MATT DRISCOLL: FOR REAL >>>

The NY Times is reporting that newsman Tim Russert, famous for hosting "Meet the Press" every Sunday morning, has died of a heart attack. Russert was 58.

MICHAEL SWAN: SCANNING OUR RUSSELL PROPOSAL COPY >>>

This is without doubt the fastest we’ve ever seen this community’s power players move. They’ve come up with $40 million in direct investments, including more than $70 million in local, state and federal tax breaks, and more than $80 million worth of infrastructure and cash.

The big news for everyday Tacomans?

Investment of at least $66 million to turn parts of downtown into a financial services sector, and development of a “grand entrance” to the city. Tacoma Partnership officials promise a fast track development of a “world class” downtown, which won’t be so embarrassing to Russell executives when visiting investors come to town.

We hate scanning. Thanks News Tribune.
LINK: Download executive_summary.pdf
LINK: Download Proposal.pdf
LINK: Download Funding.pdf
LINK: Download real_estate_options.pdf
LINK: Download tacoma_partnership_letter.pdf
LINK: Download where_russell_employees_live.pdf
LINK: Download community_letters.pdf
LINK: Download agency_letters.pdf
LINK: Download Appendix.pdf

Story links
LINK: Dan Voelpel asks what's next
LINK: Tacoma Urbanist gives props to Voelpel
LINK: Exit133 runs the numbers

Bonus Russell coverage
Police activity went down this afternoon at the proposed Frank Russell relocation site on the Marcato property at South 15th Street and Fawcett.

End result. Dude walked away without his passengers and car.

Tomorrow night Satellite Coffee will celebrate its grand opening - inviting Supersuckers Eddie Spaghetti and Ron Heathman (Satellite's co owner) to rock out below the caffeine dispensing shack at Supernova Hair and Tattoo. Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnies will also perform. The music will start around 9 p.m., but those who arrive between 8-9 p.m. will receive a free eight ounce French press coffee as a token of Satellite's appreciation for Tacoma.

While Satellite has now been open since November, in the spot that once touted another famed T-Town coffee shop Temple of the Bean, according to co owner Pat Brown, now is the perfect time to celebrate.

"Initially, we did a soft opening," says Brown. "We just wanted to get the place open at first. We were still evolving, and I'm not even sure we've evolved all the way yet."

"But now we just want to have a party. We're glad winter is over and Satellite's open."

As happy as Tacoma has been to slurp down healthy servings of Stumptown Coffee - which comes from Portland, is all the rage, and is exclusively served at Satellite - Brown has been just as happy to set up shop in Tacoma. Without Tacoma, says Brown, the idea wouldn-t have been possible.

"One of the things I always try to stress is it's been a real community effort. Satellite has gotten help from innumerable people. It's been a reciprocal relationship with Satellite and Tacoma," says Brown.

"We love it here."

And Tacoma loves Satellite. According to Brown, his shop's success can be mainly attributed to Tacoma's readiness for Stumptown Coffee - which has a taste only outdone by the company's business ethos and drive to create what Brown calls "real life change" in coffee producing countries. Tacoma's enthusiastic response to Satellite can be measured by both the small outpost's daily business and people's reaction to their grand opening party. Brown expects the turnout tomorrow night to be "just silly."

"Right now we just want to continue doing what we're doing and continue getting the word out about Satellite," says Brown.

"We're still the best kept secret on Division and I St."

Not for long.

To RSVP for Satellite's grand opening party, go here.

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Acerbic \uh-SUR-bik\, adjective:
Sharp, biting, or acid in temper, expression, or tone.

USAGE EXAMPLE: He wasn’t typically an acerbic boss, but after a teenage Bobble Tiki spilled French fry grease all over the kitchen, Ned, who’d worked his way to general manager of Lucky Burger, lost his cool.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Gas thief caught

OLYMPIA: Women in black

SEATTLE: Fight to the death

CAMPAIGN ‘08: Hillary’s planner

THINGS TO DO TODAY
MOVIE TIMES: Look here
MUSIC LISTINGS: Here’s what’s happening

NEW VOLCANO: Check it out

BOBBLE TIKI: BRUNCH WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

WORD OF THE DAY
Bedizen \bih-DY-zuhn\, transitive verb:
To dress or adorn in gaudy manner.

USAGE EXAMPLE: In to the party, out of nowhere, came McGyver, dressed in blue jeans bedizen with rhinestones he'd fashioned himself out of walnut shells and duct tape.

MORNING NEWS

TACOMA: Goldfish falls on hard times

OLYMPIA: Politicians call it a wrap

SEATTLE: MySpace Seattle

WORLD: New terminal for Heathrow

THINGS TO DO TODAY
MOVIE TIMES: Look here.
SWEEP THE HOMELESS UNDER A RUG: Here's how T-Town does it.
MUSIC LISTINGS: What's playing tonight.

MICHAEL SWAN: EVERGREEN RIOT UPDATE >>>

The Associated Press reports that 24-year-old Kaylen Williams, accused of sparking a riot during a Dead Prez concert at Evergreen State College Feb. 14, has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge.

LINK: The Weekly Volcano interviewed Williams.

LINK: Seattle Times.

CHARLES MONROE: URBAN DESIGN REVIEW >>>

Want to help Tacoma avoid another Tollefson Plaza? Show up to a series of upcoming public discussions that will help the city decide if it needs to develop a comprehensive design-review program.

City officials are currently exploring the possibility and appropriateness of developing a citywide program that would focus on developing design standards for commercial, multi-family and mixed-use development, according the City’s Web site.

Officials passed a resolution in 2005 to approve exploration of the idea of imposing review standards on certain types of developments within the city. The goal would be to help officials work with developers to make development functional, cohesive and consistent with broader development goals such as pedestrian friendliness and smooth traffic flow â€" and avoiding another Tollefson Plaza.

• Workshop No. 1: Thursday, Feb. 21, 6-8 p.m., Whitman Elementary School, 1120 S. 39th St. in the cafeteria
• Workshop No. 2: Monday, Feb. 25, 6-8 p.m., Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., 7th Floor, Room 708
• Workshop No. 3: Monday, March 10, 6-8 p.m., Evergreen State College, Tacoma Branch, 1210 6th Ave. in the commons

LINK: Urban Design Review

MICHAEL SWAN: IN THE RAG TOMORROW >>>

Be sure to check out Numbered Spaces â€" the quality-of-life meter inside the Weekly Volcano tomorrow when it hits the streets.  The meter ran quite positive this week.  Nice job Tacoma!

Here is one of the negative events that didn't make the meter this week:

Work on a massive steel-and-glass sculpture at the Hotel Murano came to a halt last week when engineers discovered the brackets expected to secure the sculpture to the wall didn’t line up with the holes in the building. The brackets will have to be removed and re-welded. No discussion yet about who will pay for the blunder. MINUS 2

BOBBLE TIKI: ANODYNE, RANDY QUAID, TIGHTWAD TUESDAY >>>

THE DAILY WORD
Learn it, use it, spell it
Anodyne \AN-uh-dyn\, adjective:
1. Serving to relieve pain; soothing.
2. Not likely to offend; bland; innocuous.
Noun:
1. A medicine that relieves pain.
2. Anything that calms, comforts, or soothes disturbed feelings.

USAGE EXAMPLE: Shortly after dropping out of the 2008 Presidential Campaign, Mitt Romney retreated to the back of the Mitt-mobile and took five or six bong hits â�" an anodyne both for the pain of defeat and pain in his checkbook.

THE MORNING NEWS

SEATTLE: Randy Quaid is fucked up

TACOMA:  Puyallup is fucked up

CAMPAIGN �08: The Clinton campaign is fucked up

SPORTS: Jim Zorn is fucked

HUSTLER OF CULTURE
You can stand atop the mountain and scream your naked desires to the universe or shed that synapse epilepsy and hug the South Sound today with your fellow man:

MUSIC: Yesterday, Bobble Tiki complained it was Monday and there was nothing to do. Today, Tuesday, one day closer to the weekend, and there's still not much to do. It is Tightwad Tuesday at Hell's Kitchen, a Weekly Volcano sponsored event, so Bobble Tiki's boss would probably appreciate it if he mentioned that. And it is Loud and Local Night at Maggie O-Tooles. But, in all honesty, Bobble Tiki foresees spending another night on the couch in his sweat pants. Thatââ?¬â?¢s just the way Bobble Tiki rolls sometimes.   

MORE MUSIC: What's on tonight
FORUMS, BITCH: Check-em out

THREATS AND PROMISES COLUMN
Bobble Tiki's Threats and Promises column runs every week in the Volcano. Yesterday Bobble Tiki told you he'd be covering Sean Costello's show coming up at Jazzbones this week. Bobble Tiki lied. He changed his mind and will now be covering Team Unicorn Records and their party at Bob's Java Jive this weekend. Bobble Tiki hopes he hasn�t disappointed anyone, but feels confident in the decision. Bobble Tiki will not be losing any sleep over the matter.

Breakfast with Bobble Tiki runs six days a week now. Deal with it.