Bike lanes, bike boulevards, buses, and light rail! Today we’re talking with Kristina Walker, Executive Director at Downtown on the Go! Downtown on the Go! is a local nonprofit that’s purpose is to be the transportation advocate for anyone whose daily life is downtown. Kristina and her family live in Central Tacoma near 6th Ave and have one car.

Today Kristina talks with us about how she started riding her bike to work, (and how her husband commutes to Bonney Lake on his bike!) as well as tricks and tips for getting around Tacoma without a car.

Show Notes:

Downtown on the Go!

Live Downtown Program 

Velofemmes – Tacoma women having fun riding bikes

Hiking & Biking Trails in Tacoma

Scott Pierson Trail from Hilltop to Gig Harbor

Tacoma Link Light Rail

Tacoma Link Light Rail (Future expansion)

Bike shops:

Old Town Bicycles

Bike Tech

Tacoma Bike

Defiance Bike

2nd Cycle – Bike Coop

The post Getting Around Tacoma Without a Car with Kristina Walker 005 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

Officially the longest Move to Tacoma Podcast episode to date, this meandering  interview with Tacoma enigma RR Anderson covers he and his wife Ms. Darcy’s journey from Alaska to Tacoma- and tells the story of their lives as artists, parents, activists, and entrepreneurs in the City of Destiny. It can be hard to know whether you’re hearing RR Anderson the passionate Tacoman or RR Anderson the gleeful instigator of local drama- but figuring that out is half the fun.

RR Anderson is a unique (and sometimes controversial) character on the Tacoma arts, business, and political scenes. Whether he’s starting fights on the internet, making controversial political cartoons, or staging a fake occupation of the doomed Luzon building- RR Anderson is never boring.

“I draw stuff to purposefully provoke passion… I like to draw things that you don’t normally see to shock people.”

“I am a political cartoonist so I like to…inject it wherever possible.” says RR Anderson of the origins of his weekly political cartoons. “There was a need for a cartoonist to make fun of local politicians.”

He’s come a long way from instigator and freelance artist to established (and beloved) local business owner since opening Tinkertopia with SpaceWorks. “We just lucked out. The planets aligned and we got the best space ever,” says RR Anderson of Tinkertopia’s choice Pacific Avenue location.

“You can start something here and it’s possible to grow it into something and you don’t have to bump elbows constantly with like the mass- like the crazy tech bubble in Seattle… I think it’s just silly the people that are like, “Keep Tacoma Feared!” or “Don’t bring those jerks here!” kind of thing are people who have come here and then staked out a claim and claimed something and now they don’t want competition for that thing.”

Show Notes:

Tinkertopia – RR Anderson’s amazing creative reuse store on Tacoma’s Pacific Avenue

Tacomic – RR Anderon’s weekly political cartoons

Spaceworks – The non profit that helped RR Anderson and Ms. Darcy find space to open their shop and provided business counseling.

RR Anderson on Twitter

C.L.A.W. – The Cartoonists League of Absurd Washingtonians (secret society that promotes the radical cartoonist agenda)

The post Art and Entrepreneurship with Political Cartoonist RR Anderson Episode 016 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

For today’s podcast Marguerite sat down with Rob Mcnairhuff of MDC to have a conversation about homelessness in Tacoma. MDC is a local nonprofit that has helped Tacoma and Pierce County with housing, health care, education, and employment since 1964.

Awareness of people experiencing homelessness in Tacoma is on the rise, and conversations about the right way to tackle this challenge in our city are happening. Conversations are happening all over town hosted by many different organizations.

“It’s important I think as a community to realize though, that collectively we can make and impact and make a difference for these people,” says Rob. “And that we know from the 50+ years that MDC has been in Tacoma that a lot of lives have been touched and improved.”

Organizations in Tacoma are beginning to adopt the Housing First model pioneered in Utah with the opening of the Randall Townsend Apartments. There’s a national initiative to end homelessness among veterans. But what else? What can the average Tacoman do to help? “In Tacoma it’s a largish city but it’s a really small town. By showing up, by caring, by talking about issues we can actually make a difference, and make a positive change for people. And maybe I’m an optimist but we can instill a lot of hope in this town still.”

Join the Conversation:

The MDC Share Breakfast Rob speaks about in the interview is Tuesday September 29th, 2015. The event will feature a celebration of local success stories from MDC clients and a keynote address from John Quiñones, who rose from poverty in a family that worked as migrant farm workers to go to college and create a career in journalism – now as the host of the TV show, “What Would You Do?” Learn more here.

New Tacoma Homeless Encampment Forum The New Tacoma Neighborhood Council is sponsoring a forum on homeless encampments featuring a panel of local community experts and social service program providers to engage with community to discuss opportunities and efforts to help develop effective outcomes for the New Tacoma Neighborhood.

Learn More:

Matt Driscoll: Moving the conversation on homelessness in Tacoma forward

MDC – Making a Difference in Community

MDC Facebook Page

Nativity House

Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness

The post Homeless in Tacoma with Rob McNairhuff Episode 015 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

A few months ago my real estate agent friends Brent Tornquist and Tom Hume were talking about their client that was opening a float center. Jonathan and his wife Sarah opened the Uncharted Waters Float Center on South Proctor & South 12th in Central Tacoma this Spring. Jonathan is from Portland. He moved to Tacoma when he fell in love who Sarah, who he met in line at a Queensreich concert. They first bought a house in Hilltop and now they’re moving to the North End.

What does floating for an hour in a dark room help with? “The magnesium from the epsom salt is a natural anti-inflammatory,” he said. “People who just want to relax and sleep better. It really helps with sleep… if you’re creative… If you just want to think more clearly.”

“People are scared to be alone with their thoughts,” says Jonathan. He recommends floating for people looking for quiet space or for people looking to process past trauma or pain. Their facility has a therapy dog and gives a discount to servicemen and women.

Opening a business like this is no small task. They had to fully remodel the building and then go through an extensive process with the City of Tacoma and the Pierce County Health Department. “You have to form a really good relationship with the health department!” says Jonathan. “We have to follow the same regulations as a pool or spa.”

If you’re preparing to come in and float for the first time, Jonathan recommends stopping by for a float or checking out the website.

Show Notes:

Uncharted Waters Website

Article about Uncharted Waters in South Sound Talk

Absolutely Fabulous Episode where Edina goes in a Float Tank

The post Floating your way to inner peace with Jonathan Murray Episode 014 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

How can we grow this vision of a Tacoma that’s owned by Tacomans that grows and benefits Tacomans?

“The idea is you take the principals behind democracy and apply them to business,” says Jeff. “Co-ops are owned by the people who use them.” Like most co-ops Tacoma’s Food Co-op was created by the community to serve the community. “If you’re a customer of the food co-op and you buy a membership share you’re an owner of the co-op.”

One of the things that was a pleasant surprise to me was the role the Tacoma Food Co-op plays in helping small businesses to get off the ground. Jeff says Tacoma is one of the only places in the area where sustainable local producers can sell to the public when they’re just getting started. “It’s great to be able to connect the consumers with the producers in such a direct way,” says Jeff. “We believe in connecting with our community.”

One of the things I found interesting is that unlike annual memberships, you buy into a co-op only once. An ownership share costs $100 (one time only!), it can be paid all at once up front or for $25/year over four years. That’s a pretty sweet deal. If you ever decide to move out of town and don’t want to be a member anymore you can sell your share.  Owners get discounts on products and can vote on the board of directors.

Useful Links:

Tacoma Food Co-op 

Free classes from the Tacoma Food Co-op

Center for Spiritual Living

Tacoma Farmers Markets

The post Inside the Tacoma Food Co-op with Jeff Bessmer 013 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

We’re glad to share this interview with local business owner Brock Leach. Brock first moved to Tacoma’s East Side 15 years ago. In addition to being a college professor, Brock and his friends opened The Mix in Tacoma’s St Helens Neighborhood 7 years ago. We talked about how the East Side and St Helens neighborhoods have changed and transformed – and the roles that bars such as The Mix and Top of Tacoma have played in that transformation.

Brock talks about how he sees The Mix as a part of the community, and how community support has made the bar successful for 7 years. Originally known as Ida’s Pub, Brock and his friend Jonathan bought the bar and transformed it into an anchor for the surrounding neighborhood.

“We wanted to carry through that ‘Tacoma feel’ because we’re basically a small town.” says Brock. “People come here and one of the first things they talk about is the people that they meet. It’s probably the best part we have about our city. It’s the people here that make it amazing…”

The Mix is a gay bar, but also a true community gathering place. “Of course Jonathan and I were both gay, and we had a certain style and taste and everything like that. It basically kind of became a gay bar…” he says. “People tell me all the time, ‘this is my first time at a gay bar and I’m having a great time!'”

Tacoma Pride 2015 Info:

Out in the Park Official Page

The Mix Pride Block Party 2015

Club Silverstone Gay Pride Concert 2015

Tacoma Pride Guide 2015

St Helens Neighborhood Businesses:

The Mix

Puget Sound Pizza

Stink Meat & Cheese

Supernova Barber Shop

Over the Moon Cafe

The Silverstone

Good Karma

Tacoma Brewing Company

The post Creating a great community bar with Brock Leach of The Mix 012 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.