West Seattle, Washington
15 Tuesday
Recovering today from the 4th (WSB coverage highlights: fireworks barge, Admiral parade, Ercolini parade, evening action on Alki, and sky sights) and the Seafair Pirates‘ Landing (WSB coverage: pix here, video and a few more pix here)? Still a few things going on today – like the Furry Faces Foundation “blowout plant sale” – see the West Seattle Weekend Lineup. But it’s also a good time to look ahead to the Big Events on the horizon (event photos in this post are WSB 2007 pix unless otherwise noted):
THIS THURSDAY: WEST SEATTLE SECOND THURSDAY ART WALK
Art Walk organizers are experimenting with new logos like the one above that you’ll see for the next quarter; the lineup continues to grow and you can find the map and highlights for Thursday (6-9 pm) at the Art Walk website.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY: WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST IN THE JUNCTION
Hours after the Art Walk, it’s Summer Fest time. As we’ve mentioned here and here, even more excitement this year – here’s the program; here’s the website. Live music, the Art Dive, vendors, food, fun for all ages. We’ll be on site all three days, for live coverage and hopefully a chance to say hi to you. Hours are 10 am-8 pm Friday and Saturday, 11 am-7 pm Sunday.
TUESDAY, JULY 15: HI-YU CONCERT IN THE PARK
One of our favorite Hi-Yu events – settle down onto the east lawn at Hiawatha and enjoy the West Seattle Big Band at 7 pm.
SATURDAY, JULY 19: WEST SEATTLE KIDDIE PARADE AND GRAND PARADE
All kids are welcome to join in the Kiddie Parade presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle; sign in at 9:45 am at California/Genesee (here’s a map; here’s more info, on parade flyer). Shortly after the kids start down California at 10:30, it’s the Grand Parade, presented by American Legion Post 160 – stake your spot out early! (or maybe you can join us in the parade; here’s how).
SATURDAY, JULY 19: “MOVIES ON THE WALL” SERIES BEGINS
You helped choose ’em; now it’s time to watch ’em! Sidewalk Cinema “Movies on the Wall” are playing on that screen shown above (spring ’08 WSB photo), next to Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) at the north end of The Junction, for six consecutive Saturday nights — see the lineup here (we’re sponsoring “Who Framed Roger Rabbit“ on August 2nd) — the movies are free; West Seattle Christian Church (WSB sponsor) sells concessions; hats are passed at intermission for a chance to donate to various WS charities.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY, JULY 26-27: ALKI ART FAIR
Art at the beach! Here’s the official website.
OTHER BIGGIES:
JULY 19-20: MEDITERRANEAN FANTASY FEST @ Hiawatha, 10 am-9 pm both days
JULY 20: WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR (tickets on sale now)
JULY 21: MISS WEST SEATTLE HI-YU CORONATION, Grace Church
AUGUST 1: “SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT” SERIES STARTS @ Providence Mount St. Vincent
AUGUST 5: NIGHT OUT, in your neighborhood! (here’s how to sign up; deadline 8/2)
AUGUST 16: PICNIC AT THE PRECINCT, Southwest Precinct (2007 WSB coverage here)
AUGUST 23-24: “ARTS IN NATURE” FESTIVAL @ Camp Long
Outside West Seattle, the biggest Seafair highlights include the Torchlight Parade downtown on July 26 and Blue Angels/hydros weekend August 1-3 (full Seafair schedule here). For everything coming up in West Seattle – lots more is going on in addition to the major events mentioned above — check our WSB West Seattle Events calendar page any time to see everything that’s coming up – it already features listings stretching all the way into next spring! To send us items for the calendar: editor@wsb.blackfin.biz — thanks!
Chef Naomi Kakiuchi shows kids how to make herbal vinegar, 11 am-noon; details here. Market hours are 10 am-2 pm, southeast corner of 44th/Alaska (map). You’ll find the updated “fresh sheet” here (reminder, it covers seven markets including West Seattle, so some of the items are marked for specific availability sites).
Just out of the inbox from an e-mail list kept by local naturalist Stewart Wechsler, who leads independent activities as well as some like this in collaboration with the Parks Department. (We once joined in an Owl Hoot at Seward Park but are betting Camp Long is even more splendid!):
There are currently still 12 spaces for my Owl Hoot tonight (Sat. 7-5-08) at Camp Long in West Seattle this evening 8:30 – 10:30 pm with the Seattle Parks Department. Barred Owls are resident at Camp Long and there is a good chance of seeing and hearing them.
I haven’t seen juveniles, but we may discover some vocal hissing juveniles begging for food if, as might be expected there is whole family there again. We will also dissect some owl pellets. The program is appropriate for whole families with all ages and individuals.
Pre-registration is recommended. The fee is $8 per person. Either call 206-684-7434 before 6 pm or pre-register on line:
class.seattle.gov/parks/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?aid=97&cid=30803
(July 2007 photo by Bob Bollen)
Hot on the heels of the 4th of July, it’s another big event at Alki today – the Seafair Pirates Landing, which is more than just the “landing” itself, with vendors and freebies starting at mid-morning and continuing into early afternoon – new features this year, the Pirates promise at their website – their arrival is one of 25 West Seattle events in this special Sat-Sun-only WSWL (since Friday had its own 4th of July page):Read More
The full lineup is on the WSB 4th of July page, with lots more holiday-related info. A few quick highlights:
10:30 am: Admiral Kids’ Parade
11 am: Ercolini Park neighbors’ parade
5 pm: High Point Commons Park celebration
6 pm: Alki Ave/Harbor Ave. restrictions kick in
Between 10 and 10:30 pm: fireworks start (many West Seattleites will see part of the Lake Union show behind the Jul-Ivar’s Elliott Bay show)
If you’re planning on checking online at any point today, don’t worry, we’ll be updating all day long. (Our first scheduled stop, the 4th of Jul-Ivar’s fireworks barge, which is in West Seattle waters, with loading scheduled to have begun a few hours ago, and media tours starting a few hours from now.) During tonight’s fireworks, we will likely be offline BUT if there is breaking news, we will update it from our phone via Twitter – any such updates will appear here on WSB in the blue Twitter box in the right sidebar, or you can track Twitter online/on your phone (go to twitter.com, and be sure you’re “following” westseattleblog).
Thanks to Jill for that photo of the lightning early this morning – she’s in Arbor Heights (which also had one of the best views of the lightning a few nights ago too), and you can see a few more pix on her Flickr page. Meanwhile, with tomorrow’s holiday, we’re all watching the forecast – today looks soggy but tomorrow and Saturday may be better — lots to do all three days, including the Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki on Saturday and the Alki Bathhouse art show/reception tonight (5-8 pm), with a chance to browse creations like this (thanks to Jana):
More on the Events calendar page (and for tomorrow’s plans – with helpful holiday info as well as activities – on our 4th of July page).
That’s just one example of a city chicken coop – and we’re showing it to you to accompany Seattle Tilth‘s announcement that its “City Chickens Tour” (first mentioned here) is definitely a go for July 12, and will feature West Seattle chicken coops too. Tickets (maps for the self-guided tour) are available through the Seattle Tilth website. Now, a bird of a different feather:
That’s video of a peregrine falcon — and its handler — from Woodland Park Zoo’s SOAR program, visiting the Delridge Library tonight for a program that kept a sizable all-ages audience, well, enrapt. (In the clip, you hear an explanation of how the DDT ban decades ago helped save endangered peregrines – among other birds – by reducing use of the chemical that had thinned their eggshells.) West Seattle’s library branches have programs from story time to games and beyond, all summer long; use this map to browse the branches and their online calendars.
That’s a scene from a past Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade – and as mentioned previously, the next one is coming up on Friday, and you’re invited to participate/watch – 10:30 am, 44th/Sunset, with picnic and games at Hamilton Viewpoint afterward. One of the organizers, Sherri Chun, also says some help is still needed: “We’re still looking for games helpers. If you or someone you know can help out, please send me an email. The concession stand is also taking donations of baked goods.” (TUESDAY UPDATE: Sherri advises they have all the baked goods they need now; thanks!) Click to send her a note. (More West Seattle 4th of July info here.) Meantime, the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 19th (want to be in it? check out this post) needs some help – you may have the advice Jim Edwards is looking for – to help out a band (the Calgary Round-Up Band) that’s coming here all the way from Calgary for the West Seattle Grand Parade and the Torchlight Parade. And the problem is, according to Jim, they have two 55-passenger coaches that’ll have full sewage tanks by then and they need someplace to offload – got any ideas where?
Not much out there in this part of town. I have not had success calling Grayline, can’t get past the automated messages, to see if they could hit their service station on West Marginal. The idea is to offload during the short period between dropping off at the assembly area (10:00 or so) and picking up at dispersal (11:30 or so). Short of an Aurora station up north and Salt Water State Park to the south I just can’t find anything.
Any suggestions from your readers would be appreciated.
Please leave a comment if you have a suggestion!
This week we’ve received information from the White Center Food Bank, whose turf includes southern WS, and the West Seattle Food Bank, regarding new ways to help them continue to serve thousands of people in our area, a number that’s growing as times get tougher: WCFB is working right now to plan its annual Harvest Dinner/Auction (October 18 at South Seattle Community College) — its biggest fundraising event of the year — and will greatly appreciate your donations of auction items, gift certificates, or cash. Contact the White Center Food Bank by August 1st (the sooner the better) to let them know what you can donate; you can call Rick Jump at 206-762-2848 with questions and/or to get a form. Meantime, with West Seattle Summer Fest now just two weeks away, we get word that West Seattle Food Bank will be selling raffle tickets there again this year — grand prize is 2 unrestricted round-trip tickets to anywhere via Alaska Airlines, first prize is an 18-inch freshwater-pearl necklace from Menashe & Sons Jewelers, and the ticket itself gets you a 10% discount at Elliott Bay Brewery or Christo’s on Alki. You can even buy raffle tickets in advance – call the West Seattle Food Bank at 206-932-9023 – tickets are $5 each and only 1,000 will be sold.
Three weeks from today, on July 19, thousands of West Seattleites will line California Avenue SW, from Admiral to The Junction, to enjoy the West Seattle Grand Parade presented by American Legion Post 160 during the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival, with sights and sounds like those provided by the All-City Band (above, that’s a 2007 WSB photo of its tuba players). If this is your second or third summer reading WSB, you know we are absolutely crazy in love with parades, particularly this one. And we are thrilled to be able to help facilitate a group for this year’s parade — and to extend to you the invitation to be part of it, provided you meet just one criteria: You do, or have done, volunteer work for something. It can be something small and simple – you help out at your kids’ school – or something big (you’re part of a community group with meetings and events and everything else that keeps you busy week in and week out) – or something you’ve done just a time or two (painted out graffiti? picked up trash?). While discussing the idea of a parade unit with Morgan Junction volunteer extraordinaire Cindi Barker, the idea hatched: Volunteers of West Seattle Grand Parade Marching Unit. Don’t worry, no rehearsals, no choreographed moves, just show up on parade day and show off the “volunteer power” that keeps West Seattle running (though we’d like you to RSVP – e-mail volunteermarchers@gmail.com). Here’s part of the notice that Cindi has started to distribute on local mailing lists:
We’re not organized, scheduled or in any way coherent for this event, just like your average volunteer activity. The one thing that is firm:
If you show up decorated in anything that remotely resembles your volunteer activity, we will buy you a beer or soda at West 5 after the parade. Silliness and giant leaps of imagination are encouraged, have fun with your topic. Afterwards, you’ll be trying to explain yourself – networking at its finest, eh?No need to RSVP or pre-register, though we’d like to hear from you, so if you think you might be interested drop us a line at volunteermarchers@gmail.com
If you decide at the last minute you can come along, just show up and join the Volunteers in West Seattle Grand Parade Marching Unit for the recognition you so greatly deserve. No meetings will be held along the parade route, in case you were wondering.
Note that freebie – if you really get into the spirit. WSB will be joining the group too, and you can watch this site for details as the parade gets closer, as well as morganjunction.org, where Cindi will have info posted too. If you’re not already in the parade, and you’re part of West Seattle’s amazing volunteer power, please consider joining us! (Your kids can march with the group too; nothing motorized – Cindi has arranged for a cool Mini Cooper to lead the unit, with “snappy music” as she puts it.)
That’s one of the pics we took last year at the Bench Press and Dead Lift Championships at Alki — last summer (our coverage here) they were in August; this summer, it’s happening today. Other highlights from our West Seattle Weekend Lineup list include amateur-radio operators’ Field Day (you’ll find them on the southeast side of the South Seattle Community College campus; pic from last year is here), plus West Seattle Little League 9-10 and 10-11 All-Star teams in championship games this morning at PacWest Fields in SeaTac; and a housewarming celebration this afternoon for surfing-injury survivor Addie Killam (more at the blog that chronicled the volunteer effort to fix up the house she’s come home to). Lots more in the WSWL.
Luminarias like those will grace the field at West Seattle Stadium tonight, 10 pm, during the American Cancer Society-fundraising Relay for Life of West Seattle (WSB preview story here), which begins tonight with a 6 pm survivors’ lap, and continues all night, till noon tomorrow. Many other weekend highlights, including “Music Nights” resuming tonight at Cafe Rozella (with Children of the Revolution at 7 pm), a welcome-home party for surfing-injury survivor Addie Killam … 37 West Seattle events/activities ahead for tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday:Read More
Tomorrow at noon, the fireworks stands in unincorporated King County will open — including some that are literally just barely over the line from the Seattle city limits, where they’re banned. (The photo above shows one of the stands in White Center.) So it seems like a good time for a reminder about the rules: As spelled out on this King County page (which is also linked on our WSB West Seattle 4th of July page), you can buy them starting tomorrow but you can only use them between 9 am and midnight on the 4th, and only in the unincorporated area (or a few cities where they’re legal, listed further down this page; closest one is Normandy Park). If you want to check whether a certain address or place is in the unincorporated area, this page shows how to do that. And the only fireworks legal in those areas are the ones you buy at stands like the one shown above – the serious explosives sold at tribal stands are NOT legal off reservation land. And we should note, fire chiefs around King County would rather you just not set off fireworks at all, legal or not; last year there was one big fire and several small ones blamed on fireworks here in West Seattle. Last note – thanks to everyone who’s sending word of West Seattle 4th of July events; we have several more on our 4th of July page now, including the Avalon Glass Works sidewalk sale, a sale at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), and the C & P Coffee community barbecue/potluck – as well as the latest on the big fireworks displays visible from here, the West Seattle parades, and other assorted holiday-related info.
Just happened to find this via Google Blogsearch: Thursday night dance parties with a cardboard “dance floor” on the sand.
With the 4th of July just a week and a half away, it’s high time to start thinking about it. A lot. So we’ve finished the WSB West Seattle 4th of July page 
and you can find it now from the row of page-navigation tabs atop every WSB page — or just click here. It’s your one-stop shop for everything from the Alki traffic-restrictions plan we first published here a week and a half ago (important info so read it now if you didn’t read it then), to holiday events such as the Admiral Kids’ Parade and the High Point Commons Park celebration, to Water Taxi, ferry, and bus info, and even all the details we can find about the fireworks shows you’ll watch from West Seattle — or elsewhere (we’ve got the statewide list linked on the page too). If there’s some other Independence Day info you’re looking for – or if you have an event to add to the page – please e-mail us, as we’ll keep updating it till the holiday’s over.
BERRY DELAY: This afternoon’s weather is picture-perfect typical June, but we all know what a weird year it’s been otherwise. As a result, the Rotary Club of West Seattle won’t get the first delivery for its berry sale — the strawberries — till next month, so the pickups originally set for this Friday and Saturday are postponed till July 11-12 – when raspberries will be available too. You can order berries through the Rotary Club’s website.
BOAT TRIP: If the forecast holds out, this is going to be spectacular: The Northwest Environmental Education Councill and Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition have a two-hour boat trip on the Duwamish this Saturday, 10 am-noon. It’s $20/person and you can sign up online here.
SHOE DRIVE: If you have any “gently used shoes” you’re thinking of getting rid of, save them for next month – Edie’s Shoes in The Junction sends word of a drive to benefit Soles 4 Souls – they’ll offer $10 discounts to customers who bring in “gently used shoes” to donate to the drive during July.
COFFEE TALK: Every Thursday night starting this week, 6-8 pm, special “coffee hours” are planned at Cafe Rozella as part of the King County Food and Fitness Initiative — looking for your thoughts about the availability of activity opportunities and healthy food in Delridge and White Center. Read on for more info:Read More
Just in from the West Seattle Junction Association — the program for West Seattle Summer Fest, coming up July 11-12-13 — and it has first word of the music acts you can expect to see. It’s not on the Summer Fest website just yet, so download it here (the music lineup is on page 7, with performer info starting on page 10). The program has other Summer Fest details too; click ahead for a few additional notes of interest:Read More
You’ll find today’s happenings on the West Seattle Weekend Lineup list, but here are a couple quick highlights: Seattle Free School returns to West Seattle with a free soap-making class at the Admiral library branch (map) at 12:30 pm; West Seattle Farmers’ Market will be hopping as always, 10 am-2 pm (find the fresh sheet here — note it’s the citywide list so some items are noted as available at other markets only).
Since we first published the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup list on Friday afternoon, we’ve gotten word of a couple additions for today — including one that came in overnight, for the karaoke fans who have been lamenting the closure of the Corner Inn in Morgan Junction (first reported here June 3). Kim N e-mailed to say:
Since the Corner Inn closed down, lots of folks have been upset at the loss of being able to perform karaoke there, hosted by Christopher Mychael (of PCM Musiq).
Well, the wait is over!
Christopher Mychael will be hosting Karaoke this Saturday night (6/21) at The Rocksport! Please come out and support him. If all goes well, there will hopefully be a more permanent schedule there!
P.S. Remember The Viaduct is closed this morning, till about 11 am, for Race for the Cure; that’s where we’ll be for the next few hours.
An hour from now, it’s solstice time. Weather permitting (forecast doesn’t look too bad), most West Seattle wading pools open this weekend, too – plus there’s another of those popular “Wii for adults” events at a local library — a free soapmaking class presented by Seattle Free School — even pet adoption on Alki, and more! 42 West Seattle events ahead:Read More
The first pinball (note the circa-1981 Mr. and Mrs. Pac-Man game at right) and video games are in … the ice cream is up at the counter …
… and Full Tilt Ice Cream on 16th SW (detailed WSB preview here with flavors, hours, etc.) is open for business as of a couple hours ago. Co-owner Justin Cline says the party really gets going tonight, with The Blank-Its playing from 9 till about midnight, but you can wander in any time before then and try the ice cream, paletas, and/or pinball. We’ll add a couple video clips in a bit with a closer look at the games; just wanted to post this reminder that they’re officially open.
(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)
They’re less than 48 hours from their grand opening, but Justin Cline and Ann Magyar made time to talk with WSB this afternoon as they continued getting their much-buzzed-about White Center shop Full Tilt Ice Cream (original WSB report here) in ship shape — appropriate, since Justin’s a boat-builder. They just got the news hours earlier that inspectors cleared them to open Friday; pinball machines were scheduled to arrive any moment. The machines didn’t show up while we were there but we do have the scoop on some of what they’re expecting, plus the flavors they’re planning to open with. We even got to see the first boxes of paletas (mango chili and blackberry cinnamon) in the freezer (photo above)! More ahead:Read More
Now that summer vacation is in full swing — families may still be looking for ways to keep the kids busy. Two compilations of area activities — at local community centers, libraries, and other facilities in the West Seattle, White Center, and South Park areas — have just been distributed, and they are in such an easy-to-read format, we wanted to share them with you here. Here’s the list for under-12’s; here’s the list for teens. And if you have a musically inclined teen in the family – we have a separate invitation, from the All-City Band:
You’ve probably seen the group (in those distinctive green polo shirts) marching in Seattle summertime parades, including the West Seattle Grand Parade that American Legion Post 160 will be presenting exactly one month from tomorrow. The All-City Band – directed by Denny Middle School‘s renowned music director Marcus Pimpleton — has its first rehearsal tonight – just show up, no audition required. Here are the full details — including a side note about how to book the All-City Band for events, if you need a pep/marching band:Read More
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