West Seattle, Washington
10 Monday
Thanks to Arrowhead Gardens for inviting WSB to their Veterans Day observance, which featured an Honor Guard from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce County. The Honor Guard brought and raised a flag:
The event included residents parading around the grounds to and from the flagpole:
Their commemoration also included a poetry reading.
(P.S. In case you wondered – we did! – here’s how to ask JBLM about providing visitors like these for an off-base event.)
(SDOT camera view of West Seattle Bridge, looking west; more area cams here)
This morning, we’re combining our usual traffic/transit watch with our daily calendar preview, and mixing in the “what’s changed for the holiday” info:
TRAFFIC NOTES: Highway 99 is open again after a weekend closure that ended around 9 pm Sunday; at the Fauntleroy ferry dock, the holding lane north of the terminal will be closed today because of Barton Pump Station Upgrade work next door: “A large drill rig will be parked in the holding lane for most of the day, and a police officer will be directing traffic around the construction activities,” says the advisory.
TRANSIT NOTES: Metro is on the “reduced weekday” schedule (some routes aren’t running at all); the West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxis are not running today; Sound Transit and Washington State Ferries, however, are on regular weekday schedules.
PARKING PAY-STATION/METERS: If you’re going to an area of the city with on-street paid parking – it’s free today.
TRASH/RECYCLING/YARD WASTE: Regular schedule for Seattle Public Utilities, both pickup and transfer stations.
SCHOOLS: Closed.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: All facilities closed.
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: No delivery; post offices closed.
FOR VETERANS: Writer David Nelson has again compiled his citywide freebies list (with four West Seattle items). Also, Center Studio (WSB sponsor) at 9611 16th SW in White Center is offering a free class for veterans at 5:45 pm.
Also happening today/tonight:
‘GIRL RISING’: Still some tickets left for the 4 pm screening at Admiral Theater, according to the online-sales page linked in our original story. (2343 California SW)
FLAG-RETIREMENT CEREMONY: 4 pm with Scout Troop 375 on Alki Beach across from Duke’s; details are in our Sunday story.
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: The NDNC meeting is now permanently moved to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, room 103, starting at 6:30 pm on second Mondays. Tonight’s announced agenda:
Election of 2014 officers
Bylaws change – length of officer terms
DESC building name
Greenbelt encampments
Neighborhood clean-up
Announcements
Youngstown is at 4408 Delridge Way SW.
The renovated main hall was already candlelit when we took that photo just before the doors opened for tonight’s free dinner for veterans (and active-duty, reserve, retired servicepeople) and their families at the West Seattle Veterans’ Center. American Legion Post 160 and Auxiliary members are cooking up the gourmet Italian dinner and took a quick photo-op break at our request:
As part of tonight’s dinner, a conference room at the Veterans’ Center/Post 160 is being dedicated in honor of Doris Gross, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and trailblazing Legion leader, first woman to be a statewide commander among other achievements (here’s a 2010 story about her). This portrait of her was unveiled tonight:
Dinner is being served at the WSVC (3618 SW Alaska) until 8 pm – just show up!
Another Veterans Day event in West Seattle, and you are invited. From Troop 375 Scoutmaster Mark Ufkes:
Boy Scout Troop 375, chartered by Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, will be holding an American flag retirement ceremony on Monday, Veterans Day, November 11, at 4 pm on Alki Beach in West Seattle (across from Duke’s restaurant).
We will provide a final color guard to an American flag that requires respectful retirement. Scouts will read statements about the history of our flag, honor attending veterans, play taps, and respectfully incinerate the flag in a proper and affirming manner. The public is welcome to attend. The ceremony will last about 15 minutes.
West Seattle, White Center and Burien families who have old American flags that need respectful retirement, are encouraged to bring their flags to the event and our scouts will collect them, and arrange a second ceremony later this winter to retire the collected flags. Families who bring worn or torn flags are asked to consider contributing $20 to our troop’s Scout Jamboree travel fund, but it is not mandatory. Respectfully retiring old and tattered flags is our priority.
The first big weekend of bazaars means the holiday season is off and running in West Seattle! At historic Highland Park Improvement Club, the bazaar that’s under way until 3 pm includes artists and crafters including Deloris (above). Vendors’ tables are full of gift possibilities like these (who WOULDN’T want Darth Vader on their wallet?):
Among the vendors, historic HPIC itself – with the all-new Highland Park hoodies!
(Added: Found out post-publication, they’re screenprinted by local Rain City West!) Even if you’re not in the shopping mood, go learn more about raingardens:
At right in that photo is Jo Sullivan from King County Wastewater Treatment Division, which is in the early stages of a green-stormwater-infrastructure project for Highland Park and vicinity and, at left, Hannah Kett from Sustainable Seattle, which has been working on other raingarden projects in the area. (If you need new inspiration for considering/supporting raingardens – think of the Longfellow Creek coho salmon, often killed by polluted stormwater runoff. The more runoff you keep out of the system via raingardens (etc.), the more you keep out of local waterways.)
Haven’t been to HPIC? Find it at 12th/Holden (map).
As the holidays approach, we celebrate both annual traditions and new events that might become traditions. In the latter category is a gala just announced by the West Seattle Tool Library:
After nearly 3-1/2 years of providing free tools, advice and workshop space to the community on a donation basis, the West Seattle Tool Library is holding its first fundraiser and inclusive “Festivus” party.
Everyone is welcome. No cover charge.
The fundraiser gala, which will also serve as Sustainable West Seattle’s annual winter holiday party, will be held Friday, Dec. 6, from 6:00 to 9:30 pm. Any funds raised will go to the maintenance of tool library operations, as well as potential enhancements such as extended hours and more classes, depending on the amount raised.
To be held at the dance studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts center, the fundraiser is being billed as a Festivus in a nod to a classic Seinfeld episode, with beer, wine, soft drinks, food, music, a silent auction, kids activities and a used tool sale.
Eastridge Church has just announced the date for its annual turkey-and-groceries giveaway. This year, between its West Seattle and Issaquah campuses, it’s increasing the number of turkeys to 1,500. Lori from Eastridge says they’re offering “a helping hand and a little hope this Thanksgiving” with the giveaway starting at 9 am Saturday, November 23rd, “no questions asked, nothing to fill out.” Eastridge is at 39th/Oregon.
Again this year, West Seattle American Legion Post 160 and Auxiliary are inviting local veterans and their families – all branches, active duty or reserve – to a free dinner commemorating Veterans Day. The gourmet Italian dinner will be served 5-8 pm this Sunday night (November 10) at the West Seattle Veterans’ Center (longtime home to Post 160), 3618 SW Alaska in The Triangle. Here’s more info via the official flyer.
All over West Seattle, diabolically decorations dotted neighborhoods as night fell on Halloween 2013. Above, that’s a photo shared by Dotti, explaining that Halloween is her husband’s birthday. For many others, you might as well subtitle it Candy Day – along with the Admiral District trick or treating we featured earlier, Westwood Village welcomed treat-seekers in the early evening – we photographed this one outside Giannoni’s Pizza:
Also at Westwood – check out the furry trick-or-treater at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor):
In the Genesee area, “Nightmare on 44th” drew crowds – almost 200 visitors, tweeted creator Dave – a yard full of elaborate effects, with animatronic skeletons amid lights, sound, surprises:
That’s where we found these pumpkins, from cheery to eerie:
One more Halloween scene: Tim at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) shared this photo of their own “Golden Girls”:
Since Halloween fell on a Thursday, our event guide still has listings for Friday night and even Saturday – check ’em out!
Back from Halloween rounds – including a stop at Skeleton Theatre, which as usual is playing again tomorrow, so you still have a chance to go if you didn’t get to 36th/Hanford tonight. It’s an updated version of last year’s production “Ulna 13,” a space saga starring the animatronic protagonists – lights, sound, dialogue, bones and all:
A team of friends/neighbors works hard to make the (free, but you can donate online) show happen every year – their story’s on the ST website. If you haven’t been before, here’s a map; the stage is in the elevated front yard of the home on the southwest corner of 36th/Hanford, and Friday’s showtimes are expected to be roughly on the hour/half-hour between 6 and 9 again.
For one more hour, it’s trick-or-treat time in The Admiral District – mostly outdoors, except for the special setup inside Emeritus at Admiral Heights (photo above; WSB sponsor), with residents lining the lobby at 2326 California SW to hand out treats. While the lovely parasol in our next photo makes a fine accessory, the weather’s been dry, and we’ve even seen a bit of sun.
Maybe a little calendar confusion? Look who turned up inside Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW):
Over at Atomic Boys, things were rockin’:
Decisions, decisions!
We suspect the hat gave away the true identity of Brent Amacher:
Adding more photos later; participating Admiral businesses are offering treats until 6 pm.
ADDED: Thanks to Vanessa for this photo taken at Wiseman’s Appliance – where else would you find a washing machine with a smile?
Another Admiral business took its show on the road – well, the sidewalk:
Segway-touring clients went bananas for a gorilla-led tour with West Coast Entertainment, photographed around the corner by Hiawatha.
On the creative north edge of the business district, we found Monica and daughter at West Seattle Fabric Company:
And Krystal at Mind Unwind:
Lots of other participating businesses too, across more than a half-mile of storefronts. Go check ’em out during the upcoming winter holidays, too (if not sooner).
And the Halloween photos drift spookily in … This one is from the Intergenerational Learning Center at Providence Mount St. Vincent where, as The Mount’s Anna Cronin explained in sharing it, Halloween is for both the very young and the young at heart.
P.S. We’ll be out and about later today/tonight, but we always appreciate your photos, too, so if/when you have a Halloween scene to share, editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
ADDED 2:25 PM: First photo in after this one ALSO happens to be from The Mount:
Judy shares the photo of her mom Helen (“the clown”) and Connie (“the nice witch”) dressed up today while in the Elder Care program.
(Decorated home at 38th/Hanford; photo courtesy Siobhan)
It’s here – the haunting holiday of Halloween. Today’s daily preview is a spooktacular collection of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide, starting with the biggest local event:
ADMIRAL DISTRICT TRICK-OR-TREATING: 3-6 pm, it’s time for trick-or-treating at businesses in The Admiral District, participating merchants – look for businesses displaying this sign:
No treasure hunt or raffle prizes this year, “just good old-fashioned trick-or-treating.” No list but we DID hear from Emeritus at Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor), 2326 California SW, which is participating and extends a warm welcome to trick-or-treaters.
METROPOLITAN MARKET KIDS’ COSTUME CONTEST: While you’re in The Admiral District for trick-or-treating, join in the Kids’ Halloween Costume Contest 3-6 pm at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor). Winners in the three categories will receive $25 Toys “R” Us gift cards; drop by today, and then vote over the next three days. (41st/42nd/Admiral Way)
FREE HALLOWEEN FAMILY SKATE: Southgate Roller Rink and Full Tilt Ice Cream present a FREE Halloween Family Skate from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm at the rink. Costume contest, candy giveaways, a guest DJ, more. (17th SW south of Roxbury, White Center)
WESTWOOD VILLAGE: 5-7 pm is the time you can go trick-or-treating at participating venues in the Westwood Village shopping center
SKELETON THEATRE: 6-9 pm (tonight AND tomorrow), don’t miss this year’s edition of Skeleton Theatre, 6-9 pm (directions and show info here). The animatronic skeletons are back, reprising the space-themed “Ulna 13” from last year with updates! Shows “roughly on the hour and half-hour.” (36th/Hanford)
NIGHTMARE ON 44TH: 6-9 pm tonight only, animatronic and spooky “Nightmare on 44th” is back! 44th Ave SW between Charlestown and Andover. See behind-the-scenes photos on Twitter at @NightmareOn44th.
KIDS KARNIVAL: 6-8 pm, it’s a Kids Karnival at West Side Presbyterian Church, promising “carnival games, bouncy house, giant slide, a box maze, prizes and more! This event is geared for young children through 5th grade. It is a fun, safe alternative to trick-or-treating!” Admission free BUT there’s a donation drive for emergency kits for people in need – here’s what you can bring:
Hand warmers, socks, granola bars, small-amount gift cards, beanie hats, travel sized toothpaste & toothbrush, bars of soap, hand sanitizer, $ donation to purchase these items!
WSPC is at 3601 California SW.
TRUNK OR TREAT: Grace Community Church Trunk or Treat, 6-8 pm, free family event with car trunks filled with goodies, games, hot drinks, food. (10323 28th SW)
(In the planting strip in the 9400 block of 13th SW; photo courtesy Lisa)
GHOST GAME VII: The Cabiri in ‘Ghost Game VII: The Wild Hunt’ @ Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 8-9:45 pm. Tickets available here; 16 and over only. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
OZZY-WEEN: Halloween Ozzy Osbourne tribute at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm. (6451 California SW)
HALLOWEEN KARAOKE: It’s “Scary-Oke” for Halloween at Outwest Bar, 9 pm-2 am. (California/Brandon)
ZOMBIE HOMECOMING: Zombie Homecoming 18+ event hosted by Southgate Roller Rink and the Rainier Roller Girls! 9 pm-midnight, $12 @ the door. Costume contest, raffle, 21+ bar, and much more! (17th SW south of Roxbury, White Center)
More Halloween (etc.) events for tonight and the next two nights – in our guide; today’s non-Halloween happenings are on our regular calendar.
The location of the Bright Horizons-West Seattle child-care center right across the street from Seattle Fire Department Station 32 in The Triangle presents some opportunities – including this one: A costume parade.
More photos ahead:
The most elaborate Halloween production you’ll find in a West Seattle neighborhood this year is again Skeleton Theatre, the animatronic show at 36th and Hanford (map), with sound, lights, and usually a pretty good crowd. Team member Maia reminds us that it’s an updated reprise of last year’s “Ulna 13” skeletons-in-space production – here’s the trailer:
Showtimes are tomorrow (Halloween night) and Friday (November 1st), 6 pm until 9 pm, with the crew attempting to start the shows on the hour and half-hour – but it’s live, and free, so be kind if the times don’t exactly hit those marks. (Speaking of “free,” if you enjoy or have enjoyed the show, you’re invited to chip in a donation to cover the costs – the link is on the ST home page; behind-the-scenes photos, meantime, are on the ST Facebook page.)
Lots more Halloween events (including tomorrow’s Admiral District and Westwood Village trick-or-treating, and a long list of other fun happenings including some scheduled for Friday and Saturday) are all listed in our guide. And if you know of a great decoration display, let us know and/or send photos – we’ll be adding that list and pix by Hallo-morning.
(WSB photos by Katie Meyer)
It was a night to yell BOO! as much as to yell BINGO!
The Senior Center of West Seattle scared up almost 200 people – a sell-out crowd – for its almost-Halloween edition of Rainbow Bingo. Click ahead for more photos!
The first Halloween event in our guide at westseattleblog.com/halloween is TONIGHT: Fall Festival and Haunted House at High Point Community Center, 6-7:30 pm, costumes encouraged! The center is at 6920 34th SW. (Anything we’re missing tonight, that’s open to the public? Please comment, if so!)
Meantime, we’ve had two suggestions to feature photos of West Seattle’s most spookily decorated homes/businesses/etc. We’re up for it! Photos/location suggestions welcome at editor@westseattleblog.com. Even if you’re not going quite as far as “Nightmare on 44th,” where they’re documenting the progress via Twitter (this is the most recent tweet, from last Sunday):
Wreath lights added today -11 days to go pic.twitter.com/3WH9P68J5O
— NightmareOn44th (@NightmareOn44th) October 21, 2013
We’ll feature decorated houses in the Halloween Guide, too, as well as showcases here on the main page.
Halloween is ten days away but since it’s on a Thursday, many – but not all! – of the events are this weekend. From community-center carnivals to business-district 
trick-or-treating, we’ve gathered together all the upcoming Halloween/harvest/fall-festival events from our calendar and you’ll find them in one place, westseattleblog.com/halloween – or click the HALLOWEEN tab beneath the header photo on any WSB page. If you haven’t let us know about your business/organization/school’s event, though, it might not be there – but it’s not too late for us to add it; e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com. No need for a long announcement – just send the basics, and if you have a web and/or Facebook link for the event, please include it. Thanks!
(2011 WSB photo)
Another West Seattle holiday bazaar has opened signups for arts and crafts vendors. Just in:
Artists and crafters needed for the 4th Annual Schmitz Park Elementary Holiday Craft Fair!!
Saturday, December 7th, 10 am-3 pmWe are looking for local artists and craftspeople to participate as vendors at our 4th annual fair. There is a small table fee and we are asking for an item donation to our raffle in addition to the fee. No other commission will be involved. All proceeds will go to the Schmitz Park Elementary PTA General Fund. If you are an artist or craftsperson yourself, or know someone that is and may be interested in being a vendor, please contact Deb Cibene at dcibene@gmail.com for more details.
Since we first told you about the Halloween-costume swap coming up tomorrow at City Mouse Studio and Store in The Junction, proprietor Donna has made a change: Even if you haven’t already dropped off a costume to swap, you can just bring your gently used kids’ costume(s) to the store starting at 10 am tomorrow and swap on the spot. Have a greener Halloween and join in! (P.S. Did you see Donna on KING 5 this morning? Our friends there spotted the story here and reported from her store at 4218 SW Alaska to share the news about National Costume Swap Day. If a clip turns up online, we’ll link it here.)
Chilly storm moves through, a little ice from the sky … In the holiday mood yet? Highland Park Improvement Club hopes so – Christie Sjostrom is organizing this year’s Holiday Bazaar for Saturday, November 9th, 10 am-3 pm, and looking for vendors, $20/table, $15 for HPIC members, handmade arts/crafts only (no commercial items) – e-mail her ASAP to snag your spot, csjostrom@hotmail.com.
Thanks to everyone who has sent Halloween-season event info since our call for it last night, as we start putting together the annual special one-stop WSB page of treats, frights, festivals, costume contests, etc. One of particular note, as families mark their calendars – Parris Sadow from Atomic Boys announces:
The Admiral District will be providing candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween…Oct 31st…from 3-6 pm. No frills, just a great afternoon of simple old fashioned trick-or-treating.
The list of participating stores/groups is usually available a bit closer to event time. Meanwhile, if you missed it, West Seattle Junction trick-or-treating will be part of the second annual Harvest Festival, with streets closed in the heart of The Junction on Sunday, October 27th, and fun activities/games along with the in-the-street-for-a-day Farmers’ Market.
If your business, group, school, church, etc., has a seasonal event ahead, please let us know ASAP – just a short note with the basics in the text (no attachment/flyer/poster needed) to editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
Exactly four weeks from tonight, it’s Halloween! We’ll be publishing our special page of Halloween/harvest-season events/activities soon, so we’re sending out the request tonight: If you have a seasonal event planned, open to the public, at your business, school, church, etc., please let us know. E-mail the what/where/when (etc.) basics to editor@westseattleblog.com ASAP – even better if you have a weblink and/or Facebook link to info about it (not mandatory, though). As with all event-calendar listings, we request that you send the info as plain text, NOT as a Word/PDF/image attachment. Thanks!
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