Yesterday I attended a function at the Lobster Shop at 4015 Ruston Way along the waterway. I love their crab dip! There are two Lobstershop Restaurants. The original opened in Dash Point in 1977 and this one opened in 1981.
Just a quick photo today of the Royal A. Gove Masonic Center at 3736 S. Sheridan Ave in Tacoma, WA 98418-3913. Although the building sign says Royal A. Gove Masonic Center, it seems to also be occupied by the Fern Hill Lodge #80. Per their website, the Masons here are active and accepting members (men).
Today I went to see the Norman Rockwall exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum. What a career that man had! Amazing. Walking back to the car, I captured today’s new place, the Teamsters’ and Chauffeurs’ Union Building at 1701 Commerce Street in the Union Depot area of Tacoma. Per Tacoma’s Union Station Historic District Guide published by the City of Tacoma Economic Development Department, the triangular brick building was constructed in 1894 on the site of Tacoma’s first railroad passenger station. Per the guide “The building’s name recalls the Union hiring hall, which operated on the third floor for half a century”. It was renovated in 1983 by James Merritt, architect.
The property is now being used by the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation. For more information about that foundation go here http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/
For more information about the building, go here http://www.tacomaculture.org/historic/resource/Union%20Station%20Dist%20Walk.pdf
Yesterday’s new place was Thea’s Park, where my dear daughter and her classmates were having a picnic. I often forget about this little park because it isn’t part of Rustin Way and I don’t typically drive past it. But the setting makes it worth remembering! It has a great view of the grain elevator, the rail line, the Thea Foss Waterway, Mt. Rainier and the Port of Tacoma. In addition there is a peace pole, a giant globe, picnic tables and a boat ramp. That’s an awful lot for a park that is only 3 acres!
The Purple Dragonfly at 1744 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma is a store of pure indulgence with nothing I needed and plenty that I wanted. It is full of lovely jewelry, decorative items and lotions. They had a grapefruit hand lotion that I really liked, but it was out of stock. Oh darned. I guess I’ll just have to go back!
This evening I went to a function at the Foss Waterway Seaport at 705 Dock Street, Tacoma. The museum aims to be the Puget Sound’s premier maritime education and recreation center. It features exhibit space, a Discovery Wharf (children’s activity area), guest moorage (closed for repair) and meeting spaces.
http://www.fosswaterwayseaport.org/index.php?p=WELCOME
Today I stopped at the Fallen Riders Outdoor Memorial Park at South 46th Street and Yakima Avenue. I had noticed the motorcycle in the air on other occasions, but thought it was simply art. But now I know that is part of a memorial park. The best information I can find about the park is from the group’s MySpace Page, which says “Fallen Riders Outdoor Memorial (FROM) has been founded by a small group of individuals, who are compelled to provide a sanctuary for their fallen brother and sister riders, that have ridden by their side. FROM’s main mission is to have a public awareness to honor our fallen brother and sister motorcycle riders. This outdoor memorial has been designed to give awareness to non-motorcycle riders about the dangers of the road, and to create a safer environment for all to enjoy. The Fallen Riders Outdoor Memorial is located at 4600 Yakima/Thompson Ave. kitty corner from the 48th Street Pub and Eatery, Tacoma Washington.”
It was good to see the children play at Franklin Park today. The park opened in 1941. So I thought it was kind of a plain park until I read about its history at the Metro Parks Tacoma link (see below). It talked about the now filled Franklin Lake, which sadly was filled in 1969.
“Hoodlum Lake, later called Franklin Lake, was the “old swimming hole” to many boys in the West side of Tacoma. The lake was reputed to have been discovered in the early 1880s by “Biz” Burnham and his brother Nick. Sheltered by a forest of second growth timber and brush and far from the beaten path, it was an ideal place for boys to learn to swim. Some who learned to swim there recalled that it seemed like almost a five-mile walk from the residential district to the lake. John Westover, a sort of combination truant officer and patrolman, tried to make the boys wear bathing suits but the lads ignored his efforts until one day he found their hidden clothes, gathered them up, and would not relinquish them until the boys promised to wear swimming suits. Many of them then began appearing in flour sacks, with holes cut for the legs. “Pillsbury’s Best” in large red letters was splashed across the back of many an improvised bathing suit.”
Now I like Franklin Park even more!
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=660
This Mother’s Day dear daughter and I went to see Job Carr’s Cabin in Old Town Park only the cabin is only open Wed. – Sat. 1 – 4 and by appointment. So, we basically just saw the park, which is a very nice urban park with new playground equipment.
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/page.php?id=617
We went to Old Town Park to take part if this fun tourism game/activity!
El Paraiso Fish Taco & Mexican Food at 2510 84th Street in Lakewood had been on my to do list ever since I read a review in the Tacoma News Tribune.
Today we had some time to spend before a movie so we stopped in and had the fish tacos. They were indeed very tasty and also reasonably priced. The setting isn’t fancy, but that is more than offset by the food, the price and the friendly staff. And, if you are curious, Paraiso translates to Paradise!
El Paraiso Fish Taco & Mexican Food at 2510 84th Street in Lakewood had been on my to do list ever since I read a review in the Tacoma News Tribune.
