(WSB photo: Volunteers helping with 2024 turkey giveaway)

This year, some who have not previously faced food insecurity might be wondering how to put turkey on the table this Thanksgiving. In case you haven’t already seen it in our West Seattle Event Calendar, Eastridge Church is again giving away hundreds of turkeys and bags of groceries at its two campuses, including West Seattle, at 39th SW and SW Oregon (across 39th from West Seattle Bowl). The turkey giveaway is on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, as usual, so that’s one week from tomorrow – Saturday, November 22, starting at 9 am, continuing until 11:30 am or until supplies run out if that’s sooner. No proof of need required – just show up. Eastridge has been doing this each holiday season for more than 20 years.

With Thanksgiving now less than two weeks away, we’re close to launching this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, a one-stop shop for info on all things holiday in West Seattle – events, sales, performances, light shows, holiday food ordering, much more – we have lots of entries already and will, as always, continue adding to the guide (and our Event Calendar) throughout the season, BUT it’s great to have listings in the guide from the start, so so, whatever you want the community to know, westseattleblog@gmail.com is the optimal way to send it so we can get it into the guide, with version 1.0 launching in the next day or so! Thank you!

It was a longtime holiday staple at 35th/Barton – Tony’s Trees, the wintertime enterprise of the family who ran the Tony’s Market produce tent in warmer months – first longtime proprietor Tony Genzale, and then his son Joey. After Joey stopped running the business, the short-lived new ownership didn’t offer trees last year. The corner now hosts other businesses, primarily junk hauling and a Mexican-food truck. But then, multiple readers pointed out, a banner appeared proclaiming the return of Tony’s Trees this year. We have since heard from the operator. His name is Anthony Morella, and he says he’s a relative of the Genzale family: “Joey’s a distant cousin of mine but I grew up around him and I worked selling the trees with him for the last 5-6 years. We wanted to keep the name in memory of Tony and Joey’s old fruit stand.” Here’s the plan for the tree lot: “We are going to be selling locally cut Washington Christmas trees in all types of sizes. We will also be offering white flocked trees. On top of that – a Christmas market with wreaths, garland, Christmas plants, and more.” The photo above is some of their future trees, before cutting time. He adds, “We will be open 9-8 Monday – Thursday and Sunday and 9-10 Friday – Saturday,” starting right after Thanksgiving.

We list tree sellers in our forthcoming West Seattle Holiday Guide, so this and others will be featured there – details always appreciated at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

With less than three weeks until Thanksgiving, we’re working on this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, so we can launch it this week! If you haven’t already sent information on your holiday-season event, bazaar/pop-up shop, donation drive, fundraiser, performance, special hours, holiday food ordering, etc. … now’s the time to get that info to us so we can share it with everybody. Whatever you want the community to know, westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to send it so we can get it into the guide (and if time/date-specific, into our year-round West Seattle Event Calendar too) – thank you!

By Hayden Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Until 4 PM today, furnishing and gift store CAPERS, a cornerstone business in the West Seattle Junction, will be hosting its yearly holiday-season open house. This event coincides with a milestone as proprietor Lisa Myers celebrates the store’s 40th year open.

Visitors today will be able to enjoy in-store specials, beverages, and food, as well as their annual giving-tree program.

A highlight every year, the giving tree is put up in partnership with The Hickman House, a local housing program that helps women and children who survived domestic violence. Residents place wishes on the tree, and visitors can purchase the gifts, deliver them to CAPERS by 12/22, and help women and children in need during the holiday season.

Brendan, who’s been working at Capers for four years, is still blown away by the outpouring of support for both the open house and the giving tree. “The community here is fantastic,” she said. “We have people who come in weeks before the tree is up, asking if they can donate.”

The community support is felt by more than just the permanent staff, said Angie Marcelynas, a local artist showing off her work this morning, as guests milled about the store. Marcelynas is a longtime West Seattle resident, and for the last three and a half years, she’s been selling her handmade jewelry under the brand The Little Merle.

Marcelynas, who specializes in making jewelry out of recycled material, has been a CAPERS regular for over a decade. “I remember when it was still two locations,” She said, while showing off a selection of newly made pins – a recent favorite of hers. “And I buy an ornament from them every single year.”

“Businesses like CAPERS give artists a space,” said Marcelynas. “It’s all around a great community to be a part of.”

CAPERS will host other artists throughout the season (continuing with Thursday’s West Seattle Art Walk). This will also be CAPERS’ second year back from their pandemic hiatus from Santa Claus photos. Starting on the first weekend of December, they’ll host DIY photos every Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 to 11 AM. Following in the season’s tradition of giving to others, the funds from photographs will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank, says Brendan.

In the meantime, the CAPERS open house continues until 4 PM today, bringing their own flavor of holiday cheer to The Junction. For more information about the Hickman House and the giving tree, check here.

5 PM: Busy night at West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy, WSB sponsor) as shoppers sample possibilities for holiday meals, with three weeks to go until Thanksgiving. The “Holiday Taste” is a Thriftway tradition, with more than 20 vendors there offering samples of food and beverages, plus a chance to try what the store’s own deli is cooking up if you want someone else to do the cooking this season. As noted earlier, the store also is matching monetary donation made at its checkstands to the West Seattle Food Bank during the event. More photos later; the “Holiday Taste” continues until 7 pm.

6:16 PM: Part of the “Taste” fun is meeting the vendors as well as trying their creations. Above and below, West Seattle’s own Seattle Sorbets is there:

We wondered what Girl Meets Dirt offered, after seeing them on the vendor list – answer: Preserves!

And more preserves, from McCormick Jam:

Beverages include Caffe Vita coffee:

Twinbrook Creamery dairy products, many in classic glass bottles:

For the 21+ crowd, Lodgepole Distilling brought three flavors of gin:

The team from The Brown Pecan has treats including candied nuts:

That’s just a sample of tonight’s participants. Meantime, Thriftway’s own deli offerings are offered for tasting too:

You can get an order form at the store – with items from a $4.99 dozen rolls to a $174 roasted-turkey-and-all-the-fixings dinner:

If you can’t get to tonight’s tasting event, Thriftway will do it again three weeks before Christmas – Thursday, December 4, 4 to 7 pm.

(WSB file photo)

The holiday season is about to start – and here’s proof: Tomorrow night (Thursday, November 6) brings the annual “Holiday Taste” festival of samples at West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor). More than 20 vendors are expected for the 4-7 pm event, plus your chance to taste what the store’s own kitchen is offering this holiday season. Just drop in!

Having a holiday-related community event? Send info ASAP for our calendar and Holiday Guide – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Before we get to what’s up for today, an early holiday alert – it’s a seasonal tradition to reserve a time at West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW; WSB sponsor) to make your own holiday wreath, and reservations are open now. You can go here to choose your date and time, before all the slots are gone!

(Alki this morning, photo by James Bratsanos)

Sorry to miss the usually daily event list because of this morning’s breaking news. Things to know this Indigenous Peoples’ Day/Columbus Day, besides general government closures:

SEATTLE PARKS: Here’s the list of what’s open and what’s closed.

SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Closed.

PARKING: For Seattle city streets with paid public parking, no charge today

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: Holiday.

WSB WEST SEATTLE EVENT CALENDAR: See today’s listings (and beyond) here. One highlight:

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL FOOD DRIVE DROPOFFS: Today is the first of three Mondays when community members can drop off food and clothing for the drive 4-6 pm at the school’s “historic entrance” (3000 California, north side).

This time yesterday, we noted that Halloween season is here. The winter holidays are right behind that, and one of the earliest local bazaars – at Shorewood Elementary in North Burien – is sending out a call for vendors;

Vendor Applications Open – 2025 Shorewood Craft Bazaar

The Shorewood PTA is thrilled to invite vendors to participate in our upcoming Craft Bazaar on November 8th. This event is such a fun, long standing community event! Interested, please fill out the form here: forms.gle/T22ckFjmWy8ZgjJR9

We’ll be publishing a holiday guide as always, so please send dates/times/locations of whatever holiday events you’re presenting when you’re ready! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN FOR WSB

A Labor Day tradition was carried out again today at Alki Masonic Lodge on the east edge of The Junction: The annual changing of the flag that flies over the lodge. It’s held in conjunction with a community barbecue/picnic, and this year there was a bonus. First, the main event, preceded by a flag tribute read by a member of the Rainbow Girls youth group, who then joined attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance:

Then, with assistance from members of two VFW posts, the old flag was brought down and meticulously folded, and the new one went up:

The retired flag will be kept by Alki Lodge’s outgoing Worshipful Master Ron Creel, who received it from Post 1263’s Traci Williams and observed, “This is special” as a memento of his year leading the lodge:

She was assisted by Ron Palacios from West Seattle’s Post 2719 and Darrell Pilat, also of Post 1263:

After the flag ceremony, everyone enjoyed lunch inside – a little too chilly to grill outdoors, they decided – and then it was time for the scheduled visit from Engine 32 firefighters, based at Junction Station 32:

Firefighter Kelsey Nolta gave tours of the engine, while firefighter Max Wagner demonstrated their gear:

7-year-old Owen was among the kids who got a firsthand look inside Engine 32:

The lodge’s other community events include the annual student awards (here’s our coverage of this year’s presentation).

(Boats in the setting sun off Alki – photo by Erik Moris)

Good morning! Holiday notes:

TRANSIT/TRAFFIC

–Metro buses are running on a Sunday schedule
–West Seattle Water Taxi is on a regular schedule
-Fares change today for Metro bus and Water Taxi service too – here’s our original report with details
–Sound Transit buses and light rail are on Sunday schedules
-If you’re going to an area of the city with pay-station street parking, you don’t have to pay today
-Check local traffic cams here, citywide cams here

HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT

Last day of the season for most city outdoor aquatic facilities – After today, city-run wading pools and sprayparks are closed until next year – so it’s your last day for Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm, and Lincoln Park‘s wading pool (noon-7 pm). But Colman Pool not only will be open noon-7 pm today, it’ll have two postseason weekends this year, September 6-7 and 13-14.

Last day of the season for Alki summer hours and beach fires – as noted here.

Art on the Corner – artist’s home-studio sale benefiting food banks, 8 am-4 pm at 39th SW/SW Holden

Silent Disco and Plunge for the Orcas – 11 am-1 pm, dance and swim by the Alki Bathhouse.

Labor Day rally – West Seattle Indivisible plans to sign-wave in support of labor, 11 am-1 pm, at 16th SW/SW Henderson.

Flag ceremony, BBQ, SFD visit – Everyone is welcome at Alki Masonic Lodge‘s annual event, starting with the annual flag-dedication ceremony at noon at 40th/Edmunds, including free burgers/hot dogs, and then visiting firefighters/SFD apparatus at 1 pm.

(See our calendar for more!)

NOT HAPPENING TODAY

-Banking (holiday)
-U.S. Postal Service (holiday)
-Libraries (closed)
-Many Seattle Parks facilities (here’s the closed/open list)
-City Council briefing meeting (councilmembers are back from 2-week end-of-summer break tomorrow)

WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET

Cloudy, then clearing, high in the mid-70s. Sunrise will be at 6:28 am, sunset at 7:48 pm.

(WSB photo, 2023 flag ceremony @ Alki Lodge)

Our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar includes several special events for tomorrow, including Alki Masonic Lodge‘s annual flag-retirement ceremony, with two bonus community invitations: They’ll be grilling free hamburgers and hot dogs starting at noon – you’re welcome (but not required) to bring a side or dessert for the potluck picnic – and around 1 pm, they’re expecting a visit from local firefighters: “This year we are partnering with the Seattle Fire Department to have firefighters available to show off their trucks and emergency equipment. We are hoping to get the word out to parents who would like their children to get a close look at fire trucks. SFD is scheduling their visit in our parking lot at 1:00 p.m. and expects to be there for about 30 minutes.” Alki Lodge is in The Junction, on the northeast corner of 40th SW/SW Edmunds.

That’s our annual video tradition – everybody in the West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade as they start down the route, westbound on Sunset SW in North Admiral. Some differences this year – while SPD motorcycles led the parade, SFD Engine 29 and the famous blue pickup truck did not. Engine 29 did park at Hamilton Viewpoint post-parade for tours, and as for the truck, it was used as a stage at the parade starting point –

(Photo by Oliver Hamlin for WSB)

president Joanie Jacobs of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, which now presents the parade, explained why, before introducing a late addition to the event, Mayor Bruce Harrell, and 12-year-old anthem singer Lola Orza:

Harrell was one of two mayors present for the parade – neighborhood resident Greg Nickels (the last Seattle mayor to serve 2 terms) and wife Sharon Nickels were seen chatting with him:

(WSB photo by Jason Grotelueschen)

Harrell, running for re-election this year, declared, “Don’t tell other parts of the city I said this, but West Seattle is the best part of the city right now!” It’s certainly the only part of the city that has open participation like this one – show up and you’re in.

(This photo and next 6 by Oliver Hamlin for WSB)

Once the parade reached Hamilton Viewpoint, it was sack-race time:

Local lawyer (and dad) Imants Holmquist announced the races with a heavy helping of humor:

You can hear him in our short video clips – first one of the kids’ groups, then the, shall we say, older adults:

The Hamilton Viewpoint afterparty also had food trucks and activity booths, both in greater number than years previous:

(Photo by Andrew Vernon)

First-year parade coordinators were Becky Brownlee (left) and Erin Roubik (right), below with ANA president Joanie Jacobs (center):

(WSB photo by Jason Grotelueschen)

The ANA’s next big summer event is the Admiral Music in the Parks three-concert series, starting July 17.

(Photo by Stewart L. – one of many small American flags that appeared along Harbor SW recently)

Again this year, we start the (sunny! 70s!) holiday with an info list for you:

TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION

Metro buses – Sunday schedules with extra late-night service
Water Taxi – West Seattle route is on a regular Friday schedule today, including later-in-the-evening runs; Vashon route is on regular weekday schedule
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth is on its weekend schedule
Sound Transit – Here’s the holiday plan
Parking – No charge for street parking today in neighborhoods where the city charges for it
Traffic cameras – Here’s SDOT‘s citywide map; here’s our West Seattle-relevant page

WHAT’S HAPPENING/NOT HAPPENING

West Seattle Junction flags – Volunteers are scheduled to be placing dozens this morning.

West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade – Starts at 10 am – details in this preview. Gather at 44th SW/Sunset SW. Reminder that the parade crosses California SW en route to post-parade funfest at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, so there will be some traffic effects for drivers.

Art on the Corner – 8:30 am-3 pm, artist Bonnie Bennedsen (featured here in 2023) sells her work at 39th/Holden to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.

Avalon Glassworks’ Art-Glass Sale – 10 am-2 pm, legendary annual holiday sale. (2914 SW Avalon Way)

HPIC First Friday, Fourth of July edition – 5:30-8:30 pm, this month’s First Friday on HPIC’s past-and-future site is a neighborhood holiday celebration, with a pie bake-off (prizes!), Seattle dogs, DJ, and art – details here. (12th SW/SW Holden)

WHAT’S OPEN/CLOSED

Aquatics – Highland Park Spraypark (11 am-8 pm), Delridge and Hiawatha (12 pm-5:30 pm) and Lincoln Park wading pools (12 pm-7 pm), and Colman Pool (12 pm-7 pm) are all open today. (Note that Colman Pool’s slide is now open Fridays!)

Other Seattle Parks facilities – here’s the closed/open list

Businesses – Here’s who replied when we asked for info from anyone closing or changing hours today.

Log House Museum – Open today, regular Friday hours, noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)

Seattle Public Library – All locations closed

Post Offices and banks – closed

Also:

WATCHING SEATTLE’S OFFICIAL FIREWORKS SHOW: The Seafair Fourth of July fireworks are at 10:15 pm – over Lake Union, but much of it is usually partly visible from north-to-northeast-facing West Seattle, and crowds generally gather along Harbor Avenue, at Admiral Way and Hamilton Viewpoints, and certain street-end overlooks. These fireworks will be broadcast on KONG.

OTHER FIREWORKS YOU MIGHT SEE FROM HERE: If you’re in southwest West Seattle with a view toward mid-Vashon Island, tonight’s fireworks show there will be over Quartermaster Harbor. … Further south, you might glimpse Tacoma’s 10 pm show, and if you are in one of the east West Seattle neighborhoods with a view toward Bellevue, their fireworks are at 10:05 pm.

LOST/FOUND PET? Furry friends might bolt on the Fourth if fireworks spook them. If you need it, WSB has long had the only all-West Seattle lost/found-pets webpage – email or text info/pic (with your contact #), westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302.