Category Archives: WA State – Pierce County

Hobby Town for Small Business Saturday

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11141870474_2e8dd4458c_b(1)There is Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Shop Small (Small Business) Saturday. I had a list of Small Business places to go, but it was dear husband’s birthday and our lunch at 208 Garfield took longer than we expected. After lunch we explored Garfield Books, then walked down the street to Hobby Town at 402 Garfield. We closed the outing at Pacific Coffee Co.

This is the third year for Small Business Saturday and I believe that it is an important reminder to support our local business that so often give back to the community. I plan to do more local shopping.

I loved all of the model planes hanging from the ceiling of Hobby Town and the people working there were so nice.

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Twinkle Drive East, we go round in circles

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11108316903_744fe6c28f_bTwinkle is middle circle of a Spanaway subdivision with the outer circle being Crescent Drive East and Aurora Drive East.

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Vacant Space@Tacoma Center

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11094817864_9fa96ef1ee_bI found this small retail space available the Tacoma Place Center and it made me think that I am seeing less retail vacancy. Let’s hope so!

Blockbuster, Will you miss it? Last Store in Tacoma Closing

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blockbuster

Blockbuster Video at 3833 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98418-7897 is closing. It is the last Blockbuster Video in Tacoma and once gone, the closest store will be in Kent. I use to get my dvds there and found the parking lot to be difficult to maneuver. This month (November 2013) it was announced that the remaining stores will be closing.

Empty Bowls

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11018347546_4780d87b30_b(1)Once a year, the Emergency Food Network has a fundraising event called Empty Bowls. This year it was at Charles Wright Academy, 7723 Chambers Creek Rd, University Place, 9846. The premise of this charity event is that folks can chose amongst a large selection of handmade bowls by local potters and all of the money raised supports the Emergency Food Network. Prices typically varied between $10 and $30. The Network provides more than 15.1 million pounds of food annually to local 67 food banks.

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The Lexington Apartments

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11002379335_b5b44425eb_o(1)The Lexington Apartments at 8720 58th Ave SW, Lakewood, WA 98499 has three floorplans (1, 2 and 3 bedrooms). It was pretty dark when I got there and worse when I left, so my only photos were of the pumpkins on the end table and of the doormat. It looked like a nice apartment complex, well maintained. Their website is here.

 

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Burger Ranch, a long Tacoma tradition

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10938745945_3a9e14a878_bBurger Ranch at 820 South 38th Street, Tacoma, has been around for a long time. For such a long history, there is very little information on it. The public library lets me know that there use to be a Shank’s Shell Station on the site. And the Pierce Co. Assessor’s Office shows the building was constructed in 1967. I stopped in for a good burger, fried mushrooms and a really tasty vanilla shake.

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Spring Lake Cafe, Fircrest

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10895112246_14866d0c0f_b(1) Lunch today at the Silver Lake Cafe at 616 Regents Boulevard, Fircrest was very tasty. The wait people there were really nice about taking in our large group with no prior warning and everyone seemed very pleased with their lunch. Spring Lake Cafe’s Facebook Page is here.

The State Farm (previously Frank Russell) Building shining at night

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10864887284_e009b980c9_hFrank Russell moved out of this major office building at 909 A Street in 2009 and in April 2013 the property was purchased by State Farm, which is in the process of moving in. I read somewhere (now where was that?) that as a show of good intent, State Farm is leaving the lights on at night to enhance the ambiance of downtown Tacoma. The building was constructed in 1988 for Russell Investments (Jack Russell Company).

Pierce College. Possibilities. Realized.

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10787338136_059e3549ba_bI was at Pierce College Puyallup at 1601 39th Avenue SE, Puyallup, Washington 98374 for a meeting today. I had never been on this campus before, but it looking over their website, they have some interesting continuing ed classes.

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