STREETS ARE FOR PEOPLE >>>

Park(ing) Day has come and gone and for at least another year, the urban jungle known as downtown Tacoma will be a little less green than it was for one glorious day yesterday. 

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tacoma Bike, BLRB Architects, Doyle's Public House, Cascade Land Conservatory, Tacoma School of the Arts, Transportation Choices Coalition, Boe Architects, Pierce Transit, Stadium Bike Club Citizens for a Healthy Bay, the Seabury School and your beloved Weekly Volcano transformed metered parking spaces into a pop-up park. Yesterday's national Park(ing) Day challenged the status quo with the goal of stirring conversation or dialogue on public space, green space, and to inspire a vision of a city where the streets are for people.

The Weekly Volcano took liberties – transforming our little space into a mini Woodstock festival, bringing love and music to the urban environment. The public hung with us, honked at us, hugged us and ate our free brownies. On a side note, Pierce Transit drivers gave the most thumbs up of all the public transportation drivers. Taxis came in second.

Big thanks to Downtown: On The Go and Transportation Choices Coalition for organizing the local effort. And thanks to Ben and Ted Fuller of the band China Davis for performing all day at our (PARK)stock.

Remember, Park(ing) Day isn't just about temporarily reclaiming some public land for public use, it's about raising awareness that whatever its benefits, there is a high cost we pay for the convenience of on-street parking.

Anyone have links to photos of the other park(ing) parks in downtown Tacoma?

LIVING LARGE ON THE WAY TO TAYLOR SWIFT >>>

THING: One rad limo

Full of: Eight rad chicks

Headed to: Taylor Swift at Tacoma Dome

Driven by: Jeff Call

Owned by: Jeff Call

Associated with: Stonegate Pizza & Rum Bar

Where: We gorged before the show

Bartender Dave: Made me do a Three Drink Minimum

I did not: Fight him or resist

You're not: Surprised at all, I'm sure

I rented a limousine recently, so I know what the going rate is for a regular stretch limo, a Lincoln stretch limo, a stretch Hummer and a party bus. 

Which is why I'm also familiar with the going rate for a "hoopty limo."

To read about the awesome limo I picked, click here.

HEY MAN, HANG WITH US >>

For those dreaming to turn on, tune in and drop out of work for four hours Friday, your dream is now reality. The Weekly Volcano will transform a street-level parking space along Pacific Avenue in Tacoma's Museum District into a mini Woodstock festival. Titled PARK(stock), our hippie happening is part of national PARK(ing) Day, the annual global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into "PARK(ing)" spaces: temporary public places.

It's beautiful, man.

Downtown On the Go - the Tacoma commuter program partnership between downtown businesses and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, the City of Tacoma, and Pierce Transit - sponsors the local version of the movement. Local businesses - including your favorite alt rag - will create pop-up parks in parking spaces, from the University of Washington-Tacoma to the Stadium District, in hopes the public will hang at each park and ponder how public space is created and allocated - while, at least at our park, spreading love and peace, man.

Drop by our park Friday with your tambourine, you dig?

PARK(ing) Day

Friday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free
Downtown Tacoma
253.682.1739

LINK: Tell the universe you are down with this

LINK: Downtown On The Go

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

It's Go/Stay Time: Teachers Education Association meets tonight to discuss strike option (News Tribune)

Amtrak Vs. Lakewood: Lakewood man doesn't want the high-speed choo-choos in his backyard (News Tribune)

Jobs Plan: Pres. Obama is sending it to Congress tonight. (CNN)

Awesome: Watch this Englishman put out a fire with a vacuum cleaner. (Gizmodo)

The Cure's Robert Smith: He comes clean about politics (The Guardian)

20^th Anniversary of Achtung Baby: Jack White, Depeche Mode, Patti Smith and Damian Rice are among the artists who will record covers (Rolling Stone)

Speaking Of Covers: Jim Carrey covers Radiohead's "Creep"

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Camping That Sucks: Over the weekend Pierce County election officials must camp out under florescent lighting counting signatures to recall Assessor-Treasure Dale Washam. (News Tribune)

Let's Party: Bureau of Labor Statistics claims Tacoma's workers' average wage is above the national average. (News Tribune)

If Only The Weekly Volcano Had That Kind Of Money To Embezzle: Citigroup Assistant Vice-President Gary Foster plead guilty to embezzling more than $22 million. (the New York Post)

Please Oh Please Keep The Patdown: Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano said that travelers will soon be able to keep their shoes on when they pass through airport security. (Politico)

Canf I Haf A Drinkf: Evan Rachel Wood accidentally had her tooth knocked out while dancing at a Parisian nightclub. (E Online)

Stupid Internet: The co-founder of Record Store Day may have to close his own record store. (Punknews.org)

Paying The Price: The Price Is Right model Lanisha Cole sues producers for sexual harassment (NY Daily News)

AWARD TIME >>>

Late last year the Weekly Volcano sat down with Tacoma City Councilmember Ryan Mello to discuss his thoughts on how the City of Tacoma performed 2010, and what 2011 would bring. One of Mello's proudest accomplishments was the Mobility Master Plan, as he stated, "a fancy term for a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian network throughout Tacoma."

"It's completely revamping the bicycle, trail and pedestrian network," Mello told Weekly Volcano reporter Zach Powers. "It's going to make Tacoma a whole lot more livable and sustainable, so people feel more comfortable walking to work, walking to shop, biking to work, biking to busses, etc.  It's going to change the paradigm that it's unsafe to bike or walk long distances in Tacoma." Read th efull interview with Mello here.

Today, the City of Tacoma sent out a release stating it won a 2011 VISION 2040 Award from the Puget Sound Regional Council for its Mobility Master Plan. The award recognizes innovative projects and programs that help ensure a sustainable future as the region grows. The release continues:

"We were impressed with how Tacoma is using the Mobility Master Plan to achieve three citywide goals: transportation improvements, increased sustainability, and encouragement of active living," said Mukilteo Councilmember Jennifer Gregerson, Chair of the VISION 2040 Awards Selection Committee. "More importantly, Tacoma is making sure the plan becomes a reality by investing $1 million in the top four bikeways from the plan. This means that 10 percent of the bicycle facilities in the plan will be finished by 2012."

Tacoma adopted its Mobility Master Plan in 2010 with the goal of developing a comprehensive network of bikeways and pedestrian walkways citywide to enhance the comfort and safety for all. The plan includes a comprehensive set of bicycle and pedestrian guidelines, including an emphasis on complete streets, specific strategies for high traffic areas like the Tacoma Dome, and accessibility transition guidelines.

VISION 2040 is the region's growth management, economic, and transportation strategy, designed to meet the needs of the 5 million people expected to be living in the region in 2040. It is an integrated, long-range vision for the future that lays out a strategy for maintaining a healthy region - promoting the well-being of people and communities, economic vitality and a healthy environment.

Congratulations Tacoma.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Washam 86'd: Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Dale Washam has been barred from the county auditor's office. (News Tribune)

Now You're Good to Go: New Tacoma Narrows bridge toll gizmos installed. (News Tribune)

Tacoma Candy Bar Caper: He was just on a walk-about. Geez. (Seattle Times)

Hurricane Irene: Let's look at some waves (CNN)

Toasted Beatles: The Fab 5 created with toast (Food Diggity)

The Nirvana Show: Jon Stewart will chat with Krist and Dave. (USA TODAY)

N.W.O.: Ministry getting back together (Brooklyn Vegan - of course)

Selling Beef: Wahlberg bros. show their buns (Huffingtonpost)

LINK: Download the free South Sound Happy Hour Mobile App

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

School Bullying: Tacoma School District and the union shove each other. (News Tribune)

Could This Save The Cliff House Restaurant?: Hylebos Waterway drawbridge is getting close to opening. (News Tribune)

Buffet Boost: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway announced it is investing $5 billion in Bank of America. (NPR)

On The Job: 11 pivotal in Steve Jobs' career. (TechFlash)

Don't Blow Away Your Immune System: The DEA has announced that three-quarters of cocaine in the U.S. can sometimes fatally lower a person's white blood cell count. (Scientific American)

Dying: Walmart and Groupon. (Ad Age and Gawker)

Reunited And It Feels So Good: The Royal Tenenbaums. (Gothamist)

Video: Princess Leia loss 50 pounds. (Hollywood Reporter)

Two Words: R2-D2 helmet. (walyou)

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Election Results: Super Best of Tacoma Doorbeller Anders Ibsen and Karen Smitherman emerged victorious, and other winners (News Tribune)

Too Expensive: State officials still chugging along toward improving passenger train service through Pierce County. (News Tribune)

You Might Be Dead: Administration incorrectly declares about 14,000 Americans dead. (CNN)

His Story: Roger Ebert has posted the opening pages of his memoir on his website. (Chicago Sun-Times)

The Light Is On: Booklamp helps you find new books by comparing the content of the books themselves. (booklamp.org)

Record Set: Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne sets record on iTunes. (New York Times)

Nice: Jeff Buckley movies on the way. (gothamist)

LINK: We added 15 new South Sound happy hours

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011 >>>

1. Catch ... And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead and Ringo Deathstarr tonight at the Capital Theater. It'll be musical awesomeness at it's finest, not to mention its  most absurdly named.

2. Continuing on the music front, albeit the strange music front, Stasis Field will be at Northern tonight. Find more info here.

3. In Tacoma, and far grittier than experimental, the Curse of Western Culture will rock Hell's Kitchen to the core. Get your beer and rock on, midweek style.

4. Every Wednesday a "fast paced (over 16 mph), hilly, 40 mile training ride, led by members of the Tacoma Wheelmen Bicycle Club," takes off at 9:30 a.m. from the Proctor District Starbucks. Go here for more info.

5. Vote for Tacoma's best baristas, politicians, bloggers, bartenders and local businesses in the only 253 "Best Of" issue that matters. The Volcano's annual Best of Tacoma issue publishes July 28, and this year's readers' poll launched last week. Let your vote be heard now! Find all the details here.

LINK: South Sound Live Local Music Listings

LINK: Viva South Sound Arts & Entertainment Calendar