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Tuesday, July 8th, 2008
Posted by Kelly Davenport @ 04:29:18 pm
KUPS is, lately. This afternoon I heard some Dylan, some anti-war punk rock song, some hot French number that may or may not have been Pink Martini, and a bunch of other tunes I wish I knew the names of. It's a good thing, because I've been in a real music rut. If I hadn't stumbled on the magic that is the new Okay album (singer-songwriter Marty Anderson played T-town last year), I'd be screwed. But I still need your help. What are you listening to in the car in the summer with the windows rolled down?  Image courtesy of emma.maria via Flickr. Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
Posted by Cole Cosgrove @ 01:30:15 am
 It's that time of year when everyone and his mother is telling you to be safe for the Fourth of July. So in the tradition of obvious and condescending advice on how to stay alive during routine summer activities, we present GritCity's Lucky 13 Summer Safety Tips: 1. Wear a life jacket, unless you want to die. 2. Don’t ignite fireworks in your hand or in your boat or in your pet. 3. Don’t run with scissors in your boat. 4. Wear sunscreen, unless you have a death wish, like that guy over there who isn't wearing his life jacket. 5. Strap your child to the mizzenmast for his/her safety. Don’t forget the water wings. 6. Use a hands-free headset when talking on your cell phone while boating. That way you can still hold your drink. 7. Don’t go boating within an hour after eating. 8. Don't open attachments from unknown senders on your boat. 9. Don’t carry your Social Security card while boating, in case you encounter a flotilla of identity thieves. 10. Look both ways before crossing another waterway in your boat. 11. Keep the cooler stocked with enough beer to last for two weeks in case of stranding. If you don’t get stranded, even better. 12. Don’t talk to strangers while boating, unless you’re on a hands-free headset. 13. If you go out boating and forget something that’s locked up in your hot car, make sure it’s not your dog or your kid or your drinks.
Categories: PSA
• 7 comments
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008
Posted by Cole Cosgrove @ 10:14:49 pm
100 years ago today: July 2, 1908  Frank C. Ross and Anna Robinson at the conservatory at Wright Park, circa 1915. (Washington State Historical Society)
Categories: History lesson
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
Posted by Brian Everstine @ 05:03:32 pm
 ... are you really going to? Reportedly hundreds of thousands of people are going to show up to Tall Ships. But, considering everyone who reads this blog is antisocial, what are your Tall Ships protest plans? If you are going to hide in your closet instead of seeing the ships, why you are planning on avoiding the event? I get to spend a couple days, including the holiday, covering the crowds. So if you see a sweaty, sunburned intern around, give me pity. Or laugh in my face. Either way, I get recognized.
Categories: Miscellany
• 17 comments
Monday, June 30th, 2008
Posted by Brian Everstine @ 10:20:39 am
With the interns coming in from wherever we are all from, I am reminded of a few instances regarding Tacoma's location. A week or two ago I was sitting next to a person (I won't identify them for safety's sake) while they were talking to their family about the recent move to Tacoma, and he told his family he was in "Seattle." (We were definitely in Tacoma at the time) Yeah, the cities are close and Seattle is more well known across the nation and blah blah blah, but does this deserve a swift smack in the face? How do you handle the Seattle-Tacoma difference with out-of-towners?
Categories: Art!
• 11 comments
Friday, June 27th, 2008
Posted by Laura Gentry @ 02:01:26 pm
This sign made me inexplicably happy today. Or maybe the sun has finally gotten to my brain. Try a nachos.
Posted by Cole Cosgrove @ 01:58:30 am
 Since it's summer, that means it's time for road trips and mental vacations (if you haven't noticed by our lack of posts this month). But even when I'm away, I always keep an eye out for all things Tacoma. It's a horrible side effect of blogging. On one recent trip I was eating breakfast in Wanda's Cafe along Highway 101 near Manzanita, Ore., when I noticed our table was covered with retro luggage labels. Among them: Hotel Winthrop, Tacoma, Washington. (Its slogan at the time: On the shores of Puget Sound, in the heart of the Evergreen Playground.) So here's my assignment for you this summer: Keep an eye out for the word Tacoma. Let us know where you see it. Then maybe we'll write about it, if we get around to it.
Categories: Observed
• 2 comments
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Posted by Brian Everstine @ 06:25:42 pm
It is true, GritCity has a new contributor, and it is me, the intern. I guess it is a dream come true of sorts. Long ago, I added the GritCity page on my Facebook. Once I found out about getting the internship here, I longed to have my neck included in the collective strangling that made the Grit posters seem so cool. I am from Spokane, and never had that much contact with Tacoma. All I really knew was related to a fantastic falafel wrap I had at a local Greek restaurant a few years back and the Junior Assembly (I think that is what it was called) dance I randomly went to in high school. Yep, Mediterranean food and awkward high schoolers, that was my impression of Tacoma. But now I am in a crew of new TNT interns, with little knowledge of the city and a few hours of free time a week. So, I was hoping everyone could do me a favor. Tell me what the interns and I should do. What can we do to experience the real Tacoma – and not just Chihuly and meth. Let me know, I'll pick an idea and report back. Also, the post title reminded me of this movie. Charlie Sheen + goatee + random West Wing actors = fantastic crap.
Categories: Miscellany
• 14 comments
Posted by Kelly Davenport @ 12:16:55 am
Now, there's no denying we work hard here at GritCity. It takes effort to not get paid to write only one post about every two weeks. But luckily, The News Tribune has welcomed a crop of interns for the summer and one of them actually wants to play with us. Brian Everstine, who hails from that city on the other side of the mountains that rhymes with sugar cane, will be joining us for the next couple months. We've already composed a list of duties for the little scamp. He says he'd be willing to do some of them, but won't say which ones. Ooh, the kid's got moxie. So be nice to Brian when you see him around town. He's the one who dresses better than any of us. Now, for the list. Laura: Cole: Niki: Kelly: Here's Brian. You can tell he'll be up for the job. 
Categories: Feelin' crafty
• 2 comments
Posted by Cole Cosgrove @ 12:04:02 am
This clip of a ballgirl's amazing catch has been spreading around the world this week ... Unfortunately, it's fake. Even worse for Tacoma batter Brent Johnson: He's since been demoted to the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.
Categories: Sports
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
Posted by Kelly Davenport @ 05:03:36 pm
Like the best of drug dealers, Satellite Coffee gave me my first shot for free. It seems like just yesterday. (cue music) :::::::: It was Super Bowl Sunday. I was headed to work and in a sullen mood. I stopped by Satellite and co-owner Pat "Rock Hands" Brown* offered me a free blueberry scone because business was slow. As I mentioned, some dudes were playing in some football game. Anyway. That scone changed my life. It was craggy and lightly frosted, studded with blueberries (fresh, it seemed!) and flaky tender on the inside. No doubt the work of butter and real cream. Only, the Upper Crust baker who supplied those scones threw in his or her apron and called it quits. Consider this my personal plea. Don't let the scone recipe die. I get whiny when I'm hungry. *Not actually his nickname, but that's what I call him in my head.
Categories: Wanted
• 2 comments
Thursday, June 19th, 2008
Posted by Cole Cosgrove @ 05:02:27 pm
 Last month I was told that my idea for "Plant a Beer Nut Day" was the winner in Rusty George Creative's "Create Something Weird" contest. The result: Today is Plant a Beer Nut Day! Today also happens to be GritBaby's first birthday, so June 19th is quite the day in the Cosgrove house. Years from now, I'll be able to gaze proudly at our thriving beer tree and tell my boy how it all began with a tiny beer nut that was fertilized with some Tacoma Brew. This is also how I'll explain the birds and the bees to him.
Categories: Drinking
• 10 comments
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008
Posted by Kelly Davenport @ 05:17:01 pm
So, as has been previously reported, Top of Tacoma does not have a Big Buck Hunter Safari edition. Tears were shed. However. It does have a Big Buck Hunter Pro – that is, the version in which you can shoot big horn sheeps and elks and deers and mooses and other quadrapeds. As Savvy_Reader mentioned, it ain't cheap. It's about 2 or 3 bucks per person for a "hunting mission," but that gets you several rounds, plus a couple bonus extras. One tip: Stand a little closer to the screen than you think you should. I found the Pro deer were faster and sneakier (damn you, wily bucks!) than the originals. Also: Don't forget to shoot the critters. That sweet fluffy-tailed fox will get you 50 extra points. Suck it up and shoot, kiddos. All right, report back, hunters and let me know how you do. Maybe we can organize a trophy contest at TofT for GritCity readers.  Simulation of three beers and two bucks.
Categories: Night life
• 5 comments
Monday, June 16th, 2008
Posted by Niki Sullivan @ 09:20:29 am
I went in to Satellite a few minutes ago for my morning cup of coffee. When I went to pay, owner Pat Brown presented me with a question: Want free coffee or to make someone else's day? Sometime this morning, an anonymous coffee drinker paid for their morning cup and put $5 in for the next person's drink. I was the eighth person to have benefited from the experiment. (But, of course, I opted to make someone's day over getting a free Americano.) I'm not sure if the experiment lives on but it's worth stopping by to check out. And, to the anonymous coffee buyer, thank you!
Categories: Drinking
• 3 comments
Posted by Cole Cosgrove @ 12:34:19 am
I was reading The New York Times Magazine and saw this story about Seattle-based Destee Nation that sells retro-looking T-shirts that feature small businesses – mostly neighborhood bars and restaurants. A cut of the sales goes to the business that was represented on the sold shirt. Everybody wins. Now here's my entrepreneurial idea of the day: Somebody do this for Tacoma.
Categories: Fashion
• 4 comments
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008
Posted by Kelly Davenport @ 04:03:10 pm
It's hard to remember when we had sunshine. But this week's GO cover story – you can read it Friday – on waterfront dining makes me think of my first blissful summer sunset dinner in Tacoma. It's been almost four years now, if you can believe that. It was August. It was 80 degrees. A heat wave, the front desk attendant at the Silver Cloud Inn assured me, the skeptical Midwesterner. Eighty degrees is a cold front in Illinois, I said. But here I was, in the great Northwest, being seated on the deck at CI Shenanigans and ordering salmon – salmon, the novelty! I don't think I've had it since. There were sailboats skimming the bay and pink light over Browns Point. I could squint and imagine myself in the south of France, looking at those neat cottages on the hillside with the lighthouse turning on its spit of land. I had just been offered a job. All was well. We will have that bliss on the bay again, I swear. Even if it takes two more months.  Photo courtesy of solo.steve via Flickr
Categories: Observed
• 9 comments
Monday, June 9th, 2008
Posted by Kelly Davenport @ 10:25:19 pm
Loyal reader NihilistForHire tipped me off this evening that one of these babies is rumored to be making its home at Top of Tacoma:  I'll report back when I know more. May the digital blood of wildebeests bestow good luck upon you all.
Categories: This Just In
• 17 comments
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008
Posted by Kelly Davenport @ 05:45:37 pm
Quick, name that city:
You would be forgiven for guessing Tacoma. We've got our own little Beltway, the 705; the Asarco site; glass blowers; artists on scooters; and yes, cheap rent. But this New York Times article is about Georgetown, the Seattle neighborhood, and how it's apparently the last bastion of art and culture in all of the Evergreen City. Hm, that sucks.
The only conclusion I can draw is: Seattle is the new Tacoma. Go forth and gloat.
Posted by Cole Cosgrove @ 09:52:56 am
Predicted low tides at Commencement Bay this week: Today: Minus-3.9 feet at 11:05 a.m. I always think it's cool to walk around the tip of Point Defiance during an extremely low tide. But if you need some ideas on where to go, this story recommends: Fox Island bridge, Kopachuck State Park, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Penrose Point State Park, Quartermaster Harbor, Saltar’s Point Beach and Sunnyside Beach Park. 
Categories: Observed
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008
Posted by Laura Gentry @ 10:58:45 am
This is quickly making its way across the tubes, so I thought I'd pitch in and help. The Spokane Chiefs hockey team won the Memorial Cup (the Canadian League's championship prize). Apparently it's a really big deal, but I wouldn't know it since I don't follow hockey. The Chiefs are the first U.S. team in a decade to win it. Amidst the merriment, team captain Chris Bruton was proudly displaying the trophy and then...this happened:
Categories: Sports
• 3 comments
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GritCity
You'll like Tacoma.
Cole Cosgrove...has lived in Proctor, Stadium, St. Helens and now owns a house with his wife, Kim, in Central Tacoma, near Sixth Avenue. He’s proud to have an “S.” in front of his address. He likes playing at Wright Park at 1 a.m. in the snow, walking along Ruston Way at 5 p.m. in the sun, and trying new bars anytime it rains. To make money, he writes headlines at The News Tribune. You can reach him at cole.cosgrove@thenewstribune.com. 
Kelly DavenportMy life in T-shirts: Ask Me About My Cat - Legalize Frostitution - Death Before Decaf. You get the idea. I enjoy lint-rolling, bons mots, magazine launch parties (if I was invited), paying too much for groceries, and the occasional semicolon. I'm a copy editor at The News Tribune, but I won't correct your grammar at the bar. Contact me at kelly.davenport@thenewstribune.com. 
Laura Gentry...lives in Seattle (so you don’t have to) with her cat Peanut Zeta-Jones. The self-proclaimed “Webmeister” of TheNewsTribune.com, Laura spends her spare time driving on I-5, sifting through estate sales, writing songs about Miss Zeta-Jones and wishing she was somewhere else regardless of where she is. You can reach her at laura.gentry@thenewstribune.com, but it’s in your best interest not to. 
Niki Sullivan...is a political reporter for The News Tribune. She likes sunshine, soup and puppies. Beyond that, it gets dicey. Contact Niki at niki.sullivan@thenewstribune.com. 
Bill Hutchens ... is the Tribune's retired video games columnist. Bill just needed a place to vent, and the GritCity whippersnappers were kind enough to take him in. He's old, chubby and usually scruffy. When he's not asleep under his desk, he's probably hiding in a conference room reading comic books or renaming his World of Warcraft toons. You can reach him at bill.hutchens@thenewstribune.com. 
Brian "The Intern" Everstine ...has a debilitating fear of children, horses, sauerkraut and mustaches, but an irrational affection for generic cereal. A recent college graduate (WSU) from Spokane, he is a reporting intern at The News Tribune, meaning he has both no money and no confidence. Contact Brian at brian.everstine@thenewstribune.com. Category
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