West Seattle Blog…

Happening now: Have breakfast with West Seattle Kiwanis, and Santa!

Don’t throw the bread in the toaster or pour the cereal into the bowl – go have breakfast (if you haven’t already) with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle!

It’s been a tradition for more than half a century. They – and Santa Claus (below, with Kiwanian Mike LaFranchi)! – are in action until 11 am at the Masonic Center (40th and Edmunds).

Just $10 at the door, and kids under 10 eat free; proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital cancer research and the Kiwanis’s community work.

(Linda Cox and Warren Lawless of the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle)
And bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots if you can! More details here. (Photos added 9:15 am)

West Seattle Bowl benefits: Beer Church this Saturday, Seahawk Cliff Avril for United Way next month

Two notable benefits ahead at West Seattle Bowl:

15TH ANNUAL BEER CHURCH TURKEY BOWL: This Saturday night, the West Seattle-headquartered Beer Church hosts its annual fundraiser and food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank. Checking the website, there might be a lane or two available, but even if there’s not, you are invited to come by, drop off a food donation, enter a fundraising raffle, and try “all three versions of this year’s Beer Church ale.” Read all about it here.

LIVE UNITED, BOWL UNITED PRESENTED BY TEAM AVRIL: Cliff Avril of the 10-1 Seattle Seahawks is hosting a fundraiser for United Way of King County on December 30th – and West Seattle Bowl expects other Hawks players to be there. $35/person, $175/lane (up to six people). Sign up fast if you’re interested!

Prizes! Middle-schooler reading marathon next Saturday

All 6th, 7th, and 8th graders – whether in public school, private school, or homeschooled/unschooled – are invited to join in a Reading Marathon next Saturday. It’s happening at six Seattle Public Library branches around the city, including the Southwest Branch here in West Seattle. Teen-services librarian Cheresse Thoeny shares the announcement:

What is the Reading Marathon? Your chance to read for six straight hours at a Seattle Public Library branch.

Why would I want to do that?

· For every hour you read, you’ll receive a prize. Read all six hours and you might win a fabulous grand prize!

· If students from your school read the most total hours, your school receives the Reading Marathon Champions banner—and bragging rights.

· There will be plenty of free snacks and pizza will be served.

· You can bring a pillow, bean bag, or anything else to make things comfy.

· You can read anything you want (book, e-book, magazine, comic, etc.) as long as you read it silently. (What about audiobooks? Check with a librarian ahead of time.)

To join in, just show up at the Southwest Branch Library (35th and Henderson) between 11 am and 5 pm next Saturday (November 16th).

Don’t put away the costumes yet! Kids of all ages invited to Chief Sealth Unified Halloween on Saturday night

This year’s last Halloween hurrah is Saturday night at Chief Sealth International High School - and while it’s student-organized and publicized, it’s not just for high-school age youth – all ages are invited. Here’s the announcement:

This Saturday at 5 PM, Chief Sealth will be hosting a carnival/party to bring together and unify kids with and without disabilities. The event is also a fundraiser, with all of the profits going to Chief Sealth Club Unify! To get in, it costs $5, if you bring a cake or any other kind of dessert for the cake walk. Without a dessert, it costs $10. Kids under the ages of 10, get in for $3. There will be a cake walk, relay races, dancing, movies, and more! There will also be a costume contest (with prizes) so make sure to dress up! It will be a lot of fun and the more the merrier!! So spread the word to whoever and bring a friend! (:

More West Seattle Halloween scenes: Westwood trick-or-treating, ‘Nightmare on 44th,’ more

All over West Seattle, diabolically decorations dotted neighborhoods as night fell on Halloween 2013. Above, that’s a photo shared by Dotti, explaining that Halloween is her husband’s birthday. For many others, you might as well subtitle it Candy Day – along with the Admiral District trick or treating we featured earlier, Westwood Village welcomed treat-seekers in the early evening – we photographed this one outside Giannoni’s Pizza:

Also at Westwood – check out the furry trick-or-treater at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor):

In the Genesee area, “Nightmare on 44th” drew crowds – almost 200 visitors, tweeted creator Dave – a yard full of elaborate effects, with animatronic skeletons amid lights, sound, surprises:

That’s where we found these pumpkins, from cheery to eerie:

One more Halloween scene: Tim at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) shared this photo of their own “Golden Girls”:

Since Halloween fell on a Thursday, our event guide still has listings for Friday night and even Saturday – check ‘em out!

West Seattle Thursday: Halloween happenings for today/tonight

(Decorated home at 38th/Hanford; photo courtesy Siobhan)
It’s here – the haunting holiday of Halloween. Today’s daily preview is a spooktacular collection of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide, starting with the biggest local event:

ADMIRAL DISTRICT TRICK-OR-TREATING: 3-6 pm, it’s time for trick-or-treating at businesses in The Admiral District, participating merchants – look for businesses displaying this sign:

No treasure hunt or raffle prizes this year, “just good old-fashioned trick-or-treating.” No list but we DID hear from Emeritus at Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor), 2326 California SW, which is participating and extends a warm welcome to trick-or-treaters.

METROPOLITAN MARKET KIDS’ COSTUME CONTEST: While you’re in The Admiral District for trick-or-treating, join in the Kids’ Halloween Costume Contest 3-6 pm at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor). Winners in the three categories will receive $25 Toys “R” Us gift cards; drop by today, and then vote over the next three days. (41st/42nd/Admiral Way)

FREE HALLOWEEN FAMILY SKATE: Southgate Roller Rink and Full Tilt Ice Cream present a FREE Halloween Family Skate from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm at the rink. Costume contest, candy giveaways, a guest DJ, more. (17th SW south of Roxbury, White Center)

WESTWOOD VILLAGE: 5-7 pm is the time you can go trick-or-treating at participating venues in the Westwood Village shopping center

SKELETON THEATRE: 6-9 pm (tonight AND tomorrow), don’t miss this year’s edition of Skeleton Theatre, 6-9 pm (directions and show info here). The animatronic skeletons are back, reprising the space-themed “Ulna 13” from last year with updates! Shows “roughly on the hour and half-hour.” (36th/Hanford)

NIGHTMARE ON 44TH: 6-9 pm tonight only, animatronic and spooky “Nightmare on 44th” is back! 44th Ave SW between Charlestown and Andover. See behind-the-scenes photos on Twitter at @NightmareOn44th.

KIDS KARNIVAL: 6-8 pm, it’s a Kids Karnival at West Side Presbyterian Church, promising “carnival games, bouncy house, giant slide, a box maze, prizes and more! This event is geared for young children through 5th grade. It is a fun, safe alternative to trick-or-treating!” Admission free BUT there’s a donation drive for emergency kits for people in need – here’s what you can bring:

Hand warmers, socks, granola bars, small-amount gift cards, beanie hats, travel sized toothpaste & toothbrush, bars of soap, hand sanitizer, $ donation to purchase these items!

WSPC is at 3601 California SW.

TRUNK OR TREAT: Grace Community Church Trunk or Treat, 6-8 pm, free family event with car trunks filled with goodies, games, hot drinks, food. (10323 28th SW)

(In the planting strip in the 9400 block of 13th SW; photo courtesy Lisa)
GHOST GAME VII: The Cabiri in ‘Ghost Game VII: The Wild Hunt’ @ Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 8-9:45 pm. Tickets available here; 16 and over only. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

OZZY-WEEN: Halloween Ozzy Osbourne tribute at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm. (6451 California SW)

HALLOWEEN KARAOKE: It’s “Scary-Oke” for Halloween at Outwest Bar, 9 pm-2 am. (California/Brandon)

ZOMBIE HOMECOMING: Zombie Homecoming 18+ event hosted by Southgate Roller Rink and the Rainier Roller Girls! 9 pm-midnight, $12 @ the door. Costume contest, raffle, 21+ bar, and much more! (17th SW south of Roxbury, White Center)

More Halloween (etc.) events for tonight and the next two nights – in our guide; today’s non-Halloween happenings are on our regular calendar.

Happening now at West Seattle Thriftway: Kids’ Halloween party; White Center Food Bank donation drive

A chance to get and a chance to give, right now at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). Art projects and treats are what kids can get during the store’s annual Halloween Party, continuing until 1 pm in the deli dining area (one of today’s featured activities in the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide). And then, as part of Thriftway’s month-long hunger-fighting campaign, the White Center Food Bank is on hand for donations until 3 pm:

West Seattle Thriftway is at California/Morgan/Fauntleroy in Morgan Junction.

West Seattle Halloween: Rainbow Bingo scares up a crowd

(WSB photos by Katie Meyer)
It was a night to yell BOO! as much as to yell BINGO!

The Senior Center of West Seattle scared up almost 200 people – a sell-out crowd – for its almost-Halloween edition of Rainbow Bingo. Click ahead for more photos!

Click to read the rest of West Seattle Halloween: Rainbow Bingo scares up a crowd…

From the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide: Ticket time for Toxic Terror Boat Tour

One of the newest additions to the dozens of events in our West Seattle Halloween Guide: The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition‘s Toxic Terror Boat Tour is back for another year. It’s happening Sunday (October 27th) at 2 pm, leaving from West Seattle’s Harbor Island Marina. From DRCC:

Several spooky guides will lead you on a two-hour boat tour of the Duwamish River Superfund site. You’ll hear stories of local Native American supernatural legends, early-settler stories from Georgetown and South Park neighborhoods, and learn about the terrifying realities of toxic chemicals in the Duwamish River! You will also learn about the natural and human history of the Duwamish Valley, environmental health and (in)justice, and the future of Seattle’s very own Superfund cleanup site on this guided boat tour.

Costumes are not obligatory but are strongly encouraged. This year we are requesting a $25 (adults) and $15 (kids) fee. 100% of your proceeds will go to our ongoing education and outreach programs.

RSVP ASAP to save your seat(s) – do it on this Brown Paper Tickets page.

West Seattle Halloween: 2013 guide up; additions welcome

Halloween is ten days away but since it’s on a Thursday, many – but not all! – of the events are this weekend. From community-center carnivals to business-district trick-or-treating, we’ve gathered together all the upcoming Halloween/harvest/fall-festival events from our calendar and you’ll find them in one place, westseattleblog.com/halloween – or click the HALLOWEEN tab beneath the header photo on any WSB page. If you haven’t let us know about your business/organization/school’s event, though, it might not be there – but it’s not too late for us to add it; e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com. No need for a long announcement – just send the basics, and if you have a web and/or Facebook link for the event, please include it. Thanks!

Broadcaster & West Seattleite Dave Beck headlines SW Seattle Historical Society’s Champagne Gala Lunch

Exactly three weeks until the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Champagne Gala Lunch – perfect time to get your ticket. SWSHS has landed a well-known West Seattleite, broadcaster Dave Beck, as speaker; here’s the newest update on the November 9th event:

With an inspiring program featuring Dave Beck, a dessert dash, a silent auction full of intriguing items, good friends, great food, a historic West Seattle setting, and “the best view of Seattle in Seattle,” the annual Champagne Gala Lunch is a can’t-miss date.

In fact, it promises to be as fun as its centennial theme: “Tripping the Lighthouse Fantastic”!

The event, the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, November 9th, at Salty’s on Alki, 1936 Harbor Ave. SW.

Tickets are $75 adults, $45 teens 13-18, $25 children 4-12, and children under 4 free. Order yours by visiting loghousemuseum.info and using the “Make a Donation” button toward the bottom of the home page, specifying that your donation is for ticket(s) to the gala.

Beck, the featured speaker, has been a genial fixture of Seattle’s public-radio airwaves and classical-music scene for 28 years, and he has deep roots in West Seattle.

His parents’ livelihood stemmed from Boeing, and from age 10, Dave grew up in Fauntleroy, attending Gatewood Elementary School, Denny Junior High School, and Chief Sealth High School before graduating in music from the University of Washington.

He has lived in West Seattle since 1996, first in Westwood and since 2006 in Admiral.

Best known for his award-winning, on-air conversations with local, national and international luminaries in all fields of culture, Dave is an accomplished and busy cellist who recently joined KING-FM as on-air classical-music host.

From 1985 through the summer of 2013, he carved an impressive career as producer, host and music director at KUOW-FM for insightful programs that included “Weekday,” “KUOW Presents,” and “The Beat.”

For the Champagne Gala Lunch, Dave will bring a constellation of stories from his interviews of well-known West Seattleites, as well as reflections on why he and his family chose – and continue to choose – West Seattle as their home.

You can also call 206-938-5293 to reserve seat(s) at the SWSHS gala, and if you’re still deciding, go here, where you’ll also find a video invitation by Beck, and a two-minute video history of event sponsor Nucor Steel. (WSB is a media sponsor for the gala – see you there!)

Return of the Tupperware party! Benefit for seniors in West Seattle

It was a staple, almost a cliché, decades ago .. the Tupperware party. You might not have heard much about it lately – but it’s never really gone away. Proof: There’s a big fun one this Friday night at the Senior Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor). Tickets are free; the Tupperware benefits local seniors. The announcement:

Senior Center of West Seattle announced plans today to host a first of its kind Tupperware party to raise funds for Seattle seniors. The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 18th, at the Senior Center, located at 4217 SW Oregon Street, in The Junction.

Entertainment for the event will be provided by Seattle’s very own Sylvia O’ Stayformore & LaTrina Bidet, who will also be acting as the mistresses of ceremony and co-hosts for this landmark charity event.

“We are very excited to be hosting such a groundbreaking and unconventional event to raise funds and create awareness about the various services offered by our organization to the community,” said Karen Sisson, the Executive Director at The Senior Center of West Seattle.

According to Sisson, Tupperware products will be available for purchase throughout the evening, with up to 40% of all the proceeds being donated to The Senior Center. She added that the event is open to all age groups, and promises to be a memorable night full of good food, fun, and laughter, for all the guests.

Among the supporters of this spectacular event are Trader Joe’s, Nerium Skin Care, and the nonprofit organization, Gays for Good/Seattle. Event guests will be able to sample delectable offerings from a menu of 1950′s retrothemed cuisine, prepared specially for this occasion.

A limited number of tickets for this free event are available via The Senior Center website at www.sc-ws.org or by calling (206) 932-4044. All donations are accepted and greatly appreciated.

Reminder: First-ever West Seattle Wedding Showcase tomorrow

Three weeks after we brought you word of the first West Seattle Wedding Showcase, it’s hours away: Tomorrow (Sunday), 1-4 pm, at Dakota Place Park (California/Dakota). If you’re getting married or thinking about it, come meet West Seattle vendors (see the list in our original announcement) who can help make your wedding local, local, local – admission is free and there’ll be door prizes.

Halloween 2013: Date set for Admiral District trick-or-treating

Thanks to everyone who has sent Halloween-season event info since our call for it last night, as we start putting together the annual special one-stop WSB page of treats, frights, festivals, costume contests, etc. One of particular note, as families mark their calendars – Parris Sadow from Atomic Boys announces:

The Admiral District will be providing candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween…Oct 31st…from 3-6 pm. No frills, just a great afternoon of simple old fashioned trick-or-treating.

The list of participating stores/groups is usually available a bit closer to event time. Meanwhile, if you missed it, West Seattle Junction trick-or-treating will be part of the second annual Harvest Festival, with streets closed in the heart of The Junction on Sunday, October 27th, and fun activities/games along with the in-the-street-for-a-day Farmers’ Market.

If your business, group, school, church, etc., has a seasonal event ahead, please let us know ASAP – just a short note with the basics in the text (no attachment/flyer/poster needed) to editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

West Seattle weekend scene: Neighborly cider collaboration

(Photos by Holli Margell)
It’s a North Delridge fall tradition – cider-pressing! Blustery weather couldn’t stop this year’s edition, and so the West Seattle Tool Library-loaned cider press was set up under a canopy at the Delridge P-Patch, and friends and neighbors of all ages got busy collaborating, like Lily and Cooper above. Below, Harpo (with mom Amanda Leonard) will likely have to wait a year or two.

If you missed the cider event, another chance to meet North Delridge neighbors is coming up when the neighborhood council meets, 6:30 pm Monday, October 14th, at Delridge Library.

3 months until Christmas; not too soon to ‘Name That Snowman’

Exactly three months until Christmas! No, we’re not trying to rush things, but the clock IS ticking on the West Seattle Lights/Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular contest announced a month ago – “Name That Snowman,” on behalf of the new emcee the synchronized-holiday-lights show will have this year, an 8-foot-tall talking, singing snowman. The contest details and rules are on the West Seattle Lights website; the winner gets to push the button and turn on the lights on opening night of this year’s show, 7 pm Saturday, November 30th (3908 SW Charlestown).

Feedback Wednesdays: Comedy this week, ‘Purse Poker’ next week & beyond

To commemorate the first-ever standup-comedy show at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), we stopped by Wednesday night for a pre-show photo of the comedians, (updated) from left – Jeffrey Robert, Cait Parks, Daryl Coxy, Cris Rodriguez , host/headliner Mona Concepcion, and Sara Bergner; Mona tells us there will be another comedy night October 16th.

Then, talking to Feedback co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert, we found out about something new for Wednesday nights starting next week – here’s a hint:

Custom cards are now in the house because Wednesday nights at 7 pm, starting September 25th, the Feedback will offer Purse Poker – show up, sit down for a game of Texas Hold ‘Em, but – as the explanatory flyer says – “instead of using money to ante up, you ‘bet’ with items in your purse.” Just about anything except for unwrapped food and alcohol. Yes, guys can play, but purse still required, says the Feedback. Games start at 7 pm but you can come in and join in any time between then and close.

Wednesday night laughs in West Seattle: Mona Concepcion & friends

Hard to find comedy in West Seattle’s nightlife – but this Wednesday (September 18) will be an oasis of laughter at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) with six comics on one bill – headlined by West Seattle’s own Mona Concepcion. The “Fantasy Island” theme is inspired at least in part by Mona hailing from Saipan, the reason she describes herself as “the world’s only female Chamorro comedian.” Long before she became a standup comedian, she was a funny writer, and her blog-format website kirida.com was a mainstay on the old WSB “blogroll” page. Show’s free, and it starts at 8 pm Wednesday.

6th annual West Seattle Car Show: As-it-happened coverage

(UPDATED post-show with award-ceremony video, list, more photos)

Sunbreaks at the West Seattle Car Show – and “bright overcast” in general! Come on down to The Junction for what looks to be a few hours of good weather, now that even the fog has passed. Next door at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, it’s the Zucchini 500:

That continues until 1 pm; the car show will continue for a few hours past that – c’mon down! Though admission is free, consider bringing a few dollars for raffles benefiting Pencil Me In For Kids, which provides school supplies to kids in need. You can get your tickets at California/Alaska, which is where we (in our sixth year as a co-sponsor) are hanging out too – a few yards from the SDOT camera providing this view looking north:

This is the sixth year of the car show – produced by Michael Hoffman of Liberty Bell Print and Design. More car photos shortly!

11:47 AM: This might be the most unlikely sight at the show, at the northeast corner of California/Alaska:

It’s here on behalf of the Seattle Lutheran High School auto shop – and here’s what it’s from:

The photo explains that “this year’s project (is a) frame-up rebuild of a 1963 Bel-Air wagon.” If you pass that corner, stop by our nearby table for a free WSB-labeled ice scraper – we brought along a few leftovers from our giveaways at last year’s fall-festival season.

Not much ice-scraper weather last year, but you never know, might come in handy.

Speaking of weather, another sunbreak is moving through, and things have definitely dried out since the brief thunderstorm a few hours earlier – which even at its height didn’t deter spectators. We spotted a couple Junction entrepreneurs snapping pix:

That’s Dean from West 5 at left, Matt Vaughan from Easy Street Records at right. Dean’s co-proprietor Dave Montoure is here too – we photographed him with mom Paula, whose ’58 Nash Metropolitan is in the show:

12:31 PM: The sun’s even brighter. The forecast suggests this is the big break before stormy weather this evening, so now is PRIME TIME to get outside if you haven’t come on down yet. Turnout’s been excellent:

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by to say hi! Couple more hours to see the cars before the winners are announced. Speaking of which, more photos, starting with this 1970 Ford Gran Torino:

And a 1956 Alfa Romeo:

Voting wraps up around 1 pm. Lot of folks here are looking ahead to tonight’s football game – we’re seeing Seahawks jerseys everywhere.

1:55 PM: About an hour until the awards are announced, so if you’re still thinking of coming to the show – it’ll likely be clearing out around 3:30 pm, so don’t wait too long. We’ve seen one politician so far today – Mayor McGinn circulated in the late morning:

He and challenger State Sen. Ed Murray will both be in West Seattle this Tuesday (September 17th), 1 pm, for a forum/debate at the Senior Center of West Seattle (as previously reported here) – all welcome. Back to the cars:

That’s a 1956 Porsche. For some reason, it’s the mid-’50s cars that have caught our eye today – this is a ’56 Ford:

The rain’s continued to stay away except for a brief sprinkle that blew through about an hour ago.

3:40 PM: The show’s a wrap – awards have been handed out and the cars are leaving. We rolled video on the awards ceremony and will add that here after we upload it back at HQ.

5 PM: Thanks to whomever texted us that the streets in The Junction are open again – as you can see via the “live” camera in this story.

6:51 PM: Jim Clark has a wonderful gallery of car-show photos – browse them here. And he shared these two with us for publication:

Meantime, here’s our video of the awards ceremony that concluded the show:

(added) We asked show producer Michael about a written list – here’s what we received:

Favorite West Seattle Car – Bob Harvey / 1937 Buick 10
Favorite Foreign Car – Dennis Saxon / 1965 Austin Healy MKIII BJ8
Favorite Ford – David and Alissa Riker (father & daughter) / 1970 Ford Torino
Favorite Mopar – Gini Bailey / 1933 Plymouth Coupe
Favorite Chevy – Mike Wilson / 1962 Chevrolet Belair
Favorite 20s – Greg Holmes / 1929 Ford “A”
Favorite 30s – Terry Skiple / 1932 Ford Coupe
Favorite 40s – Steve Neilsen / 1947 GMC COE
Favorite 50s – Ken Thompson / 1950 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight DLX 4 door
Favorite 70s – 1970 Dodge Challenger SE

Participants’ Choice:
Winner: Chris Alther / 1966 Chevy Nova supersport
Rudy Alviar / 1951 Chevy Bel Air 2 door hardtop convertible
Ron Rolfsness / 1957 Chevy Cameo Pickup
Michael Daily (Mission Moto) / 1975 Honda CB125
Bill Dwyer / 1954 MG MG

NSRA Safety Award – Fred E. Yeates / 1938 Olds 2 door

Sponsor Awards:
Liberty Bell Print & Design – Scotty Almoslino / 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible
Don Swanson Insurance – Jack Gentry / 1968 Chevy Impala
West Seattle Thriftway Award – 1968 Chevy Camaro
Gary Parker Memorial – Steve Olson / 1967 AMC Rebel SST

P.S. – Next street-closing celebration in The Junction will be this year’s Harvest Festival on October 27th (as announced earlier this month).

West Seattle weekend scene: ‘Alki Classic’ juggling, pedaling

Some fun summer events are intricately planned and formally booked … some are just “let’s see who shows up and what happens.” The generally annual “Alki Classic” bike/trike/unicycle ride, barbecue, jugglefest, etc., is more along the latter lines. One of our favorite anonymous community contributors shared photos from this year’s edition, which included fun at Lincoln Park under the clouds (below) as well as the late-in-the-day sunshine (above).

The route from Lincoln Park was scheduled to proceed toward the event’s namesake beach – so if you saw a group with human-powered wheeled transportation of all configurations, as well as some juggling, now you know who it was. As noted in our morning preview, it’s always open to the public, so if you missed the advance word, watch for it next year!

Sunday reminder: West Seattle Car Show along closed California SW

One more reminder before Sunday arrives – California SW will be closed in The Junction, between SW Genesee and SW Edmunds, 6 am to 6 pm tomorrow, for the sixth annual West Seattle Car Show. The show itself runs 8 am-4 pm; spectators are free, while pre-1980 cars/trucks/motorcycles are $20 if you haven’t pre-registered (yes, there are trophies!). Looks like the weather will be best in the morning, so come down early, have breakfast or lunch, and we’ll see what happens. The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is on as usual, too, 10 am-2 pm, featuring this year’s Zucchini 500 (10 am-1 pm). We’ll be in The Junction reporting live; hope to see you there.

West Seattle Car Show on Sunday: See this year’s T-shirt

From West Seattle Car Show producer Michael Hoffman of Liberty Bell Print and Design, here’s your preview of this year’s official T-shirt, three days before the show (with co-sponsors including WSB). It’s the sixth year that classic (pre-1980) cars, trucks, and motorcycles will line the heart of The Junction; Hoffman says pre-registration is at its highest level ever. But you can still register on show day – registration is $20, T-shirt (optional) $10. Here’s the form! No admission charge for spectators, as always; just come stroll The Junction 8 am-4 pm on Sunday (September 15th) and enjoy the sights and sounds (classic music, too). P.S. As with other events closing California SW in The Junction, there’ll be bus reroutes that day – check Metro to see if yours is affected.

Authentic Oktoberfest returning to West Seattle – but you can’t just show up

(Photo courtesy Austrian Club of Washington)
The Austria Club of Washington is bringing its Oktoberfest celebration back to West Seattle – and getting out the word early, because you have to buy tickets in advance – by postal mail! It’s at 6 pm Saturday, October 5th, at the Alki Masonic Center (4736 40th SW):

Western Washington’s most authentic Oktoberfest! Wear a Dirndl or Lederhosen and join the Austria Club of WA in celebrating our Alpine heritage and the fall season. Traditional music, Bavarian food, plus beer and wine at reasonable cost. Na, Prost! $30 (includes dinner) ADVANCE PURCHASE ONLY!

Table Reservations for Parties of 8; tickets must be paid and reservations made by October 1. Mail check (made out to Austria Club of WA) to: Rosie Mulholland, 11737 5th Avenue NE, “C,” Seattle, WA 98125

For info, call Rosie at 206.367.1988 or Martin Král at 206.546.9692

Six days until this year’s West Seattle Car Show

Less than one week to go until the sixth annual West Seattle Car Show in The Junction this Sunday (September 15th), produced by Liberty Bell Print and Design. The show will close California SW in the business district starting early Sunday morning; official hours for the show are 8 am-4 pm. Pre-1980 cars, trucks, motorcycles will be parked on both sides of the street, and it’s free to spectators. Early registration is over for participants but you can enter on show day if there’s room – $25; details on this page of the official website. The West Seattle Farmers’ Market will be on as usual (10 am-2 pm) that day too. For more West Seattle Car Show details, check out the official website and our August 12th preview; WSB is among the co-sponsors, as we’ve been each year since it began.

Happening now: Harbor Seal Day at/outside Alki Bathhouse, report #1

We’re outside Alki Bathhouse, where chairs and a mini-stage are set up in advance of the 1:30 pm dedication ceremony for the “Sentinels of the Sound” sculpture by Georgia Gerber – a highlight of Seal Sitters‘ Harbor Seal Day festivities, under way here until 4 pm. If you’re not here yet, get yourself to the beach! Even if you don’t make it for the ceremony, there’s plenty more to see and do. Here’s the order of events for the rest of the day:

2 pm ribbon cutting (following speeches)
2:15-2:45 pm jazz quintet on the east side of the Bathhouse
2:15-3:45 pm face-painting with Lashanna on the east side of the Bathhouse
2:30 pm cake/refreshments inside the Bathhouse
3:45 pm raffle winners drawn/announced (don’t have to be here to win)
4 pm festivities conclude

The organizations inside the Bathhouse there to meet you, answer questions, etc., include not just the Seal Sitters, but also The Whale Trail, Killer Whale Tales, NOAA, Puget SoundKeeper Alliance, PAWS, Tox-Ick, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

2:15 PM UPDATE: The ceremony and speeches just ended; fun continues inside and outside the Bathhouse. We have it all on video and will publish that later.

3:27 PM UPDATE: The event photos and video will be in a separate report, but we’ve added one image here – Seal Sitters kids who joined founder Brenda Peterson onstage to tell their stories, after she told three – the story of Spud, the pup who inspired the creation of Seal Sitters; Leopard and Silkie, who became the subject of a book by Peterson and SS’s first responder (and much more) Robin Lindsey; and Sandy, the pup who was rehabilitated, then tracked, then died because of abandoned fishing gear. You’ll hear it all on our forthcoming video. The event’s on till 4; really big crowd!

Summer’s last outdoor-music hurrah: Final Hiawatha concert Thursday

That’s Strong Suit, the band you’ll see onstage at Hiawatha Community Center – east lawn, or in the gym if it rains – Thursday night (August 29th) at 6:30. It’ll be the final show in this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with co-sponsors including WSB. The other outdoor-entertainment series have already wrapped for the year, so bring a blanket and/or chair, even a picnic dinner, and come bid summer farewell with Strong Suit’s guitar-pop sound. It’s been another summer of smash shows, with hundreds on the lawn each Thursday night; we’re likely to hear a series recap when ANA next meets, second Tuesday of the month – September 10th, 7 pm, on the lower level of Admiral Congregational Church (California/Hill).

Happening now: Courtyard rummage/craft sale (& movie tonight!)

In the tradition of drive-in movie theaters (remember those?) doubling as swap-meet venues, the big-screen-centered courtyard outside Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in The Junction is hosting a multi-seller rummage/craft sale until 3 pm. Too big for one camera lens – what you see is barely half the setup. Walking up a little while ago, we heard exclamations such as, “Did you see THIS?” (which can mean many things at a rummage sale!). Sellers tell us it’s been going well, but there’s still lots to browse. Then tonight – come back when the gates open at 6:30 pm for the last West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of the season, “This Is Spinal Tap,” with Those Guys playing live before the movie. Co-sponsors include Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) and West 5, and WSB continues as this year’s media sponsor; the movie’s free, starting at dusk (8:30ish, if not slightly earlier), but bring some cash if you can for concessions and raffle prizes, all benefiting local nonprofits. Haven’t been here before? Southeast corner of California/Genesee on the north edge of The Junction.