Please swing by einmaleins Friday at 6 pm to check out the 5 benches that local artists have re-created from plain old city benches. The timing is perfect as it also happens to be the August 1st Friday, so when you're done appreciating the benches you can wander about downtown enjoying all sorts of other art, food and shops.

Olympia prides itself, as it should, on being an artistic community.  Downtown merchants pride themselves on being independent, local, family-run and eccletic.  Being independent can sometimes also make it difficult to be patrons to the artistic community as our coffers can run quite low.  That's why this bench program is so important.  Through Dave Rauh's (MIXX 96) hard work, and inspiration and support from Jeff Kingsbury and Stephanie Johnson, the PBIA was able to ACTUALLY PAY artists for their work.  And cover the cost of supplies.  Building these connections between two groups so invested in our community can only translate into greatness for all.  The PBIA advisory board looks forward to being able to continue this program and eventually have all the downtown benches reflecting the artistic prowess of our city.

Please come by and support the artists and the business people who are working so hard to keep making downtown more colorful and dynamic.