STEPH DEROSA: MORE DINING OPTIONS COMING TO PUYALLUP

Come mid-May Puyallup area residents will be able to cradle yet another restaurant creation by the Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante group of restaurateurs.  Across the street from Sparks Stadium a New York style deli will be born and lovingly given the name Sparks Firehouse Deli. Puyallup’s new baby will have a firehouse theme dedicated to the now extinct Puyallup Fire Department. 

This place will no doubt be hot, so here’s to hoping the servers are all men donning the typical no-shirt-under-fire-overalls uniform. 

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

PAUL SCHRAG: UPDATE ON THE TACOMA CITY COUNCIL'S TRIP TO D.C. >>>

Tacoma City Council members recently went to the other Washington to vie for a slice of that delicious federal tax pie. Six members of the Tacoma City Council visited with local notables such as U.S. House of Representatives member Norm Dicks, and Senators Adam Smith, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray. City council member Marilyn Strickland zings that “it was cold outside, but we were warmly received.”

Council members were in the nation’s capitol to discuss economic recovery plans, infrastructure funding, and other topics related to the continuing growth and health of Tacoma. City officials brought the message that Tacoma didn’t create a new list of projects out of concern over the global economic crisis. Rather, they were asking for investments that were part of a long term vision for the city â€" which is damn clever if you think about it.

Tacoma officials joined thousands of others at the table, asking for money during a time when the United States federal budget deficit is getting plain ridiculous, totaling $485.2 billion during the first quarter of fiscal 2009, which began in October of last year. That’s a record, by the way. The federal deficit is expected to reach an all-time high of $1.2 trillion by the end of fiscal 2009. That figure doesn’t incorporate an $800 billion economic stimulus bill currently pushing its way through.

Jesus. ...

If we’re lucky, some of that money will make its way to Tacoma. Public funds, if granted, would ultimately be used to attract private investment by completing essential infrastructure projects.
The vision, says Strickland, is based on three concepts: keeping jobs, creating jobs and urban renewal.

“We emphasized that the evolution of downtown Tacoma is still in its infancy,” says Strickland of her conversation with legislators. “While great strides have been made, infrastructure improvements are still necessary to retain and attract private investment.  Some cities may choose to wait for the economy to recover but the Tacoma City Council realizes how important it is to maintain our momentum and make investments now.”

City officials currently have an estimated $175 million worth of shovel-ready projects, which could be implemented within the next 90 days and completed in two years. Well, if they get some federal money, that is.

Requests included $24 million for repair of the Murray Morgan, Hylebos and Puyallup River bridges; $140 million for arterial streets, ADA curb ramps, sidewalk reconstruction, repaving of severely damaged residential streets; $7 million for Metro Parks; $10 million for residential streets in the Salishan development project in east Tacoma. City officials also advocated strongly for capital funds for area educational institution, requesting $12 million for Tacoma Public Schools and $54 million for UW Tacoma. 

Now it all becomes a wait-and-see affair.

“The federal government isn't going to write the City of Tacoma a big fat check for $175 million,” says Strickland.

Well, they might send some directly, but there are a few different ways the money could trickle down to Tacoma, including allocations from the Puget Sound Regional Council and state agencies.

Along with funding requests comes a list of policy guidelines and goals, which is how politicians say, “If you throw down a little, we promise to use your money wisely.”

Those goals include: extending public transit to underserved areas; implementing market-based pricing for downtown parking; adopting mixed use center and complete street guidelines to encourage density and create walkable neighborhoods; creating incentives for development projects that meet or exceed LEED certification; and enhancing the market for local goods and services

We like the sound of all those, but would add a request for some more Fred Meyer topiaries for Tollefson Plaza. 

Photo courtesy of Flickr/forki23

PAUL SCHRAG: THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCCESS >>>

It’s happening again. Nightclubs are struggling with increasing crime in downtown Tacoma, part of a perennial problem that local officials and business owners have wrestled with for years.

While there seems to be ample room for small bars, lounges and other late-night establishments, high-volume clubs such as The Loft, Drake’s, Juno, and McCabe’s have struggled to stay open. Tacoma lost Drake’s and The Loft in recent years for various reasons, leaving big, terribly visible, sadly unoccupied buildings to serve as a reminder.

When one club closes, its remaining counterparts inherit new business and more potential for trouble, and the cycle starts all over again. And again, this isn’t a new problem. It’s not a simple one either.

The bottom line, however, is simple â€" clubs downtown continue to struggle with crime. Read the rest of our investigation on the Weekly Volcano Web site.

LINK: The new Weekly Volcano has posted online

MATT DRISCOLL: MONSTER TRAGEDY AT THE TACOMA DOME >>>

By now we've all heard about the tragic accident at last Friday's Monster Jam event held at the Tacoma Dome. We all know about the death of Sebastian Hizey, a 6-year-old monster truck fan, and we all know how horrific and devastating the freak accident that caused his death was.

But, what's not particularly clear is why the Monster Jam - which had shows scheduled on Friday, Saturday and Sunday last week - went on after Sebastian lost his life. It's a decision that defies all rules of decency and respect.

To check out my article on the subject in the current issue of the Weekly Volcano, click here.

LAUREN NAPIER: MORE THAN JUST THE MISSIONARY POSITION >>>

Gritty rock to complement the dirty streets of his gloomy-skied hometown. Answering that call shines a spotlight on Jeff Angell. Fronting such bands as Missionary Position and Post Stardom Depression, Angell lends his vocal chords to a particularly dirty brand of rock and roll: the kind found in the bowels of vinyl collections alongside classics such as the Doors. Dirty â€" but intelligent â€" as proven by the newer project he has created: Missionary Position; it takes the seedy, rock and roll underbelly lyrics of Post Stardom Depression and adds a more politically minded slant to the rock that listeners have come to expect from Angell. Gracing the space at the New Frontier tonight is a stripped-down Angell in an intimate setting with his sultry voice and the low profile of an acoustic guitar. You should already feel the shivers working their way down your spine.

[The New Frontier, with Jenson Charnell, 9 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

UPDATE: Lauren nailed her description of Jeff Angell. I've seen him perform more than 20 times, and he never sounded better than he did last night. Here are a couple pics I shot at the show. â€" Ron Swarner

TONY ENGELHART: JAZZ VOMIT, OR SOMETHING >>>

Hard to peg this band â€" maybe Zappa meets Coltrane meets Sonic Youth? The boys of Poor School, without doubt, beat to their own drums â€" and don’t wear their influences on their sleeves. The Missoula, Mont., trio of Bryan Ramirez, Nathan Hoyme, and John Niekrasz takes jazz, puts it through a blender, guzzles it, and throws it up all over the studio floor. The band doesn’t have a set of rules â€" they improvise freestyle without boundaries â€" leading to 20-minute jams as noisy as cats screwing. Their first disc, Wiggwaum on Killtree Records, is chock full of throwing shit against the wall and seeing where it will stick extemporization. Definitely not for the faint of heart, Poor School is an acquired taste that might be too sour for some, but as sweet as a cotton candy for others.

Tonight, Poor School will play Le Voyeur in Olympia.

[Le Voyeur, with Rooftop Vigilantes, Eyes Like Saucers, 10 p.m., no cover, 404 Fourth Ave, Olympia, 360.943.5710]