West Seattle, Washington
23 Thursday
Just out of the WSB inbox, from Sean McGrath:
For over a hundred years the Fraternal Order of Eagles have been offering Thanksgiving meals across the country. The Eagles of Washington State will be holding free or low cost dinners at 24 of their 97 locations across the state. This is the first year the Eagles have put together what they are calling “A Thanksgiving To Remember”. Every year the Eagles offer these free meals, but have never put together a statewide effort to encourage as many locations as possible to participate and to get the word out. The hope is that it will be a time to remember what we have to be thankful for. A dinner to remember for those who attend, and a warm memory for those who volunteer to make it happen.
In West Seattle the Eagles offered a Thanksgiving dinner for many of the years since they opened here in 1948. The last time was about ten years ago. This year West Seattle Eagles will revive the tradition and offer a completely free meal on Thanksgiving Day from 2-5 at their hall. The hall will be open to anyone who would like to attend. There is no fee or any donation to being asked for. The Eagles motto is “People Helping People” and a portion of our mission statement is: “international non-profit organization, unites fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills, and by promoting peace”
The West Seattle Eagles hopes that anyone who wants to share a good meal and good company will join us in a traditional family friendly dinner. We hope that anyone who does not have family plans this thanksgiving will come down and share the holiday with us.
The menu will be turkey with all the trimmings and desert. We are planning on serving at least two hundred people. No reservations needed.
4426 California Avenue SW (next to the Post Office)
206-938-4426 or aerie2643@westseattleeagles.org
This is in addition to, and separate from, the traditional annual free Thanksgiving dinner noon-3 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, mentioned here just this morning.
Salty’s on Alki sent out a media invite about a fancy dinner to taste holiday fare and see the popular nutcrackers. We e-mailed back and said, never mind the dinner, can we just see the nutcrackers? And this morning, they obliged, as the fabled decorations arrived. (The music in the background of the video, by the way, wasn’t added by us – exterior speakers provided the soundtrack.) Inside, ballerinas Wisten Klein (in white) and Andi Bryzinda (in red) from Evergreen City Ballet greeted the first nutcracker:
They’ll both be in “The Nutcracker” next month at the Ikea Center for the Performing Arts and the Auburn Performing Arts Center. Oh, and we peeked inside the truck for a look at a few of the others:
In case you’re wondering – Salty’s tells us they still have a few reservations available for Thanksgiving at Alki and Redondo. They’re also offering “Thanksgiving to go” (explained here).
(WSB photo of a table set for last year’s free Fauntleroy feast)
From e-mail to Facebook, we’ve had several inquiries about whether there’s any place to help serve others this Thanksgiving (a week from Thursday!). We don’t have the definitive answer to that question so far, but we did confirm with Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes that the traditional free holiday dinner is on again this year and they do need a bit of help:
The free community Thanksgiving meal is on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 PM at The Hall at Fauntleroy. All are invited to this traditional turkey meal with all the trimmings prepared with love by our executive chef, Mike Chase. For anyone who has attended before it is a wonderful mix of folks from the neighborhood and the surrounding area.
This is the 11th year that Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering owners David and Meg Haggerty and David Meckstroth have opened up their hearts and the Hall at Fauntleroy for this fantastic meal and event. It really seems to usher the season in with warm beginnings.
We have enough volunteers this year; however we do accept pies, whipped cream and cookies for desserts. People can bring them to the Hall at Fauntleroy the day before Thanksgiving or that morning after 10 AM. For information or directions please call our office at 206-932-1059 or go to our website www.tuxedosandtennisshoes.com
Before (and after) Thanksgiving, of course, our two local food banks – West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank (which is tracking turkey prices!) – welcome your donations, too. Any other Thanksgiving-related service opportunities? Comment here and/or e-mail us so we can help get the word out too.
First: Our video shows part of a solemn tribute at the start of tonight’s 34th District Democrats meeting (as-it-happened coverage here). After the Pledge of Allegiance, veterans Dorsol Plants and Skip Dreps rang a bell 12 times, both in honor of Veterans Day, and in memory of the people killed in the Fort Hood massacre last week. Next: While at the meeting, we received e-mail from DFC, forwarding a link to a Flickr gallery on behalf of management at the Tug Inn (just west of Delridge/Orchard). Flags and balloons waved in the afternoon sunshine; rather than just picking out one photo, here’s a slideshow of their gallery:
And if you missed it in comments on an earlier WSB Veterans Day story today – this link was shared, showing a West Seattle Cub Scout helping place flags on veterans’ graves at Evergreen Washelli in the north end.
Until a short time ago, that tattered flag was flying over VFW Post 2713 in The Triangle. Sharonn Meeks of the Fairmount Community Association – the nearest neighborhood group, covering the area just south of The Triangle – organized an effort to present the post with a replacement for Veterans Day, and less than an hour ago, she and West Seattle veteran Ron Zuber went up on the roof to take down the old one and raise the new one:
(If you’ve never been there, the VFW Post is at 36th/Alaska.)
It’s a day to remember and honor those who served. But as with any holiday, there are practicalities to discuss too, as follows:
SCHOOLS: Closed
TRANSIT: Reduced weekday service for Metro (detailed here), Sound Transit info here, Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferries on construction schedule
TRASH/RECYCLING PICKUP: Normal
GOVERNMENT OFFICES: Official city holiday, state and county too
CITY-RUN COMMUNITY CENTERS: Closed (including just-reopened Southwest Pool)
LIBRARIES: Closed
LIQUOR STORE: Open
PARKING: Free in the Seattle spots where you’d usually pay meters/pay stations
BANKS: Most closed
MAIL: Regular delivery, no; Express Mail, yes.
We don’t have a comprehensive list of freebies/deals being offered to local veterans today but we did get the Brown Bear Car Wash announcement – if you’re a veteran, or active duty/military spouse, check it out.
That clip from our West Seattle Grand Parade video this past July includes the Denny (now International) Middle School Marching Band – and this weekend we have word that Denny’s band will march with Chief Sealth High School‘s band (also directed by Marcus Pimpleton) in the Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown the day after Thanksgiving. They’re among more than two dozen marching bands and community drill teams in the parade, according to a news release. The parade starts at 8:45 am on Friday, Nov. 27, at 7th/Pine and travels a zigzag route through the center of downtown; it’ll also be the final parade for West Seattleite Greg Nickels as Mayor. (If you know of West Seattleites participating in the many other groups in the parade, let us know – editor@westseattleblog.com – so we can mention them here as well as watching for them for photo/video ops while covering the parade; thanks!)
West Seattle Hi-Yu may be a summer festival, but its volunteers don’t take a break in winter – it’s always time to look ahead to next year, including raising money with the holiday ornament sale. Hi-Yu vice president Deena Mahn shares 
the photo and info: “West Seattle Hi-Yu is once again selling beautiful hand-blown glass holiday ornaments. Our 2009 ornaments were designed and hand blown especially for Hi-Yu by Christopher Sternberg-Powidzki of Glasshouse Studio in Pioneer Square. These ornaments will make great gifts for your family, friends, teachers, clients, co-workers, employees and yourself! The proceeds of the sale will go directly to the Miss West Seattle scholarship program, building a float that represents the West Seattle Community in parades throughout Puget Sound, and various community events.” The ornaments are selling for $20, and you can reserve one (or more!) now by calling 935-6517. Deena says you’ll also be able to buy ornaments at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on Sunday, Nov. 22, and at the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle Pancake Breakfast Dec. 5th (you’ll find both of those events on the WSB Events calendar page, too).
3 weeks till Thanksgiving and some holiday decorations are already up (passing by Morgan Junction Tully’s last night, we noticed stockings and lights) – holiday news to share too: 
First, Village Green Perennial Nursery is taking orders for trees – priced from $30 to $400 (11-foot Noble Fir) – with a percentage of the proceeds raising $ for Community School of West Seattle. Here’s the price list and how to order. Second, Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association talked a bit at last night’s Southwest District Council meeting (other SWDC stories here and here) about the upcoming Hometown Holidays celebration in The Junction: You can mark your calendar for the tree lighting on Dec. 5, three Hometown Holidays Sundays with carriage rides and Santa photos on Dec. 6/13/20, and a special “shop late” holiday West Seattle Art Walk night on December 10th. (Be sure to let us know about your holiday events so we can get them on the calendar – editor@westseattleblog.com or “share” them via Facebook, facebook.com/westseattleblog – thanks!)
For the second year, a Holiday Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale is in the works for West Seattle – and it’s time to get your donations in – to save money, “green up” your holidays, and give a boost to WestSide Baby, Family Works, and CoolMom, which is again organizing the sale. Last year’s first-ever event was popular, as our photo above shows, and preparations for the encore are well under way. The sale is 9 am-1 pm November 14th at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) but you don’t have to go there to donate – collections are under way at various locations. First, here’s the “how” of it:
1. De-clutter and detach from all the unused toys and gear in that closet/garage.
2. Bag up your items: toys, sports clothes and products, baby gear, etc. (no clothing or car seats)
3. Donate your items at one of our 8 West Seattle locations before 4 pm Wednesday, November 11
4. Include your name on your donation bag (or on a slip of paper inside the bag)
5. Receive a $5 credit toward your purchase on the day of the sale.
6. Come to the sale, redeem your credit, and shop!
Any time before the deadline, take your “quality used toy(s)” donations to any of these locations, where you’ll find a drop bin:
PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor)
Husky Deli
C&P Coffee
Gatewood Elementary School
Arbor Heights Elementary School
Community School of West Seattle
Pathfinder School
Alki Co-op Preschool
By the way, if you’d like to get involved with CoolMom, the West Seattle group meets the first Wednesday of the month – that’s next Wednesday, Nov. 4 – 7 pm at C & P.
Bravo to the crew of Skeleton Theatre, the ambitious animatronic production in an Admiral front yard, bedeviled last year by stormy weather and a few other speed bumps. This year, they decided to give their pirate-themed production another try, and when we stopped by to watch the 8 pm edition, it was perfect – the video snippet above is just a tiny taste. They’ll do it again tomorrow night between 6 and 9, 36th/Hanford (map) – tons of behind-the-scenes info at skeletontheatre.com. Meantime, trick-or-treating is all but wrapped up for the night (we only had one – how about you?) – Steph in Sunrise Heights sends this cute shot of a group of little ones before they went out:
The adult parties, of course, will go on into the wee hours, including “Come As You Aren’t” at Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor) and “Hive Mind Halloween” at Youngstown.
At Hiawatha this afternoon, Halloween Howl wrapped up with those five costumed canines taking home a variety of prizes. And their owners deserved prizes for the fun they had trying to corral all five to sit still long enough! The folks at West Seattle Dawg compiled the full winners’ list:
1st Place Buddy dressed as Mr. T – Mini Poodle
2nd Place Sydney dressed as a Scarecrow – Mixed Breed
3rd Place Jin Jing dressed as Lady Bug – Sharpei
4th Place Daisy dressed as Angel – Golden Retriever
5th Place Seamus Shovelpaws dressed as Pumpkin
While we were there, we got a closer look at Seamus S., who did a great job of posing:
WS Dawg shared a few of their photos, too – including this one featuring Buddy the winner with King County Council Chair/County Executive candidate Dow Constantine, who was on his way out the Hiawatha door just as we arrived:
Local pet-related entrepreneurs showed their wares at the event too – Bette Allen (one of your editor’s channel 13 co-workers long ago and far away) has come up with a handy new way for dog owners to get the scoop:
WS Dawg’s Rex Post says, “We raised over $116 in cash donations and 102 lbs of food donations at the event and will pick up some of the participating locations food donations on Monday to get our grand total. … The event was a great success.”
A clever melding of Halloween and the impending election — Bob Anderson sent us that photo of his North Admiral decorations. That part of the peninsula must be the political epicenter this Halloween – North Admiral is also where Mike McGinn had a town hall this morning, and where we bumped into County Council Chair/County Executive candidate Dow Constantine this afternoon (he was just leaving Halloween Howl at Hiawatha – our photos from that are up next).
The costumed Junction businessfolk participating in Trick or Treat at The Junction – on till 3 pm – are as much fun to see as the kids. Maybe more. Above, the crew we found outside Windermere (where current listings include advertised-on-WSB 10419 18th SW). Next, outside West 5 – the candy crew includes recently feted bartender Jo-Ann (right):
More scenes from along California SW – some hotdogging going on outside Village Woodworks:
The treats included cider as well as candy outside Next-to-Nature:
And we spotted a surprise at the corner of California/Alaska – campaigning:
Hutchison’s West Seattle-residing opponent in the King County Executive race, County Council Chair Dow Constantine, will be in The Junction tomorrow for one last big campaign bash – 4 pm Sunday @ West 5. As for Halloween – events into the wee hours are all listed here. Next trick-or-treating event, Westwood Village, 4-7 pm. And if you’re in the south-of-Admiral area, The Swinery is giving out bacon caramels:
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ADDED 5:56 PM: Thanks to Diane for sharing the photo of what she declared to be the cutest costume she saw in The Junction:
Rhonda from The Mortgage Porter (WSB sponsor) has put up a Flickr gallery of kiteboarders riding the wind off Lowman Beach this morning – see more photos here. Meantime, the Halloween fun continues – the Growing Gardeners Appreciation Event at West Seattle Nursery, continuing till 2 pm:
The little toy trucks in the lower right of this next photo are among the treats for nursery visitors:
And till 1 pm, there’s trick-or-treating at West Seattle Thriftway
Thriftway employees joined the fun too. Love, peace, and produce!
Plug in to what’s next via the WSB Halloween page.
Too bad the magic wand doesn’t work when it comes to gutting pumpkins! These are photos shared by Holly Rikhof (thank you!) from last night’s Pathfinder K-8 pumpkin-carving party – perhaps the biggest en-masse jack-o-lantern carve-a-thon on the peninsula each Halloween. And a good chance to get face-to-face with the end result:
Then, of course, the classic group shot:
We’ll be out and about today but would love to include your pix in the WSB Halloween coverage too – e-mail them, tweet them, share them on the WSB Flickr group or share them with us on FB (we’re at facebook.com/westseattleblog) – thanks and have fun – more coverage to come, with Trick or Treat at The Junction coming up 1-3, Halloween Howl at Hiawatha 2:30-4:30 pm, Westwood Village trick-or-treating 4-7 pm, and more ….
Thanks to Keri for sharing a shot of the “pirate ship” that will be the main set of Skeleton Theatre again this year, tonight and tomorrow night, 6-9 pm at 36th/Hanford (directions & map) – West Seattle’s one and only animatronic Halloween extravaganza (2008 coverage here; 2007 coverage here; tons of behind-the-scenes info and videos on the ST website). That’s just one of the Halloween events in store — we have two separate ways for you to check the complete list of everything that’s going on this morning, afternoon and evening:
GROUPED BY TYPE OF EVENT – See the WSB Halloween page
ALL EVENTS, IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER – See the West Seattle Weekend Lineup
As for the non-Halloween happenings, there’s mayoral candidate Mike McGinn‘s “town hall” at West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library at 10:15 this morning, the third one he’s had in West Seattle. And remember that today’s the last day of the 2009 season for the King County Water Taxi‘s West Seattle-to-downtown run; here’s the schedule, if you want to catch one last ride.
Blustery outside but ghoulishly warm inside at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) tonight, for the second consecutive night of pre-Halloween partying … last night, Nightmare on Morgan Street to benefit West Seattle Helpline; Friday night, Zombie Dance Party on behalf of local roller-derby teams. P.S. Congrats to The Feedback for winning “Best Cocktail” in the “Best of Western Washington.” Now, off to Luna Park Cafe for a dayside scene:
Heleyna Holmes photographed Batman and Batgirl after they found the Batmobile at Luna Park. Also in the costume realm, a scene from a classroom:
That’s Seattle Lutheran High School English teacher Leslee Myers taking the occasion Friday morning to dress in period garb as if the classroom were a radio studio, playing the classic “War of the Worlds” from exactly 71 years ago. (That classic, by the way, also happens to be the inspiration for West Seattle High School Drama Club‘s fall play, which has a 2:30 pm matinee today.)
The windy weather’s not scaring away trick-or-treaters in the Admiral business district – that first shot is our drive-by photo from the Admiral/California intersection. Out of the car, we got candy-handing-out action at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) with co-proprietor John Smersh greeting trick-or-treaters:
And near Admiral Theater (where goofy-scary Theatresports improv is onstage at 8 tonight), Don Wahl from Alki Mail and Dispatch set up a table to meet candy-seekers who might not otherwise make it several blocks west on Admiral to his place:
More than two dozen other merchants are participating (here’s the map), continuing till 6 pm; tomorrow, it’s Trick or Treat at The Junction from 1 pm to 3 pm and Westwood Village trick-or-treating 4-7 pm. Lots more before, during, and after, of course.
A creative entry in this afternoon’s pumpkin-carving contest at Keller Williams in The Junction – his name’s not Jack but you can call him Trevor-O-Lantern. The pumpkin contest was coupled with a chili cookoff, and look who we found sampling the entries:
Next up on this pre-Halloween Friday: Admiral Treats or Treasures (official map here), 3-6 pm, with participants including WSB sponsors Click! Design That Fits and Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights, plus more than two dozen others!
Among the many Halloween Eve options today/tonight (all here), two pumpkin events of special note: First, noon today is the pumpkin-carving contest and chili cookoff at Keller Williams Realty in The Junction (4452 California SW) at noon (details on the Halloween page); bring chili and/or the pumpkin you already carved – they’ll be displaying entries during tomorrow’s Trick-or-Treat At The Junction. Then tonight, one of the biggest carve-a-ganzas in West Seattle each year – the Pathfinder K-8 pumpkin-carving spectacular (Eric shared the photo above last year, saying those were only about HALF the jack-o-lanterns!). Laura sent us extra details: It’s at Pathfinder (1901 SW Genesee) 5:30-7:30 pm tonight, come in costume, B-Y-O-P, soup and snacks provided, but please bring a pumpkin dessert, bowl and spoon for soup, and carving tools as well as the aforementioned pumpkin. We’ll be scaring up more previews later …
Recognize the West Seattle Helpline luminary who’s among the mystery greeters for the Nightmare on Morgan Street masquerade ball/Helpline fundraiser at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor)? The party continues till closing time tonight, and it’s a great cause, since Helpline just keeps expanding its scope – we reported recently on the Clothesline clothing bank now helping seniors, too. Meantime, some at tonight’s party managed to rustle up costumes that economized on the need for clothing:
From left, Shannon and Andrea ready to shake things up. And there’s even more Halloween partying tomorrow night at Feedback Lounge – the Zombie Dance Party for two roller-derby squads – one of whom is already named on one of the jack-o-lanterns below:
Just added a few more events to the Halloween page, by the way – not too late for us to add anything that you see missing!
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
With trick-or-treating in the Admiral business district tomorrow afternoon, and with Junction and Westwood Village merchants on Saturday (all on the Halloween page), not to mention neighborhood t-or-t Saturday night, we checked the forecast: You might need a little waterproofing. Breezy tomorrow, rainy tomorrow night, showery Saturday.
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