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

Wayfinding at Downtown Gateways

(To go directly to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WayfindingTacoma2 )


While we've talked about wayfinding in the past, it was focused on Pacific Avenue redesign and coordinating work with that construction.  Now we are looking more broadly at wayfinding in the greater downtown.  The goal of wayfinding is not advertising, cheerleading or community building.  Instead the system should help Tacoma's customers and visitors get where they are going.


To that end, the Chamber, Dome District, Go Local, Sound Transit, Tacoma + Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Tacoma Waterfront Association have joined the City in working to identify key locations where visitors enter downtown.  Based on the 10 locations identified, we are now working to determine what destinations visitors would be trying to reach if they arrived via one of these gateways.


This is where you come in.  We have prepared a survey looking at these 10 locations asking for feedback on the likely destinations.  It typically takes about 15 minutes to complete and will be used to help guide the process of deciding which locations for signs as well as what appears on them.


With all the talk of wayfinding over the last couple of decades, we think another 15 minutes is worth it to successfully locate these signs.


The survey is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WayfindingTacoma2

New Tacoma Award Recipients Honored

Businesses, organizations and individuals who make outstanding contributions to downtown Tacoma were recognized with the annual New Tacoma Awards at the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s monthly Luncheon held today at the Pacific Grill Events Center. 

Keeping with last year's awards, the awards themselves are beautiful glass sculptures hand-crafted by Hilltop Artists mounted on bases.  The New Tacoma Awards are proudly sponsored by Absher Construction Company.

The 2012 New Tacoma Awards recipients are:

• First Night Tacoma-Pierce County received the Union Station Award that recognizes leading organizations, companies or individuals that have built or sustained momentum for revitalization. As a celebration of rebirth and new beginnings, First Night was itself reborn five years ago after a brief hiatus.  This year, it again showed its strength bringing thousands of people downtown for a full day of family friendly celebration. While the coalition of people and organizations contributing to First Night each year changes a little it has been a welcome celebration of the New Year.  Each year First Night reminds people who might not otherwise come downtown that downtown is a safe and fun place for all ages.  As the nominator said, “We need to cherish this institution.”

• LeMay – America’s Car Museum received the Ghilarducci Award that recognizes successful new development, renovation or beautification.  Past decades of annual LeMay family car shows have brought patrons and participants from around the world.  With the opening of the LeMay Museum, heralded by USA Today as one of the top 10 events to attend worldwide in 2012.  Harold and Nancy LeMay’s vision to preserve their unique collection is a gift not only to our community, but to the world of car enthusiasts as well. This year’s Ghilarducci Award winner builds on the successes of Tacoma to increase the visitor draw to downtown.  America’s Car Museum has truly global appeal while engaging volunteers in its mission.  In the nominator's words, “I cannot tell you the joy that volunteers and visitors experience when viewing these one-of-a-kind collections."

• The Swiss received the Schoenfeld Award that recognizes exemplary performance and pizzazz as a retailer. While The Swiss started out in a forgotten corner of downtown, downtown has come to it.  With the continued growth of UWT, Owners Jack McQuade and Bob Hill have been updating their approach to make the 19 year old institution more family friendly during the day while still, in the words of the nominator, “rocking the old space since before reclaimed buildings were cool.” Owners McQuade, Hill and Bertagni were downtown pioneers when they opened The Swiss in 1993.  Since then, they’ve faced street reconstruction, construction of a University, the death of a partner, and a constantly evolving downtown.  With great sandwiches like the Heart Smart Art to go along with musical acts drawing people to downtown Tacoma, we look forward to The Swiss contributing to downtown’s renaissance for decades to come.
  
  
• Tim Waer, Tacoma South Sound Sports, received the Popham Award that recognizes the individual who has done the most to build community spirit.  Tim has always had incredible energy for Tacoma, Pierce County, and athletics.  This past winter he turned his energy towards bringing these sports downtown with the first Let's Play Sports and Fitness Fest.  In less than two months he pulled off an event at the Convention Center that brought thousands of kids, parents, and athletes to downtown Tacoma.  This year’s Popham winner continues to build his record of community involvement and support of downtown and the greater Tacoma community.  While much of Tim’s energy has gone toward the success of Tacoma as a mecca for amateur sports, what many people don’t realize is just how many visitors this brings to downtown Tacoma every year.  With the Let’s Play Festival this January, downtown saw thousands of true amateurs, many under 12, come experience downtown.
  
  
• Wright Park Sprayground & Playground received the second Public Places Award that recognizes the best activation of a public park, open space or area within the public right-of-way. While Wright Park is over 100 years old it had a less than stellar reputation among families. Under the guidance of the Tacoma Metropolitan Park District and the Greater MetroParks Foundation, a revamping of the park was undertaken.  With the reworking of the ponds and playground and the addition of the sprayground last summer, Wright Park has become a year round family destination again. The coalition to rebuild Wright Park stems not only from public agencies, but from the extraordinary gifts of the community.  As part of the three-point-five million dollar Zinna Linnik project and capital campaign, not only was Wright Park given new life, but McCarver Park was completely renovated as well.  Without these investments, the community might have slowly forgotten about these downtown jewels.

The Luncheon, held at the Pacific Grill Events Center, was sponsored by Cascade Regional Blood Services.  The next Chamber Luncheon is scheduled for Friday, August 10, 2012.

Future of South Downtown Survey

On the topic of surveys, the City has put out a survey on the future of South Downtown.  The City is undergoing a multi-year planning process for the area including the Dome District, Brewery District, Hillside, UWT, and the Foss Waterway.  (These boundaries are identified by the black line above.)


The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SouthDowntownTacoma


It has about 50 questions and will take about 10 minutes.  The City and the stakeholder group working on the plan will use these responses to help guide the planning process for the future of this area.  As an added bonus, once you finish the survey, you can see what other people have said so far.