West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
That’s a scene from last year’s first-ever West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, when we co-sponsored the “WSB x 3” bowling booth along with WestSide Baby and West Seattle Bowl. This year at the second-ever Harvest Festival – 10 am until 2 pm on Sunday, October 27th – we’ll be bowling again, and there’s still time for other local businesses/organizations to apply to present an activity, says WS Junction Association executive director Susan Melrose:
The Junction Association is closing the streets for West Seattle’s new favorite event! Our Sunday farmers market will take the streets, bringing the fall harvest and more. The West Seattle High School Marching Band will lead a children’s costume parade at 11:30 am. Junction businesses will host Trick-or-Treat starting at noon (not before).
The last important piece is the Harvest Games and Activities brought by our neighborhood’s awesome non-profits, churches, and businesses. Homemade games and crafts are the best! We already have 18 applicants and if your group would like to provide a FREE activity at the Harvest Festival, the application can be found here. Deadline for submission is October 1st.
We are also looking for volunteers to help close the street at 6 am (coffee included!) and at 8 am to help direct the activity providers. Sign up here! It feels good to help make something awesome for our community.
The West Seattle Junction Association and Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance produce this event for our neighborhood. Several businesses and non-profits have stepped forward to help make it happen with sponsorship support. Special thank you to our Harvest Festival Sponsors:
Bakery Nouveau * Franciscan West Seattle Family * Curious Kidstuff * 4730 California * West Seattle Blog
* Emeritus at West Seattle * Community School of West Seattle * LaFarge * Ventana Construction * Menashe and Sons Jewelers * Pagliacci Pizza * WestSide Baby
See you there!
We visited Holy Rosary School‘s WestFest shortly after it got under way tonight – right before a little fall weather swept through the fall festival. Full-Life Crisis (above) was first band up; down in the food court, Dave and Tim were grilling:
So then the rain came in for a while, and we checked out the inside fun – games in the gym:
Food’s on sale indoors too – like pizza and corn on the cob. And elsewhere on campus, the bingo hall was getting ready for action:
WestFest continues until 10 pm tonight, then a big day is ahead tomorrow, 10 am-10 pm. Bouncy rides are set up on the playground, too – info about rides and food, as well as the entertainment schedule, can all be found in our festival preview.
(UPDATED TUESDAY with entertainment lineup – scroll to story’s end)
(WSB photo from WestFest 2012)
Now that this weekend’s big events are (mostly) over, we’re looking ahead to a festival that’s just five days away – Holy Rosary’s WestFest, next Friday and Saturday (September 20-21). Here’s the official announcement:
Come one, come all! Holy Rosary’s annual fall festival is right around the corner! Located at 4142 42nd Avenue SW, we throw open our doors and welcome all Friday 9/20, from 6 pm to 10 pm, and Saturday, 9/21, from 10 am to 10 pm. We are gearing up to host the season’s premier event for the West Seattle community; come see great local music and talent, eat delicious food, dob a round of bingo, race down the rides, try your luck at the cake walk, play carnival-style games galore, and so much more. There’s a beer garden for adults too — there is truly something for all ages!
Bring your young children early Saturday morning, from 10 am to noon, for “Toddler Time” at WestFest. Avoid the crowds and lines! They’ll enjoy better access to the blow-up rides and games with kids close to their age and ability.
Wristbands for Blow-up Rides:
(WSB photo from first West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, October 2012)
Last year, the annual West Seattle Junction Association-presented trick-or-treating event expanded into something new – and wildly popular from the very start: The WS Junction Harvest Festival, closing the street in the heart of The Junction for fun, games, a temporarily relocated Farmers’ Market, *and* trick-or-treating. And WSJA executive director Susan Melrose has just announced they’ll do it again for a second year!
Sunday, October 27th – 10 am – 2 pm
The West Seattle Junction Association is pleased to announce our second annual Harvest Festival. Last year was awesome! This event brought together our community in so many ways. Our weekly farmers market took to the streets with color and flair, our local non-profits and business brought free kids activities and games, the West Seattle High School marching band led hundreds in a costume parade, and Junction brick-and-mortar businesses hosted their long standing Trick-or-Treat event. The costumes were incredible… kudos West Seattle! Let’s do it again!
If you’d like to help make it great:
1. Host a Booth: Have your non-profit, school, business or club host an activity booth.
2. Volunteer: The first shift helps close the streets at 6 am and second shifts helps direct booth hosts at 8 am.
3. Sponsor: While we’re running a low budget and free event with volunteer staff, closing the street is still expensive, and sponsors will help make this event possible.
Details on these ways to get involved are at wsjunction.org. See you there!
(MORE PHOTOS added post-festival – scroll down!)
From Delridge Skatepark to Delridge Community Center, from Delridge Way to 26th SW, it’s on – Delridge Day 2013, presented by the North Delridge Neighborhood Council! New this year – the Green Zone:
More than 70 organizations and businesses have booths/tables at the festival, plus there are bouncy houses for kids, field games for all ages, ongoing skating competition, live music … see the schedule in our preview from earlier today, and c’mon down. More coverage to come; the festival continues until 4 pm.
12:42 PM: Sun’s out, festivalgoers are wandering! Or, in some cases, wading:
Speaking of water, next to our booth, the city’s Waterfront Seattle project has a booth, asking people their thoughts about the downtown waterfront’s post-Viaduct future. And over in the Green Zone, you can find out about RainWise, which could provide a rebate for green-stormwater treatment at your home – like a rainwater cistern – check ’em out.
Meantime, remember that this year’s Picnic at the Precinct is happening at Delridge Day – that means the SPD Mounted Patrol has officers and horses here:
The Bomb Squad’s shown off equipment, too. And police are offering free ice cream, same as they would when the event’s AT the precinct, which is a mile or so south of here. Speaking of frosty treats:
Those enterprising Girl Scouts (from Troop 40766) are selling snow cones at the festival. It’s an all-ages event – we’ve seen people from babies to seniors. And if you’re arriving by bicycle – check out DIY Bikes:
That’s Stu Hennessey, proprietor of Alki Bike and Board, who’s leading DIY Bikes and spearheading free minor repairs/maintenance – something DIY Bikes does in “work party” community mode at Youngstown (across the street from the festival site) every Sunday afternoon, but is doing here today for this weekend’s edition.
3:35 PM: We’ve been so busy talking to people, the time has flown – thanks to everyone who has stopped to chat, waved as they passed, etc. Less than half an hour left in what has turned out to be a sun-graced festival – more photos:
That’s the Twelfth Night Productions booth – they often perform at Youngstown across the street, but right now, their current production “Guys and Dolls” is in the West Seattle High School theater. Also here – Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals:
His group is getting ready for the big event at Greg and Sharon Nickels’ home tomorrow (here’s our most recent preview). And The Whale Trail executive director Donna Sandstrom is here talking about orcas and more:
Back over at the “PIcnic at the Precinct” section of the festival – a mayoral visit:
Earlier, we photographed Community Police Team Jon Flores with a turn at the free-ice-cream stand:
More photos to be added – it’s been an afternoon of fun all through the park, as one big sprawling festival site, from the skatepark and the wading pool to the playground to the stage, the meadow where Bubbleman performed ….
(Photo by Holli Margell)
One person who just stopped by our booth remarked on what a great venue it is.
ADDED: More photos – this one’s by Holli Margell:
As noted in the comments – groms division 1st-place winner Finn Pope!
Back to the festival grounds – also among the 70+ organizations and businesses, Delridge Grocery, which is signing up co-op members as its 2014 opening gets closer:
Find out more about the project at delridgegrocery.coop.
The countdown is over and the festival is here: Delridge Day 2013, 11 am-4 pm today at Delridge Community Center/Park/Skatepark (Delridge/Genesee/26th). First, here’s another look at the schedule of events:
And here are key points of where you will find activities/participants, including the more than 70 organizations/businesses who’ll be boothing:
LIVE MUSIC: Just north of the Community Center building.
FAMILY GAMES: Just north of the music!
GREEN ZONE WITH RAINWISE: Genesee/26th, northwest corner of the festival area.
OTHER BOOTHS: Just south of there.
FOOD TRUCKS: In the turnaround outside the Community Center entryway.
SKATE COMPETITION: At the skatepark (Delridge/Genesee), northeast corner of the festival area.
PICNIC AT THE PRECINCT: Along 26th SW on the west side of the festival area.
See you there!
Get over to the west side of Avalon Way south of the bridge right now and check out the third annual Luna Park Block Party – bigger than ever, with more businesses having opened since last year, among other reasons. One of them is Duos Lounge, which opened last December, and is serving up paella tonight, along with Spanish music:
Outside Ola Salon next to Duos, you’ll find not only the My Violette retail truck, but also West Seattle Brewing Company, visiting from their brewery and future tasting room (reported here a year ago) in The Triangle. They tell us they’re hoping to open to the public by October 1st. Back to tonight: The fun stretches northward from Ola and Duos, too, including face painting at Luna Park Café. It’s all on till 9 pm.
Continuing our countdown to Saturday’s seventh annual Delridge Day festival – today’s updates are all on wheels!
SKATE COMPETITION: Organizers have just announced the prizes:
The skate competition committee just added a great new feature to round out this already amazing event! Groms 12 and under open clinic/skate jam for new skateboarders from 10 am-11 am. This is sponsored by Skate Like a Girl! The best part is, the top skaters will be entered into the skate competition without a fee. Parents must be present for release-form signage.
*Prizes for the Pro/Am portion of the competition are: 1st place: $300, 2nd place: $150 and 3rd place: $50.
*Prizes for the Master’s competition for ages 40+: 1st place: Arbor Longboard, 2nd place: Tony Alva Signature complete skateboard and 3rd place: a padset.
*Prizes for Women’s 13+ competition are: 1st place: Arbor Zeppelin Longboard, 2nd place: Pruno complete skateboard and 3rd place: clothing from Casual Industrees.
*Prizes for Men’s 13+ are: 1st place: DB Duch DH Longboard, 2nd place: Pruno Complete skateboard and 3rd place: skate deck and Casual Industrees t-shirt.
*Prizes for Groms 12 and under are: 1st place: Creature complete skateboard, 2nd place: skate deck and Casual Industrees t-shirt and 3rd place: skate deck.
Not registered for the skate competition yet? Signups on site on Saturday will start at 9; competition starts at 10.
DIY BIKES: Ride your bike to Delridge Day! Alki Bike and Board‘s Stu Hennessey sends an update on DIY (Delridge Inspires Youth) Bikes, which usually has a bike-repair work party at Youngstown on Sundays, but this weekend will instead be at the DD festival on Saturday – you can bring your bicycle(s) for basic maintenance, cleaning, and lubing, Stu says.
Delridge Day is lasting longer this year – 11 am to 4 pm (but as noted above, skating begins at 10) – in and around the Delridge Community Center/Park/Skatepark, between 26th SW and Delridge Way, south of Genesee. See the schedule for entertainment and family games by going here; you’ll also find more than 70 community groups and businesses with booths and tables in the park (including WSB, since we’re a festival co-sponsor; see you there!).
Continuing our countdown to the Delridge Day festival, 11 am-4 pm next Saturday at Delridge Community Center/Park and the adjacent Delridge Skatepark … 4 more notes:
VENDORS/EXHIBITORS: More than 70, per the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, which produces Delridge Day!
FOOD TRUCKS: The newest update from organizers: “We have two great food trucks this year: Outside the Box – a Paleo-style food truck – the first in Seattle – and Jemil’s Big Easy, featuring authentic New Orleans cuisine.”
LIVE MUSIC: Perhaps you saw the schedule in our Sunday night preview. A few more details from organizers: “Get ready to start your day off right at 11 am with the Ellis Brothers, a three-piece band that performs jazz and improvisations. At noon, Listener Discretion will take the stage and show their skills in acoustic alternative. At 1 pm, Victrola the Band will perform some R&B and soul style tunes and at 2 pm Bill Wolford will play some good ol’ rock, funk, and blues. Finally, Quarter Past 8 will close out the festival with the last time slot at 3 pm.”
BUBBLEMAN! The bubble-waving, bubble-blowing, bubbly entertainer performs at 2 pm.
See the full festival schedule here – and stay tuned as the countdown continues.
Hope you’re winding down from an enjoyable weekend. Some big events next weekend – and tonight we start the countdown to the biggest one, Delridge Day 2013, presented by the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, with co-sponsors including WSB.
A few notes about this year’s festival:
*Lasts longer: 11 am-4 pm this year, which means an extra hour of fun
*Co-located with Picnic at the Precinct: The Southwest Precinct‘s annual event was scheduled to run concurrent with most of DD – so instead of asking both participants and attendees to split their time, the main “Picnic” features are coming to the Delridge Community Center during DD
*Thinking about a raingarden or cistern? Your next chance to catch up with the RainWise Program – involving the city and county and POSSIBLE rebates for installations in several local neighborhoods – is during Delridge Day.
*If you want to get the last-minute scoop on the festival directly from organizers, be at Monday night’s NDNC meeting, 6:30 pm at Dragonfly Pavilion (as previewed here earlier today).
More on the 7th annual Delridge Day as we count down all week long – see you there on Saturday!
Look at the world through new eyes – or, at least, a new mask – by visiting the Nature Consortium‘s Arts in Nature Festival today. We wandered the festival grounds at West Seattle’s Camp Long during the first afternoon on Saturday, noticing that it’s not just about what you see …
…it’s also about what you hear – if you see that installation near the pond, walk up and listen! More scenes ahead:
(WSB photo: Participants in 2011 Arts in Nature Festival ‘Species Parade’)
West Seattle’s next festival is six days away: As promised, Nature Consortium is bringing back the Arts in Nature Festival after a one-year hiatus. It’s next Saturday and Sunday (August 10-11) at Camp Long. The schedule is online – use the tabs on this page to see each individual day/venue. Saturday begins with Caspar Babypants at 11 am at the lodge; after that, he and Kate Endle will be in residence at Cabin 4 as part of the ongoing “Museum of Sound.” Headliners Cloud Cult will perform at the lodge at 7 pm Saturday and 2 pm Sunday. The always-popular Species Parade is set for 1 pm Saturday and 11:30 am Sunday in the meadow. And those are just a few items from the long list of festival events. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the first Arts in Nature Festival; admission is free, but a donation is suggested, $10 individual/$25 families.
All the park’s a stage at Hiawatha as Mediterranean Fantasy Fest, the region’s premier belly-dancing festival, continues for a few more hours. You just might find a troupe getting ready, as we did, while others are onstage:
Performances continue outdoors and indoors until about 5 pm today – here’s the schedule. And don’t miss the vendors! Among them, West Seattle’s own Dina Lydia, the Costume Goddess:
The festival’s been an annual tradition for more than a quarter of a century, founded by the Babylonian Ensemble, whose website tells the story here.
ADDED 8:46 PM: Dina Lydia shared a few of her photos from the festival:
Belly-dancing is for all agencies; those sisters dance as The Bellybuttons. Next, Shalaa and Amanda in sailor outfits for a humorous mother-daughter routine:
On to the traditional – a Persian dance by a member of the troupe Karavans:
Here’s veteran troupe Shahradezade Dance Ensemble with a traditional beladi dance in the Hiawatha gym:
And the student troupe Dancing Mirage:
SiDE NOTE: This festival’s over, but summer fun at Hiawatha keeps going – next up, six Thursday nights of music, with Summer Concerts at Hiawatha beginning next Thursday night – details here.)
(Photo by Keri DeTore)
Parade’s over but – as shown in our West Seattle Saturday lineup – other big events are on, including the first day of the Alki Art Fair! Above, a mother-and-daughter team you’ll find among the more than 60 artists/vendors at the fair – Holli (from Holli With An I Photography) and Iris Clementine. We have a crew at the beach right now and will be adding photos a bit later. Quick links:
*Artist list here
*Today’s music lineup for the main stages here (PDF)
*Silent-auction items inside Alki Bathhouse
And remember you can take a shuttle from the West Seattle High School parking lot (3000 California SW) if you’re not biking, bus-riding, walking, skateboarding, etc., to get to the fair, which is along the boardwalk, paralleling Alki Avenue from about 60th SW westward. Artist booths are open until 6 pm today and again 10-6 on Sunday, with music continuing tonight until 9.
ADDED: More scenes from Saturday – all photos below are by WSB’s Katie Meyer. Beautiful afternoon for a fair:
Music filled the air all day long and into the evening – this is MoonGirl:
So much to see, hear, and do, whatever your age:
The art being shown and sold is sometimes dazzling:
Sometimes fun:
And you’ll find it in a variety of media:
Or – if you’re of a certain age – create your own; Young At Art is there for projects with little ones.
Also look for Seal Sitters, whose art and essay contest for kids is under way (read all about it here), with a chance for them to enter at the fair:
Remember – it’s the “Year of the Seal“!
Sunday hours are again 10 am-6 pm, with music continuing until 8.
(WSB photo from 2012 Alki Art Fair)
One of the marquee events in what looks to be West Seattle’s biggest weekend of the summer is the Alki Art Fair this Saturday and Sunday (July 20-21) – two days of arts, crafts, live music, food, and (if the forecast holds) beautiful weather at the beach. Here are the basics:
*Hours – 10 am-6 pm for the artists’ booths both days; music till 9 pm Saturday, 8 pm Sunday
*Transportation – If you’re not coming by bus or bicycle, or on foot, park at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW) and take the free shuttle bus!
And fair organizers have shared the artist/food-vendor lineup – always subject to last-minute change, but here’s where things stood as of this morning:
Even if you’ve already been to West Seattle Summer Fest this year, come on down one more time before it’s over! Thanks to Krista for sharing the top photo – “beautiful day in The Junction,” she noted; so true! Music, shopping, food, art, and more – it’s all here, until 5 pm. Art, by the way, is here to observe, to purchase, and to create – Jessie shared this photo from the kids’ area by Wells Fargo, where youth can create along with Young At Art:
For our quick links to info – see our first morning report. And we would love to share your festival photos too – share them by e-mail at editor@westseattleblog.com, or via the WSB Facebook page.
1:38 PM NOTE: From Don Bereiter at Prudential NW Realty (WSB sponsor), whose booth has a fun game to check out: “For every child that participates, we are donating a can of food to the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks. 979 so far. Come on out and help a great cause!” (added) Here’s Tom Root and Chariti McEndoe photographed late in the day – note the counter’s gone up:
2:40 PM UPDATE: The last musical act of the day, The Jellyrollers, is scheduled to start right about now. Earlier, we caught Jazzberry with a young fan up front:
Summer Fest has been a bit lighter on political visitors than past years, but we’ve seen two mayoral candidates so far at the Info Booth – Mayor Mike McGinn, talking with, at right, Dave Montoure and Nancy Woodland from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce:
And State Sen. Ed Murray, photographed talking with Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association:
WSJA, by the way, presents Summer Fest every year. Meantime, outside West Seattle Optix, balloon-making was in full swing earlier:
And there’s still time to get down and meet representatives of businesses, organizations, and service providers – we photographed Lisa at the Highline Medical (WSB sponsor) booth, handing out reusable bags.
More to come in the final few hours!
3:42 PM UPDATE: Just got a chance to upload video from today’s first performance onstage – that’s Rat City Brass! The festival is still crowded yet mellow. SPD Lt. Ron Smith, who heads up the on-site Summer Fest patrol, tells us there have been no major problems (and few minor ones) throughout the three days. As for the rest of West Seattle – we’ll get an update tomorrow, when the Southwest Precinct hosts the mayor, as the precincts around the city have been doing, for the latest on the Safe Communities project.
4:35 PM UPDATE: Down to the last half-hour, already. Another politician visited a little while ago:
With County Executive Dow Constantine – who said he had been making the rounds of festivals, including Kent Cornucopia Days earlier in the day – that’s Hamilton Gardiner and Jerome Cohen with him, both in the Info Booth today as community volunteers representing the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
5:04 PM UPDATE: And Summer Fest is a wrap for 2013. Thanks to everyone who’s been part of it – whether visitor, vendor, exhibitor, performer, staffer, local year-round merchant, volunteer, law enforcer, sponsor, etc. … it’s been awesome. We’ll have an update later tonight when the streets reopen – it’ll take a few hours for cleanup/breakdown/loadout.
P.S. Just for fun, we have a photo album on the WSB Facebook page with some of the dogs spotted at Summer Fest – see it here.
11 am is the official start time today for the final day of West Seattle’s biggest event of the year, Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB). And there’s more on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today. Here are the Sunday highlights, starting with festival-info links:
WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST, DAY 3: Toplines:
*Hours today – 11 am-5 pm
*Metro bus-stop changes, linked route-by-route here
*Music – Here’s (the lineup) – today’s first act is bound to be a highlight, Rat City Brass at 11:50 am; last scheduled act on the California stage is The Jellyrollers at 2:40 pm, but you’ll find musicians elsewhere during the day too – maybe even these two who were performing outside La Romanza Bistro (WSB sponsor) on Saturday (or catch them during La Romanza’s regularly scheduled musical meals):
*GreenLife: Find GreenLife on the south side of the festival zone; see the demonstration/event schedule here, with an encore of “Illuminatio – ‘Slavery of the System'” at 4 pm – here’s our Friday video snippet:
The GreenLife day begins with “Cooking in Season,” 11 am.
*Vendors/exhibitors: Here’s the directory (use the column titles to sort alphabetically or numerically)
*Map to booths: Vendors/exhibitors map is here (PDF; we’re not listed because WSB is headquartered in the Information Booth for the 6th consecutive year)
*Kid Zone: On Alaska WEST of California, where the food used to be; $20 for unlimited rides all day; same hours as festival, 11 am-5 pm
*Food: On Alaska EAST of California (sort the vendor list by “location” and click ahead to the pages starting 151 and 176 for the “F” as in “food” entries – earlier in the list, note “Sidewalk Cafes” too at )
*Art Dive: North side of the zone, north of SW Oregon
ALSO HAPPENING TODAY…
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Same hours, same spot! 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska – enjoy Summer Fest AND the market.
MINI-“STP” BIKE RIDE: Family-friendly, fun, AND headed for Summer Fest! Meet at Hamilton Viewpoint Park at 9:45 am; ride starts at 10 am. Traveling California SW from Seattle (Street) to Portland (Street). Then at 11 am, join a discussion about local greenways and more with West Seattle Bike Connections at the GreenLife zone at Summer Fest! Details in our calendar listing.
More on the WSB calendar!
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: Open for free tours, 1-4 pm today.
We recorded Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands around 5 pm, just as West Seattle Summer Fest, night 2, began. Once again tonight, 8 pm is the official end time for booths and most activities), but some, like the community groups, have rolled up for the night. It’s been sunny all day and on into the evening, not too hot, a perfect Seattle summer Saturday.
ADDED 7:20 PM: Thanks to Will Wharton for sharing this photo via the WSB Facebook page – a police officer handing out stickers to kids at Summer Fest:
When you get 10,000 people in one place at one time, it’s no small task to help make sure things stay lively but peaceful. Meantime, speaking of lively, our crew is just back from recording some video during Hobosexual‘s performance. (added – here it is):
More big smiles we saw today – Anna was selling LED light-up bows at Forsythe Studio:
We have a few more Saturday scenes to add later. But it’s after 8 pm, and the booths are closing up – music continues until about 11, with the Street Dance, featuring Whisky River at 10 pm.
Two Sunday notes: Yes, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is on as usual tomorrow, 10 am-2 pm; Summer Fest itself does not officially open until 11 am, and closes at 5 pm.
We’re live at West Seattle Summer Fest again today, covering it from the Information Booth in the heart of The Junction as it happens. Biggest event of the day so far – fans of Caspar Babypants thronged Junction Plaza Park for his performance; in case you missed it, we have a song on video, above. Spectacular sunny day in The Junction, and it’s been busy since the start – come on down and see your neighbors and friends!
Sticker update: Unfortunately, we’ve just been told the first run of WEST SEATTLE- WE HAVE THAT stickers has run out. Checking on plans for a second run.
ADDED 1:03 PM: If you’re bringing your dog to Summer Fest – more than a few have passed by – see Furry Faces Foundation in the Community Tent – between our spot in the Info Booth and the kids’ zone on the west stub of Alaska:
They’re making pet tags for the amazingly low price of $5, to increase the chance your pet will be returned home if s/he gets lost. Find them there till 6 today and 11-5 tomorrow. Also in the pet department – West Seattle See Dogs is with The Kenney (WSB sponsor) today – here’s Vanessa the guide puppy:
Ruth from West Seattle See Dogs says they desperately need new puppy raisers to sign up – so stop by to find out more, or contact her through Facebook.
Meantime, wander down to GreenLife to see The Whale Trail – with a chance for kids to create some art:
That’s TWT founder Donna Sandstrom with a young artist and with TWT’s papier-maché orca.
1:56 PM UPDATE: Speaking of marine mammals, Seal Sitters is setting up on the west side of the information booth – which has become spillover from the Community Tent across the way:
Also back here at California/Alaska, you’ll find the West Seattle High School Cheerleaders along with a setup offering WSHS alumni merchandise:
If you hear random cheering – it just might be them. Or maybe you’re hearing music and it’s nowhere near a stage – perhaps it’s members of the West Seattle Community Orchestras:
By the way, if you’re looking for information on other summer events around West Seattle – here in the info booth, we have info on all that too – West Seattle Outdoor Movies, which start next Saturday, for example (which is also the day of the West Seattle Grand Parade and the West Seattle Rotary-presented Kiddie Parade preceding it).
4:03 PM: And we’re on to the late afternoon! Still a tremendous turnout. Some observers who are here year after year say this seems to be the busiest Saturday ever. SPD says it’s peaceful, and so far as we’ve heard, we’d concur. Sights and sounds everywhere. Midblock north of Alaska, you’ll find the West Seattle Hi-Yu “Alki Deep” float:
That’s Senior Court Queen April. If you miss the float during Summer Fest, you’ll see it here on California SW again during the West Seattle Grand Parade next Saturday (starting from California/Lander at 11 am and traveling south to California/Edmunds). P.S. Buy a Hi-Yu button to support our city’s last traveling community float – this very one.
4:59 PM: Gerald Collier, performing earlier this afternoon:
Tonight’s music highlights include The Blakes at 5:40 pm, Hobosexual at 6:40 pm, and Whisky River for the Street Dance at 10 pm. We’ll have an evening update started shortly, as Summer Fest’s second (and usually biggest) day continues.
West Seattle Summer Fest day 2 is on, with street entertainment (that’s what’s in our video above) as well as scheduled music, demonstrations, and lots more! Here are some miscellaneous notes about what’s happening today
MUSIC: Caspar Babypants coming up at 11 am in Junction Plaza Park. See links here for the full schedule.
GET YOUR ‘WEST SEATTLE – WE HAVE THAT!’ STICKER: At the info booth, where WSB team members and community-group volunteers (today, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is helping out) can be found, at the heart of California/Alaska.
ALSO GET YOUR WSB INFO CARD: We’ve long been asked for a card that’s not just a standard business card, but includes information on how to use WSB for everything from a breaking-news tip to a lost/found-pet notice to a yard-sale announcement. Pick one up along with your WS – We Have That! sticker.
REST STOP FOR PARENTS: There are two – Nurturing Expressions’ booth near Puerto Vallarta and Northwest Art and Frame, and City Mouse Studio’s storefront on SW Alaska just west of Junction Plaza Park.
COMMUNITY TENT: It’s just west of our spot at the Information Booth, on the west side of California and Alaska. Among those on hand today; West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network and West Seattle Be Prepared.
WEST SEATTLE SEE DOGS: They’ll be with The Kenney (WSB sponsor) just north of Easy Street Records
(northwest side of California/Alaska), a chance for you to meet their seeing-eye puppies. Kids’ art project, too!
THE WHALE TRAIL: Here today too! In the GreenLife zone on the southwest edge of the festival – in the lot just north of Technical Analysis at California/Edmunds. They’re also having kids’ art, and your chance to see a papier-maché orca, among other things.
BOOK SALES: Two places where you will find books for a great price during the sidewalk sale – Pegasus Book Exchange, with thousands of hardcovers and paperbacks for $1 each during Summer Fest, and Merryweather Books. Both are on the west side of California SW, between Oregon and Alaska.
‘RUBY ROOM’ BENEFIT: Cherry Consignment on the east side of California just north of the festival zone has a sale today that’s raising money to help young people via the Ruby Room.
We’ll be adding more! See our “West Seattle Saturday” preview for key festival links.
(SCROLL DOWN for updates; see our midday coverage here)
Day 1 of West Seattle’s biggest celebration of the year! Our coverage continues:
KID ACTIVITIES INFO: Top question of the day here in the West Seattle Summer Fest Info Booth – which is also WSB headquarters during the festival – has to do with the kids’ activities and features. This year, SW Alaska west of California is the kids’ area, since the “food court” has moved to the east side of Alaska. You’ll also find activities like face-painting (thanks to Pathfinder K-8 School volunteers led by Lashanna, in our top photo) and art projects (thanks to Young at Art) in the Wells Fargo lot as usual. We were asked about the hours and prices; the rides are open until 8 pm tonight, with a one-day unlimited pass $20, $45 for all three days, or $1.25 per ride ticket, with ride prices varying from one to five tickets. And a reminder – there are two “parents’ rest stops” for a quiet spot to feed your baby, etc. – at City Mouse Studio (4218 SW Alaska) and at the Nurturing Expressions (WSB sponsor) booth:
Nurturing Expressions is on the west side of California between Edmunds and Alaska:
FOOD HIGHLIGHTS: Joining your WSB co-publishers (Tracy and Patrick) here at the info booth are other members of the team, including Katie and Callan, who are not only helping answer festivalgoers’ questions, but are also helping rustle up information. We sent Callan on a mission to check out the food situation. First, here are the Junction venues with outdoor seating during Summer Fest:
*La Romanza Bistro (WSB sponsor)
*West 5
*Elliott Bay
*Bang Bar
*JaK’s
*Beer Junction
*Matador
*Terrible Beauty
*Pizzeria Credo
*Maharaja
*Shadowland
*Pagliacci Pizza
*Ma’ono – which is offering $5 shave ice, $3 fried-chicken drumsticks, $6 kalua pork lettuce wraps
*Seattle Fish Co.
*Shoofly Pie
*Talarico’s
Highlights from the food stands include deep-fried PB&J for $, deep-fried Twinkies for $4, coconuts for $4 at the QFC stand (across from us!), $6 brats, kosher dogs, or jalapeno cheese dogs at Husky Deli (proprietor Jack Miller‘s in our photo above), $4 fried banana with coconut milk at Pho Cyclo’s stand.
ADDED 3:08 PM: Stop by for your free West Seattle – We Have That ! sticker (explained here):
Other ways to show your West Seattle pride include West Seattle-branded T-shirts and other swag you can find at some vendors’ booths, including The Junction’s own Seattle Logo Pros, and another West Seattle business’s booth, Shockwave Tees, which shared this photo of their “Alki Seagull” shirts:
If you have any trouble finding a particular vendor’s booth, stop by the Info Booth, where we and community volunteers (currently, the new president of the Rotary Club of West Seattle, Len Burton-Hardin, is here) will do our best to help.
ADDED 3:42 PM: We’ve been rolling video on some of today’s performances. Music to come – but for starters, the performance troupe Illuminatio was at GreenLife earlier and will be back there at 4 pm – here’s an excerpt:
The performance will be repeated at 4 pm Sunday, if you missed both today. Meantime, here’s a snippet of Blackheart Honeymoon, first band of the day on the stage, which is on California SW north of SW Oregon:
ADDED 6:08 PM: It’s been a great crowd all day. The police in charge of festival patrol tell us it’s been quiet for them too. Continuous music is revving up now at the stage north of SW Oregon; the most-awaited act of the night is Young Fresh Fellows, coming up at 10 pm. Not all music is on the stage, though – check out the didgiredoo:
That’s one big reason to come on down – what’s on the official schedule is only a small part of what’s going on! P.S. Thanks to Rotarians Gary Potter and Josh Sutton for being part of the team here in the Info Booth these past few hours.
6:45 PM: And thanks to the many awesome people – those we had never before met, as well as those we had – who have stopped by today, to share information and/or to just say hi. It’s our favorite part of Summer Fest – and we have heard many others appreciate it for the same reason – getting to catch up with friends and neighbors from all over West Seattle that you don’t always see in person otherwise. Tonight’s closing time for booths is listed as 8 pm, by the way, but you may see some closing sooner. Tomorrow, things rev up at 10 am. We’ll have more coverage later tonight – including a look ahead to tomorrow.
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ONGOING: Quick links (which will keep floating down to the end of each Summer Fest report):
HOURS TODAY: Until 8 pm, but the music runs later
METRO BUS ROUTE CHANGES: Direct links to all route revisions are in the WSB transit/traffic report
MUSIC LINEUP: See it here
VENDORS/EXHIBITORS: Here’s the directory (use the column titles to sort alphabetically or numerically)
MAP TO BOOTHS: Vendors/exhibitors map is here (PDF; we’re not listed because you’ll find WSB in the Information Booth for the 6th consecutive year)
KID ZONE: It’s on Alaska WEST of California, where the food used to be – see more info above
FOOD ZONE: It’s on Alaska EAST of California (sort the vendor list by “location” and click ahead to the pages starting 151 and 176 for the “F” as in “food” entries – earlier in the list, note a few “Sidewalk Cafes” too)
GREENLIFE DEMO SCHEDULE: Find GreenLife on the south side of the festival zone; see the demonstration/event schedule here
ART DIVE: North side of the zone, on California just north of Oregon.
The festival is on! We’re live at West Seattle Summer Fest in the information booth right in the heart of the California/Alaska intersection. Important informational note for starters – Caspar Babypants is TOMORROW (SATURDAY) at 11 am in Junction Plaza Park, NOT today.
ADDED 11:48 AM: Remember a few things are different this year – including the kid zone, which has taken over the west end of SW Alaska:
As a result, the main food zone (top photo) is on the east side of SW Alaska. We’re checking out the highlights and will feature them in our afternoon report, in case you’re thinking of coming down for dinner (remember all the regular restaurants are open too, many with temporary sidewalk cafés). Along the same vein, Junction stores are all open for business too, many with sidewalk sales – here’s the big tent that Easy Street Records has set up:
As mentioned in one of our Summer Fest Countdown previews – here’s the basic pricing:
Used CDs – $1/ea
Used DVDs – $3/ea OR 4 / $10
Used Vinyl – $1/ea OR 12 / $10
Lots of other sidewalk sales happening – we’ll be checking more of them out.
Quick links (which will keep floating down to the end of each Summer Fest report):
HOURS TODAY: Until 8 pm, music runs later
METRO BUS ROUTE CHANGES: Direct links to all route revisions are in the WSB transit/traffic report
MUSIC LINEUP: See it here
VENDORS/EXHIBITORS: Here’s the directory (use the column titles to sort alphabetically or numerically)
MAP TO BOOTHS: Vendors/exhibitors map is here (PDF; we’re not listed because you’ll find WSB in the Information Booth for the 6th consecutive year)
KID ZONE: It’son Alaska WEST of California, where the food used to be
FOOD ZONE: It’s on Alaska EAST of California (sort the vendor list by “location” and click ahead to the pages starting 151 and 176 for the “F” as in “food” entries – earlier in the list, note a few “Sidewalk Cafes” too)
GREENLIFE DEMO SCHEDULE: Find GreenLife on the south side of the festival zone; see the demonstration/event schedule here
ART DIVE: North side of the zone, on California just north of Oregon
(UPDATING late Thursday with video and more photos)
(Live SDOT camera looking north along California from Alaska)
In The Junction, the barricades are up and the pre-West Seattle Summer Fest fun (and setup!) has begun. California is closed from Edmunds to Oregon, then open for cross-traffic at Oregon, and closed again from Oregon north to Genesee; Alaska is closed between 42nd and 44th. Tonight’s plan includes:
*West Seattle Art Walk until 9 pm – see artist/venue previews, and the map/list, here
*44th/Morgan (video above), musicians live until 8 pm outside Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor)
*Bret Wiggins with two sets of his Elvis stylings outside La Romanza Bistro Italiano (WSB sponsor)
*Bubbleman scheduled to be under way now outside Elliott Bay Brewing
Check in on your favorite eating/drinking places – many have other special plans tonight; Puerto Vallarta called us earlier and said its kitchen will be open until 1 am.
ADDED 7:17 PM: We heard from Linda Cox with RE/MAX on 44th – they’re having a burger barbecue! Live music too:
So wander westward while you’re in The Junction.
7:36 PM: And a reminder that Art Walk is under way all over the peninsula, not just The Junction. Erik LaSeur shares a photo from the Center for Movement and Healing in Gatewood:
That’s artist Jolene Hagin, showing encaustics & oils. More to come!
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