This Mother’s Day dear daughter and I went to see Job Carr’s Cabin in Old Town Park only the cabin is only open Wed. – Sat. 1 – 4 and by appointment. So, we basically just saw the park, which is a very nice urban park with new playground equipment.
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=617
We went to Old Town Park to take part if this fun tourism game/activity!
El Paraiso Fish Taco & Mexican Food at 2510 84th Street in Lakewood had been on my to do list ever since I read a review in the Tacoma News Tribune.
Today we had some time to spend before a movie so we stopped in and had the fish tacos. They were indeed very tasty and also reasonably priced. The setting isn’t fancy, but that is more than offset by the food, the price and the friendly staff. And, if you are curious, Paraiso translates to Paradise!
El Paraiso Fish Taco & Mexican Food at 2510 84th Street in Lakewood had been on my to do list ever since I read a review in the Tacoma News Tribune.
I was driving around today looking for something interesting when I spotted an interesting bar (the Opal). But when I walked up there were two guys there complaining up a storm about how their girlfriends didn’t appreciate them going out drinking every Friday. I thought I’d leave those two fun seekers alone and instead found this wonderful and vacant building at 5216 South Tacoma Way. The building had been the home to Untouchable Cuts Barbarshop and peering though the window I could see some remains of the business. The is now for lease. The Tacoma Public Library’s Northwest Room has little on the building except that it was built in 1906 and in 1913 it had housed American Dye Works (Hashime Imamura, operator). The present day bars on the windows and door suggest perhaps there have been security concerns. I love the paint job! 🙂
I had a lovely time at the benefit at the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma. The hospital itself is a lovely space with art to make you smile and a splendid garden.
http://www.multicare.org/marybridge?gclid=CJqAlL_L0qgCFRtKgwodHgqTgQ
The event there this evening was the Strawberries Festival sponsored by the Tacoma Orthopedic Association. More information about this fine group can be found here. http://www.multicare.org/marybridge?gclid=CJqAlL_L0qgCFRtKgwodHgqTgQ
My dear husband bought himself a Nook and this evening we went for Nook training at the Lakewood Barnes & Noble. No, really. It is a darling little machine and the training was good. While I enjoy print books, I have no problem with ebooks and appreciate that I can order most books and have them in hand (as it were) in the matter of minutes. And I love that I can save space and perhaps even let some of my secondary books move on to a new home.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
I love the Over the Moon Cafe at709 Opera Alley (Court C) and don’t know why I haven’t been there in a couple of years. But today I joined some delightful friends for an early dinner and had a great time! The Cafe keeps their lunch menu in effect until about 4:15 and I enjoyed a scrumptious 1/2 a grilled cheese and a cup of lobster bisque. Besides wonderful food their decor is quirky and inviting, and they have the nicest public bathroom that I’ve ever been in!
http://www.overthemooncafe.net/
Sometime during the dreary winter months, this wonderful art project appeared on the side of the Merit Building at 951-959 S Market Street in downtown Tacoma. There is an associate Youtube video to be watched here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE-D3nA7vTQ
The Merit Building is available for sale for $1,000,000 (bring your best offer). Per the listing information the building was constructed in 1909, has 32,000 square feet and has been gutted down to the frame. I remember going to a restaurant in the building which I believe was called the Judicial Annex and having the best split pea soup!
If you’d like to buy the Merit Building, the listing can be found here http://www.commercialmls.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=inventory.biodetailFS&ln=462987&eofficeid=&eagentid=22193
Over the building’s long life, it has been home to many businesses included the Hotel Kingston, Federal Tire Sales Co., Auto Tire Co., Hollywood Apparel Shop, Olympic Dairy Store & Ice Cream Parlor, Second Closet Thrift Shop, Know They Self Book Center, Afrikan Book Center and the African American Museum. One of the employees of the Ice Cream Parlot later started the Baskin Robbins chain.
To see how the building looked in its glory days (1928), follow this link to the Tacoma Public Library
http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=1&o=4&n=2095&i=4290#text
The Battle for Fort Steilacoom was fought yesterday and today in Fort Steilacoom Park, 8714 87th Ave. S.W., Lakewood, WA, 98499. The Washington Civil War Association produced this event and it was very well done. There were hundred of reenactors in their Civil War garb. They were playing instruments, fighting battles, making speeches, drilling, cooking and selling their wares. It was a pleasure to stroll around in the sunshine and visit with these fine folks.
The website for the group is here http://www.wcwa.net/
Dear daughter wanted Mexican food and I wanted a new place of the day. Taqueria El Grande at 7202 South Park Avenue had caught my eye earlier because, well its a bus and the building next to it is an amazing orange color. But we had never been in and were surprised to discover that customers actually go into the bus. It was very clean and I loved all the chrome. The woman who took our order was really nice and service was fast. We could have eaten there, but we got it to go. One of the other customers was telling me that she only brings her closest friends to the Taco Bus and it was the only Mexican food that she would eat in Tacoma. I can see why, it really was pretty darned good. We’ll be back!
I’ve been meaning to stop at the Garden Sphere for ages and today I finally did! What a lovely welcoming place. As I wandered around one of the workers offered to help me and I mentioned that it was my first time there. She said they change out stock every couple of weeks, so there is usually something new to see and that if I wanted something they didn’t have, they’d get it for me. Wow. That’s nice.
While there I purchased a lavender plant, something with a purple flower, a package of sweet peas and a candle. I’m sure I’ll be back for more.
I think my favorite part was the chicks. There were three sizes of them and they were all darling! I could just sit and listen to their trilling, chirping noise for hours!
