West Seattle, Washington
30 Thursday
Busy cooking tomorrow and suddenly realize you forgot to buy a key ingredient? No problem – the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide has grocery-store hours for tomorrow. Looking for a latte? Find an open coffee shop. Not cooking? Three free community dinners, plus open restaurants, all there. Just wanted to make sure you know, before Thanksgiving Day dawns, that we’re here for you as usual with holiday info. That includes a fun way to start your holiday, the West Seattle Runner Gobble Gobble Group Run (and food drive). And while you’re in the Holiday Guide, scroll through everything else that’s featured – Santa photos, Christmas trees, Black Friday/Small Biz Saturday events/sales … we’re continuing to add to the guide as new listings come in (westseattleblog@gmail.com if you have something to add – thanks to everyone who’s contributed so far!).
Candy lovers on your holiday list? Friends of Roxhill Elementary will benefit if you buy See’s Candy through their online shop. Orders are being accepted through December 1st, and the organization explains, “Candy is the exact same cost as in See’s stores or website, but they donate a portion of sales to us!” Here’s the link.
Every year, we assemble a list of West Seattle restaurants planning to be open on Thanksgiving Day. (We say “planning” because sometimes their plans change after we finish making phone calls.) If you don’t want to cook, go here to see what’s on our list so far. We have nine, and can add if you know of somewhere we missed – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
P.S. You can also stay out of the kitchen by going to one of the free community dinners at The Hall at Fauntleroy (noon-3 pm) or the West Seattle Eagles (2-5 pm).
Another highlight just in for the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) has a monster event planned for Black Friday:
So let’s recap that: Buy a $10 raffle ticket at TRG on Friday starting at 10 am and not only are you entered in the guitar drawing, you get lunch (burger and shake) from the Dick’s Drive-In truck, which will be there noon-2 pm. (One lunch per person, though you can buy more raffle tickets if you want!) Holiday sale continues Saturday and Sunday too! Shop local, shop musical at this one-of-a-kind West Seattle shop.
(WSB file photo)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, to which we’re adding more events and info every day – the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship sets sail the day after Thanksgiving, and its three West Seattle visits will be on the same schedule as last year:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24: Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW), 5:35 pm.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, WS STOP 1: Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor), 5:35 pm
ALSO NOVEMBER 25, WS STOP 2: Alki Beach Park (usually near the Bathhouse), 8:35 pm, with a bonfire
So far, the forecast looks clear and dry for both nights. If you haven’t seen the Christmas Ship before, it’s a brightly lit boat (used for tours the rest of the year) with a choir on board (and paid passengers), stopping offshore for a free 20-minute mini-concert of holiday songs. Again this year, the singers for all three West Seattle performances will be The Dickens Carolers. See this year’s full regional Christmas Ship schedule here.
Here’s an opportunity for pre-Thanksgiving giving – to help West Seattle High School students and their families:
Support WSHS Families This Holiday Season
Our Care Coordinator, Stacey Fernandez, is organizing a Thanksgiving & Holiday Gift Card Fund. Your donations will go directly toward providing WSHS students and families with items to meet their basic needs, including food, warm clothing, and personal hygiene supplies. No donation is too small. Give today! Questions? Stacey Fernandez 206-252-8800 stfernandez@seattleschools.org
Just four days until Thanksgiving, and the free community dinner at The Hall at Fauntleroy. For those interested in helping either instead of, or in addition to, enjoying the dinner, here’s an update:
We are full on volunteers (yay!), but if people would still like to be involved, they can deliver desserts day-of [Thursday] starting at 9 am, or warm clothes/socks/blankets to the schoolhouse hallway anytime leading up to Thanksgiving.
As noted here, the dinner – a quarter-century tradition – is set for noon-3 pm on Thanksgiving Day, and everyone is welcome. The Hall is at 9130 California SW, on the south end of historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse.
More holiday-bazaar shopping today! This is the gift fair inside Walmesley Center at Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle) until 2 pm, with a special focus on handmade and fair/ethical-trade items.
There’s also a bake sale raising money for WestSide Baby:
You can have lunch there too – mac and cheese, lumpia, and Frito chili pie are promised. This is one of two gift fairs/bazaars today, along with the second day at Peace Lutheran (noon-3 pm, 39th/Thistle).
Though today was the biggest holiday bazaar day of the season, there are more to come, including one at Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) that has room for more vendors – here’s the announcement:
Village Green West Seattle is hosting a local Festive Holiday Fair. We are looking for 5-6 more local artists, candle makers, quilters, glass makers, ETC., to come and set up shop at our community. This event is open to the public; it will be on Wednesday, December 6th, from 12-3 pm. Local vendors/artists, please reach out to Corinne at corinne@villagegreenretirement.com or call 206.937.6122 to reserve your spot.
The holiday spirit abounds at the Peace Lutheran Church Holiday Bazaar in Gatewood, happening both days this weekend in the church’s gathering hall (enter off 39th just north of Thistle). Lots of treats, too:
You’ll also find a table with fair-trade coffee, chocolate, and tea for sale. Jewelry too:
And you or someone on your gift list can combat cold feet with these slippers:
We also noted plants, poetry books, and suet for your backyard birds. The bazaar continues until 3 pm today and will be open tomorrow too, noon to 3 pm. Proceeds are benefiting local nonprofits including the Westside Neighbors Network Shelter (and thanks to bazaar organizers for sponsoring WSB this week to get the word out).
Josephine Delellis‘s “steampunk” creations – lots of gears! – are among the unique handmade items filling the rooms and hall of the Arrowhead Gardens Welcome Center right now during this year’s Holiday Bazaar. There are treats for people and pups, too, and preserves – or maybe you need something to stay warm, in which case Gail Jackson‘s hats and scarves might be just right.
Mary Hostetter‘s wreaths are not to be missed (we bought a glorious purple one a few years ago and it’s a holiday fave:
Mary Wood‘s colorful creations caught our eyes too:
Arrowhead Gardens is at 9200 2nd SW, at the end of the SW Roxbury corridor just before the hill that takes you to Highway 509. The Welcome Center is on the east side of the complex. The bazaar (one of the events featured in our WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide) is today only, continuing until 3 pm.
If you could use a little holiday help in getting a turkey on the Thanksgiving table, now’s the time. Above, Eastridge Church started its annual giveaway at 9 am – 40 volunteers giving out 700 turkeys and tote bags of groceries, according to Pastor Craig Mathison:
Just walk up to the front of the church at 39th/Oregon. Meantime, the West Seattle Food Bank‘s annual drive-up/ride-up turkey distribution has just started in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor):
(Photos added)
The Food Bank tells us demand is “way up” this year:
If you can’t get to either event this morning but you need pre-Thanksgiving food help, the WS Food Bank’s headquarters at 35th/Morgan will be open noon-7 pm Monday, 10 am-2 pm Tuesday and Wednesday.
11:17 AM: The WSFB just called to let us know they’re out.
Saturday is a huge day if you’re ready to shop:
The Peace Lutheran Church bazaar at 39th/Thistle in Gatewood is one of six holiday bazaars and craft fairs listed for Saturday in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Organizers have been advertising the event on WSB to ensure you know you’re invited – in addition to selling handmade and fair-trade items 10 am-3 pm, they’re also offering craft activities for kids 10 am-2 pm and a hot lunch option 11 am-1 pm. If you can’t get there Saturday, they’ll do it again – minus lunch and crafts – noon-3 pm Sunday.
WHITE CENTER LIBRARY GUILD BAZAAR/BOOK SALE, NOVEMBER 17 & 18: Two-day bazaar and book sale at White Center Library – on Friday and Saturday (11 am-4 pm both days). (1409 SW 107th)
Also tomorrow – the Alki Masonic Center‘s holiday bazaar, 9 am-4 pm in The Junction … the Arrowhead Gardens craft fair, 10 am-3 pm, promising “wreaths, floral arrangements, crochet and knitting crafts, and homemade goods” … Admiral Church is having an “Old World-style Christmas Market,” 10 am-4 pm … it’s the second day of the White Center Library Guild‘s bazaar and book sale, 11 am-4 pm … and if you don’t mind venturing a little further south, the Shorewood Elementary PTA also invites you to their holiday bazaar too, 10 am-4 pm. Follow the links for addresses, or find them in our updated-daily Holiday Guide and see what else is happening!
Here’s your chance to be Santa, without needing the beard and suit (unless you have them already) – Toys for Tots time! The photo above shows what generous people brought last year to Northwest Insurance Group (5431 California SW; WSB sponsor), and John Moore tells us they’re now collecting donations for this year. We asked John what might be most appreciated this year: “Older kids (11 and early teens) tend to be the most challenging and left out as far as gifts. Items like soccer, football, basketball balls tend to be popular- just nothing wrapped, as they have to be sorted by the Marine Corps.” Whatever you can donate it, bring it to the Northwest Insurance Group office any weekday between 8 am and 4 pm (except Thursday and Friday next week) by December 11th. This drive and others are featured all season long in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!
(WSB photo, 2022 Eastridge Church turkey giveaway)
With Saturday just two days away, we’re reminding you that this year’s two pre-Thanksgiving turkey giveaways happen that day. Starting at 9 am, Eastridge Church is providing hundreds of turkeys and bags of groceries, at 39th SW and SW Oregon (across from West Seattle Bowl). It’s walk-up, not drive-up/ride-up. Then starting at 10 am, the West Seattle Food Bank has its annual turkey-and-food-box giveaway in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). Both are first-come, first-served, while supplies last.
This year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide is now live! It’s a work in progress all season long, with additions as we get word of them, and removals after events are over, so check it often. It starts with Thanksgiving-related info and continues through lists including holiday bazaars (hint: this Saturday is a HUGE day for those), gift wrapping, Santa photos, Christmas Ship stops, holiday concerts and plays, light shows, celebrations, donation drives, church services, Small Business Saturday sales, and a LOT more. Thanks to everyone who’s already sent information on what they’re offering … if you have something coming up but haven’t sent that info to us, hurry! Whatever you want the community to know, westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to reach us so we can get it into the guide (and if time/date-specific, into our year-round calendar too) – thank you!
Another West Seattle business is launching a holiday donation drive, and sharing information about how you can help. Today is the first day of the Forgotten Children’s Fund drive at John L. Scott Westwood Real Estate (WSB sponsor). Here’s the announcement:
John L Scott Westwood /The Madrona Group are taking toy donations/money donations from November 15- December 22, 2023. We are working again with THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN’s FUND, which works to give underprivileged children and their families a truly MERRY CHRISTMAS/ With the support of our West Seattle Community, we are able to purchase, wrap, and have Santa and his Elves deliver gifts every year.
The Forgotten Children’s Fund began when a boy named Craig wrote a letter to Santa Claus in December of 1976. That letter never got delivered to Santa’s North Pole, but it did reach a restaurant in Seattle called Francisco’s. The letter immediately captured the heart of Mr. Dick Francisco, and the Forgotten Children’s Fund was created to help others in similar situations. The FCF currently operates in King County, Lewis County, North Counties (including Skagit, Island, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties) and Chelan Counties of Washington State.
Visit forgottenchildrensfund.org to donate, volunteer or just learn more about this organization.
The kids are under 12 years old. The most-requested items are Legos, LOL dolls, Barbies, action figures, Sonic, Paw Patrol, Lincoln logs, Hot Wheels, unicorns, sport balls, arts & crafts, science projects, etc. We can always
use gift cards for the older kids.Please bring your unwrapped gifts to: John L. Scott Westwood at 2600 SW Barton Street, Suite A-6 (Westwood Village), Monday-Friday 9 AM to 4 PM. You can also donate at John L. Scott Bothell and John L. Scott Mukilteo.
Checks can be made to THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN’S FUND – P.O. BOX 365 – MOUNT VERNON, WA 98273. Questions? Contact Natalie Trius at 206-938-5572 or natalietrius@johnlscott.com
The John L. Scott Westwood office is on the breezeway.
(File photo from a previous year’s drive)>
We’re continuing to tell you about holiday-season donation drives – like this one that just launched at longtime WSB sponsor Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency, to help keep people warm as the coldest time of year arrives:
The 10th annual winter clothing drive has begun at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency.
In conjunction with the West Seattle Food Bank/West Seattle Helpline, we are collecting donations of clothes, coats, and shoes from November 13th until January 1st. Please drop off your donations at 3435 California Ave SW. The office is open for donations Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9 am to 5 pm. Tuesdays 9 am to 2 pm. For undergarments and socks, please donate only new and unopened packages of clothing items.
Pickup may be available for those who have donations but are unable to transport them. For further information, contact the State Farm office at 206-932-1878.
Thank you, West Seattle, for your generosity and spirit of giving.
With Thanksgiving just a week and a half away, we’re almost ready to launch this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Thanks to everyone who’s already sent information on holiday-season events – bazaars/pop-up shops, donation drives, performances, open houses, holiday food specials, etc. … if you have something coming up but haven’t sent that info to us, hurry! Whatever you want the community to know, westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to reach us so we can get it into the guide (and if time/date-specific, into our year-round calendar too) – thank you!
THANKSGIVING NOTE: The guide will start off with Thanksgiving-related notes, which we’ve also been spotlighting here in the news stream. One more we’ve received word of – if you need help assembling Thanksgiving dinner, Husky Deli is another venue offering to make the whole thing for you to heat at home – $150 to serve five people – roasted turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, bread rolls, and a half-gallon of Husky ice cream (you choose the flavor). Get your order in by Monday, November 20th, for pickup the day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 23rd).
That festive corner is dropoff spot for a donation drive for Treehouse foster youth at Alki Bike & Board (2606 California SW; WSB sponsor) this holiday season. You can go here to see what they’re collecting. Donation dropoffs are during store hours – 10 am-6 pm Fridays and Saturdays, noon-5 pm Sundays, noon-6 pm Tuesdays-Thursdays. The drive continues through December 15th, and there’s one request; “Please make sure all items are NEW or in GREAT used condition.”
P.S. If your business, organization, school, etc., has a holiday-season donation drive, email us info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – we’ll have a dedicated ongoing list as usual in our forthcoming West Seattle Holiday Guide.
(WSB photo, WSFB giveaway, November 2022)
If you need help to get a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on the table this year, you have two opportunities next weekend to get a free turkey. Both are happening on Saturday, November 18. Starting at 9 am, Eastridge Church will give away hundreds of turkeys and bags of groceries, at 39th SW and SW Oregon (across from West Seattle Bowl). Starting at 10 am, the West Seattle Food Bank will present its annual turkey-and-food-box giveaway in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). Both are first-come, first-served, while supplies last, and neither requires any ID or proof of need.
In addition to The Hall at Fauntleroy, the West Seattle Eagles usually offer a free community Thanksgiving dinner, and they’ve sent word it’s happening again this year. All are welcome at their HQ at 4426 California SW in The Junction, 2-5 pm on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 23). They promise a “full, traditional meal,” all ages welcome, just show up.
Two weeks and two days until Thanksgiving – if you’re looking for cooking help, The Skylark in North Delridge can offer you some assistance. Skylark proprietor Matt Larson emailed to say, “We will be offering take-home Thanksgiving dinner again this year featuring house-smoked turkey plus sides. Order must be in by Friday the 17th and pickup is Wednesday the 22nd. Orders can be placed on our website.” Sides available include mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green-bean casserole. (Anybody else with Thanksgiving take-home – or dine-in – offerings? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)
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