West Seattle Blog…

Summer Concerts at Hiawatha this Thursday: Caspar Babypants

(WSB photo from 2011 Hiawatha show)
The most popular performer ever at Summer Concerts at Hiawatha returns to the Admiral Neighborhood Association-sponsored series this week – Caspar Babypants, the West Seattle-based kiddie-rock star, takes the stage at 6:30 pm Thursday (July 31st). Via his website, he’s promising “a 90-minute show full of every hit you can sing!” as well as a chance to buy advance copies of the new CB album “Rise and Shine!” The concert itself is free – come early, bring your own chair/blanket, picnic dinner if you feel like it, and get ready to have a great time.

Summer Concerts at Hiawatha 2014 start this Thursday night

Next big event in your West Seattle summer: The Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (with WSB among the co-sponsors) gets going this Thursday night, July 24th. Above, the video for “Cool” by Eclectic Approach, the first band in this year’s series. Bring friends, family, a blanket and/or chair(s), picnic dinner, and enjoy free live music at 6:30 pm this Thursday and each of the five that follow.

West Seattle summer: Your guide to the mega-weekend ahead

(WSB file photo: Mediterranean Fantasy Festival dancers at Hiawatha)
Before moving on to more of today’s news, we just wanted to take a few minutes to be sure this weekend’s major events are on your radar. Yes, we know these are not the ONLY events (you’ll find many other activities/events on our calendar), but they’re the big annual ones. Event names link to the official websites (or, if no official link, to our calendar listings):

FRIDAY
Hiawatha Kids’ Fun Fest: Noon-3 pm, with carnival games, bouncy toys, more at/outside Hiawatha Community Center
White Center Jubilee Days: Noon-”late,” carnival at Steve Cox Memorial Park

SATURDAY
*Float Dodger 5K – 9:30 am from California/Charlestown (online registration ends Thursday afternoon; same-day signups at 8 am
*West Seattle Grand Parade: California/Lander southward to California/Edmunds, motorcycle drill teams start ~10:30, full parade 11, Kiddie Parade from California/Genesee at 11
*Alki Art Fair – 10 am-6 pm (booths), music (schedule not out yet) and food continuing to 9 pm
*Mediterranean Fantasy Festival – 11 am-7 pm; dancer schedule here; vendor map/list here
*West Seattle Outdoor Movies; Movie at dusk but stake out your spot early, showing “Gravity” this week, Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) courtyard
*White Center Jubilee Days: 11 am-4 pm car show; 2:30 pm parade northbound on 16th SW from SW 112th-100th; street fair info here

SUNDAY
*West Seattle Garden Tour: 9 residential gardens, self-guided tour 9 am-5 pm plus noon guest lecture with Susie Egan at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), ticket info here
*WestSide Baby Stuff the Bus: 10 am-2 pm, drop off diapers at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) – most needed: newborn, 5, 6, pull-ups, sizes 3T-4T and 4T-5T, hygiene items such as diaper cream
*Alki Art Fair – 10 am-6 pm (booths), music (schedule not out yet) and food continuing to 8 pm
*Mediterranean Fantasy Festival – 11 am-5 pm; dancer schedule here; vendor map/list here
*White Center Jubilee Days: Street fair info here

New website up for West Seattle Car Show, set for September 14

(WSB file photo)
Yes, the West Seattle Car Show is definitely a go for September 14th, and its new website has just gone live, announces Oliver Little, producing the show again this year, with new co-presenters Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks (both WSB sponsors), who stepped up to continue the legacy of car-show founder Michael Hoffman, who died in March, just 47 years old.

As always, you’ll be able to wander the streets of The Junction admiring hundreds of vehicles; admission will be free as usual, with optional raffles/drawings that will raise money for Pencil Me In For Kids, which provides school supplies to children in need. So mark your calendar – 10 am-4 pm Sunday, September 14th – and stand by for news of applications, plus sponsorship info, soon.

Happening now: West Seattle Summer Fest Eve, July Art Walk

The streets are closed in the heart of The Junction and the party’s on – West Seattle Summer Fest eve, setup going on while, as the night began, Bubbleman made his traditional appearance outside Elliott Bay Brewery:

And as he performed, the setup continued (vendors don’t arrive until tomorrow morning, but the booths, stage, and other components need to go up tonight):

Some merchants got going on the Summer Fest sidewalk sale early – like Tom Henry of JF Henry (WSB sponsor):

There’s music in the street – some of it hasn’t even started yet (West 5 proprietor Dave Montoure told us things would get going around 8 pm outside his venue) – and WS Art Walk until 9.

As part of Art Walk, S. Tudyk is at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), where the Summer Fest pre-party also features Click! co-proprietor Frances Smersh introducing new jewelry. At Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), Clay Eals from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society was there for the ongoing show of photos celebrating the 30th anniversary of the high-level bridge:

The two photos with him are before – the old bridge – and after (aerial photo by Long B. Nguyen, whose work is often seen here on WSB). More to come.

More West Seattle summer music: The Mount’s concert lineup

(2012 WSB photo: Danny Vernon at The Mount)
West Seattle’s summer outdoor-music scene gets into high gear with Summer Fest this Friday-Saturday-Sunday (lineup here), presented by the West Seattle Junction Association (co-sponsored by WSB), but that’s just the start. The Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (co-sponsored by WSB), starts July 24th (lineup here). And today, we have word of this year’s Providence Mount St. Vincent outdoor-concert schedule, starting August 1st:

Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Free popcorn and snow cones. Great food, beer, and wine available for purchase. Special activities just for kids, such as face painting. And wonderful music to get your weekend started on the right note! Be sure to wear your dancing shoes!

Dinner: 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Live music: 6 to 7:30 pm

*August 1st — Danny Vernon, The Illusion of Elvis
He’s back by popular demand! Internationally known for his tribute to the King.

*August 8th — Alma y Azucar
Saucy music ensemble providing a wide range of exquisite and passionate selections of Latin styles and flavors.

*August 15th — The Spyrographs
Playing the best of spy, pop, surf, and Bossa Nova hits of the 1960s.

*August 22nd — The 85th Street Big Band
Lively 20-piece big band featuring swing favorites from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s including classic songs by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Nat King Cole.

The Mount is at 4831 35th SW; the concerts are on the building’s south side.

West Seattle Garden Tour 2014: 2 weeks until your chance to tour 10 memorable local gardens

It’s a big year for anniversaries and the West Seattle Garden Tour is part of it – celebrating its 20th anniversary! We are now exactly two weeks away from the WSGT, which is a self-guided tour, 9 am-5 pm Sunday, July 20th. Ticket books are on sale, including the addresses of the nine residential gardens that are featured – along with the West Seattle Bee Garden in High Point – and the WSGT notes that among the nine is the garden of world-famous nature/culture photographer Art Wolfe, who will be there to talk with visitors and sign books. Your WSGT admission includes the guest lunchtime lecturer, Susie Egan, speaking at noon on tour day at The Kenney (WSB sponsor); she owns the private two-acre botanical garden/nursery Cottage Lake Gardens near Woodinville. WSGT is a nonprofit and its net proceeds in turn benefit other local nonprofits – see this year’s beneficiaries here. You have seven places/ways to buy your ticket book right now – here’s that list.

West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade: Final reminder – hours away!

One more quick reminder … we’re hours away from the 20th annual West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade, 10 am tomorrow from 44th/Sunset as always, proceeding to Hamilton Viewpoint Park for post-parade games – that’s all free, but bring some $ for the concessions sold by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. If you’ve never seen/been in this parade before, it’s casual and fun (here’s our video from last year) … just hundreds of people young and not-as-young walking through North Admiral streets – red/white/blue decorations are encouraged but not mandatory – after a bit of ceremony (including 6th-grader Leilani Nitkey singing the national anthem) at the beginning. No floats. Usually a pace pickup and banner. A couple notes tonight from co-coordinator Jackie Clough – if you are driving to the parade, please don’t park along the route (the streets to the west and south, basically, but especially not on Atlantic, both sides of California) and remember there’s no parking at Hamilton Viewpoint for the duration of the event. Also – there’s some road work on Palm, the last bit of the way to the park after the parade crosses California (police stop traffic for the crossing), so that means one slight change for the last half-block or so into the park. See you in the morning!

Also Saturday: Play and learn @ Youth Resource Fair at Hiawatha

Another big event tomorrow:

West Seattle Wildcats Jr. Football and Cheer will be hosting a Youth Resource Fair on Saturday, June 28th at Hiawatha (2900 California SW). Come for some fun, entertainment, food, games, activities, arts, crafts, prizes, raffles, education, demonstrations, music, speakers, and more. Jump on the opportunity to dunk Coach Carter, win photos of Seahawk players, and punt pass and kick your way to $500. Appearances by some of Seattle Hottest DJ’s! DJ Funk Daddy, DJ Lovesick Larry, and DJ Custom Cuts.

You’ll find the fun outdoors at Hiawatha (2700 California SW) 10:30 am-3:30 pm tomorrow.

Still seeking summer camp? Three options with openings

It’s the first full week of summer and some camp programs still have space. So if you are still planning your family’s summer, here are three possibilities:

PRESCHOOLERS’ CAMP AT HIAWATHA: For the little ones!

Hiawatha Community Center Preschool Summer Camp is provided by the Associated Recreation Council in partnership with the Seattle Parks and Recreation. Come and explore discover and create this summer with hands-on, fun, and engaging activities. Preschoolers will have a variety of structured planned activities, free play, and outside time daily. Weekly Summer Camps are available to children ages 3-5 years of age, 9:30 am-1 pm Monday-Friday, $114/week. Contact the preschool director at 206-321-3187 or wendy.westover@seattle.gov. Weekly themes:

July 7th-11 – Commotion in the Ocean
July 14th-18th – Creepy Crawlies
July 21st-25th – Travel and Vacations
July 28th-Aug. 1st – Down on the Farm
August 4th-8th – Dino Mite

CHIEF SEALTH SOCCER CAMP: July 21-25, Chief Sealth International High School‘s head soccer coach Ron Johnson leads a camp presented by Friends of Sealth, for girls/boys entering grades 3-9 this fall. For more information/registration, here’s the brochure/application.

VIDEO CAMP AT MIND UNWIND: Kids 10 and up can spend two weeks learning to make a video documentary at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District. First day is July 21st. Full details are on the MU website.

3 big events next weekend: Relay for Life, Seafair Pirates’ Landing, South Park Bridge party

If you haven’t browsed the calendar lately and have missed earlier previews – here’s a quick look at three major local events NEXT weekend:

FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING – WEST SEATTLE RELAY FOR LIFE: You are welcome to drop by West Seattle Stadium to experience the ceremonies and cheer the West Seattle Relay for Life walkers, raising money for the American Cancer Society.

(WSB photo from June 2013 Relay for Life)
They start at 7 pm Friday and go all night and into the morning. Highlights include the survivors’ lap at 7:30 pm (right after the opening ceremony), the luminaria ceremony (honoring those who are fighting cancer and those who have in the past) at 10 pm, and the closing ceremonies at 11:30 am. The stadium’s off 35th just about a block south of Avalon.

SATURDAY MORNING/AFTERNOON – SEAFAIR PIRATES’ LANDING: Somewhere around or after 11:30 am Saturday, the Seafair Pirates will get the summer party started on Alki by appearing offshore and storming ashore.

(2012 WSB photo by Nick Adams)
The actual landing is just part of the festival-like atmosphere set up at the beach, both sides of the boardwalk, usually including bouncy rides and vendor booths, and the popular West Seattle Kiwanis-provided pirate hats for the first wee ones to arrive. Soon as we can dig more details out of the treasure chest, we’ll share them.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING – SOUTH PARK BRIDGE PARTY: Exactly four years after the old South Park Bridge closed (June 30, 2010) with a feisty sort-of wake, the brand-new one opens Monday (June 30, 2014), the day after a major party. The celebration starts at noon Sunday (June 29), with a dedication ceremony at 3 pm, a parade across the bridge at 4:30 pm, and Lucha Libre (Mexican-style masked wrestling) in the street at 6 pm – more info here. The partying will be mostly north of the central SP intersection of 14th Avenue S./S. Cloverdale – here’s a map.

Seattle Public Library’s summer youth program starts tomorrow at West Seattle’s 4 branches and citywide

Here it comes – first full week of summer, first full week of summer vacation for all the Seattle kids whose school year wrapped up last week. The Seattle Public Library summer reading program starts tomorrow:

Greet summer tomorrow with Alice Enevoldsen’s solstice-sunset watch

Before we get to what’s up for the rest of today/tonight – a note about the Summer Solstice, arriving tomorrow at 3:51 am. As always, you’re invited to watch the first post-solstice sunset Saturday night with West Seattle’s own NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen at Solstice Park. Alice suggests arriving by 8:45; more details on her website Alice’s Astro Info. (Alice also writes the periodic “Skies Over West Seattle” feature for WSB – past editions are archived here.)

West Seattle Saturday: Graduation time; Westwood festival; WS Cup; low-low-low tide; Admiral and Alki cleanups; more!

(Photo by John Westrock, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Today’s list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FAMILY-FRIENDLY TENNIS! Starting today, the United States Tennis Association offers lessons for kids and families to learn together at the Solstice Park courts near Lincoln Park, and is sponsoring WSB to get the word out. 9 am Saturdays, 6 pm Thursdays, details here. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE CUP: 8:45 am-6:15 pm both days this weekend, you can go to Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point and cheer for the local families participating in this celebration of community and soccer, held concurrent with the first weekend of the World Cup. Here’s our preview from earlier this week. (34th/Myrtle)

CLEAN UP ADMIRAL: 9 am, Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup starts from Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) – late arrivals welcome. (41st/Admiral)

CLEAN UP THE BEACH! Starting at 9:30 am, local wildlife advocates including Seal Sitters lead a cleanup at Alki Beach – details here. Meet at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st/Alki)

WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: 10 am-6 pm, with rides, live music, vendor booths, more – here’s the schedule of stage entertainment, including this afternoon’s band lineup. (2600 SW Barton)

PENCIL ME IN FOR KIDS BENEFIT BBQ: 11 am-4 pm at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), today’s benefit barbecue raises money for Pencil Me In For Kids, which provides school supplies to kids in need. The menu for a suggested $7 donation: Pulled pork sandwiches & coleslaw. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)

BENEFIT CAR WASH: Seattle Lutheran High School student actors are washing cars at Fauntleroy Chiropractic (WSB sponsor), 11 am-3 pm, to support their trip to the legendary Ashland Shakespeare Festival.

FLAG DAY CEREMONY: As previewed here last night, American Legion Post 160 invites you to its Flag Day ceremony at noon, and you also are welcome to bring old flags in need of proper retirement. (3618 SW Alaska)

KITTY HARBOR OPENS: The cat/kitten adoption/shelter facility by the West Seattle Bridge opens for its summer season, with adoptable felines awaiting you. Noon-5 pm. (3422 Harbor Ave. SW)

LOWEST TIDE OF THE SUMMER: Today’s the day! -3.3 at 12:25 pm. And the volunteer beach naturalists are of course out again at Constellation Park (south of Alki Point) and Lincoln Park (near Colman Pool). Speaking of which …

COLMAN POOL STARTS 7-DAY-A-WEEK SCHEDULE: Today is the first official day of 7-day-a-week operation for the outdoor pool on the beach at Lincoln Park (starting at noon), through Labor Day. Here’s the schedule.

TWO GRADUATION CEREMONIES: Both at Southwest Athletic Complex – congratulations to the Class of 2014! West Seattle High School graduates at 2 pm, Chief Sealth International High School at 7 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)

WHITE CENTER BLOCK PARTY: Downtown White Center welcomes you from 3 pm till dusk for fun including the famous $2 food walk. Here’s our preview on partner site White Center Now. (16th SW south of Roxbury)

JOHN PERKINS AT ‘DO YOU SHIFT?’ BENEFIT: 6 pm tonight at the Duwamish Longhouse, author John Perkins headlines the benefit for the “shapeshifting” documentary that local filmmakers are working on – details here. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

BENBOW ROOM’S GRAND OPENING: Live music and more starting at 8 pm; come help its new local owners celebrate. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

THE RETURN OF KIRK DUBB: Last seen at the late, lamented Rocksport, Kirk Dubb is back, new EP and all, and performing tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm. (6451 California SW)

LOTS MORE … on the calendar!

Line dancing, swing dancing, beach roaming … West Seattle Friday!

Happy Friday! Thanks to Michael Brophy for the sun-dappled West Seattle aerial view, photographed toward the end of his flight home on Thursday evening. Not sure if we’ll get any sunshine today, but some big fun is on the calendar anyway, indoors AND outdoors:

LOW TIDE GETS EVEN LOWER: At 11:40 am, it’s down to -3.1, and that’s *very* low. Volunteer beach naturalists are out again today at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, 9:30 am-1:30 pm.

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY ANNIVERSARY CONTINUES: In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Northwest Wine Academy on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, you can check out their newest wines during 2-7 pm events again today and Saturday. Details in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

HOE-DOWN DANCE AND BBQ DINNER: Starts with line-dancing lessons at 5:30 pm, baby-back-rib dinner served around 6, and dancing to Country Dave and the Pickin’ Crew; call ASAP for reservations if you don’t have them already – all the info’s here. At the Senior Center of West Seattle. (California/Oregon)

SWING DANCE: 6:30 pm, lessons with an instructor, 7 pm, swing dancing with the West Seattle Big Band – it’s “Swing Into Summer” at The Hall at Fauntleroy; more info in our preview from earlier this week. (9131 California SW)

BIG WEEKEND FOR YOUTH BASEBALL: From West Seattle Baseball via Facebook:

It’s a big weekend at the West Seattle Pee Wee Fields. Nineteen of the Northwest’s best 8U teams are playing in the West Seattle 8U Hardball Classic. Games start at 6:00 tonight and then again at 9:00 on Saturday and Sunday. This is really a great event to watch. Come support your local youth baseball.

(12th SW & Myrtle)

LIVE MUSIC AT SALTY’S, C & P, KENYON HALL, CASK, SKYLARK, FEEDBACK … you’ll find the listings on the calendar.

Happening now: Happy 10th birthday, High Point Library!

The sun’s appearance in time for this afternoon’s 10th-anniversary celebration at the High Point Branch Library is appropriate, since it graced the Miller Hayashi Architects-designed library’s dedication in June 2004 too, according to the Seattle Times (WSB partner) archives. On that day, this became the third location in 62 years to hold High Point’s public library.

Even if you aren’t interested in borrowing library materials, you can check out the branch for events such as story times (our top photo, in fact, shows a story time of sorts – when we stopped by a few minutes ago, library staff and patrons were sharing memories); they’re usually on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar as well as the library’s online calendar of events. This afternoon’s celebration, meantime, continues at the branch (35th/Raymond) until 3:30 pm. (And when you visit, don’t miss the art!)

West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade is on for 2014!

(WSB photo from 2012 parade)
Just under four weeks until the Fourth of July; if you were wondering – a few have asked – yes, the Kids’ Parade in Admiral is on! That’s the word from Jackie Clough, who took over parade coordination last year along with Allyson Schreck. They’re organizing it again this year and will have more details soon. It’s also on the agenda for next Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association (7 pm June 10th at The Sanctuary), whose parade support each year including selling treats during the post-parade games at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. If you’re new to the area, this is West Seattle’s only 4th of July parade, and it’s a low-key, no-floats stroll through North Admiral neighborhoods, with kids, pets, bikes, scooters, strollers, wagons, decorations, costumes – here’s our coverage from last year (including video). So again, whether you want to be a participant or spectator, go ahead and mark your calendar for Friday, July 4th, 10 am start, 44th/Sunset.

Friday evening, bring your family to have fun while helping local kids reach out to help others

If you want to close out the night on a hopeful note – and/or to hear about an easy way to do some good in the world – listen to this: 5-7 pm tomorrow, in White Center, you can help hundreds of schoolchildren reach out across the miles to help other kids. The helpers are not necessarily so well-off themselves, but one of their teachers explains that when they learned how much better they have it than some others, they had to do something. The event has been in our calendar a while but we didn’t have all the details Shoshanna Cohen shares:

I’m a 2nd grade teacher at Mount View Elementary, next to White Center, and I’m planning our school’s carnival this year. … It is not any regular carnival. Our school has a 87% free and reduced population, yet my 6th-grade carnival leadership team has learned about children in Honduras who are not as fortunate as us. For instance, education is only free until 6th grade in Honduras. From 7th grade on, you have to pay $500 tuition to attend school. The vast majority of the rural Honduran population does not have that kind of money. As part of our WE Day participation, we are raising $1000 to send to the non-profit Light of Esperanza, to help two deserving students in Vega Redonda, Honduras, attend 7th grade. The rest of the money raised will go to our PTA so that the school can afford field trips, special events, and sports for the 2014-2015 school year.

Again, this is happening 5-7 pm tomorrow (Friday, June 6th) at Mount View Elementary, 10811 12th Ave SW (map). The official invitation: “Come and celebrate the end of the school year with us with food, fun, bouncy houses, games, and GREAT prizes! Learn about our sister school in Vega Redonda, Honduras and how we are helping other children around the world! There will be free face painting and art projects too! This event is free to get in.”

Do it for Raindrops the rescued cat! Kitty Harbor benefit @ Skylark

At left, that’s Raindrops the cat. She is the inspiration for a benefit show at Skylark Café and Club this Friday night – the return of the West Side Glory variety show, which in turn was an evening spinoff from Seattle’s original drag brunch. West Seattleite Jeffrey Robert is hosting and producing, and proceeds benefit West Seattle’s Kitty Harbor cat/kitten shelter, which saved Raindrops after Jeffrey rescued her from a local road. So here’s how the story goes:

Back in December, Raindrops made an appearance on the WSB Lost/Found Pets Page, described as having been found on the bridge, though that wasn’t quite right, it turns out – Jeffrey says she was on the top of the overpass bridge connecting the West Seattle Bridge and Highway 99.

She was badly hurt, too – including a broken leg. Jeffrey (photo at right) says she didn’t look like she was going to survive. He contacted Kitty Harbor, who arranged for surgery, and eventually she found a forever home. He plans to tell the entire story during West Side Glory on Friday night. They still don’t know how Raindrops ended up on that busy road – whether she was dumped, or maybe fell from a car she climbed into. But there she was.

Even if you’re not interested in a tale about a kitty – you might want to see the all-star lineup taking the stage starting at 9 pm Friday, including West Seattle’s rising-star comic Mona Concepcion and local burlesque performer Sibyl Darling. Along with the aforementioned performers, the lineup includes David Johnson, Emmett Montgomery, Beka Barry, Olivia LaGarce, Cherry Tart, Cherry Sur Bête, Honey Bucket, Abbey Drake, Deb Seymour, Peggy Platt, Sylvia O’Stayformore, Bella Luna & Michelle Pannell, SuperNova-Majesty, Matt Clear, “and more TBA” – plus a prize raffle.

It’s 21+ – Jeffrey allows, “We get a little bit naughty” – suggested donation $15. If you need a reminder, here’s the Facebook event page. Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way SW.

Signs of summer: Banners go up for Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki

With Memorial Day weekend opening the gate to summer, festival season is in view. This year, the Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki is earlier than usual – Saturday, June 28th. On a visit to the beach this morning, we noticed the newly placed promotional banners, making their annual appearance. There will of course be pirate sightings before then; according to their online schedule, they’ll be in the Portland Rose Parade this weekend (as will the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band).

SIDE NOTE – ALSO IN JUNE: Two more big-event dates for your June calendar – the Westwood Village Street Fair on June 14th and the Morgan Junction Community Festival (co-sponsored by WSB) on June 21st.

Never mind the grill: Outdoor bread, pizza baking Sunday at Barton Street Community Garden

Barbecue grills might be the official outdoor-cooking appliances of summer, but you can break the mold by joining in wood-fired baking with the Barton Street Community Garden and P-Patch, which invites you to drop by sometime this Sunday:

The 2014 gardening season is underway! To mark the start of summer, the Barton Street Community Garden and P-Patch will fire up its wood-fired masonry bread and pizza oven. Architect and designer/builder Chris Luthi, who led the project construction, will host. He’ll introduce the use of traditional community ovens as well as masonry oven cooking techniques. Neighbors are invited to join the event, which will feature baking bread and bagel in the morning and pizzas in the afternoon. Participants are encouraged to bring cheese, sauce and toppings for pizzas, and a limited amount of dough for bagels and pizzas will be provided. This informational and fundraising event is open to all.

WHO: Barton Street Community Garden and P-Patch

WHAT: Fire It Up! Bread and Pizza Oven Season Opener

WHERE: Barton St. Community Garden and P-Patch, SW Corner of SW Barton Street and 34th St. SW

WHEN: Sunday, May 25, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

WHAT TO BRING: Cheese, sauce, pizza toppings, drinks, chairs

Donations are warmly welcome!

This is the garden/P-patch’s third full growing year.

Will the West Seattle Car Show continue? New organizers start planning & ask for your help

(WSB file photo of West Seattle Car Show in The Junction)
Though its founder is gone, the West Seattle Car Show is likely to go on. Its future was uncertain after the sudden, early death this past March of Michael Hoffman, who launched the show in 2008 and made it happen each year since, but after reaching out to seek your opinion last month, two local car-care businesses (both WSB sponsors) are moving forward with plans to keep it going – and asking for your help:

Following up on the West Seattle Blog poll regarding the West Seattle Car Show, published April 30, 2014, thank you for the overwhelmingly positive response. It is clear that the car show is an enormously popular community event.

Swedish Automotive, Inc. and West Seattle Autoworks are pleased to announce that we are moving forward with preparations for the West Seattle Car Show, scheduled for September 14th, 2014, to be located in the West Seattle Junction!

There are many details and pieces to put in place between now and then, and this is where we need your help … If you volunteered for the West Seattle Car Show in previous years (or would like to volunteer this year) or have key pieces of information regarding preparation for this event, and you are willing to share yourself as a resource, please email wscarshow@gmail.com with your contact information and a brief description of how you can help. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Watch for updates as the planning continues!

Taste of West Seattle 2014: Many winners, including WS Helpline

Everyone was a winner at this year’s Taste of West Seattle, including the food-and-beverage fest’s hundreds of attendees, and the benefiting/organizing West Seattle Helpline, whose emergency-assistance work depends on not only Taste-goers, but sponsors/donors such as Metropolitan Market, which presented Helpline with a $10,000 check:

From left, that’s Brooks, Megan, Carol, Jude, and Brent. And then there are … the Taste winners, chosen by attendees! Fresh Bistro, which is about to celebrate its 5th anniversary, won Best Bite for its “Carlton Farms Pork Confit”, described as stuffed filo cups with pickled kohlrabi, confit pork, smoked almond butter, blackberry vin, and micro-arugula. Chef Shun, center below with Adam and Mary, created it:

The best sweet taste was won for a second consecutive year by Stuffed Cakes.

Back to the savory … Salty’s brought oyster buckets featuring Firecracker Prawns:

You can probably guess what Harry’s Chicken Joint – represented by Catherine and Patty – dished up:

Also on hand, from just about a block away, Endolyne Joe’s, with Andrea and Rich:

Lora from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse:

Did you know The Cask in the Admiral District is under new ownership? Marty was at the Taste:

And major Taste sponsor – not to mention, host! – Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering/Hall at Fauntleroy proprietor David Haggerty (below left) took a moment to pose with Rev. Ron Marshall from the Helpline board:

Also among the topline sponsors, HomeStreet Bank. Congratulations to all for a fun, successful night!

ADDED 9:18 AM FRIDAY: A few more notes courtesy of Helpline board president Brooks Riendl: More than $50,000 raised; second and third place winners in the voting, for Best Taste, #2 Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes, #3 Blackboard Bistro; for Best Sweet, #2 Ma’Ono, #3 Bakery Nouveau.

(Per our customary disclosure – those mentioned above include multiple current WSB sponsors: Metropolitan Market, Salty’s on Alki, Harry’s Chicken Joint, Endolyne Joe’s, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, and HomeStreet Bank. They and the dozens of other sponsors and participants all gave WS Helpline a boost by donating food, beverages, and personnel, and/or funding. Go here to find out more about what WS Helpline does.)

One week to Alki doubleheader: West Seattle 5K; Summer Streets

Thanks to Lynn Hall for sharing the view from Alki as dusk approached tonight. Looking a week into the future – next Sunday (May 18th) brings a doubleheader to the beach: West Seattle 5K (co=sponsored by WSB) starts the day, followed by the SDOT-organized Summer Streets festival (still known informally as “car-free day” though its scope scaled way down years ago). As has been the case since 2011, Alki Avenue is only closed in the heart of the beach zone – 56th to 63rd – once the race wraps up around 11 am. Here’s this year’s map:

No full list of activities/festival participants yet – we hope to see that by midweek – but as noted here last month, the Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club is leading a costume/bicycle parade for the second year, 1 pm from 63rd/Alki, so get ready for that! (And sign up for the WS5K if you haven’t already.) See you at the beach …

Heads up (guts up?): Movie-makeup contest in West Seattle

The event announcements shared with us daily are published via the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, where you can browse days/weeks ahead at any time to see what’s coming up. The PNTA store in North Delridge just sent the most unusual announcement we’ve received in a while, so we’re sharing it here too:

PNTA is hosting the Semi-Finals for the 5th Annual Crypticon Seattle Makeup Contest on Saturday, May 3rd, with round 1 starting at 10:30 am and round 2 starting at 12:30 pm. Over the course of an hour, each contestant will create their best horror fx makeup look, (a la Syfy’s Face Off). This is a free event, and families are welcome!

The top 5 contestants will advance to the final round of competition, which will be held live at Crypticon Seattle over Memorial Day weekend. For more information about the May 3rd event, please see the event page. PNTA, Seattle’s theatrical supply store, is located at 2414 SW Andover St (near Delridge Way). Plenty of free parking.

Ready to rock again tomorrow: West Seattle Rock & Gem Show

This year’s West Seattle Rock Club show has not one, but two silent auctions – including the one above, just for kids. Admission to the show, which started today and continues tomorrow, is free, with members displaying their collections and showing some of the skills it takes to turn a rock or gem into a shining collection piece.

You’ll also find vendors selling gems, minerals, tools, and jewelry:

More demonstrations and hands-on activities for all ages, plus refreshments, all happening again tomorrow in the Masonic Center at 40th and Edmunds, 10 am-5 pm.

Happening now: Healthy Kids Day 2014 at West Seattle Y

Still time to get to the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) Healthy Kids Day in The Triangle – thanks to Maria for the photos!

It’s on at 36th/Snoqualmie until 1 pm. Here’s what Healthy Kids Day is all about.