West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
(West Seattle Montessori & Academy [WSB sponsor] photo: What their students are thankful for)
On this day before Thanksgiving, you can give others a reason to be thankful too. From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, two Thanksgiving Eve-specific reminders:
TURKEYS FOR WCFB: The White Center Food Bank (which also serves part of WS) needs more turkeys, and welcomes dropoffs until 7 pm tonight. (They’re OK on volunteer help, and grateful to everyone who responded to that part of the most-recent request.) Just take them over to the food bank at 10829 8th SW.
‘LUNCHES WITH LOVE’: This annual community-powered effort to feed hungry people could use your help in several ways – drop off lunch supplies, make some sack lunches and take them over, help make sack lunches at LWL’s home-based HQ, help take the lunches around the area tonight to people who need them. Details are in our preview from Monday.
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We’re spotlighting other giving opportunities throughout the holiday season – you’ll find them in our guide, which also has holiday-specific information you might find useful tomorrow, including:
-Grocery-store hours
-Where to get coffee
-Restaurants that plan to be open
… and what happens AFTER Thanksgiving, too, from light shows to Santa visits to parties, concerts, special shopping events, and beyond. (We continue to update daily, so please keep sending info on your holiday events – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
Three days to get ready for Thanksgiving! If you are looking for information including:
*Free community meals
*Restaurants/coffee shops/grocery stores open on Thanksgiving
*Thanksgiving Eve/Day services
*Ways to put the “giving” in Thanksgiving (and the entire holiday season)
… please take a few minutes and check the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide (Thanksgiving is right at the top!). It’s updated daily (if not more often) all season long, so if you have information to add, for Thanksgiving or beyond, please send it as soon as you can! editor@westseattleblog.com is the best way to get us info for the guide and/or our regular year-round calendar (plain text in the body of the e-mail, please, not as an attachment or image) – thank you!
Just back from two of the events in today’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide listings:
JF HENRY OPEN HOUSE: Some holiday open houses at local businesses are one-day-only events; at JF Henry in The Junction, they’re continuing until 5 pm today, and in addition to shopping for kitchen/dining ware, you can check out the retro aluminum tree with which proprietor Tom Henry is posing, above, and the little train circling the trees in the front window, as seen in our Instagram clip below:
JF Henry is at 4445 California SW on the north edge of The Junction. Treats and giveaways, too.
PEACE LUTHERAN BAZAAR: Two more hours to bazaar-shop if you can get to Gatewood:
It’s been a successful sale so far, the folks at Peace Lutheran Church (39th SW & SW Thistle) tell us, but items decorative and celebratory still await you in the sun-dappled downstairs room (doors are on 39th) until 3 pm.
Something to add to our Holiday Guide? E-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com ASAP – we’re updating daily!
From our West Seattle Holiday Guide, two of the many West Seattle events happening now:
At the Junction True Value (WSB sponsor) Holiday Open House – on until 2 pm at 4747 44th SW – helping the West Seattle Food Bank is a highlight. You can buy one of the raffle tickets that Sara (above) is selling, and/or bring a nonperishable food donation – the barrel’s right out front. New guest at the open house this year – an early visit from Santa Claus:
You’ll find him by the front door, steps away from the table of treats that also await you:
JTV is also your holiday-decorations headquarters – from lights to wreaths to tree and yard ornaments, and beyond.
Our West Seattle Saturday preview lists other open houses happening today and also a lineup of bazaars, including the one at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), also until 2 pm. Volunteers there include Betsy, ready to cheer for the Cougars tonight:
The Tibbetts bazaar (3940 41st SW) is highlighted by handmade items – hurry over to see for yourself if you haven’t already.
The updated-daily WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide includes a full list of what’s happening for WS Junction Hometown Holidays this year (we’re again among the co-sponsors), and there’s something new: On tree-lighting night – Saturday, December 5th – SW Alaska will be closed in front of Junction Plaza Park, so you’ll have more room to gather around the tree and park to enjoy the ceremony! It’s been elbow-to-elbow for years now, and the park itself is fairly small, so this is a big move to make room for more people to join the fun. Music, caroling, and more – full schedule TBA – 5 pm on the 5th. Also this year, that same night will bring a rolling Holiday Party at Junction stores, 4 pm-8 pm, with sips and snacks and specials all around, so come prepared for shopping and fun before and after the tree lighting.
One more quick reminder so word can circulate to those in need: Once again this year, the Saturday before Thanksgiving will bring the annual Eastridge Church giveaway of turkeys and bags of groceries. You don’t have to sign up or show anything – it’s available to all comers while supplies last. The line forms outside Eastridge, which is on the southeast corner of 39th SW and SW Oregon, and the giveaway starts at 9 am Saturday (November 21st). Read more about it on the church website.
P.S. This is part of a long list of Thanksgiving-related events/info in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
(Photo from last holiday season: Car full of donations, unloaded upon delivery to WS Helpline)
That photo shows some of what West Seattleites donated to the West Seattle Helpline last holiday season to help keep neighbors warm, in large part thanks to a donation drive at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance (WSB sponsor). We’ve just received word that they’re doing it again: You can drop off donations of clean clothes, coats, and shoes at Dave Newman’s office (3435 California SW) from now until the end of December. If you want to donate, but can’t get the item(s) to the donation location, pickup might be available – call 206-932-1878 to inquire.
P.S. We’ve just added this to the newly launched WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which, along with all kinds of other holiday information, includes a specific list of donation drives and other opportunities to give – some, like this one, all season long, others just for a specific day or event. Something to add? E-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
Looking for something to do before The Game? Head over to the second annual “Sip & Shop” holiday bazaar at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Admiral. It’s on until 5 pm. In the photo are Brooke Vaughey and Emily Paulson, who shared the photo shortly after Sip (wine!) & Shop got under way. All ages welcome; no admission charge; 3050 California SW. (This was featured in our newly launched West Seattle Holiday Guide – send us your event ASAP – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
(File photo of the Christmas Ship, whose 2015 West Seattle stops are part of what you’ll find in the guide)
Just published – the first version of this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Thanks to the many people who answered our call to send holiday info as early as possible, it already has dozens of listings for the season, pre-Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. We’ll be updating it frequently as usual, removing what’s already happened, adding new events and updates that come in. So browse the guide when you get a chance! (Many of the standalone events also appear in our regular year-round calendar, if you prefer that, and we also continue with daily highlight roundups here in the news section, so you’ll see reminders, but if you find it helpful to make note of dates early in the season, here you go.)
(WSB photo, November 2014)
Early word so the news gets around: Eastridge Church is again giving away turkeys and bags of groceries on the Saturday before Thanksgiving – this year, that’s November 21st – no proof of need required. It starts at 9 am outside the church, which is on the southeast corner of 39th SW and SW Oregon, and continues while supplies last – more information here.
(WSB photo from 2013)
It’s a West Seattle tradition, and it’s back for another year, confirms Carol Madaio from Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering:
The Free Community Thanksgiving Meal at the Hall at Fauntleroy is (again) on Thanksgiving Day – November 26th from noon until 3 PM. It’s our 17th year and is open to anyone who needs a hot meal or just a warm and friendly place to go on the holiday. We are fortunate to have plenty of volunteers this year but encourage people to come and eat and mingle. That is a big part of what makes the event so wonderful!
We do accept desserts. They can be dropped off at the Hall at Fauntleroy on Thanksgiving Day from 10 AM on. This year we are also holding a sock and blanket drive. We are trying to fill our cargo van! We will be distributing them on Thanksgiving and also to a shelter.
People can drop off new socks and blankets to our office in Sodo at 4101 Airport Way S or there is a collection bin at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse at 9131 Fauntleroy Way SW. People can call me at 206-932-1059 if they have any questions.
The Hall at Fauntleroy is on the south end of the historic schoolhouse, same address.
P.S. Thanks to everyone who answered our call earlier this week to send event listings and information for another tradition, the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. If you haven’t sent us your info – events (plus donation drives, restaurant/bar holiday hours, all the things we usually publish) – editor@westseattleblog.com, soon as you can!
Three weeks until Thanksgiving! If you’re thinking about having West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) put together the holiday feast for you – get to tonight’s Holiday Taste event before 7 pm and try some of what’s on the menu!
Vendors are there too, including, below, what you might call the “pie a la mode” team:
That’s Alex from Lopez Island Creamery and Joe from Whidbey Pie Company. Among this year’s new participants, The Waffle Lady, with pancake/waffle mix and several types of syrup:
Lots more to try. And a bonus – spend at least $20 at Thriftway tonight and get 10 percent off. If you’ve never been to Thriftway, it’s in Morgan Junction, where California and Fauntleroy meet Morgan.
While we work on the calendar-highlights preview for the rest of today/tonight, a quick note: This year, we’re launching the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide 
earlier than usual, since the season begins in just a few days with the first round of bazaars/art shows/sales. So we’re inviting you to send us information on YOUR holiday event as soon as you have it. No need to wait for your logo, poster, graphic to be ready – we can’t use most of those anyway; what we really want (as with our regular Event Calendar) is just the basic information on the event, including who/what/when/where, and a website link if you have one (not mandatory). Please include all that info in plain text in the body of your e-mail – NOT a Word doc, PDF, etc. – and send it to editor@westseattleblog.com. Our Holiday Guide spans the season from now through New Year’s Day. We also welcome information on restaurants/coffee shops/business hours for Thanksgiving/Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day once you know. We’ll be updating the guide at least once a day throughout the season, so no worries if you don’t have the info now, but please bookmark this and get us the info soon as you do. Thank you!
P.S. Our guide also features a list of holiday-season charity drives – so if you’re collecting food, socks, blankets, toys, whatever, please let us know about that too!
Boo! That’s an undersea Halloween scene, courtesy of Jim Bodoia, who found the “grinning Wolf Eel out just past the Alki Statue of Liberty.” Here’s a sampling of what was happening on the surface:
Neither the rain nor the wind – both at a tolerable level when we stopped by – got in the way of Skeleton Theatre at 36th SW & SW Hanford. After years of brewing up an all-new, all-out show each Halloween, this year the crew offered what they dubbed “Plan B” – a retrospective with skeleton stars from past years.
Rock ‘n’ roll, big belting ballads, you’ll hear it all if you go for encore night tomorrow (Sunday), 6-9 pm, 10-minute shows continuously with a few minutes of resetting inbetween.
Indoors, we found a full house at Meeples Games (WSB sponsor):
Meeples invited folks in to play “Werewolf“ on Halloween night. Storyteller Hank had all in thrall when we walked in:
Meeples (upstairs at 3727 California SW) is a happening place – just browse their calendar for proof.
Earlier in the evening, one last round of business trick-or-treating happened at Westwood Village:
That photo is courtesy of the folks at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor), whose namesake Wyatt – son of proprietors Kirk and Joni Keppler – was handing out the candy.
Last but by no means least: Every year, neighborhood decorations seem to get bolder and brighter. Doug B sent a photo of his spooky yard in Seaview:
Thanks to everyone who’s shared photos and event info over the extended Halloween season (editor@westseattleblog.com) – now we move on to winter holidays, with bazaars and art shows starting as soon as NEXT weekend!
(WSB photo from 2014 dinner)
One more look ahead to Veterans Day: Once again this year, West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160 invite “all active duty, reserve, national guard, military veterans and their families” to the annual Veterans Day Italian Dinner at the Legion Hall in The Triangle, 3618 SW Alaska. Free, no RSVPs needed – just stop by between 5 and 7 pm on Sunday, November 8th.
(2014 WSB photo: Harvest Festival activity @ Westside School [sponsor] booth)
Halloween season is closer than you think – the big day/night is three weeks from Saturday – and the biggest event in West Seattle is even sooner, two weeks from this Sunday. That of course would be the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 25th, 10 am-2 pm, featuring the chili-cookoff tasting at 11 am, the big costume parade at 11:30 am, and business trick-or-treating at noon. Even before all that, the fun starts right at 10 with “harvest-themed activities” throughout The Junction, as well as the Farmers’ Market in the middle of the street (its permanent home, inspired by the success of its previous in-the-street incarnations during the festival). There’s still room for a few more community groups and businesses to be part of the heart of the festival by offering activities – please go to this page on the West Seattle Junction Association‘s website ASAP for an application. (WSB is a co-sponsor and activity provider again this year, so we’ll see you there!)
(WSB photos from 2014 Admiral District trick-or-treating)
Exactly four weeks until Halloween! The Admiral District will again welcome kids for trick-or-treating, this time, on the day before Halloween, Friday, October 30th, 3-6 pm. This year’s volunteer publicist is Admiral business owner Brent Amacher, who points out that this is a truly grass-roots event, as the business district has no official organization, doesn’t collect fees, just puts up a sign – this one, in fact, is what you’ll see:
Amacher observes, “It’s become one of the best-loved Halloween events in Seattle. I personally go through bags and bags and bags of candy every year.” Last year we photographed him on candy-handout duty, in fact:
He continues, “Kids and parents line up around the block in costumes getting their Halloween action on early … We live in such a great area, and traditions like this make West Seattle truly special. This event is part of our heritage. It makes me proud to see the tradition continue as West Seattle continues to grow.”
P.S. We’ll be launching our annual WSB Halloween page soon, so if you’re having a Halloween/seasonal event that’s open to the public, please send information ASAP – flyers/posters not necessary, just plain text in the body of your e-mail, with a webpage link if you have one – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
Last day of September, and the holidays are in view. Three events are inviting artists to apply, with deadlines coming up fast:
ART UNDER $100: Deadline is TOMORROW for South Park Arts‘ annual mega-event Art Under $100, happening again this year at the Seattle Design Center. While the event isn’t until December 12th (1-8 pm), the application deadline is October 1st, and you’ll find all the info on the application page – just go here.
FALL ART OPENING AT ‘THE BUILDING’: October 14th is the deadline to apply to be part of this event in Gatewood. The announcement:
Our Fall Art Opening is free and open to the public! We will be featuring local artists’ works, music, & food, just in time to kick-start the Holiday Season. We hope that you can join us for this amazing night!!
We are looking for artists doing work in different mediums at a variety of price points for the holiday season.
The Building’s 3rd Annual, Fall Art Opening!
Saturday, November 14th
5:00-10:00 pm
4316 SW Othello St.m West SeattleE-mail Submission Deadline is October 14th, $25 participation fee once accepted. Please email samples of your work with a detailed description and prices to Brenda Scallon – brenda@acaravan.com – thank you in advance for your participation; we look forward to seeing your work!
HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB BAZAAR: Handmade arts and crafts are what organizers want to see from vendors at HPIC‘s annual bazaar, also set for November 14th (daytime – 10 am-3 pm). Find out more, including contact info, on the HPIC website.
No, we’re not going to put up a countdown clock ticking away your shopping days, etc. But some advance work IS required for holiday bazaars and other events – including one that’s brand new this year and all about one of our favorite words, “local”:
The General Store Seattle (3400 Harbor Ave. SW; WSB sponsor) is uniquely dedicated to All Things Local. And so proprietor Claire E. Jones is organizing and presenting the first-ever (and first-annual) Live Life Local Collective Convention, noon-6 pm Saturday, November 7th, at West Seattle’s own Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
The event itself is just under six weeks away – but here’s what you can do right now:
*Go here to sign up online for your FREE ticket (it’ll be $3 at the door)
*Become a sponsor or donor
*Volunteer to work at the event and support local
*Apply for the paid position of assistant organizer, who, Claire says, will “help plan and run the event”
For #3 and #4 above, e-mail claire@thegeneralstoreseattle.com – she would also be happy to hear from anyone with ideas or suggestions for the Live Life Local Collective Convention.
(Silkscreener Shino Mikami, right, was one of 15 West Seattle artists at last year’s Fauntleroy show)
The photo and final reminder are from Judy Pickens – please note, if you’re interested, that the deadline is TOMORROW:
September 15 is the deadline for West Seattle artists and creative crafters to apply for the eighth annual Fauntleroy Fine Art & Holiday Gift Show Nov. 6-8. Details and application form are at www.fauntleroyucc.org.
Any other shows/bazaars/etc. accepting vendor applications, please let us know so we can share your announcements too. We’re also already adding holiday-season events to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – follow that link to see not only listings but also guidelines for sending information about announcements year-round … bottom line is always, the sooner the better!
(Photo tweeted by Jim, who says it was taken from Duwamish Head with the help of binoculars)
For the holiday, we’re combining the what-you-need-to-know notes with what’s scheduled for today. First, the former:
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION INFO
No daily traffic/transit roundup, since most people are off. You can see area traffic cams and get info (including a link to the city map with travel times) on the WSB West Seattle Traffic page.
*Metro Transit is on a Sunday schedule
*West Seattle Water Taxi is on a Sunday schedule
*Sound Transit Route 560 is on a Sunday schedule
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is on a Sunday schedule
‘PARKING HOLIDAY’: No pay stations on city streets in West Seattle, but if you’re outbound, no charge in the neighborhoods that do, because this is a “parking holiday.”
TRASH/RECYCLING PICKUP: If you are a Monday customer, it’s a normal pickup day.
SEATTLE PARKS: Here’s the citywide Parks lineup for what’s open/closed, including the last day of operation for outdoor aquatic facilities (wading pools are weather-dependent, keep in mind, so the one in Lincoln Park might not be open after all, but Colman Pool and Highland Park Spraypark *will be*).
LIBRARIES: All Seattle Public Library branches are closed today.
Now, a few event notes for today:
LABOR DAY PICNIC/FLAG RAISING: 11 am-3 pm at Alki Masonic Center, you’re invited to a potluck picnic (bring a dish to share) and flag-raising ceremony (noon) – details here. (40th SW & SW Edmunds)
LAST CHANCE TO TOUR THE ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: 1-4 pm, the Coast Guard Auxiliary hosts one last day of tours at the historic lighthouse before the season ends. Last tour at 3:40 pm. (3201 Alki SW)
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU MEETING: 7 pm at Admiral Congregational Church, all members urged to attend to talk about logistics for the year ahead. (California SW & SW Hill)
Have a great holiday! And if you see/hear news … 206-293-6302 text/voice if it’s happening now, editor@westseattleblog.com if it’s not urgent.
(WSB photo from 2012 flag ceremony at Masonic Center)
In case you haven’t seen it in our calendar yet – here’s an early alert for a community event you might want to attend tomorrow in honor of Labor Day. From the Alki Masonic Center:
We hope you’ll join us this Monday, September 7th, for our annual Labor Day Flag Ceremony and Potluck Picnic. We’ll be retiring our current flag; then unfolding and 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 7, 2015 11 am – 3:00 pm (Flag Ceremony Begins at Noon)
WHERE: Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th Ave SW
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
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:06 PM SUNDAY: Still a few hours of light left … so if you haven’t been out patroling your neighborhood, and/or your nearest park, consider this:
Karen Allan made sent that, explaining:
When my kiddo was little, I used to say “In this town, what’s on the ground is swept into the Sound.” So if you see bits and pieces of the things that went bang, pop, and KABOOM on your block, please consider sweeping them up. Grab a bucket, broom and perhaps a neighbor and make a little outing out of it.
Here’s some of what Karen found near 29th and Othello:
She added, “Unfortunately, there is a lot more fireworks debris in the storm drains that I can’t
get to. It will all end up in the Sound with the next big rainfall.”
Some of the holiday-leftover trash and debris was already near the Sound in the first place: . We also heard from Chris Porter, who lives near Lincoln Park and spent time there this morning to help clean up. It wasn’t just fireworks debris he found:
The spectacular fireworks last night are only secondary to the enormous disaster of trash left behind the next day. I spent this morning picking up as much fireworks debris and trash as I could. I have forgotten about what happens to parks after summer holidays.
East to west, north to south, many other West Seattle neighbors were also out today, cleaning up the mess somebody else left behind. Travis Houston sent photos from Riverview Playfield:
We also stopped by Riverview before neighbors were done with their herculean cleanup:
Crossing the peninsula over to Alki, Kim sent the next photo, saying this was what just one small part of Bar-S Playfields looked like before she got to it with her broom:
Even in the unincorporated area where fireworks are legal on the 4th of July, the “legal” time period expired 18+ hours ago … but we’re still hearing dispatches on the scanner, including a fireworks call at Highland Park Elementary a short time ago and “brush fire” calls around the city (see photos in earlier reports here, here, and here).
ADDED MONDAY MORNING: Just sent by Chris:
I picked up a box full of spent fireworks debris on the playground at Gatewood Elementary this morning. The haul included one live mortar. Glad I found it and not some kids.
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