Inkwell ANNIE WRIGHT UPPER SCHOOL
FEbruary 2017
Inside Meet two Tacoma Icons Experience the area's best food, venues & study spots Discover the great outdoors
The Tacoma Issue
Letter from the editors Dear Readers, Thanks for picking up a copy of Inkwell. We hope you will enjoy this special Tacoma Issue. Inside, we feature interviews with two local legends, a guide to Tacoma restaurants and cinemas, and ideas of where to volunteer, study and enjoy nature. Also included are a couple of pieces from the Annie Wright Community: a personal piece on the Outdoor Adventure Club by junior Caitlyn Bell and suggestions on where to volunteer in Tacoma by Community Service Coordinator Tiffany Shaw. We always welcome and encourage submissions from the Annie Wright community. Please email us at inkwell@aw.org to pitch your story ideas. You may also have noticed the format of Inkwell has changed slightly this year. We have decided to feature current news and features online at anniewrightinkwell.org and to transform our print edition into a magazine. Our goal is to publish four issues per year, with each issue having a specific theme. Look out for our next issue featuring the new Upper School for Boys and keep checking in online at anniewrightinkwell. Remember also to follow us on instagram @anniewrightinkwell, twitter @awsinkwell, and snapchat @awsinkwell. Thanks for your readership and support, Lexy Sullivan, Katie Erickson and Allison Fitz
ANNIE WRIGHT UPPER SCHOOL
Inkwell February 2017
827 North Tacoma Avenue Tacoma, WA 98403 inkwell@aw.org | 253-272-2216 Issue 2 | Volume 53
Editor in chief, print
Lexy Sullivan Editor in chief, online
Katie Erickson Managing editor
Allison Fitz Student Life editor
Nina Doody Arts & Features editor
Abby Givens News editor
Faye Prekeges
Scan from snapchat to add Inkwell
Inkwell aims to provide the Annie Wright community with dependable and engaging coverage of school, commuity, national and global topics. Timely articles of all genres are published weekly at anniewrightinkwell.org. In addition, four themed news magazines are published during the school year and distributed around campus. Submissions of articles and photographs, correction requests and signed letters to the editor are most welcome. Please email the editors at inkwell@aw.org. All published submissions will receive credits and bylines. Find us online @ anniewrightinkwell.org
illustration & cover photo by Katie Erickson
Contents
Katie Erickson
Hello Cupcake in downtown Tacoma
Quiz: How well do you know Tacoma?
2
volunteer
3
Local Icons Kris Brannon & Stephanie Johnson
4
A day out in Seattle
11
Indie Cinemas
14
Study Spots
16
Great Eats
18
Fun At Point Ruston
20
Take The Bus
21
Outdoor pursuits
22
Ask Annie
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Inkwell | February 2017
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1
How well Do you KnoW Tacoma?
2
3
by Katie Erickson
Test your knowledge of Tacoma by guessing where each photograph was taken. Check your answers at the bottom of the page.
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6
7
1. The Ruston train tracks 2. The Museum of Glass Bridge 3. Mural outside of The Blue Mouse Theater in Proctor 4. Spray Ground at Point Ruston 5. Shake Shake Shake 6. See #3. 7. The Museum of Glass
2 Inkwell | February 2017
Volunteer in Tacoma
by Tiffany Shaw
The following are nonprofits that partner with Annie Wright and have volunteer opportunities for students and families.
Tiffany Shaw
United Way of Pierce County
United Way of Pierce County invests in children and their families to help remove the barriers preventing them from breaking the cycle of poverty.
Pierce County Juvenile Court
Youth 16 and older can become Community Accountability Board Members. Adults can become Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Community Accountability Board
This program offers out-of-court consequences for youth infractions. The youth and his or her family meet with volunteers from the youth’s community and/or staff of the program and enter into a written agreement about the consequences for the youth's behavior.
The Humane Society of Tacoma
Tiffany Shaw is a volunteer and offers foster placement for shelter dogs. Assistant Director of Middle School Clare Wagstaff is a new volunteer with the cat team. They Inkwell | February 2017
An Annie Wright student participates in the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk.
are happy to help anyone navigate this process and will provide transportation to students wishing to attend the next volunteer orientation on February 10th, 9:0011:00 am.
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
The zoo offers programs for youth volunteers who are passionate about animals, conservation and the environment, including Junior Guides for ages 11-13 and Zoo Guides for ages 14-18.
The Food Connection, St Leo's Food Bank
The Food Connection has many opportunities Mondays to Saturdays with flexible hours. AWS goes to the food bank and can help set up service days for families.
Summer @ Annie Wright Camp Wright has positions all summer for volunteer Camp counselors ages 13-16. Parent volunteers are also most welcome.
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital The MultiCare health organization offers a number of volunteer opportunities to help sick kids and their families.
Habitat for Humanity
Annie Wright has a Habitat for Humanity campus chapter. Community members are welcome to join the Annie Wright team on build days or to attend Homelessness and Housing Advocacy Day in February.
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Citizens for a Healthy Bay
office administration, program assistance and special events, to help kids in our community.
Citizens for a Healthy Bay is an environmental organization with volunteers who help in the cleanup, The American Cancer restoration, protection and Society sustainability of Commencement AWS partners with the American Bay. Contact Annika Cederstrand Cancer Society for two events, for more information about volunteering with this organization. Making Strides and Relay for Life, through education, spreading awareness and volunteering. Anyone from our community is Children's Museum welcome to join the Relay for Life of Tacoma team. The Children’s Museum volunteers perform a variety of tasks, including
Pierce County Parks and Recreation
Pierce County Parks and Recreation offers a variety of volunteer roles, including advisory board members and youth sports coaches. Tiffany Shaw can answer questions about any of these organizations and help create unique service projects for Annie Wright students and families. Contact her at tiffany_shaw@aw.org.
Tacoma Icons by Nina Doody & Abby Givens
Inkwell reached out to two local icons, sports activist Kris Brannon and singer/songwriter Stephanie Johnson, to hear about their passions and how Tacoma has influenced and inspired them. They visited Annie Wright to share their stories. The following pages are excerpts from these interviews.
Katie Eric
kson
lexy Sullivan
Kris Brannon
4
n Stephanie Johnso
was a finalist on
The Voice.
is known arou
nd the region
as "Sonics Guy ."
Inkwell | February 2017
Katie Erickson
Guy Sonics Kris Brannon Tacoma-born activist Kris Brannon,
commonly known as "Sonics Guy," has participated in multiple protests and hundreds of local events to advocate that the Supersonics basketball team, which relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, be brought back to Seattle. Through Brannon's unique style, fan personna, presence at events throughout the region and dedication to his team, he has become a well known and easily recognizable figure in Tacoma.
Inkwell | February 2017
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Inkwell Sonics Guy?
Katie Erickson
How did you first become known as
Brannon
Well, I was with the Bring Back the Sonics group before the team had left, and me and a bunch of other guys were trying to advocate for the team not to leave. It was actually “Save our Storm, Save our Sonics,” both the men's and the women's basketball teams. Clay Bennett, the owner, sold the women’s team, the Storm, to a group of four local Seattle businesswomen for about $10 million. So we were able to save one of the teams. Unfortunately, the Sonics did leave, and after a proper mourning period, I was still kind of upset. I didn’t know what to do. My buddy went to one of these tax tea party protests down at the capitol and he invited me, and I didn’t want to protest the president’s policies but I thought, you know, I could go down there and have my own protest at the protest. So I went down there with him and I had my old Sonics sign. It was one-sided at the time and I’ve realized that was a rookie mistake; you always have to have it two-sided, because people will look at the blank side wondering what’s on the other side and be frustrated. 6
I noticed that only a few of the people at the tea party protest looked like me, and I had my own issue that was not what they were protesting, so the day after I got mentioned on a couple of conservative radio stations, and then my buddy goes ‘You know, I don’t want to encourage you,’ but someone sent me a photo from some kind of news blog that showed all these people and then this guy, and it was me. And I thought, well if I can keep going to events and keep raising awareness then maybe we can start a movement; that’s kind of why I started doing it. How I became known as the Sonics Guy is I kept showing up at things and it was just kind of natural. You’re not supposed to give yourself a nickname; people just eventually give you a nickname, good or bad I guess. People would see me around at events and they’d be like ‘Oh that guy, he’s advocating for the Sonics’ and it just eventually became the Sonics Guy. I mean I answer to a lot of things. People call me Sonics Man, Mr. Sonics, but it just varies.
Inkwell
What are different ways in which you are an activist? Inkwell | February 2017
Brannon
Well, I’ve been pretty active politically. I’ve been a member of the Democratic Party since I was 18, so I would go to meetings, and I went to a national convention. This year was interesting with the campaign. I do a lot of writing, I do stand-up, I had a blog, and I’ve been thinking about writing a book about the various experience of being Sonics Guy and being an ambassador and how you can be your own advocate for an issue you care about.
Inkwell
What does a normal day include for you?
Brannon
I would say it usually depends on work schedules and different things, but typically the busiest day for me is Saturday, because that’s usually when most people are out and doing things and when most of the events are. The most events I’ve had in a day is 12, which I don’t recommend doing. On just a normal Saturday I’ll try to go to two or three events, a festival or a different thing. And I’ll just kind of talk to people, or people will come and talk to me and ask me where the arena situation is now, how close we are to getting a team back, and just various questions. I mean that’s pretty typical, just go out and be a good ambassador, be someone that someone just likes to see.”
Inkwell
Why is this cause, or the Sonics, so important to you?
Brannon
Well, that was my favorite team growing up. I mean the Mariners were horrible, the Seahawks were horrible, and I supported those teams, but, the Sonics were our most successful team. I was a little kid and they had won the championship, and so I remember that. In the eighties as a little kid I would draw pictures of them, and they would keep getting crushed by the Lakers (that’s why I don’t really like the Lakers). We had some good teams, but they just couldn’t get out of the western conference. It’s just kind of like the struggle of life: you’re not always going to win your cause, but as long as you keep supporting it eventually you’ll win out or at least feel good about your effort.”
Inkwell
What are your favorite things about Tacoma?
Brannon
What do you do when you are not Sonics Guy?
I like that Tacoma is a big-little city. You have that big city feel, but if you’ve lived here a couple years you just kind of know everybody. I like that we have our own baseball team. I actually like Cheney better than I like going to the Mariners, because at Cheney I can rotate around the whole stadium and talk to everybody that’s there before the game is over. It’s a big city with a small town feel.
Brannon
Inkwell
Inkwell
I do all sorts of things. I do stand up, I’ve been doing a lot of writing, I’ve managed a lot of clubs, I do day jobs here and there. I also help my mom out; I’m kind of her Uber. I’m always doing something.
Brannon
Early this year I had a short film that premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival. It was called “Superfan,” done by a really talented University of Washington grad student, Leah Schmitz. There was a big afterparty, so we spent the night up in Seattle. Everything was fine until I got back home and found my place had gotten broken into. I put it out on Facebook, how I had a premiere and now a lot of my stuff is gone. The community reached out, there was a GoFundMe page and a couple of fundraisers, and it just made me feel very humble and that people actually cared. It wasn’t like I was dying of an incurable disease, or I had a child that had a medical condition. I was just a guy that had my stuff stolen. Yet the community supported and reached out to me and that really made me feel like people cared, and sometimes that’s all you need.
Inkwell
Are you a legend in your own eyes?
Brannon
I don’t personally think I am, but I appreciate when people say it. People have called me an icon, a legend, and I’m like ‘thank you, that’s what people say.’
How has the city of Tacoma supported you in bringing back the Sonics? Sonics Guy's signature pin
Inkwell | February 2017
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Inkwell
What is it like to be constantly recognized and have people come up to you?
Brannon
I think the most interesting thing is it shows that your efforts are being appreciated. Even when I’m in a bad mood and don’t want to talk to somebody, it still teaches me to be kind and accepting. Sometimes, somebody will say, 'I wanted to take a picture but I was too intimidated,' and I’m like, well I’m just me, you can come up to me. It’s interesting how people perceive you. They may already feel like they know me or feel like I’m kind of a close friend, so I kind of try and reciprocate that and try to reach out to them in friendship.
Inkwell
Do you have a favorite memory as Sonics Guy?
Brannon
I was at the 49ersSeahawks game a few years back and I ran into Chris Hansen; that’s the guy that’s spending all the money and buying all the land downtown. If we get the team back, it’ll be because of him, his stewardship and his hard work (and his money...that doesn't hurt). He saw me there during halftime and goes, 'You know you’re the face of the movement, and that really impressed upon me. He’s a really humble guy.
Stephaine Johnson
Here’s a funny story: so I was at the unveiling of the Ivan statue [commemorating another Tacoma legend, a gorilla that appeared in the circus-themed B&I shopping mall on South Tacoma Way for 30 years], and these three older people were looking at me and talking. Then one lady goes ‘Are you somebody?’ and I said, ‘Well, my mom seems to think so.’ Everybody is somebody to somebody.
Lexy Sullivan
Katie Erickson
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Inkwell | February 2017
Singer/songwriter Stephanie Johnson, who was born and raised in Tacoma, gained national attention as a finalist on the hit talent series The Voice in 2013, placing third. Singing has always been Johnson's calling. She sang in the choir at Pacific Lutheran University and has continued her career after The Voice performing in various gigs and musicals around the country. After her Inkwell interview she joined us in the chapel to share some of her soulful new work.
“
Inkwell Have you
ever faced people who don’t believe in you, and if so how did you move past that to continue following your dreams?
Johnson Two things: One, make your dream broader. I love to perform and I love to sing, and that's very broad and there a million places to do that and a million different audiences and groups of people that I could be in front of. You have to think super big so that when someone says no then it doesn't crush your world. You just keep going. And the second thing is those people who are going to say hurtful things, they are probably hurt inside, so it's easier to feel empathy for those people. It's more like love your enemy if you chose to think about it that way.
Inkwell Tell us how you got from being a high
school student down the street at Stadium to a star on The Voice.
Johnson It’s kind of involved as far as stories go, but I like to think of it as I said yes to a string of crazy things. I went to Stadium. I sang in choir there, I did a beauty pageant, won some money for school, went to PLU and joined the choir. At PLU they were running a program called Wild Hope, and it was like, what's your one wild hope? Like this is your one shot at life; what are you going to do? I was fired up about social justice and I wanted to give, so I did AmeriCorps for a year. I started working with kids, I became a preschool teacher for two years, and then
I had some friends that sang with me in college who got a gig on a cruise ship, and they said, ‘We have got to get you to this gig,’ and I said, ‘Yes let's do it.’ These friends made a two minute video of me playing guitar literally on their floor and sent it to their agent. Three days later I get a call at work. I'm in Puyallup, you know up to my knees in kids’ throw-up or whatever, [and they said] ‘Hey do you want to go to Alaska this summer on a cruise ship?’ and I was like ‘OMG, I’m supposed to direct Godspell this summer. What should I do?’ And my mom was like, ‘You go to Alaska.’ I went to Alaska, took my next contract and went to the Mexican Riviera, which was beautiful, and then I did three more contracts with cruise ships lines, and in that very last cruise we were in the Mediterranean, and I met a guitar player from LA. He said, ‘I have some friends that work for The Voice. Should I send them this video of you?’ And I'm like, ‘Sure. Send it. Sounds wild.’ He sent the video, I get an email back: ‘Hey would you like to come to New York or LA or Atlanta to come audition for us?’ And I went to LA because I thought the flight would be cheapest. I slept on the couch of another girl I went to college with. Keep your friends...Keep your friends from high school, keep your friends from college. You never know when you are going to need a couch in Australia and someone will have one for you. I auditioned for The Voice three times before the TV auditions, and I have stage fright and anxiety and I worry about what other people will think. So how I got through that: focus. I’m terribly nervous, but I do what I’ve been doing since high school. I’m singing. There's the exit sign. Sing to the exit sign, so that way my chin will be up and people think I'm looking at them, but I'm not, I'm looking over their heads. So it's all those little things that you build for yourself so that you feel comfortable even when you're not.
Inkwell | February 2017
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Inkwell Are you a legend in your own eyes? Johnson I don’t know if I'm legendary, but I
know I'm courageous, and I know I'm full of adventure. I know those things run in my family and I feel good about that. I would rather be known as one of those things than a legend. Those things aren't true, or not always, but courage is a real thing and you need it.
Inkwell What advice do you have for aspiring singers and performers?
Johnson Rule #1: it's not over. It's never
over (when you're dead, maybe it's over but it's not over until then). Rule #2: play around the edges of what your voice can do. This idea of play can open up a genre for you. The third rule: once you’ve played around and figured out what you want to do, go to the place in the world where people are doing that and get in the mix. Every musician you have ever heard of has risen out of a community, so you are going to have to go get in the existing community or you build one for yourself.
Inkwell How has Tacoma supported you? Johnson The city of Tacoma has been really awesome for my personal growth. I’ve been in the newspaper several times and have made friends with some of the journalists and the writing community. [Tacoma School] District 10 has been really helpful to me too. I did several performances for them. Local business owners have helped a lot, especially some of the clubs in the area, and the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, where I actually had my first internship.
Lexy Sullivan
”
Listen to a recording of Stephanie Johnson singing at Annie Wright during this interview at anniewrightinkwell.org or click on this QR code: 10
Inkwell | February 2017
A Day Out in Seattle where to go and what to do
Katie Erickson
Seattle is well known for its quirky style as well as its trademark Pike Place Market (with its iconic gum wall) and Space Needle. In addition to these touristy destinations, however, the city has many other interesting areas to explore. Although rainy, the city has quite a few intriguing parks, including Gas Works Park, Olympic Sculpture Park and Myrtle Edwards Park. Gas Works Park is on the National Register of Historic Places. Pieces of the old gas plant that used to operate are now incorporated in the grassy fields bordering the water. Pioneer Square, known as Seattle’s original neighborhood, has a wealth of quirky shops such as Bon Voyage Vintage and Cow Chip Cookies, as well as food destinations and a 22-foot waterfall in the middle of the square. In addition, this area is home to
by Abby Givens
Gas Works Park
the Smith Tower, with an observation deck that gives spectacular views of the city. Seattle also has many great museums, including the Museum of Flight, Seattle Art Museum, and the Chihuly Garden and Glass. The Museum of History and Industry on Lake Union hosts a variety of exhibits including the Bezos Center for Innovation, which celebrates Seattle’s prominence as a city with big ideas. The new Cascadia Art Museum in Edmonds, celebrating American regional art, opened a little over a year ago. University Village, another great area to check out, is an outdoor shopping center with a mix of restaurants, unique boutiques and renowned shops including Anthropology, Sephora, American Eagle, and Lucky.
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You'll like Tacoma Discover what makes Tacoma cool, from indie movie houses to cozy study spots to tasty restaurants, as well as opportunities to experience the great outdoors.
Lexy Sullivan
Tacoma's indie movie theaters combine history, community & fun by Allison Fitz
The Blue Mouse and The Grand Cinema, Tacoma's two independent movie theaters, each offer a unique environment for movie buffs. Continuous community involvement has kept the theaters running and well-loved. Read on for stories of these iconic Tacoma theaters. Allison Fitz
The Blue Mouse
About 100 years ago, a chain of small movie theaters called The Blue Mouse were scattered up and down the northwest coast. Five theaters stood in four cities: Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and Astoria. Today, Tacoma holds the only surviving Blue Mouse, in the city’s Proctor neighborhood. Opened on November 13, 1923, the Proctor theater, originally named Blue Mouse Jr., is declared a National Historic Landmark and is the oldest continually operated movie theater in the state of Washington. John Hamrick, the original owner of the chain, lived in Seattle and ran several movie theater chains. He
often traveled to Europe, and on one of his many trips, he decided to name the Blue Mouse after a popular nightclub in Paris. The Blue Mouse presented a luxurious movie experience for more than 20 years, but as movie technology progressed and more chain theaters took over Tacoma, its resources and attendance deteriorated. Managers took steps toward rebranding, even renaming the theater “Proctor Theater” in 1932 and “the Bijou” in 1980. In the 1990’s, with the aid of community involvement, the theater was again named The Blue Mouse.
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Current General Manager and Tacoma native Sue Evans began working at the theater 22 years ago after working various theatre jobs in Alaska. When she started working at The Blue Mouse, Tacoma had many more theaters than today. “There were 55 screens,” said Evans, recalling the competition between Tacoma theaters. “I had a lot to contend with back then.” Evans is passionate about The Blue Mouse. She oversees the theater’s movie selection process, which generally caters to the family-friendly style of the neighborhood. She has fought for the success of the theater, raising over $85,000 to convert the theater to digital technology and acoustics when the business was in jeopardy. She has collaborated with Tacoma’s other independent theater, The Grand Cinema, to organize film festivals, allowing “the community
to come together, enjoy their neighbors, and have a good time.” She also developed the theater’s signature “secret” popcorn recipe, “made with good flavoring, good oil, and love.” Apart from Evan’s contributions, she credits the theater’s well-being to the engaged community that surrounds it. “People know that if they don’t support this theater, it will go away,” she said. After dedicating over 20 years of her life to The Blue Mouse, Evans said the theater has “almost become [her] baby.” When asked about the future of the Blue Mouse, Evans quickly said, “Somebody can come in and do it better.” But as she paused and admired the century-old building, she added, “But nobody will love this theater like I love this theater.”
The Grand Cinema Allison Fitz
In a 1920’s building full of hallways, staircases and open rooms, the Grand Cinema offers an inviting atmosphere to view the many independent and foreign films screened. Starting as a for-profit theater, the Grand Cinema had little success. In April 1997, a volunteer group of Tacoma citizens changed the business to become a non-profit organization in order to save the theater.
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Because of the theater’s early transition to non-profit, today it is independent. Playing a variety of films throughout the theater’s total of four screens, The Grand has the luxury to “cater toward its audience,” according to executive director Philip Cowan. Indeed Cowan said that the most enjoyable part of his job is film selection. Through listening, watching, and reading about films, Cowan is able to make choices that are most interesting. The Grand Cinema’s audience tends to be older than 50 and is skewed slightly toward women. About half of the theater’s audience comes from Tacoma and the remaining half from around Pierce County area. Although the theater generally appeals to certain populations of people, Cowan said, “We make conscious efforts to play films that appeal to broader groups,” allowing The Grand Cinema to stand out from the chain theaters of Tacoma.
With an MBA in business, Cowan “never in a million years” imagined he would be the executive director of a movie theater. He moved from Texas to Washington to work for the Tacoma’s minor league baseball team, the Rainiers, when he made a decision to have “fun jobs.” Through volunteering, serving on the board of directors, and presently working as the executive director, he has been involved with the Grand Cinema for over ten years. “Sitting at a desk on a computer was not the fun thing I wanted in life. Baseball stadiums and movie theaters have filled my fun objective so far,” he said. With about 17 staff members, The Grand Cinema continues to establish its connection with Tacoma. The theater holds film discussion groups almost every Saturday, and it is also working to expose Tacoma’s youth to the language and storytelling of film. “Tacoma likes to support its own; Tacoma likes to support independence,” said Cowan. “If it’s independent, there is a large sense of ownership and pride, and The Grand Cinema really fits into that.”
Change your scenery Where to study in Tacoma
by Lexy Sullivan
Studying is boring. There is no way around it; sitting for hours on end with your head in a textbook is not the way most of us want to spend our time. Something that can make it a little more interesting, however, is a change of scenery. My own desk is a cluttered mess and just looking at it stresses me out. I enjoy working at school, but I spend enough time inside those brick walls. Below are some of the best study spots in Tacoma. They are all open to the public.
Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound Hours:
Mon-Thur 7:30 am-2:00 am Fri 7:30 am-9:00 pm Sat 9:00 am-9:00 pm Sun 9:00 am-2:00 am {Only current UPS students, staff and faculty are allowed to use the library after 9 pm.}
University of Washington, Tacoma UW Tacoma has loads of great study spots. “All study spaces are indeed open to the public,” said Institute for Global Engagement Program Coordinator Alexis Wheeler. “You will not be able to reserve breakout rooms for study and will need to exit such rooms if a UW affiliate shows up with a reservation, but you can otherwise freely access all study spots (especially the study nooks and similarly open spaces in the hallways) during normal operating hours.”
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Lexy Sullivan bus stop and entrance to UWT in downtown Tacoma
Call 253.879.3675 for updated hours or scan this QR code for further information about the UPS library.
Bluebeard Coffee Roasters Hours:
Weekdays 6:00 am-7:00 pm Weekends 7:00 am-7:00 pm
Roasters hosts small-scale art shows; you can submit your work to artbluebeard@gmail.com to be featured.
Metronome Coffee
Bluebeard is a proudly local coffee Hours: shop. It is located at the corner Mon-Thurs: 7:00 am-10:00pm of 6th Avenue and State Street Friday: 7:00 am-11:00 pm in Tacoma. Here is an excerpt Saturday: 8:00 am-11:00 pm from their website describing This QR code will take you to Sunday: 8:00 am-1:00 pm the location and ambiance: UW’s space scout, which has “Adopting a minimalist midinformation about all the study Located at 6th and Union century approach, our build out spots at UW Avenues, Metronome provides was expertly facilitated by the Tacoma. Just a space to study while feasting design/build team at SpaceCraft click Tacoma on pastries from Corina Bakery, PDX who made our espresso in the drop fresh-squeezed orange juice, and bar, back shelving, window bars, down menu tables and more. Combined with a homemade pancakes. at the top. signature concrete counter top by Fun fact: Metronome Coffee has You can Matt at Form Concrete, refinished live music; if you are a musician also visit chairs from the Cloverleaf Tavern spacescout.uw.edu. and interested in playing there, and old-school coffee roaster by you can contact them at Probat, Bluebeard’s aesthetic show@metronomecoffee.com. makes for a fine place to park your There are also open mic nights on backside for an hour or three.” Tuesdays. Fun fact: Bluebeard Coffee Inkwell | February 2017 17
Allison Fitz Frisko Freeze, a popular burger joint in North Tacoma
Where to eat Local
A Review of Tacoma Restaurants
by Faye Prekeges
Food: something the Annie Wright student body takes very seriously. When school food becomes monotonous, students turn to the local restaurants to add flavor to their lives. Because of the city’s vast collection of places to eat, it can be difficult to find somewhere to go that will fill a specific craving, and many feel heartbreak when they find a perfect place that doesn’t deliver. Here is Inkwell’s review of Annie Wright students’ top restaurants, including price information and takeout or delivery options. 18
Inkwell | February 2017
Most Expensive
Steer clear of these if you need a cheap place to grab a bite, but keep these fine restaurants in mind for special events like birthdays.
• El Gaucho • The Melting Pot • Indochine • The Koi
Least Expensive
When you are short on cash but craving something other than your mom’s food or dorm dinner, these are some restaurants to head to:
• Sammy’s Pizza • The Spar • Frisko Freeze • Infinite Soups
Walking Distance
No car, no problem. All the restaurants below are within two miles of Annie Wright (the distance in miles is beside each listing), have a variety of prices and styles, and are easy walks.
• The Ram: 1.2 • Shake Shake Shake: .5 • Indo Asian Eatery: .6 • Harbor Lights: 1.2 • The Spar: .6 • Art House Cafe: .6 • The Harvester: .6 • Cafe Brosseau: .7 • Montamara Kitchen: .7
Variety is Key
There are times when we crave Indian food, Chinese food, or a burger, or we want to be able to have a good meal with a vegan friend. Tacoma’s eclectic array of food choices can fulfil almost anything you are crave.
• Indochine: Pan-Asian • Gateway to India: Northern Indian • The Pomodoro: Italian • It’s Greek to Me: Greek • Burger Seoul: Korean, burgers • The Koi: Japanese • Ammar’s: Mediterranean • Viva Tacoma: Mexican, vegan • Infinite Soups: American, soups • Happy Belly: vegetarian, juice bar • The Melting Pot: fondue
For the Unlicensed & Hungry
If you either live at school or are under the age of 16, getting to a restaurant is the main obstacle. Luckily, many restaurants in Tacoma deliver:
• Mona's Pizza and Pasta • North China Garden • Ammar’s Mediterranean Grill • Garlic Jim’s • Jimmy John’s • Sammy’s Pizza • Abella Pizzeria
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Point Ruston provides a new waterfront venue
by Nina Doody
Allison Fitz
Point Ruston is a new development in Northwest Tacoma that offers activities such as movies, dining, an outdoor water park, kayaks & paddleboards for rent, and a mile long waterfront walk. Point Ruston combines two signature Tacoma Locations. “Point Ruston is named as such because it is the missing link that connected our city's two most popular public amenities, the Ruston Way waterfront and Point Defiance,” said Chris Murphy, former Marketing Director at Point Ruston.
The development was designed for all ages and for families. “Point Ruston enhances Tacoma by turning a previously inaccessible swath of waterfront into one of our region’s most popular waterfront destinations,” said Murphy. Copperline Apartments at Point Ruston provide luxury apartments and condos from one to three bedrooms. An expansive backyard view of Puget Sound is one of the apartments’ most marketed aspects. Restaurants popular with Annie Wright students are Dolci Si Italian Bakery & Cafe, Mio Sushi, WildFin American Grill and Jewel Box Cafe. The movie theater offers stadium seating and luxury recliners.
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Hey Annies:
Take the Bus!
Katie Erickson
Outdoor Adventure Club by Lexy Sullivan
Diverse, beautiful, refreshing & Stress-Relieving One great way to take advantage of the Pacific Northwest is to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty. Annie Wright has its very own Outdoor Adventure Club, led by senior Lauren Keltgen and math teacher/dorm parent Jeremy Stubbs. Anyone can join for free by contacting Keltgen. Participants do need to bring their own gear and occasionally rent equipment, depending on the activity (such as snowshoeing), as well as help with other expenses such as parking. The club has gone on many adventures, such as hiking at Snow Lake and snowshoeing at Paradise on Mount Rainier.
Eugene Keltgen
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Seniors Lauren Keltgen and Audrey Linehan hike at Snow Lake.
Inkwell | February 2017
Allison Fitz
the Outdoor Adventure Club at Paradise, and below, Snow Lake
My mind seems to instantly clear when I go outside, or sometimes it fills with thoughts, and I find myself in contemplation. Either way I am enveloped in nature in all of its glory. The feelings that I find myself entranced in are cleansing of the mind and soul. Although nature seems like the perfect retreat to never come back from, I, like most, lead a busy life with many facets, and it is difficult to find the time to go on hikes in our gorgeous “backyard.�
spend time with great people. The last hike I went on with the Outdoor Adventure Club was ten miles. It was the most diverse hike I have ever been on. There were parts in which we were surrounded by rock and other times when we were surrounded by trees.
Outdoor Adventure Club is an outlet for myself and other students to indulge in natural luxuries. It is a time to both regard the natural setting and to
It was so surreal to look in every direction and see something just as pretty as the last direction. Our final destination was a lake that was the most beautiful
Outdoor Adventure Club is an outlet for myself and other students to indulge in natural luxuries.
turquoise color. Although the lake was only 50 degrees we all jumped in. It was an immediate shock, but it was so refreshing. Honestly, it is at the top of the list for best swims I have ever gone on even if it was surely the shortest. Hiking is a huge stress reliever for me and I always look forward to the next Outdoor Adventure Club hike. I recommend the club to everyone.
- Caitlyn Bell, Outdoor Adventure Club member
Eugene Keltgen
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Go Outside
by Faye Prekages
DAY TRIPS FROM TACOMA TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS
It is hard to spend all week cooped up in your house or the dorms. Weekends provide much needed time to relax, sleep, and get outside. Below are day trips from Tacoma for those who enjoy spectacular Northwest scenery and outdoor pursuits but don’t want to give up a whole weekend. For dormers who cannot find a ride, suggest these trips as a weekend activity to a dorm parent.
Camano Island Only an hour and 50 minute drive from Tacoma, Camano Island State Park offers a variety of hiking and camping. You can kayak off one of island’s beaches, go for a swim (though it may be cold) or spend the day picnicking on the sand. Go to the Matzke Art Gallery and Sculpture Park to see beautiful art shows that change about every six to eight weeks, or zipline through the forest at Kristoferson Farm with Canopy Tours Northwest.
Hurricane Ridge Hurricane Ridge is a two and a half hour drive from Tacoma but is worth every minute. It is one of the most easily accessed mountain areas in the Olympic National Park, and its road is open all four seasons. At 5,242 feet of elevation, Hurricane Ridge has a plethora of trails to hike. When you get there, start at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, and make your way up Hurricane Hill. The top of Hurricane Hill is a 360-degree view of the Straits de Juan de Fuca, Victoria BC, and the southern side of a snow covered Mount Olympus. Hurricane Hill is also home to some of Hurricane Ridge’s most iconic photos.
Northwest Trek Experience wild animals of the Pacific Northwest up close and personal at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. The park is 45 minutes away from Tacoma and offers a walking tour through the forest to see grizzly bears, wolves and other animals. A Discovery Tram Tour goes through over 400 acres of forest so you can see animals in their natural habitat. The Nature Trails
provide five miles of paved and unpaved hikes without a tour. The Animal Trailside Encounters program takes place Friday and Sunday, and it lets you see an animal up close, as well as speak to an animal keeper about how the animal fits into the ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest. A day at Northwest Trek costs $22.25 for those 13-64.
Port Angeles Port Angeles is a one and a half to two hour drive from Tacoma and boasts numerous activities for the day. With the Port Angeles Whale Watch Company, you are guaranteed a day of watching whales on the ocean. If you would rather be on land, Port Angeles’s Experience Olympic provides a naturalist guide for hiking in and around the Olympic National Park. You can walk through lavender at Washington Lavender Farms, see the different art exhibits at the Fine Arts Center, or take a trip in a hot air balloon over the Olympic Peninsula with Morning Star Balloon Co. to see the Olympic Mountains, Victoria BC, and the islands of the Salish Sea.
Rialto Beach, Olympic Peninsula Rialto Beach in the Olympic National Park is three hours away from Tacoma, but the drive is worth it. There is also a campground three miles away, within easy walking distance of the beach. At the start of the beach, there is a short one hour hike to “Holein-the-Wall,” a natural sea carved arch. Rialto Beach is perfect for a picnic and to spend an afternoon. Afterwards, if time allows, you can visit Forks, which is just a 30 minute drive from the beach.
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Britnie Casil
las
Snoqualmie Falls Snoqualmie Falls is a quick 50 minute drive from Tacoma and is one of the state’s most popular sites. From the parking lot at the falls, a short 200 foot walk will take you to a viewing area where you can see the 270 foot waterfall. After looking at the falls, the Salish Lodge offers dining for lunch and dinner and is situated right up against the falls with views of the surrounding area.
Mount Rainier Even inexperienced hikers can head to Mount Rainier for
the day. The Mountain is one and a half hours from Tacoma, and you do not need to be a mountaineer to take advantage of it. To hike for the day at Mount Rainier no permit is required, but if you plan on camping you will need to purchase one. In the Longmire area of the mountain, the Trail of Shadows is a short, 20 minute hike, where you can see a replica of an early homestead cabin and walk through meadows and a forest. The more difficult hike in Longmire is Rampart Ridge Trail. It takes two and a half hours and is a steep loop through forests and ridge top vistas.
The Outdoor Adventure Club enjoys the snow on Mt. Rainier. See pages 22-23 for more about this club.
Other short hikes include the Nisqually Vista Trail at 45 minutes, Shadows Lakes Trail at one hour, and the Carbon River Rain Forest Nature Trail at 20 minutes. More difficult hikes are Bench and Snow Lakes Trail at two hours, Grove of the Patriarchs trail at one hour, Glacier Basin Trail at four hours, and the Tolmie Peak Trail at four hours.
Whidbey Island Whidbey Island is a one and a half hour car and ferry ride away from Tacoma, but the island has a vast amount of activities. Callahan’s Firehouse is home to Whidbey Island’s glassblowing community. Watch the glass being made or purchase some for yourself. Pick raspberries, purchase fresh fruit, and eat homemade ice cream at Dugualla Bay Farm. At Deception Pass State Park you can swim in Cranberry Lake or hike around the 4,134 acres of parkland. Double Bluff Beach is a beautiful spot for a picnic or a swim on a clear day. For a spiritual experience on the island, the Earth Sanctuary contains a Native American medicine wheel, a Buddhist Stupa, and mountain viewing areas all within a nature conservation area.
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Ask Annie ... about Tacoma
Legend has it that the ghost of Annie Wright (1863-1904) returns to offer wisdom to students of her namesake school. Here is some of her advice about navigating Tacoma. Where can I meet boys in Tacoma? Get out of your house or dorm room. Try attending sporting events, plays and dances at local high schools, as well as other local events such as concerts or races. Participate in extracurricular activities outside of school, such as drama clubs, teams, youth groups or even driver's ed. I have no money. How can I have fun? Go outside (see pages 24-25 for ideas). Volunteer (see page 3 for ideas). Watch movies, read, bake, have a photo shoot, experiment with makeup (finally learn how to contour), work out, color, have friends over, play board games, create a web site, have a home spa day, clean out your closet. Is Tacoma safe? Tacoma is a city, with many of the advantages (like all the assets covered in this issue) and disadvantages of urban life. As in any city, there are steps you can take to be safe. Be sure to walk with a friend at night, lock and take out all valuables from your car, and be confident and aware of your surroundings. What should I do if it is raining? The real question should be: What should you do if it's not raining? You live in the Pacific Northwest. With a good raincoat and boots or waterproof shoes, you can do whatever you please.
Katie Erickson
The next print issue of Inkwell will cover the new Upper School for Boys. Submit your questions to Ask Annie by emailing inkwell@aw.org.