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I can't remember the last time I was in a Billy McHale's. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever been in a Billy McHale's. No, wait, I remember once (a long, long time ago), having some drinks in a place with a mini choo-choo train circling overhead,
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I'm breaking the 3 Drink Minimum rules this week - slightly - and taking it upon myself to establish the first ever documented bottle of wine downed in just one sitting, by just one person. No, I don't think this is the first time it's been done, but neither is one
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I like to call this place "Dead Lobster." Juvenile, I know, yet it still makes me giggle every time. It had been years since I'd even thought about stepping foot inside Dead Lobster. I no longer have an interest in staring at their huge fish tank in the lobby, filled
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Joining me last weekend was Kris Blondin, Bandito Betty, Jennifer Johnson and Kate Swarner. I found it my personal obligation to release these friends and fellow scribes from all Weekly Volcano duties for one sunny weekend, and whisk them away for a little girl time in Westport at what has
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Sadly, Bandito Betty was on vacation last week. Someone in the Sidekick Teamsters Local #445 approved her vacation time without my consent, and I had to live with the consequences. Union reps were not willing to negotiate, so a scab sidekick was needed. For this, there was only one real
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There's a slinkiness to the Harvey Girls that damn near undeniable. The Portland trio combines a music history lesson's worth of influences into something that resembles a soul-singing diva fronting an art-pop group from the UK or New Zealand. The arrangements are simple and sprightly, forming a skeletally charged structure
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I'm pretty sure each and every hard working individual involved with the enormous production of this year's Weekly Volcano Best of Tacoma 2010 issue had a minimum of three drinks at Masa with me last week. Hell, I would even venture to bet money that anyone who even stepped foot
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My next iron-on homemade T-shirt will say, "Known for my clam chowder." This is funny for two reasons. The first being EVERY restaurant with clam chowder on the menu tends to declare their chowder the best. It's always "what they're known for." Even Tides Tavern. The second reason my next homemade
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For lack of a better term, I'm tempted to call Nathan Barnes' paintings pop surrealism, but his paintings are about 10 times better than most of what falls into that category. And yes, there really is such a thing. You can find it on Google and Wikipedia.
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Even if you don't live in Gig Harbor, you simply must have Hy-Iu-Hee-Hee on your tavern resume. Nestled back from Gig Harbor's main waterfront drag, Hy-Iu-Hee-Hee is located on a rural road - the type of road where I imagine a murderer would dump their dead bodies. As a matter
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Kris Blondin, the Weekly Volcano's "Grocery Stories" scribe, has got to be white wine's number one fan. If white wine had a fan club, Kris would be president. Hell, maybe there is a white wine fan club I don't know about yet, and Kris is already the president. Did I
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DuPont residents know far too well how to detect the signs of summer. Not the good signs of summer: warm sunrays, kids playing outside, and restaurant patios finally open for dining. I mean the miserable, annoying signs of summer, such as muggy afternoons, people who don't wear deodorant, and Sunday
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Thanks to Michael, creator of last week's "spread your wings" email (which instructed us to head out east), Bandito Betty and I were stuck in Bonney Lake for the day. Last week we ventured up the big hill, otherwise known as State Route 410, and set our sights on some
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A few weeks ago I received an email from a nice gentleman named Michael telling me to "spread my wings." In the email he explained that possible 3 Drink Minimum establishments were not only located in Tacoma, but also Bonney Lake and Buckley. I couldn't agree more. Yes, there are fine
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I might get flat-out fired for saying this, but screw the Weekly Volcano's Tournament of Tacos. Please, allow me to inform you I'm a self-proclaimed taco expert (for the length of this column, at least), and I'm here to crown the Corner Bar as BEST TACOS in Pierce County.
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There's no need to ever peruse the menu at Old Spaghetti Factory; I know exactly what I want. Never to vary, I stick with the KISS method: Keep it simple, stupid. For me, it's a quick order of Mizithra spaghetti with a side of broccoli. That's all I need. That's
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Look here, Tacoma Farmers Market. If you served alcohol, I wouldn't have to drag my ass outside of your barricaded confines for a little hooch after lunch; I'd have one-stop gluttonous shopping all within one downtown Tacoma block. But NO. Instead, you heed all county/city permits, rules and regulations -
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A few months ago I enjoyed a nice lunch in Federal Way. I was dining "Hans" style (solo), which I find enjoyable at times - seeing as how most people get on my nerves. There are only a couple of people I can tolerate for the entire length of
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My all-time favorite girl's name ever is Genesis. Coincidentally, our bartender for this week's Three Drink Minimum is also named Genesis. I only know of one other female named Genesis and she is an amazing soul. The original Genesis I know has a constant swirl of butterflies around her, with traces
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What would Jesus serve? Heck, I thought I was entering the Denny's in Lakewood - not the second coming of Christ's "Sportsbar." That is, if Jesus Christ had a "sportsbar," in which case it might have a better name than "Christ's Sportsbar." I can only assume that ol' JC has a
