Photo courtesy of Washington State Digital Archives If you created a short list of great photographers from the Pacific Northwest, Asahel Curtis likely would be on it. During his 44-year career that began just before the start of the 20th century, Curtis captured many stunning shots across a wide ra

The conversation around the Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll increase continues this week. On Wednesday, February 8, WSDOT will host an informational open house, followed by a Q & A session with State officials, and a citizen advisory committee meeting. We wrote last month on Exit133 about the possib

Budget Phase one of addressing the City’s budget gap is wrapping up; at this week’s study session the Council will hear a summary of steps taken so far, along with a preliminary 2011 year-end budget report. With that information firmly in hand, the Council will turn to phase two adjustments. Nex

February's Virtual Tasting wine will be the 2009 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine retails for $15 and is widely available. The tasting will take place Tuesday February 28th from 7-8pm Pacific.What you need to do to participate is:1. Buy this month’s wine from a local retailer or from

A man was killed Friday afternoon after he fell through scaffolding at a Elliott Bay shipyard. Seattle fire said the accident occurred at Vigor Shipyards, formerly Todd Pacific Shipyards, when the man fell 70 to 100 feet and suffered major trauma. Medics responded but were unable to revive the man

If you live in the Gig Harbor area, you’re most likely aware that there is an upcoming vote on the Peninsula School District replacement levy.  I’ve heard some very interesting arguments against the levy, and some compelling ones for the levy as well. The most common argument that I’ve heard against

The first place most artists might head to is their hometown but not for Nashville artist Jared Blake, best known for his recent appearance on NBC’s hit show “The Voice”....

You don’t have to leave the U.S. to explore the world. Each year AFS Exchange Students from all over the world come to the U.S. to study in high schools and live with host families. There are also hundreds of American students that go abroad while they are still in high school. These outstanding you

Here is what I found interesting at the last council meeting ~ KarenThe meeting began at 7:08 pm (meeting materials available here). Mayor Hopkins announced that Councilmember Hunt was excused from the meeting. Councilmembers Hedrick, Hardin and Kristovich were present. The agenda was approved as pr

Tacoma has one more LEED certified building to add to its list of green accomplishments, and this one’s platinum. UW Tacoma’s newest building, the Russell T. Joy Building opened this year, and now it has received LEED Platinum certification. The new UWT building claims the distinction of becoming

Walmart has taken another stab at engaging Tacomans. We’re not sure they’re getting any better at this. We read in the TNT today a response by Walmart senior director of community affairs Steven V. Restivo to the recent piece by Tacoma locals Justin Leighton and Bard Luippold. In a bristling defe

As I type this, it was about 24 hours ago that word came down about Shaq Thompson, igniting a flurry of recruiting activity for the Huskies. In fact, it may be hard to find a better 24-hour period of recruiting than the one that just lapsed as UW landed one five-star, two four-star and one three-sta

Carpenter Road, a key link between Pacific Avenue and Martin Way that has been closed to most traffic since April, now is expected to reopen next week after this month’s snow and ice storm brought paving and striping plans to a halt.

This has been a La Nina winter, but you might not know it.  In fact, the La Nina has been intensifying as indicated by the cooling waters of the tropical Pacific, as shown by the plot of the sea surface temperatures Nina 3.4 area of the tropical Pacific seen below.  The figure actually snows SST ano

Last night at Shift Happens local business owners mixed, mingled, learned a thing or two, and generally celebrated each other and Tacoma. And Mayor Strickland gave her State of the City address. The Mayor reviewed the accomplishments and challenges of 2011, and looked forward to all that 2012 will

Imagine if teenagers controlled their families’ finances. Would they know how to spend and save money wisely? Or would they max out every credit card? It’s hard to know, but with 50 percent of high school seniors failing when tested on basic personal finance1, it’s not a gamble many parents would ta

This Thursday marks the kick-off of the Blue Mouse Theater’s 9th annual Sister Cities Film Festival. The yearly event brings a film featuring one of Tacoma’s 11 Sister Cities to Tacoma’s oldest cinema every Thursday for 11 weeks. The award-winning films from their home countries will be precede

Looking for your true love? Stop by Secondhand Hound a week from Saturday and you just might find them. Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation will benefit from a fundraiser hosted by the pet supply store on Saturday February 11th from 1 to 4 pm. And you just might find that furry love you've been waiting

The Port of Tacoma is looking for public input on their strategic planning process. The Port’s 2012 Strategic Plan will set the course for the next five years of development and even beyond, with a “focus on near-term actions.” And they’re asking community members, customers, business leaders and

For years now, an effort has been underway to reintroduce steelhead and salmon to Central Oregon’s Deschutes River Basin. One of the biggest challenges has been the Crooked River. In the summer months, farmers use irrigation to take large quantities of water out of the river to put on their fields.