(UPDATED 9:13 PM with 15 more photos, including 3 more aerials!)

(Aerial views of Pirates’ Landing by Long Bach Nguyen; click each photo to see a larger image)
The Seafair Pirates have landed!

(That photo and next 2 are by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
More than anything, their annual Alki arrival is about the kids. And the photo ops. And more kids.

And the occasional politician.

LOTS more photos and video to come, of course. And though a cloudburst has dampened things post-landing, the beach festivities are scheduled to continue for a few more hours – the sun might just make a comeback.

P.S. Before they landed, the pirates tell us, they took time to remember last year’s Captain Kidd, the late Rusty Harper, with a wreath thrown toward the briny deep of Puget Sound.

ADDED 3:01 PM: Thanks to Alki photographer David Hutchinson for the next three views of the Pirates’ boisterous beach approach:

Still adding more. The Pirates will be back in West Seattle for the Grand Parade on July 19th, by the way … if not sooner.

ADDED 9:13 PM: So much more to see. Here’s the crowd on the ground:

(That photo and others from here are by WSB’s Patrick Sand unless otherwise credited)
Here’s another view from the sky:

(Photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
Even with all those people, there were some singular moments – like this pirate fan who wanted to be first out in the water to greet them:

Others were more content to sit and wait … and sit some more:

The clouds menaced:

One pirate was ready:

Another just stuck with the sword:

And then there were some modern, uh, weapons:

Back up on stage, was this the key to the city?

Or maybe the ignition key for Moby Duck?

All over the beach, people were making new friends, like this possible future Hi-Yu candidate who posed with royalty:

This one too:

All the while, the battle for Alki raged … we think:

Some watched from a distance:

(That photo and next by Long Bach Nguyen)
And one last look at that crowd – note the pole-vaulting east of Alki Bathhouse:

Tomorrow, the Pirates will be part of the Pride Parade downtown.

On the eve of thousands converging on Alki for the Seafair Pirates’ Landing tomorrow, here are all the details we’ve been able to pull from the briny deep:

WHEN DO THE SEAFAIR PIRATES LAND ON ALKI? Common question today. In fact, some of them landed this morning. Erik Walum shared the photo – they said they were doing a “TV spot.” Tomorrow, they’re back for the official landing, and we have these details so far:

*As it says on the Pirates’ website, they’re expected ashore at Alki between 11:30-12:30 (we tend to tell people, better to be earlier than later, so we’d advise an 11-ish arrival).

*The new Captain Kidd (Marvin Davis) will take command, with a knighting ceremony, pirate songs, etc., on the main stage by the bathhouse

*Also onstage before and after the ceremonies, 10 am-2 pm, live music with local bands including Side Project

*Beer garden on the beach, 10 am-4 pm

*Pirate Costume Contest/Pirate Lookalike Contest for kids

*Booths/vendors with food, toys, clothing, jewelry, art

*Royalty: 2013-2014 Miss Seafair Rio Barber, the Seafair princesses, West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty

*Mayor Murray is expected there at noon, per his official schedule

And while it’s not an official part of the Pirates’ Landing, yes, the 19th annual Alki Swashbuckler pole-vaulting competition will be happening on the beach too. See you there!

Festival infolinks: Music schedule * Food * Pet parade/contests * Vendors * Nonprofits

(Early pan of part of the vendor zone)
The 9th annual Morgan Junction Community Festival, presented by the Morgan Community Association, is under way! Live music, dozens of vendors, food – Bubbleman is performing at 11:30 am in Morgan Junction Park; the Bark of Morgan pet parade (and contests) is coming up at 2 pm; just head for California/Fauntleroy. We’re in the vendor zone behind Feedback Lounge and Zeeks Pizza (both WSB sponsors). Vendors are here until 5, musicians until 7.

11:52 AM: Bubbleman’s delighting the kids in the park right now:

He creates his bubbly experiences with a variety of implements:

More to come – we’ll continue updating “live.”

12:46 PM: Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske promised he’d have officers on bikes at summer events and hotspots for gatherings – we’ve just spotted two at the festival:

Up to a dozen SW Precinct officers are being equipped with bikes so they can ride in the spots where they make sense – like this. Meantime, it’s lunchtime – go over to West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), where today’s benefit barbecue is raising money to support the festival:

That’s Michele, grilling pineapple because today’s barbecue theme is ALOHA! Back alongside Morgan Junction Park, chalk art welcomes the season:

1:41 PM: Some dogs are already set for the Bark of Morgan parade and contests coming up at 2 pm:

That’s Sunny, who happens to belong to the Higuera family from Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) – their booth here at the festival is almost directly across from ours again this year, next to City Dog Magazine (West Seattleite-founded and operated) and next to them, Furry Faces Foundation, with Madrid Frame holding down the north edge of this part of the festival. Back to the food:

Those are two of the three trucks in the Washington Federal parking lot on the northeast corner of Fauntleroy/California – Hungry Me and Fez – also there, Curb Jumper Street Eats (which has tweeted it’s here until 6).

2:21 PM: The festival has gone to the dogs! Here’s a quick Instagram clip of the Bark of Morgan parade as a placeholder until official video later. (Added – our “official” clip, as promised):

Excellent turnout – more than last year – and definitely more than the first year in 2012, when the Bark of Morgan was dampened by a downpour that cut the festival short. No weather trouble this year – everyone is delighted with the sunshine and just-right temps.

3:24 PM: If you haven’t come down yet – vendors and nonprofits will be breaking down their booths/tables after 5, so come see us all by then. If you see Seal Sitters in the park, for example, you might just get a sticker:

Go see Seal Sitters in the park at #morganfestival and get an adorable sticker pic.twitter.com/NjtRApy3Oh

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 21, 2014

Right now on the stage in the park, the Tongan Church performers are onstage, with dancing and music. (added) Video:

4:41 PM: While the music continues until about 7, the vendor zone is about to fold up. We have a few more photos of some of the people who’ve been here talking with festivalgoers all day – for starters, the West Seattle Food Bank team:

7:42 PM: Adding more images inline and also here as a postscript, starting with a video clip shared by Clay Eals, executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which had a booth at the festival. He talked with two young volunteers, both of whom just finished seventh grade at Madison Middle School, Adele Arutunian (left) and Sofie Phillips:

Clay says the girls “participated in our ‘Telling Our Westside Stories’ interviewing project over the past year and today completed their first volunteer stint, working our booth at the
Morgan Junction Festival for three hours.” P.S. SWSHS has a big event tomorrow (Sunday) – touring the Gatewood Bed & Breakfast; details here.

By this time tomorrow, this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival will be well under way in and around Morgan Junction Park (where we photographed the banner you see above) – ~10:15 am-7 pm. We have one more preview today – first, to recap, what we’ve already published:

*Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests
*Music/live entertainment (including Bubbleman)
*Food (including Bite of Morgan samples and on-site food trucks)
*Nonprofits who will be there at booths/tables to meet you

Today – the rest of the three-dozen-plus organizations and businesses (including us!) you’ll see at the festival. First, the nonprofits/schools you’ll see there – a great chance to find out more about what they do beyond the events and meetings we feature here (we’ve linked their websites to their names below, if you want to check them out ahead of time)

*Madrid Frame
*City Dog Magazine
*Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor)
*Pink Gorilla Games
*USTA Family Friendly Tennis (WSB sponsor)
*Eco Beauty Salon Spa
*Queen Beads
*Full Tilt Ice Cream (celebrating its 6th anniversary today!)
*West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor)
*Luna Azul Tie Dyes
*Penguina Designs
*Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor)
*Second Gear Sports
*Roxbury Spine and Wellness Clinic
*Nepenthe Massage
*Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor)
*Pathway Design and Construction
*Rain Fantasies
*Buttons & Beads
*Super Supplements
*Hands to Paws
*Senorita Wears
*Gretchen at HandiStor
*Ginger Jewelry Designs
*West Seattle Natural Energy
*Melissa Zander

The festival venues are at three of the four corners of California/Fauntleroy (all but the southwest corner) plus Morgan Junction Park on the west side of California just a bit north. As a festival co-sponsor, we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

We’re continuing the countdown to Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, in and around Morgan Junction Park. We’ve already published info about:

*Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests
*Music/live entertainment (including Bubbleman)
*Food (including Bite of Morgan samples and on-site food trucks)

Today – we start a two-day look at the three-dozen-plus organizations and businesses (including us!) you’ll see tabling/boothing at the Morgan festival. First, the nonprofits/schools you’ll see there – a great chance to find out more about what they do beyond the events and meetings we feature here (we’ve linked their websites to their names below, if you want to check them out ahead of time)

*34th District Democrats
*Emergency Preparedness: Community Hubs
*Feet First
*Friends of Morgan Junction Parks
*Furry Faces Foundation
*Morgan Community Association (festival organizers/presenters!)
*Seal Sitters
*South Seattle College
*Southwest Seattle Historical Society
*The Kenney
*Timebanks
*West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network
*West Seattle Food Bank
*West Seattle Garden Tour

Tomorrow – the rest of the “vendors” list, mostly local businesses. So go for the community information, go for the food, go for the fun, just get to California/Fauntleroy (the festival venues are in the parking lot of Zeeks Pizza/Feedback Lounge right at the corner, Morgan Junction Park to the north on California, and Washington Federal on the east side of California, plus the benefit barbecue at West Seattle Thriftway) – 10:30 am-7 pm (if you want to check out vendors, don’t wait till the last minute, as some start clearing out after 5).

In our tradition of disclosure: WSB sponsors mentioned in this story are South Seattle College, The Kenney, West Seattle Thriftway, Feedback Lounge, Zeeks Pizza.

Forecast looks good for Saturday, when you’ll find the ninth annual Morgan Junction Community Festival at and around California/Fauntleroy/Morgan, 10 am-7 pm. We’ve already highlighted the Bark of Morgan dog parade/contests, starting at 2 pm, and the food, including local restaurants’ Bite of Morgan samples and visiting food trucks. Today, the entertainment schedule for the heart of the festival at Morgan Junction Park:

The festival is presented by the all-volunteer Morgan Community Association, and we’re proud to be among the co-sponsors (all shown here) again this year.

(WSB file photo)
Next major summer festival in West Seattle is just six days away – the 9th annual Morgan Junction Community Festival, with activities, performances, booths, and mobile vendors spread around the California/Fauntleroy intersection. It’s organized and presented by the Morgan Community Association, an all-volunteer community council, with sponsors including WSB. We’ve already shared previews including the schedule for the Bark of Morgan dog parade and contests; now, MoCA’s Cindi Barker has shared the lineup for festival food, including the Bite of Morgan:

Bite of Morgan Participants – free small samples provided by our fabulous
Morgan Junction restaurants (11:30 am until supplies run out):

* Caffé Ladro (mini scones)
* Domino’s Pizza (8 piece Parmesan bread bits)
* The Bridge (chocolate-covered strawberries)
* Harry’s Chicken Joint (chicken skewer)
* Little Prague (Hungarian goulash)
* Abbondanza (gnocchi)
* Feedback Lounge (flatbread Bahn Mi sandwich)
* Zeeks Pizza (pizza slice)
* Pet Elements (pet treat)

West Seattle Thriftway special promotion for the festival

Thriftway will be holding a fundraiser BBQ for the festival! This is much appreciated and is essential to our fundraising. This year they will be cooking “Aloha Burgers” and the suggested donation of $7 will also get you a bag of chips and a drink. Best deal around!

Food Trucks

Read More

(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand, unless otherwise credited)
At least the rain stayed away from Seattle Summer Streets on Alki until after the Alki Beach Creeps‘ second annual Bicycle/Costume Parade. If you weren’t there, here are some of the sights!

Dogs aren’t so rare at the beach – but this might be the first cat we’ve seen join the parade:

Seattle Police led the parade – here’s a quick video clip from the start:

ADDED 4:44 PM: Thanks to Tim for a photo of the parade group at the turnaround point at Don Armeni – and the scenic skyline while the sun was still out:

Were you in the parade (or any other Summer Streets events)? Photo to share? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

You’ll have a whale of a time at Seattle Summer Streets this afternoon on Alki Avenue SW – check out the street art by Seal Sitters‘ booth, with a gray whale (and, out of the frame, seal mom and pup) already chalked within moments of the festival’s start, and more to come, including an orca. If you have kids, stop by the booth for a coloring sheet to take home. You can have fun just walking, or bring your bike:

That’s Stu Hennessey, who you’ll find with DIY Bikes. The police are on two wheels, too:

Be at 63rd and Alki at 1 pm for the bike parade – and enjoy activities along the rest of the stretch – updates to come!

ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Thanks to those who shared photos with us – first, from Don Brubeck of West Seattle Bike Connections, the bicycle rodeo:

See more photos in the report on WSBC’s website. And thanks to Paul Twibell for the photo of Bubbleman:

You’ll also see him at the Morgan Junction Community Festival, coming up in about a month (Saturday, June 21st). P.S. Paul shot many more photos at Summer Streets; his Flickr gallery is here.

Summer festival season is weeks away, and planning is well underway for the biggest event of the year, West Seattle Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB). If you’re with a community group/nonprofit organization interested in a free chance to meet more neighbors (and prospective members/supporters), the WS Junction Association has a deal for you:

The West Seattle Junction Association is again offering the FREE Community Tent at West Seattle Summer Fest – July 11, 12, and 13. The purpose of this area at Summer Fest is to allow our small neighborhood non-profits and community groups easy access to the event and their community – free of charge!

Furry Faces Foundation has volunteered to coordinate the community tent and is now accepting requests for space from West Seattle non-profits and community groups. Furry Faces Foundation will select groups who strive to benefit, strengthen, and educate our community.

Here are the Community Tent details:

The Community Tent will be located on Alaska St . Tent, tables, and chairs will be provided. Participants are encouraged to set up their area with displays which reflect their mission and contributions to the West Seattle Community. Please feel free to bring props, brochures and such, which will entice folks to stop and chat with you about your organization. No sales please.

Shift changes will be a little cozy, so we’ll all have a chance to get friendly and help each other out, if needed.

Hours
Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm

Community Tent Shifts
Friday/Saturday: 4-hour slots
10 am – 2 pm
2 pm – 6 pm

Sunday: 3-hour slots
11 am – 2 pm
2 pm – 5 pm

If your neighborhood non-profit or community group is interested in being a part of the Summer Fest Community Tent, please e-mail by June 27th, furryfaces@hotmail.com

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

(WSB photo from last September’s West Seattle Car Show)
Though it was not by any means his only community project, the annual West Seattle Car Show was the creation, pride and joy of the late neighborhood advocate and entrepreneur Michael Hoffman, who died suddenly last month at age 47. Two West Seattle businesses are looking at whether to take it on – but first, they want to know your thoughts. If you can please take a moment to comment:

Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks would like to know from the community of West Seattle your thoughts on the annual West Seattle Car Show. Should the car show continue? Do you think that it brings and enhances a sense of community, and does it benefit our local businesses? Would it be missed if it did not continue? Your thoughts and feedback are very important to us – thanks!

The car show’s been held in The Junction in late summer each of the past six years; we’ve been a co-sponsor each year (and should note that both businesses mentioned above are WSB sponsors). Here’s our coverage from last year.

The first festival of the year is a week and a half away – and tonight, Lauren Englund from the West Seattle Bee Garden shares details about the second annual WS Bee Festival on Sunday, May 4th:

Festivities will begin with a parade at 11 am, and the West Seattle High School Marching Band will lead the way!

The parade will begin at West Seattle Elementary parking lot (6760 34th Ave SW), and head down 31st Ave and Lanham Pl. to the WS Bee Garden in Commons Park.

The parking lot will open at 10 am for pre-parade face painting and craft making. Everyone is welcome to join!

The picnic will take place in High Point’s Commons Park at 31st Ave SW and SW Graham St. Activities will include a craft tent, face painting, vendors, food, music and more!

Husky Deli is making a special honey-flavored ice cream for the event – with local honey donated by West Seattle’s own Seattle Bee Works. All proceeds will go back to the bees!

Members of the Keep High Point Green project will be around to share their story of successfully preventing the use of herbicides in High Point, way to go team!

The bees are happily nestled in their hives, and can be seen through the plexiglass enclosure surrounding them.

There is plenty to celebrate. The garden is celebrating its first anniversary, and has hosted 15 field trips since its inauguration last May. Schools from as far away as SeaTac have scheduled visits this year – and some are pairing visits with pollinator curriculums that are now available on the bee garden website here, making visits even more meaningful. Students at the University of Washington are presenting a proposal to create a replica of the bee enclosure on UW’s campus, spreading pollinator education even further, and geared toward a new demographic of students. The bee garden has served as an example to other cities, and has been included in presentations as an example of a successful urban bee project in cities as far away as Lafayette Ohio, who hope to build similar spaces.

The garden has been named a beneficiary of the West Seattle Garden Tour this year (thank you very much to the tour!) and is being considered for Seattle Tilth’s Urban Farm Tour in July.

Way to go West Seattle! We did it, and are still going strong! The bees and plants thank you, and we all hope you can come celebrate with us May 4th!

(WSB photo from 2013 Morgan Junction Community Festival)
We’re at the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting, and have just heard updates on the MoCA-sponsored Morgan Junction Community Festival, which will be happening before MoCA’s NEXT quarterly meeting. This year’s festival date is Saturday, June 21st, and it will include music (likely two stages, including a “cantina”), about 30 booths (a bit less space than last year, and they’re hoping for more nonprofits as well as vendors), ever-popular Bubbleman (one show this time), the Bark of Morgan pet event, the Bite of Morgan food tastes, food trucks (possibly up to three), hands-on kid stuff with the help of local kid-oriented businesses, and more. One thing REALLY needed now – volunteers to step up; this festival doesn’t run without them – “We need volunteers and we need them badly,” said MoCA’s Tod Rodman. And they’re signing up sponsorships, too, with new levels – you’ll find information on the MoCA website at morganjunction.org.

P.S. Lots more has been and is being discussed as tonight’s MoCA meeting continues – more coverage to come.

(WSB photo from Alki edition of Seattle Summer Streets in May 2013)
We’re a month away from a big day on Alki – Sunday, May 18th, starting with the West Seattle 5K Run/Walk at 9 am, followed by Seattle Summer Streets (aka “Car-Free Day”) 11 am-5 pm. And today, Alki’s Guy Olson shares the news that he and the rest of the Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club are organizing a costume/bicycle parade again this year. Wear a costume and meet up at 1 pm that day, 63rd/Alki. (See video of last year’s edition in our 2013 Summer Streets coverage.) Skidding competition too, and prizes are promised – full details on the Facebook event page.

(WSB photo from 2012 West Seattle Summer Fest)
April 15th – next Tuesday – is not just the tax deadline. It’s also the deadline for vendors and musicians to get applications in for this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest, we are reminded by the WS Junction Association. It’s closer than you think; July 11-13, exactly three months away. Interested in being part of Summer Fest but haven’t applied yet? Find the vendor application and info linked from this page on the Summer Fest site; the application for musicians is here.

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Bee Festival)
Were you part of history at the first-ever West Seattle Bee Festival last year? Whatever your answer, you are invited to be part of the SECOND-ever WS Bee Festival – now that the date is set for May 4th! Lauren Englund shares the news:

The West Seattle Bee Garden and High Point Neighborhood Association are hosting the Second Annual West Seattle Bee Festival, complete with a Picnic and Parade!

Date: Sunday May 4th, 2014
Time: 11 am-3 pm
Location: High Point Commons Park

Please share with your school and groups – everyone is invited to join!

Also, great news! We were awarded a Department of Neighborhoods grant this year to fund the event! Want to put something fun together for the parade (bike decoration party, costumes etc)? Or host a game at the festival? Let us know, because we can fund it! Please get back to us by April 4th if you are interested in hosting a craft/game.

More Details:
Parade Start Location: West Seattle Elementary parking lot (6760 34th Ave SW)
Parade Start Time: 11 am (location opens at 10 am to gather; we recommend coming early for face painting and to make a craft!)
Festival Location and Parade End: Commons Park (31st Ave SW and SW Graham St)

Want to bring a big group? Awesome, please let us know in advance so that we can be prepared: e-mail Lauren at lcenglund@yahoo.com

Small groups, want to just show up? That is fine, look for people with a ballon to help answer your questions.

Want to craft something in advance, or organize a parade prep party? Fantastic! Please email Lauren at lcenglund@yahoo.com or call 616-502-3182 to get in touch. We will happily help coordinate and can pay for the materials.

Website where updates will be posted: www.westseattlebeegarden.com

Festival will include:
Music
Crafts
Food
Face Painting
Vendors

Proudly working with Keep High Point Green, and the bees love it! Come see what’s new at the bee garden this year!

WHY?
Because it’s fun and builds community – with the added benefit of supporting bees, pollinators and our environment (and why not come craft something to give Mom for Mother’s Day – wink!).

We hope to see you there!

-The West Seattle Bee Garden Team and High Point Neighborhood Association