REAL STORIES FROM REAL BARTENDERS >>>

I've been a bartender for a long time. I have met countless freaks, jerks, pervs, sweethearts, rockstars and crazies. Even though it's a physically and mentally exhausting job, these are the colorful people that make it all worthwhile. Well, that and the tips.

I'd like to share with you some of my personal experiences behind the bar, along with the stories from some of my fellow bartenders. Each week - under the clever heading of "Behind Bars" - I will dig into my memory bank - and the incident log books that all bars keep - to bring you some of my favorite stories.

Names of bars, bartenders and patrons have been changed or withheld to protect the innocent.

And the not so innocent.

Cheers!

This week...

The good stuff

Normally, Behind Bars reports on crazy and disgusting stuff, like the guy who pooped in the bar, or the jar of piss left in a backpack, or exposed body parts, or bloody fights or thieves or urinal pucks. It goes on and on.

So, this week I'd like to take a step back and talk about the good stuff. Because it does exist. There is a damn tight community in the bar scene. Someone's always got your back, whether you need to bum a smoke or drink, or need a ride or a slice of pizza or whatever, there is continuous barter system of goodwill and fellowship.

Heck, people even find love at the bar. I met my husband eight years ago in a bar; I've watched the evolution of relationships, from that first game of pool all the way to the altar. We even had a guy include us in his girlfriend's wedding proposal scavenger hunt. It was one of the first places they'd hung out together, so he caught us before we opened, all giddy to set up a love note for his soon to be fiancé to find.

We have stacks of incident log books, chock full of disturbing things, so I decided it's time to start documenting the good stuff, too.

And there's no better way to get started then with photo booth pictures of people that are happy, nice, and having fun. Because that's why we go to bars. Enjoy.

What are your positive bar stories?

LINK: Past Behind Bars columns

CINEMATOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE IN TACOMA >>>

Photographer and Clearance Cuisine blogger Benjamin Toombs periodically sends me shots he has snapped around Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest. My jaw not only hits the floor, it runs around the room in circles after viewing his magnificent work, such as the fisheye/panoramic he took above.

Restaurant design and supply company Bargreen Ellingson had a major hand in C.I. Shenanigans's bar remodel, which went down after New Year's Eve. Bargreen hired Toombs to shoot a time-lapse of the remodel. Check out the final product below.

LINK: Toombs photography company Miso Studios

SNAPPED >>>

Tacoma's Boys's small hut in the Kmart parking lot on Sixth Avnue broke down and had to be towed this morning. Stayed tuned for interviews with Tacoma Boys's staff, the tow truck driver and more photos.

We spotted Santa in downtown Tacoma yesterday afternoon. He was on a mission, speed walking toward the Tacoma Municipal Building. He was kind enough to pause for a photo.

TACOMA IS PRETTY >>>

This fall The Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau, otherwise known as the catchy TRCVB, held a photography contest seeking the most awesome photo of Tacoma and Pierce County.

The judges have made their decision.

Congratulations to Sharon Styler for her shot of Ruston Way (see above).

For more details on the contest, read the TRCVB press release after the jump:

Read more...

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MAYBE YOU MAY HAVE A BOWL WHILE YOUR BRAKES ARE FIXED >>>

Remember all those boxes of cereal in Jerry Seinfeld's set kitchen? Bobble had more: Go Lean, Raisin Bran, Wheat Chex, Kashi, Grape Nuts. Bobble Tiki regarded Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs as "dessert cereals." (Hey, it works with wine.) A bowl eaten after 10 p.m. (and after a glass of wine) was the perfect soporific snack.

Perfect, that is, until Bobble Tiki couldn't fit into his pants.

Anyway, if you have a love for dessert cereals, stop by Simmons Automotive on South 56th Street and South Proctor in Tacoma. Obviously, the folks working at the automotive repair shop love them, too.

SCARY-OKE >>>

Weekly Volcano photographer Steve Dunkelberger dropped in on Jazzbones's Monday night Rockaraoke live band karaoke last night, which - as your cold sweats still tell you - was Halloween. Dunkelberger says it was a night for freaks and ghosts and slutty, slutty angels. Check out his photos of the night in our Photo Hot Spot.

SUNDAY, OCT. 9, 4:48 P.M., COMMERCE STREET, TACOMA >>>

They don't have a name. They don't have a purpose. They just like to wear full-body, colored leotards and roam the street so Tacoma. Oh, sweet mother of Little Debbie, we hope those are their mothers' leotards. Damn. Now we have our doubts. It looks like another night of terror-driven sleeplessness for us. Stupid colorful roamers. Damn your entertaining and arty presence!

STEAMING HOT >>>

As we all know, stress levels are high right now in the Tacoma School District. With the ongoing teacher strike, and shouting and picketing in full force, perhaps folks on both sides of the rift could benefit from the advertised iced goodness of a Ghiradelli Chocolate mocha made with soy milk from Met Market. Then again, how many teachers can afford to shop at Met Market?

Tollefson Plaza, South 17th Street and Commerce Street, Tacoma