Since 2008 there have been 125 wrecks at the bridge of 11foot8.com fame. Thanks to a nearby camera, can't-look-away footage of trucks crashing into the 11-foot, 8-inch train trestle in Durham, NC has been viewed by millions of people. Read More
If you are thinking of taking a class at a community college, or if you have a child, if you are in business that cares if people have disposable income to spend in your shop, if you are patriotic and think America is the best country in the world, or if you pay taxes—which, if you think about it, is almost everyone—then you should know a dirty little secret about community colleges. Read More
Nestled in downtown Tacoma in a narrow park stands a totem pole. At one point, it was brightly painted, but the paint is faded. Graffiti is carved into the base. At the top sits an eagle with wings spread, as if surveying the port below. Read More
Want to take home a Tacoma girl, a Tacoma pearl? At first glance it seems Phil Baxter did, although his lyrics to a 1930's song about our lovely Tacoma ladies were nearly lost for good. Read More
When Mark Twain arrived in Tacoma in 1895 he was broke, smoking 10 cigars a day, and seemingly unimpressed by the area. Much like our summer of 2017, wildfires were wreaking havoc in Washington and most of our beautiful scenery was completely hidden from view. Read More
December 21st is the winter solstice and, according to a cryptic sidewalk plaque in downtown Tacoma, sunrise on that day at 19th and Market is the time and place to be if you want to take a peek into the world of the dead. Read More
Are you in on this Tacoma secret? Maybe you’ve seen the clues without even realizing it. Once a month beautifully designed letterpress art posters are posted around the city, and if you can find one, it’s yours to keep. Read More
Tacoma is a beautiful city with many memorable sights but even if you’ve lived here your entire life, it’s unlikely that you’ve ever seen it quite like this. When viewed from above, our familiar city takes on a graphic quality, sometimes resembling abstract modern art more than historical architecture. Read More
There's a four-legged celebrity in our midst, and he's known as Asher the Italian Greyhound. Read More
The locally famous Piling Bike near Dickman Mill Park has a new friend. This one, further northeast near Cummings Park, is a similar type of folding bike but has more than that in common with its rustier counterpart. Read More
Tacoma may not be Nashville or Detroit, but it's got its fair share of music history. The argument could be made, in fact, that the Grit City is the figurative birthplace of garage rock, and it's inarguably the literal birthplace of one of America's most beloved music celebrities Read More
The 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum stirred up a lot of emotions as I walked among its exhibits. There was admiration, fascination, sympathy, and a bit of anger—sometimes a lot of anger. Read More