48 Comments
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Matt Malone's avatar

Also, 58% of Pierce County voters cast their ballot against Trump in 2020.

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Brent Hartinger's avatar

Interesting. Yeah, it's pretty solidly blue, though I suspect that's been trending down. Big military presence, and no public university (except a University of Washington branch campus now).

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Matt Malone's avatar

It’s not an issue abroad...one of the reasons we live outside the U.S. most of the year.

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Debby Phillips's avatar

I was born in Tacoma but raised elsewhere and I came back in 2016. I am a former SF Bay Area resident, and was concerned about the availability of live music but between local venues and the 30-40 min drive to Seattle, I get all the live music I could want! I think I will probably stay here for the rest of my life. Between family, my awesome job and living in an amazing craftsman, I think I made the right decision to return!

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Michael Jensen's avatar

Glad you like it so much!

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Alix's avatar

Born in Tacoma. Recall the scent clearly. Yes, Tacoma has changed beautifully last two decades. If you love coffee try Bluebeard Coffee in Tacoma. Your taste buds will be amazed. If you go, please give Kevin (owner) a smiling hello from me.

Great journey through my old world of Seattle down the I-5 corridor to Tacoma & beyond. I lived in Seattle 26 years transplanted from eastern side of state in 1991. It will always feel to be home to me.

thanks again for the journey

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Michael Jensen's avatar

My pleasure! Thanks for coming along!

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RainJ's avatar

Wow! I’ve lived 30 miles south of Tacoma (in Olympia) most of my life, and I’ve never been to any of those places.

Now that I think about it...the only places in Tacoma I’ve ever actually been to are Cheney Stadium and the zoo. So, maybe I’ve been actively avoiding Tacoma this whole time! 😂

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Michael Jensen's avatar

Which I get! But maybe give some of these places a second look!

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Amran Gowani's avatar

The Seattle-Tacoma relationship seems analogous to San Francisco-Sacramento. Sacramento has also been on the upswing as people flee SF for cheaper housing.

Pittsburgh seems like another good comp. Industrial town turned gritty cultural hub.

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Michael Jensen's avatar

Good comparison though at least Sacramento got to be the capitol!

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Jefferson Graham's avatar

Great Frisco Freeze photos. I want to go!

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Michael Jensen's avatar

It was wanting to take pictures that inspired me to research it!

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Annette Laing's avatar

Well, this Brit is charmed!

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

Now I DO want to come to Tacoma. Fascinating tour. Thank you.

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Michael Jensen's avatar

My pleasure!

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Michael Mohr's avatar

Oh I have some stories from Tacoma and Washington in general from my wild hitchhiking days

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Michael Jensen's avatar

One doesn't hear much about stories from Tacoma. Consider me intrigued!

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Joe Prince's avatar

Every time I saw “Googie” my brain read “Google”. Even after you made the clear the distinction. Agree with the first commenter, too: your photos are fab!

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Michael Jensen's avatar

It was hard for me to not write Google instead of Googie! LOL. And thanks very much!

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Jack Krown's avatar

I’ve definitely been reading too much U.S. politics material. I couldn’t understand why in 1897 a steamship of prosecutors arrived in Tacoma from Alaska!

No, never been to Tacoma. I’ve driven through though...on the way to Portland. Is it a drive by city like a fly over state? Lol.

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Michael Jensen's avatar

BWA HA HA! That's brilliant! It is a drive by city for a lot of people...

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Madeline's avatar

I've lived in Tacoma for 3+ years and got married in the Museum of Glass. We love being here and would not want to live in Seattle at all – it's nice to go up there for concerts + events, but even better to come home to our "normal" city.

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Michael Jensen's avatar

What a great place to get married!

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Madeline's avatar

Oh!! And you must try Howdy Bagel – our newest bagel shop + queer meeting place! https://www.howdybagel.com/

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Michael Jensen's avatar

Next time! Currently in Vancouver!

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Robert's avatar

Nice story, Michael! I’m so glad to hear that the aroma is gone. That happened fairly quickly as my partner and I and his daughter, her husband & baby drove through Tacoma then and she definitely had her aroma going strong (unless it was the baby)! That baby is now 16, so Tacoma cleaned up her problem fairly quickly! Thanks for the nice piece. I enjoyed it as my partner was from Seattle.

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Michael Jensen's avatar

My pleasure, Robert! I'm glad you enjoyed. And while the aroma of Tacoma could be, the aroma of a full baby diaper was definitely worse! LOL.

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Jenn H's avatar

Love that glass, and the high school! Most of the schools I attended had architecture in the "factory/prison brick box" style, LOL

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Michael Jensen's avatar

Mine too. Which is surely part of why I like it so much.

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Victoria Webb's avatar

I was born and raised in Auburn, Washington and the “aroma of Tacoma” was a very real thing! I lived in the Seattle area more than Tacoma until about 10 years ago when I started directing shows at two of the venues found in the Tacoma area; Tacoma Little Theatre, which has been around for 100+ years, and Lakewood Playhouse, which is south of Tacoma and has been having financial difficulty the last year or so.

When I was young, I would not have been caught dead visiting Tacoma (and it was a real possibility you would be shot if you did!) Now I love to visit and see friends. My favorite restaurant is Stink Meat, Cheese and Wine Bar. Great place!

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Michael Jensen's avatar

I hear great things about Stink Meat!

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Madeline's avatar

It actually just got bought out – they're looking for a new home. In the mean time, the Blue Rose is in that location now. I haven't been yet, but it looks like they are keeping some of the vibe. https://www.bluerosetacoma.com/

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Jeanie Manser's avatar

I've heard a few people recommend the McMenamins Elks Temple and I think it's about time I get my family over there! We've been pretty busy over the last few months with home renovations, but now that we finally finished the last thing on our to-do list, <a href="https://www.nhance.com/tacoma/cabinet-painting-graham-wa/">painting our cabinets</a>, I'd like to get my family over there! Thank you for sharing!

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Michael Jensen's avatar

Of course! Enjoy!

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