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

Now that November is here, we’re looking ahead to the winter-holiday season … and that means time for the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.

(WSB file photo: A Holiday Guide staple, the Christmas Ship!)

As always, we offer it as your go-to guide for all sorts of events – from bazaars to concerts to tree lightings to donation drives to services to light shows to holiday hours for restaurants/bars/coffee shops, and much more – for the entire season all the way through New Year’s Day. All we need is the information about what YOU are planning. Thanks to everyone who has already sent holiday-event info – we’re getting the listings into our year-round West Seattle Event Calendar too. The sooner you get us the info, the better. Just a few things to know:

-Listings are free, as is ALWAYS the case for our calendar and guides
-The event has to be happening *in* West Seattle, White Center, or South Park
-Please send the what/where/when/who/etc. info in plain text in the body of your e-mail, NOT in a doc, pdf, image, etc.
-If there’s a related photo/logo/flyer, you’re welcome to send that too, but it’s NOT required
-E-mail the info to editor@westseattleblog.com
-The sooner, the better!

We hope to launch the first draft of the guide this week. Throughout the season, we’ll continue to add to it, as always (and remove events once they’ve happened), as usual. Thanks again for sharing your holiday-event info with your West Seattle neighbors!

3:28 PM: The dinosaur and unicorn were dancing inside Admiral Bird, our first stop at this year’s Admiral District Trick-or-Treating event, happening until 6 pm. Just look for the “participating merchant” sign if you don’t see something/someone else obvious – with the sunshine, many merchants are outdoors with the candy bowls. (Added) From Atomic Boys – that’s Kent “Tourist” Sadow below left with friend “Joey Ramone”:

4:09 PM: If you come down, don’t miss the side streets – Admiral merchants are handing out candy beyond California SW and SW Admiral Way. For example, on 42nd just north of Lander (east of Safeway), you’ll find West Seattle Realty (WSB sponsor):

Meantime, as previewed in our West Seattle Halloween (etc.) Guide, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) is having a costume contest during trick-or-treating:

Admiral trick-or-treating continues until 6 pm.

5:53 PM: Almost over – but we’ve added more photos ahead, from a “presidential candidate” to a pet! Read More

West Seattle’s Chelan Café was the starting point this morning for a poker-run motorcycle ride to the Labor Temple downtown – but not a direct route: The ride stopped at multiple local union halls along the way. Leading the ride, if you didn’t recognize her in our video clip of the departure, was West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, riding with husband Bob Combs:

As previewed here on Saturday, the ride had five stops planned, from the International Association of Machinists hall in South Park to the Deep Sea Fisherman’s Union in Ballard, before arriving at the annual picnic at the Labor Temple.

Herbold participated last year too – but this was her first since being elected last November to the City Council (whose two-week summer recess ends tomorrow, by the way).

(One of the hardest-working birds, taking a break. This is a male Anna’s Hummingbird – photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Welcome to Labor Day 2016!

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
Area traffic cams and info (including a link to the city map with travel times) on the WSB West Seattle Traffic page.

*Metro buses are on a Sunday schedule
*West Seattle Water Taxi is also on a Sunday schedule
*Sound Transit Route 560 is on a Sunday schedule too
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is on its “regular summer Sunday sailing schedule”

‘PARKING HOLIDAY’: No pay stations on city streets in West Seattle, but if you’re heading off-peninsula, you should know there’s no charge in the neighborhoods that do have them, because this is a “parking holiday.” (SDOT also notes that time limits are not enforced on holidays.)

TRASH/RECYCLING PICKUP: If you have Monday pickup, it WILL happen today.

SEATTLE PARKS: Most facilities are closed for the holiday, with the exception of Colman Pool (last day of the 7-day-a-week season) and Highland Park Spraypark (last day of the season), and West Seattle Golf Course.

LIBRARIES: All Seattle Public Library branches are closed today (King County Library System, too).

Event notes for today:

POKER RUN MOTORCYCLE RIDE: Join City Councilmember Lisa Herbold and the labor community on a ride to area union halls, starting from West Seattle’s Chelan Café at 8:30 am – registration at 8 am – details in our preview. Scooters welcome too. (3527 Chelan SW)

LABOR DAY PICNIC/FLAG RAISING: 11 am-3 pm at Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, you’re invited to the annual potluck picnic (bring a side dish to share) and flag-raising ceremony (at noon) – details are in our preview. (40th SW/SW Edmunds)

GLASS BLOWING: 11 am-5 pm at Avalon Glassworks (which is open regular hours, 10 am-6 pm, today): Glass artist Sean Welch will be making glass apples to benefit White Center Food Bank. (2914 SW Avalon Way)

LAST DAY FOR TOURS AT ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: 1-4 pm, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary invites you to the season’s last day of tours at historic Alki Point Lighthouse before the season ends. Be there by 3:40 pm. (Alki SW/Beach Drive SW)

If you see/hear news … please let us know – 206-293-6302 text/voice if it’s happening now, editor@westseattleblog.com if it’s not urgent. Thank you!

(WSB photo from 2012 flag ceremony at Masonic Center)

Another Labor Day invitation for you – everyone’s invited to the annual flag ceremony and potluck at Alki Masonic Center in The Junction:

We hope you you’ll join us this Monday, September 5th, for our Annual Labor Day Flag Dedication Ceremony and Potluck Picnic. We’ll be raising a new flag at 12:00 noon, following by a potluck picnic. All are welcome – we hope you’ll join us!

WHEN: Labor Day, Monday September 5, 2016 11 am – 3:00 pm
(Flag Ceremony Begins at Noon)

WHERE: Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th Ave SW

MEAT: Brother Jeff Jolly is smoking a substantial amount of beef brisket for you to enjoy.

BRING: A Lunch Dish to Share

WHO: All Are Welcome!

Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

-Francis Scott Key
September 14, 1814

(CM Herbold and other riders on Labor Day 2015. Photo by Bob Combs)

Got a motorcycle? You can put the “labor” in Labor Day by joining in this citywide ride that starts in West Seattle on Monday morning. Scott sent the announcement:

Join Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold and Seattle’s labor community for a motorcycle ride through Seattle and a visit to some of Seattle’s union Halls.

Participation in the poker-run is $20 and benefits The Labor Archives of Washington. Registration starts at 8:00 am at the Chelan Café in West Seattle. From there we journey on to several union halls before ending at the Seattle Labor Temple for the annual Labor Picnic at 1:00. And yes, there is reserved parking. An after-event is scheduled for 4 pm at Slim’s Last Chance.

You don’t have to be a union member to participate – everyone is welcome. Given the route, this is a great event for smaller bikes and scooters as well.

Poker-Run route is as follows:

Chelan Café (Registration) – 3527 Chelan Ave SW
IAM (International Association of Machinists) 1500 S. 91st St.
ILWU (International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union) 3440 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, WA
UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers) 5030 1st Ave S
IBU (Inlandboatman’s Union) 1711 W Nickerson St
DSFU (Deep Sea Fisherman’s Union) 5215 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle Labor Temple – 2800 1st Ave.

(See a map here.)

One more Independence Day event to mention before we get too far past the holiday:

Thanks to Clay Eals at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society for sharing a photo and video from the SWSHS’s 4th of July picnic at the Log House Museum. This year’s special highlight: Music from the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Brass Sextet. You’ll hear some of it in the clip, as well as the orchestras’ founder Toni Reineke talking about their interest in new members.

WSCO signups resume next month.

(REPORT #1, published during the parade, is here)

With the anthem by Aine …

And the countdown featuring new parade coordinator Emily Williams (with son Nash) alongside King County Executive Dow Constantine (with toddler daughter Sabrina) and Mayor Ed Murray …

.. after the elected officials’ amazingly abbreviated speeches:

… this morning’s West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade was on, with the familiar blue pickup and West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court in the lead:

Everybody left from 44th/Sunset as usual, just south of the mini-stage used for the pre-parade speeches and song, and the crowd stretched for blocks:

This year we didn’t get the entire parade on video … but here’s a spirited stretch toward the California crossing:

So much creativity went into the decorations and costumes:

Plenty of variety in the parade participants’ modes of transportation:

Also on two wheels – these members of the Seattle Police parade-escort contingent:

Yet more bicycling paraders in this added bit of video:

Once the parade arrived at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, it was sack-race time:

Also concession time – while the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s popsicles and bottles of water were mostly sold from a booth, they had roamers too, including ANA past president David Whiting:

And community businesses who sponsored the parade had booths for families to visit – we caught up with three WSB sponsors, A Kids’ Place Too Dentistry:

Mode Music Studios (which offered an art activity at the post-parade festival):

And Second Gear Sports (where you can buy and consign gently used gear):

Also seen at the park – shoutout to the Hinsley Family:

Also seen at the parade: an elected official who didn’t take the stage – King County Council Chair and congressional candidate Joe McDermott:

That’s Betsy Hoffmeister with him. After the parade, he was headed to the new-citizen ceremony downtown – another patriotic 4th of July tradition.

Last but not least, Hamilton Viewpoint sightings that reminded us of what’s yet to come this summer:

That’s West Seattle-based Seafair Clown “Officer Lumpy,” who, with his fellow clowns, has many more parades ahead, including the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 23rd, where you’ll also see this bus that was on display at the park too:

WestSide Baby’s trademark diaper-drive bus was there to collect donations and to remind you this is their big month – culminating in Stuff the Bus day at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction on July 24th. In the meantime – stand by for even more West Seattle summer fun!