The New and Improved Inside Gig Harbor
It’s done!!! After much effort and more hours than I can count, I am so excited to announce that the latest edition of my coffee-table book, Inside Gig Harbor, is finally finished! This expanded volume includes an additional 35 businesses as well as all those from the original printing, bringing the total number featured to over 50. It is a limited production exclusively for my neighbors here in Gig Harbor, and I’m offering it to the community absolutely free! You can grab your very own copy hot off the press by filling out this form.
So why a book?
I love Gig Harbor and I love supporting entrepreneurs. As a small business owner since I was 23, connecting with and promoting other hard-working business owners is my passion. When I first moved here five years ago, I never could have realized how much this place would take hold of me. But as I got to know the people who have built their livelihoods here, I really came to adore this town. So in 2019, I decided to write Inside Gig Harbor as a sort of love letter to our small businesses and organizations. Each entry tells the story about the people who help preserve the distinct characteristics of our beautiful town through their shops, restaurants, and nonprofits, as well as how they give back to our community. Read on for a sneak peek of this beautiful updated volume celebrating the unique people and places that make Gig Harbor what it is.
Gretchen Giese Artworks
7801 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor • (253) 255-3353
facebook.com/gretchengieseartworks
Gretchen Giese studied Fine Art at Washington State University and has spent her adult life dedicated to her art. After marrying her best friend Mark twenty-five years ago, the Tacoma native moved to Gig Harbor where she and her husband settled down to raise their two daughters. Almost a decade ago Giese began selling and displaying her work around town, but dreamed of having a retail space of her own. In the fall of 2019 she was delivering art pieces to place on display at a local downtown shop when she saw a “For Rent” sign in the window next door. Having her own brick and mortar store and being able to add to the unique spots to visit, shop, eat, and experience in downtown Gig Harbor felt meant to be. Less than a month later she opened the doors of Gretchen Giese Artworks.
At Gretchen Giese Artworks you can purchase Giese’s art, order a custom commissioned piece, or sign up for group art classes. The classes are accessible and enjoyable for everyone—whether you have never picked up a paintbrush before or have a few art skills under your belt. During each session, Giese demonstrates her favorite painting techniques and guides you while you create, sip wine, relax, and have fun. Giese often teams up with other local artist Tami Figliola to host tandem art lessons. As well as classroom and shop, Gretchen Giese Artworks serves as Giese’s gallery where her passion for nature, Gig Harbor living, and being out on the water is on full display in her colorful and vibrant paintings. You can also find her artwork around Gig Harbor at places like Morso Wine Bar and Boujie as well as the Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival, First Saturday Art Walk, Gig Harbor’s GNO, and various holiday events.
Giese enjoys being an active part of the Gig Harbor art community by donating her work to local schools for auctions and fundraisers.
Wild Handful Farm
4218 83rd Avenue Court NW, Gig Harbor
Karen Davis grew up spending her summers at her grandparents’ homestead in Canada surrounded by gardens, berry patches, and her grandfather’s bees. Being outside feeling wild and free and picking flowers and vegetables with her grandmother made an indelible mark on Karen’s spirit that followed her for the rest of her life. Karen’s husband Jason is in the military and they have lived all over the world from Germany to South Korea to several states in America before finally landing in Gig Harbor five years ago. Along the way, Karen cultivated her passion for gardening and learned how to grow in different climates. Happily and permanently settled in Gig Harbor, Karen decided to try her hand at growing a business and opened Wild Handful Farm in the spring of 2020.
Named as a tribute to Jason and Karen’s five children, Wild Handful Farm is a micro flower farm, farm stand, and flower subscription service that offers fresh cut flowers and beautifully crafted floral arrangements that are at the same time both whimsical and elegant. Karen designs each arrangement with specialty, seasonal blooms grown and gathered by her on her small farm. Taking great care with the environment and sustainability of her florals, Karen cultivates all her plants from the soil up, free from chemicals and preservatives. Sign up for the Wild Handful Farm seasonal flower subscriptions to pick up a fresh cut bouquet every week for four weeks or stop by the farm stand to peruse Karen’s handpicked in-season goods like hand-packaged seeds and bulbs, dried posies, fresh eggs from her farm, Wild Handful Farm mugs and tote bags, cacao from local Retreat Drinks, and other products from local Gig Harbor businesses.
Karen finds great joy in connecting with her neighbors by hosting do-it-yourself flower bars and giveaways at her farm stand. During the spring, Karen donates an extra bouquet to her flower subscribers which is meant to be passed along to a stranger, neighbor, or friend to spread joy and kindness in Gig Harbor. Karen is a gardener with the Growing Kindness Project and has donated blooms to Gig Harbor nursing home Cottesmore of Life Care.
NetShed No.9
3313 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor • (253) 858-7175
NetShed No.9 is one of the three restaurants that the dynamic husband-wife team, Thad Lyman and Katie Doherty, have opened in Gig Harbor. Lyman and Doherty loved the idea of starting a restaurant that served breakfast all day, so in the spring of 2013 they did just that.
Their idea has been immensely popular. Perched over the waters of Gig Harbor, outside diners can enjoy everything breakfast, brunch, and lunch while watching boats pass by and taking in breathtaking views. The menu includes mouthwatering items such as a Skillet of Warm Cinnamon Rolls (the aroma alone will make you swoon), Lemon Curd & Blueberry French Toast, Chilaquiles, Chicken & Waffles, “Blue Ribbon” Apple Pie Waffles, the not-to-be-missed Ricotta & Sourdough Pancake, and so much more. You can also order soups, salads, sandwiches, and other lunch items.
Lyman and Doherty have friends and family who have battled cancer, so NetShed No.9 consistently donates to breast cancer research. They also give to local animal groups including Prison Pet Partnership and CHEW Dog Rescue.