From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar for today/tonight:

REMINDER – 99/VIADUCT CLOSURE: Just one traffic alert, but it’s a biggie – the Alaskan Way Viaduct/Highway 99 stretch between Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge is CLOSED BOTH WAYS and scheduled to remain so till 4 pm tomorrow (we’ll let you know if it reopens earlier).

HELP LINCOLN PARK! Work party to remove invasives – perfect time now before fall/winter weather finally arrives. Meet at Fauntleroy/Rose park entrance, 9 am.

PANCAKES TO BENEFIT NICKELSVILLE: 9 am-noon, a fundraiser at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s church, 7141 California SW – details here.

HELP FAUNTLEROY PARK! Work party – meet at the SW 97th entrance to forested Fauntleroy Park, 10 am-2 pm. Details and map here.

WEST SEATTLE SOLAR TOUR: Find out more about solar energy by visiting the West Seattle spots on the regional Solar Tour, 10 am-4 pm. The sites are listed here.

GOT SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS QUESTIONS/CONCERNS/ETC.? Come to West Seattle school-board member Marty McLaren‘s community-conversation meeting, 10:15 am-12:15 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library.

WEST SEATTLE CARDBOARD CHALLENGE: Across the country, “cardboard challenge” events inspired by Caine’s Arcade are happening today, and in West Seattle, you can bring your cardboard creation – and/or your creative spirit – to The Kenney (WSB sponsor; 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), 11 am-2 pm. Full details here – and here’s the story we published when the site was chosen.

FREE RANGE MERCANTILE OPEN … BUS: It’s an open house, at the big green bus that’s been parked a few months at 5908 Fauntleroy SW, and has also made its debut as a store on wheels (here’s our original report). Today, come visit 11 am-5 pm.

STAR WARS STORYTIME: Barnes and Noble at Westwood Village usually has Saturday storytime 11 am-noon, but today there’s a Star Wars theme, since it’s national (or perhaps intergalactic) Star Wars Reads Day.

WALK THE FAUNTLEROY WATERSHED: The first of three special free West Seattle walks with Feet First and local Walking Ambassadors is today, starting at 1 pm from the Original Bakery at 45th/Wildwood in Fauntleroy. Details (and RSVP link) here.

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER CEREMONY: During the regular noon-3 pm weekly open public-visiting time at the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2236 SW Orchard), the 712th Spirit Saint Tran Hung Dao Memorial Day commemoration is planned today, 2 pm.

GET KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COLLEGE! West Seattle author (and professor) Ellen Bremen (“Say This, Not That, To Your Professor”) will be at Westwood Village Barnes and Noble 2 pm today – details here.

ANOTHER ‘GLOBAL LENS’ SCREENING: Free film at Delridge Library as part of this ongoing series celebrating international film – “The Prize,” an Argentinian Film, 2 pm.

AFRICAN DINNER AND DANCE SHOW: Mission fundraiser at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW), 5-9 pm – details in the calendar listing.

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: Steve and Kristi Nebel, 6-8 pm, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW.

DAUGHTERS OF THE DEAD SEA’S CD RELEASE: 8 pm at Easy Street Records in The Junction, this West Seattle rock/punk band performs and celebrates its CD release. Details here.

‘ROCKY HORROR’ AT THE ADMIRAL: The monthly midnight showing – with shadow cast, toast, and all – is tonight.

And there’s even more on our calendar!

Lots going on as always! From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar, some of the highlights for today/tonight:

TRAFFIC ALERTS – VIADUCT CLOSURE REMINDER: In addition to the projects that have been under way in West Seattle this week (see our day-by-day list), remember that Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct between the Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge will be CLOSED BOTH WAYS starting at 6 am Saturday for the twice-yearly inspection (and other work). It’s scheduled to last till 4 pm Sunday, but these closures do sometimes end early, so we’ll update you if that happens this time.

WEST SIDE MOPS STARTS A NEW YEAR: Happening right now at West Side Presbyterian Church, till 11:15 am – Mothers Of Preschoolers (MOPS). If you don’t see this in time, check it out for future meetings, first and third Fridays – contact info is in our calendar listing.

ROTARY FOOD DRIVE AT THE CASK: Drop by The Cask in The Admiral District tonight 5-7 pm, meet West Seattle Rotarians, and drop off a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank. More info in our preview story from this past Monday.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT: From Dance! West Seattle, which is on the north side of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse at 9131 California SW:

Family Fun Night, 6 -9 pm at the Dance! West Seattle studio!

DJ Paul Thompson from Star 101.5 will provide great dancing music! Games, Contests, Prizes and more. Pizza and pop available for purchase. A silent auction and raffle fundraiser will be held to benefit our 501(c) (3) non-profit charitable organization, Seattle Civic Dance Theatre, Tax ID #91-1288035.

DWS has been training dancers in Seattle for 30 years and the Seattle Civic Dance Theatre provides free performances throughout the year to promote the arts in our community.
Our staff and students show a serious commitment to our dance program and the arts in our community.

CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING GAME: Varsity football, 7 pm vs. Nathan Hale at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle); gates open at 5:45 pm.

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Varsity game vs. Ingraham at Northwest Athletic Complex, 7 pm.

‘LOVE FREE OR DIE’: Marriage-equality film screens tonight at Westside Unitarian Universalists Congregation‘s church at 7141 California SW, 7 pm. Details here. Also note that WSUU will be rallying for the same cause 5-6:30 pm at The Junction (as noted here) and community members are invited to join in.

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT: The Castaways at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … Bettman and Halpin at Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm … Barbie Anaka at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … Jim Marcotte at The Cask, 8 pm … The Bend at Feedback Lounge, 9 pm … Jangle Wagon at the Benbow Room, 9 pm.

‘BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON’ CONTINUES: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest.

More on the calendar!

West Seattle’s Veterans of Foreign Wars post wants to get the word out about two scholarship programs that are open for applications right now, with a November 1st deadline. From VFW’s Kyle Geraghty:

The Patriot’s Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories.

The Patriot’s Pen is a 300-400 word essay with the theme of “What I Would Tell America’s Founding Fathers.” The top prize for this program is $5,000. For more information about Patriot’s Pen and a link to the entry form go to: vfw.org/Community/Patriot-s-Pen

The Voice of Democracy Program is open to students in grades 9-12, who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial high school or home study program in the United States and its territories. Students should record their reading of the draft to CD. The recording can be no shorter than 3 minutes and no longer than 5 minutes. This year’s theme is “Is the Constitution Still Relevant?” The top scholarship for this program is $30,000. For more information about Voice of Democracy and a link to the entry form go to:
vfw.org/Community/Voice-of-Democracy

” Please turn in your entries, as well as everything else required by the program, by November 1, 2012 to VFW Post 2713 located at 3601 SW Alaska St, Seattle, WA 98126. Visit VFW Post 2713 on the web at vfwpost2713.org

(SDOT map for upcoming Delridge repaving project and tonight’s open house about it)
From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar for today/tonight:

BOEING FIELD ALERT – FIRST LADY’S VISIT: Of particular note for Boeing Field watchers and eastern West Seattle, First Lady Michelle Obama flies in this evening for a fundraiser and departs tomorrow morning.

…AND 2 OTHER DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC FACTORS: Madonna’s at KeyArena tonight and the Mariners are at Safeco Field. Add that to the First Lady heading for a Westin fundraiser, and you’re probably want to going to get out of downtown/SODO early, unless you’re going to any of these events.

AS FOR THE REST OF THE TRAFFIC ALERTS: Ongoing intensified work at the Barton Street Pump Station north of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal is likely to include lane closures there, plus work is scheduled during the day on Highland Park Way today. Both projects are detailed in our day-by-day traffic-alert list.

Now, the other highlights:

TODDLER STORY TIME: 10:30-11 am at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library.

DELRIDGE (AND POSSIBLY 16TH) REPAVING/RECHANNELIZATION OPEN HOUSE: 5:30-7:30 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), go get your questions answered about the BIG repaving project coming up for the south mile of Delridge Way SW, and possibly part of 16th SW, as well as the “rechannelization” scheduled along part of the stretch. We checked with SDOT and this is completely open-house format, no presentation planned, so drop by any time during the 2 hours.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REGIONAL MEETING: New Seattle Public Schools superintendent José Banda is touring the city for community meetings, and tonight, 6-7:30 pm, is the “regional” meeting for West Seattle and South Park. It’s at Concord International Elementary in SP – map and details here. P.S. This is the meeting for which a Sanislo Elementary teacher requested community support, as they deal with class size – here’s her open letter.

SUNSET-TO-DARK LINCOLN PARK HIKE: Keep enjoying the dry weather while we have it! Tonight, naturalist Stewart Wechsler leads an evening hike through Lincoln Park, starting at 6:30 pm. Details here.

NIGHTLIFE: Trivia That Rocks at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … Baby Ketten Karaoke at 9 at Skylark Café and Club … Starlight singer-songwriter showcase at Shadowland, 8 pm …

More on the calendar!

Thanks to Claire for the photo from this morning’s moonset. Today’s big event: The Beat the Burn 5K at West Seattle’s Jack Block Park, and the festival that follows – the run/walk (to help young burn survivors go to camp) is at 9 am but that’s just the start. Events continuing till 2 pm, free to the community (including Bubbleman at 11:30 am), are listed toward the bottom of this page.

Also today, a cider-press event at West Seattle Nursery, with City Fruit, noon-4 pm – bring your own apples, or if you don’t have any, they’ll share.

Lots more going on – all listed on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar.

We featured that very regal dog’s photo – shared by Evie, who took it outside PCC (WSB sponsor) – on the WSB Facebook page last night, asking for captions (check ’em out here; a couple commenters note the dog’s named Aslan). Seemed like a fun way to unleash a weekend. Now, here are today/tonight highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

YARD/GARAGE SALES: Weather’s still nice, so the season’s not over! Find the newest (free!) listings in the WSB Forums. And if you’re having a sale – here’s how to announce it there.

SCHMITZ PARK WORK PARTY: Help get the park/forest ready for fall/winter! 9 am-noon.

BLOOD DRIVE IN THE JUNCTION: 9 am-3 pm, the Bloodmobile is scheduled to be at 42nd/Alaska. Details here.

GUIDED TOUR OF LINCOLN PARK: Think you know the park well? Join Friends of Lincoln Park for a closer look, 10 am-noon, details here.

DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY: 10 am-2 pm, get your expired/unneeded medications to the Southwest Precinct for the latest edition of Drug Take-Back Day. More details, and a map, in the listing.

FREE YOGA! Longtime WSB sponsor SoundYoga presents one of its periodic free sessions, 10:30 am.

‘MEET RAPIDRIDE’ AT WESTWOOD: As we showed you first thing this morning, RapidRide is indeed up and running in West Seattle. Come get questions answered, take a closer look at a bus, and meet RapidRide Man, 11 am-4 pm at Westwood Village.

FOOD BANK DRIVE AND BLACKSMITH DEMONSTRATION: Both happening at Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) today – the food drive for White Center Food Bank is all day, the blacksmith demonstration (info here) is 1-3 pm.

VIETNAMESE STORY TIME: At Delridge Library (Delridge/Brandon), 11:30 am-noon – details here.

JUST SHAKE IT! Benefit dance party at The Bridge, 4-9 pm – read about it on the FB event page.

SWYFS GALA: Tonight, Southwest Youth and Family Services is “Celebrating West Seattle” with their annual fundraising gala, with doors opening at 5:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Ticket info here.

NIGHT HIKE AT LINCOLN PARK: Owls, raccoons, and more … depending on who shows up … wildlife-wise, and you! With naturalist Stewart Wechsler. 6:30 pm. Details on his website.

LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC: Check the WSB calendar for all the listings.

‘ANDREW JACKSON’ CONTINUES: At ArtsWest, 7:30 pm tonight, the “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” run continues.

WATER TAXI FOR WSU-OREGON GAME: The county’s added one extra late run for tonight’s Cougars-Ducks game.

(From Dan Murphy: The sunrise, from a bus, through a fence, over WS Stadium. Plus: Rainbow photos here!)
It’s a turbo preview today – much news in the works, even before we see what else the day brings – so for the COMPLETE roundup of what’s up today/tonight, we point you to the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar. For a preview of what’s behind each line, mouse over its right side and click the “plus” sign; then, to see the full entry, click “READ MORE” and the page will open, usually including a map. Here’s the big event for tonight:

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING: Barbecue at 6 pm, game at 7 pm, vs. Rainier Beach, at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). WSHS fans are asked to wear white. Details in the brand-new edition of the Westside Weekly newsletter.

Much more – from gardening to music, and beyond – on the calendar.

Thanks to Laura James for the seal-pup photo from Wednesday (it’s been a busy week for Seal Sitters, according to their website). On to today/tonight – from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

TRAFFIC/WATER TAXI ALERT, HUSKIES’ GAME: The University of Washington plays at CenturyLink Field tonight, which means both extra traffic through SODO and extra West Seattle Water Taxi runs. (P.S. to WSU fans: The county is adding an extra late run on Saturday night for the Cougars/Ducks game.)

OTHER TRAFFIC ALERTS: In addition to the week’s final overnight closure of southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct, SDOT crews plan repair work on the northbound Viaduct today: “They will close the northbound, right curb lane of the viaduct at Pike Street from approximately 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The crews will cut out a loose expansion joint.”

FIRST DESIGN REVIEW FOR 4755 FAUNTLEROY WAY: The biggest project yet to be proposed in West Seattle – first reported here in July – goes to the Southwest Design Review Board tonight at 6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon). Public comment is welcome, focusing on the size/shape of the building and other early concerns in the design process. Here’s our Monday story previewing what will be presented regarding the project, which is expected to include more than 350 apartments as well as a grocery store, drug store, and other shops.

WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: Evening program featuring dinner and the film “Not My Life,” 6:30-9 pm at West Seattle Golf Course; reservations required – go here to find out how to check if there’s still room.

ADVISORY GROUP MEETING FOR MURRAY COMBINED-SEWER-OVERFLOW PROJECT: The community advisory group reviewing plans for the project across from Lowman Beach meets 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California) – details here.

WHAT CRIME/SAFETY CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE? Be part of a new city initiative to listen to citizens’ concerns in a big-picture way – come to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) 7 pm tonight. This won’t be an “open mike in front of everybody” situation, we’re told, but instead, a room full of smaller conversations. Details here.

WESTSIDE BURLESQUE REVIEW: 9 pm at Skylark Café and Club – details in the calendar listing.

More on the calendar!

(Barred owl in Lincoln Park, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Happy Wednesday! Today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

VIADUCT CLOSURE TONIGHT: Southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct, overnight, from 9 pm-5 am.

35TH SW ROAD WORK IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Scheduled to start today, per SDOT. Here’s their reminder – traffic could be down to 1 lane at a time.

BABY IN THE HOUSE? CHECK OUT ‘EARLY DAYS’: Today’s the weekly session of a new drop-in support group, Early Days, meeting at Nurturing Expressions (WSB sponsor; 4746 44th SW) in The Junction, noon-2 pm. Details here.

EARLY DISMISSAL: Today is the school year’s first districtwide early-dismissal day (two hours early) for Seattle Public Schools.

PUMPKIN-PIE FUNDRAISER – ANOTHER CHANCE TO ORDER: As she’s been doing every Wednesday, Diane Niemi will be at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ in The Junction to take preorders for the “Heritage Pumpkin Pies” she’s making for Thanksgiving – raising money for Alzheimer’s/dementia research. Don’t wait till it’s too late – stop by 2-8 pm (more info here).

SOMALI STORY TIME: At the High Point Library (35th/Raymond), 5 pm.

PATHFINDER K-8 PTSA: First meeting of the year, 6:30 pm – details here.

‘THE HUM’ AND MORE AT HPAC: Highland Park Action Committee resumes its monthly meetings now that fall arrives, and you’re invited to the Highland Park Improvement Club at 12th/Holden, 7 pm (or come early for a potluck at 6:30). The agenda includes the city’s forthcoming project to reduce combined-sewer overflows in eastern West Seattle – possibly including “roadside raingardens” in South Delridge/Highland Park, as well as the newest information about “The Hum” (WSB followup in the works for later this morning, too) and Nickelsville.

POETRY AND STORYTELLING AT C&P: 7 pm, Poetrybridge‘s monthly event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW.

COAL TRAINS: From Fauntleroy Church‘s Green Committee:

The environmental debate about coal trains moving through the Duwamish corridor comes to West Seattle Wednesday, Sept. 26, with a free 7 PM forum in Fellowship Hall at Fauntleroy Church. Panelists from Climate Solutions, the Sierra Club, and Earth Ministry. Details: www.fauntleroyucc.org.

These are just a few highlights – there’s more for today/tonight (and far beyond) on our calendar!

(PM-commute bicyclists on the low bridge; photo by Don Brubeck, shared via the WSB Flickr group. The state is counting bicyclists and pedestrians this week.)

TONIGHT’S TRAFFIC ALERT: Southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to be closed 9 pm-5 am, as reinforcement work continues on the stretch that’s over the future deep-bore-tunnel path.

RESOURCE FAIR FOR SENIORS: 10 am at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon) – details here.

TODDLER MUSIC CLASSES: Starting up at Alki Community Center, 11:40 am – find out more here.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH WEST SEATTLE’S SCHOOL BOARD REP: Marty McLaren‘s first discussion event of the season, 1:15-3:15 pm at Delridge Library (Brandon/Delridge).

PEPS ORIENTATION: New or expectant parent? Come find out about this support group, 1:30 pm at Bright Horizons (38th between Fauntleroy/Alaska). No pre-registration required – just show up (babies welcome too).

WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: With groups for young and not-as-young, beginners and experts, the West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSB sponsor) are back in session as of tonight’s rehearsals, and welcoming new members. They rehearse at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), at the times listed on their home page.

BLOCKWATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: Fighting/preventing crime in your neighborhood? You don’t have to be a captain – or even have to have a Block Watch (yet) – to attend, as the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network resumes its monthly meetings, 6:30-8 pm at the Southwest Precinct (Webster west of Delridge). Tonight’s focus is on what happened over the summer and is happening now in local neighborhoods, as explained in the WSBWCN preview.

TRAIN A GUIDE PUPPY! The West Seattle See Dogs meet tonight at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 6:30 pm – details in the calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL’S FIRST PTSA MEETING OF THE YEAR: 7 pm in the WSHS Library (3000 California SW). From president Tracy Burrows:

:All parents, students, teachers and community members are welcome to attend.
Principal Ruth Medsker will report on the opening of the school year, and don’t miss our special program: “Start Talking Now” with speakers Gwen Fraser from the Attorney General’s Office and Pastor Serena Wastman, who both have years of first-hand experience on how to engage your teen on issues related to reducing underage drinking and drug abuse. High-school years can be turbulent for our youth, so come find out about warning signs, appropriate interventions, and how you can be part of a positive solution.

City Councilmember Tim Burgess will give a brief talk on how the Families and Ed Levy supports West Seattle High School. We’ll also be giving an update on planning for the November 15th Fall Harvest Auction, which promises to be an entertaining and fun event dedicated to building community and supporting our students. Make plans to attend now! You can drop off auction donations at the meeting, including donations of wine for the “Wine Frenzy.”

NIGHTLIFE: Jason Sees at Locol, 7:30 pm … Trivia That Rocks at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … Baby Ketten Karaoke at 9 at Skylark Café and Club … Starlight singer-songwriter showcase at Shadowland, 8 pm …

More on the calendar!

Tonight the Seahawks host the Packers for Monday Night Football – and the Seahawk spirit started burning bright and early at Hans VW Repair at 35th/Graham in High Point, owned by superfan Hans Loos. We photographed the GO SEAHAWKS light show late last night on the expanding north side of the shop. The game also plays into tonight’s transportation/traffic picture for West Seattle, as you’ll see in our highlights ahead:

TRAFFIC/TRANSPORTATION NOTES, INCLUDING THE SEAHAWKS GAME: If you travel through SODO, keep tonight’s game in mind. Kickoff is at 5:30 pm our time. Tonight, the West Seattle Water Taxi has added evening runs to help get fans home. Also tonight, from our weekly list of closures: Southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 is closed overnight, 9 pm-5 am, between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge.

WATCHING THE GAME: A variety of venues are likely to be dominated by home-team fans, but if you are a Packers fan, the place to be is the Heartland Café in the Admiral District.

FALL QUARTER AT SSCC: School’s in session starting today at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), where this is the start of the fall quarter.

CITY COUNCIL: Items of interest on their 2 pm agenda (see it here, with links to individual action items) include final votes on the towing-fee-limit proposal and authorization for acquiring the land north of Morgan Junction Park by eminent domain if necessary (here’s our previous report; the Parks and Neighborhoods Committee OK’d it last week).

SCHOOL-LEVY MEETING: Tonight may be the final public meeting in West Seattle before Seattle Public Schools finalizes the BEX 4 levy it will send to voters in February. 6:30 pm at Madison Middle School (45th and Spokane); details, agenda, links in our Sunday night preview.

CROSSTOWN SHOWDOWN: High-school volleyball tonight, with two unbeaten-in-conference-play teams – Chief Sealth and visiting West Seattle HS! 7 pm at Sealth.

NIGHTLIFE: Pub quiz night at Shadowland, 8 pm … Flat Earth Society at West 5 features Chris Martin spinning tonight (Ampbuzz, Kinski), 9 pm … that’s also when Karaoke Kelli is on hand at the Benbow Room.

… and yes, there’s lots more on the calendar, for today/tonight and beyond!

First full day of fall – perfect time for fall cleaning, if you want to divest yourself and your home of any items on the list for today’s “Recycle Roundup” – one of the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERT: Tonight begins another Sunday-Thursday series of overnight closures for southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct, 9 pm-5 am.

RECYCLE ROUNDUP: 9 am-3 pm today, it’s the fall edition of Fauntleroy UCC Church‘s twice-yearly recycling event with 1 Green Planet. Free (though they’ll have donation baskets if you want to offer a few $ out of appreciation for the service). Drive into the church parking lot at 9140 California SW (map) – the list of what they will and will not take is here.

PANCAKE-BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER: Support the Westside Wildcat youth sports/cheer organization by joining them for breakfast at the Masonic Hall, 40th and Edmunds, 9 am-11:30 pm – details in the calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: As always, 10 am-2 pm, 44th and Alaska in The Junction.

CREATIVE-WRITING CLASSES: A new series of weekly classes starts today at Gatewood B&B, 10 am-noon. Details here.

OPEN HOUSE AT CAMP LONG: 12:30 pm-4:30 pm, you’re invited to an open house about Camp Long’s challenge courses and community collaboration around them. Full details here.

GLOBAL LENS FILM SCREENING: The Portuguese/French film “Craft” will be screened free at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 2 pm, as part of the Global Lens series.

Preview the week ahead by browsing the calendar!

Thanks to Chas Redmond for sharing that photo of part of the new “Hub and Spoke High Course” at Camp Long. It’s a big weekend for CL – a party tonight, open house tomorrow. Tonight’s event is part of our daily list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE TRAFFIC ALERT: As noted here on Friday, SDOT says crews will be painting stripes on the West Seattle Bridge, so you just might get stuck in a slowdown.

AUTUMN EQUINOX THIS MORNING, SUNSET WATCH TONIGHT: Fall officially arrives at 7:49 am our time today. Celebrate with NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen‘s equinox sunset watch at Solstice Park; be there by 6:45 pm or so.

BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENTS: Two are happening at the West Seattle Golf Course today – the 11th annual Holy Rosary tournament, with an 8 am start, and the Seattle Parks Youth Scholarship Fund tournament, with a 2 pm start.

BLOOD DRIVE AT WESTWOOD: On the Barton side of Westwood Village, you’ll find the Puget Sound Blood Center‘s Bloodmobile, 9:30-3:30, and they’d love to have you come donate; details here.

OKTOBERFEST AT ELLIOTT BAY BREWING COMPANY: Special German food on the menu all day/night, and live Bavarian music 6-9 pm. Details here.

FREE MOVIE AT THE LONGHOUSE: At noon and 1:30, you can see “Princess Angeline” – the Duwamish story of Native Seattle – free at the Duwamish Longhouse, which explains, “This 2010 film by local filmmakers Sandy & Yasu Osawa explores the unrecognized tribal status of the Duwamish primarily through the life of Chief Seattle’s daughter, Princess Angeline. Funded in part by 4Culture.” The longhouse is at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW.

LIEN OPEN HOUSE & FURRY FACES PET-TAGGING EVENT: 1-4 pm, it’s an open house at the veterinary clinic in The Triangle, and Furry Faces Foundation will be there with their pet-tagging campaign. Full details here.

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING: The big game vs. Concrete is at 1:30 pm at West Seattle Stadium. Saints fans are urged to wear white to support the team!

SPAGHETTI-DINNER BENEFIT: Holy Family School invites you to dinner! Details on partner site White Center Now. 5-8 pm, 20th/Roxbury.

DESSERT AUCTION AND COFFEEHOUSE CONCERT @ CAMP LONG: Get a look at the new challenge-course element in progress, and enjoy dessert/coffee/music/bidding. 6:30-9 pm – more info here.

LIVE MUSIC: Lots of it again tonight! Use the followin links to see calendar listings with details. Kings of Side Two at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … Allison Scull & Victor Martin at Alki Arts, 6 pm … Three live bands at Skylark Café and Club, 8 pm … Alan Sobel at The Cask, 8 pm … Beard Feedback and Power Skeloton at The Benbow Room, 9 pm … Beard Brothers at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm.

‘BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON’: First week of the musical’s run at ArtsWest continues, 7:30 pm.

More for today/tonight, on the calendar.

(Newly paved stretch of Beach Drive, Juneau to Atlas, completed Thursday)
Happy Friday! Here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar, on the eve of autumn (the equinox is at 7:49 am our time Saturday):

FOOD DRIVE: As part of the United Way Day of Caring, Microsoft employees will be at Westwood Village QFC 10 am-1 pm collecting food and money donations for the White Center Food Bank.

BALLROOM DANCING: 1:30-3:30 pm at Delridge Community Center (Delridge Way SW south of SW Genesee) – the monthly event with Lauren Petrie.

HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: West Seattle High School hosts Cleveland at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), 7 pm. (The full sports schedule for WSHS and Chief Sealth, daily, is always linked from our calendar.)

WINE TASTING: 6-7:30 pm at Bin 41 in The Junction, a “Washington Wine Medley,” in conjunction with West Seattle distributor Elliott Bay, also featuring “a couple wines from our neighbors in Oregon.”

WCCDA DINNER: As previewed on partner site White Center Now last week, trailblazing King County Councilmember Larry Gossett is the featured speaker at tonight’s White Center Community Development Association‘s 10th annual dinner/auction, 6-9 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center (south end of the campus at 6000 16th SW). Ticket info here.

RESTORATIVE YOGA AT SOUNDYOGA: 6:30 tonight with Milo Minnis, “no experience needed” – a great way to follow a busy week. SoundYoga (WSB sponsor; 5639 California SW) – details in the calendar listing.

MOVIE NIGHT IN HIGHLAND PARK: At HP Improvement Club (12th/Holden) tonight, doors open at 6:30 pm, movie at 7. Here’s the rest of the announcement:

Volunteers will be selling popcorn, candy and other movie fare. Bring blankets and pillows or sit in our chairs. Movie hint: In this 1985 classic, a group of kids embark on a wild adventure to save their neighborhood from dastardly developers after finding a pirate treasure map. Free admission! Please bring your family and friends and join us!

LIVE MUSIC: Lots of it tonight! Follow the links to calendar listings with details. Sid Law at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … Coven and Demon Dogs (CD release party) at Skylark Café and Club, 8 pm … Kimball and The Fugitives at The Cask, 8 pm … Barbie Anaka at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … NMERCER and PonyHomie at The Benbow Room, 9 pm … Flat 5 at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm

More for today/tonight – plus a preview of the weekend! – on the calendar.

Call this a followup to a followup. As requested by Mayor McGinn last week, the FAA has scheduled a south-end meeting “in response to community concerns about air traffic issues over Seattle,” according to the mayor’s spokesperson Aaron Pickus. He says the meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23 from 6-8 pm at NewHolly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave. South. The mayor’s letter was inspired in part by Alki Community Council president Tony Fragada bringing up concerns about the “Greener Skies” air-traffic proposal at the August 28 mayoral town hall at Southwest Teen Life Center. Tonight, in fact, the ACC’s monthly meeting includes a followup on “Greener Skies”; the public’s welcome as always, 7 pm, Alki UCC (61st and Hinds).

UPDATE: According to the Quieter Skies Task Force, the NewHolly Hall meeting is now at 6:30-8:30 pm on October 23rd.

Diane, an avid library user, says she hadn’t heard about this till spotting a sign in a local branch, so we’re mentioning it to make sure you’re not caught by surprise: All Seattle Public Library branches are closed for staff members’ in-service day next Thursday, September 27th.

Forecast says we’ll be fogless later. Socked in right now, though, as SDOT/WSDOT cams show (more on the WSB Traffic page). Highlights for today/tonight:

TONIGHT’S TRAFFIC ALERT: Southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct closed from the Battery Street Tunnel to the West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am.

ARTIST SIGN-UPS: Two events are accepting registrations right now, and both have listings on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar – follow these links for info: Fauntleroy Fine Art and Gift Fair and the Community Art Showcase at Southwest Library.

CIRCLE OF SINGLES: Those 55 and up interested in friendship, a night out, walking/hiking, and other activities are invited to a meetup at the Heartland Café, 5 pm; details in the calendar listing.

‘GAY AND GRAY?’ So begins the invite for a meeting/social tonight at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon) for LGBT adults 50 and over, 6-8 pm.

DELRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN HOUSE: Come find out about classes, facilities, and more at your neighborhood community center (on Delridge south of Genesee)! Stop by 6:30-8 pm.

GREEN CLEANING! Learn about it at a class tonight at Chaco Canyon Organic Café, 6:30 pm – call the class leader in advance to make sure there’s room (full details here).

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: The agenda includes a discussion of the air-traffic-change proposal Greener Skies (latest WSB coverage is here and here), 7 pm at Alki UCC (6112 SW Hinds).

QUEEN, LIVE IN BUDAPEST, ON THE BIG SCREEN: Special screening at The Admiral Theater tonight, 7 pm – the only one in Seattle! Ticket info here.

NIGHTLIFE: The Deep Cuts (DJs!) at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … Kurtis Dengler at The Cask, 8 pm … Three bands at Skylark Café and Club, 8 pm … Tonight’s the twice-monthly comedy open mike and showcase at The Benbow Room, signups at 8:30 and show at 9.

(Great blue heron photographed by Danny McMillin, shared via Flickr)
Midway through the week – you can glide from here! Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

1ST AVENUE SOUTH OFFRAMP ON EASTBOUND BRIDGE REOPENS: It closed four weeks ago, and by morning’s first light, SDOT says it will be open again, along with a stretch of eastbound surface S. Spokane St.

TRAFFIC ALERT #2: Another overnight southbound 99/Viaduct closure, 9 pm to 5 am.

BEACH DRIVE WORK REMINDER: Resurfacing continues today, 8 am-7 pm, between Atlas and Juneau. Here’s our Tuesday report.

BABY PEPPERS: 10:30 am, it’s the weekly meeting of a West Seattle support group for parents with babies. Find out more here.

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: Fresh-vegetable sales continue on Wednesdays at the stand next to the organic mini-farm at 32nd and Juneau, 4-7 pm. More info here.

GIRLS’ FIGHT NIGHT OUT: Self-defense and spa treatments are all on the program, starting at 6:30 pm at The Sanctuary @ Admiral (42nd/Lander). Details here.

SANISLO ELEMENTARY PTSA: 6:30 pm in the school library, first meeting of the school year.

K-5 STEM AT BOREN PTA: 7 pm, first meeting of the school year at West Seattle’s newest school (which by the way has a robust discussion group online, here).

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: The agenda for tonight’s 7 pm meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) includes an SDOT update on changes in the works for Delridge Way and a Seattle Public Utilities update on stormwater projects in the works for eastern West Seattle.

NCOMPASS’S BACKYARD COTTAGE WORKSHOP: What are the rules? The benefits? The prerequisites? WSB sponsor Ncompass Cottage Company presents everything you want to know about building a backyard cottage, 7 pm, details here.

‘BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON’: 7:30 tonight, it’s opening night for the Tony-nominated musical that starts the 2012-2013 season for ArtsWest in The Junction. Here’s our preview from last night.

More on the calendar!

(Photo by Machel Spence)
Neighborhood crime concerns? Questions for police? Tonight the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council resumes its season of monthly meetings. That’s one of the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: From our latest day-by-day/night-by-night list: In West Seattle, SDOT announced Beach Drive repaving between Atlas and Juneau would start today, 8 am-7 pm. No closure expected but lane restrictions. On the highways, another southbound 99 closure between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am. And a Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project note – there’ll be work on the surface at 1st/Spokane tonight because the eastbound 1st Avenue South offramp is scheduled to reopen tomorrow morning.

JUDGE SPEAKS TO ROTARY: As previewed here on Monday, King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu speaks to the Rotary Club of West Seattle today, noon at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor).

PROLETARIAT PIZZA’S ANNIVERSARY GIFT: Three years ago today, the popular family-owned pizza place opened in downtown White Center, and they’re celebrating by donating 30 percent of tonight’s take to the White Center Food Bank. Hours 4 pm-9 pm.

DROP-IN CHESS: For youth, at High Point Library, starting at 4 pm.

JOIN A DRILL TEAM! The Spinnakers are having an open house at Highland Park Elementary tonight, 6-8 pm. Details here.

EVENING BOOK GROUP: “In the Time of the Butterflies” by Julia Alvarez is the featured book this month for the group meeting tonight at High Point Library (35th/Raymond), 6 pm.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: After summer break, this volunteer citizen group is back in session. Local police leadership is there for crime-trend updates and citizen Q/A, so if you have concerns or questions, this is your best chance each month to get them answered directly. 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room, right off the parking lot along Webster west of Delridge Way SW.

CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PTSA: The PTA/PTSA meetings for the new school year are under way, and tonight, Chief Sealth’s PTSA kicks off its year, 7 pm in the school library; details in the calendar listing.

NIGHTLIFE: Alauda belly-dancing showcase at 7:30, followed by Baby Ketten Karaoke at 9, at Skylark Café and Club … Open-mike night at The Cask in the Admiral District, 8 pm … Trivia That Rocks at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm …

More on the calendar!

(Photo by Guy Smith, taken last week near Alki Point)
Happy Monday! From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar – what you need to know about the day/night ahead:

TRAFFIC ALERTS TODAY/TONIGHT: Those who use Highway 99 to head downtown and beyond are driving on the new northbound stretch this morning (it opened Saturday night, earlier than projected). Then tonight, there is another southbound 99 closure – WSDOT is still working on reinforcing a section of remaining Alaskan Way Viaduct that’s over the future tunnel-boring zone – 9 pm tonight to 5 am Tuesday.

AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: The Southwest Library welcomes you to the group discussing “The Deptford Trilogy” this month, meeting at 2 pm today at the branch (35th/Henderson).

IRISH DANCE: New class sessions (including Mondays) are under way this month at the VFW Hall in The Triangle – find out more here.

WINTER GARDENING, WITH SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE: 6-8 pm at the South Seattle Community College Arboretum, you can get ready for fall/winter food growing by attending SWS’s monthly Community Forum – full details on the SWS website.

DELRIDGE PRODUCE COOPERATIVE: Everyone’s invited to DPC’s general meeting at 6:30 pm tonight, Delridge Library (Brandon/Delridge). The agenda includes a variety of topics from involvement with the upcoming West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, to a future fundraising dinner/auction, to a market-research survey.

NIGHTLIFE: Pub quiz night at Shadowland, 8 pm … Flat Earth Society at West 5 features Matt Lukin spinning tonight (Melvins/Mudhoney alum), 9 pm … that’s also when Karaoke Kelli presides at the Benbow Room …

Just in case you wondered. We’ve been out here at the West Seattle Junction Car Show all day and heard it – and several people have pinged it since. Thanks to Damon and Patrick for the quick answer when we put the question out via Twitter. (added) Also via Twitter, there’s one report it was two F-15s from a New Orleans-based group.

11:16 AM: We’re live on site at the West Seattle Junction Car Show (and proud to be a co-sponsor again this year) – and lots of people are out and about! Here’s the “live” look from SDOT’s camera by KeyBank, pointed north:

The first raffle winner (ticket sales benefit Pencil Me In For Kids) has just been announced. We’re right in front of Easy Street Records and Café:

(Those are our first-ever freebies on the table – not sure how long they’ll last, but we thought we’d offer something practical, since winter weather – as unthinkable as it seems right now – is a place where WSB community collaboration has always shone!) Right around the corner from us is where you’ll find the raffle tickets, at a booth on Easy Street’s south side. Adding more photos shortly. Tip: Don’t wait till the last hour to come down – in the past, we’ve seen early departures. Also, in case you’re wondering about music, it’s classic oldies – ’60s and ’70s.

ADDED 11:56 AM: Zucchini 500 racing at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market around the corner!

The zucchini celebration even extends to the 50-pound version that you’ll find at the ROckridge Cidery booth:

Even though The Junction’s streets are closed (same “footprint” as Summer Fest), the Farmers’ Market is on, full strength, till 2 pm as always. Thanks to all the cool people who have stopped by to say hi – including a dozen or so who told us they moved here recently and use WSB (even before they got here) to plug into what’s going on. Also just talked to longtime WSB sponsor BJ from Brunette Mix, which is here in The Junction (on SW Oregon). Great to see EVERYBODY who is out and about – lots of smiles regarding the great weather. We’re gathering more photos right now – adding shortly.

12:53 PM UPDATE: Show organizer Michael Hoffman tells us they’ve set a record for registrations – 222! This year, you might recall, motorcycles and scooters were welcomed too – here’s some of what we’ve seen so far:

And of course – more cars! Here’s a 1963 Imperial Crown, entry #105:

Also from ’63, a Mercury Monterey, entry #66:

All the cars look great, gleaming in the sun … now we’re at the time of day where it’s shining on both sides of the street:

2 PM UPDATE: One more hour of prime viewing time before the awards! Here’s a 1974 Volkswagen Westfalia, entry #36:

And a ’65 Mustang, entry #163:

Previous photos are by Patrick Sand; next two are by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, with a closer look at some of the beautiful details:

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Remember the scooter rally’s coming up right after the car show too – one of the organizers, Hotwire’s Lora Swift, is here chatting with us now; they did a dry run on the route, and she says it was “awesome.” Get your scooter to Hotwire at 4410 California SW by 4 pm. (Whether you’re rallying or not, you’re also invited to the “Quadrophenia” screening at Feedback Lounge tonight!)

3:38 PM UPDATE: The show’s wrapping up with the final award having just been presented – we have recorded video of the entire ceremony and will add that later (added – here’s that video):

Among the many winners, this 1934 Pontiac convertible:

The cars are still on display – the timing’s worked out better this year, along with the increased turnout and great weather. The announcer just noted the street will reopen by 6 pm, so take note of that, in case you were wondering. The raffles during the day raised $700 for PMIFK. Watch for more photos later – either added to this story, or in a “Report #2”! (And if you have a gallery of your own – we know a LOT of people were out taking photos – send us a link, so we can include it!)

LATE-NIGHT NOTE: Updated fundraising total – between the raffles and the “50/50” drawing, $950 raised, according to organizer Hoffman – and that, like the registration total, is a record, he says.