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4″ Shorter, 2 shades darker

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Today’s new place is Salon Mosaic for a new do! This salon has been open since the fall and is a lovely space with talented, experienced stylists. I recommend it.

Salon Mosaic
(253) 564-5198
614 Regents Blvd, Fircrest, WA 98466

This is my first new place in the city of Fircrest. Per CityData.com Fircrest has a population of 6,278 as of July 2009 and the median household income is $68,002. The population density is 4022 people per square mile. 91.4% of the population over 25 have a high school degree or higher.

Using the same site, I compared that information to Tacoma which has a population of 193,566 and a median household income of $48,673. Tacoma’s population density is 3,986 people per square mile and 83.6% of the population have a high school degree or higher. These are interesting differences for side by side cities!

Here is a photo of Salon Mosaic’s lovely restroom!

Tacoma Water Works

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 Today I drove by and checked in to the Tacoma Water Works Building at 3501 South Union Avenue (previous address 3506 South 35th Street). Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 502-8384. I’ve often admired the architectural style of this industrial building, which contains almost 40,000 square feet of space per the public record.  The building was constructed in 1937 at a cost of $137,000.  It is occupied by the Tacoma Water Department.  A photo of the building from 1977 can be found here:

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=2&o=2&n=27596&i=8923#text

And a photo of the building under construction can be found here:

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/images/dt6n.asp?un=6&pg=1&srequest=Municipal+services–Tacoma&stemming=&phonic=&fuzzy=&maxfiles=

A big thank you to Brian at the Northwest Room of the Tacoma Public Library and also my friend Mary! 🙂

Satellite Coffee

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Satellite Coffee at 2813 6th Avenue, Tacoma

I’ve heard such good things about Satellite Coffee and was glad to stop at their Sixth Avenue today, even though I’m going to be awake way into the night now! (Note to self, decaf after 3!). It was smaller than I expected and really flows into the adjacent restaurant, MASA. Although there is a walk up ordering window, I choose to go inside where it was warm. My Americano was good and reasonably priced (under $3 for a medium sized one). My barista was friendly. There was plenty of parking right out front, but I can see where parking has the potential of being a problem.

Their coffee is Stumptown Coffee, out of Portland, OR. http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/

They get their baked goods from Corinas Bakery. http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=2063

Satellite Coffee Co.’s main web presence is its Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/tacomasatellite

In addition to this location, there are two other Satellite Coffees in Tacoma, one downtown and one near Wright Park. (Updated note, there is now only one other location, the one in the Stadium (see blog entry http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=5790)

Here is an article about Satellite Coffee, though more about its downtown location. http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/business/satellite_coffee_combines_with_smooth_and_juicey_on_market_street/

Safeway on 6th Avenue

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Today’s new place is the Safeway in the Highland Hill Center, 6201 6th Ave, Tacoma, (253) 564-7029

www.safeway.com/

Store Phone: 253-564-7029
Store Hours: Open 24 Hours

Their website provides the following store details: Ad Region (whatever that means!), Bakery, Deli, Floral, Liquor, Meat, Pharmacy, Produce, Seafood, Starbucks, Video, Fuelstation, DryClean, Sushi Bar, Olive Bar, Digital Photo, DVDPlay Kiosk, Coinmaster, Jamba Juice, Adult Immunizations, Travel Immunizations, 24 hr PayPump, Wi-fi, , Home Grocery Delivery

So, pretty much is a somewhat larger than normal Safeway. The store was clean, had everything on my list and the check out guy was pleasant.

Rental information on the Highland Hills Shopping Center can be found here http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/Profile.aspx?LID=16670837

Peanut Sauce Thai

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After a long day, I stopped at Peanut Thai for some delicious take out. My dear daughter has had a cough and she thought that maybe some spicy food would help. If only she would order something that that was indeed spicy! But it tasted good. The adults both liked the fried avocado and the pad thai and sizzling chicken were also delightful.

Ste 105, 5003 Tacoma Mall Boulevard
Tacoma, WA 98409-7120
(253) 475-4889

http://www.peanutsaucethaicuisine.com/index.php

Their complete menu is on their website.

Lincoln Pharmacy

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The Lincoln Pharmacy building was constructed in 1939 and from what I can glean the building was originally a grocery store, Totem and then Safeway. In 1953 Failor’s Pharmacy opened in the building and now, of course, it is Lincoln Pharmacy, an independent pharmacy with specialty compounding.

821 South 38th Street
Tacoma, WA 98418-5089
(253) 473-1155

Lowe’s for a little light

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Although we are getting more sunlight each day, it is still too dark for me. We went to Lowe’s for a new bedside lamp and wall lamp for the living room. We are trying the natural light bulbs and so far they seem nice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full-spectrum_light

While we were there, we picked up a second hummingbird feeder and some bird food. With the cold weather, our feathered friends have seemed extra interested in the feeders.

Burger King morphs into Starbucks

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 Today I went to Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), but all the coffee shops and bookstores were closed for the new year holiday.  I needed a book, so I veered off to the Lakewood Barnes and Noble, but I couldn’t count that as a new place.  On the way I went past a yet unrecorded Starbucks.  Good old Starbucks.  This one use to be a Burger King and you can tell by looking at it.  The worker said that Starbucks had been there for about 6 to 7 years and they had originally thought about making a loft area where the burger places’ play area had been.  But in the end they went with the tall ceiling instead.  Starbucks only has half of the building and the rest is available for lease.

10314 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood – (253) 984-0898

Happy New Year

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Happy New Year 2010

Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Heavy, warm coat – check
Hat – check
Gloves – check
Scarf – check
Camera – check
Daughter + Friend – check
First Night Tickets – not yet, but I’ll get them there

Today’s new place will be First Night 2010/2011, but I won’t get around to posting new photos until tomorrow. Happy New Year everybody!

http://www.firstnighttacoma.org/

Beyond the Bridge Cafe

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2010 was a good year for new coffee houses in Tacoma. One of the best is Beyond the Bridge Cafe at 2717 6th Avenue Tacoma, WA 98406 – (253) 572-9199. My dear daughter and I went thinking at first that it was at the west end of Sixth Avenue near the Narrows Bridge, but it was more towards the center/east end of Sixth. It had a unique art/coffee house feel with plenty of big comfy chairs. A different art bird was painted on to each of the tables and the wall also had a mural. This is the kind of place people come with their laptops and settle in for a while. The art on display made it all the more interesting and was reasonably priced.

We ordered a latte for me, a vanilla Italian soda for the teen and a full monty bagel sandwich minus the bacon to share. They forgot the drinks, but felt bad about it and not only gave us our drinks but a get two free card. In addition to coffee, they offer wine and beer. The sandwich was very tasty and so were the drinks once they arrived.

http://beyondthebridgecafe.com/

http://www.facebook.com/bbc4life?ref=ts&v=info

Note:  I’m sad to say that Beyond the Bridge Cafe closed its doors on May 14, 2011.

http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/entertainment/spew-blog/2011/05/The-last-day-of-Beyond-the-Bridge-Cafe-tacoma-coffee-shop-closes-ben-and-patricia-rubke/