West Seattle Grand Parade: JP Patches, another “clown,” more

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American Legion Post 160 has finished the lineup for the West Seattle Grand Parade this Saturday – and “Patches Pals” will be pleased to hear that the legendary JP Patches is back! He’s been fighting cancer and wasn’t in the parade last year (our photo above is from 2007), but the lineup says he’ll be riding with Bill and Cynthia Reid again this Saturday just like old times. Speaking of clowns, the Seattle Seafair Clowns announced they’ll have a special guest:

That’s West Seattle’s own Jim Dever from Evening Magazine, clowning around, upside down, in a behind-the-scenes video he posted to his Twitter feed (@jimdever) – Calling Jim “a clown in his own right,” the Seafair Clowns’ news release also notes, “Although not substantiated, Dever claims to be an accomplished concert cellist, foot model and president of the National Association of Male Contortionists.” The Seafair Clowns themselves also have a brand-new vehicle – thanks to West Seattle-residing “Officer Lumpy” for sharing the news (and this link to a look at the vehicle). As for OTHER officers in the West Seattle Grand Parade — with almost 80 entries in all this year, as always, they start with not one but TWO motorcycle drill teams – the Vancouver, B.C. Police right after Seattle’s finest:

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As we reported here a month ago, the parade’s Grand Marshal is designer/artist Blayne, known both for his “Project Runway” season and for his work at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor). The parade starts at California/Lander (by Lafayette Elementary) at 11 am Saturday and continues south on California to the end of the main Junction business district, so stake out your spot anywhere along the way. And all kids are invited to be in the Rotary Club of West Seattle-presented Kiddies’ Parade, which starts at 10:30 from California/Genesee (shorter route and plenty of time to get back to your spot to see the “other” parade!).

7 Replies to "West Seattle Grand Parade: JP Patches, another "clown," more"

  • miws July 14, 2009 (10:53 am)

    Yay J.P. Patches!! :D

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    Still participating in community events, and making public appearances, at age 81!! :cool:

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    Mike

  • Gina July 14, 2009 (3:54 pm)

    Mr. Wedes has good genes.

  • toddinwestwood July 14, 2009 (5:02 pm)

    really? Blaine? Grand Marshall ????

    (if you cant say anything nice….)

  • WSB July 15, 2009 (6:33 am)

    TR note – I checked – that link shows photos of the JP Patches/Gertrude statue in Fremont.

  • miws July 15, 2009 (8:19 am)

    Well, of course it does, TR! I mean, doesn’t the “.jpg” stand for JP/Gertrude? ;)

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    I still need to make it out there and check out the statue. I was very dissapointed to miss the dedication last Summer, due to being in the hospital. :( Several of my Cashman fan friends went, and one of them thoughtfully stopped by on his way home, and showed me the pics he’d taken! :cool:

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    He also brought me my own version of Tikey Turkey, which he rescued from his family’s yard sale. He had hope to get J.P. to sign it for me, but the line for autographs was prohibitively long.

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    Mike

  • JumboJim July 15, 2009 (5:11 pm)

    Yay for JP. How can you NOT love JP Patches?? At least if you were a locally-grown kid that is…

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