Dine at The Reef Reimagined Downtown

Photos courtesy of the Reef's Instagram page.

Taking over an iconic location with a well-known product and devoted following is stressful. In downtown Olympia, the closing of King Solomon’s Reef and subsequent June 2024 opening of The Reef Restaurant meant big shoes to fill for owners Sam Dinsmore, Ryan Perkins, Noah Murry, and Jiana Hook. But after only a few short weeks, they’ve earned early, explosive success and rave reviews for their food, atmosphere and unique Olympia charm.

Rededication of Iconic Olympia Mural: The Great Wave off Kanagawa

On Sunday, September 8, the mural "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" will be rededicated to honor the contributions and perseverance of the Japanese community in the greater Olympia area and the restoration of this iconic downtown mural, restored by artist Austin Davis.

The event, held at the Childhood's End Gallery on the west wall and parking lot, will feature speakers, refreshments, and a commemorative program. This rededication serves as a poignant reminder of the rich cultural heritage and enduring spirit of Japanese Americans in the region.

Location: Childhood's End Gallery (West wall & parking lot)

Time: 1:00 pm

Date: Sunday, September 8

Gardner's Restaurant: Olympia's Premier Spot for Intimate Dining and Pacific Northwest Cuisine

Gardner's Restaurant in Olympia is a beloved dining destination known for its intimate atmosphere and exceptional cuisine. Nestled in a charming historic building, Gardner's offers a menu that features fresh, locally sourced ingredients, with an emphasis on Pacific Northwest seafood and fine wines. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or enjoying a romantic evening out, Gardner's provides a warm, inviting setting with attentive service and a focus on culinary excellence.

Explore the next episode of our LoveOly video series by clicking the image above! A big shoutout to First+Main Films for their fantastic collaboration on this project!

Celebrate Lula Fest September 28

We hope to see you at the second annual Lula Fest to explore a vibrant celebration of Hispanic and Latinx heritage and cultures through live music, vendors, food trucks, custom cars, and more. It’s family-friendly and free.

The festivities run from 3 to 9 pm at Isthmus Park on Saturday, September 28, 2024.

That day falls firmly in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month, spanning September 15 to October 15. Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the contributions, histories, and cultures of Hispanic and Latinx communities within our nation. It’s been officially recognized and honored across the United States since 1988.

Find more information, see the City of Olympia website.

Join Us for the Fall 2024 Downtown CleanUp!

Help keep our community beautiful at the Downtown CleanUp on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 9 am to 11 am. It's a great way to give back and connect with fellow community members. If you're interested in participating, please sign up by submitting this form. We look forward to seeing you there!

Fall 2024 Art in Storefronts Exhibit: “Solidarity”

Olympia Artspace Alliance (OAA) announces “Solidarity” – a new exhibition of artworks by local artists that will be on view now through November 2024, in the windows of the Goldberg Building at Capitol Way at Fourth Avenue, downtown Olympia.

The exhibition features work from Eevee Davis, Elizabeth Mauro, Cooper Carras and Allen Burgess.

The Olympia Artspace Alliance invited Olympia-area artists to contribute an art installation that speaks to the importance of standing together as a community, nation and global society and explores and inspires unity, support and solidarity.

Each window in the Goldberg Building features an artist:

Eevee Davis, “Seeds from the Sea”
Elizabeth Mauro, “reckoning”
Cooper Carras, “Lifting up Olympia”
Allen Burgess, “Their Work Was as It Were, a Wheel Within a Wheel”

You're Invited! Artist Mingle on September 18

To support the Olympia creative community, the Olympia Artspace Alliance (OAA) is collecting information to create a "point in time" record of the Olympia Creative District in 2024. Take the survey online .

The OAA's goal is to utilize the Creative District designation to facilitate collaborative networks for resource sharing, promote funding opportunities for artists and creative enterprises, and understand the space needs of creatives and barriers to accessing space within the Creative District.

All survey participants are eligible to receive a free entry to a raffle with the opportunity to win art and other prizes produced by local artists and makers.

OAA will host the upcoming gathering (open to the public!) and raffle to share survey findings, host space for connections among the creative community, enjoy food and drinks, and draw raffle prizes created by local artists. There will also be a presentation on the Creative District by Dave Hoekje and Drew Garza.

Creative District Artist Mingle and Art Raffle:

Location: Ilk Lodge, 515 Jefferson St SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Date: Wednesday, September 18
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Calling all muralists!

The Olympia Artspace Alliance and the City of Olympia Parking and Business Improvement Area are funding the design and installation of two new murals in downtown Olympia.

The 2024 mural program will provide a $6500 stipend for selected projects. This opportunity is open to all artists and artist teams in Thurston County.

Applications are due September 3, 2024. Apply online .

About this Newsletter

The News of the Week in Downtown Olympia is a newsletter created by the Olympia Downtown Alliance and is a summary of happenings Downtown.

If you have news related to downtown you'd like included, please email marketing@downtownolympia.org. Preference is given to Olympia Downtown Alliance members. If we do not share it here, chances are we'll share it on our Facebook or Instagram pages. We do reserve the right to use our discretion on what we share.

The deadline is Friday at 5 pm for inclusion in the next week's newsletter.

If you know of anyone who would like to receive the News of the Week in Downtown Olympia, please have them sign-up at the bottom of our home page here: downtownolympia.org.