Out and About: Visit ‘Automat,’ see alt-rock icon or modern dance, or find eggs
Acclaimed “Automat” has local roots
Critics are buzzing about “The Automat,” a documentary exploring the restaurants where slices of pie waited behind sliding doors and coffee poured from ornate spouts inspired by carved fountains. But that’s not the only reason to see the movie, screening Friday, April 15, and Sunday, April 17, at Olympia’s Capitol Theater. Director Lisa Hurwitz graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2013 and directed the Olympia Film Festival in 2012 and 2013. Her time in Olympia — including dining in the Greenery, the Evergreen cafeteria, and volunteering with the Olympia Film Society — was part of the inspiration for “Automat,” which includes appearances by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Colin Powell and Mel Brooks (who wrote a song for the film). Tickets to see the film, with showings through May 5 at the theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, are $8-$11. Proof of vaccination and masks are required.
Mould still rocks
Forty years after he cofounded Hüsker Dü, legendary alt-rocker Bob Mould is still putting out hard-hitting solo tunes. The singer-songwriter-guitarist stops in Olympia on Saturday, April 16, on a tour supporting 2020’s “Blue Hearts” and the 2021 box set “Distortion: Live.” “Hearts” is, writes Pop Matters’ Rhea Rollmann, “an outpouring of punk rock energy and emotion about everything that’s wrong with the world today.” Consider taking earplugs to the show at 8 p.m. at the Capitol Theater. (Doors open at 7.) Tickets are $25-$30 for the show at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Proof of vaccination and masks are required.
Movement for Matisse
Koresh Dance Co., founded by Israel-born choreographer Roni Koresh, returns to Olympia with “La Danse,” inspired by the work of Henri Matisse. The Philadelphia-based company was originally scheduled to perform in Olympia in March 2020. The performance, which incorporates poetry and original music, is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $25-$57. Audience members are encouraged to wear masks.
Dashing kids
Easter is Sunday, April 17. If your kids’ thoughts have turned toward a magical bunny — or, more likely, sugar — why not have them do a little work for their treats? Tumwater’s 25th Easter Egg Dash happens from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 16, at Tumwater High School, 200 Israel Road SW. And Olympia Lodge No. 1’s Easter Egg Dash happens from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Masonic Memorial Park, 455 North St. SE, Tumwater. Both events are free.
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.