PEDAL TO THE MEDAL ON THE HYPE MACHINE >>>

As we've no doubt drilled into your cranium by now, the Weekly Volcano's Best of Olympia 2011 Issue hits the street tomorrow. It's awesome. I've seen it (read: been completely immersed in it for the last three weeks, leaving me blurry eyed and completely incapable of unbiased opinion).

And, of course, we have our big-ass Best of Olympia 2011 Party coming up - also tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Brotherhood. The Dirty Birds, Western Hymn and Morgan and the Organ Donors will provide the free music, and Oldschool Pizza will provide the free pizza (no joke). Music starts at 9 p.m., but consider arriving a wee-bit early - Bobble Tiki eats a lot of pizza.

In anticipation of Thursday's release of Best of Olympia 2011, we'd like to present a few more honorable mention staff picks, which didn't quite make the print edition, but remain awesome nonetheless.

Carv's Vote for Best Theater

Harlequin Productions

I used to think of Harlequin as the company that did amazingly polished productions of scripts I wasn't crazy about. (I'm especially reminded of Under a Mantle of Stars.) But over the last two years, it seems, Scot and Linda Whitney and I have grown together, and in 2010 they oversaw a run of shows that flat blew the doors off the place. End Days and Rabbit Hole were nearly flawless the nights I saw them, and even in a chaotic dress rehearsal, Scot's Taming of the Shrew was a bold experiment that paid off in spades. Not to take away from Olympia Family Theater or Olympia Little Theatre, both of which had killer runs, but End Days launched Harlequin into deep space.  - Christian Carvajal

Best Daytrip

Intercity Transit's 600 buses

Feeling blue 'cause she left you? Down on your luck 'cause nobody understands, man? I understand. I understand that you need to get away on a little vacay from the humdrums of spangin' in Olympia. Hop one of the 603's Northbound, bro. Head up to the 512 Park & Ride in Lakewood, or as I like to call it, "The Hub of Possibilities." You can smash a Pierce Transit east to Puyallup to see some "culture," head north to Tacoma Mall to swoop on chicks or take things straight to downtown Tacoma to have your mind blown. The world is your oyster, bro. Find the pearl. - Scabby McCrusto

Best Park For Kids

Tumwater Falls Park

Just up Capitol Way and beautiful in all seasons, this park calls for attention. A super place to bring the family with nice trails, gorgeous waterfalls, fish runs, history and a great playground with big concrete boats for pretending to sail the high seas. And for the adults, the old Olympia brewery is in sight, prompting memories of the warm smell of yeast and hops and the ole five o'clock whistle blow. - Nikki Talotta

[Tumwater Falls Park, Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater, 360.943.2550].

Best Fountain Blast

Heritage Park Fountain

Ahh, a hot summer day, a clear blue sky and a slight breeze blowing off the Sound. Is there any better sort of Olympia day? What's that?  Something's missing? A powerful blast of running water perhaps? Thankfully, Heritage Park Fountain has those cooling blasts so crucial for us "not used to a degree over 75" kind of Olympians. With 40 different water spouts ejecting at any given moment, the fountain is a ticking time bomb of watery refreshing-ness. (Yes, it's a word.) Plus, a crowded day at the fountain also makes for another excellent summertime activity: watching people try to pass off jeans shorts as a bathing suit. - Brett Cihon

[Heritage Park, Evergreen Park Drive SW, Olympia]