BIKE TO WORK WEEK >>>

May is "Bike Month," in case you hadn't heard. This means the City of Tacoma, Pierce Transit and Pierce County are pushing two-wheeled, pedal-powered transportation throughout May. Specifically, Monday, May 17 through Friday, May 21 is Bike to Work Week, wherein teams and individuals throughout Pierce County will be competing to see who logs the most miles. Prizes include $250 and $100 gift certificates to kick-ass local bike shops - plus the added bonus of sexy glutes. Register your bike commute trips here.

PREDICTION: Bike to Work Week will be shrouded in controversy after proclaimed winner, Bonny Alexander of North Tacoma, is accused of blood doping to improve her travel times between home and her place of employment, the Fred Meyer's on South 19th Street. 

LINK: Bicycle Weather Forecast: Rain

LINK: Local Bike Month events

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2010 >>>

1. The Seattle International Children's Festival became Giant Magnet last year. It happened last in Seattle - but today it condenses itself into a mini version and packs into the Pantages - for a day of kid-friendly fun featuring Joyful Theater, Cimarron and Jamie Adkins from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then concluding with a performance by Black Violin, an awe raising fusion of classic violin and hip-hop beats, at 7:30 p.m.

2. From 5-7 p.m. The Hub hosts Bike To A Better Tacoma, a get-together with with fellow bicyclists and City staff members to get happy and be updated on the Mobility Master Plan. Talk with a bike Technician from REI, and take advantage of valet bike parking. If you bike to the Hub, you'll receive a free slice of pizza, enjoy night-long happy hour specials, and be entered into a drawing for a $50 or $25 Hub gift certificates.

3. The Swing Reunion Orchestra performs at 7 p.m. inside the Imperial Dragon restaurant on Sixth Avenue.

4. Flamenco song and dance is - pretty much - sexier than you'll ever be (even if you grow your hair out like Antonio Banderas). It's a bummer. Luckily, like an un-sexy sponge, you can sop up the sexy sweat Flamenco exudes and use it to your advantage. Flamenco Arte Y Paz will hit The New Frontier Lounge at 7:30 p.m. Check it out.

5. Doyle's Public House hosts another free St. Practice Day party at 9 p.m.

LINK: Best of Tacoma 2010 Voting is now open

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

SEE YOUR FUTURE, BE YOUR FUTURE >>>

The Wonder Bread Years

On July 7, 1928, the Chillicothe Baking Company in Chillicothe, Missouri, made history by selling the first loaf of sliced bread. The inventor of the first bread-slicing machine, a former ophthalmologist and jewelry-store owner named Otto Frederick Rohwedder (weirdly, he was born on the same date, July 7, 1880, in Des Moines, Iowa) was right there at the baking company to see the first loaf of Kleen Maid Sliced Bread go through his invention's patented cutting bands to be automatically wrapped in wax paper for sale.

Two years later, Wonder Bread made presliced bread the best thing to happen since ... whatever.

The Continental Baking Company opened its Wonder Bread Bakery in Tacoma in 1934 at 703 S. Sprague Ave. The building actually dates back to 1913 when it was built for the Matthaei Bread Co., the makers of Matthaei's Honey Bread.

The Wonder Bread Building still stands near the corner of South Sixth and Sprague, but many wonder for how much longer. The building's owner has requested a rezone from R-4 (multiple family dwelling district) to C-2 (community commercial district) for future development of a two-story retail/office building with parking. The existing Wonder Bread Building will be demolished as part of the project. 

Public hearing has been scheduled for May 28, 9:30 a.m. inside the City Council Chambers at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street, on the 1st floor.  Concerned citizens may testify at the public hearing or submit comments in writing prior to the public hearing to the City staff. Direct your comments to Dustin Lawrence via dlawrence@cityoftacoma.org or 253.591.5845.

Tuesday's Tacoma City Council meeting

Tuesday, May 18, the Tacoma City Council will consider a resolution that would authorize the procurement and operations agreement with ACS, Inc. to implement a turnkey parking pay station system in the core area of downtown Tacoma. For more information about the parking pay station program, visit www.tacomaparking.com.

The City Council will also consider a resolution that would express opposition to Arizona's State Law Senate Bill 1070, "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act" and calling for a boycott of the state of Arizona and Arizona-based businesses

NIBBLETS OF INFORMATION IN THE SOUTH SOUND >>>

Wine Dinner: Ravenous Restaurant next to the Pantages Theater in downtown Tacoma hosts a four-course wine tasting dinner tonight at 6:30 p.m. featuring Tamarack Wines. The cost is $50 per person. Reserve your spot at 253.572.6374.

Cuts Like A Knife: Chef Dianna Kallerges will teach proper knife cutting techniques tonight at 6 p.m. inside the Bayview School of Cooking in Olympia. The class costs $45. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 360.754.1448.

Future Things Are Coming: Salty's at Redondo Beach will open an outdoor seafood bar Memorial Day Weekend. Click here for a pdf of the menu.

Food Matters: Will McDonald's updated look make more people want to eat Big Macs?

LINK: Restaurant coupons

LINK: Wine and beer tastings, dinners and events

LINK: South Sound Restaurant Guide

LINK: Send us your restaurant and lounge news

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

New study says that eating celery makes men more attractive to women.

The Supreme Court ruled that teenagers can't be locked up in prison for life with no chance of parole if they have not killed anyone

Finally some success in stopping the Gulf Coast oil slick.

Fox News believes that Robin Hood was the first Tea Party activist.

What the eff is butt-chugging?

Ronnie James Dio died yesterday.

BONUS MICRO MONDAYS >>>

Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza on Tacoma's Sixth Avenue hosts a "Happier Hour" 2-6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close Monday-Saturday and all day Sunday. All the juicy discount details are in our Happy Hour section.

Mondays at their Sixth Avenue location is even happier with the added "Micro Mondays" deal in which micro brews are discounted down to $3 pints, $9 pitchers and $18 towers. The micro pints are normally $3.75 during happy hour.

Farrelli's Wood Fire Pizza

3518 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
253.759.1999

LINK: South Sound happy hours

CONCERT ALERT >>>

There are worse musical recipes to follow than Tool's emo-metal soufflé, but in the wrong hands all you get is a doughy blob. That's why we always stick with the original recipe.

Tool will whip up its intelligently spooky dish that's crisp around the edges July 10, 8 p.m., at KeyArena in Seattle.

The Grammy Award winning rock experimentalists are doing selected dates this summer in the U.S. and Canada while they work on new material for a new album rumored to be released in late 2010 or early 2011. The tour starts on June 19 in New Orleans and these are the first lives dates for Tool since the band went on hiatus a year ago.

Tickets for Tool's Seattle show are $33-$63, and go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, including the Key Arena box office and charge by phone at 800.745.3000.

LINK: A list of concerts in the Puget Sound area

BE LIKE TINA FEY (SHE'S GREEK!) >>>

The Greeks had a succinct way of explaining the seasons: It was all the fault of a pomegranate seed ingested by Persephone after she was abducted and taken to the underworld by Hell's top dog, Hades. Her highfalutin' mom, Demeter, goddess of the harvest, mourned so loudly and dangerously that Zeus pleaded until Hades let Persephone go. But the seed bound her to the down-under, so she has to return for six months every year, leaving the earth cold and bleak while she's gone.

By the beard of Zeus! - I, for one, am thankful she's back on the dirt. In celebration, I will throw on some sandals and head to Saturday's Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church's annual Greek Taverna, which is a smaller sibling to its annual fall shindig. A taverna means "small restaurant" in Athens talk. They are the equivalent of a Tully's where folks go to hang out and chat.

St. Nicholas will serve gyros ("ghee rhos" not "jie row"), manestra and keftedes, tsureki bread, salata, spanakopita, baklava, beer, wine and other beverages not as fun. There will also be Greek music and dancers.

You have always yearned for an enormous Greek family to share dinners with. Now is your chance, Hermes breath.

Greek Taverna

Saturday, May 22, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., free admission
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 1523 S. Yakima Ave, Tacoma
253.272.0466

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010 >>>

1. A kinetic sculpture is a human-powered vehicle that also has an artistic theme.  Thanks to the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Art Museum, kinetic sculptures are on the move at the annual Zeit-Bike 2010: "Movable Feats," which runs today through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Museum. This year artists - Eric Holdener and Bill Fleming of Olympia and Tacoma artist Scott McGee - have designed bicycle-inspired functional sculptures in honor of National Bike Month, During Third Thursday ArtWalk from 5:30-7:30 p.m., the three artists will hop on their art and peddle them around Tollefson Plaza. No doubt a Tacoma Postcard will be in the spokes.

2. Author Gordon Edgar will discuss his book, Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge while you munch on cheese provided by the Olympia Food Co-op beginning at 6 p.m. inside Orca Books in Olympia.

3. Seattle isn't all coffee and high-tech group hugs. No, there's a gritty side to it. Seattle Noir is an anthology of short stories by some of the region's leading authors. Meet the authors and hear their stories beginning at 7 p.m. inside the Olympic Room at the Tacoma Public Library's Main Branch.

4. Traditions Café in Olympia will hosts a drum circle at 7 p.m.

5. The Banned Book Club will discuss the controversial novel Am I Blue?: Coming Out from the Silence at 7 p.m. inside the Tempest Lounge.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Vote for your favorite burger in Pierce County

SEE YOUR FUTURE, BE YOUR FUTURE >>>

Today is International Museum Day, and the Tacoma Art Museum, Museum of Glass and Washington State History Museum are joining in by offering discounted memberships through May 23. Individual memberships will be discounted $5, and dual/family memberships will be discounted $10.

The theme this year is museums for social harmony to "highlight the ability of art to create dialogues, promote coexistence and encourage creativity," according to the press release. So join and find inner peace. Or something.

Make the call

Tacoma Art Museum: 253.272.4258 x3042

Museum of Glass: 253.284.2125

Washington State History Museum: 253.798.5902