Bluebells, potato vine, rhododendron, lilac, and rosemary all blooming in our garden by mid-April last year. I can’t wait to see (and smell) them again.
April has come to Tacoma again, like every year, and also not like every year. This year we’re working toward vaccination, toward getting closer to each other, toward businesses being more safely open, toward parties and concerts and hugs, toward seeing our faces. (We’ve heard tell En Rama will be opening their patio by the end of the month and we’re holding out for that!) The spring feels like a slower start, blossoms opening a bit later than last year’s blossoms, the cold feeling a bit colder than last year’s cold. It could all change with just a few days of warm sunshine; a burst of life.
We’re hoping for warm afternoons, the kind that invite us to lay a blanket in the grass and bring the card deck out. What are you hoping for this April? Working toward? Looking to find? If you’re looking for one or two reasons to step outside your door, or a meaningful opportunity to connect online, we hope you’ll find that here. Our list of 10 ways to connect to Tacoma community this month includes a kid-created, kid-centered online market and in-person scavenger hunt, free weekday dinners for anyone who’d like a meal to-go, a golf tournament to support the Rainbow Center, a new WA State History Museum exhibit exploring the legacy of Japanese incarceration in WWII, neighborhood clean-ups, locally made Easter candy, a conversation about gender in the workplace, a recommendation for a local veggie and flower CSA program, and more. Take a look!
Connect to Tacoma with Events & Gatherings
Image from Allison Bishins Consulting
1. MODERN MARGINS @ WORK: A WORKSHOP ON GENDER IN THE WORKPLACE
Thursday, April 8
6 - 7:30 pm
Via Zoom
Engage in community with Allison Bishins Consulting for an evening of listening, sharing, and discussing. As Allison shares in her event description, “This workshop centers marginalized genders and is open to all genders, ages 16+ (some adult themes may be discussed.)” Learn from three guest speakers and join in conversation and small group networking as well. Be sure to register ahead through the event link above. Cost is $25, but there’s an option for a free ticket (no questions asked).
Image from Washington State History Museum
2. Washington State History Museum: Dolores Huerta Day Celebration
Saturday, April 10th
Via Facebook Live
More details, such as a solid start time for the event coming soon! So keep in touch with the Washington State History Museum for updates and get the day on your calendar in the meantime. Washington State celebrates and honors Huerta’s leadership in fighting for civil rights for farmworkers. The impact Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez have on farmworkers rights in WA aren’t well known, but are significant to this day. Join the WA State History Museum’s online program to learn more!
Also, it’s exciting to know the history museum will be open for in-person visits starting April 2nd! Find a time to visit the museum this spring or summer and make sure to take in the new Spring 2021 permanent exhibit Remembrance: The Legacy of Executive Order 9066 exploring Japanese incarceration during WWII in Washington State.
Image from Job Carr Cabin Museum
3. Craft Saturday - Postcards
Saturday, April 10th
11 am - 1 pm
Job Carr Cabin Museum
2350 N 30th St, Tacoma
Mark your calendar for 2nd Saturdays at Job Carr Cabin Museum! This month’s free craft kit includes everything you’ll need to design and create your own postcard. Write a note and send it in the mail; it’s sure to brighten someone’s day! Pick up your kit from the front porch of the cabin and please respect social distancing. Craft Saturdays are designed with kids in mind, and you’ll find instructional videos online if you need help with your activity once you get home.
4. Kids Virtual Market by La Paloma & Kids Rock Scavenger Hunt Party!
Kids Virtual Market
Saturday, April 10th
12 - 5 pm
Online
Kids Rock Scavenger Hunt
Sunday, April 11th
12 - 2 pm
Wright Park, Tacoma
Images created by Erika Rier for La Paloma Marketplace
Molly Alvarado, founder of La Paloma Marketplace, is supporting her 8 year old grandson, Roman Sky in this kid-created marketplace celebrating creativity! We’re so excited to see all the artisan goods showing up at the virtual market on April 10th! Kids are making tiny desk pets to keep you company, jewelry, music, textiles, dramatic masks, baked goods, and painted portraits. The list of amazing creations goes on, all from people in our community 18 years and younger. Tune in with La Paloma Marketplace on the 11th, then show up at Wright Park on Sunday.
The Rock Treasure Hunt for kids 18 and younger is going to be a fun romp through Wright Park with treasure hiding around every corner! Social distancing protocols will be observed to keep everyone safe and make everyone welcome. Community members and local artists have been painting rocks especially for this party. You might even find one of the golden rocks. If you do, you’ll receive a prize!
This event is so special South Sound Magazine wrote an article to help spread the word.
Image from Queer City Sports
5. Dirty Birdie Charity Golf Tournament
Saturday, April 17th
10 am - 1 pm
Meadow Park Golf Course
Queer City Sports presents a scramble tournament with “dress to impress” attire encouraged all to benefit Tacoma’s Rainbow Center. The 9-hole tournament includes drink tickets, a photo station, and a post tourney party. The remaining spots are pretty limited ($60 registration since we’re in the last days of sign-ups), but we think this is worth promoting because it’s fun, and because you might as well start following Queer City Sports so you don’t miss the next one!
Connect to Tacoma with Ongoing Opportunities
6. Visit Johnson Candy Co. - Find a Golden Egg & Win a Prize!
Johnson Candy Co.
924 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma
Support Johnson Candy Co., a 3rd generation family run Hilltop Business this spring season with a visit to their shop or an online order. Johnsons makes candy the old-fashioned way, the same way they’ve been doing since the 1920s. Every time I go into Johnson Candy the people are as nice and sweet as the candy. Order an Easter basket, or choose treats to help fill up a basket you’re making at home. Get a little extra for the candy dish. In these days leading up to Easter Johnsons is hiding golden eggs in some of the orders! Here’s what they say:
Images from Johnson Candy Co.
“Have you heard about our golden egg contest? We are randomly wrapping some of our eggs in golden foil. If you unwrap one look for the certificate enclosed.
A junco eggs wins 3 chocolate Johnson eggs of your choice.
A chickadee egg wins a Johnson's Easter basket.
A nuthatch egg wins a Johnson Candy tee shirt (from the TSM Shop)
A house finch egg wins a $25 Johnson Candy gift certificate.
And the week of March 28th we will be hiding a goldfinch egg that will win somebody a $100 Johnson Candy gift certificate!”
Go make a visit. It’s sure to be a sweet spot in your week.
Image from Proctor Farmers’ Market
7. Proctor Farmers’ Market Every Saturday!
Saturdays
9 am - 2 pm
N 27th & Proctor, Tacoma
It’s cause for celebration and a sure sign of spring when the Proctor Farmers’ Market gets back to their weekly schedule.
And we made it! No need to check the calendar or look for the signs and banner. If it’s Saturday, it’s market day.
Free entry - don’t forget your face mask
Support your local farmers and food system
Get essential items in the open air
Choose flowers to brighten your home all week
Smile with your eyes, it’s a nice touch
Follow Proctor Farmers’ Market on Facebook for updates - or just show up!
Images from L’Arche Farm
8. L’Arche Farm & Gardens CSA Shares!
L’Arche Farm & Gardens
12302 Vickery Ave E, Tacoma
The L’Arche Tahoma Hope community operates L’Arche Farm & Gardens. You may have met them at the Proctor Farmers’ Market where you’ll find their beautiful produce, flowering baskets, honey, and wreaths. You can commit to supporting this local farm and the community who helps it grow by ordering a CSA (community supported agriculture) share this year. Choose from:
5 week produce share
22 week produce share
Flower share - weekly bouquets July 14 - Sept 15
Product share - offered 6 selected months of the year (items like a flowering basket, honey, candles, handmade cards, a Christmas wreath, veggie starts, and more)
Visit L’Arche online to learn all about pricing, pick-up times, what to expect in your produce share, and to get truly excited about spring and summer!
Connect to Tacoma by Volunteering, Donating & Accessing Support
Image from Peace Lutheran Church
9. April Community Meals To-Go In Hilltop, Tacoma
Monday-Friday throughout April
5:30 - 6:30 pm
Peace Lutheran Church
2106 S Cushman Ave, Tacoma
Visit Peace Lutheran Church in Hilltop every Friday of the year, and every Monday - Friday in April, for a free to-go Community Meal with other community resources available as well. All are welcome to stop by for a meal. If you have enough or more than enough food, these might be opportunities to give or volunteer. We take turns needing and being needed, giving and receiving.
Image from LitterFree253
10. Litter Free 253 City-Wide Cleanup Event
Saturday, April 17
9 am - Noon
Locations all over Tacoma!
Celebrate upcoming Earth Day by joining one of the neighborhood and community groups gathering all over the city to pick-up litter. This is one more way of taking care of each other, our city, and our environment. We live in a beautiful place, but Tacoma needs our help to stay that way. Take a look at this list of groups you can sign-up to join on this clean up day. Want to find a group meeting in your own neighborhood or a favorite area of Tacoma?: check out this map. Volunteer leaders will be ready to greet you with some supplies like garbage bags, gloves, and a limited supply of litter-picker-uppers, but you can also come prepared with your own supplies. Find a spot and spread the word.
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