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When we were kids, Bach was the bane of our existence. During childhood piano lessons, time spent struggling with the German composer's Inventions 1 through 5 forced us to miss out on crucial bike-riding time and numerous episodes of Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. But if any orchestra can help
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Children are stubborn creatures. Molding them into the clean, safe-driving, classical-music-loving model citizens you dream of them being is just not as simple as it should be. It takes creativity and an ability to be extremely entertaining for long periods of time. You should share your burden. Take Junior and
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As a popular poet once noted, "Makin' your way / in the world today / takes everything you've got." Yes, it's back to the coalmines, tired from Tacoma Beer Week. You need something to work off that beer, and MLKBallet has your back. MLKBallet Contemporary Master Class with Spectrum Dance
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We've all been there. You met her when she was a young teen, then you two nurtured a growing romance over the next several years despite the objections and outright bitter legal battles with her father. When you finally married, you composed a great deal of romantic lieder describing your
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Christian Doyle was voted Best Actor in the 2014 Best of Olympia issue. "You may remember that show for his lovable impersonation of Charlie Chaplin, easily as dead-on as any Little Tramp at Universal Studios. More recently, he's distinguished himself as a fine rock wailer, fight choreographer, and ad-lib impresario,"
Stage
I still vividly remember the night I first saw Thomas "Tennessee" Williams' The Glass Menagerie. The show concluded in a mother-daughter tableau so gorgeous, so inarguably perfect and right, that it sealed the deal on my adult fascination with theater. I'm not saying Williams makes it easy for directors. He
News Front
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
Style
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
