VIVA LAS VEGAS-LIKE >>>

Breakfast is my favorite meal in Mexico, especially when I'm sitting on some beach, drinking cinnamon-laced hot chocolate while eating ripe papayas and platters of huevos rancheros - fried eggs with salsa on top of crisp corn tortillas.

Breakfast is also my favorite meal at the new Taqueria El Antojo in University Place – even with the blinking lights under the counter, animated video screen menus on the wall and the courteous staff and shouting orders into a microphone to the three cooks six feet behind the counter.

It's a thing of beauty.

Huevos rancheros are also a thing of beauty at Taqueria El Antojo in University Place: three eggs, Ranchero sauce and fresh homemade tortillas, accompanied by the peerless house refried beans and a pile of Mexican rice ($5.99).

I also fancy its four breakfast burritos ($2.99 each), torpedo-heavy and the perfect size for a large, hungry man. Really, though, these little models of engineering perfection - combining the ideal quantities of green chile, scallions, scrambled eggs, crispy hashbrowns, a mild hot sauce and optional ham, sausage, bacon or chorizo. The bacon burrito is the winner with a remarkable amount of chewy chunks. Yum.

Bonus: Taqueria El Antojo hung giant comic strips telling stories of great Mexican inventions on its walls.

[Taqueria El Antojo, 8-11 a.m. daily, ample seating, 5502 Orchard St. W., University Place, 253.212.0914]

FAT TUESDAY >>>

Can't make it to the Big Easy for Mardi Gras? Relax. There's plenty of beads 'n' beer revelry to be had right here in Tacoma. One of the better ones will go down at the Ale House Sports Pub & Grille on the edge of University Place. The party starts when the joint opens at 11 a.m. with food specials such as chicken and andouille sausage gumbo, blackened catfish and jambalaya.

And the Hurricane cocktails will flow out of the box, too, as well as $4 rum drinks and $2.75 beers.

But the raffle prizes and beads will not hit you in the face until after 6 p.m.

While the Ale House can't promise all of the gratuitous nudity and open liquor laws of New Orleans, they can guarantee 64 beers on tap and a good time.

[Ale House Sports Pub & Grille, 2122 Mildred St., University Place, 253.565.9367]

Where will you party on Fat Tuesday?

WE'RE SEEDING OUR TOURNAMENT OF BREAKFAST! >>>

In March, the Weekly Volcano will host the South Sound Tournament of Breakfast. Chosen through the nomination process below, the top 64 vote getters - the cream of the griddle - will compete daily on our blog - weeklyvolcanospew.com - March 15-April 2. Through online voting, readers will pick daily winners until the Best Breakfast in the South Sound is crowned. It's just like March Madness, only with way more syrup. The Tournament of Breakfast grand champion will be announced at our Tournament of Breakfast Party at 6 p.m. April 2 (details soon).

First, we need you to help select the 64 restaurants that should be included in the tournament. Who has the best breakfast in the South Sound? Vote for your favorite below.

NOSH LEAGUE >>>

The Weekly Volcano's ever-expanding Nosh League will make a ruckus in University Place the evening of Thursday, Feb. 9. Members and newcomers will gather at 6 p.m. inside the Ale House Sports Pub & Grille to taste 12 of the 64 beers the joint has on tap  - while noshing on appetizers.

"I will assemble trays so that each individual is tasting the same beers to enhance discussion of likes (and dislikes if there is such a thing!)," explains Ale House owner Craig Dickens. "I can guarantee a wide variety of ales to sample, some common, some not-so common."

As the League sips, brewery representatives will discuss the history and beer-making processes.

Between sips, raffle prizes will be awarded.

As always, the price tag for the night will be $15 a person.

The Nosh League is not just about food and drinks; it's an event. There's a pleasant communal aspect to the whole shebang. Join us.

To get in on this Nosh league event, RSVP on the Nosh League's Facebook.

To join the Nosh League, visit the Weekly Volcano Groups.

Read a recap of past Nosh League gatherings:

Social Bar and Grill

The Melting Pot

Affairs Cafe & Desserts

WHEN WEATHER REPORTS SCARE >>>

AccuWeather just dropped this on the Weekly Volcano World Headquarters:

January 16, 2012 – State College, PA – After a modest round of wintry weather over the weekend, more snow, including a potentially historic winter storm will target the Pacific Northwest this week, with heavy accumulations expected, even in Seattle.

In the Cascades of Washington and Oregon, snow will be measured in feet and along some western-facing slopes, it could take multiple yard sticks to total up the powder!

Read more...

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FREE EVENTS JAN. 16-22 IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Snow prompts Bobble Tiki to think that the All Mighty, while he may not shoot craps with the universe as Albert Einstein said, at least has a sense of humor. She makes existence uncertain by conjuring up sea-level snow every now and then, but at no apparently regular interval, and throws in a few earthquakes, ice storms, floods and the like now and then just to let us know who is boss.

The trouble is Bobble Tiki never sees it coming.  Skier/ Kayaker/Mountain Explorer Jeff Renner and other weather suits can barely tell us which way the wind is blowing. Yet, they still get the coin. Thursday, Bobble Tiki thought is was a brilliant idea to create a list of free outdoor activities for this coming week. Today, it seems like a ridiculous list.

Anyway, here it is - a list of free things to do outdoors this week in the South Sound.

MONDAY, JAN. 16: Washington State Parks says its cool to visit a state park for free Jan. 16. Yes, you don't need a Discover Pass, which is normally required to access lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17: When was the last time you hung out with a pack of wolves? If you're anything like Bobble Tiki, the closest you generally get to wildlife is when you're forced to smoke outside. Helen Thayer traveled to the virtually untouched Canadian Yukon Territory, above the Arctic Circle, to live within 100 feet of a wild wolf den. She spent a summer observing and documenting the daily lives and behaviors of the pack and returned in the winter to study the wolves' interaction with the polar bears on the northern sea ice. Come hear stories and view photos detailing the remarkable story of wolves at 7 p.m. inside the Olympia REI. You must RSVP here for the free event.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18: The Tacoma REI offers a free introductory Avalanche Awareness class at 7 p.m. The Friends of the Northwest Avalanche Center will provide information on where to find avalanche reports, how to interpret the reports, assess avalanche risks and learn about the gear needed for avalanche terrain. RSVP here.

THURSDAY, JAN. 19: The Tahoma Audubon will lead a free walk through the Adriana Hess Wetland Park in University Place from noon to 1:30 p.m. No registration is needed.

FRIDAY, JAN. 20: Soon you will be able to spend time outside during the day without risk of hospitalization. You should join the Tacoma Mountaineers right now, just to celebrate.  Right now.  Riiiiggght now.  OK, fine, you want to know something about them? They hike, they bike, they climb, and yes - they mountaineer, too. (And rockin'?  Hah! - parties, too.) In short, indoors is out. Outdoors is in. So get out by getting in. Or something like that. The Mountaineers Tacoma Branch hosts an Open House with special guest speaker Washington state guidebook author Craig Romano Friday from 7-9 p.m. Drawing from his new release, Day Hiking Columbia River Gorge, Craig will be sharing tales from the trails from Ridgefield, Wash. to Boardman, Ore. Oh, because of a clubhouse renovation, the open house will be held at the Pierce County Library Processing Administration Center at 3005 112^th St. E. in Tacoma.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21: Go Get It Gal, a website aimed at adventurous women, will hosts a party from 3-6 p.m. at Joy Ride Bicycles in Lacey.This event, obviously aimed at women, will include comedic live music, food, community vendors, prize giveaways and a sale on women's bicycle gear and products. The keynote will be an interview with Olympia cycling legend and nine-time Hawaii Ironman finisher, Louise Taylor, who will share her secrets of longevity in athletic pursuits.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22: You need to join the Swiss Sportmen's Club of Tacoma right now. Sunday morning the club will host a free shotgun shoot in Bonney Lake. Shooting shotguns with the Swiss. Yo ho-lee ho-o-lee hol-la-lee-ho!

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

SOUTH SOUND DINING NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITES >>>

Tonight: Toscanos Café & Wine Bar hosts Hot Drinks & Cool Scarves tonight. If you purchase one of Toscanos's specialty hot cocktails you'll be entered into a drawing for a bitchin' winter scarf.

Fill Your Growler: Beginning today through Friday, Jan. 13, Wine Bank & Beer Vault will take $2 off any growler fill.

Bonus: Through the month of January Brix 25 will present an envelope to diners to open after their meals revealing a $20.12 discount, a free dinner up to six guests or $500 gift certificate. Reserve your spot at 253.858.6626.

News: Garlic Jim's on Sixth Avenue is now called Sammy's Pizza with the same owner.

Hot Dog Cart: T-Town Hot Dog cart will open for business at 10 a.m. Monday-Saturday in Tollefson Plaza beginning today.

New Club: Surreal Ultra Lounge replaced Club Kokonut in April 2010 at 728 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Surreal closed in late 2011. Now, Club Kokonut has re-opened in the same space. The dance club hosts "Wobble Wednesday" featuring DJ Reign spinning dubstep and $3 top-shelf pours without a cover change.

Celebration: Northwest Mountain Winery celebrates its first anniversary from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 with jazz music by Norma Owens. Admission is free.

On Hold: Wildside Wine will be closed until Jan. 18. It has a Bordeaux blind tasting scheduled for Jan. 28.

Maxwell's Night Out: Maxwell's Restaurant offers two wild mixed green salads, two selected entrees, two scoops of ice cream, two glasses of house wine and two tickets to The Grand Cinema for $60. Reserve the deal at 253.683.4115.

Farrelli's Pizza is opening up a new store this summer

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

4th Ave Ale House Olympia - Downtown. Wide Eye Panic, No Living Witness, Esitu, December In Red. 9 pm. $6.

Al Forno Feruzza Pizzeria Olympia. Lizzy Boyer, Tarik Bentlemsani. All Ages. 7:30 pm. NC.

Dawson's Bar and Grill Tacoma - South. Rock N Roll Magic. 9 pm.

Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. McTuff funk soul boogaloo and Jesse T's birthday. 9 pm. NC.

Forza Coffee University Place. Sky Pilot unplugged. AA. 7pm. $5.

Hell's Kitchen Tacoma - Downtown. South 11th, Psycho 78, Overboard, Sources In Code. 9 pm. $5.

Imperial Dragon Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Rich Wetzel's Groovin Higher Orchestra. 9 pm.

Jazzbones Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Pulling A McMahan Birthday Show, featuring The Chicharones, Animal Nation, Pink Bead Federation, Chase & The Dragon. 7 pm. $8.

Louie G's Pizzeria Fife. The Petting Zu, Atomic Outlaws, In All Honesty. All Ages. 8 pm.

Maxwell's Restaurant and Lounge Tacoma - Downtown. Lance Buller Trio. 7 pm.

The New Frontier Lounge Tacoma - Dome District. Tallest Tree, A Leaf, Pocket Panda. 9 pm.

• A Leaf is one of the first bands I ever wrote about. Now, two and a half years later, I find myself returning to the band's music with fresh ears and a newfound admiration for the velvety smooth sounds they create. Drawing inspiration from the British folk-rock of the '60s and '70s, as well as the more bombastic elements of Britpop - and occasional dips into dream-pop territory - A Leaf's music is absorbing and soothing, while still carving out moments that surprise and delight in equal measure. This is music that would be for listening to on a sunny spring drive, or alone, in a darkened room, as rain steadily raps on your windows. A Leaf is a band fully formed, clear of intent and vision, a continuing bright spot in Tacoma. - Rev. Adam McKinney

Spar Cafe Olympia. Paul Silveria. 8 pm. NC.

Stonegate Pizza Tacoma - South. Jerry Miller Band. 7 pm. Michael Jackson Tribute Night. 9 pm.

Tempest Lounge Tacoma - Hilltop Tacoma. Gina Belliveau. 7:30 pm. NC.

LINK: More live music in the South Sound

FRIDAY, JAN. 6, 2012 >>>

1. Hammond organist Joe Doria expands definitions and embraces the musical past as a living thing, not just some retro curiosity frozen into easily marketed poses. Doria and crew put jazz's open-minded complexity beneath a heavy funk that's more real than the real thing. And by crew we mean saxophonist Cliff Colon, guitarist Andy Coe and drummer Tarik Abouzied. The free show hit Doyle's Public House at 9 p.m. You'll have to fight birthday boy Jesse Turcotte for the front row.

2. The Puyallup Home & Garden Show is a show designed for homeowners in all stages of remodeling, landscaping and decorating their homes – well, maybe not the stage where you hammer your thumb after discovering you're $50,000 over budget. Hang at the Puyallup Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and learn something.

3. Before you get your funky self down at Doyle's, head to King's Books. The Stadium District bookstore will screen the 1992 documentary Incident at Oglala -  which explores the events surrounding the 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation that left two FBI agents dead - at 6 p.m.

4. The dance begins in the eyes of a man, searching from chair to chair. Some of the chairs will seem interested for a second, then break it off. Others don't even acknowledge him. But when his eyes land on the right piece of furniture, there's no confusing the look. He locks eyes with that chair; the two move toward the dance floor and meet there halfway in an embrace, the classic start of the tango. The lights are dim overhead, and the bottoms of his dance shoes caress the wooden floor as he leads his chosen chair into the tango song. While dancing a dime falls from underneath the chair's cushion. There's an awkward moment. He picks up the coin and continues the dance. "I am," he said too no one there. And no one heard it at all, except the chair. Possibly this dance but certainly many better ones like it will be performed as part of Tacoma Dance Collective The Furniture Series at 7:30 p.m. inside the Tacoma School of the Arts Theatre. A total of 13 pieces of furniture will be the muse of dancers Robin Jennings Jaecklein, Joel Myers, Hannah Crowley, Mary Tuttle, Danny Boulet, Faith Stevens and students from the Tacoma School of the Arts.

5. Hip-hop artist Sky Pilot will unplug it at 7 p.m. inside the Forza Coffee in University Place. How high can you fly?

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Nightlife It List

LINK: This week's freebies

Every New Year's Eve we do it to ourselves. Why? Is it the sweet clink of the ice cubes? The exhilarating pop of the cork? Or just the way the night seems to open up into endless magical possibilities?

Whatever it is, things aren't so magical the next morning. There's nothing glamorous or exhilarating about bloodshot eyes swollen shut. Instead of trying to remember who dropped the poison into your eyeballs, soothe the savage orb with wikiHow's seven steps to cure puffy eyes. You're so welcome.

From everyone at the Weekly Volcano and Spew land, we wish you a happy new year!

LINK: 5 Ways to be a Better (cough) You!