West Seattle ‘Night Out’ 2011: Parties around the peninsula

(WEDNESDAY NOTE: We’ve received several more photos from Night Out parties, and have added them to this report, which now includes scenes from 18 parties!)

6:11 PM: At some West Seattle “Night Out” block parties tonight, it’ll be as much carnival atmosphere as anything else – the folks at 32nd and Kenyon shared that photo of the bouncy house awaiting neighborhood kids. In Upper Fauntleroy, the block party we’ll be missing while out covering others already has one young attendee in place:

That’s Colin, who’s 9. We’re in Gatewood right now, as of 6:10 pm, and heading to as many stops as we can make before 9 pm (let us know if your party’s running late – we found one last year after dark).:

That’s the first of two Gatewood parties we’re stopping by – 97-year-old Louise is the star of the show; she’s lived on the block since the ’40s. Thanks to Holly for letting us know about the party in Louise’s ‘hood.

6:21 PM: A few blocks southwest of Louise and company, this jovial Gatewood group is barbecuing:

Thanks to Jill for the invite.

6:29 PM: Heading east into Westwood, a few adjacent blocks have so many parties, Kelly e-mailed to tell us they’re offering “passports” to encourage people to visit them all and meet more neighbors. Here’s Denise, who came up with the passport idea:

6:49 PM: Scenes from three of the parties in Kelly and Denise’s neighborhood:

More to come – South Delridge/Highland Park next!

7:01 PM: Marcia Ventura invited us via Facebook to stop by the 9000 block of 13th SW:

We didn’t realize that there we would also find local artist/belly dancer Dina Lydia Johnson – who made the sign in the photo (and is also a photographer – she took a group shot right before ours) – and her fellow community advocate husband Blair Johnson, as well as more of their neighbors. Next stop – High Point Community Center.

7:20 PM: Turns out the HPCC party is more a series of small gatherings elsewhere in High Point. We’re now en route to the HQ of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network, in Hansen View, near Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor). But we do have a new photo, e-mailed from Alki by Lisa Dawson:

7:39 PM: As we head toward Pigeon Point, photos from the WSBWCN leaders’ block:

Biggest crowd we’ve seen so far – they had 80 people last year and think they’re close to that this time. They had a high-level SPD visitor too – Assistant Chief Dick Reed, with WSBWCN’s Deb Greer and Karen Berge, and neighbor Jim:

8:08 PM: At the Pigeon Point party, Pete Spalding told us they’d already had a visit from Assistant Chief Reed – as well as precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen. And Seattle Fire Department made its annual stop at that high-profile party – here’s the Engine 36 crew from just down the hill at the north end of Delridge:

The kids of Pigeon Point were creating street art:

And the grownups were nominating neighbors for a new “garden recognition” award to be named after the late Vivian McLean, a neighborhood giant known for (among many other things) her beautiful garden:

Visiting from nearby Puget Ridge at the center of the photo, by the way, that’s Stu Hennessey of Alki Bike and Board and Sustainable West Seattle (seen recently atop the award-winning Trikeceratops in the West Seattle Grand Parade). Pete pointed out that West Seattle Nursery donated the plant atop the nomination table.

We’re in North Delridge now – but first, Cheryl shares a photo from her block party in Fauntlee Hills:

8:36 PM: From the North Delridge party, more Seattle firefighters meeting neighbors:

And we’re now in Seaview, where SPD Community Police Team Officers Kevin McDaniel and Ken Mazzuca are visiting a party (photo added 8:54):

Thanks to Alison for the invite. We then rolled over to South Admiral – where the block party we were going to check out was packing up – does happen by this time of night. We found some night owls in Fairmount Springs last year and are going to head that way before wrapping up the Night Out 2011 journey. We’d still welcome your photos, too, as we’re likely to have one more roundup tonight or tomorrow. (editor@westseattleblog.com)

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: Decided to add the additional pix here. First, from Barbara, in the 8800 block of 38th Ave SW, where Ladder 11 stopped by:

In the Admiral District, Kendall shared a photo from their party *at* a fire station (29):

From Cinda on 42nd SW in Gatewood (where she says the second photo shows neighborhood kids writing “42ND ROX”):

Next one is from Seaview, where Karl reports a great turnout in the “48th Avenue corridor from Hudson to Brandon”:

From 52nd/Stevens, BD shares this photo of “one of the dads, doling out s’mores at the Night Out party. We were all about the fire and s’mores over here”:

Still a few more to come!

13 Replies to "West Seattle 'Night Out' 2011: Parties around the peninsula"

  • add August 2, 2011 (9:35 pm)

    I love the group shots that show neighbors of all ages enjoying a night out together! Great tradition!

  • Wendy August 2, 2011 (9:46 pm)

    I love that so many more blocks are out getting to know each other. Over at Ercolini park we were enjoying folks from all over the neighborhood. This is what makes our community so great, thank you West Seattle!

  • Mark Ahlness August 2, 2011 (9:47 pm)

    A slideshow of a few pics from the gathering at SW Elmgrove and 39th SW – http://tinyurl.com/3ux2x99

  • Silly Goose August 2, 2011 (9:53 pm)

    I give up for 10 years we have been trying to get some firemen here for all the little boys and none show up!! Not even any police officers this year, come on I see all these fireman posing in pictures at adult parties and we have a neighborhood full of young children and all they want every year is to see some firemen. HUGE disappointment again.

  • Arbor Heights Nghbr August 2, 2011 (10:32 pm)

    We had a great time on Arbor Heights! I love our neighbors!

  • A August 2, 2011 (10:45 pm)

    Silly Goose – I think it’s luck of the draw on firemen and police officers. My friend had a fire truck on the next block over but then they were called away to a real emergency and then never made it back. They do actually have to work in addition to visiting block parties in between.

  • Carrie Ann August 2, 2011 (11:59 pm)

    We had an excellent time at our block party on 42nd, between Dakota and Andover! Fun kids activities, lots of tasty food and drink, a surprise visit by assistant Chief Reed… And so many musically talented people, that by the time the tiki torches and fire pit were a-blaze, there were a’cappella group performances, a fiddler, guitar trio… We finally wrapped things up a little before 11pm. Love our neighbors!

  • park jogging man August 3, 2011 (8:47 am)

    How do they advertise these? I check this blog every once in a while, I walk around WS all the time, and I had no idea this was going on until I was driving out of town last night. I’d like to be more involved, but it almost seems like you have to know the right people before you get the invitation…

  • Jo P August 3, 2011 (9:18 am)

    Thanks, Patrick, for the wonderful pictures of the
    “Night Out” event. Fun was had by all.

  • Kelly August 3, 2011 (10:05 am)

    Just wanted to share a story that made my “night out”:

    One of my neighbors recently found a stray dog and took it in temporarily. Last night he walked her all through the neighborhood parties with a sign on the leash saying “I’m a Lost Dog!” and successfully reunited the dog with her ecstatic owner.

  • Joe August 3, 2011 (10:41 am)

    Had a great time at Hudson/Brandon. I wish we did these more than once a year. Amazingly I know more of my neighbors here after 16 months than I did living in Boston for 28 years. Fantasitic community involvement.

  • Sarah August 3, 2011 (11:30 am)

    @ Joe, same here. We got to meet more people in one night then we did in 4 years of living in a condo elsewhere in Seattle. Being from a small town out East, we enjoyed the ‘homey’ feel of knowing all our neighbors and the party lets us do that! Seaview is the best w. seattle neighborhood! ;) For those missing my Whoopie Pies, I promise I’ll make them next year!

  • Silly Goose August 3, 2011 (1:16 pm)

    @jogging man it is for anyone, but is usually advertised thru the block watch organization. It is always the first Tuesday of August and you can log on to the Southwest precienct website and get all the information there.
    Here is a contact for you.
    Mark Solomon

    Crime Prevention Coordinator

    Seattle Police Department

    206.386.9766

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