Arts & Entertainment
- TRIPOD Presents: Tacoma Centric in Images and Video Friday 8/15
- At the Center for Spiritual Living, located at 206 North J St in Tacoma, the upcoming TRIPOD event, Tacoma Centric, will showcase a variety of local creative voices. Lore Alexander will present curated images from Ugly Art; Steph and Phyllis will offer a presentation on the history of LeRoy Jewelers; and filmmaker Melinda Raebyne will screen a selection of her video vignettes. Doors open at 6:30 pm. For details visit bit.ly/tripodwebsite
- Glass Fest Northwest Returns to Museum of Glass August 9th
- The Museum of Glass will host Glass Fest Northwest on August 9 from 10am to 5pm, celebrating the Pacific Northwest’s rich tradition of glass artistry. This free all-day festival features more than 50 local artists and vendors, live glassblowing demonstrations, food trucks, and complimentary museum admission.
- Brew Five Three Beer & Music Festival Returns to Tacoma August 9
- Brew Five Three: The 253’s Beer & Music Festival returns for its twelfth year on Saturday, August 9 from 1pm to 7pm. The event, hosted at the Tacoma Armory and along a closed portion of Yakima Avenue, highlights Pacific Northwest craft beer, live music and community.
- More than 20 regional breweries and cideries will be featured, along with food trucks, games, a raffle, and live performances. Tickets are available at TacomaArtsLive.org, with proceeds supporting Tacoma Arts Live’s youth and community arts programming.
- The 2025 Indigenous Fashion Show
- Tacoma Art Museum will host a vibrant celebration of Indigenous fashion and culture, an event held annually as part of the In the Spirit Festival in collaboration with the Washington State History Museum. The event showcases contemporary Indigenous fashion, featuring intricately designed garments that reflect ancestral motifs and innovative interpretations of traditional materials. Led by Mary Kelsay, the creative director and owner of MEKA clothing, the fashion show highlights the resilience and creativity of Indigenous designers. Admission to TAM will be free for the entire day.
- Tacoma Rising Hosts Live Podcast and Happy Hour at West 122
- Tacoma Rising invites the community to a vibrant celebration on Friday, August 15, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. at West 122 (728 Pacific Ave Suite B). This special event marks the grand reopening of the downtown restaurant under new ownership by Kenny and Kenzie Maurer, the dynamic duo behind Ebony & Ivory Coffee. Tickets are $44.52 and include a happy hour with light bites and drinks, a behind-the-scenes tour, and a live podcast recording with the Maurers, who will share their vision of building community through food and connection. The event is equal parts networking, storytelling, and celebration, with an open invitation for guests to stay for dinner as West 122 officially opens to the public at 5:00 p.m. Space is limited. Reserve your spot and make dinner plans to keep the celebration going. https://tacomarising.com/west-122-new-ownership-kick-off/
- McMenamins and the Spanish Ballroom Present: Souled Out Funk!
- Souled Out, a ten-member full-horn band, brings an electrifying mix of authentic funk, soul, rock, and disco to the Spanish Ballroom on Thursday, August 14, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Known for their high-energy performances and authentic sound, the band covers everything from 1960s classics to modern grooves, keeping the crowd dancing all night long. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., and the show begins at 8:00 p.m. at McMenamins Spanish Ballroom, 565 Broadway, Tacoma. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door, plus fees. All ages are welcome. For more information, visit souledoutsuperfunk.com.
Neighborhood News
- Free Trees and Planting Help Coming to Tacoma’s South End This October
- The Tacoma Tree Foundation is offering free trees and planting assistance to residents and businesses in the South End through its Green Blocks: South End initiative. Applications are now open via the online form at tacomatreefoundation.org/gb-southend , and the deadline to apply is August 18. Neighbors are encouraged to submit requests collaboratively to green entire blocks or planting strips. Those outside the project area are welcome to apply through the Grit City Trees program.
- First New Transit Center to Open Since 1998
- At the end of August, Pierce Transit will open its first new transit center since the Tacoma Dome Station debuted in 1998. Located in Spanaway, the new center will serve as the southern terminus for Route 1 and the Stream Community Line. Several route schedules will also be adjusted for the day. Riders can monitor updates at piercetransit.org/pierce-transit-routes or through the Transit app.
- Archaeological Dig Underway at Nettie Asberry Homesite in Tacoma
- A public archaeological investigation is underway this month at the historic Nettie Asberry Homesite in Hilltop. Led by faculty and students from the Evergreen State College, the dig seeks to uncover material evidence from the site’s past, including coins, jewelry, glass containers, and other artifacts. Fieldwork is scheduled for August 8, 9, 15 and 16 from 10am to 4pm. Special thanks to go to preservation expert Michael Sullivan for assistance with curation permits. The community is invited to witness the excavation, which honors Nettie Asberry’s enduring legacy.
Local Governance
- The Time is Now to Save Money and License Your Pet
- The Tacoma City Council has recently updated the animal control code and revised the pet license fee structure. Pet licensing is a critical step in ensuring lost pets can be quickly reunited with their families. Each year, tens of thousands of animals end up at the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County, many without identification. With current contact information, Animal Care and Control officers can often return pets directly or contact their owners quickly. Don’t wait – license your pets today.
Business & Opportunities
- Call for Young Artists
- Pierce Transit is now accepting entries for its 2025 Student Art Contest, open to K-12 students in Pierce County. This year’s theme is “Art in Every Ride.” The grand prize winner will have their artwork featured on a Pierce Transit bus and exhibited in the Tacoma Art Museum’s studio. Winners from each age group will have their artwork displayed on a bus shelter, and all winning pieces will appear on a poster distributed across the Pierce County Library System in October. Submissions are due August 31st. Visit piercetransit.org/student-art-contest for details.
- Mural Installation Assistants Needed in Tacoma, WA
- An artist is seeking two assistants to help install a large-scale mural in Tacoma using parachute cloth – a technique similar to wheatpasting. The work involves adhering pre-painted fabric panels to a wall using fast-drying gel, followed by sealing the mural with a protective varnish. The installation is expected to last seven days, August 25-31, and the team will include the artist and two assistants. Compensation is $150 per day. Experience in mural work or outdoor installations is helpful but not required. Applicants should be reliable, comfortable using rollers and squeegees, and able to work outdoors efficiently. Interested individuals should apply by August 15th by sending a resume or CV, two references and a brief introduction raulayart@gmail.com. Learn more about the artist at www.raulayala.net.
- City of Tacoma Hosts OMWBE Certification Workshop for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses
- The City of Tacoma’s Equity in Contracting Program is partnering with the Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) to present an OMWBE Certification 201 workshop. The session will take place on August 18, from 3 to 4:30pm, both in person at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, Room 243) and online. The workshop is designed to help participants begin or complete their certification applications. For more information, visit makeittacoma.com.
- Call to Artists: Bring an Alebrije to Life in Tacoma!
- Boca del Rio, Cienfuegos Sister Cities and Tacoma Sister Cities in partnership with the 6th Avenue Business District are excited to present Alebrijes as the featured art form at our annual Dia de los Muertos on 6th Ave celebration! They’re inviting artists of all experience levels to help light up Tacoma’s 6th Avenue with vibrant, handcrafted Alebrijes for the 5th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration! Alebrijes (pronounced Ah-lay-bree-hay), a Mexican folk art, are brightly colored, 3D fantastical creatures, known for their unique blend of animal and mythical features, vibrant colors, and intricate designs made from papier-mâché or wood. The art form was created by Pedro Linares in Mexico City where giant alebrijes are featured in their annual parade. As an artist, your Alebrije will be showcased in a 6th Avenue business throughout October, you’ll get a $50 stipend per piece, Alebrijes will be featured in our silent auction at the Amor Eterno Ball on November 1st, and you’ll be featured in multiple community events with strong attendance and press. This is your chance to showcase your imagination, honor tradition, and gain meaningful exposure in a celebrated cultural festival. Application Deadline-August 31st. For complete details and artist application, please visit:
https://www.tacomacienfuegossistercity.org/alebrije-artist
- Boca del Rio, Cienfuegos Sister Cities and Tacoma Sister Cities in partnership with the 6th Avenue Business District are excited to present Alebrijes as the featured art form at our annual Dia de los Muertos on 6th Ave celebration! They’re inviting artists of all experience levels to help light up Tacoma’s 6th Avenue with vibrant, handcrafted Alebrijes for the 5th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration! Alebrijes (pronounced Ah-lay-bree-hay), a Mexican folk art, are brightly colored, 3D fantastical creatures, known for their unique blend of animal and mythical features, vibrant colors, and intricate designs made from papier-mâché or wood. The art form was created by Pedro Linares in Mexico City where giant alebrijes are featured in their annual parade. As an artist, your Alebrije will be showcased in a 6th Avenue business throughout October, you’ll get a $50 stipend per piece, Alebrijes will be featured in our silent auction at the Amor Eterno Ball on November 1st, and you’ll be featured in multiple community events with strong attendance and press. This is your chance to showcase your imagination, honor tradition, and gain meaningful exposure in a celebrated cultural festival. Application Deadline-August 31st. For complete details and artist application, please visit:
Recreation & Wellness
- Kopachuck State Park Reopens After Major Renovations
- Kopachuck State Park in Gig Harbor has reopened following substantial renovations aimed at restoring access and enhancing the visitor experience. The 109-acre park, previously affected by erosion and safety concerns along its bluff, now features a redesigned day-use area, improved trail access, and upgraded picnic and recreational facilities. Visitors are encouraged to explore the revitalized site just in time for the end-of-the-summer season.
- Celebrate the Walk Tacoma Finale in South Tacoma!
- Step out with us for the South Tacoma in Focus: Voices from the Neighborhood, happening next Wednesday, August 13, from 6–7:30 PM. This community-led walk brings the people, places, and stories of South Tacoma to life. You’ll hear directly from local voices, including contributors from Tacoma Tree Foundation, the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC), Fernseed, and more, sharing their personal experiences as business owners, artists, and community advocates. Together, their stories highlight the resilience and vibrancy of this unique neighborhood. They’ll kick things off at South Park (5019 S Puget Sound Ave), then wrap up with a lively after-walk social hosted by friends at Tacoma Night Market (3612 S 54th St).
Reviews
- Film Review: The Naked Gun, by Elizabeth Mulloy
- It’s been a minute since a comedy has actually opened in theaters. For nearly a decade now, most comedies have been quietly shuffled onto streaming platforms, where they stick around for about a week before disappearing into the void. But that drought may finally be over, thanks to Akiva Schaffer’s upcoming reboot-slash-sequel of The Naked Gun. Reviving the beloved franchise from the ’80s and ’90s, this new take is aiming to bring the big-screen laughs back where they belong. And let me tell you, The Naked Gun had my TMJ flaring from how much I was grinning and laughing. It’s exactly the kind of ridiculous, crowd-pleasing spectacle theaters were built for.
- We follow Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson), the head of the Police Squad. A chaotic and questionably competent division of the LAPD. After using some, let’s say, less-than-approved methods to foil a bank robbery, Drebin gets slapped with a reassignment to traffic duty. But what starts as a routine fender bender quickly spirals into something much bigger. When one of his traffic cases turns out to be a full-blown murder, Drebin is determined to crack it wide open, no matter how many innocent bystanders or hot dog carts he takes down in the process.
- Much like the original, The Naked Gun is, at its core, unapologetically dumb in the best possible way. A big, goofy, joyfully stupid comedy that knows exactly what it is and leans all the way into it. It’s overflowing with puns, sight gags, slapstick, and that signature deadpan delivery that made the original films so beloved. The sheer absurdity of what’s happening on screen makes it nearly impossible not to laugh like, face-cramping, stomach-aching levels of laughter. What genuinely shocked me, though, is how consistent the film is. Almost every single joke landed, which is a rarity for most comedies. For a solid 90 straight minutes, even through the end credits, my theater was in absolute hysterics. There wasn’t a moment to catch your breath before the next ridiculous bit hit. What makes this movie feel so refreshing is that it’s not trying to be clever or self-aware or secretly profound. It was just trying to be funny. The Naked Gun fully embraces the ludicrousness of its own premise and commits to it with wild, gleeful abandon. And honestly? That kind of comedy belongs in theaters.
- Front and center is Liam Neeson, best known for brooding action roles and intimidating phone calls, doing a full-on comedic 180. Watching him fully commit to the deadpan absurdity of The Naked Gun is nothing short of delightful. His delivery is razor-sharp, his timing is impeccable, and he’s clearly having the time of his life. And when an actor’s having that much fun with a role, it becomes infectious. You can’t help but go along for the ride. Then there’s Pamela Anderson, who proves she’s been criminally underused in this kind of role. Comedy suits her really well. She’s hysterical here, matching the tone and chaos of the film beat for beat. Honestly, this might be one of her best on-screen turns. If The Naked Gun is any indication, she’s found a genre that plays perfectly to her strengths.
- The Naked Gun is the kind of comedy we don’t see nearly enough of anymore. Loud, ridiculous, and completely unafraid to be stupid. It’s a film that understands the assignment: to make you laugh until your face hurts, and it delivers on that promise from start to finish. With pitch-perfect performances from Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, a relentless barrage of gags, and a deep love for the genre it’s reviving, this reboot isn’t just a pleasant surprise, it’s a reminder of how much fun going to the movies can be. If this is the future of theatrical comedy, then sign me up.
- My Rating: A-
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