What's Good, Tacoma (3/4)

Happy Tuesday, Tacoma. Hope you’ve been enjoying the nice weather. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let The Tacoma Brief serve up this week’s What’s Good Edition featuring five things that’ll help you live better, stay ahead, stress less, and enjoy more ☕️

In this week’s edition:

• Beer week 🍺 

• Irish festivities ☘️ 

• Cycler’s paradise 🚲️ 

• Free stuff 📑 

• Healthy eats 🥕 

Let’s get to it!

🍻 Tacoma Beer Week is in full swing

Tacoma Beer Week has shifted from August to March this year, and it's bubbling along as you read this. You have until Sunday to enjoy 30+ events happening throughout the South Sound, showcasing our vibrant local beer scene.

Four exclusive beers have been crafted for the celebration, including collaborations between Jan Parker Cookery with E9 Brewing and Georgetown Brewing with local pop-punk band Amber Pacific. Beyond beer, there are science fairs, glassblowing workshops, and cheese pairings to tempt your taste buds. It's the perfect excuse to support local businesses during the quieter (and darker) months →

☘️ Get shamrocked for free

Tacoma's 4th Annual Irish Fest brings the luck of the Irish to Freighthouse Square on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. The best part? It doesn’t cost you a pot of gold (had to).

This free celebration features over 40 local vendors selling Celtic-inspired crafts and goodies, plus food trucks for when hunger strikes.

Beyond that, you’ll be able to snap a selfie with a leprechaun or catch performances from Celtic Treble and the kilt-sporting Clan Gordon bagpipers throughout the day. Whether you're bringing the whole family or meeting friends, it's the perfect way to spend a Saturday →

The day after is a free pass day at Washington State Parks if you’re not too tired to hike a few miles with hundreds of your closest friends. The next free pass day is March 19th, so no pressure if you miss the first one.

🚲 Plan ahead for this cycler’s paradise

Time to dust off that two-wheeler lurking in your garage. The 14th Annual Pierce County Bike Swap is rolling in on April 19th.

This free, family-friendly event welcomes cycling enthusiasts of all levels from training-wheel littles to spandex-clad road warriors.

Beyond buying and selling bikes, you can test ride potential purchases, snag low-cost helmets (fitting included), enjoy tasty eats from a range of food trucks, get a safety check from professional mechanics, and discuss optimal routes with local cycling gurus who know every hill in Pierce County →

📚 Your library card has secret super powers

Your Tacoma Public Library card might be the most underutilized tool in your wallet. Don’t have one? You should get one! It’s free for residents and city/school employees.

Beyond free books (which is a huge win already if we’re being honest), our libraries have evolved into community resource centers with benefits that make premium subscriptions jealous.

From documentaries, PBS, and free online courses to audio books, eBooks, tv shows, movies, and music, your card gives you immediate access to a whole lot of stuff.

On top of that, you can check out DVDs, museum passes, and even a Discover Pass.

Most of our branches offer free programs if you need help understanding the tech in your pocket, story times for families, teen hangouts, free access to tools (like a 3D printer, Cricut, and embroider machine), craft circles, scavenger hunts, free tax preparation, and more.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to check out your neighborhood library, this is it. 

🥗 A tip to healthier eating around town

Finding nutritious food can feel like hunting for a unicorn. The secret weapon? Establishing a rotation of healthy local spots for those "I can't even" days.

It’s not always easy to find places with transparent ingredients and balanced meals featuring actual vegetables. But when you find one, make a mental note, start a list in your notes app, or write it down on paper.

This way, you always have a go-to when you don’t want to think about lunch or dinner.

I started my own list a few weeks ago and let me tell you… it’s a whole lot easier to make smart choices amidst the chaos.

Top of my list? Happy Belly — it’s so tasty you’ll have to remind yourself it’s healthy.

🧩 Extra fun & games

This week’s word search features the most fun, unique, or Tacoma-esque words from this edition.

See ya Friday (with a fresh batch of 20+ things going on next week)!

P.S. Know of any good things around Tacoma we should share or want to ask a question? Feel free to reply (or email us) any time.