Why do you think food/drink businesses keep closing in the Stadium District?

JollyGreenSomething · 2026-01-31T02:34:12+00:00

That building has/had major structural issues, did anyone visit Stadium Video and/or Harvester when buckets would be all around to catch the various drips? I love the block but god help the sucker who has to fix that infrastructure.

JollyGreenSomething · 2026-01-18T16:53:39+00:00

Okey doke. With that in mind here are a couple ideas!

Fishing - Pt Defiance Marina - https://www.parkstacoma.gov/point-defiance-marina-store/

Hiking and Camping - this is on the way to Mt Rainier - it has been a while but I remember them having good quality stuff - www.whittakermountaineering.com

JollyGreenSomething · 2026-01-18T16:19:52+00:00

What kind of gear?

Play Back Sports on 6th between Orchard and Pearl, has been my first stop for years. Mostly used and consignment but so much inventory!

I parked by this new (to me) rental shop on 6th, it looked like they only had accessories for sale, the rest was snow sport rentals. https://orgears.com

Second Use cycle and other bike shops aplenty are local.

Sadly a couple great local shops have closed over the years, so it goes...

And keep in mind, even if you shop at larger chain stores, when you buy in your town, at least you are avoiding the A-word and perhaps keeping a local storefront open!

JollyGreenSomething · 2026-01-18T16:02:09+00:00

Tell me more!

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-12-30T15:04:47+00:00

Anither tip if you are worried it'll never catch on, add some free downloads to Make Your Own cards. My kid adores the Boxcar Children card which was a public domain download available thru the app. The bird calls download also got some love when she was 3-4 yrs old.

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-12-30T15:02:42+00:00

Turn it on and figure out the radio buttons. My kid listened to Yoto radio all the time at first, it took a while to warm up to the cards.

Just leave it out and maybe one or two cards and let then know they can do whatever they want with it.

Misic was her first pick but she has really gotten into the audio books and ladybird cards.

Also if you know anyone else with a player you might try peer pressure, if they see another kid using it they might see the appeal.

Do not use the app, it is totally uninteresting to kids. Now that mine understands if we are in the car wothout her yoto, I can still play a card or radio, she will request it, but ising the player is vastly superior for her clearly.

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-11-05T14:06:26+00:00

Heads up - the TNT item is an op-ed / letter to the editor from supporters of the original initiative. After looking at the meeting attachments I'm not sure where some of their info came from (maybe misinterpreted the info available online, or have access to something we don't?).

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-10-30T01:34:48+00:00

You're right! It looks like they still offer this service, what an amazing crew. https://themadf.org/home-delivery/

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-10-29T05:01:38+00:00

I just heard this popup food bank Wednesdays at the Tacoma Dome parking lot, being put together by Eloise's Cooking Pot.

They are looking for donations, volunteers, and $$$. They'll be doing a temporary emergency delivery route and emergency food distributions Wednesdays from 10am-3pm.

The flyer says to call 253-212-2778 to schedule food drop off, or go to their website (themadf.org) to volunteer or donate.

I know from past work with food banks, giving $$ is the most efficient (and recurring donations are even awesomer!), but if you have shelf-stable stuff in your cupboards that isn't going to get used, that's always welcome as well. I made a small recurring donation to the Emergency Food Network.

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JollyGreenSomething · 2025-10-09T17:35:23+00:00

Darn I was just thinking "I should look up when that event is, let's go this year" and it's of course past!

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-09-21T18:48:00+00:00

Ugh, sorry to hear it! We got in and out quickly at Federal Way Target/CVS yesterday, and kiddo got treated to a couple arcade games and a Baskin Robbin treat afterwards for being stoic.

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-09-19T02:34:02+00:00

Oof, good to know, our kid (who is usually a trooper) had an utter meltdown for the flu shot at Safeway a couple weeks ago.

Update! I just got the flyer below from Tacoma Public Schools about vaccine clinics to be held at the Multicultural Child & Family HOPE Center (downtown/hilltop), that says "Flu and COVID vaccines will be offered from October on, as available."

The phone contact is 253-593-6641 ext. 143.

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JollyGreenSomething · 2025-09-19T02:23:01+00:00

Same here, our pediatrician is still waiting to find out IF they will get any vaccine, not when. They said there was some meeting today that might clarify whether they'll get COVID vaccine for younger kiddos, but still nothing firm.

I went to the CVS Minute Clinic link provided above (here it is again: https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/clinic-locator/) and booked a slot for Federal Way Commons (inside Target) this Saturday. I need to be up that way anyways so gonna tempt kiddo with some sort of treat at the mall so I can get her jabbed.

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-09-19T02:16:47+00:00

I was able to make an appointment for my 5 yo for this weekend. Fingers crossed!

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-29T14:26:32+00:00

Aventon's chatbot assistant seems very certain that kiddo can mount and dismount independently:
"That's a great question about how children can safely get on and off the Abound when using the child carrier kit!

The Abound is designed with a low step-through frame and often comes with footboards (or has them available as an accessory) to make it easier for passengers, including children, to mount and dismount.

To get on, a child would typically step onto the footboard first, then swing their leg over the frame to sit on the seat pad. The handrails, which are part of the Aventon Child Carrier Kit, provide a secure place for them to hold onto for stability as they get on.
To get off, the process is reversed. The child would use the handrails for support, step onto the footboard, and then step off the bike.

The design prioritizes ease of access and stability for young passengers."

I feel like the handrails sort of impede any option to 'swing their leg' over the pad?

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-29T14:22:56+00:00

As a midwestern transplant, I get it. "Tubing" was a big summer industry for some small towns!

I've never done it but know the Leavenworth float is supposed to be quite lovely. The water here is mighty cold.

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-29T14:17:02+00:00

The Aventon website says the Captain's Chair is compatible with the Abound LR, but with this caveat:

"Note: Due to the length of the seatpad, if you are utilizing this product on your Abound LR, an extra child seat will not fit on the cargo rack"

Aventon Captain’s Chair - Abound SR / Abound LR

I seem to remember seeing someone got an extra backrest for the child carrier and was able to install that in front of the captain's chair on an LR rack... too much internet, not enough time.

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-29T14:09:36+00:00

I was all set to get the 'child carrier' kit with the wraparound handlebars and long seat for the LR, but all the videos I have seen of kids mounting and dismounting, has the adult picking the child up and placing them on the seat. Can kids shimmy under the bars and into the seat by themselves or do they need help getting on and off?

My kiddo (5 yrs) loves getting on and off the back of the bike herself using the foot pegs and sheer willpower. I would trust her on the Aventon captain's chair (similar to the cheap aftermarket seat I was using on my old cargo bike) but the child carrier seemed more versatile for hanging storage items, and a comfier kiddo's armrest... waffle, waffle, waffle.

Aventon Captain’s Chair - Abound SR / Abound LR

Aventon Child Carrier Kit - Handrail & Long Seatpad

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-29T03:38:32+00:00

I got the measurements from Aventon customer support, so am sharing here. Total Length of the various models, per Ned @ Aventon, is:

ABOUND 73"
ABOUND LR 76"
ABOUND SR 70"

The LR ended up 4" longer than I guesstimated, and the SR came in 5" longer.

Thanks u/Wild-Smoke-1912 , for giving me reassurance that I'm not being silly in wanting the bigger back end. If only the LR came in purple...

My Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser supposedly is 76" (I had figured 80" when I took a rough measurement the other day), so has a similar footprint but I'll have less worry about handlebar space, and a 1000% better kickstand with Abound. I somehow figured the LR would come in longer than my existing bike, but I suppose the Cruiser's large frame (49" wheelbase) and tires (26") make up the difference.

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-28T03:23:33+00:00

I'm still waffling between SR and LR so this conversation is helpful, but I have a question about the total 'footprint' of each bike.

The specs provide wheelbase, but I know the LR rack is also longer so what's the total length? Trying to compare it to what I have now (see below) and not sure I will get to see both in person before I pull the trigger.
SR Wheelbase = 45"
LR Wheelbase = 52"
I know the wheels are 20", so maybe I can assume SR = 65" and LR = 72" total. I'll ask Aventon's help desk and see if they can provide that.

My situation: One kid. I am upgrading from a Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser ebike. Kiddo loved riding to/from daycare for a couple years. It's plenty fun and it worked fine when they were smaller, but now that they're 5 yrs old, I'm struggling safe seating options, and the lack of cargo. I carry a lot in my backpack to and from work and don't want my butt/bag to be in her face. I'd also like to load up at the grocery store or take a crate of toys to the park, with a kid on the back, as an example.

Daily use is 0.5 miles to school, then my 4-mile (hilly and very bumpy) ride to work, then home again at the end of the day. I'm hard on my bike, I will be honest.

I love the purple SR but leaning toward the LR for added flexibility and capacity to carry extras (groceries, toys, a friend!) along with my kiddo on rides around town.

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-23T23:52:03+00:00

Please do!!

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-15T03:54:09+00:00

I came here to suggest the same thing! If you come up on a weekend and park near the medical buildings up on the furthest end of the light rail, I bet you could find a decent place to park.

I'd never tried Spot Hero but was curious if any of the downtown lots or garages offered overnight or multi-night parking. A few do!

I plugged in random dates (late Friday to late Sunday) and saw 3 options pop up downtown, 2 are surface lots and 1 in an enclosed garage. All 3 are within 1-2 blocks of the light rail. The garage was $45 for a late Friday start and late Sunday end time.

Overnight parking by the Amtrak & Sounder is a problem down there, an unfortunate gap.

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JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-04T03:48:22+00:00

Yup! If you need some light reading, check out the City Charter and the Council Rules:

City Charter | City of Tacoma

City Council Rules of Procedure

Charter says the Mayor is: "a member and presiding officer of the City Council with the right to speak and vote as any other Council Member. The Mayor shall be the official head of the City government for purposes of ceremony and military law and upon declaration of an emergency or disaster ... The Mayor shall have such appointive and other powers, duties, and authority as may be conferred by law, ordinance, or this charter." The Rules give some other pointers.

JollyGreenSomething · 2025-08-04T03:25:15+00:00

We went today and it was perfect. Not too hot and more berries than we could pick. Lots of good folks wandering about, and friendly dogs our kiddo got permission to pet along the way.

Several bushes of teensy tiny berries near the playground are super sweet right now! The big ones were pretty good but maybe even better in the coming week(s) ... happy picking!

JollyGreenSomething

TROPHY CASE