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Joshua Swainston on March 1st, 2013
Tacoma likes to believe that in the last 20 years it has grown more socially tolerant. The economic downturn has blended many communities in financial equality. The city's numerous festivals have started to resemble a certain 1971 Coco-Cola commercial. And much of the intermediate neighborhoods of the New Tacoma and
Archives
Joshua Swainston, Kristin Kendle on January 30th, 2013
After six long years of closure due to safety issues, the Murray Morgan Bridge will see the dawn of a new era beginning at noon Friday, Feb. 1. The bridge will reopen not only to car traffic, but new pedestrian walkways will allow walkabouts over the Thea Foss Waterway.
But to
Arts
Joshua Swainston on June 3rd, 2012
"A lot of people ask ‘Who were the Blue Barons?' I tell them they were a motorcycle club and the first thing they always think of is the Hell's Angles or whatever. And they're not, they are totally the opposite," explained David Allen, son of Blue Baron's founder, Paul Allen.
From
Music
Joshua Swainston on May 5th, 2012
Girl Trouble's drummer, Bon Von Wheelie, sets the music scene of 1980s Tacoma:
"The punks got chased a lot. People would be violent just because they dressed different. You had to be tough to be into that scene. It made people stick together almost because they had to, it was safer.
Music
Joshua Swainston on September 28th, 2011
What were you doing when you were 13? For me, it was playing SimCity in-between rounds of Magic the Gathering. But then again, I'm a geek who writes for the local arts paper. For most, 13-years-old is not a productive age.
For Adam Bredlau, a guitar player, his 13th year signifies
Features
Joshua Swainston on September 1st, 2011
What magic fermented yeast, grain and water can become when proportioned correctly. Pilsners, lagers, Hefeweizens, ales (of all sorts); wheats, barleys, stouts and all the other delicious brews.
It's enough to make a grown man cry. The triumph of the ages: BEER.
To celebrate the fabulous concoction the third annual Tacoma Craft
Features
Joshua Swainston on August 10th, 2011
Cuts of New York steak, filet mignon, brisket, chops, sirloin, ribs and all manner of beef and pork greet you at the counter. Adjacent, in another cold case, salmon candy, chickens, ready-to-cook burgers, bacon and other delectable meats chill. For a carnivore it is heaven.
The art of butchery seems to
Archives
Joshua Swainston on July 6th, 2011
EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, the old Heidelberg-Columbia Brewery caught fire mere minutes after we posted this story late Thursday night. Mere coincidence. We promise.
The Columbia Heidelberg Brewery complex on the corner of 21st and South C Street in downtown Tacoma is currently being demolished. Some see the change as a progressive
Arts
Joshua Swainston on June 30th, 2011
On a sunny Thursday afternoon a group of inquisitive patrons enters an ornate park-side building. As they do so, they ask, "What is this place?" Thomas M. Jutilla, the museum's director, gladly tells them that they have stepped into the Karpeles Manuscript Library. The visitors' eyes light up as they
Music
Joshua Swainston on June 20th, 2011
Among the dense evergreens that surround the banks of Carr Inlet a rhythmic island beat thumps. From behind Peninsula High School, between the art department and the football field, emanates reggae, ska, dub, rock steady, mento and dance hall. Every Wednesday night, KGHP FM plays host to Mike Kelly and
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Joshua Swainston on August 11th, 2014
As far back as when Job Carr stirred wort alongside the banks of Commencement Bay, our city has had a love affair with beer. It is only natural that with a mix of working class Scandinavians, Austria/Hungarians and Germans that someone (if not everyone) would be mixing their own home
Served blog
Joshua Swainston on March 1st, 2012
Not long ago we were tough and dirty. Tacoma was a hard-living town - a place former mayor Harold Moss likened to war-torn Beirut. True, we still hold onto parts of our past edginess, and our working class mentality. But, in reality, Tacoma has grown into a town with a
Served blog
Joshua Swainston on September 1st, 2011
What magic fermented yeast, grain and water can become when proportioned correctly. Pilsners, lagers, Hefeweizens, ales (of all sorts); wheats, barleys, stouts and all the other delicious brews.
It's enough to make a grown man cry. The triumph of the ages: BEER.
To celebrate the fabulous concoction the third annual Tacoma Craft
Walkie Talkie Blog
Joshua Swainston on August 8th, 2011
SWIPED FROM OUR SUPER BEST OF TACOMA ISSUE >>>
Dedicated to Rick Price, a firefighter based in the Key Peninsula town of Home, Rick's Dip honors the friend and supporter of the Rosewood Café. Few sandwiches can compare. Roast Beef is the foundation. Sautéed onions are done to
Walkie Talkie Blog
Joshua Swainston on June 20th, 2011
ONE LOVE >>>
Among the dense evergreens that surround the banks of Carr Inlet a rhythmic island beat thumps. From behind Peninsula High School, between the art department and the football field, emanates reggae, ska, dub, rock steady, mento and dance hall. Every Wednesday night, KGHP FM plays host to Mike
Walkie Talkie Blog
Joshua Swainston on June 13th, 2011
THE HARMON BREWING COMPANY'S PLAN FOR WORLD DOMINATION >>>
"We are Tacoma's brewery and we are going to be in Alaska, Idaho, Washington and Oregon," proclaims Pat Nagle, co-owner of the Harmon Brewing Company (HBC). "That's how we want to brand the Harmon. Everybody knows that Ninkasi is from Eugene, Deschutes
Walkie Talkie Blog
Joshua Swainston on May 18th, 2011
ST. HELENS MOST ROCK N ROLL SHAVE >>>
Why would you pay $25 for a shave when you can do it yourself? It's a luxury. It's a manly way to be pampered. It's grooming nostalgia in the best way possible. Why buy clothes when you can stitch them yourself? Or why
Walkie Talkie Blog
Joshua Swainston on May 4th, 2011
IS IT CRUEL OR JUST FUN? >>>
Young professionals and college students gather to down microbrews while listening to bluesy classic rock. In the backroom there are two eight-foot long sections of roof gutter filled with water. Spray bottles are positioned at one end of the track. A
Walkie Talkie Blog
Joshua Swainston on March 29th, 2011
AS SEEN AROUND TOWN >>>
If you are between the ages of 25 and 50 with a punk rock or indie sensibility, somewhere you have a dozen one-inch buttons. They may be hanging from the leather jacket you had when you played bass in a band. They may be in an
Walkie Talkie Blog
Joshua Swainston on March 18th, 2011
WHAT WILL THE FUTURE HOLD? >>>
The other morning while listening to National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" on KPLU, and a story regarding the Libyan hoopla, I was struck by a muse: will my children be able to listen to this? Or will my children have to choose between Clear Channel
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