Category Archives: WA State – Pierce County

Amazing Americano at Metro Coffee

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I had heard good things about Metro Coffee, so I stopped in this evening when I had an meeting on the University of Washington, Tacoma campus. It has a small space in one of the historic brick building and an approprately funky coffee shop feel, but mostly I’m impressed with the coffee. It was very, very good. And the service was great too!

1901 Jefferson Ave # B
Tacoma, WA 98402-1611
(253) 627-8152

http://www.tacoma.uw.edu/features/campus-culture/favorite-places-metro-coffee

Here is a fun review of Tacoma coffee shops based on the foam of their tall cappuccino. 
http://i.feedtacoma.com/Erik/blackwater-satellite-coffee-showdown-tacoma/#comments

 

Fair Trade Market @ Bethany Presbyterian Church

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Today dear daughter and I went to the Fair Trade Christmas Market at Bethany Presbyterian Church. The church has done this every year for a long time. The subtitle the event “a different way to Christmas shop”.

The Fair Trade Christmas Market Vendor List includes:
Church World Service – shares, miscellaneous goods
Dough for Doe [funds fight local domestic violence] – cookie dough
El Guetzal [Guatemala] – shirts, scarves, hats, bags
Fish Food Bank [help feed the local hungry] – (shares)
Grass Roots Uganda – inexpensive beaded jewelry & bags
Heifer [world wide] – give a hand up through living gifts
Hfj Community Services
Jubilee Traders [Nepal & India] – jewelry, tablecloths & runners, purses
Kilimanjaro [Kenya] – baskets, jewelry, pictures, musical rhythm instruments
L’arche Farm and Gardens [local community for developmentally disabled adults]– wreaths & cards from handmade paper
Nativity House [local homeless] – (shares)
Rwanda baskets
Serrv – fair trade products from 36 countries
Suradi Imports [Indonesia] – toys
Un Solo Pueblo – [Ecuador] – woolen caps, sweaters, scarves & purses
Zimbabwe Artists Project – art

If you are interested on being on their mailing list for next year, go to their website and email them your information.

http://bethanytacoma.org/default.aspx

Libraries are always good — Mottet Library

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Today I stopped at the Charlotte White Mottet Library, one of the 10 libraries that make up the Tacoma Public Library System. The library was built in 1930, a gift to the city from Mr. Mottet, a local businessman. The architect for the building was Silas E. Nelsen, who also designed the McCormick Branch Library, the Everell S. Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound, the Tacoma Mausoleum, the Johnson Candy Co. Building and the Tacoma City Light Administration Building.

Library Hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday 12 – 8
Thursday – Saturday 10 – 6

3523 East G Street Tacoma, WA 98404 (253) 591-5666

For more information on this property, including some older photos, go to http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1up.asp?n=15057

Note that Mottet Branch is one of the libraries that could potentially be eliminated depending on the budget option recommended by the library trustees.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/11/06/1412177/board-weighs-closing-library-branches.html

U.S. Oil and Refinery

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Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Tonight I found myself in the Port of Tacoma and was attracted to the bright lights of the U.S. Oil and Refinery property. Since I knew next to nothing about the company, I went to their website to learn that “In the fifty plus years since U.S. Oil & Refining Co. first located in the deepwater Port of Tacoma, it has grown to become a consistent supplier of petroleum products in the Puget Sound Region. U.S. Oil & Refining Co. is a industry leader in the production and supply of high quality motor, aviation and marine fuels and asphalt in the Puget Sound market. With refining capacity in excess of 39,000 barrels per stream day and storage capacity exceeding 2.8 million barrels, the company is well positioned to help meet the region’s growing energy needs.”

http://www.usor.com/

Wendy’s Vietnamese is a family favorite

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It’s my dear husband’s birthday and I went to get him some take out from one of his favorite restaurants, Wendy’s Vietnamese at Freighthouse Square. We got way too much food — the Hot & Spicy Chicken, the Tofu Fried Rice and the Su Dai Beef with Peanut Sauce. There is easily enough left over for our three lunches tomorrow. Both the service and the food were outstanding. It occurs to me that even though this is my first “check in” at Wendy’s, we have been coming here for over 20 years! Yikes!

Freighthouse Square is a two story retail center with an international food court. With the exception of Subway, the food vendors are not ones you would see at a more traditional mall.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/wendys-vietnamese-restaurant-tacoma

http://www.freighthousesquare.com/

  

 

What? Shoppe

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Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

I had thought the new place of the day’s name was Juxtapoz because of the large sign over the door, but it turns out that the store is called What? Shoppe and Juxtapoz is an online magazine. The store is crowded with an interesting assortment of unusual merchandise demanding some serious browsing time. I noticed t-shirts, figurines, wigs, cards, posters, model train stuff and much more. This is a great place to find a present for a hard to please young adult.

740 Broadway in Tacoma

http://whatshoppe.com/

Say Auuuu at Group Health

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Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Today’s new place is Group Health at 209 Martin Luther King Junior Way. Fast facts on their website state that as of October 2010 Group Health in general has over 650,000 members and a staff of 9,365, of which 985 are physicians.

While we were up on the 4th Floor for an allergy appointment, we enjoyed the lovely view!  For the record, we have always been impressed with the level of care that we have received from Group Health.

http://www.ghc.org/about_gh/co-op_overview/fastFacts.jhtml

http://www.ghc.org/

For some JuNkTaStIc Fun!

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Today’s new place of the day is the “JuNkTaStIc SuNdAyS” Market, which is held on Sundays through December 19th from 9am — 4pm.   The market is located at the Studio 6 Ballroom, 2608 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA, 98406.  There were plenty of interesting vendors and the owner told me that they switch out regularly, keeping the stock of available goods fresh.   We were enchanted by the vendor selling Hex Bugs, delightful mini robots!  We picked up two as stocking stuffers and a larger one as a holiday present.  I need to go back after payday to pick up some of the fun jewelry!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=103801409691637

  

 

Gritty City Gift Fair

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Today’s New Place of the Day is the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative’s Gritty City Gift Fair. The fair was larger than I thought it would be and filled with quality crafts and art. I picked up a couple of holiday gifts and a Tacoma — Love it or Leave it t-shirt for myself. 🙂 The co-op is located in a historic building at 746 Broadway, in the Antique Row area.

Information from the Tacoma Public Library indicates that the building was constructed in the 1920s and has been used as a Used Car Department, Huletz Electric Co., Preservation Paint, Alma Ayres Women’s Wear, Washington State Liquor Store, and Time Machine Antiques.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like …

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Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Dear daughter and I were tired of being stuck in the house and I offered her lunch out. She wanted to go to Panera Bread and while I prefer the Lakewood Panera Bread, the Tacoma Mall was closer and the roads still aren’t all that great. I’ve already used the Tacoma Panera Bread as a new place of the day, so I thought I’d venture into the Tacoma Mall a bit and use that. The mall is setting up for the holidays with a spot for Santa (see photo).

Instead of going back to the mall, I plan to shop at the Gritty City Gift Fair!

http://www.cityartsmagazine.com/blog/2010/11/gritty-city-gift-fair-relief-mall-shopping