(Anchor/Luna Park photo by Flickr member Nakean, from the WSB Flickr photo pool)
Part of today’s look ahead is warmer, if cloudier, weather – last night was the last subfreezing night expected for a while. Also, one more road reminder, if you haven’t already been through it, today is the day 1st Avenue South is down to one lane each way by the stadiums until April, because of Alaskan Way Viaduct south-end replacement work, which also brought southbound changes to some Metro routes that previously used 1st Ave. S. in that area, including a few serving West Seattle. Besides that reminder, the schedule’s light today; folk-rocker Abi Grace is onstage at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) tonight at 9 (heard about their menu changes yet?), and it’s trivia night at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor).

NON-WEST SEATTLE P.S. In case you are interested in seeing this: The Seattle Fire Department has sent word that the traveling Patriot Flag, a 9/11 memorial, will hang between two 100-foot ladder trucks at Seattle Center between 2 and 2:30 this afternoon, south side of the International Fountain. It’s traveling between fire departments across America (previous stop: Olympia), final destination New York City for the 10th anniversary this September.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Two weeks of winter break are over, and most if not all local students are back in class today.

ALKI COMMUNITY CENTER CHANGES: Big changes in hours and staffing, as mandated by the final city budget, begin today; we previewed them here when the center’s Advisory Council got official word a month ago, and they’re detailed in a flyer linked from the ACC home page.

VIADUCT-CONSTRUCTION CHANGES FOR DRIVERS AND RIDERS ON 1ST AVENUE SOUTH: Tonight’s the night those changes start taking effect – first with an overnight closure, then longterm lane closures – on 1st Avenue South in the stadium zone; here’s our original story with details. The changes also will affect some Metro routes, southbound direction only; those details are here.

METRO, FERRY FARE CHANGES: Both Metro and Washington State Ferries changed fares over the weekend – Metro changes here, with full details here (thanks to Bob for pointing out the detailed link), and ferry changes here (PDF).

SOUNDWAY VOTE BY FULL COUNCIL: This afternoon at 2 pm, the Seattle City Council (agenda here) is expected to take the final vote approving transfer of part of the West Duwamish Greenbelt from SDOT to Seattle Parks – ending its longstanding designation as right-of-way for potential roads, and paving the way for all-out restoration work by the Nature Consortium.

OPENING DAY FOR AVALON: Just two months after first word of the new restaurant Avalon, it’s officially opening today for happy hour and dinner. (Here’s our coverage of its preview night last Wednesday.)

FREE COFFEE AT JOJO’S: After shuttering her 16th/Holden coffee stand last week amid a mess involving back rent and the foreclosure that closed her landlord’s neighboring store, JoJo’s Fine Espresso owner Jodi Robbins said in a WSB comment that she’d be there this morning (as of about an hour ago) giving out free coffee drinks until her remaining supplies ran out.

By now, you may be thoroughly tired of “2010 in review,” since 2011 is in its third day. We weren’t able to finish it sooner – new news always comes first – but just in case you’re still interested, after the jump, our decidedly nonscientific, maybe even highly disputable picks for WSB’s top stories of 2010:Read More

(Male Anna’s hummingbird; photo by Danny McMillin via the WSB Flickr group pool)
Happy second day of 2011! A few notes for today – Washington State Ferries‘ winter schedule starts today, which means, among other changes, fewer weekend runs for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth; the new schedule is available in various formats here – note that fares just went up too … West Seattle Farmers’ Market is open as always, 10 am-2 pm … At the beach, Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW) celebrates its half-year “anniversary” with a storewide 10%-off sale, noon-7 pm. … Two WSB sponsors have live music today/tonight: At C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), it’s Bremerton songwriter Umber Mishra, 3-5 pm, and at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way), it’s all-ages night, with Petros, Canby, and Elliott G. Knapp, starting at 7 … P.S. (added 9 am) A Tweet reminds us that the West Seattle Tool Library is open today too, 1-5 pm (see its inventory here).

While continuing to put together the WSB take on 2010’s top 10 stories (coming up later), we came across three that seemed to deserve a retrospective all their own – the three offbeat stories covered here in 2010. Read More

Over the course of today/tonight, we’re looking back at West Seattle’s 2010 in a few ways. Here’s the first. Christopher Boffoli photographed dozens of notable stories for WSB again this year; he went through his archives via Flickr and created this montage of memorable scenes. It’s not in order of importance – you’ll see a number of breaking-news scenes since Christopher is often first to arrive, but also wildlife, parade participants, sights at sea and in the sky … a great visual retrospective. Just click the “play” button and the images will automatically advance as you watch. Coming up later, our “top stories of the year” list, as well as year-end thanks. (But we’ll be here as usual covering today’s news all day, too!)

First, the transit-rider reminder: Metro’s on “reduced weekday service” again today … A citywide event bound to be of interest here too – Mayor McGinn plans an update on the “Nightlife Initiative” at 6 pm tonight (Washington Hall in Squire Park) … Speaking of nightlife, a few notes – the ReKonstruction show with West Seattle-raised comedian Adam Cozens, mentioned in this WSB story, is tonight at Comedy Underground in Pioneer Square, 8 pm (hosted by West Seattle’s Alex Meyer) … Nightlife *in* West Seattle includes “Writers and Tellers Night” at 9 pm, Mac’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way), with the “Big Fat Liars Club” competition … At the other end of Delridge, it’s Caffeine, live on stage at 9 pm, at Skylark Café and Club, and 8 pm rock trivia at Feedback Lounge (both WSB sponsors) … For the much-much-younger set, there’s afternoon entertainment: Toddler Story Time at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson), 2 pm (more info here) … And looking ahead, we’re continuing to add to the West Seattle New Year’s Eve list on the Holidays page.

(Sunday photo by Chas Redmond)
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is admittedly usually fairly quiet – though the “s” word remains in the forecast for later this week – but there are a few things to share: First, for transit users, remember that Metro continues “reduced weekday service” between the holidays … From the WSB Forums, there’s a La Leche League meeting this morning, 10:30 am at Seaview Methodist Church (4620 SW Graham) … Tonight, families are welcome at Pajama Story Time at High Point Library (35th/Raymond), 7 pm … C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) doesn’t usually have live music on Mondays, but tonight, regular performer Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice is scheduled to play, 6-8 pm … Monday night means that Scrabble‘s the word, raising money this time for Books for Prisoners, tonight at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 7 pm registration, 7:15 pm game (details here). … And if you feel like dancing, you’ve got the floor at Kenyon Hall during Balorico‘s Family Holiday Dance Party, 4:30-5:45 pm (details here).

(Sightseer photo from last Friday, shared by West Seattle Water Taxi enthusiast “expatom“)
Welcome to the largely-devoid-of-official-events week before Christmas, when all through the peninsula, not a meeting was stirring … There are activities, of course. Like today’s Afternoon Book Group at Southwest Library, 2 pm … It’s the fifth-to-last performance of “A Tuna Christmas” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 7:30 tonight (tickets available online) … Be at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) at 7 pm to sign up for the third weekly Scrabble tournament, this time raising money for Furry Faces Foundation … And the West Seattle See Dogs club meets tonight, welcoming everyone potentially interested in helping raise a guide puppy to become a guide dog (more info here). Last but not least, you never know, there could be enough of a break in the weather tonight to glimpse at least part of the total lunar eclipse – this seattletimes.com (WSB partner) story has details.

First thing in today’s preview: Chief Sealth International High School band director Marcus Pimpleton reminds us here that today’s the last day to vote for Sealth in the online Battle of the Bands – that link explains how, as does our original story … From the West Seattle Holidays page, 2 holiday parties tonight: The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s holiday party is tonight at Salty’s on Alki, 5 pm, and the 34th District Democrats, 6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, plus a port-wine tasting at Bin 41 (WSB sponsor and part of our deal-laden Holiday Shopping Guide), 5:30-7 pm … The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council has its monthly meeting an hour earlier than usual, 6 pm, including a presentation about proposed Duwamish River habitat restoration, then a holiday potluck at 7 (Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way) … At the south end of Delridge, the new White Center Community Christmas Tree will be lit at 7 pm … And two events are on the calendar this morning: The Funeral Mass for Tony’s Market proprietor Tony Genzale, 10:30 am at St. Francis of Assisi in Burien (16226 21st SW) as detailed here, and the “One World” discussion series at the Senior Center of West Seattle tackles “Winter Holidays Across Cultures” at 10:45 am (California and Oregon in The Junction).

What’s it like when your house is Ground Zero for school-auction preparations? Just ask Cosmo. His mom shared that photo as items for the Lafayette Elementary “Play It Forward” playground project auction filled the room last night – they’ll be moved today, since the auction is 6 pm tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy. We’re told Cosmo’s holding “the item he covets most, a box of games and toys from Atomic Boys.” (That Admiral shop is part of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping Guide, by the way.) Full auction list here. One more non-holiday event: Last info night for Get Fit West Seattle at West Seattle Runner, 7 pm. Also today/tonight:

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE TREE LIGHTING: 7 pm, 35th/Myrtle (map), the highest-elevation Christmas tree in the city lights up! OLG asks you to bring a nonperishable food donation for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

BELLS OF THE SOUND: Holiday concert at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 3940 41st SW, 7:30 pm (full details here)

HOLIDAY STYLE NIGHT BENEFITING WESTSIDE BABY: Ola Salon throws a party for charity, 5-8 pm. Free services, drinks and food, raffles, donation of $20 or more at the door suggested, all proceeds benefit WestSide Baby – reservations not required but suggested.

And tonight begins the second-and-final weekend for the Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) holiday show:

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” is based on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film and being performed at historic Kenyon Hall, tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm.

(‘Slip 4’ Duwamish cleanup area, photographed for WSB by Christopher Boffoli)
Here are highlights of what’s notable tonight BESIDES the West Seattle Art Walk, The Junction’s Shop Late Thursday, and West Seattle holiday events: 2 more chances to learn more about the proposed alternatives for cleaning up Duwamish River pollution, 3:30 and 5:30 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Georgetown campus (directions here) … Two major high-school events tonight: At West Seattle High School, find out about financial, with a rep from the National Education Loan Association on hand, 6:30 pm in the WSHS theater … It’s Multicultural Night at Chief Sealth International High School, featuring student performances and appetizers, 6:30 pm … And the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meets tonight at the WC DSHS offices (9650 15th SW), 6 pm. … More (mostly) non-holiday events on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page!

ADDED 9:09 AM: From the comments, one more meeting tonight of note for anyone interested in local Seattle Public Schools.

ADDED 12:41 PM: Couple more additions: Youngstown Arts Center’s All-Access Showcase tonight, with amazing performances by the youth who are part of the afterschool (etc.) program there, 6 pm; Sanislo Elementary has a fundraising book fair tonight at Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village – 6:30 to 8:30 pm – if you buy a book, be sure to tell the clerk it’s to benefit Sanislo!

This morning’s photo is courtesy WSB’er “Veteran Wisdom,” updating the installation of additional lampposts along SW Alaska in The Junction. A bigger light – Alki Lighthouse – figures prominently in one of today’s featured events (as does The Junction): The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle will hear all about it from U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Gary Blore, commander of the USCG’s Seattle-headquartered 13th District; the noon luncheon at Be’s Restaurant is $8, call the Kiwanis office ASAP for a reservation – 206-938-8032 … Tonight at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 7 pm, West Seattle CoolMom talks about greening up the holiday season as well as looking ahead to 2011 … From the WSB West Seattle Holidays list, Westside Dermatology (WSB sponsor) presents its first-ever Holiday Skin Care Party, 5:30-7:30 pm, free but go here to RSVP … Fine Films at Freshy’s (Coffee, 2735 California SW) screens “Elf” at 7 pm.

From the WSB Events calendar and West Seattle Holidays list: AAA West Seattle is having its holiday open house all week – stop in, 4701 42nd SW, 10 am-4 pm … It’s “Open Mike Monday” at Senior Center of West Seattle at 3 pm (call to sign up) … Bingo at Alki UCC church, doors open 5:30, 1st game at 6:30 (6112 SW Hinds) … West Seattle Hanukkah party co-sponsored by Seattle Kollel and West Seattle Torah Learning Center, 6:30 pm (call for location – contact info here) … As previewed here, two school events are also at 6:30 pm: Find out about the new Westside School middle-school program (7740 34th SW); get a design update on the Lafayette Elementary School playground project, school library (2645 California SW) … Monday night Scrabble, raising $ for local causes, starts tonight (previewed here) at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 7 pm registration, 7:15 pm game (3803 Delridge Way) … High Point Library Family Story Time tonight, 7 pm (35th/Raymond).

By the time hundreds of West Seattleites gather for the Community Tree Lighting at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska, photo above) at 5 tonight – emceed by Marty Riemer, featuring music by the Endolyne Children’s Choir – hours and hours of holiday fun, shopping, and helping will already be history. This morning, though, it’s all ahead: Two local service clubs are up VERY early this morning for signature holiday-season events – the Rotary Club of West Seattle gathers at SODO Sears at 6 to get ready to help local kids in the annual Holiday Shopping Spree (not a public event but you can help by donating here) … The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle invites you to the Alki Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds) 7 am-11 am for its 64th annual Pancake Breakfast, with Santa Claus, West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty, and of course the famous fresh flapjacks … At 9 am, the Admiral Neighborhood Association hits the street for its quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup; be at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) to enjoy complimentary coffee and treats first … 11 am-1 pm, the new Fire Station 37 (35th/Holden) opens its doors for an open house, including dedication of its curiosity-piquing artwork “Lifter” … Sidesaddle Cowboy and The Danged play Poggie Tavern tonight, 9 pm-1 am, in a benefit for West Seattle Food Bank (bring donations) … And outside West Seattle but involving locals, if you can help: Load a container of Ghana-bound bicycles, 9 am-5 pm at Ecolights NW, details and directions here< Then, there are the sales, bazaars, open houses, Santa .... See the WSB West Seattle Holidays page for full details. but in short, the long list includes: More than 30 vendors at Highland Park Elementary, 10 am-3 pm (bring a food-bank donation for a free raffle ticket), plus a fundraising rummage sale … St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church Arts & Crafts Co-Operative Holiday Sale, bring a food-bank donation, 10 am-3 pm in the parish hall (Spokane/42nd) … Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s 1st annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Show in the social hall, 10 am-4 pm (California/Othello) … Affordable Art Sale at Alki Bathhouse, 10 am-2 pm … CAPERS‘ 26th annual holiday open house, noon-4 pm … Merrill Gardens at West Seattle on 35th (WSB sponsor) kicks off the holiday season 2-4 pm with fun from Santa photos to candy-making and kids’ holiday movies … West Seattle Family Zone hosts a WS Entrepreneur Show at 4502 California SW in The Junction, noon-2 pm … Holiday High Tea at Blue Willow Luncheonette, 11 am and 1 pm seatings, 206-938-0988 to see if reservations remain … Santa’s in the house at Westwood Village, noon-4 pm (bring food-bank donations, diapers are being collected for WestSide Baby, too) … South Park Arts‘ “Art Under $100,” more details here – 4-10 pm (8201 10th Avenue South) … And West Seattle’s two holiday theater productions continue tonight: “A Tuna Christmas” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, and “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” by Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) at Kenyon Hall.