What a week: I'm tickled pink

If it wasn't for a little incident at City Council this week, I'd say it was a banner week for Tacoma. Instead, I'll just share a few moments from this phenomenally fantabulous week that illustrate some of the many reasons I'm so positively tickled to call Tacoma home ...

• The most spine-tingling moment was a visit to Exit133.com and viewing the video of Daniel Blue reading his Love Tacoma poem. As a Tacoma cheerleader, a writer, and a one-time competitive poetry reader (don't laugh), and heck -- human -- I was moved. I was inspired. It spoke to the essence of why I love it here, and even the basic purpose of why I write this blog. To celebrate Tacoma and all that is here, was here, will be here. The Tacoma of today, yesterday and tomorrow is all part of a rich fabric, and Daniel captured that feeling, and Erik & Derek put it into pictures. Good job guys -- and all else who were part of this process. And to everyone who heard their thoughts, dreams and Go Tacoma feelings echoed within -- keep up the positive thinking, the believing.

• Speaking of Love Tacoma, the first "Love Tacoma" event is on Tuesday -- go Chill at the Pacific Grill.

• Erik Hanberg reported on his blog that the Bob Newhart appearance at the Pantages was a good time, and also a sold out show. SOLD OUT! That's fabulous news! Just the other day I'd seen the announcement board outside the theater say something about tickets were going fast, buy them now! And the sarcastic side of me went, um, if they're selling so fast, why are you needing to advertise it? And I cringed at the thought of a decently big name coming to town to an empty house. So I was totally tickled to hear that the room was packed. And apparently there was an awesome moment of Tacoma pride during the show, too ... check out his blog to read more. (And I can't wait for Garrison Keillor next year ...)

• While wandering the downtown Farmers Market in search of lunch on Thursday, I sadly came across a dwindling selection at Infinite Soups. In other words, it was noon and they'd already sold out of several soups. Sad for my taste buds, but great for them -- and a good sign that Tacoma's downtown farmers market lunch crowd has great taste ...

• Speaking of farmers markets ... we stopped by the Proctor Farmer's Market today, despite the rain ... and there plenty of people there! Despite the rain! (In fact, I went in part because of the rain ... figuring this was not a week to be a farmer's market slacker ... and now we have yummy asparagus and strawberries to enjoy.)

• And speaking of today, it was the grand opening of Garlic City Grocery at 56th & Pacific -- the edge of Tacoma's Eastside Neighborhood. A neighborhood grocery, locally owned, with unique offerings at reasonable prices. I wrote about this locale before, and now the bakery has apparently kicked into gear ... or they've found a great place to get their goods from. Oh, yum. There are typical baked goodies, and the donuts are awesome, but there was even some Mexican-styled pastries that I haven't seen since I lived in the boonies, and other out-of-the-ordinary options as well. The coffee was decent, too ... it's no Blackwater, but an awesome addition to this neighborhood. Thanks to the Mayor, Marty, Steve, the Safe Streets folks, a couple City folks, the Tacoma Weekly and other local do-gooders and cheerleaders for joining in the fun!

• I got to introduce my neighborhood coffee shop and "Latte Linda" to the lovely and talented Lisa Kinoshita -- the genius behind the fabulously intricate and attainable rings, pendants, earrings and more at downtown Tacoma's Mineral.

• I went to see The Police concert in Seattle. How does that have anything to do with Tacoma pride, you ask? Because while I had a fine time (and didn't have to pay for the ticket), the Dixie Chicks concert I went to at the Tacoma Dome a few months ago rocked much harder. I'll leave it at that.

• The last week or so has had tons of end-of-school activities. Picnics, auctions, barbecues, spring shows. So a shout out to my daughter's elementary school and my son's preschool. I have no idea how we're going to navigate this mass of annual events once all three are in school ...

• And Friday night dinner. That was fun. But you had to be there.

And speaking of being there, get out there and experience Tacoma! Let her move you ...