THE VOTES ARE IN
Every year we ask the readers of the Weekly Volcano what they like best in the greater Olympia area, and every year they respond. In the following pages you’ll find feature stories of some of the winners from the 2020 Best of Olympia Readers' Poll, and some writer's picks as well.
Features
With many fun hot spots for night life seekers, Olympia's epic downtown was voted Best Neighborhood for Singles and Night Life. An unforgettable night awaits just a short drive from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Take a fun night trip to the Historic...
Online Newspapers
Although little known to most, the naming of the city of Lacey remains mysterious. What is known is that in the 1850s, settlers populated the area. Two of those were Isaac and Catherine Wood.
Features
You can see it just off the freeway as you zip down on I-5, it looks to be an updated A&W -- rock foundation, bright white paint with clean blue lines. A long carport-styled awning covers the pull-up parking. It looks chipper and inviting at...
South Sound Cinema
Olympia is a city with a lot of things to be proud of, but one of its most invaluable institutions has to be the Olympia Film Society (OFS). Housed in the gorgeous Capitol Theater since 1990, the OFS has long been Thurston County's premier art...
Arts
The Hands On Children's Museum in Olympia is consistently voted a "best of" spot in publications all over the South Sound. This incredible collection of eight galleries allows children to play and get hands-on with a different theme in each...
Features
Anyone who has ever lived in a coastal city or town knows the biggest benefit to such a location is the abundance of local, fresh seafood. While Joint Base Lewis-McChord may not be "coastal," we are certainly close enough, and this duty station...
Features
Well after lunch time on a Sunday, Dirty Dave's parking lot is packed and the place is hopping. You know a restaurant is good when it is packed at off peak hours. This old school pizza parlor has a cult following among locals since 1972. It is no...
Stage
James O'Barr is producing and directing and Scott Douglas is acting in An Illiad, an intense, captivating and intelligent one-man play about the Trojan War and, ultimately, every war since, written by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare. All the...
Music
As spring time creeps slowly upon us, it's the time of year we all crave to be outside breathing the fresh air, feeling the warm sunshine upon our faces, and eating local fresh produce straight from the farms. Options are abundant for farmers...
Features
Given my last name, it stands to reason Latin food is close to my corazon. Even so, despite years of living and dining in Thurston County, I'd never really warmed to south-of-the-border fare in easy walking distance of theaters and other...
Features
Born in Indianapolis, grandson of German immigrants, he ran afoul of the law while still in his teens. After getting arrested for auto theft, he enlisted in the Navy but deserted his ship, the U.S.S. Utah, and was dishonorably discharged. He got...
