On Friday afternoon, I stopped at Masa at 2811 Sixth Avenue for a happy hour with some friends. It was an excellent way to start the weekend 😀
Satellite Coffee is houses in the same space. I had stopped in there in January 2011.
Tacoma has one of the 100 Wyland Whaling Wall murals “Washington Orcas” around the world and its on the Bowes Building at 100 South 9th Street in Downtown Tacoma. Currently the main level of the building is occupied by Big Whiskey Saloon, but the building has a long history. The architect was Edward Heath and the building was constructed in 1908 in white Vermont marble. The property was added to the National Historic Register and the Tacoma Register in 1979. Edward J. Bowes, the original owner, eventually gained a national reputation as an entertainment figure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bowes
Over the years, the occupants have included: Pacific Bldg. & Loan Assoc., M. Schmidt & Son Merchant Tailors, Tacoma Savings & Loan Assoc., All About Travel, Pacific Rim Restaurant, Zeppo Italian Restaurant, and Seven Cities Restaurant.
Wylan started painting his large murals in the 1980s. This was his 21st mural and I remember taking my lunch break from my downtown job at the time to watch him paint. I was fascinated. There were four Whaling Walls in Washington State, but sadly now only the Tacoma one remains.
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
The space at 3829 Sixth Avenue, which had previously been occupied by Gruv and before that Hell’s Kitche, is available for lease ($13/square foot) or sale ($660,000). Dear daughter has told me several times that I need to write it up as a new place because chances are that once it is leased or sold, the mural will be painted over. I like the mural which features a unicorn with 253 on its neck, the Tacoma Dome, a city skyline and a rainbow. The unicorn looks a little grumpy, but maybe that’s just macho.
The building was constructed in 1926 and has been Marshall & Kirkman Needle Work, Fowell’s Market, Snack-n-Tap, Purky’s Tavern, Spot Lite Tavern, Tuddi’s Restaurant (where it had a fatal fire because of a safecracker’s torch), Proctor Inn Restaurant, Kay’s Mexican-American Restaurant, Prosito Italian Restaurant. the Central Tavern, the
Sixth & Proctor Bar & Grill, Hell’s Kitchen Nightclub and Gruv.
After work my friends and I went to Stonegate Pizza and Rum Bar at 5421 South Tacoma Way  Tacoma, WA 98409. It had a comfortable feel, good food, friendly service and was reasonably priced. I didn’t haven rum, but apparently there are over 100 types. While we were enjoying our meal, a magician came to our table. How cool is that?! And he was great. Even up close, I couldn’t figure out how the magic was done.
The building was constructed in 1908 and renovated for its current use in 2007. Their 
Facebook Page is located here http://www.facebook.com/pages/STONEGATE-RESTAURANT-BAR/252566649502
I’ve been wanting to go to 1022 South in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma for ages and today was the day. They have happy hour from 4 to 8 everyday and their prices were very reasonable for the quality. I treated myself to a hot mulled cider with brandy and it was very wonderful. We also had some small plates that were delicious. We made an agreement to go back soon because they had many other delicious looking drinks and it is a great place to unwind after a long work week. My one small complaint was it was such a small space and pretty much packed.
Their website is here 1022south.com/
The Spar at 2121 North 30th Street
Tacoma, WA 98403 is another Tacoma institution. Yelp says that The Spar is the oldest tavern in Tacoma. That thing that I learned tonight is that I can now bring my teen here for lunch or dinner up until 8 pm. Good to know.
After work, I meant some wonderful friends at the Tempest Lounge at 913 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way in Tacoma. The food was delicious, the service was spot on, the atmosphere was retro and the company was grand 😀
 
http://www.tempestlounge.com/
On 9/11/12 The owner of the Tempest announced that she is closing the bar.
Katie Downs at 3211 Ruston Way has the best pizza in the Puget Sound. The Weekly Volcano’s 2011 Tournament of Pizza Champion had 64 competitors and Katie Downs came out on top
Now I hadn’t actually gone to Katie Downs for pizza, but while I was there my dear daughter called wanting me to stop for thai food. I talked her into wanting pizza instead and brought home a double cheese, pesto and fresh tomato pie. It was delicious!
 
I’ve been to The Beach Tavern at 8612 6th Avenue once, a while back and remember enjoying my burger. It is the kind of place that is comfortable and has been around forever (since 1934). On side wall is a charming mural showing the nearby rail line. The tavern’s setting, near Titlow Beach, is beautiful.
