Hello Tacoma! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Summer late nights for teens, a 62% housing surge, and Girl Scout Night + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
A safe summer gathering: Summer Late Nights kicked off in Tacoma for a second summer, offering teens mentors, activities, and a warm meal. Partners include Tacoma Public Schools, the YMCA, and Parks Tacoma -- meet the summer mentors.
Tacoma’s housing shift: Tacoma saw a 62% jump in housing units permitted since February’s Home in Tacoma rezone, signaling denser neighborhoods and more homes near transit to come -- see Tacoma’s housing surge.
Support for local families: Tacoma’s free summer meal program is back with new locations, offering sack lunches for kids 18 and younger through Aug. 28, eaten on site, plus resource fairs in July -- see where and when.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
PNW garden glow-up: Calendula Nursery & Landscapes helps Tacoma gardeners zero in on PNW-ready natives and edibles, then backs it up with creative landscaping when you’d rather delegate the digging. Their dried floral shop and hands-on workshops keep the plant joy going between projects, which your porch and sanity will appreciate.
Press start, Tacoma: Outer Orbit Arcade is your new just-one-more-game spot, with pinball, classic cabinets, and a few modern time sinks. Grab a scoop or a slice, maybe a cider if you’re off duty, then chase a high score you’ll brag about in the group chat.
Playful cardio, anyone?: Sometimes you just need a quick mood reset that doesn’t involve caffeine. Stairs and Slides at Dune Peninsula brings six grin-inducing slides beside the Wilson Way Bridge, plus an easy workout on the climb back up... and wide-open waterfront views as your reward.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Need cash but can't take on another monthly payment? This gets you a lump sum from your home's equity with no monthly bill and no interest, because it isn't a loan. Use the funds for anything, whether that's home improvements, paying off debt, or a large purchase, and pay it back by the end of your 30-year term. Checking your offer is easy, fully online, and won't affect your credit score. *See your cash offer →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🧒 Girl Scout Night @ Cheney Stadium | Friday (6/26) at 7:05 PM – Head to Cheney Stadium and salute Girl Scouts keeping this town fueled on cookies and grit. Postgame fireworks, a movie, and an on-field sleepover if you upgrade, plus grub and a patch, and a cut of every ticket benefits Girl Scouts of Western Washington.
🚗 Tacoma Cars & Coffee @ LeMay - America's Car Museum | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Whether you can ID a flathead by ear or just like coffee with a side of chrome, Cars & Coffee rolls into LeMay each third Saturday for mingling among gearheads. Sip, stroll, admire the classics, and keep burnouts in your memories, not the parking lot.
🏖 Titlow Beach Park Low Tide Tour @ Titlow Beach | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Trade errands for tide pools at Titlow Beach as Harbor WildWatch’s biologists lead a low tide wander through sea stars, crabs, and anemones, with just enough science to impress the grandkids. It’s free, family-friendly, and gloriously muddy, so wear real shoes.
➗ Tacoma Mathfest 2026 @ Children's Museum of Tacoma | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – The Children’s Museum of Tacoma is turning math into a party, with free STEAM fun for kids 3 to 11, courtesy of Greentrike and Zeno. Think hands-on games, clever challenges, and prizes that beat screen time. You bring kids, they bring numbers, curiosity, and chaos.
🧺 Pierce County P2P Family Picnic @ PAVE Headquarters | Saturday (6/27) at 12:00 PM – Pack a blanket and pop by Pierce County Parent to Parent’s office backyard picnic, the easy kind with lunch handled, activities, and a welcoming vibe. Meet new families, catch up with old pals, and let kids run while you enjoy real conversation, registration required.
⚽ Tacoma Galaxy vs West Seattle Rhodies @ Bellarmine Preparatory School | Sunday (6/28) at 12:00 PM – The Galaxy close out their home slate against the West Seattle Rhodies at Bellarmine, a proper South Sound evening of crisp passes, louder neighbors, and zero pretense. Expect spirited soccer, affordable tickets, and that smug feeling of beating West Seattle.
👗 South Sound Family Formal @ The Poet | Sunday (6/28) at 3:30 PM – Break out the nice shoes you bought for a wedding and never wore again. This family formal fundraiser brings snacks, music, pro portraits, and kid-thrilling cameos from a princess and a superhero, plus a coloring table, raffle prizes, and Manuscript bites and sips for purchase.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Tacoma report Weather forecastToday — High: 75°F — Low: 54°F — Precip: 0%
Partly sunny, with a high near 75. West southwest wind 2 to 12 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southwest wind 6 to 12 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 63°F — Low: 52°F — Precip: 43%
A chance of rain after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 52. This house is wildThis extraordinary lower Browns Point waterfront property delivers front-row Puget Sound drama, with Mt. Rainier, the Olympics, ferries, islands, and the city skyline all on display. Expansive decks, a bulkhead-protected shoreline, and direct kayak launch access set the scene. An income-producing cottage, two shops, a second kitchen, gardens, and subdividable land add rare flexibility.
Take a peek inside → |
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