Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings: Empty Bowls fundraiser is Saturday

Posted on February 28th, 2023 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

More than 600 hand-crafted bowls will be for sale at the Empty Bowls fundraiser at Chapel Hill Church on Saturday, March 4.

Empty Bowls is sponsored by the Gig Harbor chapter of Altrusa International to raise money to help feed hungry families in our community. The event has raised more than $100,000 for local food banks and other hunger-fighting groups since Altrusa introduced it in 2016.

Local potters and woodworkers have contributed more than 600 handmade bowls to this year’s Empty Bowls.

Here’s how it works:

Local potters and woodworkers contribute hundreds of handmade bowls that visitors can purchase. Prices start at $10. Local restaurants donate soup and bread.

Customers get a free bowl of soup for every bowl they buy.

Available soups this year include lentil soup from Sunset Grill; cowboy chili from BBQ2U; Manhattan clam chowder from KettleFish; cauliflower potato curry soup from Table 47; roasted tomato and basil soup from Morso; clam chowder from Anthony’s; mulligatawny from Harbor General Store; and creamy lemon chicken soup from Massimo. Panera is contributing fresh baguettes.

While visitors are shopping and supping, the Peninsula Youth Orchestra will provide background music, a potter will demonstrate how bowls are made and several raffle baskets will be offered.

Doors open at 11 a.m. Admission is free. Chapel Hill Church is located at 7700 Skansie Ave.

Shoppers look over some of the bowls for sale at last year’s Empty Bowls.

Gig Harbor Quilters

The Gig Harbor Quilters meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at the Gig Harbor Yacht Club, 8209 Stinson Ave.

This month, members continue the “March Four Corners” tradition, with four members sharing their areas of expertise. “Corners” will include how to incorporate nature into their quilts, how to use a “Stripology Ruler” and a “Twister Tool” and how to convert photographs into quilts. The meeting is free and open to all quilt enthusiasts and want-to-be quilters.

Pier into the Night

Take an underwater journey of the harbor without getting wet at Harbor WildWatch’s Pier Into the Night on Saturday, March 4, at Jerisich Dock in Skansie Park.

Divers will use an underwater camera to livestream what they find beneath the surface while Harbor WildWatch staff members talk about what’s being shown. The free event starts at 7 p.m.

Music

Half a dozen Gig Harbor student-musicians will play in the Tacoma Youth Symphony’s “Tales Woven Through History” concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at Tacoma’s Rialto Theater. The program includes Rossini’s “William Tell Overture;” Dmitri Kabalevsky’s “Violin Concerto in C Major, Op. 48, movement I: Allegro molto e con brio;” and Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade, Op. 35.” The concert opens with a short program by Tacoma Chamber winds. Purchase tickets here.
Josh Brulotte plays at the Olalla Valley Winery at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 3. Tickets cost $15. Purchase them here.

Save the dates

Gig Harbor Restaurant Week is March 6 through 19, with special deals at 13 downtown restaurants, breweries and distilleries. Click here for more information here.
The Gig Harbor High School Band plays its spring concert at 7 p.m. March 9 in the school auditorium.
The Dragon Boat Flea Market, which benefits the Gig Harbor Dragons, takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 10 and 11 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 12 at the Eagles Club, 4425 Burnham Dr.
Peninsula Civic Orchestra presents “Representing Women of Strength” concert at 7 p.m. March 11 at the Peninsula High School Auditorium.
Magical Strings plays an early St. Patrick’s Day concert at the Olalla Community Club at 7 p.m. March 11.