WordPress page template for curated posts (for making a portfolio, or a projects page)

cposts.php

<?php 
/*
Template Name: Curated posts
*/
?>
<?php 
// Begin main loop to list page's static content:
    if ( have_posts() ) :
        while ( have_posts() ) :
            the_post(); 
?>

<?php // Page TITLE and (editable) CONTENT ?>
<h2>
 <a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" 
 rel="bookmark"><?php the_title(); ?></a>
</h2>
<?php 
    the_content('Read on &#155;');
    endwhile;
?>


<?php // BEGIN first SPECIAL loop: 
// Displays posts that have both the following 
// tags: stories, noteworthy. (Group 1)
$tpair1 = "stories+noteworthy";
$grp1 = new WP_Query('tag=$tpair1&showposts=-1');
?>

<h2>Noteworthy stories</h2>
<table>
 <?php 
    while($grp1->have_posts()) : 
        $grp1->the_post(); 
 ?>
  <tr class="post <?=($i%2)?"color1":"color2";$i++;?>">
   <td class="lcol"><?php the_date('M d, Y'); ?></td>
   <td class="rcol"><a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" 
    rel="bookmark"><?php the_title(); ?></a> 
    <?php { the_excerpt(); } ?>
    <span><?php the_category(', ') ?></span>
    </td>
  </tr>
 <?php endwhile; ?>
</table>
<?php // END first special loop ?>


<?php // BEGIN second SPECIAL loop: 
// Displays posts that have both the following 
// tags: articles, misc. (Group 2)
$tpair2 = "articles+misc";
$grp2 = new WP_Query('tag=$tpair2&showposts=-1');
?>

<h2>Miscellaneous articles</h2>
<table>
 <?php 
    while($grp2->have_posts()) : 
        $grp2->the_post(); 
 ?>
  <tr class="post <?=($i%2)?"color1":"color2";$i++;?>">
   <td class="lcol"><?php the_date('M d, Y'); ?></td>
   <td class="rcol"><a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" 
    rel="bookmark"><?php the_title(); ?></a> 
    <?php { the_excerpt(); } ?>
    <span><?php the_category(', ') ?></span></td>
  </tr>
 <?php endwhile; ?>
</table>
<?php // END second special loop ?>


<?php else : ?>
<h2>Not found</h2>
 <p><?php _e("Sorry, not found."); ?></p>
<?php 
    endif;
    // End main loop to list page's 
    // static content.
?>