West Seattle Blog…

Traditional Memorial Day service next Monday at Forest Lawn

(WSB photo from 2011 Memorial Day service)
Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor), which just hosted the annual Seattle Police Memorial ceremony last Friday, will again be the scene of a solemn event next Monday – the annual traditional Memorial Day service. It’s set for 2 pm (across from the funeral home at 6701 30th SW). If you haven’t been but wonder what it’s like, here’s our coverage from last year.

P.S. We’re working to make sure the WSB calendar has everything special, changed, etc., for the holiday, so if your business or organization has something going on, please let us know!

West Seattle Sunday: Happy Mother’s Day! 2012 edition

Thanks to Doug B for the photo! (More on his Flickr page.) Not entirely certain whether that’s Mom Goose or Dad Goose, so let’s just celebrate the spirit of parenthood, which comes in so many forms. And to that point, while brunch is awesome, Mother’s Day activities go beyond that … especially on a summer-like day … check out this list:

STILL IN THE MOOD FOR YARD/GARAGE/RUMMAGE SALES? Here in the aftermath of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation is continuing its sale 9 am-2 pm today (details here). P.S. If you’re having a sale, you’re always welcome to post it in the Freebies/Deals/Sales section of the WSB Forums.

MOTHER’S DAY AT WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as always, with food and flowers and special activities:

We’ll have a book booth from Readers to Eaters, with author readings and book sales:

10:30 – Jill Lightener – Edible Seattle: The Cookbook
11:30 – Rick Swann – Our School Garden! (children’s picture book)
12:30 – Sara Anderson – A Day At The Market (children’s book)

All Day: Master Gardeners will host a seed-planting booth for kids! (With sweet peas from Langley Fine Gardens on Vashon).

44th/Alaska in The Junction.

GLASS FLOWERS FOR MOTHER’S DAY: Not only can you buy them, you can watch glass sunflowers being created at Avalon Glassworks again today, 11 am-5 pm (SW Avalon Way just south of the West Seattle Bridge).

‘NICKELSVILLE’ ANNIVERSARY: As reported here on Friday, today marks one year since the encampment founded on a triangle of public land at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW moved back, with the city not threatening eviction this time. The public is invited to events today that start at noon, including a double wedding.

MOTHER’S DAY TEA DANCE … with Dance for Joy @ Camp Long Lodge (5200 35th SW). 1-5 pm. See the schedule here.

TAKE MOM TO THE SEALTH MUSICAL: The last of three performances of “The Rehearsal Room” at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium (2600 SW Thistle) is a 2 pm matinee today, with flowers and chocolate promised for the moms in attendance. Ticket info here.

LIVE GUITAR MUSIC: Jonathan Nicholson performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm (5612 California SW).

‘IRON BREWER COMPETITION’ … a special event this week for the West Seattle Cooking Club, with an unusual lineup of flavors. 4 pm, Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW).

THE MAMA-LOGUES: Mother’s Day evening performance at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW)! 7:30 pm, with wine, dessert, and the knowledge that the proceeds benefit family-nurturing nonprofits. Details here.

More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

Ultimate Easter decorations? Peep-riffic yard in West Seattle

600+ peeps in a Lowman Beach-area yard, said the e-mail tip from Scott. So we had to go take a peep – er, peek – for ourselves.

We didn’t count them, but we’ll take his word for it. Pastel bunny Peeps, to be specific, all over the lawn. And even in the bushes, with some of their faceless marshmallow cousins:

P.S. For other Peeps creations, check out the gallery from our partners at the Seattle Times.

Sunny West Seattle Easter Sunday: 4 miscellaneous notes

(Photo by John Hinkey, taken Saturday from Hamilton Viewpoint Park in North Admiral)
Another sunny day is unfolding – maybe into the mid-60s! Besides church and brunch, which we’re sure you have figured out already if they are in your plans, three notes:

VIADUCT STILL CLOSED: The state is working on Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct again this weekend, reinforcing it in advance of tunnel-construction work. Reopening isn’t planned till 5 am Monday, but if it’s earlier, you’ll hear it here (and on the WSB Facebook page and Twitter feed, of course).

YES, THE FARMERS’ MARKET IS OPEN: 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska, you’ll find West Seattle Farmers’ Market vendors. Market managers’ promotion point for this week is: “Welcome back Tiny’s Organics, with perfectly preserved preserves and dried goodies!”

ALKI KAYAK TOURS IS OPEN FOR THE SEASON: Yes, that includes today (and what a perfect day to be out on the water!), according to proprietor Greg Whittaker, who says AKT – at Seacrest Boathouse (1660 Harbor Avenue SW) is up and running for “early season sea kayak tours and rentals, stand-up paddleboard (SUP) instruction and rentals, as well as skate and bike rentals … More information on our website @ www.kayakalki.com or by calling 206-953-0237.”

VILLAGE GREEN IS OPEN TODAY: Another sunny day got you in the mood to get out in the garden? Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) is open – “and hiding little treasures,” according to proprietor Vera Johnson. (10223 26th SW – open at 10 am)

Admiral’s egg hunt: Life Care Center of West Seattle

With the community centers’ events all combined at Southwest Athletic Complex, today’s only Admiral District-area community egg hunt was at Life Care Center of West Seattle – with more than 100 people on hand.

Oh, and in addition to the 100-plus people, one Easter Bunny, holding court for DIY photos:

WSB was among the sponsors, by the way – we chipped in for some of the candy.

Notice the fire engine in the back of that photo? The Admiral District’s own Engine 29 came to Life Care Center for the occasion, and provided almost as many photo ops as The Bunny:

Miss today’s egg hunts? There’s the usual casual, low-key Easter Sunday one at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) tomorrow morning at 11 am, and if you’re going to an Easter church service, check your favorite church’s website to see if they’re having one before or after the service – we’ve noticed a few.

Video: Eggs – and bacon! – at West Seattle Thriftway’s annual hunt

Thanks to Tim for our first photo from the first egg hunt of the day, West Seattle Thriftway‘s traditional lots-of-eggs, lots-of-hunters event this morning. (Pictured are Violet and Lydia, who, Tim reports, “had a great time!”) Even if you aren’t a participant, the crowd is always something to see. And this year, Thriftway staffer Emma was out circulating with bacon (hey, goes with eggs, right?):

We also caught Michele from Thriftway with The Bunny:

But back to the egg-scitement. The doors opened, and in went the crowd:

We managed to get Harrison to stop and pose:

And one more bunny photo – with Marianna and dad:

Thriftway’s Facebook page has lots of pix, too – see them here.

Video: West Seattle Community Centers’ egg-hunt-a-palooza

This year for the first time, dealing with city-budget-related changes such as staff cuts and closures, the West Seattle Community Centers team came up with a creative alternative idea for the traditional spring-egg-hunt day – one big combined event at Southwest Athletic Complex that went beyond egg hunts. And what a turnout! The event is about midway through (see the schedule here). On the field, there are bouncy toys for kids not tuckered out enough after chasing eggs:

And right before the hunting began, there was the tantalizing sight of the prize baskets:

We have more photos/video to add later. Caspar Babypants performs at 1:30 pm and the event’s not over till 3. The complex is in the 2800 block of SW Thistle, across from Chief Sealth International High School.

ADDED 9:04 PM: Adding video and a few more photos – first, you see them in summertime parades, but here’s the Sweet Mahogany drill team in a springtime appearance:

Someone else you’ll be seeing in summertime parades – West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival royalty! Here’s Senior Court Queen Kayli, with Junior Court Queen Thea and Princess Elena:

And this event had TWO Easter Bunnies … who posed with team members from EuropaKids International Preschool (WSB sponsor), which has classes at the nearby Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center building but is expanding as of this summer:

And one more video clip: Caspar Babypants with the song that we wind up humming for days after hearing it …

For other events coming up at West Seattle city-run Community Centers, you can browse the spring brochure (PDF).

West Seattle Easter weekend: Saturday egg-hunt lineup

in case you haven’t seen them all on the remodeled WSB West Seattle Events calendar, there are FIVE egg hunts tomorrow, including the big new combined West Seattle Community Centers mega-event- remember that big combined event REPLACES the individual centers’ egg hunts from past years:

(Louisa, photographed at the 2011 Thriftway egg hunt)
West Seattle Thriftway Easter Egg Hunt, 9 am Saturday, ages 1-10. More than 50,000 eggs. Free; 4201 SW Morgan (California/Fauntleroy).

Life Care Center of West Seattle Easter Egg Hunt, 11 am Saturday. Easter Bunny photos too, and they’re expecting to have a local fire engine as well! Free; 4700 SW Admiral Way.

Eastridge Church Easter Egg Hunt at Lincoln Park, 11 am Saturday. Also includes games, bouncy slide. Free.

West Seattle Community Centers’ Spring Egg Hunt (and more!) event (follow that link for the COMPLETE schedule), 11:30 am-3 pm Saturday. Egg hunts for all ages, bouncy rides, Caspar Babypants concert. New this year – a West Seattle-wide event replacing the previous years’ concurrent egg hunts at multiple centers. $3/person in advance (buy wristband at West Seattle/South Park community centers), $5 same-day (yes, we and readers have been told, a wristband is needed for adults as well as kids), Southwest Athletic Complex, 2801 SW Thistle.

Villa Heidelberg Easter Tea and Children’s Egg Hunt, 2 pm Saturday. Reservations required – call 206-938-3658 (4845 45th SW).

West Seattle Easter: 5 egg hunts (and more) in the next week

(UPDATED THURSDAY with Villa Heidelberg event on Saturday)

(2011 WSB photo from West Seattle Thriftway Easter-egg hunt)
Just in case your plans for next weekend aren’t totally finalized yet: Coming up one week from today, in case you haven’t seen them all on the remodeled WSB West Seattle Events calendar, 4 egg hunts (including the big new combined West Seattle Community Centers mega-event), and for the littlest West Seattleites, there’s one two days before that. Here’s the quick take, each with a link to the event’s self-contained calendar listing (those pages in turn contain maps):

ON THURSDAY (APRIL 5):

High Point Community Center Toddler Eggstravaganza, 10 am-noon. Includes an egg hunt at 11. $5 admission; 6420 34th SW.

ON SATURDAY (APRIL 7):

West Seattle Thriftway Easter Egg Hunt, 9 am, ages 1-10. More than 50,000 eggs. Free; 4201 SW Morgan (California/Fauntleroy).

Life Care Center of West Seattle Easter Egg Hunt, 11 am. Easter Bunny photos too. Free; 4700 SW Admiral Way.

Eastridge Church Easter Egg Hunt at Lincoln Park, 11 am. Also includes games, bouncy slide. Free.

West Seattle Community Centers’ Spring Egg Hunt (and more!) event, 11:30 am-3 pm. Egg hunts for all ages, bouncy rides, Caspar Babypants concert. New this year – a West Seattle-wide event replacing the previous years’ concurrent egg hunts at multiple centers. $3/person in advance (buy wristband at West Seattle/South Park community centers), $5 same-day, Southwest Athletic Complex, 2801 SW Thistle.

Villa Heidelberg Easter Tea and Children’s Egg Hunt, 2 pm. Reservations required; details in our calendar listing.

EASTER SUNDAY NOTE: At least a few local churches usually have egg hunts before or after services. We are still compiling our list (would love to hear directly from churches, about egg hunts AND services – editor@westseattleblog.com) so we’ll add them to the list once we’ve finished our compilation of that information.

2 weeks till West Seattle Community Centers’ new egg-hunt event

With two weeks till Easter weekend, it’s time to make plans — so we’re reminding you about a big change this year for the West Seattle area’s city-run Community Centers, as first reported here last month. Instead of multiple egg hunts, they’re joining forces for one big event at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, just east of the former SW Community Center). It’s a festival-style event 11:30 am-3 pm on Saturday, April 7th, with egg hunts for all ages, plus bouncy toys, face-painting, games, and even a concert by Caspar Babypants. There’s an admission charge – $3/person if you buy a wristband in advance at your local community center, $5/person the day of the event. (This is one of the Easter-weekend events already on the newly remodeled WSB Events calendar, and we’re continuing to add more.)

Saturday morning traffic alert: Viaduct’s north end closed

In addition to another westbound Spokane Street Viaduct closure tonight (as announced here), there’s a weekend traffic note for Highway 99 – the St. Patrick’s Day Dash will shut down its northernmost end, from the Western Avenue exit stretching onto Aurora Avenue and beyond, from approximately 7:30-11 am Saturday. Details are in this SDOT update (along with a few other downtown-area traffic notes, including tomorrow afternoon’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade).

Christmas in March! Holy Rosary Tree Lot donates $5,625

Long past the Christmas season, the holiday spirit carries on at Holy Rosary School – it’s just finished distributing a share of the 2011 Christmas Tree Lot proceeds to four charitable organizations in West Seattle: The WS Helpline, WS Food Bank, Salvation Army’s Hickman House, and the Kingston Foundation. “Holy Rosary School is proud to give back to our community,” says Refawne Acarregui, a Holy Rosary parent and tree-lot organizer who’s at right in our photo, along with Father John Madigan, parent/volunteer Currie Baker, and principal Michael Cantu. We caught up with them at the recent meeting of the Holy Rosary Parents’ Club. The 15 percent share of tree-lot proceeds equaled $5625.44, of which the four organizations each received $1406.36. (You might recall one other donation – after the lot closed, unsold trees were given away.)

West Seattle Monday: Presidents Day holiday info, and more

(One of several “tree full of eagles” photos shared lately – this one from Anita, 37th/Belvidere)
Bet it wouldn’t take you long to name the West Seattle school named after a president, the local park named after a president, the shopping center named (indirectly) after a president. How about the two WS streets who share names with presidents? (**Answers to all of the above, at the bottom of this story) Now, on with today’s list:

SCHOOLS: For Seattle Public Schools, it’s mid-winter break all week. Most if not all others have at least today off.

TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION: Metro is on a “weekday/no UW” schedule. … No West Seattle OR Vashon Water Taxi today … Sound Transit services’ plans are here … Normal weekday schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth Washington State Ferries run.

SOLID-WASTE PICKUP ON NORMAL SCHEDULE: So says Seattle Public Utilities.

OTHER CLOSURES/CHANGES: Seattle Public Library facilities are closed … No U.S. Postal Service delivery …

FREE PARKING: No charge today in those neighborhoods (outside West Seattle) where the city has on-street meters or pay stations.

NO BRIDGE CLOSURE TONIGHT, BY THE WAY: The Fauntleroy Expressway’s next scheduled closure is Tuesday night. There will be lane closures related to the Spokane Street Viaduct work on the east end of the bridge, however, as detailed here.

Now, a few events:

MIND UNWIND: Proprietor Krystal Kelley shares that photo from artist Cathy Woo‘s Sunday reception at Mind Unwind (2206 California SW), and word of some special events for this school-break week:

Monday, Feb 20th-24th we have “Coffee Break”, a toddler’s art class. 9:30-11:30 am, Ages 2-5 years old; 2 hours of playing, music and art projects made from recycled household items. Email create@mindunwind.org to register. $25

Monday, Feb 20th-”No School, so Let’s Make a Book”. from 10 am-2 pm. 1st-5th grades. Handmake a real book! Lunch served while the glue dries. $45

Monday, Feb 20-24th. “Rock & Roll Camp” Bring your acoustic or electric guitar and spend the day at Mind Unwind while school is out. Camp is Monday through Friday during Mid-Winter Break, 10 am-2 pm. Lessons will be guided by Kenton Wise. Jam sessions will be encouraged as will having a fun time. Lunch is provided. $60 per day. Ages 7-13 encouraged, but exceptions can be made. Must have a guitar and participation can be for one day or all 5.

COOKING CLUB: West Seattle Cooking Club! Meeting info at westseattlecookingclub.org 2:30 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, theme “Cake and Pie.”

DIET CLASSES: New session of Kathy’s Anti-Inflammatory TQI Diet class starts 6:30 tonight at The Kenney, 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW. Details here.

CHRISTOPHER BOFFOLI ON ‘EVENING MAGAZINE’: The longtime WSB contributor, and now internationally known art photographer, is featured tonight on KING 5′s “Evening Magazine,” 7 pm.

**Presidents Day “quiz” answers – James Madison Middle School, Lincoln Park, Jefferson Square – on the site of the former Jefferson School – plus SW Adams and SW Monroe streets (can’t say for sure if they were named after the presidents, but they’re the only ones we can find in West Seattle whose names are also presidential surnames).**

West Seattle Valentine’s Day scenes: Nurture & nature

We’ve received some love-ly photos so far this Valentine’s Day, to share with you. First two are from Betsy Hoffmeister in Delridge, who writes of the photographed “yarnbombing,” “Some lovely neighbors did a good deed to cheer up a person very close to me who wishes to remain anonymous.”

That second photo – a little yarn creation springing up in the garden like a fungus – is the perfect segue to the photo Machel Spence shares:

Machel writes, “Slugs have been munching on the stipe and have managed to leave the shape of a heart…my kind of Valentine’s Day!” (The photo was taken in Machel’s favorite image-hunting grounds – Lincoln Park.)

Video: Year of the Dragon welcomed at Vietnamese Cultural Center

The Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle welcomes visitors every Saturday afternoon (noon-3 pm), but this afternoon was special – a New Year celebration, with lion dance and firecrackers, as you can see (and hear!) in our video, welcoming the Year of the Dragon. Before their fiery performance, members of the Au Lac Vovinam Lion Dance Team – based in High Point, not far from the Vietnamese Cultural Center – gathered to prepare:

This was a busy day for the team; they also performed at a shop in White Center (as reported on our partner site White Center Now). Awaiting their appearance in West Seattle were spectators including veterans who fought for Vietnam’s freedom and are fixtures at the center’s events:

Two weeks ago, the Cultural Center dedicated a new monument to fallen heroes. And in the background of this photo taken during the dance, you can see both the statue of 13th-century hero General Tran Hung Dao, and the new structure built nearby to complement the statue.

It was under construction when we covered last year’s New Year celebration. You’re invited to visit the center next (or any) Saturday, noon-3 pm, 2236 SW Orchard.

Volunteer sorters help WestSide Baby on MLK Day of Service

Despite the weather concerns, some did still put in a Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday – including these volunteers at WestSide Baby. Christy shared the photos, saying the volunteers helped sort donated items including “carseats, clothing, toys, books, layettes, blankets, baby bottles, and of course new disposable diapers, for distribution to King County families in need through over 90 local agencies and charities.” Here’s their group shot for posterity:

WestSide Baby is one of the hard-working local nonprofits that can use volunteer help and donations year-round. (And – are you attending next month’s benefit WestSide Baby Tea?)

West Seattle weekend scene: Tree recycling with the Rainbow Girls

You have one more hour to get over to the Alki Masonic Hall parking lot – which is actually in The Junction, at 40th/Edmunds – with that Christmas tree you just didn’t quite get out with this week’s yard waste – the West Seattle Rainbow Girls will be there till 2 pm, taking trees for a suggested $5 donation. We photographed Crystal, Zoe, and Darian just as the truck from Branching Out Tree Service arrived to start turning the recycled trees into wood chips/mulch. This is the fifth year the Rainbow Girls have had a treecycling fundraiser (and it’s two locations this time around – part of the group is over at Southgate Masonic Hall in Burien).

West Seattle holiday postscript: Light-show generosity

(WSB photo from the show’s first night of this past holiday season, November 26, 2011)
The music-synched Helmstetler Family Christmas Lights Spectacular is dark till next November, but mastermind Jim Winder has a postscript – a final report on the donations made by visitors/fans:

Thank You West Seattle for another great Season of Giving

TOTAL GIVING FOR 2011!! $2960.86

$1200 for the Dr. Ed Kingston Memorial Fund
$865.43 for Northwest Parkinson Foundation
$895.43 for the West Seattle Food Bank

PLUS
1433 lbs of food

If you just can’t wait till next holiday season – there’s already a countdown calendar on the show’s official site!

West Seattle Christmas-tree recycling: Here’s how to do it

Unless you are keeping your tree up through the Epiphany – or oh, say, the Super Bowl – it’s go-time. So here are some reminders about tree-cycling, if you haven’t accomplished it already. Via the city – this is your second and final week to tree-cycle for free. (From Seattle Public Utilities:

(Curbside residential pickup:) Trees must be trimmed to 6 feet or shorter. Trim branches to less than four feet to fit into the collection trucks. Bundle each section with sisal string or twine (not plastic). Decorated, flocked and plastic trees are not recyclable and will be charged as extra garbage.

At Apartments – One tree may be placed next to each food/yard waste cart at no extra charge each collection day.

At Recycling & Disposal Stations – Clean trees can be taken for free (see hours and locations). Trees should not exceed eight feet in length and must be free of decoration. Trunks should not exceed four inches in diameter. The stations will accept up to three trees per vehicle.

The station closest to West Seattle is the South Transfer Station in South Park.

One more option – a local nonprofit youth group has a tree-cycling event next weekend: The West Seattle Rainbow Girls will hold their fifth annual Christmas tree recycle fundraiser Saturday (January 7) at the Alki Masonic Hall, 4736 40th SW, 10 am-2 pm. Suggested donation $5. No flocked trees. For more information, contact Jan Hunter at 206-849-7906. (The Rainbow Girls are also one of two groups with tree-cycling fundraisers in Burien next weekend; if you’re interested in that info, it’s in our White Center Now tree-cycling roundup.)

Video: West Seattle’s 2012 Polar Bear Swim on Alki … plus one

Here’s one good sign for the year ahead: The hale and hardy of West Seattle, White Center, and environs were graced with sunshine for the second consecutive New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim on Alki (after two preceding years under cloud cover). Of course, as evidenced on the beach this morning, it’s not the weather – it’s more about the chance to, shall we say, chill with friends – like this group identifying themselves as the “Dunkins“:

And this one, the “Libres“:

Then there was the pirate, and friend …

No costume for organizer Mark Ufkes, just a big smile:

And as the crowd (biggest one we’ve ever seen!) lined the beach, ready to run into Puget Sound, one guy went first – everybody else counted down, and ran in, shortly thereafter:

(added) And from the WSB Flickr group pool, Henrik‘s really-close-up view:

P.S. Turns out that wasn’t the only Polar Bear Swim today. Dave Meucci shared this video of his friends-and-family dip:

Though this year and last year had sunshine in common, the air temperatures were different – we noted it at “freezing” on New Year’s Day 2011, but at 10 am today, it was 48 degrees!

West Seattle New Year’s Day 2012: Swim, sip, stroll…

That’s our video from last year’s New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim on Alki, just in case you’re thinking about joining today’s swim but need a little reassurance that you won’t be alone. This year, at least, will be warmer – our 2011 story notes an air temperature in the 30s, and it’ll be in the 40s this time around. The swim is part of what’s on our list for this holiday:

WHO’S OPEN FOR COFFEE … Not an all-inclusive list but here’s who told us they definitely planned to be open: Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), 8 am-6 pm … Diva Espresso, open 8 am to 6 pm … Bird on a Wire, 10 am-2 pm … Caffe Delia (in Proletariat Pizza‘s WC storefront), 9 am- 1 pm … Red Cup Espresso open 9 am-3 pm … (added) C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) open 10 am-2 pm

RESTAURANTS … You won’t likely have much trouble finding places that are open, but several did let us know they definitely are open, and the list is on the West Seattle Holidays page (which goes back on hiatus after today, till next November!).

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET CLOSED for the holiday, but it’ll be back next Sunday (January 8th).

SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY … branches closed today.

POLAR BEAR SWIM … Jump/run/wade into Puget Sound from Alki, across from Duke’s/Christo’s, 10 am (here’s the announcement).

NEW YEAR’S DAY WALK … Emerald City Wanderers is sponsoring a New Year’s Day walk, starting between 9 am and 1 pm, 5- or 10-kilometer route, free. Starts from St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California SW.

Happy 2012 to you! West Seattle’s Space Needle fireworks view

2011 again brought immense joy as another year of collaborating with you to cover our community – and 2012 is off and running that way too. Thanks to David Hutchinson for the first shared-via-WSB photos of the Space Needle 2011-2012 New Year’s fireworks, as seen from Duwamish Head.

When KING posts the fireworks video, we’ll add a link here.

Video: Highland Park’s 3rd annual ‘Not-So-Silent’ New Year’s Eve

Story and video by Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

More than 90 participants of all ages kicked off tonight’s Highland Park New Year’s Blast (and Potluck!) by marching in the Not-So-Silent Night Parade.

Armed with assorted noise-making devices and papier-maché lanterns, children and adults set out from the Highland Park Improvement Club on a several-block march through the surrounding neighborhood, stopping traffic and bringing people out onto their front porches and yards to exchange shouted wishes for a “Happy New Year.”

Dan Mullins served as a sort of de-facto grand marshal of the procession, with tonight marking the third annual New Year’s Eve noise-making march, though he noted that the neighborhood has been gathering for community events on the last day of the year for 91 years.

Awaiting the group in the parking lot of the club afterward was another relatively new tradition for the holiday: the “Sage Comet.”

Former Cirque de Flambé member Chris Huson was joined by Rory Denovan in a fireball-twirling display, adding a bit of heat to the chilly evening air.

Wearing kilts as a nod to the tradition’s Scottish “Hogmanay” roots, the men spun flaming wire cages in large circles around them. Despite the name given the event, “Sage Comet,” it was bits of Christmas trees and rosemary set aflame by another Cirque alum, known only as “Tricky Bunny.”

Keeping with the family-orientation of the evening, Huson and Denovan were attended by their wives — Kristin Huson and Becca Fong –donning black robes and holding tall torches in front of the gathered crowd, lending an air of ritual to the proceedings.

Once the flames had burned out, revellers were invited back into the club for a potluck dinner and a night of live music from four bands, promising to carry the festivities securely into 2012.

With a solid attendance already on hand for the early part of the night, HPIC secretary Julie Schickling expected as many as 150 people might attend throughout the evening.