West Seattle, Washington
15 Friday
Tonight’s photo is from Valerie, who tells us about her display: “The inspiration this year was a ski lodge in the woods and the animals that live there. Please visit 3431 48th Ave SW [map] and enjoy a walk through a Woodland Wonderland.” We’re adding it to the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide; you can also see all the featured displays archived here (newest to oldest). And if you have one to suggest – yours or someone else’s, with or without photo(s) – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Lots of lights at Annette‘s house in North Delridge! She sent the photo with a note that, “My neighbors keep telling me to send my pics in” – thanks, neighbors! You can see Annette’s lights in person at 4837 Puget Blvd SW [map]. We’re showcasing lights every night through New Year’s Eve, so your suggestion – with or without photo(s) – is welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com; what we’ve shown so far is archived, newest to oldest, here.
6:29 PM: Been out on tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk yet? Artist receptions are happening all over the peninsula:
Jessie Summa Russo is tonight’s featured artist at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), where you can stop in until 9 pm. She explains:
My recent work is inspired by my life as a musician as well as the lives of my relatives. My grandfather was an Abstract Expressionist painter in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, and I feel like his paintings both defined him and I understood him through them. My mother went to art school when I was a toddler; some of my earliest memories are of the printmaking studio with giant black press wheels taller than people.
And as we mentioned in our Wednesday preview, some stops tonight are hosting art markets, including Jet City Labs (upstairs at 4546 California SW):
It’s a collaboration with Clay Cauldron. Above are Misty and Anna, and some of Misty’s beach-glass (and more) art; below, Chas, with “melted-crayon art”:
And roaming The Junction, you just might find Santa:
Find tonight’s venue list – for art and/or food/drink specials – on the Art Walk website. (The Art of Music performances are happening until 7:40 pm, too – that info’s here.)
7:14 PM: We stopped for a little video of Jim Page playing at Great American Diner (4752 California SW):
And thanks to Eddie for this artist photo – Lorrie Brogan at Wild Rose’s (4529 California SW):
Her new paintings, a series titled “Ladies…All,” will be on display at Wild Rose’s all month.
Tonight’s the next big event in West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays – Shop Late Thursday, along with the West Seattle Art Walk (which stretches beyond The Junction too) – but Junction Association executive director Chris Mackay has word of a date change for an upcoming event: Pajamarama, originally scheduled for this Saturday, is moving to the following Saturday, December 18, instead: “Join us then for shopping in your PJ’s while sipping hot cocoa served up at Windermere.” It’ll still be happening 10 am-1 pm. Spend at least $35 and get a limited-edition diner mug for your cocoa! (We’re updating the date in our West Seattle Holiday Guide too.)
Sunrise Heights is rocking the holiday-display world this year! Tonight we have another display from that area – created by Jenny, whose spouse sent the photos:
I wanted to share with you some photos of my wife’s light display this year. We are at 7341 34th Ave SW [map]. There are retro cutouts of Peanuts, Rudolph, and a yeti.
The flag pole is wrapped like a candy cane. And there is Grinch staring ominously out the window by our Christmas tree.
(The yeti, we believe, is Rudolph’s pal Bumble.) Got a display to suggest – yours or someone else’s? We’re showing them nightly through New Year’s Eve. westseattleblog@gmail.com, with or without photos – thank you!
(Image courtesy Shug’s Soda Fountain)
Baked Alaska on California! That’s part of what Shug’s Soda Fountain is offering in an upcoming pop-up at its future West Seattle “Mini” location (California/Charlestown). December 18-21st, noon-4 pm each day, Colleen Wilkie of Shug’s says, “We will be offering Baked Alaskas, holiday ice cream & drink gift boxes, and pints of Candy Cane and Egg Nog ice cream. People can also pre-order (preferable) all these items at this link.” They’ve done various pop-ups at the corner, but after three years have yet to open full-time, so we asked Wilkie if that was still in their future plans. She says yes: “We are working more diligently now to open this Spring. Between having a baby, permitting, and the pandemic – we certainly have been in an uphill battle. We are remaining hopeful!”
Tomorrow night brings the last West Seattle Art Walk of the year – wrapped up with extra holiday fun. First, the list of participating venues:
Those holiday extras include Santa himself, strolling The Junction 6-9 pm, posing with you for selfies.
It’s also “Shop Late Thursday” in The Junction, and participating businesses will beckon you in with luminarias. You’ll also be able to shop two holiday markets at Junction businesses, according to Art Walk coordinator Reeve Washburn:
Jet City Labs + Clay Cauldron = Jet City Cauldron, at Jet City’s venue: 4546 1/2 California Ave SW (enter in the alley between California and 41st) and Bin 41: 4707 California Ave SW
Jet City: Jewelry, terrariums, photography, collage, paper goods, abstract art.
Bin 41: jewelry, photography, digital art on wood and acrylic, fused glass, and T’s creations! For our ‘gnome in the home’ fans, there will be a new stash available for purchase at the event!
Outside The Junction, the southernmost Art Walk venue Brace Point Pottery in Arbor Heights (4208 SW 100th) has extended their holiday sale – jewelry, custom clothing, ceramics, more.
One more extra tomorrow night – two more “Art of Music” live performances – both 6-7:40 pm: Jim Page at Great American Diner in The Junction, Veronica Malki at Copper Coin in The Admiral District.
Browse more venues and artists on the official preview page for tomorrow’s Art Walk, which starts at 5 pm and continues “until late.” (WSB is media sponsor for the WSAW.)
Lots of generosity so far this season – and still many opportunities to keep giving, if you can. Here are three in the next four days, if you haven’t already seen them in our West Seattle Holiday Guide or on our year-round Event Calendar:
WSHS WINTER CARE-PACKAGE DONATION DRIVE TODAY: Today, 3-5 pm outside West Seattle High School‘s north entrance (3000 California SW) is your third and final opportunity to drop off donated items for this student-led, student-benefiting drive creating “care packages.” Items needed:
Here are hygiene necessities that would be included in care packages:
– packaged masks
– unopened hand sanitizer
– unopened protein bars/granola bars/snacks
– unopened bars of soap
– unopened deodorant
– unused toothbrushes
– unopened toothpaste
– unopened chapstick
– hand warmersDonations of clothing (used): jackets, sweaters, pants, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, t-shirts, blankets
DRIVE-UP CLOTHING DRIVE THURSDAY, WITH COFFEE: Tomorrow morning (Thursday, December 9th), 10 am-11:30 am, a drive-up donation drive at Daystar Retirement Village (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) is collecting clothing items for the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Clothesline. Your reward: A made-to-order coffee drink! Here are the details, including requested items.
DRIVE-UP FOOD DRIVE SATURDAY: Atticus, now a high-school student, collected food in the Hope Lutheran back lot last year – almost a ton! – and is doing it again this Saturday (December 11th), 10 am-3 pm. He and his brother Dominic will be collecting food and money as well as coats – all sizes – for the Westside Interfaith Network‘s weekly Welcome Table in White Center. The dropoff site (ride-up and walk-up welcome too, of course) is off SW Oregon just east of 42nd SW.
Thanks to Ashley for tonight’s photos of a display featuring a Halloween spider (featured here in October) who’s now decked out for the winter holidays:
Garth the Spider has put away his pumpkins and is in full Christmas mode. The neighbors had started adding their own touches – aka Wayne the snail.
Garth, Wayne, and trimmings are at 7019 14th Ave SW [map]. If you have, or see, lights that you want to share with the community, email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com, with or without photos – thank you! Every display we feature is listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. You can browse the archives (past years, too) here.
(WSB photos)
More than two tons of donated food arrived at the West Seattle Food Bank today, all from the annual food drive by Nucor Steel employees in West Seattle.
This year’s donations totaled 4.300 pounds in all, delivered to WSFB’s High Point HQ this morning with truck/trailer assistance from Tacoma Hydraulics.
Along with the food, Nucor and its employees donated $20,237 – which will go a long way toward helping WSFB buy even more food to help fight hunger.
You can donate to WSFB too – along with money, we asked executive director Fran Yeatts about this year’s most-needed items.
Here’s the list:
-Hams and turkeys for the holidays
-Diapers, including pull-ups for toddlers
-Food with a long shelf life, such as peanut butter and soup
-Snacks for the Backpack Program
-Gluten-free food
-Plant milks including oat and almond
-Cat and dog food, preferably wet; the need for cat food is greatest
Hours and location are on the WSFB website. Also – lots of food drives around the peninsula this holiday season – even a student-led drive-up collection this Saturday!
(Photo by Laura M)
Tonight’s West Seattle Christmas lights photo is from Sara, who wanted to be sure the man behind the famous Sunrise Heights treetop lights got a shoutout this season:
I wanted to see if you may be able to give some recognition in the Blog to my neighbor, Jeff Knudson. Jeff has been climbing up (updated) 3 trees (2 firs, 1 hemlock) every year for the past THIRTY years, putting up/maintaining holiday lights at the very top of the trees at the corner of 32nd and Othello [map]. It’s such an amazing, unique, and beautiful tradition for all in the neighborhood to witness!
Sara says one of the trees is on Jeff’s property, and the other two belong to neighbors. We’ve featured the light-topped trees before but did not previously know who was responsible. If you go see them – note that 32nd has some great ground-level displays nearby too (including this one we featured last week).
P.S. If you have, or see, lights that you want to share with the community, email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com, with or without photos – thank you! Every display we feature is listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. You can browse the archives (past years, too) here.
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Community Orchestras)
For the first time since pre-pandemic, you can see the West Seattle Community Orchestras perform onstage again. Just one big change – their usual performance venue, Chief Sealth International High School, isn’t available because of district COVID policies, and no place else in West Seattle has a big-enough stage, so they’re performing in Burien. WSCO hopes you’ll make the trip! Here’s the announcement:
Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7:00 pm three WSCO orchestras will be on stage in their first performance since December of 2019!
Music will include contemporary pieces as well as classical selections by Bach, Tschaikovsky, and Copland, along with holiday favorites.
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW VENUE! We will be at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien, 401 South 152nd Street.
Admission is FREE!
Doors open to the public at 6:30 PM
Concert begins at 7:00 PM
“Intermissions” will occur during stage resets (approx. 7:25 & 8:00)Reminder: Concertgoers must provide proof of vaccination OR a negative COVID test result from the past 24 hours.
Tonight is the final night of Hanukkah. The evening began with the lighting of eight candles on menorahs all over the world, including the one West Seattle synagogue Kol HaNeshamah brought to Junction Plaza Park for this year’s “Pop-Up Hanukkah..” The celebration included a “Dreidel Song” singalong, led by Orin Reynolds – our video shows the crowd, too:
Though this was the lone community event, the synagogue’s been busy with a variety of activities throughout the holiday, culminating in a geocaching “Dreidel Dash” that its youth group is sponsoring next weekend as a charity benefit – find out more here.
Tonight’s celebration in The Junction also included the donuts that are a traditional Hanukkah treat.
Every night, we’re featuring another West Seattle holiday display, thanks to your tips/photo. Tonight, we thank Nicholas for sending the photos and report:
Building on last year’s impressive showing, Kim Alexander and Gabe Valdez’s house focuses on vintage blow molds and collections of Christmas classics with lights and music. And they love people taking pictures.
Address: 6017 42nd Ave SW.
According to our info from last year, this is only their third year of doing this! Got someplace to suggest? Email us (with or without photos) at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (Past spotlights are archived here and listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
SUNDAY: You can be a holiday helper in The Junction! Until 2 pm today, you can help keep somebody warm this winter by bringing “gently used coats, hats, scarves and gloves” to the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (California/Alaska), where the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is serving up hot cocoa as a reward. ( The cocoa was donated by Husky Deli!) Everything collected goes to the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Clothesline. So far, five bins have been filled!
MONDAY: Grand total, 335 donated items – half of them coats!
The rain stopped just in time for tonight’s tree lighting at the biggest event of the West Seattle Junction Association‘s all-season Hometown Holidays celebration. The countdown was led by Jack Menashe, the Junction entrepreneur who is also responsible for West Seattle’s brightest Christmas lights, who offered words of gratitude first – thanking everyone for supporting local businesses amid the challenges posed by the pandemic and bridge closure. He also introduced the crowd to new WSJA executive director Chris Mackay. After the countdown/lighting, Santa stayed onstage to read a story you’ll likely recognize:
Elvis was this year’s host, with duties including everything from leading Christmas carols to inviting kids up onstage to ask about their holiday wishes;
Earlier in the afternoon, stage performances included the Endolyne Children’s Choir:
Hometown Holidays highlights in the week ahead include tomorrow’s Cocoa and Coat Drive – look for the booth at the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (California/Alaska), 10 am-2 pm; bring “gently used coats, hats, scarves, and gloves” and you’ll get hot cocoa! Also ahead, the holiday edition of the West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday (December 9), 5 pm until “late.”
Thanks to Jeremy Barton for the photo! Tonight’s Christmas-lights spotlight is in the 2700 block of 45th SW [vicinity map]. “Lots of inflated decorations, many of which have motion,” Jeremy notes. We’ll be spotlighting at least one display every night through year’s end, so send your tip (with or without photos) our way – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (Past spotlights are archived here and listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
(Jill and Kevin from the Junction Association)
4:27 PM: On SW Alaska between California and 42nd, the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Night Market is on – continuing until 7 pm, with the Junction Plaza Park tree lighting at 6 pm. Before then, Elvis is emceeing the stage show, and Santa‘s roaming:
Visit vendors and community organizations’ booths at the Night Market – say hi to your West Seattle neighbors like Sally Heit from Hope Lutheran School:
P.S. If you’re going to the Farmers’ Market tomorrow, bring a coat or other warm-clothing donation to the Hometown Holidays booth at the south end! You’ll be rewarded with hot cocoa.
Vendors are listed in our daily preview. More coverage later!
ADDED 6:48 PM: Here’s how it looked after dark:
Every year for a quarter-century, Pathfinder K-8 students and families have made and sold wreaths as a fundraiser – and they usually sell out. Pre-pandemic, the Pathfinder wreath booth was a fixture in The Junction on Farmers’ Market Sundays, but again this year, they’re only selling the wreaths online – here’s the announcement:
Pathfinder K-8 PTSA is holding our 26th annual wreath fundraiser to benefit outdoor education and classrooms at Pathfinder K-8 School. You usually see us in The Junction during Farmers Market days in December, but due to the pandemic, we have our 100% homemade wreaths available for sale online.
The evergreens in every Pathfinder wreath are foraged from downed branches from this season’s windstorms and salvaged from Christmas tree lots (thank you, Trees by the Sea on Alki, Home Depot, and McLendon), and the flowers and seedpods are clipped from our yards. Then members of the Pathfinder community build each wreath by hand. Each wreath is unique and has been made in one of our distanced, backyard workshops this past week.
Right now we have a good selection of beautiful wreaths available at www.pathfinderk8ptsa.org/shop. If you don’t see something now, check back tomorrow! The inventory is constantly being updated with new wreaths. After purchase they can be picked up at our workshop on Puget Ridge.
Thank you for supporting the kids at Pathfinder School!
If you lose track of this later, you’ll also find the wreath sale listed in the Trees/Wreaths/Greenery section of our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
11:04 AM: From today’s long list of events – Seattle firefighters’ Toys for Tots collection drive is on the road this year rather than at the fire stations, and today’s stop is Westwood Village, outside the QFC store:
That’s the crew of Engine 37 (from Station 37 at 35th/Holden). Besides new, unwrapped toys, you can donate cash/checks, too.
We asked a Toys for Tots rep what specific types of toys they need most. Reply: Toys for babies. So if you’re going shopping for a donation for this drive – on until 1 pm today – that’s an idea. If you miss this, there are also Toys for Tots bins all season long in other spots around West Seattle, including C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) at 5612 California SW.
4:21 PM: From SFD’s Carrie Brazil: “We had a great event, despite the weather. West Seattle showed up and donated 10+ big boxes of toys. Santa’s best guess is 450-550 toys plus cash donations.”
(WSB photos and video)
At ~520 feet, the big evergreen outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and School at 35th/Myrtle is the city’s highest-elevation Christmas tree this time of year. Last year, the annual lighting celebration was held online, after which the tree lights stayed on for months, not weeks, as a beacon of hope. Tonight, OLG returned to the in-person format, featuring emcee Brian Callanan, OLG pastor Father Kevin Duggan, singers The Starry Crowns and the OLG Children’s Chorus. Our video caught most of the singing and speaking before OLG student-body president Kingsley did the honors of flipping the switch:
Our Lady of Guadalupe tree is on! (35th SW/Myrtle, highest elevation in Seattle) pic.twitter.com/TQ0kABtxQB
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 4, 2021
In a nod to pandemic precautions, this was an entirely outdoor event – rather than opening the nearby Walmesley Center, they served cocoa and cookies outside, and collected food donations for St. Vincent de Paul on a table rather than in a sleigh in the center lobby.
Good turnout on a chilly but dry night:
P.S. The Starry Crowns have a Christmas concert later this month at OLG – 7 pm December 16th, in-person and streamed (that’ll be here).
(Photo by Jeremy Barton)
We intended to spotlight West Seattle’s renowned Menashe Family Lights last night, the first full-strength night of the year (as announced last month) – but then the power outage hit, so we postponed the plan until tonight. This year, the house, yard, and trees at 5605 Beach Drive are back up to full brightness after a downsized display last year so as not to draw the usual huge crowds.
(WSB photo)
Among the new features – this animatronic singing Santa:
The “real” Santa, by the way, will be there for photos (bring food to donate to the West Seattle Food Bank!) next Saturday (December 11th), 6-10 pm. In the meantime, you can go by any night to see the lights and inflatables:
(WSB photo)
Even if it’s not quite dark when you visit, still a festive sight:
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
The Menashes’ display isn’t just locally famous – it’s been on national TV multiple times over the years.
P.S. We’re showcasing holiday displays all over the peninsula as the season continues – if you have a suggestion, please email us at westseattleblog#gmail.com (with our without photos) – thank you! (Our list is in the West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
Every holiday season, The Christmas People do their best to help people in need have a happy holiday – with your help. So far we’ve heard from them about two requests this season – first, for drivers:
The Christmas People need volunteer drivers to deliver meals to homeless shelters from Wed.,Dec.22 thru Sunday, Dec. 26 – 10:30 am, 3 pm, 4:30 pm, and 8:30 pm. Areas include West Seattle, Downtown Seattle, 116th Bellevue and CCS Kent. Must have dependable enclosed vehicle to hold insulated bags and/or food transfer boxes. Clean driving record, insurance and proof of vaccination. Need warm-hearted people able to bring joy and hope to marginalized and underserved populations. Contact Fred Hutchinson, 206-719-4979 or pialley@jps.net for time slot.
They also need thousands of homemade cookies again this year – just make plans to drop yours off 9 am-3 pm December 22-24 at West Seattle Coworking (6040 California SW). They’ll be going to area shelters along with 2,300 holiday meals. The Christmas People also need cookie sorters and receivers – same contact info as volunteer drivers, if you can help with that.
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