Sarah and I caught a bus downtown to see the 2006 Daffodil Grand Floral parade and the dedication of the just finished Pacific Square. We arrived after the parade started but still found a great spot to enjoy it from. We saw plenty of marching bands among which a couple really impressed us with their musicality and moves. There were a few nice floats but the pirate ship with the booming (albeit tiny) cannon was my personal favorite.
Once the parade was over we headed over to Pacific Square (a.k.a. Triangle Square in my mind). A great young juggler/entertainer warmed up the crowd awaiting the dedication and even got a couple fellow Tacomans in on the act. Tacoma's mayor Bill Baarsma had a tough act to follow and gave a pretty stiff, written little blurb before he and a couple others snipped a ceremonial ribbon to christen the new park.
Since the weather was so fine (especially compared to this year's Jr. Daffodil Parade), Sarah and I continued on to have a nice bagel lunch, a quick candy treat for dessert, followed by some bargain shopping at Urban eXchange.
It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood city and we were more than happy to enjoy it with the rest of those who aren't afraid to get out and enjoy this place once in a while.
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - The parade getting started at 11th Street
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - A gaggle(?) of unicyclers
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - A line of parade goers down Pacific Avenue
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - A local high school band's cheer leaders
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Daffodil colored balloons dot the parade crowd
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - marching backwards...
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - then forward
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - A trumpet player working hard (and probably breaking a bit of a sweat in that uniform)
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Oh, the tassles
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - some serious looking pirates roam the parade route
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - A pirate messes with a kid from the curb
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - That little cannon makes quite a loud bang -- but it has to be reloaded first
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - The pirate ship cannon goes off
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - That burger pretty much scares me
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - They could've given them green eyes or something less evil
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Horse with a little daffodil decoration
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Doesn't matter how many flowers you put on it, it's still a horse poop container
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Lone bubble
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Guess the football team doubles as the band
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Clown plays the float-top organ
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Lost balloon
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - I shouted "More cowbell!" and she was more than happy to oblige
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - An impressive parade float
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - My rival high school band (Columbia River from Vancouver, WA)
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Little girl inside a Sea Fair speed race boat
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - "Cheer harder!" "I am cheering!"
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - Some impressive work from the Washington Cheer Academy
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Parade - A breath taking throw from the Washington Cheer Academy (p.s. this is on her way back down)
Tacoma's Pacific Square - Daffodil Parade spectators enjoying the steps of Tacoma's new Pacific Square (a.k.a. Triangle Square)
Tacoma's Pacific Square - The reflecting pool
Tacoma's Pacific Square - A ramp follows the Link tracks up the hill to Commerce St.
Tacoma's Pacific Square - A sizeable amphitheatre makes up most of the square
Tacoma's Pacific Square - First coin in the fountain and, no, I didn't put it there
Sarah enjoying the beautiful day outside in Tacoma
Tacoma's Pacific Square - A juggler's toolkit
Tacoma's Pacific Square - This juggler/entertainer kept us interested before the square dedication
Tacoma's Pacific Square - Melissa and Jamie help out with a trick
Tacoma's Pacific Square - Sarah, Melissa, and Jamie await the ribbon cutting
Tacoma's Pacific Square - Mayor Bill Baarsma speaks in front of the convention center and a passing Link train
Tacoma's Pacific Square - Mayor Bill Baarsma in the Daffodil Festival spirit
Tacoma's Pacific Square - The ribbon cutting
Tacoma's Pacific Square - the ribbon cut
Tacoma's Pacific Square - Tacoma's Union Station and the Link light rail from Pacific Square
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Festival - Some dancing, renaissance style
A stroll across Tacoma's Bridge of Glass
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Festival - A show of Mustangs along Pacific Avenue
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Festival - A DJ spinning outside Urban eXchange
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Festival - My daffodil holster
2006 Tacoma Daffodil Festival - Proof I was there
Tacoma's Link light rail with the Harmon building in the background