Walkie Talkie Blog
COMING SOON >>> Whether or not the folks at O'Malley's Irish Pub were ready for people to know they have designs on the building down the street, word travels fast. A smile could be heard in O'Malley's co-manager Josh Norris's voice during a conversation last week as he
Walkie Talkie Blog
SOME MORE DETAILS >>> As mentioned last week, Brandon Escovedo, who has years of experience gained while managing Jazzbones, Station 56, Firecreek and, most recently, Big Wheel Steakhouse, officially became general manager at Tacoma's Gruv Nightclub and Lounge March 7. In Escovedo's hands, Gruv will undergo a major overhaul. The club's
Walkie Talkie Blog
EXECUTIVE CHEF KING HEUN WAIN COMES TO LAKEWOOD >>> Just over a month ago, a Pacific Northwest culinary celebrity set up shop at Macau Casino in Lakewood. Chef King Heun Wai has won local and national awards, repeatedly been distinguished as one of America's top 100 Chinese Chefs, and earned
Walkie Talkie Blog
PUYALLUP'S BAGEL BOYZ ARE ALL THE RAGE >>> More and more often, when I ask who supplies the bagels at a local café or coffee shop, the answer is Bagel Boyz. Last fall a barista at Clancy's almost peed himself in excitement when telling me it would be only a matter
Walkie Talkie Blog
PLONGEZ CECI >>> Ready for a big night out in France? Yeah, me too. However, a leap over the Big Pond isn't in the cards. In Tacoma, The Melting Pot offers a rotating themed "Big Night Out" four-course dinner - and its dipping its forks in France right now. This gastro-excursion
Walkie Talkie Blog
EXCELLENT FARE WITH A SURPRISING SOURCE >>> A rising trend in the Tacoma area seems to be pseudo-gourmet food being offered in unlikely places. The standard hangover-helper breakfast menu gets a makeover at Dirty Oscar Annex, a bar that also features live rock bands and an open mic. Cook Kyle Wnuk,
Walkie Talkie Blog
Calvin Murphy and Chef Aaron Grissom both leave their positions at Gruv Lounge in Tacoma >>> Last week, differing opinions on music, entertainment format, promotion techniques, expectations and styles of business conduct led Gruv Lounge and Nightclub's general manager, Calvin Murphy, to voluntarily leave Gruv and return to his previous employment
Walkie Talkie Blog
GRUV TEMPTS YOUR AFTER-HOURS TASTE BUDS >>> For those who want to party (or at least dance) until the sun comes up, Tacoma's electronic music dance club, Gruv Lounge, will offer a late-night dining menu during extended hours of operation on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 2 and 6 a.m. Aaron
Walkie Talkie Blog
STAY-CATION = LOTS OF TIME TO FOOL AROUND >>> If you're in a LTR - you know, a Long Term Relationship such as marriage - a stay-cation during Valentine's weekend is a fun way to stir and reignite the proverbial embers of love into a roaring fire. Or it just might
Walkie Talkie Blog
GET IT WHILE IT'S HOT >>> Often, when a business closes it's viewed as a negative situation. On the other hand, the closing of Water to Wine, a favorite wine shop in Gig Harbor at the corner of Peacock and North Harborview Drive, may just be one of positive change and
Walkie Talkie Blog
COME FOR THE BOWLING, STAY FOR THE FOOD & DRINK >>> For those that can't make it to the 98402 (downtown Tacoma) there's another dining option that's been added to the far reaches of Pacific Avenue. For 35 years, people have enjoyed bowling at Paradise Bowl. In the spring of 2010,
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A MEDLEY OF TASTES AND EXPERIENCES ON SIXTH AVE. >>> At Pastiche, the newest wine bar to grace Tacoma's bustling Sixth Avenue business district, homemade pasta dishes are on the horizon. Via e-mail, co-owner Art Britton shares that currently Pastiche offers "simple combinations of wine and appetizers that will complement and
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STANLEY AND SEAFORTS STILL HAS IT >>> Stanley and Seafort's Restaurant recently revamped menu has received mixed responses from patrons. Change is hard for some people, while others embrace it. My dining companion and I did just that, sampling house-smoked British Columbia salmon belly - a new addition to the happy
Walkie Talkie Blog
COMFORT DINING AND OLD FAVORITES >>> Sue Glenn is not new to the restaurant game. Owner of The Green Turtle in Gig Harbor, Glenn knows a bit about good food, atmosphere, staffing and ambiance. Earlier this year she became the proprietor of one of the 253's nicest dining views - the
Walkie Talkie Blog
NUMBER ONE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ATTITUDE >>> Dining out can be tricky if you want a 5-star experience, especially when 3-star or lower is where you end up. You're bound to be disappointed. Being realistic about where you're dining can change a mediocre experience into a good and satisfying one.
Walkie Talkie Blog
RAIN CITY CAFE AND COFFE COMPANY >>> Rain City Cafe and Coffee Company aims to fill your belly. The newest café to grace Market Street offers breakfast sandwiches, soups, leafy green and pasta salads, bagged chips and dessert and pastries from Corina Bakery. On the heartier side, Mike's East Coast Panini
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DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH >>> Reports of "decidedly delicious non-bar food" at Gruv Lounge on Sixth Avenue were all Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger and I needed to inspire a field trip and get to sampling. Neither of us shy about gluttony, chicken fried bacon strips seemed so right.
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FRESH TASTES IN THE DOME DISTRICT >>> On the corner of East 26th and D Street directly underneath Crystal Voyage in Tacoma's Dome District, Leila's Deli has a few surprises in the form of non-standard, unexpected ingredients: arugula, grilled zucchini, fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes and pesto mayo. Even in the Pacific
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I WENT TO THE OFFICE THIS WEEKEND >>> Piercing blue sky, crisp air, lower temperatures and leaves blowing about signifies a perfect fall harvest day in the Pacific Northwest. Gloves and scarves are already making their presence known. Neither comedian Kris "Save Our Sonics" Brannon nor anyone else minded standing outside
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HARMON BREWERY CRAFTS SPECIAL BEER FOR THE TACOMA ART MUSEUM >>> Someone with vision at Tacoma Art Museum must have thought, "Wouldn't it be nice to have a beer that lauded the greatness of our city (and pair nicely with our Mighty Tacoma exhibit and 75th anniversary celebration)?" and then wisely
