day : 16/12/2017 9 results

VIDEO: Caspar Babypants and fans at Easy Street Records, with special guest Max

December 16, 2017 10:41 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photos/video by Patrick Sand)

We weren’t surprised to find a store-and-café-filling crowd at Easy Street Records tonight for kinder-rock star Caspar Babypants – but there was something – someone – unexpected during our visit – when CB played “Pop Goes the Weasel.”

He introduced a saxophone soloist as only “Max the Weasel” – see and hear in our video:

Quite coincidentally, and unrelated to tonight’s show, we realized later, we had heard about Max just a day earlier.

He’s Max Czerwinski, a West Seattle High School senior and participant in the school music program, whose director Ethan Thomas e-mailed us Friday to point out that Max had spent an hour last week as a guest jazz DJ on KNKX radio. Here’s the link, including the show, and Max’s musings – even his playlist. As for how Max wound up playing with Caspar Babypants tonight – he told us they met outside Safeco Field when Max was busking, and talked about the collaboration over time. (Our archives also show he was one of the student buskers who played in spots including outside Easy Street to raise money for a new tuba.)

P.S. Tonight’s show at Easy Street was part of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays.

HH happenings continue tomorrow at the Farmers’ Market with free Santa Trolley rides and the cocoa and coat drive, 10 am-2 pm.

VIDEO: Christmas-lights viewing on the run with West Seattle Runner

Even before Lori and Tim McConnell opened their one-of-a-kind West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) in 2010, a holiday-lights run was a tradition. Tonight was the night they gathered runners and walkers in their shop for a celebration with something extra. First, a group photo:

Then, off on a route that, as usual, was scheduled to head east of The Admiral District, with highlights including music-synched West Seattle Lights (3908 SW Charlestown), about a mile away:

As the McConnells reminded everyone, it wasn’t a race, just a lot of fun. Some brought strollers, some brought dogs. And when they got back to the store, they were scheduled to celebrate’s Tim upcoming milestone birthday – we got a peek at the cake:

By the way, WS Runner isn’t just for experienced runners – they nurture beginners too – and toward that end, they’re about to launch a new round of the free couch-to-half-marathon program Get Fit West Seattle, with an informational night at the shop, 7 pm Wednesday, December 27th.

TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Santa’s night at the Menashe Family Lights

Tonight’s featured Christmas lights are the legendary Menashe Family Lights (5605 Beach Dr. SW) – because this is the night that Santa is there, to delight young West Seattleites and to collect food for the West Seattle Food Bank.

Santa’s there until 10 tonight; the Menashe Family Lights are on nightly throughout the holiday season, leaving faces aglow with wonder:

More lights tomorrow night! See what we’ve showcased already by scrolling through our archive. And if you’d like to suggest a display, let us know where it is – with or without a photo – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

SUNDAY: Bring coats, hats, gloves to West Seattle Farmers’ Market for Hometown Holidays donation drive

December 16, 2017 6:03 pm
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 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

img_1007(WSB photo from 2016 Cocoa and Coat Drive)

Last year, generous West Seattleites donated more than 200 coats during the Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive at the WS Farmers’ Market – and tomorrow’s the day you have the chance to help beat that total! Between 10 am and 2 pm on Sunday, look for the Junction Association, Kiwanis Club, and West Seattle Christian Church booth at the market (California/Alaska) – get free cocoa while dropping off coats, hats, and/or gloves, which will all go to West Seattle Helpline. (And nearby, you’ll be able to board the free Santa Trolley for the second and final Sunday of that new Hometown Holidays feature.)

FOLLOWUP: Westwood Village drive-up/ride-up mailbox removed

For the first several days after the Westwood Village Post Office‘s drive-up/ride-up mailbox was taped off a week-plus ago, with a warning that it was “broken,” we went by daily in hopes of seeing it open again. We didn’t check the past few days, and then Mark sent a note this afternoon reporting that it’s been removed. This could mean a long time before repair or replacement – damage two years ago took four months to fix. Meantime, the in-lobby mail slot at Westwood is open around the clock, and if you need a drive-up/ride-up box, there’s one in The Junction (4412 California SW).

THINK SUMMER! West Seattle Garden Tour’s 2018 art contest is on

Though winter hasn’t officially begun (solstice is next Thursday morning), we already have a reason to think summer: We’re halfway between this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour and next year’s WSGT. And tour organizers have launched the annual art competition:

West Seattle Garden Tour’s annual search for talented local artists is under way! Your creative interpretation of the theme “The Art of Gardening” could win you prominence on the 2018 garden tour poster and ticket book, a spot in the West Seattle Art Walk, and $500 in prize money! Artwork must be submitted online by January 26, 2018. Get all the details at westseattlegardentour.org/artwork-competition.

Since its inception in 1995, West Seattle Garden Tour (WSGT) has been one of the premier garden tours in the Northwest, as well as a fundraiser for local non-profits. WSGT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organized by a group of dedicated volunteers who meet every month to produce the tour. Annually the WSGT donates approximately $25,000 to local beneficiaries promoting horticulture, education and the arts. The next tour is on Sunday, June 24, 2018.

2017’s winner was Sarah Mottaghinejad.

HAPPENING NOW: Santa Claus @ My Three Little Birds

December 16, 2017 12:33 pm
|    Comments Off on HAPPENING NOW: Santa Claus @ My Three Little Birds
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Santa’s everywhere today, as previewed in our highlights list – until 2 pm you’ll find him in Morgan Junction at My Three Little Birds (6959 California SW; WSB sponsor), where we photographed him with proprietor Jennifer Young. Santa’s had his own section all season long in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, by the way … including the much-awaited West Seattle Food Bank-benefiting photos tonight at the Menashe Family Lights (6-10 pm, 5605 Beach Drive SW, bring nonperishable food to donate).

READER REPORT: Package opened, dumped in Sunrise Heights

While on her way to work this morning, Krystal spotted and photographed that open-and-dumped package at the corner of 30th and Holden. Whether the contents were originally with that box, impossible to tell, but the box is labeled with the name and address of someone nearby, in the 7700 block of 30th SW.

West Seattle Saturday: Special Santa spots, surf music, Caspar Babypants, Christmas Light Run/Walk, art sales, more!

(Along the Longfellow Creek Trail – photo by Laura Goodrich, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Your big Saturday starts now! First, highlights from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

SANTA PHOTOS AT CAPERS: Santa photos at CAPERS in The Junction, 9 am-noon. Donations benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. (4525 California SW)

DUWAMISH NATIVE ARTS AND CRAFTS MARKET: Second of three days for the holiday season’s final Duwamish Native Arts and Crafts Market, 10 am-6 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

SANTA PHOTOS AT MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: Santa in Morgan Junction! Bring the kids for photos at My Three Little Birds (WSB sponsor), 11 am-2 pm. (6959 California SW)

SANTA PHOTOS AT OUNCES: Santa in North Delridge, at Ounces, 12 pm-3:30 pm. (3809 Delridge Way SW)

BENEFIT BAKE SALE: As previewed here Friday, Brownie Troop 40596 will be having a benefit bake sale for Wellspring Family Services, 1-3 pm outside Menashe & Sons Jewelers – details in our calendar listing. (4532 California SW)

ART UNDER $100: South Park Arts presents Art Under $100, 2-8 pm at Seattle Design Center. Free entry, free parking. Live DJ, raffle, food trucks, beverages, crafting. (5701 6th Ave. S.)

HOLIDAY SURF MUSIC: Dancer & Prancer, 3-7 pm at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

SANTA AT MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: Photos with Santa at West Seattle’s brightest Christmas lights, the Menashe Family Lights, 6-10 pm. Bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank. (5605 Beach Drive SW)

WEST SEATTLE SANTA PUB CRAWL: Benefit pub crawl, starting at 6 pm – from the schedule:

Coastline Burgers- 6:00-7:00
Shadowland- 7:00-8:00
Beer Junction- 8:00-9:00
Poggie Tavern- 9:00-10:00
The Lodge- 10:00-11:00
Talaricos- 11:00-12:00

Benefits Furry Faces Foundation!

SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE: 6 pm at Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery (WSB sponsor) in honor of those you’re missing this holiday season. All welcome. (30th/Sylvan Way)

CHRISTMAS LIGHT RUN (AND WALK): 6:30 pm, starting at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), this annual tradition:

Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your lights and reflective gear! It is a festive, easy 3ish mile run to look at lights. We are still hoping one year we will have someone organize caroling! Is it too hard to run and sing? The Marines do it! We will find a route with good light displays and try for minimal hills, no promises, it is West Seattle. Kids and strollers are welcome. Just remember a headlamp because our sidewalks can be rough. We also ask you stay on the sidewalk and not run in the street. This is an easy=paced group run, not a race … Walkers are encouraged. Afterward we will have treats, socializing and drinks back at the shop; we have someone to celebrate this year as this takes place 2 days before Tim’s 50th birthday! Come and toast our fearless leader!

(2743 California SW)

CASPAR BABYPANTS: Saturday, December 16, 6:30 pm, Caspar Babypants performs at Easy Street Records. (California SW/SW Alaska)

‘CREAM OF CHRISTMAS’: “20 fantastic songwriters” in 2 hours at C & P Coffee Company, 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: Final weekend for Twelfth Night Productions‘ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show.” 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Get ticket(s) online at this Brown Paper Tickets link, or at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)

And from our year-round Event Calendar:

ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-1 pm, Lil’ Bug Studio celebrates one year in business. Bouncy house, treats, more. (10007 13th SW)

STUDIO ART SALE: Noon-6 pm, Eric Eschenbach is selling paintings at discount prices. (6720 40th SW)

CIDER AND CHEESE: Finnriver and Mt. Townsend tasting at Sound and Fog. “Local artisan makers Finnriver Cidery and Mt Townsend Creamery are teaming up for a night of cider and cheese.” $5 tasting fee. 4:30-7:30 pm. (4735 40th SW)

STUPERHERO ZINE/ALBUM RELEASE AND LISTENING PARTY: 5-7 pm at Parliament Tavern, “West Seattle punksters Stuperhero have a new album coming out along with an accompanying zine. Come out early for Happy Hour to listen to the new tunes, check out out the zine, and watch some of their videos!” No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: 8 pm, Amy Denio & Annie O’Neill, Zelda Starfire, and Pistol Sisters. $8 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

A VERY JERRY CHRISTMAS: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern – “a celebration of the music of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Band features Colin Higgins (Cecil Moses & the SG’s), Bob Lovelace (Ayron Jones & the Way), Doug Port (Screens), and Nate Spicer (Polyrhythmics).” No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)