Monthly Archives: December 2010

Knowledge is here

 

Tonight we went to see an amazing dance performance at Stewart Middle School. Tacoma City Council voted Dec. 7 to approve a resolution placing Stewart Middle School (5010 Pacific Ave.) which was built in 1925 on the local register of historic places. Five other schools were placed on the register at the same time.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/02/23/1083223/tacoma-district-plans-middle-school.html

The school opened as James P. Stewart Intermediate School in honor of Tacoma’s first school teacher who served from 1869 to 1870. He was also the first mayor of Puyallup.  Two other Washington State schools are also named after him.  Roland Borhek was the school’s architect. He also designed the Rialto Theater in Tacoma. To see a photo of the school from 1926, go here http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=4&o=4&n=22468&i=3762#text

According to the historic nomination form the building was constructed in the Neo-Classical Beaux Art style.

M Street Mural

Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Today I checked in at one of Tacoma’s new murals, the one located at the M. Street underpass at South 34th Street. M. Street goes under I-5 just north of here. The mural itself is divided into sections, with each section featuring a goat. I really like it! Although I checked in here today for the first time, I did take the photos a week or two earlier when it wasn’t pouring rain!

The Whitman Area Neighbors sponsored the mural and it was designed by Joni Joachims. Why goats? Per the Tacoma News Tribune because “a local hill was recently cleared of blackberries by a goat herd”, To read more about this mural and others go to
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/09/05/1328964/painted-revival.html

Also, you might take a look here
http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/entertainment/arts-feature/2010/11/Blight-fight-tacoma-based-mural-program-wall-painting/

Urban Grace

 

We were fortunate this evening to attend a performance at Urban Grace Church in downtown Tacoma.  While I’ve often admired the Gothic Revival style church, I’d not been previously been inside.   This imposing four story building, which is on the historic register, was constructed in 1925 with F.H. Heath acting as the architect.  From 1884 to 1923, the site was occupied by the original First Baptist Church. Until 2005 the church had been know as First Baptist Church.

F. H. Heath was also the architect for Stadium High School, Lincoln High School, Pythian Temple (all in Tacoma) and Paradise Inn at Mt. Rainier.

To see a photograph of the current building when it was under construction, go to: http://search.tpl.lib.wa.us/buildings/bldgdetails.asp?id=BU-11471&vhash=M&i=3

In the Fall of 2010, Tacoma Arts Commission’s presented the 2010 “Arts Patron” award AMOCAT Art Awards to the Urban Grace Church for their support of the arts in Tacoma. The Arts Commission stated “Urban Grace’s commitment is exemplified in their establishment of the Poet Laureate position for Tacoma in 2008, their partnership with Fab-5 to create a mural for the Rialto Theater in 2010 and in providing ongoing opportunities for exhibition and performance in all artistic disciplines.”

902 Market Street
Tacoma, WA 98402-3605
(253) 272-2184 

Urban Grace’s website is at http://urbangracetacoma.org/

And a Facebook Page devoted to the building being added to the Tacoma Register of Historic Places is here.  http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=194822323896

Keep Clam

 One of the few fast food restaurants that I actually like is Ivar’s Seafood Bar. I’m not sure how it got that name, since there is no ‘bar’ at the bar! These little restaurants have good food (mostly fried), extra friendly staff and are clean.

Ivar’s website informs me that there are 26 seafood bar locations, 25 of which are in Washington State and 1 is in Santa Clara, California. In addition there are more refined restaurants and also there are stands at local stadiums.

Per the website, the name Ivar’s Acres of Clams came from the last verse of “The Old Settler.”

No longer a slave to ambition
I laugh at the world and its shams
As I survey my happy condition
Surrounded by acres of clams.

http://ivars.com/

James Center
1820 South Mildred
Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 565-5196
Sunday-Thurs 10:30am to 10pm
Friday-Saturday 10:30am to 11pm

Amazing Americano at Metro Coffee

I had heard good things about Metro Coffee, so I stopped in this evening when I had an meeting on the University of Washington, Tacoma campus. It has a small space in one of the historic brick building and an approprately funky coffee shop feel, but mostly I’m impressed with the coffee. It was very, very good. And the service was great too!

1901 Jefferson Ave # B
Tacoma, WA 98402-1611
(253) 627-8152

http://www.tacoma.uw.edu/features/campus-culture/favorite-places-metro-coffee

Here is a fun review of Tacoma coffee shops based on the foam of their tall cappuccino. 
http://i.feedtacoma.com/Erik/blackwater-satellite-coffee-showdown-tacoma/#comments

 

Fair Trade Market @ Bethany Presbyterian Church

 

 

Today dear daughter and I went to the Fair Trade Christmas Market at Bethany Presbyterian Church. The church has done this every year for a long time. The subtitle the event “a different way to Christmas shop”.

The Fair Trade Christmas Market Vendor List includes:
Church World Service – shares, miscellaneous goods
Dough for Doe [funds fight local domestic violence] – cookie dough
El Guetzal [Guatemala] – shirts, scarves, hats, bags
Fish Food Bank [help feed the local hungry] – (shares)
Grass Roots Uganda – inexpensive beaded jewelry & bags
Heifer [world wide] – give a hand up through living gifts
Hfj Community Services
Jubilee Traders [Nepal & India] – jewelry, tablecloths & runners, purses
Kilimanjaro [Kenya] – baskets, jewelry, pictures, musical rhythm instruments
L’arche Farm and Gardens [local community for developmentally disabled adults]– wreaths & cards from handmade paper
Nativity House [local homeless] – (shares)
Rwanda baskets
Serrv – fair trade products from 36 countries
Suradi Imports [Indonesia] – toys
Un Solo Pueblo – [Ecuador] – woolen caps, sweaters, scarves & purses
Zimbabwe Artists Project – art

If you are interested on being on their mailing list for next year, go to their website and email them your information.

http://bethanytacoma.org/default.aspx

Unraveled Yarn and Artful Gifts

When three friends (thanks Connie, Ann and Judy!) suggested that I check out Unraveled Yarns, I put it on my to visit list. I felt right at home in this little store which has a thoughtful selection of yarns and knitting supplies, as well as artful gifts. The women working there were helpful and the place just made me want to pull out some knitting needles and sit down for a visit! And, yes, I got a holiday present for my friend Susan. It’s a ….. oh wait, she might read this!

2154 S. 314th Street
Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 941-2268

http://www.unraveledshop.com/

Sadly they closed in April 2012.

Libraries are always good — Mottet Library

Today I stopped at the Charlotte White Mottet Library, one of the 10 libraries that make up the Tacoma Public Library System. The library was built in 1930, a gift to the city from Mr. Mottet, a local businessman. The architect for the building was Silas E. Nelsen, who also designed the McCormick Branch Library, the Everell S. Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound, the Tacoma Mausoleum, the Johnson Candy Co. Building and the Tacoma City Light Administration Building.

Library Hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday 12 – 8
Thursday – Saturday 10 – 6

3523 East G Street Tacoma, WA 98404 (253) 591-5666

For more information on this property, including some older photos, go to http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1up.asp?n=15057

Note that Mottet Branch is one of the libraries that could potentially be eliminated depending on the budget option recommended by the library trustees.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/11/06/1412177/board-weighs-closing-library-branches.html

U.S. Oil and Refinery

Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Tonight I found myself in the Port of Tacoma and was attracted to the bright lights of the U.S. Oil and Refinery property. Since I knew next to nothing about the company, I went to their website to learn that “In the fifty plus years since U.S. Oil & Refining Co. first located in the deepwater Port of Tacoma, it has grown to become a consistent supplier of petroleum products in the Puget Sound Region. U.S. Oil & Refining Co. is a industry leader in the production and supply of high quality motor, aviation and marine fuels and asphalt in the Puget Sound market. With refining capacity in excess of 39,000 barrels per stream day and storage capacity exceeding 2.8 million barrels, the company is well positioned to help meet the region’s growing energy needs.”

http://www.usor.com/

Wendy’s Vietnamese is a family favorite

It’s my dear husband’s birthday and I went to get him some take out from one of his favorite restaurants, Wendy’s Vietnamese at Freighthouse Square. We got way too much food — the Hot & Spicy Chicken, the Tofu Fried Rice and the Su Dai Beef with Peanut Sauce. There is easily enough left over for our three lunches tomorrow. Both the service and the food were outstanding. It occurs to me that even though this is my first “check in” at Wendy’s, we have been coming here for over 20 years! Yikes!

Freighthouse Square is a two story retail center with an international food court. With the exception of Subway, the food vendors are not ones you would see at a more traditional mall.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/wendys-vietnamese-restaurant-tacoma

http://www.freighthousesquare.com/