Lakewood Farmer's Market, A Lakewood Tri-Lake Treasure

Now that we are in late September, the last of 2015's Lakewood Farmer's Market is over.  So.....here are some pics in case you already have farmer's market with drawl...

Fresh produce is one of the biggest draws for Lakewood Locals.  

 Not just fruits, veggies too....at good prices and fresh and local.

 Berries are a favorite, pictured here are black berries from Hayton Farms, earlier in the year you can also get raspberries, Marion berries, blue berries and lots more.

 There are also other local items, such as local honey from Robbin's Honey Farms

Also there are lots of hand crafted items available. Including this booth with a huge variety of items handcrafted by people with disabilities or living with out a home.  This organization helps them sell their items and create viable businesses to improve their lives.  

 

 Each week you will also find some form of live entertainment as well.  


Plus food booths and informational booths such as those offered by St. Clare Hospital, Lakewood's local sponsor to the Lakewood Farmer's Market.

When can you attend the farmer's market again?  Lakewood's Farmer's market runs from the first week in June to the middle of September each year and are on Tuesdays from late morning to mid afternoon.

Considering being a vendor? You can get applications in as early as May of each year.

There are a few other markets near Lakewood in Tacoma and surrounding areas, some on other days of the week and some that run longer. Proctor farmer's market is open from Late March or early April until Mid December and are open on Saturday....so if you are missing our Lakewood Farmer's market, you can get up early and have an early morning drive/date on Saturday and still get your farmer's market fix until next year when Lakewood's farmer's market opens again.


By Anna Matsunaga, Realtor, CNE, and Managing Broker of Team Momentum, Keller Williams






 

Lakewold Gardens a true Lakewood WA Tri-Lake Treasure

Lakewold Gardens-

 Believe it or not, I have been living in the area for over 2 decades and, until last Saturday, I had not visited Lakewold Gardens. 
 ( Despite the fact that I have friends and clients who live with in a couple blocks of the place and I live in walking distance...shame on me)  

I had promised my youngest children, ( one of whom had visited before) that I would take them and I decided that Saturday's children's day was the perfect time to do it.....and it was.  

The place is beautiful and now I plan to go back with them at least once a season.

Here are some pictures from our trip there together.

 We were excited to see so many things in bloom even though we are entering FALL

 Lanterns in the children's garden, kids decided they want to plant these at our house.

 The garden if full of wonderful statues,  there were 2 of these with the dog holding a basket, kids said they were the best.

 Through out the garden there are benches and places you could sit and talk or just relax with a book.

 One of the many mini gardens with in the gardens is the children's garden, there they let kiddos do some gardening of their own and it is used as a learning venue.

 Lots of fun places to run and to lose your self.

 A pond just below the peace garden.  A peaceful place indeed.

 One of Lakewood Police officers talking to kids about gun safety

 Duck topiary....

 View Gravelly Lake from the garden.

 Here is the Carol O'Rourke memorial library

 Story telling in the children's corner

 All said, I will be back and will stay longer next time.  We so enjoyed it and so will you.  Come just to see the place, or for some of the many events through out the year such as the beautiful tables showcase.  If you want to go back when ever they are open and get the scoop on what's going on there become a member.

Lakewold Gardens is located at 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive SW in Lakewood WA 98499.  They can be reached via phone at- 253-584-4106.

By- Anna Matsunaga, CNE, Realtor.  Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty

Do you LOVE Lakewood WA? Share your video of why...

Hello Lakewood WA!  If you live here and you love it or some specific things about it or a business or restaurant or park that is here and would like to share about it in a video and have it be be featured on this blog, on our Facebook Page......

Then go to this link ....

When you do you will have a link that allows you to make and upload a video right from your phone or computer and share it.  

If your video is used, please pm us through our face book page and let us know which video is yours and your address and we will send you a gift card good at a local business.

Looking forward to seeing what you have!

Tri Lake Treasures- Beacon Barber shop on Steilacoom Blvd

Some of what's best about living in Lakewood; the businesses in the area.  There are many wonderful small businesses that give personality to the neighborhoods.  One of these is Beacon Barbershop.  It is a real Old Time style barbershop. 

I took my son for a cut a couple weeks ago, since the barber he has been seeing since he was small was a long drive from our home.  He is very picky about his cut, the cleanliness of the shop and the service while he is there, so I was a bit nervous about taking him somewhere new.

As we came in we found out we had made a mistake, we did not have an appointment.  So you don't make the same mistake, you can call 253-582-4525.  We waited while he cut hair for a gentleman who did have an appointment and then he cut my son's hair.  The cut was clean, neat and even and looked great.  When he was finished he used a razor to trim his neck and over his ears. 

Prices are competitive, in fact less than we had been paying.  Even with out an appointment, we did not wait long.  ( guessing you could call a bit before you came in and get an appointment the same day in most cases) 

The shop is clean and quaint and pleasant to be in.  I would recommend Beacon Barber shop as one
of the "treasures" in the Lakewood, WA Tri-Lakes area. 

  Beacon Barbershop 6147 Steilacoom Blvd, Lakewood

Lakewood Library- a Tri-Lake Treasure

Lakewood Library

Lakewood Library is surely one of the things area residents appreciate.  Conveniently located just off of Gravelly Lake Drive, near the Lakewood Towne Center at 6300 Wildaire Rd SW, it is easy to access for anyone in the area.  

Now many may think that libraries are obsolete with the widespread use of the internet and e-books, and nothing could be further from the truth.

Really the library is a community center for learning and education for kids and education for adults, entertainment, business resources, reading ( online, books, e-books), enrichment classes and services to help students ( including FREE online tutoring) and a whole lot more.

Oh, yes and of course you can check out actual books, audio books, videos and more.  The librarians are ready to help and full of information and know how to navigate the wide range of services available through the library.  Better yet, Lakewood Library is part of the Pierce County Library system, this means you are linked to an enormous number of resources not to mention more books than even most large city library systems offer, all in a smaller town.  

 The Lakewood Library also offers fun classes for young children, business classes, classes about gardening and other fun activities as well as free meeting rooms for community events.

 True book lovers will appreciate the Book Sales that are held at several times a year as well.  Come on by and check out what you have right in your own back yard.  Here are the hours Lakewood Library is open, and remember, it does not even have to be open if you have a library card, you can access many of their online services day and night.

Lakewood Library, one of the Tri-Lake Treasures that are yours when you are living in Lakewood. 

-Anna Matsunaga

Anna Matsunaga is a Realtor and Managing Broker  with Team Momentum, Keller Williams. She lives and works in the Tri-Lake area of Lakewood WA.  She specializes in Real Estate in Lakewood and it's surrounding areas.  She has 4 children all attending Lakewood schools.  Her family lives, shops and works in the area.   

One of the very best things about living in Lakewood is all of the beauty and variety here.  

 

Here is a tiny sample......

By Anna Matsunaga, Broker, Realtor, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty
www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Lakewood Hardware and Paint- a Lakewood Tri-Lake Treasure

Lakewood Hardware- 9020 Lakewood Drive SW, Lakewood WA 98499

Hours of operation- M-F 7:30am to 6:30pm
Saturday 7:30am-5:30 pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm.

With so many things that are wonderful about Living in Lakewood, you might be surprised to find out that one of the things that make it wonderful is of all things a hardware store.  A hardware store you ask?  Yes really.  Most every community has a Lowes or a Home Depot or an Ace Hardware.  Of course the people in those communities are thankful to have them, but in Lakewood not only do we have those options close by or in our community, we also have something even more special.  We have Lakewood Hardware.

Located at 9020 Lakewood Drive SW, Lakewood WA 98499, this store is a treasure in the real sense.  Inside you will find almost as many staff members as you find in any big box store, the difference is that you can always find someone to help you and without pushing a button and waiting to be found, just walk in the door, you will likely have at least 2 people check in with you to see if you need help.  The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable and we see the same faces each time we shop there.  Funny thing is we often end up at Lakewood Hardware when we have found that the local big box store does not have the item we need…but it seems Lakewood Hardware always does.  I am always amazed at the variety that they manage to carry in what seems, at least from the parking lot to be a smaller store.  Don’t be fooled though, Lakewood Hardware is a lot bigger than it looks from the front.  (Much like many local homes) 

Want the best prices?  Well, then you might want to shop Lakewood Hardware for that reason as well.  Almost every time we compare prices we are pleasantly rewarded to find that prices there are lower for the same item than other places we are shopping.  Lakewood Hardware also has some wonderful specials on items on a regular basis.  Sometimes we just stop in to see what is on special.  Recently they carried high efficiency light bulbs for between 50 cents and a dollar a piece….we had seen the same type for more than 10 times as much, needless to say we stocked up.

If you are buying paint, then you will want to check out their paint department.  They carry a few brands you may not be able to find elsewhere and so far we have loved every pint and gallon of every brand we have purchased there from Pittsburg paints including their Manor Hall line 

 and more.  We’ve been happy to find great  bit above middle of the road paints to paint our rental homes with (Pratt and Lambert)

 for prices usually found only in lower end paints.  Better yet, they have an amazing custom matching department.  Got a challenge to match?  Likely they are up to it and better yet, you can have that color in any of the paints they carry.  I also really appreciate that, not only can I get great paint; I can get great advice to go along with it.  I have often saved a great deal of money with the advice. Today I was saved the expense of a primer for a project, because after talking about what I wanted to do with Lakewood Hardware’s paint expert, Scott Shaw, I found out I did not need it at all.

I also love that what they don’t have in store can be ordered and comes in quickly and I can order online with them as well.  You’d never expect so many departments in a neighborhood hardware store, but they have pretty much any department you find in bigger stores. They carry the Do It Best line, which has a huge assortment of well priced good quality items.

 Year round they have a wonderful garden center stocked with the season’s plants; they carry high quality yard equipment, hardware and house wares as well as even automotive items.

Check out Lakewood Hardware and Paint, truly one of Lakewood’s Tri-Lake Treasures.

 Review by Anna Matsunaga, Realtor and Managing Broker with Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty.  www.teammomentumrealestate.com