West Seattle, Washington
04 Wednesday
Tonight’s lights are both along SW Thistle:
The video is from Julianna, who wrote, “We’re ‘new’ to the neighborhood and have a decent display … hoping to improve each year! 27th & Thistle [vicinity map].”
And less than a mile west, Yolanda sent this double-deck photo of a sighting on SW Thistle near 37th [vicinity map]:
She wrote that while out on an errand, “I came upon this Christmas display, so cute for the littles.” She added, “Lots of other homes are off the hook this year!” We would agree with that – and thanks to everyone who keeps sending suggestions – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
See the season-long list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, and scroll through past photos here.
Tonight’s featured display is an annual favorite that just might be the longest-running one in West Seattle. Don Rice sent the photo of his display on 47th between Walker and Hill [vicinity map] and notes, “Charlie Brown and the gang have lived at this location for more than 40 years.” He added. for those who go to see it, there’s more to admire nearby: “If you head north from Admiral Way on 47th. there are 2+ blocks with lights. Merry Christmas to all!” We’re adding it to our list of lights in the West Seattle Holiday Guide; you can also scroll through our Christmas-lights archive to see every place we’ve featured. Got a suggestion, with or without a photo? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Sent from my iPhone
Thanks to Ron and Marie for tonight’s photo! This display is on 50th SW between Hudson and Edmunds [vicinity map]. Lots of friendly characters in the yard! Adding to the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide – thanks for the continued tips, with or without photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and see everyplace we’ve shown by scrolling through our archive.
If you travel on 35th SW, you might have noticed tonight’s spotlight display:
The photo is from the Fox family. Tony explains it’s a family collaboration: “Our 13-year-old (Maddox) does the design, my wife (Shari) does the organizing, and I do power-cords coordination and any high work on the roof.” They’re on 35th between Brandon and Dawson [map]. Thanks to the Foxes and everyone else who’s contributed to our Christmas-lights spotlights this season – more suggestions still welcome, with or without photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – see the season-long list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, and scroll through all the photos in our archive.
Tonight’s two featured displays are in south West Seattle:
FAUNTLEE HILLS: This was a recommendation from Ken Arkills, whose display was the first one we featured this season. It’s the Haugen residence at 40th/Donovan [map]. Look for the star. And look at all the neighbors whose homes are also lit for the season.
UPPER FAUNTLEROY: Not far away, at 9018 37th SW [map], here’s the Boling/Arbow home:
Barb sent the photo, adding, “Shout out to my husband – working all day & putting up Christmas lights at night!”
See all the lights we’ve shown here, and find the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Got one to suggest? westseattleblog@gmail.com, with or without a photo – thank you!
With Christmas now less than two weeks away, we’ll double up on featured light displays, while the supply lasts! Tonight, two from north West Seattle:
Above, Susan sent the photo from 51st and Stevens [map]. Below, Tim‘s photo was taken near Alki Avenue and Bonair [map]:
On Alki Avenue, by the way, many condo and apartment balconies are brightly lit, too, between California Way and the east end of the business district. Thanks again to everyone who has sent tips, with or without photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – the list of every place we’ve spotlighted is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide; you can also see them all by scrolling through our West Seattle Christmas Lights archive.
Here’s hoping Santa comes down the chimney with a Seahawks victory! Kalyn emailed to let us know about her home at 10727 25th SW [map]: “Showing our Seahawks love from the rooftop!” (Tomorrow, the Hawks play the winless Jets, 1 pm.) While in North Shorewood, we noticed some other nice lights further south on Kalyn’s street, as well as on 26th SW one block north (south of Barton). Thanks again to everyone who’s suggested lights and sent photos – starting tomorrow, we’ll be doubling up. Meantime, the list of what we’ve shown is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, and you can scroll through our archived coverage here.
Two weeks until Christmas, and we are continuing to showcase West Seattle lights displays nightly. Thanks to Wyatt for tonight’s photo, showing his corner display at 3729 40th SW [map]: “I love doing this every year, and this was a wild year; I wanted to start early and go bigger than ever! Thank you to everyone that has come by to enjoy, and all the wonderful compliments! Be sure to check out my neighbors as well! Happy Holidays!” So many bright and beautiful displays this year, we’re happy to be able to share some of them with you – and we’re still happy to get tips, with or without photos, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! The list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide includes what we’ve shown so far, and you can also scroll through our archive here.
Thanks to Nick for the photos – multiple recommendations have come in for this home in north Morgan Junction, on 42nd SW between Graham and Raymond [vicinity map].
Nick says this is only the second year that residents Kim and Gabe have been decorating, but they are continuing to add more daily.
Driving around looking at Christmas lights are one of the safe ways to celebrate this season – state health authorities even made a point of that in their briefing this week. So we are continuing to spotlight them nightly, and adding to the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide – you can scroll through the archives here, and if you have a suggestion, with or without a photo, email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to Marc for tonight’s photo, as we continue showcasing Christmas lights around West Seattle. At 6007 36th SW [map], this display features “an inflatable Santa, lit-up playhouse, and illuminated sidewalk.” We’re adding it to the lights/decorations section of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide; thanks to everyone who’s been sending suggestions, with or without photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – enjoy this season of light!
Tonight’s spotlighted Christmas lights are simple but powerful. Catherine sent the photo taken somewhere “near Lincoln Park” – as she notes, it’s a “message for the season.” (For the year, really.) Thanks to everyone who’s been sending tips, with or without photos, so we can continue featuring lights each night through Christmas (and maybe beyond) – westseattleblog@gmail.com.
Time for tonight’s West Seattle Christmas Lights spotlight. The photos are from Lina Rose, who’s in High Point on SW Holly – of course! – between Sylvan and 31st [map]. She tells us, “Our block is off the hook this year! Most houses have great displays. It’s brought a lot of joy for us and our neighbors who walk by to enjoy.” So you’re invited to come look, too.
We’re adding Lina’s block to the growing list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Thanks to everybody who’s sent tips, with or without, photos, so far; westseattleblog@gmail.com is how to let us know about your lights, or lights you’ve seen. To see what we’ve already featured, visit the Holiday Guide or scroll through our archive, here.
Tonight we spotlight another block with many decorated homes – 30th SW between SW Barton and SW Roxbury [map].
We spotted this block one recent night even before getting a note from Christina, who explains that one particular neighbor is the inspiration – “a 94-year-old man who does this (every) year and has the whole neighborhood join in!” We’re adding it to the ongoing list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide; if you have a tip for our nightly spotlight, whether one house/apartment or an entire block, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to skywatching expert Alice Enevoldsen for tonight’s photos of a starry show here on Earth! She reports spotting this gleaming display on 48th SW between Hinds and Spokane [vicinity map].
We’re adding it to the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Thanks to everyone who’s sent suggestions so far, with or without photo(s) – we’re showing lights nightly through Christmas – more suggestions welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Austin Street Lights is back. Mark Bader sent the video, photo, and an invitation to come enjoy the music-synched show:
Our Christmas light display on Austin Street is up and running! This will be our 5th year with our lights set to music. We enjoy putting this together each year, and hopefully this helps put a smile on your face during these difficult times.
The best way for you to experience the lights is from your car – tune your radio to 99.5 and listen to a number of songs synchronized to the lights. Please be respectful of the neighbors and of course, if you feel the need to dance in the street, make sure you social-distance.
The songs will play from 4 pm to 10 pm through New Year’s Day. We are easy to find, on SW Austin Street and 37th Ave SW [map], at the top of Gatewood hill.
This might be West Seattle’s only music-synched light show this year, since West Seattle Lights is no more and West Seattle Yuletide is taking a pandemic break. We’re adding it to the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide and welcome suggested additions, with or without photos/video – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
This year’s mini-display at the Menashe Family‘s home (5605 Beach Drive SW) would qualify as maxi at any other house, but if you are familiar with their usual all-out display, you know these are lights-lite. As we reported last week, the family decided to lighten the display this year so as not to draw crowds and put people at risk of spreading COVID. But they didn’t want to go entirely light-free, so the family put up these decorations last weekend. We stopped by and talked with Josh and Jack Menashe:
They said the family talked about it for two months before deciding to have some decorations up. They stress that you’re welcome to come look but please do it from your car.
They’re hopeful that next year, they’ll be able to go back to the big display they’re known for.
Got lights to recommend for our spotlight? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Christmas light displays don’t have to be big and bright to be memorable. Here’s proof. Tonight’s spotlight is a photo sent by Sarah, showing her family’s display on Puget Ridge: “We put up festive holiday lights that look like our dog – corner of 17th Ave SW and Graham.” Here’s a map. We’re adding this to the lights list in our WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Got someplace to suggest? Email or text us – with or without a photo – westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Our West Seattle Christmas lights spotlights continue, starting earlier than usual this year because we need a little extra brightening these days: Out looking for lights tonight, we noticed that well-decorated house at Walnut/Hinds [map]. What we also noticed after stopping for a photo – many neighbors on that block of Walnut, south of Hinds, have lots of lights up already too. So we’re adding it to the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide – we welcome tips, with or without photos = westseattleblog@gmail.com – your own lights or someone else’s – thank you!
(WSB photos)
It’s our second night of showcasing West Seattle Christmas lights this season. Thanks to the Baber Family for emailing to let us know their display is up and running in Admiral, west side of the 2700 block of 45th SW [vicinity map], just west of PCC:
They explain they “wanted to try and place some holiday spirit out for everyone! We have yard holiday decorations that are already in place through January 1st. Lights and a large amount of inflatable characters. Yard is on from 4:30 pm-11:00 pm daily. Please be careful and safe! If outside, six feet is required and must be wearing a mask.”
We noticed again tonight on the way to and from photographing this display, lots of lights are up already – if you want to recommend yours, or someone else’s, for our nightly feature and Holiday Guide (where we’re keeping a running list, or you can scroll through this archive), just email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – photo(s) welcome but not required, as we’re planning to be out nightly with our camera.
(WSB photos)
As noted in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, we’re spotlighting lights again this year. We noticed while out this evening that many have theirs up already – from houses’ yards to apartments’ balconies – not surprisingly (today’s dry weather might have helped). We’ve already received a few spotlight suggestions, including this announcement from Ken Arkills:
“The Arkills home on the corner of 39th Ave SW and SW Trenton in Fauntlee Hills is in full display mode. The response from the children and parents and those walking and driving by has been incredible and has touched our hearts as we see their smiles and hear their words of appreciation during such difficult times. With all the challenges in 2020. we knew we had to turn up the electricity here and deliver for our Community. … We are on a corner off the beaten path and folks are able to walk or drive by and enjoy the display from many vantage points and still maintain social distancing and they do.”
Lots of cheery characters – some animation, too. Here’s a map.
If you have – or know of – decorations/lights to share, let us know! Photos welcome but not required; we’ll be out with our camera many nights. westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As Thanksgiving approaches, so does Christmas-lights season. But as with so many things, the pandemic has changed plans.
(WSB photo, 2019)
MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: Usually by now, installation would be well under way at the Menashe Family‘s legendary display on Beach Drive SW. But after driving by a few times in recent days and noting the absence of the requisite bucket truck, we called the family’s shop today to inquire. Josh Menashe tells us they’ve decided to scale way back this year, for obvious reasons – anything that draws a crowd (or requires many helpers to install) is dangerous right now. (And they’ve already been through one COVID-19 scare.) They’ll put up a small amount of decorations this weekend, he told us, but nothing like the usual all-out light show. And after that, if you do go by for a look, the family implores you, please keep moving – don’t get out of your car (or off your bike).
WEST SEATTLE YULETIDE: Ken and Cora Iverson have canceled this annual animated-lights show northeast of The Junction:
It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing that West Seattle Yuletide will be cancelling our Yule light
show for 2020. We had hoped to host a limited display but with the recent increase in cases and the associated increases in restrictions, we feel that we can’t justify the risks involved in attracting crowds. The last thing we would want is to be the reason people, especially the local children getting sick.It’s been a terrible year but we are hopeful that things will change next year and hope to return with a 2021 show. Be safe and stay healthy.
P.S. We’ll be featuring home decorations as we did during Halloween season – info welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The candy-cane-striped tree is one of the highlights of this year’s Menashe Family Lights display. Several people have messaged us to ask how long the display stays up for viewing, so we checked with the family today. Answer: Through January 6th. (The display, which has been on since the day after Thanksgiving, is at 5605 Beach Drive SW.)
We wrap up this year’s series of Christmas-lights spotlights with a Christmas greeting on a roof. This house is in view once you start heading west on SW Stevens from California. It’s also the house that transformed into haunted “Meeds Manor” two months ago for Halloween. Thanks again for all the tips this season – see our past spotlights by scrolling through our archive.
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