Category Archives: Restaurants

Grandpa’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream Parlor

15236516533_6152cb9e3e_kGrandpa’s Soda Fountain and Ice Cream Parlor at 208 4th Avenue, Olympia is a fine place for a sweet treat. We had stopped in a while back only to learn that they are closed on Sundays, but today after a hoagie at Merconi’s and a little shopping, dear husband and I visited for some ice cream. I had a small Sundae and he had a cone. Grandpa’s have specialty hard packed ice cream, soft serve ice cream and delicious looking candies. We were the only customers for a while, which makes sense at 5 pm, but I hear that in the summer the line goes out the door. I especially appreciate the care that they took to make the space into an old fashioned parlor, the checkered floor tiles, the metal stamped ceiling, the seating and more. The other photo features the handmade glowing jellyfish hanging in a tree a few doors down.

 

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T.W.O. Coffee Shop

15558955217_28dfaf1430_kI was in Fircrest getting a hair trim (thank goodness!) and I had a little time afterward to have a bite to eat. T.W.O. is located at 1039 Regents Boulevard. Service was quick and friendly and my grilled cheese with tomato soup was tasty. The cafe has an eclectic vibe going one and I found a seat in the lovely November sunlight. Before the space was T.W.O., it was Green Bean Coffee.

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After Hours Club and the Yakima Self Serve Laundromat

15241324226_cb8c9e89a8_kI was curious about the location of the Lincoln District after hours club that was the scene of a homicide on 9/7/14, so I drove by in the morning hours to figure out where it is. 32-year-old Michael Ward Jr. was murdered that night and as of yet there is no suspect being held. I thought it was interesting that there is no signage, maybe that’s because it is an after hours club (what does that even mean?). The laundromat, which does have signage, has also been shut down. It is Tacoma’s 10th homicide this year. There is a make shift memorial in front of the building.

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Pam’s Coffee Shop, Granbury, TX

14882340905_0341b908cc_kPam’s Coffee Shop at 204 South Morgan Street in Granbury serves a terrific and filling breakfast. I was lucky enough to eat there today with my mom and a dear friend (adopted niece).

 

Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe

 

IMG_3846 Continuing my back and forth posting, here is the Washington State University’s famous Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe. I felt lucky to be able to go since they are only open Monday through Friday. While there I had a small vanilla and a sample of the delicious Cougar Gold Cheese. I loved being about to sit down and enjoy my ice cream while watching the workers make the cheese. There website is here.

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LimeBerry in Lakewood

13895510451_03b5a67640_bLast time I was in this space, I purchased fish. But now it is a Limeberry ready to provide frozen yogurt (froyo) to adoring masses. Limeberry is located at 7304 Lakewood Dr W, Lakewood, WA 98499 in the space that had been occupied by Johnny’s Seafood.

13919059664_fa5edf3450_bUpdate 7/2015 – Limeberry is gone and the space is again available for lease.

Cafe Amp

13771281085_4c8f934be9_b(1)There is a new restaurant in the Lincoln District in the previous Jubilee place. It is the Amp Coffee House and Frozen Yogurt, 858 S. 38th St., Tacoma and its been open for a couple of months. I finally stopped in and was impressed at how much it has changed, looking more like a sleek coffee shop that it is and less like a hamburger joint that it was. I ordered a Philly Cheese steak (a real treat) and next time I’m going for a Smitty Burger. I hear there are plans for a drive through and a patio.

The Jubilee sign will be removed as soon as it is feasible.

Their Facebook page can be found here.

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Read more here: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/tntdiner/2014/04/04/a-tale-of-the-smitty-burger-and-where-to-find-it-now-that-jubilee-is-no-more/#storylink=cpy

Tacoma’s Newest Starbucks

13572480333_8bc2ea5395_bThe newest Starbucks in Tacoma is at 3401 South 23rd Street, Tacoma (the corner of South 23rd and Union Avenue in the center with Walmart). I stopped on the way to a meeting and went through the drive in though there is a seating area. The entrance was a little confusing to me, but maybe it was just the early hour. The line was long and Starbucks computer went down which slowed things down even more, but I’m sure they will work out the bugs.