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 the news

Local happenings: South Tacoma’s tiny home community offers support to end homelessness, a former Starbucks serves Yemeni coffee and pastries, and rescuers rehabilitate a river otter — catch up here.

State-level stories: In-N-Out opens first restaurant in Ridgefield, state fairs feature rodeos, reptile exhibits, and carnival rides, and life sciences jobs jump fifty percent — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Previously hacked data repository relaunches, ramen packs recalled over missing soy warning, and crypto markets tumble on inflation fears — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Get kids school-ready with free health screenings
• Celebrate survivors and swing for a cure
• Join Real Art Tacoma’s volunteer orientation
• Enjoy shopping and live music at Puyallup Market
• This home warranty is 50% off until 8/24

🫶 We got your back

HVAC: Sick of rolling the dice on your HVAC service? Tacoma HVAC experts deliver fast response, certified techs, and 24/7 peace of mind.

Startup: Want to launch a business in just 2–4 weeks for about $300–500? Dodge that quirky B&O tax when you’re in the red and sidestep filing in the wrong order with these startup essentials.

Appliances: Skip the $800 monster that could blend your iPhone and the $30 duds that choke on ice. Our 2025 blender guide cuts through the hype so you get a model that actually works without costing you $200 more.

Vintage: Whether you’re after a perfectly broken-in leather jacket, a band tee older than you, or something that makes strangers say “wait, is that…?”, Savoy Special Vintage is a treasure trove of retro finds, funky one-offs, and the kind of closet gold that’ll have you feeling like you time-traveled (in style).

Home: Many homeowners have no idea they’re sitting on thousands in equity they can use to redo their bathroom, kitchen, or whatever their hearts desire. This free equity loan comparison tool can help you find the best fit and get started on the right foot.

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📆 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.

Today

🎶 Meghanne Story Duo Performance @ Lazy Ballerina Wine Bar | Friday (8/22) at 6:00pm – Ease into the weekend with the smooth, soulful sounds of the Meghanne Story Duo. Grab a drink, claim your spot on the patio, and let the live music carry you into a perfect Friday night.

🟣 Paint the Park Purple 2025 @ Cheney Stadium | Friday (8/22) at 7:05pm – Summer evenings were made for ballgames, backyard barbecues, and a stadium bathed in purple and gold. Grab your Husky crew and head to Cheney Stadium for an all-you-can-eat BBQ buffet, beer, wine, and a limited-edition tee. Fireworks finale, because why not.

This weekend

🔧 Repair Café @ South King Tool Library | Saturday (8/23) at 10:00am – This free repair pop-up is basically a neighborhood spa for your wobbly chairs, dull knives, and ripped jeans. No gas-powered contraptions, microwaves, or locked phones allowed, so leave those at home. Stick around, sip coffee, and watch your treasures come back to life.

📿 DIY Charm Bracelets @ Sober AF Zero Proof Bottle Shop | Saturday (8/23) at 12:00pm – Whether you’ve sworn off crowded bars or are just really into sparkles, join us for summer mocktails and DIY charm bracelets. Pick five nostalgic charms, craft a wrist full of personality, and prove your adult social life still sparkles.

🏞️ Rainer on the Rise @ Real Art Tacoma | Saturday (8/23) at 7:00pm – Remember the hush when you crest I-5 and Mt. Rainier looms in the morning mist? Rainer on the Rise condenses that awe into two nights of genre-hopping tunes from Tacoma’s finest underdogs, proving our city can rock beyond rusted cranes and coffee jokes.

🎀 Pink @ Cheney Stadium | Sunday (8/24) at 1:30pm – The Rainiers are suiting up in pink at Cheney Stadium, partnering with Carol Milgard Breast Center to swing for breast cancer research. Expect a sea of pink, a survivor’s Parade of Hope, jersey auctions, and more elbow bumps than you thought possible.

🎪 Decade of Dreams @ Point Defiance Park | Sunday (8/24) at 2:00pm – If you’ve been itching for a night under a big, red-and-white tent at Point Defiance Park, Tacoma’s beloved little circus is back for its 10th anniversary. Expect Broadway-style trapeze thrills, classic popcorn, and zero animal acts, just human feats that’ll make your jaw drop.

🎤 13 ’Til Midnight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift @ McMenamins Elks Temple | Sunday (8/24) at 5:00pm – Shake off the weekend rut and slip into the Spanish Ballroom for 13 Til Midnight, a Taylor Swift tribute that’s packed with Love Story, Shake It Off, and all your secret, swoon-worthy deep cuts. $15 gets you in, eyes-closed karaoke vocally optional.

Next week

🏃 Fun Run Mondays @ Fleet Feet Tacoma | Monday (8/25) at 6:00pm – When you’re tired of tripping over your own excuses, join the Fleet Feet Tacoma crew every Monday for a 3-5 mile run through town. No stopwatch required, just stellar shoes, fresh air, and that smug sense of accomplishment you’ll brag about all week.

🍒 National Cherry Popsicle Day | Tuesday (8/26) at 11:00am – Need an excuse to indulge in free cherry popsicles? Swing by the park for hands-on crafts, impromptu games, occasional special guests, and genuine family-friendly fun. No lines, no fuss, just creative chaos and mild sarcasm under the sun.

🔍 Summer Block Party Scavenger Hunt | Tuesday (8/26) at 6:00pm – Tuesday night block parties are code for Fleet Feet Puyallup turning into a scavenger-hunt launchpad, where you stroll or jog to neighborhood spots collecting tickets for prize entries. It’s free, sociable, and gives you a reason to revisit shops you keep saying you’ll try someday.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/22 Aries Spears @ Tacoma Comedy Club – 7 pm
• 8/22 Trip The Wire and more @ Jazzbones – 8 pm
• 8/23 Cat Ce @ Tacoma Comedy Club – 4 pm
• 8/23 Ethereal Beauty @ Jazzy’s Cafe – 4:30 pm
• 8/23 A Flock of 80s @ McMenamins Elks Temple – 7 pm
• 8/23 Eclectics @ The Spar – 7 pm
• 8/23 T Murph @ Nate Jacksons – 7 pm
• 8/23 The All-American Rejects @ Emerald Queen Casino – 8 pm
• 8/24 Blues & Jazz @ Ebony and Ivory – 12 pm
• 8/24 13 Til Midnight @ McMenamins Elks Temple – 5 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: Jennie Wetter (Infinity Real Estate, LLC)

Classic 1949 brick rambler vibes meet double-corner-lot bragging rights right across from Puget Park. Original oak floors, coved ceilings, and those giant picture windows keep things timeless, while the backyard is all about easy living with a pergola, turf, and firepit-ready corners. Single-level living means three beds and two full baths on the main, plus a finished two-car garage with alley access for all the gear.

Downstairs, the fully finished lower level nearly doubles the space with a private-entry one-bed apartment and a rec room with its own kitchenette and ¾ bath. Two blocks puts farmers markets, indie shops, and coffee at your doorstep.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →