posts by Jennifer Crain
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS On March 18, the human voice takes center stage at the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival. This popular event brings the vocal acrobatics and stage flair of the a cappella scene to the public in a high-energy sing-off. By the end of the evening, one group will be selected …
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS Since the summer of 2015, Our Table co-chefs and owners Mike Holbein and Brad Thompson have been building their farm-to-table restaurant the same way they build their meals: from scratch. They started small, selling bar-friendly food with a local twist through a window that links their downtown space with …
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS This Sunday, a downtown Olympia church will celebrate its first century. The 10:30 a.m. service at The United Churches of Olympia will feature A Festival of Lessons and Carols, a cantata by Texas composer and church musician Hal Hopson. The work is directed by Dee Morton and will be …
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS On December 3, the Masterworks Choral Ensemble’s annual Christmas concert kicks off the Yuletide season. Gary Witley, director of the community chorus since he helped found it in 1981, says listeners can expect a family friendly evening with traditional favorites, sing-alongs and tunes to make them laugh. “Every Christmas …
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS Kids take the stage at Church of Living Water on December 2. One Starry Night, an evening of crafts, carols, choir and band performances—even live donkeys—is an annual event that launches the holiday season. Its central element is a retelling of the Christmas story. “It’s a really creative avenue …
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS Ricardo’s Restaurant moved to a new location this summer, with a larger dining room and options for private dining and events. Rick and Marie Nelsen’s popular Lacey steakhouse is known for its beef, dry-aged in house. The Nelsens serve rib eye, New York strip and filet mignon. “We also …
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS In November, Dillinger’s Cocktails & Kitchen will open an expanded dining room and bar. The cocktail lounge, modeled after the Prohibition-era speakeasy, has become a popular destination downtown. The new space will almost double the establishment’s footprint and capacity. Owner Sandy Hall says the business has outgrown the original …
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS This October, Olympia welcomes an indoor food market to the downtown corridor. A year-round destination, 222 Market features local vendors and restaurants that focus on sustainable, hand-produced goods. The project includes traditional walk-in businesses as well as a walk-through promenade, with open stalls and indoor public seating. The building’s …
by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS The Tickled Pinks, a New-York-based swing vocal trio and band, returns to Olympia as part of the Music in the Park series in Sylvester Park on August 17 at 7:00 p.m. The group, founded in 2009, performs classic tunes in the style of The Andrews Sisters, such as “Straighten …
Jennifer Crain is a freelance writer based in the Pacific Northwest. Her work appears in print and online in national publications, regional magazines, trades, and newsletters. She is committed to good food, a subject she explore as a regular contributor to Edible Seattle, where she has written about indigenous fishers, mushroom farming, organic cranberry production, …