This week ...

Thing: Tacoma Pride

Where: AMOCAT Cafe

Obvious: AMOCAT = TACOMA

Sells: Coffee and local goodies

Run by: Morgan Alexander

Morgan Alexander is: A community zealot

He's also: A real estate agent and guru of local projects

If you were to poke AMOCAT Cafe with a huge hypothetical (and hypodermic) needle, the streets of downtown Tacoma would flood with T-Town blood. In the body of all things Tacoma, AMOCAT Cafe is one of the main arteries supplying livelihood and pride to every T-Loc's heart. 

It may be smaller than it's northern sister, Seattle, but Tacoma locals have watched this city grow from a dirty, orphaned stepchild into a mature (yet still somewhat promiscuous) teenager begging for respect from its peers. All Tacoma-loving individuals can claim stake in their adoptive parenthood, and should be proud of the strong, multi-dimensional body they have nurtured throughout the years.

Along with many, many other Tacomans, Morgan Alexander has done his part to help stroke the confidence our little Tacoma-child, most recently by opening the doors to AMOCAT Cafe.

Past the front door of this St. Helen's Avenue establishment, visitors are immediately enveloped with the sense of warmth and welcome only a place housing Tacoma-themed goodies can give. Bookshelves to both the left and right of the door house items for sale made by Tacoma citizens and businesses. Some of my own personal faves come from people and places such as Mad Hat Tea Company, Pont 21 wine and Ryan Loiselle of "Tacoma: Love it or Leave it" t-shirt fame. Other items include books by local illustrator and comic Mark Monlux, CDs from various local bands, stickers, more t-shirts, more books and, of course, buttons.

Oh, and let's not forget the Biker Pussy Cat Calendar benefiting Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. Twelve glorious months of biker dudes holding pussy cats alongside their bikes. Best. Idea. Ever.

As I visited with neighboring business owner (and former Volcano scribe) Kris Blondin of STINK - Cheese & Meat, we relished for the hundredth time in the absurdity of wine names. As lovely as they can taste, naming your wine "Insatiable"is even too corny for ol' Steph DeRosa. Luckily, that is just one of the many, many reasonably priced wines (and over 27 beers) AMOCAT Cafe has to offer.

With pastries from Upper Crust Bakery, walls graced with original local artwork, sandwiches from Europa Bistro and espresso drinks brewed with Valhalla Coffee, at AMOCAT the legendary "aroma of Tacoma" has a new scent to deal with: Pride.

[AMOCAT Cafe, 625 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.722.5373]