Do you remember reading The Adventures of Pinocchio as a child? It goes like this: The woodworker Geppetto sees a falling star and wishes the puppet he just finished could become a real boy. During the night, the Blue Fairy grants Geppetto’s wish and asks Jiminy Cricket to serve as the wooden boy’s conscience. Basically […]

From a young age, Manfred Scharmach learned about work ethic and building a business from his father, Werner. “I started out playing around the repair shop on Saturdays,” recalled Scharmach. “As I got older, he put me to work with a broom and later washing cars.” The elder Scharmach, who was reported to be the […]

For almost 50 years, Desco Audio and Video has been a one-stop shop for high-performance audio and video. Based in Olympia and serving Tacoma, Gig Harbor and surrounding areas, DescoAV provides custom home entertainment and smart home solutions. DescoAV is a second-generation family-owned business. In 1969, two friends, Dick Scott and Gene DeRousie, discovered a […]

What began as bringing kids to matinee performances at Federal Way Performing Arts and Events Center turned into a program dedicated to children engaging in art, called Arts 4 Youth. “School-day matinées for students are quite common in performing arts centers,” says Kate Dorr, arts education coordinator for PAEC. “So it was a natural fit. […]

Philanthropy isn’t as simple as monetary donations. At the core of philanthropic acts is a desire to improve the human condition—to make the world a better place. In Thurston and Mason counties, you need look no further than Olympia Federal Savings to find a local business with a philanthropic heart. Oly Fed, as the financial […]

Summer Splash guests mixed and mingled throughout the night at the Hands On Children’s Museum. They enjoyed signature cocktails and gourmet bites while bidding on exceptional silent auction packages. They played like a kid again inside the museum, silk-screening koozies and T-shirts, tasting liquid nitrogen ice cream, and capturing memories in the photo booth. And […]

The Washington Center for the Performing Arts had a record 232 guests for its third annual Center Stage Awards & Gala. Guests enjoyed a staged street-side cocktail hour with live music in anticipation of the big reveal inside the Main Stage. One of the many highlights of the evening were the awards for Excellence in […]

In today’s world, where the price of a bachelor’s degree can rival that of a single-family home, having a 529 college savings plan can offer young parents peace of mind. It’s easy to enroll, either on your own or through a financial advisor, and once you’re signed up you can set up automatic contributions to […]

A new way to celebrate the holidays is gliding into Thurston County this winter. Oly on Ice will open on Friday, November 16 in downtown Olympia at Isthmus Park. The entire family can come out to enjoy ice skating at Olympia’s first-ever seasonal ice rink. Skaters of all ages will enjoy the warm glow of […]

As the holiday season gets under way, families are often looking for fun experiences that can become annual traditions. Going to see The Tacoma City Ballet perform The Nutcracker & The Tale of The Hard Nut can be a great way to build enthusiasm for the holidays, while also introducing children to the joys of a live […]

Strolling along Fifth Avenue in downtown Olympia, you come upon a unique sight: a magnolia tree nestled within a beautiful, airy atrium inside a building. This 1875 building has a storied history. It was once home to a mercantile store, followed by numerous nightclubs. And it has a distinct claim to fame from the more […]

Arguably one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements, Michelangelo’s frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome are timeless masterpieces. Whether you have seen them in person or not, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition will allow you to immerse yourself in the art from a new perspective in an innovative and unique way. The […]

The Olympia Brewery may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of banking, but O Bee Credit Union wants to change that. A leader in providing innovative financial solutions for more than 60 years, O Bee announced the opening of its newest branch, a unique blend of brewpub and financial […]

With an identity unrivaled by any other city in the region, Olympia is growing as a place of economic, social and development opportunity. Joining this vibrant community is Percival Condominiums, a seven-story development built with its residents—and Olympia’s character—in mind. Percival Condominiums will be downtown Olympia’s first upscale condominium community. Located in the heart of […]

In the fall of 1988, the Puyallup area was treated to a new hub for shopping when South Hill Mall opened its doors. No longer was it necessary to make the trek to Tacoma to find department store favorites of the time, like Mervyn’s, Lamonts and Target, along with numerous smaller retailers and popular restaurants. […]

Performance offerings in the South Sound this fall include a huge variety of acts. There’s theater, dance, comedy, music and even some acrobats and a one-of-a-kind clown to keep you on your toes. Come out and support your local arts organizations and enjoy the shows. For a night at the theater, September will see the […]

LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma hosted the Grit City Motor Show Cruise-In with 600 attendees. This free community event featured all makes and models of classic cars. Live interviews with Mark Greene of Cars Yeah was a main feature at the event. Food and beverages were offered by delicious food trucks & Thirst […]

420 community-minded guests enjoyed 13 different wineries and—for the first time—two breweries offered tastings to guests. Catering was provided by X Group and dinner was paired with 2011 Corliss Red Wine. During the reception hour, The Happy Sinners performed followed by Baking with Julia for the after party. Special guests included emcees Chris Egan of […]

Rock the Foundation is MultiCare Health Foundation’s annual party with a purpose. That purpose is supporting health and healing for South Sound families. This September, partygoers will be swingin’ the night away with a headlining performance from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Event proceeds and fund-a-need donations from Rock the Foundation 2018 will benefit the MultiCare […]

It could be that some superheroes come into being from a toxic spider bite, but other superheroes are just born into their roles as descendants of “do-gooders” before them. That’s the case with Heidi Duncan of Duncan and Associates Insurance Brokers, based in Olympia. From the time she was young, little Heidi dreamed of following […]