Watch out, Chopstix! You've got competition.

Or you will have competition starting July 11, that is, when the Varsity Grill unveils its new dueling pianos theme nights during the venue's three-year anniversary celebration. The format is coming to Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, according to an e-mail from owner Jon Tartaglia. The dueling piano show will be free with music kicking off at 8 p.m.

Randy Oxford just texted me back. He's moving the Wednesday night jam from Jazzbones to Chopstix. You know, way over on the other side of the street and a block away. I'm slightly taken aback since I was guessing Masa or Sax.

You've probably noticed a flurry of activity over at Sax, the new nightclub that's setting up camp over at 2309 Sixth Ave. Well, I just spoke to Sax GM Micha Cornelius, and he has Thursday (May 7) penciled in as the new opening day, assuming the venue passes final inspection by the Health Department. Cornelius has the Carter Brothers, the Hybrids and DJ Butter lined up for opening night entertainment, and a grand opening party slated for May 14.

And did I mention that their web site is up and running? Check it out here.

Sax, a spot I first blogged about in January, is generating a big buzz as opening day approaches. But there's a little bit of sketchy info about the place in the blogosphere. So I figured I'd check in with folks behind the scenes to see what's really going on.

The venue, which is still under construction at 2309 Sixth Ave., is owned by Jenny and Andy Yee, who also own the North China Garden next door. General manager Micha Cornelius said April 27 has been penciled in for the soft opening, with a bigger grand opening planned for a few days after that. That all hinges on final inspections and construction going as scheduled. But if not then, Cornelius figured Sax would open a week later.

The main draw will be "high-end dining for a good price," he said. But as the name implies, there will be jazz, specifically Tacoma jazz and R & B act Hybrid, which has been hired as the venue's house band.

But “we don’t want to be the new music scene,” Cornelius added, saying he and the Yees wanted to stand out from other hot spots on the Sixth Ave strip. “They all turn into meat markets with loud music. So we’re going to be completely the opposite,” he said.

Well, maybe not totally opposite. Cornelius said Sax will have a DJ on Wednesdays and Thursdays and ladies night on Thursdays. “Our image is that we’re a relaxed spot for people in their mid-30s,” he said. “But at the same time you don’t want to turn the Sixth Avenue crowd away.”

I'm trying to get my hands on a menu and may see if I can get a tour in the days to come. So expect more detail on this blog or TNT Diner soon.

Booking guy Jesse Turcotte is doing good stuff with his new gig over at Doyle’s Public House. He kicked off a new Saturday night music series last weekend with Tacoma guitar legend Jerry Miller, of Moby Grape fame. Unfortunately, I missed most of that as I was off coverin’ Little Bill’s shindig over at the Rialto. But Turcotte handed me a flier with a bunch of free Saturday shows that are coming up. Since I don’t see ‘em posted on the Doyle’s site, I’ll post ‘em here:

April 4: Westerly CD release party
April 11: Revengers, Nasty Left
April 18: All Night Yard Sale
April 25: The Toughtimes
May 2: The F-ing Eagles and Blanco Bronco
May 9: Rocking Chair Money

I dropped in on the soft opening of 1022 South on Sunday night. That’s the new joint just opened at 1022 S. J St., a space owned by the Frontier Room’s Neil Harris, in case you missed my last couple of posts. And it’s still dark, hip and ultra cozy with a slick but subtle makeover. It takes a discerning eye, or someone who spent way too much time in there when it was the Monsoon Room, to pick out the changes. The shelves and arrangement behind the bar is different, a bit slicker. The fancy piano in the corner is definitely new, and 1022 South's Chris Langston tells me local singer-songwriter types will get a crack at the 100-year-old antique once it's back in tune.

But atmosphere aside, the thing that's bound to make this place a great date or concert pre-funk spot is the unique drink menu. All the drink names are nods to 1022 South organizers' favorite authors. Death in the Afternoon is for Hemingway. The Bluebird is for Bukowski. We'll go with Nietzsche over the less marketable alternative for the Hilltop Uber Alles.

The one I really fell in love with was the Garden of Forking Paths, basically a modified mojito made with tequila in lieu of rum and a bit of muddled jalapeno that gives it a pleasant bite. I was a big fan on sip one, having conditioned my taste buds through years of palak paneer consumption. But my girlfriend couldn't get past the lingering burn and left hers unfinished.

But one thing that visibly put off a couple of patrons I saw checking out the menu was how pricey the specialty cocktails were. At $8 to $10 a pop, not sure how well they will go over during this whole recession/depression thing we've got going on. But they've got cheaper beer on tap, too, at any rate.

Langston tells me the web page is still in the works, but I believe this is them on MySpace.

Chris Langston, the man behind Tacoma's new lounge, 1022 South, tells me his place has passed final inspections and will have a soft opening starting at 8 p.m. Sunday (March 29). He said, the bar - which is opening at 1022 S. J St., the former home of the Monsoon Room - will switch to normal business hours starting the next day.

The space has apparently undergone only minor remodeling, which has added a little more seating space. But here's a change that piqued my interest: In contrast to the DJs that Monsoon owner Laura Malone used to showcase, Langston tells me he's looking into dropping a piano into that cozy, little joint. Hmmm. Interesting.

The folks behind a new lounge called 1022 South plan to have a soft opening by week's end, having been issued an interim license by the Washington Liquor Control Board. Chris Langston, the man running the show, says tentative plans are to open doors at 1022 S. J St. -- where the Monsoon Room did business last year -- some time between Thursday and Sunday.

The building is owned by Neil Harris, who also owns the New Frontier Lounge in the Dome district.

Against my better judgment, I risked a rare and reliably annoying pilgrimage to Maggie O’Toole’s last night. It’s where my friends wanted to go. So, outvoted, I shut up and tagged along. But between the door guys’ predictably surly and borderline hostile demeanor, and an attempt to rip me off with a $20, 1 a.m. cover charge (owner Jeff Corbin says its 10, but contemptuous door guy seemed to double it on the spot) I was reminded of why I never venture to this place if I don't have to. Besides, the constant blare of car alarms and heated banter in the parking lot seemed like fair warning for the drunken shenanigans that would likely spill out of the place at any second. I thought better and bounced. See ya in a year, if that, Maggie's.

But enough about me. Which nightclubs make you guys break out in hives?

Tacoma Events Commission just released a partial lineup for its second annual Gray Sky Blues Festival, which is set for April 4, after the Daffodil Parade. This year's headliner will be bluesman Zac Harmon, who will play with Cary Black on bass and Mike Slivka on drums at the Swiss Pub. And local favorite, the Randy Oxford Band, will play a festival after party at the HUB Restaurant. ]

Check the schedule below, and I think they'll be putting some updated info here:

Gray Sky Blues Festival 2009 schedule

The Swiss Pub
Corvette car show begins at noon
The Son Jack Jr. Band, 1 p.m.
The Al Earick Band with Mariano Silver, 2:30 p.m.
The Randy Oxford Band, 4 p.m.
Zac Harmon, 6 p.m.

The Harmon Brewery
Classic Car show starts at noon
The Cody Rentas Band, noon
Little Bill & the Bluenotes, 1:30 p.m.
Maia Santell and House Blend, 3 p.m.
Junkyard Jane, 4:30 p.m.

Cutter's Point Coffee (the one at 1936 Pacific Ave.)
Alice Stuart, 2 p.m.

Indochine Restaurant
TBA, music from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Urban XChange
TBA

The Hub Restaurant
The after party with The Randy Oxford Band, 8 p.m. to midnight

Promoter/bartender Matt Eklund just informed me that the New Frontier Lounge is opening up Mondays, starting next week, with a new theme night called Rebel Monday. It's an industry-themed night, with DJ Jason Diamond spinning roots reggae and possible live music down the road. Music will get started around 9 p.m. starting Monday (March 2).

Early yesterday morning I posted something about the joint that's moving in to 1022 S. J St., the spot that housed the Monsoon Room before it shut down. And today owner Neil Harris told me he's shooting for a March 1 opening, assuming he can jump through all the necessary hoops for the liquor license by then.

Of course, things are moving faster than usual for a club/bar opening since he already had what was left when Monsoon Room owner Laura Malone vacated. Harris said to expect a similar vibe and decor but "a little simpler, a bit more understated."