A Thing of the Past

Unsafe as she was,
asbestos and all,


it's still a bit sad
to lose a bit of the city's history.

Colors of the Luzon

The Luzon's true colors


shine through

even as her walls
come crashing down.

Demise of the Luzon Building

Saturday,
a Tacoma landmark
was felled.

The Luzon Building
couldn't withstand
the ravages of time


or the greedy bites of a wrecking crane.

To read about the Luzon's history, click here or here.

And for those of you who like the sound track,



and a glimpse of the action,



here you go.

You-Tube video copyright FooleWyse (9/26/09).

Athletic Fields

This time of year, this field is the site
of many Friday night football games.


Lowell Anne Butson was a community leader
and long-time member of the board of trustees
at Charles Wright Academy.

After her sudden and unexpected death a few years ago,
the school named its athletic complex for her,
in tribute to her service.

More Green Art

Here's another view of the environmental totems


at a small park located at Chambers Creek Road and Bridgeport.

p.s. Happy 28th Birthday, Brendan!

Green Art Installation

Seven years ago, students who were then
ninth-graders at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma
installed a series of ceramic totem poles in a park in early autumn.

It was the culmination of a project they began
the previous spring in middle school art
under the direction of a gifted teacher and artist
named Christopher Hoppin.


The installation's theme was protecting and preserving
the environment and the earth's natural diversity.

Those students are now well into their university studies
and can be proud that their art still stands,
a testament to their creativity and service to community.

Glass at Tacoma Art Museum

The Tacoma Art Museum
owns more glass by Dale Chihuly
that does its sister museum, The Museum of Glass.

Surprised?

Tacoma Art Museum focuses on the story of Pacific Northwest art,
including glass. The Museum of Glass has an international sweep.

You can finding resource material about Chihuly's glass
both in the cafe at Tacoma Art Museum and in its library.
You'll also find Chihuly glass displayed year-round at the art museum.

Both museums changed schedules around Labor Day,
being closed on both Mondays and Tuesdays
but having longer hours at other times.

Check the schedule before you make the trip.

Colorful

Colorful

and authorized
graffiti.

Across the Tracks

The railroad is an integral part
of Tacoma's history.

It wouldn't be what it is today
if the Northern Pacific Railroad had made Seattle its terminus
back in 1873.

Click here to read the story.

Road Closed

Once upon a time,
I had to drive from Seattle to Portland in a blizzard.

I was interviewing law students
for positions as lawyers in my government agency,
so I felt like I had to make the foolhardy journey
even though it was snowing so hard you couldn't see the road.
I was getting paid to fill vacancies.

Right after I passed the Tacoma Dome on I-5 heading south,
the State Patrol closed the interstate to traffic.
I was one of the last crazy drivers to get through,
though I didn't know it at the time.

My hands were too numb from the death grip I had
on the steering wheel to turn on the radio.
It was a rental car with no chains and no studded tires.
Only all season radials.

Seeing this sign reminded me of that terrifying trip.


And guess what?
Classes were cancelled.
A truck crashed on the road leading up to Lewis & Clark Law School.
Even if I'd had snowshoes, no one would have been crazy enough
to risk their lives to become an attorney for the Department of Energy.

The interstate reopened about three days later.
It was a white-knuckle trip back to Seattle,
but I made it
(without killing my 86 year old paternal grandmother,
thank God, but I was glad her cataracts
hindered her being able to see
all the cars spinning out around us.)

I'm happy it doesn't snow like that around here
too often. I like being able to see where I'm going.

Fall Quarter

It must be about time
for classes to begin


at University of Washington - Tacoma
and colleges around town

Tacoma Community College
Pierce College
University of Puget Sound
Pacific Lutheran University
and various other schools.

Another View of the Glass Museum

I can't help it.
It's so photogenic.


I just love finding new angles to shoot.

Museum of Glass.

University of Washington Huskies

This slogan might be optimistic.


The Husky football team will have to improve
A LOT from last year's record
to make this a statement of reality.

Antique Shop

Salt and pepper shakers
and other 50s type stuff
(including Lucy making chocolates).


in an antique shop
a few minutes from downtown Tacoma.

The Boys of Summer

It's almost the end of the season


for the boys of summer.

Tacoma Rainiers.

The News Tribune

Tacoma's newspaper
is


Hard copy and online.

Albers Mill

Staircase on the outside


of Albers Mill,
now converted to trendy lofts
and gallery space.

Chihuly Bits # 8

They just keep coming.

Photo copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian.

All the gorgeous color
you can ever imagine.

Revel in it!

(close-ups of miniscule portions
of a large Chihuly installation
on the Bridge of Glass)

Back to Chihuly Bits (#7)

After showing you the "other" Tacoma,
I'm back to Chihuly bits.

Photograph copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian.

Sorry. I have a passion
for beautiful things.

A Little Variety

I was concerned
that I was overloading you
with photographs of beautiful art glass.

Just in case you needed a change of pace,

here's another familiar site.

These logging trucks are heading down to the Port of Tacoma.

Chihuly Bits # 6

I hope I'm not boring you.
Are you getting tired of glimpses of
Dale Chihuly's glass?

Chihuly Bits #5

More Dale Chihuly glass.

A tiny little part of an amazing installation.

On public view.
Every single day.

Oh my!
Aren't we blessed?

More Chihuly Bits # 4

I can't resist taking photos
on the Bridge of Glass.

photo copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian.

There's such variety and visual texture.

Chihuly Bits Again (#3)

Many of you have admired the shots of glass
I've taken, bits of the Chihuly installation
overhead on Tacoma's Bridge of Glass.

This week I'm showing you more
Chihuly bits each day.

Photo copyright 2009 Meri Arnett-Kremian


Hope you don't mind.

Each shot is a close up of a miniscule portion
of a very large installation, probably 25 square meters
in size or larger.

The alternative was posting shots
of Cabo San Lucas,
since I'm off on a girlfriends holiday.

Shall I drink a margarita for you?

Flourish

It was a rainy morning
but the sign says it all.


It's full of little indulgences
with a European flair.

27th and Proctor, I think.
On the street where the Proctor Saturday market is held.
Behind the Northwest Store, just off Proctor.

Bucket Brigade

If you need a bucket brigade
you'd better hope the fire's not too big

as the pretty little buckets
at this store on Pacific Avenue
don't hold much water.

Museum Gift Shop

Shoppers browse art glass purchase options

in the Museum Shop
Museum of Glass.

Fashionably Eco-Friendly

We love the environment

but it doesn't hurt to be fashionable.

Art-o-Mat

The Art-o-Mat is located at BKB Gallery
on Pacific Avenue downtown.


Do you have one in your home town?

Psychic Fair

There's a Psychic Fair
being held this month.


Do you think old Ezra Meeker
would roll over in his grave
or
join in the festivities?