Out and About: Celebrate 2022, see aerial show or peep at postcard art
UPDATE: A previous version of this article included a New Year’s Eve event at the Brotherhood Lounge, but that show has been canceled.
Who’s ready to party?
The Olympian couldn’t blame you if the events of 2021 have left you unconvinced that a new year can bring a fresh start. But for those indefatigable types who want to get out and celebrate the start of another year despite rising rates of COVID and daunting weather, there are events in the works. Among them:
• Noon Year’s Eve, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31, Hands On Children’s Museum, 414 Jefferson St. NE, Olympia. The museum’s annual celebration features countdowns, parades and ball drops every hour. Kids are invited to dress as fairy-tale characters for the celebration, which features the opportunity to meet a Celtic princess, dragon-themed activities and demonstrations by Dr. Science. Online reservations are required. Free with museum admission (up to $15.95).
• New Year’s Eve benefit for the restoration of Hall of the Woods, 8 p.m. Dec. 31, with doors opening at 6:30, South Bay Grange Hall, 3918 Sleater-Kinney Road NE, Olympia. The all-ages event, produced by JustUs Productions, will feature funk and Grateful Dead tunes by The Space Invaders. Also on the bill: The Isotones and The Purple Shadows. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test is required for admission, and mask wearing is “encouraged,” according to a press release. Admission is $10-$30 on a sliding scale, with those 12 and younger admitted free. For details, call or text 360-970-5550.
Aerial acrobatics
The Brotherhood Lounge’s monthly aerial shows, suspended for a time due to the coronavirus, have returned. Aerialists from Airbound Arts returned to the high-ceilinged bar in November. The next set of shows is set for 3 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, at the lounge, 119 Capitol Way N., Olympia. Admission is by donation, with $15 suggested, and tips for performers are encouraged. Proof of vaccination or a negative test result is required. For details, call 360-352-4153.
Art in miniature
South Puget Sound Community College’s annual Fine Art Postcard Exhibition, opening Monday, Jan. 3, showcases 4- by 6-inch works by well-known artists and novices alike — and they’re all up for auction. The 11th annual exhibition is centered on the theme “Devil’s in the Details.” “The theme is just vague enough to inspire contributors to explore material and concept in unique ways,” said gallery coordinator Sean Barnes. “A menagerie of postcard-sized artworks explores the theme topically in literature, politics, consumerism, puns, and parody.” The show is open through Feb. 4 at The Leonor R. Fuller Gallery at the Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia, and online, with an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7. The auction will happen online, and proceeds benefit the gallery. Visitors to the gallery must provide proof of vaccination status or a negative COVID test. For more information, call 360-596-5527.
Freelance writer Molly Gilmore talks about what’s happening in Olympia and beyond with 95.3 KGY-FM’s Michael Stein from 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays.
This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 5:00 AM.