day : 30/11/2013 8 results

Video: Opening night for 2013 edition of West Seattle Lights / Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular

The song list for West Seattle’s biggest synched-to-music Christmas-lights show, West Seattle Lights/Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular, always includes fun as well as tradition – and our first clip from tonight’s lighting ceremony qualifies. It’s “What Does the Hawk Say?”, the Bob Rivers Show takeoff on Ylvis‘s international megahit “What Does the Fox Say?”

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Before that and other light-show songs, tonight’s event began with caroling, and then the announcement of the name of the new “emcee” – “Sir Charles” the light-up snowman. Two people suggested “Charles” (as in Charlestown, the street the show is on) in the summertime naming contest, including Tim VanLiew, whose name was drawn by WSL creator Jim Winder for the honor of pushing the button tonight.

In that photo, Jim’s on the right, Tim’s on the left, holding his baby daughter Lucy, who helped with the button-pushing. The first song was sung live by Jim’s own daughter, Julie:

West Seattle Lights isn’t just a 32,673-light labor of love for family and friends – the Helmstetlers are the family who live in the house, and Jim is a longtime friend who makes the show happen every year – it’s also, with your help, a community fundraiser and foodraiser:

That’s the West Seattle Food Bank donation bin you’ll find out front; last year alone, more than half a ton of food was donated by WS Lights visitors. You can also donate money to the show’s designated charities, WS Food Bank and Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, on this page of the official website. It all goes to charity, Jim points out – the time and money it takes to put on the show is 100 percent donated.

See the schedule here; get directions here.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: What’s on the way

November 30, 2013 6:24 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

6:24 PM: The outlook for the next few days keeps evolving – as does the content of the “special weather statement” alert from the National Weather Service. Now, it looks like:

-Very rainy, starting tonight
-Much colder by Monday, with lows in the mid-teens/20s much of next week
-Snow? Maybe a little … and then, the long-range outlook suggests, a chance again toward week’s end

P.S. Here’s Cliff Mass‘s take on it all.

8:28 AM SUNDAY: No special advisories added for this morning’s wind, but the newest forecast warns it could gust up to 40 mph.

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West Seattle holidays: Menashe Family Lights debut Sunday

November 30, 2013 5:56 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

You might THINK you’ve already seen this year’s edition of the Menashe family’s legendary Christmas lights if you have driven by this past week or so, but everything up until now has been a partial test. We took that photo last night; tonight, we stopped by late in the day, and they were still out working on it. Tomorrow, we’re told, is when the Menashes expect to officially throw the switch on the finished 2013 edition of the display, around 5 pm. 5605 Beach Drive SW (map) if you don’t already know it by heart.

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Update: ‘Assault with weapons’ call in Arbor Heights

November 30, 2013 3:26 pm

| 19 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

3:26 PM: Emergency crews are rushing to the 9700 block of 33rd SW (map). It’s an “assault with weapons” call per 911 log.

3:31 PM: Most of the units are being called off, per scanner. Our crew is still on the way to seek details at the scene.

3:38 PM: Whatever this was, radio traffic indicates no serious injuries. Police are talking to at least two people. Our crew is awaiting a chance to get info.

3:43 PM: Police say two roommates got into a fight; one accused the other of stabbing him. They’ve confirmed, no serious injuries. A private ambulance has arrived. Noisy scene because pets at the home were audibly agitated, including a dog and a goose.

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Wondering about the big white boxes arriving on 26th SW? Staging for prefab modular townhouse installation next week

November 30, 2013 12:31 pm

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| Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

Almost looks like a circus or carnival coming to town in North Delridge, with semitrucks delivering big white “boxes” to the east side of 26th SW south of SW Genesee, along the west side of Delridge Community Center/Playfield/Park. It’s actually staging for a development project nearby:

What’s being delivered today is scheduled to be craned onto that site at 2816 SW Genesee next week, as part of a project installing three prefab modular townhouses. We received a news release about the impending installation (read it here in its entirety), but it didn’t mention the staging zone, so it was in queue for the next WSB roundup of development updates, accelerated now because of this!

In addition to the dozen or so modules that the trucking crew say they’re bringing from the Ferndale factory to the staging zone along 26th SW, the project also will involve intermittent closures on SW Genesee during installation, which the developers told us is currently expected to happen Tuesday and Wednesday, depending on the weather. (Added: Map with “A” marking the construction site – the staging zone outside the park is on the lower right)

View Larger Map

The company putting in the modular townhouses is called Method Homes. Company spokesperson Courtney Peterson told us via e-mail, “The homes will be installed in 12 pieces over 2 days … The project was built to near-completion in our factory, complete with windows, floors, kitchens, baths, and appliances.”

Once the modules are installed, the official news release says, finishing touches will follow: “On site work will involve joining the modules at the seams, utility connections, and installing remaining siding, which typically takes 6 to 8 weeks.” The townhouses are described as:

Designed by Method’s architect partner Chris Pardo Design: Elemental Architecture, each 1,630 square foot, 4-Star Built Green home is 3 levels with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, an attached garage, and rooftop deck.

Two of the units have a shared wall and the third is a stand-alone unit. All of the townhomes share a parking court. … The townhomes were developed by RITCS Holdings, Inc. and are being listed through Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate (formerly Prudential Northwest Realty) starting at $450,000.

The city project page for this site is here.

Side note: A different company installed a prefab standalone house in Admiral last July.

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West Seattle Saturday highlights list #2: Special shopping day at independent local businesses

November 30, 2013 10:30 am

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| Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

North to south, you’ll find shopping specials at many independent local businesses today. But don’t just make it a one-day thing, because all season long:

The WSB West Seattle Holiday Events and Info Guide includes a standing invitation for local businesses to let us know about their shopping events – open houses throughout the season, as well as this special day. Here’s what we’ve received word of for today, north to south – lots more out there, we’re sure, so if YOUR West Seattle business has something special going today, please let us know ASAP!

ADMIRAL DISTRICT

Various Admiral merchants: On behalf of his shop and fellow merchants in The Admiral District, Stu Hennessey (photo above) from Alki Bike and Board sent this roundup for today:

A variety of offers and events are happening, like West Seattle Fabric Co.‘s (2210 California SW) effort to bring the holidays back home with discounts on fabric bundles, make-and-take sewing demos, and a discount on sewing kits. They are also offering a 5% discount for nonperishable food donations. The B-Full Salon (2609 California SW) is offering gift certificates for a variety of relaxation services at 20% off.

The Atomic Boys retro toy store (4311 SW Admiral Way; proprietors Parris and Kent Sadow, photo above) is covering the tax on every purchase as well as giving away their tote bags (while supplies last) with a $50 or more purchase. Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW) has a variety of products on discount and will be serving healthy refreshments during the day. Stop in to warm up with some hot drinks. Speaking of drinks, The Cask (2350 California SW) is offering $4 draft drinks all day.

Other businesses are signed up for the big day including Mind Unwind art gallery (photo above).

BETWEEN ADMIRAL AND ALASKA JUNCTIONS

White Crane Wellness: Massage gift certificates on sale noon-4 pm; handmade wreaths on sale to benefit Pathfinder K-8 environmental-education programs. Free mugs, coffee, tea, cookies. (3435 California SW)

Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor): Anniversary sale, as detailed here. (3916 California SW)

THE JUNCTION

(Firefly proprietor Charell Estby; WSB photo taken today)
Firefly Café and Creperie: Firefly is celebrating its first anniversary! $1 for 8 or 12 oz lattes all day, free drip coffee, free apple cider with tangerine ginger for the kids, balloon artist 10 am-noon. (NE corner of California/Genesee)

(West Seattle Cyclery proprietor Brad Loetel; WSB photo taken today)
West Seattle Cyclery (WSB sponsor): Sale today – everything is 25% off, and 2013 closeout bikes are an additional 10% off. (4508 California SW)

(Fleurt’s holiday decor; WSB photo taken today)
Fleurt (WSB sponsor): Make a purchase between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm today and get a rose! (4536 California SW)

(WSB photo: Click! early this afternoon)
Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor): Sale/trunk show/launch for Sarah Loertscher Jewelry; details here.(4540 California SW)

BETWEEN ALASKA AND MORGAN JUNCTIONS

M3 Bodyworks (WSB sponsor): One-day sale – gift-certificate deals! Buy online here. (5236 California SW)

(added) Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor): Until 2 pm, retail deals, listed here. (5619 California SW)

MORGAN JUNCTION

Second Gear Sports: From Second Gear Sports: Extended hours, free coffee and treats, $5 off a $25 purchase and $15 off $75 or more. Seahawks-themed gift items, among other things. (6529 California SW)

ALSO TODAY

Duwamish Longhouse Native Gift Fair: Day 2 of vendors offering Native-created crafts, art, jewelry, clothing, and more at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle, until 4:30 pm. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

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West Seattle Saturday highlights list #1: Lights; basketball; low-tide walk; music; more…

November 30, 2013 9:22 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday highlights list #1: Lights; basketball; low-tide walk; music; more…

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Great blue heron photographed by Danny McMillin, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Happy Saturday! Today’s preview is in two parts; since this is a big day for holiday-gift shopping at local independent businesses, we’re breaking that out separately next, following this list of non-shopping highlights:

BASKETBALL JAMBOREE: As previewed here (with schedule), it’s a big day of high-school basketball in the gyms on the adjacent campuses of Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School, noon-~8 pm. Sealth is at 2600 SW Thistle; Denny is at 2601 SW Kenyon.

KITTY HARBOR: Just a few weekends left this year at West Seattle’s cat/kitten adoption center north of the bridge – if you can offer a forever home as your gift this holiday, check ’em out, noon-6 pm. (3422 Harbor SW)

WEST SEATTLE LIGHTS/HELMSTETLER FAMILY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR: The peninsula’s brightest music-synched light show officially launches its season with a lighting ceremony at 7 pm. This year’s new features include a talking-snowman emcee, whose name will be revealed during the ceremony; more info in this preview. No admission charge but bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank! And note that the 3900 block of SW Charlestown will be closed for the event – the only time of the season that you can watch in the street; otherwise, viewing areas are from the sidewalk or in/on a parked vehicle. (3908 SW Charlestown)

‘LITTLE WOMEN, THE MUSICAL’: Night 2 for the ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) holiday-season production of the classic story, 7:30 pm – details in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)

NIGHTTIME LOW-TIDE WALK: The Seattle Aquarium beach-naturalist program presents a guided nighttime low-tide walk, 7:30 pm – details in our calendar listing.

LIVE MUSIC: Various venues, as you’ll see on the calendar, including: Vocalist Travis Bracht @ Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) tonight at 9:30 pm, in a show that’s being recorded by local filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin for a live DVD. (6451 California SW)

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West Seattle holiday shopping: Happy 1st anniversary, Thunder Road Guitars!

November 30, 2013 8:39 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

As holiday-shopping season began around West Seattle on Friday, this was the most unique scene we came across — Santa Claus rocking out, guitar and all. The jolly ol’ soul was outside a one-of-a-kind West Seattle business, Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor), where this weekend marks the first anniversary of proprietor Frank Gross‘s bricks-and-mortar storefront:

Today is the second day of Thunder Road’s three-day anniversary sale – details in our calendar listing. The shop at 3916 California SW is open today 10 am-6:30 pm.

SIDE NOTE: Find other businesses’ special deals for today in the WSB Holiday Guide and our forthcoming West Seattle Saturday highlights.

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