What Is So Great About Downtown Olympia?

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What Is So Great About Downtown Olympia?

Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 8:58pm.

Downtown Olympia

This question was asked on another thread, and I felt it needed to be asked in it's own space.

The answers we get here have the potential to serve as building blocks for vitalization, so let's hear it.

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I'll start.

Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 9:00pm.

First Friday

yeah!

Submitted by einmaleins on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 11:01am.

I agree with that, altough I'm obviously a little bias ;-)

Anyway, First Friday is soo cool, because it's celebrating everything that's cool about Downtown Olympia!

1. - Walkability - and that sounds like a stupid political word, but it's true. Great town with great destination places, like the Farmer's Market, the boardwalk, Capitol Lake.

2. - Washington Street, is becoming a great shopping street.

3. - Businesses and People and events. We got a great community and it's exciting to be part of it in these times, where so many new things are happening.

mathias

einmaleins

All of the restaurants and

Submitted by emmettoconnell on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 9:54pm.

All of the restaurants and shops (diversity of commerce) and that it is small enough to be able to walk around the entire neighborhood.

Also, that when I'm down there I probably know (or recognize) at least a dozen people.

One Great Thing

Submitted by jlw on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 10:49pm.

One great thing about downtown Olympia is OFS, the Olympia Film Society. I'll never forget the first time I went there -- although I've forgotten what movie we went to see. What was so wonderful about it was the way the lobby supe came out before the show and made announcements and jokes, and how the audience made jokes back. Then there was a raffle. I think the supe may have thrown some fruit into the audience. The other people in the audience looked really interesting. I was used to sitting in a cinema audience like a passive cow among a passive herd. Sitting in the OFS audience was more like being in a monkey cage.

I love OFS. I love the building. I love a lot of the movies they show. I love the prices. I love the bathroom. Where else can you use a bathroom decorated with swanky vintage furniture and framed Maidenform bra ads on the walls? ("I dreamed I filled in the blanks in my Maidenform bra.") I love the lavender hand soap -- it smells good. It smells real.

I love the concession stand with herb teas and vegan candy and popcorn with hippie dust (otherwise known as nutritional yeast). I love the fact that I usually see a lot of people I know. Actually, sometimes that can be a problem. But I love that kind of problem. I love the fact that it's not just my favorite place for seeing movies, I go there for other events, too.

How about that huge lighting fixture in the middle of the ceiling? How about that balcony? How about the film festival? A movie that's not preceded by a raffle just isn't the same for me anymore. Although I never did go to to the Tea Lady to collect my tea and shortbread.

A few days after 9/11, I went to see Belle & Sebastian at the Capitol Theater. Right before the show ended, someone pulled the fire alarm. I was very jumpy in those days, and I utterly panicked, and high-tailed it out of the building really quickly. Afterward, I saw someone I didn't know at the time, but would get to know better later. "That was scary," I said. "I thought maybe it was a terrorist attack."

"Well," she said, "this would be a good place to die."

I'm glad that terrorists haven't targeted the Capitol, but she was right. What a great place to spend your time, even up to the very end.

I'll second that...

Submitted by Chia on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 8:04am.

did you see Girls Rock!? wonderful show and thanks for sharing that story!

Also, that it's so walkable...the pier and the natural beauty of the mountains in the distance (the pier would be better with a park at the end)...the antique stores, used book stores and art galleries...lots of events, many of them free...the diversity of people on the sidewalks...food not bombs...the library...the closeness to state museums and capitol campus...

I'll probably think of a dozen more as soon as I post.

Don't eat meat, ride a bike...that's how you can brake global warming, the head of the United Nation's Nobel Prize-winning scientific panel on climate change said...

The State Theatre.

Submitted by The Original Yoda on Mon, 04/28/2008 - 11:12pm.

I love Shakespeare and the folks from Harlequin Productions usually give us a work or two from the bard, each year. Marcie and I caught the "Scottish play" in the fall and "Anthony and Cleopatra" is coming this October.

If you've never seen Shakespeare, ya gotta go at least once. They usually have a "pay what you can" night for each performance, in case you're broke.

I love downtown Olympia

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 7:21am.

I purposefully moved to Olympia not only to further my formal education but also to find a city that was a manageable size - walkable from one side to another - with all the benefits of city life without the overwhelm.

I love the water. Budd Bay, Deschutes river, even the fetid lake of doom. And especially the artesian well water.

I love the views of the Olympics and Rainier. Did I mention the water? I love that I can see bald eagles, kingfishers, herons, and other critters right downtown.

Nikki McClure stormwater hatch covers.

Sylvester Park.

Historic buildings.

Timberland library and plenty of book stores.

Food. Restaurant, farmer's market. Events, music, marches.

Art art art especially as documented by enpen and Ruby Re-Usable.

I miss the Olympia of 10-15

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 8:00am.

I miss the Olympia of 10-15 years ago, but what we have is still head and shoulders above every other town I've lived in (granted, they were all in Washington, but that's beside the point.)

When the wind blows just right on a rare hot day at the 5th Ave Bridge and the salt blows in the air it's easy to be content.

After a lifetime of some benefit to himself and inconvenience to others, Crowley passed away in 1947
Former Olympian Paul Shrug

I love Olympia Hardware

Submitted by olyruby on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 9:17am.

seriously, sometimes I need to purchase an art supply, and the folks at Oly hardware are always helpful. It is not overwhelming, and yet they have a whole lot of stuff available for a good price. If you haven't been there, you need to check it out and support the oldest hardware store in town.

I love my downtown art studio, which I can walk to from my south of south Capitol Oly home. I love the historic Capitol Theater Building, where it is located, and I love the Olympia Film Society, and hope they remain tenants (or become owners) of the beautiful Capitol Theater.

I love the Olympia Film Society Free wall.

I love the colorful alleys of downtown Olympia.

I love the fact that downtown Olympia is low-rise.

I love walking the board walk along Percival Landing.

I love having high tea at Nana Rosa's and dinner at Trinacria.

I love all of the artesian wells.

I love the Martin Apartments, even though I have never lived there.

I love the fact that our synagogue is downtown: the old one now is K, and the new one is just a few blocks away.

Downtown Olympia is not plagued by big box condos and generic chain stores but instead is filled with unique boutiques and family owned and run restaurants and other cool businesses and places; there is a little something for everyone. This is what makes downtown Olympia GREAT.

love, etc Ruby Re-Usable

I love Oly Supply, too!

Submitted by jlw on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 11:08am.

I don't know how to fix anything, but when I go in there, helpless and confused, they are SO NICE to me! And they have WOMEN working there, who are very knowledgeable and competent with regard to such matters, unlike yours truly. Plus, I love the KAOS discount. Also, if you go in the other door, near that sort of officey-area, they have some fascinating old photographs of a flooded Water Street.

Olympia Supply

Submitted by olyruby on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 11:19am.

THANKS for reminding me that it is Olympia SUPPLY, I just think of it as THE hardware store, so sometimes I forget the official name, but SUPPLY is what it really does!!

and if you go through the back door, you are in the garage/ware house of wonder....like, I wonder what all this stuff really is for (being more artsy than handy). love, etc Ruby

A few of my favorite things

Submitted by Guglielmo on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 10:54am.

Nice, safe little town to walk about
Pad Thai on every corner and coffee in between
Lots of small, independent businesses
OFS
Water: wells, the bay, and hidden creeks
The boardwalk
The falcons
The passion
Affordable housing
The old buildings
The new bridge
The fountain
The farmer’s market and the free bus
Its murals
The entrepreneurial spirit of its creative community
May Day
Its festivals and events…especially Lakefair!!
Walking past familiar people
The minor-league baseball stadium on the old port property

I was so afraid!

Submitted by jlw on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 8:22pm.

I was so afraid "The Passion" was going to link me to a picture of that stupid kissing statue! Did you notice no one listed that as a good thing about Oly?

A few more things

Submitted by jlw on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 11:14am.

I love the Artestian Wells. I love the Reef, now that the food is good. I love Buck's Fifth Avenue -- reasonably priced spices and flavorful conversation with one of Olympia's most colorful downtown business owners. I love the nettle tea at Traditions, and I love Traditions' gift shop -- I'm not crazy about shopping/consumption, but at Xmas time, when I'm obligated to buy gifts for people, I love shopping there, and supporting fair trade.

When did that happen?

Submitted by security_six on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 8:42pm.

It's been about 5 months since I've been in the Reef. Are their fries still those horrible grease sticks, and the burgers overdone?

Life's a reach, then you jibe.

shakes his head

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 10:36pm.

You furr'ners just don't understand.

After a lifetime of some benefit to himself and inconvenience to others, Crowley passed away in 1947
Former Olympian Paul Shrug

Care to elaborate

Submitted by security_six on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 10:42pm.

Old timer? :-)

Life's a reach, then you jibe.

In my day, the spoons were

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 10:53pm.

In my day, the spoons were greasy and so was the service. You went to the Reef to watch the street show through the window - or if you were old enough you went in the bar and tried not to trip over the people passed out on the floor.

And that's the way we liked it! There was no Portobello Mushroom burger on the menu - the coffee tasted like they reused the filter and grounds all day long - and that's the way we liked it.

However, I'm perfectly fine with the fact that we don't need to get Gamma Globulin shots to prepare for visiting the Reef's restroom anymore.

After a lifetime of some benefit to himself and inconvenience to others, Crowley passed away in 1947
Former Olympian Paul Shrug

Ahh....

Submitted by security_six on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 10:55pm.

It's become too civilized :-) I think it's a likeable enough dive. So-so food limited service (I like that though) and a weird clientel. I like poppinging in for breakfast sometimes....

Life's a reach, then you jibe.

For service I'll give a

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 10:58pm.

For service I'll give a well-deserved shout-out to Ryan who's always been very conscientious of what he's doing. He's always pleasant to chat with.

There've been many others who were good or mostly-good - and of course there have been some really crappy employees who only got a pittance of a tip from me, and they usually didn't last long so it's a moot point.

After a lifetime of some benefit to himself and inconvenience to others, Crowley passed away in 1947
Former Olympian Paul Shrug

The Reef

Submitted by enpen on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 11:19pm.

Yeah, I like the Reef. It's an organic part of downtown Olympia. It survived the abandonment of downtown.

"In principle, I am an anarchist. Kurt Vonnegut once said he was an agnostic who respects Jesus Christ. I am an anarchist who loves democracy." - Kenzaburo Oe

The Reef isn't for everybody, I guess

Submitted by jlw on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 7:35am.

I like that Olympia is so

Submitted by Chia on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 11:47am.

I like that Olympia is so close to both Seattle and Portland!

Don't eat meat, ride a bike...that's how you can brake global warming, the head of the United Nation's Nobel Prize-winning scientific panel on climate change said...

If I were a weeper...

Submitted by Meta Hogan on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 12:09pm.

(which I'm not, but if I were)

...I would mist up every time I'm out at Artswalk or Lakefair, or when I hear people talk about what the artesian well means to them, or see flyers for shows where I know the band members, or talk with business owners about their commitment to downtown, or when I get to be present when bureaucrats and activists get together to make something beautiful happen, or when I see people be nice to strangers for no reason.

Good thing I don't cry, eh? I'd never stop.

BIG smile!

Submitted by chad360 on Tue, 04/29/2008 - 1:41pm.

Thanks for sharing folks!

I like the coffee roasters and book stores =)

I like the OPD - they're

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 8:14am.

I like the OPD - they're great people who have to put up with a lot of malcontents who represent what I refrained from putting in the "hate about Olympia" thread.

It's only criminals who hate the police anyway.

Being able to walk to most

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 12:10pm.

Being able to walk to most locations

Danger room comics....'nuff said

Lemongrass, if you haven't eaten there yet, go.

milkshakes at the reef, I'm not sure why, but they are awesome. Plus there's that cute goth'ish waitress, but yeah, anyway.

I've complained about drivers crowding pedestrian in crosswalks

Submitted by Laurian on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 4:26pm.

but for everyone of them are 5 other drivers who stop for pedestrians waiting to use the crosswalk. That is one thing I love about Olympia.

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