|
Subscribe | Get featured
Rise and shine, Tacoma! A $546M airport makeover, El Pollo Loco expansion, Clue with Lesley Ann Warren, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
What travelers can expect: Sea-Tac has unveiled a $546 million renovation with automated bag drops, improved baggage claim and redesigned security checkpoints. A larger C Concourse adding dining, retail and wellness spaces is planned — read the full story.
Expansion push accelerates: El Pollo Loco is eyeing Seattle market for up to 40 restaurants, with four planned in Pierce County and south King County. Chain’s first Washington spot opened in late December — get all the expansion details.
Push for safer walkways: A proposed Senate bill would require construction sites to keep pedestrian routes near hospitals, parks, and schools within 300 feet. Seattle and Tacoma policies support it, though critics want changes — see what’s in the bill.
Push to safeguard senior centers: Sen. Gildon, R-Puyallup, proposes removing a 2028 sunset so around 200 Washington senior centers remain property tax exempt. The bill has passed its first committee, with Tacoma voices in support — read the full story.
Gold continues to hold strong: After its best year in decades, gold remains near historic highs as investors look for stability amid inflation and debt. American Hartford has a free guide that covers everything you need to know. They’re also offering up to $25,000 of free silver on qualified accounts – check it out here.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
Compare car insurance rates (it’s free): The average car insurance bill is roughly $175/month. I was paying more until I took a few minutes to compare quotes where I live. I ended up switching and cut my premium in half. Even if you’re not ready to switch, it’s worth checking – this comparison tool makes it easy.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
|
🫶 We got your back
New adventures for kids: Five Tacoma playgrounds are getting upgrades across South Tacoma, the Eastside, the North End, and the Northeast, funded by a 2014 voter-approved bond. Oakland Madrona has new curbing, accessible ramps, and a new swing area, and construction at Alderwood Park is underway. Expect fresher, more inclusive play spaces soon. See what’s being renovated.
Community traditions take center stage: UW Tacoma and the city are ringing in the Year of the Horse with three Lunar New Year events this month. A campus celebration will run Feb. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with performances, food, and lion dances planned in Lincoln District and at the Tacoma Dome. Get all the event details.
Bad hair day bailout: Embellish Multispace Salon keeps Tacoma looking sharp with smart cuts and color that feel like you, just fresher. Independent stylists tailor every appointment, so you leave lighter, cooler, and a lot less hat-dependent. Easygoing vibe, polished results… the kind of refresh that carries you through the week.
Sweet pick-me-up: When your week needs a lift, Corina Bakery delivers from-scratch scones, muffins, homestyle cookies, cheesecakes, and beautiful custom cakes, plus legit gluten-free and vegan options. Something sweet counts as productivity fuel, right? Your desk will thank you.
What do people see when they search your name? Search results can surface past mistakes or outdated information that no longer reflects who you are. BetterReputation helps remove and clean up unwanted content so your online presence matches your real life today. Not worried about yourself? Doesn’t hurt to mention it to family or friends who might be.
Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.
The weight loss game has changed: New GLP-1 medications work with your body’s natural hormones to help reduce appetite and support steady weight loss under medical supervision. Remedy Meds connects you with licensed clinicians online to see if you’re a good candidate. They’ll evaluate your health, provide transparent pricing, and ship medication straight to your door.
|
📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🔬 STEAM Night @ Tacoma Public Library (Mottet Branch) | Wednesday (2/18) at 4:00 PM – Rainy season calls for indoor fossil hunting at Mottet Library’s free STEAM Night, where kids play paleontologist while you pretend you remember Jurassic from Cretaceous. They’ll excavate “fossils,” create trace and mold replicas, and set off a salt dough volcano. Drop in, no preregistration.
✨ Women United Sparkle & Shine Galentine’s @ Fusion Cafe & Lounge | Wednesday (2/18) at 5:30 PM – Trade that junk drawer of lip balms for a Galentine’s with Women United, where connection, community, and a little glam feel real. Bring two lip favorites, one to swap, one to donate, sip signature cocktail, eat Fusion bites, and score executive-coach tips on painless networking.
🖼 History Pub: The Vanguard Generation: African American Artists, 1880-1918 @ Spanish Ballroom | Wednesday (2/18) at 7:00 PM – Think you know who built American pop culture? Grab a pint in the Spanish Ballroom for a History Pub talk on the Vanguard Generation, African American artists 1880-1918, with ethnomusicologist Daniel E. Atkinson and newly unearthed documents. Smart talk, real grit, zero textbook yawns.
📅 Third Thursdays – February @ Washington State History Museum | Thursday (2/19) at 3:00 PM – Third Thursday means free museum entry, extended hours, and a solid excuse to skip dishes. This round features Then and Now: 1776 and 2026, performances and talks on African American history, with the Buffalo Soldiers Museum and UW Tacoma’s Luther Adams, courtesy of Columbia Bank.
🍺 February Brewery District Makers Market @ 7 Seas Brewing | Thursday (2/19) at 5:00 PM – Swing by the February Makers Market at 7 Seas Brewing for a fresh batch of local makers, cold pints, and the kind of browsing that counts as cardio. It’s free, family friendly, and conveniently located where shopping meets beer, which feels like solid Tacoma math.
🖼 February Artist Reception @ Crunch Fitness | Friday (2/20) at 4:00 PM – An artist reception where track stars get the Greek god treatment, no stadium noise required. Erica Olive Shirk shares work sparked in a Portugal printmaking residency, now ink, mixed media, and myth. Meet the artist, sip something light, enjoy the calm, bring company. All ages.
🪴 Gouache House Plant Paintings @ Chelsea Belle Arts | Friday (2/20) at 5:30 PM – Trade your wilting fiddle-leaf for a paintbrush and settle in to paint houseplants with gouache here in Tacoma, a fine way to thrive indoors. It’s guided, creative, low stakes, and all supplies are included, so bring yourself, your steady-ish hand, and your favorite plant puns.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
📻 Tacoma report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 43°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 80%
A slight chance of rain before 7am, then rain and snow. Mostly cloudy. High near 43, with temperatures falling to around 41 in the afternoon. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain before 7pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. South wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
—
Tomorrow – High: 44°F – Low: 31°F – Precip: 63%
Rain and snow likely before 4pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain and snow before 7pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
This house is wild
On a large corner lot in Browns Point, this 4-bed, 2.5-bath NW Contemporary frames Mt. Rainier views from windows and an expansive deck. Over 2,200 sq ft offers living and dining, an open kitchen and family room with fireplace. Features include island seating, walk-in pantry, stainless appliances, pot rack, mini-splits, 2-car garage, and fenced yard near schools and commuter routes.
Take a peek inside →
|
🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
