West Seattle, Washington
23 Wednesday
One of next weekend’s big events: The West Seattle Garden Tour (with WSB among this year’s co-sponsors). Tonight, WSGT organizers shared the photo above, with this report:
We had a great Garden Tour Container party today at Clay Swidler’s house, preparing magnificent Succulent containers for next week’s 16th annual West Seattle Garden Tour!
Pictured from left to right are committee members Carolyn Graye, Michelle Drewien, 2010 WSGT Gardener extraordinaire Mari Malcom, and Kathleen Kemp. See you all at the July 18th WSGT next week!
You’ll see some of those containers on the tour too. Tickets are $15 and not only represent a donation to local nonprofits, they also get you admission to the lecture/workshop by edible gardening/backyard chicken guru Willi Galloway (a West Seattleite) and wine/chocolate/cheese/pastry tasting afterward. You can buy yours online, or in person at the locations listed here.
In case you were wondering – as of a few minutes ago, the heart of The Junction was still closed for West Seattle Summer Fest breakdown and cleanup. (The permits run till midnight, so they aren’t required to reopen before then, though most of the time they do.) About two hours ago, we were heading toward The Bridge when we spotted a festival fixture alongside us on Fauntleroy Way in The Triangle:
The West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival float was on its way back to the garage (being driven, not towed) post-festival. You’ll see it in action in the White Center Jubilee Days Parade next Sunday at 10 am and the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade on Saturday, July 24, at 11 am. ADDED 10:48 PM: Best hairdo spotted at Summer Fest, seen late today, photographed by ToFuGuns and shared via the WSB photo pool on Flickr:
Thanks again to everyone who shared photos, video and comments!
Though Summer Fest is over, lots of big events are still ahead for West Seattle in the weeks ahead. Among them – August 29th is the Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run to raise money for Northwest Hope and Healing to help breast-cancer patients – and though that sounds like a long time away, today’s a deadline: If you register by tonight, you get an early-bird discount on the registration fee. Here’s the link.
(Scroll down for the newest West Seattle Summer Fest updates)
Welcome to the third and final day of West Seattle Summer Fest 2010! The iconic Easy Street Records sign is just a few yards from our spot back in the Information Booth, where we’ll be covering the festival live again today. Booths are open till 5. First music of the day should be getting under way right now – Capping Day at the California (north end) stage. (video added post-show)
Tip of the day: Some of the merchants offer extra discounts on Summer Fest’s final day – one of them, WSB sponsor Bin 41, “your Junction wine shop,” also just feet away from where you’ll find us – we’ve got cards for a 10 percent discount off your purchase, good till 5 pm. You’ll find other WSB sponsors with booths at Summer Fest – including Mural Apartments, which is on the north side of the Walk All Ways intersection, also promoting the businesses in Mural (Fresh Bistro, Wallflower Custom Framing, Season’s Hair Salon) and the under-construction-in-The-Triangle Link Apartments:
Next to Cupcake Royale, there’s Fitness Together (disclosure, it’s a photo from yesterday, but not previously used), where proprietor Bonnie Katz offers a chance for you to test your strength:
By the way, if you’re looking for the official Summer Fest T-shirts, they’re on sale at the Seattle Logo Pro booth, which is right in front of Cupcake Royale’s west side – next to the aforementioned Mural etc. booth.
12:21 PM UPDATE: Under way right now – Ropeworks is back at the Alaska stage, with jump-rope champ Rene Bibaud. We had iPhone video of their performance yesterday – we’re rolling our slightly bigger camera on this one! (video added – spectators joining in!)
You’ll find performances most of the day at both stages.
12:58 PM UPDATE: Youth performers from Youngstown Arts Center are getting ready to take the stage here now; Dusty 45s are playing up at the California stage. (video added after the show)
We also just checked in with Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith, who’s been leading the Summer Fest force the past three days – he says things are still quiet, no major problems. (Couple of kids skateboarding by into near-collisions got a stern warning, though.) If you’re down here and need to check in on the World Cup game – it’s on the big screen outside Elliott Bay Brewery. And now (1:03 pm) the big news – the sun’s back!
1:54 PM: This may be the most perfect festival weather yet – some clouds, some sun, warming up but nothing like the day 1 heat. Variety show on the Alaska stage – Youngstown’s had hip-hop and rock (the latter, a band of teen boys currently onstage with a line of teen girls screaming in admiration every chance they get). Speaking of youth, West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty and candidates are on the move again today – buttons and pins, just a few bucks to help support the festival and its award-winning float:
The Junior Court Coronation is coming up Friday – you’ve got till Tuesday to apply – and the Senior Court Coronation is two weeks away. Here at Summer Fest, somebody’s got bubbles – they’re blowing right past the keyboard here – and the Minute to Win It $10,000 drawing is scheduled at 2:15 pm. Another special we should mention – ArtsWest has a big ticket deal under way right now. (You can also buy tickets there for the West Seattle Garden Tour, one week from today.) Here’s what ArtsWest’s Alan Harrison wrote about the deal in a WSB comment thread in earlier coverage:
Buy a set of season tickets for only $159/6 plays (which is already like getting one play free), and you’ll also get:
a $10 gift certificate good for anything at ArtsWest (concessions, another ticket, artwork, etc.)
a free ticket to the Apprentice Production of “SIDE SHOW,” which opens on July 21 for a 2-week run.
That’s a $25 value…free during SummerFest only! Just stop by ArtsWest and ask about it.
2:54 PM UPDATE: Minute to Win It (again – no, that’s not the TV host, but a lookalike) ended with the three finalists winning trips to Vegas – nobody made it all the way to the $10K. Meantime, an onstage announcement shortly afterward reminds us – Starbucks sponsored the recycling for the festival, which we’re told is a notable chunk of the costs. So that’s helped keep the festival zone clean.
3:53 PM UPDATE: Day 3 always zooms by. In the last hour – go drop by the Community Zone over by Junction Plaza Park (on SW Alaska east of Walk All Ways) – the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s among the groups there now:
That’s executive director Andrea Mercado at right. Nearby, Karen and Deanie are at the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network table. Earlier in the weekend, the North Delridge Neighborhood Council took their turn (Nancy Folsom’s in the photo) – their next meeting is tomorrow night, Delridge Library, 6:30 pm:
NDNC also will help celebrate the Delridge Playground’s first anniversary next Friday night. Even some impromptu fun in that end of the street … as we walked back toward the Information Booth a little while ago, an impromptu water battle broke out:
Same spot saw the Pathfinder K-8 unicyclists a little earlier in the afternoon:
Back along the row of booths on the south stretch of California, we said hi to the 34th District Democrats‘ crew:
Their next regular meeting is coming up this Wednesday night, 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy. More Summer Fest till the breakdown begins … Kris Orlowski’s onstage by us (Alaska Stage) now – last scheduled act of the day, along with the Polyrhythmics playing right now up at the California Stage. (video of Kris O, added post-show)
And before it all wraps up, another look at the kid activities’ zone – where Clowns Unlimited brought the bouncers, and Pathfinder K-8 presented the free crafts activities:
5:08 PM: Officially over. We’re still here a few more minutes – still have flyers at the Information Booth for upcoming Junction events: West Seattle Outdoor Movies by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) start next Saturday night with “Mamma Mia!” (free and fun, bring your own blanket/chair, and some money for concessions), and then on September 19th the streets close again for the West Seattle Junction Car Show.
While you’re at West Seattle Summer Fest, you can veer over to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market – under way till 2 pm as usual – where we found those lovely carrots. High season for flowers too:
A bit breezy today and certainly chillier than the past two days, so till the sun comes out, you might consider bringing a sweater. On our way to The Junction, we stopped at the second-ever Highland Park Sunday Market, also continuing till 2, with new additions this week:
That’s some of what’s being offered by the Street Treats truck – operator Diane’s family lives in West Seattle, so she’s virtually local. Also there today, a booth full of gorgeous produce:
The Highland Park market is at 12th/Holden, in the parking lot of HP Improvement Club.
Also look for this tent – where kids can join in creating art:
If you miss them this week – they’re weekly TFN, from hereon out.
(Alki pole-vaulting on Saturday, photographed by Gene)
Yes, the sun is supposed to return later. In addition to West Seattle Summer Fest Day 3 (booths open at 11) and this morning’s mega-low tide (also at 11), here’s what else is on tap:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Steps away from Summer Fest, at 44th/Alaska, the market is open 10 am-2 pm as usual. Here’s the Ripe ‘n’ Ready list.
HIGHLAND PARK SUNDAY MARKET: 10 am-2 pm is also the new schedule for this new gathering of vendors. Check its Facebook page to see some of who’s joined up since the first HPSM two weeks ago (which we covered “live”) – there’s food, art, crafts … The Highland Park Improvement Club parking lot (map) is the place.
SPOKESPEOPLE BIKE RIDE: And 10 am is takeoff time for this group’s next ride – heading from Alki Bike and Board in Admiral, to downtown and back. Details on the Sustainable West Seattle website.
WHITE CENTER GARDEN WALK: Can’t wait till next Sunday’s West Seattle Garden Tour (co-sponsored by WSB) to browse more beautiful gardens? As White Center begins this year’s Jubilee Days festival, its Garden Walk is back this afternoon. Maps are available at McLendon Hardware noon-5 (here’s the preview from our partner site White Center Now).
From Flickr, where ToFuGuns shared photos with the West Seattle Blog group, that’s Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands onstage Saturday night at West Seattle Summer Fest. One of the first acts of the evening was Kristen Ward, who we got on video as our spot at the Information Booth by the Alaska stage folded up for the night:
We didn’t make it to the street dance, but we hear it was a smash – @shermanscorner tweeted about the Cherry Cherry (Neil Diamond tribute band) singalong! Music along the sidewalks last night, too – WSB’er “D” shared iPhone video of two members of the Junk Queens:
The music continues today – starting with Capping Day on the California stage on the north end of the festival zone at 11:30 am; here’s the schedule.
So much going on this weekend, we haven’t found the time to tidewalk … but mega-low tides are back and maybe you’d like to get out on the beach today. Gatewood resident Pam, writer/publisher of Nerd’s Eye View, was out Saturday with “Mr. NEV,” whom she credits for the above photo, and wrote a vivid tale about their Lincoln Park tidewalk (including more photos). This morning, you can go out in search of your own story, as the tide will be even lower just after 11 am: -3.2, according to this chart – at Lincoln Park by Colman Pool and Constellation Park, you’ll find Seattle Aquarium (WSB sponsor) beach naturalists 10 am-2 pm, too.
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