Tacoma Urbanist
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Aug. 13, 2008 at 12:10am
Ultimate Chalk Off Prize: Design Weekly Volcano Cover
*New* Chalk Off Sponsor: Weekly Volcano
This Friday 8/15/2008 is Frost Park Chalk Off Episode XIX at noon at 9th and Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma.
All are welcome.
There are no freebies for prizes this week at Frost Park. No condo stays, hair cuts, hot dogs, beer, or fancy dining.
However, the rewards may be much greater as the victor will be creating the art for the cover of Weekly Volcano..
Here's the Prize:
The victor in Episode XIX will design the cover of the Weekly Volcano.
(Photo taken at the office of the Tacoma Urbanist)
Here are some details::
The Prize: The opportunity to be hired to design the cover of Weekly Volcano with the owner and editor Ron Swarner.
Compensation: $150
Circulation of Volcano :
The newspaper has 650 distribution points from Federal Way to Tumwater, reaching more than 80,000 readers every Thursday.
Bio : The victor will also be allowed a picture and "mini-bio" on page 2 of the Volcano.
Meet the Creator of Tacoma's Hipsters, and Owner of Weekly Volcano: Ron Swarner
Here, Swarner displays the prize for Episode XIX at Blackwater Cafe
The first thing one notices about Ron is that he looks little like the menagerie of Tacoma hipsters he identifies, creates, and features in the Weekly Volcano.
Reading through the Volcano, one might think that the magazine is simply a random composition of bathroom mishaps, drug experimentation, angst ridden debauchery and excess alcohol consumption.
Not so. Ron explained to me that each week is a careful hand crafted amalgamation of hipsters, self proclaimed artists, online and print personas crafted to appeal to Tacoma marketplace and that significant blunders are rare.
Swarner *Calls* RR Anderson's Taunt
Since Episode I, RR Anderson has proclaimed that Frost Park Chalk Off victors are the "Best Illustrator In the Universe of Tacoma" for a week. By offering the chance to design the cover of the Tacoma Weekly itself, Swarner is essentially asking the Chalk Off Victor (whoever they may be) to prove their illustrative ability. Swarner could have offered a far less glamorous assignment for the victor.
Yet, Ron isn't offering the cover gig as any sort of mea culpa for the past transgressions of the Volcano. He actually believes the Frost Park victor has a chance at delivering a great piece.
The Chalk Off victor will have to work, with Swarner's oversight, to come up with a cutting edge cover.
The cover produced will no doubt be greatly anticipated by those who regularly read the Volcano, fans of Frost Park and many others of the 80,000 readers. If there was an opportunity to shine as an artist, this would be it.
This week's prize reminds me a bit of Stowe's prize of designing the Urban Exchange ad, and yet, has 100 times the visibility.
Do us proud Frost Park Victor. Long Live the Weekly Volcano!
Weekly Volcano
P.O. Box 98801
Lakewood, WA 98496
Phone: 253.584.1212
Fax 253.581.5962
E-mail: feedback@weeklyvolcano.com
Blog: www.weeklyvolcano.com
Available in many, many places in Tacoma. A new issue comes out every Thursday.
 by Ron on 8/13/2008 @ 6:35am | I hope my mom doesn't read that. Come give me a hug Friday in Frost Park. |
 by Steph DeRosa on 8/13/2008 @ 8:37am | wow.
so many.... smart ass* comments to say... can't think... brain hurts *I said "ass". Kevin said I could. |
 by DumpsterDivingDiva on 8/13/2008 @ 8:52am | WOW!
This is a great prize. |
 by Erik on 8/13/2008 @ 9:35am | BTW, Ron is a proud owner of a couple of Tacomics. As I remember, he purchased RR Anderson's "SuperTacomic" at the party.  Full size www.feedtacoma.com/tacomic/img/2008-03-1... Not just an entertaining piece. It was apparently an accurate depiction of future media market share in Tacoma. That happened around the time the Weekly syndicated RR. |
 by intacoma on 8/13/2008 @ 9:38am | cute shirt Ron |
 by NineInchNachos on 8/13/2008 @ 11:50am | the weekly volcano is one of the best things tacoma has going for it. May the Swarners remain discernibly turgid for 1000 years.
Can't wait to draw my list serv promo |
by Erik on 8/13/2008 @ 4:20pm | Suite 133 co-worker and Frost Park fan Erik Hanberg picks up today's Frost Park News on his well read blog: Now that's a prize The Weekly Volcano is offering their cover up to the winner of this week's Frost Park Chalk Off. That's a pretty dang awesome prize from the Volcano. Gotta say. Anyone tempted to get famous through the art of chalk, be at Frost Park Friday at noon, chalk in hand. Kudos to the Volcano for the idea. And good luck to the competitors! www.erikemery.com/2008/08/now-thats-priz... |
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A ongoing conversation to make Tacoma a better to live and work through better urban design.
See my downtown Tacoma and neighborhood pictures of coffee, food, people, art, urban blight and Frost Park Chalk Off events.
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-Erik Bjornson
Be sure to visit:
1. The Tacoma Sun, an online Tacoma urban magazine.
2. The James Howard Kunster podcasts broadcast weekly discussing the tragic comedy of suburban sprawl..
3. Tacoma Coffee Shop Showdown
4. Tacoma Document Archive - Key City Documents, Court Documents, Links, Books, and Videos.
5. Is your city worth caring about? James Kunstler discusses how to make your community a place worth caring about.
Useful Links
Tacoma Streetcars - Join the citywide effort to restore streetcars to Tacoma's Neighborhoods.
Congress for New Urbanism - the leading organization promoting walkable, neighborhood-based development as an alternative to sprawl.
Planetizen - A one-stop source for urban planning news, commentary and interviews.
New Urban News - Discussing traditional neighborhood development focusing on building mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods instead of conventional suburban subdivisions, shopping centers and office parks.
Heather Robinson Middle East Commentator - Human Rights and Middle East Issues.
VA Loans in Washington State - Obtain a VA loan today: for civilians and U.S.Servicemembers.