If you’ve ever been to Mexico in October, you know that the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is such a cool, colorful holiday. On November 1 and 2, Día de los Muertos is a way for family and friends to celebrate the lives of loved ones who have died.

This year, you can come check it out, too. On October 17, the Tacoma Art Museum began a two-week observance of the holiday, and is holding a community-wide celebration at the museum on Sunday, November 1. In the museum lobby, local artists will be creating a colorful tapete (sand painting). Everybody is also invited to join in on building a collaborative altar, or ofrenda.

If you’ve never seen the amazing folk art, altars, dance, and music associated with this holiday, here’s your chance. It really is a great, life-affirming experience. And don’t let the skeletons scare you!

Ta ta!
Danielle

Cork Wine Bar, a fantastic Tacoma wine bar, which took second in the South Sound Magazine Best of South Sound wine list, is definitely worth checking out. A friend and I recently hit it up Wednesday night—all flights $8. We sampled two of their wine flights, with generous two-ounce pours.

Love the names, too: Forgive Me For I Have Zinned, with Alexander Valley Temptation zin, California; Tobin James Ballistic, California; and Writers Block zin, California and You Had Me at Merlot, featuring McGavick, Washington; Napa Cellars, Napa Valley, California; and Shooting Star, Kelseyville, California.

They offer a simple yet satisfying menu, featuring mainly Italian goodies like bruschetta, antipasti, yummy cheese plates, a delicious Caprese salad, and a great variety of topped flatbreads. Tuesdays and Fridays are all-night happy hour, Thursdays feature complimentary wine tasting, and Saturdays there’s live music.

Oh, and leave room for dessert. We had Amaretto Almond Biscotti Torte, layers of biscotti soaked in amaretto with a smooth amaretto almond mousse filling. In fact, maybe it’s just safer to start with dessert!

Ta ta,
Danielle

As soon as I heard about this event, at the Tacoma Dome, I was reminded of a day when I was a little girl. It was late November and my mother took me to the huge hall at the county fairgrounds. We spent the entire day visiting booths at this giant “Christmas Fair.” We made gifts, bought gifts, got ideas of what to make later on our own. It was one of those magic days that you have as a kid.

Well, maybe your magic day is awaiting at the 27th Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival. I’m hoping that the art and crafts booths, the sparkling jewelry, and the tables overflowing with Christmas ornaments and decorations inspire a bunch of great gift ideas.

If not, I can always just get an eggnog latte and gawk at the 45-foot hanging Christmas tree and get my picture taken with Santa.

Ta ta,
Danielle

I don’t how I’d live without mani/pedis. Not sure how I survived before. I justify them by telling myself that foot and hand massage and treatments promote all-over health. It does. But it doesn’t hurt that it feels good and looks good. Plus, being at the Murano, I’m right down the hall from Savi, our hotel spa . I’ve been to others, but Savi is my favorite set-up in town, and not just because of its convenient location.

Savi offers the usual—manicures, pedicures, facials—but also includes a warm, lavender neck roll and an eye pillow (some treatments even offer a complimentary cocktail!). There are private rooms and special chairs with many of the services. You can also get a foot treatment (without the pedicure) and a cryotonic foot and leg treatment that helps circulation and sore muscles. And who doesn’t have those?

There’s also the option of ordering from room service and/or the bar while you’re getting the kinks worked out. Pampering at its best.

Ta ta!
Danielle

If you’re a blues fan, here’s your chance to do your part while taking in some great music. It’s the Blues Vespers Benefit for Peace, on the fourth of October, at Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Come hear one of the modern blues greats, Bill Sims Jr., a NYC regular who’s got a long resume that includes musician, actor (Lackawanna Blues at Seattle Rep), composer, and director (August Wilson’s Seven Guitars on Broadway).

Joining Sims will be the Mark Riley Trio, with Howard Hooper or Rob Moitoza on bass and Marty Vadalabene on drums. Formed in 2003, the eclectic trio counts Fleetwood Mac, Sonny Landreth and the great Robert Johnson as influences. Buck England will join the trio, on a B-3 organ, for the show.
This free Tacoma music event is part of Immanuel’s 100th anniversary of their north-end sanctuary.

All donations will go towards the church’s ongoing peace-keeping efforts. Doing good was never so easy.

See ya later,
Dale

It’s a special delight to run across an interesting and unusual spot in your own town. I just learned that right in Old Town Park, just a block from where it originally stood, is a replica of Job Carr’s cabin. Um, who? And, what?

Well, turns out that old Job was Tacoma’s first Euro-American settler, plopping himself down, in 1865, in what is now Old Town Tacoma. A permanently disabled veteran of the Civil War, Carr made his way from Indiana to Commencement Bay, purportedly exclaiming “Eureka! Eureka!” when he spied the future Tacoma.

He built himself a cabin, got himself a cat—Tom, of course—and got down to the business of making his claim. His cabin is now a museum with all his pioneer stuff, some great old musical instruments, and some audio musical samples of the music of Carr’s day.

If you ever wondered what Old Town looked like when it wasn’t so old, a visit to Job Carr’s home will give you a glimpse. You can also check out the Job Carr Museum as well.

Cheers,
Dale

This favorite spot of UPS students has long piqued my curiosity. My goal with a visit to the Goofy Goose on 6th Ave. was to try to get to the bottom of why it’s goofy, and also if there is actually a goose involved in any way whatsoever.

Although there are hamburgers at this hamburger joint, the thing to get is the pseudo-Japanese fare. The yakisoba, for example, is very tasty, with plenty of perfectly cooked veggies, and enough meat for a family of four. The hand-dipped fried mushrooms, at less than two bucks an order, are worth the trip alone.

So, I guess the goofy part is that this hole-in-the-wall actually offers something different than you might expect, and that the hamburgers are good and reliable. And I can confirm there is not a goose in sight.

See ya!
Danielle

I’m always telling you about the goings-on at the Murano, and what an awesome hotel it is. And I figure you probably think I’m a little biased, since I work here, and care about my job security and whatever. Don’t take my word for it. Just listen to these real, honest to goodness guests, courtesy of the trusted travel site, TripAdvisor, where we’re the #1 ranked hotel:

• “I ate dinner one night at Bite. I thought the food was very good, and the service exceptional.”
• “I have never stayed anywhere with faster elevators … From the lobby, there was always an elevator ready, waiting, with door open for passengers.”
• “Housekeeping was very polite and considerate, did a great job — I couldn’t find a hair or dust anywhere. The desk staff was equal.”

So if you’re hungry or you’ve simply had it with sluggish elevators, we’re right in downtown Tacoma on Broadway Plaza.

See ya!
Danielle

Keith Urban, a kiwi country star? I’ll bet you thought he was an Aussie. I did. Actually, he is, sort of. He was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia. But you might’ve thought he was born right here in the U.S.

He started strumming a guitar at the tender age of six and has since become one of the country music scene’s biggest names, winning a Grammy, a CMA award, and an Aria award.

And now he’s coming to the Dome on September 12. Even if country isn’t your bale of hay, this is probably a show worth seeing. Plus, at the concert you can even record your own song, with Keith, thanks to magic green-screen technology.

Yeehaw,
Dale

This is like rock royalty really. It doesn’t matter whether you grew up in the 80s, 90s or more recently, AC/DC probably is in your CD collection somewhere. I mean, these guys have been at it for more than 30 years! That to me is just amazing. One of five top-selling bands in music history.

I don’t remember the last time they were in Tacoma, but it’s been awhile. If you’ve never seen them, here’s your chance, and maybe your last chance, when they come playing at the Dome on August 30-31. Two rocking shows.

Even if you’re not a big fan, or don’t own one of their CDs, you definitely know their music. Popular ones you’ve heard like Back in Black, T.N.T., Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, (You Shook Me) All Night Long, and Night Prowler. And if you’re a rock person, you really owe it to yourself. For those about to rock, I salute you!

Rock on,
Danielle