Everyday Olympia

Eyes Over South Sound

Local business ‘Superior Window And Gutter’ launched a new local website called: ‘Eyes Over South Sound’ this week. Owner Keith Brown will be taking awesome picture of your neighborhood while cleaning your gutters. Images of cool things he sees, beautiful scenery, memorable moments, all from a view not often seen in the South Sound.
If you want Keith to take a picture of your neighborhood and clean your gutters while he’s at it, contact him and invite him over.

Disclosure: My new consulting company ‘The WinterEichler Group’ developed the concept for Keith and his team at Superior.

Playing Legos For Thurston County

Mathias Eichler gets invited to join ‘Sustainable Thurston’ a community-wide conversation about the future of Thurston County.
You’re invited to join the conversation at ‘Sustainable Thurston’.
Brought to you by TRPC, the Thurston Regional Planning Council.

Taking the Ski Bus to White Pass

Mathias catches the Ski Bus to White Pass with Alpine Experience and has fun in the snow.

Over One Thousand Posts Last Year

Everyday Olympia is now four years old. Happy, happy Birthday!
I established this site as a support to the First Friday events and in a effort to draw attention to all the great things that are happening in downtown every day. The site has drawn tens of thousands of visitors. It has promoted and help support countless events and up unto this day still stands in a unique and unmatched spot among blog sites and news outlets in Olympia and beyond.
Time to celebrate and reflect.
Why am I doing this?
I love blogs, love new media and love story-telling. This is why I, with English not even my first language am getting up in the morning every day and sit at the computer and ‘blog’.
I love downtown Olympia. And I love the downtown that no one talks about. Not the political side, not the quaint retail haven, not the outreach center,  not battle ground for causes and heated debates.
I love it all, the life, the diversity, the challenges, the opportunities. It has become MY downtown and I am proud of that fact.
I am still here, the blog is still going strong. I still own a business in downtown and although things have changed dramatically, I am still enjoying myself, even more so actually.
Thank you, dear readers and supporters for tuning in all these years. Coming up to my events, supporting my business and yes, reading my blog. I couldn’t do this without you.
And on a business note: Thank you all, local advertisers, who have helped keep the lights on around here over the last years. You make it worthwhile, really.
2012 will be a great year in downtown Olympia.

Yours,

Mathias Eichler

May I Ask A Question, Olympia?

In the same breath as my previous post, I decided to wrte one just for my city. Lots has happened in downtown Olympia and although things have been a bit quieter when it comes to politics, and often it seems this city is fueld by nothing else, a city is made up of people like you and me. Individuals with individual choices, decisions, preferences and world views. Here is to another you where ‘You Make Olympia’.

I Just Wanted To Ask

The year 2011 was a though one, not an easy one. A year of big events, hardly a chance to sit down and relax. A year to remember? Well, some events will definitely burn themselves into our memories, some moments will be treasures that seem lost all too quickly.

Olympia’s Best

Mathias says thanks to all the great businesses that made the Einmaleins network happening in 2011.

Spotting monsters in downtown Olympia

Monsters and trick-or-treaters flocked to more than 50 downtown Olympia storefronts to get outside and play on Halloween, and host Mathias Eichler brings viewers along with him for the event’s challenges, costumes and sugar highs. In this episode, Mathias finds toys and treats at Wind Up Here, gabs at g.miller men’s clothing, loosens up with Moore Chiropractic and gets amped for ski season at Alpine Experience.

Olympia Election Results

Now that all your votes are counted, we can take a final look at the views on each interview on our ‘You Make Olympia‘ series and compare some numbers.

Fall Arts Walk takes over downtown

The Alpine Experience sent Einmaleins.TV into downtown Olympia for its two-day fall Arts Walk event to soak up the live music, art showcases, fresh food and community energy.

The Olympia Brewery: An exclusive look inside the heart of Tumwater

The City of Tumwater, real estate professionals, architects and planners take “Live Life Loud” host Mathias Eichler on an exclusive ride through the vaunted Olympia Brewery site. Inside, they explore the brewery’s history and possibilities by climbing around its stout structure and taking in its unrivaled views of Thurston County.

Brian Tomlinson: Olympia City Council candidate

Olympia City Council candidate Brian Tomlinson sat down with “You Make Olympia” host Mathias Eichler for an election season chat about which must come first for downtown: Housing or retail development? They also discuss how to market Olympia as a tourist destination, supported by Tomlinson’s call for a multi-purpose center for the city.

Racing the Chehalis-Western Trail

Alpine Experience sent Einmaleins.TV down the Chehalis-Western Trail for its “Master of Faster For a Cure” run, walk and stroll event that helped fight childhood cancer in Washington state. The episode follows South Sound runners from Horizons Elementary to Chambers Lake in the summer’s last “Get Outside and Play” outdoor event.

Rhenda Strub, Olympia City Council candidate

Olympia City Councilwoman Rhenda Strub keeps “You Make Olympia” host Mathias Eichler laughing throughout a fun and heavy conversation about why Arts Walk is only twice a year, why locals avoid downtown and “how to make humans from scratch.” Strub keeps things lively while she makes the case for taking an active role in moderating one’s community and how to develop housing in Olympia’s urban areas.

Democritus Blantayre, candidate for Olympia City Council

Democritus Blantayre sits down for a heady conversation with “You Make Olympia” host Mathias Eichler about running for office in an effort to bring “Direct Democracy” to Olympia. Blantayre lays out his vision for developing the city in the mold of other “eco cities” and creating a form of government that allows citizens to have a more direct impact on their government’s decisions.
He says that his intention in running for Olympia City Council is to create a seat at the table that citizens can control with direct democracy, rather than through periodic election.