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!

(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!

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.

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.”)

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.

>

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);

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.

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).

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.)

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…***

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!

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.

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!