Back from camping - more coming soon

I'm back from a few days camping on the Oregon coast. We had a great time with friends and enjoyed spectacular weather. For those interested, I'll be posting and retroactively linking to a slew of photos I took out at the Oregon coast in the last few days. What did everyone think of those auto-posting entries I had come up while I was gone? In case you missed 'em, I posted some pics of an oily I Street now being [re-]repaired, a bit about last week's streetcar meeting, a bit about trying the Corina Bakery, and, oh yes, the goats.

There's plenty to do here on the home front. I'll be a busy bee catching up with "normal" life here in the next day or two. As always, if you have a tip, interesting local tidbit, funny sign, weekend event, random thought, etc, send it over and I'll have a look.

Thu. August 3, 2006, 10:32am PDT

Things to do in Tacoma under the stars

Believe it or not night life doesn't always have to consist of hanging at clubs or pubs. Here's a couple events that will get you out [for free] and outside at night.

Jazz Under the Stars
Hosted at my alma matre PLU, this free outdoor concert series runs Thursday nights until Aug. 17. Tonight's gig features the Reuel Lubag Trio and is always a good time on a cool, summer night. Head to the PLU Mary Baker Russell Music Center Amphitheatre to take it in. The usual visit to the PLU observatory won't take place, however, due to construction going on there.

Outdoor Zoo Cinemas
Head outside to watch movies with the family on the big inflatable screen at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The shows will play each Friday at dusk from Aug. 4 to the 25th. Here's a press release with more info. Admission is free but donations are gladly accepted. I personally won't make every flick but plan not to miss Raiders of the Lost Ark on the 18th.

Tacoma Astronomical Society public night
It's pretty easy to forget people get out their telescopes and gaze at the heavens in the city but they do! The society has meetings and free public viewing nights each month with one coming up this Saturday Aug. 5 when they take a look and teach people about the planets. Here's more about their public nights and all the other events they hold through out the year.

The moon is looking pretty good in the sky and I might even get our telescope out to have a look at it and Jupiter tonight or tomorrow. If we do, would anyone want to join in? If so, I'll be sure to post a place and time. Let me know!

Any other free/cheap outdoor events going on? Post a comment or send me an email.

Thu. August 3, 2006, 06:13pm PDT

Photos ~ Tacoma tideflats warehouse fire

A co-worker noticed a thick column of smoke rising from the tideflats. Being as it was quittin' time anyway, I took of to snap some photos. Don't know the details but the warehouse in question was just behind an old fire station between E. 11th Street and Ross Way [ map ]. Large ladder trucks sprayed the nearly completely lost structure. No flames were visible shortly after 5pm but the building and its contents were still vigorously smoldering.