By Alec Clayton Writing and illustrating a children’s book has been Nancy Thorne Chambers’ dream since childhood, but her passion took an unexpected turn after she retired from a lifetime as an illustrator and family therapist. In a dramatic turn from her plans, she taught herself ceramic sculpture. “I learned by reading books and trial …
By Billy Thomas Recess Monkey is a Grammy-Nominated family music band from Seattle. These teachers-turned-rockers know how to get kids and families excited. Known for prolific, eclectic musical output and their contagiously exciting live shows, Recess Monkey strives to strike a balance between kid-centric ideas and musical authenticity. Lyrically, they weave jokes and puns together …
By MELINDA MINTON Slow-cooked brisket, pulled pork, ribs; dry-rubbed or melting-honey barbecue falling off the bone and onto a fresh bun — It’s summer and the South Sound BBQ Festival is here once again. Enjoy face-painting, food demonstrations, free kids’ activities and an adults-only beer-and-wine garden. This cook-off, now in its ninth year, is sanctioned …
By NOAH SHACHAR Summertime is coming around, and Olympia Film Society (OFS) welcomes warm weather with a new set of extraordinary films including Olivier Assayas’s philosophical romp Non-Fiction and Eric Becker’s documentary Return to Mount Kennedy. We spoke with programming director Rob Patrick about the screenings. As for Assayas, Patrick said, “The French director’s acclaimed …
By Alec Clayton For three days in July, volunteers will get together to create a mosaic mural for the Plum Street Tiny Home Village in Olympia. Participants will create a welcome sign measuring roughly three by five feet comprising several small, house-shaped mosaics. The project is spearheaded by Stacey Waterman-Hoey, director and founder of Arbutus …
By CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Alejandro de Acosta, philosophy faculty member at The Evergreen State College, is the essayist and translator responsible for a Texas micro-press called mufa::poema. Born in Argentina, de Acosta translated poetry collections by Jorge Carrera and Carlos Oquendo de Amat. His wife, Elise Dressler, is the poetry coordinator who leads a modern-poetry book …
By Molly Walsh Capital Lakefair is a local carnival full of fun and nostalgia. Here is the full schedule of this year’s events. Read more of OLY ARTS’ Lakefair coverage here. Wednesday, July 17 Noon – 11 p.m. Arts-and-crafts vendors, carnival, entertainment, food concessions 6 p.m. Battle of the high-school bands, main stage Thursday, July …
By Molly Walsh and Billy Thomas On Olympia’s third week of July, a five-day summer vacation rolls into town with an opportunity for residents and visitors to relive childhood memories and create new ones. Capital Lakefair delivers time-honored landmarks evoking an atmosphere best suited to balmy summer evenings. Flashes of color whirl around the festival’s …
By Billy Thomas Zoologist and educator Scott Petersen will present live reptiles in a 40-minute show that teaches the importance of all animals in nature and allows kids to get up close and personal with these amazing creatures. Following his show, join the Lacey Museum staff to search for Sasquatch. At dusk will be a …
By Molly Walsh A group of five, the EveryLeaf Band covers the quintessential elements of American music, combining classic rock, country rock and a few risqué blues tunes into its set. Based in Issaquah, Washington, EveryLeaf Band travels throughout the Pacific Northwest with their favorite songs along for the ride. The band prides itself on …