Defiantly Tacoma's Guide to Hobbies and Art

If the first half of 2020, generally panned by mainstream critics, will be remembered for anything in ten years, it might be the new hobbies we took on a result of so much free time. With shelter orders, closed restaurants, and the usual patterns of life disrupted, people have turned to unconventional avenues to pass their days.

For more Tacoma awesomeness, read our Guide to Janku Land

If you haven’t taken up bird watching, shredding a saxophone, or still life painting, now could be the time. Got a spare 10,000 hours? You’re lucky to live in a big city with small town heart that’s got plenty of avenues, businesses, and resources to get you supplied with all you’d need to master a new skill or hobby and have a little fun doing it.

Tinkertopia

Led by the enigmatic and endlessly fascinating Commander RR, Pacific Avenue’s Tinkertopia is a one stop shop for curious minds with a predilection for engineering. Unique and often recycled arts and craft supplies can be bought in bulk and walking through it’s well organized bins of stuff is a fascinating experience for a brain of any age.

Guitar Maniacs

First off, don’t be corny. Unless you enjoy apathetic customer service and the dirge of 25 out of tune guitars weakly playing “Smoke on the Water”, don’t buy instruments at a chain store. Guitar Maniacs’ quaint downtown shop feels like a music store should. Knowledgeable experts who aren’t pushy, piles of pedals and cables, and of course walls of beautiful guitars. That’s what a music store should be and that’s exactly what you’ll get at Guitar Maniacs.

Art and Clay Studio

Based out of a bright colored shack in Lakewood, Cheryl Johnson’s Art and Clay Studio is a classic paint studio with soul. You pick your little clay piece, you paint it, they glaze it, and you keep it forever. It’s fun for the whole family on its surface, but classes are available for those wanting to take their skills with clay to the next level.

Teaching Toys & Books

Full of energy and the attention spans of some small bug, kids have no idea what they want to do. For those wanting to push their kids to narrow their focus, identify interests, and build on those dreams is Teaching Toys & Books. Located in Proctor with an additional storefront in Uptown Gig Harbor, this thoughtful store focuses on supporting emotional, physical, and intellectual growth of our neighborhood’s children.

Uncorked Canvas

Have you ever tried one of those paint and sip sessions? You get a little saucy, gab with your crew, and all of a sudden everyone has painted a solemn swallow perched on a snow-covered birch tree. It’s the best. We loved posting up at Uncorked Canvas, sucking back vino, and leaving with a masterpiece for our office wall, but you know. Global pandemic. No matter. The studio is now shipping customers all the tools needed and follow along tutorials for you and your quaranteam to up your art game from the safety of home.

Got any other spots you think people should know about? Send hot tips, pictures of your art, and iPhone recordings of your beginners violin compositions to ccatherwood@wertacoma.com.