Freighthouse Square Train Extravaganza and Sound Transit Open House

Date: May 14 and 15 (Saturday and Sunday)

Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Freighthouse Square (2501 East D Street, Tacoma 98421)

Train fans, you won’t want to miss a weekend of train-related events in Tacoma! From special tours of a modern Sounder train to excursions on a restored vintage steam engine train to model train layouts, there’s something fun planned for the whole family! Sound Transit is partnering with the Tacoma Northwestern Model Railroad Show & Swap Meet, Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, and Freighthouse Square to put on this exciting community event.

Please see the website for additional schedule and admission information.

http://www.soundtransit.org/About-Sound-Transit/News-and-events/Calendar/Freighthouse-Square-51411.xml

Record Number of Attendees at Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center

The Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center (GTCTC) welcomes three major conventions in May, resulting in record numbers for the GTCTC: The Infant and Early Childhood Conference, Washington Education Association and the Boeing Company. Along with other events held in between these groups, the economic impact to the local community is estimated to be over $2,361,000. With the exception of two, one-day meetings, all of the events will take place within the first twenty-two days of May.

The total attendance for all events in May will be over 17,030. This will result in more than 4,375 guest room nights for Tacoma area hotels.

Local businesses are encouraged to welcome attendees into their establishments by printing welcome signs which are always available on the GTCTC's website, gtctc.org, by selecting the Resource tab, then Media Newsroom page.

For more information, contact the GTCTC at 1-888-227-3705 or online at gtctc.org or facebook.com/gtctc.

Pacific Avenue Streetscape Design Project ~ Open House on May 9th

Mark your calendars for the Pacific Ave Streetscape Design Project Open House on Monday, May 9th from 4-6:00pm at UW Tacoma's Philip Hall. At this Open House, the public will be able to give feedback on the preliminary designs for the future streetscape. Construction is estimated to start sometime in early 2012 and conclude at the end of 2012.

Full information regarding the project, including a fact sheet, project description and schedule, and community involvement efforts can be found by clicking here.

100th Anniversary Celebration of Tacoma's Union Station

On Sunday, May 1st join the City of Tacoma and the U.S. General Services Administration in celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Tacoma's Union Station.

"New Beginnings," the statue in front of Union Station, depicts a newly arrived prospective citizen with carpetbags at his side and was a gift from the Chamber to the city to celebrate the Chamber's centennial (in 1984). The statue portrays the optimism evident in Tacoma's early town builders and entrepreneurs.

The 100th Anniversary events include an anniversary ceremony featuring many esteemed speakers (e.g. Deputy Mayor Walker & Congressman Norm Dicks) and panel discussions about railroads, revitalization, and diversity.

EVENT DETAILS:

Union Station 100th Anniversary Ceremony
Sunday, May 1st, 2011 @ Union Station Rotunda
Doors open @ Noon (attendees encouraged to arrive early; government photo id required)
Event begins @ 1pm

Several other events are planned in Tacoma on May 1st and parking will be extremely limited, so consider taking the bus! Pierce Transit's Bus Routes 1, 11, 13, 41, 42, 53, 500, and 501 all stop within walking distance of Tacoma Union Station.

Spaceworks Spring Opening

Clear your calendar for the Thursday, April 21st Third Thursday Art Walk, when artists Jeremy Gregory and Chris Sharp host the Spaceworks Tacoma spring kick-off party at their studio at 904 Broadway (across from the Pantages) at 5-7pm.

Meet these and other Spaceworks artists and take a tour of Chris and Jeremy’s awesome painting studio, which features works-in-progress, and a skateboard quarter-pipe for stress relief. Then, start your art walk to see all the amazing new Artscapes projects energizing the neighborhood.

For more details on this Thursday's event, check out the Spaceworks site: spaceworkstacoma.wordpress.com

Spaceworks Tacoma is a joint initiative of the City of Tacoma, Shunpike and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. The project is designed to activate empty storefronts in downtown Tacoma with art and creative enterprise.

Pierce Transit System Reduction Public Hearing Comes to Downtown this Thursday!

Attend the Thursday, April 21st Pierce Transit System Reduction public hearing in downtown Tacoma to weigh in on how PT implements 35% reductions before they are adopted at the May 9th Board of Commissioners meeting. Be sure to advocate for the maintenance of as much service as possible to the most populous city in the county (and especially downtown)!

EVENT DETAILS:

Thursday, April 21 · 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Tacoma Municipal Building - Council Chambers

747 Market St

To view the proposed reductions as well as information on two additional public hearings – Puyallup/South Hill (April 25th) and East Pierce County (April 28th) – click here.

Broadway Center Recruits "Voices of the City"

Nominations are due April 21st for "Voices of the City", a civic engagement opportunity offered by the Broadway Center for Performing Arts. Applicants with diverse perspectives on Tacoma and deep connections to the community are encouraged.

Once selected, this group of participants (20 max) will engage in workshops that will help them to develop the presentation of their stories in whatever way inspires them - music, movement, text, visual art, etc. Stories will be shared at the Broadway Center's Community Arts Festival in October.

To be a participant: If you are interested in being one of the 10-20 Participants, please call the Broadway Center at 253-573-2518, email: voices@broadwaycenter.org or click here to request or download the application.