Tacomania
May. 15, 2008 at 5:25pm
Thanks for the Pizza, Pat!
It was so fun to see all of the bikers at The Hub on Wednesday night. I don't know how many people showed up for the event, but there was definitely standing room only in the bar and we had to get creative with bike parking.
The free pizza was as welcome as the purchased pitcher after the ride. It is so nice to consume delicious calories without any guilt. I figure the 10 mile (roundtrip) ride warranted the gluttony. My friend, SDay, works in Seattle and commutes on the Sounder. On Wednesday, she took her bike with her and on the way home she got off at the Kent station, rode for 15 miles, and caught the next train at the Sumner stop. Sounds like an interesting and fun way to combine exercise with commuting! I'd say she definitely deserved her beer!
The bike groups that organized the event had free flat repair kits and water bottles for us and one lucky rider won a $50 gift certificate for REI. The most exciting gift of the evening, though, hands down, was the new Pierce County Bike Map. Everyone was pretty happy to see them and there were maps spread out, being inspected, on most tables. Old Town Cycle also brought a bike to display. Such a beautiful bike. So light. And only $3,000. I have more to say about the crew at Old Town Cycle, but that warrants a separate post. 
There were some friendly and fun riders there and the conversation spilled out onto the deck. I enjoyed being surrounded by other sweat-encrusted, athletically dressed people -- no second looks in that crowd!
One woman showed me her Biking Barbie, who she saved from the side of the road. She found her naked and dirty, brought her home, cleaned her up, made her a color coordinated bike outfit, including safety helmet, of course, and installed her on the front of her bike. Barbie looked pretty happy to me.
Around 8:00 we headed down to Doyle's for Knowledge Night with some friends and I noticed their (new?) specials board. Very nice.
The service at both the Hub and Doyle's Pub was impeccable, as usual.
We had a lovely 10pm ride home and were snug in bed by 11. What a great night. Tacoma Rocks.
May. 14, 2008 at 8:50am
Point Ruston Progress
View from the hill
On Monday, I snapped a few pictures of the progess at Point Ruston as I was pushing my bike up the Waterview/Ferdinand hill.
May. 14, 2008 at 8:36am
Progress in University Place
Uptown Center
As a former UP resident, I'm always interested to see how the new Town Center is coming along. Here are some pictures from last week, showing the progress.
This one was taken from the stoplight at Bridgeport & 37th
From Bridgeport
From Drexler
May. 14, 2008 at 8:26am
Bike to The Hub Today for Free Pizza!
Conflicting details on times and who gets a free slice, but it's all good!
According to the Hub Site
WED - May 14th - Bike to Work Week 
ALL DAY LONG - Ride your bike to The Hub!
First 50 bikers receive a free slice of pizza!
Celebrate Spring and ride down the Hub - extended Happy Hour from 3-7pm!!
According to the City of Tacoma's Bike to Work Month Calendar
Wednesday, May 14
Happy Hour at the Hub
Location: The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. South
Time: 5-7 PM, happy hour specials all night for those who bike
Description: Join with fellow bicyclists and city staff members to talk about hopes, visions and plans for a more bike-able Tacoma. Those who ride their bike to the Hub between 5-7 PM will be treated to a free slice of pizza, entered into a drawing for a $50 REI gift certificate and can get happy hour specials all night.
May. 11, 2008 at 12:40pm
Tacoma City Marathon
May 10, 2008
I just posted pictures of some of the athletes who competed in the Tacoma City Marathon on Saturday. I originally intended to get a picture of each runner that came through my intersection just past the 18.5 mile mark, but my camera battery died after 436 shots. Next year I'll bring an extra battery! I am so impressed by every single runner that I had the privelege to see run. I so wish I could have gotten pictures of the last runners, whose determination and strength was awe inspiring. What an amazing group of athletes.
I discovered that there is a limit to the number of pictures that can be posted on Flickr, so I just posted the first 24 runners there. I tagged the photos with the names of the runners when their tag number was in view. I'm new to posting photos on-line, so I'm hoping that I did the right things. I also tagged them all with Tacoma City Marathon and Marathon Maniacs, even though there weren't any maniacs in the first group of pictures. I'm just hoping that maniacs looking for photos will see my note that I have tons of pictures that I'm happy to share if they contact me at heather.ups@gmail.com. I just need a description of the runner (bib number, clothing, or approx time) and I'll happily search to see if I have a shot and send it on. The last shot that I got, before the battery died, was bib number 2666, Bobby Jones, whose final time was 4:21 at 206th place.
I posted 275 pics on Shutterfly, but then found that only 250 can be shared and each one has to be chosen individually. Too much work for a Sunday morning! I "shared" a few of them and will work on making more available to the public soon. They are here.
For now, I'm going to get back to enjoying the sunshine with my love.
May. 8, 2008 at 11:19am
Searching in Tacoma
Is it better to know what you want or what you don't want?
I spent much of yesterday afternoon shopping for a new dress. I do not like shopping. I am boycotting the mall. I did not have a fun afternoon. Along the way, I did meet some nice people, so the afternoon was not a complete loss. I also spotted a celebrity.
My first stop was Sonja's on N. 21st St. This was my first visit to Sonja's, so, of course, I had to look at everything, not just the dresses. That shop is packed with good stuff. The biggest surprise for me was the variety and quantity of shoes in stock. I'll never have to go to the mall again. I found two dresses to try. After slipping into a deep periwinkle dress that fit perfectly but seemed a bit conservative, I began to realize that I was going to have one of those shopping days. This dress made my eyes look so blue, skimmed over my body like a dream, had a lovely swishing quality, and wasn't over-thetop prom-like. My mother would love me in that dress. The second dress was more daring, deep v in front and back, an updated cream and black classic with some shimmer. Wrong size. At least two sizes too large (not by number but by fit) and the last one in stock. At $120, a steal for the designer dress that it is, but still spendy for my taste when the tailoring costs are added. Truly a beautiful dress. I then realized that I don't really know what I want. I hemmed and hawed and paced the shop. Tried the blue dress on again. Looked at the clearance rack. Looked at the shoes. Chatted with Sonja (nice person #1) and left empty handed, thinking that I'll just wear an old dress and stop by Sonja's on the way to dinner to buy a sweater or wrap and maybe some new bling.
Upon arriving home, I remembered that I had offered to drop off some suits at the cleaners. So I looked through my closet, determining that none my existing dresses would do for Saturday night's festivities, grabbed the suits and headed to the Proctor District. Entering Envy, I saw a postcard, cleverly placed in the back pocket of the mannequin's jeans, for Puttin' on the Pink. This put the thought in my head that if I found something, I should wait until tomorrow, just in case there are any special discounts. Another fine excuse to be indecisive. First dress, black with red belt, with some amazingly shiny red heels. This is when the identity crisis set in. Wow. I looked hot. And my age. Powerful. Almost bombshell hot. Mature, but not matronly. Take it off, take it off. Next two dresses... both black and white, poofy, spring-like, lovely. The woman in the mirror looked like a girl again. Twenty-something. Whew, back in my comfort zone. What is my problem? I'm not ashamed that I'm 39. Try that sexy number on again. Ok. Still a little scary. Only $40 though. Hmm, does it look cheap and I don't realize it? Is it slutty? What will people think of me in this dress? Will my friends like it or hate it? Will this mature version of me scare my fiance? Exit shop muttering to self, confusing the shopkeeper (nice person #2).
Next stop, Julia Ellen Clothiers. Lovely sales lady (nice person #3), sold out of anything appropriate. Although, at this point, I don't know what appropriate might be. They have dresses, some shoes, some jewelry, and a t-shirt that made me tear up. The front said, simply, "evolve" and the back, "No one can take our soul from us and we can evolve stronger and wiser." There were other word shirts, but I thought it wise to not read them.
Into my head pops an amazing dress that I saw months ago at Cake, in University Place. I drove over there, knowing deep down that there is no way that dress is still there. And feeling that it might be too girly anyhow. But I have visions of a fitted bodice, empire waist, greenish/silverish satin mixed with sturdy cotton. The drive to UP does not make me happy. Am I really driving 12 miles (round trip) on a wild goose chase for an imaginary dress? Walking into Cake immediately calmed me. Hippy styles abound. Ah, my comfort zone again. I touch the fabrics, I soak in the loud floral prints, I try on a froofy rain jacket. My dress is gone, of course, and they don't have any suitable dresses, but I don't care. I feel the Zen that is Cake. The shopkeeper (nice person #4) actually apologizes that the dress is gone; she remembers the one I remembered and agrees that it was lovely.
Since I'm there, I decide to get dinner from Trader Joe's and this is where I spot the celebrity. I consider approaching her... "Elle? Hi, Heather" but realize that she might not have a clue who I am and that I might startle "the boy" who is talking nonstop in a quiet, indoor voice. She did, however, give an approving glance to my re-usable shopping bag, so I feel special. Additionally, Joe is now selling frozen edamame again and this makes me happy. I stocked up on four bags. The checker-outer person (nice person #5) actually talked to me like a real person, even though I was obviously in a shopping fog. He asked a question that you don't hear often from a stranger, "So, what good has happened for you today?" This stumped me. I couldn't say, "I spotted Elle" because she was standing directly behind me at the next register. So I said something lame and asked him the same question. He said that he got to spend some time with a good friend before work and I agreed, that is a very good thing.
Now, if you've made it this far in the saga, you will be rewarded by me getting to the point.
My second-best friend is a guy, we'll call him MFHLM (my fiance's hetero life mate). He is searching for his true love and his search methods are not unlike my search for a dress. He deserves a good girlfriend, one that suits him, flatters him even. Along the way, he is learning a lot about what he doesn't want. But does he know what he wants? Or is it good enough to recognize it when he finally sees it? Are his expectations appropriate? When he finds what he wants, will it cost more than he thinks? Is it important that his friends like his girl? Can he find what he needs here in Tacoma? I think so. I think that when the time is right, he will meet the perfect one for him. I think he feels time pressuring him to find her, like me pressured to find a damn dress, but he has plenty of time. As for his friends, if she flatters him, we'll like her.
Last night, we met MFHLM's brand new friend (nice person #6). I like her, she is pretty, funny, and nice. She put up with MFHLM inviting us to crash their first date. She even laughed when I told her I'd be blogging about her. She probably thought I was joking. Is she the perfect fit? Will his mother love seeing him with her? Will he still find her comfortable when the season changes? Will she prove to be too costly, by breaking his heart? Only time will tell. A much more serious search than the one for a dress, I'm not trying to make light of it, but to be honest, I'd be so happy to find a dress that suits me as well as new friend appears to suit MFHLM.
May. 8, 2008 at 10:40am
Satellite and Wright Park
the perfect evening combination
Wow, what a difference from a few years ago. My sweetheart and I had the best cup of coffee (in the world, imho) and a lovely walk around the Wright Park pond in the glow of the setting sun last night.
A few years ago, there was no Satellite Coffee and Wright Park had a scary and unfortunately accurate nickname.
Last night, I was amazed by the beauty of the park with it's newly refurbished pathways, new benches, wonderful bridge, ducks, squirrels, pond with fountain and good landscaping, and gleaming statues. The deciduous trees are sprouting new buds, blossoms, and light green leaves. Spring is springing! The public bath has a fresh coat of paint and everything looks so clean in preparation for Saturday's re-opening celebration. The celebration looks like it will be fun, but I doubt that the park could possibly look as pretty as it did for us last night. Check out these pictures that my true love shot...
May. 7, 2008 at 5:26pm
Walking from Pacific to Thea's Landing and back
and walking and walking
I, being the lucky girl that I am, had lunch with my sweetheart today. I took some sandwiches and stuff downtown and we walked down Pac Ave to Union Station. This is my new favorite place to share homemade lunch. There are cafe' tables downstairs and the windows look out over the little liberty bell garden and the glass bridge. It is quiet, warm, clean and free. You just have to show your ID to enter the building. There are even clean bathrooms down there. (Attn: Fredo! This is where the urinal signs should point -- they are open to the ID carrying public.)
After lunch, we decided to walk over the glass bridge to the marina and down a few blocks and then climb the stairs that would lead us back over to 15th & Pacific. So we meandered around the fence and the bagel shop, noticing that the bagel shop was pitifully empty as we circled it. I wonder if they would get more business if the fence were removed and a big window and door were added to the north face of the cafe'. It is a shame that the windows along Pacific are not more pedestrian friendly.
We had a nice walk across the bridge dodging tourists and groups of students. It was quiet down by Thea's Landing, but Woody's had some lunch customers. The construction on the new building seems to be progessing nicely; I hadn't seen it in a while, so I was surprised. But a bigger surprise greeted us when we went around the corner... no stairs. Last summer there were stairs from near Johnny's up to the overpass, today there were none. There is a nice new walkway up around the overpass, with some pretty flowers and taller plants that create a nice buffer from the traffic, but that route was definitely less convenient and longer than the stairs. There were some workers struggling with some concrete in an opening in the rail. Perhaps new stairs will be built in that location, closer to Johnny's. I sure hope so, as we need more connections from Pacific Ave to Dock Street, not less!
The stairs used to go from here
to here
Maybe they will put them in here? (see the orange cone?)
here is part of the long walk with the pretty flowers
Oh, and there is a nice view from the walkway of the beautiful gravel on the new roof. A garden sure would be nice; I think someone already mentioned that in their blog.
May. 3, 2008 at 1:32am
View from the Winthrop
On Thursday evening, I had the opportunity to see the view from the small roof garden on the Winthrop. I snapped a handful of pictures that are fun. Unfortunately, I didn't take the time to set up the shots or the settings on my camera so the photos aren't even focused well. For what they are worth, here they are.
May. 3, 2008 at 12:53am
Putting on the Pink
Looks fun!
On May 8th, Proctor will be "puttin' on the pink" to raise awareness and funds for our breast cancer resource center.
Date: May 8, 2008
Time: 5p-9p
Cost: $10 in advance; $15 the day of the event
Location: Proctor Business District at North 26th & Proctor
{ Map/Directions }
Come enjoy shopping, eating, drinking and much more to benefit the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Tacoma. A perfect opportunity to shop, get pampered or simply have some fun just before Mother’s Day in Tacoma’s famous Proctor District at North 26th and Proctor!
What’s in store?
• Discounts and specials with participating Proctor merchants
• Fashion show featuring products from Proctor shops
• Raffle including big-ticket items
• Event memorabilia bag with goodies from participating merchants including a special flashing necklace to flag you as a registered participant for discounts, specials and treats
Registration
Register with participating merchants prior to the event or at the indicated registration table on the day of the event.
http://www.bcrcwa.org/puttinonpink.html
About
Hello! I'm Heather and I'm addicted to Tacoma.
I'll probably be blogging about my experiences in Tacoma as they relate to the environment (natural and built), social (in)justice, community building, economic development, bio-diesel, public transit, biking, gardening, home improvement, food & wine, and my little family (me, my fiance, one dog, one cat). This is my first attempt at writing a blog - so please bear with me.
Recent Posts
| 5/15 | Thanks for the Pizza, Pat! [1] |
| 5/14 | Point Ruston Progress [3] |
| 5/14 | Progress in University Place [1] |
| 5/14 | Bike to The Hub Today for Free Pizza! [0] |
| 5/11 | Tacoma City Marathon [0] |