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An Introduction to Tacoma’s Peregrine Falcons

You may not know it, but Downtown Tacoma has played an important role in the recovery of peregrine falcons for nearly 20 years. The tall buildings emulate the rocky cliffs falcons naturally gravitate to. That, combined with a ready supply of pigeons, makes for prime falcon real estate. Read More

Here’s Your Last Chance to See the Inside of the Northwest Costume Shop

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. Read More

Exactly How High Can You Get in Tacoma? We Investigate

Getting truly high in Tacoma isn't as easy as one might expect. Sure, there are pot shops on quite a few corners, but we just can't compete with the likes of Denver, Colorado. This is sea level, man. Read More

Here’s What Mayor Woodards Has Been up to Since November

When I walked into Victoria Woodards’ office on her 61st day on the job, she looked up sheepishly from her sandwich. She asked if I minded if she finished her lunch. I said no, and as she thanked me, she checked her phone, the back of which read in gold letters, “Glitter is my favorite color.” Read More

Ruston Way Piling Bikes Spread to Downtown Tacoma

The phenomenon which was previously confined to the Ruston Way waterfront has now shown up in downtown Tacoma. Whether or not it's the same person(s) responsible for the original guerilla art project is unclear. Whoever it is, though, seems to have stuck to the theme of mid-century folding bikes. Read More

Tacoma’s Future: Better Off Seattle South Than Detroit Jr.?

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. Read More

Can You Guess These Tacoma Spots Just By Their Textures?

People take a lot of big scenery pictures of Tacoma. It's hard to pass up a view of the Narrows, when Mt. Rainier comes out to play, or even downtown from high in the sky, but Instagram user Where.is.Willis has taken to looking at the city from a closer perspective. Read More

Ever Wonder What It’s Like to Live at Salmon Beach?

The term “hidden gem” gets thrown around a lot but Salmon Beach really exemplifies it in every way. It’s one of the most wonderful parts of Tacoma and it’s about as hidden as you can get while still being in the city. Read More

Think Your Potholes are Bad? Check These Out

Here’s the backstory: People talk a lot about busted roads in Tacoma but this 500 foot strip of awful is literally more patch than road at this point. The potholes are so deep you can actually damage your chassis if you don’t navigate them properly. Its infamy is so widespread that, in years past, whenever there was a paving project elsewhere in the city that ended up with surplus asphalt, the crews would bring the extras here to dump into the potholes. Read More

LED Street Lights Are Coming to Your Neighborhood: Here’s When

Like it or not, the nighttime look of Tacoma's city streets and suburbs is changing. Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) and the City of Tacoma are sweeping from south to north in 2018, replacing 75% of our aging streetlights with new, energy efficient LED fixtures. Read More

Steve’s Gay ’90s Restaurant: When Smorgasbord & a Show Ruled South Tacoma Way

Say the words "Steve's Gay '90s" and you're sure to confuse anyone new to Tacoma or born in the 1980s and beyond. For those in either group, we're talking about a restaurant that used to rock South Tacoma Way — and the 1890s. Read More

10 Best Instagram Spots in Tacoma

Let’s be honest, nowadays, with our smartphones, we are all basically amateur photographers. Of course our phone pictures are no replacement for professional portraits, but that doesn’t mean they can’t look good! Read More

How to Find an Octopus at Low Tide in Tacoma

Photos from Last Night’s Fire in Wapato Hills Park

“You’re Not the Boss of Me!” Says Unruly Container Crane

Street Art Scavenger Hunt with Chris Richey

The Tacoma Farmers Market is Giving Away Free Food. You Probably Qualify.