Photo credit: Twenty22Many
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 the winners in all 70 categories of the 2017 Best of Olympia Reader’s Poll, plus feature stories on several of the winners as well.
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Justin Wilkes runs The Wine Loft in downtown Olympia, and he sees good wine as an art that transcends time and a catalyst for human connection.
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Sometimes, the wounds of war are obvious. Missing limbs, broken bones, facial scars can be hard to miss. But all too often, the wounds of war can be hidden scars left on a warrior's soul, invisible to those around them.
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Some storytellers fall back on fiction, meaning exaggeration or outright lying. That's verboten at StoryOly, a monthly program described by its founders, Elizabeth Lord and Amy Shephard, as Olympia's premiere "story-slam" event.
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Lots of places could technically be in the running for the "best place to meet someone". Prisons, public transportation, a dark alley - these are all places where you're likely to meet someone, just not necessarily someone you'd like to meet.
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There's an ongoing debate about the word authentic in foodie circles. All snobbery aside, it describes food that reminds the eater of what his or her accented grandmother made, even if her food was "adulterated" with American flavors or ingredients.
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Established in 2014, 3Mag is the product of a family-oriented, community-focused philosophy that combines the thrill of a good time with bringing people together.
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It takes a hell of a lot of work to keep a music venue going strong, especially one that incorporates all-ages shows and makes risky booking decisions.
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Don't let the black exterior and the ravens migrating through it bother you. Rather, think of the visual as an entry into a unique experience.
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Olympia has fantastic theater. Picking the best is nearly impossible, but after much deliberation, I landed on playwright Bryan Willis' riveting play, Seven Ways to Get There, as performed by Theater Artists Olympia (TAO).
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When looking for the gift shop voted, "Best in Olympia," I didn't expect to find it in the lobby of the Capital Medical Center. With visions of shopworn teddy bears and tired floral arrangements in my head, Linnea's was a pleasant surprise.
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If I could choose two galleries, I would start with Childhood's End because they have consistently shown top-notch local and regional artists since 1971.
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First off, the dental care at Moss Wall Orthodontics will give you a lasting smile because of what they can do to correct crooked teeth problems. For over 26 years, Dr. Kevin Moss has been creating beautiful smiles, treating adults and children.
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For the past 42 years, the Olympia Farmers Market has been the traditional place for families to get their fresh, local food. It is also the go-to place for beautifully crafted artisan crafts.
