Esplanade news and notes!

A few notes about some upcoming events at the Esplanade and in the immediate neighborhood:

• Decluttering parking spaces, and cleaning of lower garage
  Additional racks for hanging kayaks have been installed on the wall at the north end of the P1 garage, as well as on several other walls in the P1 garage. The new racks will allow kayaks to be moved out of parking spaces and onto the wall racks. According to the building rules, residents are generally not allowed to clutter up parking spaces with storage of miscellaneous items, except in cases where special permission has been specifically granted. Along with the new racks and other decluttering of the garage, Building Manager Karen DeGraw is currently working on scheduling a vacuuming of the lower garage, which will necessitate a day when all cars are moved out.

• Book Club meeting this Thursday
  The Esplanade Book Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, 9/7 in the community room. All are welcome and there is no specific book for this meeting. Instead, bring a book you have recently enjoyed, and share it with the group. Wine and snacks are also on the agenda; feel free to bring something to share if you like.

• Downtown to Defiance this Sunday
  Sunday, 9/10, will be the annual "Downtown to Defiance" event. This free community event was originally organized so that Tacoma residents could envision a public esplanade that would run from downtown all the way to Point Defiance. Streets are closed along the route from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., allowing pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, etc. a wide open, car-free pathway. Click HERE for more information.

• Seahawks games in the Esplanade Community Room
  After getting out and walking, running or cycling on Sunday morning, why not sit back in the community room in the afternoon with other Esplanade residents to watch the Seahawks take on the Green Bay Packers? These Seahawks game-day gatherings are very informal, and friendly to both rabid as well as casual fans. People will often bring food to share, although this is in no way a requirement for attendance. All are welcome, and you don't have to stay for the full game.

• HOA board meeting on Thursday, 9/14
  The next Esplanade HOA meeting will take place on Thursday, September 14 at 6:00 p.m. in the community room. There will be committee reports, budget updates, and time for resident questions. To see an unofficial summary of the June meeting click HERE.

• Free zoo days at Point Defiance
  This is not strictly in the immediate neighborhood of the Esplanade, but it is a little-known perk for Tacoma residents. Wednesday, 9/20 is the first of the fall "free days" at the Point Defiance Zoo. More dates are offered through the fall and winter. Click HERE for more information.

• Former mayor Bill Baarsma to speak on Wednesday, 9/20
  The Esplanade Social Committee has now hosted four guest speakers in its series of "Esplanade Speaker Forums." These are not decision-making forums, but invited guest speakers. The next speaker, on Wednesday, 9/20, will be Bill Baarsma, a former mayor of Tacoma, who will speak on the transformation of downtown Tacoma. The committee would very much like some suggestions for future guest speakers.