Walkie Talkie Blog
LIVE HERE, GIVE HERE >>> Help feed the hungry. It may be warmer outside, but people are still starving right in our neighborhoods. Saturday, May 14, the U.S Postal Service will be accepting food donations all day as part of the country's single largest annual food drive. Pierce County postal carriers will
Walkie Talkie Blog
The City of Tacoma should erect a monument for Kent Morrill. I would like to remember the famous Tacoman every time I shop in the Stadium District or drive down Sixth Avenue. My guess is the capacity crowd inside Tacoma's Temple Theatre last night would agree. The free tribute concert
Walkie Talkie Blog
HIGHLIGHTS UNCOVERED >>> Coffee Cake at SideBar Bistro Friday just after 6 p.m. I dropped by the SideBar Bistro to chat with nicest people in the world and owners JoAnna and Tom Irick, and to kick off the weekend with one of Tom's martinis. Kate and I shared a chicken enchilada, a
Walkie Talkie Blog
CONSIDER THE DODO >>> Living on the otherwise uninhabited island of Mauritius, dodos, having no need to protect themselves from predators, became too lazy to fly and eventually lost the ability to do so. Then in the late 17th century some Portuguese sailors arrived, bringing with them pigs, monkeys and dogs,
Walkie Talkie Blog
NOT BOGUS >>> "I know that dude," I said in a Spicoli voice in my head this morning walking toward the espresso counter at Caffe Dei. I even pointed as I said it in my head. I didn't point at a human, but rather the new art show on the Sixth
Walkie Talkie Blog
GRAND SLAM THIS! >>> Babblin' Babs Bistro has done it again. The tiny gourmet spot in Tacoma's Proctor District introduced another round of breakfast dishes no one in the South Sound comes close to matching. Chef William and his better half, Shannon, emerged from their laboratory with six new dishes without
Walkie Talkie Blog
RUNNING AROUND TACOMA >>> Here are my field notes from last night: 7:10 p.m.: Dropped in on Tacoma artist Teddy Haggarty's birthday party at Stonegate pizza. The South Tacoma Way restaurant/music venue has an entire wall of Haggarty art and photos. Overheard: What, only two photos of Teddy with Alec Baldwin? 7:35 p.m.:
Walkie Talkie Blog
MEALS TO GO >>> It's been a long day/week/month/year at work, and you're just too damn tired to cook dinner for yourself. The only food around is stale bagels left over from yesterday's morning meeting. And your couch is calling you. You need take-out. Everybody loves take-out. Whether you're inspired to order it
Walkie Talkie Blog
THIS IS GOOD NEWS >>> Yesterday morning I found refuge from the freezing rain inside Beyond the Bridge Café on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue. Grabbing a hot Americano, I warmed my cold bones next to their fake fireplace, when co-owner Ben Rubke dropped exciting news. Julie Rex, formerly of Corina Bakery fame, will
Walkie Talkie Blog
SOCIAL STUDIES >>> Thursday night was the first annual Best of Olympia Issue party hosted by everyone's favorite free South Sound alternative weekly, the Weekly Volcano. And what a party it was. Held at The Brotherhood Lounge in downtown Olympia, this inaugural event had many things working in its favor. The
Walkie Talkie Blog
THEY FREED MY MIND AND MY ASS FOLLOWED >>> Tacoma boy Matt Coughlin is in a funk - a glorious, deep boogie funk. This is good. His 2004 acoustic rock days are long gone. Today, it's all about the funk. He mixes funk grooves with country when performing
Walkie Talkie Blog
THEY'RE BRAVE >>> If your New Year's goals included cooking less often and spending less money, this new site could help: Clearance Cuisine, launched by Tacoma-area foodies Marisa and Ben. Their mission is simple: "We taste and comment on food and drinks from discount grocery stores, outlets and liquidators," or so
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PERSONAL POWERFUL NIGHT >>> You may find yourself ... staring at six televisions mesmerized by video feedback patterns. You may find yourself ... packed in a giant shower with a guitarist looping noises. You may find yourself ... hypnotized by one of the best live performances you've ever experienced. You may
Walkie Talkie Blog
THE ROAD HEADS BACK TO SEATTLE >>> The Road to South By 2011 battle of the bands contest - a joint effort between Seattle-based Brave New World Media Group and Joe Gingerella's Black Ice Booking & Entertainment - took a break from its home at El Corazon in Seattle to stop
Walkie Talkie Blog
Q&A WITH KRIS BLONDIN >>> My first taste of ripe, raw Vacherin (this December in Seattle - oh the nerve of me!) with a bottle of sturdy red (I think it was Marietta Old Vine), a chunk of naturally leavened Kalamata olive bread, and a dollop of this pudding-like rarity brought
Walkie Talkie Blog
DRINK OF THE WEEK >>> My friend Steve was bragging about what a fabulous soccer player he is, crediting his Polish heritage for his deftness. Yeah, soccer was fine, I told him, but what about a more practical ethnic legacy, like a thorough knowledge of Polish vodka? Rising to the challenge,
Walkie Talkie Blog
HAS IT BEEN A MONTH? >>> I dropped by Cork! A Wine Bar on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue last night. Weaving past the tables of female 20- and 30-somethings to the bar, I learned that owner Nick would add a bunch of new wines to his menu today. He also would add
Walkie Talkie Blog
GIVE TO A LOCAL CHARITY >>> ‘Tis the season for giving, and whether you're getting free drinks or just some feel-good cheer, there are plenty of reasons to be generous this month. Here are just a few local organizations offering means to help others out this season: Tacoma Community House Lindquist Dental Clinic
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A SNAP HERE AND THERE >>> Folks who know tattooing history are more qualified to judge the version of American tattooing presented in last night's screening of Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry at the Blue Mouse Theatre, but for a lay person, it was engrossing as hell. It was cool
Walkie Talkie Blog
THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE >>> Lately, it seems that my discussions with foodies about chocolate are sounding more and more like conversations about wine. To begin with, every chocoholic I know has memorized data from recent research studies indicating that chocolate is good for you. Supposedly, it supplies a chemical
