West Seattle, Washington
23 Wednesday
(WSB photos by Leda Costa, August 2016)
That was the view across a sea of showgoers during last August’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha finale, starring the same performer who’s closing out this year’s series too – Caspar Babypants. Showtime is 6:30 pm this Thursday (August 24th), on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW, but the lawn is along Walnut SW, south of SW Lander). New here? Caspar Babypants is the yellow-T-shirted kindie-rock alter-ego of Seattle rock star Chris Ballew, and his songs not only charm the littlest music fans, they will also likely leave you with an earworm or two, too.
The Admiral Neighborhood Association brings you Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, with the support of community businesses who sponsor the series (including WSB – this is the ninth season, and we’re proud to have been a co-sponsor since the start). The show’s free … just bring your own chair/blanket, a picnic dinner if you feel like it, and come have a great time.
2:55 PM: Today’s eclipse event was just one of many cool things at local Seattle Public Library branches, as often featured in our calendar and daily highlight lists. Dave at Southwest Library just e-mailed with the news that there’s still room for a Tuesday-Thursday kids’ program that he promises will be “great”:
Minecraft and Reading is a technology-based Reading/Art class. Students will use the widely popular Minecraft game to create artistic representations of popular storybook scenes. They learn technology skills, and hone their artistic sensibilities. They have opportunities to work collaboratively and to develop leadership skills through class presentations.
This is a three-part series and will take place from 2:30-4 on Tuesday 8/22, Wednesday 8/23, and Thursday 8/24. Please call Southwest Library at 206-684-7455 to register. Online registration is closed, but registration is still possible.
The branch is at 9010 35th SW.
5:29 PM: Dave says in a comment below that the “guaranteed” spots are now filled, so they’ve started a waiting list.
Dave Eicke
Children’s Librarian
Southwest Library
One week from today, you’re invited to the 10th annual West Seattle Car Show, presented by West Seattle Autoworks and Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsors)! 10 am-3 pm on Saturday, August 26th, it’s taking over the north side of the Puget Ridge campus of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), with vehicles old and new to admire, plus music – the Disco Cowboys, live! as well as a DJ – kids activities, vendors (not just vehicle-related – jams, jellies, and pickles too), plus food trucks – Double Up (Caribbean cuisine) is already confirmed. Check out SSC programs including Automotive Technology, which show proceeds help support, and the Northwest Wine Academy. As a co-sponsor again this year, we’ll be there too, covering the show as it happens, so come say hi. Spectators get in free.
P.S. It’s not too late to get your vehicle into the show – pre-registration has ended but same-day registration is available; find the form here – load-in starts at 8 am on show day.
P.P.S. Even if you’re not entering your vehicle, yours will be eligible for free leak inspections during the show courtesy of “Don’t Drip and Drive” as well as free bulb checks via “Lights On For Safety.”
What better way to let your kids learn about bees and their vital role in our ecosystem, than by taking them to the West Seattle Bee Garden for Kids’ Day, presented by the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association? Above, you can watch the bees without getting too close. Earlier, it was story time:
Art activities are keeping other young visitors busy:
And the grownup visitors might be interested in buying honey to support the nonprofit PSBA:
The event’s on until 2 pm. The WS Bee Garden is on the north end of High Point Commons Park – scroll down this page for a map.
7:06 PM: Feel like dancing? The east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center is doing dance-floor duty right now with The Disco Ballz performing @ the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s second-to-last Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha show. Of course, it’s also OK to just sit there and listen, whatever your preferred self-provided seating might be:
The show’s on until 8 – while Hiawatha’s official address is 2700 California SW, the east lawn is along Walnut, south of Lander.
ADDED 8:05 PM: Some video from their version of “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” the disco classic by A Taste of Honey:
The Disco Ballz 'Boogie Oogie Oogie' @ Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. Next Thursday: @casparbabypants ! pic.twitter.com/mcDz3v34yO
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 18, 2017
Yes, people got up and danced! One more video clip to come with that (added – here it is):
And a photo:
If you can’t quite see her, the guy in the middle has a tiny dancing partner. Speaking of tiny dancers –
next week, the season finale for this free concert series – with co-sponsors including WSB – will bring them out in abundance, for the ever-popular kindie rock of Caspar Babypants (6:30 pm Thursday, August 24th).
(WSB photo from West Seattle Car Show 2016)
The 10th annual West Seattle Car Show is close – August 26th, one week from Saturday – and if you’re interested in being part of it, this is your last call for discount pre-registration, which is due this Friday. The show presented by West Seattle Autoworks and Swedish Automotive is set for 10 am-3 pm on the north side of South Seattle College, whose Automotive Technology program it supports. Here’s part of the plan for this year’s show, in addition to checking out the cool wheels on display:
This year we will have the State’s “Don’t Drip and Drive” campaign at the school, performing free leak inspections for visitors during the show hours, and ASA will be also hosting a “Lights on for Safety” event and performing exterior bulb checks and free replacement at the same time (in the auto program at the school). There are scheduled tours of several programs at the school, beer, wine, coffee and soft drinks available during the day in the Wine Academy (also hosting tours), along with kids’ activities. Food trucks will be announced soon! Live music from the Disco Cowboys, playing classic rock. Raffles and giveaways during the trophy ceremony.
That’ll be at 3; the show starts at 10. SCC is at 6000 16th SW on Puget Ridge.
P.S. WSB is again co-sponsoring the show; West Seattle Autoworks, Swedish Automotive, and South Seattle College are all WSB sponsors. It’s free to be a spectator, and bring a non-perishable food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank if you can!
Just two more free Summer Concerts at Hiawatha this season – and the next one is two nights away. The Disco Ballz are onstage this Thursday night (August 17th); here’s the preview from the Admiral Neighborhood Association:
Bring your boogie shoes and be prepared to dance the night away this Thursday! The Disco Ballz will be appearing at Hiawatha Park from 6:30 pm-8 pm.
The Disco Ballz have been playing for most of a decade, bringing their infectious groove to dance floors all over the Pacific Northwest. Playing a unique mix of classic disco hits with pop, rock, and soul music from the ’70s to current Top 40 chart toppers, The Disco Ballz bring the party to any dance floor or venue – playing all the popular dance tunes from an era when polyester pants and satin shirts ruled the dance floor!
If you’ve been meaning to check but haven’t quite made it, this is the 2nd to last Hiawatha concert of the summer (Caspar Babypants will play August 24th)! Bring a blanket, a picnic, some friends, and be ready for disco fun. All shows take place on the east lawn outside the community center [along Walnut, south of Lander].
The concert series is made possible through the generous donations of community businesses and volunteers. The Admiral Neighborhood Association would like to thank Metropolitan Market, Umpqua Bank, Seattle Parks, and the Associated Recreation Council for their continued support, as well as our Silver and Bronze sponsors.
WSB is proud to be one of those sponsors, as we have been every year since the first season of Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (2009).
Musical memories filled the south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent campus Friday night, as Cherry Cherry kicked off this year’s Summer Concerts at The Mount – four free Friday night shows.
Lead singer Steve Kelly exuberantly asked the crowd to take a group selfie with him mid-show:
All are welcome at The Mount’s concerts, which start at 6 pm Fridays – come early if you’re interested in buying dinner and/or drinks, available on the patio starting at 5:30 pm – you can sit in the sun or shade:
Next week, it’s an annual favorite, Danny Vernon‘s Illusion of Elvis. (The Mount is at 4831 35th SW
The Adarna is onstage outside Hiawatha Community Center right now, for the third show of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series. The lawn is in the shade by this time of the evening so it’s a good place to get away from our extra-warm temperatures.
Lots of room to sprawl – the shows usually continue until about 8 pm, so grab a chair/blanket and get to Walnut south of Lander! We’ll add video later. (Update: Here it is.)
Three more shows this season – next Thursday (6:30 pm August 10th), it’s Adrian Xavier.
Two outdoor concerts in the next two nights:
THE ADARNA @ SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Thursday night at 6:30 pm, The Adarna performs this season’s third Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. Concert organizers describe their sound as “Jet City Rock … fun high-energy rock n’ roll suitable for all ages along the vein of Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age.” The band’s name is taken “from a mythical phoenix-like songbird in Filipino folklore”; The Adarna formed five years ago and has been on seven national tours as well as performing internationally for US troops in five countries. Bring your own chair/blanket, picnic dinner if you want, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers – the show’s free, on the east lawn at
Then on Friday:
FIRST SUMMER CONCERT AT THE MOUNT: The four-Friday-night series at Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW) starts this week:
Just a reminder that the first Summer Concert on the South Patio at The Mount is this Friday, August 4th, featuring Cherry Cherry – a Neil Diamond Tribute Band. Dinner is available for purchase from 5:30 to 7 pm and live music is performed from 6 to 7:30. All are welcome to this family-friendly community event. Admission is free. Food and beverage available for purchase. Free snow cones and popcorn. And a reminder to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.
6:54 PM: Still time to get to the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center for the second of this summer’s six Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association.
In our photos are Nick Drummond and Friends, bringing their “alt-folk” sounds to the crowd enjoying tonight’s free show, which continues until about 8 pm, along Walnut south of Lander.
7:55 PM: Photos updated; video to come (added: here it is):
Next week, the “Jet City rock” of The Adarna, 6:30 pm Thursday, August 3rd.
We’re counting down to another big summer event – this year’s West Seattle Car Show is exactly one month away, 10 am-3 pm Saturday, August 26th. Once again this year, Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks are presenting the show on the north side of the South Seattle College campus; the show supports SSC’s Automotive Technology program. Many different types of vehicles are welcomed – if you haven’t been to the show, see our coverage from last year. Lots of reasons to visit in addition to seeing the show participants – live music, kids activities, food trucks, tours of SSC programs including the Northwest Wine Academy; more details soon. If you’d like to sign up to be part of it, get the pre-registration discount price by going here. That page also includes signup info for vendors and sponsors (whose logo can be on this year’s T-shirt if signed up by the end of this week).
(Note: Swedish Automotive, West Seattle Autoworks, and South Seattle College are all WSB sponsors; WSB is a co-sponsor of the Car Show.)
(Saturday photo by Mark Filteau)
You saw their grand-prize-winning performance in Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade … you might have seen their practice and photo shoot at Seacrest five days earlier … and now, the All-City Band has one more West Seattle performance, at this year’s Band Jam on Friday night. ACB director Marcus Pimpleton shares the full lineup in this invitation to you:
The Seattle All-City Band will once again be hosting the annual Band Jam event at the Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle.
This year’s event will take place this coming Friday, July 28th, from 7:00-9:00 pm and feature musical performances by the Junior All-City Band, the Gents Drumline, the John F. Kennedy Catholic High School Marching Band, the Rainbow City Band, the Sumner High School Spartan Marching Band, and the Seattle Schools All-City Band.
Stadium concessions will be available beginning at 6:00 pm and pre-show entertainment by the Ten Man Brass Band will begin at 6:30. This family-friendly event celebrating young people and music is free to the public.
The lineup varies each year; here’s our coverage from last year. SWAC is at 2801 SW Thistle, across from Chief Sealth International High School.
Just wanted to get this on your post-Summer Fest calendar, if it’s not there already: One week from tonight, you’re invited to the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center for the West Seattle Big Band‘s 22nd annual Concert in the Park, free and fun. Bring a chair/blanket/picnic dinner, bring the family/friends/neighbors; the band, directed by Jim Edwards, starts playing at 7 pm Tuesday, July 18th. WSB is proud to be a co-sponsor this year. If you haven’t been before, while Hiawatha’s official address is 2700 California SW, the concert is on the Walnut side. See you there!
(2016 ‘Mini-STP’ photo by Don Brubeck)
Next Sunday morning, you’re invited to join West Seattle Bike Connections and an all-ages group of bicyclists on the fifth annual West Seattle Mini-STP ride – from California/Seattle in North Admiral, south to California/Portland in Gatewood, and back north to WS Summer Fest in The Junction. If you haven’t heard of it before, the name is a nod to the STP ride between the cities of Seattle and Portland, which is also happening next weekend. But instead of 200 miles, this one covers 10 – and that’s if you ride all the way back to the starting line after visiting the festival. The ride starts at 9:15 am next Sunday (July 16th) – what you need to know to be part of it is all here.
(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:21 PM: Alki Beach is in the midst of its annual pirate invasion – the Seafair Pirates landed just before 2 pm, aboard the Prudhoe Bay, courtesy of West Seattle-based Global Diving and Salvage.
(Photo tweeted by Brandon, @olysportsblog)
Though the landing itself is over, the party is not – it’s on until 6 pm. Live music started at 11:
Next band up is scheduled to be Queen Anne’s Revenge (3 pm-ish). Meanwhile, kids’ activities continue, including inflatable rides:
Vendors are offering merchandise including official T-shirts:
Among those gathered pre-landing, we even spotted a mermaid:
(added) And sword-wielding beach defenders:
(Photo by Don Brubeck)
ADDED 7:56 PM: More photos after the jump – including the aspiring pirates onshore! Read More
(2014 photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
One more reminder that this weekend’s biggest West Seattle event happens tomorrow – the Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki Beach. Thousands show up every year to greet the Pirates, whose website says they’ll land around 2 pm – be forewarned, the time can vary, likely to be earlier; last year, for example, it was closer to 1 pm. The festivities last all day, pre- and post-landing, including music (starting at 11 am), inflatable rides for kids, craft and food vendors, and more, 10 am-6 pm, mostly in the Alki Bathhouse vicinity (60th SW/Alki SW). No street closures but the beach zone will be jammed, so we suggest alternative transportation, or else get there really early if you want to find parking anywhere in the vicinity.
(WSB photo, Summer Fest Eve 2014)
It’s been three years since The Bubbleman whirled and swirled his show in the heart of The Junction on West Seattle Summer Fest Eve. But this year, Junction Association executive director Lora Swift tells us, he’ll be back. Summer Fest Eve is Thursday, July 13th, when the streets shut down for festival setup, and many local businesses start pre-festival fun, so this will be part of it – it’s West Seattle Art Walk night, too, and with the recent additions to Art Walk, you’ll find food and drink specials at many venues as well as art. Lora says Bubbleman will be there 7-8 pm on Summer Fest Eve, exact location TBA (the festival zone is on California between Edmunds and north of Oregon, and Alaska between 44th and 42nd) – and stand by for news of other SF Eve entertainment, too.
(WSB video showing 2016 Float Dodgers leaving the start line)
Continuing our summer-event countdowns … we’re less than three weeks from the sixth annual Float Dodger 5K, 
a fun costumed-if-you-want run/walk that precedes the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday, July 22nd. West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) presents it:
8:45 am – Free Kids Dash around the track
9:00 am – California Ave SW closes to traffic
9:30 am – Race starts
10:00 am – Awards ceremony and costume contest
10:15 am – Afterparty at West Seattle Runner
10:30 am – Parade floats are unleashed
“The track” is at Hiawatha Community Center (right across the street from WS Runner!), where the Float Dodger 5K starts and finishes again this year. Here’s the course map. The Float Dodger 5K benefits My Team Triumph; you can register online here (or in person at WS Runner, 2743 California SW).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Kristine Atri is a United States Air Force veteran who says not much scares her.
She in fact is a huge fan of “escape room” game venues.
So much so, that she’s opening the first one in West Seattle, where she and her husband live.
We talked with her today about The Escape Artist, which Atri expects to open this fall in three vacant spaces spanning about 2,500 square feet in the commercial building at 4517 California SW – two on the ground floor, separated by the breezeway, and one upstairs.
First – if you aren’t familiar with the “escape room” concept – it’s a 21st-century phenomenon, Atri explains.
It’s more than a hobby … amateur radio is vital to emergency preparedness in our area and many others, too. So – both to practice their skills and to offer a public view into how amateur radio works – International Field Day is under way right now, with local operators gathered in the south field on the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus on Puget Ridge through about 11 am Sunday.
You are invited to stop by any time before then (kids welcome too!) to see and hear how it works. While we were there, solar-power demonstrations were under way:
Just look for the antennas rigged in the field, and the tents nearby:
Thanks to David for the photo of the all-dad band DAD, performing right now on 48th Avenue SW west of The Junction. It’s the second year that they’ve closed the street (with permits) for an end-of-school-year party. They’re scheduled to play until about 10 pm, and you’re welcome to go join the party. They’re collecting donations for the PTA at West Seattle’s most-populous elementary, Genesee Hill.
Didn’t register in advance for the first-ever Loop the ‘Lupe tomorrow (Sunday, June 4th)? No worries – you can sign up starting at 11 am at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th SW/SW Myrtle), just east of Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center, home of numerous community-assisting programs and beneficiary of Loop the ‘Lupe.
It’s a four-event extravaganza, with the following starting times: Senior Saunter at 1 pm, Youth Dash at 1:30 pm, 5K at 1:45 pm, Obstacle Course at 2:10 pm; all four events are explained here.
Looks like comfortable weather for walking/running/dodging!
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