Thrice All American, Take Two

Funky buildings, stellar steamed milk,
& a cafe where first-time visitors feel like friends.

The other weekend I had the chance to go back to Tacoma, site of my previous entry Thrice All American. I went with a few friends who had never seen the side of Tacoma I've come to love- the funky coffeehouses and thrift stores, the great restaurants, the lovely public spaces. We took a long walk through downtown, where I had a great time introducing them to my Tacoma highlights.

Taste & See: We stopped by Cutters Point Coffee and enjoyed the big open space, light and airy and perfect for enjoying the Scrabble and Trivia Pursuit games handily tucked in the bookshelf behind us.




A barista's signature drink, the marshmallow fluff Divine Sunshine latte, sounded too sweet to me but I'm all for creativity in coffee drinks. And top marks for cheerful presentation.


We also liked the nautical theme; who doesn't want a sail and some fishing nets with their coffee?


And best of all was the hidden treasure, Quinn. Quinn makes the best, I mean, THE BEST, foam from steamed milk (even soy!) both my friend & I have ever tasted. We trekked back to Cutters Point Coffee every day just to taste another heavenly spoonful. Go to Tacoma. Go to Cutters. Have Quinn make you coffee. You will thank me. (And hopefully Quinn, with a big, big tip.)


After getting your perfect coffee from Quinn, wander through another old fave, UrbanXchange. I picked up some more fabulous finds, and I wanted to give another prop for superior customer service. Everyone working there was super-patient and helpful, they let us store our massive bags of goodies there as we wandered downtown, and best of all-- I've gotten about a hundred compliments on the sunglasses the woman behind the counter identified as the perfect pair for my face.


One other Tacoma coffee shop I mentioned last time was the mysterious locale adjacent to Grand Cinema. Our collective confusion is over: it is conclusively the (rather delightful) One Heart Cafe.


Love it for the lawnchairs lining the sidewalk outside, the art by local painters (including my friend!) adorning the walls, the impromptu music being played & sung (with no small amount of original expression) on the piano inside, or the array of treats on the colorful menu . . .


Or, like everyone else there, love it for the people. One Heart Cafe seems to be the kind of place where people camp out all day on a regular basis. And while I have yet to be one of those people, Jamie, pictured below, certainly made me feel like one, inquiring after the Strawberry plants I'd purchased at the downtown farmer's market and my impressions of Tacoma.


The decor in One Heart Cafe was just one expression of the artsy vibe I get all throughout the city. One of my favorite new finds is a back lane called Opera Alley.


Reminded me a little of the brightly colored buildings in some old cities in Italy, with a slightly hipper, more modern, palate.


No opera to be found, but (duh) you can do yoga . . . if you can find a way to hoist yourself up the not-quite-to-street-level stairs . . . what yoga move would one use for that?


I have some more photos from the walk, including our lunch stop at Galangal, the great little Thai place I mentioned last time. Look out for Take Three, coming soon.