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!
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):
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 pm
We 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!
Is your closet home to one or more Halloween costumes from years – and sizes – past? City Mouse Studio and Store in The Junction has your Halloween solution – proprietor Donna is participating in National Costume Swap Day on October 12th, as part of the “Green Halloween” movement: “As per their website, swapping half the costumes kids wear at Halloween would reduce landfill waste by 6,250 tons, equal to the weight of 2,500 midsize cars!”
Here’s how the costume swap will work: From now through October 11th, drop off gently used kids’ Halloween costumes at City Mouse (4218 SW Alaska) – which is open Tuesdays-Saturdays 10-6 and Sundays 10-5 – and get a token to use to pick up another costume there on Saturday, October 12th, starting at 10 am.
OCTOBER 10 UPDATE: Donna says you can also just bring your swappable costume on Saturday morning and swap on the spot, rather than making two trips.
Exactly three months until Christmas! No, we’re not trying to rush things, but the clock IS ticking on the West Seattle Lights/Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular contest announced a month ago – “Name That Snowman,” on behalf of the new emcee the synchronized-holiday-lights show will have this year, an 8-foot-tall talking, singing snowman. The contest details and rules are on the West Seattle Lights website; the winner gets to push the button and turn on the lights on opening night of this year’s show, 7 pm Saturday, November 30th (3908 SW Charlestown).
So it’s going into the 80s again today and that’s hardly conducive to a “Jingle Bells” mood. Nonetheless, holiday planning is under way in some quarters, especially for the pre-holiday sale season. Two notes to share, first from Sue Gibbs on behalf of West Gate Court #21, Order of the Amaranth:
Holiday Bazaar – October 12th – 10-4
Alki Masonic Hall, 4736 40th Ave SW
Tables available
To get one, contact Sue, 206-650 5491, westgateevents21@gmail.com.
If you’re an artist/artistic crafter living in West Seattle and haven’t yet applied for the Fauntleroy Fine Art & Holiday Gift Show November 15-17, time is a’wasting. The deadline is September 30. The show, hosted by Fauntleroy Church, is always well-attended, the percentage to participate is low, and you’ll likely go home with contacts for after-show sales. Look for details and the application form at fauntleroyucc.org or call the church office at 206-932-5600.
P.S. If you’re in the buying mood, the church is having its Second-Time Sale this weekend – details here.
For the second year, Labor Day was celebrated today with a flag ceremony and potluck picnic at the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction. Leaders of American Legion Post 160, also in The Junction, assisted:
At left, that’s Post 160 Commander Dr. Don-Michael Bradford, with the post’s former commander Kyle Geraghty. Representatives of other local organizations including the West Seattle Eagles (whose HQ is in The Junction too) were in attendance. And before the Pledge of Allegiance was said, Carolyn Monk read an essay about the Pledge:
During the first event last year, the Masonic Center’s new flagpole was dedicated. Organizers hope to continue growing this as a community event, particularly with service groups’ participation, so make a note for Labor Day next year.
(Jamie‘s aerial view – quadcopter cam! – of last night’s sunset; click image for larger view)
Happy Labor Day! Saw a sunbreak a little while ago, but the forecast suggests clouds will rule most of the day. Holiday notes:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: The ramp from northbound I-5 to the West Seattle Bridge is scheduled to be closed until 3 pm for the expansion-joint work that’s been under way all weekend. And starting tomorrow, partial closures of SW Orchard between Sylvan and Delridge – beginning with the eastbound side – start, as part of the Delridge Way Repaving Project.
STREET PARKING DOWNTOWN, ETC.: Pay stations/meters are on holiday – it’s a city parking holiday.
WHAT’S CLOSED: Most government offices/facilities closed, including the Seattle Public Library system), banks closed, no mail delivery.
OUTDOOR AQUATICS TODAY: Last day of the season for the Highland Park Spraypark and Lincoln Park wading pool (schedule here), and, also at LP, last day of daily operations for Colman Pool (which then opens for one postseason weekend next Saturday/Sunday). It’s open noon-7 today; schedule’s here.
POTLUCK AND FLAG CEREMONY: You’re invited to a 1 pm potluck and 2 pm flag ceremony at the Masonic Center, 40th/Edmunds on the east edge of The Junction. Details in our preview from last night.
(WSB photo from 2012 flag ceremony)
Looking for something patriotic to do on this federal holiday? Today, Alki Masonic Center invites you to its second annual Labor Day Picnic and Flag Ceremony. Socializing and potluck picnicking start at 1 pm; the flag dedication is scheduled for 2 pm. Everyone’s welcome; you’re asked to bring a potluck dish to share, but soft drinks will be provided. The center is at 4736 40th Ave SW.
Thanks to Mike Scharer for sharing photos of the Lake Union 4th of July fireworks as seen from the Admiral Way Bridge over Fairmount Ravine.
If you missed the (sanctioned) show, you have two more chances to see fireworks displays in our area this month: July 17th at Steve Cox Park as part of White Center Jubilee Days, and July 20th off Beach Drive as part of a private event (but the fireworks will be publicly visible.)
Meantime, Mike sent an additional photo taken before Thursday night’s fireworks – showing, if you look very closely, black smoke billowing from the same general area:
Having listened to the scanner throughout the evening, we’re fairly sure that was related to this boat-storage yard fire on Lake Union, not far from Gas Works Park, main viewing area for the fireworks show. SFD says via Twitter that $1.5 million in damage is estimated for 14 boats.
That’s our traditional “everybody, start to finish” West Seattle/Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade video – but this year, #19 for the parade, the turnout wasn’t the only impressive thing about the parade: The diaper drive was, too! New co-coordinator Jackie Clough reports that attendees brought “1,327 diapers and 8 bags of clothes and quilts for WestSide Baby.” She shared this photo from afterward:
Cash donations also totaled enough to reimburse Holy Rosary Parish for the cost of the permits needed for the parade, Jackie says. Before the parade started, we photographed her with Sherri Chun (photo below), longtime coordinator who turned over the reins this year to Jackie and (not pictured)Allyson Schreck.
This year’s parade also drew two mayors – Greg Nickels, North Admiral resident, was expected; here’s his speech (introduced by Jackie), which made note of the situation in Egypt as well as the United States history marked by today’s holiday:
The mayoral surprise was an unexpected appearance by Nickels’ successor, Mike McGinn, who wound up speaking briefly at the Hamilton Viewpoint Park festival that followed the parade. He declared West Seattle to be “unbelievable …” a scene right out of a Norman Rockwell painting:
Perhaps he was inspired by sights like this:
Or this:
More photos (including the post-parade fun and games), video – and a keepsake found after the parade (is it yours?) – ahead:
After leaving the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s Log House Museum, we traveled Alki and Harbor Avenues to see what’s up this 4th of July. Above, at 59th/Alki, we found the AMNO & Co. underwater-robotics team with fundraising refreshments (they’re there until 6 pm) – here’s our recent story about them. Right across the street, perhaps the most unusual food truck we’ve seen at Alki:
Yes, it’s a truck promoting Birds-Eye frozen food. Exactly what we had on our mind on the national barbecuing holiday. From there, more routine sights, including what you’ll always see at Don Armeni and other northeast-facing points by early afternoon on the 4th – people staked out for a fireworks view:
Whatever you do – be safe. We’re hoping for a quiet night. But we’ll be covering breaking news 24/7 as always, so if you see/hear something, 206-293-6302.
12:43 PM: Next big event of the day is at the Log House Museum(61st/Stevens) – its annual 4th of July membership picnic is under way now till 3 pm, with a theme of “celebrating volunteers” this year. We’re on the way for some photos and will add an update when we get there!
1:21 PM:Clay Eals, executive director, is emceeing the picnic program on the museum’s back patio (above), talking to some of the volunteers who are on hand about why they volunteered and why others should join them. Eals noted that this year alone, 35 new volunteers have signed up. There are some not-that-new volunteers here too – 87-year-old Nancy McPhee (with Eals in photo below) joked that she “IS a historical exhibit.”
Veteran volunteer Barbara McGlothern reminisced about the campaign to save the Admiral Theater more than 20 years ago. And president Marcy Johnsen talked about living in the Log House Museum before it was a museum.
Still lots of time to come on over – bring a potluck dish if you have one, but if you don’t, don’t let that stop you, there’s food aplenty to share here! P.S. Your next chance to get involved as a volunteer at the museum/Southwest Seattle Historical Society is an information session on July 13th – details here. And Eals has just announced other big events SWSHS has coming up – look for a separate story on that here a bit later.
10 AM: As usual, we’re tweeting from the parade route. In case you don’t use Twitter, here’s a window to show you those quick updates, including photos and possibly some video (look for links with Instagram addresses) along the way:
11:17 AM: Parade is over and funfest at Hamilton Viewpoint is well under way. Looks like AT&T signal hung up most of our parade pic tweets but we’ll have lots of coverage once back at HQ.
Good morning and Happy Independence Day! Our full lineup of 4th of July-related information is on this special WSB page, but here are a few toplines:
FORECAST FOR THE FOURTH: Cloudy now but supposed to burn off at “midday,” says the National Weather Service, as it has the past few days.
WEST SEATTLE 4TH OF JULY KIDS’ PARADE: The peninsula’s only 4th of July parade starts at 44th and Sunset at 10 am. Everyone’s welcome to join the fun, walking/rolling along a fairly short route to Hamilton Viewpoint Park, where you’ll find old-fashioned games on the green plus concessions, for a fun celebration to start your holiday. Remember the diaper drive at the start of the route this year for WestSide Baby! And if you’re not in the parade or watching it, do avoid the north end of California till it’s over, as traffic will be stopped while paraders cross. We’ll post a traffic alert on WSB and our other channels once they’re all on the other side.
SPEAKING OF WATER: The new Highland Park Spraypark is open daily 11 am-8 pm; the city wading-pool hotline says that since the forecast is for sunshine and 70s later, the pools WILL be open – in our area, on Thursdays, that’ll be Lincoln Park, EC Hughes, and Delridge (hours are on the citywide season schedule). Outdoor Colman Pool will be open (here’s its schedule); indoor Southwest Pool, closed.
LOST OR FOUND PET? While personal fireworks are illegal, many use them anyway, and that leads to more than a few pets getting spooked and running away. If you find or lose a pet, we hope West Seattle’s only dedicated online HQ for such notices can help with a reunion – e-mail info (photo if available but not required) to editor@westseattleblog.com – we will be on duty as always, well into the night.
Right about this time tomorrow, hundreds of kids (and accompanying adults) will be walking/rolling along the North Admiral route of the annual 4th of July Kids’ Parade, which starts from 44th/Sunset (map) at 10 am Thursday. New parade co-coordinator Jackie Clough shares the photo from Walking on Logs, where WestSide Baby‘s “Stuff the Bus” reminders are currently sharing space with a parade reminder and patriotic decorations. Jackie also has a reminder for paradegoers:
It would be great to remind folks to please not park on Atlantic Street between Sunset Ave SW and California Ave SW. This is along the parade route and would obstruct the parade (the parade route runs south on Sunset Ave SW, East on Atlantic, crossing California Ave SW, north on Palm, and ending at Hamilton Viewpoint Park).
If you’re not joining or watching the parade, please note that when it gets to California and heads east across the street, vehicle traffic is stopped both ways until everyone has crossed, and that could take up to 15 minutes (by our informal measure in years past). Then remember, it’s a post-parade fun fest of games and concessions on the lawn at Hamilton Viewpoint immediately afterward. The full lineup of who/what/when/where is here. See you there (and as reiterated on the sign – bring diapers for WS Baby if you can)!
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, 
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