THE KINGS OF TACOMA NIGHTCLUBS ARE AT IT AGAIN >>>

Jon Tartaglia and Roger S. Rahil, the forces behind popular downtown Tacoma nightclubs The Loft, 21 Commerce, Big Whisky Saloon and countless others, opened their new venture last Friday in the site formerly occupied by The Vault at 1025 Pacific Ave. Designed by award-winning architect Marcelo Rocha, the swanky Encore Boutique Nightclub offers modern elements, mood lighting, leather seating, a state-of-the-art-sound system, European bottle service, private restrooms, and private champagne couches roped off by black velvet ropes and guards in ties for those clubbers willing to pay extra ($350) to ensure they always have fresh drinks and places to sit.

The Weekly Volcano dropped on Encore's grand opening party last Friday. Surrounded by cocktail dresses and men with collars and sport coats, we attached a clip-on and snapped a few shots.

Encore Boutique Nightclub

1025 Pacific Ave., Tacoma
206.335.9139

LINK: More Encore photos here

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

WE DROPPED IN ON LATIN NIGHT >>>

Vanity, the new club to take over the former warehouse turned night spot near the corner of South Tacoma Way and 56th Street, was hopping Saturday night. DJ Mauro has found a new home for his Saturday Latin Night, which spews salsa and Mexi-pop dance music to above-average dancers. The mixed age and ethnic crowd was a constant flow of dancing and chatting over wells and fries. The VIP ($10 bracelets buys access and $5 drinks all night) balcony was empty, largely because the dance floor was full.

LINK: More Vanity photos in our Photo Hot Spot

WE SCENE IT >>>

Anyone who remembers Drake's from back in the day will enjoy the Firwood Rock Lounge, the new club that now commands the Drake's spot at 734 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. Drake's circa 2000 was the skanky dance club complete with thunderously loud music, strong drinks that were over served and fights every 15 minutes or so. It eventually went the way of the Dodo bird and shut its doors to sit vacant for a few years. In its place the Firwood is cleaner, less skanky and more enjoyable. The 50-or-so member crowd for the Shifter show last Friday was mixed but mostly graying hair retreads out for a night of rock covers and whiskey sours. But there were a good share of hot bodies out for girls' night out fun.

Su Hong mixed the drinks.

Britney Anderson and Renae Kimball give girlie hugs

LINK: More photos in our Photo Hot Spot