Reviews
Tacoma Cabana refers to its style as vacation fusion, and though located in downtown Tacoma right on Pacific Avenue, it makes you feel as if you truly are on vacation. From the menu, the dark interior and bamboo everything, to the vacation-styled drink menu, it is an in-town escape from
News
The perfect companion to Angels Flying Out of Hell, Operation Babylift is the poignant memoir of Air Force nurse Regina Aune and orphan Aryn Lockhart, both of whom were on the ill-fated initial C5-A Babylift mission out of Saigon that crashed with more than 300 babies, crew, and caregivers on
Military Life
The staff at Madigan Army Medical Center first started taking care of the McLauchlan family 64 years ago. In 1951, their son David needed care for polio, so the family uprooted from the Panama Canal Zone to Madigan at then-Fort Lewis. Throughout the career of 1st Sgt. David Russell McLauchlan,
Bars & Clubs
Visiting six great breweries with historic and personal connections to the Puget Sound area was very rewarding work. The lagers I sampled weren't bad, either. From the gritty patriotism of Wingman Brewers, to the service orientation of Top Rung Brewing, followed by the sense of community of Three Magnets Brewing Company, mirrored
Features
In a state of psychosis, I e-mailed everyone in my address book and asked each person to send me his or her top recommendation for the best sandwich in the South Sound. I told them I would eat every suggestion and then pick the best 14 on the list -
Outdoors
Much has been written about the pairings of food with wine, and chocolate with beer, but what about the combination of fair food with amusement rides and animal odors? A fine onion burger tastes great (even a second time) with a gentle rocking motion upwind of the petting zoo, but put
Travel
In an ideal world, there would be a car that had it all for the northwest lifestyle, like maybe cargo space for shopping or leisure activities like camping or skiing. As long as we're talking about camping and skiing, wouldn't it be nice for this fantasy car to have the
Outdoors
Recently, my oldest and dearest friend came home for a visit. She's a fancy city slicker now, hailing from New York City. Not Brooklyn or another borough. NYC proper. Naturally, I usually trek up to Seattle and go to some hip, new restaurant for our annual catch up. But this
Outdoors
A nice and easy two-hour drive away, the city of Ocean Shores is my idea of a great day trip - or weekend getaway - destination. A 6,000-acre peninsula located on the north side of Gray's Harbor on the Washington coast, the municipality a busy commercial center complete with family-friendly restaurants,
Travel
Do yourself a favor. Say "road trip." If you didn't feel a little twinge of excitement, then there's probably something wrong with you. For most of us, something happens when we hear those two little four-letter words. An ancient magic is released. Rapture bursts forth and coolness seeps from your
Travel
The South Sound is rich in military history, and to better understand how that happened, to prepare for the coming 100th anniversary of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (2017), and to partake in an upcoming August event in DuPont, getting a grip on how our military got here and why is both
Travel
If you've thought about visiting lavender fields but don't want to drive too far, you're in luck. There are two lavender fields that are both just a short ride from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Evergreen Valley Farms, conveniently located in Olympia, grows 11 varieties of organic lavender. They are locally owned by Thane
Outdoors
If you are new to the area, it is not hard to see why so many people fall in love with the state of Washington. Its serene, tree-lined lakes and rivers are appealing to many who are seeking adventure or looking to explore. One way to uniquely explore the area
Travel
Thurston County is home to the Capitol and one of the best farmers markets in the region. The county includes Olympia and all the perks of city life, from arts and live entertainment to microbreweries, as well as fantastically rural places to explore - parks, bays, forests and rivers. While
Travel
Nestled on the eastern shore of the Olympic Peninsula, Shelton, Washington is only a forty minute drive from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, making it the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Located just off Hwy. 101, the county seat of Mason County boasts beautiful views, gorgeous hikes, and plenty of small
Outdoors
It's not accommodations that include afternoon tea, massage, a swimming pool or minibar - and it's certainly not pretty - but for serious fishermen that want to stay close to the action with all of the supplies and services they may need fingertips away, Olson's Resort on the Olympic Peninsula,
Travel
It's easy to look north. Both Seattle and Canada are huge draws when living in this area. But, there are equally good reasons to turn your steering wheel south and to explore the areas around Vancouver, Washington, and Portland. Here are 10. 1. Ape Caves By now you have already visited or
South Sound Cinema
Nirvana captivated the world in the 1990s, and true music fans know the band had strong ties to Tacoma, therefore it makes great sense The Grand Cinema will open Cobain: Montage of Heck, the new Nirvana documentary, for a limited run starting Friday. The new film traces the path from Nirvana front man Kurt
Stage
Eight plays by local playwrights, seven directors, and a dozen actors. What could possibly go wrong? Very little. This cadre of local talent pulled together by Theater Artists Olympia in collaboration with the Northwest Playwrights Alliance is offering a marvelous evening of entertaining one-act plays at the Midnight Sun. Improbable Peck
News
Change comes hard. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the century-plus-old organization that advocates for America's veterans, must change in order to remain relevant and solvent. Since 1995, the organization's membership has dropped by nearly half. In almost 15 years of combat from the Middle East to Africa - and the more