KFnet in T-Town
May. 13, 2012 at 3:53pm
Favorite Tacoma Restaurant Deck
On stunning weekends like this what's your favorite Tacoma bar or restaurant porch, patio, or deck? Here are the ones that are right at the top of my list.
- Tatanka Take Out, 4915 N. Pearl (love watching the world drive by on Pearl there)
- Bayview Bar & Grill, 229 St. Helens (little known spot with a great day with a great view!)
- Harmon Tap Room, 204 St. Helens
- Harmon Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. (who doesn't love when they roll up those garage doors?)
- Katy Downs, 3211 Ruston Way (though anywhere along the waterfront is mobbed during this kind of weather)
- Gibson's Frozen Yogurt, 8 N. Tacoma Ave. (great to cool down and chill in the Stadium neighborhood)
May. 10, 2012 at 6:41am
Tonight: Hawaiian Themed Cash Mob
The do-good buying spree that is Tacoma's own cash mob is at it again along 6th Ave. tonight. Dawn your best gawdy Hawaiian print shirt to get into the summer spirit because there'll be hula, swag bags of free stuff, and mock pina coladas (hint: bring your own flask). Check out the details and RSVP on Facebook.
Cash mobbing is a great and simple idea to help lend some excitement and energy to the idea of going local. Often it's the simplest ideas that make the biggest splash and this one is right up there. In previous weeks they've focused the mob's spotlight Teaching Toys in the Proctor area and Millesime in the Theater district downtown.
Aside from cash mobbing what's your favorite, easy trick for going local?
May. 2, 2012 at 7:02am
Quick Bites - The Plumber Would Be Proud
The Super Mario Sub is chalked full of delicious deli meats, fresh peppers (red, green, orange, jalapeno -- all the beautiful peppers!), melty mozzarella, all on an a fluffy fresh baguette. Seriously, Dorky's is an amazing place to indulge in classic arcade games, pinball and great DJ'd and live tunes, but if you haven't gone for the food you're sorely missing out on one of the best places to get a sammich, panini, or focaccia bread pizzas in Tacoma!
Oh, and here's a bonus photo showing just how awesome they are with some hot, hot trophy action:
May. 1, 2012 at 5:55pm
"You Can't Win" Filming in Old City Hall
Evidenced by a large number clearly marked trucks (one say "Serving the motion picture industry coast to coast") and the Twitters the film "You Can't Win" is being shot in our beloved (and crumbling) Old City Hall. The support vehicles are numerous there on Commerce but also lined up along Broadway. Check it out:
According to Empire the film is based on an autobiographical book by the same name written by Jack Black about being in the hobo underworld in the very early 20th Century. Great to see this activity downtown especially in one of our amazing spaces! Though, the title seems a bit ominous when considering the current state of Old City Hall.
And while you're in the mood check out the results of this year's 72 Hour Film Competition viewing party 7pm, May 11th at the Rialto!
Previously
12/28/2011 - Short Film Shot Inside Doyle's
12/14/2011 - Dorky's Tapped for T-Mobile Commercial
11/8/2011 - Commercial Filming at Dorky's
11/21/2008 - On the Set at the Toyota Commercial Filming
Apr. 27, 2012 at 7:21am
Old City Hall Vanishing...
...Behind a leafing tree. Let's hope it doesn't vanish for other reasons.
Apr. 25, 2012 at 7:05am
Quick Bites - Tot Shots
Hands down the finest example of tater tots that have ever crossed my lips. The crispy, bite-sized bits of fried potato were saturated with the savory goodness of melted cheese and flecks of bacon.
Harmon Tap Room [ map ]
253-683-4606
Apr. 23, 2012 at 7:04am
Quick Bites - Bacon Meet Cinnamon
Three slices of luceous cinnamon roll French toast with a drizzle of warm syrup, dusted with powdered sugar, and topped with flecks of crispy bacon. Diet sin never tasted so good at breakfast.
Old Milwaukee Cafe [ map ]
253-761-2602
Apr. 11, 2012 at 8:25am
Tell Click! to Kick Clear Channel Habit
In a mid-sized city like Tacoma we're fortunate to have multiple choices when it comes to who fills our TVs with content. It's easy for a monopoly to exist in such a relatively small entertainment market but alongside Comcast's dominating presence we have the municipal Click! cable service.
Though I no longer subscribe to cable TV I make use of their internet offerings and am more than pleased especially with their level of personal service. However, it's time we ask for better when it comes to how they get their message out around town and ask them to kick the Clear Channel billboard habit. Being a City-run (and "publicly controlled" as their website puts it) entity it's time for Click! to cease working with a company like Clear Channel who currently operates hundreds of billboards within Tacoma that are in violation of our sign code.
The following link is an email message to Click! and our City Council asking them to kick the Clear Channel habit but also suggestion alternate, more local forms of advertising such as on Pierce Transit buses and bus stops as well as local websites like FeedTacoma. You know this easy activism drill -- just sign your name and send the email below:
What other local (especially City-funded) organizations would you like to see stop utilizing law-breaking Clear Channel billboards?
Apr. 3, 2012 at 7:30am
Easy Billboard Activism: Rust!
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Step right up and learn the amazing secrets of Tacoma anti-billboard/anti-Clear Channel activism! These are the tips "the man" doesn't want you to know but will be revealed to you right here, right now. Yes indeedy, the simple product of the natural decay of materials exposed to Mother Nature herself can help convict Clear Channel and her oppressive walls in the sky to hell and damnation! That product, that simple combination of iron and oxygen, that savior of livability for all Tacoma is...
RUST!
Yup, City billboard-related sign code notes that even visible rust on a billboard's support structure is a violating condition that warrants attention by the owner. For example, check out the supports under that monstrous example of a billboard that looms o'er top of It's Greek To Me at the intersection of 6th, Division, and Sprague:
Report this billboard and any other you can find within Tacoma via your desktop computer or mobile device using our handy dandy billboard reporting app easily found at FeedTacoma.com/billboards to let the City know you don't want this kinda' junk rotting in your neighborhood.
Mar. 30, 2012 at 8:17am
Tacoma Dome Cleaning In-Progress Photo
Plenty of progress has been made since showing you the human scale of the job ahead of crews spiffy up the Tacoma Dome. As of yesterday I'd say it looks like nearly a quarter of it has already been scoured. Thanks again anonymous donor -- she looks better already!
Mar. 28, 2012 at 7:41am
Tacoma Billboard Report App
After my first meeting with some central neighborhood folks against Clear Channel's abuse of Tacoma via it's blighted billboards I decided to put my web development skills to use for the cause. Ladies and gentlemen I give you the
Instead of merely asking people to email the City about offending billboards around town we wanted to do two things. First, we wanted to make it easy for folks to know exactly what counts as violations of Tacoma's sign code so we know what we're reporting are indeed local laws being broken by Clear Channel. Second, we wanted to urge government accountability and transparency on the issue by keeping our own database of these offenses so our emails don't just go into a black hole somewhere in the City's system.
You can fill the form out anytime on your computer or, if you see an offending billboard while out and about, pull it up on your mobile device and submit your report even using it's GPS for a location. Once you send the form we send an email with all the info to the City and will soon make a spreadsheet export of the data (minus address and last name) for anyone to use to demand accountability.
Bottom line, head to FeedTacoma.com/billboards anytime, save the app to your mobile device home screen, and tell your friends so we can collectively tell Tacoma and Clear Channel to clean up these advertising blightsicles all over town.
Mar. 27, 2012 at 8:47am
Tacoma Dome Cleaning/Extreme Urban Sport
Since the cleaning of the Tacoma Dome has commenced I thought everyone might like to see the size and danger behind this job from a human scale:
Thanks anonymous donor! Our baby needed a bath!
Mar. 27, 2012 at 7:03am
Video ~ Tacoma "Cheap Eats" on Evening Magazine
Check out this video segment that aired last night on KING 5's Evening Magazine. In it, Tacoma resident Saint Bryan tours around town with Adrienne a.k.a. @TacomaFoodie on Twitter.
Glad to see my fav's MSM, Infinite Soups, and Pao's featured. Nice work! What other cheap eats do you recommend around Tacoma?
Link to @SaintBryan and @TacomaFoodie on Twitter
Mar. 23, 2012 at 6:58am
Hey Clear Channel, Clean Up Your Crap! (Part 21)
Looks like the kid on that billboard is having a bit of a Back to the Future moment with his parents slowly disappearing like that. This billboard appeared before in Part 8 of this series which, since that was last June, is clearly over the 90+ day abandonment period mentioned in our sign code that requires immediately removal of this billboard at the owners expense.
The link below will send an email with a subject and message already written to TacomaCares@CityofTacoma.org (you can also call 253-591-5001) to report this blighted and dangerous billboard. Just sign with your name, address, and phone number at the bottom and send it off.
Email re: Blighted, Discontinued Billboard
Previously
Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Supplemental | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20
Mar. 16, 2012 at 7:03pm
Video Stroll Through History Museum Fence
Or rather the new space opened up through it. You may have heard the news yesterday that, after 6 years, a passage through the Washington State History Museum fence was opened up. Permanently. Here's a video of my first stroll through this worthy addition to Tacoma:
As I snapped a couple photos and took this video at least 5 people glided easily through the new route to/from Pacific Ave and the Museum of Glass and waterfront. It's a huge win for a more walkable downtown and certainly a long time coming. Thanks to all (like City council members Boe and Campbell) who helped make this a reality!
Mar. 16, 2012 at 7:09am
Hey Clear Channel, Clean Up Your Crap! (Part 20)
The following is photo proof that the following billboard has been festering for a year now and must, according to City code, be removed:
Taken 3/19/2011 by RR Anderson
Taken 5/18/2011 by TacomaMama
Taken 3/12/2011 by TacomaMama
This easily violates Tacoma's sign code in at least two or three ways: Visible rust, failed sign (e.g. tattered), and sign being discontinued for [well over] 90 days which itself merits it's removal at the expense of the owner.
The link below will send an email with a subject and message already written to TacomaCares@CityofTacoma.org (you can also call 253-591-5001) to report this blighted and dangerous billboard. Just sign with your name, address, and phone number at the bottom and send it off.
Email re: Blighted, Discontinued Billboard
Previously
Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Supplemental | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19
Mar. 15, 2012 at 4:33pm
Sounder Construction Pacific Ave. Preview
Took a preview tour of Pacific Ave. where the new Sounder train crossing has been in the works for months. Starting Monday Pacific will re-open to traffic (but not South Tacoma Way -- yet) while nearby "A" Street will soon close to vehicles for good (it'll eventually re-open for bikes and pedestrians) so the dreaded berm can be built.
I have photos to share later but here's a video walk through of the site.
Council member David Boe was on-hand along with various Sound Transit folks and Dome District members. After cycling over Boe was still miffed with the above grade crossing and lack of ability to build on adjacent spaces and I tend to agree with him. Still, the finish work on the area and generous sidewalks is nice to see.
It was also interesting to hear about all the artifacts found and cataloged during the massive dig including and old train trestle, glassware, cars, bricks, and I'm sure more. Hope to see some of that in an exhibit somewhere at some point.
Link to previous Sounder construction updates
Mar. 13, 2012 at 7:29am
Hey Clear Channel, Clean Up Your Crap! (Part 19)
Tacoma's blighted billboard battle continues with the above example. Still obvious that Clear Channel doesn't care about the City of Destiny our new City Manager just declared that we don't care about enforcing our own codes with regards to removal of non-conforming billboards.
Still, when it comes to public safety it seems we still have recourse in reporting violations. Pretty sure if that vinyl wrap blows off onto a car zooming by on I-705 someone could get hurt and Clear Channel could get sued.
The link below will send an email with a subject and message already written to TacomaCares@CityofTacoma.org (you can also call 253-591-5001) to report this blighted and dangerous billboard. Just sign your name with your address and phone number at the bottom and send it off.
Email re: Blighted/Dangerous Billboard
Let's make Clear Channel clean up every billboard and make it too expensive to do business here on these clearly difficult to maintain forms of advertising.
Previously
Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Supplemental | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18
Mar. 6, 2012 at 8:39am
Not So Welcoming Statue
Why's our welcome statue gotta be so down on Tacoma? ;)
Look a little closer...
Mar. 5, 2012 at 11:09am
Olive Oilgate: Naming Names
That's right, I can't stay silent on this decidedly 1st world issue any longer. It's happened four or more times to me in the couple years and has to stop. Tacoma must say "no" to rancid olive oil!
Most recently I've run into rancid olive oil from local businesses that should know better. Individuals I can forgive but someone I'm paying to know more than me is more difficult to swallow. I'm no culinary genius or olive oil savant but it's either rancid or not and, in these two recent cases, it was. Here comes the name naming:
Adriatic Grill and STINK.
A recent lunch at Adriatic Grill started off with bread all around. At the table sat olive oil and balsamic for dipping and the oil sitting there was rancid. From STINK a recent meat, cheese, and bread platter ordered up for a special occasion also had oil for dipping that was rancid. Understand that I think both places are great they just need to either learn more about it or stop putting out the cheap stuff for people to use to dip their bread. Also understand that, to my knowledge, since so many people eat rancid olive oil daily, it's not bad for you.
How can you tell?
Smell it and taste it. If the olive oil smells like a box of crayons it's likely rancid. Put a dab on a finger and if it tastes kinda' moldy or "gray" then it's rancid. Many are this way straight out of the bottle or especially get this way after it sits open and ignored on the shelf for months or years. I love cooking with olive oil but love it even more fresh on bread or even drizzled over popcorn to help other seasoning stick. Cooking helps rid the oil of the rancid flavor but that's not the case when used fresh.
What I buy
For folks at home I recommend going a little more local for your olive oil and get something like the California Estate stuff (shown at right) Trader Joe's carries. It's fresh, green, is usually $5 or $6, and comes in a quantity that's usable by most before it turns rancid. Others carry California Estate oil as well so keep your eyes out. At the very least, avoid buying olive oil that comes in clear containers as light also breaks it down. Even Trader Joe's own website mentions this but just yesterday I saw many a clear bottle of olive oil getting blasted by fluorescent lights in their store just yesterday.
I hope this helps easily set a higher standard for you and maybe even helps local businesses step up their game.
Feb. 29, 2012 at 7:10am
Here Comes the Booze
Not sure if anyone else has noticed these signs of Washington State's new liquor laws popping up around town but the Hilltop Tacoma folks spotted this at the Safeway in their neighborhood:
Photo courtesy Hilltop Tacoma
Does this mark the beginning of a dangerous trend for public safety or is it a welcome change for convenience sake?
Feb. 23, 2012 at 8:50am
Would You Pay a Dollar to Ride Tacoma's Link?
That was one of the questions asked of me in a survey Sound Transit folks are handing out to riders today. Along with route and demographic info the dollar question was asked. Would you keep riding the Link light rail if it cost a buck? If not, what changes (if anything) would make that dollar worth it to you? More trains running/faster service? More routes throughout town?
Feb. 16, 2012 at 12:06pm
Tacoma Tip #9 - Look Up
Look up once in a while because you just might see something spectacular.
Or even just something better than average. So often when walking around town most people's heads are pointed down either avoiding eye contact with other people or to navigate our sometimes cracked up sidewalks.
Looking up once in a while can help remind you there's more to a place like Tacoma than just getting from point A to point B. In a town like Tacoma you might see the sky in the photo above I snapped yesterday. A nest in a nearby tree. An ornate corner of one of our amazing historic buildings. The list goes on an on.
Aside from views you can better make passing contact with your fellow Tacoman's. No matter what any one person thinks of the city they live and/or work in, it can be made just that much more pleasant through a brief glance and a smile.
Tacoma Tip is a weekly series for sharing the little tidbits that make living life here, for old timer's and newcomers alike, a little smoother. Have any tips you want shared? Email me!
Feb. 14, 2012 at 4:34pm
Downtown Webcam Catches a Rainbow
Tune in anytime over at FeedTacoma.com/webcams to see what's going on out there in time-lapse form.
Feb. 14, 2012 at 1:02pm
Rooby-dooby-dooo Visits Tacoma
Or at least, the shaggin' wagon that carries him and his cohort passed through. I bet Scooby himself would be mindful of his own Scooby doo-doo to help the local poo-related cause mentioned here and here.
Thx for the tip, Sarah!
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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Hey Clear Channel, Clean Up Your Crap!
Advantage: Tacoma
Quick Bites