Online Newspapers
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa was voted Best Spa in Olympia by readers of The Weekly Volcano. Located in Lacey, the spa offers facials, massages and hair removal services. "I think we stand out because we have an amazing team of very dedicated front desk associates, massage therapists and
Features
During the past two decades, microbreweries have become a ubiquitous feature of the South Sound scene. With more than 50 small-craft breweries in the region, it takes something special for a microbrewery to rise to the top of the heap and be crowned among the "Best of...." Fish Brewing Company has
Online Newspapers
How is it that the City of Lacey winds up in a story about the Best of Olympia? To answer this question requires some explanation. In a very unofficial poll covering various topics conducted by this weekly publication, Lacey was voted as the Best Military Supporter. Who would have thought this possible? Perhaps
News
The Tacoma Vet Center has served veterans and families in the region for more than 25 years, and it now has the ability to amplify that service. Known as a Mobile Vet Center (MVC), it is a 38-foot vehicle loaded with trained staff, technology and information that allows the center to
Music
Country music isn't what it used to be. The days of nothing but twanging guitars, cowboy hats and dusty boots are far behind us, and they've left plenty of room for genre-blurring, feel-good music. Local country music star Ethan Tucker is all about exploring those musical opportunities, and he's doing
Features
There’s no need to wait for spring or summer for farmer’s market supplies; a few local winter markets are open throughout the cooler months and offer a plethora of fresh produce and other market items. Local markets that offer outdoor winter fare include the Proctor Market in
Archives
30 DAYS OF NIGHT: Barlow, Alaska, said to be the northernmost town in America, undergoes 30 days without sun every winter, which makes it an ideal holiday haven for vampires. The townsfolk, led by Josh Hartnett and Melissa George, do battle against ravenous vampire hordes led by Danny Huston, in
Music
The history of sample-driven music is an odd one, littered with plucky DJs and producers whose first and greatest strength was the ability to dig through crates of records in search of seconds-long snatches of fascination. Samples were the great equalizer, allowing amateur songsmiths the ability to create their own
Arts
CJ Swanson's paintings brighten the walls at Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Shop in Olympia. I've been keeping up with Swanson's art since she and her husband, the painter David Noah Giles, opened the now defunct Art on Center Gallery in Tacoma so many years ago. Back then, her paintings reminded me
Reviews
ANNOUNCER: Dutch and Jackie have been waiting for the hype to die down a bit before visiting new Vietnamese eatery, La Ca Bar. Now that it's been a few months, some of the hubbub has died down and it was time to visit this 6th Ave gem. JACKIE: It's in
Features
Listen, I like a good drinking holiday. When the boozes are flowing folks are, traditionally, jovial. There's nothing quite like a little social lubricant to see people connect. And while most any liquor will do, tequila wields a special kind of power of folks. Just when us Pacific Northwesterners begin
Stage
3 Impossible Questions at Olympia Family Theater is a world premiere locally written play based on beloved Islamic folk tales and stories that have been passed down generation to generation about the wise Mullah (teacher or master) Nasreddin. Olympia writer, actor and director Christian Carvajal says he was inspired to write
South Sound Cinema
As the 2018 Winter Olympics play out in Pyeongchang, expect NBC to introduce us to dozens of athletes via well-crafted background packages that often play like mini-movies. Of course, the most memorable stories will emerge organically from the games. And those are the stories that often inspire full-length movies. In order
South Sound Cinema
Beginning in fall, the quality of movies in theaters increases exponentially, and as pageants like the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards approach in the spring, ambitious and beautiful movies are suddenly on the tips of everyone's tongues. Here in Tacoma, the Destiny City Film Festival began its life as an
Travel
Crater Lake National Park has a haunting beauty in the winter months when storms from the Pacific Ocean dump an average of 43 feet of snow. Plan a full day from your lodgings in Medford to tour the park. It is about an hour-and-a-half drive on Route 62 to the
News
The Outdoors for All Foundation will soon offer a military mountain biking program to disabled veterans. "I envision this program to be a big place for vets to feel a rush of adrenaline," wrote Bryan Messick, the foundation's military program manager, in an email. The foundation began in 1978 with 15 children
News Front
On Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m., the DuPont Museum and Historical Society will present a program by local historian, author and artist, retired Army Sgt. Alan Archambault at the DuPont Community Presbyterian Church. The presentation will feature the history of Fort Lewis and its integral role in the United
Military Life
The McChord Spouses' Club (MSC) mission is threefold: to provide charitable, social and educational activities; to extend welfare support for military members, their families and the community; and to provide opportunities for giving back to the military community and promote the abilities of its spouses. The MSC is open to
Features
It's often the smallest acts of kindness that set the tone for our workdays, including something as simple as a stranger buying us a hot cup of coffee. For uniformed civil servants, especially, the seemingly-insignificant act can serve as a reminder that the community appreciates what you do. That sentiment
News Front
Maj. Diana Ellerman, an Army Reserve officer who serves in a training battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, will receive the Army's coveted Pershing Award. The recognition is bestowed on the most distinguished student from the Command and General Staff College Distance Learning Advanced Operations Course. "The award recognizes academic rigor, critical thinking
