Those of you that have been kind enough to follow along here for a while already realize that downtown Olympia is a colorful diverse place. So here's just one more thing that makes the downtown area fun. This bench, titled "Match Game" is one of I believe 5 benches with various forms of artwork on them. This was the brainchild of The Olympia PBIA or "Public and Business Improvement Area" who, in 2008 invited local artists to submit designs that would artistically enhance existing benches in downtown Olympia to "generate added artistic interest to our streetscape and to engage the Olympia arts community in a project that would highlight beauty and creativity in the downtown core." The photography on this particular bench came from Bridget Irish. You can read a little more about it here.

Certainly one of the most colorful vendors at The Olympia Wooden Boat Fair this weekend in downtown Olympia.

Well, here it is Mother's Day weekend and time once again for The Olympia Wooden Boat Fair, an annual event. Wooden boats of all types and sizes, some old some new. Besides the boats tents line the boardwalk, vendors selling their goods. Today a local high school band entertained the crowd with some really good music. I'll show you more from the fair over the next couple of days. Oh, and if you look way at the far end, just over the tents you'll see the jets of water from this fountain hanging in mid air.

PS: Everyone from our house wants to send out a big Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms. We hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow.

Over the past few days I've been sharing with you some of what "Arts Walk" is all about. Celebrating art in all it's forms. Now I don't want to bore you to death staying on the same subject for days on end but I did want to share this with you. Meet "Bo", an acrylic on canvas. One more thing that made us go "Wow".

Now before you say anything, remember I'm trying to give you a little variety of what was on display this past weekend at "Arts Walk" in downtown Olympia. Maybe I should have taken the time to get the names of the artists who's work I am showing you but there was just too much to see and so many people. Many of the shops were so crowded we only viewed that art from outside. When my wife and I walked up to this particular business and took a closer look at these figures we just looked at each other. I could tell she was thinking what I was just about to say. I'll let you guess what that was. More tomorrow.

Yep, "Arts Walk", that's what they call it. A two day celebration of art in all it's forms followed up by "The Procession of the Species. I'll do my best to show you a few different forms over the next few days. Tonight, "The Human Easel." Had I backed up a few steps and showed you the entire front of this building you would have seen another girl seated and displaying another painting. Both were doing a pretty good job of not changing their expression, even as I was snapping photos. As you saw in last night's post there were several streets that were closed to cars. All along the streets shops were open past their normal hours displaying various forms of artwork. Believe me, it ranged from the beautiful to the very strange too. Just wait, I'll show you in a day or two.

This sign wasn't the only one of it's kind yesterday and today in downtown Olympia. Last night my wife and I headed downtown, camera in hand, and went to a yearly happening. What was it? I'll tell you tomorrow.

A slightly different view of a downtown Olympia street corner through our dog's eye.

How handy can you get? Stop in, have something pierced, have a smoke, then stroll next door for a burrito. What a way to spend the day.

Seen in downtown Olympia (as if this surprises you.)

Today after work we stopped off at home, picked up the kids and dogs, then headed for downtown. I've told you before, downtown Olympia is an interesting colorful place full of activity and people, all hours of the day and evening. As we were walking along my wife suggested we stop at the Olympia Hotdog Company and see how the food is. Actually it was pretty good, especially the size. Big ol' footlong dogs, pretzels, orders of fries or nachos big enough for 2 or 3 people. If you look close you can see the ladle of cheese being poured over the mountain of chips that was my wife's nachos. If you look in the lower right corner of the photo you'll see they have a table and four chairs set up. We sat there and enjoyed our meals while we watched the characters of the night go by.

This evening I took my wife out to dinner for Valentine's Day. Tomorrow I'll show you where we went. After we had eaten and were heading back to the car we couldn't help but enjoy this sight. The street lights and traffic lights reflecting off the wet sidewalk really caught our eye. Looking down the street on the right you may recognize the lighted awning of The Performing Arts Center which I showed you back in August.

Here's wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day and a wonderful weekend.

For more Weekend Reflection shots click the link below.

SkyWatch Friday downtown at Puget Sound Energy's Plum Street Substation.

For more electrifying SkyWatch Friday photos click the link below.

After last nights post of the artistic halibut tile I thought I'd better take a few steps back and show you the rest of the tiled wall along an alley in downtown Olympia. I tried searching for the origin of this project but had no luck. My wife and I think it may be part of the sister city program between Japan and the United States. I wrote about that in a previous post here.

Not your typical Watery Wednesday photo? Well, we couldn't pass this one up. My wife and I found this tile (part of a much larger tiled wall) while walking through downtown Olympia. It may be a bit corny for Watery Wednesday but it is my wife's favorite seafood (which she can't even eat right now while pregnant). Boy, talk about some fish lips!

For more wet and wild Watery Wednesday shots click the link below.

This "Night Depository" drum is attached to one of downtown Olympia's historic buildings, The Security Building. Click here for a brief history. I think you'll find it interesting.

Clouds over the historic Olympian Apartments in downtown Olympia.

For more Skywatch Friday photos click the link below.

I think this is going to be the last in the series of colorful downtown walls for a while. This bright display of artwork adorns the wall of the China Clipper Club Cafe.

Ladies and gentleman, continuing our tour of downtown Olympia and all it's colors our next stop is The Fishbowl Brewpub. Now, I'm going to show you something that should look familiar. When I took this shot I was standing right in front of this building. Coincidence? I think not! There's a reason these two aquatic themed buildings are neighbors. They're one in the same. Click here to check out their website and a little background on one of our areas breweries.

I think it's about time to show you some more of the colorful side to downtown Olympia. Now, let's look back for just a minute. Going clear back to August of last year I showed you the Hidden Zoo. Then in November it was the Olympia Rafah Mural Project on the side of the Labor Temple. The most recent addition were these blue salmon on the side of a local brewing company. Continuing on with our tour our most recent find was on the wall facing the alley at the Mini Saigon restaurant. I've got to say, there are some pretty talented artists helping these various businesses be seen. Oh, and don't worry, we're not done. There will be more.

Today I thought I'd show you another unique old building in downtown Olympia. As you can see, in it's past life it was a branch of the Public Library. Today they call it Reality. If you'd like an explanation you can check out their website by clicking here. The building itself is what caught my eye in the first place.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!