Savoring the warm still-summer days with Sunday afternoon coffee on the patio is one of the ways we take time for peace, quiet, and enjoyment.
Summer is waning. Not gone, not over, not yet past, but we can feel the change in foggy mornings, dew-heavy grass, brittle flower stalks, shorter days, earlier sunsets, and all the talk of how to create a viable semblance of “back to school” for all the kids from kindergartners to college students. No one needs to hear us say anything about how it’s been a strange year. You’ve noticed. Maybe what you could stand to hear is what’s still happening around town, what’s still bringing people together in Tacoma. What you can look forward to on a Friday night, or maybe even, how you can help with your time, skills, efforts, or funds.
That’s what this September events list is all about, connecting to community. You’ll find a vintage yard sale, community meals, opportunities to give your time to people and to the environment, a public art tour, new pizza places, a cooking class, and more. We hope you find something for you, something that gives you hope and gets you through. Take a look.
Connect to Tacoma with Events & Gatherings
Image from the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County
1. Takeout Thursdays to Benefit the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County
Thursday, September 3rd
9 am - 12 am
Doyle’s Public House
208 St Helen’s Ave, Tacoma
Support the Stadium District’s favorite Irish Pub, Doyle’s Public House, AND support animals in need of care
20% of the proceeds from takeout orders on September 3 go to the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County
Burgers, salads, pretzels, shepherd’s pie, or maybe breakfast - Bourbon brioche French toast! Make your order online and enjoy!
Image from Lincoln District Flea
2. All Star Vintage & Friends Yard Sale
Sunday, September 6th
11 am - 3 pm
Lincoln District
S 38th & Park Ave, Tacoma
Free entry - street parking
A little back to school season shopping IRL with All Star Vintage and a mix of Tacoma vintage curators
Lincoln District Flea Market recommends you then go support one of many POC owned restaurants or cafes in the Lincoln District
Masks required and vendors will be ready with hand sanitizer
Image from Tacoma Community House
3. FREE FOOD BOXES FOR FAMILIES
Tuesdays, September 8th & 22nd
10 am
Tacoma Community House
1314 S L St, Tacoma
Free
Emergency Food Network and Tacoma Community House are partnering to offer free boxes of food for people in the community who could use some help with food security
First-come first-served
Enter the parking lot from L Street
Staff offering the food boxes will wear masks and keep their distance to keep the community safe
Interested in more community meals? See our August post for more community meals offered weekly around Tacoma!
Image from Tacoma Ocean Fest
4. Tacoma Ocean Fest Online 2020
Sunday, September 13th
10 am - 5 pm
Online at tacomaoceanfest.org
Free
This annual event at the Foss Waterway Seaport is a celebration of art, science, and water
Arts: music, dance, artist livestreams, underwater film, Youth Story Contest, and installations at the Foss Waterway Seaport
Eco-booths: marine science education, virtual booths, diy at home activities, new Ocean Action game
Water: get involved with the Tacoma Splash photo challenge and win prizes!
Learn more about all aspects of this event at tacomaoceanfest.org
Image from Molly’s Tamales
5. Fresh Corn Tamales
Saturday, September 19th
3 - 5 pm
Online From Home
$45 - register and prepay here
Join the online cooking classes via Zoom - Molly will provide the link and password
She’ll also provide shopping lists ahead of time to make sure you’re all set
We’ve attended Molly’s vegetarian tamales class in-person, as well as an online cooking class, and many of her markets and events, so we absolutely encourage you to give this a try
Eating at home and making your own can be so delicious!
Connect to Tacoma with Self-Guided Tours
6. Find (and eat!) New Pizza in Tacoma
There’s some good pizza out there in Tacoma. Maybe you always go to the same old place. Great. I love going to the same old place. But, if you haven’t been to one or two of the new places (small, local businesses struggling to get started and thrive during the pandemic) go give ‘em a try. Besides, pizza is one of the most classic takeout options, which is perfect for these weird times.
Image from Tacoma Pie
Tacoma Pie
7104 6th Ave, Tacoma
Open Thursday - Saturday, 5 - 9 pm
Detroit style, Sicilian style, Grandma style
Deep dish - the crust is thick and high, and crisp, and soft, and so much lighter than it looks - delicious!
p.s. One of these pizzas turned into 3 meals for the 2 of us (we usually eat the whole thing!)
Served from the commercial kitchen at The Gourmet Niche
Image from State Street Beer, photo credit Chris Daniels
State Street Beer Co.
606 N State St, Tacoma
Wednesday - Sunday
Okay, we all know State Street Beer Co. isn’t new, but their pizza is!
State Street has a legit pizza oven now, pita pizza no longer!
Thin, chewy, crusty wonder, and they make a vegan one too
Image from The Main Ingredient Pizzeria
The Main Ingredient Pizzeria
5419 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma
Open Daily
New York Style crust
Classic pie menu with some good looking vegetarian toppings, nice combinations, and build-your-own options
We haven’t tried this one yet, it’s pretty new!
Go, say “hello” and tell us what you think - if we get there first, we’ll let you know
If you remember Stonegate Pizza, just head there, The Main Ingredient moved into that spot
Image from Spaceworks Tacoma
7. Spaceworks Artscapes Art Walk
Any day you want
Any time you want (daylight is best)
All over Tacoma
Free self-guided tour of some of Tacoma’s public murals
Follow the route from south to north created by Spaceworks to see 10 murals around Tacoma, or start at the one closest to home (you’ll find the murals listed by address and artist in the caption of this post)
Love these murals and want to support funding so more artists can create murals for buildings around our city (lots of businesses welcome them!)? Go ahead and send a donation to Spaceworks if you can!
Connect to Tacoma by Volunteering, Donating & Accessing Services
Go visit this special park, eat some blueberries, and make sure to leave it at least as clean as you found it.
8. Charlotte’s Blueberry Park Volunteer Work Party
Saturday, September 26th
9 am - 12 pm
Charlotte’s Blueberry Park
7402 E D St, Tacoma
Free volunteer event - register here
Help keep this beloved Tacoma park clean and free from invasive species
If you already know about Charlotte’s Blueberry Park, a free, u-pick blueberry farm open to all, then you know it’s a secret too sweet to keep
During COVID-19 group size is limited, so please be sure to register (a household counts as 1 volunteer within the limit)
Cleanup continues rain or shine, so dress for the weather - masks and gloves required (gloves provided in case you don’t own a pair)
Also, if you miss this day, or if it’s already full of volunteers, take a look at other Tacoma park cleanup opportunities for a chance to lend a hand
Image from Tacoma Rescue Mission
9. Tacoma Rescue Mission - Serve Morning Coffee
425 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma
Tacoma Rescue Mission could use your help serving coffee during breakfast
Staff capacity and supplies have been lower during the COVID-19 pandemic, but people still need coffee to help start their day with some comfort and a boost, you can step in!
If you’d like to help by serving coffee at breakfast, by donating to-go coffee cups and lids, or both, send an e-mail to volunteer@trm.org or register to volunteer here
Follow Tacoma Rescue Mission on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the loop about items they need, or other ways they can use your help
Image from Peace Community Center
10. Peace Community Center - Volunteer, Donate, Get Support
2106 S Cushman Ave, Tacoma
Peace Community Center, located in the Hilltop Neighborhood of Tacoma, supports students and families from elementary school through college graduation. With both in-school, after school, and summer programs, Peace creates relationships with students through wholistic one-on-one tutoring and mentoring, as well as social and group activities. As you can imagine, the structure of this support has changed with the closure of school buildings. Throughout this tough time of students and families trying to access education with distance learning, Peace has created internet hotspots in areas of need, loaned out computers, delivered food, hygiene, and supply kits, and offered hours and hours of tutoring online. If you’re interested in volunteering, donating, or accessing tutoring for your student (focus on the Hilltop Neighborhood and students historically underrepresented in higher education), take a closer look at Peace Community Center!
Keep in touch about Tacoma life, community, homes, and a bit about us
