THE SPICY 16 IS ON >>>

Day one of the Tournament of Tacos Spicy 16 competition has kicked off. As of right now, Vuelve a la Vida has a 70.6 percent lead over Los Reyes Del Taco, Masa leads El Toro with 79.3 percent of the vote, Taqueria La Fondita and Los Tres Hermanos are dead even, and Top of Tacoma Bar and Café is ahead of Hell's Kitchen with 58.3 percent of the vote.

Today's voting ends at 11:45 p.m. Vote here.

Also, our call for taco-related tattoos has been answered. Dylan sent us a photo of his tattoo.

Nice.

If you have a taco tat send us a photo of it here.

TUESDAY, MARCH 30: SPICY 16 >>>

More people than we anticipated voted in the Weekly Volcano's Tournament of Tacos Readers' Poll so far and - although we might have disagreed with a couple of your picks - most of you have shown remarkable taste. Most of the competitions were no surprise - like Vuelve a la Vida, Tacos Guaymas, Los Tres Hermanos, Taqueria La Fondita and Masa moving on thanks to their hordes of loyal fans - but a few dark horse taco joints managed to buck the pundits and turn out the vote.

Really? Matador is out? Have you people tasted their tacos?

Anyway, the Spicy 16 begins today. Here are four tough battles:

GAME 1: Los Reyes Del Taco (6308 McKinley Ave., Tacoma) vs. Vuelve A La Vida (5312 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

Vuelve A La Vida started up in 1995. Six months after its inception, the owner sold it to the mysteriously named Senor Douglas, who's owned it ever since. Most people know the joint for its authentic Mexican food, featuring prizes such as tongue and goat and featuring banners boasting "no chips & salsa." You get a real feeling that you're being taken care of by real artisans who know just what they're doing. Vuelve takes on another sit-down restaurant Los Reyes Del Taco that serves authentic, tasty tacos. This one should be close.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

GAME 2: Masa (2811 6th Ave., Tacoma vs. El Toro (various locations)

Both of these entities crushed the shells of all their competitors. El Toro has the numbers. Masa has the creativity. Let's get ready to rumble.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

GAME 3: Taqueria La Fondita (South 38th and South G streets, Tacoma) vs. Los Tres Hermanos (2728 S 12th St., Tacoma)

You're looking at two of the most popular taco trucks in Tacoma. Do you drive past one and cross Interstate 5 to grab the goods from the other? Is one that good? Vote for your favorite.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

GAME 4: Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe (3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma) vs. Hell's Kitchen (928 Pacific Ave., Tacoma)

The first three taco battles will be fierce. Top of Tacoma Bar and Café vs. Hell's Kitchen could end relationships, cause car title exchanges, fill the tattoo shops with sad faces.    

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Spicy 16 Taco Battles

Game 1: El Rinconsito vs. Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant

Game 2: Moctezuma's vs. Tacos Guaymas

Game 3: Los Tres Hermanos vs. Taqueria Burrito Loco

Game 4: Tijuana Taco vs. Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON MONDAY, MARCH 29 >>>

The final day of Round Two voting saw several close taco battles.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant vs. El Tenampa

MI Tres Amigos vs. Tacos Guaymas

Taqueria Burrito Loco vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food

Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery vs. Engine House No. 9

Hidalgo squeaked by El Tenampa with 51.5 percent of the votes. Looks as if voters agree with Tacoma Mama.

In the battle for Lakewood, Taco Guaymas grabbed 62.2 percent of the votes yesterday over MI Tres Amigos. Will MI Tres Amigos voters back Guaymas when it takes on Moctezuma's tomorrow? According to past games they'll need to.

In the third game, Taqueria Burrito Loco edged out Los Amigos Mexican Food by one vote.

In the last battle of Round Two, and honestly a bit of surprise, the Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery in Puyallup put out the fire of Engine House No. 9 with 61.9 percent of the votes. E9's 30-year-old taco recipe couldn't handle the Power.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010 >>>

1. While a college student at The New School, Melissa Febos spent four years working as a dominatrix in a midtown dungeon. In her book Whip Smart she charts how unchecked risk-taking eventually gave way to a course of self-destruction. She'll discuss her adventures at 6 p.m. inside Orca Books.

2. Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub's Trivia Tuesday pits teams against each other at 7 p.m..

3. The national tour of Cats hits the Washington Center's stage at 7:30 p.m.

4. Le Voyeur Cafe and Lounge hosts Titans Of Industry and Thralls at 9 p.m.

5. Host Kareem Kandi hosts an open jazz jam at 9 p.m. inside Sax Restaurant and Lounge.

LINK: Movie showtimes in the South Sound

HERE IS HOW THE WEEKLY VOLCANO SEES THE FILMMAKING CONTEST GOING DOWN NEXT MONTH >>>

It's 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, and sitting scattered in The Grand Cinema's theater seats are amateur filmmakers representing 30 teams - all listening to the rules of The Grand's 72 Hour Film Festival.

"We're going to win it," Tacoma artist Teddy Haggerty yells - thinking Alec Baldwin is going to burst into the theater any second. "We're going to kill it."

The competition Haggerty expects to "kill" - the Grand's annual 72 Hour Film Festival - has drawn the aforementioned filmmaking production teams to Tacoma to produce a short film from April 29-May 2. The rules are simple: each team has 72 hours to write, shoot and edit one 5-minute film. Each team is required to turn in their finished product by 7 p.m. May 2, and all films must include a few components, like a specific situation, prop, action and line of dialogue or location. The Grand mixes it up each year, so each team will not know the specific requirements until April 29.

Once the competition is completed, a panel of judges will select the best overall film, best use of prop, best line of dialogue and best use of required action - among many other categories — at the fetsival's screening May 7 at the Rialto Theater. The coveted Audience Award will also be bestowed upon a team of lucky 72-hour filmmakers.

Only a few minutes before hearing the criteria, Haggerty and his team are unfazed by the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

"Give me the makings for a silent horror taco truck vendor story," Haggerty jokes. "I don't care."

Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m.

"I can't stand the suspense," Haggerty says, running up the theater aisle slapping each seat like he's Wolverine. "I'm so freaking excited."

The 30 teams anxiously wait to hear this year's 72 Hour Film Festival criteria.

Then, out of nowhere, The Grand's Executive Director Philip Cowan is front and center holding a scroll. 

Cowan wastes no time. He lets the scroll unravel to the floor, looks left ... looks right ... then flatly says:

"Required prop: Noxzema shaving cream; required action: speaking even when told not to by Gwen Stefani; required situation: dynamite blows up rock, scissors cut fuse; required dialogue: ‘Flash me in such an oblique way that I can still post the pics on Facebook!'"

He pauses.

"Now go."

Such specifics from Cowan garner groans from most of the crowd.

Initially, the four requirements don't sound like a good fit for Haggerty and his crew, who don't know who Stefani is, and don't have much use for shaving cream. Plus, "They don't want unicorns, which really kills all my creative juices," Haggerty adds, seeming momentarily dejected before catching his second creative wind.

"Now we take this and turn it into the winning short film," he says, walking out of the theater.

Thursday, April 29, 7:30 p.m.

All 10 members of Haggertonians gather in the freezing Old City Hall tower. The space serves as the team's home for an intense brainstorming session.

Chairs are quickly arranged in a square, and ideas immediately shoot across the space.

Haggerty spits out the first idea. As is his style, it involves unicorns, which the Stefani chick can ride. But other team members have doubts.

To be continued... (Maybe)

Get your 72 Hour Film Festival tickets

The Grand Cinema with host the 2010 72 Hour Film Festival screening Friday, May 7 at the Rialto in downtown Tacoma. 

Everyone is invited to enjoy this collaboration of 30 films written, directed and produced by local filmmakers. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the films will begin at 7. Tickets are available for $13 general admission or $11 for Grand Cinema members. You can purchase tickets by stopping by the Grand Cinema, or by visiting The Grand's Web site. Tickets will be available at the Rialto Theater's ticket office May 7 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Day of event ticket prices will be $15 GA, $13 members.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON SUNDAY, MARCH 28 >>>

This is a tournament, folks, not a playoff. Each match is do or die - one misstep and you're out of the dance. Burn the tortilla, add a few too chopped onions or clump the cheese, and you can pack your skillet and cry into your canned tomatoes.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Josefina's vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito

Azteca vs. Moctezuma's

Los Tres Hermonos vs. MI Taqueria

Taco Bell vs. Tijuana Taco

Yesterday's battle on Pacific Avenue came down to two points. Taqueria El Rinconsito edged out the colorful Josefina's to advance to the Spicy 16. Is Josefina's neon light in the window too loud? Are the walls too bright?

In the largest victory margin to date in this tournament, Moctezuma's destroyed Azteca with 88.2 percent of the vote. One voter wrote, "Moctezuma's tacos al carbon are muy delicioso."

In the third game, the popular Los Tres Hermanos taco truck edged out MI Taqueria with 62.5 percent of the vote.

You can kiss the national franchise taco joints goodbye. Lakewood's Tijuana Taco knocked the last national chain – Taco Bell – out of the tournament by grabbing 74 percent of the vote. The voters claimed Tijuana Taco's fresh, healthy ingredients as the main reason why the voted for the long time Lakewood joint. The second reason for the win according to the voters' comments is their happy, polite staff.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.

MONDAY MARCH 29: FINAL ROUND TWO GAMES >>>

The Spicy 16 begins tomorrow. Which tacos deserve to move on?

Game 1: Hidalgo Mexican Restaurant (806 72^nd St. E, Tacoma) vs. El Tenampa (3121 38^th St., Tacoma)

In Round One Hidalgo pasted Bonita Restaurant with the help of their tasty Mexican street tacos.  In round two, they are up against the strong 38^th Street contender El Tenampa that rocks it hard on MySpace. Have you danced in its massive ballroom yet?

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: MI Tres Amigos (8013 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood) vs. Tacos Guaymas (10105 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood)

Pre-tournament favorite Tacos Guaymas moves on the face Lakewood rival MI Tres Amigos. Guaymas' tasty tacos are served with ample onions, cilantro and salsa verde. We prefer the carne asado tacos. Just saying.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Taqueria Burrito Loco (5502 Orchard St. W, University Place) vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food (6402 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma)

Taqueria Burrito Loco overcomes its location in a hidden strip mall behind a gas station with good food and excellent service. Los Amigos Mexican Food overcomes its awful name with juicy chicken tacos that overflows with meat. It's a difficult decision for voters today.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: Powerhouse Restaurant (454 E Main, Puyallup) vs. Engine House No. 9 (611 N Pine St., Tacoma)

There's enough history in this final game of Round Two to fill a taco. Dusty Trail converted a grimy rock joint into Engine House No. 9 back in the early ‘70s. He then turned it into Tacoma's first brewpub in the mid ‘90s. He also was a pioneer in the smoke-free dining trend. Trail then opened the Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery in Puyallup in the mid ‘90s. Trail sold E9 to Dick Dickens in 2004. Two tacos from the same gene pool do battle today. Could be epic.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Spicy 16 Taco Battles

Game 1: Los Reyes Del Taco vs. Vuelve A La Vida

Game 2: Masa vs. El Toro

Game 3: Taqueria La Fondita vs. La Huerta International Market #2

Game 4: Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe vs. Hell's Kitchen

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON SATURDAY, MARCH 27 >>>

The fabulous weather didn't stop folks from voting yesterday.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Vuelve A La Vida vs. Taqueria El Antojo

El Toro vs. The Funky Iguana

La Huerta International Market #2 vs. Taqueria La Carreta

Hell's Kitchen vs. Dave's Meat and Produce

Vuelve A La Vida a perennial favorite among South Sound folks thanks to its unpretentious atmosphere and well-made comfort food. Taqueria El Antojo sports a modern sheen with its gratis salsa station and devout following amongst Tacoma's taco cognoscenti. It could be argued that this seed was premature in the tournament. Maybe. However, Vuelve grabbed 69 percent of the vote and moves on to the Spicy 16 to take on Los Reyes Del Tacoma March 30.

Local chain El Toro sent The Funky Iguana packing with 73.3 percent of the vote. You can't overlook El Toro's fan base. You can't also overlook its tacos al carbon. Two large, flour tortillas packed with grilled marinated chicken breast then dipped in spicy sauce, lightly grilled and topped with Parmesan cheese. These babies helped comfort us yesterday as we watched our Kentucky get eliminated in the NCAA hoop tournament.

One vote. That's was La Huerta International Market #2's margin of victory over Taqueria La Carreta yesterday. La Carreta can hold its head high today knowing it serves some of the best tacos in town. Besides delicious tacos, La Huerta carries videos inside its store - something La Carreta just couldn't compete against.

Hell's Kitchen again turned out the troops to propel it into another round of the tournament, despite Dave's Meat and Produce's exceptional taco meat. Hell's Kitchen advances to the Spicy 16 to take on Top of Tacoma Bar and Café March 30. This, no doubt, will be an all-out war.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.

SUNDAY, MARCH 28: ROUND TWO >>>

Which tacos deserve to move on to the Spicy 16?

Game 1: Josefina's (4816 Pacific Ave, Tacoma) vs. Taqueria El Rinconsito (72^nd and Pacific Avenue, Tacoma)

Old friends meet in Round Two. Josefina's surprised many of us at the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters when they dispatched Sam's Taqueria in Round One.  They will have their hands full again as they take on Taqueria El Rinconsito, once a cozy neighbor, who has recently moved to a new spot in the Fred Meyer parking lot. Most folks have El Rinconsito in the Final Cuatro on their brackets. Their spicy pork tacos should be bronzed.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 2: Azteca (4801 Tacoma Mall Blvd., Tacoma) vs. Moctezuma's (4102 S. 56^th St., Tacoma)

Two bitter South Tacoma area rivals face off here. Azteca, buoyed by its shopping induced famished crowd will do battle with Moctezuma's and its Happy Hour Homies.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 3: Los Tres Hermanos (12^th and Pine, Tacoma) vs. MI Taqueria (8424 S. Hosmer, Tacoma)

Here's an interesting match-up.  The popular Central Tacoma taco truck has a cocky smile as it stares down East Tacoma MI Taqueria, which showed promise by defeating Puerto Del Sol in Round One. Can't blame Los Tres Hermanos. It knows it has a secret weapon - Facebook.

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Game 4: Taco Bell (various locations, Tacoma) vs. Tijuana Taco (10005 Bristol Ave., Lakewood)

Rocky, owner of Tijuana Taco, and his long-time manager, Mickey, told the Weekly Volcano they will not sleep until the tiny Lakewood fast-food joint defeats another corporate chain (they defeated Taco Time in round one).  In fact, late last night Rocky stood over his manager and a box full of fresh tomatoes barking: "Cut them Mickey.  Cut them!"  Such dedication.   

>>> CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

Tomorrow's Taco Battles

Game 1: Hildalgo Mexican Restaurant vs. El Tenampa

Game 2: MI Tres Amigos vs. Tacos Guaymas

Game 3: Taqueria Burrito Loco vs. Los Amigos Mexican Food

Game 4: Powerhouse Restaurant vs. Engine House No. 9

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

HOW TACO VOTING WENT DOWN ON FRIDAY, MARCH 26 >>>

There are as many ways to express our love of food, as there are people on this planet. Some of us live in kitchens, some travel in search of new tasty tidbits and some create a game (ahem). Significantly fewer foodies declare their obsession with that most permanent of expressions: the tattoo. In honor of this paper's Tournament of Tacos contest, send us a photo of your taco tattoo and we'll post them.

Here were yesterday's match-ups:

Los Reyes Del Taco vs. Taqueria El Guadalajara

Masa vs. La Fondita II

Taqueria La Fondita vs. El Pulgarcito

Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe vs. Duke's Chowder House  

In the battle of small, sit-down Mexican restaurants, the East beat the South. Los Reyes Del Taco on East McKinley squeaked out a victory over El Guadalajara in Lakewood with 54.1 percent of the vote. Los Reyes will take of the winner of today's battle between Vuelve A La Vida and Taqueria El Antojo - that you can vote on here.

Masa incorporates high-quality ingredients to create tasty fare with an authenticity that is rare among Northwest Mexican-themed restaurants.  They skip the massive plate of rice and refried beans. Plus, thir menu choices allow for good eats for a variety of budgets. Those factors, plus a well-tuned marketing machine, propelled Masa over La Fondita II with 58.8 percent of the votes. Masa will compete with the winner of today's battle between The Funky Iguana and El Toro - that you can vote on here.

South Sound Salvadorans are sobbing today as their beloved El Pulgarcito in Lakewood fell yesterday to the powerful taco truck Taqueria La Fondita, which sits in the Lincoln District.  Rain, wobbly flooring, potholed graveled parking lot - these factors didn't detour voters as the taco truck advances with 71.4 percent of the votes.

Mexican music doesn't blare from the speakers. Owners Jason J and Jaime Kay Jones don't don Caporal suits. And the joint doesn't have piñatas hanging from the ceiling. Yet this popular neighborhood bar rules Tacoma's taco world according to its fan base. People adore Top of Tacoma Bar & Café's tacos. "Best Taco in Tacoma fosho!" commented one voter yesterday. And the mighty tasty fish tacos that Duke's Chowder House creates were no match for the Top's taco, which grabbed 84.4 percent of the vote yesterday.

Confused? Read our Tournament of Tacos introduction here.

Today's games are on. Vote here.