West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle Outdoor Movies 2013: What do you want to see?

(WSB photo from August 2012)
Another season of West Seattle Outdoor Movies is on the way (July/August, dates TBA). Last year, not only were there record crowds, according to organizer Lora Swift of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor and movie coordinator – the screen’s in the courtyard by her shop), but also a fundraising total of more than $1,500 for local nonprofits, via the raffle tickets sold on movie nights. So now it’s time to ask – what would YOU like to see this year? Please note, the movies need to be relatively family-friendly, since it’s an all-ages crowd, and not something shown in the past few years:

2012′s movie lineup was Pretty in Pink, Young Frankenstein, Lion King, Iron Man, Yellow Submarine, Top Gun

2010′s movie lineup was Mamma Mia, War Games, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wayne’s World, Up, Star Trek

And there are a few other caveats – the “Star Wars” movies aren’t available for this kind of outdoor showing, for example.

But Lora and the WSOM committee would love to hear your suggestions – just post a comment! Thanks!

Followup: West Seattle Outdoor Movie-goers’ giving

(Crowd at the final WS Outdoor Movies screening this season, “Top Gun” on August 25th)
If you were part of the record crowds for this summer’s free West Seattle Outdoor Movies and bought raffle tickets and/or concessions, you were part of a season of giving, as well as a season of fun. Five local nonprofits benefited from this year’s donations, which totaled $1,599: WestSide Baby, West Seattle Helpline, Seattle Lutheran High School Key Club, Furry Faces Foundation, Make It Better Project. Also, movie-series host Lora Swift (of 10th-anniversary-celebrating Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor]!) sends props to West Seattle Christian Church for donating time to run the projector, PB&J Textiles (WSB sponsor) for donating their time/$ to buy and run the popcorn machine, and to the West Seattle Junction Association. And WSB was proud to be the official WSOM media sponsor again this year. On behalf of all the series sponsors, we also want to thank the businesses who in turn donated raffle prizes! Soon enough, it’ll be springtime again and time to talk about the next edition; Lora says,”We look forward to another fun movie series in 2013.”

West Seattle Outdoor Movies finale on Saturday: ‘Top Gun’ with free pizza, preshow music, more

Tomorrow night, “Top Gun” is on the big screen in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard (4410 California SW) as the grand finale to this year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies season, and the weather’s looking good. We featured the movie’s trailer earlier this week – so the clip above is a different preview, the official music video for the big love song from the 1986 hit, Berlin‘s “Take My Breath Away” (with movie scenes as well as the musicians in a vaguely relevant setting). The movie’s co-sponsors are bringing something extra – Pagliacci Pizza will have free pizza; Jackson, Morgan & Hunt PLLC (WSB sponsor) has put together a “Top Gun” basket for the raffle benefiting WestSide Baby – including tickets to the Museum of Flight! – and there’ll be live preshow music by Jeremy Serwer and the Spaghetti Benders. The movie’s expected to start around 8:15 pm; come early, stake out your spot, get your pizza, buy raffle tickets (concessions will benefit WS Baby too), and enjoy summer’s last movie night.

Saturday previews: Delridge Day reminder; ‘Yellow Submarine’ at West Seattle Outdoor Movies

BIG Saturday ahead. You can preview it all right now on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar. And here are a few details on two of the biggies:

(Click to see map full size in Delridge Day brochure, with vendor list)
DELRIDGE DAY: Tons of fun packed into a four-hour festival, 11 am-3 pm Saturday in the park between Delridge Community Center and Delridge Skatepark. We’re sponsoring the Kids’ Zone, with a bouncy house, face-painting, picnic games, and balloon art. You’ll also find live music (the schedule’s in the official brochure), dozens of booths (come say hi!), two food trucks, the Alki Bike and Board skate competitions, and more.

WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Second-to-last Saturday for the year (!) … The Beatles’ animated “Yellow Submarine” is the movie; trivia with Jessie from Skylark Café and Club is the preshow fun; the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) is the place. You’ll also find Furry Faces Foundation there selling/making pet tags (read about the program here) starting around 6 pm. Movie’s at dusk – it’s free, but bring $ for pet tags and nonprofit-benefiting raffles and concessions!

Happening tonight: ‘Iron Man’ @ West Seattle Outdoor Movies

As of right now – about 8 pm – there’s still some room in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard (4410 California SW) for tonight’s upcoming free West Seattle Outdoor Movies show, “Iron Man” – that’s Hotwire’s Lora with preshow announcements. Local band Wrecking Yard is in the middle of its pre-show set:

Concessions and raffle tickets are on sale to raise $ for charity – cool pile of raffle items (including a couple we gathered as one of tonight’s spotlight sponsors – all donated by local merchants – candy from Atomic Boys, which also donated the bag that holds it along with classic comic books; plus a $20 certificate for Full Tilt Ice Cream and a certificate to get out on the lanes at West Seattle Bowl; and a $20 certificate from Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in a handy reusable shopping bag. Even more raffle items from other spotlight sponsors, including a Sonicare toothbrush from dentist Dr. Wolff, Hotwire’s courtyard neighbor. Movie’s at dusk, so get down here if you’re not here already.

Happening now: West Seattle Outdoor Movies’ 2012 debut

The crowd continues to grow in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), home to West Seattle Outdoor Movies, which opens its 2012 season tonight at dusk (an hour and a quarter or so away) with “Pretty in Pink.” Admission is free but bring $ for raffles and concessions, which always have a beneficiary – tonight, WestSide Baby:

Yes, that’s WS Baby’s executive director Nancy Woodland handling the popcorn machine, hours after a fun ride in the West Seattle Grand Parade as its Grand Marshal (see video in our first parade report). Tomorrow’s a huge day for WS Baby too – its annual Stuff the Bus diaper drive; bring diaper donations to the AmericanWest Bank lot at 41st and Alaska between 10 am and 2 pm. Back to movie night … the team from longtime WSB sponsor Dream Dinners is serving up jambalaya:

Always a fun time. West Seattle Outdoor Movies (with co-sponsors including WSB) continue every Saturday night for five more weeks after this – see the schedule at wsmovies.org.

3 weeks till West Seattle Outdoor Movies 2012: Poster debuts!

This year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies poster is out – one of the fun summer promotional posters you’ll see around town over the next few months. And it gives us a chance to remind you of the lineup. It starts with a special pre-season, adults-only Friday night benefit event on July 20th – “50/50,” admission with a suggested donation to support Thrive Through Cancer, a West Seattle-headquartered nonprofit. The following six movie nights are free, all ages, Saturday night showings, as always:

JULY 21: “Pretty in Pink“; preshow entertainment by “Bobcat Bob” Rice

JULY 28: “Young Frankenstein”; preshow entertainment by jump-rope ace Rene Bibaud

AUGUST 4: “Lion King“; preshow entertainment by Louie Foxx Magic Show (plus a free community barbecue)

AUGUST 11: “Iron Man“; preshow entertainment “secret musical guests” (!)

AUGUST 18: “Yellow Submarine“; preshow entertainment “Trivia With Jessie” (from Skylark Café and Club)

AUGUST 25: “Top Gun“; preshow entertainment “secret musical guests” (plus free pizza)

These events all happen in the courtyard between Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) and the dental building that’s home to Dr. Heidi Horwitz, DDS (WSB sponsor) and Dr. Gerald Wolff. Movies start at dusk, with the gates opening a couple hours ahead of time – don’t show up at the last minute, it’s usually a hot ticket! (P.S. The poster is by Riverbed Design.)

West Seattle Outdoor Movies 2012: Here’s the lineup!

Only two months till you can bring your glowstick, picnic, whatever, to West Seattle Outdoor Movies in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse – and we have first word of this year’s planned movie lineup, just decided at a WSOM planning meeting:

7/21 – Pretty in Pink

7/28 – Young Frankenstein

8/4 – Lion King

8/11 – Iron Man

8/18 – Yellow Submarine

8/25 – Top Gun

Thanks to everybody who offered suggestions, both here on WSB – we’re a co-sponsor again this year – and on the WSOM and WSB Facebook pages. The movies are always free, and they start at dusk; there’s still a lot to be determined, including pre-movie activities, and other fun stuff – updates to come!

Feeling summery? Suggestion time for West Seattle Outdoor Movies

(WSB photo from August 2011)
On this sunny day with the temperature headed for the 70s, it’s a perfect time to dream of summer … a time for getting out of the house as much as possible, even on those summer nights, which six times a year bring the much-awaited West Seattle Outdoor Movies to the big screen in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) – fun FREE events with food, music, and benefit raffles throughout the season, too, with community co-sponsors including WSB. Movie time is a little over two months away, and planning has begun, so movie mastermind and Hotwire proprietor Lora Swift wants to hear which movies you would like to see this summer. Keep in mind that the movies need to be family-friendly – doesn’t mean just “kid stuff,” but nothing TOO adult – and you might want to take a minute to consult the lists from previous years before offering your suggestion:

2011′s movie lineup: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Airplane, Despicable Me, Jurassic Park (1), Toy Story 3

2010′s movie lineup: Mamma Mia, War Games, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wayne’s World, Up, Star Trek

Any further back, and it’s probably fair game to come around again if there’s a demand for it, so suggest away, by posting a comment here!

Happening now: ‘Toy Story 3′ at West Seattle Outdoor Movies

The free barbecue before tonight’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of “Toy Story 3″ was a hot ticket, according to BBQ-sponsoring West Seattle Christian Church‘s Pastor Dan Jacobs - he says two dozen people were already camped out waiting for the barbecue, and free movie, half an hour before the gates officially opened and the BBQ officially started. On this beautiful night following the hottest day so far this year, the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) was filling fast:

Among the families, Tracy Corey (below right) of Nurturing Expressions (one of our newest WSB sponsors) and daughter Kayleigh, with her team member Magy Hamilton and Magy’s kids Joel and Sophia:

If you were planning to head to the movie and haven’t left yet, don’t wait; it’ll start at dusk, but space is at a premium. One more reminder – WS Outdoor Movies will stretch out an extra week BEYOND tonight, since the original season opener, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” was more like “Ferris Bueller’s Rainout” back in mid-June. So that’s the movie NEXT Saturday, wrapping up the series.

Junction double bill: ‘Big Bonanza’ deals; ‘Toy Story 3′ outdoors

Saturday doubleheader in The Junction! First, it’s an August tradition, as West Seattle shopping turns into Wild, Wild West Seattle shopping – “The Big Bonanza” (participants listed here) is tomorrow, with more than 35 merchants participating in a day of sales. Look for the red balloons and checked tablecloths. The West Seattle Junction Association sends along a sampling of what you’ll find:

SWEETIE:

Our Big Bonanza special at Sweetie couldn’t happen at a better time of the year – 50-70% off all summer fashion – get it while it’s hot!

And we’re kicking off our fall fashion preview the same day, with 10% off all new fall fashion, Saturday, August 20 only.

CURIOUS KIDSTUFF:

25% off all purchases over $100, and up to 50% off selected items

CARMILIA’S:

Offering sale items at 50-85% off and all new fall merchandise will be 20% off 8/20 through 8/25……a five day jump on fall!

SHADOWLAND:

Cowboy Chicken Fried Steak on special and wet your whistle with a tall, frosty one.

Then tomorrow night in The Junction:

“Toy Story 3” is the feature at West Seattle Outdoor Movies, on the big screen in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor). Gates open at 6:30, and though the (free!) movie isn’t till dusk, stake out your spot early. If you bring some $, you can get in on bargain-priced concessions and great raffle prizes – all benefiting local nonprofits. Plus – FREE BARBECUE, starting at 6:30, courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church, whose Pastor Dan Jacobs (who’s also the regular projectionist for the movies, little-known fact) announces: “We will be serving the free BBQ from 6:30 to 7:30 or when we run out of food. We have hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers, chips, and drinks for 225 people.”

(An early reminder – though the posters and schedules show tomorrow as the final movie, there’s another one a week later, on August 27th, the movie that got rained out on what was supposed to be Outdoor Movies’ opening night, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”)

Happening now: Biggest West Seattle Outdoor Movies night yet

If you’re not already at the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), hurry – this week’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation, “Despicable Me,” is about 20 minutes away, and it’s the biggest crowd so far this summer – Hotwire’s Lora Swift estimates about 300 so far. MoZo, featuring Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice, was the opening act (we’ll add video later), and the pre-movie drawing raising money for West Seattle Food Bank and Northwest Hope and Healing is coming up. Check the full season schedule at wsmovies.org (and remember there’s an extra Saturday, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” on August 27, making up for the rainout back on July 16).

ADDED: As promised, video of “Bobcat Bob” playing in MoZo, with Aimee Zoe Tubbs on drums and Moe Provencher on bass:

Love the Seafair/”closest thing we have to Mardi Gras” observation. Moviegoers also heard briefly from two reps on behalf of Hope Lutheran, one of the sponsors on this particular night – newly arrived Pastor Peter Mueller (profiled here on Thursday) and principal Kristen Okabayashi. Next week, the movie is the original “Jurassic Park”; gates open at 6:30 pm and the movie will start at dusk (this week, that meant right about 9, so it’ll be a little earlier) after preshow entertainment and raffles to raise money for local nonprofits.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies: ‘Airplane!’ soars; ‘Despicable’ next

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Another fun Saturday night in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), as this year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies season continued with the still-funny-after-all-these-years “Airplane!”, preceded by the magic of Louie Foxx. Next week – the animated “Despicable Me“:

The movie’s free; concessions are budget-priced and, like the pre-movie raffles, raise money for local charities. (Tonight’s raffle prizes, for example, included several gift cards – $20 for Elliott Bay Brewing, $20 for Hotwire, $25 for Curious Kidstuff, $50 for Pagliacci – they vary each week – and tickets are only $1, or 3 for $2.) Gates open at 6:30 pm, with preshow entertainment 8-ish – next week, it’s “Bobcat Bob” Rice – the movie at 9-ish (times will shift earlier as the weeks go by);

West Seattle Outdoor Movies night tomorrow: It’ll be magic!

This year, West Seattle Outdoor Movies (Saturday nights in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor] at 4410 California SW) have something extra – an opening act. Last Saturday, local comic/juggler Matt Baker wowed the crowd (our report includes video); tomorrow night, it’s magician Louie Foxx, who shows off one big, quick trick in the short video clip above. Oh, and of course, there’s a movie too: “Airplane!” (Here’s the trailer.) Weather looks good; show’s free (bring $ for concessions and raffle items that raise money for local nonprofits, and also be sure to bring a chair or blanket to sit on); gates open at 6:30 pm – last week the movie started about quarter past 9, so 9 pm is likely tomorrow.

2 outdoor events: 1st Hiawatha concert; 2nd Junction movie

The newest forecast suggests clear skies Thursday night through Saturday night (and maybe beyond) – good news for two major (and free!) outdoor entertainment events coming up: Thursday night, the 6-week Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, starts its third season. Above, the Gothard Sisters are the kickoff act. 6:30 pm Thursday, east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, BYO blankets/chairs (and some $ for concessions if you want – we’re doublechecking on the final lineup for that), family-friendly. (Full season lineup here.)

Then Saturday night – a comedy classic is the second West Seattle Outdoor Movies event of the summer:

On the big screen in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), it’s “Airplane!” – with magician Louie Foxx as preshow entertainment. Gates open 6:30 pm Saturday, movie starts around 9 (it was 9:15 pm last Sat.), free but concessions and raffle tickets benefit local nonprofits, so bring a few bucks if you can. (Full season lineup here – and add August 27th, the rescheduled night for rained-out “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.) P.S. Both the movies and concerts are free thanks to community sponsors (including WSB).

Video: West Seattle Outdoor Movies’ opening night (with Matt Baker!)

7:44 PM: About 80 people were already settling into spots in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard as of half an hour ago, according to Lora Swift (who shared the photo), on the one-week-delayed opening night of this year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies series. “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” is the movie, at dusk; comic/juggler Matt Baker, a West Seattleite who’s been on national TV and tours, is scheduled to provide pre-show entertainment (after performing earlier tonight at the Admiral Theater *added, a photo of Matt and Lora*).

Free, except for a raffle and concessions benefiting local nonprofits. Hotwire’s at 4410 California SW – bring your own blanket/chair and grab a spot! Movies are scheduled every Saturday night through August 27th (concluding that night with the movie rescheduled from last week, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”; next week, it’s the classic “Airplane!”).

ADDED SUNDAY: Our video of Matt Baker juggling:

(Lora says he’s a Hotwire regular.)

Big West Seattle weekend ahead, with promising weather…

Another round of reminders about big events this weekend (besides The Parade) …

Late-in-the-day rain canceled last weekend’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies opening night (“Ferris Bueller” is rescheduled for August 27th), but so far things look good for THIS Saturday, when “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” is planned for the courtyard screen next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor, 4410 California SW). Movie’s at dusk; free, but bring a few dollars for concessions and a raffle, both benefiting nonprofits, and of course bring your own blanket/chair. It’ll be a great followup to whatever you spend Saturday doing – maybe first the parade, then an afternoon at the beach, full of art and music:

That’s the MoodSwings Jazz Band, scheduled as the first of 29 music acts on the schedule for the two-day Alki Art Fair this Saturday and Sunday. Music starts at 10 o’clock both mornings, continuing till 8:30 pm on Saturday and 7:15 pm Sunday – two stages, so it’s pretty much nonstop. Other activities – besides admiring and buying art! – include a chance for kids to help create a composite mural, with Charley Danner (who facilitated a different round of painting with kids during a CoolMom event at Alki earlier this year) – Art Fair organizers say each participating child “will be given a space on the mural to create a painting.”

As an Alki Art Fair co-sponsor, we’d love to see you at the beach both days this weekend, but here’s something else we’re also co-sponsoring that’s worth taking a break to be part of on Sunday:

It’s WestSide Baby‘s big “Stuff the Bus” diaper-drive day this Sunday. Your diaper donation counts extra, because if WS Baby gets 50,000 diapers, that’ll mean 100,000 more donated by Huggies. Don’t forget that the location has changed – go to Viking Bank (40th/Alaska) on the east side of The Junction, 10 am-2 pm on Sunday, to drop off your diaper donation!

*** More weekend previews later today…***

Decision’s in: Tonight’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies CANCELLED

Just in from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) and West Seattle Outdoor Movies mastermind Lora Swift: Tonight’s “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” showing is CANCELLED – rescheduled for August 27th – because even though the weather’s been OK for a few hours, radar shows another wave of rain headed this way. So here’s hoping for better weather NEXT week, when “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” is scheduled (Saturday, July 23rd, dusk).

West Seattle summer fun: Movies, parade, Art Fair ahead

At the West Seattle Summer Fest information booth, besides “where’s the stage?” “when’s (fill in the band name)?” and “anybody here selling strawberry shortcake?” frequent questions include the dates of other upcoming major summer events. So, a couple quick notes tonight on three of the biggest events ahead (all of which we are co-sponsoring):

WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES START ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT: Next Saturday (July 16th), get to the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard early and stake out your spot for the season’s first of six West Seattle Outdoor Movies, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (trailer above). Each movie screens at dusk and will have preshow entertainment this year (find the schedule here). Free, but bring a few bucks for concessions and raffles that raise money for local nonprofits.

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE, TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY: 11 am Saturday, July 23rd, the big parade coordinated by American Legion Post 160 rolls down California from Lander to Edmunds, with floats, bands, community entries, motorcycles, and more – including traditional favorites like the Seafair Pirates and All-City Band, and there’s always something/someone new. The parade’s online at thewestseattleparade.com and on Facebook here.

ALKI ART FAIR, TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY/TOMORROW: Also on July 23rd, plus July 24th, this year’s Alki Art Fair at the beach. WSB is a co-sponsor for the first time, and while you’ll see a longer preview here in the next day or so, there’s advance word on the Art Fair website now – including the Alki Bathhouse centennial celebration, and music on two stages!

Week and a half till West Seattle Outdoor Movies return!

While you’re in The Junction for West Seattle Summer Fest this Friday-Saturday-Sunday, you’ll see the poster for West Seattle Outdoor Movies, which, like WSSF, we’re thrilled to be co-sponsoring again this year. Above, the official poster (by Riverbed) – you might remember the robot from last year, and now, there are two! The movie series opens Saturday, July 16th, with “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”; second week (June 23rd), it’s “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.” If you haven’t been in years past, the movies are on the big screen on the wall in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), with pre-show entertainment (movie’s at dusk, but come early!) and concessions. All free; bring your own chair/blanket, and bring a few dollars for raffles that raise money for local nonprofits. And if you’re on Facebook, “like” the West Seattle Outdoor Movies page for behind-the-scenes tidbits – find it here.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies 2011: Here’s the lineup!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to suggest ideas for this summer’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies lineup. The advisory committee met today with movie mastermind Lora from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), next to the courtyard that converts to a theater for these six Saturday nights each summer – and here’s the plan, which includes some classics:

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off [trailer above], July 16
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, July 23
Airplane, July 30
Despicable Me, August 6
Jurassic Park (1), August 13
Toy Story 3, August 20

Plus: The call’s out for

Call out for musicians, entertainers, comedy or anyone who loves to perform in front of a crowd:

The West Seattle Outdoor Movies series starts July 16th, 2011 and runs for 6 Saturdays during the summer. We are looking for folks who can perform for an hour prior to the movies beginning at dusk. This is a nonprofit community event but we do have a stipend for each act. To be considered, please e-mail the West Seattle Outdoor Movies committee at westseattlemovies@gmail.com, or click on the link on the movie website www.wsmovies.org with a short bio, website link, MP3, or whatever you think would showcase your talent. Acts will be picked the week of May 16th and deadline is May 15th.

Keep in mind, this would be entertainment that’s harmonious with a friendly crowd gathering before the movie to stake out seats and chat – no, oh, say, death metal. See you at the movies!

Suggested one yet? 1 more call for West Seattle Outdoor Movies

Thanks to everybody who answered the first call for suggestions for this summer’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies (a six-Saturday series in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor]). Organizers are getting ready to sit down and look ahead, so they asked if we would put out one more call, in case you missed the first one. Since the movies are a free, all-ages event, they need to be somewhat family-friendly, but that does not mean they have to be kid-geared or even G-rated. Here’s the direct link to the comment area with the suggestions that came in earlier this month; here’s the movie list from last year – the biggest crowd was for the kickoff movie, “Mamma Mia!” You can make a suggestion via comments here or via the Outdoor Movies Facebook page – thanks for your help! (August 2010 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)

Think summer: Suggestion time for West Seattle Outdoor Movies

(WSB photo from 7/18/2010, biggest opening-night crowd ever for WS Outdoor Movies)
Drippy, murky weather, and just one easy antidote (unless you have a private plane you can take to the tropics at a moment’s notice) – dream of summer. Here’s one way to do it: Suggest a movie for this summer’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies (with WSB again among the sponsors)! If you are a new arrival, here’s the backstory: Every summer, the parking courtyard alongside Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in The Junction turns into an outdoor moviehouse for six consecutive Saturday nights – concessions are sold as fundraisers, there’s always some kind of wacky pre-movie entertainment, you bring the chairs and blankets. And when spring arrives, you suggest the movies! Every year there are some licensing-terms constraints, so even if something seems like the absolute popular choice hands-down, there might be an obstacle, but don’t let that get in your way – if there’s something you would love to enjoy under the stars (and one night last year, hardy souls even stayed through some rain), suggest it now! (If you’re worried about being redundant, here’s last year’s lineup.)

P.S. Two more Hotwire notes, while we’re at it – the Peeps drinks are back (there’s another way to beat the gray-sky blues) – read more about them in the latest Hotwire newsletter – and Hotwire is offering table space for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (May 14th, 9 am-3 pm, sales all over West Seattle – 200 last year! – registration opens Monday). If you don’t have room for your own sale, e-mail Lora to reserve a free courtyard spot: info@hotwirecoffee.com. (And if you use Facebook, you can “like” the WSCGSD page for updates and for the chance to post wall info about your own sale when May 14th gets closer!)

Final night of 2010 West Seattle Outdoor Movies

The weather was perfect tonight for Star Trek, the final movie of this year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies. That’s Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) proprietor Lora Lewis who modeled a chicken-themed bag from which she drew tonight’s winning raffle tickets before the movie unspooled:

After the raffle prizes (which included baked goods, music lessons and other gift certificates) were distributed, Lora told the crowd that this year’s raffles raised more than $1,000 for local non-profits; including West Seattle Helpline, WestSide Baby, The Nature Consortium and Family Promise of Seattle.

Be there! Rescheduled ‘Star Trek’ Saturday @ WS Outdoor Movies

Though the posters and postcards all say August 21st was the last West Seattle Outdoor Movies show of the summer – it was NOT! Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) proprietor Lora wants to rocket out the reminder that there’s actually one more to go: Since “Star Trek” (trailer above) was rained out on 8/7, it’s rescheduled for THIS Saturday night, August 28th , in the Hotwire courtyard (4410 California SW)! Featured sponsors for the night: Martha L. Davis, Highline Therapy Services, and West Seattle Music Studio. The movie’s at dusk and admission is free; bring your own blanket/chair, and a few dollars so you can buy tickets for raffle prizes, which always benefit local nonprofits, as do the concession sales. The forecast for Saturday so far is “cloudy”; if movie night arrives and it looks iffy, you can check the West Seattle Outdoor Movies Facebook page (here) and Twitter account (here) for status updates.

Update: West Seattle Outdoor Movies crowd braves rain during ‘Up’

FIRST AS-IT-HAPPENED UPDATE AT 7:34 PM: Still some room in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) for tonight’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of “Up,” starting at dusk – second to last movie of the season (this was scheduled to be the grand finale, but “Star Trek” was rained out two weeks ago, so it was rescheduled for next Saturday). Speaking of rain, yes, we know clouds are moving in, but Hotwire’s Lora Lewis has been watching the forecast all day and so far it looks like any rain won’t arrive till very late – cross your fingers. If you’re coming, bring a few bucks for the raffle, raising money tonight for Family Promise of Seattle (which has had to put its homeless-families-sheltering work “on hiatus” as first reported here). FP’s Laura Bermes talked to the crowd briefly about the agency’s mission and hopes of reopening:

Looks like there’s also still some burgers/dogs left at the free barbecue presented by West Seattle Christian Church/Preschool, if you get here fast!

POST-MOVIE NOTE AT 10:08 PM: Though it started sprinkling shortly after the movie began, and escalated for a while into a steady shower (concurrent with a thunderstorm scene onscreen!), the movie continued to its conclusion (by which time the rain had stopped). Dozens of hardy moviegoers pulled up their sweaters, or even popped up an umbrella, and stayed. Lora thinks that might be the first time in her years of overseeing the movie series that rain didn’t stop the show. The projector was manned as usual by WSCC pastor Dan Jacobs, who managed to put up a rain shield (leading, toward the movie’s end, to a “danger, projector is overheating” onscreen warning, quickly dealt with) and kept things running. Be there next Saturday night for the rescheduled “Star Trek,” and think clear skies!

West Seattle Outdoor Movies on Saturday: “Up,” and free BBQ!

“Up” is Saturday night’s feature at West Seattle Outdoor Movies – remember this is now the second-to-last one of the summer, rather than the last one, because “Star Trek” was rained out two weeks ago and is rescheduled for August 28th. This Saturday night, not only will you see “Up,” if you come a bit early you’re also invited to a free barbecue provided by West Seattle Christian Church. Pastor Dan Jacobs says they’re planning on “hot dogs, burgers, veggie burgers, chips, bottled water… serving beginning at 6:30 until it’s all gone!” (WSCC is part of the regular volunteer crew that makes the movies happen – they’re just steps from the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor] courtyard that’s home to the big screen. They also sell classic movie concessions to raise $ for charity.) WSCC and its preschool are among the sponsors for this Saturday’s movie, with the rest of the roster including WSB sponsors Ventana Construction and Jackson, Morgan & Hunt, PLLC, plus Bakery Nouveau and Doug Baldwin/Windermere Real Estate. One more note: Seattle Tilth is bringing kid-friendly activities like worm bins, interactive games, and “light microscopy,” according to movie mastermind Lora Lewis of Hotwire. See you there!