MATT DRISCOLL: RED CARPET TREATMENT AT THE TACOMA FARMERS MARKET >>>

After weeks (if not months) of hype and excitement, today the 2008 Broadway Tacoma Farmers Market is finally a reality. The festivities started at 9 a.m. sharp, and the fresh produce and artsy craftsy extravaganza will run until 2 p.m.

The event is sure to draw a who’s who in Tacoma â€" with every local living, eco-friendly personality in the City of Destiny sure to show up and be seen.

And, of course, the Weekly Volcano is there, too â€" documenting the action and looking for free samples.  Steph DeRosa and I have drawn to tough assignment of covering the fracas, and shortly we’ll be reporting live from the action.

Pictures of corn. Eavesdropping on discussion at the Local Living Lounge. The feel of the djembe beat.

Today’s the day. You’ll find it soon here on the Spew.

11:22 a.m. PAPPI: I wonder where the hell my writers are hiding.

11:29 a.m. PAPPI: While you're waiting for the live reports, talk amongst yourselves. Here's a subject: An NBC poll released Tuesday shows that an overwhelming number of Americans are sick of polls.

11:31 a.m. PAPPI: A similar poll commissioned by the Los Angeles Times found that a sampling of Americans polled agreed that they've "had it up to here with polls so leave me alone already or I'll find your office and poll your face until its unrecognizable."

11:33 a.m. STEPH: I'm walking as fast as I can toward the Market. I have crack sweat already.

11:35 a.m. MATT: Just parking now. I think I see Steph's crack sweat across the street.

11:36 a.m. STEPH: The two brothers from the Joshua Cain Band are cranking out the tunes. By the way Matt, your bra straps are showing.

11:46 a.m. PAPPI: I'm regretting this already.

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11:58 a.m. STEPH: My dog has eaten the first official organic doggie treat of the season. Stay tuned for the first official organic dog poop of the 2008 Tacoma Farmers Market.

Noon: STEPH: Political activists are setting up more than 15 signs asking people to impeach Bush.

12:02 p.m. MATT: Fifteen minutes in and I already got crabs.

12:05 p.m. PAPPI: I doubt Tacoma  Mama will link to this.

12:14 p.m. PAPPI: Matt just posted something on Spew regarding the show Saturday at Bob's Java Jive. That post better have been preprogrammed.

12:16 p.m.: MATT: It was.

12:17 p.m. MATT: Flowers are out in full force this afternoon.

12:21 p.m. MATT: Surprisingly, the BFM wouldn't let me set up my "herb" table.

12:22 p.m. PAPPI: I assume Steph's equipment has malfunctioned or she's inside El Toro at the bar.

12:25 p.m. MATT: Though under represented, Terry's Berries came through with some fine spinach, cauliflower and salad greens.

12:30 p.m. MATT: No recession at the BFM. Check out this ATM line.

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12:35: STEPH: Busted. OK, back at it. This years potted trees look taller than ever before! I credit global warming.

12:37 p.m. STEPH: The stench of beans from the taco truck promises it to be a good year for anti gas medicine.

12:40: p.m. STEPH: Tacoma Mama has made an appearance armed with crafts for kids using recycled materials.

12:41 p.m. MATT: Bread makes a cameo at the Broadway Tacoma Farmers Market.

12:42: p.m. STEPH: Reminds me of high school prom in the back of my date's car " "Baby Im-A Want You."

12:48 p.m. MATT: Check out the kid and me being all sustainable and shit.

12:50 p.m. STEPH: All Tacoma offspring younger than the age of 5 have started the patchouli craze by rolling in the grass.

12:51 p.m. STEPH: Weekly Volcano scribe Carmen has arrived. She has on the hottest red heels I've ever seen.

1 p.m. STEPH: Yogi bear is walking the red carpet as we speak. He's wearing an Armani full-body fur coat.

1:05 p.m. MATT: Balls and glass art â€" two things Tacoma goes gaga for.

1:18 p.m. PAPPI: And we're spent.

1:24 p.m. STEPH: No we are not. I've kicked off the Uggs and stripped off the sweatshirt. It is damn gorgeous out.

1:29 p.m. STEPH: In the next week we should be seeing salads in a bread cone from Gayl and Bianca at the Swiss Pub. This is of course after I have an angioplasty from the Market's tamale stand.

1:32 p.m. STEPH: Justin the Market manager is in the house wearing a Calvin Klein original red traffic vest.