Spew

Fourth of July — live

BOBBLE TIKI: REPORTING LIVE FROM THE FOURTH OF JULY >>>

As families across the South Sound celebrated Independence Day tonight with fireworks, beer and barbecues, the nation's youth are participating in a time-honored ritual of their own as they suffer minor injuries from firecrackers exploding prematurely in their hands.

Bobble Tiki is on the scene:

"It just doesn't feel like the Fourth of July till a Black Cat goes off just as your arm's cocked to throw," says Chet, Bobble Tiki’s 13-year-old fourth cousin, nursing his throbbing right hand in a bag of ice. "The sudden bang, the shock of realizing what just happened, the weird tingling that slowly gives way to mind-blowing pain ... it's like, 'Yeah, now it's the Fourth of July.'"

Ted, 17, Bobble Tiki’s sister’s sister’s nephew, agrees.

"I’m down to my last four Whipcracks and thinking it wasn't going to happen this year," he says, grounded to his room, his left hand wrapped in a damp towel. "Second to last one, no kidding, blam! A Fourth without hand injuries is like a Fourth without hot dogs.

Happy Fourth of July

Spew is taking the rest of the day off since everybody knows reading on July 4 is unpatriotic.

Happy Fourth of July!

Catch you tomorrow.

Have a snug Fourth

WEEKLY VOLCANO: TIME TO HIT A DECK >>>

The Weekly Volcano's offices are closed today in honor of the Fourth of July. So instead of blogging this afternoon, the Spew staff will be honoring the work ethic that's made this country great by doing absolutely nothing productive. Until then, don't follow the example of the clowns in the clip below and do something moronic with fireworks.

Beer Chat: The Red Hot

BOBBLE TIKI: A CHAT WITH CHRIS TRASHCAN >>>

Despite the best efforts of Tacoma’s Bottle Rocket Czar Bobble Tiki knows the suburbs will look and smell like a set from Apocalypse Now tomorrow. Neighborhoods of otherwise model citizens will toss aside their compliant approach on July 4, using the celebration of freedom to exercise a little of their own. Vive la resistance! Sorry ... excuse Bobble Tiki’s French.

Speaking of exploding, Bobble Tiki about lost it when he discovered received that The Red Hot will take the Fourth off. Seriously? Where will Bobble Tiki hide Saturday? Bobble Tiki caught up with Red Hot owner Chris Trashcan for the scoop.

CHRIS TRASHCAN: Seriously. I will be somewhere with my cell phone turned off, enjoying life. The Red Hot Beertender Crew will be enjoying a deserved day off, and we'll be back for the attack on Sunday the 5th.

TIKI: Crap. Now Bobble Tiki will have to spend the day with the extended family. Ugh.

I’ll drop by the next day for my regular real beer float. Bobble Tiki sees you’re using Ninkasi’s Oatis this Sunday for the floats. Why?

TRASHCAN: I chose Ninkasi's Oatis this Sunday because it has a killer roasty, chocolate maltiness to it that goes great with vanilla bean ice cream. Kind of earthy. It's dark chocolate bitterness pulls through the creaminess as well. It has a smooth mouthfeel as is, which is even more pronounced on ice cream. Plus it's just fucking delicious.

TIKI: Hey, little help. Bobble Tiki’s nephews or something shake up his Pabst cans every Fourth. If Bobble Tiki taps the top of his can, will it not explode on him?

TRASHCAN: No, tapping a can does nothing except help to take more CO2 out of solution, which will cause even more foaming. If you don't shake up the can, you won't have this problem to begin with.

TIKI: Crap.

[The Red Hot, 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.779.0229]

Nosh Pit: Crown BBQ, 7 Seas brew

JAKE DE PAUL: FRIDAY FOOD LINKS >>>

Outdoor Barbecue: Charlie McManus and the Crown Bar crew take it outdoors every Friday and Saturday night for curbside apple wood smoked ribs brats and brisket.

NEW BEER: 7 Seas Brewing, Gig Harbor’s first craft brewery, has scheduled three release parties.

Noooooooo!: Dunkin Donuts to temporarily stop selling hot chocolate, Dunkachinos because of — you guessed it — salmonella concerns.

Start Your Fourth With A Bang

The Hub opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 4, for breakfast that includes $3 Bloody Marys and $3 Red, White and Blue drink specials. Nice.

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

Bottle rockets, beer and lost fingers

MATT DRISCOLL: FOURTH OF JULY IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

The Fourth of July has always been about blowing stuff up. The Weekly Volcano provides a run down of where to buy fireworks, where to set them off (legally) and ... how to get to the nearest ER — right here.

Red, white & blue waffle

MICHAEL SWAN: BREAKFAST SPECIAL >>>

The Harvester Restaurant in Tacoma's Stadium District offers a red, white & blue waffle breakfast special today. Due to gummy compotes instead of fresh fruit, it looks better than it tastes.

5 Things To Do: Monday

MICHAEL SWAN: MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 >>>

1. For details on Memorial Day ceremonies in the South Sound, check out the Memorial Day Command Center.

2. The 9th Northwest Biennial at Tacoma Art Museum is one of the more impressive biennials they’ve had, with a wide range of very intriguing art. The show closes today. Read the full review here.

3. The Grand Cinema screens Sin Nombre, the interlocking stories of a young woman from Honduras and a young man from southern Mexico, who meet while riding on the roof of a freight car on their long journey to the U.S. border.  The trip is forged in hell, but the film also finds room for beauty and romance.  Show times are 4:15 and 9:10 p.m.

4. DJ Jason Diamond spins roots reggae during The New Frontier Lounge's Rebel Monday at 9 p.m.

5. DJ Doll Hands spins vintage lady country music at The Brotherhood Lounge around 9 p.m.

LINK: Live music and DJs in the South Sound

LINK: Local movie starting times

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Arts and entertainment calendar

Tuesday with Mexicans

MATT DRISCOLL: CINCO DE MAYO IN A TACO SHELL >>>

Admit it, hombre. You’ve got no idea what Cinco de Mayo is all about.

I mean actually all about, not just that Cinco de Mayo is that super fun day in May when you drink so much Mexican beer that your mouth goes numb, that day when you once took your top off at a Taco Del Mar, that day when you drink margaritas the size of your head. Of course you know all of that — look at your track record. I’m digging deeper.

I mean to say you’ve got no idea what the history of Cinco de Mayo is, why it’s a holiday in the first place, what foods Mexicans actually eat — for real — on the day, and why the powers that be have been able to convince you into buying ungodly amounts of Corona in its name.

It’s OK. You’re not alone. Read what I discovered here.

Ninth and Ridgewood Avenue, Tacoma, March 25