West Seattle, Washington
01 Saturday
It’s a dark and foggy night – except in the 5600 block of Beach Drive SW, where the Menashe Family Christmas Lights are officially on, shining bright, with visitors already flocking to see them. “How many lights do you have?” one person asked Josh Menashe; no official count, he cheerily replied.
Here’s what’s new: He and the rest of the crew were working on the finishing touches of an electric train and village you’ll see on the north side of the yard:
Along the sidewalk, you’ll see these candy-cane streetlight-style fixtures:
Santa’s balloon is new:
As bright and colorful as photos can be, you’ll just have to go see it for yourself.
(Hover over video window to bring up “play” button)
You can bring a letter for Santa, too.
And Santa himself will in fact be here the night of Saturday, December 12th, 6 to 10 pm, as listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – bring a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank and get a photo with Santa under the lights.
Haven’t been? Here’s a map.
We’re just back from a trip north to south for this special day of “shopping small” – with hours left for you to get out and visit independent small local businesses, if you haven’t already.
First stop, The Admiral District, where Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW) proprietor Stu Hennessey is a major evangelist of not just this particular event but also sustainability in so many ways. At Alki B&B, which Stu has owned since 1987, it’s 10 percent off everything today.
Plus his team – Will and Lucas, above – were quick to tell us what else is up – half off tune-up certificates, and a special holiday layaway/hideaway where they’ll keep the gift for you as late as 6 pm on Christmas Eve.
From there, we headed around the corner to Atomic Boys (4311 SW Admiral Way), specializing in toys and retro candy, launched by the Sadow family almost eight years ago. The full name, Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama, is after Kent and Parris Sadow‘s sons, who are now young men, soon to turn 19 and 14, respectively. So what’s big at Atomic Boys? Kent was quick to say – BeanBoozled!
The game and the candy, both. (And more Jelly Bellies in general are due in soon)
A little further south in Admiral, this is the first holiday shopping season for West Seattle Runner in its big new space at 2749 California SW.
Johanna and Tyler posed for us since proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell are at the Seattle Marathon Expo today (the race is tomorrow). What’s new at WSR? Lots of new shoes, they tell us.
Next stop, Meeples Games (3727 California SW, upstairs), the game store/café where proprietor Laura Schneider and team are celebrating their second holiday season with big fun in honor of “shopping small”:
We last stopped by Meeples during their raucous Halloween-night session of “Werewolf,” and Laura says that was such a hit, they’re making a plan for a New Year’s Eve game gathering – which game, TBA.
Ducking over to 3400 Harbor SW, we visited Claire E. Jones at The General Store Seattle, who points out she’s stocking 900 truly locally made items between her storefront and online ordering:
It’s a cozy shop but many are on display. She’s excited about the wreaths you see above – from Kitsap County – and we found some West Seattle-specific items you might consider as stocking stuffers, including these:
Through December 1st, The General Store is also offering the Causetown Holiday Shopping Extravaganza, online or in-store, where part of your purchase can go to a nonprofit – read about that here.
In The Junction, where you have many places to “Shop Small” today and every day of the year, we visited Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW), brimming with activity because of the JOIN pop-up as well as fun items like Ozobot, demonstrated by proprietor John Smersh:
John and wife Frances Smersh just celebrated Click!’s 11th anniversary. One shopper heading in was heard to warn her friend that the shop is “dangerous” – in a good way.
You don’t have to be an angler to shop at Emerald Water Anglers (42nd SW & SW Oregon), our second Junction stop. While you’ll of course find all things fishing, including a sale on Patagonia waders (with new ones due to arrive soon), you’ll also find jackets to keep you warm and dry even if your only outdoors activity is walking from house to car.
Today’s deal – EWA will pay your sales tax.
In Morgan Junction, shopping small is more fun than ever this afternoon at Second Gear Sports (6529 California SW). The sports-themed donuts will make you smile even if you don’t indulge:
Second Gear is West Seattle’s only sports consignment shop, with all manner of items in great shape, from skis to bikes (10 percent off today!) and beyond.
Proprietors Mark and Ellen Bremen just celebrated SGS’s second anniversary.
Make EVERY day Shop Small Day – not just to keep your $ in your community, but also, because they’re cool people with cool stuff! Our traditional disclosure: Of the stores mentioned above, Click!, Emerald Water Anglers, Meeples, Second Gear, The General Store, and West Seattle Runner are WSB sponsors.
(Photo by Robert Jack)
Happy sunny/foggy Saturday!
‘SHOP SMALL’: Today’s the day many of your favorite independent local West Seattle businesses are offering special reasons for you to come get some holiday shopping done, as are their counterparts coast to coast. Some shared advance info with us and you’ll find it atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide. We’ll also be out covering “Shop Small” at local retailers, so check back here later to see what we’re finding! (You can follow our Twitter feed for highlights, too.)
NATIVE HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR: 10 am-4 pm, second of three days at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle. Here’s our coverage from the first day. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
CAT ADOPTIONS: Kitty Harbor is opening its doors noon-5 pm to find homes for dozens of cats and kittens. Like Edgar:
(Photo courtesy Kitty Harbor)
“(Today) Kitty Harbor has 25 kittens and 17 adults available for adoption. Kittens – Maine Coon, Siamese, Black, Orange tabbies, Torbies … Adults – Siamese, black Manx, Norwegian Forest Cat, Maine Coon, Tuxedo, Black, Himalayan, and an all-white deaf female with one blue eye and one green eye. (3422 Harbor SW)
BACKPACKS BRING HOPE: 2-5 pm, come donate items and/or time to help fill backpacks for people in need – full details here, including how to RSVP. (3830 22nd SW)
WEST SEATTLE LIGHTS: Night 3 of the music-synched lights starts at 5 pm. Here’s our coverage from Night 2. (3908 SW Charlestown)
WEST SEATTLE YULETIDE: Tonight is the second scheduled night of this light show. (38th SW between Genesee and Dakota)
LIVE MUSIC! See tonight’s listings on our year-round calendar.
Though a few places in West Seattle had trees before Thanksgiving, today is the traditional start of Christmas tree season, and so it was opening day for the Holy Rosary School Tree Lot (rejoining the WSB sponsor team for the occasion). It’s just north of the school, with entrances off 42nd or 41st north of Genesee.
Tree types include Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, Frasier Fir, Grand Fir, and Norway Spruce (:15 guide in our Instagram clip), with prices starting at $25. Again this year, part of the proceeds go to local charities. Other greenery available, including wreaths.
The hours are on the official HR Tree Lot website; it’s staffed by cheery volunteers, including Geraldine, who showed us the lot’s official Christmas tree costume:
The lot will be open through December 13th, 9 am-9 pm weekends, 2-8 pm Mondays-Thursdays, 2-9 pm Fridays. If you’re not ready to buy a tree yet, just remember that whenever you are, this lot and others we’ve spotted around West Seattle are listed in the WSB Holiday Guide.
The marching bands in this morning’s Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown included one local school this year, West Seattle High School. Above is our video, recorded as they made the final turn at 4th and University. We didn’t catch the banner but Nicole e-mailed this photo:
One week from tomorrow – on Saturday night, December 5th – you’ll see and hear the WSHS Marching Band as opening act for the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting (Junction Plaza Park, NW corner of 42nd and Alaska, with a street closure providing more room this year!). Back to today’s parade – right in front of the Wildcats were the Nutcrackers from Salty’s (WSB sponsor):
As featured in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, Salty’s has Santa visiting for brunch the next three weekends, plus Christmas Eve.
(WSB photos)
Potential gifts you won’t find anywhere else await you right now at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle; it’s Day 1 of the three-day Native Holiday Gift Fair. Above, Vashon Island-based Shotridge Studios‘ offerings include laptop sleeves and phone cases by Tlingit master carver/artist Israel Shotridge; below, artist Margie Morris is at work during the fair, adding designs to drums:
While you’re there, get your copy(ies) of the West Seattle Wildlife Calendar, with photos by Mark Wangerin (you’ve seen his wondrous bird photos here on WSB). It’s a benefit for Chief Sealth International High School environmental programs, and students are helping sell them – Elaine was on duty when we stopped by:
No admission charge at the Longhouse, which is also a cultural center, but if you want to support the tribe’s fight for federal recognition, “Stand With The Duwamish Tribe” T-shirts are being sold too:
You can also buy snacks/lunch while there. The fair continues until 4 pm today, 10 am-4 pm tomorrow and Sunday, at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW (turn into the parking lot from the west side
The post-Thanksgiving calm is starting to settle … except for the corners of the holiday-shopping world where people are lining up for the start of “Black Friday.” 
Instead of mall-mania, West Seattle’s local independent retailers invite you to sleep in and see what they have to offer – tomorrow, Saturday, Sunday, and beyond. You don’t even have to wait for “Shop Small Saturday” – make it “Shop Small Every Day.” The WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide has some previews of local shopping highlights if you scroll down the page; also new this year, the West Seattle Junction Association is offering some ideas in a three-part Gift Guide (here’s where to start). Another stop for your list tomorrow – it’s the first of three days for the annual Native Holiday Gift Fair at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse – hand-crafted creations you won’t find anywhere else. (WSB photo: Garland-decked Easy Street Records, one of the local indie businesses where you’ll find deals Friday)
IF you’re going downtown to see tomorrow morning’s Macy’s Holiday Parade – you’ll have locals to cheer for: The Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School marching bands are both on the lineup, per their online schedules. The parade starts at 9 am and ends when Santa Claus goes by – the route is described in SDOT’s holiday-weekend alert. You can’t take the Water Taxi over since it’s not running on Friday, but you can take Metro, which will be on a “reduced weekday” schedule. (Anybody else from WS in the parade? Please comment, or message us, so we’ll all know to look for you!)
Another group of West Seattleites putting the “giving” in Thanksgiving today – the West Seattle Eagles, serving their 7th annual “Thanksgiving to Remember” feast, free to all, until 5 pm. The first hour saw more than 60 people, they told us when we stopped by:
Among the Eagles and volunteers making everyone welcome are Armando Juarez, Christine Juarez, and Gatewood Elementary students Maddy and Ty:
The Eagles’ aerie is just south of the Junction post office, 4426 California SW.
For the 17th year, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering is serving its legendary complimentary community Thanksgiving dinner right now at The Hall at Fauntleroy, all welcome, until 3 pm. We dropped in to photograph some of the smiling faces of the people who are spending part of their holiday making it happen:
T&TSC proprietor David Haggerty (3rd from right, above) told us that within the first 35 minutes or so, they had already served 100 diners. (What does it take for this large-scale feast to happen? See our behind-the-scenes story from 2012.) As is also a tradition, a table in the hallway also was laden with warm clothing available to anyone who needed to take some home.
(One more view from Tuesday’s king tide/north wind – photo by Monica Zaborac)
Happy Thanksgiving! Again this year, we are thankful for YOU and this beautiful neighborhood we share. Here’s info you might find useful:
WHICH GROCERY STORES ARE OPEN: Here’s the list.
WHO’S OPEN FOR COFFEE: We heard from 7 coffee shops ready to serve you for at least part of today! See the Thanksgiving section atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
PRE-TURKEY WORKOUTS : Also in the first section of the Holiday Guide.
3 PLACES TO FIND A FREE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER:
The Hall at Fauntleroy, noon-3 pm (9131 California SW)
West Seattle Eagles, 2-5 pm (4426 California SW)
South Park Senior Center, 11 am-2 pm (8201 10th Ave. S.)
—-More in our preview and our Holiday Guide. And if you are looking for a way to be helpful today – dessert donations are accepted at The Hall starting at 10 am.
WHICH RESTAURANTS (AND BARS WITH FOOD) ARE OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: Here’s the list (please note, it is a list only 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 alert us if you find any discrepancies).
THANKSGIVING CHURCH SERVICES: 2 are listed in the Holiday Guide.
POST-DINNER ENTERTAINMENT:
The Admiral Theater is open this afternoon/evening – see the movies/times here (2343 California SW) … The West Seattle Lights/Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular music-synched light show starts tonight, lights on at 7 pm – bring food for the West Seattle Food Bank! (3908 SW Charlestown)
TRANSIT CHANGES:
*Metro is on a Sunday schedule
*The Water Taxi is NOT running today or tomorrow
*Sound Transit Route 560 is on a weekend schedule
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on a normal schedule.
OTHER NOTES: No solid-waste pickup today … government offices, libraries, Parks-operated facilities are closed (except for golf courses including WS, closing “around 2 pm” per the city).
The season of light is about to begin, and nowhere in West Seattle does it shine more brightly than in the 5600 block of Beach Drive SW, where the famous Menashe Family Christmas Lights display is going up.
After seeing the work in progress, we stopped briefly late this afternoon to find out when the lights officially go on. Josh Menashe told us this Sunday (November 29th) is the night.
The box where you can drop off letters to Santa, as you can see, is back – and you’ll find Santa himself visiting on Saturday night, December 12th, 6-10 pm – bring a nonperishable food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank.
P.S. This is featured in our West Seattle Holiday Guide along with our area’s two synched-to-music light shows.
This year in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, we have three listings for a free community Thanksgiving meal. Organizers for all three stress that everyone is welcome – no prerequisites.
(WSB photo: T&TS crew preparing 2014 Thanksgiving dinner)
HALL OF FAUNTLEROY’S FREE DINNER: Again this year, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering will host a free, elegant Thanksgiving dinner for the community, noon-3 pm. Plenty of volunteers already are lined up but dessert donations are welcome, as noted in our preview – drop them off starting at 10 am on Thanksgiving. The Hall is on the south end of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. (9131 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE EAGLES’ FREE DINNER: Once again, the Eagles plan a free community Thanksgiving dinner on the holiday – follow the link for menu details. 2-5 pm. (4426 California SW)
FREE THANKSGIVING MEAL IN SOUTH PARK: The South Park Senior Center sent word that it is hosting a free Thanksgiving meal for anyone who would like to attend. It’s at the South Park Neighborhood Center, 11 am-2 pm. (8201 10th Ave S.)
(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.
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