Silly Goose

Reading the handbills

"Silly Goose" copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian


announcing upcoming events.

Lucky he didn't end up as someone's Christmas dinner.

Merry Christmas

Here's wishing you a very merry day.

I'm sending a wish for peace from my house to yours,
from all our houses out into the world.

Chihuly Glass in Reds, Greens and Pinks

Here's some world-class glass

by that glass master Dale Chihuly.

Museum of Glass.

Kind of modern Christmas-y colors,
don't you think?

Storeroom

A rare glimpse of the art storage

facilities of Tacoma Art Museum.

Solstice Celebration

Celebrating the solstice and the return of the light.

Brown's Point

Looking across Commencement Bay

from Stadium High School

with the windows at Brown's Point sparkling in the sun,

it's easy to remember why I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest.

Assembling Gingerbread Displays

Here's a glimpse of some of the amazing volunteers

who assembled the gingerbread buildings

at the Tacoma Art Museum.

Cheating a Little

I know this is a few miles beyond Tacoma's borders,

but don't they look festive

"Waiting for the Interurban" in Fremont?

Cultural Events

What's your pleasure?

Tacoma Dome

More gingerbread.

It would be fun to see the real thing

decorated like this every December.

Highway 16

Highway 16,

just east of Jackson.

on a clear day.

Mt. Rainier's just around the corner.

Behind the Scenes Tour of Tacoma Art Museum

This is Margaret Bullock,

a curator at the Tacoma Art Museum.

Margaret was explaining how the registrar at the museum

catalogs art coming into the collection and

handles materials on loan.

She also showed us the specialized packing required

for shipping fine art.

The Elks Lodge

This gingerbread beauty

is far more spiffed up

than its bricks and mortar counterpart.

The real building is deteriorating

each and every day.

On display at Tacoma Art Museum.

More Gingerbread

I thought you might like to see

some more gingerbread architecture.

This is a reproduction of the Ford Building

and auditorium.

The gingerbread version is a creation of

BCRA, an architectural firm in Tacoma.

On display at Tacoma Art Museum,

Luzon Building Reprise

Remember when I showed you photos

of the demolition of the historic Luzon Building?

If not, click here.

The demolition of the Luzon has been resurrected

in gingerbread.

On display at the Tacoma Art Museum. 

Cold and Clear

With the deadline looming for my contributions

to an anthology that's going to publishers soon,

I've been neglecting my Tacoma publicity gig.

So, a day late,

here's yesterday's post

(I'll adjust the date).

It's cold and clear here.

It was around 30 degrees when I left home

in the warmest part of the day.

The creek behind my house is frozen

and the pond has a thin veneer of ice.

I bring the hummingbird feeder in daily to thaw it out

because I saw some little guys flitting around

just last week.

Ooops.........

I got so busy today revising my writings about Egypt

that I totally spaced writing about Tacoma.

And so, with apologies

This Friday, December 11 and Saturday, December 12

that marvelous Scottish fiddle band

THE McKASSONS

will be presenting Christmas concerts at 8 p.m.

at

The Mandolin Cafe

3923 S. 12th Street

Tacoma

Dinner service is available beginning at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the concert only are $15 for adults.

Call the Mandolin at 253 759 2317 for tickets.

If you like Celtic music, you'll love the McKassons!

And now, in the daytime

I gave you a glimpse of this sculpture not long ago.

It was taken in the blue dusk.

Here's a view in the daylight.

Museum of Glass.

Tacoma Light Rail

This little light rail tram
runs through


downtown Tacoma.
This is the stop on Pacific,
between the University of Washington Tacoma campus
and the Washington State History Museum.

Indoor Activities

This is the time of year

that I cherish indoor activities.

Especially when I have my camera in hand.

A Bit of the Past

I know that this is cheating a little.

The photo today was taken in Seattle,

up the road to the north.

But I learned a few days ago

that the carnival rides at the Seattle Center

are being dismantled. They're being replaced

by a landscaped plaza with a wading pool and skating rink.

And I'm hoping that the carousel,

which stood a little to the south of the "big kid" rides

isn't going the way of the octopus.

Aren't these horses glorious?

Missing

I noticed the other day

that this statue

once standing near Opera Alley

was missing.

What happened to her?

It Can Get Dreary

It can get rather dreary in Tacoma

this time of year,

but at least the bare branches look pretty

silhouetted against the gray sky.

Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Decorations are out in stores all over the area.

I decided to bring the stars home with me

and a little tabletop "Peace."

We could all use some peace

all year round.

Courtyard at Tacoma Art Museum

There's an interior courtyard
in the Antoine Predock-designed Tacoma Art Museum.

Here's a peek at the stone wave installation
gracing the courtyard

taken right at the corner from the inside.

Lines

I love photo compositions
featuring strong lines.


"Venting" copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian


Just like this.

Reflections

If the water is still



the reflection is stunning.

M Space

M Space is a glass studio
where artists can rent glass kiln time


and neophytes can play at making projects
like Christmas ornaments
with the help of the pros.
Sign up early -- the classes are popular.

Staying Warm and Dry

Another place to stay warm and dry

is the library at Tacoma Art Museum.

Read about your favorite artists.

Then tour the exhibits.

Or vice versa.

Late Autumn Dusk

Dusk comes early these days.

 Sometimes it paints the sky and water

a dusky shade of blue.

Museum of Glass.

Come Back!

Sometimes around here,

 it seems as if the Sun got lost

playing hide and seek.

And then, just when you've given up hope. . . .

Special Events

If you're planning to host a special event,

a wedding, a party, a prom, a reception,

Tacoma Art Museum is a great place.

Autumn Leaves in the Park

Mother Nature really puts on a show

when she plays with her paintbox.

Wright Park. Just minutes from downtown.

So What Else is New?

The sky is heavy with gray clouds,
thinking about raining on our weekend parade
as they ride east to dump snow in the Cascades.

The nearby Crystal Mountain ski area
has gotten 75 inches of new snow in the last week.
Yes, over six feet.
But that pales in comparison to Whistler's 205 inches.


Skiers and boarders are packing their cars and jumping for joy.

But if you're into more gentle pursuits,
today's a good day to visit
Museum of Glass.

Pink and Yellow

I'll admit it, these mums have me hooked.

"Curling Yellow" © 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian

Conservatory at Wright Park.

Another Show Stopper

I am totally amazed at the variety of colors and shapes

in which chrysanthmums choose to clothe themselves.

Here's another example.

Hope you're not getting bored.

Conservatory at Wright Park.

Tacoma.

Queen Mum

So I figure this might be
the queen mum.



Conservatory at Wright Park.
Near downtown Tacoma.

I Wish I Knew the Names

I wish I knew the names of all the
chrysanthemum beauties
I discovered at the Conservatory.

"Unfurling" © 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian


But not knowing,
you can make up your own names.

What would you call this spidery queen?

Warm and Dry

It's hard to be warm and dry
and still be out and about
in the Pacific Northwest
in November.

But try this ---
you can park close to the door
and rush inside.


If you zigzag, you might just
run between raindrops
all the way to the entrance
of the Conservatory at Wright Park,
Stadium District, Tacoma.

I think I'll show you some closeups
of these beauties for the next several days.
The Conservatory needs more exposure.

For a Few Days More

I don't know how long they'll last


but for the time being,
these colorful leaves are hanging on
to the branches of my coral bark maple
with a ferocity born of the winds of autumn.

Almost That Time

I know Thanksgiving hasn't yet come and gone
but it's almost time to start thinking
of Christmas decorations.

Or even just things to hang in the window
and catch the light.

These were in a store window along Proctor,
just a half block or so from the Blue Mouse.

Movie, Anyone?

Located in the Proctor District in North Tacoma,
near the intersection of 26th and Proctor,

you'll find the Blue Mouse Theater.

It screens movies that have already played at the big chains
but might be worth seeing again
(or for the first time if you missed them).

It's also got a home town feel that the chains can't offer.
Plus I know some of the kids that work in the concession stand.

Looking Over His Shoulder

The goose seems to be
looking over his shoulder

to find the blue skies of early autumn.

Hot Shop

A favorite destination

"Hot Shop Shot" copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian

of glass afficionados.

And a good place to visit when the weather's cold.

Classic Fuel

Classic fuel


for classic cars.

USA of Yesterday

Tucked away at the corner of
Sixth and St. Helens,


there's a treasure trove of classic cars.

USA of Yesterday Motors.

Reflections on the Past

Those were the days, my friend.


We thought they'd never end.

Track at Stadium High

Here's a glimpse of the track
at Stadium High


but the stadium at Stadium High
is apparently closed.
At least that's what it said on a sign
near a padlocked gate barring entry.

Fire Department

Fire Station Number One.


Between emergencies
in downtown Tacoma.

Stickers

I found these stickers
affixed to the back side
of a 2 hour parking sign.

I wish I knew what the top right sticker says
in its entirety.