Tacoma Editorial Archives
Snooping Drone Hysteria
Many of you are starting to unravel in the presence of drones in your neighborhoods. Your fear and paranoia never cease to amaze me. As long as you choose to live in proximity with other humans who aren't as fearful, you need to try to understand your world a little bit better.
And I'm here to help!
1) It's difficult (even for a drone operator) to know which way most drone cameras are pointing. A hovering drone "near you" could have it's camera pointing directly at you, or across the street or straight down, and you would never be able to tell the difference. A drone photographing your neighbors home for sale will often appear exactly the same as a drone allegedly looking through your windows or into your backyard.
2) The majority of drone cameras cannot see detail far away from them. If you don't see a full size camera hanging from a drone, it's zoom capability is poor to non-existent. There are new "zoom" drone models on the market but they can't even zoom as far as your cell phone camera.
3) This one won't be popular but it's important to understand.. legal drone operators often cover a lot of "ground" during the course of a flight and it's nearly impossible to know exactly who they will be flying over until they're up in the air and seeing the drone view. This makes notifying all neighbors of a potential flyover nearly impossible ahead of time.
4) It is unacceptable for any unknown drone to hover over your property for an extended period of time. It is unacceptable for any unknown drone to hover near your windows at all, for any period of time.
5) It is ACCEPTABLE UNDER CURRENT LAWS for an unknown drone to fly over your property to survey adjacent properties. It is helpful to understand that it could reasonably take 10-20 seconds to "get the shot" before a drone moves on.
Lastly, I'd just like to remind you that your life is probably not spectator-worthy. If you are doing something in your yard or your windows that is truly fascinating to the outside world, you might want to invest in more trees and/or start closing your blinds.
xo
Posted by AP
August 14, 2019
Old Elks Lodge: New McMenamin's Hotel
Take a look at this place!
Downtown On The Go put on a tour of the current McMenamin's Elks site last night for 100 lucky folks. There is a whole lotta scaffolding in this place to access and repair the ceilings, plaster and crown moldings. Syringes and human waste are long gone but a robust collection of graffiti remains to remind us of the recent, dark past. Sitting on a steep hillside, the building spans several stories from Broadway down to Stadium Way. The city owns the Spanish Steps adjacent to the old Elks Lodge and current plans are incorporating them into the renovation project. There will be a bar/restaurant entrance on the landing area midway down the staircase between Broadway and Stadium Way.From what I gather, this entire site has been thoroughly sandblasted. Years in, an unfathomable quantity of restoration work needs to be wrapped up before re-finishing can begin. The ornamental details in the wood and plaster here will put the California Bank building on Pacific to shame. As dangerous as this site is now, it was far more dangerous 10 years ago. What the hell was it like in here when graffiti-happy punks and homeless addicts wandered these halls? How did everyone used to get in here when it was "vacant"? I realize skate punks with spray paint can penetrate anything, but I'd like to know just how easy the access was. Clearly, hundreds of unwanted guests logged time here.
The McMenamin's brothers should be revered for their efforts. Rumor has it they are also up to the challenge of the Old City Hall Building renovation.
The intricate details of this building are from another time and place. Upon its completion, this will be the premier event space in Tacoma. Multiple bars and restaurants are slated to exist here within the next 2 years. I'm envisioning private suites or luxury boxes around the perimeter of the event space and 22-year-old's could be overspending on bottle service at bad pop shows before we know it.
Photos-
Posted by AP
March 23, 2018
Ring Doorbell craze
The mailman says everybody has them now. I went over to my neighbor's and they have one. We recently got one. Now that I know what they look like I'm seeing them everywhere. It's the Ring Doorbell and you have probably been recorded by one.
After putzing around for months trying to figure out which security camera(s) to choose, our decision would ultimately be made by Santa: Ring Doorbell Pro.
Ours has been online for less than a month and I'm a believer. The doorbell camera is noticeable during the day and even moreso at night with the nightvision bulbs. This deters foul play at all hours. The fisheye lens provides great detail in any light and you can customize the detection area so that your motion sensors are only triggered exactly where you want them – I am impressed with how well this feature works.
You need an existing, hard-wired, classic doorbell. You simply replace your existing button with the Ring. Anytime someone enters the motion detection area you've set up, or anytime someone rings the doorbell, your cameras are rolling and you are notified via text message. You can hear and speak with anyone at your door anytime from anywhere using a smartphone app. There are two of us using ours, one on an iPhone and one on a Pixel, and we've both had a good experience so far.
Footage is available in realtime and also stored for viewing later. 30 days of surveillance backups are included for only a few dollars per month as of this writing in early 2018. There is also a social aspect included with your subscription. Our north end neighborhood has its own Ring community where people are sharing and discussing footage of suspicious activity captured on their doorbell cameras.
NOTE: To make your new button ring your old doorbell chimes, you need to physically wire in a small box (included) to the old chimes. This process took me less than 15 minutes and I am not a qualified electrician. All doorbell wiring is low voltage so you are not at risk of electric shock during installation. To put your mind at ease, you can shut off the power before installing, but it's not necessary.
Feel free to email me specific questions about the installation and use of the Ring.
Posted by AP
January 17, 2018
World Water Ski Racing Championship in Tacoma
On your marks! Get set for something unusual coming to Tacoma July 26, 2017. Have you ever seen water-skiers go over 100mph? I haven't. It looks kinda like this:
This year the World Water Ski Racing Championship will conduct preliminary races in Commencement Bay with the final heats taking place at Seafair in Seattle. In other words, most of this exciting event will take place along the waterfront at Point Ruston here in Tacoma. The logistics are being finalized at the time of this writing, but I'm told permits have been secured and this is most definitely a go.
There will be no tickets, no admission prices, no grandstands. Just come on down and watch one of the craziest things you've ever seen and have a stroll along the new waterfront. You've been meaning to check out all the new restaurants down there anyway, so why not go when you can also view death-defying stunts going on at the same time.
Water skiers.. 100mph.. men and women..
The event puts ski racers in choppy Commencement Bay to do as many 3-mile laps as they can. FOR SIXTY (60) MINUTES STRAIGHT. When I first heard about this, I assumed it would be like drag racing, where competitors get up to their top speed for a few seconds and then it's over. Not so. These people are literally skiing faster than I drive my car, and they don't stop for an hour. There are currently 60 teams of MEN AND WOMEN from all over the world slated to be in Tacoma for this event.
If you've never heard of water ski racing, you're certainly not alone. It appears this phenomenon heralds from Australia where they've been 100mph water skiing for quite some time. Just search YouTube for "water ski racing" and you'll see some ridiculous stuff going back decades. Much like Ice Cross Downhill, the WWSRC could emerge in the U.S., seemingly out of nowhere, to sweep spectators off their feet in short order.
Posted by AP
March 28, 2017
Time is running out for Proctor Station
Proctor Station hasn't changed in months. A double-wide, double expensive clothing store is all we have to show for our new building. Well, that and a lot of shade and a couple parking spots in Proctor Canyon. I want to like this place. I remain open-minded. Sort of. If donuts or something of equal weight don't appear soon, the legacy will not be good. Are the rumors of all vendors falling through or backing out true? Is the application/vetting process proving to be too much for prospective businesses interested in moving to the Proctor District's newest address?
From where I stand, it looks like Proctor Station's commercial leasing department is waiting for a Walmart or McDonald's or Macy's or some other 'strong' chain with national backing to enter stage right. I've heard of 'lesser' companies being told, "you're not good enough" for Proctor Station. I've seen a donut shop take several months to not show up, while "coming soon" signs age in the window. A real estate company and a barbershop have entered the "coming soon" realm as well – that means they've hung signs in the windows outside their empty spaces. I've heard of exorbitant prices at the clothing shop – clearance racks have appeared on the sidewalk out front. At this point the shuffleboard on the roof is the biggest potential draw. I'll post an update if I ever gain access to it.
There are a few things that need to be understood about this neighborhood in the new millennium. Mom and pop shops rule the streets here. An old theater, an old bowling alley, and one-off restaurants and bars are thriving. A guy renting VHS tapes has survived for years, yet Subway failed twice in the same spot in the heart of the district. We have been up to our elbows in pricey, boutique shops, with varied outcomes. Unless you are Starbucks (already one block away) you actually have to be an interesting business to make it here. There is a level of financial clout that the commercial leasing department is looking for and I don't know that many interesting businesses have it. All the strong financials in the world can't support a business that nobody cares about.
Hopefully the building will settle for making their money on the upper floors, while filling the street level with businesses that serve the neighborhood first and pay hefty leases later. Unless there is a shift in perspective, prolonged vacancy and a carousel of failure may be the future of Proctor Station's ground level.
Posted by AP
August 24, 2016
Left turn etiquette
The traffic in Proctor doesn't typically bother me. It gets a little thick at times but I feel like I can get around pretty good.. until I am stopped in my tracks by left turners behind a green circle. There are two distinct brands of bad left turners that we need to address.
Unnecessary use of crowded intersections
The mildest offenders in the bunch, many of you who turn left onto Proctor Street from North 30th at 5:17pm..should turn sooner. There are multiple options to turn sooner (Alder, Union, etc.) and all of them will save you and the rest of us a lot of time. I realize some of you live on Proctor, and of course you are more than entitled to your left turn onto your street. It is the folks headed for Mason Middle School or Proctor Safeway that have much better routes to consider.
Sitting through an entire green light without moving
This is the group of people for which there is no excuse. AT LEAST ONE CAR MUST TURN LEFT ON EVERY GREEN CIRCLE, even if you finish your turn after the light has turned red. I understand there are a lot of people who do not see it this way. They are wrong. There is no excuse for sitting through an entire round of lights unless the intersection is physically blocked.
As our population density increases, so will our need for new left turn lanes and green arrow signals. Until then we should all do our part to follow the new world order of left turn etiquette to reduce traffic queues. Less waiting at intersections means improvements to the following:
- Fuel efficiency
- Air quality
- Pedestrian safety
- Traffic safety
- Drive times
- Frustration levels
- Road rage statistics
In other words, by being a better left turner, you can save the world time, money and good health. Follow this simple checklist and you are on your way to being a better left turner:
New world order of left turn etiquette
-Avoid turning left at signal-controlled intersections lacking turn lanes or green arrow signals-Enter the intersection when you have the right of way and your light is green
-Exit the intersection when you have the right of way and your path is clear
-Focus on pedestrians and oncoming vehicles at intersections, NOT the color of the light
Posted by AP
July 10, 2016
Best sandwich award: Harbor Greens
There's a new sheriff in town. It's not a new venue, but its footprint atop the sandwich-scape of Tacoma, quite frankly is new. Based on myriad factors, in a matrix of reasoning, Harbor Greens' sandwiches are the new gold standard, narrowly beating out MSM and Met Market for the local crown. I will walk you through it.
Best single sandwich in town: Harbor Greens
The Little Basil is, indeed, the best overall sandwich in town. Chicken, pesto, mozzarella and basil, grilled on a panini is so much greater than the sum of its parts. Sure, you're familiar with all the ingredients but you must experience the final product to truly know it. Paninis are grilled to perfection and the gluten free version is bigger than the standard. MSM's Mike's Deluxe and Met Market's Prime Rib Sandwich tied for 2nd place.
Best overall sandwich lineup in town: Harbor Greens
From grilled to cold, standard bread to gluten-free, veggies to turkey, bacon and roast beef – it's all top-notch. You bring the whole family and their dietary restrictions and Harbor Greens will have all the right sandwiches for $7 or $8 apiece. Of course, they also have an entire grocery store to back it up, which brings us to..
est sandwich venue in town: Harbor Greens
You can't go wrong with a sandwich shop that boasts a strong selection of drinks and side items. Harbor Greens is also a grocery store with a full produce section – additional shopping possibilities are endless.
Most convenient sandwich in town: Harbor Greens
Much like MSM (our silver medalist) Harbor Greens can only be fully appreciated when you call in your order ahead of time. As is the case with all great places, there is a good chance it will be crowded. Unlike all other finalists, Harbor Greens offers ample parking every time I visit. Fortunately it is located at 27th & Bridgeport in U.P. where there is NOT an obnoxious Meridian-esque median to navigate. If you do it right, you'll be in and out in less than 5 minutes. Of course they also have a nice seating area where you can plop down and enjoy on site if you so desire.
Harbor Greens, 2620 Bridgeport Way W, University Place, WA, (253) 460-2901
Harbor Greens, 5225 Olympic Dr NW, Gig Harbor, WA, (253) 851-7911
Posted by AP
December 16, 2015
Commercial tenants in Proctor Station
I'll say this about the future tenants of Proctor Station: they better kick ass. It's unfair and real. Everyone will stop super-disliking this building if we get something out of it. Most of us will never go above street level in this place so the street level shops are the only thing that will matter once it's been around awhile. The building already looks not-that-tall to me, so apparently I'm getting used to it. We've heard rumors of the supposed search for tenants, but I will reserve painfully honest judgment until I get a look-see at what moves in. I'm difficult to please so it won't be easy to stoke my favor. I would just assume fill the whole place with restaurants that stay open late.
What businesses would you like to see operating in Proctor Station? Anybody have the inside track on who, if anybody, is slated to open up shop?
Posted by AP
August 7, 2015
Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 48
We're back.
That's the thought that keeps coming back to me. The Seattle Seahawks have transformed this region (again) on their way to their 2nd Super Bowl in the last 10 years. That alone sounds remarkable, but it is the effect they have had on the fans that stands out to me as we head down the final stretch and into this weekend's epic contest. Rabid Seahawks support is everywhere you look in Tacoma and from what I understand it's like this all over Oregon and Idaho as well. That's where the support stops, however, as most of the country is pulling for the wrong outcome.
The best ever? Some say that's exactly what Peyton Manning is. A much smaller population believes that the Seahawks defense might be the best ever. Funny thing is, the outcome of this game will likely cement one of these in the stone of water cooler debates for eternity. And if the Seahawks defense has their best game of the year? They will be in the discussion of best defenses ever, right alongside the '85 Chicago Bears. Many believe this could be the first of many opportunities for this core of players to get to the Super Bowl, given their youth and low payroll. Forget the '85 Bears. We could be staring into a kaleidoscope of future greatness.
We are up against Peyton Manning and the most potent regular season offense of all time. All the know-it-all's have always said "defense wins championships." It's time to find out how the old adage holds up on the biggest stage. It's almost laboratory perfect, this matchup. Pure offense vs. pure defense. Denver as the good guys vs. Seattle as the bad guys. Denver as America's Team, and Seattle as the forgotten underdog. People want to witness greatness so they root for Peyton Manning. If he has a brilliant game and takes home the trophy, many will boast it to be the best single season performance of all time and they were there to see it. What they aren't seeing yet is that the Seahawks are about to rise up and put a whooping on the Broncos – and in the process, out of nowhere, we might just be watching the best defense of all-time.
Dare to dream.
Could it be right there?
Will the drought end?
I can't wait to look back at this in a week.
Posted by AP
January 29, 2014
Don James dies from pancreatic cancer
Legendary Husky football coach Don James has passed away following a battle with pancreatic cancer. His diagnosis came just last month and very little has been discussed publicly since that time. He began chemotherapy after two surgeries confirmed the presence of a tumor on his pancreas.
Many people still don't realize the gravity of this diagnosis. Resources are needed to improve diagnosis and treatment of this disease. As his final gift to us all, Don James' legend will help bring awareness to the cause.
RIP Don James "The Dawfather"
Posted by AP
October 20, 2013