As usual this time of year, we’re updating the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide multiple times a day as new events/info comes in. A few things to mention today:

-You’ll find Thanksgiving information toward the top of the guide, including grocery-store hours for tomorrow and lists of restaurants and coffee shops that told us they plan to be open tomorrow, as well as info on the free community meals in Fauntleroy and South Park, and pre-turkey workouts.

-Looking for an early Christmas tree? We’ve just added three more places to the list in the Holiday Guide, after noticing tree arrivals while out on errands.

-Planning on Black Friday/Shop Small Saturday shopping? The guide includes that info for some local businesses too, and more to come by day’s end. (Added: Here’s the big Junction list.)

As mentioned, we’re updating the guide frequently and appreciate hearing directly from businesses, groups, event organizers, anyone with info that belongs in it – just e-mail us the details at editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

Junction True Value (WSB sponsor) is the Christmasiest place in West Seattle right now, and not only because of their extensive stock of lights and decorations. It’s their Holiday Open House until 2 pm – treats, gifts, drawings, good cheer…

Even caroling:

You’ll also find Judi from West Seattle Food Bank by the front door accepting $ for turkey-buying:

Junction True Value is at 44th and Edmunds.

P.S. While you’re out – MANY places to stop (other open houses, bazaars, more) for one-of-a-kind local holiday gifts … see the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.

9:58 AM: An annual pre-Thanksgiving tradition is happening right now outside Eastridge Church at 42nd SW and SW Oregon – free turkeys, bags of groceries, and clothing available to anyone in need, no questions asked, just comeby.

Eastridge has been doing this for more than a decade – at its Issaquah campus as well as the one here in West Seattle. Community volunteers help out, including these Girl Scouts from Troop 42553:

Above, Stephanie, Luarena, and Mallory helped hand out socks and gloves; below, Sierra and Maryn assisted with coats.

This continues until supplies run out; the line stretched down 39th to the Trader Joe’s parking entrance when this began at 9 am, but we’ve seen it move fast in the past. We’ll be checking back in an hour or so to see how it’s going.

11:35 AM: Went by – no line, still some turkeys left!

(Downy woodpecker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Huge day of happenings. First, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

TURKEY/GROCERIES GIVEAWAY: Starting at 9 am at Eastridge Church, turkey and groceries for anyone who shows up, while supplies last (hundreds will be available) – details on the church website. (39th SW/SW Oregon)

HOLIDAY BAZAAR IN THE JUNCTION: Alki Masonic Hall Holiday Bazaar, sponsored by Alki Court 21, Order of the Amaranth, 9 am-4 pm. (40th SW/SW Edmunds)

HOLIDAY BAZAAR AT TIBBETTS: Holiday Bazaar at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 10 am-2 pm, promising a “beautiful and unique selection of hand-sewn items, stocking stuffers, crafts, team spirit wares, gift baskets, and baked goods.” (3940 41st SW)

JUNCTION TRUE VALUE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Holiday Open House, Food Drive, & Ugly Sweater Contest at Junction True Value, 10 am-2 pm. “Sing along with the Christmas carolers. Enjoy homemade cookies; hot apple cider; free popcorn; free gifts; and spin-to-win prizes. Enter drawings for a Weber gas grill and a boys’ bike and girls’ bike.” Bring nonperishable food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. (4747 44th SW)

POP-UP HOLIDAY SHOPPING: Seattle-Made Pop-Up Event at Sound & Fog Coffee/Wine Bar, 10 am-3 pm. (4735 40th SW)

HOLIDAY BAZAAR IN GATEWOOD: Holiday Bazaar at Peace Lutheran Church, 10 am-4 pm. Silent auction and bake sale, too, and lunch available 11 am-1 pm. Full details on the church website. (39th SW/SW Thistle)

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT NW ART & FRAME: Holiday Open House at Northwest Art & Frame in The Junction. “Live artist demos, open house specials, lots of free drawings throughout the day, product demonstrations, all the latest in holiday decorations, FREE samples and of course … FREE treats & goodies! Products that are being demonstrated will be 20% during their demos. The demos will change every 2.5 hours!” 10 am-5:30 pm. (4733 California SW)

WINE RELEASE: Final day, 1-7 pm, it’s fall release time at Northwest Wine Academy on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus.

That’s “Well Read,” a red wine that’s brand-new at NWWA. (6000 16th SW)

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & NEW GREENHOUSE’S DEBUT: West Seattle Nursery Holiday Open House, 2 pm-5 pm, with your first chance to get a look inside WSN’s new greenhouse building, plus wreath-making demonstrations, talks, and Santa photos. (5275 California SW)

And from our regular West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:

HOUSING EQUITY CONFERENCE: At the Senior Center/Sisson Building, registration 9:30 am, conference 10 am-3 pm, on LGBTQ housing equity in Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)

CARMILIA’S TURNS 14: The Junction boutique Carmilia’s is celebrating the shop’s 14th anniversary, with one more day of specials. 11 am-6 pm, discounts from 14 percent to 56 percent, and proprietor Linda Sabee promises “Bubbly and snacks served all day.” (4528 California SW)

HOW TO CREATE A WRITING GROUP: 2-4 pm, free workshop as part of “Seattle Writes,” at Southwest Library – details here. (35th SW/SW Henderson)

HIGH SCHOOLS’ DINNER/AUCTION EVENTS: Both West Seattle High School (5 pm at Metropolist in SODO) and Chief Sealth International High School (5:30 pm at SSC’s Brockey Center) have their annual fundraising dinner/auctions tonight.

FIVE-BUCK BAND: ’60s and ’70s music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

GEORGIE BRIGHT KUNKEL: The 96-year-old performer/writer/activist takes the stage at 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall – details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

‘EXTRA-SENSORY SOUL’: 9 pm, This Blinding Light, Casey Chisholm, Heron Moon perform at Parliament Tavern. 21+. $5 cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MUMFORD & SONS FILM: See the concert film at 11 pm at the Admiral Theater – details in our calendar listing. (2343 California SW)

Another quick reminder that the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide is live, and that it’s updated at least once a day, so please keep checking in, and keep sending info about your holiday events, donation drives, etc. – anything happening now through New Year’s! We also will include the usual lists of restaurant, coffee-shop, and grocery-store hours for holidays, and while we are calling around, checking signs on doors, etc., we appreciate getting that information directly too – editor@westseattleblog.com is the e-mail address for all of the above. Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who has sent event listings and other info so far – version 1.0 of this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide is live! Browse it here. Every year our goal is for the guide to be THE place to find local holiday happenings, from pre-Thanksgiving through post-New Year’s Day. Since it’s relatively early in the season, some plans have yet to be finalized, so we’ll be continuing to update the guide daily (if not more often). Anything to add? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

If you go to The Junction before day’s end, you’ll see flags lining the street in the heart of the business district. They’re there thanks to the work of community volunteers led by West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160. It was an all-ages effort:

As they say, many hands make light work, and even if you weren’t there this morning, you can help with the 4 pm takedown – meet outside the Campbell Building on the NE corner of California/Alaska. And not long after that – as previewed here – Post 160 hosts its annual free Veterans Day spaghetti dinner for veterans, active-duty servicepeople, Guard and Reserve members and families, 5:30-7 pm, 3618 SW Alaska.

(WSB file photo)

This year’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting on December 3rd will be more festive than ever, with a Night Market on SW Alaska next to Junction Plaza Park. Local retailers and artists are invited to apply NOW to be part of it. The invitation:

As part of Hometown Holidays, new this year is a street night market that will be a part of the tree lighting. Running from 4 pm to 8 pm, the night market sets the shopping stage for the holidays.

As this is the first year, we’ll be keeping it to 12 booths. Cost is an affordable $50 per booth. It’s a great opportunity for retailers to showcase their holiday offerings. You’ll need to bring a 10×10 tent, table and chairs. We’ll take care of lighting up your booth.

To be considered for the night market you must have a City of Seattle business license. The night market is designed for retailers, artists, and crafts. No food items.

If you would like to be a part of the night market, click on this link to register.

You can see the layout plan here (PDF).

(WSB photo, November 2015)

As we continue looking ahead to holiday events, Eastridge Church confirms that it will again be giving away turkeys and groceries on the Saturday before Thanksgiving at its two campuses, including West Seattle:

Are you thinking about the holidays?

Thinking that you could use a little help? We would like to help you!

Eastridge Church will be giving away a total of 1,500 (between our 2 campuses) 10-12 pound turkeys, potatoes, vegetables, gravy packet and stuffing FREE to families!

The locations of our campuses are:

4500 39th Avenue SW in Seattle
24205 SE Issaquah Fall City Rd in Issaquah

We will start at 9:00 am on Saturday, November 19th and continue until they are all gone!

This is always a no-questions-asked event.

(WSB photo from 2014 dinner)

This Friday is Veterans Day, and West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 has two invitations: All are welcome to join them in placing The Junction’s flags in the morning; then in the evening, veterans, active-duty servicemembers, reserve, guard members, and families are invited to a free dinner:

Veterans Day, the annual time for remembering the end of World War I and the brave Americans who served in the “war to end all wars,” also draws from the news headlines of the day.

“What we now call ‘Veterans Day’ began as ‘Armistice Day.’ It is historically significant that this day continue to be observed on the month, day and hour that the guns fell silent in World War I at 11a.m., Nov. 11, 1918,” Keith Hughes, commander of West Seattle American Legion Post 160, said.

While the day has strong historical roots, current events continue to add meaning to the day.

“Today, thousands of Americans are serving in uniform. They sacrifice in the war on terror and in hundreds of locations around the globe so we may remain free. They, too, are veterans,” Hughes said.

To mark Veterans Day in West Seattle, American Legion Post 160 invites all currently serving; active, reserve and guard members and those who served in the past, along with their families, to join us for our complimentary Annual Italian Dinner. The dinner will be held on November 11, 2016, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. The West Seattle Post is located at 3618 SW Alaska St.

Volunteers, coordinated by American Legion Post 160 members, will also line the Alaska Junction with United States flags starting at 9:00 am. If you would like to participate, show up at the northeast corner of Alaska and California five minutes prior. The flags will be taken down at 4:00 pm. All ages are encouraged to participate.

The American Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veterans’ organization. Founded early in 1919, the delegates to the first National Convention in Minneapolis broke from business sessions to parade down a main street in a heavy snowstorm at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 to mark the anniversary of the armistice.

Approaching the south entrance of West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) right now, the tent and the sunshine might transport you back to summer … but no, this isn’t another benefit barbecue. The tent is where you can sample raclette, as part of Thriftway’s Holiday Taste event, on until 7 pm. “Free food!” as one store staffer explained to visitors. You’ll find the rest of it happening indoors:

Around the store, at tables set up in areas from the deli zone to the produce section, you can try everything from bread to fruit to vegetables to turkey and stuffing:

Lots of friendly folks serving the samples, all meant to inspire you with just three weeks to go until Thanksgiving