21 Replies to "What's your favorite WS 4th of July tradition?"

• K June 27, 2007 (1:33 pm)

  The West Seattle Kiddie Parade in the Admiral District!

• Jiggers June 27, 2007 (1:54 pm)

  Drink,drink and drink so more…

• MkH June 27, 2007 (2:32 pm)

  I love watching all the ‘visitors’ that cram their families and cars into our neighborhood to park illegally, harass the neighborhood residents, then swear at each other and the ramaining pedestrians while they all try to drive out en masse. What better way to celebrate Independance Day than by harassing and on occasion assaulting your fellow Americans?

• Jan June 27, 2007 (4:03 pm)

  I stay home? Well, at least most of the time. Last year I went to a friend’s apt. He’s the manager of the building up on Capitol Hill. We had our own little private fireworks watching celebratioin on the roof of the building…5 floors up, lawn chairs, drinks, and no one else. A beautiful view of downtown, a view of the fireworks over Elliott Bay…and a view of the fireworks over Lake Union….now what’s better than that. And the drive home ( the back way) to West Seattle was a breeze. We may do it again this year.

• M June 27, 2007 (4:41 pm)

  My teens still love the North Admiral parade to Hamilton Viewpoint and a bbq later with friends.

• flipjack June 27, 2007 (4:53 pm)

  I love sitting on top of our roof and watching the probably millions of dollars worth of gun powder exploding and lighting up the entire south eastern horizon of West Seattle, all in celebration of the birth of great war hungry American Empire we call home.

• JE June 27, 2007 (8:25 pm)

  We used to love to go to one of the overlooks and watch the Elliot Bay fireworks, but in the last couple of years, the cigarette smoke in the crowd has driven us away. Same problem with the Greenstage Shakespeare performances; it really spoils it. Many smokers are quite considerate and move downwind, but others don’t seem to care–and wind changes. So, I guess we’ll just have to start avoiding outdoor crowds :(

• Gina June 27, 2007 (9:58 pm)

  One of the best views of the fireworks is from Mount St. Vincent’s up on 35th. When my mother was in assisted living there they always had a little gathering. Very uncrowded, no-one visited with their elders on 4th of July night. It was a nice break from the Admiral crush.

  My other tradition is leaving the sprinkler on in my front yard, because people will hop out of their cars after going to the fireworks and set off their fireworks in the middle of 45th. They won’t even walk over to the Lafayette playground to set them off. Usually because someone has set fire to the garbage can in the play area…

  Another tradition–praying for rain from dusk on the 4th until dawn on the 5th.

• The House June 27, 2007 (10:40 pm)

  My favorite spot has to me Alki Beach as well. Since I almost incited a riot on the board last year about this subject (WSB can probably link it), let’s throw it out in the open this year….I’m hoping it doesn’t turn into a GHETTO again this year with all of the out of town jerkoffs that find the necessity to turn their stereos up and walk around like a bunch of want to be gangsters.

  Yes, ghetto!

• WSB June 27, 2007 (11:26 pm)

  Wow, were you one of the five and a half people who knew we existed at this time last year? (OK, just checked, actually it was 144 people who visited on this date last year. Still dinky in comparison to current turnout. Maybe enough for a riot, heh.)

• Jan June 28, 2007 (12:24 am)

  now here’s a thought, House. We put up a gate on the bridge. No one in or out after 5pm, and we’ll keep Alki for ourselves :)

• Kmac June 28, 2007 (7:45 am)

  Hey House, I’m with you on that one. Summer Solstice at Alki Beach was MUCH quieter this year than the last two years (which were very ghetto, IMHO). Hoping 07/04 is the same, but probably wishful thinking.

• Jiggers June 28, 2007 (12:41 pm)

  House, I thought I was the jerkoff here. I earned the right buddy…

• Rose June 28, 2007 (2:20 pm)

  Hi,
  My family and I are new to West Seattle, so we have no idea what to do for the fourth if we stay here. I have 2 small kids, so I don’t want to be anywhere that’s ghetto. Is the firework display at Alki convienient? Is is crowded? What else can you tell me about having the 4th in this area?
  I usually go to Edmonds, where there is a parade and a fireworks display at a city park. It’s very family oriented. That’s kind of what I’m looking for.
  Thanks!

• M June 28, 2007 (5:54 pm)

  Rose – the Admiral Kiddie Parade is VERY kid friendly. Starts at 10:30 in front of 1137 Sunset Ave. The Mayor sometimes gives a short welcome. The Motorcycle Police and the Fire Department lead a short 1/2 mile ride through the neighborhood ending at Hamilton Viewpoint. Bikes, trikes and wagons are festively decorated. Games are played. Picnics are consumed. It’s great fun with lots of kids of all ages. Show up – you won’t be sorry. No need to drive to Edmonds…

• Jan June 28, 2007 (6:43 pm)

  Rose…watching the fireworks is another thing totally. Alki Ave. gets totally packed. Wall to wall cars and people, etc. There is a huge fireworks display in the evening over Elliot Bay that everyone comes out for. You casn also see them from the Hamilton Viewpoint in North Admiral…but it, too is very crowded, and parking is at a premium unless you don’t mind walking for blocks and blocks. I wish I could be more positive aobut it. Depending on where you live there are more vantage points to see the fireworks off in the distance if you’re near a high point that has a view of the waterfront and Elliot Bay.

  Good luck…I hope you find something that your family will like in the area :)

• Rose June 28, 2007 (9:02 pm)

  Thanks!
  I think I’ll try the parade, we can bring out our wagon too! Then I’ll go to Edmonds or something for the fireworks, to avoid the crowd.

• Sue June 29, 2007 (11:04 am)

  I have friends coming down on the 4th from Lynnwood for a BBQ and they want to go to Alki to watch the fireworks. I told them they can go by themselves and leave me at home; no way I’m battling all that traffic and crowds to look at fireworks. If I lived within walking distance it would be a different story, but not if I have to drive it. Not to mention that I get up early for work, and fireworks don’t start until late, so I’d rather just stay home.

• Jo June 29, 2007 (6:03 pm)

  The #56 bus runs to Alki until late at night. If you can find someplace to park your car along the route (access metro’s website for route), Also, the #55 runs from Junction to Admiral, then transfer to #56 at Admiral to Alki. Only problem is after 7ish-pm the 56 runs once an hour. But, still, the best viewing in Seattle, I think, is from Alki: Ivars, Lake Union, Queen Ann, Capitol Hill, Bremerton, Bainbridge, as far north sometimes as Edmonds.

• The House June 30, 2007 (5:06 pm)

  Jan, for once we agree!! Close the bridge on July 4th!!

  Jiggers, like WSB said…I’ve been on this board longer than most. I’m sure many of folks would catagorize me with you and Eric. They call me OJ, Original Jerkoff!

• Jan July 1, 2007 (7:46 pm)

  well, did I feel it start to freeze out there? lol….we actually agreed on something…amazing.

  But we both know that come 11;30pm on Wednesday evening there will be a traffic jam on Harbor Ave., up Admiral Way to Calif. and back down to the bridge. I remember driving home form Capitol Hill last year where we had a great view of fireworks, and very private, and I breezed over the bridge and up Admiral to 42nd (where I live), my jaw hanging open at the bumper to bumper traffic coming down Admiral in the opposite direction….and police directing traffic at the Calif Ave/Adm. Way Junction…all the while thinking..”suckers”…it took me all of 20 minutes to get home from Boylston near SCC…

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