A rainbow crosswalk, free AR scavenger hunts, Titlow Beach low-tide tour, Porchfest, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, Tacoma. Hope you had a great holiday weekend! 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’s downtown gains a permanent rainbow crosswalk, visitors embark on free AR scavenger hunts, and tech college students tap into refrigerated food lockers for groceries — catch up here.
State-level stories: Washington State U revived a wartime canned cheese recipe, aerial surveys flagged 545,000 ailing forest acres, and a new map tracks EV charging gaps — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Gen Z stashing three times more in their 401k, Neanderthals crushing bones into prehistoric grease, and a blazing interstellar comet streaking by Mars orbit — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Make simple healthy recipes and taste them
- Explore intertidal creatures at Titlow Beach
- Support barber students with $5 haircuts
- Watch The Sandlot under the stars
- Celebrate VFW’s 75th anniversary with classic cars
- Got debt? See if you qualify for relief
🫶 We got your back
Home: Nothing humbles you quite like an AC that quits mid-heat wave or a furnace that ghosts you in January. Having a trustworthy HVAC pro on speed dial is worth its weight in gold. Not sure where to start? Check out our shortlist of the best HVAC companies around Tacoma.
Legal: Nobody plans to need a personal injury lawyer, but life has a way of throwing curveballs. When the unexpected happens, rest easy knowing you can turn to these trusted personal injury attorneys. They’ll go to bat for you (and handle all the paperwork) so you can get back to living your life.
Drink: Your morning ritual deserves better than gas station swill and drive-thru disappointment. From baristas who remember your “usual” to pastry cases that whisper sweet temptations, these local caffeine sanctuaries know that great coffee is about way more than just the beans.
Community: Neighborhood shops and cafés do more than sling lattes and sell stuff. They’re the heartbeat of every community. Every dollar you spend locally keeps Tacoma weird wonderful, and uniquely ours. Learn more about the connection here.
College: If your future graduate has zero credit history, co-signing their student loan gives them instant credibility for better rates and approval chances. The best part? CollegeAve simplifies the entire process and releases you from co-signer duty once your kiddo proves they can handle the payments.
👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?
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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
🥗 Healthy Cooking Made Simple @ Sprinker Recreation Center | Wednesday (7/9) at 6:00pm – Ready to swap those sad desk lunches for something that actually tastes good? This healthy cooking workshop shows you how to whip up delicious, easy, budget-friendly dishes, then rewards your efforts with a no-holds-barred tasting session. No obscure ingredients, no fuss, just flavor bombs you’ll brag about at your next dinner party.
🏙️ UrbanWork Market @ Rhodes Center | Thursday (7/10) at 10:00am – Think you’ve hit every midweek slump? Swing through the Rhodes Center every Thursday for the UrbanWork Market, Tacoma’s indoor pop-up where local artisans, small businesses, and community groups set up shop under one roof. It’s basically happy hour for your wallet, minus the questionable party favors, so snag hand-thrown pottery, gourmet preserves, or that statement art piece nobody else has. Leave feeling like a local hero for supporting the creative economy, or at least smug about your unique finds.
🦀 Titlow Beach Park Low Tide Tour @ Titlow Beach | Thursday (7/10) at 11:00am – Titlow Beach is hosting a free low-tide tour with Harbor WildWatch, where volunteer biologists guide you through tidepools full of sea stars, crabs, and anemones. Slip into rain boots or your oldest sneakers, because mud happens. Come curious, leave with epic local bragging rights.
🍼 Mommy and Me @ Kids at Play Therapy | Friday (7/11) at 10:00am – Got a tiny tornado aged 0–2? This playgroup’s your summer sanity-saver. Join other moms for a weekly hour of guided movement, bonding, and developmental play designed to tire out your tot and fill your cup. Pro tip: Register early — these spots disappear faster than a snack left unattended.
🎬 July 11th Outdoor Cinema: The Sandlot | Friday (7/11) at 8:00pm – Whether you’re reliving childhood baseball glory or avoiding that overgrown lawn, head over to Puyallup Valley Sports Complex. The Sandlot flickers to life at dusk, concessions are cheap, and your coziest blanket and chair are your all-access pass to free nostalgia.
🌞 Pools and Pops Happy Hour @ The Village Senior Living | Friday (7/11) at 3:30pm – Beat the heat with a breezy afternoon of poolside lounging, live music by Tacoma fave Cameron Villanueva, and a summer spread that screams “seconds, please.” We’re talking sliders, corn ribs, and a watermelon salad that deserves its own spotlight. Bonus: every guest gets a shot at snagging a Summer Pool Bag in the giveaway.
This weekend
🎂 VFW Post 10018 75th Anniversary | Saturday (7/12) at 10:00am – Who knew our VFW post could host something cooler than bingo night? Expect classic chrome, custom rides, free family-friendly fun, and a chance to swap stories with veterans who’ve logged more road miles than your uncle’s RV.
🎤 Porchfest 2025 – Day 1 @ Central Tacoma | Saturday (7/12) at 12:00pm – Day one kicks off south of Sixth Avenue with a free, walkable porch music fest where every front stoop doubles as a mini-stage. Finally meet that neighbor you’ve only waved to, discover your next favorite band, and soak up genuine local vibes.
🌼 3rd Annual Daffodil Festival Auction @ Tacoma Yacht Club | Saturday (7/12) at 5:00pm – Picture the Tacoma Yacht Club deck awash in wine, laughter, and frantic paddle-waving as we scramble to raise $25,000 for next year’s Daffodil Festival. It’s part auction, part social workout, complete with locally sourced bites that make your $60 ticket look like petty cash. Consider this your official excuse to buy something you’ll never need, all in the name of flower power.
🏳️🌈 Pride Outdoor Movie Series: Death Becomes Her @ Wright Park | Saturday (7/12) at 9:00pm – Nothing says summer like a free Pride flick under the stars on a 30-foot inflatable screen with Meryl Streep plotting immortality. Pack your favorite folding chair or blanket, snag the free popcorn, and brace for Goldie Hawn side-eyed sarcasm and Bruce Willis heroics.
🚗 2025 Cascade Cougar Club Prowl @ Griot’s Garage | Sunday (7/13) at 9:00am – Ready to let your Cougar stretch its legs on a winding Cascade backroad? Join a convoy of vintage Mercs for a relaxed cruise, roadside selfies, and a potluck picnic, because nothing says local camaraderie like passing the potato salad at 45 mph.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 7/10 Live Music @ Table 47 – 5:30 pm
- 7/10 Open Mic @ Kimball Coffeehouse – 6 pm
- 7/10 Bret Michaels @ Emerald Queen Casino – 8 pm
- 7/10 Ado: Hibana World Tour 2025 @ Tacoma Dome – 8 pm
- 7/11 Dj Forest Gump @ Jazzbones – 8 pm
- 7/12 Tacoma Porchfest 2025 – Day 1 @ Central Tacoma – 12 pm
- 7/12 Hirie and more @ Airport Tavern Music Hall – 1 pm
- 7/12 Martin Valverde Esperanza Viva @ Pantages Theater – 7:30 pm
- 7/13 Tacoma Porchfest 2025 – Day 2 @ North Tacoma – 12 pm
- 7/15 Louis C.K. @ Pantages Theater – 7:30 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: Patrick Buckley (COMPASS)
This four-plex keeps things interesting with a mix of original built-ins, hardwood and fir floors, and covered porches that make every entrance feel like an occasion. Three kitchens got the stainless steel and new cabinetry treatment, while system upgrades like a new water supply line, sewer, and furnace keep things humming behind the scenes.
A five-bay garage off the alley practically begs for classic cars or a side hustle, and the fully fenced backyard is ready for anything from corgi races to garden parties. The unfinished basement offers shared laundry, open storage, and four private storage units, all just blocks from the new light rail, Wright Park, and the medical center.
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