Tis the season for each of us to ponder the eternal topic of New Year’s resolutions, and of course, I can’t possibly skip this opportunity to offer some likely and avant-garde ideas on things I think you should consider doing in 2009.

Sure, you can set cliché resolutions about exercising more, eating healthy, quitting smoking and so on, but I’m going to fill the rest of this space with many, many other amazing things that you might want to use as you fill your 2009 hearts and calendars.

So pop those champagne bottles and let’s go!

1. Watch more movies at the Grand Cinema.

2. Attend every one of the Kulture Lab functions.

3. Support local Tacoma bands.

4. Use your freakin’ library card.

5. Try out Tacoma’s newest restaurant, Merende. Small bites = YUM!

6. Hang out in downtown Olympia.

7. Visit Tacoma museums.

8. Ride the bus instead of driving.

9. Tell your friends and family how much you love them. Parkway bartender Mathew Broaddus passed away on Dec. 23 and I’m going to miss him forever.

10. Take more walks around Wright Park.

11. Discover the adorable Fern Hill Business District.

12. Catch a show at the Rialto, the Pantages and Theater on the Square.

13. Go to the Karpeles Manuscript Museum, already!

14. Buy more albums from locally-owned CD stores.

15. Try an ambitious haircut, color or style.

16. Volunteer your time.

17. Ride the mechanical bull that will soon be in Station 56.

18. You MUST go to Zoobilee.

19. Go Local and support the Weekly Volcano.

20. Discover and develop your inner artist.

21. Write your first battle rap.

22. Eat more bacon and don’t feel bad about it.

23. Become a member of Tacoma Art Place.

24. Get the courage to ask someone out that you’ve been eyeing.

25. Join the rest of the crowd and haze rookie Volcano scribe Chuck Dula by telling him that he’s fat.

26. Have more dinner parties.

27. Get over your fear of public dancing.

28. Support the Tacoma Rainiers.

29. Buy that pair of shoes that are crazy expensive.

30. Last, but certainly not least, I just have to say this: Don’t you dare miss First Night in downtown Tacoma.



HAPPY FREAKIN’ NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!



Tell me where you like to party here.