TACOMA 2012 STATE OF THE CITY >>>

Last night at Go Local's second annual Shift Happens event Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland delivered her 2012 State of the City Address. This year's address was less of a pep rally than last year's State of the City Address, and instead was calm, positive and confident.

Last year Mayor Strickland spoke like an entrepreneur trying to sell investors on her product. This year Strickland sounded more like a CEO updating her shareholders on a year of growth while providing positive projections for the future.

Strickland's address began by recapping the highlights of 2011.

"Last year, our theme for the State of the City address was ‘finishing what we started'," the Mayor recalled. "From family recreation to commerce and transportation, we saw the completion of many great projects."

Leading with Cheney Stadium, the opening of IGA's Tacoma City Grocer, and the Wright Park Sprayground, Strickland highlighted eight finished projects that she identified as improving the quality of life throughout Tacoma.

After lauding successful projects Strickland shifted attention to small business culture, highlighting expansions, success stories and reasons for optimism moving forward.

"We saw 2,744 new businesses get licensed in 2011 - 500 more new businesses than in 2010," Strickland pointed out.

Looking forward to the scheduled opening of the LeMay Museum, a McMenamins location, and the completion of Sound Transit's D-to-M Street project, Strickland beamed while describing the looming completions of several major projects in 2012.

Mayor Strickland also highlighted bright spots within Tacoma's public education system and praised local organizations like Tacoma 360, the Foundation for Tacoma Schools and the Mayor's Education Task Force. Strickland also touted the award-winning work being done at Lincoln High School.

"All kinds of positive news continues to pour out of Lincoln High School, where they recently won a Golden Apple Award from KCTS-9 for the Lincoln Center," Strickland reminded the crowd.

Strickland ended her speech by citing author Thomas Friedman. Friedman recently challenged Americans to realize that the era of average must be replaced by an era of above and beyond. Friedman refers to this beyond as a person's, organization's or business' "extra."

"The business world is overflowing with products and services and designs and marketing campaigns that are adequate," explained Strickland. "The real challenge - and the huge opportunity - is to turn something adequate into something amazing."

"It's just not good enough to be pretty good at everything," Strickland continued. "The most successful companies, products and brands have figured out how to become the most of something.

"That is, to find and embrace their ‘extra'."

Strickland concluded her State of the City address with a challenge to everyone in the room.

"From the private sector, to the non-profit world, to the public sector," Strickland said, "we must ask ourselves what is our extra?"

LINK: Tacoma Komo reviewed last night's State of the City Address by Mayor Strickland.

LINK: Exit 133 also reviewed last night's State of the City Address by Mayor Strickland.

LINK: FeedTacoma's fantastic Kevin Freitas posted audio of Mayor Strickland's State of the City address here.

LINK: Before any of this, The News Tribune previewed Mayor Strickland's State of the City address.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Have You Heard About The Weather?: People are still in the dark with more rain and wind coming. (News Tribune)

Tacoma's Pothole Program: There's a partial plan. (News Tribune)

Eye On Olympia: New traffic fine would fund crime victims' services. (Peninsula Daily News)

Gay Marriage Bills: Two public hearings on gay marriage bills are set for today in Olympia. (King 5)

Public Works: $1 billion public-works package that could potentially put 25,000 people to work, many starting in the summer construction season just months away. (The Olympian)

European Union Vs. Iran: EU foreign ministers impose new sanctions on Iran citing Iran's refusal to negotiate over its nuclear program. The sanctions include a ban on the import of Iranian oil. (CNN)

Blackberry: Co-chief executives Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have stepped down in a shake-up. (BBC)

Special Investigative Committee: Miranda July called before Congress to explain exactly what her whole thing is. (The Onion)

What Are They, Maniacs?: Get ready for Flashdance - The Musical. (EW)

Oh Hell Yes: J Mascis bobblehead. (Pitchfork)

Oh Hell Yes II: Dwight Schrute's 13 Best Moments. (BuzzFeed)

Hello Trivia Nights: The 10 most expensive books in the world. (Flavorpill)

For the second year, The Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center will be home to an event aiming to help businesses, individuals and communities discover ways to aid sustainability and promote healthy LOCAL business practices. Go Local Tacoma's Shift Happens daylong extravaganza will feature seminars, food and booths from local businesses beginning at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. Attendees will have the opportunity to eat and drink local products, as well as tour booths representing each local business. Shift Happens will also, once again, include a State of the City address delivered by Mayor Marilyn Strickland.

The event kicks off at 1 p.m. with "sustainability smart labs" aimed at small businesses. For $10 registrants may sit in on "Key Indicators of successful Entrepreneurs;" "Unlocking Your Situated Advantage: the hidden wealth potential of body, place, and commons;" "Customer Acquisition Tool Box;" and "Becoming a BEST Business."

The rest of the event is free.

From 4-5:45 p.m. local restaurants and food vendors will serve food and drinks just outside the main room in a happy hour, networking atmosphere. From 6-6:45 p.m. Go Local Tacoma will hand out awards before Mayor Strickland tells us how it is. At 6:45 p.m. local vendors will be open for business.

The Shift Happens event is just one of the many programs Go Local Tacoma has launched to connect local independent businesses to consumers and resources in an effort to build a more prosperous community.

I tossed a few questions at Go Local Tacoma Headmaster Patricia Lecy-Davis to see what would happen

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What do you believe Shift Happens attendees will walk away with?

PATRICIA LECY-DAVIS: A connection with the Tacoma community that they have not known. The coolest businesses in town will be showing their coolest stuff. Attendees will receive a sense of togetherness and feeling that we can make a difference.

VOLCANO: What can they expect to eat for dinner that night?

LECY-DAVIS: People should expect to bring an appetite. There will be savory samples from wide variety of Tacoma's most passionate food purveyors. The food vendors will be open from 4-5:45 p.m., which will be a happy hour environment. A cash bar will be onsite.

VOLCANO: What excites you the most about Shift Happens?

LECY-DAVIS: I'm mostly excited about all the "new" businesses that have signed up. Ninety percent of our vendors so far are not last year's vendors and are brand new businesses, such as Fingerprint Connections custom candy, Home Makeover Specialists and clothing designer Chelsea Berry Clothing Designer. Sonia Silver will be at Shift Happens promoting her "new shop" that will open in Proctor this spring.

For more information on Shift Happens and Go Local programs, click here.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Snow: Yup, the threat lingers. (Seattle Times)

Tacoma's Finances Outside Review: Not good. Like $31 million general fund shortfall not good. (News Tribune)

Pierce County Council: Leadership vote went Republican electing Joyce McDonald of Puyallup as its new chairwoman. (News Tribune)

Republican Race: Romney won a convincing victory, but none of the contenders plans to drop out before South Carolina's Jan. 21 primary. (CNN)

Hostess: Unlike its Twinkies, it doesn't look like it will last forever. (The Wall Street Journal)

Goodfellas On TV?: AMC thinks so. (Deadline)

Wish You A Very Logical Day: Crochet Spock ear. (Craftzine)

John Lennon: He was crazy about cats. (Mental floss)

Warm Fuzzy of the Day: Woman manages agoraphobia by meeting her 325 Facebook friends. (Jezebel)

WTF?

LAST CHANCE TO HIT THE ART VENDING MACHINE >>>

What could be cooler than vending art from a machine? What could be cooler than art for a measly five bucks a shot? And could there be a cooler use for outlawed cigarette vending machines?

Nothing.

We're sad to remind you that the popular Art*O*Mat® art vending machine in Tacoma will disappear tomorrow.

BKB & Company, the upscale gallery and boutique housing said machine, closes its doors tomorrow for good.

"Since 1998 my mom, Corky, and I have had the pleasure of representing artists and introducing wonderful wearable arts and contemporary crafts to Tacoma through our gallery, BKB & Company.  We will close forever tomorrow, December 15^th," wrote Victoria Brown today on the TacomaArt listserv.

BKB & Company offers a 40 percent off storewide sale tomorrow. Drop by the Pacific Avenue store during Third Thursday Artwalk and bid them farewell.

[BKB & Company, 1744 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.6884]

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Clear and cold, hi 45, lo 30

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hi 43, lo 34

Sunday: Partly cloudy, hi 43, lo 32

>>> THURSDAY-SUNDAY: A Christmas Story

True, there are a boatload of holiday theater productions to choose from right now - including Capitol Playhouse's Scrooge: The Musical and Tacoma Little Theatre's A Christmas Carol, both of which received rave reviews in this week's Volcano. Still, only one South Sound holiday production stars the Volcano's own Christian Carvajal, theater critic extraordinaire! And that production is Olympia Family Theatre's A Chrismtas Story, currently running through Dec. 18 at the Minnaert Center-Black Box. Rather than watching the re-run on TBS for the 800th time, see Ralphie's quest for the elusive Red Ryder BB gun with the whole family in Olympia.

• The Minnaert Center-Black Box, through Dec. 18, 7 p.m. Thursday - Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday - Sunday, recommended for ages 8+, $9-$16, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia, 360.753.8585

>>> SATURDAY, DEC. 10: SANTARCHY TACOMA

Anarchy is once again coming to Tacoma, and it's wearing a Santa suit. Well, hopefully hundreds of Santa suits. The pan-continental holiday riot known as Santarchy could easily be denounced as just another excuse to get s***faced - like wedding receptions or a visit to Sea World. But it's more. The revelry involves dozens, hundreds, sometimes thousands of Santa-suited sots marauding about town - and in Tacoma it's been a tradition since 2007.  This year Tacoma's version of Santarchy goes down Saturday, Dec. 10. And there's a Santarchy party bus involved! The Santarchy party bus takes off from the Harmon at 5 p.m. (must have a purchased bracelet to ride), and will drop the drunken Santas off at 9 p.m. at O'Malley's. Before, during, and afterward craziness will ensue. Follow Tacoma Santarchy on Facebook for all the details.

>>> SATURDAY, DEC.10: BEAUTIFUL ANGLE HOLIDAY PARTY & POSTER SALE

Now in its ninth year, there's there's no doubt that the annual Beautiful Angle Holiday Party and Poster Sale is an event Tacoma has come to know and love. Going down this Saturday at King's Books and kicking off at 7 p.m., the event will be a, well, beautiful exposition of everything Tacoma's underground-legend guerilla arts project is all about. If you're not on the Beautiful Angle train yet, see what you've been missing. Bryan John Appleby, along with special guest, The Living, will be providing the music. And you'll have the opportunity to buy a poster or two while meeting Lance Kagey and Tom Llewellyn. It's a win-win.

• King's Books, 7 p.m., free admission, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801

>>> SATURDAY, DEC.10: DICKENS FEST

Oh Dickens! It's time for another Stadium District Dickens Festival! Every year, for one Saturday in December, Tacoma's postcard-esque Stadium District (Hey, they make postcards of a lot of stuff...) gets all Dickensy in the spirit of the holidays, busting period costumes, carriage rides, beard contests and even Bill Baarsma telling stories of the Chinese expulsion (What, really?). It's all true. Even the Baarsma part (he'll be at King's Books at 4 p.m.). Get in on the tradition this year. Find all the info you'll need right here.

• Stadium District, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., all ages, most events are free, $40 dinner and theater package available, dickensfestival.net

>>> SATURDAY-SUNDAY: THE NUTCRACKER

Stop pretending you're some sort of tough guy and go see the goddamn Nutcracker already. You know you want to. You're fascinated by people in tights. Plus, the local productions are simply amazing. In Tacoma, Tacoma City Ballet does its thing at the Pantages. In Oly, catch Ballet Northwest's take at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

• Pantages Theater, Tacoma City Ballet presents The Nutcracker, Saturday-Sunday through Dec. 18, 3 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m., $19-$60, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890
• Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Ballet Northwest presents The Nutcracker, Friday- Sunday through Dec. 18, Friday- Saturday 7:30 p.m., Saturday - Sunday 2 p.m., $14-$30, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia, 360.753.8586

>>> WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
All things Christmas. Finding and cutting the perfect tree with my boys, shopping at Duck the Malls arts and crafts sale, baking and decorating yummy cookies and with my hubby - a little kissing under the mistletoe. Sweet stuff.

JOANN VARNELL: Theater Critic
Saturday the whole family is going to the annual Beautiful Angle Holiday Party where we will grab some amazing limited posters (I may throw an elbow or two if necessary so watch out) and listen to Bryan John Appleby!!! The little son and I will be going to his first toddler birthday party for his best friend on Sunday.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
Going to the Dickens Festival and Happy Feet II with the kiddos as well as working in the church yard and then some jammy time around the house... Oh the glamorous life of a writer.

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
PFLAG holiday party and white elephant gift exchange Sunday.

.

CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
I'll be fighting a furnace all weekend as The Old Man in Olympia Family Theater's production of A Christmas Story. Hosticklepfeiffer!

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Up For Debate: Pacific Lutheran University's student newspaper website shutdown due to potty language. (News Tribune)

Malin Not Mailing It In: Davenport, Iowa City Manager still intereste din City of Tacoma Manager job. (News Tribune)

Fun To Say, Dangerous To Eat: Ocean Spray expands Craisins recall. (Boston.com)

Tacoma Bath Bombs: Oprah loves them. (News Tribune)

Evil Craigslist: More than 100 people in Ohio responded to a Craigslist ad asking them to "watch over a 688 acre patch of hilly farmland and feed a few cows." Some of them are buried in shallow graves. (New York Times)

GOP Focus Groups: GOP voters in a Virginia focus group say they have not warmed to Mitt Romney, are worried about Newt Gingrich's volatility and have all but dismissed Herman Cain. (CNN)

Best Toys Of All Time: Stick, dirt ... (Wired)

Maybe This Shall Destroy Them Both: Anne Hathaway vs. Jessica Biel. (Celebitchy)

Beautiful slo-mo footage of exploding cocktails

Phantom Cocktails from Ty Migota on Vimeo.

SATURDAY, NOV. 26, 2011 >>>

1. Every time a snowboard movie arrives at a snowboard shop, wrenches hit the concrete, open signs are flipped over and couches are pushed together.  Tonight, Northwest Snowboards takes that mindset a notch higher with a night of snowboard and skateboard flicks - including TB20 and Absinthe's Twel2ve - on the Capitol Theater screen beginning at 7 p.m.  

2. Is it us or is the shopping local movement gaining tremendous speed. Now we have Small Business Saturday. The national campaign encourages shoppers to favor the locally owned businesses that are often the soul of their communities. Of course all area small businesses are down for this today, including A Rhapsody In Bloom Florist & Cafe Latte on Sixth Avenue. Besides offering new merchandise and sale pricess, the small business will shell out complimentary 8-oz. eggnog, mocha or vanilla lattes and hot ciders. Nice.

3. Wine Bank and Beer Vault celebrates its sixth anniversary with a wine tasting and special sale pricing from 2-4:30 p.m.

4. The Weekly Volcano applauds those responsible for the Bicycle Booze Cruz for further synthesizing these two activities: exercise and drinking. This particular cruise called Turkicanus Bicyclette will launch from Magoo's Annex at 7 p.m. - rain or shine – in honor of one of our more subtly bizarre holidays, Thanksgiving. Riders are encouraged to dress up however they see fit, as they bike from bar to bar, all over Tacoma. Of course, biking and drinking aren't quite a match made in heaven, so ride at your own risk.

5. Throughout the month of November brave men have been attempting to eradicate cancer by growing mustaches (thus raising awareness, which is fatal to cancer). The movement is called Movember. Stonegate Pizza on South Tacoma Way is down, hosting a mustache party tonight, which will benefit friends Tiffany and Jimmy with medical expenses to fight cancer. Admission is $5 suggested donation AND a mustache - real or fake (prizes will be awarded. That means you too ladies. Ture Holland and Brandon Morgan will rock the joint. And there's a raffle, too.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hours!

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND TODAY >>>

Holiday Events And Gifts: All in one glorious spot. (Weekly Volcano)

Grinches: They're stealing copper wire in Tacoma. (News Tribune)

Shift Your Shopping: Go Local Tacoma joins the national campaign. (Weekly Volcano)

Kamal Ganzouri Is Back: The former prime minister under President Hosni Mubarak was given his old job back today. (CNN)

Ewww: The eight germiest spots in a mall. (CNN)

Thank Gawd: Someone else read the Kardashian's novel so we don't have to. (FourFour)

We Love The Bendy Straw: An awesome article about the invention of the Bendy Straw. (The Atlantic)

Prank Of The Day: An oldie but goodie. (BroBible)

LIKE: Fanwagon Facebook car by Volkswagen. (Design Boom)

The World's Largest Thing Of The Day: Gummy Bear. (The Daily What)

MAYBE YOU MAY HAVE A BOWL WHILE YOUR BRAKES ARE FIXED >>>

Remember all those boxes of cereal in Jerry Seinfeld's set kitchen? Bobble had more: Go Lean, Raisin Bran, Wheat Chex, Kashi, Grape Nuts. Bobble Tiki regarded Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs as "dessert cereals." (Hey, it works with wine.) A bowl eaten after 10 p.m. (and after a glass of wine) was the perfect soporific snack.

Perfect, that is, until Bobble Tiki couldn't fit into his pants.

Anyway, if you have a love for dessert cereals, stop by Simmons Automotive on South 56th Street and South Proctor in Tacoma. Obviously, the folks working at the automotive repair shop love them, too.