If you don't have enough rainy-day work to do in your own yard, there's Parks Appreciation Day going on until noon today at area parks.

After that, if you want to get a jump on spending your Economic Stimulus Check (can people get a payday loan for that?), there's the Sixth Avenue Shop Hop from 10 a.m. until 6 tonight. Sounds fun. There will be prizes. And pink cookies.

"Steve Craig left one of the city’s more unusual collections when he died in his sleep in one of Tacoma’s more unusual homes."

That's what C.R. Roberts writes in a story about the upcoming auction of Craig's stuff. And he had a lot of stuff.

Alan Gorsuch of Sanford & Son has been organizing the collection, which includes:

• An embalming table
• A dentist’s station featuring chair with spit bowl, drill and tools
• An arm and a leg (from a human skeleton)
• Life-size “birthing doll” used by medical students
• Badges, plates, tickets, photo books
• Pinball machines
• Shuffleboard game
• Juke boxes
• Complete soda fountain
• Tiki bar
• Pornography of a sort not spoken of in family newspapers

So if you want a piece of that, here are the details:

Where: 715 Court C, Opera Alley, downtown Tacoma
When: Monday and April 28; preview 9 to 10 a.m. both days; auction begins at 10 a.m. Auctioneers say a third auction will likely be needed; time, date and location to be determined.
Information: Sanford & Son Antiques & Auctions, 253-272-0334

Thanks to plenty of meth heads and a novel, Tacoma is known by some as "Methlehem." Awesome enough.

I'll take that over some clever drug+town name that could result from a surge in the abuse of a drug called Jenkem.

Never heard of it? Read on, my friend, from a Collier's County Sheriff's Office memo:

Jenkem originated in Africa... (it) is a homemade substance which consists of fecal matter and urine ... placed in a bottle or jar and covered most commonly with a balloon. The container is then placed in a sunny area for several hours or days until fermented ... inhaling the gas is said to have a euphoric high similar to ingesting cocaine but with strong hallucinations.

I'll spare you from most of the rest, but I feel obligated to include this gem, lest you think you should try fermenting some sewage:

All subjects who used the Jenkem disliked the taste of sewage in their mouth and the fact that the taste continued for several days.

Huh. Who woulda thought?

I'm not sure what to say about this, besides: Do not let me hear about you doing it. If I have to endure any jokes about the new aroma of Tacoma, I will ... do ... something.

(Thanks, Roxanne)

Sadly, I learned at lunch today that the Taco del Mar in the Rainier Place shopping center (by REI, Borders & the like) is closing its doors at the end of this week.

While this is a sad event for the owners, employees and patrons, it's opened up an intriguing shopping event for surfers and lovers of all things tropical and/or weird.

The store is selling all of its decorations (and, if you've been in a Taco del Mar, you know there's plenty). That includes palm trees, surf boards, surfing photos, a giant marlin, an octopus, etc etc.

Make haste if you're interested as the opportunity will pass you by in the next couple of days.

Blogs like us always like to write the birth announcements for fun new stores, but what about their obits?

Yesterday I noticed a lot of empty space at Space, the Stadium District furniture boutique we wrote about when it opened about a year ago. It looks like it's been closed for a while – and its phone number has been disconnected. (The owner also runs Tacoma Design Market, so maybe this is consolidation.)

We've all seen the condo construction explosion, but how many shops will die waiting for the population boom?

If we were taking bets, what do you think will be the next Tacoma shop to go under? Which ones look like they're on life support?

And they didn't even call us gritty …

A Thursday Styles story examines the latest style statement: Antlers, apparently. (Don't tell my old Illinois hometown where boys got an extra day off school during hunting season.)

Among the fashion-y types is T-town's own jewelry designer Lisa Kinoshita. I used to live upstairs from her St. Helens Avenue shop and coveted her cool, clean style. Here's what she had to say:

The stag as an archetypal symbol was not lost on Lisa Kinoshita, who designs a jewelry collection called Mineral in Tacoma, Wash., which includes a sterling silver antler pendant. But she doubts that the current popularity is based on more than aesthetics.

“Where once the stag was a symbol of religious regeneration,” she said, “it could be said that today it appeals to those who worship modern design.”

Lisa's Web site is here.

UPDATE: Seriously. They're everywhere. More antlers. (Can tusks be far behind?)

And here's the original NYT article.

Like your eggs from free-range chickens and your bread chewy? Me too!

I also like co-ops, which is why I was excited to hear about a meeting next week to plan a co-op in Tacoma. Read more about it on the In Your Neighborhood blog.

What's the big deal with a co-op? Since they're owned by the members, there's no thrust to turn a profit. Sure, you want to make enough to sustain yourself, but it's different than a for-profit business. Also, since it's local, the money stays local (instead of a portion being sent to corporate headquarters).

I should pledge my love of Marlene's, which is a locally owned for-profit business, now. But I think Tacoma can afford more health food – especially if there's any prospect it could lead to healthy food being more affordable and available.

Oh, the meeting:

The Tacoma Food Cooperative Steering Committee is hosting a public meeting Wednesday, February 21, 2007. The meeting is at the Allen-Russell Community Center, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

It's already on my Google calendar.

It's pouring, which to me means: Soup!

Upon visiting Metropolitan Market's Web site to get a phone number and inquire on the day's varieties,** I found this happy man.

I hope you think of him next time you do your shopping.

That is all.

**Tomato-basil, broccoli-cheddar, chili, chicken noodle, potato-leek, cream of carrot.

She probably doesn't have this: A combined bottle opener and toenail clipper, complete with a handsome Tacoma, Washington, design on the front.

Perfect for the relative on your list who needs to drink and groom – at the same time.

I found mine for $2.99 in the tourism aisle at Fred Meyer at South 19th and Stevens. Click on the picture and prepare to be impressed by the fine detailing and craftsmanship.

It's the holidays, so maybe you need something to spend your money on. I dunno. Work with me here.

To be honest, after gamboling n' loping through a handful of Web pages and a listserv, I needed an excuse to share these two finds.

Ceramic chocolates. Um, gee. Are they fair trade?

For sale at the Sixth Avenue Art Gallery in Tacoma.

Duvet with built-in apron. For all those times you get out your hibachi stove and really go to town with brunch. (Buy it here, if you must.)

My October black nail polish has long since chipped away, but my slightly gothy soul still stirs.

ooooo

And today it murmured over these darling monster stockings.

I want one filled with Almond Roca and Smiths records.

What would you put in yours, gritty Tacomans?

Thursday is the new Friday. It's the diving board that springs us into the murky depths of the weekend. Take a good breath before you jump in ...

5 to 8 p.m. Third Thursday ArtWalk: Eat and drink and browse at 15 art venues, plus the city's museums – for free!

6 to 9 p.m. A Night Out On The Town: Twenty businesses on and around Broadway will add wine and snacks to their usual collections – for free! Watch out for stumbling drunken shoppers.

7 p.m. Free Theatre Night: Four companies offer 20-minute previews of their shows at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse – for free! To reserve a seat, call 253-565-6867.