Blog Posts

St. Patricks Day Drinks

March and St. Patricks Day are here, which makes this time of year just as much of an opportunity to celebrate a culture that adds to our tight-knit community as it is an excuse to wear all the green your heart can handle or hop between your favorite pubs in town to share a drink with family or friends. If youre looking to celebrate at home, here a few things you can make thatll bring the holiday to life this year. Tomatillo Verde Mary Look, we know this kind-of-sort-of just looks like salsa verde with alcohol or something, but, to be fair, thats what makes bloody marys, and anything in that same family tree, so divine. With the appropriate amount of vodka, a bit of lemon, fresh cilantro, juicy green tomatoes, and husked green tomatillos, youll be able to kick back and enjoy this hearty drink to celebrate this beloved day of everything green. Find out how to make it, and how much youll need of everything over here . Irish Mojito For those that are looking for something so neon green that you might get a tan from all the day-glo, this one is made for you. Start with a fresh, green, juicy lime, and add in some refreshing mint leaves, lime liqueur, creme de menthe, club soda, and mix it all together as directed with sugar and rum. You can find out how to make it all happen over yonder . Minty Asian Pear Mojito Last but not least is a different variation on the previous option. A little less neon in nature, and relying more on the lightness and tang of pear, this is for those that like wearing greenbut the more pastel kind. Youll still utilize all the canonized parts of any good mojito, like fresh lime and mint. But the addition of refreshing pear nectar and pear slices for garnish is an excellent touch. You can find what youll need for this one over here .

Local Flower Power

Spring is just around the corner again, which means plenty of sunand a healthier amount of rainto give rise to some of our favorite floral friends. And for those that want to spend time learning more about flowers, and taking home some of your own, there are several classes happening nearby this month that will help you cover all your botanical bases. Below, weve decided to highlight three of the ones were looking forward to most. Point Defiance Rose Pruning Demo March 5th Tacoma Metro Parks and the local rose society are lending the help of their most knowledgeable consultants to help you get your roses ready for spring. Whether youre keeping them in your apartment or have a plot in a local community garden, youll learn everything you need to know about keeping your roses healthy with pruning tips and general care advicealong with some hands-on experience. The event is free to the public, and its happening from nine in the morning until about noon. They recommend bringing a pad of paper and a pen for notes, gardening gloves and other gardening supplies, and weather-appropriate attire that fits a pacific northwestern spring. You can find more information about the event over here . A Symphony in Bloom March 24th Have you ever wanted to know how to have color in your community garden, or even with your indoor plants? Even though this is geared more toward outdoor gardening tips, youll be able to get all the spring-themed and year-round inspiration you need to add a healthy dose of botanical color to your life. The lecture itself will be held at the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory at six in the evening. While this event isnt free (its just five dollars), its bound to be filled with expert tips from one of the better botanical centers in the state. You can find more information about the event over here . Rose Garden Benefit Sale March 26th For those looking to get their hands on some fresh flowers without having to grow them yourself at home or in a community garden, this is right up your alley. Tacomas Rose Society and Metro Parks will be putting up the best of their roses for sale, along with other garden delights and donations to fund future flowers at their garden. The event is free, and will be happening from nine in the morning until about two in the afternoon. You can find all the information you need for the event over yonder .

Organizing Your Nantucket Gate Apartment

Its only February; were still in the first quarter of the year, so if getting organized is at the top of your its a new year/lets make a fresh start to-do list, weve got suggestions to help you get closet space and storage space in your Nantucket Gate apartment organized. First though, take some time and purge. Perhaps adopt the rule that for every item that comes into the apartment, three things have to go out of it. When you are ready to go through a room, or an area in your apartment, designate three destinations for stuff throw away, donate, or keep. And then follow through. Once youve got it sorted, use these tips for keeping it organized. Tension curtain rods are great for hanging curtains, true; but they can also be used to organize your baking sheets, lids, games, etc. Simply place them vertically in a cupboard to create an instant divider. Put one under the bathroom sink and hang your spray bottles on it. Shoe organizers arent just for shoes; you know the ones, the canvas ones with pockets. Hang inside the coat closet makes a great place to store scarves, gloves, umbrellas, the dogs leash, and the like. Or use one to sort mail for various people in the house, just use a sharpie to label everyones name on a pocket. Hang one on the back of the bathroom door, you have instant storage space for small items that belong in the bathroom. Hanging wire fruit baskets can hold more than just fruit. Hang one on the shower rod, and you have a storage place for the tub toys. Hang one in the utility room to store dryer sheets, stain removers, and all of those other random items that end up in there. Put one in the kids room, and fill it full of your childs collection of Beanie babies, and voila you have a storage space and display in one fell swoop. We hope these tips have been helpful. Please feel free to share your organizing tips in the comments section of the Nantucket Gate Blog.

The Most Romantic Local Restaurants

February is already here in all its winter gloryand Valentines Day has come and gone. If you had to work, or something came up and your V-Day date was a disaster, and you need to make amends, weve got you covered. Whether youve lived in the neighborhood for years or are new and bright-eyed to the area, you might be looking for the right place to have a romantic dinner with that special someone. For those that are on their first date, or those that have been together for years, weve compiled a list of local restaurants that are perfect for celebrating the person that makes your heart leap. Aviateur French Diner French culture is pretty much the definition and source of all romance ever. And though thats a little hyperbolic, the attention to detail that goes into their cuisine is not unlike the care and attention that is part of any long-standing relationship. Whether youre looking for authentic pate or buttered and exotic escargot, smoked salmon savory crepes, robust onion soup, steamed white wine mussels, or lamb shank, youll find it all here. The family that runs the place is as authentic as the food. A dim mood lighting, music, and bistro atmosphere make this a local favorite for celebrating anniversariesor beginning new and exciting relationships. You can find more information about the restaurant over here . The Lobster Shop Tacoma is a waterfront city, and what good is a real romantic dinner if you dont have access to the majestic views a waterfront city affords? Thats where the Lobster Shop starts off on the right foot. And you better believe their proximity to the water brings with it a diverse array of the best in fresh local seafood. With all the class and friendly staff, the food is affordablebut doesnt skimp on the quality for a second. Whether youre ordering a blueberry lemonade mimosa from the bar, buttered clams or crab legs, or even stopping by for a romantic brunch, youre bound to have an unforgettable culinary experience here. Youll find more information about their location and hours over here .

Finding Love in Tacoma

February is a month that often is focused on love and romance thanks to Valentines Day. And for those that already have a special someone in their lives, theyll likely be cooking up plans to celebrate their relationship. Though this time of year can be about expressing love and appreciation to anyone significant in your life, maybe youre wondering where you could find your potential soulmate in town. Below, we have a few suggestions for things you could try to put yourself in the path of a matchmaking Cupids Arrow. Community Hangouts Local hangouts like bars or dance clubs are always classic place to meet new peopleif you know where to look. Go places that are more likely to have people frequent that share similar interests. For example, if youre looking for someone that shares a similar passion in sports, you can try Rock the Dock Bar + Grill or Terrys Office Tavern. If youre looking for someone that shares a passion in craft beer, try your luck during happy hour at the Pint Defiance Speciality Beers + Taproom or The Red Hot. Public Settings You can increase your chances of meeting new people even in small ways like opting for Tacomas Pierce Transit every so often during peak commuting hours. While it takes courage to strike up conversations with someone you dont know, try to get in the habit of taking the first step and saying hi to people that sit closer to you that seem interesting. By asking simple questions, you might find you have a lot in common with people commuting to similar destinations. Common Ground Perhaps the best way of all to meet someone new is to go to activities that are built around the things you care about. For example, you could join a book club or go to a reading at a bookstore like Kings Books, to go to an exhibit opening at the Tacoma Art Museum, or a concert at Real Art Tacoma. But if even those events to lead you to find someone thats interesting enough, you could always try speed dating events around town.

Neighborhood Super Bowl Spots

Super Bowl weekend is just around the cornerand finding the perfect place to watch it in town is bound to make the top of the list of priorities for football fans. For those that dont want to deal with throwing a party and clean-up in their apartment, youll have plenty of options that are both good and bad. So where do the locals usually like to go? Below, weve rounded up a few different spots that are sure to fit your needs in one way or another. Harmon Tap Room Its hard to beat Harmon Tap Rooms selection of local craft brews. But add to that a twelve-foot projection screen in the back room, happy hour specials on pints and mimosas and bloody marys, and even swag giveaways at the end of each quarterlike hoodies and beer growlersand youre bound to have a grand old time during the game. Theyre located at 204 St. Helens Ave in Tacoma. You can learn more about them and their available beers by heading over here. The Ram International The Ram has garnered a season-long reputation with any sport for being a pretty mainstream place to watch your favorite game. And on a ten-foot long screen in their bar, and TVs throughout the waterfront restaurant, youll be sure to catch all the big moments. Theyve also got a full menu if youve got any kids in tow that want to root along. Expect there to be discounts on their available beer and spirits menu and appetizers. Theyre located on Ruston Way in Tacoma or at 59th Ave in Lakewood. You can find more information over here . The Liberty Theater Honestly, its pretty hard to beat watching the game on a theater-sized movie screen. And thats exactly what Liberty Theaters Super Bowl event entails. In the past, premium tables will run about two-hundred and fifty dollarsbut split between the eight people your table seats, that means thirty dollars a person gets wings, vegetable dips, bottomless drinks, all-you-can-eat buffet stations, and the biggest view of the game in town. They might change things up from year to year, but youll be able to find all the info you need over here under the upcoming events tab.