West Seattle, Washington
05 Sunday
(WSB file photo)
Yet another holiday tradition is coming back from pandemic hiatus. The West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) Holiday Taste sampling event returns Thursday (November 10th), 4-7 pm. That’s when the store and its vendors serve up tastes of a wide variety of foods you might consider for your holiday menus; this will be the first time since 2019! The store is at California/Fauntleroy.
(WSB photo from 2019’s Thanksgiving dinner at The Hall at Fauntleroy)
We mentioned a week and a half ago that The Hall at Fauntleroy plans to resume its full free sit-down community Thanksgiving dinner, but details were pending. Today we have the full plan for this year’s return of the 20+-year tradition, from Reed Haggerty of The Hall’s parent DSquared Hospitality:
We are back for 2022 with a full FREE meal from 12 pm-3 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy!
This event is meant for anyone who would like to attend, and everyone is welcome!
We are also asking for WARM clothes donations (NEW socks, NEW blankets, winter jackets, etc.) as well as dessert donations – mmmm pumpkin pie!
Our goal is to “Fill the van” (we would like to overflow one of our catering vans with warm clothes … It has been so cold already this year!)
In addition to donations, we are looking for volunteers to assist with setup, service, and cleanup on the day of. Please see the sign up link here.
If you know someone who would like to donate, they can bring clothing donations or dessert donations to our warehouse in SODO starting Monday 11/21-Wednesday 11/23. Our business hours are 9-5.
If the trek down to SODO is too much, we will be taking donations the day of Thanksgiving starting at 9 am at The Hall.
The Hall at Fauntleroy is at the south end of the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9131 California SW.
Holiday donation-drive season is beginning, and some have asked us about toy drives. We’ll have a list in our forthcoming West Seattle Holiday Guide, and we’re also publishing announcements as we receive them. This drive at John L. Scott Westwood (WSB sponsor) starts today:
John L. Scott Westwood and John L. Scott Ballard/The Madrona Group are taking toy donations/money donations from November 7th-December 15th. We are working with THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN’S FUND, which works to give underprivileged children and their families a truly Merry Christmas. With the support of our 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 use the QR code below to donate.
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
Want your holiday decorations to do good as well as look good? This announcement offers a way to do that:
The Bridge School Holiday Wreath Fundraiser: Embrace Community and Shop Local!
Place orders by November 10th
Items will be available for pickup at The Bridge School on November 17th
The holidays will be here before you know it. Buy beautiful, long-lasting wreaths & holiday decor while supporting a local, independent elementary school and a local, family-owned farm this holiday season!
Check out our Wreath Catalog and order here: fundraiser.support/WreathSale
The Bridge School is a cooperative elementary school at 10300 28th SW.
P.S. Holiday fundraisers are one of the many things we feature in our forthcoming West Seattle Holiday Guide – now’s the time to send info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Less than three weeks until Thanksgiving, so we’re working on this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. If you haven’t already sent information on your holiday-season event, bazaar/pop-up shop, donation drive, fundraiser, performance, hours, holiday food specials, etc. … now’s the time to get that info to us so we can share it with tens of thousands of your neighbors. 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!
Meryl Sidikman is one of the first artists you’ll see when you walk into the Fauntleroy Fine Art and Holiday Gift Show, continuing until 8 pm tonight and both days this weekend. She’s a White Center artist with a studio in Highland Park, and her booth includes brightly hued paintings including the frog and bats shown in our photo. Right around the corner in the event venue at Fauntleroy Church, you’ll see Rance Holiman:
His paintings include landscapes and portraits. We also talked with Rhonda Porter – a longtime local mortgage consultant who is also an artist; this is her first show:
Work of hers that caught our eye include Elvis (as seen in the photo) and colorful chickens. The full lineup of participating artists is in our calendar listing; you’ll also find artists showing and selling work in many other media, including textiles, jewelry, and metal. The show continues 10 am-4 pm Saturday and 11 am-2 pm Sunday; the church is at 9140 California SW.
That’s one of our photos from last year’s first-ever West Seattle Festival of Trees. The Rotary Club of West Seattle is organizing it again this year, and calling for entries. Here’s the info:
Rotary Club of West Seattle and Brookdale Admiral Heights are teaming up for our second annual Festival of Trees fundraising event! This event spans over a two-week period and revolves around the display of decorated trees and wreaths that will later get auctioned off and benefit West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation.
Important Dates
November 17: Deadline to sign up as a tree or wreath sponsor (email kjersti@strouplegal.com to sign up or for more information)
November 25-28: Dates for setting up your tree or wreath
November 29-December 8: Open viewing of the trees and wreaths to the community
December 8: Gala open to the public with beverages, 6-8 pm at Brookdale Admiral Heights, no fee for entrance, RSVPs are requested in advance to kjersti@strouplegal.com but it is open to everyone, a donation to the WS Food Bank gets you in the door
All proceeds from the sale of the trees and wreaths benefit the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation which serves local youth, seniors, and the greater community. We’ll also be supporting the West Seattle Food Bank with donations of non-perishable food and gently used clothes used as the “entrance fee” to the event.
This flyer has more info on participating!
When Thanksgiving gets closer, we’ll be compiling our annual list of which restaurants plan to be open on the holiday. But there’s one place we already know for sure will be open, 
and it requires reservations that are usually booked up well in advance: Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor). They’re now taking Thanksgiving reservations online or by phone (206-937-1600). No buffet again this year, so it’s a three-course plated Thanksgiving dinner (see the menu here), with seatings between 11 am and 5 pm. They’re also again offering take-home kits, to be picked up the day before Thanksgiving.
Though we’re not past Halloween yet, we’ve been receiving announcements about holiday-season events, including these two:
(WSB file photo)
TURKEY GIVEAWAY: Eastridge Church will again give away turkeys and bags of groceries on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. One change this year: They’ll go back to a walk-up distribution. This starts at 9 am Saturday, November 19, outside the church at 4500 39th SW and goes until the hundreds of turkeys/grocery bags are gone. Between West Seattle and the church’s main campus in Issaquah, they expect to serve 1,500 people.
FREE SIT-DOWN DINNER: The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW) will return to its longtime traditional sit-down community Thanksgiving dinner, free to all, on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 24). Times and other details are still to come. Last year, The Hall offered free takeaway dinners.
P.S. We’re starting work on our West Seattle Holiday Guide, so if you have an event/sale/etc., the sooner you can send us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – the better; thank you!
Plans for this year’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays are proceeding, and this year will bring something new: GLOWS – Glorious Lights of West Seattle. WSJA executive director Chris Mackay says it’ll have multiple components, but right now they’re starting with a call for artists for a “light fashion show” as part of the biggest Hometown Holidays night, Saturday, December 3rd. There’ll be a community light-costume contest – how brightly can YOU shine? – and that’ll be judged by five artists who will each create a “costume of light” to wear as they promenade around The Junction 5-9 pm that night. Each chosen artist gets a $1,000 stipend, Interested? Here’s the application form.
The winter-holiday season, hard as it is to envision after an 88-degree October day, is just a little more than one month away. Hope Lutheran School is taking orders for a holiday-greens fundraiser, and the deadline is Friday. Here’s the announcement:
Holiday wreaths, greens, and poinsettias – ON SALE NOW! These quality greens are supplied by Bacon’s Tree Farm and poinsettias supplied by Windmill Farms. Order through Friday, October 21st. Order online through our online order link:
form.jotform.com/222709416885162
All proceeds from this fundraiser benefit Hope Lutheran School’s 7th & 8th grade East Coast Trip. Get a head start on your holiday greens!
If you missed our previous mentions here or here – the businesses of The Admiral District want to be sure you know their trick-or-treating event is returning, and is happening on Halloween itself this year, so this formal announcement is just in from Brent Amacher:
Admiral District merchants of West Seattle are proud to announce the return of the annual “Trick-or-Treating” event for 2022. The Admiral District “Trick or Treating” event will occur on Halloween, giving families the opportunity to trick or treat in a safe environment on the holiday itself. This long-standing Admiral neighborhood tradition has grown in popularity each year, and continues to be a West Seattle family favorite.
Trick or treating in The Admiral District is 100% volunteer-supported by the businesses operating near the intersection of Admiral and California Ave SW. Each year, local businesses give back to the community by providing a safe place for families to enjoy the holiday. Find your favorite costume, grab the kids, and come out on Monday, October 31st, to join in on this popular West Seattle event!
If you are interested in finding out whether a specific business in your area will be participating, stop by in advance, or give them a call. This event is well attended and most Admiral area storefronts take part in the fun. On the day of the event, simply look for the sign (shown above) in business windows, and stroll through the Admiral District with family and friends.
Trick or Treating will happen between 3 pm and 6 pm on 10/31/22 in The Admiral District.
As we continue spotlighting Halloween decorations, Ryan invites you to see the light show at his home on 47th SW between Dakota and Andover:
The show lasts about 18 minutes and is set to Halloween-themed music. You can listen via FM radio or a smartphone app; there is also a small push-to-listen speaker. It runs from dark until 10 pm every night between now and October 31.
We’ll be adding this to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and then our annual West Seattle Halloween Guide, which we’ll be assembling this weekend – got something we should inckude? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
We’re continuing to spotlight Halloween decorations as more pop up around West Seattle. Tonight’s photo is from Laurie in North Delridge, who says, “The house is on 26th just west of the Delridge Community Center ballfields. Dog is the scariest of them all.” Got a decorations pic or tip? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (That’s also where to send Halloween-season events for our calendar – you can find those listings here.)
Halloween is three weeks from tonight! Two notes:
DECORATIONS: Thanks to everyone who continues sending Halloween-decoration pics to spotlight. Tonight, a pair of skeletons spotted by Victoria near Lincoln Park – having a garden party. More sightings welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com!
TRICK-OR-TREAT REMINDER: We’ve had a few questions about this year’s business trick-or-treat events. So far we have two in the calendar – on Halloween (Monday, October 31), The Admiral District hosts its always-popular trick-or-treat event, 3-6 pm, at participating businesses. The day before Halloween, the West Seattle Junction Harvest Fest – which started as business trick-or-treating but has expanded far beyond that – runs 11 am-5 pm this year on Sunday, October 30th, starting with the costume parade. Plus: Trick-or-treating is part of Trick or Trees in Highland Park, noon-4 pm Saturday, October 29th. We’re adding other Halloween events to our West Seattle Event Calendar as they come in!
With Halloween now just a little over three weeks away, we’re continuing our spotlight on West Seattle decorations. Andrew‘s home in Gatewood is offering a special seasonal show, starting tonight:
We’d love to share our Halloween decorations with everyone!
Location:
37th Ave SW/SW Austin St in GatewoodDates:
Saturday nights, starting Saturday, 10/8Two Showtimes:
7:30 pm
8:00 pmThe show is 15 minutes long. Show will unfortunately only be playing if it’s not raining. Happy Halloween!
If you have Halloween decorations – with or without a show – to suggest for our ongoing spotlights, please email info (and a photo if you have one, though we can also go out and take our own) to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
We continue spotlighting Halloween decorations. These two look like they grew old (and then some) waiting for the Mariners to finally make it back to the playoffs. The photo is from Katy, who saw these two in Gatewood. Katy says, “I love the combination of Halloween and excitement for the Mariners!” If you have, or have seen, some decorations you’d like to see spotlighted here, send photos and/or location to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Sunday night rainbow glimpse, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Good morning! Holiday notes:
TRANSIT/TRAFFIC
–Metro is on a Sunday schedule
–West Seattle Water Taxi is also on a Sunday schedule
–Sound Transit buses and light rail are on Sunday schedules too
-If you’re going to an area of the city with pay-station street parking, note that there’s no charge today
-Check traffic cams here
-13 days until the scheduled reopening of the West Seattle Bridge.
HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT
Mountain to Sound Outfitters Sale – The clearance sale at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) is continuing today, 11 am-6 pm.
Last day of the season for most city aquatic facilities – After today, city-run wading pools and outdoor pools are all closed until next year – so it’s your last day for the Lincoln Park wading pool and Colman Pool, both open noon-7 pm. Also open today is Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm, daily through September 18th.
Last night of the season for 10 pm closure and beach fires at Alki
Community stand-up paddlebarding – Alki Kayak Tours’ weekly 6 pm SUP event is scheduled from Seacrest (1660 Harbor SW) at 6 pm.
NOT HAPPENING TODAY
Banking (holiday)
U.S. Postal Service (holiday)
Libraries (closed)
WEATHER
Mostly sunny by afternoon, with a 70-ish high.
Just a reminder before nightfall that if you lose or find a pet amid tonight’s likely fireworks noise (or any other time), WSB has had a West Seattle Lost/Found Pets page for almost 15 years. Just send the info – with a photo if you have one – including a contact #, and the area in which you lost/found the pet, to westseattleblog@gmail.com. If you don’t have access to email, you can also text the info to our 24/7 hotline, 206-293-6302. (At right is a wholehearted supporter of this message, our newest WSB “shop cat,” Sullivan, a 4-year-old rescue tuxedo cat.)
Our video shows the entirety of this morning’s West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade, whose hundreds of participants strolled and rolled through North Admiral streets this morning. Like many other summer traditions, this one was back for the first time since 2019. Organizers Nicole Lutomski and Megan Erb welcomed the crowd at the 44th/Sunset starting point before 12-year-old Sloane Pothier sang the National Anthem:
The forecast delivered on the “partly sunny” promise as the parade wound west, south, and east across several blocks before crossing California and heading into Hamilton Viewpoint Park:
(That’s Michaela as Lady Liberty.) At the park, parade sponsors offered kids’ activities:
Among this year’s sponsors, the Hogan family from longtime WSB sponsor Dream Dinners-West Seattle (we caught up with them pre-parade):
Sack races at the park were announced by another parade sponsor, State Sen. Joe Nguyen. The races were held in age groups – from the littlest kids all the way up to grownups!
Also at the park, one more sponsored feature of value – longtime WSB sponsor Potter Construction bankrolled the porta-potties!
P.S. This is West Seattle’s only Fourth of July parade – but not its only parade – next one is the West Seattle Grand Parade, along California SW from The Admiral District to The Junction, 11 am Saturday, July 23rd.
(WSB file photo)
Happy Independence Day!
First, transportation info:
TRANSIT: Metro is on a “Sunday with extra late-night service” schedule … The West Seattle Water Taxi is on a Sunday schedule (Vashon is not running) … Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is on a Sunday schedule … Sound Transit‘s holiday plans are listed here.
TRAFFIC CAMS: Check them on this WSB page; for other areas of the city, see the SDOT Travelers’ Map.
Holiday happenings:
FLAGS IN THE JUNCTION: Still room for more volunteer help putting them up and/or taking them down – 9 am and/or 4 pm, meet on northeast corner of California/Alaska.
4TH OF JULY KIDS’ PARADE:Be part of West Seattle’s only 4th of July parade! Starts at 10 am from 44th/Sunset [map] and travels west, then east, across a few North Admiral blocks before concluding at Hamilton Viewpoint Park (1120 California SW) with sack races and kids’ activities. Here’s our preview.
BARBECUE & MUSIC AT THE BEACH: From Chef Gino Williamson of TheHomeSkillit.com:
I will be cooking Caribbean Barbecue on the beach (Alki) and I have a four-piece live band playing old school and Caribbean beach music. Everyone in the community is welcome to come and have a good time with us and rock out. All the proceeds will go to my Foundation feed the Street Seattle and we will be feeding homeless people and Pioneer Square with all of the proceeds and the funds that we receive on 4th of July. (Food 10 am-10 pm, music 4 pm-10 pm)
4TH OF JULY BASEBALL: The DubSea Fish Sticks semipro summer team are back home for the holiday, 11:05 am vs. Diamond Sports at Steve Cox Memorial Park. Ticket info here. (1321 SW 102nd)
PARKS & POOLS: Here’s the city list of what’s open and what’s not.
Interested in holiday shopping?
AVALON GLASSWORKS: This Luna Park shop/studio’s famous “art-glass seconds” sale is back, 10 am-2 pm today. (2914 SW Avalon Way)
Looking for beverages?
C & P COFFEE’S OPEN: The coffee shop (and longtime WSB sponsor) at 5612 California SW emailed us to say they’re open 7 am-5 pm today.
THE BEER JUNCTION’S OPEN: Also via email, “The Beer Junction will be open on Monday, July 4th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm for pints, growlers, or beers to go. Last call for pours and growlers at the bar is 3:30 pm.” (4511 California SW)
And tonight …
SEATTLE’S BIGGEST FIREWORKS SHOW: Only one major show within city limits, and that’s the Seafair Summer Fourth at Lake Union. You can usually see much of the show from certain north-facing spots in West Seattle, including Hamilton Viewpoint, Belvedere Park/Viewpoint, and much of Harbor Avenue, including Seacrest Park. Don’t show up at the last minute unless you’re on foot – parking fills up early just about everywhere with a view. The show starts around 10:20 pm. (It’ll be live on KONG-TV, too.)
NO THREE TREE POINT FIREWORKS: If you’re in southwest West Seattle, you might be wondering – but no, the waterfront neighborhood in Burien is NOT bringing in a fireworks barge this year.
WE’RE ON DUTY TODAY – 24/7/365 as always, so if you have a news tip, please text/call 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(Photo from 2018 West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade)
One more reminder before Monday arrives: The biggest holiday event in West Seattle is the 4th of July Kids’ Parade. Even if you’re not planning to participate or watch, remember that the parade crosses California Avenue SW on the way to the ending point, Hamilton Viewpoint Park, and that usually means at least brief traffic stops. It starts at 44th/Sunset [map] just after 10 am, with the National Anthem and a few words from organizers, and then SFD’s North Admiral-based Engine 29 and the legendary blue pickup truck – the only motorized participants – lead the way. The route heads a short distance west before turning south and then east toward the park, where kids’ activities and sack races await. More specifics are in our previous preview here, if you missed it. Events at the park wrap up around noon. (Latest forecast suggests the weather will improve to “partly sunny.”) The parade’s been a tradition for more than a quarter-century!
(Reader photo of fireworks debris at a local park in 2020 – one that did NOT have lights on)
11:54 AM: Seattle Parks has made its annual announcement that some playfields will be illuminated to discourage fireworks use. This year the plan stretches across three nights, Saturday through Monday (July 2-4). At the affected West Seattle fields, it’ll be lights on at 8:30, lights out at 11. One other difference: Last year’s announcement said the fields will be “monitored” 9 pm-4 am, but this year it’s 9 pm-2 am. Here are the four West Seattle fields affected:
Delridge Playfield, 4458 Delridge Way SW
Hiawatha Playfield, 2700 California Ave. SW
Walt Hundley Playfield, 6920 34th Avenue SW
West Seattle Stadium, 4432 35th Ave. SW
This announcement only involves Seattle Parks facilities – we don’t usually get similar announcements from other entities that have fields in the area, such as Seattle Public Schools (though we’re inquiring).
4:54 PM: SPS says they have no lights-on plans but will have security monitoring their fields.
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