West Seattle, Washington
17 Wednesday
In case it still hasn’t hit your radar – the first-ever West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival tomorrow, 10 am-2 pm, is for EVERYONE – it’s not just kid stuff. And even if you are not planning to go, #1 may affect you:
1. The streets will be closed (similar to the Summer Fest/Car Show footprint), which also means bus reroutes (explained here).
2. Farmers’ Market vendors will be set up in the middle of California SW.
3. The costume parade starts at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) at 11:30 am.
4. Trick-or-treating is noon-2 pm.
5. Free activities are for the duration, 10 am-2 pm.
On a day/night full of fun events around West Seattle, we stopped by two this morning:
MONSTER DASH: And they’re off! The first-ever West Seattle Monster Dash to raise money for local Parent Cooperative Preschools was a spirited sprint (or stroll) along the trails of upper Lincoln Park. We didn’t quite catch them running by, but many took up the invitation to be in costume:
Watch the official Monster Dash website for results/recap.
THRIFTWAY PARTY: Ever wonder what Michele, whose many roles at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) include being your summer benefit-barbecue host, does in the offseason?
Today, we found Michele and friend over at the in-store dining area for the annual Halloween party, a crafty event:
Next big event at WST: A holiday tasting event next Thursday (November 1st), 4-7 pm.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Rain can’t stop Halloween – nor did it stop Admiral Treats and Treasures, the Admiral merchants’ annual trick-or-treat event. We brought you a few early photos as it happened; now, here’s a gallery of some of the people WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams found along the way. Above, two Elvii (Kai Medina, 9, and Flora Medina, 11) wait to cross the street, along with “voting machine” Lauren Howe. Next: Olivia St. Germain as The White Rabbit:
The older “kids” enjoyed it too – check out the smile on Aida Gutierrez‘s face as she helps with candy handing-out at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor):
16 more photos ahead!
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Volunteers joining forces with Southwest Teen Life Center and Pool staffers made for a fun Friday night. Tom Foley from the SW Advisory Council shares photos:
The volunteers made the games from scratch “with materials they scrounged up and applied their imagination to develop,” he reports:
He estimates more than 300 people came – and the pool was filled to its 125-person capacity for a special free Halloween-theme family swim:
Some of the lifeguards dressed in costume, too. Tom adds, “A big thank you is due to all who helped out, and in particular Kiesha and Matt for all their organizing efforts.” Other Seattle Parks facilities around West Seattle had Friday night carnivals and festivals too, including Hiawatha, Delridge, and High Point.
That’s “Molly the Bubble,” we were informed, in the washing machine outside Wiseman’s Appliance and TV in The Admiral District, one of the places we stopped in the first hour of Admiral Treats and Treasures. Some businesses away from Admiral Junction set up tables there to catch more trick or treaters, like Life Care Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
The trick-or-treating-and-more event continues till 6 pm – here’s the list of participants, along with a reminder to go to Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (2326 California SW; WSB sponsor) before you’re done, for a chance at the “treasure”! More photos in report #2 later tonight.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
With Halloween on Wednesday this year, the next three days feature many more local events/activities than you’ll find on October 31st – so we wanted to direct your attention one more time to the WSB Halloween page, where we’ve listed everything we have heard about and have found (still time to add more if we’re missing something – editor@westseattleblog.com). That includes the business-district trick-or-treat events: Admiral Treats and Treasures 3-6 pm tomorrow, Junction Harvest Festival Sunday (10 am-2 pm with trick-or-treating noon-2), Westwood Village 5-7 pm on Halloween. Check out our list of West Seattle (and a bit beyond) activities for ALL ages – here.
Though Halloween is eight days away, the biggest events are this weekend (as you can tell if you check the WSB West Seattle Halloween page). And the first-ever West Seattle Junction Association-presented Harvest Festival this Sunday (October 28th, 10 am-2 pm) just keeps getting bigger. Note the brand-new map/poster above (printable PDF here) – in addition to helping you figure out where to find your favorite Farmers’ Market booths along California SW (the streets are closing, so they’re moving out into the street), it also lists events beyond the costume parade (11:30 am from Junction Plaza Park), trick-or-treating (noon-2 pm) and ongoing activities (entire 10-2 duration) already announced. West Seattle Eagles invite you to a pumpkin-spiced-pancake breakfast at their HQ near the Junction Post Office, and ReMAX invites you to a “gently haunted house” at their HQ on 44th, noon-2 pm. We’re among the businesses/organizations presenting one of the activities (look for WSB X 3 – us, WestSide Baby and West Seattle Bowl with pumpkin bowling!), so we’ll see you there!
(2011 photo courtesy Joyce Merkel)
Just out of the WSB inbox – one of the season’s most unusual pumpkin-carving competitions:
The annual Boeing Seahorse and Marker Buoys Dive Club Underwater Pumpkin Carving will take place Saturday, October 27th at the Alki Picnic Shelter on 63rd and Alki Avenue. Divers will enter the water at around 10:00 AM and will have one hour to carve their pumpkin in a minimum of 10′ of water. We need the public to help us judge the carved pumpkins. Judging will begin shortly after 11:00 AM. Categories are Artistic, Biggest, Scariest, Better off as Pumpkin Pie, and Best use of Sea Life. We hope to see you there!
We’ve added that to the WSB West Seattle Halloween 2012 page; if you’re having a public Halloween-themed event, and it’s not on that page, please send us the info – thanks!
The Junction is decorated for autumn – with wreaths and orange ribbons on lightpoles – and that’s a reminder that we’re just one week away from the first-ever Harvest Festival. 10 am-2 pm next Sunday, October 28, the streets will be closed, not just for trick-or-treating (noon-2 pm), but also for a special out-on-the-street edition of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (same time as always, 10-2), plus a costume parade (11:30 am, led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band) and FREE craft/game activities sponsored and presented by local businesses and organizations (10-2). See you there!
Just two more volunteers needed to finalize the team for the first-ever West Seattle Junction Association-presented Harvest Festival, coming up on Sunday, October 28th. In case you’ve missed previous mentions, it’s a huge mashup of four major features – the traditional business-district trick-or-treating BUT for the first time with the streets closed, as requested by the community; the West Seattle Farmers’ Market out in the street instead of in its traditional corner; free fun carnival-type activities set up and presented by local organizations/businesses (for example, we’re teaming up with West Seattle Bowl – “WSB x 2” – for pumpkin bowling); and a costume parade. This is all unfolding 10 am-2 pm on 10/28 (schedule’s on the official webpage). And you can volunteer WITHOUT having to miss out on festival fun – they need two people during the setup time, 6 am-9:30 am, that day. Contact susan@wsjunction.org if you can help. Thanks!
Again this year, in addition to the regular 24/7/365 WSB West Seattle Events Calendar, we have a special page that lists West Seattle Halloween events, from Halloween-themed Rainbow Bingo this Friday, to the new Junction Harvest Festival, to bar parties, and beyond. With two weeks to go till The Big Night, it’s now live at westseattleblog.com/halloween. Some events are just a few days away, so take a look – it’s in the header (every one of those tabs takes you to another section of the site), with the word “Halloween” in pumpkin orange. And while we do our best both to publish all the listings we receive, and to look around online to see what has NOT come in yet, we’re still probably missing something – here’s how to get us the info. We’ll continue to update the Halloween page when there’s something to add or update. Thanks! (Jack-o-lanterns photo from Heidi & Daniel, Halloween 2007)
(‘Slip 4’ Duwamish cleanup area, photographed in 2010 by Christopher Boffoli)
Even if you’ve toured the Duwamish River – you’ve probably never toured it THIS way. The annual Halloween-time tour is coming up in less than two weeks – 1 pm Sunday, October 28th, according to word we received tonight from Alberto Rodriguez at the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition:
It is about time for this year’s Halloween Haunted History Toxic Terrors Tour! This year we will have four speakers that will talk about:
*History of the Duwamish River and the Superfund site
*Native American supernatural legends
*Ghost stories of Georgetown and South Park
*”Scary” stories of the pollutants in the riverThe tour will be 2 hours long and is $25 for adults and $15 for children. Find more information here.
That link is also where you can register for the tour.
It’s a West Seattle tradition times three – business-district trick-or-treating. Today, we have the complete picture of who’s doing what, when:
(WSB photo from 2011 Admiral Treats and Treasures)
ADMIRAL TREATS AND TREASURES: As first reported here last month, The Admiral District’s merchants are presenting this popular event – with a treasure hunt enhancing the treat-collecting – 3-6 pm on Friday, October 26th. Today, Admiral District Business Association president Parris Sadow of Atomic Boys also sent the full list of 47 participating merchants/sponsors:
Click the image to see a full-size view and read the list.
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION HARVEST FESTIVAL: Also first announced last month, the West Seattle Junction Association and its merchants are expanding trick-or-treating into a full-blown Harvest Festival this year. 10 am-2 pm on Sunday, October 28th, the streets will even be closed (granting an oft-expressed wish from local families) for not just the trick-or-treating, but also a costume parade, fun activities (preliminary list here), and a special West Seattle Farmers’ Market setup in the street.
WESTWOOD VILLAGE TRICK-OR-TREATING: Today we stopped by the shopping center to find out the plan for this year. As usual, merchants will offer trick-or-treating on Halloween itself – 5 to 7 pm on Wednesday, October 31st.
(If you want to get a jump on other Halloween events – we have more than a few listed in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – just scroll down the page to browse as far ahead into the fall as you’d like!)
Exactly one month till the first-ever West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival – combining the traditional business-district trick-or-treating with a close-down-the-streets dose of FREE family festival fun, AND a special California SW edition of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. One big component of the festival (10 am-2 pm October 28th) is an array of activities sponsored and presented by local groups, schools, and businesses. Susan Melrose from the WS Junction Association is putting out one last call for ANYONE interested in organizing and presenting an activity for the festival. Here’s what’s planned already:
Sustainable West Seattle – Cider Pressing
Westside Baby – Face Painting
Delridge Food Coop – Pumpkin Walk
Hope Lutheran Church and School – Games
Community School of West Seattle – Mini Farm and Games
West Seattle Christian School and Hotwire Coffee – Cut-out wood frame photo booth (take your own), photo frame craft project
Guide Dogs For The Blind – Puppy Origami
American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 160 – Fishing for rubber duckies
Young at Art – Art Project
WS Blog/WS Bowl/WS Baby (WSB x 3) – Pumpkin Bowling
City Mouse Studio – Kooky Spooky Costume Comp’
West Seattle Eagles Hall – Fishing for fun in kiddie pool
Fitness Revolution with Jill – Win a treat for doing a fitness activity
West Seattle Music Studio – Music Listening activity (by students)
West Seattle Montessori School – Make your own bookmarks
Any other organizations/businesses/schools interested in offering a fun activity to make the first-ever edition of this festival unforgettable? E-mail Susan ASAP at susan@wsjunction.org.
For years, after the West Seattle Junction Association trick-or-treating event, some would ask if it would be possible to close the streets to enhance safety and fun. Now – that’s finally going to happen. WSJA has just officially announced the new Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm October 28th. And trick-or-treating is just part of it. Here’s the official announcement:
The Junction Association is excited to introduce a new event – The Junction’s Harvest Festival. We are expanding the popular Trick-or-Treat in The Junction into something new for our neighborhood. The Harvest Festival will be an opportunity for West Seattle families to continue the Trick-or-Treat tradition while adding elements that appeal to a broader audience. Most importantly, WE’RE CLOSING THE STREETS!
A core element of the Harvest Festival will be celebrating the year-round West Seattle Farmers Market. In partnership with the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, over 40 local farmers will set up on California Ave to share their goods at the peak of harvest. Farmers will bring fresh seasonal produce including a surprising variety of apples, fruits, melons, and a collage of vegetables. The Farmers Market’s colors, smells, and vibrancy will be the heart of the Harvest Festival and will be open between 10am and 2pm.
Additionally, there will be a kids’ costume parade followed by Trick-or-Treating between Noon and 2pm. Details will follow as they develop. In an effort to bring more healthy options to Halloween events, The Junction is inviting schools, clubs, non-profits, churches, and even businesses to set up a Harvest Activity tent (art activities or a game). It’s free to set up an activity but it will be free for festivalgoers. Please email Susan Melrose, susan@wsjunction.org, if you’d like to provide a Harvest Activity to be approved by the committee.
The West Seattle neighborhood has enjoyed our Trick-or-Treat in The Junction for years. With more new families and interest in this event, it became necessary to close the streets and do something different. Please help spread the word that the event is moving from Saturday to Sunday. California Ave SW will be closed between Edmunds and Oregon, and Alaska St. will be closed between 44th and 42nd.
The Junction Association looks forward to creating a fun event for West Seattle.
If you’re interested in supporting a good cause with a good pie for Thanksgiving – you might want to make plans to pre-order one of Diane Niemi‘s Heritage Pumpkin Pies next week. We photographed her at the West Seattle Eagles‘ Junction headquarters yesterday afternoon during the first of her planned weekly order-taking sessions – and she says she only has 23 10-inch-pie pre-orders left to sell (though an ample supply remains for the 5-inch pie pre-orders). As noted in the calendar listing, Diane is making the pies to raise money for Alzheimer’s/dementia research, in honor of her 90-year-old mom, who taught her the pie recipe – which originated with Diane’s great-grandmother. She’ll be back at the Eagles’ HQ next Wednesday (September 12), 2-8 pm.
(CONTINUING TO UPDATE as we get more word of who’s open/closed, especially restaurants … scroll down)
(Water Taxi’s pre-Husky-game lineup Saturday, photographed by Dana. It’s on Sunday schedule today)
Happy Labor Day! Sun’s supposed to be out full strength later. Today’s traditional note:
SOLID WASTE PICKUP: If Monday is your day for city trash/recycling/yard waste pickup, it’s on a regular schedule today.
TRANSPORTATION: Metro Transit is on a Sunday schedule, as are the West Seattle Water Taxi (along with its shuttle buses – but the Vashon WT is NOT running today), and Sound Transit express buses. Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is on a weekend schedule today. NO scheduled bridge/99 closures today/tonight.
STREET PARKING DOWNTOWN, ETC.: Pay stations/meters are on holiday – it’s a city parking holiday.
WHAT’S CLOSED/NOT HAPPENING: Most government offices/facilities closed (Seattle Public Library system reopens tomorrow), most banks closed, no mail delivery.
BUSINESSES? Again this year, those that have made mention on social media tend to be more closed than open, overall. Among retailers, Avalon Glassworks e-mailed to say they’ll be open again this year for Labor Day. Also open Labor Day for the first time – West 5 in The Junction. Meander’s Kitchen north of Morgan Junction is open. (added) Zeeks Pizza is open regular hours (thanks to Larry for the tip) … Easy Street Café till 3 and Chelan Café till 1 (thanks to Rich for the tip) … WSB sponsors Hotwire Online Coffeehouse and C&P Coffee Company are among the many coffee shops we noticed open while taking a quick investigative drive a little while ago. … (More additions) The Bridge (thanks, Lindsay!) and Pegasus Pizza (thanks, Clara!) are both open, from lunchtime on … Fresh Bistro‘s open (thanks, Alan!) … Wing Dome in The Junction too (thanks, Andy!) … also open: Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor; thanks, Jordan!), Cactus on Alki (thanks, Katrina!), Seattle Fish Co. (thanks, Hannelore!), and Luna Park Café (thanks and happy birthday to Krissy!) … (added late afternoon) Endolyne Joe’s is open (thanks, Ian!) …
(Anybody else, stores or restaurants/bars? Let us know, and we will keep adding to the list!)
OUTDOOR SWIMMING TODAY: Last day of the season for the Lincoln Park wading pool, and, also at LP, last day of daily operations for Colman Pool – details here.
KAYAKING/PADDLEBOARDING: Alki Kayak Tours (WSB sponsor) is open at Seacrest and still offering its BOGO deal for locals.
PETTING ZOO: At Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) today – here’s the announcement:
Please join us at Merrill Gardens Admiral Heights for an Animal Encounter on September 3rd from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. We will have a free petting zoo at our community and everyone will have a chance to have a “Hands on Experience”. There will be cute bunnies, baby chicks, a Wallaby, Kune Kune Piglet, Prairie Dog, Pygmy Goats and more exciting animals to see. We will be offering assorted flavors of shaved ice for refreshment. The Admiral Heights community is located at 2326 California Ave SW in the heart of the Admiral Heights business district.
POTLUCK AND FLAG DEDICATION: Everyone’s invited to a noon potluck and 1 pm flag dedication at the Masonic Lodge, 40th/Edmunds on the east edge of The Junction. Details in our calendar listing.
Since it’s a federal holiday, Labor Day will bring a few more flags out on display around West Seattle (and beyond). One will be brand-new, and you are invited to its dedication. From Gary Langenbach:
On behalf of the Alki Masonic Temple Board, we would like to invite members of the community to a Labor Day Potluck and dedication of our new Flag and renovated flagpole. Members of VFW district 2 will be performing the flag dedication. We will gather at noon on Monday, September 3rd, at Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th Ave SW, to share a casual meal. We will commence the Flag Ceremony at 1 pm. Please feel free to remain for fellowship throughout the afternoon. Call 206-938-3554 for additional information.
And another 4th of July story emerges … this one likely to make you smile. Another parade – one we didn’t hear about till The Kenney (WSB sponsor) sent photos today, along with this report:
We’re all a “Kid at Heart” on the Fourth of July!
The Kenney Retirement Home in West Seattle celebrates their very first “Fourth of July Parade”! Residents decorated their own “wheelchair floats” complete with balloons, streamers, stars, sparkle flags and fun flair – balloon fashioned hats, drums, and more. The Kenney residents received honks and waves from passing cars and local West Seattle residents as they made their way down Fauntleroy.
The festivities began with a flag ceremony from a local Boy Scout Troop, Pack 282, led by troop leader Eric Linxweiler, followed by a carnival celebration in our Community Rooms; which included fishing games, bean bag toss, horseshoes, and face painting. It was a great day to be had by all seniors living at The Kenney!
Amy Seebeck, Director of Activities, and all the Activities Staff
So with the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade (WSB coverage here) and the 32nd SW Bike Parade (noted here, thanks to info/photos from neighbors), that makes at least three parades yesterday – anybody else?
Thanks to Jamie Kinney for sharing the view from the Admiral Bridge over Fairmount Ravine. Jamie says about 40 people watched from the bridge, and has a gallery with more images here.
Overall, so far, no major trouble. We roamed the busiest West Seattle spots in the hour and a half or so pre-fireworks, and during. Police were out on Alki in a big way – every half block or so, vehicles and officers were standing guard, including a few vans and even a small SPD bus. We don’t know yet if they had to make any arrests. 911 suggests no callouts for injuries.
Since the weather was so clear, multiple fireworks shows were visible from West Seattle – Bainbridge, from Alki Beach Park; Vashon, from Constellation Park, and a few others further south (not sure if the southernmost one was Des Moines or Tacoma).
ADDED 8:55 AM: While personal fireworks remain illegal in Seattle, as commenters have noted (particularly following our report on the small Admiral fire from last night), they proliferated. WSB contributor Nick Adams noticed this at Hamilton Viewpoint Park:
We’ll be checking around this morning on day-after cleanups at local parks/fields. Nick also photographed people who were at Hamilton to watch the Lake Union fireworks:
(If you find this story in subsequent years and wonder how early to get there – we stopped by around 8:45, an hour-plus before fireworks, and the park was jammed with cars, so unless you come really early, you have to plan alternate transportation, or park some distance away and walk.)
ADDED 10:09 AM: One more fireworks view – from Ilona Berzups, with the new Seattle Great Wheel showing its colors too:
Here’s another of her views, on Flickr.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB, unless otherwise credited)
Today’s West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade was truly super. And not just because of superheroes-for-the-day Jake Haupert and 4-year-old son Quinn. The weather was super. So was the turnout.
We of course caught the entire parade on video – about 16 minutes for all participants to pass our camera at the start of the route in North Admiral – but unscientifically, we’d agree with someone who declared the crowd “denser” this year:
(Video by WSB editor Tracy Record)
We noticed more spectators too, like Jeff Kusowski and canine companion Dewey:
The West Seattle Hi-Yu contingent, as always, led the parade, right after a Seattle Police motorcycle officer and Seattle Fire Engine 29:
From there, a steady stream of red-white-and-blue – from streamers to ribbons to balloons like the ones flying high as Gretchen Evans pushed, from left, Thomas, Jackson, and Waylon:
Patriotic face-painting, even:
That’s Tessa Gates, 10, watching as Cheryl Jones painted a flag on daughter Katy, also 10. Once the parade finished crossing California SW at Atlantic, it was game time at Hamilton Viewpoint Park – here’s 7-year-old Aidan Schreck jumping ahead of his fellow sack racers:
Wheelbarrow races, too:
Now, a few more scenes from the pre-parade festivities as well as the games afterward:
More photos from this holiday – a new tradition and a not-so-new tradition:
Turns out there were TWO parades at 10 o’clock this morning! The 4000 and 4100 blocks of 32nd SW (west of Avalon Way – map) gathered for their first-ever 4th of July Bike Parade; thanks to Vince for the photo – he says it was “well-attended” plus – “there was food.”
Not far away, a West Seattle business’s traditional 4th of July sale has less than 2 hours to go:
At Avalon Glassworks (on Avalon Way just south of the West Seattle Bridge), the holiday has become a traditional day for a “seconds” sale. Co-proprietor Shannon Felix (photo right) says a line of shoppers was waiting when they opened up at 9 this morning; the sale continues – while the glass lasts! – till 3 pm.
That little guy was the very last West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade participant to cross California SW at Atlantic, and with that, the road reopened a few minutes ago. The post-parade festivities are still in full swing at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. We’ll have a full parade report with video and photos a bit later!
P.S. Till our full coverage of the parade is done – here’s the video of the entire parade (which we’ll transfer over to the in-progress story when it’s ready):
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