One Day, One Place, 57 Brewers

This Saturday will be the fourth annual Tacoma Craft Beer Festival at the 21st Street Park (which was recently nominated for a New Tacoma Award).  With sunny weather expected and 57 brewers, it should be a great time to hang out on the waterfront.

Last year, they had to stop selling tickets at 4:30PM due to the great turnout.  This year they've got 40% more brewers, but they still recommend coming early.

When: 11AM - 8PM (last call 30mins prior)
Where: 21st Street Park at 2101 Dock Street, 98402 (free shuttle from Freighthouse Square)
Cost: $30 for 10 tastes of 5.5oz and a souvenir glass

For complete details, please visit www.tacomacraftbeerfest.com

Stadium Way Construction Open House

EDIT: Note that this posted to the wrong day and the open house was last night, Wednesday.  Sorry for the confusion.

The Stadium Way Arterial Project is well underway with part of the first phase getting wrapped up in time for Stadium High School to start classes next week.  While we've been talking about this project for a while, it's great to see some work getting completed.  The street near Stadium High School is looking great with many of the details incorporated in the South 9th and Broadway LID projects being extended to the north end of downtown.

To find out about more about what's coming next, including the closure of Stadium Way, the City is hosting an open house this evening:

Wednesday, August 29
6 p.m. 
Council Chambers on the first floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.; 98402

From the City of Tacoma: "Representatives of the City and contractor will be present to answer your questions. Construction is under way and will continue into summer 2013."

For more on this project, please visit the City's project website at: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=1063

Celebrate & Support at the Spaceworks Cakewalk

Spaceworks has had an amazing year - landing permanent leases for several vacant spaces and helping numerous artists explore their future - much of it highlighted in last week's paper.  Now it's time to celebrate these successes and raise some money for 2013.

On September 15th, from 6-9PM, Spaceworks will be throwing a free party at 311 S. 7th St. 98402. In grade school tradition, there will be a cakewalk with an opportunity to win fabulous cakes and art.  Tickets for the walks will cost from $5-20 - this is a fundraiser after all.  To entice you further they'll have a DJ, refreshments, and a performance from the BareFoot Collective.

If you like goodies from Dulce Cupcakes, Angel Cakes, Hello Cupcake, Corina Bakery, Celebrity Cake, or Amocat, you should definitely join us.  

If you like art from people like Jeremy Gregory, Chandler O'Leary, Jessica Spring, Oliver Doriss, Lance Kagey, Kyle Dillehay, Janet Marcavage,  Lisa Kinoshita, Diane Hansen, Brian Hutcheson, Amy McBride, Sean Alexander, Kenji Stoll, Maria Meneses, Nate Dybevik, Goldfinch, The Warehouse, the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, and others this will be your chance to get ahold of some works.

If you support creative entrepreneurs  in Tacoma, filling vacant storefronts, and making downtown more vibrant then you want to support Spaceworks now and in the coming years.  For more on Spaceworks and how you can support it, visit the Spaceworks blog.  For more on the Spaceworks Cakewalk, visit the Cakewalk page.

LINK Extension Open House

Just last year downtown Tacoma welcomed another LINK light rail stop to Commerce.  While this stop adds a number of potential new riders to the system, it would pale in comparison to an expansion of the link into another part of town with jobs, attractions, and people.

Sound Transit continues to evaluate potential expansion options for LINK as it moves forward on the alternatives analysis.  Most recently, the Chamber joined with other stakeholders to prepare a report on potential alternatives that was delivered in January of 2011.

Tomorrow is another opportunity to hear the updated schedule on Sound Transit's plans for this long discussed extension.  For a comprehensive history dating back to a 2004 expansion study, please visit Sound Transit's Tacoma Link Expansion page.  From the press release:

Sound Transit to host open houses on Tacoma Link expansion

August 21, 2012
Public invited to provide input on possible transit corridor and mode options for expanding Tacoma Link system
Sound Transit will conduct two open houses on Wednesday, August 22 as part of an early scoping process to solicit options for expanding the 1.6-mile Tacoma Link system that now operates between the Tacoma Dome and Theater District stations.

The events will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the People's Community Center at 1602 South Martin Luther King Jr. Way and from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Tacoma Dome Station Plaza at 424 East 25th Street.

[Full release here]

Spaceworks Creating Businesses and Filling Vacancies

In the past, Spaceworks has done a great job of highlighting local artists doing work in and around Tacoma. While continuing to support artists, the Spaceworks program has shifted to include more creative entrepreneurs who are turning their work into businesses.

This shift has not gone unnoticed as Kathleen Cooper of The News Tribune noted on the cover of Sunday's paper: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/08/19/2260852/spaceworks-fills-voids-for-art.html.  

"What began as a program to use vacant downtown storefronts as showcases for Tacoma’s vibrant artists has started to focus on business incubation, and it’s working. 

In the past few months, three groups that found free space in commercial buildings through Spaceworks Tacoma have made the leap into the marketplace. A youth-focused creative arts organization, working in the city for a decade, has its first permanent headquarters. A man who rehabilitates and sells antique pianos has his own shingle. And four women who create unique home décor will open their retail store next month in the heart of Tacoma’s Antique Row."

As the Chamber continues to support innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the County, we look forward to strengthening Spaceworks role in helping small businesses get off the ground.

Downtown Lunch Concerts

It's sunny.  It's Friday.  It's lunchtime.  What are you going to do?

In addition to regular events like the Frost Park Chalk Off and the Chamber Luncheon, the Tacoma Theater District has put together a once a month free concert series in Ledger Square.

Today they are featuring Bump Kitchen.  According to the Volcano, "Northwest funk, R&B, and blues amalgam Bump Kitchen have managed to make a name for themselves in recent years thanks to constant touring and some searing groove-craft."

Along with providing a little lunchtime entertainment, the Theater District has teamed up with several Theater District restaurants to offer a pre-made box lunch.  So pick your favorite lunch spot, or try a new one, call them up for a lunch and check out the event.  Lunch providers include:

- Amerawcan Bistro (327-1962)
- Broadway Quick Stop Cafe (274-1060)
- Commerce Teriyaki (274-0601)
- Corina's Bakery (627-5070)
- Dorky's (627-4156)
- Inifinite Soups (274-0232)
- Margaret's (274-8788)
- Over the Moon (284-3722)
- Puget Sound Pizza (383-4777)
- Rain City Cafe (383-2233)
- Stink (426-1347)

For more on the series, please visit the Theater District website at www.tacomatheaterdistrict.org