PAUL SCHRAG: TACOMA STREETCAR UPDATE >>>

Most great victories are won by taking very small steps. The Tacoma Streetcar movement just made another one, cinching its status as a non-profit organization â€" a step that likely involved several hundred smaller ones, all under the scrutiny of the dreaded Internal Revenue Service, which really likes to stick its foot out when an organization starts down the road toward tax exemption.

“It took over a year,” says Tacoma Streetcar frontman Morgan Alexander.

That said, securing non-profit status will open new doors for the movement, which seems to be gaining momentum, at least the sentimental kind. Despite strong support from local political players, funding will be hard to come by, at least in the short term. With budgets drying up left and right, Alexander says he and his compatriots are keeping their eye on the prize, and will be working to gather support from local stakeholders and funding agencies.

“What we really need is our own Paul Allen,” says Alexander.

Gaining non-profit status helps move the Tacoma Streetcar movement forward in a number of ways, especially financial ones. Tax credits are often a big motivator for people looking to get rid of some money, especially large, institutional investors. But Alexander and crew are looking for all the help they can get, financial and otherwise.

“We’re really trying to move on this. We pretty much have a unanimous decision that yes, it’s worth doing,” he says. “The city did a preliminary feasibility study. We need to find some stakeholders and people in the community that want to be involved in this.”

The benefits of a streetcar system are numerous, for those wondering why the hell we need a streetcar. First, it’s a great way to connect neighborhoods and business districts. Sure, we have buses and cars and bikes, but streetcars are particularly cost effective, says Alexander, and they have a nice bit of historical significance. A new system would hearken to streetcars that ran in Tacoma during the early 20th century. Barring a full network of new tracks, a restored, vintage Tacoma streetcar could run on existing Link Light Rail tracks, which will eventually connect Tacoma’s neighborhoods as part of a complex network of commute options.

“What I would like to see as a lasting result from a streetcar system is stronger neighborhoods that are all connected,” says Alexander.

Sounds good to me.

CHUCK DULA: POINT NO POINT IS ON POINT >>>

If you like free tacos, free music and local bands that play beer-addled post-hardcore punk, then Dec. 23 will be an early Christmas for you. As I sit at my computer and listen to the bands performing at tonight's show at Hell’s Kitchen â€" Point No Point, Sarah Connor, Psycho 78 and S.G.F.Y. â€" it occurs to me that there is no possible way any of these bands’ songs could have been written without a Pabst, Icehouse or a recovering drug addict groupie within a slap’s reach. Sarah Connor plays vintage skate-punk anthems that would make Pennywise wonder why people were still playing vintage skate-punk anthems â€" but the answer to this inquiry will be on display in the smiling faces of the drunken constituency yelling along at the Kitchen tonight. If you’re looking for more than that, the local music scene snob will be able to find solace in the throat terrorizing screams of Point No Point’s front man, Brent Carter. He kicks ass.

[Hell’s Kitchen, Point No Point, Sarah Connor, Psycho 78, S.G.F.Y., 9 p.m., no cover, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]

TAMMY ROBACKER: TACOMA ARTISTS LAUNCH BELLABALLS >>>

For Tacoma designers Diane Hansen and Lesli Jacobs-McHugh hope literally floats. They will launch bellaballs â€" their new line of hand-blown glass floats â€" and host an open house at their bellaballs studio in Tacoma Saturday, Jan. 17 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Each bellaball design is original and comes from the heart of Hansen and Jacobs-McHugh as they endeavor to celebrate the beauty of life with their hand-crafted, collectible objets d’art. Inspired by the ancient tradition of Japanese fishing floats, both women discovered they had a common interest in collecting the rare sea treasures.

“Our bellaballs are designed in keeping with that tradition. They are made to be original, personally discovered, or given away as beautiful gifts. Each one really takes on a life of its own,” says Hansen.

Originally Japanese floats were used to hold up fishing nets cast on the ocean. But as the ocean ebbed and flowed, waves often tore the nets apart. The freed glass floats drifted across the waters, eventually landing safely upon beachfronts across the world. Hansen and Jacobs-McHugh see that journey as a metaphor of life and endurance.

For more information on bellaballs and their studio, visit their Web site.

BANDITO BETTY LOU WHO >>>

Almost. Done. With. This.

SUZY STUMP: CHOWING DOWN BEFORE SANTA >>>

Frankly, there’s nothing going on in The South Sound on Christmas Eve. Which is just as well, because if you are not in bed when Santa Claus comes to your house, he won’t even come down the chimney. He’ll just move on to the next house, and someone else will get your official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.

There are a few restaurants that will be open Dec. 24. So far I know of Primo Grill, El Gaucho and Pacific Grill.

What other South Sound restaurants will be open tomorrow?

JENNIFER JOHNSON: THE RESOLUTION TRIFECTA >>>

Last year, as the end of 2007 approached, I laid out some ground rules for 2008. I vowed not to buy clothes that would fit if I lost weight â€" to live in the now; not to keep clothes that are too big; no impulse buying â€" hit the gym instead; and no guilt over owning 30 pairs of black shoes and 40 purses. Last but not least, I vowed to get my closets organized and set my fashion karma right. How did I do? I joined a gym losing nearly 50 pounds, gave away tons of too-big clothes to friends, charities and the homeless shelters. I did away with destructive impulse spending and now have my vast self-indulgent collection of excessive accessories organized meticulously. I’m giving myself an A+.

So, you’re thinking about what your upcoming New Year resolutions will be, are you? I list marvelous resources for the three most common resolutions on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

What are your resolutions this year?

LINK: Weekly Volcano's Fix lifestyle section