What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Sunday, Feb. 2
Black History Month museum and events at New Life Baptist Church: Black History Month will again be celebrated throughout February by the New Life Baptist Church in Lacey. Activities are planned for the entire month with the highlight being a Pop-Up Black History Museum that will be open every Saturday of the month from 1-4 p.m. for the public to tour, as well as on each Sunday following church service from noon to 1 p.m. Middle and high school students will have an opportunity to tour the Museum as part of field trips on select dates during the week in partnership with local school districts. A Genealogy Workshop is being held on Saturday, Feb. 8, in partnership with the Latter Day Saints of Olympia and the Family Research Center to help Black people learn how to trace their ancestry as part of personal family histories. Age-specific activities for youth will be provided following church service each Sunday. The month’s activities culminate with a Celebration Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 23, following church service. For more information, contact Dr. Thelma Jackson, New Life Baptist Church Community Engagement Ministry, at 360-259-7304 or thelmajackson@comcast.net. New Life Baptist Church is at 7838 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey.
International Guitar Night: This touring show is back in Olympia with three new guitarists making their US debuts plus Olympia favorite Lulo Reinhardt of Germany with his Latin swing music. The new guitarists are Alexandra Whittingham of Great Britain, a classical guitarist; Niwel Tsumbu of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who has a Congolese percussive style, and Soenke Meinen of Germany, a leading contemporary fingerstyle guitarist. The show starts at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $29 to $69, plus a service fee.
Monday, Feb. 3
Friendly Flower Garden Club meeting: Gardeners are invited to join the club meeting at 9:30 am Monday at the Mountain Greens Mobile Home Clubhouse, 5280 55th Lane SE, Lacey, off of Yelm Highway for meet and greet, a brief meeting and a bring-your-own lunch with beverages and dessert provided. There will be two programs: Steve Smith, president of Pacific Northwest Peony Society, will cover the different types of peonies and share how to plant and care for them; and Sue White will lead a hands-on tile art workshop using alcohol inks to create designs on ceramic tiles. All supplies will be provided. Visitors are welcome; this is a free program. Call 360-438-0232 for more information.
Wedneday, Feb. 5
National touring company presents Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen”: The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is presenting two performances of the groundbreaking musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, and Thursday, Feb. 6. The winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, “Dear Evan Hansen” is about a high schooler with social anxiety who creates an important role for himself in a tragedy. Tickets are $69-$149.
Thursday, Feb. 6
History Talk — Whatever Happened to Ambrose Asher? Tumwater’s Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place SW, will host this free history talk at noon Thursday. Family stories indicate that young Ambrose Asher was captured by Indians in the 1860s, with his parents’ fate unknown. While the family story was not correct in detail, it provided enough information to discover the truth through genealogical and historical research of the Plains Indian Wars. The story provides a prelude to the Sand Creek Massacre in late 1864 and later events of the Plains Indian Wars. Speaker Dave Welch, a descendant of Ambrose Asher, is a long-time member and officer of the Oregon-California Trails Association. Doors open at 11:30 am; seating is first come, first seated until room capacity is reached.
Saturday, Feb. 8
Samba Olywa dance workshop: The dance troupe is presenting a second workshop for dancers from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, with guest instructor Donna DonnaMation Pongetti, who has choreographed for Samba Olywa many times in the past. The workshop will focus on a dance set to a Brazilian 6/8 rhythm. All are welcome at this workshop, and no pre-registration is necessary. Dancers should wear supportive shoes, and be ready to sweat. The workshop will be held at Eagles Grand Ballroom at Fourth and Plum streets in downtown Olympia. Tuition for the workshop is $5 to $15, on a sliding scale. Teaching begins promptly at 1 pm, so all participants should arrive early to check in. Live music will be provided by Samba Olywa drummers. This new dance will be used in Samba Olywa’s routine for Procession of the Species in April.
Superb Owls at the WET Science Center: It’s owl nesting season! Nesting in the winter means the owlets are hatched and ready to hunt when other baby animals are born in the spring. Come learn all about these spectacular birds through hands-on activities and crafts from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free and activities are for all ages.
Olympia Symphony Orchestra presents Beethover vs. Gulda: To celebrate the Super Bowl the next day, join the Olympia Symphony for a musical matchup: Beethoven vs. Gulda. Featuring cellist Nathan Chan, this concert pits the classic elegance of Beethoven against the dynamic flair of Gulda. The program includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, Eroica, and Friedrich Gulda’s Concerto for Cello and Wind Orchestra (1989) featuring Chan. There will be a Q&A session with conductor Alexandra Arrieche and Chan immediately following the concert, which begins at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $17.50 to $91 plus service fee.
Emerald City Music presents Spanish Journey concert: Emerald City Music presents this culturally immersive and musically colorful program titled Spanish Journey, featuring several artists from New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The program features Emerald City Music’s artistic director and violinist Kristin Lee, along with Grammy Award–winning guitarist Jason Vieaux, soprano Vanessa Becerra, cellist Clive Greensmith, and pianist Soyeon Kate Lee. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Minnaert Center for the Arts on South Puget Sound Community College’s Olympia campus, 2011 Mottman Road SW. Tickets are $14 to $55.
25th Anniversary Comedy Show with John Keister: Promoter Baurice Nelson is celebrating 25 years of producing comedy shows in South Sound with this show featuring the original comedians that started it all, including John Keister, a Seattle comedian, writer, rock critic, commentator and motivational speaker, best known as the host of the Seattle TV comedy program Almost Live! from 1988 to 1999. Other comedians included are Chris Alpine, Duane Goad, David Crowe and Teina Manu. Tickets are $25.50 and $35.50 for the show that starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Ricardo’s Kitchen + Bar, 676 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey. Ricardo’s will have a snack food and adult beverages available for purchase. If you would like to have dinner, make reservations with Ricardo’s for dining before the show at 5:30 pm or earlier; call 360-413-9995 and let them know you are attending comedy. Doors open at 6:30 pm; please arrive for seating no later than 6:45 pm. Show starts at 7:30 pm and will last about 75-90 minutes.
Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening calendar? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event. Please put What’s Happening in the subject line.
