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West Seattle Holiday Traditions

Started 1 year ago by Cait
Latest reply from JanS

Cait
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Hey all! Since 95.7 has been prematurely playing Christmas music, I'm in the holiday mood early. What's everyone's favorite local holiday tradition?

Posted 1 year ago #
HunterG
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I love going to the Menashe's house and seeing the lights.

Posted 1 year ago #
WSB
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What is UP with the early music? I only listen to the radio if driving, was out this afternoon, hit the button, and did a sort of double take. Anyway, the Christmas Ship stops are the biggest ones for me. The dates are on the Events page and the Holidays page is *almost* done ...

Posted 1 year ago #
JanS
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TR, I'm with you...simply not ready for Christmas music before Thanksgiving. But...it is the way it is...even if it's a bit of overkill....

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
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it's too early for christmas

Posted 1 year ago #
flowerpetal
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I always make a pilgrimage to a house on 9th and Barton. The older gentleman who lives there loads up his yard (and his roof) with plastic lit up yard statuary. Its very kitschy, but he is sincere; and that makes it all the more heart warming for me. Inside is like a Christmas doll museum.
We used to include a trip to the Gai's house on the same night. I miss them!

Posted 1 year ago #
Jo
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Does anyone remember Emilio's wonderful Christmas display. His house was down by the airport somewhere (Federal Way?).
Pilots on incoming flights often remarked that they could see Emilio's display from pretty far out.

Posted 1 year ago #
charlabob
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I love holiday displays -- the tackier the better.

I'm a bit surprised that folks object to premature starting of holiday seasons. It's all about the capitalistic impulse: if you can make all year-round an excuse for shopping and then convince folks they're late if they haven't started three months in advance, the dollar signs just glow.

By the time I'm in the mood for holiday shopping (and yes I do TOO get in the mood eventually) :-) it's time for the post-holiday sales.

My holiday shopping season officially began yesterday when I got Archie McPhee catalog in the mail. Those of you on my gift list, beware...many good new products this year.

c

Posted 1 year ago #
flowerpetal
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I have my own traditions that are not a West Seattle event; but an important house event; and it occured yesterday. After Halloween, and typically after the end of Daylight Savings Time I change out my dinnerware and table linens. The bright and colorful does not seem appropriate to the darker season... and so I change it. It involves several trips up and down the stairs to exchange things; but well worth the effort. For me, its important to mark the turning of time.

Posted 1 year ago #
jissy
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Jo -- Only experienced Emilio's once (it was east Burien-ish) but WOW was it a show.

I actually saw SANTA already doing the lap and pictures thing this past Wednesday (11/10) at the Auburn Supermall -- WWWAAAAYYYYY TOO early!

Posted 1 year ago #
hammy
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My favorite tradition is going to visit the Westwood Village Santa The pictures are free (with free food donation)and the Santa is terrific.

Last year I also enjoyed going on the horse drawn wagon ride in the Junction but since it was the first time I don't think it constitutes a tradition.....yet.

Posted 1 year ago #
JanS
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When my daughter was young and living at home, we always made a point of going to Westlake Center to see the tree lit the day after Thanksgiving, and then hop the monorail to the center to see the lights lit there. I avoid those big crowds now. I just can't handle them. I will go look at them when it's less crowded :) I have never been to the tree lighting ceremony in WS..maybe will have to do that this year!!!

Posted 1 year ago #
flowerpetal
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Jan, this will be my 21st year for going downtown to see the lighting of the Bon Star (it will always be the Bon Start for me!). I get teary eyed every year, I think that is why some friends join me in this tradition. I need to get that WS Tree lighting on my calendar.

Posted 1 year ago #
JanS
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flowerpetal..Dec.04..not sure about the time, though :)

Posted 1 year ago #
redblack
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i always start the winter solstice season the saturday after thanksgiving; which, weirdly enough, is almost invariably sunny and upper-50's-ish.

i sit on the porch drinking ales and watching neighbors put up their holiday displays, lending a hand when asked.

cheers!

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
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flowerpetal..

i add color for the dark days...
boosts my mood.

Posted 1 year ago #
flowerpetal
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Gotcha JoB! I am not swearing of colors for the dark season; just certain arrangements of it. Kinda like not wearing white linen pants after Labor Day. Some might say I am too colorful any day of the year!

Posted 1 year ago #
West Seattle Art Attack
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I like to sneak into random yards and place glass Christmas ornaments on trees. It's my only chance to be a Santa ninja. . . . .

Posted 1 year ago #
anw
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Honestly, I need the reminders to start this early. Time flies so quickly, with working and kids. I need to be reminded that I will need to prepare, and it also gives me time to be thoughtful about this joyous season. I love winter in Seattle!

Posted 1 year ago #
tanyar23
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I love your tradition West Seattle Art Attack!!!

Posted 1 year ago #
The Velvet Bulldog
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The past few years, a good friend and I have maintained a Winter Solstice tradition: we buy candles, wrap ribbon around them, then deliver them to friends to "bring the light." Along the way, we drive by great Christmas Light displays and listen to Christmas Carols sung by Elvis.

My concern about climate change however, makes me think I need to find a less fuel-dependent tradition!

Posted 1 year ago #
bsmomma
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Our Holiday traditions consist of: Mom (me) waking up early the day after Thanksgiving and doing a BIG DEEP clean before everyone wakes up. Then having Dad (Jimmy) bring in the Christmas decorations! I LOVE Christmas! The 1st Saturday after Thanksgiving, the kido and I get up early and head down to Macys for Santa Pics (no crowds!). Throughout the season we enjoy the Hometown Holiday stuff in the juction, the Carousel downtown, the "snow" in Pacific Place, The Menashe's house and that super cool one on/by Charlestown, etc.... BUT Santa's favorite is her Hot Buttered Rum on Christmas morning! Even if it is 4 or 5am...... she looks forward to that moment!

Posted 1 year ago #
lizru
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I sing with my choir at Figgy Pudding downtown. It's a fundraiser for the Pike Place Senior Center and Clinic. A different chorus on every street corner. Very fun! Come downtown and listen and check out the windows. This year it's the first Friday in Dec: 12/3. Starts around 6pm.

Posted 1 year ago #
TDe
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Shopping in the Junction area during the holidays and the lighting of the tree in the Junction. And every few years we get to walk the Junction in the snow, stopping at one of the Junction area restaurants for a hot drink on a snowy day. That's the best of all. Love the holidays in West Seattle!

Posted 1 year ago #
squareeyes
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I clean my gutters every Thanksgiving weekend. Not fun by any stretch, but a tradition nonetheless.

Posted 1 year ago #
herongrrrl
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Squareeyes, that's a good one!

When I was little, we would get together a bunch of friends and walk down to the Christmas Ship at Alki. The year of Snowpocalypse, we revised that tradition and it just happened that Christmas Ship night was also the first snowfall, which made it extra special.

We almost always go to watch the sun rise (or the clouds turn from dark gray to light gray, depending on conditions) on the morning of the Winter Solstice from Belvedere Park on Admiral Way, then we go to breakfast at Luna Park or the Chelan Cafe.

Posted 1 year ago #
flowerpetal
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I love these traditions! But Squareeyes, your avatar reminds me of another tradition. For years, when I was living the life of a Southerner, my partner would prepare a special meal on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. By then we were weary of turkey. So, following his own family tradition, we had a roasted raccoon! Nothing like turkey!

Posted 1 year ago #
squareeyes
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What does raccoon taste like?

Posted 1 year ago #
miws
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Chicken.

(I really don't know. Just had to say that. ;-) )

Mike

Posted 1 year ago #
flowerpetal
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Someone would have to say it, glad it was you Mike.
Raccoon tastes like game food. Dark meet, more like venison but can be oily if its a fat coon. One also needs to know how to clean them as they have these nasty sacs which if not removed can ruin the taste entirely. Ugh! Ours were always surrounded with sweet potatoes. And the hunters we would get them from would leave a foot on so you could be sure you were getting a 'coon rather than someone's precious Fifi.

Posted 1 year ago #
evie
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To the unrefined palette, raccoon tastes a lot like opossum.

sorry, I couldn't resist!

http://tinyurl.com/249f3x7

Posted 1 year ago #
tanyar23
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I think it'd be kind of cool for the west seattle blog posters to have a holiday meet up at one of our establishments. I won't make anyone carol. :)

Posted 1 year ago #
JanS
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tanyar23..again...you're onto something...I'll second that idea...now, how do we make it happen?

Posted 1 year ago #