From Janine Gates via email:

...I attended the Triway Enterprises "open house" last night at Tumwater Lodge, met Jeannette Hawkins and Mr. Tri Vo, the project developer, the project designer, and others. A Triway-hired limo driver enthusiastically insisted on taking me the short distance from the overflow parking lot up to the lodge. That about says who was really invited to this "open" house. I walked back to my car.

I asked Jeannette who was invited. She said the Chambers, the Olympia Downtown Association, the Westside Business Association, the 2012 group, etc." By only inviting such an elite sliver of the community, an opportunity for real dialogue was missed. I asked when she was going to invite the local environmental community to participate in the discussion and she laughed, saying that she had lots of time, "until September." Mostly likely, she had no intention of reaching out so I asked if she would be interested in coming to a forum that SPEECH would sponsor and she said yes, she would welcome the opportunity. So, SPEECH will be sponsoring a forum, date and time to be announced soon, stay tuned.

Do these people really want to work and play with us? I don't think so. I've lived here 25 years and I still don't personally don't know anyone who could afford to buy one of those condos, which they said would retail for $800,000 - $1 million each. They said there is a pent-up demand for view condos at that price. Build it and they will come seems to be their philosophy. But at what price are we wiling to sell the soul of our community - our views, our way of life, our sense of community spirit?

It's time again for First Friday in Downtown.

Just a week after Arts Walk, we barely cured the post-arts-walk-hang-over, and we're already preparing the next party in town.

Everyday Olympia has the details on participating locations.

Featured at einmaleins will be Hatched Egg'rs
This one is for the families. (Read: Please bring your Kids!!)
You gotta come and see Scott Anderson’s “Stuff for Kid’s Rooms”.
It’s fantastic and now available at einmaleins.

Of course, the usual refreshments and fun will be provided.

See ya in Downtown.

mathias

einmaleins

A friendly gnome by the name of Olim just “walked in” to visit us at einmaleins.

He’s from Gnomediaries.com and comes with a special message about climate change and how you can do your part in making sure this planet stays as beautiful as it was intended to be!

Come and stop by tomorrow during First Friday and say Hi to him!

And visit www.everydayolympia.com for more info. 

mathias & Olim - the Gnome.

einmaleins

Just a few thoughts about this:

1. I know Debra Vinsel, Joe Hyer and Jeff Kingsbury (Kingsbury less so), but I was embarrassed by this video. It smacks of propaganda and boosterism. At certain points it was trying to be cute, but I was turned off by the "lets mention one more good thing" about downtown feel to it.

2. It would have been better to spend a few hours just talking to people about downtown, unscripted. Even if this video wasn't scripted, it sure felt like it. The blooper reel at the end reminded me that they had practiced their lines.

3. I know I harp about this alot, but the benefit of blogging and engaging in comment threads is that you avoid this kind of shmaltzy-staged stuff. Just talking on a blog (not this blog probably) in a direct way is more meaningful that this video.

Things I saw over the weekend... More here

Snapped some shots yesterday. Not unlike these:

More on my Flickr site.

Also, some of my more polished pics are on display at the Christian Science Reading Room near the corner of 4th and Washington. Come have a look and say hello, if you're downtown before the procession.

Locals, Internet Savvy geeks, world peace lovers, art fanatics - all of you!!

einmaleins has a very special announcement for you:

Olympia Artswalk 2008 will go Live, Worldwide, on the Web.

And you can be a part of this!!!

We installed a live web-cam at einmaleins, which will send Arts Walk across the wires all around the world!

How fantastic is that??

Here is the link for a preview:

http://www.everydayolympia.com/events/artswalk/index.php

So, tell your folks and friends from near and far. Logon yourself if you can't make it downtown this weekend or if just want to see why Arts Walk is Olympia's biggest party of the year!

And, if you want to let out that inner actor/actress in you, swing by einmaleins ans say Hallo to the world!

The camera awaits you!!

mathias

einmaleins

Last night I attended the quarterly membership meeting of the ODA. The theme was Olympia Goes Green in celebration of Earth Day. It was yet another zero waste event (something we're getting pretty good at downtown) and had quite a decent turnout. Several businesses were highlighted, including 510 Interiors, Eco-Lux, Radiance, Creative Office Supply and Casual Tee. 510 has made quite a name for themselves already, being honored at the Economic Development Coucil's annual business awards luncheon. Eco-Lux is on Washington St. had sells not only amazing organic body care products but also fantastic chocolate. Creative Office is a long-time downtown business and Casual Tee provides a highly needed service in a town like ours that prints more shirts per capita than we really need--environmentally (and economically!) friendly screen printing.

Read more...

The PBIA will be holding a regular business meeting tomorrow, Thursday April 10th from 6-8pm in the MIXX 96 conference room (located on Washington St. betwen 4th and State). There is time made for public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Ratepayers as well as other interested parties are encouraged to attend. Download the agenda here (doc). (Inconsequential note: I won't be there to chair because I'm going to see CHRIS ROCK. I won't tell you where my seats are cause ya'll will be jealous. The multi-talented Terry Z. from Espresso Parts will be filling in.)