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The Weekly Volcano and Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel present the 2013 Best of Olympia Issue party Wednesday, Feb. 20 at Capitol Theater. The Weekly Volcano will crown the 2013 Best of Olympia winners and celebrate all things Thurston County. We'll hand out the special issue hot off the press
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We checked in with Science! asking guitarist and vocalist Justin Stang how he and bandmate Jim Elenteny help keep the music scene alive, why fans play an important role and how Olympia (which Stang calls home, and where Science!'s next show is) measures up in keeping their name
Music
We checked in with Science! asking guitarist and vocalist Justin Stang how he and bandmate Jim Elenteny help keep the music scene alive, why fans play an important role and how Olympia (which Stang calls home, and where Science!'s next show is) measures up in keeping their name on the Northwest
Music
Imagine it's the early '90s. You are young, have an ear for music and love going to and recording shows. You hang on the scene long enough to make friends, start selling merch and next thing you know, you're at roadie status. Fast forward to 2001, after working with the Melvins
Archives
It's the first week of the year, and you know what that means: crystal-ball time at weekly newspapers. Here at the Weekly Volcano, we have identified local people we expect to make headlines in the coming 12 months. How did these South Sounders make our list? We define each as a
PROMO
American life after the Civil War was defined by incorporation, melding what had been two separate countries - with separate lifestyles, industries and culture - into one entity. This idea of bringing everything together prompted the birth of American vaudeville, an organized and localized version of variety theater. Although the
Music
Olympia punker turned hip-hopper Doc Hollywood and his goofball/party rap group Hollywood Kill Krew broke onto the scene in 2009. Since then, HKK and Hollywood have been busy playing shows and releasing multiple projects - and even earned themselves "best hip-hop group" in the Weekly Volcano's 2012 Best of Olympia.
Music
After winning 2011 and 2012 awards for Best Band in the Weekly Volcano's Best of Olympia reader's picks, as well as Best Funk/Jazz/Blues Band in the 2012 Oly Music Awards, it's high time funk masters Brown Edition made an album. Enter Soulpocalypse, a 12-track masterpiece from the 13-piece lineup featuring Miguel
Music
Sitting down to write about Olympia's Broken Water, I'm tempted to get stoned first. Listening to the 3-piece and their fuzzy, shoe-gazing drone-rock, I'm nostalgic for contemplative thoughts that roll with the crescendos and crashes of the music. But I don't have to get stoned. They take me there anyway.
Food Matters
Rising from the ashes, once again, King Solomon's Reef will re-open this Friday. One of Olympia's best dive restaurants plans to re-open their doors, Friday, May 18th at 8am following a closure after catching on fire. With a wide variety of entree's using primarily local products,
Archives
Over the last few weeks, not all the drama at the Capitol Theater has been up on the silver screen. Much of it took place behind the scenes, where relations between Olympia Film Society's board and staff have become increasingly contentious. As with most arts organizations, the last few years took
Arts
How many times have you read a story about someone who's had a singular passion for art for as long as he can remember? The story of Olympia's Jeff Freels is yet another one of those - except Freels' passion had to carry him through more than some lean years and
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The finger-plucking beauty and ease of Science!'s folksy, acoustic, storytelling is easy on the ear. Voted "Best New Band" in the Volcano's Best of Olympia 2012 Readers Poll, Science! has a rootsy vibe that goes a long way in a town like Oly. Comprised of vocalist Justin Stang and guitarist
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Thursday is International Women's Day, an awesome yearly celebration with Socialist roots and a history dating back to the early 1900s. In celebration of International Women's Day, Kitzel's Crazy Delicious Delicatessen in Olympia celebrates the opening of a two-month art show featuring the work of 20 female artists. Included in
Music
DESTRUCTION ISLAND >>> Friday, March 9 Destruction Island makes big sounds and big hooks with their guitars, but the band persists in being betrayed by small sound. As much as Destruction Island puffs out its chests with these arena sounds, the band always cheat a look of uncertain modesty - like a
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So, you've picked up a free and excellent - if we do say so ourselves - Best of Olympia 2012 issue. You've checked out the stories. You've plotted your "to-do list" for the next three months. You mourned the passing of Henry the cat. What's a person to do after
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Oscar has quite the history (and for 84 he looks pretty good). So does The Capitol Theater. This year the Olympia Film Society continues its tradition of mixing cinema with live spectacle in a big way. For starters, guests at this year's Capitol Theater Oscar Party will walk down a
Guides
The Weekly Volcano would like to thank all those who took the time to vote in the best of Olympia 2012 Readers' Poll. You are the best. Best Shoe Store: Yolli Shoes Best Record Store: Rainy Day Records Best Grocery Store: Olympia Food Co-op (Eastside and Westside) Best Tattoo Shop: Lit Fuse Best Hair Salon:
Guides
BEST BUSINESS MODEL The Flat Win Co. The Flat Win Co. sells dirt, gravel and sand - and not in the quantities needed for landscaping. The items cost $1 each (at Archibald Sisters and buyolympia.com) and are packaged with product information cards. ("Today we are increasingly separated from nature," notes the card
Guides
It's no exaggeration to say Orca Books is part of the reason I moved to Olympia. When my family was desperate to lure me to the Pacific Northwest, one of the first places they took me was Orca. Two years later, when my novel Lightfall was published, I held my