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On Monday, January 27, 2025, the Olympia Downtown Alliance hosted its 27th Annual Meeting at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Olympia. This highly anticipated event brought together community members, business leaders, and local officials to celebrate downtown Olympia's progress and recognize the incredible individuals and businesses making a difference in our vibrant community.

The evening featured inspiring speeches from Desiree Freeland, Interim Executive Director of the Olympia Downtown Alliance; Mayor Dontae Payne; and Casey Kilborn, VP and Retail Banking Manager at Olympia Federal Savings. Kilborn also welcomed Monique Ossa, owner of Ossa Skinworks, to share her experience as a downtown business owner.

Attendees gained fresh insights from a dynamic panel of downtown business and property owners. Panelists included Bobbi Kerr of Olympia Federal Savings, Adam Adrian of Row and Mercato, Pam Oates and Danielle Knutson of Budd Bay Café, the Oyster House, and River’s Edge, Chris Knudson of Well 80 and Casa Mia, and Leslie Panowicz of Panowicz Jewelers.

A highlight of the evening was honoring our downtown champions:

• Golden Paintbrush Award: Teri Haglund for her generous donation of gallons of paint.
• Downtown Design Award: Nikki McClure for her impactful artistic contributions.
• Volunteer of the Year: Erica Cooper, a second-generation board member and dedicated clean-up volunteer.
• Advocacy Award: Monique Ossa for her collaborative work with downtown businesses.
• Imagemaking Award: Eli Sterling for his leadership in the Procession of the Species.
• Advocate of the Year: Mike Reid for his exceptional work in Economic Development with the City of Olympia.

These honorees have gone above and beyond to enhance downtown Olympia, helping it flourish as a thriving, connected, and welcoming space for everyone. Thank you to all who joined us for this wonderful celebration of community and collaboration!

Childhood's End Gallery's annual "Studio Sale" is back and bigger than ever. Featuring work from over 15 artists, at a rare discount. Including: Aurand, Berrien, Bradham, Bray, Brenner, Christian, Cotey, Fisher, Fotheringham, Gumpert, Gumaelius, Henderson, Mathie, Miller, Romanovsky, Williams and more! Browse the evolving exhibit and find your perfect piece for the new year. Jan 17th - Mar 9th.

Learn more

Movie Night at the Library: Hundreds of Beavers

Thursday, January 30 @ 6:30pm

Join us for a special after-hours film screening at the library! We will watch the 2024 indie sensation, Hundreds of Beavers! Has there ever been a better movie to watch with a crowd? There will be snacks and light refreshments.

Level Up Your Library Card!Friday, January 31 @1pm

Come discover hidden gems from Library staff and find out how to get the most out of your TRL Library card. Meet in the meeting room for a short presentation, followed by a Q&A and time for hands-on practice. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own device for personalized assistance.

Lantern Lights the Library: Souls Worn Thin (Oly) and Stoneyard (SEA)Friday, January 31 @7pm

This monthly series makes local music accessible to people of all ages in a safe, fun environment. We'll have light snacks and earplugs available. Come experience local music and get loud at the library! Thank you to Lantern Records and the Friends of the Olympia Library for their support.

2025 Season Presented by Navigate Financial: Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson, January 24 February 9, 2025 The State Theater

An irreverent, darkly comic modern take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth and sidekick – a fast-paced romp that re-examines the classic adventure stories you love with a bold new female lens. Learn more.

The News of the Week in Downtown Olympia is a newsletter created by the Olympia Downtown Alliance and is a summary of happenings Downtown.

If you have news related to downtown you'd like included, please email marketing@downtownolympia.org. Preference is given to Olympia Downtown Alliance members. If we do not share it here, chances are we'll share it on our Facebook or Instagram pages. We do reserve the right to use our discretion on what we share.

The deadline is Friday at 5 pm for inclusion in the next week's newsletter.

If you know of anyone who would like to receive the News of the Week in Downtown Olympia, please have them sign-up at the bottom of our home page here: downtownolympia.org.