Outdoors
What's not to love about Metro Parks Tacoma? The expansive system offers amenities you usually see only in larger cities, including zoos, an aquarium, a nature center, a fort, beaches, hiking, a cabin and a conservatory. It also has a system of parks throughout the city with nice playgrounds and
Music
A music scene is only as good as the people that engage with it. Great bands can perform to nobody, or to disinterested people who take smoke breaks during the acts they don't know. Having interested, devoted people hanging around the music scene is never a bad thing, and some
Music
"Our 50th-anniversary season -- That's amazing!" crows Noel Karan, general director of Tacoma Opera. "It's very unusual for an opera company to last this long. I think we've done a pretty good job." Not only was Tacoma Opera incorporated half a century ago, it's presented a full season each year
Online Newspapers
Since it first appeared on the Web in February 2014, and most especially since its first public event at B Sharp Coffee House the following month, Creative Colloquy (CC) has taken Tacoma and the South Sound's literary community by storm. Readers and writers from Olympia and Puyallup, and all around
Features
Coffee is never hard to find in the Pacific Northwest, and Tacoma is no exception. A quick cup of Joe can be found on nearly every street corner. Sometimes, however, we need a little more. Sure, we need a good cup of coffee -- but we also need friendly service,
Features
It is undeniable that microbreweries have increased in both popularity and ubiquity in recent years. In fact, the Pacific Northwest boasts hundreds of microbreweries throughout the region -- and Tacoma's microbrewery lineup is only on the rise. But in a competitive field, one outstanding brewery worth checking out has been
Features
When choosing the ideal bar, one must go through a mental checklist of the attributes of importance: ambiance, drink and food selection, friendliness of staff, and more. In order to hook patrons into returning, these characteristics must be met for people of all different interests and tastes. Luckily, South Tacoma
Archives
This Wednesday is Valentine's Day, the most romantic and stressful time of year for men. Poor guys. I don't envy you. This is the day you dread all year — trying to figure out what to do, what not to say, how to dress, and where to go. So here
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Q: How do you turn an army of rookies into a professional fighting force within a few short months? A: Teach them to sing together. When America entered World War I in April 1917 to ally with France, Russia and Great Britain against Germany and Austria-Hungary, the armies of Europe used singing
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Joint Base Lewis-McChord has more than 350 historic sites and 431 recorded archeological sites, which the Cultural Resources Program has a federal mandate to protect. "The cultural resources program on JBLM has two main responsibilities that are tied directly to supporting the military training missions of the garrison," said Donna Turnipseed,
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"JBLM leads the nation in the number of surviving World War I wood-frame buildings and has restored them to provide functional office space and other effective uses," said Duane Denfeld, Ph.D., JBLM architectural historian. There are eight surviving WWI structures remaining at JBLM: the Family Resource Center (former Red Cross Hostess
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I Corps, America's First Corps, is a three-star headquarters that manages daily activities for more than 70,000 Soldiers and Airmen stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and across the Pacific, including Hawaii, Alaska and Japan. Their job is to "Deploy, Fight and Win" decisively in any environment to enhance security and
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Jan. 6, 1917 - Pierce County bonds itself for $2 million to buy 70,000 acres of land at American Lake to donate for federal military use. Bond paid off in October 1937.April 9, 1917 - An Army-engineer company started survey work at the American Lake site for a military camp.
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Joint Base Lewis-McChord is the site of two important 100th anniversary celebrations. With 10 decades of service and training under its belt, the joint base celebrates all who have lived and served on base with family-friendly events open to Department of Defense ID card holders and the general public. It's
Features
In the parking lot outside of Frisko Freeze on a recent early Saturday afternoon, assistant manager Chris Matuska held in his right hand the very definition of delicious. A double cheeseburger. It oozed melting cheddar cheese, condiments and, oh yes, a secret sauce with pickles that screamed to be consumed. For like the
Music
Located in the midst of Tacoma's bustling food and entertainment scene, Jazzbones has been a Tacoma fixture for more than 15 years. The iconic 6th Avenue restaurant and nightclub boasts live music six nights a week accompanied by an assortment of beers on tap, creative cocktails and scrumptious snacks. The venue,
Military Life
The Odd Otter Brewing Company is voted Best Military Supporter in Tacoma. With three of the five initial owners having a military background it is no surprise they are so supportive of veteran and military organizations. From their early days when they launched a Kickstarter campaign, charity has been a
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With a name like "House of Tattoo!," you know what to expect -- a museum dedicated to the diminutive assistant from Fantasy Island. Fine, it's a tattoo parlor, an amazingly awesome one. House of Tattoo! Has been inking up Tacoma residents for over 20 years now, garnering a reputation among their
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Shampooch, Inc. Self-Service Dog Wash, located in Tacoma, is winner of Best Pet Spa. Their business is based on their tagline, "Because your dog's favorite groomer is You!" Have you ever had to wash your dog at home and created a huge mess? That was what owner, Jenni Friel faced one
Features
Almost all pizza is at least pretty good, so it takes a special breed of pie to rise above the norm and earn the adoration of our discriminating readers. The first bite makes it clear how The Cloverleaf's distinctively crunchy crust launched this Gritty City institution into the party-food stratosphere. This