Never Perfect, Never Over is an unapologetic, hour-and-20-minute deep dive into the relentless spirit of harm reduction, featuring Tacoma’s own Dave Purchase. Born and raised in the gritty neighborhoods of Tacoma, Dave knew his city and its people—and when the AIDS crisis of the 1980s tore through communities, he and his friends couldn’t stand by. Defying stigma and bureaucratic hurdles, they set up the first legally sanctioned syringe exchange in North America, lighting a spark that ignited a nationwide movement. Their radical dedication laid the foundation for harm reduction practices that continue to save lives in the face of today’s opioid crisis.

This documentary goes beyond Dave’s story; it’s an unfiltered look at the early days of harm reduction, capturing the raw determination of activists in the 80s and 90s who pushed back against fear and misinformation. With candid interviews and gripping storytelling, Never Perfect, Never Over honors the origins of a fight that is still very much alive. It’s a rallying cry for resilience, compassion, and a reminder that the work we do today stands on the shoulders of those who came before.
Be part of this movement! Witness the legacy and feel the urgency. December 4th at The Grand Cinema in Tacoma. 7:30pm to 10pm.

Tickets available now on Eventbrite.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1041455109267?aff=oddtdtcreator

Barlow Gallery, downtown Tacoma’s newest and most active art gallery, announced they are expanding their footprint with a second location inside Hotel Murano.

Art lovers and community members are invited to attend the grand opening celebration on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, at 3:30pm at the new gallery located inside the main entrance of Hotel Murano, at 1320 Broadway in downtown Tacoma. Enjoy the artwork, enter a raffle and celebrate with a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber. Learn more and RSVP: Eventbrite | Facebook

Featuring the largest curated collection of fine art and photography in South Puget Sound, Barlow Gallery offers over 500 paintings, sculptures, photographs, and jewelry from dozens of international artists and photographers, with the majority coming from the Pacific Northwest.

New artists and their works are regularly circulated every few weeks at both Barlow Gallery locations, in addition to all art being displayed in a robust online gallery at barlowgallery.com.

Featuring rich profiles for each artist, the virtual gallery is designed to excite art lovers, encourage new collectors, and inspire people and the spaces where they live and work. Owners Ron Stevenson and Rachel René have created welcoming spaces where purchasing art and supporting artists is affordable and customizable. In addition to offering original artworks, Barlow Gallery enables the highest quality digital reproductions and giclée prints to be created in any size from any painting or photograph in inventory, on materials including paper, metal, acrylic, canvas, glass, or wood.

The extensive meeting spaces throughout the facility will enable Barlow Gallery to regularly hold new and larger events featuring new art and new artists.

“We eagerly welcome Barlow Gallery to Hotel Murano with their shared passion for the arts, believing that together we can inspire creativity and foster a vibrant art community,” said Thomas Pavlik, Area General Manager for Benchmark Luxury & Lifestyle, operators of Hotel Murano.

Barlow Gallery in Hotel Murano opens to the public Tuesday, November 19th. Explore the diverse collection of fine art in the main Barlow Gallery location at 1328 Market Street in downtown Tacoma, directly behind Hotel Murano. Visit barlowgallery.com for current hours and the latest exhibition information.

Welcome the holiday season with Tacoma’s annual tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 30, at 5 pm at Pantages Theater (901 Broadway).

The excitement begins at 3 pm with Tacoma Concert Band’s holiday show The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Hear a holiday program featuring selections from popular holiday classics like Home Alone and Polar Express. Tickets are available on the Tacoma City Theaters’ website, and guests 18 and under can receive free tickets by calling or stopping by the Tacoma City Theaters’ Box Office located at the Theater.

Tree lighting festivities begin at 5:00 pm with a free community open house at the Pantages lobby. Enjoy complimentary hot drinks and cookies, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and live music by a brass quartet from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Radio station KNKX joins this year’s event as a proud media partner, with host Paige Hansen as MC. They will also open their nearby studio for tours from 4:30pm (930 Broadway). At 6 pm, gather outside to join the countdown and light the holiday tree while an annual community photo is captured.

Upcoming performances include: comedian Joe Gatto, Seattle Men’s Chorus: Ho Ho Ho!, God Is a Scottish Drag Queen, Symphony Tacoma: Holiday Favorites, Disney Jr. Live on Tour: Let’s Play, The Midwinter Revels: Christmastime in Seneca Village, Tacoma City Ballet: The Nutcracker, and ABBAFab: A Holly Jolly Christmas.

The holiday tree, a magnificent 70-foot redwood that began its journey as a seedling right here in Washington, will take center stage this season. Adorned with 250 feet of vibrant holiday lights and cheerful decorations, this impressive conifer will shine bright at 9th and Broadway, welcoming visitors and spreading holiday joy. Stop by to take in the festive sights anytime until January 1, 2025!

Staying in the festive spirit, the Pantages Theater lobby will be opening the doors on December 3 for free holiday pet and family photos. As part of Downtown Tacoma Partnership’s Haul Crawl, a professional photographer will be on site from 4 pm to 7 pm.

On December 26, the traditional Menorah lighting will be held at the Pantages - – more details to follow.

For information about these and other events. visit TacomaCityTheaters.org. Tickets to Tacoma Concert Band’s performance are available online or by calling 253-591-5894.

Looking for a fun night of Art+Science+Mysticism? Check out the interactive workshop looking at the Neuroscience of Tarot. Neuroscientist Siddharth Ramakrishnan will walk through some exercises illuminating how we move from imagery to intuition using Tarot. The official launch of the book "The Neuroscience of Tarot", the workshop will be followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase or can be ordered at the Logger Store.

November 20, Trimble Hall, University of Puget Sound

6-630pm Mingle with food and drinks

630-730pm Workshop + Talk

730-8pm Book signing + More mingle time!

Come. Converse. Collaborate. Bring a Friend

There will be a fire-breathing dragon, a marching band, light art and hopefully YOU!

Sunday, November 17th - East Side, McKinley

Lantern making begins at 6:00pm and Parade from 6:30-7:00ish.

Come march with the revels! Make noise, show off your groovy moves, or come in your lit up parade gear that you can put together in the parade brigade workshop on Saturday 11/16.

Find out all the details HERE!

Exciting things are happening downtown!

Have you seen the new sign? This project has been a long time coming, but Kelly’s Olympian is coming soon to Downtown Tacoma.

Kelly’s is one of Portland’s oldest restaurants & bars, and they’ve been working hard on their 2nd location right here in the heart of Tacoma.

With an enthusiasm for all things motorcycle, this impressive new venue will be home to live music, amazing food and drinks, a great bar scene, and all around good vibes.

Stay tuned for more updates on the new downtown @kellysolympian!

Due to current overcrowding, the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County is waiving all dog adoption fees until Sunday 11/17. This is in response to their influx of intakes this time of year. Currently they are housing 130 dogs at the shelter and another 70 in foster homes.

The shelter is currently over its kennel capacity, so they are currently housed in offices or even temporary crates. It is a bit of “crisis mode” for them so they are looking to the community for help.

The Humane Society says that the community can help alleviate the strain by adopting, fostering or giving a healthy dog a temporary home while they work to manage the situation at the shelter.

If you find a healthy lost dog, the shelter encourages you to take the following steps:

1. Provide a temporary home; 2. Walk the dog around the neighborhood to attempt to find its home; 3. Check for a microchip at a vet clinic, pet store or shelter; 4. Post online and around the community to help locate the owner; 5. Contact the shelter to include the dog in the found pets records and on their website.

If you are curious if adopting or even sheltering a dog is right for you, CLICK HERE to go to the website to learn more about how you can help.

In response to community concerns, the Puyallup Police Department and the Pierce County Sheriff's Department have deployed mobile surveillance trailers in the South Hill area of Puyallup. These units are strategically placed in parking lots and other public spaces to deter criminal activities, including drug use and property crimes. Residents have reported a noticeable decrease in loitering and suspicious behavior since the deployment of these trailers.

Mobile surveillance trailers are equipped with high-resolution cameras, motion detectors, and, in some cases, loudspeakers. They serve as both a deterrent and a tool for law enforcement to monitor and respond to incidents in real-time. The visible presence of these units signals active surveillance, which can discourage potential offenders and enhance public safety.

As the holiday season approaches, law enforcement agencies remind residents to secure their belongings by keeping valuables out of sight in their vehicles. Visible items can attract thieves, leading to vehicle break-ins. By combining proactive measures like the deployment of surveillance trailers with community vigilance, authorities aim to maintain a safe environment for all residents.

While specific deployment locations can vary based on current needs and crime trends, these units are commonly placed in: high-traffic public spaces like shopping centers, parks, and transit hubs where large groups gather; construction sites to prevent theft and vandalism of equipment and materials; event venues during festivals, concerts, and public gatherings to monitor crowds and ensure safety.

They have also been deployed to neighborhoods experiencing increased crime. These are areas identified by law enforcement as having a surge in criminal activity.

For the most current information on specific deployment locations, contact the Pierce County Sheriff's Department or local law enforcement agencies directly.

The Greater Tacoma Convention Center (GTCC) is marking the milestone of 20 years serving the community with an open house reception on Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. This celebration invites community members, partners, clients, and local organizations to come together and celebrate two decades of the convention center’s lasting contributions to Tacoma and the surrounding region. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at tacomaconventioncenter.org.

Since opening in 2004, the GTCC has been an economic catalyst, drawing over 100,000 visitors annually for a total of nearly 2.5 million guests and a cumulative economic impact over $650 million.

In 2023 alone, events hosted at the convention center generated an estimated $27 million in economic benefit and supported 26,000 hotel room nights throughout Pierce County, including Fife, University Place, and Lakewood.

For the past 20 years, the convention center has driven economic impact for the region, holding a diverse array of events that serve as a gathering place for our community and a gateway for visitors to experience the vibrant culture and offerings of our city.

This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on the center’s impact and look forward to its continued role in Tacoma’s growth.

As Tacoma’s reputation as a premier event destination has grown, so too has the convention center’s role in driving major economic events. Its staff, recognized for excellence and innovation, continue to provide outstanding service to a variety of events, from large conventions and tradeshows to regional and national sporting competitions. The award-winning team, some of whom have been with the venue since its inception, were recognized in 2019 with the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Venue Excellence Award and, this year, the facility was again named among EXHIBITOR Magazine’s Centers of Excellence for the fifth time, underscoring the commitment to world-class hospitality and adaptability.

The Convention Center’s ability to host large-scale events received a significant boost with the opening of the Marriott Tacoma Downtown Hotel in 2021. This addition, along with other recent hotel offerings, expanded the city’s hotel capacity, enabling the center to attract larger scale regional, national, and international events. This strategic shift by the GTCC has allowed the convention sales team at Visit Tacoma-Pierce County (VT-PC) to target larger events, resulting in a higher number of room nights and greater economic impact to the region. By late 2024, VT-PC has already secured over 39,000 future room nights and nearly $29 million in projected economic impact.

Youth sports competitions have also found a home at the GTCC, transforming the first quarter each year into a vibrant season of athletic events. Over the past decade, youth sports have grown from contributing 5% to an estimated 25% of the center’s economic impact, with events ranging from gymnastics to martial arts and dance. These competitions bring thousands of young athletes, families, and spectators to Tacoma, creating an influx of visitors and a lasting positive economic effect throughout Pierce County. Reflecting Tacoma’s commitment to diversity, the GTCC has become a dynamic venue known for its adaptability and commitment to inclusive events. Working closely with clients, the center’s team designs tailored event logistics and catering that reflect each client’s unique cultural preferences, providing an authentic experience for attendees. By partnering with local caterers, the GTCC creates meaningful experiences that honor and celebrate cultural events such as weddings and other celebrations.

In its two decades, the Greater Tacoma Convention Center has integrated unique artistic elements that enrich visitor and community experiences. The center features key pieces of the City of Tacoma’s public art collection, showcasing the region’s vibrant creative spirit. Seven installations are displayed throughout the facility, including Andy Warhol’s Flower for the Tacoma Dome and Apotheosis by Stuart Keeler and Michael Machnic, which is crafted from reclaimed old-growth timber and hand-hewn by J. Michael McGuire of the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Each winter, the GTCC also joins the annual Tacoma Light Trail, becoming a radiant stop along an illuminated art walk that brightens the season and celebrates the community’s creativity.

The 20th Anniversary celebration promises an engaging evening, showcasing the warm and genuine hospitality for which the venue is known. For more information about the Greater Tacoma Convention Center and its 20th Anniversary celebration, visit tacomaconventioncenter.org.

City Council member Sarah Rumbaugh is inviting you to an in-person community dialogue on “homelessness in Downtown Tacoma.”

She is inviting all people who live, work, and play in Downtown to be involved in this discussion to collaborate on how we all can contribute to solving the complex issue.

There will be refreshments and children’s activities for attendees.

Join the conversation Wednesday December 4th, 6:00-7:30pm at UW Tacoma Campus, Milgard Hall, Room 110. (1950 S C St)

Community is encouraged to register in advance and let them know if you need specific accommodations. Tacoma City Council strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you have questions about this event, please contact Lynda Foster at lynda.foster@cityoftacoma.org.

Tacoma Housing Authority’s waitlist(s) for housing assistance are now open. They are currently offering two lists for housing help. One list is for a unit in their affordable properties, the other is for a voucher to help pay rent in Tacoma.

Their website gives access to a portal which adds the household to apply for either list and make any necessary updates.

You can apply online or if you need in-person assistance, it is available at one of the Tacoma Housing Authority locations or a Tacoma Public Library location on Nov 15th.

For information about the waitlists, your status and more visit the FAQ’s listed on their website.

This is the last chance for filmmakers and artists to submit their works to the Ground to Sound Film & Art Festival. This is a collaborative initiative by the City of Tacoma Environmental Services and Foster’s Creative, is back for its second year, and time is running out to submit your creative works! This is the final reminder for filmmakers, artists, and environmental advocates to showcase their talent and passion for a sustainable future.

Submissions Deadline: December 1, 2024

This year’s theme, “Healthy Sound. Better Tacoma. Now and Forever,” emphasizes the importance of protecting our local environment, with a particular focus on reducing stormwater pollution to safeguard Tacoma's waterways and communities. The City of Tacoma Environmental Services and Foster’s Creative are calling on creatives and community members to inspire change through their art, celebrating efforts that keep Tacoma’s waterways clean, safe, and thriving.

Submission Categories Include: Elementary (K - 5/6th Grade); Junior High/Middle School (6/7th - 8/9th Grade); High School (9/10th - 12th Grade); Adult (18+, not graduated or no longer attending high school)

Prizes:

First Place $750 - Runner Up $500 - 3rd Place $250 - 4th Place $200 - 5th Place $100

Top entries in each category will win cash prizes, an award certificate, a G2S tee, and VIP bag. With first-place films from each category being screened at the film festival on March 14th, 2025. Additionally, there will be a “People’s Choice Award” offering a $500 cash prize.

The festival will culminate in a live screening event at the Foss Waterway Seaport on March 14, 2025, where winners will be celebrated. The event promises exciting pop-ups, local artists, and community partnerships, making it a memorable celebration of art, community, and environmental stewardship.

How to Submit:
All films must be submitted by December 1, 2024. For detailed submission guidelines, judging criteria, and additional information, visit the official festival website:
www.groundtosoundfilmandartfest.com/submission-requirements

Every day in Pierce County, thousands of people sleep in cars, shelters or on the streets. Do you ever wonder how they lost everything and became homeless? We answer this question and more every year with the Homeless Point-In-Time (PIT) Count.

Pierce County Human Services is recruiting volunteers and donations to support the 2025 PIT Count. The PIT Count helps us understand why people experience homelessness, capture the characteristics and situations of people living in our community without a home and plan for services and programs to support residents in unstable housing.

Volunteers can help by attending events during the PIT Count or through surveying people experiencing homelessness from Jan. 30-31, 2025. Volunteers must be over 18 years old, have access to a smart phone and commit to attend a training.

Learn more and sign up to volunteer by visiting www.PierceCountyWA.gov/PIT.