Music
Over the past few weeks, in preparation for a move, I've been shuffling through my record collection to decide what'll be coming with me. The vast majority of this collection came from my dad, who left them with me when he left the country. I've still not had the chance
Arts
This year's 11th Annual Native American Art Exhibition at South Puget Sound Community College is comprised of work from a year-long project called Yeha? that includes performances, videos, storytelling, and works of visual art. The exhibition title is And Now We Know: Indigenous Artists Write the World. An exhibition flyer
Stage
Winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and three Tony Awards for Best Play, Tony Kushner's Angels in America, now playing in repertory at Lakewood Playhouse, is a momentous and epic play, and very likely the best drama of the late 20th century. At seven-and-a-half hours in length, it is also a daunting
Stage
"People come to see beauty," said Judith Jamison, former artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, "and I dance to give it to them." Thurston County's about to get served a veritable banquet of beauty in the form of Olympia Dance Festival. The capital city is the hub for a
Online Newspapers
There are so many things that go into putting together a good show: the quality of the bands, the nature of the venue, the steps taken in ensuring that folks will even show up to the show, and a million more moving parts. If there is one element of a
Arts
It's not Elizabeth Lord's first time receiving accolades from Weekly Volcano readers, having won the title of Best Actress multiple times. This does mark the first instance, though, where she's also laying claim to Arts Scene MVP. It only makes sense, really, to consider Lord a valuable player -- since
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Define, best. Because here's the thing, sometimes the best thing, a true winner in my book, is something that is exceptional. Exceptional could be applied in so many facets of life: unusual, extraordinary, unprecedented -- you could say memorable even. And let's face it, Old School Pizzeria lures you back
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Keith Eisner's a man of many talents. He and his wife, Debe Edden, are in Olympia Family Theater's upcoming production of The Hundred Dresses. Word's getting out, though: He's also one of Olympia's pre-eminent writers. He teaches writing classes at the Olympia Senior Center, but it was his own work
Stage
A 2012 survey by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and the Partnership at Drugfree.org found as many as 23.5 million Americans, about one in 10 adults, have at one time had difficulty regulating their use of alcohol or drugs. Thus, about 10 percent of
Features
On a recent weekday, the lunch crowd at Olympia's Well 80 Brewery and Brewpub covered all the demographics the year-old establishment aims to serve. Upon entering the bright, open space with exposed beams high above, a large, all-ages area occupies the right half of the room. There, at large, low tables
Features
My favorite thing about Olympia is the cinnamon bread at Wagner's European Bakery & Café. It's their signature bakery item and you can see why. Unlike most cinnamon bread which is thickly rolled with just a thin swirl of cinnamon, Wagner's version is thinly rolled creating a swirl that is
Online Interactive Guides
Click here to view our interactive 2019 Best of Olympia Guide.
Stage
It's a tie. And rightfully so, because the theaters our readers chose as best in Olympia are two very different theaters that appeal to different audiences (with significant overlap), and they are each excellent in what they do -- easily equal in quality of production to the very best in
Features
The readers have spoken! And O'Blarney's Irish Pub on Martin Way is a triple threat. Not only has it been selected as the Best Lunch Spot for it's great food, but also as the Best Sports Bar and Meeting Place. As you enter, you'll find a family dining area to the
Stage
Last year, Olympia Family Theater was recognized with an Excellence in the Arts Award in a gala at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts. This year, we choose the amazing couple behind the success of OFT as our Best Theater Couple: Jen and Ted Ryle. Founded in 2006 by Jen
Online Newspapers
There are few better ways to while away an afternoon than by taking a stroll through a good record store, discovering new music and talking shop with vinyl aficionados. Thankfully, this pastime has made a roaring comeback in the past few years with the popularity of records somewhat counterintuitively skyrocketing,
Features
I've always been a fan of dinner and a show. There is something about the combination of a good meal and good entertainment all wrapped into one evening with a partner of choice. I'm equally fond of a weekend breakfast out where I can relax from the chores at home,
Features
As the old saying goes, "the cream rises to the top," and when it comes to Olympians' favorite hot spot for a sweet treat, this is a literal term in this case. You cast your votes and Sofie's Scoops rose to the top of the charts reigning supreme in not
Reviews
ANNOUNCER: This week, Jackie and Dutch venture to the often-forgotten end of Sixth Ave. between Pearl and Jackson and come across a small family Mediterranean place. Gyro Bites offers a bit more than just gyros and is tucked back into the corner opposite of the Grocery Outlet. JACKIE: I'm totally guilty
Music
The indie rock boom of the early-to-mid ‘00s were a wild time. No one was quite sure just where the wind was blowing, in terms of stylistic trends and general demeanor. The garage rock revival was in full swing, LCD Soundsystem was digging through crates of ‘70s vinyl obscurities, Arcade