X

Friends of the Duchess

Join the mailing list and receive special notices

We've got a lot of plans. Don't you want to know what happens next? As a member you will be the first to know when we announce something, which means you have a head start on ticket buying. We only have 42 seats on the bus and you'll have first dibs. We will also post special members-only offers that nobody else will be able to enjoy.


Tacoma ART BUS

ART BUS is a tour of art exhibits in Tacoma on the Third Thursday of the month, but its oh so much more than that!

Marty

Every tour is a journey through bits of what makes up Tacoma's creative culture and characters. There will also be ample opportunity to score sweet swag while we play a game on the bus and have a raffle drawing! This month we'll be doing a digital photo scavenger hunt with lots of great prizes for the winners.

Our celebrity tour guide for the May tour is Tacoma Deputy Mayor Marty Campbell!

Tickets are $10 to $20 with VIP ticket holders receiving a bag of special gifts from local businesses and ADDITIONAL opportunities to score raffle prizes.

You can purchase tickets online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/380366

We'll be visiting art exhibits at the following locations:

  • Rampart
  • Art Stop
  • FabLab
  • Bleach
  • Mica < ------------- brand new gallery!
  • 253 Collective
  • The Social

To top it all off we will be serving up slices of pizza courtesy of one of our amazing sponsors Puget Sound Pizza!!

Meet us at the curb between Tacoma Art Museum and Union Station. Bus begins loading between 5:30 and 5:45 and promptly leaves at 6 pm.

VIP Contributors include: 
~Mini Smithwicks drinking glasses from Doyle's Public House:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Doyles-Public-House/35508408162
~One Dose of Advantage Multi flea medication with an exam at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital: https://www.facebook.com/MetropolitanVetHospital
~One Free Class at Studio 6 ballroom from Zumba with Rocio Miller:https://www.facebook.com/ZumbaWithRocioMiller
~A CD from artist Raymond Hayden: https://www.facebook.com/raymond.hayden.73
~A CD thanks to True Margrit: https://www.facebook.com/truemargrit
~Free Chef Choice Appetizer from Maxwell's Speakeasy and Lounge:http://www.facebook.com/maxwells.restaurant
~Free Fitness Evaluation or TRX Class from Summit Strength and Conditioning:http://www.facebook.com/SummitStrength
~Free Seed Packet from Urban Garden Company: http://www.facebook.com/UrbanGardenCompany
~Collection of gems and stones from Lighted Jewels: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lighted-Jewels/171923302829281
~Loads of local coupons in Hometown Values Magazine: https://www.facebook.com/FreeLocalCoupons

And MORE to be announced!!

Tacoma ART BUS is produced by Duchess of Downtown Tours and is sponsored by Weekly Volcano Newspaper, NWCZ Radio, Hometown Values Magazine and Puget Sound Pizza.

Thanks for riding with us!

We've got plans!

Here's what we're looking forward to right now ...

  • March 21st ART BUS 3 Year Anniversary Tour
  • April 13th Daffodil Parade
  • April 18th ART BUS Tour with Ryan Mello
  • May 16th ART BUS  Tour
  • June 20th ART BUS  Tour with Cindi Rinehart
  • July 18th ART BUS  Tour
  • August 15th ART BUS  Tour
  • August (date unknown) Community Garden Tour
  • September 19th  ART BUS  Tour
  • October 17th ART BUS  Tour
  • November (date unknown) Art @ Work Studio Tours
  • November 21st  ART BUS  Tour
  • November/December GoLocal Shift Your Shopping Tours
  • December 19th  ART BUS Tour with Buddy The Elf

Build-a-Tour

If you have a group of 20 or more people, we can set up a customized tour for you based on your groups special interests.

  • Are you a fan of history? We can do a guided tour of Tacoma's salacious history either on foot or by bus.
  • Hungry? How about a progressive dinner and several of our best restaurants?
  • Are your friends savvy shoppers? We can take you to as many as 7 local boutiques.
  • Looking for a little inspiration? Let us show you the amazing work of our local artists!
  • If you're a fan of the great outdoors, we can take you to several of Tacoma's amazing parks including the second largest park in the United States!
  • Animal lovers will love a trip to Point Defiance Zoo and Northwest Trek!

And there's a lot more where that came from. Tell us your interests and we'll customize a tour for you.

Rates range from $20-$60 per person.

Contact us via email

Here's where we're coming from

This whole thing was an experiment ....

One day in 2010 we all realized that Third Thursday Artwalk wasn't really walkable because our galleries were too far apart. We decided to make it easier on art lovers and we pooled our money and rented a bus to take people around to the participating galleries. The galleries chip in for the bus, and we get our compensation from the ticket sales. And that's what we've been doing ever since!

Now we're just showing off - we added onboard games, prizes, VIP bags, celebrities and different types of tours like Community Gardens, Small Boutiques and Artists Studios for example. We're always dreaming up new tour destinations. Before we knew it we were the #1 Touring Company in Tacoma (it doesn't hurt that we're the ONLY touring company in Tacoma!)

 


Angela Jossy

Founder & Producer

Festival Director, former Associate Editor of Weekly Volcano Newspaper, singer/songwriter, artist and graphic designer.


Jackie Casella

Assistant Producer

Editor of Wrist Magazine, Weekly Volcano Columnist/Contributor, Executive Director of North Tacoma Branch of Peace Out Inc., and Bartender extraordinaire.


Contact us

Using the contact form to send us email at below

Keep in touch with us

If you would like updates on fun activities we are planning please consider signing up for our Membership Benefits Mailing list.

Name: Duchess of Downtown
Phone: 253-235-9264