West Seattle, Washington
23 Thursday
In case you forgot, if you have solid waste pickup service via Seattle Public Utilities, the schedule is on one-day delay this week and next week, since there are no pickups on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. And starting today, pickup crews will take your Christmas trees and/or holiday greens – here’s the SPU how-to:
Customers can compost trees and holiday greens for free from December 26 – January 31. Customers should remove all decorations, cut the tree into sections – 4-foot or less – and place tree sections or bundled greens next to their food & yard waste cart on their regular collection day. Apartment residents may place up to two trees next to each food & yard waste cart at no charge (SPU recommends customers reach out to their property manager about their collection day and when to set out their tree). Customers can also drop off up to 3 trees less than 8 feet in length at a Transfer Station.
For more details and to find out what to do with your holiday items once you’re done with them, check out SPU’s lookup tool at seattle.gov/utilities/WhereDoesItGo.
(File photo, by Robert Spears)
Just six nights until we say farewell to 2023 and hello to 2024. We’re still building the list of what’s happening around West Seattle for New Year’s Eve – so far it includes some traditional favorites, like the Emerald City Wanderers‘ 5K/10K walks and the Highland Park Not-So-Silent-Night Parade, plus new events like Soul Train NYE at Revelry Room/Jet City Labs in The Junction and a sparkling-cider toast at West Seattle Arcade on Alki. Of course hundreds if not thousands will line the downtown-facing shore (and other viewpoints) to watch the Space Needle fireworks, lights, and drone shows from across the bay. If you’re presenting a New Year’s Eve (or Day) event we haven’t listed in the Holiday Guide already, please send the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The Christmas People sent out a call for cookies … and home bakers answered the call. Here’s the note of gratitude we received today to share with you:
Generous West Seattle and other residents donated 9,100 cookies over three days. Fourteen shelters – including Sunnydale Village, Mary’s Place Burien, Riverton Park Immigration Encampment – received cookies and provisions. (This afternoon) we (were) preparing the third dinner for distribution to 6 shelters. Altogether we will sned out 1420 meals, 2000 lbs. of bulk provisions, and the cookies.
This is our 25th year. Thank you for helping us help others.
Rev. Fred Hutchinson, Co-Founder
The Christmas People Foundation
(WSB photo – ‘Burma Shave-style’ signs along 59th south of Admiral)
Merry Christmas! Here’s info we hope will be useful on this holiday:
BUSES: Metro‘s running on the Sunday schedule.
WATER TAXI: Not operating today.
FERRIES: (updated) Back to 2-boat service, on a weekend schedule – check the alerts page for status/changes.
MORE TRANSPORTATION NOTES: No charge for street parking in areas of the city with pay stations … West Seattle-relevant traffic cameras are here; see all cameras citywide via this map.
COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: We found eight – listed in our Holiday Guide.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS OPEN TODAY: Fourteen are on our list – see it here. (And please let us know of any additions/changes!)
GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: Again this year, as noted in our Holiday Guide, only the three Safeways (Roxbury, Admiral, Jefferson Square) are open (8 am-5 pm) – all other West Seattle grocery stores are closed until tomorrow.
CHURCH SERVICES TODAY: Three of the churches on the list in our Holiday Guide have Christmas Day services.
OTHER NOTES: Trash/recycling pickup is delayed one day all week (next week too) … Seattle Parks closure info is here … Libraries (city and county) are closed.
SEE A MOVIE: The Admiral Theater (2343 California SW) is open this afternoon/evening – first screening of the day, 3 pm.
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show continues tonight on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, opening at 5 pm. Timed tickets and info here.
If you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we appreciate your tips 24/7/365 (366 next year)!
(Alki photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Welcome to Christmas Eve 2023! Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar, here’s what’s up in the hours ahead:
CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT SHOPPING: Shop local! Many stores are open at least part of the day today. Here are the hours we have so far for retail shops on the WSB sponsor team:
Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW), 9 am-2 pm
Lauren’s Jewelry (Westwood Village), 10 am-4 pm
Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW), 10 am-1 pm
The Bass Shop (6400 California SW), 10 am-1 pm
Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW), 10 am-3 pm
Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska), 10 am-1 pm
Moon Room (5902 California SW), 11 am-5 pm
Canna West Seattle (5440 California SW), 8 am-8 pm
Another shop that let us know they’re open for last-minute shopping:
Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way), 10 am-1 pm
(additions below – thanks)
My Three Little Birds (4736 California SW), 10 am-4 pm
Alair Seattle (xxxx California SW), 11 am-4 pm
Dylan Clothing Shop (3270 California SW), 11 am-4 pm
Seattle Yarn (2701 California) – open until 4 pm
West Seattle Arcade (2758 California SW), open until 6 pm (gift cards available)
Anyone else? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we can add you to the list!
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at 9 am at rotating locations – today it’s C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Yes, the market is open today! Regular hours, 10 am-2 pm, regular spot in The Junction (California SW between Oregon and Alaska).
THE CHRISTMAS PEOPLE STILL NEED COOKIES: Home-baked cookies to help The Christmas People sweeten the holiday for people in need can be brought to West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th Ave SW; WSB sponsor) 1 pm to 4 pm.
CHRISTMAS EVE GROCERY-STORE EARLY CLOSINGS: All West Seattle grocery stores close early tonight – earliest is 5 pm (Trader Joe’s), latest is 9 pm (WSB sponsor West Seattle Thriftway) – full list of tonight/tomorrow grocery-store info is in the Holiday Guide.
CHRISTMAS EVE CHURCH SERVICES: Our list in the Holiday Guide includes services for 13 churches (some of whom are skipping regular Sunday-morning services to focus on tonight).
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show continues tonight on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, opening at 5 pm. Timed tickets and info here.
Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Or for the West Seattle Holiday Guide (which we continue updating through New Year’s)? Please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The most-mischievous Santa’s helper to appear in West Seattle each holiday season is at Easy Street Records right now – Cocoa Cris Cringle! Until 8 pm, you’ll find him at Easy Street Records for “foto fun”:
$20 gets you a turn with Cocoa Cris Cringle (with props if you want, including hats) – kids and pets welcome too. (If you somehow haven’t been to Easy Street yet, it’s on the northwest corner of California/Alaska.)
(Added: Reader photo, from 600+ cookies baked by Tibbetts United Methodist Church ‘and friends’)
From The Christmas People, who are collecting homemade cookies through tomorrow, an update and a request:
We need a volunteer to help collect cookies on Sunday, December 24 at West Seattle Coworking, 9030 35th Ave SW, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The volunteer who was scheduled continues to be stuck at Iceland Airport due to a volcano eruption.
Home-baked Cookie response has been amazing. Residents of West Seattle have been incredibly generous. First day collection on Friday yielded over 3,000 cookies. Cookies are distributed to 10 shelters in King County area.
This week we have distributed more than 2000 lbs. of dry, staple supplies to 8 shelters. Saturday, Sunday, Monday we will deliver 1750 snacks, lunches, and dinners to 6 shelters.
To volunteer please call Rev. Fred Hutchinson, Christmas People Co-founder, at 206-719-4979 or email pialley@jps.net. This is our 25th year. We are are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit.
If you’re in The Junction shopping/dining, you might hear the holiday sounds of We Carolers 3 – they’re busking on the northeast corner of California/Alaska, raising money for local food banks, until 1 pm.
P.S. If you missed them, here’s how to donate money to local food banks: West Seattle Food Bank here, White Center Food Bank here.
Here’s our annual reminder that it’s not too late to let us know about West Seattle retail hours on Christmas Eve and food/drink businesses’ hours on Christmas Day. All the info we have compiled so far – including the grocery-store hours list for Christmas Eve/Day – is toward the end of our West Seattle Holiday Guide page (which has a list of church services, too, and New Year’s Eve/Day events). Direct link to our first take of the Christmas Day restaurants/bars list is here. We’re still checking for additions; if you can help by providing info, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Again this holiday season, we told you several times about the Winter Wander Scavenger Hunt, organized by Alice Kuder as a fun community event and a boost for local businesses. Alice has sent us her report on how it all turned out:
Now that the snowflakes have settled from this year’s Winter Wander Scavenger Hunt, I’d like to thank the 128 teams of West Seattle Wanderers who sneered at the rain and rejoiced in the sun to embrace the challenge.
Over the course of the 10 days, players scouted out 15 local businesses and 10 decorated homes (above, the Berkowitz-Vargas home) to snap and submit 733 selfies! Altogether, Wanderers racked up 1,407 entries into the prize bag drawing.
Prize donations from local businesses filled four duffle bags with approximately $200 worth of merchandise in each one. The three lucky teams to win the duffles by means of random drawing are: (including those shown above and below) Team Murray, Tata Tochter Time, and Puzzling Pete.
Many teams donated to the local food bank and Toys for Tots to earn extra entries into the prize drawing.
The $100 Grand Prize went to Paxton Phillips (above) for earning the highest number of entries. He accumulated 81 points by solving all 25 clues, submitting a team selfie, and donating 23 cans of food.
This was the fourth year for the Winter Wander Scavenger Hunt. REALTOR® and owner of Just in Case, LLC, Alice Kuder, is the originator and orchestrator of this free annual event. She hopes it is already becoming a West Seattle holiday tradition for all community members to anticipate and enjoy. Winter Wander 2024 will run from December 6-15.
Many thanks to the volunteers who helped make Winter Wander a reality, including Randy Winn, Shelley Barouh, Dora-Faye Hendricks, Malu Santos, Robert Peckyno, Alyssa Granlund, Mic Christian, Laura Berkowitz, Nathan Rasmussen, Pam Phillips and the many community members who hosted yard signs in their front yards.
Following is a list of the 15 local businesses who enthusiastically participated in Winter Wander 2023 and the associated clues. How many could you have solved?
Clue: Feathered flyers daily roam, for carbs and coffee at this home
Solution: The BirdhouseClue: Shop online, shop in store, consign your goods for sports galore
Solution: Second Gear SportsClue: Fine French pastry you will see at this Junction patisserie
Solution: Panterelli PatisserieClue: Surfing and cycling never stop at West Seattle’s oldest bike shop
Solution: Alki Bike and BoardClue: We shall bake with gluten no more, at the sign of the aerial pinafore
Solution: Flying Apron Bakery and CafeClue: Your morning drink, we will prepare, no need to stop and brush your hair
Solution: Bedhead CoffeeClue: This Junction restaurant is sure to please, its haute cuisine is classic Lebanese
Solution: PhoeneciaClue: If you don’t like your flab, and you want to get fit, then our awesome lab is the place you should hit.
Solution: HIIT LabClue: Looking to sell? Looking to buy? Her groovy clothes are hip and fly
Solution: Funky Jane’s ConsignmentClue: Whether you’re a lefty or not, these guys will cut your hair right.
Solution: Southpaw Barber ShopClue: Roses are red, violets are blue, the lights on our cars are red and blue, too
Solution: SW Precinct, SPDClue: If you’re going round in circles, and you don’t have time to think, those funny shoes should clue you in, you’re at the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Solution: Southgate Roller RinkClue: Work at your own pace in our flexible office space
Solution: West Seattle CoworkingClue: For food and drink, when you want to go out, find the sign with the bird and umlaut
Solution: Locol Kitchen and BarClue: If on cider you are focused, head to Alki to the _ _ _ _ _ _
Solution: Locust Cider
Five notes in case you haven’t seen these in our West Seattle Holiday Guide:
(WSB file photo)
COCOA CRIS CRINGLE: The most-fun Santa photo opportunity of the season is almost here. Cocoa Cris Cringle will be in the house at Easy Street Records (California/Alaska) 4-8 pm this Saturday (December 23rd). $20, all ages welcome, pets too.
COOKIES: Time to start baking if you’re able to donate cookies to The Christmas People! Karen sent this photo as inspiration:
The Christmas People need thousands of homemade (not store-bought) cookies for the holiday meals they’re distributing to people in need, and all you have to do is bake and drop them off at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW; WSB sponsor) this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday – details are in the announcement.
COATS: Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency (3435 California SW; WSB sponsor) is reminding you that while some holiday donation drives are wrapping up soon, their coat drive continues through the end of this month – drop off coats and warm clothing (new or gently used) at their office on weekdays!
CHURCHES: If you’re planning to go to church for the holidays, a reminder that we have services listed in the Holiday Guide too – we issued an open call for local churches to send their service info, and many responded. Special shoutout to St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW), which is advertising on WSB through Christmas to more widely extend the community invitation to worship.
CHRISTMAS TREE PRICE CUTS: Just in as we finished this roundup – West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon) sent this update on tree sales:
We have now dropped the price to 50% off. Usually by this time in the season, the trees have been picked over, and not many pretty ones are left. But this year, we have beautiful trees that just need a good home. We give every tree a fresh cut before you take it home, so it absorbs water right away and stays fresh, and we deliver for free in West Seattle. We ask that if you opt for free delivery to please consider donating $5 to Southwest Youth and Family Services. We match all donations.
(2022 photo by Robert Spears)
It’s back for 2024 – the New Year’s Day tradition that lines Alki Beach with hundreds of people ready to at least briefly submerge themselves in the chilly water of Puget Sound! We just received the announcement from organizer Mark Ufkes:
Optimists unite! Make no mistake about it; Life continues to get better! Our nation continues to get better! Remember, the glass is always way more than half full.
Alki Beach, West Seattle, again this year. We go into the water at 10:00 am sharp on January 1, 2024. Don’t be late. Over 1,000 participated last year, so plan for a crowd. We line up and down the quarter-mile beach, hold hands, and we start counting down from 10, 9, 8 . . . We yell “Happy New Year” and, together, rush wildly into the 47-degree water, screaming with joy! Holding hands and wearing bright colors seems to help. And we are only in the water for a short time. Yes, it’s a form of mild insanity, but a lot of fun too. And the hundreds of smiles before and after is the best part.
In our home, we have a candle service every Winter solstice (December 21), generally considered the end of the year by many ancient cultures. We blow out a candle to leave behind the complexities from last year, and then light the candle again, asking the Universe, in all her infinite wisdom (because God must be a woman after all) for more opportunities to be a better person.
Since our White Center home is too small for 1,000 of you, this year, we encourage all Polar Bear participants and guests to try this;
On a small piece of paper, write down what you want to leave behind from 2023 and what you want from the New Year for you, your family, and for our great nation. There will be a giant jar on a table at Alki beach, with a sign, and lots of pens and pads of paper, so that you can write and then insert your unsigned dreams and wishes list into the jar. We will save the contents for next year’s 2025 announcement.
Life is a clean slate on January 1. Be Brave. Take a deep breath of fresh mountain air. Inhale! Exhale!! Come share the joy of being alive here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Bring your friends and family. This is your year!
Requirements; be an Optimist, be in good health, bring a towel, good water shoes, a change of warm clothes and your hopes and dreams for 2024. 10:00 am sharp. And remember, how can we believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself?
While the crowd stretches quite a ways along the beach, Mark usually shouts the countdown from the vicinity of 57th/Alki.
(Seattle.gov file photo)
A white Christmas is looking unlikely. But your solid-waste pickup dates will be shifting next week and the week after because of the holidays, whatever the weather, if you’re a Seattle Public Utilities customer. No pickup on the next two Mondays – Christmas Day and New Year’s Day – so everyone will shift a day later both weeks – Monday customers get Tuesday pickup, Tuesday customers get Wednesday pickup, Wednesday customers on Thursday, Thursday customers on Friday, Friday customers on Saturday. Then the week of January 8th, everything goes back to normal. SPU also reminds you that it’ll le.take trees and holiday greens for free December 26th through January 31st – guidelines are here (along with charts detailing the temporary pickup-day changes).
(Photo courtesy THEM)
There is no more-iconic place to spend New Year’s Eve in Seattle than the Space Needle – and that’s exactly where the West Seattle band THEM will be on Sunday night, December 31. Ellie from THEM emailed us with the news that they’ll be featured on the KING 5 “New Year’s at the Needle” broadcast: “We would just love to get as many people watching the broadcast as possible! It sounds like we will be playing a few songs, right around 11:45 pm, when the fireworks/drone show start. We will be performing on the revolving glass floor right at the top of the Needle!” THEM has been ascending since debuting two years ago after forming at Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor), when Ellie and bandmates Hudson, Maia, and Thompson were all still teenagers. If you haven’t seen/heard THEM, you can sample their music via channels including YouTube.
Still need a Christmas tree but missed Holy Rosary‘s half-price sale on Saturday? They’re closed for the season now (as is Trees by the Sea on Alki) but a few other places still have trees, including West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon), which just sent word that they’ve cut prices on their trees by 30 percent. We’ve been keeping the tree-lot list updated in our Holiday Guide all season, so we’ll be checking on other sellers’ status later in the week.
No rain, no snow, no sub-freezing temperatures – perfect weather as the group above headed out on the annual Christmas Light Run coordinated by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor):
WSR proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell mapped the run along a route they said would take runners past everything from a yard with more than a dozen inflatable Santas to the Gai Family‘s Madonna.
The shop offers multiple free events every month, including group runs every week. (Last one of the year will be an early New Year’s celebration, 8 am Saturday, December 30th, with champagne and sparkling cider toasts afterward.) In the New Year, WSR also will start another free Get Fit “couch to half-marathon” training series, beginning with an info night at 6:30 pm January 3rd – email lori@westseattlerunner.com with questions.
Sent by Holy Rosary School:
The Holy Rosary tree lot is closed for the season. About a dozen trees have been leaned against the retaining wall on the Holy Rosary playground. These are free trees that need to find a home.
You’ll find them on the north side of the school, off 42nd SW between Genesee and Dakota.
Inside a vintage commercial building that is currently home to a photography studio, you’ll find the first Sweet Reel Makers’ Market until 4 pm. Your host at 5001 Delridge Way SW is photographer Angie Norwood Browne:
The cozy space is hosting 11 makers and artists – the needle-felted animals by Paula Wittmann caught our eye, including ornaments:
The West Seattle Art Walk‘s former longtime coordinator, artist Reeve Washburn, is there with her work too:
The listing for the market also promised “trinkets” – we noticed vintage china and jewelry:
(The building is vintage too – we mentioned it in 2021, when renovations briefly uncovered a “ghost sign.”) For more info on the market, including the list of artists/makers participating, see our calendar listing.
(WSB photo)(WSB photo – 2022’s Christmas Light Run participants. Will you be in this year’s photo?)
9:19 PM: One more Christmas-lights note … tomorrow’s the night you can join West Seattle neighbors and friends on a casual run to go see some brightly lit West Seattle homes: West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) presents its annual Christmas Light Run! Gather at the shop (2743 California SW) by 5 pm Sunday (December 17). If you haven’t already seen it in our Event Calendar and Holiday Guide, here’s what it’s all about:
Come for our fun annual tradition! We will map out a 2.5-to 3=mile route that is lit! Wear your reflective gear, head lamps, strands of lights, and festive gear!! Elves, Santas, dogs, kids, walkers and runners welcome. This is an easypaced group run to look at the festive lights. We will gather at the shop afterward for nog, cider, hot chocolate, and cookies. We are hoping someone will lead carols this year finally? We look forward to seeing you. Merry Merry!
11:25 PM: Here’s the route.
Every holiday season, C & P Coffee (5612 California; WSB sponsor) opens its doors to local artists and crafters to sell their work, and today’s the day. Among this year’s participants is local artist Jennifer Carrasco, participating in the C & P fair one last time:
She’s scaling down what’s been a prolific painting career. Other sights include these wood figures by Josh and Jim from Vashon Island:
And nature-inspired art by Alma from A Wild Braid:
See what treasures you find by visiting the C & P fair before 2 pm.
If you’re planning to tree-shop this weekend, two updates to the lot list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide:
(WSB photo, Holy Rosary lot last month)
HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT: Today (Saturday, December 16) is your last chance to shop this lot on the north side of the Holy Rosary campus (42nd SW between Dakota and Genesee):
Last day for the Holy Rosary tree lot. Still a good selection of fresh trees, wreaths, garland, and Hope Lutheran’s poinsettias. Opens 9 AM and closes when all items have sold. Stop on in and support the West Seattle Food Bank by bringing 5 cans of food and getting $5 off.
A portion of the lot’s proceeds go to nonprofits including WSFB. AFTERNOON UPDATE: As of noon, everything is half-price!
TREES BY THE SEA: The tree lot on Alki sold out earlier this week and is now closed for the season.
The photo is from Providence Mount St. Vincent, which welcomed a special pre-Christmas gift delivery today:
The Nucor team is hereby decreed to be THE best Santa’s elves this side of the North Pole as they deliver once again carloads of gifts and support to help make Christmas bright for the residents and caregivers of Providence Mount St. Vincent! This annual tradition yet again showcases the tremendous generosity of Nucor as they help so many in need throughout West Seattle.
What if Rudolph had the night off? That’s the theme of this tree we admired while visiting the Fauntleroy UCC Festival of Trees on its first public-display night earlier this week.
Another tree that might make you smile … the one with a Costco theme:
And then there’s the tree decked with hopes for peace, in many languages:
The festival doubles as a food drive – bring nonperishable food to donate and leave it under your favorite tree to “vote” for it. During our visit, this tree was the front-runner:
We learned that’s because it’s the entry from Alki UCC and that apparently brought a concentrated voting effort! In addition to the food drive, you can also have fun with a scavenger hunt while you’re there – check the 13 trees in the church Fellowship Hall for certain words or items. It’s open to viewing Saturday night, 6-7 pm, at 9140 California SW – right before the church’s free Christmas concert.
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