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Explore the tenth episode of our LoveOly video series by clicking the image above! In this installment, we're shining a spotlight on Underhill Plants. A big shoutout to First+Main Films for their fantastic collaboration on this project! 

We're thrilled to introduce the newest addition to our LoveOly Artist Spotlight series: Great Blue Heron by Missy Maxwell. Missy is an Olympia-based illustrator, designer and maker. She blogs for - PBS Kids and is a Matchless Brewing graphic artist. She is a self-proclaimed cat lover, bird nerd, plant freak and beer snob. 

You'll soon encounter these vibrant and captivating posters adorning storefronts in downtown Olympia! 

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Exciting things are happening on the corner of State and Water Street!

The Percival Landing Plinths offer a rotating sculptural exhibition along the boardwalk in downtown Olympia, across from this in-progress mixed-use multi-family project. The artwork enhances the ever-changing views of Budd Bay, the Capitol Building, and the Olympic Mountains throughout the year.

Madrone murals on State Street in downtown Olympia were installed in late 2023. Characters, instruments, bright red lanterns, and aged Corten steel silhouettes are fastened to an aluminum screen that masks the open-air ground floor parking on the backside of the building and enhances the streetscape across from the Lurana and Percival Landing boardwalk. Paper cut artist Nikki McClure is known for her work in the Pacific Northwest, highlighting the natural wonders of the area.

This project includes a total of 60 dwelling units including two-bedroom, one-bedroom, and studio units on the four upper floors, and a private rooftop deck for residents to enjoy. Learn more.

Arbutus Folk School and Courtyard Antiques were awarded a LoveOly Microgrant! With this grant, they had the flooring in their shared foyer refurbished.

Thanks to the support of LoveOly Micro-Grants, we've had the privilege of contributing to this amazing initiative. It's truly inspiring to see how these projects enrich the downtown experience for all of us.

Keep an eye out for more exciting developments and projects coming your way, Olympia! 

Learn more

Calling all downtown Olympia enthusiasts! Our next LoveOly Cleanups on April 20, 2024 from 9am -11am. Join us on our mission to elevate our beloved downtown! Together, we'll create a cleaner, more vibrant, and even more lovable Olympia...and just in time for Arts Walk!

Sign up and we'll send you details!

Sign up here

Experience the thrill of live performances and art-house theater in downtown Olympia! From the passionate fusion of flamenco and classical music presented by the Olympia Symphony to the uproarious antics of Harlequin Productions' "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)," our cultural calendar is exciting. Get ready to rock with the Red Hot Chili Pipers at The Washington Center, where bagpipes meet AC/DC in a symphony of energy. For a nostalgic journey, join us for silent movie classics accompanied by a live Wurlitzer Organ, or let your imagination soar with Studio West Dance Theatre's enchanting production of "Peter Pan." And don't miss the psychedelic masterpiece "Son of the White Mare," brought to you by the Olympia Film Society, for a mesmerizing cinematic experience.

The Olympia Symphony Presents

Flamenco

SUNDAY, APRIL 21 AT 3:00 pm

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts

A ground-breaking collaboration that brings together live flamenco dancing and classical music. Filled with vibrancy and passion, the season finale will transport you to southern Spain to experience the heart and beat of this incredible culture!

Voice Masterclass

Instructing local youth artists, Miya will share insights, expertise, and inspiration with humor and contagious enthusiasm. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the music-making process.

Deadline to apply: April 5, 2024

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Presents...

The Red Hot Chili Pipers

Friday, April 19 at 7:30 pm

It's Bagpipes. It's Rock. It's Bagrock. AC/DC meets the poet Robert Burns. Where rock anthems sit comfortably along the great tunes from the glens and the mountains of Scotland.

It's the Red Hot Chili PIPERS - (NOT the Peppers!) - a 9-piece ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers - who have been rocking the world from New York to Beijing to Melbourne and everywhere in between with musicianship of the highest order—and passion for pipes that will leave you breathless. The band has four music degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and all the pipers and drummers have played at the top level in bagpiping.

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Presents...

Silent Movie: Kings of Silent Comedy

Sunday, April 28 at 2:00 pm

Experience silent films the way they were meant to be seen and heard, accompanied by our 1924 Wurlitzer Organ! Featuring Charlie Chaplin's The Pilgrim and Harold Lloyd's Why Worry? Film fans of all ages are welcome to step back in time to revel in the authentically recreated sounds and nostalgia from times gone by.

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Presents...

Five for Fighting with String Quartet

Sunday, April 28 at 2:00 pm

The only way for a story to progress is to turn the page. John Ondrasik--the songwriter and performer known as. the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated Five For Fighting - know this well.

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Presents...

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Asking For Trouble

Thursday, April 25 at 7:30pm

Get ready for an evening of sidesplitting laughter as Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, the dynamic duo from TV's "Whose Line is it Anyway?" take the stage in a one-night-only uproarious live show, Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble. With lightning-fast wit, Mochrie & Sherwood transform the audience's suggestions into an unpredictable evening of non-stop comedy gold. No script? No problem! "Asking for Trouble" is a wild rollercoaster ride of hilarity, where two improv legends prove they are still the best in the business.

18+ recommended

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Presents...

Studio West Dance Theatre's Peter Pan

April 13-14, 2024

"There it is, Wendy! Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning!"

Studio West Dance Theatre presents the enchanting return of Peter Pan on April 13-14, 2024. This classic tale comes to life with original choreography, a little pixie dust, and flying effects from world-renowned professional flying company ZFX. Don't miss your opportunity to see Peter, Wendy, John, Michael, and Tinkerbell as they fly off to Neverland, where dreams take flight and childhood lasts forever! Brace yourself for a swashbuckling adventure as Captain Hook and his bands of pirates add a thrilling touch to this timeless tale of imagination and wonder.

Want to experience a city with streets made up of 100 art galleries, performances, and creative happenings? Then save the dates of April 26 and 27, because that’s exactly what to look forward to at Arts Walk this spring, featuring:

• 100 Olympia businesses and organizations hosting local artists and art events
• A street closure transforming 7-blocks of Downtown Olympia into a free activity area, Arts Market, busking zone, and places for folks to gather and celebrate art and community
• Procession of the Species and Luminary Procession! Two incredible experiences of cultural exchange and appreciation, presented by Earthbound Productions.

More information is available on their website, https://oly-wa.us/procession/

"My inspiration for painting on silk is influenced by my experience growing up in Hawaii with a family that appreciated art, music, exotic cultures, and nature. I often focus on endangered species as a subject matter, emphasizing birds.

The beauty of the natural world continues to please my soul and inspires me to create."

Judy's art will be on display at Thomas Architecture Studios beginning on April 2, with a reception during the 2024 Spring Artwalk on Friday, April 26 where she will be at the office to meet you and answer any questions you may have.

FRIDAY April 26, 2024

5:30-9:00 pm

THOMAS ARCHITECTURE STUDIOS

525 Columbia Street SW

Olympia, WA 98501

We are THRILLED to announce the return of LoveOly SummerFest in June 2024! Get ready for three days of non-stop fun in Downtown Olympia!

Enjoy live music, children’s activities by Hands on Children’s Museum, food trucks, a beer garden, vendors, and MORE! Plus, don't miss the incredible Queens from Diva Drag Brunch taking the stage on Sunday! 

Anticipated Weekend Hours:

• Friday: 3 pm-9 pm
• Saturday: 11 am-9 pm
• Sunday: 10 am -2pm with Diva Drag Brunch! 

Experience interactive art installations, shop unique goods at vendor booths, and indulge in delicious eats from local food vendors. 

Join us at Downtown Olympia at 5th Avenue and Washington Street for an unforgettable weekend! Mark your calendars for June 21-23, 2024! 

We're looking for LoveOly SummerFest Volunteers. Sign up here.

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 [email protected]. 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: https://downtownolympia.org/.