|
Happy Friday, Tacoma. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Tacoma Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
In today’s edition: Chantel Jackson’s new cafe, Fall Foliage Festival and Plant Sale, Veterans’ Appreciation Days, and more.
Let’s get to it.
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
A flavorful new chapter: Tacoma’s viral “Lunch Lady” and Singing Chef, Chantel Jackson, has opened a South End cafe serving Southern-style soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts, and iced tea pouches, primarily packaged to-go — get all the details.
Local generosity meets crisis: Amid the government shutdown that halted SNAP, a second Tacoma Dome food giveaway drew hundreds in Tacoma, and organizers began Amazon-supported emergency deliveries to reach more families — read the full story.
Celebrate waning fall days: The Fall Foliage Festival and Plant Sale runs Nov. 8-9 with tours, food trucks, a scavenger hunt, and take-home plants at Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way — get all the details.
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.
|
Make new friends on November 19th 🤗
We’re bringing readers together in real life for the first time EVER, and you’re invited!
BaseLocal Dinner Club isn’t about networking or pitching. It’s about people who love where they live… sharing a table, swapping stories, and building friendships over some seriously good food.
Here’s how it works: You’ll take a quick personality quiz and get matched with five compatible locals. The morning of, you’ll find out where the six of you will meet for dinner on November 19th at 7:00pm (it’ll be somewhere in the Proctor District).
After dinner, everyone’s invited to regroup for a casual meetup at a nearby bar or brewery.
Wanna bring a friend or your partner? No problem! You’ll be able to invite them to sit at your table during signup (they’ll need to sign up separately, though).
If you’ve been craving conversations with substance — the kind that remind you why community matters — this is for you.
Book your seat here!
P.S. Interested but can’t make it? Be sure to join the waitlist for updates on future dinners!
|
Ready to see your business featured in an ad spot like this? 👆
Advertising with us is as easy as it gets. Fill out this quick form and we’ll get you in an upcoming edition!
|
🫶 We got your back
Local sips, bites, and fun: Plan your sips and snacks: Saturday, Nov. 8, brings Tacoma’s Viking Days (free, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with reenactments and those infamous meatball sundaes, plus Indulge at Gig Harbor’s Vintage Aero Museum benefiting the Senior Center. Next weekend, the Enumclaw Wine Walk returns on Nov. 15, and $45 gets a collector’s glass and 10 tastes. Check out the full lineup.
Grand opening details revealed: Shake Shack debuts at the Village at Tacoma Mall on Nov. 12 at 10 a.m., the chain’s first Pierce County spot. Expect ShackBurgers, crinkle fries, and opening-day tote bags for early birds. Bonus: $1 from every sandwich that day benefits Nourish Pierce County, with more eateries coming soon. Get all the opening details.
A cozy excuse to linger: With an intimate, retro glow, Over the Moon Cafe runs a 36-seat scratch kitchen turning out seasonal plates like duck breast and wild-caught salmon, plus a thoughtful wine list and craft cocktails. If “let’s do a real date this week” keeps echoing, take this as your nudge.
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.
Need new windows? It’s not the most glamorous upgrade, we’ll admit. But newer windows = lower energy bills and a subtle (but definitely noticeable) glow-up. If you’ve been putting it off or waiting for the right moment, Renewal by Andersen is offering a discount that just might seal the deal. Check it out here.
|
🤝 Introducing local deals (just for you)
We’re launching a brand new segment to bring you exclusive local offers from trusted businesses right here in Tacoma. Think of it as your inside pass to the best local finds, discounts, and experiences.
The kind only available to Tacoma Brief readers.
Know a local business you love? Send ’em this newsletter and encourage them to get involved.
Own, manage, or market a local business? We’d love to feature you here for free. The only catch? Your deal has to be genuinely valuable and exclusive to our readers.
Email us 👉 [email protected] to get started.
|
📆 Around town this weekend
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.
Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →
Today
🎶 The Paperboys at Spanish Ballroom @ McMenamins Elks Temple | Friday (11/7) at 7:00pm – Spanish Ballroom’s turning into the best world tour you can take without TSA. The Paperboys whip from Celtic reels to Mexican folk to brass and bluegrass, with singalongs and fiddles, all ages welcome, so bring teens, leave the ego, and wear shoes you dance in.
🥂 Champagne Sunday: Live at the Eleanor @ Tacoma Armory | Friday (11/7) at 8:00pm – Whether you think “acoustic duo” means background music or not, Champagne Sunday will set you straight with glam-folk that’s equal parts storytelling, big harmonies, and theater. Think campfire tales in sequins. Grab a seat at the Eleanor, sip something bubbly, and settle in.
This weekend
🌕 Full Moon Magick Circle @ Crescent Moon Gifts | Saturday (11/8) at 6:00pm – This full moon community circle mixes sound healing, tarot, meditation, intention setting, and just enough astrology to satisfy your curiosity without requiring a crystal collection. Snacks and drinks are included, it is $22, and bring a mat or pillow, pen, and paper.
🥂 a Sip & Savor Experience @ Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum | Saturday (11/8) at 6:00pm – Nothing beats sipping and snacking for a good cause, especially when it’s fueling the Gig Harbor Senior Center. Expect local chefs showing off, select pours you actually want to savor, and just enough sophistication to justify calling it ‘date night’ even with friends.
📼 80s kids @ Tacoma Armory | Saturday (11/8) at 7:30pm – Consider this your sanctioned 80s singalong, led by synthpop duo Shannon Curtis and Jamie Hill. a-ha, Depeche Mode, New Order, plus immersive video and funny, heartfelt stories that sneak up on you. Stretch those air-sax muscles, locate your reading glasses, and bring the crew.
🎼 Richard D. Moe Organ Recital Series: Julia Brown @ Lagerquist Concert Hall | Sunday (11/9) at 3:00pm – Think you know your Bach from your Buxtehude? Julia Brown takes the console for the Richard D. Moe Organ Recital Series, serving up majestic pipes, lush acoustics, and that spine-tingling low C that rearranges your priorities. Settle in for craftsmanship, calm, and pure resonance.
✒️ Intro to Copperplate Calligraphy @ The Kindship Venues | Sunday (11/9) at 4:00pm – Whether your penmanship peaked in third grade or you just love the paper aisle, this intro to Copperplate at The Kindship Studio covers nibs, ink, and graceful strokes, supplies included. Learn from Chelsea Wagner, leave with lovelier letters, and an elevated thank-you note game.
❓ Family-Friendly Pokemon Trivia @ Puget Sound Pizza | Sunday (11/9) at 6:00pm – Sunday at Puget Sound Pizza in Lakewood means family-friendly Pokémon trivia, four rounds, and bragging rights your kids will never acknowledge. Win something cool and nerdy each round, or happily settle for their in-house baked cookies, a slice, and pleasantly painless family time.
Next week
🎖️ Veterans’ Appreciation Days @ Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium | Monday (11/10) at 9:00am – Veterans and active duty folks, show your military ID at the Zoo and stroll in free, with immediate family getting half off. Skip online checkout, hit the admission window, then let the kids burn energy while penguins handle the formation practice, and you enjoy downtime.
🛋️ Black Friday Furniture Fest @ AFR Furniture Clearance Center | Tuesday (11/11) at 10:00am – Lakewood’s early Black Friday bash brings big markdowns and same-day pickups. It’s more treasure hunt than showroom snooze—swap your sagging sofa before it’s holiday photo season.
🍽️ Veterans Day Dinner @ Elks | Tuesday (11/11) at 6:00pm – Nothing beats a Veterans Day dinner that keeps it classic: pulled pork or chicken, coleslaw, cornbread, beans, and fries. Free for active duty and vets with ID, $15 for civilians, kids 6 to 12 are $7, under 5 eat free, because gratitude pairs with cornbread.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 11/7 Kaitie Wade @ Firemind Brewing – 6 pm
- 11/8 Fireside Storytellers League @ Puyallup Public Library – 3 pm
- 11/8 Washed in Black and more @ Jazzbones – 8 pm
- 11/11 Neptuna and more @ McMenamins Elks Temple – 6 pm
- 11/14 Skyline and more @ McMenamins Elks Temple – 6:30 pm
- 11/14 Mark Hurwitz & Gin Creek @ Kimball Coffeehouse – 7 pm
- 11/15 Sly Stone tribute @ Jazzbones – 7 pm
- 11/15 Sam Ellefson @ Bobs Java Jive – 7 pm
- 11/16 University Wind Ensemble @ Lagerquist Concert Hall – 3 pm
- 11/16 Uncle Buzzy @ McMenamins Elks Temple – 4 pm
|
🏠️ Price is right – Tacoma edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Richard Watson (COMPASS)
In the heart of Browns Point, a privately gated estate surveys Commencement Bay, Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier, Downtown Tacoma, and the Olympics. Mount Rainier photobombs breakfast. Sunlit, sprawling main floor with living and dining, an office, and a chef’s kitchen with Subzero fridge and freezer, Gaggenau six burner plus deep fryer, twin dishwashers, and a butler’s pantry with patio access.
Upstairs holds three bedrooms, the primary with water views, fireplace, custom closet, and a spa-worthy bath. Downstairs brings a 3,000-bottle wine cellar, nautical bar, bonus room, and three-car garage. Outside, lush gardens, patios, and a greenhouse frame the panorama.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
|
|
|
