Signed up for tomorrow’s fifth annual West Seattle 5K (with co-sponsors including WSB) already? Get yourself to West Seattle Runner (California/Charlestown; WSB sponsor) by 6 pm tonight to pick up your packet and bright-yellow official T-shirt! The team there to help you includes student volunteers like the National Honor Society members we photographed earlier this afternoon. Or – if you’re not signed up already, you can register there till 6, and avoid standing in line on race day.

That, of course, is TOMORROW, with the WS5K run/walk starting near the Alki Bathhouse just after 9 am. The weather forecast looks ever-more-promising (now “partly sunny”). Remember that with the 5K followed by SDOT Summer Streets on Alki 11 am-5 pm – what began five years ago as “car-free day” – there are closures, detours, and parking restrictions, as shown on the city’s map below:

See an even-more-detailed map here. We’re boothing at Summer Streets for the first time ever; we’ll be in the western zone between 62nd and 63rd (or so). That’s also where the day’s biggest event is scheduled to start around 1 pm – the Alki Beach Creeps-presented Costumed Bike Parade – and they are inviting everyone and anyone to join in. Other activities – entertainment and lots more – are listed here.

The Walking on Logs sculpture by the pullout near the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge is decked out in advance of the fifth annual West Seattle 5K, coming up this Sunday (May 19th). Thanks to race director Jeff Mensing for the photo! Three timeline points ahead for WS5K, which is organized by and benefits the West Seattle High School PTSA in its work to help the school and its students:

ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS TOMORROW: You can sign up until Wednesday at westseattle5k.com.

PACKET PICKUP/IN-PERSON REGISTRATION SATURDAY: Noon-6 pm (May 18th) at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) at California/Charlestown.

RACE DAY SUNDAY: The race starts just after 9 am. Alki and Harbor Avenues will be closed along the usual WS5K footprint, to Don Armeni; then most of the waterfront roadway will reopen around 11, except for the stretch that will be closed until 5 pm for the Alki edition of Seattle Summer Streets (aka “car-free day”), 56th to 63rd. Here’s the map:

WSB is co-sponsoring West Seattle 5K again this year as we have since the start, and will be an on-site participant in Summer Streets, which features some big fun this year highlighted by the Alki Beach Creeps’ Costumed Bike Parade at 1 pm – see you there!

Another big, fun event is getting close: Be like Jennifer and Zorro in our 2012 photo above, and get your feet/paws into the West Seattle 5K! The fifth annual fundraising run presented by the West Seattle High School PTSA is just two weeks from tomorrow, with more than a thousand runners expected to fill Alki Avenue again this year, starting just after 9 am on Sunday, May 19th. WSB is proud to be a West Seattle 5K co-sponsor, as we’ve been every year since the first one in 2009 – hope to see you out in the street again this year! You have until May 16th to sign up online, if you haven’t registered already – do it right now by going here (kids 6 and under, by the way, are free).

P.S. – a reminder that once the West Seattle 5K’s wrapped up by 11 am, it’s the sixth annual “Alki car-free day,” aka Seattle Summer Streets, with more activities than ever promised this year – including the Alki Beach Creeps’ Costumed Bike Parade at 1 pm.

The West Seattle Rock Club is presenting a Rock and Gem Show for all ages again this year – not just all ages of visitors, but those exhibiting and demonstrating span a wide age range too. Above, behind one of the demonstration tables, that’s Oz; next, trying out the grab bag while visiting, is August:

Displays created by collectors young and not-as-young include rocks, gems, even petrified wood:

Vendors have a few tables, too, if you’re interested in buying for your own collection – or even gifts (lots of jewelry):

Admission’s free – and there are drawings for door prizes! Just get to the Masonic Temple (40th and Edmunds) before the annual show’s second and final day wraps up at 5 pm.

The chillier, cloudier weather did NOT mean a break from dunk-tank duty for Josh Sutton from the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor), but as usual, he was smiling anyway. The rain isn’t expected in till later, so the bouncy toys and other outdoor activities remained available too:

Indoor fun, too! If you see this right after we publish it, you have till 1 pm to get over to the Y’s main location in The Triangle; one component of HK Day – no joining fees for new memberships – does continue all weekend.

(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
As we’ve been mentioning in our daily calendar-highlight roundups, Feedback Lounge (6451 California SW; WSB sponsor) is spreading its 4th-anniversary celebration over four nights – but tonight’s the actual anniversary; April 25, 2009, is when The Feedback opened the doors for, as the slogan atop its website goes, “people who like their cocktails to rock, their food to rock, and their rock to rock.” GM Bradi Jones is at center with the cake she created; other original Feedback team members in the photo include co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert at right; his co-conspirator Matt Johnson didn’t make it into the shot, too busy at the bar! The Feedback’s home page details what’s up the next two nights as the party continues – including the reunion tomorrow of the Memphis Radio Kings! (As for what will be in store when the Feedback turns five NEXT year, Jeff says it’s something unimaginably huge. You heard it here first.)

Target, Seattle Police, and Southwest Teen Life Center are hosting a celebration for youth this Saturday, April 20th from noon – 4p at Southwest Teen Life Center – 2801 SW Thistle. Activities (appropriate for ages 11 and up) include;

· Outdoor Games – (Potato Sack Race, Three-legged Race, Relay Races, Water Balloon Toss, etc.)
· Karaoke
· Austin Foundation Fitness Obstacle Course
· Interactive Video Game Experience (Xbox Kinect)
· Food and Refreshments

(WSB photo, May 2012)
With a month and a half to go until Alki’s car-free day, aka Seattle Summer Streets – coming up May 19th, right after the West Seattle 5K wraps up – one beach resident says the event needs more fun. So Guy Olson is hoping to inspire others by organizing a two-part event that he hopes will turn into something big:

I have 2 DJ’s, one band, and “The Bubble Man” committed so far. My home has a large balcony in the heart of Alki Beach, overlooking the beach, in the middle of the nearby bars/restaurants, and the avenue. My plan is to have all the performers perform from the driveway directly next door and the bubble artist on my patio/deck/balcony.

And that’s just for starters. For the next part of the plan, you, your family/friends/kids/schoolmates/etc. are invited to join in:

The biggest idea, which I will need the most help with, is: “West Seattle’s Largest Costumed Bicycle Parade.”

This parade will begin at 1:00 pm on May 19, 2013. The parade will begin at 63rd and Alki Avenue continuing to Seacrest Park on Harbor Avenue and then looping back to El Chupacabra on Alki Avenue. This will be the “finish line” and the place for our post-parade party. … I’m hoping for a huge turnout and to make this “Alki Car-Free Day” a very memorable experience for everyone I possibly can.

So mark your calendar, and think sun – as noted at the end of last year’s WSB report, we haven’t really seen it since the first “car-free day” in 2008! – and if you have a bike, be ready to join Guy’s parade.

P.S. As noted on the city’s official Summer Streets page, citizen-organized events like this are welcomed – so if you have an idea, get going with it too!

SATURDAY NOTE: Guy clarifies that this is being planned in conjunction with the Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club – you’ll remember them for the big cleanup at Constellation Park last month.

During our first 2013 round of egg-hunt coverage this morning, we also checked out the scene at Hiawatha Community Center – photographing the youngest hunters as they swarmed the tennis court. This egg-hunt site featured royalty:

From this year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court, that’s Princess Olivia, Queen Madison, and Princess Emily – by the way, Hi-Yu still could use more volunteer help with this year’s float and events, and would love to see you at their meeting this Monday night (April 1st; details here). Ahead – four more scenes from Hiawatha’s hunt:

The excitement started in the gym, before moving outside:

And while nobody suggests you need a costume for Easter, we noted bunny ears in abundance:

Even Katy Walum from the Admiral Neighborhood Association had ears:

ANA helped out with this year’s Hiawatha hunt, just one week after escorting Mayor McGinn around Admiral (WSB coverage here).

P.S. More egg hunts in West Seattle tomorrow – see our list here.

The party of parties, the World Dance Party (WDP), is happening tonight! The WDP is a FREE multigenerational and multicultural potluck and dance party. I truly hope you can join us. Here is some more information:

World Dance Party is a fun, FREE event designed to get neighbors to interact and to celebrate each other’s culture and diversity. Everyone from all backgrounds and ages is welcome. It’s a potluck! Several multicultural dances are taught by volunteer instructors in 20-minute mini-lessons, then everyone dances. That’s it. There’s no other agenda. No fundraising. No lectures. Just food and dancing and community.

WHERE: South Park Community Center: 8319 8th Ave. South, Seattle,

WHEN: Saturday, March 23rd, 2013; 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm

WHO: Dance Instructor lineup at the World Dance Party 8 includes:
• West African Dance
• Hula Dancing
• Senior Sliders Line Dancing
• Harlem Shake
• Laotian Dancing
• Jarabe Tapatio/La Raspa
• Salsa Dancing
• And more

Rummage/garage/yard-sale season is officially launched, with the start of the annual concurrent two-day sales at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) and West Side Presbyterian Church. Above, need a new wardrobe? Tibbetts has togs. Below, the midmorning crowd at West Side:

Among the items we spotted – power tools, musical instruments, calligraphy art, and at WSPC, you’ll even find a bake sale. The two sale sites are just blocks apart – Tibbetts is at 3940 41st SW, selling till 4 pm today and again 9 am-3 pm tomorrow (Saturday); WSPC is at 3601 California SW, selling till 5 pm today and 9-2 tomorrow.

P.S. Before you ask, yes, we’re again presenting West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day this year – just two months away, on Saturday, May 11th – watch for registration details in a few weeks.

From Bradi Jones (pictured with Oscar himself), general manager at the fab Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), where the stars are shining tonight:

Happening now at the Feedback Lounge! Oscar is in the House! If you have your limo driver drop you off to enter through the “VIP entrance” (the back), Oscar will greet you with the red-carpet experience!! Front entrance, less paparazzi!!!

We gave the paparazzi some tips for the night, that the best photo ops were going to be coming from the back. So if you want to fly under the media radar, I’d have your driver drop you off at the front! Goooo Oscar!!!!!

Not too late to go – the opening monologue’s just under way as we write this. The Feedback’s at 6451 California SW in Morgan Junction.

Come to West Side Presbyterian March 8th from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday March 9th from 9 am to 2 pm. Over 200 families contribute to this famous sale! Quality clothing, housewares, furniture, jewelry; real and costume, books, and more! Free coffee available all day and baked goods for sale. All proceeds from this sale benefit youth-outreach programs at West Side Presbyterian Church. 3601 California Ave SW, 206-935-4477

Two side notes:

1. WSB-sponsored West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is May 11th – we’ll start talking here (and on the WSCGSD Facebook page) about signups in just a few weeks.

2. When time comes for your own garage/yard sale – here’s how to share the news via WSB.

Spring Rummage Sale
Friday, March 8th from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm and
Saturday, March 9th from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

“A” is for Appliances
“B” is for Baby stuff
“C” is for Cookware
“D” is for Dresses
“E” is for EVERYTHING . . .

Everything you could possibly want or need, all at prices “not of this century.” This twice-yearly event is coming right up and will feature usual bargains galore! Furniture, bikes, BBQs, and garden items outside. Plenty of clothing for all ages, jewelry, toys, games and other great stuff inside.

Tibbetts UMC is at 3940 41st SW, online at tibbettsumchurch.org and on Facebook here.

SIDE NOTE #1 – The ninth annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated by WSB, isn’t far away either: Saturday, May 11th. Watch for our registration-dates announcement next month.

SIDE NOTE #2 – If you are having your own sale, any time of year, here’s how to list it for free on WSB.

Hotcakes were the hot ticket for breakfast in West Seattle this morning, judging by the turnout at Hiawatha Community Center‘s annual benefit breakfast. The pancakes and sides were cooked up outside …

… and served fresh inside, as fast as staffers and volunteers could work:

Festive fruit, too:

We’ll be checking on the final tally – which goes to make sure that everybody who wants to take part in Hiawatha’s programs can do just that, regardless of their financial situation. A flyer handed out at the breakfast included highlights of upcoming programs and events, which you can browse in the newest West Seattle Community Centers (WSB sponsor) catalog, online.