[image: Inline image 1] Tacoma Green Drinks provides a social and networking opportunity for Tacoma-Pierce County residents interested in sustainability, conservation and environmental issues. We meet on the first Thursday of each month, and this month we are meeting at the* Office Bar and Grill*<http://theofficeonpacific.com/>on Pacific Avenue at 6pm. February's sponsor is the *City of Tacoma's Pacific Avenue Streetscape Project.<http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=1020> * And, the Office is graciously extending their Happy Hour for Green Drinks. Come out to have fun, get informed, then stay for Trivia! Avenue Streetscape Project includes beautification and innovative stormwater improvements to improve the business opportunities and livability of Downtown’s core street. The project area includes the entire Pacific Avenue right-of-way from South 7th to South 17th Street and includes; new sidewalks, street lighting, paving, bike sharrows, greenstormwater infrastructure including 14 new raingardens, and new landscaping including 129 trees, 817 shrubs and over 3,000 new plants. There are two primary project components: 1) Innovative or “green” storm water treatment facilities to improve water quality; and 2) Streetscape design to create a more inviting and “complete” street for all users: drivers, adjacent businesses, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. The project will be designed to support the existing downtown environment of today and a denser future downtown environment by reallocating the use of the street right-of-way to accommodate the new storm water system and multimodal use of the street. The streetscape design will integrate innovative storm water improvements such as rain gardens, water features and plantings. Three speakers will be there to tell us more. First, *Lorna Mauren*, Assistant Division Manager for the Surface Water division of Environmental Services will tell us about the stormwater components of the project.In Lorna’s current position with the City, she leads the Science and Engineering Surface Water Section whose mission is to provide policy, planning and engineering services for the Surface Water Utility. Then,* Doreen Gavin, *P.E., LEED AP, Principal, Civil Engineer, AHBL will fill us in on some of the other sustainability initiatives involved in the project. Doreen Gavin responsible for planning, designing and management of civil engineering projects. In her 26 years of experience, she has worked on a wide variety of projects, including schools, higher education facilities, civic structures, and retail developments. Finally, *Amy McBride*, Tacoma Arts Administrator will be explaining the “ green flash” and how art is being used to cap off this project from environmentally friendly to holistic sustainability. In short, downtown is getting a facelift - and it looks amazing! Come find out more on *February 7th at 6pm!* -- See you there! Tacoma Green Drinks