West Seattle, Washington
03 Friday
Some of the greater Admiral area’s most brightly decorated homes might have noticed a large group of visitors on foot tonight: The annual West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) Christmas Lights Run left the shop at 2743 California SW just after 5 pm. First, of course, the traditional group shot – here are the 30+ people who defied the rain (as runners tend to do) to take part:
Here’s the 5K-ish route that WSR proprietors Tim and Lori McConnell mapped out:
Tonight’s runners also were offered the chance to try out new Brooks shoes – one of many “demo runs” that WSR does during the course of its regular free multiple-times-a-week group runs. Also of note – you have two more days to shop WSR before Christmas, regular hours Monday and Tuesday, then they’ll be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
It’s a café, it’s a concert venue … and it’s even a backdrop for Santa photos. Tonight is the jolly occasion when the north side of Easy Street Records‘ space in The Junction hosts photo ops with Cocoa Cris Cringle.
You still have an hour to get down to Easy Street and get a pic during “foto fun” with Cocoa Cris – hats and props available, as seen with this group:
It’s an annual tradition, with a $25 fee that Cocoa Cris gives to nonprofits.
SIDE NOTE: We’ve kept a Santa-appearance list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide all season – but Santa has to get back to the North Pole, so just two more left, 1:30-4:30 pm Monday and 2:30-5:30 pm Tuesday at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor).
See that spot on the bench next to The Grinch? It’s open for photo ops until 8 pm. This is part of Lacey‘s “Whoville” display, spotlighted here earlier this week (and in previous years). She says the weather in north White Center is not too bad so far tonight – a little showery, but no wind, so she’s welcoming visitors for photo ops. Bring a food-bank donation if you can! This is on 18th SW between SW 98th and Roxbury.
(2023 reader photo, from 600+ cookies baked by Tibbetts United Methodist Church ‘and friends’)
Got some time to bake this weekend? When we first published The Christmas People‘s announcement that they hope to receive thousands of homemade cookies again this year, we promised to remind you when the time grew near – so here’s the announcement again:
Home-baked cookies are needed this year for the 18 shelters, centers, camps we serve during Christmas Week. West Seattle Coworking, 9030 35th Avenue SW, will again accept cookies, Monday, Dec. 22, Tuesday, Dec. 23 and Wednesday, Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No special packaging is necessary. Cookies may also be dropped off at Artisan Community Kitchen, 10836 E. Marginal Way S., Tukwila, Monday through Thursday, Dec. 22-25.
Please label any cookies with nuts, peanut butter, gluten-free, etc. Cookies may be frozen. Contact Fred Hutchinson, co-founder, at 206-719-4979 or pialley@jps.net
If you bake/donate cookies – consider sending us a photo of your cookies, and/or you and helper(s), if any – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
Cocoa Cris Cringle is coming to town! His charity-fundraising photo ops at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW) this Sunday (4:30-8 pm) are part of the last wave of pre-Christmas Santa photo ops (including multiple visits to WSB sponsors CAPERS Home and West Seattle Thriftway), and the list – which includes Grinch photo ops too – is part of the updated info in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. Since mid-November, we’ve been updating the guide frequently with holiday events and other info – besides Santa/Grinch photos, four more reasons to check it out:
*Last-minute art/craft fairs/makers-market eventsDuwamish Longhouse‘s last one of the season, happening today only until 5 pm)
*Christmas Eve/Day coffee shop hours – we’ve finished that list and it’s now linked in the guide’s Christmas Eve/Day section (still finishing the restaurant/bar list)
*Christmas Eve/Day grocery-store hours – the West Seattle list is in the guide, with Wednesday closing times and what’s open Thursday
*Hanukkah (Sunday’s the final night) and Winter Solstice (also Sunday) events this weekend
And more – including events such as the West Seattle Runner Christmas Light Run (also Sunday) – we’re still updating, and also working on New Year’s Eve/Day, so if you have anything to add, please email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
7 PM: A little more blustery here in the west end of Alki but the rain/mist has stopped and the Alki Community Council-presented Alki Holiday Lights is on – with treats/freebies at many Alki locations (including the Log House Museum, where kids are making ornaments as shown above), Santa photo ops at the Bathhouse until 8:15ish and the Christmas Ship due here at 8:35.
(Photo by Jason Grotelueschen for WSB)
More photos later!
(Photos from here on down are by Oliver Hamlin for WSB)
ADDED 10:35 PM: Photojournalist Oliver Hamlin was there for WSB. Above, the Bathhouse buzzed with people enjoying free hot beverages and taking refuge from the wind – then venturing out to see the Christmas Ship:
Also making music, singers from the West Seattle High School choir:
And DJ Teck Savvy spun holiday tunes:
People were invited to write holiday wishes for Alki and the world:
And you could share your wishes with Santa and friends too:
We checked on some of the treat stops in the business district but those seem to have been snapped up early on. This was the second year the ACC organized Alki Holiday Lights.
5:56 PM: As expected, the weather’s a lot calmer here on the Elliott Bay side of West Seattle’s shore than it was when we left the west-facing side. The Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship is near Sslty’s until 6:10 and then will serenade the heart of Alki 8:35 to 8:55 – with lots of other fun first, as part of Alki Holiday Lights festivities at the Bathhouse, businesses, and Log House Museum.
8:37 PM: Video added – Choir of the Sound was aboard for both stops tonight; above, “White Christmas,” and below, “Good King Wenceslas”:
(WSB photos/video by Tracy Record)
Another special holiday delivery from Nucor Steel (WSB sponsor) workers to West Seattleites. Last week’s recipients were at the West Seattle Food Bank; today, Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor), where gifts from a Giving Tree in the local steel mill’s lobby were delivered this past hour. That’s welcome assistance for the most famous Christmas gift-giver of all, Santa Claus himself, who was there with The Mount’s Molly Swain and team:
Santa even had a song for the occasion:
The gifts we could see – which will be wrapped before distribution – were mostly practical items, but Swain tells us Nucor workers also donated gift cards that will be used for very special wishes. She says the gifts are all destined for residents in 24-hour nursing care, average age 94, and will be presented on Christmas Eve: “Why shouldn’t Christmas be as special in your 90s as in childhood?”
Two West Seattle Holiday Guide notes:
SEND CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR INFO: With Christmas Eve/Day barely a week and a half away, and New Year’s Eve/Day just a week later, we’re now collecting the last round of information for all those dates. We really appreciate everyone who’s sent information – holiday religious services, restaurant/coffee shop hours, etc. – and there’s still time to send info about your church, business, event, etc. – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
HALF-PRICE CHRISTMAS TREES: Most recent info we’ve received is an announcement that Holy Rosary School‘s tree lot is down to its last two days, and selling trees and wreaths at half price:
Holy Rosary School’s Tree Lot, located behind the school (42nd/Dakota), closes on Tuesday, December 16th. Hours for remaining days are 4-8 pm. Plenty of beautiful Douglas, Fraser, Noble and Nordmann trees available. ALL TREES & WREATHS ARE NOW 50% OFF!
Thank you West Seattle for all your support this season. We will be able to provide a meaningful cash donation to the West Seattle Food Bank and Salvation Army Hickman House as well as provide over 50 coats to Union Gospel Mission!
Updates on other tree sellers are welcome too – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
Previewing major events planned for the week ahead – Thursday (December 18) is the next big West Seattle night on the holiday calendar. The Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship makes both of its 2025 West Seattle stops (with Choir of the Sound performing) on that night, 5:50-6:10 pm off Salty’s (1936 Harbor SW), 8:35-8:55 pm in the vicinity of the Alki Bathhouse (2701 Alki SW). The second stop will be the heart of the Alki Community Council‘s Alki Holiday Lights celebration, coordinated by the Alki Community Council with beach businesses plus the Log House Museum. See the dozen-plus participating locations – and the treats/freebies they’re offering – by going here. And be at Alki Bathhouse for free Santa photos 7-8:15 pm!
P.S. As mentioned here last week, boaters are encouraged to join the Christmas Ship off Alki on Thursday night too!
Bring a new/lightly used coat and/or other warm clothing to the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today, and your reward will be a cup of cocoa, plus of course the knowledge you’ve done a good deed! It’s the annual West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays “Cocoa and Coat Drive,” gathering up bundles and bins full of warm clothing for the West Seattle Food Bank‘s clothing bank Clothesline. Volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle are here to help. (above are Whit, Robbin, Sawyer, Denis from WSFB and the Kiwanis – look for the Food Bank van!) The market is on until 2 pm.
(WSB photos)
Santa Claus was coming to town. And so was Santa. Santa, too. And Kris Kringle. And did we mention Santa? If you were in The Junction late this afternoon and/or early this evening, you might have noticed an abundance of Santas. It was the 11th year for the West Seattle Santa Pub Crawl, which started at Shadowland (above) at 4 pm and ended at Poggie Tavern (below) at 8:
The pub crawl also takes advantage of Santa’s giving spirit with fundraising raffles benefiting a local nonprofit – today that was Furry faces Foundation.
If you were in the heart of The Junction at midday today, you might have caught some of the holiday music by buskers from B-Sharp Studio. Again this year, they set up on the corner of California/Alaska to gather donations for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks. We recorded part of their performance:
Busking musicians today were Judy, Tim, and Travis. B-Sharp musicians will return next Saturday – 11 am to 1 pm December 20th – for more food-bank fundraising!
(WSB photos and video)
11:11 AM: Santa is under the disco ball at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor) as the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s “Winter Wonderland” begins. You can stop here for photos with Santa in the coolest suit he might wear all season. This is one of more than a dozen stops on the stroll – activities and treats await you at various local businesses along a mile, from North Admiral to South Admiral – find the map/list here. We’re off to another stop – this is on until 2 pm.
11:34 AM: Need a holiday pic of your pet? Anna is behind the camera at Mud Bay Admiral (2611 California SW), where we photographed her as Henry posed. Steps away, co-proprietor Bill – in festive Christmas sweater – is serving up free cocoa outside Circa (2605 California SW; WSB sponsor):
Near the corner of California and Admiral, the Admiral Church carolers were offering holiday faves:
And now we’re at Brookdale Admiral Heights, where West Seattle High School art students are selling handmade ornaments in the lobby (look for the sign outside):
Face-painting is available here too. We’re off to a few more stops!
12:33 PM: We can guarantee you that Winter Wonderland is the only holiday celebration with an Official Penguin (that’s what The Penguin’s badge says, honest). To complete our tour, we wandered up to the two participating independent North Admiral coffee shops, both with craft stations – here’s a young visitor making an ornament at West Seattle Grounds:
At Current Coffee, ornament-making involves paper coffee filters that you can hang in the shop window or take home!
The sun has even appeared – Winter Wonderland can mean wonder-ful weather, after all. Here’s the map/list again – some activities are stretching beyond the official 2 pm end time; pet photos at Mud Bay continue until 4, and there’s an afterparty of sorts at Welcome Road Winery (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor), starting at 3 pm. The Admiral Neighborhood Association organized Winter Wonderland as a chance to celebrate the community and introduce you to some of the great local businesses you might not have visited before.
(Friday’s sunset, photographed by Yvonne Frankovich)
Happy Saturday! We present to you another two-part event list – first, seasonal happenings today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
SELFIES WITH SANTA: 8:30 am-11 am Saturday and Sunday mornings in December, DIY photos with Santa at CAPERS Home (4525 California SW; WSB sponsor), donation requested for West Seattle Food Bank.
VIVA HOLIDAY ART STUDIO TOUR ON VASHON: 10 am-5 pm both days this weekend – take a self-guided tour of Vashon artists’ studios. Info and locations at vivartists.com. (WSB sponsor)
WESTWOOD ART STUDIO HOLIDAY ART SHOW & SALE: Group show and sale continues this weekend, 10 am-6 pm today, more info here. (9042 31st SW)
WINTER WONDERLAND IN ADMIRAL: Presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, multiple venues, 11 am-2 pm:
Join the Admiral Neighborhood Association (ANA) and our incredible Admiral business community as we spread some holiday cheer. Businesses throughout Admiral will be hosting festive family-friendly events/activities and offering specials during our third annual Winter Wonderland. Join the Daytime Disco Party with Santa at West Seattle Realty, sing your heart out with carolers from Admiral Church, and be on the lookout for the ANA penguin wandering the neighborhood! Find our map of participating locations here. Join the ANA as we celebrate our Admiral community while shopping small this winter!
BUSKING IN THE JUNCTION: 11 am-1 pm today and next Saturday, local musicians will perform carols and winter-themed music, raising money for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks, on KeyBank corner at California/Alaska.
ARTIST POP-UP AT CAPERS HOME: 11 am-4 pm, you’ll find jewelry and ceramics artists today at CAPERS Home (4525 California SW; WSB sponsor).
PET PHOTO BOOTH: Mud Bay in Admiral is hosting a holiday pet-photo booth 11 am-4 pm, free but nonprofit donation encouraged. (2611 California SW)
UGLY SWEATER SOCIAL: Noon-3 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), including a 2 pm contest with prizes!
PHOTOS WITH SANTA AT CURIOUS KID STUFF: Pics at Curious Kid Stuff‘s Santa Land, 1-3 pm. (4740 California SW)
ALASKA JUNCTION SANTA PUB CRAWL: 4-10 pm, starting at Shadowland (California SW and SW Oregon). 21+.
(Photo by Margaret – new holiday touches set up for Astra Lumina)
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, times vary. Tickets and info here.
WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND @ WS EAGLES: Second chance to see them in less than a week:
WSBB will be the featured Saturday night dance band at the West Seattle Eagles on December 13th. A dinner of Baked Zita will be available for purchase at $15 prior to the show at 5:30 PM. First come, first served. All proceeds of the dinner will go to the Music Boosters at James Madison Middle School. Space is limited. No reservations will be taken for the meal. The evening of music starts at 7:00 PM with 3 sets concluding at 10:00 PM. Music will include some Christmas favorites as well as big band swing and jazz. There is no cover charge for the event, but a tip jar will be available with 100% of the proceeds of the evening going to the Madison instrumental music program. The event entrance is off the alley behind the Eagles Building at 4426 California Ave SW.
JACKBOX HOLIDAY PARTY AT FOURTH EMERALD GAMES: Play games and support charity, starting at 5:30 pm. (4517 California SW, upstairs)
SANTA AT MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: West Seattle’s brightest lights host Christmas’s jolliest old soul – with reindeer! 6-10 pm. (5605 Beach Drive SW)
CHAMPAGNE EVENT #2: West Seattle Wine Cellars (6026 California SW) hosts another champagne event – this one at 6 pm – details and registration link here.
BELLS OF THE SOUND: 7 pm concert with Puget Sound’s premier handbell choir at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW) – “Let Your Heart Be Light” is this year’s theme. By donation, at the door.
CHRISTMAS TREES: As noted here, every place that sells them in West Seattle is up and running! Scroll through the Holiday Guide any time for the list.
And here are the non-holiday-season events for today, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
SWEAT TESTING: 7:50 am at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – preregister here.
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Also at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), regardless of whether you’re getting sweat testing, you can join the Saturday 8 am free group run!
FREE! HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free 9 am community meditation at Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska) – register here.
STORY TIME WITH CRAFT ACTIVITY: 9:30 am at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), free.
INTRODUCTORY WALK and WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 9:30 am, walk a mile as a prelude to the 10 am well-being walk (or just show up for that one). Both start from 47th SW and Fauntleroy Way SW.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: The Garden Center at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW, north end of campus), is open 10 am-3 pm – one more week until its holiday break!
MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: In session again this week, 10:30 am, info in our calendar listing.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at High Point Library. (3411 SW Raymond)
GRIEFSHARE: Newest session continues, 10:30 am at Grace Church, no charge (10323 28th SW)
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open noon-4 pm on Saturdays. (61st SW and SW Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open for you to enjoy wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: On the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus:
The Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room is OPEN Thursday-Saturday 1 pm-6 pm until December 20th! Back by popular demand: We are featuring our 2016-2019 varietals for a mix and match $62 case! Stop by for a tasting and a case for the holidays! Thank you for a beautiful year of supporting our students!
Enjoy student-produced wines and affordable eats at the Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room and Wine Bar at South Seattle College, with proceeds benefitting student learning and the Wine Studies Program. NWWA is located in the North Parking Lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th Ave SW) in the Puget Ridge neighborhood of West Seattle.
FREE MASSAGE: 3-5 pm walk-in clinic offering short, specific massages at Nepenthe. (9447 35th SW)
2 ‘PENELOPE’ PERFORMANCES AT ARTSWEST: West Seattle’s playhouse offers something different this holiday season – the folk-pop musical “Penelope,” with a 3 pm matinée and 7:30 pm evening performance today/tonight; get tickets here. (4711 California SW)
LIVE IN-STORE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Stephanie Anne Johnson performs at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 7 pm, free, all ages.
LIVE MUSIC AT MR. B’S: 7 pm, Angelina Adams at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW), no cover.
REVELRY ROOM DJ: Saturday spinning starts at 9 pm – tonight it’s DSoul Focus FM at Revelry Room. (4547 California SW).
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Our Saturday list concludes with 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Got a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
That’s the map of businesses participating in Saturday’s “Winter Wonderland,” organized by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, 11 am-2 pm. Choose your stops and choose your activities, from a disco dance party with Santa at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor) to free cocoa at Circa (2605 California; WSB sponsor) and beyond – stretching across a mile of the Admiral business district, from crafting at West Seattle Grounds in the north (2139 California SW) to shopping specials at WEND Jewelry (3278 California SW) in the south – here’s the list (which you can also get by clicking the top-left icon nn the map):
Crafts
Brookdale Admiral Heights
Current Coffee
West Seattle Grounds
Seattle Yarn
Pizzeria 22Food and Drink
Circa Grill & Alehouse
My Necessitea, LLC
Arthur’sEntertainment
West Seattle Realty
Admiral Church Choir Carolers
Admiral TheaterPhoto Ops
Mud Bay
Welcome Road WinerySpecials
West Seattle Runner
WEND Jewelry
Ella and Oz Salon
It’s a chance to have big fun while shopping small, 11 am-2 pm tomorrow!
If you plan on getting a Christmas tree but don’t have it yet, the Holy Rosary School Tree Lot wants you to know this is its final weekend – here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
While we are open through December 16th, this is the last weekend of the Holy Rosary Tree Lot. Located behind the school [map], enter through the alley off Dakota. Freshly cut trees (2-10′), wreath and garland available.
Not only does the Tree Lot benefit Holy Rosary School, but a portion of the proceeds are donated to the West Seattle Food Bank and Salvation Army Hickman House. New this year, the lot is also collecting new and gently used coats for our neighbors in need at Union Gospel Mission.
Come support Holy Rosary School and local charities by purchasing your tree and greenery at the oldest, continuously run tree lot in West Seattle!
The tree lot will be open at 9 am both days this weekend, closing at 9 pm on Saturday, 8 pm on Sunday. It’s on the list of West Seattle Christmas-tree sellers you can find any time in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
6:37 PM: You can get serenaded in The Junction tonight if your path happens to cross that of the Silver Belles, caroling until about 7:30 pm at a variety of stops. It’s the second Shop Late Thursday on the <strong>West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays calendar, running concurrent with this month’s West Seattle Art Walk. Some businesses are staying open until 8 pm or later.
(Jet City Labs’ Makers Market)
See the venues here; see the Art of Music venues here.
ADDED 9:27 PM: Thanks to Art of Music curator John Redenbaugh for the three photos below of tonight’s performers – first, jean mann and Greg Ensminger at Beveridge Place Pub:
Next, CenterPlay at Great American Diner & Bar:
Friends and Folk at West Seattle Grounds:
10 PM: Photos from WSB’s Torin Record-Sand – first, at Jet City Labs, the creator of Erica’s Critter Corner:
Photographer Dan Jacobs:
Watercolorist Gloria Breslin was at Verity:
Tracey Hilton was at VAIN:
And so were the Junction Elves!
We wrap it all up with one more song from the Silver Belles:
Hometown Holidays events continue this weekend with the Cocoa and Coat Drive in the Kiwanis booth at the south end of the Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm.
The most magical scene we’ve seen along tonight’s Jubilee “neighborhood stroll” in The Admiral District is outside Circa (2605 California SW; WSB sponsor), where co-proprietor Gretchen and Brandi are deploying a snow-blower to create a bit of wintry wonderland!
Macaroons, too. Treats are offered at multiple businesses, including Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW):
But the place to start is Hoste (2332 California SW), where you can shop a pop-up holiday market with multiple vendors:
Hoste proprietor Lana was thrilled by the turnout. Wide variety of merchandise, from bottled sauces to accessories and apparel:
You can also enter a raffle at Hoste to support the Carlson family (whose story we told here). See other stops on the map for the Jubilee, which is on until 9 pm.
One week from tonight, the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship makes its only two West Seattle stops of the season, enhanced by the Alki Community Council‘s Alki Holiday Lights celebration, including local businesses and organizations offering holiday treats and fun. And this year, the ACC is hoping more boaters will join the party:
ACC president Charlotte Starck says all boaters are invited: “Sailboats, motorboats, yachts — come one, come all. Cruise along Alki anytime between 6–9 pm or arrive ahead of the Argosy Christmas Ship stop — whatever fits their schedule. The more sparkle on the water, the better. Last year’s crowds were very clear: they would love to see more boats join in the fun.” The Christmas Ship is due off the beach 8:35-8:55 pm; earlier in the evening, it will stop along Harbor Avenue (off Salty’s) 5:50-6:10 pm. (Here’s its full-season schedule.)
The West Seattle Big Band plays music you can’t help but dance to. Some of the ~150 people at last night’s WSBB holiday concert at Grace Church proved that. We were there and would have been dancing too except that we had to mind our video camera! Here are eight of the songs played by the band, directed by Jim Edwards:
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”:
“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”:
“Feliz Navidad”:
“Mele Kalikimaka”:
“All I Want for Christmas Is You”:
“In the Christmas Mood”:
“Big Band Christmas 2” (medley):
“Big Band Christmas 1” (medley):
(Vocalists were Jenaige Lane and Ryan Alvis.) The band is all-volunteer; any revenue gets donated to school-music programs.
P.S. You can find the other dozen-plus clips on the WSB YouTube channel. Even better, go see the West Seattle Big Band’s next holiday-season gig, Saturday (December 13)at the West Seattle Eagles HQ in The Junction (4426 California SW), with music at 7 pm after 5:30 pm dinner, as previewed here.
By this time tomorrow, according to the forecast, the wind will have quieted, and the rain might even take a break. So here are other reasons to plan on going out tomorrow night:
SHOP LATE THURSDAY IN THE JUNCTION: It’s the second of two Thursdays in which The Junction will be a bit more festive – here’s how the West Seattle Junction Association summarizes what’s planned for 5:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday:
*Beecher’s Cheese handing out soup and cheese samples in front of Key Bank.
*Santa’s Elves running around handing out candy canes and special ornaments.
*Silver Belles Carolers performing – starting around Northwest Art and Frame, and heading north from there
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: This is the big holiday-season art walk, at various venues from Alki to Morgan Junction, starting around 5 pm. Here’s the list for this quarter:
See details on participating venues – including who has a reception (usually 5 to 8 pm) – here.
ART OF MUSIC: Accompanying the Art Walk again this month is The Art of Music, a collection of three mini-concerts, 6 to 7:45 pm, in Admiral, The Junction, and Morgan Junction. Here’s the rundown:
Friends and Folk @ West Seattle Grounds in the Admiral District [performance starts 6:20 pm]
CenterPlay @ Great American Diner & Bar in Alaska Junction
jean mann @ Beveridge Place Pub in Morgan Junction
Learn more about this month’s performers here.
ADMIRAL JUBILEE: In addition to Art Walk-ing, in the Admiral Junction area, you can join in the Jubilee, strolling to multiple participating businesses, 4-9 pm – see the map – and special events – here, including a pop-up market at hosting business Hoste.
There are other events planned tomorrow night too – check our calendar for more!
These two performances this week just might be the brassiest, jazziest, liveliest you’ll see and hear all holiday season long! The preview is from West Seattle Big Band director Jim Edwards:
The West Seattle Big Band will be presenting a free Holiday Concert in cooperation with North Shorewood’s Grace Church Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00 PM. The Concert will feature Christmas favorites with that classic big band sound. Rumor is there will be a cookie intermission too. Grace Church is located at 10323 28th Ave SW. Just south of SW Roxbury St.
WSBB will also be the featured Saturday night dance band at the West Seattle Eagles on December 13th. A dinner of Baked Ziti will be available for purchase at $15 prior to the show at 5:30 PM. First come, first served. All proceeds of the dinner will go to the Music Boosters at James Madison Middle School. Space is limited. No reservations will be taken for the meal. The evening of music starts at 7:00 PM with 3 sets concluding at 10:00 PM. Music will include some Christmas favorites as well as big band swing and jazz. There is no cover charge for the event, but a tip jar will be available with 100% of the proceeds of the evening going to the Madison instrumental music program. The event entrance is off the alley behind the Eagles Building at 4426 California Ave SW.
West Seattle Big Band is a working big band with a community mindset. They are an all-volunteer group formed in 1996, dedicated to supporting instrumental music education in our community’s public schools.
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