Tonight’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: HPAC’s regular monthly meeting tonight will include a celebration of the recent “no new jail after all” announcement (WSB coverage here), which was as sudden as the original news two years earlier that the city needed to build a new jail and had 2 eastern West Seattle sites on its original list of four. HPAC meets at 7 pm, Highland Park Improvement Club at 11th/Holden.

GENESEE SCHMITZ NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: A recent note asked what this group had been up to since its first official organizing meeting in March (WSB coverage here). They’re working toward an official membership meeting next month – and the organizing committee meets again tonight, 7 pm at PCC (WSB sponsor; 2749 California SW).

HELP YOUR TEEN BE A BETTER DRIVER: Advice for parents is promised in a special presentation tonight at the West Seattle High School Library (3000 California SW) by two reps from PEMCO Insurance. Promised topics include “the effect of teenage passengers on teenage drivers.” Teens themselves are welcome too; this is free and starts at 6 pm.

AT THE COFFEEHOUSES: C&P Coffee (5612 California SW) hosts the monthly Poetry Bridge reading at 7 pm, featuring poet Ian Hegwood as well as open-mike time … Freshy’s Coffee (2735 California SW) hosts the weekly “Fine Films at Freshy” movie series, screening “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” at 7 pm.

SELF-DEFENSE: Seattle Integrated Martial Arts (4711 42nd SW) offers its hourlong self-defense class for women again tonight, 7:15 pm.

(Photo by David Hutchinson, taken during Sunday’s ever-changing weather)
Among tonight’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: It’s College Night at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), your chance to find out anything you want to know – from its “career-ready programs” to its partner programs in which you can finish a four-year degree on campus to college prep. 5:30-7:30 pm in Brockey Center (here’s a campus map). … The West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network meets for the second time, 6:30 pm at Southwest Precinct (Facebook event page here, and here’s a map to the precinct); this new group is working to promote communication and cooperation between neighborhoods, toward the goal of a safer, stronger West Seattle … The final closure plan for the South Park Bridge – what will happen after it shuts down June 30th, from bus routes to business support – starts at 6 pm at the IAM Local 751 Hall in SP (full details here, and here’s a map) … And regular Tuesday night diversions are on the calendar too, including open turntables at Skylark Café and Club at 6 pm (see the calendar here) and rock trivia at Feedback Lounge at 8 pm (both establishments are WSB sponsors). The full calendar’s here.

Nothing huge on today’s calendar … but some events of note: At the Southwest Library, it’s Baby Story Time at 11:30 am (full details here) … The Seattle International Film Festival‘s week of screenings at Admiral Theater continues with films at 7 and 9 there tonight (here’s the schedule) … And if you want to find out the latest on how the Parks and Green Spaces Levy money’s being spent, its volunteer Oversight Committee meets at Parks HQ downtown tonight at 7. … More of tonight’s events, from bingo to live music, are listed here.

RAINBOW FESTIVAL AT SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Third and final day/night of this celebration – here’s the schedule of events for today/tonight, running all the way from 10 am-9 pm!

TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: The West Seattle Helpline‘s been doing this fundraiser for a while but it’s never been this big: More than 30 food/beverage purveyors from all over the peninsula will be in multiple areas of The Hall at Fauntleroy (the old schoolhouse, 9131 California), and your ticket (you can still save $5 by buying in advance online) gets you in to try them all, 6-8:30 pm. (WSB is a Taste of West Seattle co-sponsor.)

TRIANGLE PARKING: This is not a Triangle Advisory Group meeting, though it’s related to their work – this is a public meeting (that means YOU) to air any and all issues about parking, present and future, in The Triangle. Think we need park-and-rides? Think we should have less parking and more walking/biking/busing capabilities? Got another idea? This is the place to be. 6 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle (SE corner of California/Oregon – entrance on Oregon, the meeting room’s upstairs).

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: In addition to the ACC’s regular business, there’s a bit of a wildlife theme tonight, as Seal Sitters founder Brenda Peterson and West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project‘s Dolly Vinal are the highlighted guest speakers. 7 pm, Alki UCC Church (6115 SW Hinds).

STUDENT MUSICAL, PHOTOGRAPHY EVENTS AT WSHS: “Once Upon a Mattress” has the first of six performances at 7:30 tonight at the West Seattle High School theater (here’s our preview from earlier this week). Also this afternoon/evening, student photographers open a show in the WSHS Library, as described by Martha Tonkin:

Sixty talented Westside photographers in their first public exhibition, “Face to Face: Portraits by West Seattle Teens”, up May 20 – May 28, 2010, in our beautiful library! Students were asked to pick a subject they were very close to, take 300 photos of them, edit 5-9 of their best images in Photoshop, print, mat and write artist’s statements about their series. Come and see how they’ve done with this challenge!

The official opening is 4-8 pm today, and the photos will continue on display till May 28th.

WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: As noted last night, they invite you to join them tonight in a politics/art/mingling event with a long, high-powered guest list – all the way up to King County Executive Dow Constantine and Mayor Mike McGinn. Meet your reps AND enjoy art at the Woodside-Braseth Gallery, 9th/Lenora downtown.

Even more – see the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

Today/tonight’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Day 2 of the South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) Rainbow Festival, with activities scheduled 10 am-3 pm (full list here) … A doubleheader at Youngstown Arts Center tonight – you’re invited to help shape the future of Delridge – not just the immediate area around the street but all of eastern West Seattle – during Strategic Delridge at 6 pm (explained here), followed by the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at 7, with City Councilmember Mike O’Brien scheduled as a guest speaker … In The Junction, the final week of “Tell Me on a Sunday” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) starts with tonight’s 7:30 pm performance … And if you’ve got a preschooler, you’re invited to Fauntleroy Children’s Center tonight for a 6 pm presentation by parent educator Jean Vye about teaching 3- to 5-year-olds to include at playtime (RSVP to fauntleroychildrenscenter@yahoo.com) … More of today/tonight’s events listed here.

Got crime/safety concerns? Your monthly chance to bring them directly to Southwest Precinct police leadership is here again, as the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets tonight, 7 pm at the precinct (Delridge/Webster). Guest speaker tonight is Liquor Control Board Lt. Woodrow Perkins. … At South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), it’s the first of three days of the Rainbow Festival, with activities starting with the “Parrot Lady” at 10 am and continuing through a reception for the college gallery’s newest show “A Labor of Love“ 5-7 pm (full schedule here) … Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) hosts the “Exile on Main Street” CD release party, 8 pm (details on the Feedback website) … At The Bohemian tonight, it’s Books for Beers, with a portion of beverage sales 6-10 pm – plus proceeds from raffles – going to Room to Read (event flyer here, with appetizer coupon) … Not in West Seattle but of interest if you want to take the next step in helping marine wildlife: As announced by WS-based Seal Sitters, marine-mammal-stranding training is at 6:30 tonight at the Seattle Aquarium (WSB sponsor) … Even more on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

RAMP REMINDER: As noted again in detail last night, the 1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound (high) West Seattle Bridge is closed as of this morning and soon to be demolished. See the detour map and lots of project information here.

TO BIKE OR NOT TO BIKE? Whether you are thinking about bicycling for transportation, are doing it already, or think it wouldn’t work for you – come talk about two-wheeling tonight at Sustainable West Seattle‘s Community Forum (just in time for this Friday’s Bike-To-Work Day). Get a look at some bikes, too, including electric models. Bonus – this is at the site of the soon-to-open (June 12th) West Seattle Tool Library (north end of South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor], 6000 16th SW; map). 7 pm.

NAVOS OPEN HOUSE: The mental-health facility at 2600 SW Holden (map) has an open house tonight for everyone interested in finding out more about its facility and services, 6 pm.

Thanks to Trileigh for the purple-star photo from low tide – which is -2.5 at about 12:30 today (but tread lightly!). Meantime, more from the West Seattle Weekend Lineup:

CARS & CYCLES: The West Seattle Kiwanis is presenting a first-ever event today – a charity motorcycle poker run and classic-car show. It’s all headquartered at the former Huling site at 38th/Fauntleroy, with the motorcycle run scheduled to take off in the 9 o’clock hour, returning 1-ish, with the car show and barbecue to follow.

GO FISH: As previewed over the past couple days, the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club is presenting its traditional Hi-Yu kickoff Kids’ Fishing Derby at Seacrest this morning, 8 am-11 am. First 150 kids (12-under) get to try for one of the hatchery fish that are stocked in a covered, temporary “pond” – and get goodie bags, too. Hi-Yu royalty and candidates are usually on hand, and that means you’ll get to buy the 2010 Hi-Yu button too!

SEACREST REMINDER FOR LATER IN THE DAY: No parking in the lot and along the north side of Harbor for about a block on either side of Seacrest, 3-10 pm today. A film crew will be at work; a commenter says it’s the same Japanese production that filmed on the West Seattle Bridge a few weeks back.

WALK WITH US TO CURE LUPUS: Join the fight against this autoimmune disease with Walk with Us to Cure Lupus, 5K along Alki, 9 am registration at Alki Bathhouse, 10 am walk.

GARAGE SALE! And while you’re at the beach, check out the Alki Garage Sale at the Alki Bathhouse, 10 am-2 pm.

HUNGRY? Another benefit barbecue at West Seattle Thriftway today – bacon cheeseburgers to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation, starts around 11 am.

TITLE GAME: The West Seattle High School baseball team plays Blanchet for the Metro League title, 2 pm at White Center Stadium.

RESCUERS NEED HELP: And a benefit concert tonight, per Bronwyn Edwards Cryer from Fauntleroy Church:

We are holding an impromptu Benefit Concert this coming Saturday evening, May 15, at 7 pm to benefit our friends Alexa and JP, who lost their Woodinville home and everything they own on May 3. Alexa runs Basset Rescue of Puget Sound in addition to her caregiver job, and they got all but one of the 11 rescue animals out of the house, but lost their cat, birds, and everything else. Our amazing, giving community is pulling together here to help out with cash donations, furniture, support for the rescue dogs, and on and on. People from animal rescue, the Red Cross, Woodinville firefighters, friends of Westcrest Park, and the community at Fauntleroy are all supporting this event. “Trillium Soul” – Bronwyn Edwards Cryer, Sarah Ackers and Betsy Boyer – will perform folk, jazz and gospel-flavored music, supported by other musician friends at 7pm in Fellowship Hall, Fauntleroy Church, 9140 California Ave SW, Seattle 98136. Admission is a donation. We suggest $10-$15 but no donation is too small. Seats can be reserved by calling Bron at 206-938-3820. It will help us get some idea of how many people will be attending, and we’re expecting a decent crowd. We will also accept donations of household essentials such as blankets, pots, pans, dishes, etc.

A few highlights before we get to the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, all from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: This morning on Alki, you’re likely to see a bigger Stroller Strides exercise group than usual, as they’re celebrating a combination anniversary/season opening with a free class (here’s the post in the WSB Forums’ Freebies/Deals/Sales/etc. section) … Also this morning, Nature Consortium has a midday work party at College Place Ravine in honor of “King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s half-birthday,” 10 am-1 pm, volunteers welcome, here’s a map … As noted here yesterday, the lowest daytime tides of the year so far are happening through Sunday – today’s low tide is -2.1 just before noon … Tonight (and tomorrow night) at 7, $5 gets you into “You Can’t Take It With You,” presented by the Chief Sealth International High School Drama Department – here’s the poster … Other entertainment tonight includes Bells of the Sound with “A Night at the Movies” and Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center of West Seattle … More on the calendar!

TRIANGLE: The city-convened advisory group looking at possibilities for the future of The Triangle meets again tonight, 6 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon). Topics, according to the agenda on the city website, include Fauntleroy Way SW, “existing land uses … and possible future directions,” and RapidRide. And there’s time set aside for public comment.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Tonight’s regular meeting will be preceded by a kickoff event for Sen. Joe McDermott‘s King County Council campaign, 6 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW); then at 7, the 34th DDs’ agenda includes a State Legislature update from Sen. McDermott and Reps. Eileen Cody and Sharon Nelson, plus an endorsement vote in the race to succeed Rep. Nelson in State House Position 2.

WEST SEATTLE SNOWSPORTS COUNCIL: As previewed here Monday, this is the inaugural community meeting to launch a campaign to get West Seattle youth access to the slopes – and more. 6 pm, Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska).

ALSO: Alki Bathhouse painting, high-school softball playoffs, Ladies Night at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), and more … in the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

Even before the King County Wastewater Treatment Division indicated this past week that it’s pushing back its timetable for deciding how to control Combined Sewer Overflows at Lowman Beach’s Murray Pump Station, concerned community members had scheduled a “Save Lowman Beach” meeting for tonight. 7 pm, Puppy Perfectors, 9629 17th Ave. SW (map) in White Center (original announcement here). Also tonight: West Seattle See Dogs‘ regular meeting and a special workshop for “Dream a Sound Future” – details on both are here. And long before evening falls, you can head over to Hiawatha to cheer on West Seattle High School vs. Seattle Prep as high-school baseball tournament play gets under way. (added) Chief Sealth International High School boys’ soccer is in the playoffs, also playing Seattle Prep today, 3:30 pm at Interbay. More in the WSB West Seattle Events calendar! (“Sun dog” at left, photographed by April Bolding)

Two late additions to the WSB West Seattle Events calendar are coming up tomorrow, so in case you hadn’t heard previously, here’s a look ahead:

DREAM A SOUND FUTURE: Seattle Parks’ Environmental Learning Centers (which include Camp Long) and Sustainable Seattle are co-sponsoring a regional competition to envision our area’s future – read all about it here. If you’re interested in entering “Dream a Sound Future,” you’ll want to be at the next West Seattle workshop for prospective entrants – Monday night, 6-8:30 p.m., at Southwest Community Center, 2801 SW Thistle. (Elementary/middle/high-school students interested in participating have their own version of the challenge, with a showcase planned at the upcoming Sustainable West Seattle Festival/Delridge Day on June 5th – entry deadline is May 25; read more here.)

SEE DOGS: “It takes a community to raise a guide dog,” as Ruth Oldham says, and your next chance to join this community is 6:30 tomorrow night at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor), 2326 California SW.

We will be joined by volunteers and young puppies from our Phinney Ridge group, Guide Puppies of Seattle. There is bound to be lots of fun and energy! The West Seattle See Dogs club is actively looking for volunteers to spend a year or so teaching puppies good house manners and introducing them to the world. Come and meet our raisers and greet puppies in training. We also are always in need of folks who can support our various activities and events.

Want to know more? Here’s a Facebook event listing with contact info.

The forecast suggests an encore for the sunny weather that preceded last night’s super sunset (photographed by Alki’s David Hutchinson) – perfect for Mother’s Day activities including professionally photographed pics on the patio at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), noon-4 pm, part of the proceeds benefiting WestSide Baby; glass-blowing demonstrations at Avalon Glassworks – meet and talk with the artists as they create art glass! – 10 am-4 pm; shopping at West Seattle Farmers’ Market (here’s this week’s fresh sheet), 10 am-2 pm; and two special events at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), the Girls Rock benefit 3-6 pm and Team Tracy benefit 7-10 pm (both all ages, which is Skylark’s usual Sunday mode) – they’re both explained here – or you could just stay at Skylark all day if you start with brunch (9 am-3 pm). P.S. If you’re thinking Mom’s Day dinner also/instead, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) has the wildly popular Sunday ribs on the menu at 5, Mother’s Day music at 6.

(Wednesday night photo by David Rosen from SlickPix Photography)
Maybe a little odd to start the day with an end-of-day shot, but the photo of last night’s sunset, near Luna/Anchor Park, came in overnight, and one of tonight’s major events is on the waterfront in the evening, so … The annual Day of Prayer gathering is tonight at Statue of Liberty Plaza on Alki, 6:30 pm, 10 local churches participating, full details here … Also tonight, the Lafayette Elementary Playground Committee is hosting a community meeting to vote on designs for the play structure and surrounding area at the Lafayette playground. The meeting is at the Lafayette library from 7-8 pm … This one’s downtown, but West Seattleites are involved in League of Women Voters of Seattle, which invites you to a forum about the Seattle Port Commission at 7:30 pm at Seattle First Baptist Church – speakers include Port CEO Tay Yoshitani; admission’s free, full details at www.seattlelwv.org … back in West Seattle, it’s the Friends of the College dinner at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), Brockey Center, 5-8 pm (full details here). More for today/tonight/beyond, on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

That’s the Westside Symphonette combined strings and junior orchestra, rehearsing last night at The Hall at Fauntleroy, where both of the Symphonette’s orchestras are performing their spring concert “Classical Elegance” tonight (more details here). … This afternoon, you are invited to show your support for local law enforcement at the annual Seattle Police Memorial ceremony, with Mayor McGinn scheduled to be among those in attendance, noon at Dignity Memorial/Forest Lawn (map) … Also at noon, King County Executive Dow Constantine is scheduled to speak to the weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of West Seattle at Salty’s on Alki. … For the regular Tuesday happenings, check the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

(Friday photo taken at Alki by Chas Redmond)
The weather of course is the biggest thing so far today – with the wind advisory continuing in effect till 7 pm. If things aren’t too crazy, you might check out the last minus tide we’ll see for a few weeks, -0.6 just before 3 pm today – not as low as the photo above from Friday afternoon, but low enough for tidewalking. Otherwise, no major public meetings tonight – West Seattle Hi-Yu members meet at 6:30 pm, St. John the Baptist Church, just as festival/parade season starts to kick into high gear; you can check the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for regular Monday night happenings, including bingo at Alki UCC Church. (Are we missing something of note? Add a comment – thanks!)

Since it’s the final day of the Feinstein Challenge – first explained in this March story – anything you do for your local food banks today COUNTS EXTRA. For White Center Food Bank, which serves part of West Seattle – donate here. For West Seattle Food Bank – go here – and if you are attending tonight’s fundraiser Instruments of Change (6 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy, with WSB among the event sponsors), consider giving extra. ALSO TODAY/TONIGHT: Bake sale/plant sale/mini-bazaar at Providence Mount St. Vincent, 9 am-4 pm in the front lobby … The “Fauntleroy Fledglings” star in tonight’s edition of the “Sweet, Sweet Music” coffeehouse concert series at Fauntleroy Church, 7:30 pm (dessert included!) … Seattle filmmaker Gina Robertson‘s debut “Coffee” is screened and celebrated with the work of awardwinning filmmakers in a special event at Youngstown Arts Center starting at 8 pm … More coming up later in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup!

Busy day/night: Events this morning include Seattle School Board member Steve Sundquist holding a community chat, West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 10 am, and the West Seattle Democratic Women‘s monthly meeting at West Seattle Golf Course‘s banquet room, with guests including State Sen. Joe McDermott – registration at 11:15 am, RSVPs were due yesterday but you can try 935-3216 ASAP to see if there’s room … 5 West Seattle restaurants are participating in Dining Out for Life/Seattle (here’s the list along with info on whether they’re donating part of lunch proceeds, dinner proceeds, or both) … Tonight’s events are topped by the High Point Neighborhood Association‘s community meeting (6 pm, High Point Neighborhood Center) in the wake of last Friday’s attack on a local woman; HPNA plans to announce how the community can help her … West Seattle-founded Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps breast-cancer patients around the region, raises money with its Style ’10 fashion show at Showbox SODO tonight (tickets still available online; several West Seattle boutiques participating; photo from Style ’08) … “Guernica” author Dave Boling reads and sells books at Southwest Branch Library 6:30 tonight, co-sponsored by Square One Books (WSB sponsor) … If you’ve got a daughter 8+, a special talk about puberty is set for 7 tonight at Southwest Community Center … 6 pm, Pathfinder K-8 has its Health Fair (and PTSA meeting).

Big night around West Seattle – and beyond. The marquee event is happening outside WS but with ramifications here and around the city: The first chance for citizens to speak out about the city budget is coming up at 5:30 tonight (sign-ins for speakers at 5), NewHolly Gathering Hall on Beacon Hill (map). There seems to be no question more major cuts are ahead; if you don’t want certain services cut, what do you think should be cut instead? First chance to speak out. … In West Seattle, the Highland Park Action Committee meets tonight, with topics including the West Seattle Reservoir Park project and this year’s Westwood Vilage Street Fair, 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club … In The Junction, ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) opens its new production, Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s “Tell Me on a Sunday,” tonight, 7:30 pm … What can you do to fight underage drinking in our community? The Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership needs you, 7 pm at Seattle Lutheran High School … West Seattle Elementary invites you to come visit the campus as it celebrates Literacy Night, 6:30-7:30 pm, full details and map here … In honor of National Poetry Month, Poetrybridge features a reading by Kerry Cox followed by open mike for all, 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee … Writer/activist Georgie Bright Kunkel sends word that her committee to educate the public about “corporate personhood” meets at 7 tonight in the Westwood Village area; call 935-8663 for specifics.