Taste the Pain, and other treasures found in Olympia

We are very lucky to live in a community that sustains such a diversity of businesses. Downtown Olympia is chock full of little shops (culturla treasures really) that have been there for ages, specializing in some very niche items: specialty toys, custom jewelry and clothes, local coffee roasters (two of course!), a pie shop, and on and on.

But have you ever been to Buck's on Fifth Avenue?

Buck's is one of my favorite places in downtown Olympia! It is one of the smallest shop space, and is one of those wonderful places you dream about as a child: filled floor to ceiling with items of wonder from around the globe:

SPICES

That is right- Olympia has its very own spice bazaar! Well, maybe not bazaar, but it has all the right smells. And if you haven't been there, you do need to visit.

Even though it is a fantasy place for my imagination, with hints of the shops in Harry Potter, it is no antiquarian shop, stuck in the past- Buck's has a great web presence, so everyone can order from it Anywhere you live. Take a look at the site, here: Buck's Fifth Avenue.

Not only does she carry the a huge array of spices (over 400), she has the tools to use them: storage containers and grinders and roaster, rice steamers, spice mills, grilling planks, and more kinds of mortars & pestles than I knew existed. Oh- and lots of dried mushrooms- even truffles.

Just for kicks, I took a look at all the things I have purchased from the shop in the past little while and had to laugh at the really whimsical list (pictured here):

• Mortar & Pestle
• Whole nutmegs & nutmeg grinder with storage area for the nuts
• Habanero powder
• "Taste the Pain"- a delightful little collection of hot hot hot spices, with a little spoon so your skin doesn't touch it
• A variety of indian curries and spices like garam masala and groud coriander
• Three varieties of smoked salts
• Greek Oregano, Thai basil, garlic flakes, etc

Buck's first caught my attention because it is housed in one of the iconic old buildings in downtown, just across from the old theater. And I do love to look at old buildings as I walk my dog. But she reeled me in because the shop is "dog friendly"- she welcomes Dogs in for a sniff and a cookie. And of course a bowl of water on the sidewalk.

This kind of locally owned business exemplifies what is so great about Downtown and all of Olympia: the celebration of character, diversity and unique ideas.
And it is one of the reasons I love to call Olympia home.

(Yes, you can order the habanero powder and the spice kit on the webite, just like the one pictured.)

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If you would like to live near wonderful shops like this, in a downtown that is walkable and friendly, I would love to show you around and help you find a home! (I didn't even tell you about the sandwich shop or wine bar!)
We are 30 miles south of Tacoma, 60 miles south of Seattle and about 100 miles north of Portland Oregon, so very central, with easy access to 2 airports for easy travel. At only 15 miles from the Main Gate to Ft Lewis, this is a perfect place to call home for families PCS'ing to Ft Lewis or McChord AFB.
Give me a call or email to get started on the search, or take a look at all the homes available in Western Washington at my website.