DB: A Place to Gather
Recently, I joined a group of extremely spiritual people for a Sunday morning get together. This soulful man jumped up on the mic during song time and began to exclaim his place of birth. “I was boooooorn, by the river, you know my mama had me in a tent….and just, like that godd@*# river, baby…I been running ever since.” I was nearly brought to tears. Ok, I was brought to tears, right in the middle of a group of strangers a clapping and connecting to their wacky ideas of God, I sat in my grey padded chair and had a good little cry. For some strange reason the story in that man’s song hit me dead in the eye-leak button, and the reason why is as complicated as the metaphysical sermon that soon followed. But I will only bore you with the one.
Like the river in the song and the river that subsequently came out of my nose, we my friends, as a people, are running from something. Be it debt or hunger or some un-evolved primal need for propulsion we seem to cleverly bob and weave our way from our last meeting, to the next product, to the next bit of entertainment, to the next consumable imbibed, to the next rush hour, to home, to the next project, to the next snooze button. America is a go. Running errands, running for governor, running free, running around like chickens with our heads cut off, running wild, running at the mouth…
The proof of this is in our social past. Where is the community that built the 17 odd ballrooms that grace the hidden second stories scattered throughout this city? Where is the public walking our streets that justified such enormous sidewalks. Where are the fraternities, the annexes, the grange halls, the armories? Where did the social platform that included all ages, races and religions disappear too?
When I bring up the problem of there being no social forum to get to know people, I am always pointed either to the bar or to the church. However, drunk or perplexed, neither are inclusive of all ages or types of people in this city. We have become a culture disconnected. We have become a culture of affinities. As long as you look, think and act my age style and preference, I may be willing to connect to you… and miss out on the rest of the world. Why are we running away from each other?
I say Tacoma needs a community center worthy of the name. It should have all sorts of ways to express ourselves and enjoy ourselves TOGETHER. There could be a stage, a lounge, a hall, a racquetball court….ok.. if its not obvious I’m talking about the old Elks on 7th and Broadway. There was an old falcon that lived in the box seats and would fly all around the ballroom like the ghost of some forlorn socialite seeking the gala of Christmas past. Before it was sealed by Williams and Dane…well actually before that, when Zimmerman still wanted it to rot into the ground, I spent a night or two in the old place exploring and poking about with a headlamp and a bottle of port. This was a building made for the explicit purpose of gathering. It was not a church, nor a bar in the exclusive sense (although the lounge is very roomy and very gangster), but it seemed you could have both happening in there at the same time. This was a building created for human expression and engagement. It was a building imbibed with a lust for connection to ones contemporaries. I really don’t know anything about the Elks, who knows how inclusive they are in their little club, but there was a pool and a sauna, a kitchen and a theater and some racquetball courts, and that enormous ball room. It seemed to me that they wanted everyone, and that everyone would come if they were welcomed.
The old Elks seems to be spoken for at this point, but can we please conceive a forum for live community engagement? Can there be a place in this city to just come and be with people? I know its a massive pipe dream but for real, how else are we going to ever have the chance to talk offline? I like you people, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen 90% of your faces. If this is all Tacoma has to offer me in the way of human connection with people outside of my coffee affinity, then we are going to be extinct, because power lies in the numbers. Soon, the world (and Tacoma) will be run by the drunk and religious cause they are the only ones who can seem to have a meaningful face to face conversations long enough to trust one another.
Filed under: DB
18 comments
R RR Anderson February 19, 2008
tollefson plaza is open. it’s even got a built in amphitheater. You just gotta yell over the traffic is all.
K kc February 20, 2008
I strongly recommend less time on computers, less time on blogs. However, that doesn’t solve the problem of finding a place to call “community center.”
S Sassy McButterpants February 20, 2008
I’ve always thought Elks & Eagle halls are fabulous. It would be so great to get a bunch of people sponsored and have a big group of young (under 60’s) people in one lodge.
So it’s drunks and evangelicals running the social scene? Amazing…
E Erik B. February 20, 2008
The old Elks seems to be spoken for at this point, but can we please conceive a forum for live community engagement? Can there be a place in this city to just come and be with people?
Great article.
I suggest the Pythians on Broadway. Seriously. The place is right downtown and is pretty amazing. We could all be neo-masons.
They need members bad, and we need a place. No renovations required.
Radical.
M Marguerite February 20, 2008
I’m in, Erik. I think that’s a great Idea. I’m not joking.
M Mofo from the Hood February 20, 2008
Eric B. @4: “I suggest the Pythians on Broadway.”
I’m startin’ a new group called the Monty Pythians. Whose in?
E Erik B. February 20, 2008
I’m in, Erik. I think that’s a great Idea. I’m not joking.
Once one gets over the “mason” type images, the place is a perfect clubhouse for downtown Tacomans. Its privately owned. Located on Broadway.
Historic Tacoma has already started to have activities there. It is the last lodge left downtown that I know of that survived Tacoma’s dark years.
That’s why they had lodges like this: a third place to be that was neither work nor home.
Plus, if Mick Jagger can be a Knight, why not you and I?
M Marguerite February 20, 2008
So where do we sign up? How much does it cost?
M Mofo from the Hood February 21, 2008
Well first of all Marguerite, I want to say thanks for your inquiry about joining the Monty Pythians.
Generally the members involved, to put it politely, are a little wack. For example, maybe you’ve ridden your bicycle without a helmet. Or sometimes you drive your car without fastening your seatbelt.
Now, about membership dues. It’s not uncommon for members to “tithe” 10% of their personal income before taxes.
Thank you.
MFTH, Grand Master Sunshine Superman
The Monty Pythians
D Daniel Blue February 22, 2008
werent the pythians the dudes who hung out in delphi and smoked sherm with an oracle to eventually speak with appolo?
P Phil February 22, 2008
Great idea, Erik. A bunch of buddies from work & I, who are big on Tacoma, preservation, etc. were considering becoming Pythians months ago.
That is, as long as beer is marginally involved, which has been confirmed.
R RR Anderson February 22, 2008
I would join if we were required to wear a Maroon Fez
M Marguerite February 22, 2008
RR, I think I would pay extra for the chance to wear a fez… I would like mine to have a tassel.
M Mofo from the Hood February 22, 2008
QUESTION: At The Monty Pythians gathering place, is there a hat requirement?
ANSWER: Right. The official hat of The Monty Pythians is a folded black and white newspaper tricorn. The Monty Pythian Color Guard, which participates in community booster events and parades, is a special regiment which is identifiable and often praised for its tricorn made exclusively from folded newspaper multi-color comics.
Thank you.
MFTH, Grand Master Sunshine Superman
The Monty Pythians
M Mofo from the Hood February 26, 2008
What do you call them two tassles that women wear on their front side? Yeah, we got them.
Thank you.
MFTH, Grand Master Sunshine Superman
The Monty Pythians
A altered chords February 26, 2008
DB – not sure about the oracle and sherm but I could organize a group of musicians to play some very wacked out jazz that would facilitate a connection with our Fez wearing bretheren (sisteren?)
In the meantime – gather tonight at the One Heart Cafe at 6th and Fawcett from 5:30 to 8:30. The jazz quartet will be dishing up jazz with a decidedly latin flair tonight. Piano, upright bass, congas and guitar. It’s perfect music to listen to while socializing. You can actually speak with one another while the band is playing. In fact, studies show that listening to live jazz that has a decidedly latin flair actually stimulates clever conversation and brilliant ideas.
No cover charge (lavish tips encouraged) Great food, coffee, tea etc.
D Daniel Blue February 27, 2008
so pretty much, im going to be a knight of pythia.
M Marguerite February 27, 2008
Pretty Much!