What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Sunday, March 26
Temple Beth Hatfiloh’s Blintzapalooza: Blintzapalooza will be back in a limited way from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 26 in the Temple Beth Hatfiloh parking lot at the corner Eighth and Franklin in downtown Olympia. The temple will be selling frozen bagged blintzes; cost is $25 for a dozen, $5 for fruit topping, and $1 for hot coffee to go. Just show up (drive, walk, bike, bus, pogo stick) and purchase on site — no need to order ahead. First come, first served. Total net proceeds go to support Interfaith Works and Quixote Village. This year the temple will sponsor at least one and maybe more tiny homes in Quixote Village Olympia; each sponsorship of $1,500 helps maintain one home for a year.
Discussion of Mount St. Helens 40 Years Later: As part of Humanities Washington’s free lecture series, Seattle writer and biologist Eric Wagner will discuss “After the Blast: Mount St. Helens 40 Years Later” at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at the Harstine Island Community Club, 3371 E Harstine Island Road N., Shelton. Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, killing 57 people and causing hundreds of square miles of destruction. Ecologists have since spent decades studying life’s resilience in the face of seemingly total devastation. Wagner explores not just the surprising ways plants and animals survived the eruption, but also the complex roles that people have played.
Ray Charles tribute performance: On Sunday afternoon, get a dose of Ray Charles’ sweet soul music when pianist and vocalist Kenny Brawner leads his 11-piece orchestra and three vocalists (a la the Raelettees) in performing the American icon’s most popular hits. The tribute show, called Ray on My Mind, starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $63 to $25.
The Esoterics return to Olympia: The Seattle chamber chorus that performs new and contemporary a cappella choral music from around the world is returning to Olympia to perform its new show, “Villains and Heroes, Messiahs false and true,” at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 19th and Capitol Way, Olympia. The concert begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, and includes two new choral compositions by Los Angeles composer Rex Isenberg. Tickets are $20, or $15 for students and seniors, and can be purchased in advance on The Esoterics’ website. Or tickets may be purchased at the door for $25 general admission or $20 for students and seniors.
Fellow Pynins folk duo at New Traditions: The Fellow Pynins classify themselves as a New Old World Folk Duo. Bob Boilen of NPR says they create “folk music with a hefty touch of whimsy” as they wield claw-hammer banjo, Irish bouzouki, mandolin, and acoustic guitar. They will perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at New Traditions, 300 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia. Admission is $28, or $18 for those with low income.
Monday, March 27
Leonor R. Fuller Gallery hosts Juror’s Invitational Exhibition: The Juror’s Invitational Exhibition returns to the Leonor R. Fuller Gallery at South Puget Sound Community College from March 27 to April 28. The opening reception will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 31. Award-winning artists from the 2022 Southwest Washington Juried Exhibition, selected by juror Erin Dengerink, have been invited back to showcase new work in this group exhibition. Participating artists include Sandra Bocas, Kyle Bradford, Allyson Essen, Becky Frehse, Becky Knold, Jennifer Lauer, and Charles Pitz. Admission to the gallery inside the Minnaert Center for the Arts is free; hours are noon to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Coming Home concert by the Olympia Peace Choir: Join the Olympia Peace Choir for a night of choral music at 8 p.m. Monday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia. This is a free, all-ages event. Masks and vaccination cards are required.
Wednesday, March 29
Regional Fire Authority forum: Voters in Olympia and Tumwater are being asked to vote in a special election April 25 to decide whether to merge their fire departments and create a new regional fire authority (RFA) with its own elected board and taxing authority. To help voters to decide, the League of Women Voters of Thurston County and the JOLT News Organization are sponsoring a Voter Information Forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Thurston Community Media, 440 Yauger Way SW, Olympia. Speakers both for and against Proposition 1 will present and answer questions. The event is free; up to 80 tickets are available for those who would attend in person at TCMedia, which is also broadcasting the event live on Comcast Cable channel 77 and on demand on its website. Speakers presenting for the Vote Yes campaign include Lt. Steven Busz from Olympia Fire Department and Olympia City Council member Lisa Parshley. Speakers who will present their case against the proposition include former Olympia Mayor Bob Jacobs and former Olympia City Council member Pat Cole.
Friday, March 31
Trans Day of Visibility Youth March: Pizza Klatch, Capital City Pride and the YWCA of Olympia are hosting this event to celebrate trans youth on Trans Day of Visibility. Gather at Heritage Park on the east shore of Capitol Lake for sign creation at 3:30 p.m. Friday, then at 4:30 p.m. the group will walk from Heritage Park to the Capitol Building where the group will hear from various speakers.
“Stone Soup,” FESS’ 2023 Seeds of Hope fundraiser: The annual Family Education and Support Services’ (FESS) fundraiser, the Seeds of Hope soup luncheon, will be March 31 to raise money to aid local families struggling to meet basic needs. The luncheon will be from noon to 1 p.m. at the Lacey campus of South Puget Sound Community College, 4220 Sixth Ave SE. This year’s theme will be “Stone Soup,” based on the folk tale in which a hungry traveler boils a stone in a soup pot, then convinces each citizen in a poor village to add a small amount of food to make a meal that feeds them all. Among the speakers will be Thurston County Superior Court Judge Sharonda D. Amamilo. Tickets for the luncheon are $20 and can be purchased by clicking “events” on the FESS website. For an additional cost, attendees can have their meal served in bowls and plates painted by staff, community members and FESS program participants. The luncheon also will kick off FESS’ observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month. All are welcome to gather at 3 p.m. with FESS at the Capitol Campus fountain to plant hundreds of blue pinwheels to launch FESS’ Pinwheels of Hope Campaign. Through April, FESS will sell pinwheels on its website. For more information, call FESS at 360-754-7629.
Saturday, April 1
Free tree seedling giveaway: Hurry down to Huntamer Park for the city of Lacey’s annual Arbor Day seedling giveaway from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. There will be six types of bare-root, native trees to pick from (while supplies last): Pacific Crabapple, Red Osier Dogwood, Black Cottonwood, Mackenzie Willow, Hooker Willow., and Red Elderberry Crown. The seedlings are up to 3 feet tall. Limit is one per person, so bring your family along. For more information, call Linsey Fields at 360-486-8707. Huntamer Park is a 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey.
The Life of a Salmon: Have you ever wondered what life would be like as a salmon? Join the National Wildlife Federation to learn more about this fish. Discover how salmon survive with a life cycle activity and make a salmon hat to take home. Activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free.
Sunday, April 2
Silent Movie matinee offers A Buster Keaton Collection: Experience silent films the way they were meant to be seen and heard with this celebration of the centennial year of these classic Buster Keaton films: “The Balloonatic,” “The Love Nest,” and “Our Hospitality.” The Washington Center for Performing Arts’ house organist Dennis James brings the silent era to life performing on the theater’s Andy Crow Wurlitzer Organ. The films will be screened starting at 2 p.m. at the center, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $26 and $21, plus a service fee.
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