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For the first time in 50 years, an all-military parade passed in downtown Tacoma yesterday evening. The Daffodil Festival committee worked with community officials in coordinating the parade. "It is great to honor those who serve," Joe Bernstein, a Daffodil Festival volunteer said moments before the parade began. "This is just awesome!" While thousands
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Thousands attended Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Freedom Fest at Memorial and Cowan stadiums. "I've been coming here since 1995," Kingsley Hoover, owner of King's Original Kettle Korn, said as he and Ryan Whittington stirred a large kettle of popcorn. "And it's great to be here on the Fourth. I love this place." While vendors
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The women were different. The colorful tattoos and body piercings were hard to miss. "We break stereotypes," Cara Ballinger, the spouse of a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier and member of the Modified Dolls, said matter-of-factly. "Our tattoos and body piercings do not make us bad women." Founded by Holly Roettger and granted non-profit
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Andrew Parker sat and sorted through hundreds of multi-colored LEGO bricks as he contemplated building a re-creation of the ancient city of Troy. "I began to play with LEGOs when I was three years old," the eighth grader said as he worked in a studio at City Blocks,
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HERE COMES A CAMPAIGN >>> Priceless cars and a simple but elegant LeMay America's Car Museum set the mood for one of Columbia Bank's Blue Couch tapings, in which real customers kick back on the bank's iconic blue couch as tell it how it is. "It's unscripted," commented Stacia Allen, a spokeswoman
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ON THE TRAIL OF MAN AND ANIMAL WITH TACOMA ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER PAM VELDER >>> Star wasn't about to step outside the doghouse. I couldn't blame the black and white Great Dane. Would you want to walk across 20 feet of wet plywood covered with feces to greet a stranger? Then
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On a recent Saturday morning in downtown Tacoma, Christ's followers piled out of a lime green bus. The bus riders leaned a wood cross between a telephone pole and stop sign, erected a table and set up coffee and cups. Then they waited for those who need their help. This scene has
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DROPPING IN ON THE TENTS >>> This morning, as I stood in the light rain at the corner of T-town's Pacific Avenue and 21st Street, I wondered how the folks at the Occupy Tacoma Community branch of the Occupy Wall Street movement would receive an outsider. The reception went well. Sitting in a
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WEEKLY VOLCANO TEAMS UP WITH UNITED WAY OF PIERCE COUNTY >>> When it comes to opportunities created within a community and the impact they have on individual lives, the United Way of Pierce County (UWPC) makes a positive difference. "The United Way always provides the traditional safety net, the emergency services for
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FOOR FOR THOUGHT >>> To get to know her students better, an Olympia-area elementary school teacher recently asked them what they had had for supper the night before. When his turn came, one little boy said he didn't have anything to eat; that it was his turn to miss a meal because
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ICONICALLY GOOD >>> The phrase "destination restaurant" often creates visions of white tablecloths and fine china. Not for me. Pilgrimage worthy food doesn't always come from a cosmopolitan - or corporate - kitchen. Astoundingly good vittles might be served out of a nondescript building in the most unlikely of places. Like Burs Restaurant on
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TODAY IN HANGOVERS >>> For those of you who have been living under a damp rock, the Weekly Volcano's Super Best of Tacoma issue was released yesterday. Ipso facto, last night was the Weekly Volcano's Super Best of Tacoma Party. Half issue release party, half general celebration and fun dress up
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YOGURT AND COFFEE - A NEW CONCEPT >>> Neighborhood: Ft. Steilacoom Park Address: 8520 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, 253.292.1260 Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week Standard Cup of Joe: $3 Bean Source: They grind Dillano coffee. Crowd: Everyone from eigth to 80 for the coffee and yogurt. "We'll serve anyone and provide
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T-TOWN'S SATELLITE CONNECTION >>> Neighborhood: Division, Sixth Avenue, Downtown Address/Phone: 2811 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma, 253-753-5858 817 Division Ave., Tacoma, 253-753-5858 112 Market St., Tacoma, 253-753-5858 Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday Standard Cup of Heaven: $2-$3 Bean Source: Stumptown Coffee - some would say the very best in the world
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NAMED AFTER A DOG >>> Neighborhood: Downtown T-Town by UWT campus Address/phone: 1911 Pacific Ave.; 253. 572.4060 Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday. Also, open until 9:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month Standard cup of bean juice: $3 Bean Source:
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BRIGHT PLACE WITH GREAT BEANS >>> Neighborhood: Cooper Point Pavilion, West Olympia Address/phone: 1600 Cooper Pt. Road, SW, Olympia, 360.754.6222 Hours: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday Standard Cup o'Joe: $1.50 - $2 Bean Source: Eclectic in focus, coffee beans come from most regions of the
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WARM SHOP WITH CHARISMA >>> Neighborhood: The heart of Olympia Address/phone: 203A Fourth Ave., Olympia, 360.943.1434 Hours: 8 a.m. to 6: 00 p.m. Monday through Friday Standard Cup o' Joe: $2 Bean Source: Batdorf & Bronson Crowd: Middle class professionals and some Evergreen State College students with a sprinkling of seniors. Soundtrack: Jazz, easy listening Wifi: Absolutely Noshing/Sipping: Traditional
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SMALL TOWN, BIG TASTE>>> Neighborhood: Downtown Milton Address/phone: 2416 Milton Way, Milton, 253.943.5248 Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday; 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sunday Standard Cup of Brew: $2 Bean Source: The omnipresent Dillanos Coffee and its incomparable taste Crowd: Middle age to seniors, some high
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DONATE TO A LOCAL CHARITY >>> There's no better way to support your community than supporting your neighbors in need, especially during the holiday season. We'll feature
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DONATE TO A LOCAL CHARITY >>> There's no better way to support your community than supporting your neighbors in need, especially during the holiday season. We'll feature local charities on Spew throughout this