West Seattle, Washington
26 Tuesday
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.
For our second night of this year’s Christmas-lights spotlights, we go to Sunrise Heights, Janel emailed us to let us know about the display put up by her 83-year-old father-in-law Hans Loos. “The effort and passion he has for decorating his house, is unmatched,” she says – from the fence to the roof to the yard.
This is at 7942 32nd SW [map]. “He does everything completely on his own. Including the roof! He wants the community to thoroughly enjoy the lights and even parks on the opposite side of the street, so he doesn’t block the view.”
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 place we feature will be listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, and you can also browse the archives (past years, too) here.
Delridge Grocery Cooperative has a deal for you – help them get a new fridge, by buying this year’s holiday basket! Here are the details:
Bring home the flavors of Washington state this holiday season with the Delridge Grocery Co-op’s second annual holiday collection of sweet and savory treats.
In addition to bringing you a specially curated selection of Pacific Northwest delights, the DGC 2021 Holiday Gift Basket is also a fundraiser — helping our growing neighborhood Co-op afford the purchase of an additional refrigeration unit.
We currently have a single, small older refrigerator that chills our locally sourced cheeses, eggs, milk, hummus, krauts, and kombucha, but its size definitely limits the amount and variety of perishable products we can carry. Adding a second, more modern refrigerator will allow us to expand our offerings and better serve our customers as we look to expand the days and hours that we’re open in the coming months.
Great for treating yourself or sharing with friends, neighbors, work colleagues, and loved ones, the DGC 2021 Holiday Gift Basket includes:
Salted Caramel Espresso Bark (Joe Chocolate Co.)
Madrona Smoked Salt (San Juan Sea Salt)
Loose Leaf Herbal Tea + Infuser (Beach House Teas)
Honey Thyme Mustard (Mustard & Co.)
Pickled Spicy Green Beans. (Seattle Pickle Co.)
Apple Cider Vinegar (Apple State Vinegar)
Raw Honeycomb (Georgetown Pantry Supply)The DGC 2021 Holiday Gift Basket is priced at $65 for both pickup and free delivery to addresses on our West Seattle peninsula. Baskets will be available for pickup starting Friday, December 17 at the Delridge Grocery Co-op retail store – we’ll be open from 3–7. Pickups can also be made on Saturday, December 18 (9:30 am–1:30 pm) and Sunday, December 19 (11–3). Deliveries will be made on that Friday and Saturday.
Go here to order.
Every year, we invite you to share locations – with or without photos – of West Seattle light displays worth a trip to see. We share them nightly, and in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, through New Year’s Eve. We’re starting tonight with the first recommended display – which we also photographed last year: Ken Arkills‘ home at 39th/Trenton in Fauntlee Hills [map].
Ken’s brother Jim Arkills emailed us to ensure we knew Ken’s display is up and shining for another year. It’s on a corner, so there’s a lot to see, on both sides! That includes many characters, both animated and static. Here’s one inspired by a famous scene in the movie “Christmas Story”:
Fauntlee Hills has other brightly lit homes, as it does every year, but none quite this bright. And our photos only show a fraction of it all.
If you have – or have seen – lights we should showcase, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – with or without photos. Thank you!
Hometown Holidays fun in the West Seattle Junction is just beginning, but with the biggest events coming up soon, the call is out for people who can give the gift of time: Volunteers! You can help with the Night Market and Tree Lighting on Thursday, or in a variety of other ways, says WSJA executive director Chris Mackay. Just go here, see what they’re looking for and when, and sign up for whatever interests you!
Tonight is the first of eight nights of Hanukkah, the eight-night Jewish Festival of Lights. Two community celebrations are planned in West Seattle, both next Sunday (December 5th):
(WSB photo from 2019 Pop-Up Hanukkah)
POP-UP HANUKKAH: West Seattle synagogue Kol HaNeshamah invites all to Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) at 5 pm Sunday for this year’s Pop-Up Hanukkah party, with menorah lighting, music, and donuts.
HANDS-ON HANUKKAH: Stroum Jewish Community Center will be at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market 10 am-2 pm Sunday to “celebrate the holiday with arts and crafts and tasty treats.”
DONATION DRIVE: Through the end of Hanukkah, Kol Haneshamah “is gathering warm hats, gloves, socks and scarves for our West Seattle neighbors in need. Please deliver new or gently used items to KHN at 6115 SW Hinds Street through December 5th.”
In our most-recent report on the advisory committee for West Seattle’s only tiny-house encampment, Camp Second Chance, we noted an unusual donation request: Christmas decorations. Those are among the items that are being collected in a holiday-season drive at Canna West Seattle (5440 California SW; WSB sponsor) and its Culture Shop across the street. From the announcement:
What types of items is C2C in need of? First and foremost, C2C residents have organized their own community supported, fun holiday event; a spirited contest for the best holiday door decorations for each of their tiny homes. Their contest for the “Best Holiday Door” will be held at the Tiny Home Village on December 20th, and prizes awarded to the winners.
Christmas decorations, so long as they are not perishable, can be dropped off at Canna West Seattle on California Avenue or at its sister store, The Culture Shop, which is located directly across the street. In addition to Christmas decorations, C2C is seeking the following items (camp operator LIHI’s donation guidelines included):
–Clothing Items, Towels, and Bedding: should be new or gently worn, nothing with stains or rips, and should be recently cleaned before donation. NO used underwear.
–Furniture: needs to be approved before donation, due to the size limitations within our Tiny Houses and apartment buildings, we will just need to confirm the dimensions of your items will actually fit within our spaces.
–Cleaning Supplies, and Hygiene Products: should be UNOPENED, and travel sized or relatively small, with a preference for gender neutral items so all folks feel comfortable.
–Books, Art Supplies, Household Items, Miscellaneous items: should be in good condition, gently used or new, and clearly labeled with its intended purpose (i.e. art supplies should be packaged or labeled as ‘art supplies’).
Also from the announcement, Canna owner and founder Maryam Mirnateghi explains, “There are so many different homeless programs that need community support and Camp 2nd Chance is one of those that not only needs West Seattle’s help, but also one that is making a real impact on the lives of the people it works with.” As we have reported in monthly status update, the camp at 9701 Myers Way S. is usually home to between 50 and 60 people and is supported by city funding, which is expected to cover an addition of 20 more tiny houses next year.
P.S. We’re adding this to the ongoing list of local giving opportunities in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, where updates continue through New Year’s.
Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo of the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship during its visit to Alki Beach on a rainy, breezy Saturday night, its third West Seattle stop in two days, and final one this season. It’ll be sailing to other locales through December 23rd.
Want to buy something truly small on Small Business Saturday?
Try that tiny Bluetooth-enabled device from Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor), Click! is open until 6 tonight, with a 30-percent-off rack, special holiday items, puzzles, art, jewelry, apparel, and their usual wide selection of housewares, including some new bowls you can use for salads, soups, etc.
Click! is one of those stores with a surprise around every corner.
Some shops have special guests for Small Business Saturday – among them, Seattle Yarn (5633 California SW, open today until 5 pm):
Lovely & Dapper Desserts, known for their “tin-can cakes,” is in the house at Seattle Yarn this afternoon, among other pop-ups. You’ll find tiny treasures there too:
See other Small Business Saturday spotlights in today’s preview list – and remember your local independent businesses have something for you all your long, not just this one day.
Among the West Seattle holiday traditions returning this year after pandemic hiatus, The Junction’s having a tree lighting again this year. In case you haven’t already seen this in our Holiday Guide or on The Junction’s website, we’re publishing a reminder now that it’s just one week away. One block of SW Alaska will be closed between California and 42nd for a Night Market with local vendors and Santa Claus, 4-7 pm Saturday, December 4th, plus entertainment onstage in Junction Plaza Park, culminating in the tree lighting at 6 pm, emceed by “Elvis”! (WSB is media sponsor for Hometown Holidays. See you there!)
After a pandemic off-year, the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship set sail again tonight – and its first stop was West Seattle, where a crowd lined the shore at Don Armeni Boat Ramp
They heard The Dickens Carolers sing holiday classics from on board – we recorded part of their 20-minute performance:
As listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, the Christmas Ship will make two more West Seattle stops, both tomorrow night – 5:35 pm outside Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor Avenue SW; WSB sponsor), and 8:35 pm at Alki Beach Park, near the Bathhouse (60th/Alki), with a bonfire planned. That’s it for WS stops this year but you can see the entire season’s schedule here.
<
West Seattle’s only charity-fundraising Christmas-tree lot is open for the season. Holy Rosary School is selling trees again this year just north of the school.
Many options – you can shop in person or online, pick it up at the lot or have it delivered for an extra fee. They have 2′ to 10′ Noble, Douglas, and Fraser firs.
If you bring five non-perishable food items for the West Seattle Food Bank, you get $5 off the tree price.
They’re also selling wreaths, as well as poinsettias from nearby Seattle Lutheran High SchoolPar.
The lot at 41st/Dakota is open 4-9 pm weekdays, 9 am-9 pm weekends, through the weekend before Christmas. Part of the proceeds go to the WSFB and to Hickman House.
All West Seattle tree sellers are listed in our Holiday Guide – if we’re missing something, please let us know!
At the Duwamish Longhouse Native Art Market and Holiday Gift Fair, you can find ornaments to decorate your tree, and/or gifts to put under it.
The work above is by Seciwa’s Southwest Native Jewelry and Crafts, one of this year’s vendors, spotlighting “the people and crafts from the Pueblo of Zuni,” described in a flyer as “the largest of the 20 ‘Pueblo’ tribes in New Mexico and Arizona.” The gift fair is a place to learn as well as to browse and buy.
It was also a popular shopping stop while we were there in late morning, with a line to get in since capacity was capped. But you have plenty of time – until 5 pm today, and again 10 am-5 pm tomorrow and Sunday.
Parking is across the street in the Seattle Public Utilities lot – and there are crossing guards to stop West Marginal Way traffic so you can safely get across. (The temporary signal and crosswalk are not ready yet – more on that in a separate story later.) P.S. You can also visit the exhibits in the Longhouse Cultural Center while you’re there, and the gift shop is open,
Another first-ever West Seattle holiday event is under way – the Brookdale Admiral Heights Festival of Trees. Decorated, donated trees are all around the lobby at 2326 California SW.
Some are traditional, and some are whimsical – this one seems to have trapped the Grinch:
The one below has a Mardi Gras theme, in keeping with its donor, nearby restaurant Circa, whose menu includes New Orleans specialties:
Other donors include longtime WSB sponsor Illusions Hair Design – cards will be up soon so you know which local business or organization donated which tree. And that matters, because in two weeks, they’ll all be auctioned off for charity:
You can visit the Brookdale AH lobby 8 am-8 pm daily to see the trees until December 9th – that night, 6-8 pm, they’ll have a gala auction, fundraising for the Rotary Club of West Seattle 360 for Good campaign. No admission charge but please RSVP for the gala, 206-512-7730 or tmeade@brookdale.com. P.S. If you can, bring nonperishable food when you visit – there’s a West Seattle Food Bank bin by the front door.
Dating back more than 20 years, the family-run Hall at Fauntleroy has welcomed hundreds to an elegant sit-down Thanksgiving dinner – free. This year, though, is different. With the help of 50 volunteers, The Hall at Fauntleroy is feeding hundreds a takeout dinner – but otherwise “as traditional as you can get,” with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and other holiday classics (pumpkin lasagna is the vegetarian option). Donated socks are available too (but they’ve already handed out all the blankets they had).
They started curbside pickup (and limited deliveries) at 11 am and by noon had already served up 300 dinners, with 110+ left to go, They requested RSVPs but at this point can also serve people who just show up – while the food lasts (or 2 pm, whichever comes first).
The Hall at Fauntleroy is at the south end of the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9131 California SW. They had hoped to serve a takeaway Thanksgiving last year but due to the state of the pandemic at the time, they had to cancel it altogether.
P.S. If you missed out on this, the West Seattle Eagles are serving a free sit-down holiday dinner to everyone who shows up – 2 to 5 pm at 4426 California SW.
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Happy Thanksgiving! And thank you for another year of community collaboration so we can continue publishing West Seattle news/info 24/7/365 – like this:
COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: Our list includes 17 West Seattle coffee shops open for at least part of today – see them here. (Others? Please text us – 206-293-6302!)
GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: This list is in the Thanksgiving section atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
RESTAURANTS/BARS OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: 13 on the list this year – see it here.
PRE-TURKEY EXERCISE : Three options this morning, indoor and outdoor, also in the Thanksgiving section atop the Holiday Guide.
WHERE TO FIND A FREE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER: Three options this year, everyone welcome:
*The Hall at Fauntleroy is offering takeaway dinners, 11 am-2 pm, follow the link for info if you haven’t already RSVP’d. (9131 California SW)
*West Seattle Eagles sitdown dinner, 2 pm-5 pm (4426 California SW)
*Admiral Pub, free Thanksgiving dinner starting at 7 pm – $5 donation requested if you can. (2306 California SW)
WANT TO HELP? You can donate socks and blankets at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9:30 am-noon, same address as above (south end of the historic schoolhouse).
WHAT TO DO AFTER (OR BEFORE) DINNER: The Admiral Theater is open this afternoon/evening – see the movies and showtimes here (2343 California SW).
THANKSGIVING TRANSPORTATION NOTES:
*Metro is on the Sunday schedule
*No Water Taxi service
*Sound Transit light rail and buses, Sunday schedules
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on the Sunday schedule
*No charge for parking today on city streets in neighborhoods with pay stations
*Traffic cameras: West Seattle-relevant ones here; citywide views are available via this SDOT map
OTHER INFO:
*No trash/recycling/etc. pickup today – Thursday pickups will happen Friday; Friday pickups on Saturday
*Seattle Parks‘ holiday closure list
*No Seattle Public Library services today
Seasonal info for today and beyond is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving! (And if you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we are thankful for your tips all year long!)
(Image by Jerry Simmons)
As usual, we’ve made lists of who’s open on Thanksgiving Day in West Seattle in case you’re looking for a latte, a cocktail, a meal cooked by somebody else – or if you forgot something and have to make a run to the supermarket. Here’s where to find our lists:
-Restaurants/bars open Thanksgiving – here
-Coffee shops open Thanksgiving – here
-Grocery stores open Thanksgiving – in our Holiday Guide
We gathered the information by phone, online, in person (and thanks SO much to the businesses that sent us their plans), but some never answered on repeat tries, so we might be missing a venue or two that plans to open on the holiday – if so, please send (westseattleblog@gmail.com) or text (206-293-6302) us the info so we can add – thanks!
The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW) has two invitations for you if you’re interested in sharing your holiday spirit with their residents (and others). First, something you can do at home:
Feeling the holiday spirit? Looking for a unique and creative service project for your kiddos or group organization? Help us #BringTheJoy to The Kenney residents this holiday season by sending in a video! Whether it’s of you and your family singing Christmas carols, your school orchestra playing a song or just wishing them a Merry Christmas, or reciting poetry, we want to hear from you!
For more information and to submit your video, please visit heritage1886.org/joy-video!
The Kenney is a part of the Heritage Ministries family of retirement communities, so not only do our local residents see your video, but also at our properties back east. It’s a great way to make the season shine for many others! Join us!
They’ll be accepting videos through mid-December. In the nearer term, how about a pup parade this Sunday? Here’s that announcement:
The Kenney announces its first-ever “Holly-paws Dog Parade”! Walk off your holiday meal, give your pup some exercise and bring some joy to our residents! Dog moms and dads are invited to come brighten the day of our elders and walk their well-behaved dogs around the block of The Kenney. Holiday attire for all is encouraged! Residents will be gathered in two areas to watch.
Sunday, November 28 – 1:30-2:00 PM
-Meet on the corner of Othello and Fauntleroy, to proceed north on Fauntleroy at 1:30 PM.
-Feel free to dress your dog up in costume or holiday attire!
-Each pooch will receive a goodie bag of homemade dog-biscuits made by our residents.
-People-masking and physical distancing is highly recommended/strongly encouraged for the safety and enjoyment of all.
-If your dog is social and enjoys exuberantly greeting people, please exercise great caution with our residents.
If you can buy a turkey or two and get it to the West Seattle Food Bank between 9 am and 3 pm today, you can help ensure families’ holiday meals are joyous and bountiful. WSFB says it was able to buy 1,300 turkeys this season thanks to generous donors, but they’re running low and still distributing food today. Take your frozen-turkey donation to the Food Bank HQ on the southeast corner of 35th/Morgan before 3 pm – you should be able to pull into the garage off Morgan just east of 35th.
After a somewhat subdued display in 2020, the Menashe Family Lights will be brighter this year. We stopped by the house in the 5600 block of Beach Drive today and found work already under way in and around the house’s front yard and trees. Josh Menashe tells WSB that they’re expecting to flip the switch on West Seattle’s brightest lights on December 2nd. As noted in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, Santa will be back this year for photos – 6 pm-10 pm Saturday, December 11th (bring donations for the West Seattle Food Bank).
NOVEMBER 26 NOTE: Though the display appears to still have some finishing touches missing, many of the lights are on, we noticed while passing through the area tonight.
| 1 COMMENT