SATURDAY, NOV. 23 2013 >>>

1. Franciscan Polar Plaza is on its third year of setting up an ice-skating rink decked out in wintery goodness at Tollefson Plaza, just across from Tacoma Art Museum. Similar to last year, the Weekly Volcano will host live bands at Polar Plaza every Saturday from 7-9 p.m. Bands will perform on what we like to call the Electric Salchow Stage. Yes, it's named after a figure skating jump Brian Boitano might perform to the music of Five for Fighting on the Today show. We can name it whatever we want. Anyhoo, the Kareem Kandi Band will provide an awesome soundtrack of jazz standards, funky beats and a few holiday tunes for butterfly jumps, cherry-flips, layback spins - but mostly moves such as the unstable skating, the fall, the skid and the mixed-gender collision.

2. Hundreds of soupniks with big hearts will make the trek to Charles Wright Academy from 1-3:30 p.m. for one of the year's most heartwarming events: Empty Bowls, a Emergency Food Network fundraising event combining art, community, giving and tasty soups. Local and regional artisans will donate more than 1,400 one-of-a-kind bowls made from hand-tooled carved wood, colorful glass and hand-thrown clay. Bowls begin at $10. They make awesome gifts. Once selections are made and paid for, with all proceeds going to EFN, attendees make their way to eat free soup, donated by Pacific Grill, The Swiss, Adriatic Grill, Infinite Soups, AmeRAWcan Bistro, The French Hen, The Hub, Masa, Alina Soups and Chambers Bay. Warning: a line forms an hour before the doors open.

3. Doing its part to keep Tacoma's Thanksgiving celebrants from choking on family-friendly pabulum, the Tacoma Mob Riders will own the street again Saturday, this month disguising its bicycle booze cruise as a giant turkey. You might have seen one of the Mob's past rides through the streets of Tacoma, dressed as leprechauns, Easter bunnies, ghosts, moms, trees - what ever the nearest holiday called for - kicking the kickstand for a quick drink - bar after bar. Saturday's ride has been given the title "Turkicanus Bicyclette," which will launch at 7 p.m. at 2nd Cycle on Hilltop Tacoma. Gobble, gobble, wobble.

4. Rapper Mickey Avalon isn't the first musician to champion the motto, "Live fast, die young & look good in your grave" (as is printed proudly at the very top of Avalon's website). He's probably not even the most recent. But chances are Avalon is the only member of the esteemed, previously described crowd of self-destructive entertainers scheduled to play Jazzbones at 8 p.m. Reportedly a member of the Los Angeles-based graffiti crew CBS (Can't Be Stopped / City Bomb Squad), a one-time heroin addict and male prostitute, and a collaborator with former MTV VJ Simon Rex, it seems Avalon has experienced no shortage of excitement, drama, close calls and failures during his journey. These days he's experiencing a few of the positives life has to offer, most applicable to this space success within the world of music. A former member of rap group Dyslexic Speedreaders, and with a penchant for penning lyrics about the grittier side of life, Avalon's T-town gig should go off like gangbusters.

5. McCoy's Tavern will host one helluva party beginning at 9 p.m. The stars of the night, buttrockers Hellbelly (think a more melodic Helmet), will release their much-awaited CD release, Life of the Party, on Olympia's Vital Records. The Hardway and Full Moon Radio will be in the house, too.

PLUS: Holiday Events Calendar

PLUS: South Sound Holiday Command Center

LINK: Saturday, Nov. 23 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

SUNDAY, NOV. 24 2013 >>>

1. The history books will record the Nov. 24 event as Woodstick 2013 and will list among its participants such drumming greats as Kenny Aronoff of The Rolling Stones, Michael Derosier of Heart, Jeff Kathan of The Paul Rogers Band, Todd Sucherman of STYX, Rick Redmond of Jason Aldean's band, John Bolton of the Beatniks and others. Woodstick, set to happen at 3 p.m. (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. drum clinics) in the Emerald Queen Casino, will be the 11th consecutive attempt to set a new world record for drummers pounding the skins to the same song. The current U.S. record is 533 drummers set at Woodstick 2006 in Seattle. The current world record is 800 set by drummers in Birmingham, England in 2010.

2. A Rhapsody In Bloom Florist & Café Latté hosts an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Expect local artists, gift ideas, raffle and, of course, lattés.

3. Do you love the Tacoma art scene? Do you think artists are the most rad people on the planet? Does the word "localvore" describe you to the letter? Bonus question: want to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping while supporting the local artistic community? Of course you do! For not one but two days, Tacoma Is For Lovers presents local artists at the dreamy King's Books for its annual Artists Craft Fair that celebrates local art at its finest. Featured work by a wide variety of terrific local artists will include artwork, culinary goodies, crafts, jewelry and much more from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

4. A good day for reflection, Sunday is. A good day for introspection. A good day for looking at a different way of seeing things. Maybe the way dark artists see things (Bet you didn't see that one comin'!). See if you can find your way up to The New Frontier Lounge at 6 p.m. and catch the "FERUS" raw, untamed art show by Andrei Vassiliev, Pasha Kish and Shelly Ann Snyder. The work is expressive, especially Snyder's handicraft - she creates with acrylics, paper and her hands without brushes or tools. "I have found that it is more organic and really shows the feeling that is behind the painting," says Snyder. Why The New Frontier? "It has a laidback atmosphere," she says. "People that don't know much about art can come and check out what we are doing without feeling intimidated. The staff is also very supportive about art and expression of every form." Debo's Chain Maille and Industrial Art is also part of the show. We have no idea what that means, but it sounds like something to see.

5. Remember that time in high school when your parents went away? You know, plot line of every teenage movie ever made - except this time, you blew up the house. Standing in the ashes as your parents roll up, what do you do? Say it with us now - iiiiiimprovise. Take notes at 8 p.m. in the Tacoma Comedy Club when male and female comedians battle with improve and sketch skills. Watch Monica Nevi, Jen Seaman, Kelsey Cook and Sarah Skilling take on Adam Norwest, Mike Coletta, Kane Holloway and Aaron Kirby - and next time you're in a lose-lose situation, you'll wondrously make screams turn to laughter.

PLUS: Holiday Events Calendar

PLUS: South Sound Holiday Command Center

LINK: Sunday, Nov. 24 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

MONDAY, NOV. 25 2013 >>>

1. Monday is typically a black hole for nightlife. Sure, if you run a sports bar, you'll do well during football season, but for most eating and drinking establishments, it's just dead, dead, dead. The folks at The Swiss seem to have found a solution and, oddly enough, it's one that has been the bane of many other venues: live music. Since the beginning of time, The Swiss has hosted live blues every Monday. Factor in the free pool on Mondays and now Tuesdays are a black hole for you. The Crazy Texas Gypsies will be in the house this week. Founded in 1999 by vocalist and guitarist Kenny Williams and bass player and vocalist Kevin Fraser, this rockin' blues band has opened for ZZ TOP, Ted Nugent, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, The Ford Brothers and many others. With the addition of drummer Billy Barner and keyboardist Doug Skoog in 2012, the band is crazy good.

2. How do you escape the pressures of the holidays, like, really quick? Bundle up, drop your packages in the trunk, pinch your cheeks until they glow and strap on a pair of silver skates, Hans Brinker, for a glide across the frozen expanse at Tollefson Plaza. The Franciscan Polar Plaza, located on the corner of Pacific Avenue and South 17th Street. The covered outdoor rink is about half the size of a hockey rink. It will have real ice and hold about 150 skaters at a time. It's open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

3. Holy Midnight Express! It's a Turkish night at the Acme Grub Cage as the Tacoma Cult Movie Club rolls in at 7 p.m. Tonight, it's more Turkey for the money (free) for this pre-Thanksgiving holiday celebration as the TCMC indulges in movies from Turkey, including the Turkish Star Wars. As always, admission and popcorn are free. Don't forget it's 21+ only, and make sure you indulge in those great drinks and the fabulous raffle drawing.

4. New York Times bestselling author Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan, with his service dog "Tuesday," will give a talk and sign copies of his book, Until Tuesday: a Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever who Saved Him, at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25 at the Olympia Timberland Library. Montalvan is a 17-year veteran and former captain in the U.S. Army, where he was awarded the Combat Action Badge, two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor. Books will be available for purchase from the nonprofit organization, Northwest Battle Buddies. The library is at 313 Eighth Ave. SE in Olympia.

5. Every Monday at 9 p.m. Jazzbones is packed to the brim with college kids. Party types. The type that wear tight shirts and trucker hats. Throngs of Chad Fratguys and Sarah Sororitysisters swarm the bar, line up for the bathroom and dance to the Rockaraoke - live band karaoke. The Rockaraoke band is skilled, too. Expect $2 PBR drafts, $3 Sinfire shots, $4 Smirnoff flavor vodka bombs and a lot of students home for the holiday.

PLUS: Holiday Events Calendar

PLUS: South Sound Holiday Command Center

LINK: Monday, Nov. 25 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

The Candelabra Light is the story of singer-songwriter Joe Rosati's search for something in life. From an outsider's point of view, he's had a full life: songwriter, musician, bartender, film producer, snowboarder, actor, club owner and friend to many. From his point of view, it's a constant introspection. Technically his second CD, The Candelabra Light documents Rosati's constant yearning and growth through heartfelt lyrics and emotional vocals and stripped-down guitar. Beautifully mastered by Ben Fuller of China Davis, incorporating the musical and articstic talents of Jeremy Silas and Fuller's brother and musical partner, guitarist Ted Tuller, The Candelabra Light shines.

Rosati will perform songs from the CD with the Fullers in a release party atmosphere Wednesday, Nov. 27 at The Spar in Old Town Tacoma. I caught his warm-up performance last Wednesday at Jazzbones, which included the trio performing "Sunset Savior" off the new CD. Enjoy.

Since the '80s Five Guys Burgers and Fries has been burger flippin' its way to our hearts and, in the last few years, it has spread like wild fire opening several locations in the South Sound. If you've haven eaten at Five Guys, this isn't shocking news. One greasy sackful of burgers and fries will make you a believer.

The chain burger joint serves juicy burgers from hand-formed patties that have never been frozen. Sure, the patties nestle between old-fashioned sesame seed buns, but the real treat is how your burger comes dressed. It's not all an assigned setting based on burger type. You get to choose your own toppings from the condiments such as mayo, ketchup, mustard, A1 and hot sauce to the veggies, which includes traditional toppers lettuce, tomato, onion - even fresh sliced jalapenos or green peppers and the grilled sorts such as onions and mushrooms. This means the possibilities are endless, you're not confined to just the basics.

The burgers ($6+) are cooked well-done, but not dry. Then, they are paired with your favorite toppings and a side of fries, seasoned to perfection after taking a swim in peanut oil.

It's just a good ole American fave fast food without the fast food flavor. You can even order online, though I have yet to give it a go.

FIVE GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, 5605 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd., Lakewood, 253.582.4897

See Also

South Sound Dining Guide

Pumpkin Town

EVERY WEDNESDAY: TRIVIA NIGHT AT MECONI'S

Wednesdays, Rev. Colin hosts the best trivia in town at Meconi's Pub & Eatery. Best known as a legendary local karaoke host and curator for the Tacoma Cult Movie Club, Rev. Colin is a fount of knowledge, and his trivia nights are as challenging as they are wonderfully absurd. Even if the night didn't offer cash prizes for the top three competing teams, it would be worth it for the spirited gameplay and the left-field questions.

The key to a great pub quiz is to combine general knowledge questions with intuitive questions and ridiculously difficult ones. Rev. Colin has mastered this mix and emerged with a trivia night that is as infuriating as it is addictive. On several occasions he has threatened to bring back a particularly unpopular category in which he gargles a tune and asks you to name it. Pray that you don't find yourself at Meconi's when that happens.

TRIVIA NIGHT, 8 p.m., Wednesday, Meconi's Pub & Eatery, 709 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, no cover, 253.383.3388

SATURDAY, NOV 30: SING-A-LONG-A GREASE

There once was a dark period (commonly referred to as the 1990s) where movie musicals were relegated to the outskirts of Hollywood, banished from bringing smiles to the faces of nerdy film-lovers everywhere. Gone were the days of brightly colored bubblegum confections such as Grease. Finally, Moulin Rouge and Chicago came along to help repopularize movie musicals, and Glee sealed the deal.

"Wait a second, turns out we love musicals!" exclaimed a fickle and easily influenced movie-going public.

As a movie, Grease has always been a breezy and charmingly empty-headed thing. It's like a big, goofy dog that wants nothing more than to run and circles, chase cars and slobber all over your face. As such, it's particularly suited to the phenomenon known as a sing-a-long. Come in costume, sing along to "Sandy," and experience what could quite possibly be the most wholesome act ever committed by man - which only gets more wholesome with the 68th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, which immediately follows the film. It's enough to give you cavities.

SING-A-LONG-A GREASE, 3 p.m., tree lighting follows, Pantages Theater, $18-$26, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890

THURSDAY, DEC. 5: RIFFTRAX LIVE: SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS

There's a whole generation of comedy nerds who were raised on the rapid-fire joke machines of The Simpsons, Monty Python and - for those of use who woke up early on Saturdays - Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Partially responsible for creating an entire genre of laughing at bad movies, the guys of MST3K explored film's dusty basement and emerged with an absurdly high quality of jokes per minute. Though MST3K eventually went off the air, Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett continued their quest to make fun of C-movies with projects like Cinematic Titanic and, most recently, RiffTrax.

In celebration of the holidays, RiffTrax will beam into theaters around the country to eviscerate one of the mothers of shabby movies: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. This '60s film is a classic of bad movie aficionados everywhere, and it lands firmly in the wheelhouse of the RiffTrax fellas.

RIFFTRAX LIVE: SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS, 8 p.m., Century Olympia, Westfield Capital, 625 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia, $12.50, 360.943.0769

See Also

Judging By The Trailer

TUESDAY, NOV. 26 2013 >>>

1. Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of America's most creative and defiant music. At its heart is Rick Hall who founded FAME Studios. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, Hall brought black and white together in Alabama's cauldron of racial hostility to create music for the generations. He is responsible for creating the "Muscle Shoals sound" and The Swampers, the house band at FAME that eventually left to start their own successful studio, known as Muscle Shoals Sound. Greg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals' magnetism, mystery and why it remains influential today in the film Muscle Shoals, screening at 2:30 and 6:45 p.m. in The Grand Cinema.

2. Rosemary Adkins, author of a new memoir, Reflections of Mamie: A Story of Survival - a heartrending account of her life that took 16 years to write - will sign and discuss the book at noon in Orca Books. Her message to other victims is to "share your story" with someone you trust and if you are able, "shout it out" to other victims, showing them how you overcame and got help.

3. The South Sound has its share of geeks. We should know. Our office D&D room is full of them. Heck fire - we every post a weekly Nerd Alert on our blog. When local book geeks aren't tinkering with gizmos that can scan books at 2,000 pages an hour, they're reading them, including Deadpool, Vol. I: Dead Presidents by Brian Posehn & Gerry Duggan. Said geeks will gather at 7 p.m. in King's Books to discuss the chemical reactions to control moisture when cooking turkeys, as well as Posehn and Duggan's book about an overly patriotic ex-Shield Agent, who is also a necromancer, resurrects all our nation's Dead Presidents in order to fix the nation's problems. Unfortunately, the Dead Presidents' solution is to wipe the slate clean with the blood of the American people who they feel have forsaken its dream. S.H.I.E.L.D. dispatches Captain America to confront the issue and things turn bloody.

4. Full Moon Radio plays grunge/pop/punk rock with crystal clear lyrics that are moving and edgy, executed with the feminism and integrity of three superbly powerful women. Catch the band with The Ground Up and Red Red Red at 9 p.m. in The Brotherhood Lounge.

5. The 1230 Room probably has you at "free taco bar," but you also may be interested in the downtown Olympia club's new Tuesday deep, tech and progressive house night "The Deep End." It launches at 9 p.m. with drink specials, no cover and resident DJs Alex Bosi, Evan Mould and Chris Paro.

LINK: Tuesday, Nov. 26 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27 2013 >>>

1. If 103.7 FM The Mountain hadn't changed to the Top 40 crap, I'd totally send them a copy of Joe Rosati's new CD, The Candelabra Light, because it would fit in perfectly with Leonard Cohen, The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen. Also because the recordings are perfectly raw and engineered to capture Rosati's true spirit and emotion. The result is a beautifully mastered (by Ben Fuller of China Davis), raw, emotional collection of songs that are truly moving and inspiring. The stripped-down guitar and heartfelt lyrics are easy to listen to, the emotion in his voice as good as the gets. Rosati celebrates the new CD with China Davis at a release party around 8 p.m. in The Spar in Old Town Tacoma. Read Nikki McCoy's full feature on Joe Rosati on the Walkie Talkie blog.

2. The Parkway Tavern is known for its eclectic, tasty beers and seasonal brews - specifically potent that can knock you on your ass. And your ass could be in trouble again tonight. The Parkway will offer extra seasonal brews on tap, as part of its annual huge party, "Honey, Parkway ruined your Thanksgiving ... again." This year is sure to have another poor soul in the doghouse for being so hung-over that contributing to or even arriving to the obligatory family gathering is simply out of the question as they opt for aspirin, water and moaning in agony. Damn you, Parkway.

3. Throughout the month of November brave men have been attempting to eradicate cancer by growing mustaches (thus raising awareness, which is fatal to cancer). The movement is called Movember. The Hub is down, hosting a Moustache Party at 5 p.m. demanding all participants wear a big moustache to score drink specials. That means you too ladies. A Best Stache Contest for men AND women will be held. Release your inner face-follicles and go balls-out manly!

4. Jazzbones hosts Music Gives Back: A Benefit for Charles Walker, an auction and raffle with live music and DJs to raise money for Charles Walker's rehabilitation. The doors open at 6 p.m. with music at 8 p.m.

5. You knew there was a reason to hold on to the Christmas-light-laden and obscenely geometric printed green-and-red sweater. You once thought even the one with reindeer had potential. Now it’s time to explore your closets because, ladies and gentlemen, the ugliest holiday sweater contest returns to Doyle’s Public House at 8 p.m. The ugly holiday sweater contest prizes will be shelled out for the best worst male, best worst female, best worst couple and best worst group. "The more crocheted reindeer, the better," says Doyle's co-owner Russ Heaton. Hey, it's better than hanging out with your relatives, right?

PLUS: Holiday Events Calendar

PLUS: South Sound Holiday Command Center

LINK: Wednesday, Nov. 27 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Back in 2005, I was a projectionist at The Grand Cinema. It was a heady time of passionate discussions on music and film, and it was the time when I was most steeped in difficult and adventurous art. Somehow, I stumbled across as film called Oldboy - a classic of extreme Korean cinema. Oldboy is impeccably stylish, darkly comedic, viscerally violent, and staggeringly emotional. It's pulp filmmaking elevated to high art.

It was such an eye-opening film that I endeavored to convince my friends and co-workers to seek it out, but I was met with stubborn refusal. "Sounds too violent," they'd say. At the time, my co-workers were embedded in a world of quirk and indie lite, though I suspect that they also just got kick out of getting me worked up. When a polar-bear-and-Bjork-loving friend accidentally ended up watching it, the review wasn't great, so to this day I have never succeeded in spreading the gospel of Oldboy.

Cut to 2013 and Oldboy's inevitable American remake. Justin Lin was originally attached to direct, but he thankfully became too busy with the Fast and the Furious franchise to be bothered, so what we find ourselves with is a Spike Lee joint.

On the surface, everything appears to be in its right place. A drunken lout (this time played by Josh Brolin) wakes up to find himself imprisoned in a motel room, where he is then held for many years before finally being released without explanation. From then on, the freed man is sent on a journey for revenge, to find out who kidnapped him and why. Even the infamous hallway fight scene seems to have been recreated.

The question that will never leave my mind is a plaintive "Why?" Why bother doing this? The Oldboy of yore is propulsive enough to win over any subtitle averse moviegoer, yet America had to get its grubby little hands all over it. I respect Spike Lee quite a bit as a director, and perhaps this will turn out as well as Scorsese's Americanized version of Infernal Affairs (AKA The Departed), or the perfectly adequate Americanized version of Let the Right One In (dumbly shortened to Let Me In).

But, until then, I'll just have to wait and throw my movie-nerd hissy fit until I finally get the chance to see our new Oldboy, arms huffily crossed.

See Also

A Nerd Alert has been issued for this week

TURKEY DAY, NOV. 28 2013 >>>

1. With the family Ultimate Frisbee season behind us, you may have thought your opportunity to bond with your family on the basis of poor athleticism and a bad team name was over. Not so. The annual Norpoint Turkey Trot takes flight Thursday morning. Jog, trot - hell, even go on stilts - to the Center at Norpoint and run your tail feathers off. The event is stuffed with holiday activities and features a 5k chip-timed run, a 2-mile non-timed run/walk and a Kids' Trot for ages 3 to 10. The sponsoring body, Metro Parks Tacoma, asks you bring your entire family, turkey costumes and $45 on the day of race. Better run, turkeys.

2. Homelessness, hunger and despair are a daily and painful reality for thousands of men, women and children in Pierce County. The Rescue Mission, in operation now for more than 100 years, has been serving the Tacoma-area homeless community by providing meals, shelter, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, education and job-training skills and other programs. Help this long-standing organization give folks in need a hand up at Thanksgiving. Check rescue-mission.org and The Rescue Mission's Facebook page for the latest updates on what's needed for the holiday meal. As of this mid-November, kitchen staffers are looking for turkeys, hams and roast beef as well as these extras: flats of mushrooms, any fresh produce, canned fruits and vegetables, potatoes, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, fruit pies and stuffing mix. Looking to lend a hand? Check out the volunteer information on the site. Help is needed year round.

3. Matthew McConaughey plays Ron Woodroof, a grimy, shady, homophobic, substance-abusing horndog in 1985 Texas who learns he's HIV-positive and procures unapproved means of treatment in the film Dallas Buyers Club, which screens at 11:30 a.m., 2, 4:30 and 7 p.m. at The Grand Cinema. McConaughey's masterful job of portraying one of the more deeply flawed anti-heroes in recent screen history reminds us why he became a movie star in the first place. We start out loathing this guy and learn to love him. Jared Leto disappears into the role of a transgender drug addict and Jennifer Garner is Ron's empathetic doctor.

4. Holiday lights from the comfort and warmth of your own car? Need to keep the kiddos in awe of holiday wonder while not lugging out the stroller? Put away the umbrellas and rain boots, because here's an easy-peasy way to see some stunning light and holiday wonderland displays right in our own backyard. Take a driving tour of Fantasy Lights in Spanaway Park, where carloads of travelers can see more than 300 stunning displays of lights and whimsical and imaginative animation over a two-mile stretch of Spanaway Lake. The light turn on from 5:30-9 p.m. Tune in to a special holiday radio station for a little holiday music to add to the mood.

5. It's not Thanksgiving without a trip to a casino. Wally & The Beaves will rock the Muckleshoot Casino at 5:30 p.m., and the Emerald Queen Casino hosts Asia Fest featuring Ho Le Thu, Don Ho, Huong Thuy, Trinh Lam, Nguyen Ngoc Ngan, Mai Tien Dung, Bao Thy at 7 p.m.

PLUS: Holiday Events Calendar

PLUS: South Sound Holiday Command Center

LINK: Thursday, Nov. 28 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area