West Seattle, Washington
23 Wednesday
(2018 WSB photo)
Got your tickets yet? Here’s a chance to enjoy a well-deserved night out while supporting a vital community nonprofit:
Only 10 days left until the West Seattle Food Bank’s fun party and fundraiser A Grand Affair Cocktail Benefit at the Sanctuary at Admiral (on 42nd across from Admiral Safeway) on Friday evening, September 20th at 6:30 pm.
Tickets are $75/person until Thurs., 9/19 or $85 at the door. This is a fun Roaring ’20s-themed cocktail party featuring casino style gaming with a chance to win prizes (you get $10,000 of play chips with your ticket), hosted wine, beer & food, themed cocktails by Peel & Press and The Bridge, and Husky Ice Cream, served by Jack Miller himself, with a drizzle of Bourbon if you choose.
You can get your pictures taken in the photo booth, get your Tarot Cards read, buy raffle tickets with a chance to choose anything from the live auction, and bid on some fun experiences like a private dinner prepared by the owners of Bakery Nouveau or a tequila tasting and dinner at The Matador! All to help the 12,700 individuals the West Seattle Food Bank serves in our community.
To purchase tickets or check out all the rest of the auction items, click here!
Community co-sponsors of the event include WSB.
For everything we’ve gained by (mostly) moving to cellphones, we’ve lost the yard-sale bric-a-brac of the future. No more novelty phones like that, found on a table at the Highland Park Improvement Club Giant Garage Sale, on until 3 pm. Of course you’ll find practical merchandise too:
And treats!
It’s the centennial for HPIC, so even annual events like this are a bit more festive than usual. The sale’s happening outdoors and indoors at 1116 SW Holden.
(WSB photo from 2016 Monster Dash)
Third running-related story of the day: Just two months until the 2019 West Seattle Monster Dash. Set your calendar for 9 am-11 am Saturday, October 26th, when the costumes-encouraged event will return to Lincoln Park. Besides the 5K trail run, the Monster Dash also will feature kid dashes and a family-fun zone. Proceeds benefit the South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools. You can register right now at earlybird prices. (Here’s our coverage from last year.)
(WSB photos and video)
6:44 PM: Caspar Babypants fans are filling the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center for what’s invariably the bounciest night of the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s annual concert series. “My Flea Has Dogs,” “Free Couch,” “Mr. Rabbit,” and other faves already have the youngest concertgoers dancing nonstop.
Mr. Babypants intro’ing ‘Free Couch’ pic.twitter.com/8aPRoQb8dp
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 23, 2019
You have until 8 to get here and share the fun.
While you’re here, say hi to the series sponsors tabling on the east edge of the crowd, including WSB sponsors West Seattle Realty (with Otter Pops) and Dream Dinners (with crafts).
(Added: Dream Dinners’ table, above; West Seattle Realty’s Otter Pop-ularity, below)
7:50 PM: Show just ended – and with it, this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. We have more photos/video to add when we’re back at HQ.
10:21 PM: Adding more photos and video. Caspar B (who most probably know by now is Chris Ballew, who had a pre-Babypants claim to fame with The Presidents of the United States of America) insisted “every song is a true story”:
You can’t argue that when the song is, for example, “Banana Bread,” telling the practical tale of why you don’t have to discard overripe bananas. Many of his songs are critter tales, though, like this:
As you saw there, some fans didn’t even stop bouncing when the music stopped. That can have side effects:
Many more were starting to wind down by show’s end. Afterward, there was a chance to buy merch and art – CB’s cover artist Kate Endle, who also happens to be married to him, was there:
One more person to acknowledge – Stephanie Jordan, who plans and coordinates the Hiawatha series for ANA:
Watch next year for word of the 2020 series!
(WSB photo, August 2018)
Though tomorrow will likely bring rain, it should be gone by Thursday night’s grand finale of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. The kid-geared rock of Caspar Babypants will undoubtedly fill the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center as usual, so don’t be late. 6:30 pm start time, free, BYO chair/blanket/kid(s)/picnic, along Walnut south of Lander. P.S. Mr. Babypants has a new album out – “Flying High.”
(2017 WSB photo: Looking into West Duwamish Greenbelt from NE edge of SSC campus)
We feature a lot of local nature walks/hikes that happen on weekends – but tomorrow brings a rare weekday-morning opportunity, so in case you haven’t already seen the listings in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, you’re invited to join a free “mindful meditation” nature walk Tuesday morning, 10:30 am on Puget Ridge. Meet at the main entrance to the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Recreation Specialist John Hasslinger will be there to lead the short walk through the SCG and adjacent greenbelt. Just show up!
As reported earlier this year, the West Seattle Helpline‘s clothing bank Clothesline has moved to a new location – still in The Junction, still in a space owned by West Seattle Christian Church. You’re invited to a party Thursday to come see for yourself! Here’s the announcement:
Join us for our Grand Re-Opening of the Clothesline, our free all-ages clothing bank. There will be tours of the new location, food, games, and friends. We will be celebrating this new space with our neighbors, and would love for you to be there!
Date: Thursday, August 22
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Location: 4425 41st Ave SW
The Clothesline served 1,660 people last year!
(WSB photo by Leda Costa, September 2018)
You’re invited to end summer by helping ensure the West Seattle Food Bank can keep going strong through fall and winter – tickets (and sponsorships!) are available now for this year’s “A Grand Affair.” The announcement:
Five weeks to go to the West Seattle Food Bank’s 4th annual Roaring ’20s-themed A Grand Affair Cocktail Benefit, Friday evening, September 20th beginning at 6:30 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral.
Bring your friends to this fun benefit that will celebrate the Food Bank’s achievements in helping our neighbors who are in need of food and other services. The evening will be filled with casino-style gaming with a chance to win prizes, hosted wine, beer & hors d’oeuvres, themed cocktails by Peel & Press and The Bridge, Husky Deli’s Jack Miller serving Whiskey Shakes, a photo booth, silent & live auctions, and a chance to give back through Funds for Food.
Dress is cocktail attire but themed costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $75/guest and $85 at the door. Each guest will receive $10,000 worth of gaming chips with each ticket. To be a sponsor, purchase tickets, see our fabulous auction items, or get more A Grand Affair information, go to: westseattlefoodbank.ejoinme.org/AGA
All proceeds will go to providing the 11,500 individuals we serve yearly with nutritious food and other needed services through our shopping style distribution, Mobile Food Bank, Home Delivery, Backpack Program, Baby & Child Corner, Pet Pantry, Bookcase and Community Connections. For more information, or to donate, go to westseattlefoodbank.org.
Community co-sponsors for “A Grand Affair” include WSB; as mentioned above, there’s room for more!
Peak season for free outdoor music! The ABBAgraphs – you can guess whose music is their specialty – are playing right now in the third of four shows as part of Providence Mount St. Vincent‘s summer concert series.
Something extra at The Mount’s shows – you can buy dinner if you want:
Tonight’s menu includes burgers, tacos, and baklava! And/or free snow cones and popcorn. The concert continues until 7:30; The Mount is at 4831 35th SW and the stage is on the south side of the campus.
Next week, this year’s series wraps up with the 85th Street Big Band, dinner available starting at 5:30, music at 6.
6:52 PM: “We’ve got some great dancing going on up here!” enthused one of The Highsteppers‘ singers between songs, referring to the youngest audience members:
Most of what they have performed so far is from those kids’ grandparents’ day – classic R&B, Motown, soul hits – but great music cuts across generations, and that’s what they’re doing tonight in the second-to-last Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show:
The Highsteppers @ Hiawatha until 8! pic.twitter.com/BHUXGSXMt9
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 16, 2019
This is on at the east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center until 8, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with community co-sponsors including WSB. Free. More later!
10:12 PM: Special guest audience member – The West Seattle Turkey!
Well … it was nearby. Thanks to everybody who texted and rushed over to the sponsor zone on the east edge of the lawn to tell us in person about the sighting. The Turkey wisely moved on before attracting too much of a crowd. And thanks to the driver who stopped as it, yes, high-stepped across the street.
Back to the concert. Vocalists Samantha Willis and Stacey Meyer shone on a range of songs from “Rescue Me” to “Straight Up,” and the rest of the band rocked too. Here’s part of “Proud Mary”:
Another good crowd, all ages, many with picnic dinners:
One more video clip, just in as we finish this update – courtesy of Mark Jaroslaw:
Summer Concert at Hiawatha / The Highsteppers from JaroslawMedia on Vimeo.
Next week, last concert of the season – the traditional series-closer, kindie-rock superstar Caspar Babypants, 6:30 pm Thursday, August 22nd – see you there!
Get ready to shake it Thursday night on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, as The Highsteppers bring their classic-R&B/Motown/soul style to this year’s second-to-last show in the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented concert series. Free, all ages, all you have to bring is your own chair/blanket to sit on. The show starts at 6:30 pm Thursday (August 15th) along Walnut south of Lander.
Wondering what to do with the rest of your Sunday afternoon? You’re invited to bring your dog(s) to the lot outside Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) in Morgan Junction for Furry Faces Foundation‘s “Paw-Tee”! Activities include people-assisted paw painting:
Until 4 pm, Hands to Paws Animal Massage is there:
You can browse and bid at the silent auction until 5 pm:
And you can sing! Renowned karaoke host Christopher Mychael is there until 5:30 pm. Full Paw-Tee details are in our calendar listing.
6:43 PM: The first “Art of Music” performance is happening on the southwest Walk All Ways corner at California/Alaska, as the August West Seattle Art Walk continues. The duo is How Short (Josh Hou and Andy Short). They’re scheduled to play until 7:30 pm, the first of a series of Art Walk-night performances presented by the West Seattle Junction Association. And of course, you’ll find art at multiple venues in The Junction and beyond:
That’s Amber Leaders, featured artist at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor); the photo’s from Click! co-proprietor John Smersh. She’s there until 8; read more about her prints, cards, and pins on the Click! website. The full Art Walk map/venue list is in our preview.
ADDED 9:18 PM: If you’ve seen the posters/cards for this quarter’s Art Walks, you’ve seen Whitney LaRene‘s work:
Her work is featured this month at Flying Apron in The Junction (4709 California SW) – remember that most artists’ work can be seen (often with purchase information if you’re interested) all month long, not just on Art Walk Night. We also stopped at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), showing work by Nikki Hobensack:
Next West Seattle Art Walk: September 12th!
Imagine yourself in that scene – in the shade, on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, on a warm summer night. That could be you this Thursday during the next free concert presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. This week, it’s the “Gypsy Jazz” sound of Ranger and the Re-arrangers – here’s a sample of their style:
As always, the concert will run 6:30-8 pm; bring your own chair, blanket, etc., family, friends, neighbors, picnic dinner, etc.! The lawn runs along Walnut south of Lander.
(WSB photo from 2017 Summer Concerts at The Mount)
Now that it’s August, Providence Mount St. Vincent is about to launch its 2019 series of four free outdoor concerts! They start tomorrow (Friday, August 2) on the south side of The Mount’s campus at 4831 35th SW. If you haven’t already seen it in our calendar, here’s the lineup:
August 2nd — Danny Vernon, The Illusion of Elvis
August 9th — Loose Heels – Country covers and originals
August 16th — The Abbagraphs (Abba tribute band)
August 23rd — The 85th Street Big Band
The concerts are free – so are popcorn and snow cones – but you have the option of buying dinner and drinks starting at 5:30. Music starts at 6. Bring your own chair/blanket.
6:52 PM: “My favorite place to play is outside!” enthused Alec Shaw between songs as tonight’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show got going. It’s a great place to be tonight whether you’re onstage or on the lawn (east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (Walnut south of Lander) to be specific) – the stage and most of the lawn are in the shade already and the rest will be soon. The show’s on until about 8 – free – bring your own blanket/chair.
Alec Shaw at Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha. Beautiful night, hundreds here, all ages. pic.twitter.com/lSFqaoqufu
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 2, 2019
7:57 PM: Concert’s wrapping up – last song.
ADDED 11:11 PM: More photos!
You can find out more about Alec Shaw’s music here. Next week at Hiawatha – Ranger and the Re-Arrangers, 6:30 pm Thursday (August 8th).
While rain is forecast for the end of the week, looks like good concert weather tomorrow (Thursday) night for the next installment of Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association with community co-sponsors including WSB). Alec Shaw will be onstage for the free concert starting at 6:30 on the east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center (along Walnut south of Lander) – bring your own chair/blanket, picnic dinner if you want to, and enjoy a great night of fresh air and live music.
6:58 PM: Great place to hang out in the shade – the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, where The Not-Its are onstage right now as the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha presents its first show of the year (after last week was rained out). You still have time to get there – the concert (free!) continues until 8 pm. More photos later.
9:45 PM: Great crowd, and lots of smiles evoked by the band’s playful style:
Here’s a bit of video:
This concert had a bonus follow-up act – talented young musicians from School of Rock West Seattle:
We have some video from their performance too:
Next Thursday night (August 1), at 6:30 pm, Alec Shaw performs.
(August 2018 WSB photo)
Though the opening show of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series was rained out, this week’s forecast looks much more summery, so we feel safe in reminding you that The Not-Its are scheduled to take the stage at 6:30 pm Thursday. This bouncy bunch had two big West Seattle shows last year – at the Sub Pop Records 30th-anniversary party on Alki (photo above) and the Hometown Holidays Night Market/Tree Lighting in The Junction – so you might already know something about their “kindie rock” style. Bring your own chair/blanket/dancing shoes to the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (along Walnut south of Lander). The Admiral Neighborhood Association presents Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, with the support of community sponsors (including WSB) – see you there!
(WSB photos from Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade. Above, All-City Band)
It’s your chance to see marching bands without going to a parade, and a chance to see them perform entire routines instead of just the fragment paradegoers get as they pass: Band Jam is returning to West Seattle this year, after moving downtown last year because of work at Southwest Athletic Complex. This year, the field is finished and Band Jam’s back!
(Sumner High School Band)
Four of the marching bands from this past Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade will be part of it, according to the announcement today from All-City Band director Marcus Pimpleton:
All-City Band wanted to make sure all of our friends in West Seattle are aware of our Band Jam event this Friday at the Southwest Athletic Complex – 2801 SW Thistle St. – across the street from Chief Sealth International High School. This free event will run from 6:30-9:00 pm and feature musical performances by the:
Junior All-City Band
Seismic Sound Drumline
Kennedy Catholic High School Marching Band
Rainbow City Marching Band and Spinout Color Guard
Sumner High School Marching Band
Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline
Seattle Sounders FC Soundwave Marching Band
Seattle Schools All-City Marching Band
(Rainbow City Marching Band)
Dr. Pimpleton launched Band Jam back in 2009 as a tuneup event for bands on the eve of the Seafair Torchlight Parade (which is downtown this Saturday night).
The summer sun returned just in time for those custom shades to be practical (as well as sporty) during tomorrow’s Float Dodger 5K before the West Seattle Grand Parade. The 5K along the parade route and back, to and from Hiawatha, returns after a year’s hiatus. Until 7 tonight, you can stop by West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), where we took the photo, to pick up your packet and sunglasses, or to register if you haven’t already. (Very last-minute registration will be available tomorrow morning, too.) Here’s the Saturday plan:
8:00 am – Registration and Packet Pickup opens
8:45 am – Free Kids Dash around the track
9:00 am – Costume contest
9:30 am – Race starts
10:00 am – Awards ceremony
10:15 am – After party at West Seattle Runner
Shortly afterward, it’s time for the Grand Parade – one last preview later this evening!
(Video courtesy Ralph Lane Productions)
That video is from yesterday, when the West Seattle Big Band played to a big crowd at the Ballard Locks – and tomorrow night, you can see them right here at home, during their 24th annual Concert in the Park. Free! Just BYO chair/blanket to the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, along Walnut south of Lander – the music starts at 7 pm Tuesday (July 16th).
(WSB photo from WSBB Concert in the Park 2018)
The WSBB is directed by Jim Edwards, also a coordinator of the West Seattle Grand Parade, and the concert has another connection to Saturday’s parade – presentation of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community. As reported here last week, this year’s honoree is philanthropist Adah Rhodes Cruzen, and you can applaud her at tomorrow night’s concert. Side note – its past winners include WSBB director Jim and wife Barbara Edwards, who as the video clip above shows, just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary!
P.S. Don’t let today’s rain worry you … tomorrow’s forecast looks dry. All ages are welcome to come enjoy the WSBB’s outstanding music. You can even get up and dance if you feel like it.
Keep your energy up! More big events ahead … including these three next Saturday (July 20):
FLOAT DODGER 5K: We photographed West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) co-proprietor Tim McConnell this weekend at Summer Fest, modeling custom sunglasses available to registrants while they last. The Float Dodger 5K takes you from Hiawatha down the West Seattle Grand Parade route on California to The Junction and back on Saturday morning, starting at 9:30 (after a costume contest!). WSR presents the Float Dodger 5K, with proceeds benefiting West Seattle Helpline. You can register online through Thursday. or in person through Friday at WSR (2743 California SW) to save fees. Packet pickup is 3-7 pm Friday (July 19th) at the store, where participants can also take advantage of a 10 percent in-store discount on merchandise.
2ND ANNUAL PAWRADE: In The Junction right before the Grand Parade, you and your dog(s) are invited to be part of the second annual PAWrade. No entry fee – but registration is required; you can do it online here (scroll down the page) or starting at 10 am on parade morning at California/Genesee. The PAWrade starts there at 11 am and travels a short route in The Junction, right as the Grand Parade begins in Admiral.
WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Motorcycles! Bands! Pirates! Floats! Dancers! Community groups! The parade-presenting West Seattle Rotary Foundation says 80+ entries are expected this year as the West Seattle Grand Parade heads down California SW from Lander to Edmunds starting at 11 am Saturday (be in place by 10:30 am as the motorcycle drill teams often start sooner). Cheer for the special honorees (here’s our preview about them)! If you’re in The Junction, you’ll hear parade announcers Brian Callanan and Christa Callanan. We’ll roll out more previews as this week goes on.
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