tacoma

Tacoma: Scootertown, USA

I recently bought a scooter. Originally for neighborhood travel only, it quickly became about much more than just the post office, the bank, and the grocery store. Within a week I’d traveled the freeway and traversed the Narrows Bridge. In an instant, the scooter became my preferred means of transportation. If it’s not raining, I’m scootin. I can’t afford to drive my car any longer, seeing as how the gas gauge on my scooter doesn’t seem to move. So far I’ve filled up twice with supreme unleaded gasoline (currently over $4 per gallon in Tacoma) and it’s set me back a grand total of $17. How does 75 miles per gallon sound?

With events like 4th of July and the Tall Ships Festival on the waterfront, the Taste of Tacoma and Zoobilee at Point Defiance, or anything you can think of downtown, in the Stadium district or 6th Ave, a scooter just makes so much sense. Parking is never an issue. Traffic is never an issue. If you can stand to leave the dog at home and you aren’t happening by Home Depot for a home improvement haul, life is surprisingly doable on a scooter. Recent advances in technology even made it possible for me to safely transport a fresh iced latte 12 blocks in an earlier, controlled experiment.

Time to shake up your spring and summer! If you need something to perk you up in the morning, to send you to work with a smile and bring you home with an ear-to-ear grin, stop into Northwest Motor Scooters near 56th Street & South Tacoma Way and have Shana show you a scooter or two. They sell Vespa, Aprilia, Piaggio and Kymco scooters. I bet you find something in there that fits your style, your needs, your wants, your dreams…

Pray for snow

Pray for snow!!!

Calling all skiers and snowboarders of Tacoma; there is a mandatory meeting Thursday November 8th at Harmon Brewery. The annual Tacoma Pray For Snow party is back, and with it come the usual pranks, prizes, super strong beer and overcrowding. I am focused on the prizes – this year the raffle is mine.

If our collective prayers are answered, I may realize my plans to be near the snow gods on Thanksgiving.

Wear your finest ski sweater. Can’t hurt.

Halloween candy surplus

Halloween has come and gone. Everything has returned to normal around here except for the 6 half-full bags of candy on the counter. Since moving to the North End in 2001 we have had an absolutely erratic Halloween experience, year over year. One year we get 50 trick-or-treaters, the next 10. Is there a way to predict with any degree of accuracy the turnout one might expect to see any given year? For last night’s poor turnout, I blame the cold temperatures coupled with the Proctor Business District trick-or-treat extravaganza.

One year I had to run to the store around 8:30pm to re-up the chocolate stash, but last night I don’t think we had 20 kids at the door. Did anybody have a strong turnout last night? Anyone else harboring a massive supply of leftover candy this morning?

Kids these days…I just can’t figure ’em out. Especially the really tight pants..

Miniature bugs everywhere

What in tarnation are these things?

Anybody else seeing hundreds upon thousands of little blue and white, slow-moving, fuzzy bugs in the air at night lately? The entire 36th & Mason nation was swarmed by the harmless critters again last night, warranting me to get on here and ask for others’ feedback on the issue.

Interesting note: these bugs would not enter our garage, for whatever reason. It was as if an invisible barrier kept them out. Interesting thought: anyone jogging near 36th & Mason last night was guaranteed two lung-fulls of bugs.

Are they simply attracted to something near our house, or are they everywhere in Tacoma? Insect experts of Pierce County, we may need your assistance here. I’m no entomologist!

Bring on the world

Tacoma restaurants continue to improve and impress. I could have 3 squares per day at Tacoma restaurants I’ve never been to for at least a month straight right now. 5 years ago I had been to just about every relevant restaurant in town. Of course, that was before they started multiplying like rabbits on ecstasy. Whether you are looking for upscale latin, gourmet sushi, or authentic Thai food, the decision is no longer an easy one; there are now several options for each of these within Tacoma proper.

Where am I going with this?

Seattle continues its reign as Tacoma’s big cousin to the north, but little cousin is growing up fast. I was born here and have lived the majority of my adult life here as well. I don’t need stats, charts, articles or anybody else to tell me what is going on. Every day, everywhere, I see growth. The rising job markets, swirling restaurant scene, skyrocketing (still affordable) real estate, college campuses, and ever-desirable geographical location make Tacoma a no-brainer for many living in the Puget Sound region.

As Seattle continues to grow, the byproducts are more business and more people operating within a shrinking, finite supply of actual space. This effectively moves Tacoma closer and closer to Seattle. Will we be ready for it? Can we truly be the destination for multinational corporate headquarters and an unlimited supply of cutting edge employment opportunity like we were promised 10 years ago?

I hope so.

What do you think?