Olympia: Where “Hallmark Christmas Town” Meets Riot Grrrl
Or, a Hallmark meets Riot Grrrl guide to this melting pot of a town.
Olympia is an odd duck. The way I see it, Washington State’s capital is built on two extremes: a layer of Riot Grrrl grit covering the veneer of a Hallmark Christmas movie town. An unconventional melting pot, but a tasty fondue all the same.
Now, any self-respecting Hallmark movie follows a certain formula. A reluctant big-city person comes to a scenic town, more often than not to claim an inheritance. While there, they visit small independent bookstores and drink local coffee. Vintage shops are perused, and they will, without exception, cook a highfalutin meal for an unexpected love interest. (Their culinary skills will be a surprise twist – egads, the busy New York lawyer knows how to cook?!)
Hey, I don’t judge, I’m an unapologetic Hallmark connoisseur.
When in Olympia, you can, as you should, replicate this type of experience with a riot-y twist. Bookstore, coffee, vintage shop (specifically a record shop to go with the theme), and cooking. Here’s a small guide to achieve the best Hallmark-Meets-Riot-Grrrl tour of Olympia.
01: Browsers Bookstore
With the Riot Grrrl movement originating in Olympia, it’s fitting that Browsers is, in their own words, “a story about women and community.” The bookstore opened in 1935 as an offshoot of its Aberdeen location, founded by Anna Blom. The store has since changed owners three times – all women – and has been in its current location since 1979. A true Olympia mainstay.
Setting its history aside, Browsers is an excellent shop in its own right. While nowhere near as big as Seattle’s Elliott Bay, it has a broad selection, and I’ve always been able to find what I was looking for. Its vibe is tranquil and, as a former owner described it, “optimistic.” It’s just a nice spot, one where I’m sure Hallmark actors like Lacey Chabert and Andrew Walker – currently starring in She’s Making a List – would feel right at home.
Address: 107 Capitol Way N. Web: browsersolympia.com
02: Olympia Coffee
You’ll find that Olympia Coffee’s original downtown location has grown significantly from its humble mid-aughts hole-in-the-wall shop. The updated space is roomy with light Scandinavian colors and a large tiled counter. The palette is stark, but not unwelcoming. And, their coffee is roasted right on premise, so you know the pour is fresh. It’s about as stereotypical of a Pacific Northwest spot as you can find.
To quote1 Paul Campbell from Christmas at the Catnip Café: “They call me a coffee snob, but I am, in fact, an all-around snob.“ Those are words we should all live by.
Address: 600 4th Ave E. Web: olympiacoffee.com.
03: Rainy Day Records
An Olympia fixture since 1973, it doesn’t feel like Rainy Day has changed much in the past five decades. If you’ve read or watched High Fidelity, you sort of know what you’ll get. Emphasis on sort of – this is where the juxtaposition of Riot Grrrl and Hallmark comes in. The clerks know their music, and there is a certain snobbery at play, which, as mentioned above, is a good thing. At the same time, there’s a Hallmark-style nicety to the staff. If you got questions, they got answers – unlike High Fidelity.
Their selection is good, too, and they have an impressive number of weird music magazines, like Ugly Things.
There aren’t many – any – Riot Grrrl movies on Hallmark, but you could always give A Grand Ole Opry Christmas a watch to see how Nikki DeLoach tackles the Nashville country scene.
Address: 301 5th Ave SE. Web: rainydayolympia.net.
04: European Bacon from Haggen
Look, I get it. You can get European-style bacon from many butcher shops. But, if you happened to be in a Hallmark movie, finding non-American bacon in a grocery store would one-hundred-percent be a plot point. Plus, the quality of Haggen’s merch is high.
What’s the difference between the European and the American bacon, then? The former is made from the pig’s loin and is thicker and less fatty than the pig-belly American variety. European-style is almost more of a thin pork chop than traditional bacon, and, in my mind, you can use it in place of the American one, but not vice versa. Your mileage may vary.
As for Haggen’s offering, their European-style bacon feels just a bit leaner than the competition’s, and the slices are generously thick. Give them a good pan-fry, and toss them on a sandwich – it’s my preferred pick for the One True Grilled Cheese™.
(I don’t have any particularly clever Hallmark recommendations here, other than a 2020 movie called As Gouda as it Gets. I have not watched it.)
Address: 1313 Cooper Point Rd SW. Web: haggen.com.
In Summation
Honestly, I think SNL said it the best…
Or paraphrase as it may be. I don’t have the full quote in front of me.