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LODGING NEWS | |
Getting married? Will you have out of town guests? Contac tthe Best Western Plus Wesley Inn & Suites sales team to book your Wedding Room Block today. Make sure your guests have a place to stay while celebrating your special day, and let us take care of the rest! Special group rates and packages based on availability.
Boardwalk Room Blowout Special
Spend the night in one of our spacious Boardwalk Rooms and enjoy the views of the beautiful Gig Harbor waterfront. Upon check in enjoy a complimentary bottole of Washington's own 14 Hands Chardonnay or Merlot. Then you can kick back in your room and enjoy the view. Each room has a private entrance, gas fireplace and flat screen TV. Enjoy all this for a special rate of $130 per nigth plaus tax through April 30th. Based on availability.
The Heritage Restaurant Mothers Day is coming - plan now to enjoy the wonderful plated brunch at the Heritage Restaurant. May 12th from 7am-3pm. Call ahead for reservations at (253) 853-6000
Check out several local listings on Vacation Rental By Owner including a brand new one in Gig Harbor called "Harborview"
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WHAT'S HAPPENING | |
PARKS APPRECIATION
APRIL 20TH
Always a favorite day in Gig Harbor, Parks Appreciation Day is an opportunity to show your love of all our local parks around the Peninsula area by giving back to the earth. From 9am-Noon its fun for all ages to volunteer! Families, groups or individuals are all encouraged to join the fun and help plant, prune, push, pull and play!
For City of Gig Harbor contact Terri Reed at (253) 851-6170
PenMet Parks contact Eric Guenther at (253) 858-3400
KeyPen Parks contact Jessica Smeall (253) 884-9240 x 22
56th Street Ribbon Cutting
The City of Gig Harbor accepted special recognition from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Boart at the March 7th ribbon cutting for the 56th St NW & Point Fosdick Drive Improvement Project. the City was recognized for its management of the project; it was completed on time and under budget, and it was a successful partnership amongst the City and TIB, as well as the adjacent property owners and the citizens of Gig Harbor.
Pierce County Council approved an ordinance on March 19th that surplused six properties, previously ownd by PC Surface Water Management, to the City of Gig Harbor. The six properties are located along McCormick Creek just north of the intersection of Wood Hill Drive and Burnham Drive and are approximately 20 acres.
The properites will likely be placed in the inventory of, and under the purview of, the Parks Division. Both the City Council and the city's Parks Commission have discussed options on how to place low impact trails within the properties to provide for recreation and educational opportunities that will both protect the features and functions of the critical areas while providing an area of respite and education.
TACOMA NARROWS BRIDGE CLOSURE - The Washington Department of Transportation will close the WESTBOUND (Old) Tacoma Narrows Bridge for maintenance the weekend o April 26-28th between Friday at 10:00 p.m. and Monday at 4:00 a.m. Traffic will be routed on to the EASTBOUND (new) bridge. Two-way traffic on the new bridge will be reduced to 35MPH. Traffic delays are expected as traffic will be rerouted. Please consider this in making your travel plans that weekend.
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HERITAGE HAPPENINGS |
SAVAGE ANCIENT SEAS
The Harbor History Museum's next exhibit will send shivers down your spine when Savage Ancient Seas opens April 13th. the exhibit runs through July 14th and features skeletons and life restorations of prehistoric sea creatures ranging in size from 1 foot to over 45 feet. Exhibit visitors will learn about the history or these fantastic creatures through interactive kiosks and touch stations. Special adult and youth programming during the exhibit run will be provided by Harbor WildWatch. Visit www.harborhistorymuseum.org for more information on the exhibit and related programs.
Stories in Stone: Travels Through Urban Geology in Washington State - April 6th special lecture 1:30pm Harbor History Museum
Learn about Gig Harbor's historic people, places and events on the new museum blog.
Do you love looking at historic photos? Want a unique gift idea? Check out available images on the museum's new online photo collection
GIG HARBOR BOAT SHOP THURSDAY MOVIES
Gather around the woodstove for the next in a series of Movies at the BoatShop. Thursday's beginning at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets available at the door. See the schedule here.
Lots of upcoming workshops in April at the BoatShop including;
- Renovate Motor Launch #706 learn boat repair & restoration
- Decorative Knot Workshop
- Build a Maloney Rowboat
- Making Wood Cleats
- Leathering Oars and Spars
- Three Strand Splicing
These classes fill quickly. Get details and register at
www.gigharborboatshop.org
The Gig Harbor BoatShop presents CRUISE WITH A PUGET SHOUND SHIP'S PILOT. Join Beryl E captain Guy Hoppen and Puget Sound Ship Pilot Jack Bujacich abourd the 90' Gig Harbor Fish Tender Beryl E for a 5 hour cruise, Friday April 19th from 9am-2pm. Reserve now!
COASTAL HERITAGE ALLIANCE
is offering several options for tours around the Puget Sound area aboard the Commencement.From a six day/6 night tour to a two hour cruise enjoy the Commencement out of Gig Harbor.
DESTINY HARBOR TOUR
is gearing up again as the weather improves and offers a wonderful variety of tour possibilities aboard their two vessels. See the latest. |
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DON'T MISS THIS! | |
Check out Harbor Fiber Studios now open in downtown Gig Harbor
Grand Reopening Celebration of the new and improved Wine Studio. For three weekends on Fridays and Saturdays, starting the 19th of April till May 4th, the Wine Studio will be have live music on most of these days. Also, don't miss the visits from some local winemakers and starting next Wednesday the 3rd of April, they will have Entertainment Night open mike hosted by Billy Farmer!
April 6th Gig Harbor Art Walkl
Discovering a Dynamic Marriage April 6th Lighthouse Christian School with Joy Peterson, MA. Reservations required (253) 858-5962
April 19th is the deadline for the annual ROUND ROCK COMPETITION. $100 prize! Winners announced at the Maritime Gig Festival! Cash prizes!! Always fun! Learn more at www.maritimegig.com
Gig Harbor's new MICHAEL'S will open April 26th.
April 27th Arbor Day Celebration at Peninsula High School. |
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SUMMER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | |
Several fun volunteer opportunities are available this summer;
Want to help with the fun Maritime Gig Festival June 1&2? Volunteers are needed in many areas. Contact Jamie Taylor, at the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce. jtaylor@gigharborchamber.com
Would you like to be an ambassador for our community? Join the volunteers at the Gig Harbor Visitor Information Center. Of particular need is "on-call" volunteers. Most "on-call" needs have about a week's or two notice. Contact the new VIC coordinator Tracy at (253) 851- 6865.
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Greetings!
Happy Spring. Please take a minute to note the quote I chose this month from our humble friend Piglet. It says a great deal about the way I feel about this community. I am grateful for you.
It's been another very busy month in the Gig Harbor Marketing Office. We are working very hard on the 2013-2014 Gig Harbor Visitor Guide due out May 22nd. You still have time to place your ad! Contact the Peninsula Gateway.
We have had a lot of great media again this month...we have been on a role! Did you see the re-run of Gig Harbor on the Travel Channel's Mysteries at the Museum? And don't miss all the Gig Harbor winner's in this months South Sound Magazine Best of 2013 issue.
I have also been on the speakers circuit this month. It's always a pleasure to meet with groups and organizations in town and share with them all the work we are doing to promote the entire destination of Gig Harbor. I made presentations to the Seattle Yacht Club, the Gig Harbor Kiwanis, the Gig Harbor Mid-Day Rotary Club and the Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association. It was also fun to participate on the panel for "Making Friends with the Media" put on by the Gig Harbor Arts Commission. What a great turn out for that event! Watch for more of those to come on additional topics on promotion and marketing of your business and or organization.
I also had the opportunity to attend the Two Nations Clipper Vacations Tradeshow events in Portland and Seattle where we met nearly 400 tour and travel professionals. It was very exciting to be able to tell them all about Gig Harbor and why they should bring their tours and travelers to our town! We have since been in contact with each participant and have already had one visit to Gig Harbor to look at hotel properties. Yeah!
We have more exciting news and opportunities coming up in April. Stay tuned and follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Thanks for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Laureen Lund
City of Gig Harbor
Marketing Director
Laureen Lund
City of Gig Harbor
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Netshed No. 9 Opens in Downtown 
Four years ago Chef Thad Layman and his wife Katie Doherty arrived in Gig Harbor after being in the restaurant biz in Napa California. They came to Gig Harbor with a goal. Bring good food and great service to the diners of Gig Harbor.
For the past four years they have done that consistently with Brix 25, located on Pioneer Way. Shortly after opening Brix, when they were still feeling their way, the couple looked at an additional potential restaurant site on the waterfront of Gig Harbor. They were really close to moving ahead with that site, but their hesitation meant another restauranteur beat them to the punch. "It probably was just as well,"
the same building became available again this past winter, they were ready to pull the trigger. Katie told me in an interview last week. "We were still working on getting Brix just right." Since then, they have brought two sous chef's up from their former Napa team, and have built a very loyal clientele and consistently good menu at Brix 25 including an award winning wine list. When
Their latest venture (but likely not their last) is the new "breakfast and lunch all day" waterfront location called "Netshed No.9"
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More Restaurant News
Devoted Kiss announces new hours! The popular Finholm eatery begins extended hours on April 1st, now open until 5:00pm. Come and check out some of their new menu items too!! (Devoted Kiss Eggs Benedict photo)
Appelbees now open in the Safeway Shopping Center.
Lunchbox Labratory opening later this spring/summer also in the Safeway Shopping Center
Gourmet Burgers opening in downtown Gig Harbor hopefully late this month! |
Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup Is Back!
Come out and support your local paddlers as well as all the other visiting paddlers from around the West at the 2nd annual Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup and Expos, April 20-21 at Skansie Brothers Park and on Gig Harbor Bay. Organized and in support of the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Club, this event is wonderful for both particpants and audience. Special thanks to the wonderful sponsors who make this event possible every year including The Skin Cancer Center and Java & Clay.
The event features competitive paddle racing for kayaks, canoes, outriggers and SUP (stand up paddle boards). Races in the harbor will range from novice to expert, while a complete expo of watercraft sports will be on shore. Demonstrations will be held by many water sport vendors and enthusiasts throughout the two-day event. Join the fun! www.gigharborpaddlerscup.com
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Grant Krogen Joins the Gig Harbor Kayak Para-Canoe Team
More great Kayak news as the team expands the team with para-canoe efforts. Read more.
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THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS
April is National Volunteer Month. Gig Harbor has an abundance of wonderful volunteers, filling a need through out the comm  unity in organizations, museum, food bank, schools, hospitals, on boards and committees and so much more. This month the Gig Harbor Marketing Office would like to recognize our volunteers for their outstanding service;
NANCI EVANS has volunteered for us for at least five years both as a volunteer at the Visitor Information Center and primarily as the one who helped the Gig Harbor Marketing Staff keep the brochure racks stocked through out town through out the year. Keeping those racks full is a big job, and we can not thank Nanci enough for her years of service to us and our community. Enjoy y  our retirement!! Amanda Silver is New! Mandy is now our volunteer (along with her three children) to assist our staff in keeping the racks around town stocked with all the information visitors and locals need to enjoy Gig Harbor! Welcome Amanda!
By the way - if you are interested in having materials displayed in the racks contact our office at (253) 853-3554. Items put into the racks without prior consent will be removed.
THE PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOL KEY CLUB helped us with a cleaning and maintenance of our heritage and environmental markers around Gig Harbor as part of their community service. Those markers are very popular and they  need to be maintained and cleaned of dirt and grime (and bird poop!) at least twice a year. We are incredibly grateful to those volunteers including; Sophia Anderson, Rachael Brunson, Elisa Han, Samantha Lee, Kayleen Levreault, Max Mikelson, Jessican Shatz, Daniela Smith, Caroline Wright and their advisor Richard Tucker. |
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Farmers Market Opens
It's that time of year again - "the bounty of the Peninsula" returns! April 6th marks the opening of the Saturday Market at Uptown continuing through September, rain or shine, 8:30am - 2pm. Stop by often as the offerings change each week, but live music, food and fun are every weekend!
Wednesday and Sunday market in Skansie Brothers Park opens in June.
Learn more at www.gigharborfarmersmarket.com |
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Travel Chair sponsors
2013 Chair Affair
Gig Harbor's own TraveChair company, an international provider of portable chairs and tables, has announced that it is the official sponsor for the 4th Annual Chair Affair event benefiting the NW Furniture Bank.
"We strongly support what the NW Furniture Bank is doing. Outfittin people with the essential home furnishings and promoting the idea that one is receiving a "hand up" instead of a "hand out" is a great approach" said Daniel Roso, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Travel Chair.
The annual Chair Affair (April 12th) supports the work in Pierce County of the NW Furniture Bank. |
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Gig Harbor Beer Festival May 11th
Tickets are on sale now for the 2nd annual Gig Harbor Beer Festival May 11th at Uptown. The event has expanded and will be offering 60% more beer vendors than last year and all beer vendor spots are now sold out!
Get your tickets before those sell out too! Learn more at http://gigharborbeerfestival.com/
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Something Old Something New
Classic Car Events in Gig Harbor
More classic car events are coming in the months ahead to Gig  Harbor. You won't want to miss out on all the fun;
Sunday June 2nd as part of the annual Maritime Gig Festival a new event will be added "Wheels on the Water" a classic car "park-in" in downtown Gig Harbor. www.maritimegig.com
July 6th the annual and always popular "Wings & Wheel s" returns to the Tacoma Narrows Airport. Enjoy 150 classic cars, classic airplanes, the Cascade War Birds, and a whole lot more fun for the whole family! www.freedomfair.com
July 12-14th the Key Peninsula Fair presents thier "Vehicle Show" Come show off your car, boat, tractor, whatever you have! $10 entry fee with an award for the Best in Show. www.keyfair.org
August 4th Gig Harbor's favorite "Cruise the Narrows Classic Car Show" returns all day at Uptown Gig Harbor. Organized annually by Gig Harbor's own Gig Harbor Cruisers Car Club, the event is enjoyed by hundreds each year. www.ghcruisers.org
And don't miss the return of the Gig Harbor Kiwanis Club's bi-annual Classic Car Raffle. This year's stunning 1966 restored Ford Convertible Mustang (in super cool black) will be raffled at events through out the summer months. This fund-raiser goes to support service projects which provide back-to-school clothes and supplies for low income students in PHS; pre-school reading program; bike program for disadvantaged kids; Key Club; Terrific Kid program and scholarships for local high schools. Watch for it!
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 GARDEN TOUR RETURNS JUNE 29 & 30TH
The Gig Harbor Garden Tour Committee has once again chosen acclaimed local artist Kate Larsson as their 2013 poster artist. Her "Beau Jardin" will be featured on posters, cards and program and the original will be auctioned at the Garden Tour Auction June 14th.
For information about the upcoming Gig Harbor Garden Tour (tickets go on sale June 1st) visit www.gigharborgardentour.org
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The New Official Gig Harbor Visitor Guide 2013-2014 Edition
Ad sales continue for the new edition of the Gig Harbor Visitor Guide. Don't miss out on having your business represented in this guide that is distributed around the city, region, state, country and world. Contact your ad sales rep at the Peninsula Gateway to buy an ad before it's too late! meridith.hatch@gateline.com |
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DONKEY CREEK CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WELL UNDERWAY!
Work continues on this major project. Upd  ates are available on the City of Gig Harbor website. Current work includes waterlilne work along Harborview Drive, Austin Street and North Harborview. Stay up to date at www.donkeycreekrestoration.com
The article below ran in the News Tribune and is really good. Enjoy
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FLOWER BASKET WATERING SUMMER 2013
Gig Harbor is looking for a frew good green thumbs for the annual flower basket watering program - a great opportunity to do something green for your community!
Daily watering begins in late May. Watering route, equipment orientation and training all take place in May. Want to learn more and help? Contact the Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association at (253) 514-0071 or info@ghhwa.org
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JOIN THE FUN APRIL 20TH
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COMING SOON
Mark your calendars now for fun stuff coming up this Spring and Summer;
May 11th Liveable Communities Fair, Key Peninsula 
Mothers Day is May 12th - Clark's Jewelers invites you to stop in and see what they have for Mom
May 11th - Second Annual Gig Harbor Beer Festival at Uptown
May 13th is the deadline for applications for the Maritime Gig Parade (June 1st). The parade fills up fast so get your application in now! Early bird discount until April 26th. Get all the application information you need at www.maritimegig.com
June 1 & 2 is Maritime Gig Weekend!
July 5th CinemaGig Outdoors opens with Field of Dreams on the 5th and The Sandlot on the 6th www.gigharborguide.com
July 11th Free Summer Concerts at Uptown opens with Michael Anthony Pratt www.uptowngh.com
Stay Up-to-Date on these and all other events and activities in Gig Harbor by visiting www.gigharborguide.com and following us on Facebook or Twitter.
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Farewell Lt. Bill Colberg
 After a 42 year law enforcement career and 30 years with the City of Gig Harbor Police Department, the citizens of Gig Harbor said farewell to one of our finest. Lt. Bill Colberg retired las week. We will miss you Bill! All the best.
Congratulations to Gig Harbor Police Sgt. Kelly Busey who has been promoted to Lieutenant and Office Fred Douglas who has been promoted to Sergeant. |
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