Monthly Archives: September 2012

Western Washington State Fair, Hobby Hall

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I love the exhibits at the Hobby Hall at the Western Washington State Fair! The people that create the exhibits are my people — interesting, smart, quirky, and a bit obsessive. The Hobby Hall is one of the fair places we always go along with the scone stand, the hot tub display (where we dip our hands), and the building with the photos and quilts and such (good bathroom on the second floor!). The exhibit building was constructed in 1939.

While we were there we talked to the ham radio folks and the astronomy guy and we saw wonderful collections (Titanic, holiday ornaments, sheep, smiley faces, Sailor Moon, Starbucks, Coke, Whiskey, hand puppets, nutcrackers, kimonos, dollhouses and many more).

 

First Congregational Church, Tacoma

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The First Congregational Church at 918 Division Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98403 is being sold to Mars Hill Church. The church will be renovated and services for the new congregation will begin in about a year. First Congregational Church was built in 1908 with George Bullard as the architect. I was pleased that the building will not be razed.

The sign outside of the church says “God’s love embraces all persons equally, no matter their gender, race, or sexual identity.” I hope that the church’s new congregation feels the same way!

Freeze

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Freeze Frozen Yogurt at 3806 Bridgeport Way West (Green Firs Shopping Center), University Place, WA has been around for about six months and the employees (owner?) was friendly. They have ten flavors (Mango Tango, Alpine Vanilla, Pomegranate Raspberry, Thin Mint,Cake Batter, Milk Chocolate, Hawaiian Pineapple, Sweet Coconut,Cheesecake and Lemon Bar) at any one time and a nice assortment of toppings.

On the way home this little girl was wandering around in the street, stopping traffic. How could I leave her there? So I scooped her up and brought her home. After an hour or so the owner called me back and we took her home. She was a very sweet dog, but growled at our two pups.

Update: June 2015. There is a sign up at Freeze that says they are closed because of mechanical issues, but the sign has been up for a while and I wonder if they are just closed.

Great Umbrella Mural at the Storage Box

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The Storage Box at 216 Puyallup Ave Tacoma, Washington is getting a splendid new mural by Chris Sharp. http://chrissharp3000.blogspot.com/2012/07/tacoma-murals-program-collaboration.html. Mr. Sharp also did the mural on McKinley Avenue and that write up can be found here http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=2578

The property began its existence as the George H. Russell Horse Market / Star Stables in 1906. It was also the Lauritzen Tonic Co., John W. Brady Horse Market, Depot Saloon, Efaw Livery, Ingle Garage (which burned in 1923), Square Deal Transfer Co.
(Garford Truck Co.), a storage plant and in 1962 it was approved as a fallout shelter. I went into the building in the 1990s when it was being converted into mini storage and remember the owner saying that it has been used as a house of ill repute. Apparently it was a popular place with the sailors who had shore leave in Tacoma.

 

 

Proposed Half Way House in the Hilltop

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The other day I found a flyer on my car window bringing awareness of a proposed half way house on the Hilltop. The building is a non assuming single family house, but from what I’ve read it is in close proximity to a school, a boys and girls club and a daycare. The facebook page against the proposed use can be found here http://www.facebook.com/nograntave.halfwayhouse. An article on the disputed house can be found here http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/07/10/2210752/hilltop-residents-share-sex-offender.html. There are many signs scattered throughout the neighborhood, such as the one below.

 

Fremont Troll

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You know the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff? Remember the troll? Well, the Fremont neighborhood in Seattle has its own troll located on N. 36th Street at Troll Avenue N., under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge (also known as the Aurora Bridge). In the troll’s gnarly hand is an actual VW Bug, that I assume he snatched off the bridge.  The troll was built in 1990 as part of an effort to clean up the area. It has indeed become a popular tourist attraction with a dozen or so folks stopping to play (the kids) or take photos while I was there. Per Wikipedia “The Troll was sculpted by four local artists: Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead.” I’m not in love with the current orange decorations on the troll, but I’m hoping its a temporary thing. To see the troll without the orange and to read more, go to http://fremont.com/about/fremonttroll-html/

Update 2/13 Here is a photo of a model of the Troll that was at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry

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Vietnamese Buddhist Meditation Center

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Today I went with others from a photo meetup to the Vietnamese Buddhist Meditation Center at 2625 72nd Street East, Tacoma. It was way wonderful to be able to stroll around the grounds, looking at their amazing statues and we were even invited in to the meditation temple (I hope that’s the right word!) I’m finding almost nothing about the center and our kind hosts did not speak English, so I’m a bit in the dark. But still it was great. After wards most of us went to the dahlia farm and snapped some more photos.

 

Top Side Bar & Grill, Steilacoom

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What an amazing view is to be had at the Topside Bar & Grill at 215 Wilkes Street  Steilacoom, WA 98388. I met some long time friends to unwind after a long work week and truly appreciated the lovely summer evening and the glorious sunset. We had some refreshments and solved the problems of the world and then walked down to the local park to enjoy the view further.

A cool image of the Top Side space can be found here http://www.spherovision.net/html5/US117LS/US117_001_J10_xml/p01_m.html

Metro Market

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Metropolitan Market (Metro Market) at 2420 N Proctor Street,Tacoma, WA 98406 is Tacoma’s most upscale grocery store. It is full sized store, but has many specialty items like a fine selection of salts, wonderful cheese and a great deli. I picked up a salad for lunch tomorrow, a birch beer and some Gelato which they serve right there. The employes are helpful and the check out line moved quickly.

The building began life in 1966 as the Lucky Stores Grocery and in 1995 it became Queen Anne Thriftway. In 2003 the name changed to Metropolitan Market. There are five other locations, three in Seattle and one in Kirkland.

I love this graphic I found on their site. http://metropolitan-market.com/produce/localNWgrowingSeasonChart.pdf

 

World Famous Bob’s Java Jive

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Bob’s Famous Java Jive at 2102 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA‎ 98409 is indeed a Tacoma landmark. It was constructed in 1927 and it was originally known as The Coffee Pot Restaurant. It has functioned as a drive through restaurant, a speakeasy during prohibition, a go go bar and a place for karaoke. Between talking to the bartender and online research, I learned a couple of things. At one point the Java Jive had two chimpanzees — Java and Jive. When it was a speakeasy the liquor and gambling was hidden away behind a secret door behind the men’s room urinal. But it was the secret room in the ladies room which had the illegal supplies for the mayor and other VIPs. The structure was built in the tideflats and then the sections were bolted together on the site. Two movies were filmed there: I Love You To Death with River Phoenix and Say Anything with John Cusack. Nirvana and The Ventures have both played here. And it is on the Tacoma Historic Register.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2977