The view from Don Armeni about an hour ago hinted at the promise of sunshine later. Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar (got an event? e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!):

CHARLESTOWN CAFE’S FINAL DAY: Here’s our update from when the restaurant opened this morning; they’re scheduled to close forever at 3 pm.

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY’S FINAL SSCC DAY: The West Seattle Tool Library‘s moving to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and today’s its final day at the original South Seattle Community College location (north side) – drop by, borrow a tool, 1-5 pm.

FAUNTLEROY RECYCLING EVENT: 10 am-3 pm, the Fauntleroy Church Green Committee “is again offering to rid the neighborhood of tons of recyclable computers, monitors, appliances, bicycles, phones – pretty much you name it. Bring your stuff to the church parking lot [9140 California SW] and 1 Green Planet will take it away, break it down locally, and recycle everything responsibly.” Free (but donations accepted); full list of accepted items at fauntleroyucc.org

GARAGE SALE FOR JAPAN RELIEF, DAY 2: Shelley Lebert and friends welcome you to 3014 45th SW for a second day of garage-saling to raise money for Japan relief – 9 am-4 pm. (Here are our photos from Day 1.)

BIRTHDAY PARTY/BONE-MARROW DRIVE: 2-6 pm at Alki Arts, help Marnie Devlin celebrate her quarter-century birthday by potentially giving others the gift of life – or at least hope – sign up for the bone-marrow-donor registry. No invasive procedures. (Here’s our story about why Marnie’s doing this – and a first-person note from someone else who’s been waiting for the right match more than half her life.)

CATSINO! Furry Faces Foundation‘s fun-draiser with casino-style games and a silent auction is 2-6 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. Door prizes, hors d’oeuvres, a drink-ticket and more for $25 at the door.

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU SPRING TEA AND AUCTION: Also fundraising and having fun today – West Seattle Hi-Yu, with its spring tea and auction at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 2-4:30 pm (also $25).

FINAL PERFORMANCE OF ‘RUMORS’: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents “Rumors” one last time at 3 pm today, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

ROXHILL ELEMENTARY GARDEN WORK PARTY: 9 am-noon – your help would be appreciated! – see our preview here.

MASTER GARDENERS RETURN TO WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska as always – From market manager Catherine Burke, “Lots of plant starts including flowers, cool season greens, and hot crops. Also, this weekend marks the seasonal return of The Master Gardeners to answer all your localized gardening questions.”

WEST SEATTLE SOCCER CLUB SPRING SEASON BEGINS: As reported here last night, you’ll see WSSC players in action on eight fields around West Seattle today as the schedule of six Sunday-afternoon games gets under way.

(Scenes from Lincoln Park by West Seattle photographer Machel Spence)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

FOOD DRIVE: Kiwanis Club of West Seattle and Key Club members will be outside five local supermarkets 9 am-3 pm collecting nonperishable-food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank – PCC, Metropolitan Market, West Seattle Thriftway, Jefferson Square Safeway, Junction QFC.

Two events to raise money/awareness as Japan continues recovering from the earthquake/tsunami disaster:

GARAGE SALE FOR JAPAN RELIEF: Admiral Neighborhood garage sale to benefit Japan relief, 9 am-4 pm today and tomorrow, 3014 45th SW. (Original announcement here – map to the sale site is here)

MASS DOG WALK: Everyone, with or without dogs, welcome to join to help call attention to the plight of Japanese pets, post-quake. Meet at Anchor Park at noon and walk westward toward the Alki business district. Full details here.

And a whole lot more going on:

WESTSIDE SCHOOL AUCTION: Westside School (WSB sponsor)’s 22nd annual auction, Showbox SODO, 1700 1st Avenue South, doors open at 5 pm. Full schedule of events in school newsletter.

LAST DESIGN MEETING FOR BARTON STREET P-PATCH: Third and final design meeting for the 34th/Barton P-Patch, 1:30-3:30 pm, Southwest Community Center.

MORGAN JUNCTION PET STROLL: As Furry Faces Foundation says, “Don’t just shop – adopt!” Two locations where you can meet and adopt new furry family members – Pet Elements and Stella Ruffington’s. Noon-4 pm today; full details in this post from the WSB Forums.

CLOSING NIGHT FOR ‘DISTRACTED’: Last chance to see ‘Distracted‘ at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm (tickets available online)

SECOND-TO-LAST SHOW FOR ‘RUMORS’: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents Neil Simon’s “Rumors” again tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 7:30 pm (tickets available online)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, WYATT’S JEWELERS: Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) is kicking off their 6th Anniversary with an Open House Celebration 10 am to 6 pm. Refreshments, balloons, and free jewelry cleaning! Their anniversary sale continues for the entire month of April (center of Westwood Village)

NATIVE PLANT SALE: Go Natives! will have a Native Plant Sale at 3225 47th Ave SW (follow the signs), 10 am – 3 pm. You can request specific plants from their inventory such as some nice Trillium and lots of other stuff. If you can’t make it over till after 3 pm please call 206.542.1275 by early Saturday morning to make other arrangements.

SLAGS AT SKYLARK The Slags (opening for The Resets) at Skylark Cafe & Club (WSB sponsor), 3803 Delridge Way SW. 10 pm, $5 cover.

DIGITAL BOOK ROADSHOW: Seattle Public Library presents the “Digital Book Roadshow” at the West Seattle Branch (2306 42nd Avenue SW), 2-4 pm. Want to learn more about e-books and e-book readers? Come to this event where they will provide an overview of Library e-books and let you test drive various e-book readers. Presentations at 2 and 3 pm, hands-on tryouts after each.

FAUNTLEROY CLEANUP: The Fauntleroy Community Association‘s annual “Spring Clean” work party will be Saturday, April 2, 9 AM – noon in Cove Park (adjacent to the ferry terminal). Bring gloves and your favorite gardening tools for a general spruce-up. Children old enough to work safely and independently are especially welcome.

LINCOLN PARK CLEANUP: The forests of Lincoln Park are turning green and the trillium are up. It’s a great time to be in the woods, and here’s your chance. Join the Friends of Lincoln Park as we restore the Lincoln Park forests by removing invasive plants and planting natives. Today from 9 am to noon. Meet at the kiosk in the north parking lot, across Fauntleroy Way SW from SW Rose St. Bring garden gloves and hand clippers, or we’ll have extras.

MOVIE NIGHT AT TIBBETTS: “Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the park.”. If your allergies are kicking up, we know springtime has arrived. We also know it means time to oil up your mitts, bust out the “M’s” ballcap and get ready for a season of America’s Favorite Pastimes. Baseball, Eating and Movies! It’s also a great time to join Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor, 3940 41st Ave SW) for “Baseball Movie Night.” With the M’s first home stand fast approaching, now is a great time to slide into the season. Beginning at 6 pm, we pay homage to baseball food! “Slider” hamburgers and other ballpark favorites. After dinner, stick around and watch our featured movie “A League of Their Own.”

CAKES, CHAMPAGNE, PERFUME: New commercial bakery Baked. is having a Marie Antoinette-inspired cake tasting at Knows Perfume (4536 California SW) from 6 to 9 p.m. All cakes will be decorated in a grand style befitting a queen, so whether you’re looking for a wedding or special occasion cake (or just love cake), come sample Red Velvet, Lavender, Tiramisu, and Dark Chocolate while sipping champagne and sniffing the gorgeous perfumes carried by Knows. Baked. and Knows will be holding raffles for $50 gift certificates towards cakes and perfume.

WII BOWLING: From Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor): We will be having a Wii bowling tournament from 10 am to 2 pm at our Admiral Heights Location. The competition will be fierce between the seniors at Admiral Heights, Northgate, and Northgate Plaza. The winner of this tournament will go on for the grand prize.

‘ROCKY HORROR’ NIGHT: At midnight: The Rocky Horror Picture Show complete with shadow casting is presented at The Admiral Theater on the first Saturday of each month – that means tonight!

Those are before and after photos from Day 1 of Community School of West Seattle‘s bake sale to raise money for Japan relief – Day 2 is today. Director Sarah Airhart reports:

The Community School of West Seattle has been busy baking for the last 2 days for their bake sale and (Thursday) they raised $570 in ONE HOUR of selling. All funds will be donated to the Red Cross to aid the Japan relief efforts on behalf of a former preschool teacher from Japan, Mayuko. The bake sale will be refreshed (today) with more goodies so please stop by from 12 to 1pm.

CSWS is at 9450 22nd SW (here’s a map). Speaking of goodies:

CHACO CANYON CAFE OPENING DAY: When you check out Chaco Canyon Café at Link (WSB sponsor), 38th/Alaska – which opens at 7 am today – take a look over the door to the “community room” on the restaurant’s north side. Owner Chris Maykut surprised us with a West Seattle Blog-inscribed “brick” (lower left of the photo), on behalf of WSB’ers’ support for his WS expansion – which started when we published the question of whether you were interested in a vegetarian/vegan organic café (results: big “yes”). If you want to say you were there on Day 1, they’re open till 9 pm.

CHIEF SEALTH BASEBALL AUCTION/DINNER: Spaghetti dinner and three types of auctions (live, silent, dessert) – starts at 5:30 pm in the school Galleria; full details here.

‘RUMORS’ RESUMES AT YOUNGSTOWN: APRIL 1-3: Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” presented by Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, third-to-final show is at 7:30 tonight – schedule and tickets here.

FREE LAWN CARE CLASS: Elementary Lawn Care at West Seattle Nursery, 6-7 pm tonight, free, with WSN owner Mark Smith leading the class.

BIN 41 CELEBRATES YEAR ONE: First anniversary celebration, 5:30-7:30 pm, at Bin 41 wine shop in The Junction: Darby Winery and Gorman Winery featured; savory snacks; surprises, 5:30-7:30 pm, raising money for Japan earthquake relief by donating 100 percent of the $5 tasting fee.

BEER CHURCH ALE RELEASE: Also in The Junction: Celebrate the release of Beer Church Pale Ale. Join Beer Church at West 5, 6-9 pm. One dollar for every pint sold will be donated to Pints for Prostates, a non-profit organization that works to increase prostate cancer awareness. Prize raffle included.

YOUTH MEDIA INSTITUTE SILENT AUCTION: Youth Media Institute “No Fooling” Silent Auction takes place at Dubsea Coffee (9910 8th Avenue SW), 6 pm – 8 pm.

TERESA TUDURY AT KENYON HALL: Bay Area vocal artist Teresa Tudury returns to Kenyon Hall (7904 35th Ave SW), 7:30 pm. Reserved table seats are $14. Row seating is $12 general and $10 seniors. With a reservation, row seating is $10 general and $8 seniors. Elementary, middle, high school students are $5. Pre-school children are free. To make a reservation, please e-mail kenyonhall@earthlink.net.

PUGET RIDGE MEANINGFUL MOVIE: “I Bring What I Love” by Youssou N’Dour. At Puget Ridge Cohousing Common House, 7020 18th Ave. SW (at Myrtle), 7:15 pm. Discussion to follow. “I Bring What I Love” is a musical journey about the power of one voice to inspire millions. Youssou N’Dour won a Grammy for his album Egypt. Watch trailer here.

HYPNOSTERIA AT SENIOR CENTER OF WEST SEATTLE: Hypnosteria comedy show with Kevin Colllins, hypnotist. Evening schedule:
5:00 pm Happy Hour with Hooter Girls serving
6:30 pm Chicken dinner
7:30 pm Hypnosis Show
9:00 pm Live DJ Dance Music
Donation $20 members/$25 non-members for fundraiser by Senior Center of West Seattle. Reservations, please — call 206.932.4044.

TRAFFIC ALERT: 1st Avenue closes at Spokane northbound again overnight tonight, 8 pm-5 am, which means reroutes for buses 21, 22, 56, 85 night owl.

(Photo credit: Jeb the West Seattle pony, by Danny McMillin)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: The Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Event is tonight, starting with a town-hall forum at 6:30, on to a hoedown with live music at 7, details here, West Seattle Christian Church, 4400 42nd SW … Also in The Junction, four shops’ Fashion Spring Fling is tonight, 7-10 pm – shop late! – and Seattle Fish Company (4435 California SW) has a tasting event (fresh halibut and wine!) 5-7 pm … Speaking of fish, meet stars of “The Deadliest Catch” at Alki Tavern tonight, 7:30 pm … And as previewed here, the Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd Ave SW) is holding a Bake Sale To Benefit Japan, 2:45 – 3:30 pm (and again tomorrow) … The new Bright Horizons child-care center at Link (WSB sponsor; 38th and Alaska) has a hard-hat tour 4-7 pm, drop by any time for a look and to meet the staff … French-Canadian folk trio De Temps Antan, with the Acadian kitchen party music of La Famille Léger, plays Kenyon Hall at 7:30 pm … The final week of “Distracted” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction continues with a 7:30 pm performance tonight – full details here.

Happy Friday! Just a few highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar (and thanks to T. Doherty for the pieris photo below, taken in the Alki area):

OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘RUMORS’: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents Neil Simon‘s “Rumors” this weekend and next at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, schedule and tickets here

WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: Meets today at Daystar, 2615 SW Barton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with today’s meeting including Karen Summers from Cascade Cactus and Succulent Society, speaking at 1 pm, discussing the use of succulents and cacti in outdoor landscapes in the Seattle area. Donation $5; more information, 206-932-2540.

SEALTH’S WORLD WATER WEEK WRAPUP: As the World Water Week “local ideas festival” concludes at Chief Sealth International High School, students participate in a “Walk for Water” throughout the day.

GEAR SWAP DROPOFF: Skis, boards, boots, poles welcome for Mountain to Sound Outfitters‘ Saturday-Sunday gear swap – VFW Hall on SW Alaska, dropoff 4-7 pm today (details here)

BENEFIT WINE TASTING: Bin 41 wine shop in The Junction is again donating its $5 tasting fee tonight to Japan earthquake/tsunami relief, 5:30-7 pm, Woodinville Winery/Patterson Cellars featured tonight.

TRAFFIC ALERTS TONIGHT: Not in West Seattle but close enough they might affect you: 1st Avenue South north is scheduled to again close overnight at Spokane Street, starting at 8 pm; then starting at 11, on the north end of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, SDOT is scheduled to close one northbound lane of SR 99 through the Battery Street Tunnel and the Western Avenue on-ramp for maintenance work, till 5 am Saturday.

(Top photo by JayDee; below right photo by Lisa Stencel)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

FLASH MOB TO HELP JAPAN: West Seattle Academy (WSB sponsor) students plan “flash mob” activities in The Junction and on Alki this afternoon, starting around 1 pm, to raise money for Japan, early word here.

1ST DESIGN REVIEW MEETING FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT: The Southwest Design Review Board meets for new Harbor Properties proposal in The Triangle north of the motel (here’s our latest story with the info-packet link), 6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).

WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: Their speaker for the lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course today is Seattle School Board president Steve Sundquist; registration at 11:15, meeting at 11:30, call (206) 935-3216 to see if reservations for lunch are still available.

PETITION DRIVE: Marijuana-legalization I-1149 supporters are offering petitions to anyone in West Seattle who wants to circulate them, available at West Seattle Library starting at 10 am.

COOKING CLASS: “Jewish Family Favorites” class with Becky Selengut at PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor), 6:30 pm, class info here; check with the store to see if there’s still room.

‘DISTRACTED’: Performances continue with tonight’s 7:30 pm show at ArtsWest in The Junction – full details and ticket-buying link here.

(Alki eagle pair, photographed by Russ Walker)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for today/tonight:

HPAC NAME CHANGE?: Highland Park Action Committee meets, 7 pm, Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden). Agenda includes results of a survey on possibly changing the group’s name and a vote by attendees; also, updates on the Westcrest Park project and nearby sidewalk work. HPAC notes that children are welcome (there’s room in the meeting area to roam, and activities planned).

ADMIRAL SAFEWAY CHANGE: This morning, the change in the project’s southeastern corner, with more apartments instead of flex-work units, is scheduled to go before City Council’s Committee on the Built Environment, City Hall downtown, 9 am (agenda here)

POSITIVE DISCIPLINE: 7 pm, Fauntleroy Church and Little Pilgrim School host a Positive Discipline Workshop in the church’s Fellowship Hall for adults who are looking for long-term skills that will encourage children to “think for themselves, become more responsible and have a greater respect for themselves and for others.” More information at (206) 932-5600 and lorrie@fauntleroyucc.org.

FREE JOB-SEARCH WORKSHOP: South Seattle Community College’s WorkSource Center hosts another workshop, 4:30-6 pm, “Effective Networking for Employment.”

REMINDER, WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI OUT OF SERVICE: Here’s our report from yesterday; the county does not expect it back until Monday at the earliest.

(Cicadellidae – a leafhopper – photographed by Machel Spence)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

BLOCKWATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: The community is welcome at tonight’s West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network meeting, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster), 6:30 pm. Meet the precinct’s new Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon and talk about crime prevention through “environmental design.”

‘PERSONAL SAFETY NETS’: Another brown-bag talk in the “Living Into Life” series helps you develop Personal Safety Nets to support you when you need it. 11:30-1 pm at Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW), register by phone: 206-659-0665.

FAMILY STORY TIME: Bring the family to the Seattle Public Library‘s Delridge Branch (Delridge/Brandon) for story time tonight with Amy, 7 pm.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL TRIVIA: Rock music trivia every Tuesday night at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm

LIVE AT SKYLARK: Luke Sayers will bring his one man show in which he spins live organic loops of lush vocal harmony, rich guitar textures, & grooving percussion back to the Skylark Café (3803 Delridge Way SW) tonight @ 10 pm, no cover.

POLITICAL FUNDRAISER: West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen is running for re-election and having a WS fundraiser tonight, 6-8 pm, Puget Ridge Cohousing common building ‐ 7020 18th SW. (RSVP to Colby.a.underwood@gmail.com or call (206) 779‐1494.)

WATERCOLOR CLASSES: Painter Jennifer Carrasco launches a new series of classes tonight at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor); details at the end of the story we published last night.

(This morning’s high tide met high winds! Photo by David Rosen, SlickPix Photography)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar, as we say farewell to winter:

FIRST SPRING SUNSET: Spring equinox arrives at 4:21 pm our time – watch at Solstice Park with Alice Enevoldsen!

REMEMBER, THE VIADUCT’S CLOSED AGAIN: Alaskan Way Viaduct shutdown scheduled till 6 pm; the closure often ends earlier on Sunday, so watch here (and our new Facebook page – “liked” it yet? – plus Twitter) for updates if it does reopen sooner.

FLOWERS AND FOOD AT THE MARKET: West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska),

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RUMMAGE SALE: Garage Rock rummage sale at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 11:30 am-6 pm.

BOWLING BENEFIT FOR AMANDA KNOX DEFENSE FUND: 2-4:30 pm at West Seattle Bowl, a community fundraiser for the costs her family continues to incur. (Official flyer here). Questions? Al or Julie at tootdelafruit@gmail.com or almco@aol.com

ZUMBA FOR WEST SEATTLE YMCA PARTNERS WITH YOUTH: Spend up to two hours Zumba’ing 5-7 pm tonight (or any portion thereof) to raise money for the Y initiative that supports so many programs in the community – details in our preview.

LIVE MUSIC TODAY/TONIGHT: Jamtime at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm … Locöl hosts the Jacob Lakatua Quartet, 8 -11 pm (here’s the Facebook invite) … Note that Skylark Café and Club is NOT presenting live music tonight – instead it’s closing after brunch for floor repair (open till 3 pm).

(Low-tide sights from Machel Spence earlier this week – “Super Moon” rises 7:30 tonight)
VERY busy Saturday! Here are some highlights of things to do/places to go, starting with a traffic alert – all from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

VIADUCT CLOSURE: The Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed till 6 pm tonight, scheduled for closure again 6 am-6 pm Sunday, for inspection/maintenance/quake-gate testing.

RAVINE CLEANUP: Fairmount Ravine Preservation Group will sponsor the 19th Annual Spring Cleanup and Reforestation of Fairmount Ravine. Gather at 8:30 for delicious Tully’s coffee and hot cocoa along with donuts. Cleanup is usually completed within two hours. Meet your friends and neighbors at the top of the ravine Forest St. and Fairmount Ave., just east of Hiawatha Park). Beware that currently there is utility construction at this intersection. You can walk through intersection but need to park nearby. Wear boots and gloves. Bring a pruning saw if interested in removing ivy from trees. We extend a special invitation to those who use the ravine to access the waterfront; please donate an hour of your time to keep this greenbelt healthy and pristine.

‘STREET SCRAMBLE’: Alki Street Scramble, registration starts 8;30 am 62nd/Alki, details here

ADMIRAL CLEANUP: Admiral Neighborhood Association Adopt-A-Street cleanup, meet at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), 9 am (breakfast snacks/beverages and sack lunch provided, tools and vests too)

BUY BOOKS, HELP STUDENTS: Sanislo Elementary‘s 4th Grade Used Book Sale, 10 am-2 pm (Facebook event page here), raising money for their camp fund.

ATOMIC BOYS’ ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Atomic Boys in the Admiral District celebrating its third anniversary: Food, Fun & Games! Nifty drawings for kids of all ages! (yes, grown-ups too) Wear your Atomic Boys shirt for something neat-o! (10 am-6 pm)

WEST SEATTLE NESTFEST: Remodeling workshop including WSB sponsors Ventana Construction and WEDesign, Senior Center of West Seattle presenting information about remodeling with family needs in mind, 10 am (registration information here)

‘KEEP SEATTLE BEAUTIFUL’ CLEANUP: This one started as the “Clean Up Your Act, Seattle” cleanup, meet 8111 First Avenue South, 10 am, with King County Councilmember Joe McDermott joining in and Waste Management (whose HQ is at the meeting site) providing free breakfast.

FUNDRAISER CAR WASH: Rainbow Girls of West Seattle are holding a car wash on Saturday, March 19, 2011 from Noon to 3:00 pm at the Alki Masonic Hall – 4736 40th SW. Donations are gladly accepted. Rainbow is a service organization for girls between the ages of 11 and 20.

BOOK SIGNING: Barnes & Noble is proud to welcome members of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society to our West Seattle store for a book signing event on March 19th. Society members will be signing copies of their latest “Images of America” series book, about West Seattle, 1-3 pm

CELEBRATE PURIM: Kol HaNeshamah welcomes the community to its Purim celebration Saturday evening, March 19. We will have a child-oriented Celebration and Megilla Reading from 6:00-6:45: come hear the story of Purim told with the help of puppets!!! At 7:00 p.m. come see “Shushan on the Roof” as our congregants retell the story of Purim in costume and set to the music of the famous musical. Dress in costume (there will be prizes) and bring Hamantashen to share if you like (there will be more prizes for the most original or unusual!). For those who would like to help transform the Purim celebration into a force for good, bring small change to go into our tzedakah grogger! Kol HaNeshamah shares space with the Alki UCC and is located at 6115 SW Hinds St.

SCRABBLE FOR CHARITY: Play Scrabble, raise money for nonprofits, weekly tournament at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 3:30 pm

FREE BOAT SAFETY CHECKS: Coast Guard Auxiliary boat safety checks at Don Armeni boat ramp, 3-5 pm

And that’s not even everything – check the calendar for more.

(Look who joined Lincoln Park beachcombers on Thursday! Photo shared by Trileigh Tucker)
NO SCHOOL! No classes in Seattle Public Schools today.

FREE GUIDED ECO-HIKE: Nature Consortium guided eco-hike in West Duwamish Greenbelt, meet at 14th and Holly, 1 pm

FREE MOVIE NIGHT: The Highland Park Improvement Club presents another Movie Night! Doors open at 6:30 pm, movie starts at 7. Popcorn, candy and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Our movie license does not allow us to publish the movie title, so here’s this month’s hint: Adam Sandler’s 2008 movie for kids. Movies will be shown in the dance hall, with chairs available for seating. Or, bring blankets, pillows, folding chairs (that won’t scratch the floor) and camp out on the floor!

ALL ACCESS AT YOUNGSTOWN: ALL ACCESS Winter 2011 showcase (+ Massive Breakdance Battle presented by Arts Corps)
* 6 pm – 8:30 pm
* Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW
* Free, All- Ages, Open to families and community!
* Massive Breakdance Battle Pre-Lims, Hip Hop Dance, Songwriting, Rock School Showcase, FEEST organic food +knowledge, Hip Hop emcee/music showcase, DIY Fashion
* *Donations for arts programs accepted at the event
Each quarter ALL ACCESS classes end with a showcase, where youth have an opportunity to demonstrate their hard work on stage in the Youngstown theatre, with their families and the community in attendance.

‘DISTRACTED’: The second weekend of the newest production by ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction – full details here.

TRAFFIC REMINDERS: Northbound 1st Avenue South will be closed overnight at SW Spokane (under the Spokane Street Viaduct), 8 pm-5 am. And don’t forget that the Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to be closed 6 am-6 pm BOTH days this weekend for its twice-yearly maintenance checkup.

BENEFIT WINE TASTING: As noted here yesterday, Bin 41 in The Junction will donate all proceeds from the $5 fee for its 5:30-7 pm tasting tonight to Japan quake relief.

BRANCHING OUT: 8 am-2 pm, Certified arborists (including WSB sponsor Stonehedge Tree Service‘s Mark Harman) are pruning 10 White Oak trees in Lincoln Park as a gift to the city – they get together annually to celebrate Arbor Day, but explain that time in April would be bad time for pruning, so they’re out today. Plant Amnesty will be there too with information about proper tree care. This is just south of the ballfields.

OPEN HOUSE: Join nurse practitioner Chris Porter, ARNP, for an Open House today at his new clinic, 3623 SW Alaska, 206-937-5747, 12:30 – 6 pm.

ANNEX WHITE CENTER/NORTH HIGHLINE TO SEATTLE? The Regional Development and Sustainability Committee of the Seattle City Council considers whether to move toward a North Highline annexation election this fall, City Hall, 2 pm (here’s the agenda)

SPECIAL SERVICE: At Kol HaNeshamah: Special Friday evening Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. To mark the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Fire and to acknowledge the struggles around labor issues occurring in Wisconsin and elsewhere in the US, we will focus on Jewish ethical teachings on labor and the dignity due the laborer during our Shabbat service.

More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

We received that mysterious photo taken at Walking on Logs on behalf of “The Fork.” Ready to dig into corned beef and cabbage, perhaps? It’s all tied to whythefork.org, promising the mystery will be revealed next Monday. Till then, grab your lucky shamrock, and here goes the morning preview.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) is one of the places where the wearing and drinking of the green will be the order of the day. On the border between West Seattle and White Center, Mac’s Triangle Pub is planning a St. Patrick’s Day night to remember, starting at 6 pm (here’s the Facebook event page).

WATER TAXI BACK ON SCHEDULE: After almost a full day without West Seattle runs, because the Rachel Marie was filling in for Melissa Ann on the Vashon run, everything returned to normal mid-afternoon Wednesday, so it’s expected to be back on schedule this morning.

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: The May 22 “car-free day” (Seattle Summer Streets) is among the agenda items for tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting, 7 pm, Alki UCC (6112 SW Hinds).

BRUSH UP AND LISTEN UP: High Point Library presents a “Clean Your Teeth!” Story Time! AmeriCorps volunteers Zara Friedman and Emily Johnson, who work at a local clinic, will present a dental care themed story time 11:30 am-12 pm. The presentation will include a mix of stories, songs, games, and props to teach young children about dental care. It’s a free program for caregivers and children ages 3-5.

WEST SEATTLE CELLARS WINE TASTING: This week’s free Thursday night tasting, 5:30-8 pm, focuses on French wines.

OPEN MIKE NIGHT: It’s that time again at Freshy’s Coffee. You get a discount on wine and beer if you show up to perform; it all starts at 7 pm, and “anything that pertains to open mike is welcome.”

ECSTATIC DANCE: Every Thursday, 7:30-9:15 pm, VFW Hall at 3601 SW Alaska , freeform movement to recorded music from around the world. More details – www.ecstaticdanceseattle.com

And even more on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar …

(Hummingbird nesting at The Kenney – thanks to Katie Krause for sharing)
Fairly quiet day on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Tonight’s marquee meeting is the Delridge District Council, which always precedes its 7 pm business meeting with a broader 6 pm discussion about issues and ideas (you’re invited to that too). On the business-meeting agenda are the issues raised by medical-marijuana dispensaries, particularly the one that was briefly reported to be moving into a commercial space in the 5200 block of Delridge (here’s our report on that from last weekend) and a briefing on the county’s sewer-overflow-control “green stormwater infrastructure” plan for part of Sunrise Heights and Westwood. Last week we reported on early testing work related to that, including drilling next to Westside School (WSB sponsor) – we later received a photo of how that work drew an audience:

(Photo courtesy Maryann Petrocelli)
The Delridge District Council’s meeting is as usual at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way.

FREE WORKSHOP: Feel overwhelmed when it’s time to find and choose a home-service professional? Tonight the Savvy Seattle Women take on the topic, and you’re welcome to be there, 6 pm @ Prudential NW Realty in Jefferson Square. More info online.

‘ONE WORLD’ DISCUSSION: The facilitated-discussion series continues at the Senior Center of West Seattle with gender as today’s topic: “How have male and female roles changed over time? In what ways have you experienced sexism, personally or societally?” 10:45-noon.

SOLVING SCHOOL CROWDING: Before its regular meeting tonight, the Seattle School Board has a work session focusing on Capacity Management – how to deal with issues including school crowding, which is a particular challenge for several West Seattle elementary schools right now (including the ones where new portables have arrived to help handle the overflow). The public is welcome to observe work sessions, though there’s no public-comment period; 4 pm, district HQ in SODO.

(Monday morning rainbow photographed by Kenna Klosterman from Alki)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Learn about SPD’s Victim Support Team, and current area crime trends, 7 pm at Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster).

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING: AKA Food Fest – come renew/start your FCA membership and enjoy bites from local eateries, 6 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California SW.

POETRY WORKSHOP: Starts at 6 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – details here.

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPEN ENROLLMENT: Open enrollment starts for Seattle Public Schools, continuing through April 15. Here’s how it works.

VIADUCT PROJECT BOSS @ ROTARY: Rotary Club of West Seattle lunch with guest speaker Ron Paananen from the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project, noon at Salty’s on Alki

ROCK ‘N ROLL TRIVIA: Rock music trivia every Tuesday night at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm.

(Squirrel photographed in Lincoln Park by Machel Spence)
To assist you in feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, despite the hour of sleep lost to Daylight Saving Time’s arrival, we start with a photo of a critter who actually is (or was at the time of the photo) bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Now on to the highlights:

TRAFFIC NOTE: If you are headed north of downtown, note that a section of Highway 99 north of The Viaduct/Tunnel is closed until about 11 am for the St. Patrick’s Day Dash.

NATURE CONSORTIUM BRUNCH: The weekend full of fun fundraisers continues with the West Seattle-based Nature Consortium‘s annual fundraising brunch, noon at The Hall at Fauntleroy.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE FINALE: Last day of cookie sales at local stores – details here (including link to find the sale nearest you)

AWARD-WINNING FARMERS’ MARKET: As reported here last week, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s Nonprofit of the Year – and you can enjoy it today, 10 am-2 pm, in The Junction (44th/Alaska).

‘DISTRACTED’ MATINEE: At 3 pm, you can catch an afternoon performance of “Distracted” at ArtsWest in The Junction – full details here (P.S. Everyone’s invited to see ArtsWest announce its next season lineup, tomorrow night at 7:30 pm.)

DONATION-DRIVE REMINDER: Today’s a great day to shop for something to give to the donation drive for foster kids reported here last Thursday, organized by West Seattle High School senior Kellen Gearon – details and dropoff sites here.

More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

(Shared by Kolus Photo – juvenile bald eagle photographed along the Beach Drive shoreline)
Not only do you “spring forward” tonight – you’re going to need wings to get from event to event, today and tonight. But it’ll all be worth it. Here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME KICKS IN TONIGHT (2 AM SUNDAY): This is the “spring forward” half of the old “spring forward/fall back” saying – at 2 am Sunday, it becomes 3 am Sunday, as we move into Daylight Saving Time.

RUMMAGE SALES, SECOND AND FINAL DAY: Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) continues its mega-sale 9 am-3 pm, West Side Presbyterian Church continues its mondo-sale 9 am-2 pm.

FUNDRAISING GALAS: Doors open for Pathfinder K-8‘s annual auction at 5 pm, Brockey Center at SSCC (more info here) … At Kenyon Hall, doors open at 6:30 pm for the West Seattle Community Orchestras’ first-ever fundraising gala – dining, dancing, music, fun – a few tickets are left; info’s here.

DELRIDGE PLAYFIELD CELEBRATION: 12:30 pm-2:30 pm, join the party officially dedicating this newly renovated field – music, speeches, refreshments, soccer, and disc games are planned for the festivities.

GARDENING: Class, lunch and work party at and for the Community Orchard of West Seattle, starts at 10 am, topic “Annual Planting” – details and RSVP info here. Not only is that all happening on the north side of the South Seattle Community College campus, so is the Community Harvest Seed Swap and Sale, 2 pm-4 pm, lots more information online at www.gleanit.org/seedswap2011.html

ASK AN EXPERT AT THE WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY,: Also at the north end of SCCC, Ask-an-Expert at the West Seattle Tool Library, for the Do It Yourselfer! 10 am-noon, north end of South Seattle Community College campus (6000 16th SW) – details on the Facebook event page

WALK OR PARADE FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY: The Sound Steps St. Patty’s Day Walk rounds the track at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW) at 10:30 am (register at 10 am, walk up to 3.1 miles). Families welcome! … Downtown at 12:30 pm, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade includes West Seattle-area participants (“Divine Marigolds” production, Denny International Middle School musicians, Holy Family School reps) – get the route map and other info here.

SEE A SHOW! Second and final performance of Lafayette Elementary‘s “Music Man Jr.” at 7 pm at West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW); ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) is in the first weekend of “Distracted,” 7:30 pm.

MEET YOUR LEGISLATORS: Town Hall meeting with the 34th District’s delegation to Olympia (Sen. Sharon Nelson, Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon) at High Point Community Center, 10-11:30 am

CLASSICAL CONCERT: Music Northwest presents Low Notes: Music for Cello and Horn, 7:30 pm at SSCC’s Olympic Hall.

CRYSTAL-ART EVENT: At Alki Arts, 2-7 pm, details here

LAST WEEKEND OF GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALES: Find them at local stores – (details here including link to find the sale nearest you)

Like pretty much everyone else, we will be continuing to watch the Japan earthquake situation throughout the day (and for many days to come), and we’ll have local information as relevant – relief efforts, etc. – but in the meantime, there is a lot of West Seattle information and news to continue to share. Here are the key events from today’s calendar:

CHURCH RUMMAGE SALES: It’s that pre-spring weekend when two local churches have their big rummage sales – Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW; WSB sponsor) from 9 am – 4 pm today, 9 am – 3 pm tomorrow; and West Side Presbyterian (3601 California SW) from 9 am-5 pm today and 9 am-2 pm tomorrow. Each of these sales has hundreds of people contributing, so you never know what you might find.

GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY AUCTION: Tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), 5:30-9 pm, it’s the fundraising auction for Gatewood Elementary‘s PTA, “Bids for Kids.”

PET ADOPTION: Seattle Humane Society is at Pet Pros West Seattle (Westwood Village) with adoptable pets, 2-5 pm.

WINE TASTING : At Bin 41 wine: Wine tastings from around our state are spotlighted this month, tonight from Woodinville Winery, Patterson Cellars, with winemaker John Patterson, 5:30-7 pm.

FRIDAY NIGHT SKATING: Every week at Alki Community Center (5817 SW Stevens), it’s Friday Night Skate. Cost is $3 per person. You may bring in your own clean skates or borrow them from us. Time is from 6:45 – 8:45 p.m. For more information please call 684-7430.

GAME NIGHT: Uptown Espresso (4301 SW Edmunds) in The Junction, 6-11 pm, bring your own board games or try the ones on hand at the coffee shop.

(Photo of sea lions on barge buoy, taken from Water Taxi on Tuesday, by “expatom”)
We’ll be tracking the weather all day – good news is that it’s expected, so far, to calm down in time for tonight’s monthly West Seattle Art Walk. We’ll feature a few highlights in a preview later, but in the meantime, you can review featured artists and venues by going to the WSAW website at wsartwalk.com … Also tonight: The Holy Rosary Parents Club-presented screening of the documentary “Race to Nowhere” at Admiral Theater, 6:30 pm … Southwest Seattle Business and Professional Women has a movie screening tonight too, benefiting its scholarship fund – “Iron-Jawed Angels,” 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center … Afternoon events: All are welcome to say goodbye to longtime Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow, now days away from retirement, at a 1-3 pm party at the precinct (cake and coffee) … At City Hall, the Parks and Seattle Center Committee‘s 2 pm meeting today (agenda here) has items of interest to West Seattle, including updates on the citywide Golf Plan and the Parks and Green Spaces Levy (including purchase of the site for Puget Ridge Edible Park) … More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!