KFnet in T-Town
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Mar. 13, 2010 at 5:42pm
The Promise of Sonic
Drove by the proposed/supposed future location of a new Sonics yesterday just off Orchard on 6th Ave. and noticed the former Classy Casuals building has been razed. There instead is an empty dirt pad covered in straw. Check it out:
Though I don't really care much about fast food other than it's a business that wanted to locate in Tacoma, I'm happy to see the old place demoed since so many tags were appearing on its facade. But does this still mean a Sonic is coming with the path now clear? Will the spot be paved over? Or become a bikini barista?
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Feb. 27, 2010 at 10:56am
34th Street Bridge Ribbon Cutting, Open Today
Work on the closed 34th Street bridge is finished and it will be re-opened today. You know, that's the big arched one up by Stanley & Seafort's. The ribbon cutting ceremony and procession start on the east side of the bridge at 1:30pm today.
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Feb. 9, 2010 at 9:36am
Beautiful Angle's "Tyger! Tyger!"
Happy Chinese New Year!
TYGER! TYGER! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
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Feb. 8, 2010 at 7:22am
8 versus 5.8
It's the little things...
Sometimes I do believe Tacoma gets the shaft for being "it's just Tacoma" to folks that live elsewhere. But I don't believe it's so bad being the underdog sometimes since it gives us something to strive and fight for. In this case, this very minor, mostly insignificant case, I reveal how the very signs that help guide people here seem to thumb their nose at us.
On so many days for so many people driving south on I-5 after work to their abodes here in Tacoma they pass a sign they could care less about. Just around where you cross over the King County line, near where the signs turn to jumbotron TV screens, a regular, green and white way-marking road sign hearkens "Tacoma 8"! You're almost there, just a handful of miles to go!
On a couple recent trips from that direction I decided to see for myself. I could swear it didn't seem like 8 miles stood between the edge of the lit-sign mecca that is Fife to the downtown Tacoma exit. So I reset my trip odometer and watched the tenths tick away. Higher and higher they climbed until I soon realized that I was just exiting toward the city center. Had I followed the sign that previously told me I had 8 miles to go I wouldn't think I was there yet because my odometer only told me 5.8 miles had passed. A full 2.2 miles short of what the WSDOT is telling folks.
I don't think the Nisqually quake tectonically shifted things that much so am a little confused why this number wouldn't point to the edge of Tacoma that comes first (the Portland Ave exit) but instead appears instead to pass East Tacoma, downtown and lead one to the 38th Street exit. The mall.
I don't expect to push for any legislative action nor guerrilla campaign to spray paint the signs to read a more accurate number but thought I would point this oddity out in hopes it only defiantly furthers the pride locals already feel. Be proud, Tacoma, even when the odds seem pointlessly stacked against you.
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Feb. 1, 2010 at 8:57am
Live Blog ~ Running the Red Hot Gauntlet
Fellow Tacoman and CLAW member, and illustrator extraordinaire (just check out that awesome banner above!) Stowe and I will put our very lives on the line tonight and run "The Gauntlet". What is this challenge of which you speak, you may wonder? It's a straight up, at the bar, no bathroom breaks test of will against The Red Hot's nine(!) signature dogs. Stowe's recently birthday and my stomach-stretching food binge in New Orleans make this the perfect chance to get our names up on the plaque on their wall and into a small slice of Tacoma history.
Follow along my updates in the comments below and keep your eyes here for photos and possibly even live video of the main event around 5:30pm tonight. Wish us luck!
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Feb. 1, 2010 at 7:07am
A Little Less Teriyaki
Kobe Teriyaki on 6th Ave just across from the beloved Red Hot is closed. Dark windows last Monday night clued me in but the "Available" sign is a dead giveaway for this standalone restaurant. Since we all know how much teriyaki and Tacoma go together it's sad to see a piece of that identity shuttered.
I suppose one man's trash is another's treasure, though, as this spot has a decent amount of off-street parking associated with it and is right in the heart of the most active/hip/happening part of 6th Ave.
So what would you like to see go in there?
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Jan. 28, 2010 at 7:22am
Photos ~ Stadium Thriftway Progress Update
The new layout of Stadium Thriftway is coming together but still a work in progress. I stopped by the other day for some flowers and snapped a few pics of what's new. Follow along from the diagram I previously posted if you want!
Looking toward the area the store is expanding into. Previously, there wasn't much beyond that beer case on the left.
Frozen food cases (left) and a significantly expanded wine section.
Looking toward the new meat case and butcher area.
Looking back into the "old" store area where the produce sits in a temporary spot before the aisles are rotated 90 degrees in the final configuration.
Previously on KFnet: Stadium Thriftway's New Layout, 9/29/2009
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Jan. 27, 2010 at 6:58am
The Proctor Fashion Shuffle
That proprietor of purses, pants, and plenty more in the purple house just off Proctor has moved...
...to the former space next to Nick 'n Willy's that was, until recently, occupied by swanky clothier Julia Ellen right on Proctor. Megs & Mo is having the grand re-opening this Sunday.
Also, just around the corner on 26th, Jasminka shoes, clothing, and accessories store that also recently met its demise is rising from the grave under new management.
The sign says they'll be back up and running in April. I'm just so glad both of these spaces appear to be turning into retail and not an insurance/finance/payday loans kinda' place.
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Jan. 26, 2010 at 7:01am
MultiCare Cold vs. Flu Live Chat
Local hospital and health care system MultiCare is hosting their first ever web chat today at 11am. Dr. Fadi Aljabi will take your questions about how to tell the difference between colds and flu and whether or not you should be worried. This could be a great, ongoing community service!
Full disclosure: My team at work built this tool and can't wait to see it being used in the wild!
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Jan. 25, 2010 at 6:58am
Quick Bites - That Babs Is a Babbler
Of great food, that is!
Not Your Mother's Chicken Fried Steak (above) made for a surprisingly not stupid filling nor greasy breakfast. A sweet and delightfully bitter blood orange juice (below) topped things off nicely. Chef William Mueller's ever-changing and nearly salt-free menu is a welcome change from the norm and may very well use the freshest ingredients and spices in Tacoma. Keep and eye out for Chef William as he'll be featured soon on TV Tacoma's Business Matters and live doing the dish Libby ordered (called the Meatless Wonder) on an upcoming live broadcast of KCTS Cooks Feb. 6.
Babblin' Babs Bistro [ map ]
253-761-9099
About
Although I have another home on the web I thought it might be nice to lead by example a bit and put this blog system up to the test myself.
So far, so good... Funny how I build web tools for other people that are far better than the one's I have setup over on KFnet.
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Advantage: Tacoma
Quick Bites
Recent Posts
| 3/13 | The Promise of Sonic [19] |
| 2/27 | 34th Street Bridge Ribbon Cutting, Open Today [2] |
| 2/9 | Beautiful Angle's "Tyger! Tyger!" [16] |
| 2/8 | 8 versus 5.8 [7] |
| 2/1 | Live Blog ~ Running the Red Hot Gauntlet [33] |