News Front
Listening to Christmas music during the holiday season is one way festivities are celebrated this time of the year. The 133D Army National Guard Band celebrated this revered tradition by putting on a free concert that combined classic Christmas melodies with American patriotism for their annual Red, White and Blue
Military Life
Flying things is fun. If your children already enjoy paper airplanes, rubber band gliders, and flying discs and rings of all kinds, this may be the year to try out a model rocket. First stop, your local hobby shop for a look at rockets with such names as Rocket-Star, Show Stopper,
Military Life
Christmas can be the most frustrating holiday of all. You want to give thoughtful, memorable gifts to everyone on your list, but as the holiday draws closer, you begin to realize that you have no idea what to get for your dad, or your Auntie Anne, or your Cousin Timmy,
Military Life
Shopping is an intrinsic part of the holiday season - long lines at big box stores, boughs of plastic holly decking out the malls, and - if you're lucky - punching someone out so you get that last 60-inch LCD Samsung big screen. At least, that is if you go
Military Life
The Christmas holiday is almost upon us, which means if you haven't already done your holiday shopping, now is the time to get cracking. One of the best places to bring in the holidays is downtown Sumner. With its string of quaint shops lining Main Street - offering everything from clothing
Attractions
The Christmas season is upon us - that joyful season of light in the darkest part of winter. To help celebrate, the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, located in Wright Park on South G Street in Tacoma, presents some great opportunities for celebration and merry making with two very special events:
Attractions
Santa spends most of his time at the North Pole, where he's not easily accessible to anyone who doesn't have magic reindeer. Perhaps he's shy. After all, he visits in the dead of night, when everyone is asleep. And if you're awake at that time, he's probably not going to bring
News Front
An explosion at a chemical weapons site wounded three soldiers and killed another. Moments later, a seven-soldier chemical reconnaissance and decontamination team arrived in full chemical warfare gear, entered the blast area, and began to assess the threat and the casualties. Satisfied with the results, first aid and decontamination procedures began. "We're in
News Front
The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) is well known in the military community for their unwavering support and appreciation for servicemembers of every branch of the Armed Forces. While many of the events hosted by local chapters of the AUSA are well known and publicized, some of what
News Front
At the interstellar intersection of numerous Star Wars movies and national defense is an array of new weaponry and progress. Welcome to today's "galaxy far, far away." Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in a several days in theaters around the world. The seventh installment in the Star Wars film series, this
Music
In December, virtually all entertainment revolves around the winter holidays. Sure, life as usual goes on, but you'd never know it by listening to the radio, where carols and the unfortunate "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" take over many stations. Or by watching TV, where special holiday episodes give way
Attractions
Nothing quite warms up a chilly December evening like a Christmas light display. Stroll or drive through the lights, admire the setups, which usually include some animated displays (a surefire hit with the kiddies) and sip on some hot chocolate as you go. If the weather is clear, head for
Stage
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Tacoma Musical Playhouse is cute and lighthearted musical comedy. Written by Jeremy Sams and Ray Roderick, with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, it is based on the movie starring Dick Van Dyke as the eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts (played
Arts
Seattle-based artists Joey Kirkpatrick and Flora C. Mace have been working collaboratively for almost 40 years, and in that time they have compiled a major body of work that can be seen for the first time in a career-spanning exhibition. Their collaboration started at Pilchuck Glass School in 1979. Their first
Music
I think it's safe to say that the majority of the films of John Hughes found their success and their long-lasting nostalgic value through their impeccable usage of music. Movies like Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, and The Breakfast Club are passably surface-examining studies of teenage life, more comfortable dealing
Reviews
Engine House #9, E9 as it is most often called, has been a Tacoma landmark for decades, and continues to be a destination for the thirsty and hungry because of two reasons: great food and a huge selection of beer and spirits. The iconic firehouse and commitment to its history
Attractions
What says "Merry Christmas!" better than a perfectly decorated Christmas tree? How about 60 beautifully decorated Christmas trees? Even better: how about all those Christmas trees in one warm, dry place? Once again this year, the Mary Bridge Brigade is proud to present its annual Festival of Trees. This year, the
News Front
Technology is everywhere. Small devices no larger than a deck of cards can monitor heart rates, take vivid pictures, and navigate us to any destination of our choosing. Every task or chore on our to-do list can be completed with the socially recognized phrase "there's an app for that." For those
Outdoors
There are many beloved traditions within the community this time of year. Families are often busy decking their halls, trimming the tree, and decorating their house in the spirit of the season. While many Christmas traditions include family gatherings inside the home or visiting with Santa at special events, some
News Front
The statistics are sobering. It is estimated that over 145,000 people in Washington state are living with brain injury-related disabilities; this number is based on hospitalizations. That is not the full story, though. The numbers increase for those people who are not hospitalized or who are not initially diagnosed with brain injury. Clearly, there