of the word. 

Damn lunchtime buzz gets me every time.

Varsity Grill

1114 Broadway, Tacoma
253.627.1229