Tuesday, Sept. 14

Dear friend MIKE BONILLA invited me out for the monthly dinner with his family at GARI OF SUSHI on South 38th Street, which happens to be on my top five list for sushi joints.  The whole fam damily grabbed torro (fatty tuna) and unagi (eel) off each other's plates, while swilling very smooth saki.  Ahhh, time truly well spent. 

Wednesday, Sept. 15

I'm trying to be healthier, so I went to hear GRAHAM KERR "The Galloping Gourmet" and his wife, Trina, speak on lifestyle change in promotion of their new book. The symposium was at the Sheraton-Tacoma, and parking cost almost as much as the freakin' registration fee.  Damn, I hate that. $8 FOR TWO HOURS STINKS. The Kerrs' information buffet was delicious though. I left there and jammed to meet friends for cocktails and yum-yums at RICARDO'S at 9:30 p.m.  My wine was OK, but the grilled veggies and Caprese salad I had absolutely sucked.  Fresh basil should not be partly black, and grilled is not a fancy word for burnt.  If Ricardo's wants me in there during late hours, they better turn down the flame.  We strolled up to JAZZBONES for The Bone Yard DJ thing at 10 p.m.  The drinks were a little slow in coming, but they were potent.  DJ MIKIAH was supposed to spin, but cancelled.  Bone Yard maestro LUKE RENSHAW hosts Mikiah every third Wednesday.  Mikiah's very lovely ex, AMBER, was in the house. 

Thursday, Sept. 16

THIRD THURSDAY ART WALK is such a cool city tradition - art, wine, music and poetry colliding like molecules in downtown Tacoma.  BRICK AND MORTAR GALLERY had incredible artwork by a collaborative team of two men who work on one canvas at the same time.  You must go see it. It's also becoming tradition to go to PANAMONICA'S deck for the after-party, then to FENDERS for the after after-party.  STEPHANIE JOHNSON entertained Panamonica's partiers with her lovely vocals and guitar.  Word is that Fenders is going to move the popular karaoke to Tuesday nights.  No good, I say. No good.

Friday, Sept. 17

I met a friend for cocktails at Jazzbones and enjoyed a little JUNKYARD JANE.  DOUG "HOMETOWN CELEBRITY" MACKEY was running the board from the new platform with keyboardist ROBERT RICHHOLT in tow.  Richholt is pumped for his former band STRYPES' reunion Oct. 30 at the Temple Theatre.  Drop by his store, MUSICIANS EXCHANGE, and he might show you old photos of REGAN BARGER, JESSE SEALES and the rest of the Strypes crew.

I threw back my fair share of CALAMARI.  Jazzbones has the best calamari, I swear. Then I ran into SMOOTH at the door on my way out and was torn - should I stay or should I go now? 

I had just arrived home for some much needed sleepy-bye and remembered it was IKE'S BIRTHDAY (THE CROSSBONES).  I headed back out after fighting with my car for a good 20 minutes (it wanted to stay home; I wanted to go out) and met the guys at O'MALLEY'S.  RYAN (former IOTOLAS) was manning the camera as usual, and KT appeared to be winning the pool game.

After birthday wishes were extended, I realized I was missing LISA at HELL'S KITCHEN.  I went, knowing in doing so that I wouldn't be home any time soon.  LINDSEY from STADIUM VIDEO was there, and we played a little catch up.  Fast forward four hours, a slew of Pabst, way too many cigarettes and games of Texas Hold'em later, and I was passed out on a friend's couch, dreaming of my cushy bed and sweet smelling blankets.

Saturday, Sept. 18

CARLEE MALLEY is the girl power of HILBORNE.  The addition of female backing vocals and percussion totally rounds out the once all-male 5-piece band, bringing them up a huge notch in musical quality.  The crowd danced and really dug their set at the Kitchen when they followed Seattle's GLORIOUS and Tacoma's LAST SHOW EVER.  Way to keep the energy up and hold the crowd till 1:40 a.m.  KATE and JAMES BENDER shot the event, with a few still frames for the band.  I say that a more good-looking and talented couple probably does not exist.  I wisely skipped the after-party this night and finally got the sleep I'd been wanting for three days.