Last November, an electrical fire ripped through the center of the 90 year old building on 6th Ave. that had been the home of Northwest Costume since 1982. Most of the costumes were damaged or destroyed and the business has been closed since then. Tomorrow night, though, you’ll have one last chance to visit the…
Read More
Historic Preservation Month began on May 1st with a proclamation by Mayor Woodards during a city council meeting. The real kickoff party was a few days later though on the 5th when Earthwise Architectural Salvage held a handmade craft fair and salvage sculpture competition. Local artists and crafters sold their goods while Squirrel Butter set…
Read More
As of 2018, Tacoma has 19 retail cannabis locations. These serve both medical cannabis patients and adults over 21 who use cannabis for recreation. The shops are highly regulated and sell a wide variety of cannabis, or marijuana, products. Who is selling the most cannabis in Tacoma, how much excise tax are they paying to…
Read More
While everyone else is busy “disrupting” the tech industry, at least one Tacoma business owner is just trying to make job training more entertaining. William Manzanares, owner of local convenience store chain, Smokin’ Willy’s, is all about trying new things. So when he decided his employees should learn more about the cigars they sold, he…
Read More
Sitting a block down from one of Tacoma’s busiest intersections at Sprague and 7th Ave. sits a 105 year old building that, for the last decade, has sat vacant and largely ignored by passersby. Given its prominence and ideal location, it’s hard to believe it’s sat empty for so long. Once you get a look…
Read More
There’s a new crane on the block, right next door to the Tacoma Public Library’s Main Branch. It’s part of the work transforming the parking lot located at 1210 Tacoma Ave. S into a $40 million, 166-unit, mixed-use private development called Hailey Apartments. Former Mayor Marilyn Strickland explained in 2017, “This development, our third foreign…
Read More
There are few dining experiences that thrill the taste buds while entertaining the diner quite like teppanyaki. No, I didn’t mean to say hibachi cooking of Benihana fame. Here’s why: Hibachi barbecue grills use charcoal or gas flame and feature open grate design. Teppanyaki grills, on the other hand, have a solid griddle-type cook surface,…
Read More
We’ve all had jobs that paid well but left us feeling hollow and probably most of us have stayed a long time at jobs that paid next to nothing because we simply loved doing it. Everyone has hopes and dreams of what kind of job they’ll spend the rest of their lives doing and they’re…
Read More
If you live in Tacoma, chances are good that you’ve passed by FabLab without ever realizing it. That’s a shame, my friend, because it’s one of the most interesting businesses in the city. Located at 1938 Market Street (just across the street from the The Rock Wood Fired Pizza), FabLab is a “makerspace,” which,…
Read More
Spun is helping Tacoma get dirty…and creative! If you aren’t paying attention, you might just miss it. Unimposing and unassuming, Spun is nestled between a vacant lot and an old brick building on MLK in Hilltop. Once a violence stricken district, Hilltop is transforming into an artist oasis. Small business owners are aiming to shift…
Read More
What would leap to mind if I were to say the name Bluebeard? Most would mumble something about a pirate or a fairytale, but those in Tacoma might answer “coffee” or even “a cat.” It’s true. Behind our local Bluebeard Coffee Roasters is owner Kevin McGlocklin, whose English professor father long ago named their family…
Read More