West Seattle, Washington
06 Thursday
What we’ve seen … and received:
“Welcome to Nightfall Orphanage” is the scary display at 2130 Alki SW this year.
Tawd‘s show – a followup to last year’s “haunted pumpkin patch,” which he created after realizing Alki needed more Halloween spirit – will be open again this Friday and Saturday (November 2nd and 3rd), 7:30-10:30 pm.
Next, texted video of a decorated house in North Admiral, at 45th/Seattle:
So many elaborate displays tonight! One street in especially spooky spirit(s) was Walnut, south of West Seattle High School. Including Aaron‘s house:
Speaking of costumes – a couple reader-contributed photos from earlier – including these two seen during Admiral trick-or-treating:
Melodee at Daystar sent this photo of “Miss Butterfly”:
And earlier in the day, this texted photo wishing all “Feliz Día de los Muertos from West Seattle High School”:
Thanks as always for the photos, video, tips, calendar listings, etc. – now on to the winter holidays!
It’s the yard that draws a crowd every Halloween, going back to 2006 – the southwest corner of 36th and Hanford becomes the stage for Skeleton Theatre. It’s a labor-intensive animatronic production, and some years have recycled all or part of previous years, but this year ST is presenting an all-new show, “The Toppers of Redbridge.” We stopped by for photos and video about midway through tonight’s continuous three-hour run.
Skeleton Theatre isn’t spooky unless you find skeletons scary in any context; it is clever and humorous. (Think bone-related jokes.)
If you missed it tonight, check it out tomorrow (Thursday, November 1st), 20-minute shows scheduled to run pretty much continuously 6-9 pm. Read more on the ST website, where you also can donate to help the creators cover the costs of this Halloween spectacular they’ve been presenting all these years.
Judi Yazzolino from the West Seattle Food Bank sent that photo of just part of the scene outside the Meeds Manor Haunted House – before dark … just imagine the spookiness that awaits you now! Until 9:30 pm at 5415 49th SW, you’re invited to stop by for a scare – admission is by nonperishable-food donation for the WSFB, which Judi says has as a result in the past had a Halloween haul around a half-ton or so! Of course it’s part of our Halloween Etc. Guide, which you’ll want to check for spooky shows and more.
Not too much competition for candy so far in the Admiral District, where business trick-or-treating is on until 6 pm as this West Seattle Halloween revs up into high gear! Participating businesses are happy to see all their costumed visitors – and don’t miss the side streets – West Seattle Realty (WSB sponsor), for example, is on 42nd SW, east side of the Admiral Safeway complex, and has Tracey and Kevin standing by with candy:
Costume themes this year range all the way back into prehistoric times:
(added) Our nominee for best accessories:
For best treat pairing (A Kids Place Dentistry for Children [WSB sponsor] offered toothbrushes AND candy):
Spiciest costume, at Mission Cantina (WSB sponsor):
Still a few more photos to come. And more Halloween coverage! See what else is up tonight by checking our Halloween Etc. Guide.
(2015 photo by Jason Enevoldsen)
By Alice Enevoldsen
Special to West Seattle Blog
It’s Halloween! Time for candy, chocolate, costumes, cultural celebrations … and allergic reactions? I’m a little late writing about the Teal Pumpkin Project this year, but you can still participate! Even if you can’t, having a little empathy tonight will go a long way with your neighbors.
As adults, we are almost always able to deal appropriately with the feeling of being left out. Good for us. Celebrating Halloween with food allergies means being left out over and over again, which is particularly difficult for children.
Enter the Teal Pumpkin Project! It’s simple:
1. (optional) Sign up at http://tealpumpkinproject.org
2. Display a teal pumpkin at your door, or a picture of one, to show that you’re participating. Locally, Target is selling Teal Pumpkin Project merchandise that you can use to display your participation.
3. Give trick-or-treaters a non-food treat either instead of candy or in addition to candy. Try to keep the candy in a separate bowl from the non-candy.
The Teal Pumpkin Project is not an attempt to eliminate candy from Halloween. The Teal Pumpkin Project was started to promote the inclusion, safety and respect for people with food allergies. As a happy circumstance, this also promotes the inclusion, safety and respect for people who also cannot have candy for reasons besides food allergies such as diabetes, family rules, simple preference, etc.
I don’t have food allergies, why would I participate?
Empathy and inclusion.
Most social occasions in the United States have an emphasis on food. This is extremely stressful if you have food allergies, like me, and even more stressful if your children have food allergies. It takes a lot of willpower not to eat that tempting chocolate bar—even though I know it might have nuts. I just really wish I could have one too. Children are still learning this skill and need more supervision.
There are already over 60 households signed up on the West Seattle peninsula, including White Center. These houses will be passing out tattoos, stickers, toys, making slime, making glow worms, critters, slap bracelets, bubbles, pencils, fangs, blind bags, squeeze balls, glow sticks and more. You can find a map or list of some of them on the Teal Pumpkin Project website. I know there are more planning to participate as well.
Do kids really like non-food treats?
Yes. Not every kid likes every treat, and that’s true for candy too, but non-food treats can be even more fun, and are less likely to be subject to the “parent tax” (you know the one: the portion of kids’ candy eaten by the parents after bedtime?). I’m sure you can get even more creative, but stickers and glowsticks are usually a hit. Toothbrushes, probably not. I’ll be making slime, but I’m intense about Halloween. Are you down to the wire on time? A dollar store is going to have a variety of things that will work.
If I’m handing out candy and non-food treats, how do I determine which treat to give to each trick-or-treater?
I advocate giving out both to each kid, but the Food Allergy Research and Education organization recommends that “you can either ask trick-or-treaters if they have any food allergies, or give every visitor a choice of which treat they’d like: candy or a non-food item.”
There are answers to more of your questions on the Teal Pumpkin Project FAQ. I’m happy to answer your questions tonight at @AlicesAstroInfo on Twitter, in between making slime with my own trick-or-treaters.
I/My Child Has Food Allergies
Please stay safe on Halloween. Bring your epinephrine and allergy medications while you trick-or-treat and to Halloween parties. Wait until you get home to eat any treats. Check every label and ingredients, fun size candies can have different ingredients than full-size. If you can’t find the ingredients, swap it for something safe. Bring extra safe treats along with you to parties.
Resources:
FARE: Food Allergy Research and Education
FAACT: Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team
WA-FEAST: Washington Food Allergy, Eczema, and Asthma Support Team—this is our local active support group.
Sea-FAC: Seattle Food Allergy Consortium—local research being done into causes and cures for food allergies.
(WSB photo, November 2017)
Thanksgiving is just three weeks from tomorrow, so it’s an immediate segue from Halloween into the holiday season again this year, and the first big event is Thursday – West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) invites you to the annual Holiday Taste, 4-7 pm Thursday. Dozens of vendors will offer samples to inspire your holiday plans, free as always.
P.S. If your business/organization/school has a holiday event, please let us know ASAP as we’ll also be segueing into work on our annual guide (besides the year-round calendar – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Photo by Rose De Dan – Halloween displays on 38th SW between SW Stevens and SW Lander)>?
It’s Halloween Eve and we just wanted to remind you one more time about the array of activities in our West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide. Trick-or-treating starts early, with costumed candy-seekers welcome at businesses in Admiral (starting at 3), Westwood Village and White Center (starting at 4), and things get spookier from there … animatronic shows … even Halloween Trivia with a costume contest and prizes! See the full list here.
First big event of Hallo-weekend – more than 300 people on the paths of Lincoln Park, raising money for local co-op preschools via the West Seattle Monster Dash. It was a beautiful morning in the forest:
Spooky creatures everywhere you looked:
This set of outfits, you might call sweet:
Here’s our video as everybody left the starting line:
This was the Monster Dash’s seventh year!
Four West Seattle Hallo-week notes tonight:
WEST SEATTLE YULETIDE’S HALLOWEEN SHOW RETURNS: Got late word from Ken and Cora Iverson that their light show east of The Junction, on the east side of 38th SW between Genesee and Dakota, is back:
We’ll have our singing pumpkin again with his three monster back-up singers, along with Zombies, Larry and Scully and the Wicked Witch of the West (if it’s not raining – she melts in water, you know).
The show just wrapped up its first night and is set to go continuously 6 to 9 again tomorrow (Saturday) – “later if there’s an audience” – and 6-10 pm on Halloween. Inbetween – possible shows Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Adding to our Halloween Etc. Guide – where we’ve also added this second-year attraction:
‘WELCOME TO NIGHTFALL ORPHANAGE’: 2130 Alki SW is where you’ll find this spooky show next week:
It’s the second year of a special show in this Alki yard; you can read more about it at nightfall1031.wordpress.com. It’ll be open for your visit Monday-Wednesday (October 29th-31st) and the following Friday-Saturday (November 2-3), 7:30 pm-10:30 pm each night. Candy on Halloween and Nov. 2nd.
SKELETON THEATRE: The website is updated now for this south-of-Admiral animatronic extravaganza with word of an all-new show this year. Here’s the trailer:
6-9 pm Wednesday and Thursday (October 31-November 1) at 36th SW/SW Hanford. And see our guide for the trailer for one more animatronic show, Nightmare on 44th.
One other Hallo-week note tonight:
HARVEST FESTIVAL KIDS’ PIE-EATING CONTEST: We hear there’s still room for more participants in the new pie-eating contest during Sunday’s West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival. The announcement: “A la Mode Pies is sponsoring a kids’ (8-14) pie-eating contest. Sign up at their West Seattle cafe by 10 AM October 28; they will pick 10 random contestants.” Prizes for the top three finishers. A la Mode is on SW Alaska just east of California; the contest will be at Walk All Ways by the Info Booth at 1:30 pm Sunday.
Got a Halloween/fall/harvest event coming up but haven’t sent us the info? Hurry! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As of right now, 38 events are listed in our West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide – for kids, adults, even pets – many, but not all, later this week and this weekend. But we’re sure there’s more, and we’d love to add yours. White Center and South Park events are welcome as well as everything happening in West Seattle. Please e-mail us the info at westseattleblog@gmail.com!
This year’s official West Seattle Junction Christmas-tree-lighting event is December 1st – still seven weeks away, so some people did a double-take when they noticed the tree all lit up this past weekend, including Melissa, who sent the photo. We recalled early installation and testing last year, and verified today with Junction Association executive director Lora Radford that the same thing is happening this year – easier to get it done before the fall rains arrive. (Although the forecast suggests they’re not likely to get going any time soon!)
As we do every year, we’ll be publishing the West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide page, listing all the special events coming up this month, and they’re starting soon, so we’re working on it sooner than usual! If your organization/business/school/facility/group/etc. is planning something that’s open to the public, please e-mail us the info as soon as you can – just the basic what/when/where details, and a website link if you have one – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Halloween is just under six weeks away, and businesses in The Admiral District have decided to offer trick-or-treating that afternoon again this year:
That’s the official poster, just sent by Brent Amacher on behalf of the Admiral merchants – look for it on Halloween (which is a Wednesday this year) to see who’s participating.
P.S. West Seattle Junction businesses’ trick-or-treating will happen as usual during the Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm on Sunday, October 28th.
A new flag flies over the Alki Masonic Lodge tonight after a Labor Day tradition: A ceremony retiring the flag flown for the past year and raising a new one.
The flag ceremony was performed by VFW Post 1263 (Renton)’s Darrell Pilat and John Rickenbach. Speakers included Laurel Glassley, Worthy Advisor of the West Seattle Rainbow Girls, who read a brief history of the American flag:
And Brian Rivers, DeMolay Master for the Cascade Region, had a short speech about patriotism.
This is the 7th year the lodge has changed flags on Labor Day – usually accompanied, as was the case today, by a barbecue:
The Alki Masonic Lodge’s history goes back to 1906.
(Labor Day birding, anyone? David Hutchinson photographed one of two Ruddy Turnstones that he says have been drawing birders to Constellation Park)
No traffic report this morning (check cameras here) because of the holiday – but we do have the transit/transportation toplines, to start the holiday highlight list:
METRO: Buses are on Sunday schedules.
WATER TAXI: West Seattle runs on an “extended Sunday” schedule (since the Mariners play tonight); Vashon is not running.
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is on the “weekend summer” schedule.
SOUND TRANSIT: The 560 Express bus is on a Sunday schedule.
STREET PARKING: In areas with city pay stations/metering, today is a “free parking day.”
Here’s open/closed/etc. info for the holiday:
SEATTLE PARKS CLOSURES: The what’s-closed/what’s-not list is here.
SPRAYPARK & WADING POOL: Last day of the season for Highland Park spraypark, 11 am-8 pm (1100 SW Cloverdale), no matter what the forecast … It’s also the last scheduled day for the Lincoln Park wading pool, same hours (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) if the forecast is for a warm afternoon. We’ll update at midmorning. (OPEN!)
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES … are closed.
REGULAR SOLID WASTE PICKUP? If you are a Monday customer, yes.
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: Holiday.
A few events today:
SEATTLE LABOR RIDE/POKER RUN: Again this Labor Day, riders are invited to join City Councilmember Lisa Herbold on this motorcycle ride and “poker run” celebrating the history of the labor movement. $20 entry fee benefits the Labor Archives of Washington. The ride starts at Chelan Café in West Seattle at 9 am, with registration starting at 8 am. All riders welcome, any size motorcycle or scooter. (3527 Chelan SW)
FREE BURGERS: As noted on our partner site White Center Now, Li’l Woody’s in White Center is offering free burgers 2-5 pm today. (16th SW/SW 98th)
GRAND OPENING: The new Bohemian Studios location at the 4801 Fauntleroy Apartments (WSB sponsor) building is throwing a Grand Opening party 3-6 pm today. (Edmunds/Fauntleroy)
Have a great Labor Day! If there’s breaking news, best way to tip us is text/voice at 206-293-6302, 24/7 – thank you!
As the annual “fireworks are illegal but the law’s not enforced” discussion rages on, the fact of the matter is that fireworks don’t just make noise, they often result in toxic trash left behind by users, especially in public parks. We’ve received photos from one, Solstice Park, same place across from north Lincoln Park where we cover the annual change-of-season gatherings (decidedly non-trash-generating events), and just upslope from a P-Patch.
Lori sent these photos along with an expression of her dismay: “Just walked up to see the mess from last night. UGH. They walked past our house and I’m sure they were all teens. Lots of empty beer cans and bottles and an OJ container that I bet has vodka in it. Illegal fireworks and drinking, with no punishment, so it will certainly happen again next year. Unless we put up lights, have neighbors occupy the park from 8-midnight, or hire a security guard for the night!” (We’re checking with
10:32 PM: So far, nothing major *in* West Seattle. An SFD call to California/Findlay was a fire in a tree, per a texter, extinguished even before SFD’s arrival. The Lake Union fireworks are happening right now so the Alki-and-vicinity outbound wave is less than half an hour away – remember the police plan to redirect traffic until that’s clear. They had a big presence at Alki even before dusk – we were out checking on that when the East Marginal fire broke out; we counted at least a dozen SPD cars, marked and unmarked, with the Mobile Precinct at Don Armeni Boat Ramp, which was blocked off to vehicle entries.
10:57 PM: Another police sighting – Delridge Community Center Park, according to a neighbor who says it’s been “the worst year yet” for illegal fireworks there.
11:14 PM: The photo above is courtesy of Carolyn Newman, who reports, “Traffic seems to be moving a bit quicker than normal on Harbor Ave, however, still a slow go.”
MIDNIGHT: SFD has dispatched six units to the 4500 block of 42nd SW for a call described as “dumpster fire with exposure.”
12:03 AM: That’s in a parking garage, according to radio communication.
12:11 AM: The call’s been downsized. Meantime, somewhere on SW Kenyon – we didn’t catch the cross-street/block – police are checking on multiple 911 reports of five people who had been shooting guns and who then got into a white BMW. No word of any injuries.
12:14 AM: Now police are going after a black Infiniti for some reason, Fauntleroy/Avalon at last report. (Update: It was a suspect with a $100,000 warrant in a West Seattle gun/drug case.)
1:21 AM: Things have quieted down since then, at least in terms of local police/fire dispatches. We remain on call, 24/7, at 206-293-6302.
That’s our video of today’s West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade in North Admiral, in its entirety, from an SPD motorcycle officer and Seattle Fire Engine 29 leading the way, to the very last young parader, as they headed westward from the starting point on Sunset. No way to formally count, but every year it seems bigger – here’s a couple photos showing just part of the crowd toward the start and end of the route:
It’s an informal parade – just show up and you’re in it, coordinated by neighborhood moms for almost a quarter-century – this year, Emily Williams, Nicole Lutomski, and Megan Erb.
Costumes and decorations range from simple to lavish:
A few signs, in the spirit of the day:
It’s not a parade without a banner, although this one was mid-parade:
And at the end of the route – the post-parade party at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, where sack races are a tradition:
The final race this year took a never-before twist!
Sack races post-WS 4th of July Kids' Parade end with first-ever round for parents! pic.twitter.com/f68UkAMEDG
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 4, 2018
Also at the park – food trucks (long lines!) and activity booths presented by parade sponsors – among them, WSB sponsors – including A Kid’s Place Too Dentistry:
And Dream Dinners-West Seattle:
Engine 29 was there for tours:
WestSide Baby‘s famous bus was a dropoff spot for diapers:
If you enjoyed being in and/or watching the parade – coordinators are still crowdfunding to cover the costs, and you can contribute here.
P.S. Next West Seattle parade: The WS Grand Parade on Saturday, July 21st, from California/Lander (10:30-ish start for the motorcycle squads, 11 am rest of the parade) to California/Edmunds, preceded this year by the PAWrade – more on that here!
(WSB photos)
Another 4th of July tradition: The Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s annual picnic at its headquarters, the Log House Museum on Alki. We stopped by around noontime and caught guest speaker Clay Eals, local historian and past SWSHS executive director:
He was speaking about Erma Couden, who died recently at age 103. As noted in her obituary, Ms. Couden was an advocate of “civil rights and local heritage preservation, all grounded in the pursuit of caring human connections.” She also was the wife of SWSHS founder Elliott Couden. Eals’s successor as SWSHS executive director, Jeff McCord, spoke too:
One of the things he wanted to be sure everyone knows about: The SWSHS is celebrating summer with a new event, Open Draw. On three upcoming Thursday nights (July 26th, August 23rd, and September 27th), 5-7 pm, you can draw and drink wine in the Log House Museum’s Native Plant Courtyard. Free of charge except for the wine, which will be $5/glass. The LHM is at 3003 61st SW and is regularly open Thursdays-Sundays, noon-4 pm.
10:27 AM: It’s on! The West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade has begun, with hundreds of participants streaming west on Sunset from 44th and winding through neighborhoods en route to crossing California eastbound south of Hamilton Viewpoint Park.
10:55 AM: Paraders are still arriving at the park, where the post-parade party includes activity booths and sack racing (which will start shortly on the field), plus tours of Seattle Fire Engine 29 (which helped lead the parade as usual), and treats. We got the entire parade on video – 19 minutes worth of people leaving the start line, longer every year! – and will publish that, along with photos, in a second report later.
(Juvenile Bald Eagle photographed along Alki by David Hutchinson)
Good morning! Just a reminder that all our holiday info is on the WSB West Seattle 4th of July page. We’ll be out covering the holiday as it happens – including the 4th of July Kids’ Parade. And if you missed our report last night, note that police will be changing traffic patterns for a while late tonight to help clear the outbound-from-Alki traffic faster. Have a great holiday, and if you see news – our 24/7 hotline (text or voice) is 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
The West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade is actually more than a parade. It’s West Seattle’s biggest Independence Day celebration, and after the parade, there are sack races, activity booths, and food trucks at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, where the route ends. Here are the basics:
WHEN: 10 am Wednesday, July 4th
WHERE: Parade starts at 44th and Sunset – from the official parade website, here’s the route:
WHO: Countless hundreds of West Seattle kids and their families
HOW MUCH: No cost to be in the parade or the post-parade games/activities. However, if you can chip in a bit to help the volunteer organizers cover the costs (permits, etc.), here’s the crowdfunding page.
WHO’S SPEAKING/SINGING? No politician speaking this year at the start of the parade. School of Rock West Seattle student Vega Zaringlee will sing the national anthem.
DID YOU SAY FOOD TRUCKS? Three post-parade – Lil J’s Super Dawgs, All City Ice Cream, Mini The Dough-Nut.
WHO ELSE IS AT THE PARK? 12 sponsor/activity presenters! Plus usually police and fire for vehicle visits.
WHO MAKES THIS ALL HAPPEN? This year’s coordinators are Emily Williams, Megan Erb, and Nicole Lutomski.
WHAT TO BRING: Besides your red-white-and-blue-decked selves … diapers! They’re being collected for WestSide Baby.
ANYTHING TRAFFIC/TRANSIT OTHERS SHOULD KNOW IF THEY’RE NOT PARADING/SPECTATING? Yes! For one, traffic will be held by police when the parade crosses California SW on the last leg (hard to say when that will happen, somewhere between 10 and 11). Second, Route 128 will have a reroute during the parade – details here.
See you there!
Our holiday-info page for the 4th of July – special events and what else you need to know – is here. If you have something to add – an event we missed, or holiday business hours (open or closed) – it’s not too late for us to add it! Just send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com. Thanks!
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