West Seattle, Washington
06 Sunday
Exactly one week until Valentine’s Day. Three West Seattle notes:
JEWELRY: Thinking about diamonds for a gift? Lauren’s Jewelry (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village is having a special shopping party this Friday (February 10th), 4-7 pm. The independently owned shop promises, “We will have diamonds of all prices and sizes, spin the wheel, party favors, bites, & beverages for all of our attendees. Each guest will get the chance to win up to 30% off!” This is an RSVP-required event – get on the list by emailing hello@laurensjewelrystore.com or calling 206-937-9200.
FLOWERS: On Valentine’s Day afternoon – 2 to 4 pm Tuesday, February 14th – HomeStreet Bank‘s West Seattle branch (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) invites you to stop in for sweet treats and, if you’re among the first 40 visitors, a long-stemmed rose. Also for visitors: “We will have a drawing for one of our favorite restaurants in the area.”
(Photo provided by Senior Center of West Seattle)
ELVIS! Also on Valentine’s Day, get your evening started early with Elvis tribute artist Bret Wiggins at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 4-5:30 pm, performing a show themed “Love Me Tender” – classic love songs along with Elvis’s biggest hits from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. Tickets are $10 members, $15 non-members, refreshments included, and you can reserve yours right now by going here.
For the second time today, we’re inviting you to look ahead to June – this time it’s because registration is open for Loop the ‘Lupe 2023, coming up June 3, with new features this year:
We’re BACK with Loop The ‘Lupe, Seattle’s best 5K obstacle course fun run! This event will take place at Walt Hundley Playfield in West Seattle on Saturday, June 3rd. Here’s what’s in store for 2023:
NEW!!! ELITE WAVE: We’ve heard from racers that they’re looking for an extra challenge, and we’ve got it for you! We’re starting the Loop the ‘Lupe this year with an “Elite Wave” for racers 16 years old and up to increase the level of competition. We’re also ADDING TWO OBSTACLES just for this wave, creating a total of nine obstacles per lap!
NEW!!! FAMILY WAVE: So, you’re ready for the ninja challenges (wall-climbing, mud-crawling, all your favorites), but not ready to run with the elites? The 7-obstacle Family Wave is all you! NEW OBSTACLE: We’ve replaced our balance beams with a NEW balancing obstacle and we’re ready to go!
YOUR FAVORITES ARE BACK: We’ll have the 5K run/walk, the Senior Saunter walk (100% flat, no obstacles), and the Youth Dash (a 1K loop with 7 obstacles & adult supervision).
YOU CAN SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE: This event is one of the major fundraisers for Our Lady of Guadalupe Church each year. As you may have seen in recent news coverage, the need for churches like OLG are great, and your registration and donations support important social outreach work — meals for shut-ins, homeless services, and help with migrant communities, too. So, join us for the Loop, and have some fun while raising much-needed funds for those in need!
VIRTUAL RACING: Not feeling up to a trip to the park? No problem! Register to get a race t-shirt, contact us at loopthelupe@gmail.com, and record a video of yourself on your own crazy home obstacle course, then post it to our on our Facebook page! Prizes for the top entrants!
ALL PARTICIPANTS: The Loop’s live music, food, and beer garden are back, too, this summer, with a new layout for post-race relaxation at the park!
There’s an advantage to signing up early – prices go up in a few weeks. Registration starts here.
(Inside HPIC, shortly after 2021 fire)
As mentioned in our coverage of last week’s HPAC meeting, Highland Park Improvement Club is set to take the next step in its plan to rebuild after the fire that ravaged its building – with a special Corner Bar event this Friday. We just received the announcement and community invitation:
Come meet your neighbors and enjoy a beverage this Friday night as we roll out our plans to rebuild a community space that’s been central to our neighborhood for more than 100 years: the Highland Park Improvement Club!
In 2021, the Highland Park Improvement Club (HPIC) building was tragically destroyed in a fire. Once home to monthly gatherings, live music, a community garden, regular yoga classes, and more – HPIC is no longer the bustling center of neighborhood activity it once was. Now the burned building sits vacant on the corner of 12th and Holden in West Seattle, deemed unsafe for use after the blaze.
This is not the future anyone wants to see for this rare gem that has played such a vital role in connecting and supporting the surrounding communities, like it did when community leaders used it as a food insecurity resource during the pandemic. To keep HPIC alive, the executive board and trustees have been hard at work for the last year creating a vision for the future to make sure it can be sustainably restored – including working with architects, designers, contractors, donors, volunteers and more to bring this space back to life.
Now – it’s crunch time. We’re about a third of the way there on fundraising, but we need more help to cross the finish line and raise about two million dollars this year. That’s where you come in! Join us for a fun night of community conversation about how to restore this wonderful place and make it even better than before!
Who: You!
What: Corner Bar
When: February 3, 2023, 6 pm-10 pm
Where: Highland Park Corner Store- 7789 Highland Park Way SW
Why: To build community support around the REBUILDING TOGETHER fundraising Campaign. Help us reach our capital fundraising goal of 3.4 million dollars by Q3 2023!Our goal is demolition and groundbreaking in the fall, hoping to open in late 2024. Board members for the Rebuilding Together campaign will be on site to talk more about HPIC’s Nine-Month Fundraising Sprint at Friday’s event. Hope to see you at the Highland Park Corner Store on Friday, February 3rd for fun, music, and the kind of community enthusiasm we need to keep HPIC’s future alive!
(WSB photo from February 2020 Polar Plunge at Alki)
Outdoor events are few and far between in the heart of winter – but here’s an exception: We’re now four weeks away from the return of the Polar Plunge “winter beach party” to Alki, benefiting Special Olympics Washington. Here’s how organizers explain it:
The Special Olympics Washington Polar Plunge, on Saturday, February 25, is a Seattle tradition. The annual event brings together supporters throughout the area to Get Cold for a Cause. The 2023 installment of this Winter Beach Party is expanding to offer something for everyone.
Partygoers can show up to plunge or participate in the festivities and cheer others on.
Attendees can expect a full-on beach party with live music, beach games, a beer garden, food trucks, costume contests, and great prizes along the way! Individual and team registrants are encouraged to raise donations in support of Special Olympics Washington athletes. As they raise funds, they can also earn prizes including airline vouchers and Papa John’s gift cards for the top individual and team fundraisers.
The Polar Plunge campaign kicks off the year strong by raising funds that directly go to providing athletes with year-round opportunities to train and compete, as well as receive free health screenings and leadership training. Proceeds from the event ensure that over 7,500 Washington children and adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunity to participate at no cost to them.
On Saturday, February 25, festivities kick off at 8:00 a.m. at Alki Beach & Bathhouse [60th SW & Alki Avenue SW]. The costume contest will begin at 12:10 p.m., with winners awarded based on crowd response. Polar plunging starts at 1:00 p.m.!
Unlike the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim, this isn’t an en-masse jump-in-run-out event – but immersing yourself in Puget Sound is part of it. Individual and team registration starts here.
It is undeniably soup season. If you like making your own, you might be interested in the West Seattle Timebank‘s annual Soup Swap. It’s happening outdoors this Sunday at 2 pm. In case you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, we’re mentioning it this afternoon while there’s still enough time to make and freeze the soup you’ll bring. Here’s how it works. That page includes the RSVP link (you’ll get the address after you RSVP). If you’re just interested in the Timebank, not soup, they’re having a meeting online Sunday night at 6:30 – the link is also in our calendar listing for both events. (Image courtesy Pixabay)
Back in the fall, The Skylark in North Delridge saw success with a multi-week series of “adult spelling bee” nights. Now the game is back for one night only – 7 pm this Friday, January 6th – and Skylark proprietor Matt Larson asked us to share the invitation:
The Skylark Cafe and Quizfix’s SPELLDOWN AFTER DARK returns for a ONE-NIGHT ONLY spelling s-p-e-c-t-a-c-u-l-a-r! No pre-signup necessary – everybody who comes has a chance to be a contestant. Be the champion of “The Final Spelldown” – OR supply the word that knocks the last contestant OUT – and win fabulous prizes. Space is limited – get your tix today!
Doors at 7, Spelldown at 8:00 21+ Full bar and restaurant.
“Spelldown After Dark” is an adult spelling bee contest that awards cash and non-cash prizes to participants and winners. It feels like an in person game show with all the excitement of real competition and cash prizes, with drinks involved! Spelldown may incorporate some naughtiness, but in general is intended as PG- to R-level event that attracts participants who want to be named as the Spelldown 2023 King or Queen and are there to compete and have fun.
Haven’t been to The Skylark? It’s at 3803 Delridge Way SW.
(WSB file photo)
A lively all-ages way to start your New Year’s Eve is back this year – the Highland Park Improvement Club‘s Not-So-Silent-Night Parade Since HPIC’s building remains closed, awaiting rebuilding after last year’s fire, the parade will start at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) and proceed to Riverview Playfield. Bring a light, noisemaker(s) – drums, tambourines, whatever you have – costumes if you want. There’ll be free cider as everyone gathers at HPCS between 5:30 and 6, and hot chocolate and cookies at the end of the parade. It’s on no matter what the weather does (so far, the NYE forecast looks fairly calm, mostly cloudy, 40s, slight chance of rain. The parade is a tradition dating back to 2009!
This is one of the NYE/NYD options in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, and we’re still adding to the list – let us know if you have something to add!
(File photo, donated food at a past Turkey Bowl)
The Beer Church Turkey Bowl is a beer-release party and early-holiday-season benefit all in one, and it’s back, tomorrow (Saturday) at West Seattle Bowl (39th/Oregon). Here’s the announcement from Kim at the Beer Church (philanthropic arm of the West Seattle-headquartered Washington Beer Blog):
Tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 12, Beer Church Turkey Bowl returns to the West Seattle Bowl after a two-year absence. The event is happening from 4 to 7 p.m. 100% of proceeds benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.
While the bowling event is sold out, everyone is welcome to stop by. Guests can purchase a $5 raffle ticket for prizes (drawing around 5:30, must be present to win). We will also be enjoying the release of Beer Church Hoppy Pale Ale (also benefiting the food bank), brewed by the West Side Beer Trail brewers at Future Primitive Brewing.
The West Seattle Food Bank will be present to accept donations of money or non-perishable food.
Find out more about the event and the new beer by going here.
The Senior Center of West Seattle isn’t just for seniors. You’re invited, regardless of your age, to an event this Thursday (November 3) that’s at, and raising money for, the center. In case you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s the announcement!
Wine Tasting This Thursday at the Senior Center
Thursday, Nov. 3, 6-8 pm; live music from 7-10 pmCommunity members of all ages are invited to a wine tasting and live music this Thursday at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Bring your friends and join us for a fun and festive evening featuring red and white varietals from local wineries Darby, Pine Lake Cellars, and Welcome Road. Tickets are $50 each and include snacks from Brown Girl Charcuterie, live music by Larry Knapp, and wine tasting. Proceeds benefit the Senior Center. The Senior Center is located at 4217 SW Oregon St. with its main entrance off SW Oregon St. Purchase tickets (here).
If you missed our previous mentions here or here – the businesses of The Admiral District want to be sure you know their trick-or-treating event is returning, and is happening on Halloween itself this year, so this formal announcement is just in from Brent Amacher:
Admiral District merchants of West Seattle are proud to announce the return of the annual “Trick-or-Treating” event for 2022. The Admiral District “Trick or Treating” event will occur on Halloween, giving families the opportunity to trick or treat in a safe environment on the holiday itself. This long-standing Admiral neighborhood tradition has grown in popularity each year, and continues to be a West Seattle family favorite.
Trick or treating in The Admiral District is 100% volunteer-supported by the businesses operating near the intersection of Admiral and California Ave SW. Each year, local businesses give back to the community by providing a safe place for families to enjoy the holiday. Find your favorite costume, grab the kids, and come out on Monday, October 31st, to join in on this popular West Seattle event!
If you are interested in finding out whether a specific business in your area will be participating, stop by in advance, or give them a call. This event is well attended and most Admiral area storefronts take part in the fun. On the day of the event, simply look for the sign (shown above) in business windows, and stroll through the Admiral District with family and friends.
Trick or Treating will happen between 3 pm and 6 pm on 10/31/22 in The Admiral District.
(WSB photo: Marc Moreno and Travis Sherer of Cozy Comedy)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In these often-grim times, it’s hard to argue with the idea that we need more laughter in our lives.
West Seattleites Travis Sherer and Marc Moreno are doing their best to bring it to you. Not just through their own careers as performing comics, but by producing shows in a variety of venues – West Seattle and beyond – through their company Cozy Comedy.
Here on the peninsula, they’ve been presenting a monthly comedy night at Otter on the Rocks in The Admiral District. And starting this week, they’re adding one at Great American Diner in The Junction. More on that later. First, here’s what they, and Cozy Comedy, are about.
Sherer explains that the name originated with the venues where they produce shows – not just bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, but also condo and apartment buildings’ communal spaces.
We continue to regularly update the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar with myriad local events, and this one requires reservations for a limited number of free tickets, so here’s an early heads-up: At 8 pm (corrected) Saturday, October 22nd, Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) will host a family-geared Halloween magic show with magician Raymond W.
Tickets are free, and you’re asked to bring a nonperishable food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank if you can. Space is limited so registrations are being accepted now via email – check availability via seattlemagicshow@gmail.com. Find out more about Magician Raymond at seattlemagicshow.com.
(WSB photo, 2018 West Seattle Monster Dash)
The full-fledged West Seattle Monster Dash 5K & Kids’ Dash – a fun(draiser) for West Seattle Cooperative Preschools – is returning this year, and you can sign up at a discount rate through Friday! Here’s the announcement:
Join us this year as the 11th Annual Monster Dash returns IN PERSON to West Seattle’s beautiful Lincoln Park! This race is a costumed 5k trail run/walk and kids dash. Registration includes a t-shirt featuring our iconic Monster.
Monster Dash 5K and Kids Dash
October 29, 2022, 9 am – noon
Lincoln Park, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW
Register: runsignup.com/Race/WA/Seattle/WestSeattleMonsterDashEarly Bird Pricing (through Friday, September 30th)
$35 Adult 5K Registration (Age 17 & over)
$20 Youth 5K Registration (Age 16 & under)
$15 Kids/Little Dashes Registration (Age 10 & under)All funds raised benefit our Parent Advisory Council initiatives across our program, including outreach, equity, and tuition assistance.
(WSB photo from 2019 Harvest Festival)
Last year, trick-or-treating returned – this year, the West Seattle Junction Association is ready to put on a full-fledged Harvest Festival for the first time in three years! Sunday, October 30th is the date. And while Harvest Fest will again share the streets of The Junction with the Farmers’ Market, the festival will feature new features this year – including live music and a cornhole tournament. Some traditional favorites will return: The costume parade at 11 am, the chili cookoff at noon, for starters. The festival will run longer than years past, too. Trick-or-treating will run 11 am-2 pm; a pie-eating contest is planned at 1 pm; square dancing at 2:30 pm, and music continuing into the afternoon, with the announcement of the cornhole-tournament winners planned to end the festival at 5 pm. Stay tuned for more details as it gets closer!
All around the peninsula, the first-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is on! We visited two of the group sites – above, along the west edge of High Point Commons Park [map], where the crafters showing selling their work included Lillian, who creates with yarn:
Others there include Kevin Marshall with his “fine art functional pottery,” glazed stoneware:
If you’re looking for one-stop shopping, this might be the biggest site – Pathfinder K-8 [map], along the walkway and in the covered area on the north side of the school:
This is the Pigeon Point Craft Fair Festival, and participants are offering a wide variety of handmade items. The breeze drew our ears to the wind chimes at Misty Talkish‘s booth:
A short distance west along the fence, fall colors pop from the handmade “Shabby Chic by Cindy” wreaths:
Other group sites include C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Many participating artists/makers are set up at their homes/studios too, so you can look at the clickable map (or use this downloadable/printable version) and see what’s closest for a neighborhood stroll. Most of the Art Hop & Shop locations are open until 5 pm today!
Summer’s not over yet! Another chance to enjoy music in a local park is happening one week from today.
That’s local folk musician Thaddeus Spae, who’ll be performing at Puget Ridge Edible Park next Saturday (September 10th). Got the announcement today from Stu Hennessey on behalf of the PREP crew. It’s a celebration of the harvest season at this local park devoted to growing food. All are welcome – to listen, dance, and/or just walk through the PREP gardens – starting at 3 pm nextSaturday, 5265 18th SW.
Tomorrow’s the day and tickets are still available, so we are reminding you about the Sunday afternoon garden party at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank. WSFB’s work helps people stay housed as well as fed. The “We Love West Seattle” party is set for 3 pm to 6 pm Sunday. $45 gets you a sandwich from food truck Now Make Me A Sandwich plus a drink. Live music too! You can get your ticket(s) here while they last.
Two weeks after “The Great West Seattle Float Hunt” was launched by the volunteers behind the West Seattle Best Seattle efforts celebrating the peninsula’s businesses as the bridge reopening nears, more than a dozen custom glass floats remain hidden and waiting. That’s the latest today from organizers. Specifically, they say, 15 of the original 50 floats have yet to be found – 8 are indoors, 7 are outdoors, and the only area NOT to look is Alki – they say people have found all the floats hidden there. Here’s our original report with basic details, if you’re just jumping in on this now. The floats are all locally made – hand-blown by Avalon Glassworks in Luna Park – and about 4.25″ in diameter,
One more reminder for artists interested in being part of the first-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop – two days left to register and get your place on the map!
As we’ve previewed previously, this peninsula-wide event will see dozens of artists opening their studios to show and sell their work, 10 am-5 pm on Saturday, September 17th. As of earlier this week, organizers say, 42 artists had signed up to show and sell at 21 locations – and there’s room for more! But if you want to be part of it and aren’t already registered, don’t miss the Friday (September 2nd) deadline. Go here for the registration form/info!
This week and next week, the Skunk Works Robotics program is having open houses for students interested in participating. They’re based a bit south of West Seattle but have many participants from our area. Here’s the invitation:
Skunk Works Robotics is a competitive robotics team based in the Highline area. It is affiliated with 4-H and accepts members from any school, including homeschoolers. The team utilizes a workspace graciously provided by Highline Public Schools.
The Skunk Works team has been in the Highline area for 16 years and has won numerous awards as part of FIRST Robotics. Skunk Works is looking for new members who want an opportunity to build and utilize their skills in CAD, public speaking, programming, graphic design, statistical analysis, wiring, marketing or parts fabrication to compete at the highest levels of high school robotics. The team functions as a business and students learn marketable skills and teamwork under the supervision of mentors.
Meetings in the fall are twice a week. The team meets 4 days a week and on Saturdays when the competition season begins in January. We are accepting students in grades 8-10 at this time.
Skunk Works will have two open house sessions, September 1st and September 8th. Both will run from 6:30-8 pm. We ask that a parent or guardian attend this meeting as well. Please fill out this Google form and indicate which date you would like to visit.
You have until 6 pm to get to downtown White Center for this year’s Block Party. Dozens of vendors and organizations are there. Kid activities, too, like the bouncy toys on 16th south of 98th:
The intersection of 98th/16th is where you’ll find the main stage:
South of 98th is also where you’ll find Lariat Bar‘s wrestling ring – we caught part of an early match, highlighted by the pre-match bluster:
The “Hammer Brothers” (Jack and Sledge) were so loud, we didn’t catch the names of their opponents. So go wander 16th between Roxbury and 100th until 6 pm, and look for the special wristbands you can buy for discounts and freebies at participating businesses! Proceeds this year benefit local nonprofits. (The event originated last year as a benefit for the businesses ravaged by a series of fires.)
(2021 photo by Jerry Simmons)
As busy as Alki Beach is on a summer Saturday night, that’ll kick up a notch tomorrow night, with the Alki Beach Sunset Run 5K back for another year, its third – launched in 2019, skipping 2020, returning last year. It’s set to take off from the Alki Bathhouse (60th/Alki) vicinity at 6 pm Saturday (August 20th), heading to Duwamish Head and back, no road closures. Organizers describe it as a party as much as a run, with a DJ and cocktail garden awaiting participants after they finish. If you’re interested in participating, you still have time to register online – or on site starting at 4:30 tomorrow.
A unique outdoor concert that delighted parkgoers last summer is back this summer for an encore: Flutes in the Forest. You can enjoy it free this Saturday at Schmitz Park. Here’s the announcement:
Enjoy the sounds of the JBC Rose Flute Trio on Saturday afternoon, August 20, from 2:00-3:00 pm in Schmitz Park: Jennie Goldberg, Barb Cotton, and Carolyn Hoppe-Denend.
Bring your own chair or blanket; stay as long as you’d like.
Enter Schmitz Park off SW Admiral Way and SW Stevens Way. Walk the paved road 300 feet to the sound of flutes in the forest. Plenty of street parking along SW Stevens.
Concert is FREE and open to the public.
Note: there are no restrooms in the park.
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