This week I’m going to draw your attention away from just one establishment so you can have a look-see at the bigger picture.

There’s a new Scene of the Crime that’s been emerging ever since I became a loyal Tacoma socialite, and it’s now requiring me to switch gears because this geography is in such high gear.

Dear precious readers, the Scene of the Crime is Sixth Avenue — the whole freakin’ thing.
When you rewind to a mere seven or eight years ago, this section of town was sparse and, well, ghetto.

Now, within an evolutionary blink of an eye, Sixth Ave has become alive, inspiring and, without a doubt, POPPIN’.

Here are just a few reasons why the young and the young at heart are flocking to the Ave every night of the week – EN MASSE.

Asado exudes a grilled, smoky scent, and their house is packed with a buzzing dinner and late-night crowd each of the seven days.

Chopstix packs in the celebrators with birthday, anniversary and bachelor/bachelorette parties.
Engine House #9 remains a Sixth Ave staple with Tacoma-brewed beers and a bar filled with college kids and grown-up neighbors alike.

At Gateway to India, the name says it all.

Il Fiasco just redeveloped their space. They brought the dining room to the front, the bar to the back and added outdoor seating. It looks marvelous.

Jazzbones continues to attract crowd-pleasing musicians and bands, and their sushi bar is bliss.

Masa recently launched Club Masa. They added a dance floor and every Friday and Saturday night hipsters are taking over this spot to get their groove on amongst Latin beats.

The Old Milwaukee is dishing up some of the best breakfasts in town inside their cozy neighborhood restaurant.

Divine food continues to pour out of Primo Grill, and the proprietors there recently bought Gary’s Steak Out business/building. They’ll soon convert that to a European restaurant. Anything that comes out of chef/owner Charlie McManus’ kitchen is magnificent.

Shakabrah Java? You ain’t from Tacoma if you haven’t been to this lovely liberal coffee house.
Last weekend’s Art of the Ave festival drew thousands, I mean THOUSANDS of visitors, and there was nothing like approaching this district to see all of those peeps milling around amongst art and camaraderie.

But specifically, Sixth Ave restauranteurs, I dropped this idea on one of you proprietors, and I think you all need to band together to make it happen:

Why don’t you jointly host the 6th Ave Sample?! You’re all in such a great huddle, amazing restaurants side-by-side. You should invite us to your establishments and offer $5 portions of your treats for Tacoma and the world to sample.

Regardless, even if you don’t run with that idea, I’ll still be rockin’ your district over and over.
In this here Tacoma, Sixth Ave is so obviously the place to be.

Tell me where you like to party here.