One of our favorite October events was the Tacoma Studio Tours!
November is a good month. Why? Because every month is good, each with its own identity, each approaching, then passing without asking if we’re ready for it to come or go. So, we might as well find the good. If the good for you is staying home with a hot toddy, or cup of tea, cider, or cocoa, a book, and a board game, I’d suggest you do that. If you feel like you may just want to open the front door and get out into the world, come back to this list; see what’s happening around this city we call home.
Image from Feed253
1. 10th Annual Feed253 ThanksGIVING Benefit at Court House Square
Saturday, November 3rd, 6 - 9 pm
Hosted by Feed253
Feed253 has been giving turkey dinners to great places like the Tacoma Rescue Mission since 2009, but their mission goes way beyond Thanksgiving dinner. Feed253 works hard year round helping get food to local food banks such as YWCA Pierce County, St. Leo Food Connection, the Tacoma Rescue Mission, and Network Tacoma. They try their best to make it easy for donors (hey, that could be you and me!) to give meaningfully to spread the food wealth around our community. And it’s time for their annual fundraiser with live music, food, and beverages. If you’re coming, we’ll see you there! If it’s sold out by the time you read this, don’t feel bad, just follow their Facebook page, or subscribe to their newsletter and get in on the next opportunity.
$30 for dinner and entrance to the event
Court House Square, 1102 A St, Tacoma
21 + event
Buy tickets in advance
Image from Tacoma Refugee Choir
2. Tacoma Refugee Choir Concert - Use Your Voice at Schneebeck Concert Hall
Saturday, November 3rd, 7 pm
If you haven’t been to one of the Tacoma Refugee Choir concerts yet, it’s time. We attended one downtown and discovered we weren’t at your typical concert. There was so much singing and dancing along, so many smiles, and plenty of positive energy to go around. It’s fun. The Tacoma Refugee Choir has a mission to “build a more welcoming community through song.” You’ll hear the words “unite,” “uplift,” and “inspire.” Sounds good to me.
Free and open to all
Schneebeck Concert Hall, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N Warner St, Tacoma
Interactive concert with guest artists Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, Grammy-nominated hip hop artist QDot, Christina Brewer, and Ballet Folklorico
3. The Art of the Piano at Peace Lutheran Church
Sunday, November 4th, 4 pm
If you love piano music, have fond memories of childhood lessons, still play, or maybe have kids who are getting interested in music, come over to this informal concert in the Hilltop Neighborhood. The concert features pianist Jimothy Rogers (music director of Peace), vocal music, and student performers.
$10 suggested donation
Peace Lutheran Church 2106 S Cushman Ave, Tacoma
Image from Tacoma Community House
4. Tacoma Community House Volunteer Orientation
Monday, November 5th, 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Friday, November 30th, 10:30 - 11:30 am
I can personally recommend volunteering with Tacoma Community House. TCH works daily in our community (and has been working for 108 years!) to support and advocate for immigrants and refugees in our community. The work of TCH is also strongly focused on education and employment. Learn all about Tacoma Community House here! Volunteer to tutor in a variety of subjects, show up for Talk Time to just give someone learning English a chance to practice with a friendly person, help with event planning, there are tons of ways to get involved. If you're looking for a way to give some of your time, your friendliness, your patience, your compassion, start by attending an orientation at Tacoma Community House. You’ll find you aren’t just giving, but receiving as well!
Free volunteer orientation opportunity
Tacoma Community House, 1314 S L St, Tacoma
Fill out a Volunteer Application to get started
Image from Allison Bishins Consulting
5. Crowdsource Brainstorming & Networking with Allison Bishins at The Resource Center
Wednesday, November 7th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
What do you do? What do you dream of doing? How can we help? This is the conversation Allison will be fostering in a cozy and fun environment. Share for 1 -2 minutes, listen to others, mix, mingle, connect, go deeper, and build your network of support.
$15 - get your ticket
The Resource Center, 1004 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma
Feel free to bring business cards and event flyers to share!
6. Something to Tell at Honey at Alma Mater
Thursday, November 8th, 7 - 9 pm
Image from Honey at Alma Mater
Tell your story, polished, rough, and in-between. Tell a story whose end you know, or one whose ending you can’t see. Just make sure its your story, make sure its true. Expect flexibility as you figure out how your story goes.
Free entry
Honey, 1322 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma
This is an open mic - but isn’t a forum for stand-up or music
If you like this event, get it on your calendar for every second Thursday (next is December 13th)
Image from Compass Rose Tacoma
7. Ladies Night at Compass Rose
Friday, November 9th, 5 - 8 pm
Bring a friend, or browse alone and meet a new one while enjoying sips and treats at the Proctor Compass Rose. You can add some wishes to your list, forget your to-do list, or cross-off some gifts from your giving list. Meet featured local jewelry designers, and enter a raffle by brining items to donate to the YWCA - spread the love!
Free
Compass Rose, 3815 N 26th St, Tacoma
Important! Bring items to donate to the YWCA to enter a raffle (things like: new socks, undies, and pjs, gift cards to Safeway and Fred Meyer, cups and dishes, new toiletries for men, women, and babies, new coats, used cell phones). You can view the complete list of requested items here.
Image from The Curious Bear Toy & Book Shop
8. The Curious Bear Toy & Book Shop Grand Opening
Saturday, November 10th, 10 am - 7 pm
Did you know there’s a new toy and book shop opening? Tucked in what’s developing into a nice little stretch of town near Tacoma Community College you’ll find Curious Bear next door to Paper Luxe (its sister company), which is next door to Pint Defiance. The gist of it is, this locally owned small business is welcome and is in good company!
Free and open to all ages
The Curious Bear Toy & Book Shop, 2061 Mildred St W, Fircrest
Specials, giveaways, demos, and more
Coincides with Paper Luxe’s annual holiday open house, so plan to stop there too
Image from Job Carr Cabin Museum
9. Craft Saturday - Games Day at Job Carr Cabin
Saturday, November 10th, 1 - 4 pm
Craft Saturdays are a monthly event and this one coming up shifts the focus to games. Try some Old Maid, Dominoes, Memory, Cribbage, Checkers, or Tic Tac Toe. The cabin is down in Old Town near the Ruston Way Waterfront, so if the weather is nice, you can take a stroll or run around on the beach afterwards.
Pay as you can
Job Carr Cabin Museum, 2350 N 30th St, Tacoma
Designed for ages 3 - 9 and their families
Image from Humanities Washington
10. Think & Drink, Breaking News: The State of American Journalism at Pacific Brewing
Monday, November 12th, doors open at 7 pm, program 7:30 - 9 pm
Hosted by Humanities Washington with Tacoma Arts Live (Broadway Center for the Performing Arts has a new name!) and Immanuel Presbyterian Church
Part of a fall statewide series, “Moment of Truth: Journalism and Democracy in an Age of Misinformation” this Think and Drink event is a hosted conversation exploring the role of journalism in a democracy, changes to the industry due to the rise of social media, public trust, and whether or not to take President Trump’s threats to journalists seriously.
Free - registration is required
Pacific Brewing & Malting Co., 610 Pacific Ave, Tacoma
Arrive 30 minutes early
Conversation Hosts: co-founder and executive director of InvestigateWest, Robert McClure; UWT Communications professor, Chris Demaske; and UW journalism professor, Adrienne Russell
Image from TEDxTacoma
11. TEDxTacoma 2018 - Transitions: Bridging the Gap at Joint Base Lewis McChord
Friday, November 16th, 5 - 8 pm
You know about TED Talks right? Or the TED Radio Hour? This is an independently organized TED event in our neck of the woods. The theme is transitions, and the idea is that although transitions happen in a myriad of ways, and are experienced differently by each person, they are still a common experience that brings us together despite our differences. Hosted at JBLM with the thought that military and civilian populations can bond over this topic.
$15 - $50 (tickets are going really fast!)
American Lake Conference Center, 8085 NCO Beach Rd, Fort Lewis
Kid friendly
VIP tickets include after party that goes until 9 pm
Image from Fix-it Fairs - Tacoma
12. Fix-It Fair at Bay Terrace
Saturday, November 17th, 1 - 4 pm
Organized by Tacoma Tool Library
Waste not, want not, right? We’ve all heard it. And we’ve all felt the pain of throwing away something we loved or used, the frustration of needing to buy a new one, or the sadness that we can’t buy a new one, that it was irreplaceable. Fix-it Fairs are all about keeping useful and beloved items out of the landfill and keeping them in your hands and in your home. In my family we have a favorite phrase for stuff that we’ve been using forever, that’s maybe not quite good as new; we call it “still good.” Sometimes it may go too far, but I’d rather lean that way than lean toward waste and a rush for the next best thing.
Free! Yes, volunteers are going to be ready to do their best to fix your item
Bay Terrace, 2550 S G St, Tacoma
This is a monthly event that changes location each month to keep it accessible
Fix-it Fair loves to know what you’re bringing ahead of time so volunteers can be prepared with the proper tools and supplies
What kind of items? Jewelry, crockery, small appliances, clothing, toys, furniture
Image from Yoga Wild
13. Projects with Purpose at the Union Club
Sunday, November 18th, 3 - 4 pm
A Yoga Wild Event
Yoga Wild encourages you to “take your yoga off the mat” in an act of service to the community. The purpose for November is gratitude, so at this month’s event participants will write letters to express gratefulness and thanks. Bring socks for the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
$5 + a pack of socks, or $10, buy a ticket to reserve your space
Union Club, 539 Broadway, Tacoma
Letter writing materials and hot tea provided
Good for kids who can enjoy sitting still, and for babywearing, but not ideal for toddlers this time
This is a monthly event!
Image from Hilltop Action Coalition
14. Hilltop Action Coalition Monthly Community Meeting at the Hilltop Regional Health Center
Monday, November 19th, 6 pm
Founded in 1989, the Hilltop Action Coalition is a non-profit organization seeking to organize, empower, inform, and advocate for the Hilltop community. With a mission to be the “Communications Anchor” for the Hilltop, an area undergoing rapid development, the HAC invites members of the community to come learn more at their monthly 3rd Monday meetings.
Free neighborhood meeting
Hilltop Regional Health Center’s Community Room, 1202 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma
Occurs monthly on the third Monday
On the way to the oven with Thanksgiving sweet potato pie.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 22nd
This isn’t a specific event; we just wanted to stop the list for a moment to wish you well! We hope you’ll be safe, warm, maybe even near people you love, and if all goes as it should, eating something delicious.
Thanksgiving is fairly early this year, and after this you’ll start to see lots of local holiday markets filled with handmade delights. We’ll create another list for December with a focus on these handmade, fair trade, local holiday markets. They’re so fun!
Image from Tacoma Night Market
15. Tacoma Night Market at Alma Mater
Friday & Saturday, November 23rd & 24th, 5 - 10 pm
The Tacoma Night Market is going strong from summer into fall, and we’re glad. Shop small and local with a whole host of Tacoma and PNW vendors, eat, drink, enjoy music, all the usual goodness of the Tacoma Night Market but in a new location! No longer down on Pacific Ave, instead, head over to Alma Mater.
Free and open to all ages
Fawcett Hall at Alma Mater, 1322 S Fawcett Ave, Tacoma
Image from La Paloma Marketplace
16. 2nd Annual Tacoma Striezelmarkt at Point Ruston
Saturday, November 24th, 10 am - 6 pm
A La Paloma Marketplace Event
Tacoma’s German themed Christmas Market! Explore the booths of many favorite local makers and maybe find just the right gift for someone you love. There will be delicious holiday treats for sale and vintage vendors too! Enjoy it all on the waterfront with the Point Ruston ice rink nearby making it even more festive. Don’t miss it!
$2 entry or $5 per family
Point Ruston, 5005 Ruston Way, Tacoma
Gingerbread House Contest, Kids’ Cookie Decorating Station, Hands-on Craft Demonstrations
Food Drive! Bring non-perishable food donations for Nourish Pierce County Food Bank
17. Small Business Saturday Market
Saturday, November 24th, 2 - 7 pm
Presented by 733 ARTS
Image from 733
Make it a market day; start at the Striezelmarkt then head downtown for more vendors, arts, food, music, and community! Door prizes for showing up and a raffle with ticket sales benefiting the 733 ARTS collective space and associated radio stations (check out their Facebook event for more info).
Free
734 Pacific Ave, Tacoma - also, ask about their Commerce Street venue
Image from Broadway Center for the Performing Arts
18. 73rd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting at the Pantages Theater
Saturday, November 24th, 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Presented by Tacoma Arts Live (formerly Broadway Center for the Performing Arts)
Sing carols, take your photo with Santa, and see the lights! This is a solid Tacoma holiday tradition going strong since WWII, and you can continue the legacy with your friends and family.
Free and open to all
Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma
Doors open for Santa photos at 4:30 pm with the tree lighting at 6:15 pm
Image from Matriarch at Alma Mater
19. Tarot Tuesday at Matriarch at Alma Mater
Tuesday, November 27th, 6 - 9 pm
The last Tuesday of the month sip and eat at Matriarch, then sign-up for a reading with Leah Mueller, a professional Astrologer. She’s been reading Tarot cards for over 25 years and offers a compassionate and inclusive approach.
Complimentary for Matriarch patrons (tips accepted)
Matriarch Lounge, 1322 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma
First come first served, sign up sheet
Monthly on the last Tuesday
There we have it, nineteen November events happening all over Tacoma from downtown, to the waterfront, from Hilltop to Proctor. We hope you have time for a little of that city roaming, and a lot of cozy home this month.
As promised, we’ll be back in December with a new list that will include lots of holiday markets and Tacoma cheer. But first, November; no need to hurry, right? We’ll see you around!
Want to keep in touch about Tacoma community events and Tacoma living?
