West Seattle, Washington
04 Thursday
One more holiday-gift fair before the weekend’s done. As highlighted in our daily list, this one’s the annual Ethical Trade Sale at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center:
You’ll find both wearable and edible items – decorations, too:
The merchandise is all from ethical/fair-trade sources. If you’d rather be ultra-sustainable and just make a charity donation in your giftee’s name, you can do that too:
The sale continues until 1 pm at 7000 35th SW.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Bowling, beer, and hunger-fighting, all rolled into one big event – that’s the Beer Church Turkey Bowl, and tonight it filled West Seattle Bowl (and countless glasses) for the 21st year. Your hosts as always, Kendall Jones and Kim Sharpe Jones of the Beer Church:
One of the night’s biggest signs of success was actually outside WS Bowl:
One of the breweries participating tonight, Old Stove Brewing, brought a half-ton of donated food in that van! That and other donations were a reason for West Seattle Food Bank executive director Fran Yeatts to smile:
Though the bowling lanes always sell out in advance, the Turkey Bowl is always open to community spectators to come drink some beer – including this year’s newly released Beer Church IPA – and get in on raffles:
In the crowd, we spotted Washington Beer Commission executive director Eric Radovich:
You might also know him from his announcing work – from the West Seattle 5K to Husky Stadium. And if you don’t already know – the Beer Church’s leaders also have a statewide role in the beer world too, publishing the Washington Beer Blog. Even if you missed tonight’s event, watch for the Beer Church IPA at a pub near you.
(WSB file photo)
Two weeks from tonight, you’re invited to the biggest event of the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays season … the Tree Lighting at Junction Plaza Park. The event will follow the format to which it changed last year – the lighting (6 pm Saturday, December 7th) will happen during a street-closed Night Market, with special musical performances throughout the afternoon and evening. From the West Seattle Junction Association, here’s the schedule, with West Seattle musician Brent Amaker emceeing:
4:00 PM Mode Music Studios
4:20 PM Endolyne Children’s Choir
4:45 PM School of Rock West Seattle
5:15 PM The Not-Its!
6:00 PM Santa and Jack Menashe light the tree!
The Night Market, on SW Alaska adjacent to the park, will start at 3 pm. But come to The Junction early and shop the year-round merchants; stay for dinner and/or drinks afterward!
As you might have noticed, today’s highlights list is peppered with pop-ups and bazaars. So we’re out dropping in on them.
STOP #1, ARROWHEAD GARDENS: Many handmade options at this bazaar, on until 3 pm in the community/welcome building on the east side of the complex (9200 2nd SW). We liked the bookmarks (above), which won’t fall out of your book like the traditional paper type. Jams, jellies, art, hats, bags, decorations, several rooms full of friendly vendors and their creations.
STOP #2, THE KENNEY: The bake sale (above) impressed us the most here – otherwise it’s more of a rummage sale.
On until 3 pm (lower level of central building, 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW).
STOP #3, ALKI MASONIC CENTER: Biggest bazaar yet. Jim’s ceramic tabletop Christmas trees are a highlight.
Non-electronic creations too:
40th/Edmunds, until 4 pm.
STOP #4, WESTBRIDGE: This is a combination real-estate open house and pop-up shopping event, 3601 Fauntleroy, until 3 pm. Luxury clothing and jewelry. Plus wine and “small bites”:
And you can tour the newly built homes at WestBridge.
STOP #5, WHITE CENTER POP-UP MARKET: At 9630 16th SW, a currently empty and undergoing-renovations storefront in downtown White Center, this first-of-its-kind event is under way until 5 pm. The White Center Community Development Association organized it with the theme “resisting displacement”:
You can learn about longtime WC businesses while shopping and browsing participating vendors.
It’s known as the turkey giveaway, but what Eastridge Church is offering right now is also all about keeping warm – stacks of clothing to keep away the chill. It’s also about the volunteers – like these Girl Scouts:
Others had warm beverages for those waiting in line:
We also found a familiar face among those volunteering:
Mark Solomon‘s job as an SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator used to include West Seattle’s Southwest Precinct; now he works in the South Precinct (and recently ran for City Council). Meantime, yes, there are turkeys:
And groceries:
No proof of need required – just show up at 39th/Oregon, while they last. (We’ll be checking back in a bit to see how it’s going.) Eastridge does this every year at tts two campuses, West Seattle and Issaquah, with 1,500 turkeys between the two.
(WSB file photo)
Reminder that if you or someone you know eeeds help getting a Thanksgiving feast on the table, tomorrow is the day that Eastridge Church gives hundreds of turkeys and bags of groceries to anyone show shows up. It starts at 9 am Saturday outside the church, which has a West Seattle location at 39th/Oregon in The Junction. Coats are available too. This all will last as long as supplies do, usually at least a couple hours.
The holiday season at Westwood Village kicked off tonight with the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly After-Hours event. In our photo above are board chair Lauren Burgon with new Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) co-proprietor Lauren Wiggins; attendees started the evening at Wyatt’s and roamed to other businesses. The Chamber has an even-bigger holiday event coming up – featured in our West Seattle Holiday Guide – Mix, Mingle, and Jingle on December 5th.
P.S. One big change at WWV this holiday season – no Santa photos, except for two Saturdays you can come take “selfies with Santa,” 2-4 pm December 14 and 21st.
The Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship is visiting West Seattle on its very first night this season, so we want to give you an early heads-up if you haven’t already seen the listings in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar. Here’s where and when to see it here – you’ll watch and listen from shore while onboard singers perform:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29 (with Kirkland Choral Society)
-7:25 pm at Lowman Beach Park (7017 Beach Drive SW)
-8:10 pm at Alki Beach Park (2701 Alki Avenue SW)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 (with The Dickens Carolers)
-8;40 pm at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor Avenue SW; WSB sponsor)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 (with Emerald City Voices)
-2 pm at Duwamish Waterway Park (7900 10th Ave. S., South Park)
-3:05 pm at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor Avenue SW)
This is part of a 3-and-1/2-week series of voyages for the Christmas Ship on Puget Sound, Lake Union, and Lake Washington. It’s free to watch on shore, but if you want to ride on the Christmas Ship or one of its follow boats, you can book that through Argosy.
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Another sign of the season – the West Seattle Junction Association is decorating the heart of the business district today! The decorations on light poles include something new:
The snowflake lights are new – so look for those when you are in The Junction after dark this holiday season. For the full West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays list, go here – the big event is December 7th, Night Market and Tree Lighting night.
The holiday season is here, with Thanksgiving now just nine days away. Now that the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide is launched, we’re welcoming listings for any and all seasonal events – but especially that imminent holiday. If your restaurant/coffee shop is open any part of the holiday, please let us know – we’re building that list. Any other seasonal events, from now through New Year’s? Please send the info as soon as you can! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you.
No football, no rain (yet) – here’s an option this afternoon: It’s all about the home-made and hand-made at Peace Lutheran Church‘s holiday bazaar, on until 3 pm. Above, the card for the kimchi is right next to the bake-sale tables. Other tables offer sewn, knitted, crocheted creations at bargain prices:
The bazaar’s in the church’s daylight basement, entrance just north of the northeast corner of 39th/Thistle in Gatewood.
P.S. One week from today – on Sunday, November 24 – Peace Lutheran celebrates its 75th anniversary. Events start at 9:30 am and continue into the afternoon – details in our calendar listing.
It’s a big day of bazaars and business open houses, as featured in our West Seattle Saturday list … we’ve visited a few:
Cookies and carolers are at the Junction True Value holiday open house until 2 pm.
Bring nonperishable food to donate to the West Seattle Food Bank. East of The Junction, the Providence Mount St. Vincent Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale is on until 4 pm:
Wander into the lobby at 4831 35th SW to find decorations and gift ideas, along with treats. Again, the full list of what’s up today/tonight is here; our season-long Holiday Guide (frequently updated!) is here.
(WSB file photo from West Seattle Lights)
While working on the just-launched 2019 WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, we discovered the website for a seasonal favorite, music-synched West Seattle Lights, had gone dormant. Its creator Jim Winder confirms that’s because the show is done after a decade. His message for you:
It is with deep sadness that I must inform the West Seattle Community that West Seattle Lights will not be up and running this year. Over the past few years it has become more and more difficult to try to run and maintain West Seattle Lights from my home in Maple Valley.
Growing up, Christmas Lights has always been a big part of my life…especially since my Grandmother only lived one block away from the Gais’ house in West Seattle. I do hope West Seattle Lights has also brought some great memories for you and your family. I especially want to thank the Helmstetler Family for allowing me to take over their home for two months out of the year … but most of all I want to thank you, the West Seattle Community for your generosity and your giving to our two main charities and the Very Special Charities we collected donations for. The West Seattle Food Bank and Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation have greatly appreciated your generous giving over the last ten years….so please remember them and any other charities this holiday season.
If you do get a need for a Sir Charles fix, feel free to come visit us out at Maple Valley Lights!! Again, thanks to you all for a great ten years!!
Jim’s show in Maple Valley is at 22629 SE 263rd Place [map]. We first featured his WS show in November 2009.
(WSB photo, 2018)
Eastridge Church has just sent its annual announcement about the pre-Thanksgiving turkeys-and-groceries giveaway at both its campuses, including 39th SW/SW Oregon in the West Seattle Junction – 1,500 turkeys and bags of groceries (with coats available too), “given out first-come, first-served, with no demonstration of need required to receive the assistance.” They’ve been doing this for 16 years. It starts at 9 am Saturday, (corrected) November 23rd, and continues until they run out.
With a big weekend of holiday bazaars beginning, and less than two weeks left until Thanksgiving, we’ve published the first version of our annual West Seattle Holiday Guide – see it here. Thanks to everyone who’s sent listings already; we’ll be updating daily, so please keep sending more – from shopping events to concerts, performances, celebrations, Santa photos, religious services, whatever your organization/school/etc. is doing that’s seasonal, now through New Year’s, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As the holidays approach, the season for community giving is under way. Want to help ensure it’s a happy holiday season for local kids? John Moore at Northwest Insurance Group (WSB sponsor) sends word that his office is once again a collection site for Toys for Tots. Just bring your donation of new, unwrapped toys to the Northwest Insurance Group office at 5431 California Ave SW during business hours.
This and other holiday-giving opportunities will be part of our soon-to-launch West Seattle Holiday Guide – still time to let us know about yours, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
From Casey Mar at West Seattle Electric and Solar, relaying photos and a story shared by proprietor Keith Hughes:
He is the commander of the American Legion Post 160. This past Veterans Day, he opened the hall to host an open house, inviting passersby to come inside and learn a little bit about our nation’s history.
When he went to open the doors to the public in the morning, this sweet memorial was laid out at the base of the flagpole, waiting to be discovered.
Keith tells me that little Charlie is a young West Seattle resident, and to say thank you to the veterans of West Seattle and beyond, he drew a hand to salute the five branches (to him) of the US military – the Army, the Navy, the Merens, the Soljers, and the President– and individually labeled a flower with the name of each war in American history.
On some of these flowers are written what appear to be names of family members who were servicemembers deployed in certain wars. For example, “Grandpa James Braner (sp?) was awarded for bravery, but never spoke about it. (branch unclear in this photograph)”
Keith is a veteran himself, and it was extremely touching for him to find this display waiting for him. The American Legion is a labor of love for him, and this thoughtful salute from young Charlie warmed his heart and lit up his Veterans Day.
Just last Saturday night, Post 160 itself had presented its annual event with thanks to veterans.
(WSB photos)
In The Junction, flags go up for many national holidays, and this morning, volunteers led by West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 put these in place.
You can help remove them this afternoon – meet at 4 pm on the northeast corner of Califorrnia/Alaska. Also in The Junction:
We found Nathaniel Cook, Nate Ford, and Michael Gross from West Seattle’s DAV Chapter 23 outside Husky Deli with forget-me-nots – they said you can get yours there, at Chelan Cafe, or at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) today until 2 pm.
(Bald Eagle at Terminal 5, photographed by David Hutchinson)
Good morning! No traffic watch today (cameras are here if you need them) because of the Veterans Day holiday. Here’s what you need to know – first, holiday changes:
Transportation
METRO BUSES: Reduced-weekday service
WATER TAXI: No service today
STATE FERRIES: Moment of silence at 11:11 am, POW-MIA flags all day
HIGHWAY 99 TUNNEL: First weekday of tolls
PARKING: In areas of the city that have paid street parking, it’s free today
Other services
SCHOOLS: Closed
CITY PARK FACILITIES: Closures are listed here
LIBRARIES: All closed, both city and county
USPS: Postal Service holiday
What’s happening today
MERCURY TRANSITING THE SUN: This semi-rare event, with Mercury visible crossing in front of the Sun – if you’re using proper viewing equipment – starts before Seattle sunrise, and continues until about 10 am. Seattle Astronomy plans a viewing event at Seacrest Park – yes, even if it’s cloudy, just in case there’s a sunbreak!. (1660 Harbor SW)
JUNCTION FLAGS: Help volunteers led by American Legion Post 160 put up The Junction’s flags at 9 am and/or take them down at 4 pm. Same meeting place for both. (California/Alaska, NE corner)
VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT WORKSHOP: 10 am-1 pm, learn to contribute to this project with oral histories, as explained here. Free workshop at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Georgetown Campus. (6737 Corson Ave. S.)
Just received from Jon @ Cactus Restaurants, which have a West Seattle location at 2820 Alki SW:
All of our Cactus locations would like to offer any veterans or active service members a free meal (dine in) of their choice for lunch or dinner all day today. If someone wants to take advantage of this, they simply need to show some sort of military identification. We’d love to honor and thank our local veterans for their service in this small way.
The Alki Cactus is open until 9 pm. Anyplace else with gifts for those who have served/are serving? Let us know so we can add.
(WSB photo from 2017 Hall at Fauntleroy Thanksgiving dinner)
A few people have asked about this, so in case you’re wondering too, we now have confirmation: For the 21st year, The Hall at Fauntleroy will host a free Thanksgiving dinner for anyone and everyone interested in attending. Some go because they can’t afford a full holiday meal otherwise; some go because they crave the community camaraderie; all are welcome. Dinner will be served noon-3 pm on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 28th), at the venue, which is on the south side of historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW). Whether you’re going or not, dessert donations are appreciated – you can drop them off at The Hall by noon on Thanksgiving.
Gratitude was on the menu tonight, along with spaghetti, at the annual pre-Veterans Day dinner at American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle. On the stage – an empty table and chair in honor of POWs and MIAs:
Post 160 commander Keith Hughes talked about it, after a few words about the national organization’s new membership rules:
The free dinner is an annual tradition, free to all veterans and their families. Two more notes:
JUNCTION FLAGS ON MONDAY: Post 160 will lead volunteers putting up and taking down the Stars and Stripes in The Junction on Monday. Help is appreciated – you can meet up with them on the northeast corner of California/Alaska at 9 am and/or 4 pm. All ages welcome.
FERRY FLAGS, MOMENT OF SILENCE: Also on Monday, Washington State Ferries will fly the POW-MIA flag on all operating vessels, as well as observing two minutes of silence aboard each one at 11:11 am. After that, the ferries’ whistles will blow in tribute to all who have served.
It’s the only West Seattle holiday bazaar in a historic community center, and you can check it out until 3 pm today: The Highland Park Improvement Club Holiday Bazaar is on!
24 vendors this year, of all ages – above are Girl Scouts Juliete, Layla, and Cora. Some items are distinctively holidayesque, some are not:
Food and beverages from the HPIC kitchen, too, if you feel like noshing while you’re there. It’s indoors at 1116 SW Holden. You’ll want to visit next Saturday (November 16th) too, for the Centennial Celebration!
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