We deserved a nice brunch today and the daughter was petitioning for IHOP. She had the strawberry banana pancakes and I went for the loganberry blintzes. Both were good and the loganberry reminded me of going to IKEA. Per the IHOP website, “As of June 30, 2010, there were 1,476 IHOP restaurants located in 50 states and the District of Columbia, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands”
I know it’s a big chain, but I really like Panera Bread. Their food is tasty, service is pleasant and the decor is attractive. So, I was pleased when when one recently opened at the near by Tacoma Mall. I’m not a big fan of malls, but there is an outside door so I didn’t have to actually go into the mall. My only complaint with this new Panera is that it was too crowded and the tables where too close together.
4502 S. Steel Street, Tacoma, WA
To continue the art theme for the month of November, today’s new place is Goodwill’s Milgard Work Opportunity Center at 714 S. 27th St. In particular, the Living Wall or Vertical Garden at the Center is spectacular! It was designed by Patrick Blanc and has nealry 100 plant species. As you can see by the photo, the garden is really large at 20’x40′. These sites explain it better than I could!
http://www.vegitecture.net/2009/09/tacoma-goodwill-green-wall.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2010642515_pacificplife10.html?cmpid=2628
The Milgard Center itself, which opened in September 2009, is pretty spectacular. I was taken out for lunch there by a dear friend and the food was wonderful and very reasonable. The public Neighborhood Bistro Restaurant is open M-F, 11 – 1:30. http://tacomagoodwill.org/about/mwoc/
The Rosewood Cafe between the Proctor District and the Stadium District is just what a cafe should be. They have wonderful, creative food, an extensive selection of wine and pitch perfect service.
3323 North 26th Street
Tacoma, WA 98407-6236
(253) 752-7999
http://www.rosewoodcafe.com/about.html
Originally uploaded by Gexydaf
I had planned to go take a photo of some delightful art today, but the rain and being tired conspired against me and I simply stopped at one of my favorite donut shops. I haven’t been here for a while because I like their donuts too much! But it was a lovely treat to start the weekend and I only bought 1/2 dozen and three people will eat them.
As of 8/22/10 I’ve checked in 267 times. I’ve travelled in five states (WA, TX, CA, MT, ID) and two provinces (NB & AB). Today’s new place (which I have been to before, but it’s my first checkin) was ever wonderful Anthony’s at Point Defiance Park for our wedding anniversary dinner with dear daughter.
Update: And here is a new photo of Anthony’s
Today, 8/23/10, My husband needed a tire put on his boat, ummmm I mean car. He replaced three of the tires himself, but the 4th one was really 
stuck! Since I didn’t work today, I said I’d take it. So off I went to Courtesy Auto Service and Tire of Tacoma near the Tacoma Mall. I always just thought it was called Goodyear, but I guess not. The customer service was polite and the work was done quickly. They charged $15, which seemed alright to me, but my husband thought it should have been less.
A favorite restaurant for my daughter and I has been Panera’s Bread http://www.panerabread.com/. We go there when we want something special, but not too expensive. I flutter all over the menu, but my daughter almo
st always gets the broccoli cheese soup in a bread bowl. Then, more often than not, we wander over to Barnes & Noble to check out the new books. So, Panera’s Bread in Lakewood was our new place for 8/24/2010.
While we were out and about, we stopped at Safeway (not for the first time) and I took this picture. The combination of Shape magazine and Ding Dongs was amusing!
On 8/25 we meant with a financial adviser (great guy!) at Forza and then afterwards walked over to Joeseppis Italian Ristoranti. We shared the Marsala Chicken and still took 1/2 of it home as leftovers!
Thursday I had a special treat because my friend had a get together at her beach cabin. We went down a very steep trail to get there. It was just just perfect, good weather, good friends, good food and a wonderful view! The the pictures for 8/26 show the beach! FourSquare let me check in here under “the Beach Cabin”. I can only assume that I was at the same beach cabin that they were thinking of! I’m sure that’s right. 😀
On 8/27 we went out to a movie (it was awful) and afterwards we needed a bite to eat. But it was way too much effort to go to a restaurant and I still needed my new checkin for the day. So off we went to the recently remodeled Stadium Thriftway. It’s one of my favorite local grocery stores with a great selection of produce and a great deli/premade section.
Originally uploaded by Gexydaf
I was going to go out to Snake Lake today to catch some autumn leaves, but it started to pour. So instead I went out to lunch with dear husband. We have one of those Entertainment Coupon books and it’s expiring on 11/1, so I thought we’d use it. I riffled the pages and stuck my finger on La Palma. The interior is fairly standard Mexican Restaurant; there must be a warehouse of that stuff somewhere! The food was also very standard. I ate 1/2 of mine and boxed up the rest. Dear husband had a little more than 1/2 of his, but it made him sick! Not food poisoning sick, but too greasy sick. He’ll be fine, but I won’t be able to get him back there! The service is the only thing that was exceptional about the experience.
I probably should have read the Yelp reviews before visiting! http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-palma-family-mexican-restaurant-and-lounge-lakewood
Originally uploaded by Gexydaf
Today was a rainy day that got away from me before night fell. In the darkness, I found the 43rd Street Pub and loved the neon. No, I didn’t go in! Just took the photo. This is a neighborhood bar and it is my understanding that it has new owners. In any case, it has recently been fixed up and cleaned up. The great neon sign says “Time to stop, U Betcha Pub” and it also has a clock.
4302 Pacific Ave
Tacoma, WA 98418-7734
(253) 475-6358
If you’d like to see a better photo of the sign (and really, it wouldn’t take much!), look here! http://www.flickr.com/photos/justintron/6423115601/
Today’s new place of the day is Bates Technical College in Tacoma and the photo is of their very cool lighting fixture that shows different careers in silhouette. I stopped at Bates to try their restaurant where the food is prepared by the culinary arts students.
Breakfast is served Monday-Thursday, 8:30-10:00 a.m. lunch is served Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Today’s new place was Duke’s Chowder House on Ruston Way. I’ve been to this building before when it was other restaurants, but not to Duke’s. We had a great table right by the window and enjoyed the combination of sunshine and bay. The fish and chips was top notch and we also tried most of the chowders (clam, nw seafood, crab and lobster). Duke’s has six locations, all in Pierce and King Counties. Afterward, we drove through Pt. Defiance and saw an amazing number of raccoons!
http://www.dukeschowderhouse.com/index.php
