West Seattle, Washington
01 Saturday
So much giving spirit in the weeks leading up to Christmas – businesses, schools, organizations, individuals – but it doesn’t stop there. We’re spotlighting New Year’s giving this week too. Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) has a two-part plan: Food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank on Wednesday, benefit drink raising money for WestSide Baby on Thursday:
Hotwire is at 4410 California SW.
P.S. If your business/organization/etc. has some sort of New Year’s giving going on too, and the community can participate, let us know so we can help get the word out! One other drive we know is still going on is this one – warm clothes for West Seattle Helpline, being collected through Wednesday at Dave Newman‘s State Farm Insurance office (WSB sponsor), 3435 California SW, regular hours 9 am-5 pm weekdays.
Adding to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, another tree-cycling option: If the curbside and transfer-station options don’t work for you, maybe this will – the West Seattle Rainbow Assembly announces its annual tree-cycling dropoff event in the parking lot at Alki Masonic Center, 10 am-3 pm next Saturday (January 3rd), cash donations accepted, no flocked trees or tinsel. The center’s newly regraded/repaved parking lot is at 40th/Edmunds.
The almost-legendary Not-So-Silent-Night Parade (2010 WSB video above) is just the start of this year’s full night of New Year’s Eve festivities at the Highland Park Improvement Club. As announced by HPIC:
Highland Park Improvement Club hosts its annual New Year’s Eve celebration from 6 PM until 2015. This is a kid- and adult-friendly event where everyone gets to have a little fun and toast all that was good in 2014 and all that will be good in 2015. Festivities will begin at 6 PM sharp with the Not So Silent Night parade. Bring your pots, bring your pans, and make some noise! After, we will gather outside the club for the Sage Comet to light up the night before we dance the year away. The Dance Extravaganza will be hosted by DJ Doctor Lehl, who will administer to our needs, assisted by DJ Evan and Scott Rainier on live bass. Dress up or dress in costume. Keepsake photos by RL Carroll. It’s going to be a good year.
HPIC is at 12th/Holden.
(WSB video of the 2014 Polar Bear Swim on Alki)
More people than ever have asked in the past week-plus, “Is the Alki Polar Bear Swim on for New Year’s Day?” Longtime organizer Mark Ufkes has just confirmed, yes, indeed, it is. Can it break last year’s record (~500 swimmers)? Why not! Here’s Mark’s announcement:
West Seattle Polar Bear Swim is on!
2015, The year of the Sheep – a symbol pf peace, harmony, co-existence, and tranquility. A nurturing year, which the world can always use more of.
The annual West Seattle Polar Bear swim starts at 10 am sharp on January 1 each year. Arrive a few minutes early.
We line up all along the beach, have a count down, and at 10 am sharp, we hold hands and run into the water together. Each year, the swim gets bigger. Over 500 swimmers fanned out in a long line along the beach and joined us last year. It is a great way to wash away the complexities of the previous year, and celebrate the unlimited potential that awaits each of us in the new year. Year after year, Polar Bear swimmers declare that this ritual creates a sense of renewal, and helps make the new year be stronger and more positive.
Traditionally, Duke’s restaurant generously provides free clam chowder and local families bring hot chocolate for the crowd. Afterwards, Alki beach is full of hundreds of smiling swimmers and their families and friends. Come join the fun. Do the West Seattle Polar Bear swim. You will have a great time!
This starts from the sandy section of Alki, right across from Duke’s (58th/Alki). Adding to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which includes other New Year’s Eve/Day options, from walking to parading to dining to more swimming…
Not that we’re suggesting you de-decorate your tree and rush it right out the door right this moment, but the practical-minded West Seattleite might be wondering about this year’s treecycling dates, at the very least. Here’s what Seattle Public Utilities has to say:
Seattle residents who subscribe to curbside food and yard waste collection can put their trees and greens out on their regular collection day at no extra charge from December 26, 2014 through January 11, 2015.
Multi-family buildings can put out one tree next to each food and yard waste cart per collection day at no extra charge during this time.
Trees should be cut into sections of six feet long or shorter, with branches trimmed to less than four feet to fit into the collection trucks. Sections should be bundled with string or non-plastic twine. Metal, plastic and ornaments in trees and wreaths must be removed.
Trees that are flocked and/or have tinsel or ornaments will be collected as extra garbage. Customers will need to cut the tree into three-foot pieces and each piece will be charged as extra garbage. Each unit of extra garbage costs $10.20. Plastic trees are not compostable.
Seattle residents can also drop off holiday trees and greens for free at Seattle Public Utilities’ South Transfer Station from December 26, 2014 through January 11, 2015. The tree sections must be cut to eight feet or less in length and the trunk must be four inches or smaller in diameter. The limit is three trees per vehicle. Only trees and wreaths without flocking or decoration may be composted free of charge. The station is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, other than selected holidays.
If anyone is handling treecycling as a charity benefit this year, we haven’t heard about it yet (but we’re standing by for info as always – editor@westseattleblog.com). Meantime, we’re adding this and other post-holiday recycling info to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which stays up and running through New Year’s Day.
Thanks to Don Brubeck for sharing the photo of that Christmasy creation on Alki – and thanks to the artist (whoever you are) for creating it!
Merry Christmas! Some info you might find useful on this holiday:
LOOKING FOR COFFEE? At least three West Seattle coffee shops are open – they’re on the list in our Holiday Guide.
CHRISTMAS DAY CHURCH SERVICES: You’ll find several, also in our Holiday Guide.
WHICH RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN? Here’s the list we put together after calling around in the past week-plus – invariably someone changes their mind (or is open but not on our list because we were unable to make contact) so please let us know if you find any discrepancies – we’re at 206-293-6302 text/voice as always.
WHICH GROCERY STORES ARE OPEN? Here’s the list.
TRANSPORTATION: Metro is on its Sunday schedule today. … The West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxis do NOT run today. … Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on a regular weekday schedule. … Sound Transit is on a Sunday schedule. … In Seattle neighborhoods with city pay stations/meters, no charge for parking today.
ENTERTAINMENT: Yes, the Admiral Theater (2343 California SW) is open – schedule’s here.
KARAOKE: Guy sends word that the Yen Wor Village (2300 California SW) lounge in The Admiral District will be open for karaoke tonight, 9 pm-2 am.
(Photos courtesy West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA)
Thanks to a Seattle-based volunteer group called Kids Need Bikes, dozens of young West Seattleites have new ones just in time for Christmas. The West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) received 90 donated bicycles.
Most of the bicycles donated to the Y through Kids Need Bikes, which believes “every child deserves a bicycle to experience the unique freedom and well-being that only riding a bicycle can offer,” were given to children served by Y programs – the Y’s Joleen Post shared the photos from bike-pickup visits this past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The donation even included tricycles for the Y Preschool – shown below with Emilia Holbik and Obie Wilkerson from the preschool:
The trikes are for preschoolers to use while at school. In all, Kids Need Bikes made 200 bicycle donations in the city this holiday season, and it could use your help, via donations of volunteer time and/or money; get more info on its website.
We haven’t quite reached the “…and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse …” part of the day/night yet. So here are some Christmas Eve notes from around West Seattle and vicinity:
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY … all locations closed today (and of course tomorrow).
RESTAURANTS THAT ARE OPEN: Here’s our list of restaurants that are open anywhere from one to all four of the following – Christmas Eve/Day, New Year’s Eve/Day. Please read it carefully. As we note, we have to make the calls a week or two ahead to get them ALL done, but some establishments change their plans, so please let us know if a change or omission is detected – text/call 206-293-6302 or e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
GROCERY-STORE HOURS: When do West Seattle supermarkets close tonight? That info’s here.
SHOPPING TODAY: You’ll find many local stores with last-minute hours. Some of the ones we’ve heard from include new WSB sponsor VAIN, 10 am-5 pm, where Rebecca shares these last-minute ideas:
Our favorites are probably the local items we carry – soaps and bath salts from Estrella, jewelry by Siddal (she’s one of our hairstylists), Theo Chocolates, and more. My personal pick would be greeting cards by local artist Mike Doyle (photo), who also is a server at West 5 down the street!
Those would make a cute stationery set with a cute pen from NW Art & Frame. Of course, we also have gift cards for the undecided gift-giver. Those are good towards hair services, hair products, or anything in our boutique.
Also: Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), 10 am-5 pm; Junction True Value (open now, until 4 pm; WSB sponsor); Atomic Boys, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm; Beer Junction, 10 am-7 pm. (added 10:29 am) Emerald Water Anglers and Wallflower Custom Framing, until 2 pm; Wyatt’s Jewelers & Curious Kidstuff, until 4 pm; JF Henry, until “4 or 5” (preceding five are all WSB sponsors); West Seattle Cellars, 11 am-7 pm; (added) Twilight Gallery and Boutique until 5 pm, The General Store Seattle until 7 pm
Anybody else? Contact us and we’ll add to the list!
FREE FOOD: Taqueria El Antojo at the Lincoln Park 76 station is giving away tacos and burritos 11 am-3:30 pm. Same family that has a free-food tradition at Taqueria La Fondita in White Center 11 am-4 pm (details here).
WRAP IT UP: One last session for the Furry Faces Foundation gift-wrap fundraiser – 2-7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. (6413 California SW)
FREE COCOA TONIGHT AT WEST SEATTLE LIGHTS: 6-8 pm, visit West Seattle Lights/Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular and that’s what awaits you. Don’t forget your West Seattle Food Bank donation! (3908 SW Charlestown)
CHRISTMAS EVE CHURCH SERVICES: We’ve moved the list up toward the top of our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
AS FOR US … Open 24/7/365, as always. Today’s the ninth anniversary of the day we started publishing here, though WSB didn’t become a full-service professional/commercial news publication until almost two years later.
Quick reminders about Christmas Eve/Day information that you can preview here now rather than trying to track it down when you really need it:
*CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICES: A dozen local churches shared service times/descriptions with us, and you’ll find it in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
*WHAT RESTAURANTS ARE OPEN? We’ve been making this list and checking it twice, after dozens and dozens of phone calls. Whatever local restaurants told us they were open Christmas Eve and/or Day are listed here. (With the caveat, every year somebody changes their plan … happens every so often … apologies in advance!)
*GROCERY STORE HOURS: Here’s our list of when West Seattle supermarkets close on Christmas Eve and who’s closed/open on Christmas Day.
P.S. The Holiday Guide runs through New Year’s Day, and we’re still corralling info for next week’s holidays – e-mail us if you have a New Year’s Eve/Day party or other event to announce!
The team at Illusions Hair Design is in the midst of what we believe to be the last Holiday Open House before Christmas, at least among West Seattle businesses! You don’t need an appointment to drop by and say hi, any time before 8 pm – they have treats (as shown on the Illusions Facebook page!) and plenty of good cheer – 5619 California SW.
Another outdoor event that benefited from tonight’s cleared-up weather: West Seattle Runner‘s annual Christmas Lights Run. Above, a bit of video as dozens of runners and walker left the store’s parking lot at California/Charlestown. WS Runner proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell were the hosts/leaders, for the fifth time since they launched the business (a WSB sponsor) in 2010.
The eventual destination – just a few blocks east, though the run/walk was taking a roundabout route to get there – the synched-to-music Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular/
West Seattle Lights, which you can visit any night during the holiday season (we stopped by and caught the display’s snowperson trio introducing a new addition – note they’re offering hot cocoa 6-8 pm Christmas Eve).
Next year, launch point for the Christmas Lights Run will be a ways north, since, as reported here last month, West Seattle Runner will be moving to The Admiral District. But in the meantime, they’re still at Charlestown Center, where you can Christmas-shop through Tuesday (that day they’ll be open until 8, and then closed Christmas Eve/Day).
Thanks to Diane Radischat, president-elect of the Arrowhead Gardens Residents Community, for sharing the photo from a special delivery her group made downtown today:
The residents of Arrowhead Gardens collected socks for the homeless. We delivered 208 pairs of socks, 20 pairs of gloves, 21 hats and one scarf to the Union Gospel Mission. This is our 3 year of doing the Fill the Box with Sox drive.
(Arrowhead Gardens is West Seattle’s southeasternmost retirement community, just past the east end of Roxbury, on the hill to Highway 509.)
Thanks to Kyle Geraghty of American Legion Post 160 for the photos and report:
West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160 and Auxiliary Unit 160 came together today to assemble care packages for homeless veterans in our community.
If you know a veteran who is or is at imminent risk to being homeless please make a call to 877-4AID-VET (424-3838) to be connected 24/7 with VA’s service to overcome or prevent homelessness.
If you are a veteran or family member of a vet and would like to support projects like this, contact American Legion Post 160 at wslegion160@gmail.com or 206-932-9696.
A bit of wariness in one of the earliest visitors to Santa’s House this morning in The Junction. It’s the grand finale for this year’s Hometown Holidays (presented by the West Seattle Junction Association, co-sponsored by WSB) and the house is a festively decorated tent on the southwest corner:
The classic Northwest greenery is courtesy of West Seattle Nursery, and the folks at WestSide Baby have barrels for donations – diapers, especially! – if you’re headed that way. Santa’s there for bring-your-own-camera photos until 2 pm, which is also closing time for the West Seattle Farmers’ Market a few steps further west – featuring snowflake-making for young shoppers, as well as a full lineup of pre-holiday food and drink. (Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
See what they built! Thanks to Susie and the K-5 STEM PTA for sharing that slide deck of photos from a pre-holiday project they thought you might want to see:
The K-5 STEM PTA challenged classrooms to create a team-based, collaborative structures for our first annual Gingerbread House Engineering Expo. We had participation from 11 class teams and the results were creative, artful, festive and FUN! Teachers had no limits except their imaginations and each team was given a “starter kit” of materials. Many classrooms continued with themes they have been studying, including geometry, architecture, native bird species and literary themes. All participating classes received an award for their work such as “Most Epic Implosion,” “Most Spellbinding,” and “Best Ecosystem.” Great job, STEM owls!
P.S. In case you’re not already quite well aware – STEM and all other Seattle Public Schools are on winter break until Monday, January 5th.
Bright lights, bright smiles! A bit blustery tonight, but still a big turnout for photos with “Santa Al” at West Seattle’s biggest and brightest holiday display, the Menashe Family Christmas Lights (5605 Beach Drive SW). He’s scheduled to be there until 10 pm; bring your camera and a non-perishable food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank.
Want to kick this year’s Santa photos up a notch in the fun department? Cocoa Cris Cringle is making his annual holiday appearance at Easy Street Records in The Junction (California/Alaska) until at least 8 pm, and he has props, hats, scarves, including some of what you see this group wearing (even the lucha libre mask). As noted on the ESR website, it’s a benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Today was one of the happiest days of the holiday season at the West Seattle Food Bank – the day that visitors from Nucor bring food and money donated by the steel mill and its employees. The food, for example, totaled more than a ton, unloaded with volunteer help as usual:
Along with the food came checks totaling $21,575, including more than $15,000 from Nucor itself.
The money means WSFB can buy more food, to add to what it’s been getting from food drives and regular donors.
We’re told the WS Food Bank is doing OK on holiday turkeys for Christmas, thanks to donors, but overall, the need all around, all year long, is always great – so your donations are always welcome. And spot food drives are still under way – be sure to bring a can (or two!) for the collection bin at West Seattle Lights/Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular, and for the mini-food drive at the Menashe Family Lights tomorrow night while “Santa Al” visits, 6 to 10 pm.
Holiday-shopping procrastinator? (We are.) More than a few of your independent local West Seattle businesses are offering extra/special hours in these last few days before Christmas. Here’s what we’ve heard from stores so far – mostly sponsors, but we’re happy to share news from any local indie store with extra hours/etc. until Christmas – e-mail us, and look for updates this weekend!
WSB SPONSORS
*Thunder Road Guitars (3916 California SW) is adding extra hours in the days leading up to Christmas – 12-5 pm Sunday and 11 am-5 pm Monday. Offering “beginner instruments for the aspiring rocker” this holiday season for the first time, too.
*Click! Design That Fits is open until 8 tonight, and will be open Christmas Eve 10 am-5 pm for your last-last-minute shopping.
*Emerald Water Anglers (42nd/Oregon) has some extras this weekend – Santa will be “in the store tomorrow (Saturday) from 11-2 for DIY images, and donations are going to Wild Steelhead Coalition.” Then on Sunday, Edie is in-store with bluegrass 3-6 pm, “bring in a beverage and hang out a bit while you shop.” EWA has lots of outdoor merchandise, not only for, well, anglers.
*Curious Kidstuff (4740 California SW) – West Seattle’s only all-toy store is open until 7 pm tonight; other hours on the website.
*Wyatt’s Jewelers (Westwood Village) – Open until 6 tonight, added noon-4 pm Sunday.
*VAIN (4513 California SW) – This new addition to the WSB sponsor team is not only a salon, it’s also a shop for art and accessories. Open tonight until 8.
*JF Henry Cooking and Dining (4445 California SW) – Open until 6 tonight. Some of their hottest new items are listed here.
*Alki Surf Shop (2622 Alki SW) – Open until 6 tonight, noon-6 both days this weekend. Note the local-logo merch!
*Junction True Value (44th/Edmunds) – open until 7 pm tonight, gift ideas and hours online.
ALSO
*CAPERS (4525 California SW) – Open daily through Christmas Eve (latest info here). Help fill all the wishes for the Hickman House domestic-violence shelter giving tree (above)!
*Atomic Boys – Open until 6 tonight, 10-6 tomorrow, plus 10-5 this Sunday and 10-2 Christmas Eve.
*Easy Street Records (California/Alaska) – Saturday 4-8 pm, come get your photo taken with Cocoa Cris Cringle during his annual visit – details on the ESR website. (added) ESR will be open 9 am-5 pm on Christmas Eve, with the café open its usual 7 am-3 pm schedule that day too.
*The Beer Junction (4511 California SW) – Will be open Christmas Eve, 10 am-7 pm.
(added) Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way) – Open regular hours until Christmas Eve – on that day, open 10 am-3 pm.
West Seattle Cellars (6026 California SW) – 11 am-7 pm daily through Christmas Eve, except for Sunday (noon-5 pm).
(back to original text) WHAT’S UP WITH YOUR SHOP IN THE FINAL DAYS OF SHOPPING SEASON? Let us know for our updates over the next few days, and for the shopping section of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
Still plenty of time for you to add those in need to your holiday-gift list, as did students at Holy Rosary School. We were there on Thursday as they presented their donations at the altar of Holy Rosary Church, where students held signs showing the donations’ destinations:
That was a prelude to deliveries to be made by some of the 8th graders along with HRS principal George Hofbauer, who was in the church to receive some of the donations:
Here’s the school’s list of who and where the students’ gifts are going:
WestSide Baby, St. Vincent de Paul (canned goods and money), Seattle Animal Shelter, St. James Kitchen (canned goods and money), Chief Seattle Club, High Point Community Center (adopt-a-family), Holy Rosary Giving Tree. (We also are sending money to schools we help support in Uganda.)
P.S. Looking for holiday-help ideas? See the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!
With a week to go until Christmas Eve, a little extra holiday cheer emerges almost everywhere you look – and listen. Tonight, Shorewood Foursquare Church‘s Ignition Youth Group kept its promise to head out on a caroling journey, walking to Westwood Village, where we caught up with them:
Along with giving the gift of song, they handed out candy canes with an invitation to their church’s Christmas Eve service (one of a dozen churches listed in the “services” section of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – if yours isn’t, please get us the info ASAP!).
If you are in the vicinity of 45th/Andover/Dakota, you might have seen/heard carolers tonight. No, you weren’t hearing things, and here’s the proof! We got advance word from Anna (thank you!) of the plan, and caught up with them as they started their journey. She counted about 40 RSVPs, including “lots of kids,” even these two “elves”:
First caroling event we’ve heard about this year. Another one is coming up tomorrow night – a youth group from Shorewood Foursquare Church plans to head north to carol at Westwood Village around 7:30 pm.
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