Guides
Perhaps it's no wonder papercut artist Nikki McClure was voted Olympia's Best Visual Artist. Her work seems to be everywhere, from people's chests to kitchen walls to the covers of Olympia's storm drains. "Maybe it's the most popular or the most identifiable, not necessarily the best," McClure says. "There are some
Guides
>>> BEST THEATER UPGRADE The Midnight Sun I have an obscure spinal condition that both shortens and limits the mobility of my neck. It also renders me vulnerable to screaming back and shoulder aches. I reveal this personal weakness, not merely to explain why I look like a Chicago Bears Superfan, but
Guides
Thank you to all who took the time to vote in our Best of Olympia 2011 Readers' Poll. You are the best. Best Local Business: Dumpster Values and Archibald Sisters (tie) Best Shoe Store: Yolli Shoes Best Record Store: Rainy Day Records Best Thrift Store: Dumpster Values Best Grocery Store: Oly Food Co-op Best Outdoor Gear:
Guides
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie! Two Oly originals swept this category, and rightfully so. Congratulations Archibald Sisters and Dumpster Values for being named Best Local Business(es) in Olympia. First, let's give props to Archibald Sisters. With its home in downtown Olympia since 1975, this local favorite continues to charm
Guides
>>> BEST-SMELLING BUSINESS The Tea Lady There will ever be cynics who claim it's unmanly to frequent The Tea Lady, with its staggering profusion of teas from around the world, ginger royals (they're cookies), kettles, infusers and, yes, little girls' tea sets and aprons. Well, duh. I confess to a certain bull-in-a-china-shop
Guides
Thank you to all who took the time to vote in our Best of Olympia 2011 Readers' Poll. You are the best. Best Band: The Brown Edition Best New Band: Morgan and the Organ Donors Best Indie Band: Western Hymn Best Metal Band: Wolves in the Throne Room Best Punk Band: Hipster Piss Party Best Jazz
Guides
The Brown Edition doesn't play the dirty, crunchy style of garage rock or the bedroom indie jams that helped launch Olympia onto the musical map. In fact, their unique brand of jazz/funk can be difficult to find in any town. Self-described as "all the soul, funk and jazz your ass
Guides
I don't think there's anyone more deserving of this award than Xperience. During 2010 he was by far the most active hip-hop artist in the 360. From people begging him to play with them in Portland and Seattle to being flown out to the Midwest, Xperience has really helped establish
Guides
>>> BEST TOURING BAND Wolves In The Throne Room This little three-, sometimes four-, piece metal band has drummed and droned and hummed and honed their way into the black hearts of not only their originating Northwest, but the entire world. Only drug smugglers and budding terrorists jump countries like these guys
PROMO
(This contest is closed. Congratulations to winner Cort.) For this week's Weekly Volcano Morning Quickie newsletter contest we're giving away a free round of golf for two at North Shore Golf & Country Club in northeast Tacoma. It's a lovely course with cool water features.
Stage
It's not completely accurate to call Parallel Lives, formerly known as The Kathy (Najimy) and Mo (Gaffney) Show, a sketch comedy, as it isn't very funny for long stretches of time - often intentionally. It's more like an evening of two-person scenes, several of which are comic, most of which
We Recommend
Don't even act like you're not going, Olympians. The Weekly Volcano is celebrating this week's first-ever Best of Olympia issue by blowing the roof off the BroHo. No cover. Old School Pizza, free. Live music by DJ James, the Dirty Birds, Morgan & the Organ Donors and Western Hymn. Thurston
Listings
ACOUSTIC/FOLK/CELTIC Doyle's Public House Tacoma - Stadium District. Dublin On Doyle's Last St. Practice Day Party, featuring Ockham's Razor. 8 pm. NC. Liquid Soul Coffee Roy. Open Mic. Hosted by David Wayne. All Ages. 7 pm. NC. BLUES Mandolin Cafe Tacoma - Central. An Evening Of Keys, with Naomi Korchonnoff, Raymond Hayden & Doug
Arts
"Always in motion is the future," a wise philosopher once noted, "difficult to see. Alan Kay added, "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." With that in mind, we look forward to a new year of expression, innovation and imagination in our thriving local arts scene. Thriving? Wait, isn't
Arts
Home of Kurt Cobain and grunge rock, K Records, The Evergreen State College, and the best crappy beer you can get, Olympia is the perfect place to fill the musical void in your life. With a constant forecast of rain, an abundance of hairy armpits and the
Archives
They describe their music as “modern hard-rock melodies with a few old school headbangers sprinkled in.” Old School Drop Out is not a band that caters to people who would be just as happy with a jukebox. They don't take quarters for song requests. They stake their territory as a
Archives
It’s a loud night. Randy Oxford’s music set a scene, and that scene is vibrating with excitement, loud excitement. Then the first singer hits the stage, and says “Hi!” The crowd says hi back halfheartedly. She calls them on it. “I didn’t hear you!” she shouts, and the crowd responds in full volume. And
Archives
A small group of DJs are bringing it back Sunday nights at Hell’s Kitchen. This isn’t one dude in a fake Versace shirt swapping shiny Top 40 singles, kids. This is Fab 5’s DJ Reign, Olympia cutmaster SlimRock and new-face-in-town Kuh-Kutz showing what some artistic MFs can do with a
Archives
Anyone who’s ever caught wicked air knows that if your wheels are turning but you can’t get off the ground what you really need is a ramp. For the last three years, Tacoma artists have learned to fly using a particularly steep ramp known as RampArt. Tracing backward the paths