West Seattle Blog…

Happening now: ‘Wayne’s World’ at West Seattle Outdoor Movies

Got your seat at West Seattle Outdoor Movies (courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor]) yet? “Wayne’s World” is onscreen at dusk; live music before the movie; and if you bring a few bucks for the nonprofit-benefiting raffle, you get a chance at prizes including the one you see above – a framed “Wayne’s World” poster donated by Wallflower Custom Framing! As of right now, there’s still room – so bring your own chair/blanket and we’ll see you there.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies: ‘Star Trek’ rainout tonight

Here’s the official word: West Seattle Outdoor Movies‘ plan to show “Star Trek” tonight is canceled because of rain – there’s no indoor backup. Even if it stopped raining by dusk, it would still be soggy after the all-day rain. “Star Trek” will be rescheduled for Saturday night, August 28th, stretching out the WSOM season beyond the previously scheduled 8/21 end date.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies on or off? Decision @ 4:30 pm

Update: If the weather doesn’t lift, tonight’s showing of “Star Trek” for West Seattle Outdoor Movies in The Junction is at risk – Lora Lewis from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), your emcee and host for the movies, tells us the “on or off” call will be made at 4:30 pm. If it IS rained out, Lora says it’ll be rescheduled for August 28th (currently, August 21st is the last scheduled movie). We’ll have the latest here at 4:30, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies beams up ‘Star Trek’ tomorrow

That’s one of the official trailers for last year’s “Star Trek” movie, which is tomorrow night’s big feature at West Seattle Outdoor Movies (co-sponsored by WSB) in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor). There’s music before the movie, Dream Date with Paul Fischer, “performing his original pop songs with the help of Steve Moore,” according to Hotwire’s Lora Lewis. Featured sponsors for the night: Martha L. Davis, Highline Therapy Services, and West Seattle Music Studio. The movie’s free, but bring a few dollars so you can buy tickets for the raffle benefiting forest-restoring Nature Consortium, with prizes donated by Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), Shadowland, Elliott Bay Brewery and Hotwire, and also for concessions, which also are nonprofit fundraisers. The movie’s at dusk – which keeps getting earlier, but you don’t want to show up at the last minute, anyway – the crowd’s usually pretty big; come stake out a spot sooner rather than later. One note: IF it rains or threatens to – there is NO indoor backup this year, so a rainout is possible; if the weather looks dicey, we will have the latest info here on WSB (as well as updates on our Twitter and Facebook pages).

Next up for West Seattle Outdoor Movies: ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’

Tomorrow night should be a truly fantastic edition of West Seattle Outdoor Movies (dusk in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor]) – with the animated “Fantastic Mr. Fox” as the feature (the clip above is its official trailer). Come early to stake out a spot (bring your own chair/blanket), check out the concessions, buy raffle tickets (both of the preceding are nonprofit fundraisers – also, this week, the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks are in the spotlight, so please bring a nonperishable food donation – Dream Dinners [WSB sponsor] also is co-sponsoring) – the movie itself is free,

Happening now: ’80s trivia & ‘War Games’ at WS Outdoor Movies

In the courtyard between Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) and Drs. Wolff/Horwitz, you might call it ’80s night for the second of six Saturday night editions of >West Seattle Outdoor Movies. When it gets a bit darker, tonight’s movie will start – the specially decorated cupcakes from Coffee to a Tea with Sugar, above, provided something of a preview. Good crowd tonight, filling the courtyard but a little more elbow room than last week’s standing-room-only showing of “Mamma Mia!”

That’s how it looked about 20 minutes ago – more moviegoers have arrived since then. Every week, there’s a special pre-movie activity, and tonight, it’s ’80s trivia, hosted by Jessie SK from Skylark Café and Club:

Skylark is one of tonight’s business co-sponsors (along with Pagliacci Pizza – which provided free slices earlier – Nicholson Kovalchick Architects, and WSB – we’re also the overall “media sponsor” for the whole series). The activity and movie are always free; raffle tickets (with donated prizes, which tonight included Hotwire and Pagliacci cards!) are sold before the movie – $1/ticket or $2 for three – to raise money for a local nonprofit (tonight about $100 has been raised for West Seattle Helpline) – and charity-benefiting concessions are sold by West Seattle Christian Church, so bring a few dollars next time you attend. Next Saturday’s movie is “Fantastic Mr. Fox“; the full season slate is on the official West Seattle Outdoor Movies website.

West Seattle Saturday: Grand Parade; Alki Art Fair; Outdoor Movies

The green markers bookend the route the West Seattle Grand Parade will take down California SW starting at 11 am from SW Lander; the periwinkle marker, the starting point for the Rotary Club of West Seattle-presented Kiddie Parade that precedes it, same time (but signups start at 10, all kids welcome). Parade co-coordinator Jim Edwards says (via @WSParade on Twitter) that they’re now up to 78 entries. Motorcycles, marching musicians, drill teams, clowns, pirates, singers, dancers, politicians, Scouts, schools, businesses, churches, and of course, floats, including the multiple-award-winning West Seattle Hi-Yu “Dreams Do Come True” float. We’ve published seven previews in the past few days; browse them here. And if you have photos/video to share afterward, let us know! (You can also add your favorite pics to the West Seattle Blog group on Flickr.) P.S. Remember California SW from Admiral south to Edmunds is closed till after the parade; there are bus detours and also parking restrictions on some side streets being used for staging. Another big event today is happening at the beach:

(WSB photo from 2007 Alki Art Fair)
Today’s the first of two days for the big Alki Art Fair, stretching along the promenade past the Alki Bathhouse, 10 am-6 pm both days. In addition to the artists’ displays and booths, which are free to browse, you may want to bring some money for the food booths and the kids’ bouncy toy. Here’s our preview from earlier in the week, including the full schedule and lineup for live music both days. Then tonight in The Junction, it’s movie time!

That’s the courtyard at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) before it finished filling up (and then some!) for last Saturday’s first-of-the-season West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation. Tonight, along with our co-sponsors Skylark Café and Club, Nicholson Kovalchick Architects and Pagliacci Pizza, we co-sponsor “War Games,” with Skylark proprietor Jessie SK leading a round of ’80s trivia (we’re bringing the prizes) before the movie. You’ll want to arrive early (a few dozen people were there as early as 5:30 last week, Hotwire’s Lora Lewis tells us) to stake out your spot!

What else is up today/tonight? See the full list in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup!

West Seattle Outdoor Movies: Celebrate ’80s, & geeks, Saturday

“War Games” is the movie – ’80s trivia is the preshow activity – and the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) is the place to be this Saturday night for the 2nd of this summer’s six West Seattle Outdoor Movies. Not only is Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) co-sponsoring the evening, but Skylark proprietor Jessie SK is hosting a mini-round of ’80s trivia, and we’re supplying the prizes (WSB is another of the night’s co-sponsors, as are Nicholson Kovalchick Architects and Pagliacci Pizza, which we’re told will have some of its fabled pies on hand too). Come early – last week the courtyard was jammed long before the movie began at dusk (check the photo in this report!) – and bring money for the raffle – last week’s raffle raised more than $250 for WestSide Baby. (The full season lineup is on the official West Seattle Outdoor Movies website.)

West Seattle Outdoor Movie #1 a hit; ‘War Games’ next

Not only was the centennial-celebrating courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) wall-to-wall with West Seattle Outdoor Movies-goers by the time the preshow fun began, Hotwire’s Lora Lewis says a few dozen people had seats staked out by 5:30 (about three hours early). Covering the series extensively, and participating as a sponsor, for the past few years, we can declare the turnout for “Mamma Mia!” the biggest opening-night crowd ever, if not the biggest crowd ever. Raffle-ticket sales raised more than $250 for WestSide Baby – donated prizes included cards for beverages/food at Hotwire, Elliott Bay Brewery, and Pagliacci Pizza, as well as a Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) T-shirt. And then it was time to dance:

Therese from The Body Bar, one of the movie’s sponsors, isn’t in the shot, but she led the “dance party,” in the spirit of the night’s movie (a musical, if you’ve never seen it). The preshow shorts included a WC Fields classic:

The main feature started around dusk, 9 pm last night, but obviously that’ll get a bit earlier each of the next five weeks as the series continues, so our best advice is, come early (4400 California SW) and stake out a spot (BYO chairs/blankets). Next Saturday night, the movie is the ’80s classic “WarGames” – here’s the trailer:

That’ll be an ’80s-themed event (with a geek subtext, pocket protectors and all!) with sponsors including WSB, Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), and Nicholson Kovalchick Architects. (You’ll likely see our favorite geeklet, aka Junior Member of the Team, assisting again with raffle-ticket-selling and raffle emceeing, though he prefers ties and vests rather than pocket protectors.) To review the full list of what’s ahead the next five Saturday nights – free! – go to the official WS Outdoor Movies site.

2 reminders for tonight: Outdoor Movies; house on the move

(UPDATE – 7:11 pm, just substituted this new photo for previous “file” pic – courtyard’s starting to fill up!)

(WSB photo from July 18, 2009, last year’s first Outdoor Movies night)
ORIGINAL 6:15 PM REPORT: Two Saturday night reminders: First, if you haven’t gathered up your chairs and blankets yet – just a couple of hours till the first West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of the year, “Mamma Mia” – preceded by two shorts and even a dance party. Full details in our Friday preview. We’ve been asked “what time does everything start” – that’s always tricky since it’s a matter of “when’s dusk” and backtiming from there, and also the “first come, first served” nature of seating space. We’d advise erring on the early side. Meantime, for our fellow night-owls – tonight’s the night for an unusual overnight journey that will wind up here:

Lots of activity this morning at the Admiral site (2758 46th SW) where a house will be moved in the wee hours from its current spot at 4516 42nd SW in The Junction. We’ve reported on this a couple times before – our second story has the most details and photos, including some of the interior touches that led a local couple to buy it so they could have it moved and renovated. There’s “no parking” signage along some of the route that will be used between midnight at 6, so if you’re parked in the area along the route (mapped here by our partners at the Seattle Times), make sure you’ve moved your vehicle in time! We’ll be covering this as-it-happens overnight, so if you’re up, check in for updates.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies return tomorrow night – with history!

It’s the West Seattle mantra on those beautiful sunny (but not too hot) summer days – “This is why we live here.” And on six usually-clear-and-pleasant summer nights, something else that makes West Seattle special: Free Outdoor Movies on the wall next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. Tomorrow (Saturday) night’s season opener is extra-special for a variety of reasons. The photo above hints at one: It’s the 100th anniversary of the screening site – the buildings where Hotwire and neighboring Drs. Wolff/Horwitz are housed was built in 1910 as the home of Seattle Lighting Company (later Seattle Gas Company), later a WPA office, then West Home funeral home till 2001. You can read all about the site’s history in this document shared by Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis. Now back to the movies:

“Mamma Mia” is the main feature. In honor of the site’s centennial, the W.C. Fields short “Trip to the Dentist” will also be shown, along with the famous YouTube clip “David After the Dentist.” And before the screen fires up at dusk, there’ll be a dance party led by Therese from the nearby Body Bar, one of the night’s sponsors. You might want to join in to work off calories from free cotton candy, popcorn and ice cream (not a regular feature – special for the big anniversary!) – there also will be fundraiser concessions sold by West Seattle Christian Church (candy and soda) as well as Coffee to a Tea cupcakes, and hot dogs. Come early to ensure your spot in the courtyard – bring your own chair(s)/blanket(s), and money for fundraising raffles. The entire season slate is on the official West Seattle Outdoor Movies website – a week from tomorrow, WSB co-sponsors what’s shaping up to be an ’80s night of sorts, with “War Games” as the main feature!

Update: West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall lineup!

That’s “Mamma Mia,” which will kick off the six-week West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall series this year in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor)/Dr. Wolff courtyard in The Junction. After multiple rounds of idea-seeking (including two rounds here – THANK YOU!), Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis has just announced the lineup:

Saturday, July 17th – Mamma Mia 2008 Rated PG-13
(with the short, Trip to the Dentist/W.C. Fields)

Saturday, July 24 – War Games 1984 Rated PG

Saturday, July 31st – Fantastic Mr. Fox 2009 Rated PG

Saturday, August 7th – Star Trek 2009 Rated PG-13

Saturday, August 14th – Wayne’s World 1992 Rated PG-13

Saturday, August 21st – Up 2009 Rated G

The movies are free and start at dusk; bring your own chair/blanket and also bring some $ for concessions and raffles that raise money for local nonprofits – and come early to enjoy pre-movie contests/performances/you-never-know-what-might-happen! More on those as the series gets closer – watch the official site, the West Seattle Movies on the Wall Facebook page and Twitter account, and of course WSB (a series co-sponsor).

West Seattle Summer Movies on the Wall: 1 more needed!

(WSB photo from 2008 Movies on the Wall series)
The slate for this year’s West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall in The Junction – (Saturday nights 7/17-8/21 in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard) is ALMOST set, but organizers need one last movie idea. So far, the movies on the schedule are “Mamma Mia,” “Star Trek,” “War Games,” “Wayne’s World” and “Up” – the dates aren’t 100 percent final yet so we’re just mentioning the titles. One more movie is needed and the thought is “family-friendly,” G or PG. (Can’t be a Disney movie, for date-related licensing reasons, so “Up” is the only one from the House of Mouse that you’ll see this year.) Suggestions are being taken today only – please post one in the comment section if you’ve got an idea, and the Movies on the Wall team thanks you for the earlier nominations!

West Seattle Summer Movies on the Wall: Time for suggestions!

(WSB photo from July 18, 2009)
The heart of West Seattle’s summer fun is less than three months away – and a weekly part of it during July and August is the Summer Movies on the Wall series in the courtyard between Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) and Dr. Wolff. Once again this year, Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis is organizing the series and looking for your movie suggestions. Nothing too adult, but nothing totally kids-only-oriented, either. We’re still looking for our lists of what’s been shown the past few years and will add them when we find them, but in the meantime, don’t worry TOO hard about duplicating – you can browse our Movies on the Wall coverage category (click the link below the headline of this story) if you really want to look back – just suggest what you think would be fun for an all-ages crowd, lawn chairs and popcorn – add comments to this story. Dates for this year’s series are on the official website – six consecutive Saturdays, July 17-August 21. (Also note that the movie series is on Facebook here and Twitter here.) 12:01 PM UPDATE: Lora has sent the list of movies from the past four years – click ahead to see it: Click to read the rest of West Seattle Summer Movies on the Wall: Time for suggestions!…

Also today/tonight: Admiral trick-or-treating; movie; football

(WSB photo from Admiral business district trick-or-treating in 2008)
A couple more advance notes before we publish the West Seattle Weekend Lineup – The first of three business-district trick-or-treating events in West Seattle is just a few hours away – Admiral Treats and Treasures is 3-6 pm; here’s the map – remember to stop by Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) when you’re done, to enter the raffle. Right after that, indoor fun begins all around the peninsula, including the special Halloween edition of West Seattle Junction Movies on the Wall - “Nightmare Before Christmas,” 7 pm in the big new West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center (4400 42nd SW) – free! Bring a food-bank donation if you can. Tonight also features more high-school football: West Seattle High School plays Seattle Prep at Memorial Stadium at 5 pm (we’ll tweet from the game at @wsblive). Also, Seattle Lutheran High School plays Chief Leschi at West Seattle Stadium at 7 pm; since the match won the channel 13 “Game of the Week” poll, you’ll see a clip on TV later tonight. Chief Sealth High School plays at Lakeside tomorrow, 1 pm.

West Seattle Halloween: Help Helpline tonight; movie tomorrow

Tonight, things start getting so wildly Halloweenish, it’s scary. In a good way. From the WSB Halloween page (laden with pre-Halloween events too), the highlight of the night, Nightmare on Morgan Street, benefiting West Seattle Helpline, at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). Costume contest – and more. Then Friday night, a different “Nightmare”:

“Nightmare Before Christmas” is the special Indoor Movies on the Wall, Halloween edition, presentation – 7 pm tomorrow at West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center (42nd south of Genesee), bring a food donation to get in on the raffle, bring your own chair/blanket, FREE! (Lots of room, so if you’re checking out other Friday afternoon/evening activities first – like Admiral Treats ‘n’ Treasures [map here!] – you should still be able to get a spot even if you show up at the last minute.)

More Halloween fun: Movies on the Wall; Feedback masquerade

Two more big Halloween-vicinity events have just been announced. First, a Halloween edition of Indoor Movies on the Wall:

Just got word from Lora at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) that “Nightmare Before Christmas” will be shown at the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center (site of last winter’s indoor movies, and steps away from the summer outdoor-movie site), 7 pm Friday, October 30th – free! B/Y/O chair/blanket. Lora adds, “We’re also collecting food for the food banks – bring in a can and get a raffle ticket for one of our spooktacular prizes.” One other Halloween-week event just unveiled:

NIGHTMARE ON MORGAN STREET: Well, actually, on California SW – where the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) has just announced this masquerade ball for 6 pm Thursday, October 29, to raise money for West Seattle Helpline. Suggested donation $10; costume contest, raffle, live DJ, food and drink specials. (And the Feedback will get you in the Halloween mood a week from tonight with Punk Rock Pumpkin-Carving, 7-9 pm during the monthly West Seattle Art Walk, Thursday 10/8 – the “punk-ins” will be sold afterward.)

West Seattle weekend scenes: Saturday in The Junction

First – from Saturday night’s Outdoor Movies on the Wall finale – iPhone snaps shared by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) proprietor (and Movies on the Wall ringleader) Lora Lewis, who estimates 250 people parked themselves in the courtyard for “Cars,” including the ones shown above as they waited for the free barbecue offered before the movie by West Seattle Christian Church. Also on hand, reps from the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank – WC Food Bank’s Rick Jump and WS Food Bank’s Heather Hsu:

The food banks were the beneficiaries of Saturday night’s raffle proceeds. (As a Movies on the Wall co-sponsor, we’d also like to thank everybody who made this a spectacular season – dating all the way back to the springtime call for movie suggestions.) Meantime — earlier Saturday in The Junction, the “Big Bonanza“ end-of-summer sale took centerstage. We brought you an in-progress report Saturday morning; here are more photos and vignettes from WSB contributing journalist Kathy Mulady — first, canine companion Cooper eager to move along as Carolyn Magoon checked out the table outside Capers:

Kathy also reports that “the West Seattle Junction Association booth at California/Alaska, hay bales and all, was the scene of spontaneous squirt gun battles between volunteer Meghan Sykas and nearly anyone who could do with some cooling off. Little Anna Morris, 3, was more than willing to accept the challenge, dousing not only Sykas, but some who were standing too close.”

The Junction’s booth also offered sheriff badges and bandannas, like the ones that 2-year-old Riley Yip is sporting here:

Next big event in The Junction: The second annual West Seattle Junction Car Show (co-sponsored by WSB), closing the streets to celebrate cool wheels on September 20th (we hear pre-registration’s going well; if you want to get in on it, here’s where to start).

Photos: Pirate-mania at Outdoor Movies on the Wall

ORIGINAL 7:15 PM REPORT: Tonight’s West Seattle Junction Outdoor Movies on the Wall feature is the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, and those who (arrrrrrrr) already getting into the spirit include Andre’ from Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor), who’s selling and serving barbecue pulled-pork sandwiches ($3) right now. This week’s cupcakes from Coffee to a Tea have a pirate theme, too, and in a little over an hour, the pre-show goofiness will involve “swabbing the deck” with a frisbee. It’s all happening in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), 4410 California SW, next to the post office, and you’ve got time to get there (b/y/o chair and/or blanket) – the movie’s free and starts at dusk, but the courtyard tends to fill fast. We’ll update this item later tonight with pix of movie-night fun. ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: Pix as promised. The pirate spirit prevailed – someone even brought a life-size cardboard Captain Jack, which quickly became a popular photo stop:

The aforementioned Andre’ from Endolyne Joe’s helped announce the “swabbing” contest:

Others were seen in pirate garb as well. And balloons further buoyed the crowd, courtesy of Snap Fitness (WSB sponsor):

Every week, the cupcakes from Coffee to a Tea have honored the movie theme:

Next Saturday night, this summer’s movie series concludes with “Cars.”

Captain Jack rules the screen tonight at Movies on the Wall

That’s one of many fan-created tributes you can find on YouTube in appreciation of Johnny Depp‘s three star turns as Captain Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Tonight in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor; 4410 California SW), you can see the movie that started the frenzy, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.” Gates for this West Seattle Junction Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentation open at 7, and we’ve seen some wall-to-wall crowds, so you are advised to stake out your spot early. Since it’s getting darker earlier here in late summer, the preshow zaniness — described by Hotwire’s Lora Lewis as “‘swabbing the deck,’ where people race across the ground ‘curling’ a Frisbee with a broom” — may start earlier than the usual advertised time of 8:30 pm; the movie’s at dusk. While the series itself has a long list of sponsors, including WSB, each movie has screening-specific sponsors who are on hand to meet, greet and often offer treats, and tonight they include one of our newer sponsors, Endolyne Joe’s, selling barbecue sandwiches, as well as Liberty Bell Printing and Snap Fitness. (You’ll also be able to buy classic movie concessions like popcorn and candy, provided by West Seattle Christian Church with proceeds to charity, and bring some money for nonprofit-benefitting raffles, with prizes including gift certificates to local restaurants.) This is the second-to-last Movies on the Wall show of the summer; our coverage of the earlier movie events, including preshow fun from tin-foil-hat-making to go-go dancing, is here.

West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall, week 4: Foiled!

Yet another excellent turnout at West Seattle Junction Outdoor Movies on the Wall — a courtyard full of fine folks who weren’t going to let a little unseasonable weather keep them away from summer-type fun. Despite a full day of relentless clouds that appeared to have rain potential, not a drop fell during “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” Saturday night. If it had drizzled, though, most would have been prepared — lots of hats, since we had a tin-foil-hat-making contest in honor of the movie’s alien theme (the five-note singathon was skipped because your editor here, scheduled to lead it, had to rush off to the SW Manning fire instead). Above, some of the hat-making entrants; at right, the winner. The grand-prize package included free bowling at West Seattle Bowl, a WSB T-shirt, and classic movie candy; preshow music included, appropriately, selections from “Dark Side of the Moon.” Lots more photos in this Flickr slideshow:

Next week, second to last Movies on the Wall of the summer (ALREADY?) — “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl“:

Same place – courtyard by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) — gates open next Saturday night at7, showtime at dusk.

Looks like liftoff for “Close Encounters” at Movies on the Wall

That’s one of our tinfoil hats … foil provided to moviegoers so don’t worry about bringing your own. So far no indication they’ll have to double as rain hats – cloudy all day but staying dry (knock wood) so we are preceding with plans for “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” at tonight’s West Seattle Junction Outdoor Movies on the Wall in the courtyard by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor). Gates just opened so you’re welcome to come stake out your spot – no admission charge but bring your own chair/blanket. Preshow fun (show off that hat AND join us in the five-note singalong) scheduled for 8:30, movie at dusk, concessions and raffle tickets on sale to benefit local nonprofits. See you there.

West Seattle Weather Watch: Saturday showers? Or not?

(Thursday night sunset from Alki, photographed and shared by Mike Boyle)
Since we’re sponsoring tomorrow night’s edition of West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall — “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” — we’re keeping a really close watch on the forecast, since this week only, there’s no backup indoor location. So far, while it definitely sounds like a sweater night, the National Weather Service probably wouldn’t put much odds on a rainout. From the newest twice-daily Forecast Discussion, issued about an hour ago:

SYNOPSIS…EXPECT A WEAK LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO BRING A CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN OR DRIZZLE TO MAINLY THE COAST ON SATURDAY. A STRONGER SYSTEM WILL BRING A BETTER CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION TO THE REGION ON MONDAY.

.SHORT TERM…
A WEAK…UPPER TROF WAS APPROACHING THE COAST FROM THE W. THE CDFNT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL LIKELY FALL APART BEFORE REACHING THE WA COAST. THUS THE BEST CHANCE OF ANY PRECIP…ALBEIT LIGHT… WILL BE ON THE COAST…AND MOST LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. ELSEWHERE…ANTICIPATE CLOUDY SKIES ON SATURDAY WITH DAYTIME TEMPS REMAINING WELL BELOW NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

As always, tomorrow night’s movie is scheduled for dusk on the big “screen” (white wall) in the courtyard by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) — gates open at 7 – free, but bring a few $ for concessions and raffles, all benefiting local nonprofits. And if it DOES turn showery at any point during the day, keep an eye on WSB and/or Twitter (twitter.com/westseattleblog) and/or Facebook (facebook.com/westseattleblog), whichever is most convenient for you, because we will post updates about the movie’s status in all three places. Meantime – hope to see you there!

Crowd gets “Footloose” at tonight’s Movies on the Wall event

We’ll add video later, but in the short run, that photo should give you an idea of the exuberant preshow fun at tonight’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall event, before the crowd hooted and hollered their way through the ’80s classic “Footloose.” In the back of the photo, by the speaker, that’s Jackie Helton from Fusion Studio (WSB sponsor), and her fellow “go-go dancers” — boots and all! — were the crew from one of tonight’s sponsors, The Body Bar in The Junction (which also offered chair massages before the movie, while another sponsor, Stella Ruffington’s, handed out dog treats). [Here's our video, added Sunday morning - note the young moviegoers joining in, about a minute into the clip]

As with “Princess Bride” two weeks ago (last week was an anomaly, with a last-minute movie change, and a sudden shower forcing moviegoers to the nearby indoor backup at West Seattle Christian), the courtyard was jampacked. Next week, it’s a big-screen journey back into the ’70s, for “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”:

Every series co-sponsor got to pick a particular movie to attach themselves to, and this one is “ours” – preshow activities include tinfoil-hat-making and a crowd singalong to the famous five-note theme. Doors open 7 pm – b/y/o chair and/or blanket – the preshow fun will start at or shortly before 8:30, with the movie at dusk.

Church cleanup, Edible Garden Tour today; “Footloose” tonight

Highlights from the West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Work parties today include a one-of-a-kind event – St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Admiral invites neighbors as well as parishioners to an “Ivy Out Day” to clear a spot along SW Hanford that will become a “park-like” space for the whole neighborhood – 9 am to noon with a free barbecue to follow. Also: You can take the FREE West Seattle Edible Garden Tour today, self-guided, 10 am-4 pm, get your map here. Then tonight – everybody gets “Footloose” at West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall, doors open 7 pm in the courtyard by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor), preshow fun at 8:30, movie at dusk, bring $ for concessions and raffles to benefit local nonprofits.

Too hot in the house? West Seattle entertainment options ahead

THURSDAY NIGHT TUNES: The second show in the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB) is tomorrow night, 6:30 pm, east lawn outside Hiawatha Community Center. That spot gets shady hours earlier because of the building and the trees. Tomorrow’s performers: Tom Colwell and the Southbound Odyssey, a smash hit during the Pete Seeger 90th birthday event at Admiral Theater earlier this year. Speaking of The Admiral:

AIR-CONDITIONED MUSIC FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT: Admiral Theater has live music both nights: Troupe de Ville with Steve Thoreson (“a voice more powerful than Pavarotti”), Eric Fridrich (“soulful”) and Segovia-trained Italian guitarist Andre Feriante at 9 pm Friday (tickets here), Billet-Deux “gypsy jazz” at 9 pm Saturday (tickets here). And outdoors, to the south, that very night, you can get “Footloose”:

SATURDAY NIGHT “MOVIE ON THE WALL”: Doesn’t seem right now like much chance that last Saturday night’s semi-freak rainburst will be replicated (although it’s great to have the backup indoor site nearby). So plan on being in the Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) courtyard for the West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentation of”Footloose” at dusk Saturday, with preshow activities (go-go dancers!) around 8:30 pm. Free, but bring a few dollars for concessions provided by West Seattle Christian and Coffee to a Tea with Sugar, and raffles for local merchant gift certificates, all benefiting local nonprofits. Gates open at 7:00 pm with pre-show fun starting at 8:30 pm. 4400 California Ave SW (map).

Update: “Outdoor Movie” moving indoors because of the rain

(photos added 2 am)
Just in: Tonight’s Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentation is moving to the backup indoor location at West Seattle Christian Church‘s new activity center. Just yards to the east of the Hotwire courtyard – it’s on the east side of 42nd, south of Genesee. Movie will start around 9, preshow activities starting shortly. ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: Not only did the weather force a change in venues, tonight’s movie changed at the last minute too … what was supposed to be the 1933 “King Kong” was discovered instead to be the most recent “King Kong,” way too long for Movies on the Wall, so “The Sandlot” was substituted at the last minute. Next week, it’s “Footloose,” which should be lots of fun on a big screen. Meantime, a couple sweet shots from Saturday night – Coffee to a Tea cupcakes honoring the intended theme of the night:

And the pre-movie contest – which turned out to involve banana splits, playing off primates’ alleged love of bananas.

Read more about the rest of the series here.