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Dorky’s Arcade Pinball Food Drinks

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Dorky’s is one of the newer businesses in downtown Tacoma. It is a multilevel arcade that as of tomorrow will offer food and in the future will have a liquor license. For a couple of dollars, you can have a lot of entertainment with machines like Ms. PacMan, Frogger and Asteroids.

I love the PacMan on the wall that they made out of keys!

Their Facebook page says “Dedicated to Old School Video Games and Pinball Machines we are working to have a place to play all the fun machines from our youth that you can’t find any where. 80’s and 90’s Classics All Video Arcade Games and Vintage Pinball Machines are 25 cents Newer Pinball machines are 50 Cents.”

754 Pacific Ave
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 627-4156

 
  

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library is Closing

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For Martin Luther King Day, I went to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at 1902 South Cedar Street, Tacoma, WA 98405 . As of January 31, 2011, this branch of the Tacoma Public Library System will close, leaving eight locations. The Swan Creek Branch is also closing and the main branch will also have its hours reduced from 66 to 54.

There are news reports of the closures here http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/16/1467131/2-small-tacoma-libraries-to-close.html?storylink=rss

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/01/16/1504222/library-to-serve-fewer.html

The library’s previous sign has been replaced with the sign in the photograph. There is also a notice on the door that states “Tacoma Public Library Service Alert. As a result of a $1.8 million dollar shortfall in the Library’s 2011 – 2012 budget, the Tacoma Public Library will close two branch libraries and reduce hours at the downtown Main Library effective Monday, January 31, 2011.” Per the news report, the MLK Branch has some of the lowest circulation figures and has considerable deferred maintenance. While I an see the logic of the closure, it is a certain loss to the families in the area.

The closing of this branches no doubt would have saddened Dr. King, who is know to have said “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Sounds like the function of a public library to me.

For information on the Swan Creek Library closure, go to http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=2099

 

Lakewood Veteran’s Memorial

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I’ve driven past this sculpture in front of the Lakewood City Hall numerous times, but today I actually got out of my vehicle and took a good look at it. There is a lot going on with this piece, nine figures representing people in the military, a large globe, five benches, signage, inscribed bricks and landscaping. The sculpture honors veterans. Among the large metal figures are a Chaplin, a medical person, a foot soldier with his gun, a mechanic and others. The figures are stylized, but it is still apparent the jobs they represent. The primary construction materials are steel and bronze and the sculpture was completed in May 2003.

Per information provided by the Washington City/County Management Association, The project was spearheaded by the Lakewood Veterans Memorial Committee and reminds us of the sacrifices and services of the local military community. It also serves as a link between Lakewood and the large number of active duty, former and retired military personnel in our community. “More than 96,000 veterans reside in Pierce County with over 10,000 living in Lakewood. The memorial is the creation of Gig Harbor artist and military veteran Jim Mattern. (http://www.wccma.org/newsletter/0304wcmanews.pdf)

Here is the link to a story about the piece.
http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4093906.html

Jim Mattern: Sculptor
Lakewood Veteran’s Memorial
6000 Main St. SW
Lakewood, WA 98499

  

  

 

Bair Bistro in Steilacoom

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Today I had lunch with my dear friends at Bair Bistro (Living Museum, Restaurant & Country Store) at 1617 Lafayette Street in Steilacoom, WA 98388, (253) 588-9668. Everyone in the group seemed to enjoy their meals and the service was good.

This building, which was constructed in 1895 used to be Bair Drug and Hardware. Information provided by the business via Yelp states “The Bair Drug and Hardware building has been in existence since 1895. Since that time, it has been a post office, drug store, hardware store and restaurant. Currently, the Bair Drug and Hardware building is home of The Bair Bistro. However, the dining area is full of relics, tools and gadgets from its earlier days.”

The newest use, The Bair Bistro, opened on Mother’s Day in 2010
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/02/18/1075176/historic-bair-drug-to-reopen-as.html

Their Facebook page is here
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1247456349#!/pages/The-Bair-Bistro-at-The-Bair-Drug-and-Hardware/372346062940?v=info

Tacoma Firestation #11

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Today I took a moment to photograph Tacoma Fire Station No. 11 at 3802 McKinley Avenue. It is a relatively small, two story fire station and was placed into service on April 17, 1909. Looking at a photo of the station from 1910 (http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=3&o=3&n=20900&i=6243#text), it looks much the same, though of course nowadays the fire trucks aren’t pulled by horses!

The particularly nice weathervane was dedicated on October 28, 1978.  The station was place on the National Historic Register on May 2, 1986.

There are 17 fire stations in Tacoma.
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=8023

The City of Tacoma placed 11 individual fire related properties (9 stations, 1 ship and an alarm system) on the national historical register in 1983. The nomination form is located here:
http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/64000904.pdf

 

Al Davies Boys & Girls Club

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I really admire today’s new place of the day. Al Davies Branch of the Puget Sound Boys and Girls Club is located at 1620 S. 17th St., Tacoma, WA 98405, (253) 502-4631.  This facility provides a safe and enriching place for children between the hours of 2:30 and 7, Monday – Friday.

The organizations webpage says that  Boys & Girls Clubs provides our community’s children with:
1. A safe place to learn and grow
2. Ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals
3. Life-enhancing programs and character development
experiences
4. Hope and opportunity

This is a Kids At Hope facility and the children recite the Kids At Hope pledge daily:
I am a kid at hope.
I am talented, smart and capable of success.
I have dreams for the future, and I will climb to reach those dreams and goals every day.

No child is ever turned away for economic reasons.

http://www.bgcsps.org/home

How long has that ACE Hardware been there!?

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This morning I’m driving around looking for a cup of coffee because it is that kind of day when I notice that there is an ACE hardware on Sprague.  Where did that come from?  My husband said that it use to be a lawn mower store and maybe it still is to a point because the secondary sign said Agrishop (see link http://www.agrishopinc.com/) and they seem to have lawnmowers and more.  It is a small hardware store and a nice alternative to the megastore.  Not that ACE isn’t a big chain.  Their website says they have more than 4,600 stores in 50 states and 70 countries!  There are 30 ACE locations within 30 miles of this one!  Who knew?

 

 

 

AGRISHOP TACOMA
2012 S 12th St.
Tacoma, WA 98405

 

 

phone: (253) 833-0870
toll free: (800) 805-0513

http://www.acehardware.com/mystore/storeDetail.jsp?store=14923&saddr=47.2492065,-122.4747276%2898405%29&daddr=47.2499,-122.4633%282012%20S%2012th%20St%20Tacoma,%20WA%2098405%29

And yes, I did take some photos of it!  And they are happily living on my camera’s memory chip.  But the memory chip and the laptop had words and now they aren’t talking!  So I tried rebooting (no), I tried taking the chip in and out a dozen times (no), I found one of those cords that connects the camera & the computer (no), I tried all the same things on my husband’s computer (no, no, no), I considered throwing the computer in the bay (maybe).  I gave up and used an image off the internet and will try at work tomorrow using their computer (yes).

In the meantime, here is a photo I took with my phone!

 

No longer the UnSafeway, I guess

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Today I stopped at the recently remodeled Safeway in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood. It is nicer than it was and it was also well maintained. Because it is the smallest Safeway in Tacoma there are none of the amenities that the larger Safeways have (bakery, Starbucks, deli, floral, etc.). The cashier I had was pleasant, but the shopping experience was not enhanced by the teen aged boys in the store strutting, posturing and cursing. And one of the adult customers was yelling at one of the cashiers.

1112 S. M St.
Tacoma, WA 98405
Store Phone: 253-627-8840

Here is a review of the store after the remodel.

http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/restaurants/grocery-stories/2010/06/tacoma-hilltop-safeway-remodel/

 

Tacoma Public Utilities Building on Union

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Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Today’s new place is the Tacoma Public Utilities Building on Union Avenue. Their website says that they are the largest department in the Tacoma City government and public owned since 1893.

3628 South 35th Street
Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 502-8600

http://www.mytpu.org/

Patty’s Burger on South Tacoma Way

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So for the first time today, my husband said let’s go find you a new restaurant for lunch so you have your new place of the day. That was so sweet! He had read a good review of Patty’s Burgers, so after seeing The King’s Speech at the Grand, off we went! Patty’s Burgers is a cheerful place with a 50s theme. The service was super friendly and quick. Our burgers and fries would never be mistaken for health food, but they were a tasty treat! Next time I’m trying one of those great looking milkshakes! The TV screen shows photos of people that have tried the ambitious cake burger with 8 hamburger patties.

For a review of Patty’s Burgers go to:
http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/restaurants/restaurants/south-sound-restaurant-guide-tacoma-pattys-burgers-and-milkshakes/

For a list of restaurants where you can buy an extra huge hamburger look here:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/07/30/1282725/caloric-monsters-make-sure-to.html

5615 South Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA 98409-4215
(253) 474-0844

Patty’s Burger is located in the South Tacoma Business District. http://southtacomabusinessdistrict.com/