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The sound of just over 30 pairs of boots crunching wet gravel surrounded me. The boots belonged to Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. At times, cold rain fell straight down; at other times it slanted with the wind. Our way was marked by
People Rule
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Drenched in ice-cold, pouring rain and shivering, Spc. Gilbert Venzor thought he just might break. After being soaked and muddy for nearly 18 hours, he had to remind himself just how much he wanted his silver spurs. Venzor and other soldiers of 2nd
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When spring finally rolls around, servicemembers are being invited to Evergreen Speedway to watch the Air Force tribute car, owned and operated by Boyatt Racing, speed around the track and compete in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series. "We run the super late model now - which means more motor, more
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The Legislative Building, on the grounds of the State Capitol in Olympia, is reason enough to visit the area. It's a majestic historical sight to behold day or night. And though downtown Olympia is the more walkable of business districts, the Capitol district homes several hot spots among the serene,
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Best biggest little venue PIG BAR The little wood-wall bar tucked off the side of Dickerson's BBQ has picked up some musical steam this year thanks to booker/bartender and this year's best music booker winner Andy Geertsen. When we asked what his favorite shows of 2013 were, he had a hard time
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Interviewing Fruit Juice, voted the Best New Band in Olympia by you lovely readers, was the best band interview I've done in a long time. It may have been the bottle of wine I finished prior, or it may have been the band's own intake of whiskey and beer, but
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The Weekly Volcano would like to thank all those who took the time to vote in the best of Olympia 2014 Readers' Poll. You are the best. Best band: Full Moon Radio Best new band: Fruit Juice Best indie rock band: Full Moon Radio Best metal band: Christian Mistress Best punk band: GAG Best jazz band:
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Best man around town MORGAN PICTON I'd seen Picton perform as an actor several times, in shows for Animal Fire and Olympia Family Theater, then worked with him in June of 2012. That was the summer he cracked wise as the Gravedigger in Animal Fire's Hamlet. He had an easy, authoritative knack
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I'm pleased to see Mr. Doyle breaking out as your choice for Olympia's Best Actor this year, as he's accumulated one of the most consistently solid resumés in town. I nominated him for Best Actor myself for his work in Harlequin Productions' Stardust Serenade (2011). You may remember that show
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The Weekly Volcano would like to thank all those who took the time to vote in the best of Olympia 2014 Readers' Poll. You are the best. Best local filmmaker: Kanako Wynkoop Best movie theater: Capitol Theater Most creative person: Pug Bujeaud Best theater company: Harlequin Productions Best dance company: Ballet Northwest Best performance space: Washington
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Best breakfast if you're feeling relaxed SAGE'S BRUNCH HOUSE We have waited at Sage's Brunch House for hours. Literally. To be fair, though, that was on the day of The Evergreen State College graduation. The service is often very good, but there are times when it, too, demands that the customer have
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Bearded Lady Food Co. is not your typical eatery: It's open only three days a week, and its evening menu has just one section: desserts. People like it that way: Our readers again chose the restaurant Olympia's best place for desserts. You can get such staples as cupcakes, ice cream and cookies
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The Weekly Volcano would like to thank all those who took the time to vote in the best of Olympia 2014 Readers' Poll. You are the best. Best restaurant: Quality Burrito Best restaurant server (waiter/waitress): Jess at King Solomon's Reef Best bartender: Whitney Lee at 4th Ave Tavern Best happy hour: The Brotherhood Lounge Best
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Best action scene FERRARI JOYRIDE Readers of a certain age (mine) will remember the arcade game Spy Hunter, in which an operative driving a "G-6155 Interceptor," a fictitious sports car that looked an awful lot like a Ferrari, careened down a road at insanely high speeds to the tune of Henry Mancini's
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The Weekly Volcano would like to thank all those who took the time to vote in the best of Olympia 2014 Readers' Poll. You are the best. Best politician: Darren Mills Best politician you love to hate: Karen Rogers Best Thurston County nonprofit organization: GRuB Best local hero: Rob Richards Best Thurston County based website:
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The Weekly Volcano would like to thank all those who took the time to vote in the best of Olympia 2014 Readers' Poll. You are the best. Best shoe store: Hot Toddy Best record store: Rainy Day Records Best grocery store: Olympia Food Co-op Best tattoo shop: Lit Fuse Best hair salon: Jamie Lee &
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"Our role isn't to create popular bands," says Johnson, "we're just here to document them." The founder of K Records, Calvin Johnson, who dug into hearts with his bands Beat Happening, Halo Benders and Dub Narcotic Sound System, who played records on Evergreen's independent radio station, KAOS, when he was just
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The Alpine Experience is dead; long live Centro. The longtime outfitter, which again was our readers' pick for best outdoor gear store, is being born again, evolving into something that's not exactly an outdoor gear store. Rather, think of it as an urban adventure marketplace, including The Bike Stand, Olympia Footwear Co.,
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Best retail combo PSYCHIC SISTER Just as restaurants offer you fries with your burger or rice with your curry, retail shops tend to offer combinations of goods: Gift shops have cards; shoe stores have socks. But those classic combinations are nothing compared to the offerings at Psychic Sister. Sure, the vintage clothing
Critics' Picks
[BEDROOM POP] + FRI, MARCH 7 Near as I can tell from what little music is available of Coma Figura, one might describe them as a sort of Foxygen or Titus Andronicus for the bedroom pop set. These are bands that mash together influences and jumble them up into something that