This Week in Downtown May 3rd feature full articles on the website! Click more to read all articles.
May 3rd to May 9th
Dash Shuttle Resumes Saturday Service
Dash, the free shuttle service that serves downtown Olympia and the Capitol Campus, resumes Saturday service on April 3rd, in conjunction with the opening of the Olympia Farmers Market 2010 season.
Saturday service operates from 9 am to 5 pm and serves the Farmers Market, downtown Olympia along Capitol Way and the West Capitol Campus. The shuttle does not serve the East Capitol Campus on Saturdays, although it does on weekdays.
The shuttle’s regular weekday service remains the same, operating from 6:45 am until 7:15 pm, running through the East and West Capitol Campus, and along Capitol Way to and from the Market district.
Transit officials estimate the use of the popular shuttle at nearly 34,000 boardings thus far this year, well over 600 boardings each day on average. The shuttle carried just under 125,000 rides last year and about 469,000 rides to date since it began operating in 2006. Intercity Transit established the shuttle service with strong support from the City of Olympia, Olympia Downtown Association, the Port of Olympia, the Washington State Legislature and Department of General Administration and the area’s Visitor and Convention Bureau. The shuttle service helps alleviate traffic and parking concerns while encouraging activity and access to downtown Olympia and the state capitol.
For more information on the Dash shuttle or other Intercity Transit transportation services, call Intercity Transit customer service at 786-1881 or visit intercitytransit.com.
FREE Employee Parking
SMART LOT
In advance of converting the 90-minute free parking area into a pay parking system, the City of Olympia Parking Services offers this FREE temporary off-street parking permit to employees of downtown businesses. One of Parking Services purposes is to help maintain the vibrant commercial downtown center by freeing up on-street parking spaces for business patron and customer use. Parking Services downtown parking studies show that of the 335-stalls designated as 90-minute free, currently 133 spaces are routinely being occupied by employees.
To get the permit, visit City of Olympia Parking Services at 117 Legion Way SW. For more information please contact City of Olympia Parking Services at 753-8017 or www.ci.olympia.wa.us. You will need to get a new permit each month so remember to visit Parking Services at 117 Legion Way SW.
New Leased Parking Downtown
The parking lot across from Capital Plumbing and Heating at 424 Jefferson St and 5th Ave is now open for leased parking! This new parking lot offers a low price of $40 a month. The lot is close to everything in downtown! For more information call 918-6544.
GYROKINESIS® Beginner Class – Updated
GYROKINESIS® exercises are being offered at Motion in Balance Studio. The class is every Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The classes will focus on breath and movement to achieve joint mobility and core strengthening. The class fee is $12 to drop in or $40 for a four class card. Call 556-2619 for more information or to reserve a spot.
Home Body Eco-Luxe Living
Spring is here. That means the sun is peeking through the clouds and rain showers and the flowers are blooming. It’s time to throw open the windows.
Come down and take advantage of the Spring Cleaning Sale. Save up to 50% on housewares, jewelry, dolls, perfume, baskets, vintage items, clothing and accessories. Home Body Eco-Luxe Living is located at 416 1/2 Washington St SE.
Movies about Change Contest Seeks Video Entries by May 5th
The Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties is looking for inspirational stories about every day people making a difference in their community. Whether it’s helping the homeless, mentoring children or cleaning up the environment, we want motivational examples of volunteer efforts going on in Lewis, Mason or Thurston County. Videos should inspire volunteerism, highlight a nonprofit and their work, or educate about a community need in those counties. Cash or prizes will be awarded to top entries which will be selected by a panel of judges. For more information visit www.volunteer.ws, call 741-2622 or email mega@volunteer.ws.
Little Known Fact
McCrea Cellars is opening a tasting room in the New Caldonia Building this summer.
New Business
VUE – Vision Uniquely Experienced
“VUE – Vision Uniquely Experienced”, downtown Olympiaʼs new, premier optical destination, is now open! Youʼll find us at 116 5th Avenue in the New Caldonia Building.
Douglas Jeske, OD, his wife Karen, and Annie Adler, LDO, would like to introduce Zoe and her dog Belle, who model featured eyewear in our front window. Theyʼve created quite a stir since we have opened. Thanks to our building neighbors, Bonaventure,
Nonna Rosaʼs Cafe, and the Olympia Tasting Room by McCrea Cellars (coming soon), for helping us create window display adventures for Zoe and Belle which provided a successful opening weekend during Art Walk.
In conjunction with Girls Night Out, VUE will be showcasing a collection of Chloeʼ eyewear on May 6 from 3 pm to 8 pm. Meet Heather Williams from LʼAmy America and join us for tasty finger foods and “Kiss Me Pink” mocktails. Cash in on your GNO coupon and acquire raffle tickets for prizes at the “After Shopping” GNO reception. You may win a pair of Chloeʼ sunglasses!
First Friday
Come experience downtown at night! First Friday is Friday, May 7th from 5 pm to late. It’s spring, it will be sunny. What a perfect time to hit the streets. Downtown welcomes you!
einmaleins: May is Wedding Month at einmaleins. Are you getting married? Know someone who is? Well, we’re throwing a special First Friday highlighting our awesome products and helping you decide what the most important components are to get your life started together! It will definitely include refreshments! einmaleins is located at 121 State Ave NE.
Wind Up Here: Wind Up Here will have The Acorn & Rose Puppet Theater. The mission of Acorn & Rose is to contribute to the well-being of children and their grownups by providing old-fashioned yet time-proven activities, inspiration, and surprising opportunities for self-expression. Attending a live puppet show that is designed with audience participation in mind is one step in the process. Learning how to make and use puppets, interacting with puppets at school, home or hospital offers many more special gifts – all in the guise of playing! The Puppet Show will be at 6 and 7 pm on First Friday. RSVPs are appreciated so seating will be available.
For more information on First Friday visit www.everydayolympia.com.
Upcoming Community Events
Step into your Future – Release your Fears
Wednesdays, May 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th
5 to 8 pm
Do you allow your fears to stop you from having what you want in life? Do you procrastinate? Do you tell yourself: “I don’t know how” or hear that inner voice saying “I’m not good enough?” Do you feel exposed and fearful when you want to try something new or take a risk?
In this 4 week class you will deeply explore the blocks to having the life you desire–and the life you deserve! Through guided meditation and visualization, deep relaxation, music and individual and group processes you will learn to tap into your inner knowing and to access long-held fears, beliefs, and behavior patterns that limit you.
Zoe Waggoner is a Master’s Level therapist who uses Clinical, Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy as the vehicle to help you access long-held subconscious beliefs and behavior patterns. Class size is limited to 10 people.
This class cost $125. To register call Zoe at 432-1236 or email zoewaggoner@gmail.com.
Annie
May 6th to 29th
Capital Playhouse’s production of Annie, running May 6th through May 30, is a MUST for your family’s activities calendar! In addition to a line-up of orphans played by the area’s most talented young girls, this treat brings the return of an unstoppable duo: Jeff Kingsbury and Jennie May Donnell. Kingsbury as Daddy Warbucks and Donnell as Miss Hannigan will undoubtedly thrill the audience with their chemistry on stage! Although some might consider Warbucks and Hannigan a crooked couple – the play and banter between these two characters is an integral comic element to the show and will certainly be taken to the next level by Kingsbury and Donnell. Most recently appearing together in last season’s A Little Night Music, Donnell and Kingsbury have worked on all aspects of the theatre together over the last 26 years – from acting, producing, directing, props, painting, costuming, scenic design and building many shows together. “When you work with a person in the theatre this length of time, you develop an unspoken language, and have shared sensibilities. That is something you can’t buy!” says Donnell of their relationship. Tickets are on sale now – and if they go anything like Rent tickets – get yours NOW!
Performances run May 6th to 29th, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. ADDED MATINEES: Saturday, May 15th and 22nd at 2 pm and Sunday, May 30th at 2 pm. Tickets are $31-$37 for adults, $26-$32 for seniors (60+) and youth (16 and under). All performances at Capital Playhouse: 612 4th Ave E. Box office: 943-2744. Visit www.capitalplayhouse.com for more information.
Girls Night Out
May 6th, 10 am to 9 pm
Girls Night Out is Thursday, May 6th from 10 am to 9 pm. Start early & stay late in downtown Olympia! Shopping and dining are from 10 am to 8 pm and the reception at the Urban Onion Ballroom (116 Legion Way E) is from 8 to 9 pm. Proceeds from goodie bag sales will go to the ODA’s Graffiti Management Program. To participate purchase a ticket for a $10 goodie bag ($15 on the day of the event) at the ODA office (116 5th Ave SE, Suite F) or call 357-8948 to purchase by credit card. For every $10 you spend, you earn a raffle ticket. Raffle prizes will be given out at the reception. You don’t have to be present to win. For more information visit www.downtownolympia.com or call 357-8948.
Thurston County Chamber South Sound Classic Golf Tournament
May 7th, 8 am
The South Sound Classic Golf Tournament is May 7th with an 8 am shotgun start. It is a four person scramble. The tournament is at the Golf Club at Hawks Prairie – Links Course. Did you register to golf yet? There will be a $10,000 hole-in-one, KP and Long Drive prizes, divisional prizes, special prize drawings and banquet and awards ceremony. For more information call 357-3362 or visit www.thurstonchamber.com/golf/.
Community Arts Roundtable
The Arts Commission of the City of Olympia invites local artists and arts organizations to join a FREE monthly community arts roundtable that will give participants the opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences and create strong local support for their work. The next meeting will be Monday, May 3rd at 6 pm in the Olympia Timberland Library meeting room, 313 8th Ave SE. Monthly meetings will conclude for the year on the first Monday of June at 6 pm in the same location.
The topic of the May 3rd meeting is Community Arts Education. In honor of Arts Education Month, Patrons of South Sound Cultural Arts (POSSCA) will participate in a brainstorm session along with other arts organizations about how to increase the capacity of arts education available for area students.
The remainder of the 2010 schedule follows (topics subject to change):
June 7 Digital Portfolio
For more information please contact Stephanie Johnson, Arts & Events Manager, at 709-2678.
Passport to Timberland
Looking for an opportunity to increase visibility and revenues for your organization? The answer: Passport…to Timberland. This fundraiser benefits the Timberland Regional Library Foundation. They are offering free Passports to everyone beginning June 15th. The prize drawing will be at the end of Passport season (September 12th) based on the number of libraries visited. This Passport will guide people to all 27 Timberland libraries throughout five counties. With nearly 500,000 people they have a large target audience. With maps, points of interest, audio downloads for each library/community and links directly to the sponsors at www.trlfoundation.org, participants enjoy a “staycation” and sponsors can enjoy increased traffic and potential for increased revenues.
Benefits:
- Promoting Passport in all 27 communities (nearly 500,000 people)
- Your business listed in thousands of Passports for 90+ days of promotion
- Your business listed on the website: www.trlfoundation.org
- Increase awareness of your business/community and all it has to offer
- Increases potential revenue opportunities for Passport sponsors. Sponsor poster has customizable space; offer any specials to Passport holders. Sponsors provide flyers to libraries directing Passport holders to your business.
- Additional benefits depend on level of sponsorship
Interested? Email mcolvin@trlib.org or call 704-4519.
