Applebaum Violin Shop at 1948 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma is a full service violin shop located in the University of Washington Campus. Their website is here http://www.applebaumviolin.com/
Applebaum Violin Shop
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Tag Archives: Tacoma
Sione’s Auto Repair
Sione’s Auto Repair at 1315 South 38th has a cool sign. The building was constructed in 1956.
First Congregational Church, Tacoma
The First Congregational Church at 918 Division Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98403 is being sold to Mars Hill Church. The church will be renovated and services for the new congregation will begin in about a year. First Congregational Church was built in 1908 with George Bullard as the architect. I was pleased that the building will not be razed.
The sign outside of the church says “God’s love embraces all persons equally, no matter their gender, race, or sexual identity.” I hope that the church’s new congregation feels the same way!
Great Umbrella Mural at the Storage Box
The Storage Box at 216 Puyallup Ave Tacoma, Washington is getting a splendid new mural by Chris Sharp. http://chrissharp3000.blogspot.com/2012/07/tacoma-murals-program-collaboration.html. Mr. Sharp also did the mural on McKinley Avenue and that write up can be found here http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=2578
The property began its existence as the George H. Russell Horse Market / Star Stables in 1906. It was also the Lauritzen Tonic Co., John W. Brady Horse Market, Depot Saloon, Efaw Livery, Ingle Garage (which burned in 1923), Square Deal Transfer Co.
(Garford Truck Co.), a storage plant and in 1962 it was approved as a fallout shelter. I went into the building in the 1990s when it was being converted into mini storage and remember the owner saying that it has been used as a house of ill repute. Apparently it was a popular place with the sailors who had shore leave in Tacoma.
Proposed Half Way House in the Hilltop
The other day I found a flyer on my car window bringing awareness of a proposed half way house on the Hilltop. The building is a non assuming single family house, but from what I’ve read it is in close proximity to a school, a boys and girls club and a daycare. The facebook page against the proposed use can be found here http://www.facebook.com/nograntave.halfwayhouse. An article on the disputed house can be found here http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/07/10/2210752/hilltop-residents-share-sex-offender.html. There are many signs scattered throughout the neighborhood, such as the one below.
Metro Market
Metropolitan Market (Metro Market) at 2420 N Proctor Street,Tacoma, WA 98406 is Tacoma’s most upscale grocery store. It is full sized store, but has many specialty items like a fine selection of salts, wonderful cheese and a great deli. I picked up a salad for lunch tomorrow, a birch beer and some Gelato which they serve right there. The employes are helpful and the check out line moved quickly.
The building began life in 1966 as the Lucky Stores Grocery and in 1995 it became Queen Anne Thriftway. In 2003 the name changed to Metropolitan Market. There are five other locations, three in Seattle and one in Kirkland.
I love this graphic I found on their site. http://metropolitan-market.com/produce/localNWgrowingSeasonChart.pdf
World Famous Bob’s Java Jive
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
Dometop Community Garden
The Dometop Community Garden is really something! Located in Roger’s Park at 3151 East L Street, it has amazing view of Mt. Rainier. The garden was created in 2011 cooperatively with the Eastside neighbors and Metro Parks. There is water throughout the raised garden beds and when I stopped in one of the organizers was watering the individual gardens. It was a pleasure to chat with her. The plots themselves are gorgeous and well tended. Scattered throughout there are bits of whimsy and cheerful flags flapping in the breeze. There is a real pride of ownership here. Perhaps my favorite area was the small field of huge sunflowers planted in a boat 🙂
There is a great website that shows the garden being developed. http://tacomadometop.com/mckinley-hill-community-garden.php
And this site details all of the area’s community gardens and farmer’s markets. http://www.growlocaltacoma.com/
Old Wonderbread and Hostess Property
I’ve been wanting to snap a photo of the old Wonderbread Building at the corner of Sprague Avenue and South 7th (703 South Sprague) for ages The property began life as the Matthaei Bread Company in 1913 at a cost of $30,000. The formal opening was in April 1913 and it was known as the plant of 150 windows.
The parent company, Interstate Bakeries Corp, went bankrupt in 2004 and this outlet closed. As of 2007 the property was up for sale, but it has been sitting vacant for ages now. An article in the Weekly Volcano mentions a proposed demolition of the building with a new retail/office facility, but it has been a couple of years and I see no evidence of new development. http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/entertainment/spew-blog/2010/05/tacoma-wonder-bread-building-demolition/
A picture of the building from the 1920s can be found here http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=1&o=2&n=25402&i=6392#text
Grassi’s
Grassi’s Flowers & Gifts at 1702 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, is in cool, triangular building that was built in 1892 as the Wynkoop Drug Co. / Pagni & Lenti Grocery. The property has also been the Little Country Grocery Store. It was renovated to its beautiful condition by Alice Mack, but ended up being owned by a bank through foreclosure. Eventually it was purchased by the University of Washington and leased to Grassi’s.
http://www.grassisflorist.com/
