Jun. 29, 2009 at 9:03am

A Cleaner, More Passable Schuster

 

Not for cars, mind you, but pedestrians and cyclists. The walkway that connects Old Town with downtown Tacoma is a windy but lovely path that makes a great link between the two areas of our fair city. Being at the edge of the bluff, however, there's lots of vegetation that grows to help stabilize the hillside but also because of water that seeps from its slopes. Once those weeds and berry bushes get a hint of the warmer Sun of spring and summer they explode and often spill right over the sidewalk making it unpleasant and barely passable at times without my biking to work legs getting whipped with reeds and sharp needles.

Actually had a chance to say "thank you" in person this morning as they were out again to continue the clean up.

Enter the Tacoma streets crews. All I can say is "bravo!" Last Friday they were out in full force and cleared back the brush along this entire stretch of trail. My ride in this morning was completely unobstructed and we all have them to thank. While we citizens of our City of Destiny like to complain that they should fill more potholes and generally give us more of their services while not paying a dime more in taxes I'm always willing once in a while to notice those little things and simply say "thank you" and keep up the good work!

comments [10]

Jun. 25, 2009 at 11:03am

Central Neighborhood Blips

Food and more food

Here are a couple blips from an oft-reported on spot in Central Tacoma. Thankfully it seems to be positive news which it seems our local small businesses sorely need.

• Mandolin coffee bean roasting area is transforming into kitchen -- food menu soon to come!
• When did 12th Street Diner get a new name? And if I've never heard of the new place, how can their slogan say their food is "famous"?
  

comments [2]

Jun. 23, 2009 at 6:42am

Quick Bites - Sushi of Gari

Tuna rolls and deep fried gyoza goodness. Mind you, those rolls are huge -- one was barely mouthable!

Gari of Sushi [ map ]
253-475-3456

comments [2]

Jun. 22, 2009 at 7:01am

Quick Bites - Childhood Meets Adulthood

Beer. Float. Coffee ice cream in Hale's cream stout. Sheer brilliance!

The Red Hot [ map ]
253-779-0229

comments [0]

Jun. 19, 2009 at 7:02am

Tacoma Tech Meet-up Run-down

Last night's meet-up of local tech professionals was, I'd say, a great success! The back room at Meconi's filled nearly to the brim with local devs and techs from Tacoma's own SiteCrafting, Topia, freelancers and others. We all enjoyed the generosity of drinks, appetizers, and pizzas from the WTIA's Lewis McMurran and just generally enjoyed meeting some new faces and chatting on things from social media, other upcoming events, and expressing what we might do next in survey form.

Thanks again to Erik Emery for helping kick this off and for everyone in attendance. Let's do this again soon, shall we? If so, what might you add or subtract from the occasion to make it more to your liking?

comments [2]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 10:33am

Photos ~ Thea Foss Park Progress as of 6/19

Still not sure of it's name (one worker told me his sheet said "Thea Foss Park") but the park being developed along Dock Street under the 21st Street bridge is looking great. There's parking, plenty of grassy areas, some great horizontal sitting stones, the extension/completion of the waterfront path, what I think are kayak rests, some solid landscaping, and a Stonehenge-like feature done up in black metal and timbers. See for yourself!

I'm really looking forward to be able to enjoy lunches down there -- rain or shine! I'm curious, however, why this park is cruising along so much faster than the Chinese Reconciliation Park I thought was open last July?

Previously
4/23 - Photos ~ Extended Foss Waterway Promenade

comments [9]

Jun. 16, 2009 at 4:35pm

Tacoma Talks Tech This Thurs.

Alliteration not included

[ insert snappy "Will code for food" graphic here ]   ;)  

With Mr. Hanberg taking the organizing lead along with input from myself and a couple of other tech-focused Tacoman's the time has come for local high-tech professions to mingle. Hence, this upcoming Thursday's meet-up at Meconi's. No agenda other than we're all probably a cool bunch of professional smarties that need and outlet to share excitement about or industry and wares. Free appetizers will be up for grabs but RSVP with Erik at erikemery (at) gmail (dot) com so we can at least get a rough count.

Link to meet-up details

See you there!

comments [0]

Jun. 15, 2009 at 8:33am

Train Derail Closes Dock Street

Free grain!

A handful of cargo cars have derailed and tipped their grany load this morning closing Dock Street. BNSF crews were on the scene as of my bike ride in around 8am this morning and the heavy equipment is ready to hoist the cars from their side. Not sure how long a clean up like this takes but I imagine it'll be open sometime today but expect future delays as the fence and tracks along there are repaired. It doesn't appear that anyone was hurt in the accident.

The 15th Street overpass is your only out coming from the Museum of Glass area but, if you're coming from Schuster, don't even bother and instead just take 705 or Pacific Ave.

comments [18]

Jun. 10, 2009 at 11:10am

Weekly Volcano, Spew No More?

Source of magma cut off

Holy nuts, just heard that the print and web edition of the Weekly Volcano is closing up it's shop to focus on the Fort Lewis Ranger. Spew will also disappear. Word came from Izenmania via RR Anderson that the Tacomic will no longer be showing because the paper will no longer be printed. Likewise, the last update on Spew was June 4 and we all know they were cranking out content far more regularly than once every 6 days.

Though not usually my cup of tea they provided a worthy service to the area and will be missed. Sad to see declining ad revenue shudder yet another local publication.

R.I.P. Volcano and Spew.

Thanks Izenmania!

Update: Guess it's just the news section that's going away, along with the Tacomic. With that I'd ask, what news?

comments [35]