HONG KONG MARKET

Sunday, April 13, bright and early at 8:30 a.m., Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Deputy Mayor Marty Campbell will hug a new and improved Hong Kong Market at 3816 Yakima Ave. Join them, and meet your neighbors, business owners and other elected officials while celebrating a new grocery option in the area.

TWOKOI CHANGES

TWOKOI Japanese Cuisine (1552 Commerce St., Tacoma) will operate as a private event space Monday and Tuesday beginning April 14. Parties of 15 to 120 people - business meetings, sushi classes, sake classes, Jackie's table, fundraisers, seminars and special functions of any kind - can have the run of the joint those two days. Also, the downtown Tacoma restaurant has a new happy hour menu.

NEW MENUS

With the change of seasons comes a transition in flavor. Many South Sound restaurants bust out spring-inspired culinary concoctions from the cocktails to the entrees. Hilltop Kitchen (913 MLK Way) and Top of Tacoma Bar and Café (3529 McKinley Ave. E.) are two Tacoma joints that have made the change already. Visit and discover new warm weather treats.

FARMERS MARKETS

It's market season! Farmer's Markets are getting back to it offering community members to browse artisan wares and fresh produce in weekly outdoor markets. Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm the Proctor Market is well underway and Puyallup's Farmers Market in Pioneer Park Pavilion and Gig Harbor's market at the former Peninsula Garden Site kick off their seasons April 12.