Music
The International Military Band Concert will take place Saturday, May 18, in Olympia. Musicians from both Canadian and U.S. bands will be performing. The host band is the 133d Washington Army National Guard Band. Also, from the U.S., are the United States Navy Band Northwest from Bremerton and the United
Travel
Many of us have fond memories of lake vacations with boating, fishing and lots of swimming. The towns of Chelan and Manson are perfect destinations for a lakeside vacation. Lake Chelan's crystal clear waters fed by melting snow from nearby hills and mountains just beckons on hot summer days. Just
Travel
If you have ever wanted to take an Alaskan cruise, now is the time. Multiple cruise lines depart each week from the Port of Seattle to head north to Alaska. In previous seasons, older ships were typically what you would see, but in 2018, Norwegian Cruise Lines launched the brand-new
Outdoors
Nothing is more disheartening than arriving at a new duty station, seeing all the new things to do and explore, and realizing it will be months before you can afford to go anywhere because you're broke from the move. There certainly are plenty of worthwhile activities in the area that
Attractions
Some military installations around the world seem to luck out with their proximity to awesome amusement parks. If you're lucky enough, you may end up within a short drive from Six Flags, Seaworld, Busch Gardens, or even a Disney Park. Here in Washington state, the national parks and forests are
Features
More than any other warm-weather, childhood treat, milkshakes seem to stay with us as we grow up. Many adults who have long outgrown Popsicles and ice cream cones don't have to think twice about ordering a thick, creamy, cooling shake on a hot summer day. As an ageless indulgence, shakes
Outdoors
The greatest perk of being stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is its ideal proximity to, well, everything. With the Pacific Ocean to the West, and the Cascade Mountains to the East, and loads of forest and beaches in between, it's easy to connect with nature every day. Northwest Adventure
Outdoors
If you're still sitting on the couch thinking about hiking as the rain patters outside your window this weekend, you're not taking advantage of living in the Pacific Northwest. Serious hikers across the region are already shaking the melancholy from their bones, readying themselves to hit the trails, and we
Features
Get out your shades and SPF 50, tis the season when we all feel obligated to worship that fiery orb in the sky, while spending time frolicking in grassy fields and exploring all that the PNW has to offer. You already know all the waterfront locales will be bursting at
Outdoors
One of my favorite things about the Pacific Northwest is how much better the food tastes. Words like fresh, local and farm-to-table epitomize the food culture in this area. One of the best ways to experience this is by visiting summer food festivals. Hood Canal Shrimp Fest, May 25-26 This fun, family-friendly
Arts
"Fifteen years ago, most people in Tacoma didn't know what letterpress was. I used to joke that they thought the process was as simple as pressing a button until things fell out (of the press), and then we'd have a print! Nowadays, there's an impressive public knowledge in Tacoma about
Reviews
ANNOUNCER: Directly in the heart of Tacoma's Hill Top neighborhood is the Red Elm Café. With limited kitchen space, they have utilized a panini press and a waffle iron to offer a simple, healthy yet creative menu with nothing over $6. This week, Dutch and Jackie head out to see
Features
I'm spiraling this year. The Easter Bunny visited our house a day early, you know, because Sunday was such a busy work day for us. You'd think the kids would be excited about such a thoughtful bunny hopping through the house with plastic eggs full of sugary sweet snacks and
Stage
Plays about incompetent theater companies putting on bad plays are so common as to be practically a genre of their own. Some are as bad as the absurd performances they satirize, but there have been a few on stage and screen that are outstanding. The classics of this type are
Arts
The Evergreen State College graduate Ashley Miller has returned with a photography exhibition called Sweet Things in Galerie Fotoland, first floor Library Building. The press release and a printed statement on the gallery wall refer to her pictures as still-life photography, but although they are formally like traditional still-life arrangements, they
Attractions
After sitting empty for more than 20 years, the historic 1916 Elks Temple has been restored and brought back to life by brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin. The two are passionate about saving important community buildings. Their family-owned company, McMenamins operates 55 pubs, restaurants and historic hotels in the Pacific
Attractions
There has been a lot of buzz in local news lately about the new airport at Paine Field, but it is also the home of five unique aviation-themed attractions. You can learn about historic aircraft at the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum or watch state-of-the-art Boeing planes being assembled
Arts
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith's In the Footsteps of My Ancestors at Tacoma Art Museum is a knockout punch to the emotions. Paintings and prints on display range from the 1970s to 2017, and from the earliest to the latest they are expressive and exciting. Upon stepping into the gallery, I immediately
Stage
The South Sound theater community is populated with a cavalcade of intensely passionate participants -- both onstage and behind the scenes. It's an unending source of joy to see so many familiar names pop up as actors or crew members for all the plays that we get to enjoy from
