Brewers & Builders fundraiser, drag trivia with Lavinda Lyfe, RADwood PNW car show, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, 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 week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: Tacoma schools plug a $30 million budget gap, a makers collective lands a permanent storefront, and families dive into tidepools at Saltwater State Park — catch up here.
State-level stories: North America’s largest hybrid ferry hits Puget Sound, new forest rules aim to widen buffers and cool streams, state unveils supports for queer youth — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Ford is recalling over 850,000 cars with fuel pump flaws, NASA’s probe delivered closest Sun shots, and BlackRock plans private investments in 401k portfolios — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Sip Narrows Brewing to rebuild homes
- Join Ebony Nurses for a wellness walk
- Join hybrid People First of Washington meeting
- Bring wheelchairs for repairs and supply swaps
- Discover fresh produce and live music
- Compare home equity loans for free
- Save $300 on Endurance auto repair coverage
🫶 We got your back
Museums: From art galleries and sculptures to history and oddly specific niches, these must-visit museums are a great excuse to put on real pants and explore the city.
Brunch: Weekend mornings are made for bottomless mimosas and fluffy pancakes, so why settle for bland toast? We’ve rounded up the coziest spots around Tacoma where the coffee flows freely and the eggs benny never disappoints. Check ’em out here.
Energy: Energy bills hitting harder than an afternoon shot of espresso? A few simple tweaks, like draft stoppers and LED swaps, can actually make a dent in your monthly statements. Get more energy-saving hacks here.
Health: That knee pain you’ve been ignoring? It’s not gonna go away on its own. The folks at The PATH Rehab & Performance specialize in getting active humans back to doing the things they love. AKA… they totally agree that “just rest it” isn’t an option.
Auto: TSL Auto Specialists is the go-to auto shop for straight talk on what your ride actually needs, whether you’re there for an oil change, a new light glaring you down from the dash, or that grinding sound you’ve been pretending you can’t hear.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
🍺 Brewers & Builders 2025 @ Narrows Brewing Company | Wednesday (7/16) at 5:30pm – Ever thought your pint could do some good on the side? Kick back with Narrows Brewing’s finest, mingle with folks who care about more than just hops, and help Rebuilding Together South Sound fix up homes in style. Cheers to craft beer with purpose.
👑 Drag Trivia @ Incline Cider House | Thursday (7/17) at 7:00pm – Kicking off Tacoma’s Pride month with rainbow slushies, drag trivia with RuPaul’s Drag Race themes is hosted by local queen Lavinda Lyfe. Free to play in teams of up to six, with silly prizes, and every pineapple cider pint supports Tacoma’s OASIS Youth Center.
🎸 Zara + Dead Spells + Fotoform @ McMenamins Elks Temple | Thursday (7/17) at 7:00pm – Think you’ve experienced all the Spanish Ballroom’s secrets? Three acts, Zara’s cinematic art rock, Dead Spells’ gothic post-punk, and Fotoform’s kaleidoscopic grooves, will have that vintage dance floor buzzing. Dust off your dancing shoes, and pretend your high school self approves.
🤘 CODA (Led Zeppelin Tribute Band) @ McMenamins Elks Temple | Friday (7/18) at 7:00pm – Friday night at the Spanish Ballroom means channeling your inner Plant. A six-piece Seattle supergroup will hammer every riff, from Stairway to Heaven to Good Times, Bad Times, with zero B-sides or excuses. Dust off your vintage tee, and let’s rock like it’s ’75.
🎷 Diamond Star Halo and The Cover-Up @ Jazzbones | Friday (7/18) at 9:00pm – Whether you’ve crashed enough Fender benders or just crave a killer guitar solo, Friday at our favorite Tacoma dive serves up Diamond Star Halo’s 70s glam razzle and The Cover-Up’s unapologetic 80s hard rock. Cheap, sweaty, and gloriously unrefined.
This weekend
🚗 RADwood PNW @ Griot’s Garage | Saturday (7/19) at 11:00am – Dust off your neon windbreaker and roll up to Griot’s Garage for a celebration of ’80s and ’90s automotive awesomeness, featuring cars, trucks, and bikes that are too cool for modern times. Think high school parking lot vibes without the tragic perms.
🏳️🌈 Puyallup Tribe Pride 2025 | Saturday (7/19) at 2:00pm – Whether you still remember dial-up tones or have repressed Y2K fever dreams, Puyallup Tribe Pride 2025 is your excuse to dust off butterfly clips and cargo pants. Cheer on drag performers, tackle bingo with attitude, snap a photo booth selfie, and snag free swag.
👗 The 2025 Couture & Cars Fashion Show @ LeMay – America’s Car Museum | Saturday (7/19) at 6:00pm – Whether you’re here for the sleek GTO or the tailored blazer, a marriage of motor sheen and high fashion at LeMay’s car museum makes you wonder if your closet could use a V8 tune-up. Expect vintage automobiles, runway drama, and more champagne than you admit.
🎸 Carolyn Wonderland @ Airport Tavern Music Hall | Saturday (7/19) at 7:00pm – Dust off your air guitar and head over to Airport Tavern for Carolyn Wonderland’s release-night blowout, featuring blues, rock, roots, and enough solo licks to make your neighbor’s windows rattle. It’s intimate, it’s raw, and it cures whatever’s ailing you.
🎤 James Coates + The Oh Wells + Brittany Danielle @ McMenamins Elks Temple | Sunday (7/20) at 5:00pm – Trade reruns for real riffs at the Spanish Ballroom: James Coates brings horn-kissed Americana, The Oh Wells serve ’60s-flavored power pop, and Brittany Danielle delivers soul-soaked sass. It’s three acts, zero autotune, and enough hometown pride to make your neighbors jealous.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 7/16 MW4V SoundVetJam @ Lakewold Gardens – 6 pm
- 7/16 Oathbound and more @ Elks Temple – 6:30 pm
- 7/17 Slim Wizzy @ Puyallup Rotary Stage – 6:30 pm
- 7/17 Drag Trivia @ Incline Cider House – 7 pm
- 7/17 Zara and more @ Elks Temple – 7 pm
- 7/17 Flo Rida @ Emerald Queen Casino – 8 pm
- 7/19 My Flannel Shirt @ The Spar Tavern – 7 pm
- 7/19 Stonepony @ Jazzbones – 7 pm
- 7/19 The Grunge Show @ Elks Temple – 8 pm
- 7/19 Gimme Shelter @ Fort Steilacoom Park – 8:15 pm
This house is wild
*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.
Listed by: Josh Serrick (47 Degrees Realty)
Sunlight pours through this stone Tudor, framing knockout views of Rainier, Puget Sound, and the Olympics from nearly every angle. Inside, coved ceilings and natural wood floors set the stage for a chef’s kitchen with a bonus prep zone, perfect for culinary showdowns. Upstairs, the primary suite brings the drama with a fireplace and spa-worthy bath, while the laundry room means no more hauling baskets.
Downstairs, a 3,000-bottle wine cellar and nautical bar keep the party going. Outside, find a commercial greenhouse, lush gardens, and slate patios, plus RV parking and a three-car garage. All the big-ticket upgrades are done. Seller financing sweetens the deal.
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