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Hey Tacoma, hope your week’s off to a good start! Gold and silver soar, a 15-minute city push, a Valentine’s bonsai class, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Community support strengthens food aid: On February 3, the Making a Difference Foundation donated $1,000 to Tacoma’s Eloise’s Cooking Pot Food Bank, bolstering its work to provide nutritious, culturally relevant food for local households — read the full story.
Guidance for modern mechanical rooms: CMS acquired Tacoma-based Hurley Engineering, expanding hydronics expertise for complex HVAC projects. Founded in 1936, the firm will operate under the CMS name, with CMS President Craig Center continuing leadership — get all the details.
Building walkable, connected neighborhoods: UW Tacoma’s Rubén Casas and transit advocates at Tacoma On the Go discussed Tacoma’s path to a 15-minute city, as Comprehensive Plan recognizes 15-minute neighborhoods and Tacoma considers sub-area plans — see what’s planned next.
Global trade gateway expands: Ports of Seattle and Tacoma will join Benton, Pasco and Walla Walla to create an Inland Logistics Hub in the Tri-Cities, expected to boost jobs statewide and ease truck congestion — get all the details.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/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.
*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:
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🫶 We got your back
Local health program for homeowners: Septic system at your home? Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is offering reduced inspection frequency for gravity or pump-to-gravity systems, which could save you money. Qualify by completing a septic care class and using your site records. The agency reports better water quality with maintenance. A DIY inspection pilot recently wrapped. Learn how to reduce inspections.
Your neighbors are Googling you: It’s uncomfortable but true — employers, new friends, even other parents at school pickup search names all the time. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up first, it can shape opinions before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so your first impression actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s someone you care about, you can help them too.
Meet Sandor and Sabrina Faludi: Prohibition Cellars, a Woodinville winery, will open a Tacoma tasting room this month on the St. Helens strip. Expect small production reds and rotating whites in a lounge-style space with live music. Bottles run about $25 to the $70s, adding to downtown’s growing urban tasting scene. Read the full story.
Gold is having a moment: Between inflation headlines, market swings, and growing global uncertainty, precious metals are (again) in the spotlight. American Hartford is currently offering up to $25,000 in free silver when you open a qualified account. They’ll also help you set up a penalty-free gold IRA with a lowest price guarantee, no buyback fees, and 7-day price protection.
Sound upgrade, anyone? When your guitar needs a setup, the kid needs a clarinet, or you’re finally ready to try recording, Ted Brown Music has you covered. A deep selection, rentals, lessons, and on-site repairs make it easy to get moving fast… and actually make progress this week.
A second opinion never hurts: Not every financial advisor is the right fit, and it’s okay to explore your options. Unbiased matches you with an advisor based on your personal situation, giving you a chance to ask questions in a free, no-pressure conversation to see if the fit makes sense. No obligation — just helpful advice.
Plug into Tacoma’s creativity: Grit City Studio fuels Tacoma’s creative economy with events, impact programs, and skills-first education. Think Tacoma Lit Fest and a homegrown film project. If you needed a nudge to plug in this week, consider this it…no beret required.
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📆 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.
This week
🎬 Special Screening: Tacoma Sister Cities – Davao City @ The Grand Cinema | Tuesday (2/10) at 10:00 AM – Catch a special screening celebrating Tacoma’s Sister City, Davao City, with film, conversation, and plenty of local color. It’s travel without TSA, and a history refresher where Magellan gets politely checked by Lapu Lapu. Smart, warm, and exactly the kind of community night we like.
☕ Grit City Think & Drink | Coffee, Climate Change, & Sustainability @ University of Washington Tacoma (SIAS) | Tuesday (2/10) at 6:30 PM – Grit City Think & Drink pairs your caffeine habit with big brains on coffee, climate change, and sustainability, in person or online. Expect an interactive talk, giveaways, and a moderated Q&A. It is free, all ages, and blissfully troll-free, Tacoma-style curiosity encouraged.
🖼 4th Annual TCC Black Artists Exhibition @ Tacoma Community College | Wednesday (2/11) at 10:00 AM – The 4th Annual Black Artists Exhibition at TCC’s Building 4 Gallery is back, showcasing powerful work from local talent, plus easy chances to actually meet them. Think real conversations, not art-speak. Swing by, soak it in, and feel smug about discovering your new favorite.
This weekend
🌱 Valentine’s Poett Bonsai Class @ Portland Ave Nursery | Saturday (2/14) at 1:00 AM – Valentine’s Day calls for a little pruning, not prix fixe regret. Poett Bonsai is hosting a hands-on class at Portland Ave where you’ll shape a large juniper from start to finish, pot, soil, tools, and guidance included. $135, quality vibes, book with Poett directly.
🌿 February Work Party @ qʷiqʷəlut Open Space | Saturday (2/14) at 9:00 AM – Trade chores for a little marsh time. Help mulch, weed, and grub at qʷiqʷəlut in the Port of Tacoma on the Puyallup Tribe’s ancestral tideflats, a rare pocket of wild. Tools, gloves, and snacks provided, your back may grumble, your spirit will not.
🌸 Galentine’s Day Dried Floral Garden Terrarium @ Dusty’s Hideaway | Sunday (2/15) at 12:00 PM – Whether you’re team Galentine or just here for the craft table, this afternoon is all about sipping, creating, and making dried-floral terrariums that outlast your last houseplant. Expect glass containers, everlasting blooms, and one drink of choice, friendship included.
🎼 Art Songs of the Gilded Age @ St Luke’s Memorial Episcopal Church | Sunday (2/15) at 4:00 PM – If you’ve been craving something richer than your usual playlist, come hear soprano Allison Pohl and pianist Xiaohui Yang dive into Mahler and Strauss. Think Gilded Age drama, velvet phrasing, and goosebump moments. Leave the opera glasses, bring your good ears.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Tacoma report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 51°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 4%
Mostly sunny. High near 51, with temperatures falling to around 49 in the afternoon. North northeast wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. North northeast wind around 6 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 50°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 1%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. North northeast wind around 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.
This house is wild
Stadium District classic with historic soul and updated systems including Cat6 and gas HVAC, near shops, dining, and schools. Original moldings, built-ins, and hardwoods shape a formal living room with fireplace and dining room. An open, storage-rich kitchen anchors the flow. Upstairs offers three bedrooms and attic bonus space. Guest-ready basement suite, landscaped yard, IPE deck, and 200-amp garage shop.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 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:
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