( 2. September 2010, 14:03 by Steve Dunkelberger) Weekend Preview: mystery music

Rejoicing and moaning could be heard around the City of Destiny this week as kiddos returned to school. The summer is over, but the fun continues.

Tacoma Little Theatre has started off its 92nd season, for example, with “Sleuth” by Anthony Shaffer. This show is a typical murder mystery with a twist. Set in an English cottage owned by a well known mystery novelist, Andrew Wyke, the show takes a twist early. Wyke invites Milo Tindle, a young rival who just happens to have eyes for his wife. Murder plots ensue. Directed by John Munn, the show is anchored by...

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( 2. September 2010, 12:48 by Daniel Rahe) ESPN Lists Stadium High School Among 12 Best Places to Watch High School Football

Today, ESPN.com listed Tacoma’s own Stadium High School as one of the twelve best places in America to watch a high school football game. In a list dominated by Texas and Ohio schools, it appears few could rival the famously stunning view from Stadium. Recognizing the stadium for “Best View On and Off the Field,” ESPN wrote:

For beauty, it’s tough to beat this venue as fans sit with a breathtaking view of the Puget Sound in front of them. The stadium itself sits below Stadium High School in Tacoma. This year marks the stadium’s centennial.

You can check...

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( 2. September 2010, 08:50 by Daniel Rahe) Tonight's Rainiers Game the Last Before Cheney Stadium's Facelift...

For more than fifty years, Cheney Stadium has remained very much the same. But tonight’s game will be the last before constuction begins to alter the familiar minor league venue tomorrow. The Tacoma Rainiers, after a robust regular season, will meet playoff challengers at Safeco Field while the project proceeds.

Cheney Stadium’s signature general seating arrangement will remain, with additional concessions, bathrooms, clubhouses, a pressbox and luxury suites. Changes to the industrial concrete facade will also be completed. For additional coverage of the design process and elements, see Tacoma News Tribune coverage here and Tacoma Weekly coverage here.

In honor...

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( 1. September 2010, 20:30 by Daniel Rahe) One Last Downtown Parking Meeting Before Pay Stations Open for Business

A gleaming autumn crop of parking pay stations is springing to life throughout downtown Tacoma. They are already here, but you still have an opportunity to shape their future. There is one more public meeting of the parking advisory group before the stations become operational on September 20th.

The 12-member panel will meet tomorrow (September 2) in the Pantages Theater at 5:00pm. This group of local business leaders and citizens has met monthly for the past year, with proceedings open to the public.

For more information on the parking pay stations, visit the Downtown Parking website here. For maps, background...

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( 1. September 2010, 09:19 by Daniel Rahe) Complimented in French (I think)

Writing a blog post about another blog post might be comparable to writing a precis about a book report. But when a self-styled “urban green politics… non-partisan […] blog about Seattle, by journalists” runs a post titled “Oh, Les Elites de Tacoma!”, we feel obligated to take notice.

The article appeared on Seattle’s Publicola.net frontpage on Monday, and was quickly shared across Tacoma’s social media networks. While the title alone is groundbreaking (the words “elite” and “Tacoma” have never been used in the same sentence north of Milton, according to my research), the article goes on to praise Tacoma’s...

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(31. August 2010, 18:00 by Halley Griffin) Tacoma City Council Meeting for August 31, 2010

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Marilyn Strickland read a proclamation in honor of John Briehl, Human Rights and Human Services Director who is retiring.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Doug Miller expressed appreciation for Briehl’s years of service.

REGULAR AGENDA
The council approved a settlement motion in the matter of Charlene Courtois v. City of Tacoma et al, in which the city will pay $75,000.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38101 authorizes the execution of a 12-Year Multi-Family Housing Limited Property Tax Exemption Agreement with 6th & Alder Partners, LLC, for the development of 60 new market-rate and affordable...

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(31. August 2010, 16:48 by Derek Young) $20 Million for the Murray Morgan Bridge?

Today’s Tacoma City Council Study Session was the scene of some pleasantly surprising news: Last week, WSDOT made available a 0% interest loan of $20 million to the City, as long as the funds could be obligated by October 1.

Kurtis Kingsolver from Public Works revealed that the City intends to use the loan in conjunction with $37.1 million in currently committed funds to move forward with portions of the Murray Morgan Bridge rehabilitation project. This money is now intended to aid the repairs to both the City and Port approaches to the bridge.

Little by little...

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(30. August 2010, 16:32 by Steve Dunkelberger) Weekend Review: Ships Ahoy!

Tacoma’s history was relived… sort of … last weekend.

The 17th Maritime Festival showcased all things seafaring and trade at Thea’s Park, Foss Waterway Seaport and sites around the waterfront.

Wow, it was fun. The nautical appreciation of the volunteers and restoration experts was certainly contagious. And who can’t have fun around “attacking” pirates handing out Mardi Gras necklaces while others sing their seafaring songs with plenty of yo-ho, hoes and bottles of rum.

The two-day event offered boat rides around the Foss, train trips around the ship yards and dragon boat races throughout the day. Those races were exhausting from the...

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(27. August 2010, 14:37 by Daniel Rahe) Ruston Tunnel Closure Extended

A few minutes ago, Point Ruston issued a press release stating that the closure of Ruston Tunnel will be extended. The tunnel has been closed since Monday, and was originally scheduled to re-open to traffic on September 3. Now, it will remain closed until September 23 while utilities are installed.

Please note that pedestrian traffic and public parking are also prohibited in the closed portions of Ruston Way. Detour signs are in place for those unfamiliar with alternate routes.

We’d like to know: Do any readers regularly travel the Ruston Tunnel? How has the detour been working for you so...

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(27. August 2010, 08:00 by Halley Griffin) AIDS Walk Events Next Week

Major preparations are under way for next month’s AIDS Walk.

Teams of walkers have begun to register and start raising funds, nineteen years worth of red ribbons are ironed and ready, and a choice group of Tacoma businesses have jumped into the fray to help out.

The walk doesn’t take place until Saturday, Sept. 25 at 9 a.m., but you can start getting involved as early as next week (or right now, if you sign up to walk online) with the following events:

Doyle’s Public House Happy Hour Event

Join the Pierce County AIDS Foundation for an AIDS...

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