“Seaside Opera” to inhabit Tollefson Plaza

On Monday Aug. 16 at 2p.m., A.K. Mimi Allin will introduce her site-specific performance piece created for the plaza - 10 to 15 minute performances will occur on the half-hour from 2–7p.m. each day through Aug. 21. The piece was inspired by the physical space of Tollefson Plaza, its proximity to water and Allin's passion for sailing on Puget Sound.

Audience members may watch from the steps beside the plaza’s cascading pools where an array of wind-up water toys, miniature sampans, water guns and fishing rods invite play. Seaside Opera is funded by Tacoma Arts Commission as part of Spaceworks Tacoma.

Spanish Steps are getting a makeover

On Aug. 2, rehabilitation of the Spanish Steps started. While construction is underway, the stairs will not be accessible. The scope of work includes:

· Rehabilitation of urns, baluster, newels, post and railing
· Installation of pedestrian furnishings and signage
· Installation of a new retaining wall to support the steps
· Streetlights and landscaping

The Spanish Steps are on the National Historic Register and are modeled after the famous steps in Rome. The steps are used as a pedestrian connection between major roadways in Tacoma and also serve as an elegant backdrop for celebrations held by residents and visitors.

The project is scheduled to be complete in November 2010.

Spaceworks Tacoma block party, July 29

Celebrate artists and arts organizations using their creativity to liven up vacant spaces on July 29 at the Spaceworks Tacoma block party. The event marks the program’s official opening and will be held at 9th Street and Broadway in downtown Tacoma and at the participating venues.

The festivities will run from 5 to 8 p.m. and will celebrate the artists, their work and active life in downtown. The party will include guided walking tours, theatrical performances, live dance performances, an ongoing screening of short films and a season preview for the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts. For more information about Spaceworks Tacoma, artists and activities, visit spaceworkstacoma.com.

Spaceworks Tacoma takes shape, opening set for July 29

Artists and arts organizations have started to inhabit formerly vacant spaces in downtown Tacoma as the Artscapes component of Spaceworks Tacoma. Spaceworks Tacoma is a joint initiative of the City of Tacoma, Shunpike, and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce to activate empty spaces with creative use.

On July 29, Spaceworks Tacoma will host a ‘block party’ style opening at the Theater on the Square and at the participating venues to celebrate the artists, their work and active life in downtown Tacoma.

Site specific art installations are at 906 Broadway across from the Pantages Theater, the Woolworth Windows, Commerce and 11th streets and in the corner of the windows at 950 Pacific Ave. Look for many more installations throughout downtown Tacoma in the coming months. For more information about Spaceworks Tacoma, visit spaceworkstacoma.com.

Brewery District gets new art foundry

Up from the ashes, Tacoma’s new art foundry, Two Ravens Studio, recently opened in Tacoma’s Brewery District. Two Ravens can do everything from conceptualizing a sculpture to finishing it and everything in between. Artists who work in any sculptural medium can have molds created and their works cast in bronze, aluminum or resin. Or if you have never created a sculpture but would like to design one, they can help. Two Ravens worked with the City of Tacoma’s Community & Economic Development Department through their Economic Gardening and Arts programs to gain assistance in establishing themselves. For more information, check out www.2RavensStudio.com.

Gritty City Gets Pretty

Great Tacoma write up in the Vancouver Sun: Tacoma - treasures beyond the Dome.

Safeway Grand Re-opening Events in Hilltop

Hilltop Safeway, Preview party: Friday, June 11 from 4 to 8 p.m.
All are welcome to attend a community preview party at the store with a variety of entertainment, food and product demonstrations, promotional discounts, customer and employee recognitions and some welcoming comments from Safeway store manager Chris Smith and Council member Lauren Walker.

Hilltop Safeway, Ribbon cutting ceremony: Saturday, June 12 at 8 a.m
Regional Safeway corporate executives and Council member Lauren Walker will speak and there will be in-store special promotions and demonstrations throughout the day.

Come celebrate a win for the Hilltop!

3rd annual Pacific Ave Spring Festival & Car Show, June 12

The newly designated Pacific Avenue Business District will host the third annual spring festival and car show on Saturday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stewart Middle School, 5010 Pacific Ave. Don’t miss the arts, crafts, plants, food and cars galore!

Buzz about Tacoma’s Business Districts

Read more about the good work of Tacoma’s Business Districts in a recent article the Business Examiner published… http://www.businessexaminer.com/databank.php?djoPage=article_details&djoId=51818

Pacific Plaza awarded LEED platinum rating

Tacoma's first LEED platinum rating was recently awarded to the Pacific Plaza building. LEED Platinum certification is the highest rating possible from the U.S. Green Building Council for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Pacific Plaza , which was developed through a unique public-private partnership between the City of Tacoma and Pacific Plaza Development, LLC, is the only core and shell design project in Washington, and one of only 21 such projects worldwide, to achieve platinum certification.

Pacific Plaza has also received other awards for its design and dedication to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability since 2009, including a Ghilarducci Award from the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce and a Build Washington Award for Green Building from the Associated General Contractors of Washington.

Vroom! LeMay car museum to break ground June 10

After nearly a decade in development, the LeMay Museum recently announced that it will break ground on the long anticipated automotive museum in Tacoma, on June 10! Once construction is underway, the museum will begin to focus on the “Race to the Finish” campaign which will focus on exhibit and educational program development in preparation for the museum’s grand opening in summer 2011.

UWT continues to grow!

The University of Washington Tacoma will start construction this summer on a $24 million building that expands the library and provides more classrooms. The new building will be four stories with a basement. Check out the News Tribune story...

Proctor Farmers Market unveils market mural, May 15

The Proctor Farmers Market is pleased to announce the unveiling of a market-themed mural at the market site, North 27th and Proctor streets in Tacoma. The unveiling will take place on Saturday, May 15 at 11 a.m. The mural consists of four, 4 x 10 panels that reference the Art Nouveau period. www.proctorfarmersmarket.com

Developers tour the South Sound’s Downtown

On Friday, April 30, local real estate and industry leaders gathered together to learn more about Tacoma’s vibrant downtown districts and opportunities for development from the City's Community and Economic Development Department and the Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development Board. Attendees toured the area and heard more about the City’s plan to continue public investment into downtown and plans to use efficiency, creativity, incentives and partnership to spark future investment from around the region.

Tacoma's SiteCrafting Inc. named to fastest-growing list

SiteCrafting, a website design and web application development company here in Tacoma, made the Bloomberg BusinessWeek's list of the 100 fastest-growing inner city companies in the country. Read more!

Silver Cloud Inn -Tacoma is a 2010 Best of Northwest Escape

Silver Cloud Inn - Tacoma, located along Ruston Way, was recently voted one of the top four romantic hotels in the northwest from King 5 Evening Magazine as part of the 2010 Best of Northwest Escapes!

Giddy-up! Farmers Market Rodeo Barn Dance, May 8

For a mere $25 you can attend the first-ever Farmers Market Rodeo Barn Dance! Your ticket includes a live auction, music by the Oly Mountain Boys, a free drink ticket and all night access to the mechanical bull. YeeeHaw! Show your pride for Tacoma and local farmers by attending on Saturday, May 8 at Freighthouse Square. Line dancing, good eating and hearty fun to be had by all at this country casual Ho-Down! For more information, visit http://www.tacomafarmersmarket.com/.

Congrats to the New Tacoma Award winners!

The New Tacoma Awards recognize businesses and individuals making oustanding contributions to downtown Tacoma. The 2010 winners are:

Schoenfeld Award: Recognizing exemplary performance and pizzazz as a retailer or restaurateur (Two Winners)

• Dragonfly
• Doyle’s Public House

Ghillarducci Award: Recognizing successful new development, renovation or beautification

• Pacific Plaza LLC

Union Station Award: Recognizing leading organizations, companies or individuals that have built or sustained momentum for revitalization (Two Winners)

• Tacoma Farmers Market
• Stan Selden

Popham Award: Recognizing the individual that has done the most to build “community spirit”

• Derek Young – Exit133, Suite133, Seasonal View

Hughes Group gets loan and plans to expand

Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority (TCRA) recently provided a loan to Hughes Group, LLC to assist with the acquisition of a building located on South 37th & Lawrence streets. The total project is just over $1.2 million. The Hughes Group is a logistics company providing facility management with the majority of its business generated from military contracts. The company is relocating from Lakewood and expects to create about 15 new jobs! Hughes Group was recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as the 7th fastest-growing minority-owned business in Washington State in 2008.

Tacoma puts the class in glass

A writer for the Oregonian newspaper highlights Tacoma's glass art in an article posted today. Read more... http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2010/04/tacomas_trail_of_glass_leaves.html