Together with:

Happy Tuesday, Tacoma. In today’s edition: Auburn Symphony’s next chapter, White Christmas Market, Holiday Magic, and more.

Let’s get to it — Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Auburn Symphony’s next chapter: Auburn Symphony Orchestra has named Gabi Galloway its next executive director, effective January 2026, succeeding Rachel Perry. The individual giving director plans to expand programs and deepen community impact — learn more about Galloway.

Community aid faces headwinds: South King County’s MSC reports escalating needs as costs rise, even as it celebrates wins like 334 new workforce housing units and a dignified market-style food bank amid reduced donations — read the full story.

Grassroots generosity shines bright: Tacoma volunteers marked Thanksgiving with meal giveaways across the city. Tibbitts at Fern Hill and the Nora Lee Walker Foundation hosted tenth-year events, feeding hundreds and delivering warmth — read the full story.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: My step-dad recently got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Cyber Monday discounts are available all week — check ’em out here.

Highlights this week

• Join Seattle Men’s Chorus holiday sing-along
• Explore 35,000 lights and falling snow
• Experience Matilda at Tacoma Little Theatre
• Shop a fantasy holiday market with Krampus
• Swing into Christmas with New Swing
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals

Do what you love, fund something that matters

In partnership with NAMI Pierce County

A lot of fundraisers invite you to do something you’d rather skip. Buy expensive wrapping paper. Sell popcorn door-to-door. Run a 5k before the sun comes up.

Mindful Moves is flipping the script entirely.

Love baking? Host a cookie swap and ask for donations. Into gaming? Stream your next session for mental health. Already hosting or attending trivia night, a craft circle, a paint party, or a weekly neighborhood walk? Turn the next one into a fundraiser.

The premise is simple: do something that genuinely brings you joy, then invite others to support NAMI Pierce County’s free mental health programs while you do it.

No guilt tripping. No obligations. No selling things nobody wants. Just you and your friends doing your thing.

Ready to start? Create a fundraising page here.

🫶 We got your back

A welcoming seasonal performance: Allegro Performing Arts Academy will present Winter at the Beach, a sensory-friendly, beach-themed holiday show, at Auburn Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m. Expect lower sound, slightly raised lights, and a calming lounge. Tickets are available by registration with a minimum $10 donation. Regular performances run Dec. 20 and 21. See schedule and ticket info.

Clothes, care, and connection: Lori’s Closet has grown from a UPS breakroom shelf into a free clothing hub in Federal Way through the Black Equality Coalition. Based at the Family Life Center, it outfits all ages (especially seeking boys’ clothes), asks families to fill an interest form, and shares inventory for partner pop-ups. BEC plans to shift toward coalition-building. Learn how to access or donate.

Under-the-radar burrito fix: Whether you want a classic burrito loaded with chorizo, carnitas, asada, or chicken; a breakfast version with eggs and chorizo; or a Baja fried-fish special, Red Star Taco Bar delivers warm tortilla comfort, plus frozen margs if that’s your vibe.

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

Wellness on easy mode: Most probiotics don’t work because they dissolve too early. Seed’s double capsule design means all the right stuff gets delivered to all the right places… at the right time. After decades of gut issues, it’s one of the few things that’s actually helped. Their Daily Essentials Duo covers nutrient gaps and supports everyday health + it’s 40% off right now so it’s a great time to give it a try.

📆 Around town this week

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

This week

🌮 Food Truck Tuesday @ Tacoma | Tuesday (12/2) at 11:00am – Lunch is solved, and it’s way better than whatever sad desk snack you were about to grab. Swing by the turnaround between Snoqualmie and Cherry Parkes for fresh air, good vibes, and Gonzo Panini serving up the goods. Perfect excuse to step outside, mingle, and support local food vendors—your stomach will thank you.

🎄 White Christmas Market @ Weatherly Inn Tacoma | Wednesday (12/3) at 3:00pm – The Weatherly Inn’s White Christmas Market brings 40-plus vendors, live music, kids’ crafts, reindeer, and free Santa photos—perfect for browsing, sipping cocoa, and enjoying a relaxed family outing. Free and open to all.

🌱 Upcycled Terrarium Gifts Workshop @ South King Tool Library | Thursday (12/4) at 4:30pm – Skip the mall and build a holiday gift that won’t end up in the re-gift drawer. South King Tool Library is hosting a free, hands-on terrarium workshop using foraged plants and upcycled containers. All materials provided, ages 10+ with adult, registration required.

🌸 Impress Me: A Pressed Flower Art Workshop by Wildly Impressed @ Local Whimsy | Friday (12/5) at 11:30am – Turn those garden daydreams into keepsakes at a pressed flower workshop, a hands-on, nature inspired class that makes petals behave. All ages welcome, no experience needed, just bring creativity, a love of blooms, and your inner scrapbooker. Botanical therapy you can hang on the wall.

✨ Holiday Magic @ Washington State Fair Event Center | Friday (12/5) at 4:30pm – Holiday Magic is lighting up the Puyallup fairgrounds with immersive tunnels, cocoa under thousands of lights, and Santa’s Village, so you can finally outshine your neighbor’s lawn reindeer. Add rides, snow shows, skating, live entertainment, and a market, then call it a night well spent.

This weekend

🐟 Donkey Creek Salmon Tours @ Donkey Creek Park | Saturday (12/6) at 9:30am – Take a guided stroll from Donkey Creek to txʷaalqəł Estuary with Harbor WildWatch biologists, and get the scoop on salmon, their epic commute, and why estuaries matter. It’s free, and you’ll learn how to help. Dress for weather, toss a donation if you’re feeling neighborly.

⛸️ Enchanted Ice Holiday Ice Skating Exhibition @ Sprinker Recreation Center | Saturday (12/6) at 10:30am – This skating showcase features polished performances, lively music, and plenty of holiday cheer. A festive way to support local talent and ease into the weekend.

🎄 Christmas Regale @ Fort Nisqually Living History Museum | Saturday (12/6) at 11:00am – Trade the mall chaos for a throwback Christmas at Fort Nisqually, where you can craft ornaments and crackers, roast coffee over the fire, help with the yule log, and visit Father Christmas in fur-trimmed glory. Cozy, hands-on, and blissfully free of inflatable penguins.

🐶 Puyallup Santa Parade – Pierce County Pugs @ Pioneer Park Pavilion | Saturday (12/6) at 12:00pm – Downtown Puyallup turns festive with a bustling holiday market at Pioneer Park Pavilion, then a lighted Santa Parade down Meridian. Shop handcrafted treats from your favorite Farmers’ Market folks, then claim a curb for bands, floats, walking units, and that parking-woes-are-worth-it cheer.

🎋 Garden Tour: Bamboo Paradise @ Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium | Sunday (12/7) at 10:00am – Skip the errands. Wander Bamboo Paradise, meet the horticulturist, and finally learn which bamboo behaves in a yard, and which takes over the block. Free with admission at the Pacific Rim Plaza, just inside the front gate.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/2 Jesse Roper @ Jazzbones – 7 pm
• 12/3 Sounds of Christmas @ Lagerquist Concert Hall – 7:30 pm
• 12/4 Travis Holp @ Tacoma Comedy Club – 7 pm
• 12/4 The Clairvoyants @ Emerald Queen Casino – 8 pm
• 12/4 John Craigie @ McMenamins Elks Temple – 8 pm
• 12/5 Uncle Daddy & The King Tide and more @ McMenamins Elks Temple – 5:30 pm
• 12/5 Hell On Heels and more @ Jazzbones – 7 pm
• 12/6 Holidaze Markets @ Black Night Market – 2 pm
• 12/6 Randy Hansen and more @ Jazzbones – 7 pm

🏠️ This house is wild

Listed by: Colleen Dutmers (Keller Williams Realty)

Classic Craftsman bones in the heart of 6th Ave, paired with fresh attitude. A newly remodeled kitchen and baths team up with new flooring, updated electrical, plumbing, and drywall. Radiator heat keeps the vibe cozy. Five bedrooms, a bonus room, and an office deliver real elbow room, while the closets keep a secret with original lath and plaster.

Out back, a fully fenced yard set for summer hangouts, plus a big outbuilding for gear or a future garage. Blocks to UPS, Proctor, and Stadium, with 6th Ave dining and parks at the ready.

Take a peek inside →