Toys for Tots: Drop off toys at West Seattle fire stations

November 29, 2008 9:40 am
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 |   Holidays | How to help

That city-made map shows your West Seattle fire stations — Station 29 in North Admiral, Station 36 in North Delridge by The Bridge, Station 32 in the Triangle, Station 37 in Gatewood/Westwood (the city calls it Roxhill!), and Station 11 in Highland Park. They’re all collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots (along with the city’s other fire stations) — drop your donation(s) off by December 18th.

Happening today/tonight: “Grease” is your word; “trees” is ours

From the latest edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup:

If you started to sing along with that clip – then you might consider cruising to the Admiral Theater tonight for the sing-along edition of “Grease” – girls’ lyrics in pink, boys’ lyrics in blue. Also on the agenda today/tonight, more holiday mania: West Seattle’s most famous Christmas tree sellers, the volunteers of the Holy Rosary Tree Lot south of Admiral Safeway, open their doors today, so we’ll be publishing our West Seattle tree-lot list/price survey by day’s end. Noon-4 pm, you’re invited to drop by the Log House Museum to help decorate – bring an ornament or something else to make the home of West Seattle history just a bit more special this season. Same hours, Santa arrives at Westwood Village … hmm, didn’t we just see him downtown Friday morning?

He’s making a lot of West Seattle appearances this holiday season (in The Junction starting next weekend), so he’ll have no excuse not to hear what’s on your list. Two more notes: Southwest Youth and Family Services continues its holiday plant sale 9 am-1 pm, and the White Center Swap Meet and Flea Market (WSB sponsor) celebrates its official grand opening with new hours, 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Lots more in the Saturday section of the Weekend Lineup (hop to it directly from here).

West Seattle Christmas lights, 11/28/08

We’re featuring another home from the inland side of the south end of Beach Drive, where we found our last featured display – because we’re just not seeing many light-draped homes around West Seattle, yet. (What is it about Beach Drive, anyway? Perhaps inspired by the Menashe family – whose legendary display isn’t done yet, but the cherry-picker’s parked across the street …) When you do see — or create — someplace particularly bright and festive, let us know — meantime we’ll be wandering around, watchfully.

Tree lightings: Downtown tonight, West Seattle next weekend

November 28, 2008 10:01 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

We were on our way to a behind-the-scenes view of the Westlake tree-lighting downtown tonight … when downtown gridlock caught us in its clutches (we should have heeded the SDOT warning we published). We did make it to the edge of the crowd in time for that video clip of the lighting itself (note the many people in front of us also capturing the scene, on their phones); no fireworks – too windy. West Seattleites participating in the ceremony were to include Alki’s Shauna Causey, on behalf of sponsor Comcast (and reminding us all to support nonprofits, especially this holiday season), and Mayor Nickels, though an audio glitch apparently truncated the speeches before we got there. Earlier, we photographed the mayor in the downtown parade this morning as he walked with wife Sharon and fire chief Gregory Dean (dignitaries walked this year instead of riding in cars – Seattle Climate Action Now, perhaps?):

Back to the topic of tree lightings – hope you will join us in The Junction (your WSB co-publishers will be helping with the event) next Saturday night (12/6), 5 pm, Farmers’ Market parking lot behind Key Bank, for the West Seattle Community Tree Lighting – one jampacked hour of fun, including free entertainment, and the first drawing for some of the $5,000 worth of gift certificates that West Seattle Junction Association (WSB sponsor) merchants are giving away as part of Hometown Holidays (enter for free at any participating store). Also coming up – Our Lady of Guadalupe lights its Christmas tree (the highest-elevation one in Seattle!) at 7 pm December 12th (see the event flyer here).

4 West Seattle girls in Seattle’s legendary “Nutcracker”

It’s the city’s best-known holiday show – and Lynn Ogdon just e-mailed WSB this photo to let us know about four West Seattle girls featured in the Pacific Northwest Ballet production of “The Nutcracker” (which opened tonight and is celebrating its 25th anniversary): Left to right, as Lynn lists them: Katie (“Chinese”), Flynn (“Small Servant”), Jelly (“Tall Servant”), and Lisel (“Prologue Nutcracker”).

West Seattle Crime Watch: Search under way

November 28, 2008 4:18 pm
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 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

While checking out a major fire-unit call that didn’t pan out, WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli happened onto a sizable police search nearby. A neighbor told him someone spotted a man looking into windows of homes; no word yet of any arrests (or any actual burglaries). Christopher took the photo on SW Nevada between 26th and 30th (map).

Happening now: Holiday plant sale at SWYFS

November 28, 2008 3:56 pm
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 |   Delridge | Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Got word from Southwest Youth and Family Services that they’re open till 7 pm tonight and 9 to 1 tomorrow for their holiday plant sale, with poinsettias, wreaths, rosemary trees, and more. 4555 Delridge (map). SWYFS has a big new job ahead, in addition to what it already does – it’s this area’s lead agency for the city’s new youth-violence-prevention plan, so helping SWYFS can ultimately help make this a safer place to be.

School closures: “Walking on Logs” becomes “Protesting on Logs”

Returning home from the downtown parade, we spotted the Walking on Logs sculptures decked in Arbor Heights Elementary School T-shirts, with signs like the one you see above (a bit soggy in the rain). Handmade signs are nearby (with identical ones across the northeastbound Fauntleroy Way end of The Bridge):

As evidenced by those displays – and other less-public actions — many members of the AH Elementary community are working frenetically through this “holiday” weekend, days after hearing Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson propose to end their school’s existence so the building could be given to the Pathfinder K-8 program (which has been stuck for years in the subpar ex-Genesee Hill Elementary building). The Arbor Heights troops are researching facts, crafting a battle strategy, planning a community meeting (date/time TBA), and preparing for the public-comment period at next Wednesday’s School Board meeting. They also are updating the Save Arbor Heights blog that was created even before the official announcement (as we reported Wednesday afternoon), with entries including this customized timeline of key dates/events between now and the final School Board vote in late January. From what we’ve monitored so far, it is clear they are taking to heart the advice offered by West Seattle board rep Steve Sundquist at his standing-room-only coffee hour on Wednesday – don’t bring the board raw emotion, bring research, ideas, alternative proposals – with the focus less on “don’t do that” than on “do this, instead of that.” Meantime, the holidays wait for no one, and the Arbor Heights Elementary community also is preparing for its long-planned holiday bazaar Thursday night, 4-8 pm — now juxtaposed with one of the school district’s “community workshops” (6:30 pm that night at district HQ in Sodo) on the citywide closure plan.

West Seattle Weekend Lineup, post-turkey edition

November 28, 2008 8:06 am
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 |   Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

(photo by Matt Durham of MattDurhamPhotography.com)
wswllicon3.pngTime for tidings of great … plaid … as in “Plaid Tidings,” opening tonight at ArtsWest; that, along with the Admiral Theater “Grease” sing-along, plus your chance to help deck the halls of the Log House Museum, as well as Santa’s arrival at Westwood Village and new hours for the White Center Swap Meet (WSB sponsor) — all part of the 36 West Seattle-and-vicinity events on our handy list ahead:Read More

Services set for West Seattle musician John Spalding

November 28, 2008 7:10 am
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 |   West Seattle people

The Times reports today on the passing of West Seattle musician John Spalding, taken by cancer at just 33. Seattle Weekly told even more of his story in this report just a few weeks ago. There are tributes in the comments on his MySpace page, including one that says a series of benefit shows is being planned to raise money to help his family pay for his medical expenses, starting with one January 3 at Comet Tavern on Capitol Hill. Meantime, the Times says a Sunday night vigil and Monday morning memorial service are planned, both at Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Dreaming of doorbusters: “Black Friday,” early watch

November 28, 2008 4:52 am
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 |   Holidays

Since nobody opens in West Seattle till 6 am, we decided to go see what the pre-dawn doorbuster rush was like in the Southcenter vicinity — one member of the family actually tried to shop that way a couple years ago, not realizing people line up hours in advance; said family member eventually straggled home, wild-eyed, muttering unspeakable stories of crazed crowds. Kinda quiet here, actually, but busy — here’s what we’ve seen so far: We drove by JC Penney just as the doors were about to open at 4; a line snaked around two sides of the building. (Added later – here’s our video – note the line-cutters running out of nowhere, about 25 seconds in)

Now we’re by Best Buy a mile or so south; what you see above is the end of the line as of 4:30, half an hour before BB opens – that’s the BB sign way off in the distance to the left. Police are even here just in case $400-laptop-hunting gets unruly:

Next stop, 6 am West Seattle shopping — we’ll see if anyone’s camped outside any of the Westwood Village stores scheduled to open early. 5:34 AM UPDATE: We’re here at WV. Nothing like Southcenter. About a dozen people each outside Target and Staples (both of which open at 6 am, along with some other stores which seem to be line-free):

5:42 AM UPDATE: Must be something good on sale at Target – we just went back around to the south side of WV and the line’s grown dramatically, more like 40 people now.

Funny thing is that the doorbusters seem to bring spectators as well as shoppers. At Southcenter, just before Best Buy opened the doors at 5, about half a dozen people suddenly showed up near the head of the line – to aim their cell-phone cameras at the doors as they opened, fishing for YouTube fodder, we suppose. Here in the WV parking lot, there’s a carload of teenage girls next to us just sitting there giggling at the goings-on.

Hours till the official kickoff of shopping season

It’s on the marquee for the Luna Park business districtlet, but it really goes for all of West Seattle. Sure, we know some West Seattleites are going to do the early-morning Black Friday thing – we overheard chatter about it everywhere we went the past few days, from coffeehouses to our dentist’s office. Some chain stores in West Seattle (Target, Staples, Radio Shack, Kits among them) open at 6 am; at the malls, some stores will throw open the doors at 4, and you’ll probably see doorbuster-dreaming shoppers on stakeout, interviewed on tonight’s 11 pm news. (This BF site says many of the deals are already “live” online, by the way.)

Once all that is said and done — show your West Seattle shopkeepers some love; they’re trying to show some right back. The West Seattle Junction Association (WSB sponsor), for example – inviting you to not just “shop local,” but to go all-out and “Live Local” – has dozens of stores participating in a $5,000 giveaway – enter the raffle for free at any participating store (see the list here), and you’re in the running for all sorts of gift certificates, with winners to be drawn at three Junction events, starting with the Tree Lighting at 5 pm 12/6. Many shops have special events in the works too — like some late-night shopping on Art Walk night 12/11 (with free child care — more here) plus offerings from open houses to trunk shows (many are listed on this page of the Junction website), some in conjunction with special “Hometown Holidays Sundays” 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, when you can also get Santa photos and take mule-wagon rides.

Speaking of Santa, he’ll be in the house at Westwood Village (the Santa House by Bed Bath Beyond, Eats Market Cafe, and Wyatt’s Jewelers) on Saturdays and Sundays starting this weekend. Merchants elsewhere in West Seattle are geared up too – like those in the Admiral District:

That’s some of the decor inside Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), which has some seasonal scoop on its blog — like decorating ideas and the “Gifts Under $10 List.” Click! is one of many West Seattle stores adding extra days and hours for the holiday season. They’ll be open 7 days a week starting next week; we noticed on a recent stroll through The Junction that the Discovery Shop (American Cancer Society thrift store) is adding Sunday hours till Christmas; West Seattle-based online toy sellers Nico and Zoe will open their ActivSpace storefront 11 am-2 pm on Fridays through the holiday-shopping season. We’ll keep scouting for West Seattle shopping news as the season progresses – and let us know what you’re hearing and seeing! (P.S. This reminds us we haven’t yet mentioned one West Seattle gift idea – local photographer Christy Johnson, who has contributed photos to WSB in the past (like this one), is selling a calendar of her photos, Scenic Seattle 2009; read about it — and preview it — here; buy it here.)

4 new members join the West Seattle Food Bank board

November 27, 2008 10:42 pm
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 |   How to help | West Seattle news

You’ve heard a lot about how business – sadly – is booming for local food banks. One of the two that serve our area just announced new help at the top – this news release announces 4 new board members for the West Seattle Food Bank:

The West Seattle Food Bank is pleased to announce it has added four new members to its Board of Directors: Shannon Braddock, Keri DeTore, Heather Hsu and Kim Robison.

Board members contribute to the continued fiscal and operational strength of the West Seattle Food Bank through fundraising, oversight, and general support.

Board President Pete Spalding: “These are both scary and exciting times at the West Seattle Food Bank; scary due to the ever-increasing demands placed upon our available resources, but exciting when we have community members that are willing to step up to the challenges we face by joining our Board of Directors. West Seattle Food Bank is blessed with a number of very caring people who help us with our mission.”

You can donate online to the West Seattle Food Bank any time by following this link.

West Seattle weather: Thanksgiving sunbreak, Friday forecast

After the afternoon showers, a sunbreak just before sunset led to that view from Seacrest (and a nice splash of sunset color to the west). Wondering about tomorrow, for shopping, parade-watching, decorating, relaxing? Looks like more of the same.

Freedom Church free feast also “more than just dinner”

November 27, 2008 3:28 pm
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 |   Arbor Heights | Holidays | West Seattle news

The volunteers serving free Thanksgiving dinner at Freedom Church (in the old Safeway building at 35th/Roxbury) were crazy-busy when we dropped in a few minutes before their 3-6 pm free dinner began – but we did get to see that, like the Fauntleroy volunteers, they’re sharing more than a meal:

Groceries for those who need them, and nice clothing:

They also had shampoo and soap available. Which reminds us that many West Seattle businesses, churches, and other organizations are colleecting those types of items as well as food and clothing (and diapers for WestSide Baby!) donations this holiday season – keep an eye on the WSB Holiday Happenings page for those opportunities, and also please let us know if you and your business/school/etc. are offering people the chance to reach out. If you have something to offer, you can also consider posting it in the WSB Forums‘ Freebies/Deals/Sales section (where an offer of “free bikes” has just been posted, to add to what’s already there).

Another reason to be thankful: West Seattle’s water wonders

Fauntleroy’s Ron Richardson sent that Thanksgiving Eve photo, along with the next one and the story that follows:

Jason, a Fauntleroy resident, brings his paddle board to Fauntleroy Cove two or three times a week.

Wednesday is a perfect day for Jason to share the cove with the Washington State Ferries. Jason works for REI and is obviously very proficient with one of their new product lines. The board can be navigated and propelled by a single long paddle or it can be rigged with a sail to use as a wind surf outfit. Folks in Fauntleroy are used to seeing Jason aboard his rig in fair weather and foul. Look for him around Alki as well.

-submitted by Ron Richardson (who is continually rewarded by his walks through the Fauntleroy neighborhood)

We love to share photos, with or without stories, from all over West Seattle – send ’em to editor@westseattleblog.com any time! Ron also recently shared a story with our partner site White Center Now, a belated Veterans Day tribute to Al Skaretyou can read it here.

Sharing the bounty: Free Thanksgiving dinners this afternoon

You probably don’t have to cook for a crowd the size of the one that Don is preparing for. We caught him with huge pots of gravy (etc.) in the kitchen at The Hall at Fauntleroy, where Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering is again serving up the annual free Thanksgiving dinner, noon-3 pm (map). The tables are waiting, as sun dapples through the huge south-facing windows:

Those who come also will be able to take something home – donated clothing and other items are laid out:

Also offering a free Thanksgiving dinner in West Seattle today: Freedom Church (35th/Roxbury), 3-6 pm. Many people are spending part of their holiday volunteering to make these events possible – we are thankful to live in a community with so many who give so much.

Happy Thanksgiving 2008, West Seattle!

HappyTgivingJavaBean.jpg

(2007 photo of Java Bean marquee courtesy of Jerry from JetCityOrange)
We are thankful that we’re here, and that you are too. Hope you have a great holiday. Again this year, we’re offering information you might find useful – it’s been on the Holiday Happenings page for a while, but now that The Big Day is here, it’s front and center – coffeehouse hours, supermarket hours, free dinners, transit etc.:

WHERE TO GET CAFFEINATED
Here are the coffeehouses (standalone sites only, in-store stands not included) we know are open — there may be others, but a few didn’t have anything posted on the door AND didn’t pick up the phone.
Aimonetto, 6 am-noon
Bohemian, 8 am-2 pm (espresso and pastries only)
C and P Coffee, 7 am-1 pm
Cafe Rozella, “in the morning”
Caffe Ladro, 5:30 am-2 pm
Cupcake Royale, 8 am-2 pm
Diva, 8 am-1 pm
Easy Street, 7 am-noon (coffee only)
Freshy’s, 8:30 am-1:30 pm (time approximate, when we checked)
Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor), 8 am-2 pm
Java Bean, open 6 am-2 pm
Red Cup, 7:30 am-1 pm
Salvadorean Bakery, 8 am-5 pm
Shoofly Pie Company, 10 am-noon
Starbucks, all WS locations open normal start time (Triangle drive-thru and Morgan Junction are earliest @ 5 am) thru 4 pm
Tully’s Alki, 7 am-4 pm
Tully’s Morgan Junction, 7 am-3 pm
Uptown Espresso in The Junction and on Delridge, both open 6 am-3 pm

OTHER INFO THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU

THANKSGIVING DAY SUPERMARKET HOURS: Thriftway open 5 am-4 pm; Metropolitan Market open till 2 pm (then closing till 6 am Friday); QFC open till 6 pm (then closing until 5 am Friday); Safeways open 24 hours; PCC closed

FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER IN FAUNTLEROY: Free Thanksgiving dinner catered by Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes at The Hall at Fauntleroy, noon-3 pm (read all about it here)

FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Freedom Church (35th/Roxbury; here’s a map), 3-6 pm

FREE THANKSGIVING MORNING EXERCISE CLASSES: Gobble Stomp! Free Thanksgiving Day workout class presented by West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), open to the community: (Donations to West Seattle Food Bank or WestSide Baby appreciated, especially newborn-size diapers.)
@ West Seattle wellness facility: doors open 8:20-8:30 am, workout 8:30-10 am.
@ Fauntleroy wellness facility: doors open 7:20-7:30 am, workout 7:30-9 am
More info here

THANKSGIVING BENEFIT CLASS: Thursday, 9:30–11 am at 8 Limbs Yoga (WSB sponsor): Join your 8 Limbs Community for an all-levels yoga class to give thanks and raise needed funds. A great way to start your Thanksgiving. Suggested donation: $20 benefiting Union Gospel Mission

FREE THANKSGIVING MORNING MARTIAL ARTS: (Found on Holy Rosary’s website) Lee’s Martial Arts says, “Come join us as Instructor Lisa & special guest instructors get you prepared to face the rest of the day’s festivities and meals by having an incredibly energizing holiday workout!!! This is our 3rd annual and each year it keeps getting better and better. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face and to burn lots of calories! This event is FREE with a donated food item. Or you can give a monetary donation at the door. (donations go to West Seattle Food Bank) 8:30-10 am

HOLIDAY CHANGES: No trash/recycling, no regular-mail delivery, no city pay-station/meter parking charges, government offices/facilities closed, banks closed; Metro schedule info here; Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route on regular schedule

Yet more on the Holiday Happenings page, along with a long list of other events happening for the rest of the holiday season in West Seattle – Santa sightings, Christmas Ship, much more.

Thanksgiving Eve miscellany before you tune out for the holiday

November 26, 2008 11:48 pm
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 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle jail sites | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

In no particular order, just various loose ends and other items we wanted to mention:

JAIL-SITES FIGHT: One thing we didn’t mention after Monday night’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting — HPAC is urging a big turnout at next Wednesday’s (12/3) City Hall hearing about the newly proposed downtown site for a new jail — they had been advocating downtown siting, and feel their research on the issue has helped put this site on the list (which still includes one West Seattle site, Highland Park Way/West Marginal Way). They want to show strength in numbers to back the potential downtown site. Doors open 6 pm Wednesday (program starts 6:30), City Hall downtown.

BIKE SHOP MOVE COMPLETE: We first reported three months ago that Aaron’s Bicycle Repair was moving into the now-former Morgan Junction state liquor store space. The move is complete and owner Aaron Goss sent this link with photos taken as the renovation work proceeded (and was finished).

TWO NOTABLE NEW SEVEN-FIGURE REAL-ESTATE LISTINGS: The multiplex at 2810 Alki SW, just east of the Alki Urban Market/All the Best Pet Care/Cactus building, is up for sale, $1,850,000. Last year, there was a development proposal for this site to be the new home of Pegasus Pizza, which of course has since gone into the ex-Coyotes on Alki (etc.) space further east. Also up for sale, a 9-unit apartment building on Ferry SW in North Admiral, $1,250,000 (here’s that listing).

WEST SEATTLEITES FEATURED IN TV HEALTH REPORT: Dr. Tami Meraglia and Seattle Civic Dance Theatre‘s Kim Dinsmoor are in this story examining concerns about the body-care-product ingredients called parabens.

WSB is 24/7/365 (this year, 366) so we’ll still be here on Thanksgiving Day, but not planning to publish as many items as usual (unless of course major news happens). First up, the “final” coffee/supermarket hours list in the early am (the info’s already on the Holiday Happenings page).

Crime Watch update: Admiral burglary suspect out of jail

Followups are our specialty, from development projects to road-work plans and beyond, and we’re trying to do a better job of following up on crime coverage too. Toward that end: We’ve been tracking the status of two suspects from recent high-profile burglary cases in West Seattle, so we wanted to report that one of them has just gotten out of jail — 18-year-old Skyelar Hailey, the only adult suspect arrested 10 days ago in the Admiral neighborhood incident we covered here. The county jail register indicates he posted bail (which had been set at $7,500) just before 5 o’clock tonight. Online court records indicate he has a significant prior criminal history. (The other suspect whose status we’re tracking, Fauntleroy burglary suspect Richard Lovejoy, remains in jail.)

Southcenter shooting suspect arrested

November 26, 2008 10:13 pm
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 |   Crime | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway

If you haven’t already heard – police have arrested the man accused of shooting two teenagers, killing one of them, at Southcenter last Saturday night. 21-year-old Barry Saunders was taken into custody in Portland.

Crash briefly blocks northbound 35th from golf course to Avalon

November 26, 2008 9:29 pm
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 |   West Seattle news

Police have the street blocked because of a crash that may involve a bus. Avoid the area.

UPDATE: The collision involved a Metro bus and a car, but no medics were called out and it appears no one was hurt, 35th is reopening at the scene. ADDED LATER: Two photos – the bus (which didn’t appear much the worse for wear) stopped on westbound Avalon and the car (which wound up along the south side of eastbound Avalon):

Thanksgiving Day info: Grocery-store hours too

Also from the WSB Holiday Happenings page, just in case you forgot something and have to rush out tomorrow to find it: Metropolitan Market will be open till 2 pm (then closing till 6 am Friday); Thriftway will be open 5 am-4 pm; QFC will be open till 6 pm (then closing until 5 am Friday); the Safeways remain open 24 hours; PCC will be closed.