The Daily Outside: Monkeyshines Hunt 2.16.26
Monday’s Daily Outside begins close to midnight — a quiet citywide wander sparked by hidden glass, Lunar New Year mischief, and the familiar Tacoma ritual of stepping outside to see what magic might be waiting in plain sight.
Midnight mischief, glass ghosts, and the city quietly holding its breath
Monkeyshines Hunt — Lunar New Year Tradition
Tacoma, Washington
Hidden overnight • Found whenever you’re paying attention
Free • Ongoing, citywide
Somewhere after dark — when sidewalks empty and porch lights hum softly against the cold — anonymous hands scatter small pieces of wonder across Tacoma. Monkeyshines isn’t an official event so much as a shared rumor that returns each winter: hand-blown glass orbs, medallions, and rogue creations tucked into parks, trail edges, and the overlooked corners that suddenly feel charged with possibility. By morning, early walkers and curious wanderers begin scanning railings and mossy stones, turning an ordinary Monday into a quiet citywide treasure hunt.
Born from Tacoma’s glass culture and a desire to nudge people outside during the grayest season, Monkeyshines has evolved into something between public art and urban folklore. There’s no map, no official start time, and no guarantee you’ll find anything — which is exactly the point. The hunt reshapes how you move through the city, encouraging slower steps, longer looks, and conversations between strangers who suddenly share a secret language: “Seen any yet?”
What to know before you go
• Pieces are typically hidden overnight around Lunar New Year.
• Look only in public spaces — parks, sidewalks, trail edges.
• Expect both official glass pieces and community-made “rogue” creations.
• Part scavenger hunt, part morning meditation.
The unwritten social rules of Monkeyshines hunters
• Take one, leave many — the magic works because everyone gets a chance.
• Look with your eyes, not with a shovel; nothing is meant to be dug up.
• Respect plants, wildlife, and private property.
• Celebrate the find, but let a little mystery linger around locations.
• If you don’t find one, you’re still part of the tradition — the wandering is half the ritual.
What to bring
• Early-morning curiosity and a willingness to walk slower than usual
• A warm layer, maybe a thermos of coffee
• Tacoma patience — the rarest hunting tool of all
More info: Parks Tacoma Guide to Monkeyshine Hide and Seek
Afterward at Peaks & Pints
When the hunt winds down and your pockets are either full of glass or just full of cold morning air, drift into Peaks & Pints and let the day settle into something warm. We’re open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays — a good landing spot after a long wander through parks, sidewalks, and secret corners of Tacoma. Maybe you found a Monkeyshine, maybe you just found a new route through your neighborhood; either way, the ritual continues here with a quiet pint, familiar faces, and that soft post-adventure glow that only comes from a citywide walk with no map and no guarantees.
LINK: The Daily Outside explained
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
