WE SCENE IT >>>

BZ Productions knows how to throw a party, if the definition of party includes booze, fist pumping, short skirts and low necklines. BZ hosted a "Naughty or Nerd" contest Friday, Jan. 25 at Jazzbones in Tacoma. One hundred dollars was the prize money. Victor Menegaux was behind the turntables.

Suffice it to say, the audience cheered loudest for one naughty nerd because ... well, the beauty had blouse issues.

LINK: More photos from Naughty or Nerd night at Jazzbones

WE SCENE IT >>>

Saturday night Tacoma's Encore Boutique Nightclub celebrated two years of making customers feel like movie stars. The two-story club's dark leather seating, velvet ropes, plush bathrooms and upscale décor played host to yet another night of pressed suits and fashionable dresses - as well as shabby jeans - popping Grey Goose Bottles and admiring the degree of slope in some of the high heels.

When photographer Steve Dunkelberger wasn't following the hot Grey Goose Girls around the club, she snapped a few shots of the night.

Happy anniversary Encore!

LINK: More photos of the night in our Photo Hot Spot

WE SCENE IT >>>

DJ Broam's Future Bass night was where Tacoma gathered to hear innovative electronic beats - at least the first Saturday of the month. When its home — Tempest Lounge — closed this summer, the 4-year-old dance night searched for a new home.

For several months Broam has taken residency at The New Frontier Lounge, grabbing the first Saturday and renaming his experience "Midnight Snack," offering glitch hop, heavy electro dance, indie electroclash remixes and the whims of his guest DJs.

Saturday, I popped in on Broam and his guest DJs Bobby Galaxy, Mr. Melanin and DJ Habit. While the crowd has yet to grab the night, the DJs spun infectious, soulful beats backed by lush visuals and classic breakdancing videos.  

The Weekly Volcano will remind you when the next first Saturday rolls around. It's a worthy Snack.

IT'S HAPPENING TONIGHT >>>

It's Saturday, so that means DJs invade the Tempest lounge  - but hark! 'Tis not just any Saturday, my young lad, it is the first Saturday, which means DJ Broam and Bobby Galaxy drop their Future Bass on the swanky cool Hilltop Tacoma lounge. The bass will swoop down and kill you, especially with guest DJ Nick Francis - music director at KPLU/Jazz24 - and his Choppertone in the house. According to hype, expect "a night of Trick Controllers and Baller Beats."

So don't sit against the wall like a loser... or they'll feast on your rotting entrails as well. Enjoy that one!

[Tempest Lounge, Saturday, April 7, 9 p.m. sharp, 913 MLK Way, Tacoma, 253.272.4904]

LINK: NPR story on Nick Francis and his Choppertone

WAY BETTER THAN PHOTOS OF SNOW >>>

It's late Friday evening - actually 1 a.m. Saturday - and Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger snaps shots of the 30-something crowd lined up outside the Last Call Bar stretching down to the karate dojo in the Lakewood strip mall. Most of the ladies don slim dresses, which means their entry fee will be waived as part of "Freakin' Dress Fridays."

In the main area, everyone is chill with a martini.

Behind the wall that hides the dance floor. DJ C-Luv has replaces the soul and R&B that dominated the early evening with hip-hop and rap. Yes, there's booty shaking and dry humping, but many ladies really let it loose too on the packed dance floor. It's ear-bleeding loud with heavy bass lines, but there's still a huge chill in the room.

LINK: More photos from the Last Call Bar Friday night

LINK: We scene it

ONE WAY TO GET YOUR DRINK ON >>>

Remember five years ago when the media were predicting the rise of white trash culture? Well, that was before the real estate crash, which forced some of us to live in trailer parks, not joke about them. So perhaps the whole white trash chic just hits too close to home these days.

The Backstage Bar & Grill has given this market a home. Every Monday night, while DJ Lo spins Top 40, the Sixth Avenue rock club offers $5 40-ounce PBRs, $2 wells, $3 domestic pitchers, $1 Hamm's drafts, $2 mac and cheese and $5.95 steak dinners under the banner White Trash Mondays.

Backstage Bar & Grill

6409 Sixth Ave., Tacoma

LINK: Maybe you'll see these people there tonight

A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE >>>

Do the early-workweek doldrums have you down? Feeling a little groove sensation rising in your blood? Sounds like dance-party time to us. Head over to Magoo's Annex right now for their new Micro Monday's with Dj Melodica aka John Hodgson. He'll be spinning out an ear- and an ass-ful of great punk, post punk, New Wave, early electronica, psychedelia, garage - basically everything but the kitchen sink. It's every Monday at 8 p.m. thing so hit it up tonight. Who really cares if you have poli sci at 8 a.m.?

Magoo's Annex

2710 N. 21st St., Tacoma
253.759.0467

WE DROPPED IN ON LATIN NIGHT >>>

Vanity, the new club to take over the former warehouse turned night spot near the corner of South Tacoma Way and 56th Street, was hopping Saturday night. DJ Mauro has found a new home for his Saturday Latin Night, which spews salsa and Mexi-pop dance music to above-average dancers. The mixed age and ethnic crowd was a constant flow of dancing and chatting over wells and fries. The VIP ($10 bracelets buys access and $5 drinks all night) balcony was empty, largely because the dance floor was full.

LINK: More Vanity photos in our Photo Hot Spot

THIS IS HOW THEY ROCK IT AT ROCK THE DOCK >>>

Last Wednesday, I dropped in on Rock The Dock Pub & Grill's new Old School College Wednesdays with DJ Contagious. And while I wouldn't call it a meat market, and only a few people danced to the dance hits from years past, I still had a rockin' good time. Reps from Snake River Stampede Whiskey were on hand to showcase its new distilled goodness. And tight-jeaned 20somethings in tank tops had to stretch over the pool table to "make the shot."

An added bonus was trading shots and laughs with bar owner Gwendolyn Stence. She said that Tacoma's music scene makers gather there Thursday nights for the open mic.

Oh, and the best part, was carpenter Zachary Tippett's challenging his boss, Jeff Larsen, to dive into the 34 degree neighboring Foss Waterway. Here's a photomontage of how that went down"

The Challenge pregame show

The Challenge throwdown

The Challenge is accepted. Larsen shattered his hand in a fight a week ago.

The Challenge hug

The Challenge paceoff

The Challenge dive!

The Challenge dismount

The Challenge shrinkage

LINK: More photos of the night in our Photo Hot Spot

THE KINGS OF TACOMA NIGHTCLUBS ARE AT IT AGAIN >>>

Jon Tartaglia and Roger S. Rahil, the forces behind popular downtown Tacoma nightclubs The Loft, 21 Commerce, Big Whisky Saloon and countless others, opened their new venture last Friday in the site formerly occupied by The Vault at 1025 Pacific Ave. Designed by award-winning architect Marcelo Rocha, the swanky Encore Boutique Nightclub offers modern elements, mood lighting, leather seating, a state-of-the-art-sound system, European bottle service, private restrooms, and private champagne couches roped off by black velvet ropes and guards in ties for those clubbers willing to pay extra ($350) to ensure they always have fresh drinks and places to sit.

The Weekly Volcano dropped on Encore's grand opening party last Friday. Surrounded by cocktail dresses and men with collars and sport coats, we attached a clip-on and snapped a few shots.

Encore Boutique Nightclub

1025 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
206.335.9139

LINK: More Encore photos here