Hahaha Josh Blue. Mmm strawberries. Where to find fun, food around Olympia this weekend

Molly Gilmore
·2 min read

The laughs are Greener

Famed standup comedian and graduate of The Evergreen State College Josh Blue is back to speak at the college’s commencement, and while he’s here, Blue is doing a show. Blue, who won NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” in 2006, has appeared on “The Tonight Show” and Comedy Central and at clubs around the world. But one of his favorite gigs was his 2011 speech at The Evergreen State College commencement, he said in a 2021 interview with Alexandra Nicklas of Different & Able. Blue was born with cerebral palsy, and while his jokes aren’t all about living with a disability, he does have plenty to say about it. Sample from a 2021 set on “America’s Got Talent”: “Whenever people are being mean about disability, what I think they don’t realize is not only are we the largest minority group, but we’re also the only minority group that you can join at any time.” His Olympia show is at 8 p.m. Friday, June 16, at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Doors open at 7 p.m., and tickets are $25-$30.

Strawberries will be plentiful Saturday at the Strawberry Festival at the South Bay Grange.
Strawberries will be plentiful Saturday at the Strawberry Festival at the South Bay Grange.

Berry time

Among the sweet signs of summer is the Strawberry Festival, happening Saturday, June 17, at the South Bay Grange. The festival includes music, activities for kids, a 5K run/walk and, of course, lots and lots of ripe, juicy strawberries from Spooner Berry Farms. Strawberry shortcake is the centerpiece of the festival, but you can also get berries by the flat to take home. The 87th festival happens from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the grange, 3918 Sleater-Kinney Road NE, Olympia. Admission is free, but donations to the South Bay Grange renovation fund are welcome.

Kathy Gore-Fuss’s “Wound Wood” includes forest garlands made with help from artistic volunteers.
Kathy Gore-Fuss’s “Wound Wood” includes forest garlands made with help from artistic volunteers.

Out of the woods

Olympia painter Kathy Gore-Fuss has become well known throughout the region for her evocative installations using natural materials. Over the past three years, she’s been decking yards, parks and galleries with floral garlands, turning them into places to pause, reflect and marvel at evanescent beauty. Her latest creation, “Wound Wood,” takes inspiration from the forest. The installation includes a replica of a stump she found in Squaxin Park and garlands of leaves, seeds and other forest-floor finds. “Trees are incredible survivors in spite of the challenges from pests of all kinds, including us,” Gore-Fuss wrote in her studio newsletter. “They are vulnerable to injuries and have their own unique system of healing.” “Wound Wood” — and works by Jon Bradham, Chuck Gumperl, Christopher Mathie, Barbara Osborne and Loralin Toney — will be on view June 16 through July 30 at Childhood’s End gallery, 222 Fourth Ave. W., Olympia. There’s an opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 16.

It’s a big weekend for freelance writer Molly Gilmore, who is a big fan of strawberries, Josh Blue and Kathy Gore-Fuss. She talks about what’s happening in Olympia and beyond with 95.3 KGY-FM’s Michael Stein from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays.