Blog Posts

Beach Education and Exploration in Tacoma

There is just something fascinating about the ocean and the coastal areas that surround us. Ever since I was a child I remember being fixated on underwater ecosystems and the variety of life-forms they support. This curiosity has continued throughout adulthood and I find myself looking for any opportunity to learn more about these hotbeds of ecological activity. If you want to expand your knowledge of marine environments in a fun and interactive way, consider heading to one of these upcoming educational events put on by Metro Parks Tacoma. Explore The Shore is an event that gives residents a chance to walk the beach at low tide with one of the Zoos naturalists. Here you will discuss the various forms of wildlife in these environments, as well as what can be done to preserve them for the enjoyment of future generations. Explore the Shore will be held at Owen Beach on July 11, at 10:00am and July 14, at 12:15. Another upcoming event this month is Tiptoe Through Tidepools, as presented by the Tacoma Nature Centure. This event gives you the opportunity to explore the unique ecosystems that form when the tide retracts and leaves pools of seawater onshore. Touch tanks will give you the opportunity to get hands-on with some of the wildlife. The event will be held on July 12 at Titlow Park beach and is free to the public. These recurring events are yet another example of the lengths Metro Parks Tacoma goes to in order to educate the local population on the unique environment we live in. A more educated population is more likely to make responsible choices when dealing with our natural spaces. It is this reason that makes these programs so important to our community.

Tacoma s Freedom Fair

Americas birthday is upon us, and if youre like me you want to get out of your Canyon Park apartment and have some patriotic fun then I recommend checking out the city of Tacomas Freedom Fair! The Freedom Fair has something for everybody! Like most July 4th events, you must have fireworks, and this show definitely has that. But for those of us that want more, Freedom Fair also includes a Hot Rod and Custom Car Show, featuring cars provided by local owners and gear-heads. Freedom Fair also includes a rather large selection of different musical groups. At Freedom Fair you will get the chance to hear music from all genres, including jazz, rock, country, pop and blues! And to further add to the already amazing list of festivities is an Air Show featuring a variety of different types of aircraft, from stunt planes to WWII classics. And if you still arent convinced, they will have a plethora of different foods and an International Marketplace featuring vendors from all different trades and walks of life. The Freedom Fair is located in Tacoma which is just 20 minutes Northwest of Puyallup. More information can be found at the event website .

Games Games Games

Its great to have a clubhouse on site, but how often do you actually use it? The clubhouse is a great place to get together with friends, family, and neighbors. So unplug the electronic devices and sit down to an old favorite like Scrabble, Monopoly, or Clue, or perhaps try one you havent played before. Heres rundown of some games to try: Bang! BANG! is a spaghetti western card game where the Outlaws hunt the Sheriff. The Sheriff hunts the Outlaws. The Renegades may take one side or the other. Bullets fly, and the Sheriff hopes his Deputy doesnt accidentally shoot him! Each player randomly receives a character card and role to play (which is a secret, except for the Sheriff), and the role determines what will constitute victory. Its kind of like Paper, Rock, Scissors: Sheriff - Kill all Outlaws and the Renegade Deputy - Protect the Sheriff and kill any Outlaws Outlaw - Kill the Sheriff Renegade - Be the last man standing The deluxe version of the games comes complete with a Sheriffs badge (provide your own cowboy hat please) and the number of players can vary from a minimum of four to nine or ten. Add on extensions are available to provide more variations. Youll get a Bang! out of this game. Next up, Dominion : With an 84% Five-star rating on Amazon, Dominion is clearly a popular deck building game. And, a bonus, it is easy to learn. Deceptively simple,it also allows for endless variation. The marketing gurus describe the game like this: You are a monarch. . . a ruler of a small pleasant kingdom of rivers and evergreens. . . . You want a bigger and more pleasant kingdom, with more rivers and a wider variety of trees. You want a Dominion. In all directions lie fiefs, freeholds, and feodums. All are small bits of land, controlled by petty lords and verging on anarchy. You will bring civilization to these people, uniting them under your banner. But . . . several other monarchs have had the exact same idea. You must race to get as much of the unclaimed land as possible, fending them off along the way. An evening of playing Dominion may be just the ticket. Which brings us to this favorite: Ticket to Ride Ticket to Ride is a delightful cross-country journey in which players collect and play matching train cards to claim various railway routes connecting cities. The longer the routes created become, the more points they are worth. Claiming points leads to the win. Points are given for claiming a Route between two cities, successfully completing a Continuous Path of routes listed on your Destination Ticket, and by completing the Longest Continuous Path. Originally the game covered the USA, but now you can play maps of Europe, Mlin (Germany), and the Nordic Countries, with additional types of expansions are also available. So whether you play a tried-and-true favorite or a new game, call the front office or login today and reserve the clubhouse for a game night soon.

Spamalot at the Lakewood Playhouse

I dont know about you, but I love a good parody Especially when that parody is of another parody. The one in question is Monty Pythons Spamalot . Spamalot is lovingly ripped off from the classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail . And believe me when I say this show is a good time! The first set of lines at the beginning of the show tell you to leave your cell phones on and serve as warning that you may be dragged on stage by heavily armed knights to impale you, which may or may not be a joke? Anyway, its a musical about Medieval England and various historical figures such as the Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur and Robin Hood. Spamalot was created in 2005 and has since gone on to win three Tony Awards, receive 14 Tony Award nominations and had over 1,500 performances. All in the span of just 9 years which is pretty incredible! I highly recommend checking out Spamalot ! It is playing at the Lakewood Playhouse which is about 15 minutes south of your apartment in Puyallup! Get out of your Puyallup apartment and get some great laughs! Showings run from June 13th to July 13th. Tickets are available at the Lakewood Playhouse website .

Dos and Donts of Cleaning Stainless Steel

Your stainless steel appliances give your home a sleek and polished appearance, especially when theyre sparkling clean! However, smudges and fingerprints often accumulate quickly, taking away some of the sophistication you expect from this beautiful finish. There are plenty of people with all sorts of solutions for your stainless steel sadness, but weve noticed that quite a few of these miracle cleaners dont quite do what they say they will. We have for you what NOT to do when cleaning your appliances, and a few tips on what is safe. DONT 1. Do NOT use anything abrasive, such as steel wool or scrubber sponges. These may scratch the finish. 2. Never rub the steel in a circular motion or against the grain. Always clean stainless steel with the grain. 3. Never use chlorine bleach on stainless steel. It ruins the finish and can corrode the steel. 4. Do not allow residue (cleaning products or otherwise) to sit on the surface of your appliances. Grime, dirt, and cleaning products should be removed as soon as possible. 5. Do not use furniture polish. Any drips on the fridge will be seen and the appliance will have to be coated with the polish again. 6. Avoid baby oil. While it may create a sleek shine, is also susceptible to drips from other liquids. 7. Think twice before using olive oil. It may give your appliances a temporary shine, but it can quickly turn to a greasy residue with just as many fingerprints as before. DO 1. Buy a microfiber cloth. It is gentle enough to avoid ruining the finish, but will also effectively banish streaks and smudges! 2. Use cleaning vinegar. Common vinegar works as well, but takes more elbow grease to remove stains. Cleaning vinegar can be found in many major stores and wont damage your stainless steel. 3. Buy a trusted brand of stainless steel cleaner. There are several brands of cleaning products made specifically for stainless steel, and often its best to go with the professionals! We think this list is pretty comprehensive, but would you add anything else?

Sunset Market in Downtown Puyallup

Work-week blues got you down? Rather than brooding in your Puyallup apartment, consider getting out of the house and exploring the neighborhood. Re-discover Your Wednesday is the perfect motto to help you with those work-week blues! The Sunset Market located in Downtown Puyallup is a great place to escape to if you want to bask in the sights, the smells and the tastes of locally grown produce. While at the Sunset Market you can find fresh produce from fruits to greens, flowers and possibly even a meal while you are there. They also feature many different local merchants with a huge variety of wares and products. Another great feature is live music, demonstrations and other forms of entertainment to help you break free from the grind of the work week. The Sunset Market, presented by the Puyallup Main Street Association and other sponsors, runs every Wednesday starting June 18th until September 17th. The Sunset Market is open from 3 PM to 7:30 PM. Check out Puyallupmainstreet.com to find out what kind of entertainment they will be having throughout the summer!