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Best of Northwest

Bicycles, Helmets and Gear Oh My!

Tacoma’s waterfront is the premier bike path for a cruise. Old Town Bicycle is ready to get your bike that much needed tune up before Spring melts the Winter frost.

With three locations, Olympia on Capitol Way, Gig Harbor on Kimball Drive, and Tacoma’s McCarver St Location, Old Town Bicycle’s staff is ready to get you on the road.

Cycling Aspirations and Perspiration

Let’s be clear, I do not claim to be a cyclist. When I ride, it’s usually a pleasurable cruise down by the water. My beach cruiser is classic cream white with style, and of course she has a basket.

The only time I was semi-serious about cycling was for the annual Tour de Goldfish on Five Mile Drive. That race ended in a tag team Tandem Bicycle ascent to the finish.

READ: THINGS TO DO IN TACOMA: THE NARROWS BRIDGE

Get Tuned

If you are a cruiser like me, or a serious cyclist that needs the right gear for those long distance rides, Old Town Bicycle has you covered.

When I brought my beach cruiser in for a much needed tune up, I was greeted by several staff members who were ready to assist me. Alana described the different types of tune up’s the shop offered.

They cover everything from Standard to Deluxe tune ups, taking the time to clean, inspect, grease and adjust so my two wheeled transportation was ready once again to ride along the waterfront.

Gear Heads

The staff at Old Town Bicycle is friendly and knowledgeable. They were glad to discuss the importance of bike maintenance and the best ways to keep my bike in well working condition.

Helpful Hint: Giving your bike a bath, similar to washing your car keeps it in good condition. Washing prevents pebbles, sticks and nature from rusting chains or breaking gears.

We also discussed the right types of gear. Those funny shorts and Clip in shoes you see when a cyclist passes by in the bike lane are actually well worth the price for comfort and balance.

Old Town Bicycle has the right helmets, tires, water bottles and cycle gear you need to get out on the road feeling prepared.

Outdoor Adventures

Tacoma’s beauty is is better enjoyed outside. The bike path is a great way to do this. There are plenty of things to do in Tacoma on your two wheeled friend. There are tons of local trails and waterfront views to be enjoyed.

If you ever made a resolution to get active and healthy or trying a new sport, placing your feet to the pedals is a great solution

It’s never a bad time of year to get your bike tuned, especially if it hasn’t been done in a while.

Check out Old Town Bicycle’s Deluxe Tune Up Package! Be sure to tell them Clever Neighbor sent you!

Old Town Bicycle
Address: 3009 N McCarver St, Tacoma, WA 98403
Phone:(253) 573-9400
Hours: 10AM–6PM

Climb on at Edgeworks

When you think Rock Climbing our minds wander to gigantic boulders and cliffs with climbers hundreds of feet in the air. This image can be a bit intimidating. Indoor climbing has dramatically changed this traditional view of rock climbing to one with brightly colored hand and foot holds, auto-belays and one-on-one instruction. Located off 6th Avenue on North 9th Street, Edgeworks is hiding out and it’s absolutely the best climbing gym in Tacoma! Don’t be intimidated,the team at Edgeworks will have you suited up and bouldering in no time. They have all the rental equipment climbers need. Everything from climbing shoes, harnesses, ATC and chalk bags. Not to mention they have great hours, open seven days a week Monday – Friday 9 am to 10 pm, Saturday 10 am to 10 pm Sunday 10 am to 7 pm.

Local bouldering

Walking up to the front door of Edgeworks, it’s hard to imagine that inside the grey warehouse business complex there is 10,000 sq ft of climbing, top-out bouldering wall, six auto-belays (single person belay stations), weight room, an instructional climbing wall on the second floor and a yoga studio to boot. Edgeworks literally has it all. There are basic 101 level classes that teach beginners how to tie a figure eight, lock in their ATC’s and climb on. It doesn’t stop there. Once you fine tune those climbing skills indoors the team at Edgeworks takes top-roping and lead climbing outside! Don’t worry when the little ones come calling“Mom I want to climb too!”, Edgeworks has kids classes and camps available as well. Climbing is a family activity and helps get everyone active and exploring the Pacific Northwest.

Commercial Climbing Gyms

The climbing industry has grown tenfold in the past decade. The march continues with the help of heated warehouses and fancy climbing equipment such as Gri Gri’s and comfortable sport harnesses. Commercial indoor climbing is another way for people in the Northwest to stay dry in the winter months while maintaining their 5.11 B status. I began climbing at Edgeworks almost one year ago, January of 2016 and have never looked back. The instructors at the gym are patient, knowledgeable, friendly and fun. They take climbing seriously so we can monkey around and really push the limits. If you are looking to become an Outdoor Guide or just want to boulder with friends check out Edgeworks. Tell them Clever Neighbor sent you!

Game Day Doughnuts

Seahawks fans should be pleased by their options at Legendary Doughnuts. There is the Sherman, which is a raised ring doughnut topped with vanilla frosting and sprinkles of gresen and blue. The Wilson is very similar, but instead of sprinkles; it has sparkly blue and green sugar crystals. On Blue Friday and Game Day these doughnuts are in the shape of a football. Both of these doughnuts are in the “famous” class, alongside the Homer Simpson, Tinkerbell and Sex In The City doughnuts.

One step above the “famous” class is the “legendary” class, where sits a vanilla cake doughnut donning a blanket of vanilla-frosting and two blue and green chunks of bubble gum. If you haven’t yet guessed, this is known as the Pete Carroll (Learn why Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll is known for chewing gum)

Chandeliers and a 12th Man flag hang proudly in Tacoma’s 6th Ave. location.

Local Origins

Legendary Doughnuts opened in 2010 featuring their own cold press coffee and a bacon encrusted maple bar known as the Oprah (check out this recipe from Oprah.com). They became a hit in the South Sound and have since opened a number of new locations, to the delight of many a work place (click here to order a dozen doughnuts).

Legendary Doughnuts features "Fido Nuts" and "Pup Cannoli" for their four legged customers.

Legendary Doughnuts features “Fido Nuts” and “Fido Cannoli” for their four legged customers.

Doggy Doughnuts

Your pooch will be happy to join you. The “Fido Nuts” and “Pup Cannoli” look delicious. Thankfully there are other options to avert temptation, like the “doughsant” class of doughnuts–a ring of croissant dough, featuring a variety of topping options. For those counting calories Legendary Doughnuts offer smaller variations on many of their doughnuts. There are doughnut cakes and towers for those who are not.

A nine inch ring doughnut celebrating the Seattle Seahawks.

Nearest Location

Legendary Doughnuts is making doughnuts at their original Lakeland Hills location near Lake Tapps. They are in Tacoma on 6^th Ave., in Covington near L.A. Fitness (oh the irony), and have two new locations in Federal Way and Frederickson.

Tools To Make Your Own Doughnuts At Home:

Doughnut Dispenser

Doughnut Cutter

Cuisinart Deep Fryer

Top Pot Doughnuts Recipe Book

It would seem that Puyallup has a hidden gem of a restaurant in Ben Herreid’s Arista. A restaurant so intriguing, that restaurant owners rallied around it this week to say, “You will not close!”

Arista offers fresh pasta that is made in-house, and is a proponent of a “farm-to-table” approach. One such dish is their Pumpkin Ravioli, featuring locally sourced pumpkins and foraged Chanterelle mushrooms. They have a diverse selection of wine, including a chianti by the glass, and feature dessert from local bakeries.

Arista has 4.5 stars on Yelp, with gushing reviews. If you are looking for a spot to relax and a be served with food from the heart of a passionate, friendly chef, then find yourself in Arista in the near future, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Arista offers a Farm to Table approach and diverse selection of wine.

“The amazing community of Puyallup has reached out! In short we made a decision off of what appeared to be an amazing opportunity to open Roast House in Parkland which has brought on a huge financial burden due to an unforeseen situation. Due to that situation we made a premature emotional decision to close however we apologize for the premature decision to close today. I am passionate about my restaurant. This is my love. We ask you for your support as we open tomorrow and purely focus on doing what Puyallup has proven to us that they love and appreciate in Arista. We ask for your support…we will be open for dinner tomorrow. Please come support us tomorrow!!”

– Ben Herreid (Chef & Owner of Arista in Puyallup) from Arista’s Facebook page

Head Chef Ben Herreid with Bryan Reynolds of Anthem Coffee

Chef and Owner Ben Herreid (on the right) talks shop with Bryan Reynolds of Anthem Coffee.

Something To Consider:

Just across Pioneer Avenue is Anthem Coffee, where you can enjoy an espresso, beer or wine, before or after your meal.

Maybe take a walk through Pioneer Park, or peruse the books at the Puyallup Public Library before your meal.

Make Your Own Pasta at Home:

Sleek Design — Automated: Philips Pasta Maker

Italian Made — Inexpensive: Marcato Atlas Pasta Maker

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