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

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT TOP OF TACOMA BAR AND CAFÉ >>>

Tacoma loves booze. Fancy microbrews, dented cans of PBR, a snobby Cabernet or a shot of Jack - we love it all. But lonely drinkers we're not. We Tacomans go out to get our drink on because we know a good time has more to do with location than beverage.

Top of Tacoma Bar and Cafe has been a destination bar for the booze hopping set since it opened three years ago in the largely residential McKinley neighborhood. Neighborhood regulars, the Tacoma music scene, college coeds and bearded longshoremen call this place their unofficial livingroom, shooting pool and chowing down on the tasty grub.

Last Wednesday night was not different. The age span of the 30 or so beer chuggers was easily 40 years. But the vibe was cool.

What made the night interesting was the way co-owner Jaime Kay Jones handled a drunken douche who was hassling a cute young woman who was out with friends. The douche not only sat down uninvited to the hen party, but also kept asking his target her name, her job and where she lived - over and over. When she pointed out the fact that his questions were asked and answered, he got pissy. Jones simply told his friends outside that she wanted to talk to him. Once outside, she handed him is tab to sign. Problem solved.

‘Women make a bar, if they don't feel comfortable, they won't stay," she said as she went about her business.

Top of Tacoma Bar and Café

2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday
noon to 2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday
3529 McKinley Ave. E. Tacoma
253.272.1502

LINK: More photos in the Photo Hot Spot

A NEW WAY TO GET CARDED >>>

If your image of bingo is a sort of purgatory, a cafeteria filled with grannies clutching cigarettes with three-inch ashes as they listen to the numbers being called, you need to check out Rock & Roll Bingo Night at The New Frontier Lounge in Tacoma. Every Wednesday night sprightly bartender Brook Pawlicki emcees the games that offer the beer-chugging patrons chances to win campy prizes with every "Bingo" yell.

Last Wednesday brought a light crowd of regulars that ranged from members of Tacoma's music scene to 30-somethings out on the town tossing down $3 wells and $2 Session lagers with pizza and fries.

Prizes I saw dolled out included a Pillsbury Dough Boy doll, a Best of Country Music of 1968 record and low-budget porn from 1996.

The campy vibe allows patrons to mix and mingle while still concentrating on their Bingo cards. The music is low and steady but the pace of bingo can be fast and furious as the numbers drop toward the end of the card.

Rock & Roll Bingo

Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 p.m., no cover
The New Frontier Lounge, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma
253.572.4020

LINK: More bingo photos in our Photo Hot Spot

WE SCENE IT WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 22 >>>

Matt Coughlin and the Growlers performed Wednesday, Sept. 22 at The Swiss in Tacoma. The large crowd was a happy lot - hugging and smiling while the band's soulful roots-rock sound filled the downtown Tacoma bar. Check out the photos we snapped here.

UNOFFICIAL SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT >>>

Magoo's Annex & Eatery not only hosts northend Tacoma regulars and University of Puget Sound student every Sunday night, but it's also the unofficial information center and after-shift spot for those in the dining, entertainment and arts set. Such was the case this past Sunday night when servers and bartenders tossed back pints and shots followed by their odd customer stories. A constant stream of laughter was only interrupted by more shots.

Writer and director Chad Ruin and producer Scott Stone dropped in after an editing session on their upcoming movie, The Perfect Life, for a couple of beers with bartenders from the Swiss, Asado and the Parkway.

Anchoring the bar was bartender and Australian transplant Ceara Nicholson. She's charming, to say the least.

LINK: More photos from Magoo's Sunday night

I SCENE IT WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8 >>>

I dropped in on Masa to witness the mating dance of the homo sapiens. The females of the species paradeD in their colorful plummage, while the males showED off their bravado. It was a sparce crowd for Masa's College Night Wednesday.See more photos of the night here.

PHOTO HOT SPOT >>>

Photography Steve Dunkelberger dropped in on this party Monday night. The next one goes down here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 1022! >>>

Coming into its own, general manager Chris Langston and staff of Tacoma's 1022 South lounge celebrated its one-year anniversary along with a packed house last night. From 6 p.m. on it was standing room only; granted this is not a difficult feat given the lounge's actual physical dimensions. The difference is that those standing were content to do so if it meant possible seating later.

I wrote a little recap of the party in the Bars and Clubs section. I also posted some photos in the Photo Hot Spot.

Cheers