The 160 acre, 18 hole Fircrest Golf Club opened in May 1923. While I don’t play golf, I still appreciate the lovely grounds. I was there for an event and the meal I had, the three salad plated, was very tasty.
Monthly Archives: May 2011
Morning Light at Union Station
I was out and about unusually early this morning and just loved the light on Union Station at 1717 Pacific Avenue. The station was constructed in1911 by the architectural firm of Reed and Stem (who also designed Grand Central Station in New York City) and was originally used as a passenger station. In 1974 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was abandoned in 1984 and in 1990 – 1992 it was renovated for use as a courthouse of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. The statue out front is called New Beginnings and was sculpted in 1984 by Larry Anderson.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_%28Tacoma,_Washington%29
http://www.unionstationrotunda.org/
Syd’s Shoe Repair
Syd’s Shoe Repair is housed in a very small building at 4605 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. The 420 sq.ft. structure was constructed in 1925 and renovated in 1975.
There aren’t many places to have your shoes fixed nowadays. Most of us wear our shoes until they have a problem or we’re tired of them and then we buy new.
Doyle’s Public House, Lovely Day for a Guinness
The mural celebrating Doyle’s Public House is truly glorious! It is large scale reproduction of one of the original Guinness advertising signs. Per Wikipedia a slogan associated with Guinness in the 1940 was “Toucans in their nests agree/Guinness is good for you/Try some today and see/What one or toucan do.”
Doyle’s is located in the Stadium District at 208 Saint Helen’s Avenue and is a well regarded traditional Irish Pub which celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day every month on the 17th.
A Lovely Day at Les Davis Pier
It was such a lovely day that I took a quick stroll along Les Davis Pier at 3427 Ruston Way. There were all types of folks out and about enjoying the day. They were fishing off the pier, jogging, pushing strollers, walking hand in hand and one poor guy was sitting in his fancy car facing the water and working on his laptop. Per the Metro Parks Tacoma site, there is an artificial reef created with piece of the old Tacoma Narrows Bridge under the pier, making it popular with scuba divers. Les Davis was a Tacoma fisherman.
Lobster Shop on Ruston Way
Yesterday I attended a function at the Lobster Shop at 4015 Ruston Way along the waterway. I love their crab dip! There are two Lobstershop Restaurants. The original opened in Dash Point in 1977 and this one opened in 1981.
Royal A. Gove Masonic Center
Just a quick photo today of the Royal A. Gove Masonic Center at 3736 S. Sheridan Ave in Tacoma, WA 98418-3913. Although the building sign says Royal A. Gove Masonic Center, it seems to also be occupied by the Fern Hill Lodge #80. Per their website, the Masons here are active and accepting members (men).
Teamsters’ and Chauffeurs’ Union Building
Today I went to see the Norman Rockwall exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum. What a career that man had! Amazing. Walking back to the car, I captured today’s new place, the Teamsters’ and Chauffeurs’ Union Building at 1701 Commerce Street in the Union Depot area of Tacoma. Per Tacoma’s Union Station Historic District Guide published by the City of Tacoma Economic Development Department, the triangular brick building was constructed in 1894 on the site of Tacoma’s first railroad passenger station. Per the guide “The building’s name recalls the Union hiring hall, which operated on the third floor for half a century”. It was renovated in 1983 by James Merritt, architect.
The property is now being used by the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation. For more information about that foundation go here http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/
For more information about the building, go here http://www.tacomaculture.org/historic/resource/Union%20Station%20Dist%20Walk.pdf
Thea’s Park, Tacoma
Yesterday’s new place was Thea’s Park, where my dear daughter and her classmates were having a picnic. I often forget about this little park because it isn’t part of Rustin Way and I don’t typically drive past it. But the setting makes it worth remembering! It has a great view of the grain elevator, the rail line, the Thea Foss Waterway, Mt. Rainier and the Port of Tacoma. In addition there is a peace pole, a giant globe, picnic tables and a boat ramp. That’s an awful lot for a park that is only 3 acres!
Purple Dragonfly
The Purple Dragonfly at 1744 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma is a store of pure indulgence with nothing I needed and plenty that I wanted. It is full of lovely jewelry, decorative items and lotions. They had a grapefruit hand lotion that I really liked, but it was out of stock. Oh darned. I guess I’ll just have to go back!