The Pacifica: Seriously...We're Open!

That's what the sign on the fence by the gated entry says:  "SERIOUSLY...WE'RE OPEN!"  

Welcome to the neighborhood!

The brand new 177-unit high-rise apartment towers now known as The Pacifica has its first residents already moved-in and held an invitational open house on Friday afternoon.  http://www.thepacificaapartments.com/  

The Pacifica was built by the Rush Companies and managed by Rush Property Management.  http://www.therushcompanies.com/ It is located in what had been a largely underutilized parking lot on the back side (west side) of the Tacoma Mall Office Building.  The lot saw little use except for a motorcycle rider instruction class that was held for many years.  What a surprise when the construction area fence first went up.  It has been a joy to see the project develop literally from the ground up.  

The Pacifica's amenities include a massive outdoor swimming pool and deck, cabana, sauna, business center, massage therapy suite, storage units adjacent to apartment units, and underground parking. 

The interior architecture is modern and exquisite.  Granite counter tops are so expansive they're breath-taking. Every unit has a unique style.  Nothing boxy-looking.  Even the studio apartments have features that are enticing.  Windows and transoms galore with abundant natural light to frame the sunsets on the Olympic Mountains (west) side of the buildings and the sunrises on the Mount Rainier (east) side.

While attending the open house reception there was a palpable super-charged energy in the air among the leasing agents.  They were so welcoming and accommodating.  I toured one each of every apartment floorplan available:  studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom with 2 baths, and 2-bedroom with 1-3/4 baths.  The color palettes that were chosen have a warmth and home-like feel that is very welcoming.  

The reception was held in a community room that features a wall-mounted flat screen television and amazing sound system.  It was an altogether lovely event to kick-off the opening of The Pacifica.  Congratulations to all who have worked so hard -- especially the construction workers -- who braved rainy days, strong winds, and icy conditions -- to stay on the job and build this grand new destination location for future residents.  

It is heartwarming to see that despite so much of what we see and hear about how tough times are (and they are tough for many people) that there are still visionaries who move forward, plan, and build for what will be better days and years ahead.  

Hats off to Rush Companies and The Pacifica.  

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Champagne Reception for National Activity Professionals' Week

This is National Activity Professionals' Week.  Activity Professionals from throughout Tacoma and Pierce County were honored for their commitment and hard work all year long.  The event was hosted by Bridgeport Place with a Champagne reception, appetizers, door prizes for all, and free seated chair massage for each Activity Professional who attended.  Several commented on what a remarkable switch it was to be on the receiving end of so much pampering.  They loved it.

Activity professionals are the health care team members whose creative energies flow without ceasing to plan events and activities daily (a whole month's-worth at a time) for the Activity Calendar in skilled nursing facilities, e.g. nursing homes, and in assisted living communities.  They keep seniors in shape physically and socially by continuously putting together ideas that will be of interest to retirees to keep them engaged and active.  Http://bridgeportplaceassisted.com has an award-winning executive director (Sandy Nelson) who leads a management team that contributes to the nonstop events and activities that keep residents' minds and bodies active.  

Activity Director Linda Janicki plans the calendar each month with a team of residents who contribute their ideas -- every resident is welcome to give input and suggestions -- so that the seniors are given empowerment and ownership, which leads to more involvement as their interests and experiences are diverse.  Thus the calendar is literally chock-full of a cross-section of ideas that keep the residents' lives invigorated and interesting.  Linda Janicki has an Assistant Activity Director John Brown who is a senior himself.  He is a great storyteller and the residents love spending time with him.  

The event this year was a first, but gauging by the appreciation that was expressed, it is likely to become an annual event during National Activity Professionals Week.

Fish and Chips

Interestingly, the same day that The News Tribune published a lengthy, well-researched review of reader-suggested 'favorite' Fish and Chips destinations around Tacoma and Pierce County, one of my coworkers and I had just treated ourselves to lunch at Steamer's at Titlow Beach.  I was happy to see that Steamer's was included among the restaurants that writer Sue Kidd reviewed. http://blog.thenewstribune.com/tntdiner/2013/01/25/fish-with-crunch-on-a-quest-for-perfect-fish-and-chips/#storylink=misearch  Over the years, I've been to almost all of the ones she wrote about.  Still, Steamer's remains my favorite.

The fish is fabulously fresh and definitely has a crispy-crunch from the breading.  Portion sizes are over-the-top.  I ordered the 3-piece fish and fries with Caesar salad, and a fountain drink.  $13.14 for the total.  When the meal was served, it was so beautifully plated and colorful, I had to whip out my camera and take a picture before starting to eat it.  But look at the size of these pieces of fish!  Enormous.   So much, I couldn't finish it all.  

Steamer's has long been a favorite with my family and we've shared many special occasions there over the years.  'Back in the day' Steamer's offered a Monday night 'All You Can Eat' that was well-attended.  Even at lunchtime on Thursday the restaurant was absolutely packed.   You can't go wrong for lunch or dinner at Steamer's.

Local Russian Bakery Combines Best of Cultural Diversity!

Above: I don't know about you, but these buttery spritz cookies cross cultural, country and generations and taste equally good in any language or dialect!

An elegantly wrapped cylindrical carton of Little Russia label cookies swathed in shiny red foil loudly whistled from the table of a vendor at a holiday gift fair in Fife, WA on December 18. Three rooms along the side of the famous Poodle Dog Restaurant in Fife along the busy Pacific Highway were brimming with holiday themed merchandise, gift items and treats!

I was attracted to the latter as what comprised this year's holiday gift shopping in my household is for the most part complete, but who launch any kind of celebration without a small selection of festively decorated sweets?

So I was naturally unable to resist the aforementioned spritz cookies at a table ably manned at the time of my visit  by Barbara Lilly, operations and distribution director, Lion Market Enterprises, LLC.Lilly, elegantly clad in a festive red Russian folk costume offered me a sample of the cookies while I inspected the rest of the display featuring fresh, locally produced baked goods from this growing Northwest community.

Meanwhile Lilly went on to explain to me how it came that herself, a native of London, UK, and two area women of Russian descent have combined forces to bring these delicious and mouth-watering baked goods in the Russian tradition (including rye bread without caraway seeds) to Pacific Northwest tables.

Goods as these have been available for the most part in some area specialty markets, mostly mom and pop stores owned by first-generation Russian immigrants. For those of us not lucky enough to have relatives of Russian descent, such businesses are not usually on our  normal list of everyday suppliers whether due to shyness, a language barrier, unfamiliarity with the goods, product lines, ingredients, prices or band names.

What Lion Market Enterprises aims to do is develop and repackage these popular and traditional favorites, promote their use outside the community of their origin, and bring them into mainstream grocery stores, allowing consumers from every area of the region a greater opportunity and choice.

To further this end Lion Market Enterprises will soon be be opening a retail outlet store a few short miles up the road along Pacific Highway in Federal Way, WA by Secoma Lanes. For more details about the company and products including Little Russia cookies feel free to access the company website at www.lionmarkets.com. I think you'll be glad you did!

Monday Morning Beauty

Woke up this morning. I had a billion things on my mind... health, state of the nation,  crises here and there through out the world, loving and being loved.  Then I looked out the window.

And for a wonderful few moments, I stopped thinking and I started living.

Warm Socks, Warm Hearts - Local Drive Fosters Both

 Above: It will be fun to play Santa for others this winter. Even if budgets are tight, there's a project in the community for all of us.

Every year we're reminded during the winter holiday season about opportunities to remember less fortunate members of the community as we shop for little remembrances for friends, family and colleagues.

When my son was younger, we used to enjoy shopping for the Giving Tree project at the old Sea-Tac Mall in Federal Way. He graduated from high school some years ago and I recently realized it has been a considerable time since we have directly placed a purchased gift for a needy person.

These Merino Wool socks pictured above will go into a box of donations being collected at the Fife office of the Pierce County Community Newspaper Group, 2588 Pacific Highway, (253) 922-5317, who are participating in a drive to bring homeless men, women and children warm pairs of socks for our neighbors who don't have the luxury of coming home every night to regular roof over their heads.

Last week I read about the drive when I stopped to read a delightful pull-out section devoted to gift giving ideas in the current issue of the Tacoma Weekly over a cup of coffee. When I say "delightful", I truly mean just that, as a veteran reader of such sections for more years than I want to admit!

The very first piece in the section on what you might not want to give say, from your mother's point of view will bring a broad smile and wink - to anyone who has secretly has had just a little too much of their own, their siblings, friends or even a total strangers darling children. Top quality research from an enterprising local journalist! Oops Santa! Can you forgive me - just this once?

Thanksgiving Meal

Folks in my house, all priests, will be in and out this weekend. They will be visiting family and friends, or leading prayers experiences in their parishes or other prayer centers. We came together this evening for prayer, fod, and conversation. conversation.
     We gathererd around the chapel altar

first to join each other in thanking God for loving us and asking God to bless the people we know, love, and serve. I was so happy that a member of the community at the time during the Eucharistic Service (Mass) asked the Lord to quickly bring peace to the Middle East.
       After that we went to our dining room and took time to hear about our joys, aches and pains, and future plans. Those conversations continued around wonderful food.

The evening went by quickly,  lots of laughter, good food, great company.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone