Monthly Archives: July 2011

Madronna Oakland Community Garden

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The community garden at the corner of Center Avenue and Tyler Street has the most unusual art of any of the local community gardens. The entry arch is appropriately titled “Working”and features a hammer, chisel and gears. A near by bench has pliers and a saw. The art is by Otto Youngers. The garden itself, known as Tyler Square Park, is only half occupied, but that half is full of healthy looking vegetables.

Tacoma Weekly recently wrote an article on the space, It can be found here:
http://www.tacomaweekly.com/citylife/art/know_your_public_art_oakland_madronas_working_gateway/

The artist’s website is here: http://www.ottoyoungers.com/

  

 

Red Oak in Wright Park

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Usually I use the FourSquare app on my phone to record that I have been to a place, but once in a while I use an alternative app called Gowalla. I was amused to see that somebody had gone through Wright Park and made many of the individual trees separate destinations! I’m sure I won’t get around to all of them, but today’s new place is one of the Red Oak Trees in Wright Park. How do I know its a Red Oak? The parks folks thoughtfully labelled it!

If you’d like to know more about Red Oaks, check out this site:

http://ostermiller.org/tree/redoak.html

The World’s Tallest Totem Pole

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Firemen’s Park at South 8th and ‘A’ Street in Downtown Tacoma is reputed to have the world’s largest totem pole.  At 105′ long (82′ above ground) the 1903, red cedar totem pole certainly is tall. The park also features a bronze statue, Leading the Way, by Larry Anderson.  Mr. Anderson has several sculptures around town including the one in front of Union Station. Today somebody placed a shawl on the logger, perhaps to help with the cool nights!  The park is rounded out by views of Commencement Bay, the Port of Tacoma, the Murry Morgan Bridge, Mt. Rainier and the Tacoma Dome.

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A handy bench in Fern Hill

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The pocket park at the northwest corner of South 84th Street and Yakima Avenue in the Fern Hill District is charming. It has a couple of benches, a clock, a street light, thoughtful landscaping and some art. The hand bench is just plain fun and there is also a relief of the original Fern Hill School as seen in 1888. Most interesting is a historic marker that says S. 84th Street is an old covered wagon trail and was legally established as a road in 1852 to create an escape route in case of an Indian uprising.

  

Dead End, No Turn Around

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Dead End, No Turn Around by Gexydaf

The Prairie House Museum at 812 E. 176th Street in Spanaway was today’s new place, so it saddened me that it wasn’t open. Their webpage said they are open on Wednesdays from 10 to 2 and every third Sunday of the month from 2 – 4. But the gate was locked, so I called them on the phone and a recording said they were usually open on Wednesdays from 10-2, but one should always call first. Good to know. I snapped a few photos through their really tall fence. The museum is a restored farmhouse from the 1890s, as well as some farm outbuildings and a log cabin.

celebratespanaway.com/PrairieHouse.htm

While turning around, we discovered this delightful sign!

  

The Lovey Mamni Bakery

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So, dear husband and I are driving down South Tacoma Way on our way to see Captain America (which was really pretty good). I’m thinking about what I am going to use for a new place of the day. I’ve already done the movie theater and the fish taco place, so no go with our destinations. Then I look up and see Mamni’s Bakery at 9205 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood, WA 98499! Oh joy, I’ve been meaning to go there since my friend recommended it! We loopy looped around and went on in!

I can’t say I’ve been to a bakery like this before. Every individual item is wrapped. We purchased about 10 things and took them home to enjoy after the movie. After we got home dear daughter started asking what things were. Ummmm. Don’t know! They aren’t labeled! Though we can kind of tell by looking at them 🙂 The treat for tonight was very tasty indeed.

Now that we know where they are, we’re sure to be back!

  

 

Geiger Montessori Elementary is in for a change

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Geiger Elementary is in for a change by Gexydaf

Geiger School at 621 South Jackson Ave, Tacoma, WA 98465 is slated for demolition and the new Geiger School will be constructed on the site. While the construction is underway, the school program will be housed at the old Hunt Middle School Building (now empty) at 6501 S. 10th St., Tacoma. The mascot for Geiger is an orca whale.

The original school was built in 1949 and named after William F. Geiger who served as the Tacoma School District’s superintendent for 20 years. Geiger has been transitioning into a public Montessori program and as of this fall the Preschool through the 3rd grade will have that style of education.

 

Wagner’s Marketplace Bakery

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It is a rare photo of Wagner’s at the Olympia Farmer’s Market without any customers. Usually there is a crowd of folks picking out their favorite treat. Service is always friendly and fast and the bakery items are amazingly good!

Wagner’s website can be found here:
http://www.wagnersbakerycafe.com/

 

The Bead Factory for your beading needs

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When I saw that the Bead Factory on Sixth Avenue had closed, I thought I had lost my chance to visit. But they had just moved to 5705 N 26th Street, Tacoma, WA 98407. I actually just went in for some of those little plastic things that goes in the back of pierced earrings so they don’t fall off (what are those things called?!).

They store was bustling with lots of happy looking women and one guy. In addition to a traditional retail store, they have classes and parties and mail order. I even joined their club for $3.00, which gives me a $10 store credit after I spend $100 and gets me on their mailing list. I just might go to one of their Saturday night beading parties! Stranger things have happened 🙂

The Bead Factory’s Website is here:
http://www.thebeadfactory.com/

Their Facebook page is here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bead-Factory-Inc/159406874807

  

Really Love Something

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The new place of the day is the parking lot next to the old Elks Club.  The parking lot itself is poorly maintained with weeds and broken glass.  When I drove past, I saw that art had occurred twice!  There is a great sign that says Really Love Something and colorful tape art on the side of the building.

For more info on the Street Sign Project, check out their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Street-Sign-Project/190125424342675

And here are a couple of articles about the project

http://www.cityartsonline.com/issues/tacoma/2011/07/street-signs

http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/entertainment/arts-feature/2011/06/the-street-sign-project-tacoma-takes-public-art-a-step-further/

For a related new place, see http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=3187