Category Archives: Art — there is art here!

Marcato Condominiums, 1501 South Tacoma Avenue

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I remember going through the Marcato Condominiums at 1501 Tacoma Avenue South a couple of years back when there was a big tour of many of the condominiums in Tacoma. This complex more than some of the others seemed to have a sense of community. I especially liked the mini movie theater. The complex was built in 2006 and at least the upper units have a lovely view of Mt. Rainier, as can be seen by photo below.

Sales data from the condo.com web site http://www.condo.com/Condo_TACOMA_98402_Reverie-at-Marcato-Condo_8168414/RecentSales indicates that in Unit 506 (790 sq.ft.) is currently available for sale with an asking price of $185,000. In January 2007 when the complex was new, the unit sold for $263,120, so the value has declined by about 30% (assuming that it sells for the asking price).

Prior to the condominium complex, this had been the site of a mixed use property, retail on the lower part and apartments on the upper level. The property was destroyed in a practice burn by the fire department on August 21, 2001. To see a photo of the prior building, go to:

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=1&o=1&n=26549&i=2510#text

 

Foss High School

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Tacoma Public School has announced that it may close schools in order to save money. Foss is the high school they are considering and elementary schools with less than 300 students are also possibilities. These elementary schools are Franklin, Lyon, Roosevelt, Stanley, McKinley, Wainwright and Geiger. Geiger has had a program change and has been taken off the table.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/01/26/1517312/school-cuts-worry-parents.html

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/01/27/1840221/tacoma-school-board-urged-to-reconsider.html

Today’s school is Foss High School at 2112 S. Tyler. Their mascot is the falcon and the school opened in 1973.  Foss is the first school in Washington State and the second school west of the Rocky Mountains to offer the international baccalaureate diploma program, which began in 1982.  The school is named after Henry Foss, the son of the founders of the Foss Launch and Tug Company, making it the first school named after a Tacoma native.   With the exception of the School of the Arts and the Science and Math Institute, Foss is the smallest Tacoma High School. The Foss website can be found here.  http://www0.tacoma.k12.wa.us/schools/hsx/foss/

A student created website names 101 Reasons Why Foss is the Boss can be found here. http://101savehfhs.webs.com/

 

Stanley Elementary, Under 300 students

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Tacoma Public School has announced that it may close schools in order to save money. Foss is the high school they are considering and elementary schools with less than 300 students are also possibilities. These elementary schools are Franklin, Lyon, Roosevelt, Stanley, McKinley, Wainwright and Geiger. Geiger has had a program change and has been taken off the table. I thought over the next week or so, I’d take photographs of the mentioned schools and use them as my new places of the day.

Read more about possible school closures at : http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/01/19/1509242/foss-students-fret-over-possible.html#ixzz1Bn2OnEp6

Today’s school is Stanley Elementary at 1712 South 17th Street.  Their mascot is the cougar. The original school opened in November of 1925 and was designed to hold upwards of 480 students. It was named after George A. Stanley, a popular Tacoma Schools Administrator, who had died suddenly that same year. Additions were constructed in 1949, 1955, 1967 and 1973. In 1983 the main part of the building was declared unsafe in the event of an earthquake and it was closed and eventually demolished. The current building was constructed in 1986 and includes some decorative architectural elements from the original school (see photo below).

In 1970 Stanley became a “technologically advanced elementary [manet] school” and later it became a science magnet. It currently functions as a neighborhood school to a diverse student population.

   

Chihuly Bridge of Glass

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Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

What a busy day and I still hadn’t found my new place! Driving out of the Tacoma Art Museum parking lot I noticed how lovely the bridge of glass looked glowing in the darkness. The Tacoma Dome can be seen to the right. So here is the Bridge of Glass along with a few photos I had taken earlier. We are lucky to have so much wonderful art in Tacoma. This pedestrian bridge connects the Glass Museum to the museum/university area in downtown Tacoma.

Here are some links for some additional information.

http://www.museumofglass.org/exhibitions/bridge-of-glass/

http://www.chihuly.com/special-projects-chihuly-bridge-of-glass.aspx

Roosevelt Elementary, under 300 students

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 Tacoma Public School has announced that it may close schools in order to save money. Foss is the high school they are considering and elementary schools with less than 300 students are also possibilities. These elementary schools are Franklin, Lyon, Roosevelt, Stanley, McKinley, Wainwright and Geiger. Geiger has had a program change and has been taken off the table. I thought over the next week or so, I’d take photographs of the mentioned schools and use them as my new places of the day.

Read more about possible school closures at : http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/01/19/1509242/foss-students-fret-over-possible.html#ixzz1Bn2OnEp6

Today’s school is Roosevelt Elementary School at 3550 E. Roosevelt Ave in Tacoma’s Eastside. Their school mascot is the Ram. Information provided by the Tacoma Public Library says the original school building was constructed in 1904 and later sold and moved to make way for the “new” building named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. The 1921 date can be seen clearly on the two columns on either side of the entrance. The building had major renovation, in fact looks like an entirely different building with the exception of the columns. Here is a photograph of the 1921 building

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=4&o=4&n=24285&i=4828#text

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

 
  

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

  

  

 

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/

Tacoma Christmas Tree

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Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

On the way home from the almost last holiday gathering my family stopped to admire the City of Tacoma’s holiday tree in front of the Pantages Theater. We also tool a quick peak at the art displayed in the windows across the street. It was a lovely Christmas for us and I hope the same is true for all of you. Peace.