Olympia picnics downtown

OLYMPIA - What if somebody closed a city block, set up a line of tables in the middle of the block and invited the whole city to dinner?

Mathias Eichler did, and the results were on display Friday evening on a block of Washington Street between Fourth and State avenues. Drivers on those two streets slowed down and gawked at the block-long table, known as A Table For Olympia.

Eichler, who owns the nearby einmaleins, a European products store, organized the event. He patterned the event after one in Brussels that featured a table that was three-quarters of a mile long, according to news reports.

“They wanted to do something for the people,” he said. “I wanted to do something for the people.”

And the people came. He planned for 200, and the table began to fill just after the event started at 5 p.m. Olympia City Council candidates and others were out in force, shaking hands and doling out pamphlets.

Other sponsors included the Olympia Downtown Association, the Parking and Business Improvement Area, and the Arts Alliance of Downtown Olympia. People were asked to bring extra food to donate to the Thurston County Food Bank.

Eichler said he wasn’t sure whether it would become an annual event because there’s something people like about the novelty of it.

“They want to experience something new,” he said.

There was a certain simplicity to the event, too, he said. He provided just a table and some musical entertainment from a nearby stage. Each person brought his or her own food, some sharing their bounties with others.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Ann Nielsen of Olympia, sharing a meal with her husband, Roger, and Beth and Gib Rossing of Olympia.

“It’s a nice way to bring the community together.”

They feasted on chicken, potatoes and carrots.

Others had similar thoughts.

“I just like community things that are ... accessible to everybody,” Teresa Dominick of Olympia said.

Matt Batcheldor: 360-704-6869

mbatcheldor@theolympian.com