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January: 16 Tacoma Events

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Happy New Year, Tacoma friends, Tacoma newbies, and Tacoma visitors. It’s tempting to give this list a pause for a month, let everyone - including ourselves - quiet down, and take a break from all this community engagement. But the thing is, we’ve been on a roll with these monthly lists since June 2018 and we can’t quite stop! But I’ll repeat what I said in the introduction to that first monthly events post, we’re not here to overwhelm you.

“You could choose one thing. One thing that calls to you. It’s got your name on it. Your name might be Tacoma history nerd, or old-timey buff, dog lover, walking fanatic, yogi, big-time baseball fan, or show-me-the-sparkly-gemstones, whatever it is, there’s something here for you.”

So, it’s kind of weird to quote myself. But I did it anyway. And I stand by it. Choose one thing. And also take a pause and quiet down. That’s very good too.

My time of pausing this month might include some knitting. Quiet, meditative, creative, and linked to centuries past. I’m looking forward to it!

My time of pausing this month might include some knitting. Quiet, meditative, creative, and linked to centuries past. I’m looking forward to it!

Image from The Grand Cinema

Image from The Grand Cinema

1. The Shining - 4k Restoration

Saturday, January 4th
11 pm
The Grand Cinema
606 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma

2. History Pub: Whiskey, Mixologists, and the Pacific Northwest

Tuesday, January 7th
Doors open at 5:30 pm
Program begins at 7 pm
Spanish Ballroom, McMenamins Elks Temple
565 Broadway, Tacoma

  • Free

  • All Ages

  • Learn about the history of drinking culture, the evolution of cocktails, and the 19th-century saloon

  • Speaker: Renée Cebula, cocktail historian

3. Hilltop Happenings: African American Storytelling

Saturday, January 11th
3 - 5 pm
Location TBD, Tacoma

  • Free

  • All Ages

  • This storytelling event is part of “Hilltop Happenings' building communities through fun and engaging activities”

  • Storyteller: Zelda Foxtail

  • Check back with the Facebook Event page for details about the event location

4. Grit City Think&Drink: We Are Puget Sound - Stories of Hope

Tuesday, January 14th
6:30 - 8 pm
The Swiss Restaurant & Pub
1904 Jefferson Ave, Tacoma

  • Free

  • All Ages

  • Explore the book We Are Puget Sound, Discovering and Recovering the Salish Sea

  • Connect with and learn about the Salish Sea, the place we call home!

  • With Dr. Mindy Robert, Washington Environmental Council

5. 3rd Thursday Art Walk Artist Reception: Julia White

Thursday, January 16th
5 - 7 pm
Brooks Dental Studio
732 Broadway, Suite 101

  • Free

  • All Ages

  • Meet Tacoma painter Julia W. White and get to know her Pacific Northwest inspired paintings

  • Part of Tacoma’s Third Thursdays, so visit other galleries and enjoy free entry at TAM as well!

6. City Ghost Tour

Friday, January 17th
8:45 pm
Downtown Tacoma

  • $15.99 - tickets at Pretty Gritty Tours

  • For ghost story lovers and those who like a bit of spine tingling with history mixed in

  • The tour lasts about 1.5 hours and you’ll want to wear warm clothes and comfy shoes

7. Tacoma Night Market @ Alma Mater: January Edition

Saturday, January 18th
5 - 10 pm
Alma Mater
1322 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma

  • Free

  • All Ages

  • Nearly 80 local artists and vendors, community, live music, and DJ

  • Eat and drink! Find food and beverages from the special food trucks and vendors as well as from Honey and Matriarch on site

  • You can plan on the Tacoma Night Market for 3rd Saturdays - go ahead and add it to your calendar!

  • If you love the Tacoma Night Market, make sure you’re following the Gig Harbor Night Market too, hosted by 7 Seas Brewing across the bridge - and if you miss the Alma Mater edition, check further down in our list for one more chance this January!

8. LIVE Music!

Saturday, January 18th
7 - 9 pm
El Tufo Wine Bar - Stink Cheese & Meat
630 St Helens Ave, Tacoma

  • Free entry

  • Reservations highly recommended

  • Live music by Erin McLaren alongside wine, tapas, and other delicious food fare

  • Come early for the 4 - 7 pm Happy Hour!

9. 5th Annual MLK Food Sovereignty Day of Action

Monday, January 20th
9 am - 3 pm
Peace Community Center
2106 S. Cushman Ave, Tacoma

  • Free - register and/or donate here

  • All Ages

  • Connect with community, get seeds started and work on other gardening activities for Hilltop Urban Garden (HUG), create art, make medicines with Canoe Journey Herbalists

  • Meet at Peace Community Center to learn about the neighborhood - this is the event’s home base

  • Tea, coffee, pastries, and lunch provided

10. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration - Vision 2020: Beyond the Dream

Monday, January 20th
10 am - 1 pm
Greater Tacoma Convention Center
1500 Commerce, Tacoma

  • Free

  • 10 - 11 am Community Outreach Fair

  • 11 am - 1 pm Celebratory Program with speeches, song, dance, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award ceremony

  • Free holiday street parking, free parking at Freighthouse Square, 2501 E. D Street, with easy access via the LINK Light Rail - more information at City of Tacoma

Image from Creative Colloquy

Image from Creative Colloquy

11. Creative Colloquy at Honey

Monday, January 20th
7 pm
Honey at Alma Mater
1322 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma

  • Free

  • Join other reading and writing enthusiasts for a night of literary sharing and appreciation

  • If you’d like to share a poem, story, excerpt, or essay of your own, be sure to come early and sign-up for the open mic session following the planned readings - 5 minute time slots!

  • Coffee, tea, wine, and other beverages and treats available for purchase at Honey

Image from Tahoma Audubon

Image from Tahoma Audubon

12. Bird Nest Box Building Workshop

Saturday, January 25th
12 - 3 pm
Tacoma Housing Authority Field Office
1620 S Mildred St, Tacoma

  • Free - please register with Tahoma Audubon

  • All Ages (children welcome with adult supervision)

  • Drop in from 12 - 3 pm

  • Learn why birds use nest boxes then make your own to take home for backyard birds

  • Tools and materials provided by Tacoma Tool Library!

13. Tacoma Night Market at the Museum of Glass: January Edition

Saturday, January 25th
5 - 10 pm
Museum of Glass
1801 Dock St, Tacoma

  • Free

  • All Ages

  • These days Tacoma Night Market is popping up not only at Alma Mater, and at 7 Seas in Gig Harbor, but also at the Museum of Glass!

  • Live art, hands-on activities, local vendors, artists, and craftspeople, food and drinks, and of course music

  • Museum galleries are open and there will be glassblowing in the Hot Shop!

14. Family Fun: Viking Crafts and Movie

Sunday, January 26th
1 - 2:30 pm
Norden Lodge #2
1106 S 15th St

  • $10 per family ($5/family for members)

  • All Ages

  • Kid-friendly Viking themed crafts

  • Nordic themed movie

15. Show Mic

Sunday, January 26th
8 - 10 pm
Dusty’s Hidewaway
723 E 34th St, Tacoma

  • Free entry

  • All ages until 9 pm

  • Featuring local comics doing 10 minute sets

  • Get some food, drinks, and laughs

  • Brought to you by Comedy Empire

16. Movie Night OUT

Wednesday, January 29th
5:30 - 7:30 pm
The Rainbow Center
2215 Pacific Ave, Tacoma

  • Free - register here

  • All Ages

  • Come watch Toy Story 4 at your local LGBTQ+ center

  • Pizza, beverages, and friends included!

We’ll be back in February with more Tacoma events and community gatherings. Keep in touch about life in Tacoma -

We had an impromptu Saturday afternoon date up at 7 Seas with lunch from Canteen Colvos (smash burger, sweet potato fries, and a lobster roll 🦞), coffee from Naomi Joe (sweet folks), and a wee bit of pinball. Gretchen couldn’t sleep that night
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Hi, I'm Michael Duggan, a licensed broker with Windermere Abode. I would love to help you through the home buying or selling process. Please contact me to set up a meeting and get things started.