West Seattle, Washington
06 Thursday
(WSB photo)
Tonight’s featured Christmas lights are in Westwood, on the east side of 30th SW, south of Barton – one recent night we noted multiple festive displays on 30th between there and SW Roxbury, and made a note to go back for a photo when we could. This particular house is notable for multiple trees of lights in the yard – hard for the photo to do justice; we had to angle the camera a bit to get everything in. Thanks again to everyone who’s been suggesting displays (editor@westseattleblog.com); more tomorrow, and if you haven’t seen the big displays yet, you can find them any time in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
(2017 photo by Robert Spears)
For everyone who has been asking – yes, the annual West Seattle New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge at Alki Beach is on – with something extra, as just announced by longtime organizer Mark Ufkes:
Yes, the West Seattle Alki Polar Bear Plunge is on again. We line up along the beach in front of Duke’s on Alki, hold hands, and with a countdown, we all run into the water together. Over 500 of us did it last year. We plunge into the water at 10 am sharp January 1, 2018. Don’t be late. Bring water shoes, a towel, a warm change of clothes, and your hopes and dreams for the new year.
This year’s event is a great way to wash away the complexities of the first year of a Trump Administration. And the cold, crisp 47-degree Puget Sound water will wash us with an understanding of why Trump and the mostly white, Republican men who run Congress, after attacking President Obama on a daily basis for eight years about the deficit, would add $1.5 trillion to the deficit during an economic boom to give tax benefits to mostly the wealthy in society, while taking away our net neutrality and reducing lands preserved in our national monuments.
Wear Pink Into the Water: After 62 years of life, and as a white man, I have come to the conclusion that white men (mostly Republicans) are not capable of running our federal government in an honest, equitable manner. Therefore, I will be wearing pink into the water to acknowledge the reality that we need to elect women into every position in the U.S. Congress and fully hand over the reins of federal government power to women. We all know that they will do a better job.
See you January 1 at 10 am!
(WSB photo)
Our featured lights tonight are on the west side of 40th SW, just north of SW Charlestown. Wendy e-mailed to say, “Check out 40th Ave SW between Charlestown and Hinds for awesome Xmas lights. Practically every house on the street (both sides) is lit up.” And indeed they are. She also pointed out that this is right around the corner from music-synched West Seattle Lights (39th/Charlestown), so while you’re checking out that show, explore the blocks nearby – we saw plenty of brightness on 41st and 42nd in the area, too.
Thanks for the West Seattle Christmas lights tips – more welcome, editor@westseattleblog.com – and check out the shows listed in our Holiday Guide!
Even before Lori and Tim McConnell opened their one-of-a-kind West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) in 2010, a holiday-lights run was a tradition. Tonight was the night they gathered runners and walkers in their shop for a celebration with something extra. First, a group photo:
Then, off on a route that, as usual, was scheduled to head east of The Admiral District, with highlights including music-synched West Seattle Lights (3908 SW Charlestown), about a mile away:
As the McConnells reminded everyone, it wasn’t a race, just a lot of fun. Some brought strollers, some brought dogs. And when they got back to the store, they were scheduled to celebrate’s Tim upcoming milestone birthday – we got a peek at the cake:
By the way, WS Runner isn’t just for experienced runners – they nurture beginners too – and toward that end, they’re about to launch a new round of the free couch-to-half-marathon program Get Fit West Seattle, with an informational night at the shop, 7 pm Wednesday, December 27th.
Tonight’s featured Christmas lights are the legendary Menashe Family Lights (5605 Beach Dr. SW) – because this is the night that Santa is there, to delight young West Seattleites and to collect food for the West Seattle Food Bank.
Santa’s there until 10 tonight; the Menashe Family Lights are on nightly throughout the holiday season, leaving faces aglow with wonder:
More lights tomorrow night! See what we’ve showcased already by scrolling through our archive. And if you’d like to suggest a display, let us know where it is – with or without a photo – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
(WSB photo from 2016 Cocoa and Coat Drive)
Last year, generous West Seattleites donated more than 200 coats during the Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive at the WS Farmers’ Market – and tomorrow’s the day you have the chance to help beat that total! Between 10 am and 2 pm on Sunday, look for the Junction Association, Kiwanis Club, and West Seattle Christian Church booth at the market (California/Alaska) – get free cocoa while dropping off coats, hats, and/or gloves, which will all go to West Seattle Helpline. (And nearby, you’ll be able to board the free Santa Trolley for the second and final Sunday of that new Hometown Holidays feature.)
Santa’s everywhere today, as previewed in our highlights list – until 2 pm you’ll find him in Morgan Junction at My Three Little Birds (6959 California SW; WSB sponsor), where we photographed him with proprietor Jennifer Young. Santa’s had his own section all season long in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, by the way … including the much-awaited West Seattle Food Bank-benefiting photos tonight at the Menashe Family Lights (6-10 pm, 5605 Beach Drive SW, bring nonperishable food to donate).
(WSB photos)
Continuing to spotlight Christmas lights nightly … the Wenn family’s residence is still shining brightest on the well-lit 4000 block of Fauntleroy Way SW alongside the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. Many famous characters to appreciate, too, including this timely trio:
Thanks for the ongoing tips (editor@westseattleblog.com) – with a pic if you have one, and if not, we’ll check it out as we did with this one.
Santa Claus has arrived at HomeStreet Bank (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) for photos until 6 pm! Cocoa and cookies too – drop in for holiday cheer; it’s also a donation drive for the West Seattle Food Bank, so bring along nonperishable food for the bin. Tomorrow, Santa’s photo stops include My Three Little Birds (6959 California SW; WSB sponsor) 11 am-2 pm, and on Saturday night, the Menashe Family Lights (5605 Beach Drive), 6 pm-10 pm, also a WSFB food-donation drive.
As far as we know, the Holy Rosary School tree lot is the only school-benefiting Christmas tree lot in West Seattle – and part of the proceeds go to other nonprofits (emergency-assistance-providing West Seattle Helpline, domestic-violence-survivors-assisting Hickman House, hunger-fighting West Seattle Food Bank), too. The volunteers who run the lot asked us to remind you that Sunday is its last day! Hours for the remainder of the run are 3:30-10 pm today, 9 am=10 pm Saturday, 9 am-9 pm Sunday. It’s on the north side of the campus, off 42nd SW between Genesee and Dakota. (If you can’t tree-shop until after Sunday, our full local lot list is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
Huge thanks to everyone who’s shared news of holiday happenings for this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – and with a little over two weeks remaining until New Year’s, we wanted to remind you that we’re still updating daily, and that includes churches’ Christmas (etc.) services as well as New Year’s celebrations – bar parties and beyond. Those are just two of the categories – and there’s even more in the guide – so if there’s anything holiday-ish that you haven’t let us know about yet (including last-minute shopping hours for Christmas Eve!), please e-mail info to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
For the eighth year, Denny International Middle School‘s Posada celebration brought holiday family fun – from a piñata, to music by Banda Vagos:
(Added) Here’s a sample of their big sound – in our video clip:
Denny principal Jeff Clark was in his Dolphins-blue suit as he provided piñata assistance:
Today (Friday) is the last day of school before winter break for Denny and other Seattle Public Schools – with one-hour early release.
(Photos by Leda Costa for WSB unless otherwise credited)
6:06 PM: Santa Claus is in The Junction! It’s a double-special night – the second-to-last Shop Late Thursday before Christmas, and the holiday edition of the West Seattle Art Walk. Also roaming The Junction right now – the Silver Belles carolers, who you might recall from the Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting celebration almost two weeks ago. We caught them here in the distance:
Lots of other highlights tonight – places to stop, things to see – check our preview from last night to find the Art Walk venue list and Shop Late highlights. And again, it’s not just The Junction – Art Walk venues are all over West Seattle, like Welcome Road Winery (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor) in South Admiral:
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
ADDED LATE THURSDAY NIGHT: More photos! Eight artists’ work – including the Mug Show – at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor):
Next, CAPERS had a multi-artist show too, and Santa caught up with some of the artists (L-R below, Stephanie Hargrave, Christine Olson, Magdalena Cooney, Genna Draper, Amy Stone):
Meantime, the Silver Belles caroled on – below, outside Wild Rose Antiques:
Art at Virago Gallery:
Santa visited Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) to get some ideas on how to spend the offseason:
(Photo courtesy of Emerald Water Anglers)
Merry Shop Late Thursday to all, and to all a good night!
The Easy Street Records marquee, by the way, reminds everyone that Caspar Babypants is live in-store Saturday at 6:30 pm – and right outside at the Farmers’ Market on Sunday, bring coats for the donation drive AND catch the Santa Trolley nearby – more on the Hometown Holidays page.
‘Tis the season for holiday/winter concerts, especially this week, with many local school groups performing in the nights before winter break. Last night at Hope Lutheran School, it was a full house for the “Sounds of Winter” concert by groups from Hope and nearby Seattle Lutheran High School.
We stopped in toward the start of the concert. Above, the Hope Concert Band opened the night; our top photo and our video below feature the Hope Chapel Band/Choir:
Also performing, the SLHS Band and Hope’s Handbell Choir and Glee Club. We’re told some of the Hope musicians will also be performing at the Senior Center of West Seattle this afternoon.
P.S. See the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide for more music (and other events/info)!
Thanks to Trissa for the photo! She explains:
I decided that I wanted a tree of lights & our whole family worked together to create this. We’re on Pigeon Point & you can see it when you’re driving east on Yancy from Avalon. Happy Holidays!
Also visible to the south when driving up Andover from Delridge. We’ll be showcasing lights nightly through Christmas – thanks to everyone who’s sent tips and photos – more tomorrow, and we’ll be adding to the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!
(Click to see larger image)
The next huge Hometown Holidays night in The Junction is tomorrow (Thursday, December 14th) – when the December edition of the West Seattle Art Walk happens on Shop Late Thursday, which means many reasons to be there! Including Santa – roaming! – and caroling by Silver Belles, 5-7 pm, starting at Cupcake Royale at 5, then to Wild Rose, and then wandering between other Junction businesses. Here’s the latest Shop Late list from the Junction Association.
Art Walk highlights, running from 5 to late, are here – including the Mug Show at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) and the Puny Picture Show at Wallflower Custom Framing. You’ll also want to visit Emerald Water Anglers (42nd/Oregon; WSB sponsor) tomorrow night for the shop’s holiday party and sale.
And of course the Art Walk stretches beyond The Junction – if you wander south, for example, you can shop for holiday wine at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) while meeting and seeing the work of artist Sandy Simpson. Venues to the north, too – see the map above!
Cocoa Cris Cringle is in the house – well, the shop – at Easy Street Records, for his annual photo sessions, benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. (Discount if you bring a nonperishable-food donation!) We were there as Cocoa Cris’s fans of all ages started showing up for pics:
Holiday photos of course include the family pet(s) sometimes too:
Cocoa Cris is scheduled to be at Easy Street until 8 tonight – full details here. (And while you’re there – check out the used-vinyl blowout sale, which continues tomorrow!)
(WSB photos. Santa and Frosty are the highlight at this house)
With just under two weeks until Christmas, it’s time we start showcasing more lights, so we photographed a few displays on 16th SW tonight after getting this note from Meredith – the subject line, “Love the lights in Highland Park”:
Just wanted send some love out to my neighbors. I live in Highland Park near the fire station. I have to drive down 16th to Burien everyday for work. I just ADORE all the winter holiday lights everyone has put up on the stretch between Holden and Barton on 16th. It literally brightens my day and warms my spirit. Thanks and don’t stop!
We traveled the stretch at dusk and photographed a few displays. Nothing really big and flashy … just enough to warm the heart. This one is just south of Holden:
Next to that, lights are shining on DutchBoy Coffee:
Let us know where you’re seeing lights – we hope to feature some nightly through Christmas – e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com (photo if you have one, if not, just let us know where to look and we’ll go get one ourselves).
(WSB photo: WSFB operations director Lester Yuh, in black jacket, with donation-delivery delegation)
The West Seattle Food Bank welcomed a giant holiday haul today – the annual visit by a delegation from the Nucor West Seattle steel mill to deliver food and money, courtesy of the company and its employees.
(This photo and next two are courtesy of WSFB)
This year, employees donated 4,740 pounds of food – more than two and a third tons! – and $751 in cash; the company’s match for all that totaled $10,982, and Nucor added $3,367 more in cash. Here’s WSFB development director Judi Yazzolino accepting the check from Nucor’s Stephanie Sanchez:
Another important component of the delivery – Omega Morgan donated the flatbed truck! Here are Todd Strobeck and Erik Tronvig from OM:
You can help the WSFB and its thousands of clients too … here’s how.
Soft light, refreshments, low-key holiday shopping … it’s like the anti-mall right now in the basement of First Lutheran Church of West Seattle during the 9th annual St. Nicholas Faire, continuing until 7 pm. The shopping is actually bidding – for dozens of unique gift baskets, gift items, and gift cards, all donated so the money that’s raised can go to the West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline. Item themes range from sports to cooking to reading to gardening to relaxing to snacking …
Art, too – this Alki painting is by Paul Smith:
There’s an admission charge (as detailed in our calendar listing) to raise money for those nonprofits too, discounted if you bring nonperishable food for the WSFB. And for an extra $5, you can do some wine tasting – every year Rich Marshall from award-winning Maryhill Winery is there; he also happens to be brother of FLCWS pastor Rev. Ron Marshall. Parking lot’s behind the church (4105 California SW), entrance is in front; go have a good time while doing good. (More photos shortly.)
Yes, there is a Santa Claus … aboard the Santa Trolley. Today brought the debut of this new West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays feature – free rides around The Junction until 2 pm, during the Farmers’ Market – next Sunday (December 17th) too!
The trolley is from Emerald City Trolley; the rides are free thanks to sponsor Westside School (which also sponsors WSB, and we too sponsor Hometown Holidays). Junction Hometown Holidays events in the week ahead include Cocoa Cris Cringle photo sessions at Easy Street Records on Wednesday, Holiday Art Walk on Thursday night, Caspar Babypants at Easy Street next Saturday, and the cocoa-and-coat drive at the Farmers Market next Sunday … all listed here (and in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, too!).
(Ruby-crowned kinglet, photographed by Mark Ahlness; photo shared via WSB Flickr group)
Happy Sunday! Here’s what’s up, morning through night – from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:
SANTA PHOTOS AT CAPERS: 9 am-noon at CAPERS in The Junction. Donations benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. (4525 California SW)
SANTA AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE: Santa photos at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9 am-4 pm Saturday with Gail Ann Photography. Walk-ins welcome. Packages start at $30, and 20% of all sales will be donated to the Fauntleroy Community Service Agency. (9131 California SW)
RIDE THE SANTA TROLLEY! 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, free ride with Emerald City Trolleys taking you on a loop around the Junction. Sponsored by Westside School (WSB sponsor). Catch the trolley at the south end of the Farmers’ Market. (California/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round market open today 10 am-2 pm. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
GREYHOUND MEET AND GREET: 11 am-1 pm, Greyhound Pets Inc. at Mud Bay in Admiral. (2611 California SW)
OPEN HOUSE AT MODE MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS: 3-6 pm, come find out about this new venture at its first open house:
Mode Music and Performing Arts (MMPA) is a new nonprofit performing arts organization based in the West Seattle neighborhood, providing classes and workshops in the Seattle area. Founded by Kristina Rowell (Studio East Education Director) and Erin Rubin (Mode Music Studios in West Seattle), MMPA is out of West Seattle and ready for launch in January of 2018.
MMPA strives to provide exciting and innovative performing-arts training. We believe that it is vital every child experience the arts and have the opportunity to create on and off stage. Our professional teaching artists are skilled at offering a wide variety of performing arts classes from acting technique to musical theater to play creation and performance.
It’s two doors down from Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) and next to Skylark. (3801 Delridge Way SW)
HOLIDAY SINGALONG: Songs of Christmas singalong, 3 pm. All ages, following festive refreshments at 2:30 pm, at Admiral Congregational UCC. (4320 SW Hill)
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: Matinee today for Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday show “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show.” 3:00 pm at Kenyon Hall. Get ticket(s) online at this Brown Paper Tickets link, or at the Kenyon Hall box office. (7904 35th SW)
ERYN BENT: Singer-songwriter performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
LADIES’ MUSICAL CLUB: Free classical concert at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 3 pm. Program details in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)
ST. NICHOLAS FAIRE: 4:30 pm-7 pm, enjoy the 9th annual St. Nicholas Faire, raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle Helpline: “Appetizers and spiced cider or mulled wine, silent auction of gift baskets featuring
beer, wine, tea, kitchen items, games, puzzles, art activities, Seahawks & Mariners gear, baked goods, children’s books, etc, and gift cards from local merchants and restaurants. Plus a ring toss game and wine tasting. Lower level of First Lutheran Church of West Seattle. $5 person admission with non-perishable food item or
$15 per family with food donation for each member. If no food donation, $10 person/$25 family.” (4105 California SW)
HOLIDAY CONCERT: South Seattle College Community Choir‘s free holiday concert, 7 pm, SSC’s Olympic Hall. Park in south lot. (6000 16th SW)
(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)
5:17 PM: After a late-afternoon stop in South Park, the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship sailed into West Seattle waters by Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) for the first of tonight’s three West Seattle stops.
Emerald City Voices on board. pic.twitter.com/JdDpBsPGL1
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 10, 2017
In our short video clip, you hear Emerald City Voices, serenading those on board and ashore. (added) More photos from this stop – first, spectators viewing through the Luna Girls on Alki sculptures:
The Christmas Ship headed downtown to change passengers and singers before its second voyage of the night brings it back to West Seattle – The Dickens Carolers will be on board for the 8:10 pm visit to Lowman Beach Park and the 8:55 pm stop by the Alki Bathhouse.
9:46 PM: We made it to Alki for the final visit of the night – a chattier crowd ashore, and you can even hear the water:
The Dickens Carolers are singing onboard #christmasship pic.twitter.com/SfSKJkDV9c
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 10, 2017
(Added) More photos – first, thanks to volunteers and Seattle Parks, treats inside the Bathhouse:
A beach bonfire:
The enduring wish on the stern of the Christmas Ship:
And thanks to Molly Al-Jawad for this photo of the brightest of the 9 boats that accompanied the Christmas Ship to Alki:
Meantime, the Christmas Ship will be back in West Seattle for an encore next Thursday – 9:10 pm at Don Armeni, with The Dickens Carolers.
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