West Seattle, Washington
08 Monday
(WSB photo)
Another sign of the season in the West Seattle Junction – the wreaths went up on the lampposts this morning, and evergreen garlands will follow shortly.
(Photo by Brian Presser)
This is another reason for us to remind you that the biggest night for this year’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays is this Saturday (December 2nd) – first, starting at 3 pm, SW Alaska will be closed between California and 42nd for a Night Market, not only a chance to shop local vendors but also for seasonal fun including Santa photos and for kids to decorate wooden snowflakes that they’ll be able to hang on the tree in Junction Plaza Park – the same tree that will be lit in a 5 pm program hosted this year by Sundae + Mr. Goessl. See the full Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) event lineup here.
Now that Thanksgiving is over, let’s talk Christmas! For almost two decades, The Christmas People Foundation has been providing Christmas dinners to thousands of people around Seattle. Last year for the first time, the group also organized a festive free sit-down dinner in West Seattle, and promised they’d do it again this year, with an earlier announcement. So here’s the plan:
HELP NEEDED: If you can help, you can do it via something simple – bake homemade cookies (no store-bought) and drop them off at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds) 9 am-1 pm December 22nd/23rd/24th/25th – or something a little more complex: If you are a professional sous chef, line cook, or food handler, your volunteer help would be welcome! Call 206-719-4979 and talk with one of The Christmas People’s co-founders (Dr. Ruth Bishop and Fred Hutchinson).
ATTEND THE EVENT: Noon-4 pm at Alki Masonic Center on Christmas Day (Monday, December 25th), you’ll find a full-course dinner, including coffee/tea and dessert. Entertainment, too – trombonist/vocalist Marc Smason.
Again, this is free, and all are welcome, particularly, per the announcement, “elders, homeless, and those who would otherwise be alone” on the holiday. You can find out more via TheChristmasPeople.org.
Haven’t made it to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market yet today? Here are three reasons to go despite the intermittently blustery weather: Above, as mentioned in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, the Pathfinder K-8 handmade wreaths are back for another year, technically just south of the market on the KeyBank corner at California/Alaska – they raise money for Pathfinder students’ outdoor education. (They’re scheduled to be back the next two Sundays, too.) Below – Christmas trees!
Three Tree Farms from Mossyrock is on the east side of the market with fresh trees. And on the south end of the market, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle has tickets for next Saturday’s pancake breakfast:
The 7-11 am drop-in event (with community sponsors including WSB) at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds in The Junction) on December 2nd is a festive way to start the biggest Saturday of the season – and it’s a great family deal because kids under 10 eat free with a paying adult, and Santa’s there for photos. If you don’t get your ticket from the Kiwanis today, you can also buy online – or, for a bit more, at the door next Saturday.
So many places to go on this “Small Business Saturday” (as noted in our daily preview) – we’ve made some stops so far:
ALAIR: Shandon Graybeal is about to celebrate the first anniversary of her “neighborhood gift shop” at 3280 California SW. Today she’s offering 20 percent off everything in the store.
In The Junction:
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS: Speaking of anniversaries, it’s been six years since Frank Gross launched his business, so today’s sale is about that as well as about Small Business Saturday – 15 percent off select guitars, amps, and pedals, open until 6 pm at 4736 California SW.
KID-FRIENDLY FOOTWEAR @ AGAIN & AGAIN: In our photo above, Sarah is next to some of the shop’s selection of boots, part of this weekend’s deals – “many in-store new kids’ shoe and boot discounts 10 to 50 percent off,” plus 25 to 50 percent off new infant and toddler carriers, and 25 percent off some toddler winter coats and baby buntings. Open until 7 pm at 4832 California SW.
MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: You get a cool “swag bag” at the south Morgan Junction shop with your purchase today! Jennifer Young‘s shop has all sorts of clothing, shoes, and gear for the younger member(s) of your family, ages newborn through 12. Open until 5 pm at 6959 California SW.
(Our standard disclosure: Three of the businesses mentioned above – Thunder Road Guitars, My Three Little Birds, and Kid-Friendly Footwear/Again & Again – are WSB sponsors. And we’ll say it again – please make EVERY day “Shop Small” day!)
While you’re out “shopping small” today (more on that soon), here’s one stop where you will find lots of micro-vendors in one big room – the Masonic Hall holiday bazaar, on until 4 pm. Quilts, towels, treats, jewelry, wooden bowls, figurines, baked goods, baskets, more, from local artists, crafters, even youth vendors from the Rainbow Girls and Girl Scouts organizations.
(With Danielle are, from Troop 43034, Abby, Miranda, Gina)
If you’re driving or riding, there’s parking right by the doors to the hall, which is at 40th/Edmunds.
P.S. At the back of the room is a small giving tree (above) encouraging donations to Mary’s Place, which shelters homeless families.
Night 2 for @wslights (3908 SW Charlestown) pic.twitter.com/edYswRm5Ju
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) November 25, 2017
Every holiday season since 2009, a humble house across from the city water tank at SW Charlestown/39th SW is transformed into a platform for West Seattle Lights – the music-synched Christmas-light show created by Jim Winder, a friend of the homeowners. This year’s show launched on Thanksgiving night; we stopped by on Night 2 tonight for a bit of video – a short clip above, longer clip below:
Those two songs are WSL classics, but the show has added new ones this year too. The season-long schedule is here; you can watch while standing along the street, though the music is relatively quiet, so if you want to turn it up, you can tune your vehicle or personal radio to 101.9 FM for the soundtrack. The show has nonprofit beneficiaries, including the West Seattle Food Bank, with a bin out front for nonperishable-food donations, which totaled a third of a ton last year; you also can donate cash – all of which goes to the nonprofits, none to the show itself – via this page on the WSL website, which shares space with info about Maple Valley Lights, the show Winder added in his own neighborhood.
P.S. Wonder how many lights in all? The answer is here (with other “fun facts”).
West Seattle Lights is of course featured in the WSB WS Holiday Guide, along with other light shows, and if you have or see other notable decoration displays, please let us know – thank you!
This year’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays events officially begin tomorrow, with Small Business Saturday (also known as Shop Small Saturday), which has become a big day for holiday shopping at local independent businesses coast to coast. The West Seattle Junction Association has assembled a list of more than 20 businesses with deals and/or something else special going on – see it here. And if you would like to print it out to use as a checklist while you’re out shopping, here’s the printable version.
P.S. After tomorrow, the next big date for Hometown Holidays (which WSB is co-sponsoring again this year) is the following Saturday, December 2nd, including an expanded Night Market in the street (3-7 pm) by Junction Plaza Park, where this year’s Tree Lighting celebration will start that night at 5.
P.P.S. If your business is outside The Junction and you have something special going on for Shop Small Saturday or any other time this season, we would love to promote that too – e-mail us the info at editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
So many unique places in West Seattle to find unique gifts – such as the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center, where this year’s Native Holiday Gift Fair is happening until 5 pm today and again 10 am-5 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
This is your chance to buy directly from Native artists and craftspeople. Below, a crow figure by Peter Boome:
And Nativity figures by Ixtli White Hawk:
Snacks are also available so you can take a break in the Longhouse’s beautiful surroundings – including soup and hot chocolate. It’s at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW.
It was a great morning for parade-watching downtown – no rain, not too cold – and we were there to see both local high school marching bands be part of this year’s My Macy’s Holiday Parade, which also spotlights inflatable floats, costumed characters, and even dog clubs. Above and below, the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band appeared toward the start of the hour-plus parade.
A bit later, parade-goers saw and heard the West Seattle High School Marching Band:
(You’ll see the WSHS Band closer to home one week from tomorrow, on Saturday night, December 2nd, during the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting, 5 pm at Junction Plaza Park.)
One more West Seattle sighting – the nutcrackers from Salty’s (WSB sponsor) rolled down the route right before the WSHS musicians:
This was the 27th annual downtown parade, which, along with the 5 pm Macy’s star-lighting, bookends the downtown festivities on the day after Thanksgiving every year.
If you have some extra giving capacity this year, maybe you can help handle a few of the 1,124 requests received by the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) this season. Both locations have giving trees up, with two weeks and two days for you to help make the holidays happier for someone. From the Y’s executive director Shalimar Gonzales:
The West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA invites local residents of all ages to participate in a variety of free activities and give a gift to support kids and families in the area. There is a giving tree on display in each of the lobbies of the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA locations with cards attached. If you are interested in sharing a gift, just take one or more cards, purchase the requested gift, and return it to the Y by December 9th. Last year, over 800 gifts were provided by the community for this effort. It’s been a tough year for many people in the community, and during this special season, the need for even more donations from our community members is even more critical.
As for those free community activities – to which you’re invited whether you’re a Y member or not – they include:
*Family Night, 6:30 pm-8 pm December 1st
*Healthy Holiday Stress-Reduction Workshop, 6:30 pm December 11th and 10 am December 14th
*Winter Holiday Bake-A-Rama with Chef Kim O’Donnel, 4:30-5:30 pm December 14th (Sufganiyot [Jelly Donuts] and Benne [Sesame] Biscuits)
All of those events – which have been added to the WSB WS Holiday Guide – are at the West Seattle branch (36th SW/SW Snoqualmie); the Fauntleroy branch is at 9131 California SW. Our Holiday Guide also has a “holiday giving” section where we have added these giving trees – if you have a giving tree, donation drive, fundraiser, volunteer need, etc., please let us know so we can add it too – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
It’s free community Thanksgiving dinner time in West Seattle, if you don’t already have plans. Above and below, The Hall at Fauntleroy is serving dinner until 3 pm, 19th year, and David Haggerty of D Squared – parent company of The Hall and Tuxedos & Tennis Shoes Catering – tells WSB that this might be the biggest one yet: 70 people were waiting when they opened the doors at noon, and they had served more than 220 by the time we visited in the second hour.
Community contributions to The Hall at Fauntleroy’s dinner include donated desserts, as well as warm clothes for anyone who needs them:
But you don’t have to be in need to join in the community dinner – all are welcome; The Hall is at 9131 California SW.
Meanwhile, now that it’s 2 pm, the doors also are open at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ at 4426 California SW, where they’re offering a free community dinner – turkey and all the trimmings – until 5 pm.
(Thanksgiving Eve rainbow, photographed by Carolyn Newman)
Happy Thanksgiving! As usual, we’ve compiled info you might be looking for:
GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: The list is in the Thanksgiving section atop our Holiday Guide.
COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: 16 coffee shops open for at least part of today are also listed in the Thanksgiving section of our guide.
RESTAURANTS (AND BARS WITH FOOD) OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: Here’s the list; please be aware that it is a list of who told us, when we called, that they planned to be open – always subject to last-minute change without notice to us, so please let us know if you find discrepancies – thanks!
PRE-TURKEY EXERCISE : Three options this morning, which you also will find 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, noon-3 pm (9131 California SW)
*West Seattle Church of the Nazarene, noon (4201 SW Juneau, church basement)
*West Seattle Eagles, 2 pm-5 pm (4426 California SW, banquet-room entrance off parking lot on south side of building)
AND IF YOU WANT TO HELP: You can donate a dessert to The Hall at Fauntleroy’s dinner – such as a pie and/or cookies – dropoffs are welcome between 10 am and 1 pm, same address as above (south end of the historic schoolhouse).
THANKSGIVING POTLUCK: 11 am-2 pm on the patio outside Tully’s on Alki. “Bring and share a hot dish, or salad, or dessert, bring family/friends, all are welcome.” (2676 Alki SW)
WHAT TO DO AFTER DINNER:
The Admiral Theater is open this afternoon/evening – see the movies/showtimes here (2343 California SW) … The West Seattle Lights music-synched light show starts tonight, 7-9 pm – bring food for the West Seattle Food Bank! (3908 SW Charlestown)
(Surf scoter, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
THANKSGIVING TRANSPORTATION NOTES:
*Metro is on the Sunday schedule
*No Water Taxi service
*Sound Transit Route 560 is on the Sunday schedule
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on its regular schedule
*Parking is free on city streets in neighborhoods with pay stations
OTHER INFO:
*No trash/recycling pickup today – Thursday pickups will happen Friday; Friday pickups, on Saturday
*Seattle Parks closures for today, tomorrow
*Seattle Public Libraries closed today
Detailed 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 – thank you!)
Looking for West Seattle Christmas trees? What you see above are some of the ones that arrived today at Junction True Value (4747 44th SW; WSB sponsor), and we’ve updated the tree section of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Their selection includes Noble, Grand, and Fraser Firs. Trees also have arrived and are available today at West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon; Noble Firs first, more to come) and Home Depot (Delridge/Orchard). We also noticed while out this afternoon that the tree lots are being set up at Tony’s (35th/Barton) and the Alki space that is summertime home to Wheel Fun Rentals (253- Alki SW). Holy Rosary‘s lot (42nd/Dakota) opens Friday. More tree info in the Holiday Guide – and if you notice someplace missing, or want to add information, just e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
P.S. We include wreath sales, too – for example, the legendary Pathfinder K-8 handmade wreaths, raising money for outdoor education, will be available in The Junction for three Sundays starting this weekend (November 26th) during the Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm.
As always, we are continuing to update the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide at least once a day, and the latest addition is another free community dinner on Thursday, at the West Seattle Eagles.
(WSB file photo, Eagles’ Thanksgiving kitchen crew)
Like the other big free community Thanksgiving dinner, at The Hall at Fauntleroy, this one is on a drop-in basis, but the time for the Eagles’ dinner is a little later – 2 pm to 5 pm. (The Fauntleroy dinner runs noon-3.) All the info is in the Thanksgiving section atop the guide, where we’ve also added another chance to get some exercise before your dinner – the West Seattle Ultimate Family Frisbee organizers are having a Thanksgiving morning pickup game. Along with dinners and workouts, we have the open-restaurant list, several places open for coffee, and grocery-store hours. And that’s just the start of the guide, which has everything else you need to know for this most festive of all seasons, through New Year’s, adding the info as we get it (editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!).
If you have abundance to share this Thanksgiving, here are three ways to ensure others will have holiday feasts too:
DONATE TURKEYS TO WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK: You can bring one or more turkeys to the WSFB until 3 pm today, 9 am-3 pm Tuesday, 9 am-7 pm Wednesday. (35th SW/SW Morgan)
DONATE TURKEYS TO WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK: Turkeys are also being accepted at the WCFB through 5 pm today, 9 am-5 pm Tuesday and Wednesday. (8th SW/SW 108th)
DONATE DESSERTS TO FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER @ THE HALL AT FAUNTLEROY: Thursday’s open-to-everyone dinner at The Hall always welcomes dessert donations – pies, cookies, etc. You can drop them off on Thanksgiving, 10 am-1 pm, or call 206-932-1059 to arrange a Wednesday afternoon dropoff. They could use kids’ clothing, new socks (any size), and blankets, too. (9131 California SW)
P.S. Throughout the holiday season, we feature other donation opportunities (and volunteering, too) in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – so if you have something to add there, please e-mail info to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
(In 2012, the Sealth Band had a guest conductor! Photo courtesy Bruno)
Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, brings the downtown My Macy’s Holiday Parade as usual – and the participant list shows that both local high-school marching bands are in it this year, Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School. You’ll also see the Salty’s (WSB sponsor) nutcrackers. The parade starts at 9 am Friday, and the route is fairly simple:
The parade steps off at 7th Avenue and Pine Street and travels west to 5th Avenue, south on 5th Avenue to University Street, west on University Street to 4th Avenue and north on 4th Avenue and ends at Macy’s.
Anyone else from West Seattle set to be in the parade? Let us know so we can watch for you too!
(WSB photos)
Every holiday season, you can find ways to ensure your dollars are spent for more than just giving a gift – they can also do a good deed. That’s what’s happening until 1 pm at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Ethical Fair Trade Sale. Some of what’s on sale inside OLG’s Walmesley Center on the northeast corner of 35th and Myrtle are items created overseas. Some are items benefiting causes close to home, like cards for Noel House, a women’s shelter.
And OLG students are selling baked goods to benefit WestSide Baby.
Another OLG student, 8th-grader Mark, is answering questions near the door, as an “ambassador” for the sale:
OLG has another big holiday event coming up – the annual “Light Up the Night” grounds-lighting and caroling celebration is set for Friday night, December 1st, 7 pm. (That event, like today’s sale and dozens of other seasonal events and FYIs, is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
(WSB file photo)
Two weeks from tonight – on Saturday, December 2nd – you’re invited to the biggest event of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays – the Tree Lighting at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) and Night Market in the street on SW Alaska. This year, the Night Market will run 3-7 pm, with the Tree Lighting at 5 pm. You can preview the list of market vendors by going here; along with shopping, you’ll be able to take photos with Santa, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. Hosting the Tree Lighting this year are the jazzy duo Sundae + Mr. Goessl, who will be joined by the Endolyne Children’s Choir and the West Seattle High School Marching Band. You can see the rest of the Hometown Holidays lineup here, and in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – we’re proud to be a co-sponsor again this year.
You can shop and snack at the Junction True Value (WSB sponsor) Holiday Open House, which is on until 2 pm. Besides the treats, you’ll find tunes – seasonal music performed by Jared Mitchell:
Jared Mitchell at Junction @truvalue Holiday Open House (4747 44th SW until 2 pm) pic.twitter.com/nSsOJrmXQv
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) November 18, 2017
Right at the front door, you’ll be greeted by West Seattle Food Bank reps – bring nonperishable food to donate and/or cash – $15 will buy a turkey!
Also part of today’s fun, an ugly-sweater contest and if you have kids under 10, the chance to enter drawings for boys’ and girls’ bicycles:
Besides hardware, housewares, garden items, and more, Junction True Value has holiday decorations of all types, lights to floral:
Get there before 2 – 4747 44th SW.
P.S. If you are looking for an early tree this year, True Value tells us theirs are expected to be in Wednesday.
(WSB photos)
When we passed by Eastridge Church (39th SW and SW Oregon) around 7:40 this morning, people were already in line waiting for the annual turkeys-and-groceries giveaway to start at 9 am. But when we went over to photograph the volunteers around 9:30 am, the line was gone, so if you or someone you know needs Thanksgiving food – a turkey and a bag of groceries – there’s no wait.
They also are offering coats in adult and child sizes, and Bibles.
And it’s all running on volunteer power as usual, including Girl Scouts from West Seattle Troop 42553:
Eastridge also does this at its campus in Issaquah, and this year is offering 1,500 turkeys between the two sites.
(WSB file photo from past Eastridge turkey event)
Just a quick reminder as we move into Friday night, tomorrow’s the day each year that Eastridge Church offers free turkeys and bags of groceries to anyone who needs them. Starting at 9 am, volunteers will make them available to everyone in line outside their church (at 39th SW and SW Oregon) while supplies last, along with coats (adult and kid sizes) and Bibles. Between their West Seattle and Issaquah campuses, they expect to give out 1,500 turkeys, no questions asked, no proof of need required.
Now six days until Thanksgiving … so here’s a reminder of some ordering deadlines. First, our two grocery-store sponsors:
METROPOLITAN MARKET: Order Thanksgiving food (pre-made or not) by 11:59 pm Monday (November 20)
WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY: Order pre-made holiday dinners by Tuesday (November 21)
And we’ve received deadline reminders from two Junction spots known for desserts:
BAKERY NOUVEAU: Deadline for orders is Sunday (November 19), with pickup on Wednesday (November 22), when BN will be open until 7 pm (all locations).
A LA MODE PIES: Deadline for orders is midnight Monday night, with pickup on Wednesday (8 am-9 pm) or Thursday (yes, on Thanksgiving Day, 8 am-2 pm). Also – if you’re making your own pie – A La Mode is now offering “handmade frozen pie shells, available in both regular and hazelnut, along with perfectly portioned ready-to-roll dough balls (for top crusts or to roll out for your own pie pans).”
P.S. Speaking of holiday food, we’ve now published what’s on our open-Thanksgiving restaurant list so far – find it linked in our newly launched Holiday Guide, on our calendar, or just go here.
Two site notes tonight:
HOLIDAY GUIDE: Version 1.0 is live – with much more to be added as the season goes on – but with Thanksgiving a week away, it’s time to get this big wave of information out there. See it here, and check back often – we’ll be updating it at least once a day throughout the season.
TECH TROUBLE: Sorry if you’re having trouble tonight with our site in desktop/laptop browsers – since some glitching hit a few hours ago, we’ve brought most components back but we’re still working on restoring the rest. And thanks again to the first people to let us know about the problems – we work in an administrative interface and might not know immediately when something is wrong. (Tech trouble can be reported the same way news tips are – editor@westseattleblog.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you.)
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