As a new Tacoma Mall Nordstrom opens, so does the old one close. And that new one seems to be getting all the attention – what with its high-end designer clothes, new bistro eatery and expanded cosmetics counters.

The old one, however, still exists. For a while. Sadly so.

Since Oct. 10, liquidators have been conducting a fixtures sale. There were still a few items left earlier today.

For instance: Mannequins were on sale for $125 each.

A door marked "Employees Only" was labeled for $45. Showcases were variously $299, $325, and $349 – depending on the size. Other cases, large and small, were going for more or less.

Need an office chair? A few were left at $10, and a few at $25. Directors' chairs were off at $45. A table from the upstairs cafe was $50.

Or maybe you'd like to bring home an entire dressing room – to remember all those moments behind the louvers.

If you're interested in seeing what's left, you'll need to enter through an outside door. The inside-the-mall door is closed. And there's a 10 percent buyer's premium on all sales, all of which are final.

Even if you don't buy anything, it's interesting to take a tour of some of the back rooms and rack rooms, behind doors (now for sale) once closed to the public. You can almost hear the crickets chirping, and it feels a little creepy, but back among the storage nooks some employees have left messages to posterity.

Some are clever, some poignant. Onein red on a whiteboard, is succinct: "Goodbye, people."

Gov. Chris Gregoire will keynote the Washington State International Trade Update Luncheon on Thursday at Hotel Murano.

The fourth annual event will focus on the state's trade performance, and the growth the state has seen in the past few years. The World Trade Center Tacoma will present a panel of export companies in the state after the event.

The luncheon is $40 for students and WTCTA members, $50 for non-members and $400 for the corporate table.

For information is available at http://www.wtcta.org.

Just a week after strike settlement talks collapsed, The Boeing Co. and the Machinists Union have scheduled another round of talks.

Arthur R. Rosenfeld, Director of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, notified negotiators for the two sides that he wants them to re-convene negotiations under the auspices of the mediation service in Washington, D.C. Thursday.

Rosenfeld called the 45-day-long strike by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers against Boeing “a priority matter for this agency,”

The company and the unions last met with federal mediators in weekend talks that were recessed on Oct. 13.

Those talks are scheduled to begin Thursday.

Here's what the union, Boeing's largest with 27,000 members on strike since Sept. 6, told its members:

After 45 days on the line, your solidarity brought Boeing back to the bargaining table. Since talks adjourned last Monday, we have kept the lines of communication open and have agreed to pursue additional talks through the federal mediator. At the direction of the federal mediator, new talks will be held in Washington DC beginning Thursday, October 23rd.

We hope this meeting marks a major step forward to resolve this strike. The Union will continue to do everything possible to bargain a contract that addresses the concerns our members have identified.

It is important as we move forward that we continue to stay strong on the picket lines. That's how we're going to secure a contract that will settle this strike.

Boeing posted a single paragraph of comment:

"We've remained in frequent contact with the federal mediator, and we look forward to resuming discussions with the IAM. We want to resolve this strike quickly, but we need to make sure we have an agreement that preserves our flexibility to manage our business and compete in an uncertain and challenging economy."

All airliner production as Boeing's Puget Sound plants has halted because of the strike.

The Franciscan Health System is recruiting nurses for St. Anthony Hospital with an event at the St. Anthony Medical Office Building.

The Nurse Recruiting Fair will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Nov 5 at 4700 Point Fosdick Drive NW in Gig Harbor. Managers and human resource representatives will be available to answer questions.

"This is a great opportunity for nurses who want to join a growing organization," nurse recruiter Erin Davis said.

The 80-bed, 240,000-square-foot hospital is set to open early next year. The $162 million project will serve residence of Gig Harbor, the Key Peninsula, South Kitsap County and North Mason County.

Those who attend the event can enter a drawing for a $100 gift certificate for Anthony's Restaurant and a guided tour of the new facility.