Freighthouse Square: Like a Phoenix. With Giant Checkers.
Freighthouse Square: like a Phoenix. Or a cat with nine lives. Or the Terminator. It’s back. Unlike the Terminator, however, Freighthouse Square will be celebrating its return with a family arts celebration.
This Saturday, Tacoma’s iconic and eclectic shopping and arts center will welcome the public to the “first annual” I CAN (Interactive Community Arts Network) All Ages Community Arts Celebration. Promised highlights include a visit from Mayor Strickland, Legos, magic, painting, photography, music, storytelling, a book show, hands-on activities, giant checkers, a scavenger hunt, and “MORE!,” along with the pleasure of browsing its resident 22 shops and restaurants.
I CAN celebrates Freighthouse Square’s return to its “tradition of showcasing local artists, local businesses and family entertainment.” The event comes just ahead of the opening of the LeMay museum, which is expected to bring 500,000 new visitors to the Dome District neighborhood in the coming year. Freighthouse Square’s manager and shopkeepers hope to harness that energy, and to be active players in the ongoing revitalization of that little corner of downtown Tacoma.
Since this January, 14 new retail and office spaces have opened, and two restaurants have reopened in the three blocks of vendors, artists, merchants and business services, located just 2 blocks west of the Tacoma Dome and LeMay Museum. This renaissance for the iconic locations breathes new life into the historic space built as the Westernmost terminus of the Milwaukee Railroad.
Mayor Strickland, who will be visiting the event this Saturday called I CAN “an example of the change happening in Tacoma residents’ thinking and behavior to ‘go local’ that benefits everyone.”
I CAN (Interactive Community Arts Network) Celebration
When: Saturday, March 31, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where: Freighthouse Square
Details: www.brownpapertickets.com
For a little recent history on Freighthouse Square, particularly its restaurants, see last week’s article from The News Tribune
Filed under: tacoma-business, Events
17 comments
M Marie March 29, 2012
I’m always amazed at how Freighthouse evolves. I many have fond memories of escaping here for cinnamon rolls in college, Halloween costume contests with the kids, eating in the unique food court, yoga downstairs at one point, now the amazing Lego shop and so much more. We LOVE exploring Freighthouse Square. :)
F fredo March 29, 2012
One minute Mayor Strickland is celebrating retail, the next minute she’s slapping a new sales tax on the businesses. I guess in Strickland’s world adding some new taxes is a way the government can provide something “extra.”
J jd March 29, 2012
As I recall, the tax hike was 1/10th of one percent. If I were to spend $20,000 (the amount I usually throw around on an average day for incidentals like groceries, gas, etc.), this would only cost me an additional $20. If, on the other hand, my stock portfolio was taking a beating, and I only had $100 to spend, it would gouge me a whole ten cents! Sounds like a pretty good investment to me. I know some people think all taxes are bad, but to paraphrase FDR, taxes are what we pay for the privilege of membership in an organized society
T tacoma_1 March 29, 2012
Giants playing checkers, sounds fun…..
F fredo March 29, 2012
“I know some people think all taxes are bad, but to paraphrase FDR, taxes are what we pay for the privilege of membership in an organized society” jd
I didn’t say ALL taxes are bad. Furthermore, I’m pretty sure FDR never paid 9.5% sales tax on any purchase during his entire lifetime. But since he was a limosine liberal FDR could spout off about anything, it wasn’t going to affect him personally.
T tacoma1 March 29, 2012
I don’t think there are taxes on giant checker players. I could be wrong about though.
C Christine March 29, 2012
Our taxes are going to giant checkers? What?
T tacoma_1 March 29, 2012
Truly an outrage, there otta be a law agin it I say.
J jd March 30, 2012
Fredo’s probably right about FDR never paying 9.5% sales tax, but the top Federal Income Tax bracket (and I’m assuming FDR paid the highest rate since he came from a wealthy family) in 1940 was 81.1%. All of the years in that era were at about the same level. Give me a nominal local/state sales tax that has a direct impact on our communities any day.
T tacoma_1 March 30, 2012
Fredo’s motto: Every blog topic is a good blog topic to complain about taxes.
F fredo March 30, 2012
While we’re singing the praises of FDR let’s recall that he signed an executive order which forced 120,000 Japanese Americans to live in internment camps for years.
T tacoma_1 March 30, 2012
Meanwhile, back on the topic of FHS this weekend, there is gonna be giants playing checkers (or something like that) and a whole bunch of other fun stuff too.
J jd March 30, 2012
Focus, Fredo, focus. You took an article about the rejuvenation of Freight House Square, and turned it into an attack on taxes. When I gave a quote from FDR about taxes, you called him a “limosine liberal” and implied that since he “never paid 9.5% sales tax on any purchase during his lifetime”, he skated on paying taxes. When I noted data on his probable Fed income tax rate, you accused me of singing his praises, then you wisely countered with the issue of internment camps. Is your goal just to try to confuse people, or do you think you’re making valid points? Let’s try to stay on track here. I’m sure there will be lots of articles in the future that will be the appropriate time to comment about taxes…say, when the article is about taxes.
J jd March 30, 2012
…and just so I don’t get accused of not staying on topic myself, I’ve always thought the FHS had tons of unrealized potential. What an opportunity to shine, and to grow, with the influx of LeMay visitors. Another reason to be proud of Tacoma!
F fredo March 30, 2012
My original posting wasn’t about taxes but rather Mayor Stricklands political manuever in appearing at the FHS event as a friend of the business community. She’s not. If she really wanted to do something for FHS or other retailers in the area she would work to reduce the city’s sales tax rate.
I didn’t raise the topic of FDR at all. I merely responded to some other commenter who got off on that track.
J jd March 30, 2012
I feel like I’m beating my head against the wall here. Fredo, please re-read your comment on this string from March 29, 12:23 pm, and tell me it’s not about taxes.
Also, no one said you raised the topic of FDR. I gave a quote from him, that somehow took on a life of its own.
Enough of this. Next subject, please. Peace, out!
J Jim C March 31, 2012
This made the KING broadcast this morning, I thought “good for Tacoma…” Unfortunately the chyron read “STRIP MALL OPENS”. I hope business picks up for them when the museum opens.