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Molly Gilmore on April 19th, 2013
Recycling is just part of life. Everybody does it. (Right?)
And thrifting is so big that Macklemore is celebrating it in a hit song, a big shift from the bling and designer tracksuits of rappers of yore.
Upcycling - the art of turning something old into something new - takes both environmental
Guides
Molly Gilmore on February 27th, 2013
Just as a distinct accessory or trim makes an outfit, the daring pairing of vintage apparel and psychic readings sets Olympia's Psychic Sister apart from the norm.
The shop, voted Olympia's Best Vintage Clothing Store, features a lively mix of intact and lovingly updated vintage items, owner Sarah Adams' own creations,
Guides
Molly Gilmore on February 27th, 2013
Michael Elvin of Olympia's Bar Francis is as much a scholar as he is a barista.
Elvin, named Olympia's Best Barista, speaks knowledgeably about the flavors of coffee (butterscotch and vanilla were mentioned one recent morning) and methods of its brewing - and he sounds equally expert when he talks chai.
"I'm
Guides
Molly Gilmore on February 27th, 2013
Dawn Gillnett, voted Olympia's Best Bartender, is a bit nervous having her first newspaper interview, but when asked to talk about her work mixing drinks and befriending customer's at King Solomon's Reef, she opens up.
"I LOVE it," she says. "I love the schedule. I love being around the people. You
Arts Features
Molly Gilmore on April 25th, 2012
Dick Seed's a poet and didn't know it.
He does now, though.
Seed will read his poetry this weekend at Olympia's Arts Walk, a twice-yearly celebration of arts of all sorts by artists of all sorts - from kindergarteners to professional artists to those who, like Seed, create art simply for the
Greenville
Molly Gilmore on April 19th, 2012
Take a moment to visualize the biggest polluters of Puget Sound.
My picture is something like this: Chemicals stream out of a huge factory, spewing into the water as smoke pours from the chimneys high above. The factory's owner, who looks something like Mr. Burns on The Simpsons, knows what he's
Arts Features
Molly Gilmore on March 21st, 2012
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
Guides
Molly Gilmore on February 20th, 2012
"In the future," said the artist Andy Warhol, "everyone will be famous for 15 minutes."
Matter, voted Olympia's Best Gallery by Volcano readers two years running, has had way more than its share.
The gallery, which displays only art made with reclaimed and recycled materials, showcases much more than paintings and sculptures.
Arts Features
Molly Gilmore on February 2nd, 2012
You know the old saying about selling snow to an Eskimo?
Well, that's one way to explain the Flat Win Co., the business/art project of David Scherer Water of Olympia.
Although he hasn't yet sold rain to Western Washington, Scherer Water does sell, among other things, dirt, rocks, gravel and - perhaps
Features
Molly Gilmore on January 18th, 2012
Smoking has become mostly a private activity in Washington, yet a new business in Olympia gives cigarette aficionados a place to gather while they enjoy a nicotine fix.
The place is Volcano Vapor Cafe, and the cigarettes being enjoyed there are electronic ones, filled with a nicotine solution that is converted
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Recent Blog Posts
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on April 12th, 2012
IT'S OPENING DURING OLYMPIA ART WALK >>>
After eight months without a space to call its own, the Olympia All-Ages Project has a new space for concerts, art shows and more.
"We're going to be opening there on Arts Walk," said Mariella Luz, who spearheads the All-Ages Project. There'll be a group
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on August 20th, 2011
SNIPPET FROM OUR SUMMER GUIDE >>>
Like those now-scarce restaurants where roller-skating servers deliver food to your car, drive-in movies had their heyday in the '50s. These days, most movies watched in the car are on computer or smart-phone screens. But while drive-ins.com lists only six open drive-ins
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on August 3rd, 2011
FROM A MOVEMENT TO A MUSEUM PIECE >>>
Remember when grunge was just everyday life? Flannel, long hair, not washing too often.
It seems like that was only a few weeks ago. (Right now, it's too warm for the flannel.)
The musical movement has now been relegated to history by the Experience Music
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on July 30th, 2011
SUNBURN RELIEF >>>
Harry Shearer is best known for being funny. He voices Mr. Burns and a host of others on The Simpsons. He was a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live. He starred in This Is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind.
But there is nothing funny about The
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on July 27th, 2011
AUDITION FOR A BUNCH OF SHOWS IN FIVE MINUTES >>>
Actors experienced and aspiring alike can audition with efficiency at Olympia Audition League's general auditions set for Saturday, July 30, and Sunday, July 31. The third annual auditions are your chance to try out for roles with five theater companies -
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on July 20th, 2011
SING-ALONG THIS SATURDAY IN LACEY >>>
There's something about "Grease," at least for the romantic. It's a story as old as time: Girl meets boy. Girl loses boy. Girl gets boy back via makeup, hair products, tight clothes and high heels.
It's kind of like Romeo and Juliet, except instead of drinking
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on July 13th, 2011
SALE OF ARTS, CRAFTS, FOOD & MORE AIMS TO MAKE OLYMPIA >>>
At first, I had a little trouble with Make Olympia, the market formerly known as Craft X NW, which starts up for the summer Saturday, July 16.
I kept wanting to think of it as Olympia Made, or Made in
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on July 6th, 2011
SINGLE AND SAD? >>>
So what, you might be asking yourself, is Josh Anderson up to this week? It's been a week or two since the Volcano has reported anything on this one-man entertainment dynasty.
As your reporter on the Anderson beat, I can tell you that it's something new. It's "Oly
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on June 29th, 2011
HUMOR GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION >>>
You know those jokes where a minister, a rabbi and a priest walk into a bar?
These days, it's a bit more up-to-the-minute (and probably more relevant in Western Washington, where relatively few people attend church) to joke about the Dalai Lama.
To wit, this example
Walkie Talkie Blog
Molly Gilmore on June 27th, 2011
MONTHLY EVENT FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS >>>
Olympia's New Moon Cafe is known for its breakfasts, its squirt bottles of blackberry jam and the blank books on the tables that inspire writing, drawing and games of tic-tac-toe.
Wednesday, the cafe has something new on its menu - a monthly pay what
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Recently Reviewed Movies
Molly Gilmore on July 27th, 2011
Harry Shearer is best known for being funny. He voices Mr. Burns and a host of others on The Simpsons. He was a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live. He starred in This Is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind.
But there is nothing funny about The Big Uneasy,
Molly Gilmore on February 23rd, 2011
There's plenty of speculation, but who'll be left holding the Oscars in Hollywood on Sunday night is still a mystery.
In Olympia, though, anyone who attends the Olympia Film Society's Oscar Party can lay hands on - and be photographed with - a real Oscar.
Hosted by pianist-actor-director-composer Josh Anderson, the party
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