Author Archives: admin

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

 

Kobayashi Park

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I had no idea that Kobayashi Park was there at 6420 Chambers Creek Road West in University Place. It is tucked away and not very clearly marked and we only found it by accident. But we’re glad that we found it! We walked the trails in both directions from the small parking lot. In one direction the path followed a small stream. The family was thrill to see a Pileated Woodpecker (see the photo below, but you have to look hard!) ! I don’t think that I’ve ever seen one before. The path in the other direction went past the house and followed a larger stream which called to me to jump right in! But I refrained.

The 4.82 acre site for Kobayashi Park in University Place was purchased on September 16, 2004. The site contains the confluence of Chambers and Leach Creeks, both salmon bearing streams. There is a 1964 house on the site which is vacant and not in great shape.

Dometop Community Garden

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The Dometop Community Garden is really something! Located in Roger’s Park at 3151 East L Street, it has amazing view of Mt. Rainier. The garden was created in 2011 cooperatively with the Eastside neighbors and Metro Parks. There is water throughout the raised garden beds and when I stopped in one of the organizers was watering the individual gardens. It was a pleasure to chat with her. The plots themselves are gorgeous and well tended. Scattered throughout there are bits of whimsy and cheerful flags flapping in the breeze. There is a real pride of ownership here. Perhaps my favorite area was the small field of huge sunflowers planted in a boat 🙂

There is a great website that shows the garden being developed. http://tacomadometop.com/mckinley-hill-community-garden.php

 

And this site details all of the area’s community gardens and farmer’s markets. http://www.growlocaltacoma.com/

 

Harp & Shamrock, Tacoma

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The Harp & Shamrock at 2704 North Proctor is a delightful store which specializes in all things Irish. They had some lovely outerwear items that I adored. They also had hats, scarfs, food, trinkets, jewelry and a bunch of other things. I purchased some Irish Tea because dear daughter had proclaimed that the Irish had the best tea! And indeed when we tried it, the taste was excellent. Though dear daughter shouldn’t have had three cups and stayed up most of the night!

A better photo of the building can be found here http://www.proctordistrict.com/index.php/listing/The%20Harp%20&%20Shamrock

The store is in the Davies Building which was constructed in 1924 and has apartments on the upper level.

Update 8/14 — The store closed on June 14, 2014 after 38 years in business.