West Seattle, Washington
21 Friday
(WSB video from the light show’s opening night on November 27th)
The traditional 12 Days of Christmas are almost over. And here’s one last bit of holiday news. Jim Winder from the Helmstetler Family Spectacular light show by the Charlestown water tower – westseattlelights.com – has sent an update on this year’s fundraising, and a request before the holidays get too far in your rear-view mirror. First, the update:
The fantastic people of our West Seattle Community (and beyond) gave the following:
West Seattle Food Bank: $431.00 and 1066 lbs of Food
Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation – $381.00
Pushing Boundaries – $391.00
Brian Teachout – $500.00
And now, Jim’s request – he’s looking for video and photos you might be able to share, as part of something he’s putting together for next year:
I would like to gather up two things:
1) Pictures/videos of dads playing Santa Claus … of course the funnier the better!!
2) Pictures/videos of kids getting their pictures taken sitting on Santa’s lap…would even love some black and white pics from yesteryear…
They can send them to me at pics@westseattlelights.com.
And Jim promises he’ll have video from this year’s spectacular show up soon. Things just got busy.
99+ percent of the hundreds of people who crowded West Seattle’s downtown-facing shore on New Year’s Eve were there to watch the fireworks. And then – there was the Marker Buoy Dive Club. For the first time in a few years, club members arranged an underwater champagne toast in the popular diving spot Cove 2 off Seacrest Park. As a former club president, Paul Riggs, explained, “We have done this in the past, but not the last couple of years as the tides have not been favorable for the event, entering at Seacrest Park at extreme low tide at night with 80+ pounds of gear is tricky.” The club set up a tent outside Alki Crab and Fish at the pier and arranged a video feed into the tent so the celebration could be viewed without going underwater. They also planned to put it all together as a video for YouTube – and the results, above, have just been published. The underwater action starts in the fourth minute; it’s interspersed with the Space Needle fireworks a bit later in the video. If you don’t make it to the credits at the end – Jim McGauhey put together the video; he and Randy Williams were also the underwater photographers. Meantime, Paul tells us the next big event at Cove 2 is on January 15th, as part of the Seattle Aquarium‘s octopus census.
We noticed “West Seattle Christmas tree recycling” is the most popular Google query pointing people to WSB this afternoon, so we’ll repeat the information we published last weekend: If you’re deciding what to do with your tree now that the holiday season is ending (yes, we know, the Epiphany is yet to come), you have three main options here. First, curbside pickup continues through January 9th, as long as you follow the city rules (and if you live in a multifamily building, your rules may vary). Second, you can take it to the transfer station, slightly different rules. Third, you can take it to the Rainbow Girls‘ fundraising tree dropoff event one week from today, 9 am-2 pm Saturday, January 8, in The Junction – details here, along with one bonus: How to recycle your old holiday lights, working or not!
That scene requires a slight amendment to a classic line, so let’s just say: “Elvis has left the water.” The King was part of the sizable crowd – more than 100 – who dove right into 2011 with the West Seattle/White Center Polar Bear Swim about half an hour ago at Alki. Most were in and out in a matter of seconds, as our video shows:
For some, it was a party:
And for some, a victory:
The water was warmer than the air, which was still just before freezing when the “swimmers” took the plunge at 10 am.
Hello again, and happy 2011. Some of the basics for this holiday Saturday – Metro‘s on a Sunday schedule. No mail; banks are closed; no trash pickup, and the transfer station’s closed; city libraries are closed; these parks facilities are closed. As for coffee/grocery stores/restaurants: Please note that what follows is NOT the same type of list we published for Thanksgiving and Christmas – for this holiday, rather than call every establishment in West Seattle to find out their plans, we tried an online experiment, checking businesses’ websites, Facebook pages, and/or Twitter accounts (and any other online sources). Many did not have easily findable “holiday hours” info online, but here’s what we did turn up (certainly others are open, and if you know of any firsthand, please comment or let us know and we’ll add):Read More
Driving along Harbor Avenue just before the Space Needle fireworks at midnight, we noticed how many photographers were interspersed with spectators – and we have a few of their views to share. Above, a time-lapse from David Rosen of SlickPix Photography; next, one of the views provided by Cheryl Nellis of Cnellis Photography:
Last but not least, this is just for fun … Junior Member of the Team wielded the camera for the first five minutes of 2011 at Seacrest, while we idled the car in Harbor Avenue traffic (note to self, if deciding to watch fireworks from Seacrest, go get spot early). Some fireworks, some revelry, some cheering, shaky but if you like slice of life, here you go:
Happy 2011!
“We’re gonna let the neighbors know it’s New Year’s Eve!” With that promise from Highland Park Action Committee chair Dan Mullins, this year’s Not-So-Silent-Night Parade strolled across SW Holden and onto a winding mile-long loop route. Not quite the same route as the first-ever version last year – not the same weather as last year, either; it was rainy then, but this time, clear and cold, with ice patches like this one in the street (luckily everybody kept to the sidewalks):
Neighbors along the way called out “Happy New Year!” to greet the parade:
And at the end, like 2009 – after Mullins exhorted everyone to “give yourselves a hand!” – a brief fire ceremony offered a chance to tell the old year goodbye:
What burned? Neighborhood greenery, predominantly rosemary like last year, “maybe some thyme,” we heard somebody say. And then, the 60-plus participants were invited inside for cookies, cider, and a jovial 4-plus-hour start on 2011.
(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
On New Year’s Eve, every new hour brings the new year somewhere in the world. At Providence Mount St. Vincent this afternoon, residents, staffers, and volunteers were probably the first in West Seattle to ring in 2011; they did it on Parisian time – 3 pm Seattle time. The party included a prize wheel, and the winners included resident Melly (top photo). Another big feature – karaoke, with volunteer Mike Fox belting out a lively version of the French song “Louise“:
Other popular numbers included “Dust in the Wind” and “Hallelujah“:
Most government offices are closed today; city libraries close at 6 pm. Metro remains on a “reduced weekday” schedule. Trash (etc.) pickup is on a regular schedule today, but not tomorrow. Mail is delivered today but not tomorrow. Banks are open today but not tomorrow.
Been outside tonight? All we can say is, brrrr. It’s in the 20s and the car tops were icing over by 9 pm. On the other hand, great stargazing. And according to the National Weather Service, this is what you can expect tomorrow night, too – so if you’ll be outside watching the Space Needle fireworks from West Seattle shores, or anyplace else outdoors, make sure your NYE fashion choice includes major insulation. (And if you’re still looking around to see what’s happening, remember our list – ranging from bar parties to church services.)
ADDED 12:15 AM: Our partners at the Seattle Times have published a preview with some behind-the-scenes info about the eight-minute Needle fireworks.
(New Year’s Eve 2009 photo, courtesy of Jillian)
Just wanted to note, with two days to go, that you can find a list of West Seattle New Year’s Eve/Day events on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page – not just restaurant/bar events, but also everything from New Year’s Eve bowling to the Highland Park parade to the Polar Bear Swim. Know of an event that’s not on the page? Please let us know so we can add it – thanks!
Today’s a little too blustery to haul your tree out to the curb, but in case you’re thinking ahead to the post-Christmas cleanup, here are your options for tree recycling, from the West Seattle Holidays page – plus an opportunity to recycle old holiday lights, too:
FREE TREE RECYCLING VIA THE CITY: For Seattle Public Utilities solid-waste customers, they’ll pick up ornament-free/flocking-free trees curbside on your regular collection day provided you follow the rules, or you can take yours to the transfer station in South Park (slightly different rules), both options available through January 9th – full details/rules here. (If you live in a multifamily building, your recycling rules may vary, so check with management if applicable.)
TREE-RECYCLING FUNDRAISER: If you want to drop off your tree without leaving West Seattle, but with the knowledge it’s helping a local youth organization, here’s an alternative. On January 8th from 9 am-2 pm, the West Seattle Rainbow Girls will be collecting trees in the lot outside the Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction, 40th/Edmunds, $5 suggested donation.
RECYCLING YOUR OLD HOLIDAY LIGHTS: West Seattle-based Fleming’s Holiday Lighting is collecting used (or unused/unwanted) holiday lights through mid-January to raise money for the Moyer Foundation. This is a regional effort with three local dropoff spots are Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village, The Artistic Framers, and McLendon Hardware in White Center.
Last night, we mentioned today’s “Boxing Day” sale at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (with Market Bucks available at the info booth while they last), which continues till 2. Here’s what else we’ve found regarding after-Christmas sales around West Seattle and vicinity. First, from WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping Guide sponsors:
*Funky Jane’s Consignment: 25% off everything in the store, through January 2
*Wyatt’s Jewelers: $25 off in-store purchase with WSB Holiday Shopping Guide coupon, good through this Friday (12/31)
*TouchTech Systems: Also through Friday, $50 off MSRP for MacBooks
*Budget Cuts: 12 prepaid haircuts for $99 – deal available through Friday
(Also from the guide, salons Illusions Hair Design and Envy on Alki have New Year’s Eve hours in case you need last-minute pre-party hair help.)
Other sales we’ve found:
*West Seattle Fabric Company (per Facebook): Noon-4 pm Sunday, 30% off all holiday flannels, cottons and Minky.
*CAPERS (per website): 11 am-5 pm Sunday, ornaments half-price
*West Seattle Cellars (per promotional e-mail): Starts noon today, runs through Friday. 15% off everything (20% for club members).
*Many Moons Trading Company (per Facebook group mail): Noon-5 pm Sunday, 50% off
*3.14 Bakery in White Center (via Twitter): All frosted Christmas Cookies 50% off today and Monday.
(added 3:11 pm) West Seattle Nursery (via Twitter): All Christmas merchandise 50% off “while supplies last.”
Having an after-Christmas sale, or know of one, not already mentioned here? Add a comment or e-mail us – thanks!
While things are quiet on this Christmas Day, another set of West Seattle holiday scenes we’ve been saving up – photos from a gingerbread-house-making event at West Seattle Christian Church earlier this month.
We shot most of our photos at kid’s-eye level, but builders of all ages participated. The result here was described as “gingerbread house after an earthquake”:
The next one might qualify for the label “gingerbread doghouse”:
Some builders eschewed the “house” shape altogether:
But there’s also beauty in tradition:
Thanks to WSCC and EVERYONE around West Seattle who has sponsored fun holiday events, including many that doubled as charity fundraisers/donation drives, for the community this season (many of which we were honored to feature on our West Seattle Holidays page, which is now down to today and New Year’s Eve/Day – please let us know if you are having a public New Year’s event that’s not on the page yet).
(Taken in The Junction by smohundro, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Merry Christmas!
We’ve updated the “who’s open for groceries/coffee/dining & drinks” list to winnow it down to just the businesses open today – including 9 coffee shops and more than a dozen places to get food. See the list here.
Metro’s on a Sunday schedule today; details here.
Looking for a Christmas Day church service in West Seattle? Check here.
Thinking about driving around to look at lights tonight? The schedule for the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular (the music-synched lights at 3908 SW Charlestown) is here.
And if you’re mulling a movie – Admiral Theater opens at 4 this afternoon (movie listings/schedule here).
(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
As promised, a few more of the West Seattle business windows painted with holiday scenes – seemed to us like there were more than usual this year, so we thought it would be fun to showcase some on Christmas Eve/Day; we showed the Talarico’s tribute to Bob Ross earlier. In this roundup, the top and below photo are from the display that’s generated the most buzz in The Junction – Puerto Vallarta‘s fun-loving, thong-sporting holiday entourage:
Those are by Sign Savant, Japhy Witte with Z. Rockstad; SS also painted the tamer scenes at West Seattle Coins and Courtesy Tire:
At Northwest Art and Frame, a rare non-Sign Savant window creation. This one’s by TJ Swier of TJ Grafix:
We’re planning to show a few more windows tomorrow.
This e-card from Seal Sitters was sent with holiday wishes for all WSB’ers as well as those of us here at HQ, so of course we have to share! You can keep up with Seal Sitters year-round here. (Reminder, if you’re looking for Christmas Eve dinner/drinks/groceries, check here; for church services, check here.)
After noticing so many festively painted store windows in West Seattle, particularly in The Junction, we asked WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen to photograph some of them for us to feature Christmas Eve/Day. We’ll publish a few installments tonight/tomorrow but this one kicks it off – the Bob Ross tribute in the windows at Talarico’s, by Sign Savant‘s Japhy Witte and Z. (Zach) Rockstad (who painted the vast majority of what we spotted). P.S. If you don’t remember Bob Ross – think public TV, painting, gentle voice, big hair. A closer look at some of the scenes:
No Bob in this one, but it’s cute just the same.
More holiday window art later!
(3 Wise Penguins? Window @ Curious Kidstuff; WSB photo by Ellen Cedergreen)
Whether you are celebrating or not, we hope some of this information will be helpful:
*West Seattle restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores open Christmas Eve and/or Day
*West Seattle Christmas Eve/Day church services (list is atop the Holidays page)
*Metro and Water Taxi changes for the holidays (through New Year’s)
*Seattle Parks facilities info for the holidays
*State liquor-store hours
If you are doing last-minute gift shopping, most if not all of your West Seattle shops are there for you today at least into the afternoon. Many of our Holiday Shopping Guide participants (24 local businesses) have today’s hours listed already; local businesses are also welcome to add a comment here with today’s plan. We also have a directory of ongoing sponsors, with links to websites and Facebook pages, here. (And thanks to Bartell Drugs for sending a tweet that they’re open till 9 pm in Admiral today.) … Looks like ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) has some tickets left for the final “A Tuna Christmas” show at 5 pm today. … And if you’re planning on going out for a beverage – this is the final day for Christmas Cocktails, with six local bars/lounges contributing $1 to charity for each purchase of a special drink that’s part of the promotion. … Need wrapping help? There’s one more round of fundraising gift-wrapping to help local animal-advocacy groups – 2-7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub in Morgan Junction.
It’s the little things. Earlier, the tale of the candy cane; tonight, a tale of greenery, from Jamie and Chelsea:
My wife and I were walking back to our Morgan Junction home from buying half-off garlands tonight at West Seattle Nursery, and in front of the [frame shop] and tae kwon do studio near Juneau, this nice woman appeared out of nowhere and asked if we wanted her spare wreath. Apparently she had an extra and since we were already loaded up with holiday spirit i.e. garlands she must have thought we needed more!
Thanks to this nice woman, and happy holidays to West Seattle!
That’s part of our video from last New Year’s Eve, when Highland Park neighbors launched a new holiday tradition, the “Not-So-Silent Night Parade” (more WSB coverage here). Tonight, there’s word from Highland Park Action Committee chair Dan Mullins that they’re doing it again:
If you want to have some fun this New Year’s Eve, Highland Park is the place to be! Bang on a drum or shake your tambourine as you travel along with the second annual “Not So Silent Night Parade.” March along with us on a 20-30 minute trip through Highland Park, making just enough noise to remind our neighbors that it’s New Year’s Eve.
Afterward, they’re planning more festivities in the parking lot (same as last year), as well as hot cider and cookies. It’ll all start and end at the Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden; map), meet at 6:45 pm, parade starts at 7 and will last about half an hour. Also from the announcement:
Dress warm ’cause we are going, rain or moon-shine, and you may want to bring a flashlight and an umbrella! (or even better a flashlight taped inside an umbrella, so it glows!) Bring the kids in their strollers and your friendly dogs on their leashes.
They’re also recruiting volunteers to help direct traffic along the way – if you can volunteer to be a crossing guard, e-mail Dan at chair09@highlandpk.net.
Forget the mall – your last-minute holiday shopping can stay right here in West Seattle. Many stores are open on Christmas Eve, and right now, many of the shops in The Junction are open till 9 tonight for one last “Shop Late Thursday.” We checked on a few WSB Holiday Shopping Guide participants – you can get your art on at Twilight Artist Collective (4306 SW Alaska), above, or the sweet smell of gift-giving from knows perfume (4536 California SW):
We found Frances Smersh with some of the jewelry – they carry her creations as well as others – at the shop she and husband John recently relocated to The Junction (4540 California SW), Click! Design That Fits, which is open 11 am-3 pm on Christmas Eve:
Shoes? Handbags? Clementine is one option – that’s where we found Lisa:
And a few doors east, Angela is helping shoppers at Funky Jane’s Consignment (4455 California SW):
It’s not just Christmas Eve-Eve – December 23rd is also the date for Festivus, a cantankerous winter anti-holiday spun off from the classic comedy TV show “Seinfeld.” If you’ve been to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in recent weeks, you’ve probably seen the Festivus pole, maybe even written a note for the “Airing of Grievances” which is part of the … event. Hotwire proprietor Lora proclaimed 10 am this morning as the time to come “celebrate” Festivus at her shop in The Junction (where they’ve also been collecting donations for pets – “Festivus for the pets of us”). Christopher Boffoli was there on behalf of WSB, and you can see his video above. (Don’t miss Dharma the dog, midway through!)
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