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The art of dance is about passionate expression and storytelling, am I right? Don't we all sink into our theater seats knowing we'll be wooed by romantic costumes and storylines of classical ballet? Don't we all hold our breath as we watch hip-hop dancers lay their emotion down with the
Features
The menu at the Cascadia Grill sets the tone for an enjoyable and festive dining experience. With classifications such as "Who Wants a Snack?", "Hand Held Stuff," and "Fork and Knife Stuff" and menu items like "Exactly 5 Chicken Legs" and "Cohos Gone Wild," you can be assured that the
Music
I've made no secret of the fact that, when looking for a band to write about, I frequently am attracted to the band with the most interesting name. This is the reason why Gene Simmons was idly doodling "KISS" in his high school notebook, testing out fonts, and daydreaming about
Stage
Olympia Family Theater doesn't have far to look in search of original plays, because there is a treasure chest of talented playwrights right here in Olympia. Starting with an adaptation of the popular children's tale The Wind in the Willows by local playwright Andy Gordon with music by Bruce Whitney and
Online Interactive Guides
Click here to view our interactive 2018 Best of Olympia Guide.
Stage
However 2017 may have treated you, Sam Miller had a banner year. "I bought a house," he agreed. "I have a great job as a social worker, working in Tacoma. I got that job in 2017." Then there's his thriving side career as Olympia's pre-eminent standup comedian. "I'm really happy with where
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One of my favorite things to do in Olympia is the Selfie Tour, and my favorite stop is the Kissing Statue in Percival Landing Park. This is such a great photo stop. You can take your photo with the statue, or stand to the side and take a photo with
Stage
Sure, it's called The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, but it's more accurate to say it's the center of Olympian culture. The Center occupies the former real estate of the vaudeville-age Liberty Theater, which opened in 1924 and was renovated two-dozen years later as the Olympic Theater cinema. Then, when
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Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa was voted Best Spa in Olympia by readers of The Weekly Volcano. Located in Lacey, the spa offers facials, massages and hair removal services. "I think we stand out because we have an amazing team of very dedicated front desk associates, massage therapists and
Features
During the past two decades, microbreweries have become a ubiquitous feature of the South Sound scene. With more than 50 small-craft breweries in the region, it takes something special for a microbrewery to rise to the top of the heap and be crowned among the "Best of...." Fish Brewing Company has
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How is it that the City of Lacey winds up in a story about the Best of Olympia? To answer this question requires some explanation. In a very unofficial poll covering various topics conducted by this weekly publication, Lacey was voted as the Best Military Supporter. Who would have thought this possible? Perhaps
Music
Country music isn't what it used to be. The days of nothing but twanging guitars, cowboy hats and dusty boots are far behind us, and they've left plenty of room for genre-blurring, feel-good music. Local country music star Ethan Tucker is all about exploring those musical opportunities, and he's doing
Features
There’s no need to wait for spring or summer for farmer’s market supplies; a few local winter markets are open throughout the cooler months and offer a plethora of fresh produce and other market items. Local markets that offer outdoor winter fare include the Proctor Market in
Music
The history of sample-driven music is an odd one, littered with plucky DJs and producers whose first and greatest strength was the ability to dig through crates of records in search of seconds-long snatches of fascination. Samples were the great equalizer, allowing amateur songsmiths the ability to create their own
Arts
CJ Swanson's paintings brighten the walls at Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Shop in Olympia. I've been keeping up with Swanson's art since she and her husband, the painter David Noah Giles, opened the now defunct Art on Center Gallery in Tacoma so many years ago. Back then, her paintings reminded me
Reviews
ANNOUNCER: Dutch and Jackie have been waiting for the hype to die down a bit before visiting new Vietnamese eatery, La Ca Bar. Now that it's been a few months, some of the hubbub has died down and it was time to visit this 6th Ave gem. JACKIE: It's in
Features
Listen, I like a good drinking holiday. When the boozes are flowing folks are, traditionally, jovial. There's nothing quite like a little social lubricant to see people connect. And while most any liquor will do, tequila wields a special kind of power of folks. Just when us Pacific Northwesterners begin
Stage
3 Impossible Questions at Olympia Family Theater is a world premiere locally written play based on beloved Islamic folk tales and stories that have been passed down generation to generation about the wise Mullah (teacher or master) Nasreddin. Olympia writer, actor and director Christian Carvajal says he was inspired to write
South Sound Cinema
As the 2018 Winter Olympics play out in Pyeongchang, expect NBC to introduce us to dozens of athletes via well-crafted background packages that often play like mini-movies. Of course, the most memorable stories will emerge organically from the games. And those are the stories that often inspire full-length movies. In order
South Sound Cinema
Beginning in fall, the quality of movies in theaters increases exponentially, and as pageants like the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards approach in the spring, ambitious and beautiful movies are suddenly on the tips of everyone's tongues. Here in Tacoma, the Destiny City Film Festival began its life as an