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November 20, 2008 · David Boe

Imagine Tacoma – Holiday Tree Relocated?

In great anticipation of the Holiday Season soon upon us, and a recent sighting of a large evergreen tree springing up outside the Pantages, imagine some alternate locations for that symbolic element of everlasting life during these forthcoming darkest and shortest days of the year:

Tollefson Plaza
With the Festival of Trees right next door at the Convention Center, the bLINK whizzing past, and a large empty space completely devoid of signs of life, is there a better spot for locating a large and festively lighted tree as a symbol of enduring hope?

Chihuly Bridge
Why not a tree located at the end of the Chihuly Bridge? Looking through the wrought iron fence would give a Charles Dicken’s overtone to the whole experience (and its strategic location can assist in funneling prospective patrons past the museum entrance).

Murray Morgan Bridge
As a symbol of ultimate resurrection?

While the existing location outside the Pantages is appropriate given the events in and around the Broadway Center in December (Nutcracker and Christmas Revels come to mind), maybe this tree could be in proper scale with the surrounding space and let other venues host the ‘big fir’ once in a while.

Filed under: Imagine Tacoma

22 comments

  • WesS November 20, 2008

    How about the little park at 21st & Pacific?

    Plaza in front of Tacoma Art Museum might work, too.

    I like Tollefson Plaza — right at the focus of the little amphitheater there.

  • You're Welcome November 20, 2008

    Tollefson Plaza has such great visibility, I think it’s perfect. Now if we can only squeeze in an ice skating rink? Maybe we could scaffold a deck over the steps so the tree sits up on a platform, then the rink can take up the space below.

  • Erik B. November 20, 2008

    Tollefson plaza is a great place for an additional tree as it allows people in cars whizing by to see it.

    For the annual tree lighting though, it is about the worst location Tollefson repels humans.

    There’s no reason there can’t be multiple trees around Tacoma.

    Why not a tree located at the end of the Chihuly Bridge? Looking through the wrought iron fence would give a Charles Dicken’s overtone to the whole experience (and its strategic location can assist in funneling prospective patrons past the museum entrance).

    Funny. Sort of like a tree in jail

  • Squid November 20, 2008

    All points to the sad fact that dt Tacoma was “designed” with no center, physical or spiritual. Linear and on a hill = bad feng shui.

  • Mofo from the Hood November 20, 2008

    Murray Morgan Bridge.

  • Davest November 20, 2008

    I love the idea of a skating rink at Tollefson. We’d not only get to see the festive flora as we drive/ride/bike/walk to and fro but we’d create a destination that would bring folks together. Get a couple of food carts for some warm pretzels and roasted chestnuts and you have it made.

    Think we could get a license for to have Gluhwein carts on the street?

  • jamie from thriceallamerican November 20, 2008

    Tollefson repels humans

    Erik, you seem intent on making sure that Tollefson will never even slightly appeal to humans in your continued emphasis that nothing should ever happen there… :-)

    I mean, yes, its island-like nature are problematic to it being a great public area, but put in a big-ass tree, maybe a skating rink, Santa-shack, Salvation Army Band, etc., and it might actually be sort of happenin’ there on a December weekend. (And speaking of the band…when’s the holiday parade of yore coming back?)

  • Sandy November 20, 2008

    Offset the linear with 3 trees. T-Town could be a 3-tree-town, couldn’t it? Three is a kind of a victorious number: Trinity, trfecta, triathelete…

  • Jesse November 20, 2008

    Agree with #5. Where is the center of our fair city? The gathering place?
    How about having it in the downtown shopping district? …oops, we don’t have one of those either…

  • Erik B. November 21, 2008

    you seem intent on making sure that Tollefson will never even slightly appeal to humans in your continued emphasis that nothing should ever happen there

    Nah. I am hopeful that the efforts to have something happen there succeed. I just don’t want to see local events sacrificed in the process in the attempt to “activate” it.

  • Erik K November 21, 2008

    Holiday Tree?

    It’s a friggin CHRISTMAS TREE!

    I think Tollefson Plaza has the best exposure.

  • Mofo from the Hood November 21, 2008

    What’s the word on the location of the Kwanza Tree?

  • Thorax O'Tool November 21, 2008

    “What’s the word on the location of the Kwanzaa Tree?“

    Should be next to the menorah by the Pantages

  • J. Cote November 23, 2008

    Put the Christmas tree on top of the Tacoma Dome. It should be used for SOMETHING!! Why not a tree stand?
    Put the Kwanzaa tree on Galoping Gerty and a Menorah on Sturdy Gerty. Do Buhdists, Muslims, Wiccans and Satan worshipers have a symbol at this time of year? If so, many of the previous suggestions could accomodate. As for me, it’s Festovous for the rest of us.

  • Jill Rachel November 23, 2008

    I think Fireman’s Park would be a pretty spot. You could see it from the highways. You can also photograph the tree with Mt. Rainier on a clear day.

  • Jesse November 23, 2008

    Maybe tear down Park Plaza North, put massive underground parking there, and a central park at street level. Then put the tree there.

  • RR Anderson November 23, 2008

    I am boycotting all christmas trees purchased and maintained by taxpayer dollars.

    I petition the city to also display my atheist winter consumerist holiday display of “Bear Attacking Robot” to get equal billing with the traditional christian-superstition/pagan tree displays.

  • Mofo from the Hood November 23, 2008

    I’m in the planning stages of securing private funding to guide Tacoma’s future Christmas season’s into the 21st century.

    MFTH GOAL 2009 in view of America’s unprecedented spirit of change is seeking non-partisan money for a stupendous 40-story tall hologram manger scene.

  • J.B. Butler November 24, 2008

    Some good ideas about the trees.
    In my opinion Tollefson Plaza desperately needs REAL trees. They of course could be decorated for any
    holiday or religious expression as long as that religous expression pays their taxes and pays for the decorations. One tree could be left unadorned in honor of the atheists. From J.B.Butler

  • altered chords November 24, 2008

    I propose the following:

    Take a census of Tacoma citizens and ascertain their religious affiliation. Then, based on statistical data we display they symbol of the religious affiliation with a size that exactly reflects their representation in the community.

    For example, a 50ft Christamas tree, a 26.4 ft festivus pole, a 22.2 ft menorah. etc.

    These would be places at the REAL heart of Tacoma.

    COSTCO!

  • morgan November 24, 2008

    I can’t speak for the others, but Hindus and Buddhists celebrate Christmas and have Christmas trees.

    Let’s go totally Green: Rip the concrete out of Tollefson Plaza and plant a mini-forest. At least then we could use it to go camping. Then we can work on daylighting a few downtown streams.

  • Chelsea Levy November 25, 2008

    A tree in Tollefson Plaza? Come to the Plaza on Dec. 6th (4pmish) to experience it.