Columns
I only wanted one tattoo, just so I could say I had one. I was proud that I had never gotten any cartoon characters on my ankle, or a dolphin engraved on my lower back. As tempting as those fads looked at the time, my resistance was strong. I blame my blinding,
Someone recently asked if I visit drinking establishments at the same time of day, every week. They were wondering if I compared the bartenders in equivalent shifts, because theoretically the "best" bartenders work on Friday and Saturday nights. Why would I want to compare a Monday lunch bartender with a Friday
As I was exiting the doors of the Federal Way Commons (formerly known as SeaTac Mall), I noticed a dining establishment taking up an eighth of the block called Jasmine Mongolian Grill. I was too early to physically open the doors, but I did manage to press my greasy nose
Columns
As Thane and Patricia Lecy-Davis so kindly reminded me the other day, it is a very fine line I walk when it comes to writing this column. Many a conversation has been had with friends and editors over what message these 400 weekly words are sending out to the general
Features
Somewhere along the walls of the Weekly Volcano's vodka storage area/employee restroom the words "Matador's happy hour motherf***ing ROCKS" are carved into the faded baby blue 1984 wallpaper. These words, in all their utterly candid descriptiveness, spoke to me. If someone, whoever that loyal employee/vodka drinker may be, had the
No polite, legitimate, non-douchey business owner cares what race you are, what religion you fall victim to, or if you make your money workin' the pole in stilettos with a fishbowl in the heel - as long as you're spending that money in their establishment. Thankfully, the people at Primo
Other than the time an anonymous Weekly Volcano employee pooped on my desk, I have never been more sickened and appalled by something. That is, until I received notice that Harbor Lights had NOT yet been visited for 3 Drink Minimum. Yes indeed, my fair alcoholic friends, it was a sad,
Columns
As the Weekly Volcano's SOTA Intern Emily and I entered Roger's Taxidermy two weeks ago, the anticipated frightening smell of tanned animal carcass wasn't as apparent as I thought it would be. And Roger's Taxidermy employees were not as redneck as I assumed, either. They were actually quite down to
Bartender Tony from McGrath's Fish House has officially made the "Steph DeRosa Top 10 Bartenders" list. Yes, there is such a list; I would never lie about something like that. Lie about my age? Yes. Lie about how many drinks I've had? Of course. But lie about my obscene amount
Columns
As young Emily, this year's Volcano SOTA intern, sat shotgun in the DeRosa Troublemobile she asked, "So, what's your plan for doing your Trouble with DeRosa column?" Plan? Silly interns and their dreamy ideas. With what we're doing here at the Weekly Volcano, we don't need a "plan." For a
This southern girl has finally been conditioned to the Pacific Northwest. I no longer have the local suicide hotline on speed dial, and the carpet has started to perk back up in the corner where I used to curl up and cry for days on end. That being said, every
Features
There are restaurants I have to ease into slowly, coming around to their flavors or unique takes on cuisine by the end of the meal. There are other restaurants that win me over quickly - love at first bite, or damn close to it. Typically, the latter has to due
Columns
Pat Fucking Brown from Satellite Coffee has been ridiculing these two men about their uniforms. Both don green Dickies, matching sneakers, and old school baseball shirts. Smooth and Juicey Principal owner Doug Mazzine and Operations Manager Thane Davis match like childhood best friends. I can see why Pat would mock
Inside my driver side car door compartment, shoved alongside crumpled Kleenexes, old gas station receipts, and a few crusty, dried up pens sits my 2010 Entertainment Book. For years I've ridiculed local cheap-asses and their incessant need to always dine at establishments with a coupon in the Entertainment Book. Well,
Columns
Baby New YearAbout the most exciting thing in 2007 was landing this two-bit “job” as a columnist for the Weekly Volcano. I had to spank the Weekly Volcano Weather Guy while he wore assless chaps in order to get this writing gig, and I’d really appreciate it if my editors
This is hands down, one of my all-time favorite dining establishments. Even after watching the creepiest of documentaries Food, Inc. and subsequently swearing off all recognizable forms of animal muscle for a short while — I still found orgasmic pleasure in the taste of Ranch House’s meat last week. A
Columns
Bandito Betty has no kids (thank God), but she does have something she calls a "dogson." Gag me. She's one of those creepy pet owners who would put her dog in a Baby Bjorn and let it eat in a highchair next to her at a restaurant if she could.
The entire Johnny's empire confuses me, I'll admit it. Though it's not hard to confuse me, when it comes to Tacoma's Johnny's, the gridlock in my brain reaches an all-time high. One name - "Johnny's" - can encompass all of the following establishments: Johnny's Dock, Johnny's Seafood, Johnny's in Fife,
Not one for hanging out all girly-style, I often find myself amongst men when it comes to social situations. My few close girlfriends, whom I call "close girlfriends," are labeled as such because they enjoy the same things in a friendship: no drama, no dumb bitches, and no judgments held.
Columns
I totally did it. I stopped the car and made Bandito Betty wait for me while I ran out and talked to some sign-wielding, megaphone-chanting picketers. I’ve always wanted to stop and ask protestors questions. I’ve even tried a few times. They’ve never been interested before, but this time I
