West Seattle, Washington
07 Tuesday
We’re in the SODO Sears/Starbucks building right now along with hundreds of people from teens through seniors, all volunteers who are here with one mission: To make this a happier holiday for about 100 kids from local elementary schools. It’s the annual Rotary Club of West Seattle Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree, and as those kids arrive, they’ll be matched with volunteers for a busy morning including breakfast, choosing warm clothing – our top photo shows volunteers, sorting – shopping, talking to Santa, and more. It’s a herculean effort to organize and stage:
ADDED 7 AM: That hallway suddenly filled, as the first kids arrived:
The kids participating today are from Alki, Lafayette, Gatewood, and Roxhill Elementary Schools, Pathfinder K-8, and Concord International School. Volunteers include not only West Seattle Rotarians, but also members of the National Panhellenic Council of Seattle and its associated sororities and fraternities (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Kappa Alpha Psi) – plus the Loren Miller Bar Association, and youth volunteers (we just met a group from Tukwila’s Foster High School):
ADDED 8:10 AM: More photos – from just part of the crowd of more than 300 volunteers:
… to the actual shopping!
We’re sitting next to a table with two volunteers and a little girl, making a list as they ask her what she’s interested in finding; this is all about practical gifts like warm clothes and shoes, and yet it’s a fun and festive atmosphere too (a table away, other volunteers are decorating the area where Santa will start meeting with the kids a bit later … update, he arrived to cheers and applause at 8:35 am).
ADDED: And even more photos, ahead, including a visitor from the Seahawks!Read More
(Photos by Katie Meyer for WSB)
Every year, it’s the iconic photo of holiday-open-house season at West Seattle businesses – smiling proprietor Jack Miller bustling about Husky Deli in The Junction. The open house is on till 9 tonight, with taste treats including this chocolate cake:
(The cake was from nearby Bakery Nouveau, by the way.) Nice Santa hat!
Other members of the Miller family on hand included daughter Kate:
The annual openhouse is always a showcase for a few vendors, too – among them this time, Krista Conner‘s West Seattle Honey:
(Krista was featured on Seattle Channel this fall – here’s the video.) Husky Deli marked its 79th anniversary earlier this year. This begins a huge holiday weekend in The Junction – with Hometown Holidays activities including the tree lighting at 5 pm tomorrow (Junction Plaza Park) – preceded by the West Seattle High School Band playing outside KeyBank at California/Alaska – and Santa photos 11 am-3 pm Sunday at City Mouse Studio and Store.
As we write this, the always-popular Husky Deli holiday open house has just begun, continuing till 9 pm. Photos to come. But Husky’s not the only venue you can visit for treats, sips, and holiday cheer. Two WSB sponsors are welcoming visitors this evening:
Till 9 pm in central Westwood Village, along the road between the post office and Barnes & Noble, visit Joni and Kirk Keppler at Wyatt’s Jewelers – and the overhead Christmas tree! Starting this weekend, by the way, Wyatt’s adds extra holiday shopping hours – noon-4 pm on Sundays.
At 4828 California SW, Cascade Dizziness and Balance Physical Therapy has an open house this evening too, till 7 pm, along with other practitioners in the space:
From left, Cascade’s Lisa Eaton, with Kinetic PT‘s Fawn Coussens, and Linda Spain.
ADDED: Later in the evening, we stopped by the holiday party at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor):
Proprietors Anne and Clarence Higuera welcomed staffers, friends, and clients into their HQ, a converted home at California/Findlay (the rustic log-house-style exterior is unmistakable as you drive between Alaska and Morgan Junctions). It’s where they’re having another free remodeling/custom building workshop again on Saturday, 2 pm – more info here.
And in The Junction, WSB contributor Katie Meyer dropped in on Bin 41, which was inviting folks in for a tasting (close enough to an open house!) – winemaker Bryan Crane from Kerloo Cellars in Walla Walla was there:
Bin 41 has a special Saturday tasting this week too, 1-3 pm.
Tomorrow – tons more open houses (and bazaars, and more) – browse the list on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page!
(WSB photo from 2010 Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast)
One more reminder – tomorrow morning the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle cooks for you, Santa’s on hand for photos, and lots of other holiday fun will be served up at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds on the east side of The Junction), 7-11 am. Bring new unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots drive – they would love to present a big stack of future gifts when it’s all said, done, and donated. The breakfast itself costs $6 at the door for adults, $3 for kids 12 and under (that includes a Santa photo), with proceeds benefiting Kiwanis community programs including children’s-cancer research. It’s a huge day of holiday happening (as listed here) around West Seattle, so get it started right with a good breakfast and a good time. More info here!
(By Steve Mohundro, from the WSB Flickr group pool; see WS Christmas lights here)
The first big holiday-season weekend begins! You think it’s busy tonight? Wait till tomorrow – browse through the Holiday Events and Info page now! From that page and the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
‘HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS’ AT THE KENNEY: Luncheon & open house/tours at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). Tours begin at 10:30 a.m., Lunch served at 11:45 a.m. RSVP ASAP to 206-938-6941. 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW.
SHOP WITH THE ROTARY: Noon-1:30 pm today, it’s a unique chance to shop for the holidays – the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s purses/wallets/handbags sale and lunch at West Seattle Golf Course. Tickets available at the door; details here.
AFTERNOON BINGO: Friday Afternoon Bingo for cash prizes at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon, 11 am. Buy-in starts at 10:45 am and bingo starts at 11 am. Soup, sandwiches, salads, assorted pastries are available for purchase at nominal cost.
CASCADE DIZZINESS/BALANCE OPEN HOUSE: You’re invited to the Cascade Dizziness and Balance Physical Therapy (WSB sponsor) open house, 4-7 pm, 4828 California SW.
WEST SEATTLE ARTISTS’ STUDIO TOUR: Shop local this holiday season from a wide variety of West Seattle artists featured at local artist studios during the Seattle Sampling Artists Studio Tour Dec 2nd, 3rd and 4th! Visit Penguina Designs Studio (penguinadesigns.com), Brace Point Pottery (bracepointpottery.com), Ken Turner Pottery Studio (kenturnerpottery.com) or Marilyn Moore Studio all without leaving West Seattle! Multiple artists are featured at each studio; full details at seattlesampling.com . Hours are 4 pm-9 pm tonight (and 10-5 both days this weekend).
WYATT’S JEWELERS OPEN HOUSE: Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) Holiday Open House at Westwood Village, 5-8 pm. Drinks, desserts, holiday cheer, check out the new holiday inventory.
OLIO SINGERS AT FIGGY PUDDING DOWNTOWN: It’s the great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition downtown tonight, 5-8:30 pm, and one of the more than 30 participating “teams” is from West Seattle – the Olio Singers, who you’ll find around 4th and Pine. Here’s a map showing who’s caroling where; here’s info about the charity-fundraiser event; more about Olio’s participation (and how to sponsor them).
HUSKY DELI OPEN HOUSE: The Junction’s most famous holiday open house is 6-9 pm tonight at Husky Deli, 4721 California SW.
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE,’ RADIO STYLE: Opening night for Twelfth Night Productions‘ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show,” at Kenyon Hall. Based on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, playwright Joe Landry’s take on “It’s a Wonderful Life” comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. This live radio show will be performed at historic Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th SW. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and at Kenyon Hall, $15/adults, $12 students & seniors.
HOLIDAY CABARET: Sylvia O’Stayformore and Tor’s Holiday Cabaret at Senior Center of West Seattle. Doors open at 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks. Show is at 8:00 pm. Tickets $8; limited seating, so come early!
BELLS OF THE SOUND: Ring in the holidays with the Bells of the Sound holiday concert. 8 pm, Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 3940 41st SW. A suggested donation of $10 for adults and $8 for youth and seniors will be collected at the door. Children under 8 are free. In addition, please bring toys to donate to Mary’s Place, which helps homeless families.
LIVE MUSIC: Elizabeth Dawson sings tonight at the Salty’s on Alki Café-Bar, 8-10 pm.
MORE LIVE MUSIC: Tito Ramsey will perform live at Skylark Cafe & Club, 3803 Delridge Way SW, with Danny the Street. Doors at 8 pm.
It’s been a work in progress for days (here’s our report from last Monday), and finishing touches were happening up till the last moment – but as of just before 6 pm, the Menashe Family‘s famous Christmas-light display in the 5600 block of Beach Drive SW is shining bright. As you’ll hear – or not hear! – in our video, there was no countdown, no fanfare, just the pulling of the switch – and on they went. Here’s a closer look at the lights in HD:
(Two years ago, a cable TV crew filmed the lighting for “Invasion of the Christmas Lights 2,” which premiered on TLC last year and will be rerun this Saturday.)
This Saturday, there are bazaars a-plenty around West Seattle (as listed here) – including Schmitz Park Elementary, where a parent shared news that some of the merchandise will help a local nonprofit:
Just wanted to let folks know that the Holiday Bazaar at Schmitz Park Elementary on 12/3 will include an opportunity to shop and give at the same time. The West Seattle Food Bank will be the recipient of proceeds from sales of hand made paper crafts from Ms. Grasel’s 1st grade class. The kids will be selling flowers and picture frames they constructed out of recycled paper, that can be used as gift toppers or ornaments. They will also be collecting food donations for the Food Bank. Of course there will lots of other lovely hand made crafts to purchase there as well.
From left are 1st graders Kian Hufford, Leeia Stroh, Sylvia Lamphere, and Kayley Thom. The bazaar/craft fair runs 10 am-3 pm Saturday (5000 SW Spokane).
High-level tree-trimming this morning at the highest-elevation Christmas tree in the city! It’s at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and School, 35th and Myrtle, right across the street from the highest point in the city (after which the nearby High Point neighborhood was named) – 512′ at Myrtle Reservoir Park. We spotted the tree-trimming crew in action while driving by a short time ago, so of course we had to pull over for a photo. OLG plans another festive tree-lighting celebration this year, as noted on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page – 7 pm Friday, December 9th, all welcome (caroling too!).
It’s one of three FOUR tree lightings this season – The Junction lights its tree at 5 pm this Saturday (December 3rd) in Junction Plaza Park, and Mars Hill Church is inviting the community to its (indoor) tree lighting at 7 pm December 7th. (Added: Just got word the White Center tree lighting at 16th/Roxbury is set for December 11th.)
Tomorrow is Shop Late Thursday in The Junction (till 9 pm) – and there’s a bonus reason to stop at Knows Perfume (4536 California SW): A fundraising silent auction of wreaths and birdhouses. From proprietor Christen Cottam:
Come check out the amazing wreaths and birdhouses on display at Knows Perfume. All are up for auction, and the proceeds will go to the West Seattle Food Bank. If you see one you like, come in and place a bid. On Sunday, the 11th of December, the auction will conclude. Knows Perfume will then notify you to pay and pick up your winning item. What an excellent way to find something lovely for your home and do something kind for a great organization like the West Seattle Food Bank. Please contact Christen at Knows if you have any questions. (206) 397-3141
We’re adding this to the BE A HOLIDAY HELPER list on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events and Info page – we’ll keep adding as the season goes on (editor@westseattleblog.com if you have an event, donation drive, or something else holiday-related happening).
So far, one of the biggest West Seattle trends this holiday season is … Santa-mania! It’s Santa everywhere. And just added to the WSB West Seattle Holidays page tonight, the return of Santa Paws, 11 am-1 pm December 10th at Windermere West Seattle HQ in The Junction … the guy in the fur-trimmed hat is there for photos with your furry friend(s). That’s our newest listing in the “Santa Photos” section. We also have a link now to the schedule at CAPERS for the bearded St. Nick we’ll call “Ex-Westwood Santa” … plus you can get a Santa photo at the Community Pancake Breakfast with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds) this Saturday, 7 am-11 am (remember to bring your unwrapped Toys for Tots donation) … and the Santa listings we’ve had since the start of the season, daily at Westwood Village and the next three Sundays during Hometown Holidays in The Junction, are there too. And did you see Santa and Mrs. Claus wandering The Junction last Sunday?
(Photo courtesy David E. Perry)
They may be in the vicinity again this Sunday, we hear, perhaps even in the crowd during Saturday’s Junction Tree Lighting (5 pm, Junction Plaza Park). Then again, Santa is everywhere, anyway … has to be, to get all those presents delivered … More holiday events, info, everything, updated frequently, here (and if we’re missing YOUR holiday event, please share the news!).
Under the direction of Rob Duisberg, that’s the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Symphony Orchestra, rehearsing Bartok’s “Rumanian Folk Dances” last night in the auditorium at Chief Sealth International High School. Tonight, that’s where you will find them and the WSCO’s Flute Ensemble in concert, 7 pm. The program also includes works by Dukas, Grieg, Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens, Liszt, and “A Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson. The concert is free; a $5 donation is suggested (WSCO is a nonprofit all-volunteer community organization).
In the back yard of the Menashe Family home on Beach Drive SW, the familiar Christmas characters were ready this afternoon to march (or be marched) into their places out front. A rain-free day meant prime time for serious work on West Seattle’s most famous Christmas lights-and-more display:
Family and friends worked on decking the house, with ladders and the customary cherry-picker:
It’s the most festive work zone in West Seattle:
… with just about every Christmas character imaginable:
There’s a new feature this year – this big star:
Josh Menashe tells WSB that if all goes as planned, they will officially turn on the lights at 5 pm this Thursday (December 1st). There’s no cross-street near where they are, so this map is the best way to find them. P.S. The cable TV show that debuted last year featuring the Menashe Family display, “Invasion of the Christmas Lights 2,” will be shown again on TLC this season – it’s currently scheduled for this Saturday, December 3rd.
Driving through The Junction this morning, we noticed the crews out decking the storefronts with holiday greenery – so of course we had to stop for the photo op. It’s Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) time, with Shop Late Thursdays resuming this week, followed by the Junction Tree Lighting this Saturday night at Junction Plaza Park, also looking lovely in the sunshine:
The day after the tree is lit, it’s the first Hometown Holidays Sunday (December 4th), including Junction-presented Santa photos 11 am-3 pm at City Mouse Studio and Store (suggested $15 donation goes to local charities). But you don’t have to wait till the weekend, or even till Shop Late Thursday, to enter The Junction’s $3,500 Holiday Raffle:
Boxes like the one we found this morning at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) await you at more than 30 businesses throughout The Junction (listed here) – it’s free to enter. Meantime, the full Hometown Holidays schedule is here; West Seattle-wide holiday info (events, trees, Christmas ships, giving opportunities, more) is on the WSB Holidays page.
After tonight’s first show at what you can formally call “West Seattle Lights presents the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular,” that’s how the house looked with every light switched on. About 40 minutes early, the music-synched light show’s third season had kicked off – literally, with Seattle Sounders FC‘s Zach Scott kicking a goal instead of pulling a switch (followed by an appropriate, albeit non-Christmasy, song):
He signed autographs afterward:
But wait! Back to the lights. 60,000 of them this year – LEDs, which means not as much of an electricity drain as you might think. Jim Winder is again the mastermind, working on it for months before the actual lights start going up on the 3908 SW Charlestown home of his friends the Helmstetler Family. We stayed through the whole set tonight – enjoying songs both traditional and novelty, the latter including a Village People takeoff (“N-O-E-L” instead of “Y-M-C-A”) and this ’60s classic:
Full details about the show, the location, and more, are on its official website at westseattlelights.com. (This year they have a Facebook page and Twitter feed, too!) Bring a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank – the bin’s out front (as shown in our preview from last weekend) – and this weekend, they’re also collecting money for the Kingston Family ($ donations the rest of the season will go to the food bank and NW Parkinson’s Foundation) . Best place to watch the show is right across Charlestown in front of the water tower, but if you bring little ones, be sure to remind them to stay out of the street – it’s not blocked off for the show, and there can be a fair amount of traffic (as you’ll note in our clips). Here’s the schedule.
It’s the only Christmas tree lot in West Seattle where the trees get blessed. A few hours after the Holy Rosary School Tree Lot opened for the season this afternoon, we were there as Father John Madigan (with an assist by young Sam Lee) presided over the annual Blessing of the Trees:
In addition to supporting the school, 15 percent of the tree lot’s proceeds go toward four beneficiaries this year: West Seattle Food Bank, the Salvation Army‘s Hickman House domestic-violence shelter, and West Seattle Helpline, as usual, plus the Ed Kingston Memorial Fund. This is the lot’s second year on school property next to the playground (41st/Dakota); you can see the hours, and the merchandise, here. (A full roster of West Seattle tree sellers is on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events and Info page.)
The first offerings on display when we dropped by the Sustainable West Seattle-presented WS Barter Fair in the early going included these two tables abounding with art:
Your chance for a “money-free shopping spree” continues till 8 at Camp Long Lodge (5200 35th SW, right inside the gates); how it works is explained on the SWS website.
(Photo courtesy WSCC)
You have eight more days to register for what just might be the craziest – definitely the gingerbread-iest – holiday event in West Seattle, the “Extreme Makeover Gingerbread Challenge,” 5 pm December 11th in the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center (4400 42nd SW) – but you need to pre-register ASAP. The official announcement, in case you haven’t already seen this on the Holidays page:
Join what will undoubtedly be the largest gathering of questionable talent for an amazing holiday creative venture which, while certainly being memorable, will also be contributing to our effort to provide clean water to a village in El Salvador. The registration fee is only $20 per house which includes an assembled, but not yet decorated house, as well as a contribution to our well projects. There will be a general category as well as an open-class competition where the sky is the limit. Rules and registration form can be found at http://www.wsccwaterwells.org/events.html Deadline for registration: Sunday, December 4th, 6 pm.
The official poster/flyer can be seen here.
The day after Thanksgiving is the traditional start to Christmas tree season – and this was opening day for West Seattle’s newest tree lot, Son-In-Law Tree Farm, which West Seattle resident Greg Potts is operating on the north side of the ex-Charlestown Café parking lot. The name refers to the fact the trees come from the Silverton, Oregon, farm where his wife’s father grew the trees. And it’s the first tree lot we’ve ever seen with an icon:
The VW van with a tree on top is also featured on a T-shirt (left background) that they’re selling at the lot, where hand-blown glass ornaments (by Welch’s Glass) will be on sale starting tomorrow (Saturday), and Greg says part of the tree proceeds will go to the White Center Food Bank.
Another family operation now open for the season: Tony’s at 35th/Barton:
We stopped by today to check in with Joey Genzale, who runs the business founded by his dad (who’s been gone almost a year now). The trees offered at Tony’s include some things hard to find elsewhere – like height (up to 20 feet) and flocking.
Other tree notes, which you’ll find collected and updated throughout the season with a full list of local sellers on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events and Info page – Holy Rosary Tree Lot (by the school playground at 41st/Dakota again this year) opens tomorrow (Saturday) – here’s its official website – and West Seattle Produce has trees on the site it’s moving to right across Fauntleroy.
Here’s the latest on where to see, and get photos with, Santa Claus in West Seattle …
WESTWOOD VILLAGE: Santa arrived today at Westwood, in the decorated storefront on the breezeway east of Bed Bath and Beyond. Some changes this year, as noted here previously, following the shopping center’s ownership change: Santa is now at Westwood every day, instead of only on weekends – the schedule is here, and he’s there 10 am-8 pm Mondays-Saturdays, 11 am-6 pm Sundays, up till Christmas Eve (when he has to leave at 5 pm). The photographers are now from Arthur and Associates, a Seattle company whose roots trace all the way back to the famous Frederick and Nelson Santa photos downtown. Though the photos are no longer provided in exchange for a food-bank donation, there are two Salvation Army Giving Trees at Santa’s spot in Westwood, brimming with cards:
There’s also a coloring contest for kids – right there by the giving trees, in keeping with the penguin motif accompanying Santa.
SANTA AT CAPERS: As also previously reported here, the new Santa photographers at Westwood asked the center’s longtime Santa to work with them, but he decided not to (as explained here). We’re still getting questions about where to find him in West Seattle this holiday season – and today there’s new news: Lisa Myers at CAPERS in The Junction confirms he’ll be spending some time in her shop. Unless a professional photographer would like to donate her/his time (contact Lisa!), it’ll be do-it-yourself photos – Santa will be there, they’ll collect food-bank donations (preferably cash/checks, since as Lisa points out, food banks can buy more with wholesale/discount rates), and you can take your own photo(s). He’ll be there starting next Saturday and Sunday (December 3-4) and Fridays-Sundays after that. We’ll add the hours here shortly. And as mentioned in this story, he’ll be at Holy Rosary 9 am-noon on December 10th.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS SANTA IN THE JUNCTION: December 4, 11, and 18, the Santa who’s been making memories courtesy of Hometown Holidays in The Junction will be back, at City Mouse Studio and Store – professional photographs those first two Sundays, 11 am-3 pm, with a suggested donation of at least $15 going to West Seattle charities, and bring-your-own-camera photos on Dec. 18th, same hours (donations also suggested).
Shop local, shop handmade! The three-day holiday gift fair with Native American arts/crafts vendors at the Duwamish Longhouse is under way – with even more to choose from than last year (when weather was a bit problematic)! Above, Margie Morris (Tlingit) and Ron Alphonse (Cowichan) are back – we remember the stockings and angels, in particular, from last year. You’ll also find several jewelry artists, including White Bear:
Terrance Guardipee (Blackfeet)’s booth features his paintings:
And Feather Keepers by artist Dean Rowe offers beautiful wooden boxes:
If you haven’t been there, the Duwamish Longhouse is on the eastern edge of West Seattle, 4705 West Marginal Way SW (map). The gift fair runs till 5 today and again 10 am-5 pm tomorrow and Sunday.
(The Olympics, glowing in this morning’s light; thanks to Shannon for the photo!)
Today’s highlights are almost all holiday-related, with a few exceptions. From the WSB West Seattle Holidays page and Events calendar:
TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION CHANGES TODAY: No West Seattle Water Taxi service; Metro is on the “reduced weekday” schedule … P.S. Parking meters/pay stations in Seattle DO charge today, no holiday.
GOVERNMENT NOTES: Most government offices are closed. Seattle Public Library branches are open (if they’re usually open on Fridays); city-run community centers are closed.
HIGH TIDES: This is the so-called “king tide” time of year; next high tide is around 3:30 this afternoon, 12 feet. (Here’s the chart.)
PARADE DOWNTOWN: Chief Sealth International High School‘s marching band is part of the lineup for the Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown, which starts at 9 am (more info here)
LOCAL BLACK FRIDAY DEALS: See the West Seattle Holidays page for a sampling of what West Seattle brick-and-mortar businesses are offering.
GIFT FAIR AT THE LONGHOUSE: The Duwamish Tribe invites its West Seattle neighbors to its Longhouse Thanksgiving weekend for a Native Holiday Gift Fair today through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. It is a chance to buy directly from native artists and craft persons. There will be lots of holiday spirit and a big lighted tree. Unique gifts in every price range. Fine art, native crafts, regalia, cards, jewelry, t-shirts, coffee and more. Lots of snacks–frybread, baked goods, hot chocolate and more. Free admission and parking. 4705 W Marginal Way SW. More information at 206-431-1582 or duwamishtribe.org.
SANTA PHOTOS: Daily photos with Santa at Westwood Village (breezeway just east of Bed Bath Beyond). Carolers today, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, and each Saturday thereafter. Giving tree for the Salvation Army. Hours and Santas listed here.
CHRISTMAS TREE SALES: The new Charlestown/California lot opens today; more listed on the Holidays page.
BURLESQUE: Special Friday show tonight at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm (3308 Delridge Way SW)
LIVE MUSIC: Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm (5612 California SW) … Black Bangs performs live with special guest Kathleen Wheeler at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm (6451 California SW)
That’s Lee Bui, director of the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle, and daughter Lynda Bui. We photographed them late this morning at the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville – where a flock of volunteers from the Vietnamese community had come to provide both a feast …
… and flu shots (with the help of pharmacist Dr. Rosalie T. Nguyen)!
Lee Bui organized the huge Thanksgiving gift, explaining that every year, the center gets holiday solicitations for help, and usually donates money. But, he said, he drives by Nickelsville each day (taking his wife to work) – and after stopping to get a firsthand look, decided to organize something more meaningful this holiday season. (He says they’ll be back for Christmas, too.) The volunteers gathered under canopies for the operation; the only place to warm up was a campfire nearby:
The Vietnamese Cultural Center is in its sixth year of operation at 2236 SW Orchard just west of the Tug Inn, north of Home Depot; they’re open to the public for visits/tours noon-3 on Saturdays.
(P.S. A chance for you to help residents of Nickelsville is coming up on December 3, when Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights has organized a “stuff the bus” event – here’s our recent report with details.)
Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering‘s kitchen at The Hall at Fauntleroy is bustling right now – we dropped by to see the comings-and-goings shortly before they started serving their traditional catered free Thanksgiving dinner (everyone’s welcome, till 3 pm, 9131 California SW). In addition to T&TS team members, volunteers abound – including those sorting through donating clothing items that are available for anyone in attendance who needs them:
This is one of three free-dinner events in West Seattle extending an open invitation to anyone and everyone this afternoon – the West Seattle Eagles are serving a “Thanksgiving to Remember” at their aerie (4426 California SW), and Good News Christian Fellowship invites everyone to the free dinner they’re serving 1:30-5 pm at the St. James building, 9421 18th SW.
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