West Seattle Summer Fest 2014: Friday pm, as it happens

(INFO LINKS in our first installment of today’s festival coverage – go here)

That’s a snippet of Squirrel Butter, first band on the West Seattle Summer Fest schedule, performing about an hour ago; right now, Rat City Brass is onstage …

… and music continues until the Yada Yada Blues Band‘s set at 9 pm (see the full schedule here). A breeze has been keeping the festival zone from getting too warm, so far, so don’t be too worried about overheating.

Summer Fest’s roots, of course, are in the Sidewalk Sale – and many shops still have one as part of the festivities. We’ve received this announcement from the nonprofit Discovery Shop, on the west side of California between Oregon and Alaska:

Plants with Pizzazz

It’s a beehive of activity over at the Discovery Shop as their annual plant sale fundraiser is well underway. Shelves are overflowing with a variety of indoor and outdoor plants in unique containers such as toy wagons, old watering cans, even rhinestone shoes. Other containers include beautiful handmade pottery. These one-of-kind creations are only available
during the Summer Fest Sidewalk Sale, now through Sunday. Sales benefit the American Cancer Society.

Lots more coverage to come – hope to see you here!

4:14 PM: Here’s the music schedule for the rest of today – Vaudeville Etiquette is onstage right now (again, there’s one music stage, on California north of Oregon):

And after that:

Killer Ghost, 5 pm
Magic Mirrors, 6 pm
Country Lips, 7 pm
Hobosexual, 8 pm
Yada Yada Blues Band, 9 pm

Also right now, Illuminatio Dance is onstage at GreenLife, which is in the parking lot off the west side of California, just north of Edmunds. That’ll be followed by a presentation about building with reclaimed materials, at 5 pm; here’s the full weekend schedule for GreenLife.

5:25 PM: It’s been busy all day but now of course as more people leave work, the crowd is growing. The kids’ rides will be open until 8, the official end time for tonight, though the music runs later:

With the sun arcing to the west, it’s getting warmer. Lots of beverage options – the QFC booth across from ours is selling $1 water if you don’t bring any of your own. (Just had to buy some after running out of the supply we bought … it’s REALLY icy. Perfect.)

One of our many Summer Fest previews mentioned the pop-up library today in Junction Plaza Park. It’s continuing until 6:

More Summer Fest sights – lots of dogs – all sizes, all shapes, all … spots:

If you’re bringing yours, head up to the Pet Junction zone north of Oregon – a Summer Fest first this year. Speaking of animals … we talked this afternoon with Robin from Seal Sitters and Donna from The Whale Trail. Robin says the pup recently rescued from a local beach is doing OK. Donna is just back from taking The Whale Trail on a road trip including California and says the Southern Resident whales were in the area too – in some cases foraging for fish further south than they’ve been seen before. (Another feature of Summer Fest – endless supply of cool people to talk with, all concentrated in a few blocks for three days)

If you’re coming tomorrow, bring diapers – HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) is collecting for WestSide Baby‘s Stuff the Bus drive:

You can also drop off diapers at HomeStreet’s West Seattle branch (40th/Alaska) during business hours – Stuff the Bus is one week from Sunday, July 20th in the HomeStreet parking lot. Like HomeStreet, some other businesses from just outside the festival zone have booths here – including longtime WSB sponsor Dream Dinners:

Dream Dinners’ year-round location is on the east exterior of Jefferson Square, fronting 41st – that’s where you go to put together ready-to-cook family-style dishes to take home and cook later. At Summer Fest, you can find out more about a variety of local businesses you might not have visited before.

6:30 PM: If you’re coming just to wander .. do note that some vendors leave as early as 6, though they can stay open tonight up until 8 (and the food area might stay open later if people are still buying – that’s the official word festival staff is circulating). We’ll be here in the info booth until around 7, and then back tomorrow morning as the festival opens at 10. In addition to finding particular vendors and other info such as bus reroutes, we also wind up collecting information about other area summertime events, and since the booth has a big banner for the West Seattle Outdoor Movies series, we’ve been fielding questions about it – come get a card with the schedule, or stop by wsmovies.org. First free outdoor movie in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard, one week from tomorrow (Saturday, July 19th) – “Gravity.”

7:06 PM: The evening crowd is wandering around in force, many checking out the food zone just east of us, stretching along the south side of Alaska, east of California.

If nothing there grabs your attention, remember The Junction has many year-round eateries too – both old and new; some have opened since last Summer Fest, like Quadrato on SW Oregon and Terra Cole on California. And then there are the classics, like Husky Deli, home to sandwiches as well as ice cream, with proprietor Jack Miller among the familiar Summer Fest faces:

We’re wrapping up the Info Booth for the night – only one question is still being asked, and that’s “which way to the music?” (North of Oregon on California!)

8:43 PM: Thanks to Dave for sharing photos of one of the anticipated bands – Country Lips:

(added) He also shared this video of their final song:

Last band of the night, Yada Yada Blues Band, is scheduled to start at 9. Saturday music begins at noon with Two Story Zori.

12 Replies to "West Seattle Summer Fest 2014: Friday pm, as it happens"

  • Eddie July 11, 2014 (6:25 pm)

    Not a complainer at heart, but seems like the beer garden is pretty lame this year?

    • WSB July 11, 2014 (6:30 pm)

      Haven’t been there. We heard about some access problems earlier – a rep from the beer garden stopped by and told us they’re all set up now (that was maybe around 6 pm straight up).

  • josh July 11, 2014 (7:10 pm)

    Off topic but anyone know where we can rent a portable air conditioner? New baby and no AC has been difficult in the heat.

  • ocean July 11, 2014 (7:39 pm)

    Josh-
    I don’t have an a/c, but you can put ice into a pan, pour some salt over it, then aim your fan to blow across the top. Very cooling!
    Also, have the nursing mom use a soft flannel (receiving blanket) between her and baby– sounds crazy to add a blanket in the heat, but it is MUCH more comfy than skin-to-skin in this weather!

  • Twobottles July 11, 2014 (8:24 pm)

    I agree with the beer garden assessment. Near 90 this afternoon, well over 90 tomorrow and Sunday and only 4 shade canopies? Only 3-4 tables? And certainly not enough chairs. Not well planned.

  • KM July 11, 2014 (10:20 pm)

    I understand paying for the kid stuff, but those prices are very steep as such things go. $2.50 for 3 minutes to jump in an inflatable is a lot. $20 for a wristband is a lot. Someone has to foot the bill, but it would be nice if they could negotiate the prices down a little. With that said, those employees earned every penny today- it was hot and miserable standing by the rides. They were kind and patient despite the heat.

  • sillygoose July 11, 2014 (10:20 pm)

    Love the discovery shop and that sweet little Mary watering the plants!

    @Josh target and bed, bath and beyond have awesome air conditioners. Just purchased the Honeywell tower fan and we sleep like babies!

  • constantcomplainer July 11, 2014 (10:21 pm)

    Maybe I’m a Seattle cliche, but I have to be up in five hours for a four day backpacking trip. Am I the only one really annoyed by the music blasting into the bedroom window at nearly 10:30 pm?

  • Sue July 12, 2014 (6:33 am)

    Josh, the Rent a Center website has portable a/c listed, but said to check with stores for inventory. There’s one in White Center, I believe. http://www6.rentacenter.com/rent-a-center-home?WT.z_position=head&WT.z_content=RAC%20Logo%20Home
    .
    However, at those rental prices, you might just want to just go buy one.

  • k July 12, 2014 (7:00 am)

    Great that there is a place for dogs to cool off, but they should really stay home. It’s too hot for them to be walking around. I hope folks think twice before bringing them up there today with temps over 90.

  • JayDee July 12, 2014 (8:22 am)

    Josh:

    At night get a box fan to blow air out of your place and only open a minimum of windows (over baby’s crib, your bed) where the cool air can enter the house/apt. It helps cool the place down sans AC.

  • seaopgal July 12, 2014 (10:18 am)

    Agree with k re. dogs … too hot for them. I worry about tots in strollers, too. It’s a lot hotter so close to the ground, and really what can they see/enjoy?

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