An announcement today says that production of Tacoma Guitars will be moved from Tacoma to New Hartford, Conn.

"New Hartford Guitars" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Personally, I don't think they'll sound as good without the Tacomaness in them.

Friday update: C.R. Roberts has some details on The Biz Buzz.

Saturday update: Here's the story in this morning's paper.

Have you heard the song "6th Avenue Stroll"? It sounds like a theme song to an '80s sitcom set in Tacoma.

In other words, it's perfect!

And for Sixth Avenue gossip, check out On6thAve.com. The latest? "Keep your eye on our local grocery store, 6th Ave Neighborhood Market (6th & Junett) … they’re going to be remodeled!"

Ed sent me this open call for musicians. It sounds like a fun idea.

Tacoma Acoustic Jam
Calling all weather-hearty musicians. Anyone who wants to play acoustic music outside meet Tuesday, January 22nd, at Point Defiance Park 12:00 noon. We will meet at the covered picnic area between "Never Never Land" and "Fort Nisqually". Bundle up, cut the fingers off your gloves, bring your axe and a propane heater if you have it. Let's see who shows up!

Here around the Grit office, we've been talking for a while about doing something like this to bring some life to Tollefson Plaza. Our version would probably include fewer real musicians and more garbage cans being played as drums. And Niki on the tambourine. Maybe this summer?

Here's some reality TV news we can really be proud of, especially since she won $300,000 for her community:

Local gospel singer Crystal Aikin has won BET’s national “Sunday Best” competition.

Aikin, a Fife resident who grew up in Tacoma, was selected from thousands of contestants to perform on the show, a gospel version of the popular “American Idol” singing competition.

Aikin, 33, won a recording contract, a new car and $300,000 earmarked for community improvement. When she’s not singing gospel music, she works as an emergency room nurse at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. She is a graduate of Foss High School, class of 1992, and Pacific Lutheran University. Her home church is Christ Life Center Church in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood.

– From the story by News Tribune reporter Bill Hutchens

Here she is in action on the show back in November:

AP Photo/Peter Kramer

EdwinDeux posted the 253rd comment in what is sure to go down in history as the GREATEST CONTEST IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!

Edwin's winning comment?

"I want all eyes on me, when I win this. hehe"

Edwin, you are a visionary. Congratulations. We'll be contacting you shortly about the procurement of your prize!

Thanks everybody for participating. You guys are HARD CORE. It took me an hour to approve all the comments, but it took you guys a mere 20 minutes or so to get us well above that number. If you made comments you never saw posted, it's because it was after we hit the 253 mark.

I'll follow this post up soon with another including my favorite comments from the contest. Possibly some "outtakes."

You guys rock.

A New Day Has Come! A day in which GritCity has something of value to somebody -- four tickets to see Celine Dion in concert October 18, 2008.

All you have to do is start Taking Chances and participate in the contest that's happening right now.

1) Submit the 253rd comment on this blog post and win.

2) You can post as often as you like.

3) You can only post every 30 seconds due to spam settings (sorry, that's annoying and something I can't change).

4) Comments will be moderated and approved in the order in which they were received.

5) "Inappropriate" or "ineligible" comments will not be considered as valid entries.

6) We're giving you until Monday at 5 p.m. to get to 253 comments. If it takes you that long, we will feel deeply disappointed in you. I mean, I Drove All Night to get you these tickets!

7) If turnout is dismal and we don't even get 253 comments OR if the person who submitted the winning comment cannot be reached or is not eligible to win, tickets will go to the person who came closest to that number without going over.

8) For more info and a link to the "official rules," click here.

That's The Way It Is!

Want to participate but don't know what to say in the comments? I'll give you some topics.

• The peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. Discuss.

• The Holy Roman Empire was neither holy nor Roman nor an empire. Discuss.

• Ireland Online is reporting that Celine Dion recently hinted that this upcoming tour could be her last. Discuss.

• Who's your favorite Fraggle? Discuss.

Ready?

AP Photo/Eckehard Schulz

GO!

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Contest is over! Thanks for playing!

You may have heard that one Ms. Celine Dion has announced her 2008-2009 concert schedule, which includes a stop at the Tacoma Dome. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (purchase them here), but because we GritCitizens are so well-connected and love our faithful readers so much, we've managed to score four tickets to give away to one of you this Friday (a whole day before they go on sale!).*

Here's the deal: We'll have a designated blog post this Friday at approximately 11 a.m. (Pacific time!). The person to post the 253rd comment (represent!) to that designated contest post will win four tickets to the Tacoma Dome show, which will be held on October 18, 2008.**

Each ticket is valued at approximately $100. We will be moderating our comments that day, meaning that they have to be approved before being published to prevent any foul play -- every comment will be approved unless someone tries to post anything particularly heinous.

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Important notes:

1) In order to post a comment on our blog, you need to be a registered member of TheNewsTribune.com. I'd suggest taking care of that sooner rather than later if you're interested in this contest, just in case you run into any technical difficulties with that process.

2) The winner will be contacted by email and/or phone, so make sure you're using legitimate information in your registration account!

3) Read the official fancy-schmancy rules here.

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* We struggled at first to find a link between GritCity and Celine, but then we remembered how SNL's Ana Gasteyer used to imitate Celine and proclaimed herself "The greatest singer in the world!" We frequently proclaim ourselves "The greatest bloggers in the world!" so that settled that.

** The show isn't until Fall of 2008, which makes it feel like the world could end before the event is held. But the world could end tomorrow too! Doesn't that make you feel better?

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I closed the comments to make sure no one confused this post for the actual contest post. Check back on Friday!

According to an Associated Press story, at least one local made their way to American Idol auditions for a chance at making it on the show next season.

"I just want to be able to say I gave it my best shot," said Tabatha Politis, 20, whose co-workers at a veterinary hospital in Tacoma, Wash., chipped in to send her to California because she got in a car accident on the way to audition last year and missed her chance in Seattle.

Would love to hear how it went if anyone's privy to the info. Good luck, Tabatha!

My favorite summer festival in Tacoma, Ethnic Fest runs from noon to 7 p.m., both today and Sunday at Wright Park.

Last month, Kelly returned from Chicago well rested, starry eyed and ready to change the city.

This week, I returned from Detroit tired and kind of blown away. Sure, I really only spent a day in Detroit proper (three in the suburbs!). And, true, I really didn't have a stellar agenda planned. But a drive around town can be telling.

You think Tacoma has empty buildings downtown? High unemployment? Violence? A lack of parking? Sorry, folks!

They don't even have drive-through coffee stands and there are advertisements for things like "Mocha Lattes!"

Elysia tells me you just have to know where to go in Detroit, and I believe her. But ... I feel like I was Ebeneezer being transported to a larger, ruder version of Tacoma ... in the 80s. (Sorry, Detroiters.)

OK, maybe I'm overstating, but I do think the trip made me understand the Tacoma cheerleading a bit more.

At the end of her set Saturday at the Gorge, Neko Case thanked everyone for coming out, especially “people from Tacoma.”

Awwww, thanks, Neko!

We knew you wouldn't forget about all the good times we've had together.

For a full report on the Sasquatch Music Festival, read EJ's story from Saturday or check out his fine work on Bring the Noise.

Sanjaya was SO two weeks ago, but if you're still not over it, you can get your fix today at the The Commons at Federal Way.

From Q13:

"Sanjaya will be at the mall at 4 in the afternoon greeting the public at Macy's Courtyard."

And here's more on the event from The News Tribune.