Jampacked Junction trick-or-treating

Kelly October 27, 2007 (4:28 pm)

We had a great time trick-or-treating in the Junction with our little one. I would, however, love to see the streets blocked off for this event like at the Street Fair. At some points today, there was just no more room left on the sidewalk. It would have been great to let everyone spill over into the streets, and I would feel a lot safer about the little ones.

Jiggers October 27, 2007 (4:54 pm)

My friends a good dentist need his number?

Bonnie October 27, 2007 (5:31 pm)

I would prefer that the people giving the candy out were outside their doors instead of inside and making the kids walk all the way into their business. It creates too much of a traffic jam at the door when the kids have to go all the way in. of course…beggars cant be choosy, can they?

Ron Burgundy October 27, 2007 (7:08 pm)

I would prefer that Elliot Bay Brewery had a little something to give to the adults as they went by. ;)

Joe October 27, 2007 (9:04 pm)

I second the idea of opening the streets up. We walked down with our 1 year old, and turned back when we soon realized that there was no way we were making it much further with our stroller. Thank god he doesn’t care much for candy yet (mom and I were disappointed regardless).

It would be really great to block off the streets for the afternoon, not to mention it would be much safer for kids who tend to stray from their parents… Anyone know who organizes it, how can we get in touch with them?

Just a thought…

WSB October 27, 2007 (9:14 pm)

Joe — Dave from West 5 is president of the Junction Association, which puts on these events (and also handles a lot of other projects to make The Junction a better place). Not sure how often Dave gets a chance to check out WSB, but in the past he has come here to ask for community suggestions on events such as Summer Fest, and took them into consideration when planning last summer’s version. If he doesn’t appear in the comments here first, we’ll send him e-mail to let him know some suggestions have been made for consideration next year.

Lou's Wife October 27, 2007 (9:20 pm)

I second (or third) the recommendation to close down the streets. It just gets too crazy crowded. The thrill of candy combined with the costumes does not make for a good combination with cars. They would only have to block the streets for three hours or so. I also second Ron’s suggestion of treats from Elliot Bay. Any parent would need something to soothe the nerves after hiking a few crowded blocks with a two-year-old hyped up on sugar.

thinking October 27, 2007 (9:30 pm)

If Dave is going to take these suggestions into consideration; please consider this, Have vendors waiting at their entryway and block off the streets for the two hours. You could not stop to admire the costumes nor say hello to a familar face. And then your childs getting pushed around in the door way by frustrated parents. What’s the point of going back next year? It was a beautiful day and we made the best of it. Thank you for all the merchants who made the season a happy one for the children. But we are better then this are’nt we West Seattle?

Maria October 27, 2007 (10:34 pm)

The vendors enjoy doing this because people who don’t normally go into the business do, and get a chance to see what it is about. Meeting people at the door defeats the purpose of this for them.

A October 28, 2007 (10:46 am)

I was also annoyed about going into the stores. Last year I remember them mostly being outside. It is WAY too crowded to go into the stores. An example – why in the world was NW Art & Frame giving their candy out in the MIDDLE of the store?? My 19 month old nearly grabbed breakable things off the shelves while making our way in and out. I should’ve let him break something – maybe they’d learn.

carraignasplinkeen October 28, 2007 (11:17 am)

A big THANK YOU to the businesses for doing this (am not going to grouse about where they choose to give out free candy). However, while I know this might be anathema, perhaps this is one event that could be dog-free?

Gina October 28, 2007 (4:23 pm)

Why are people taking babies in strollers to get candy? If they aren’t tagging along after older siblings, the only reason a baby should be there, they are too young to be getting candy. Most babies and toddlers cry about getting dressed up, it is mostly parents wanting to show off.

On trick or treat night I get little wrapped gerber baby teether cookies for the tots still in diapers. The baby could care less. The 6 or 7 adults accompanying the baby seem sad.

I imagine that the Junction retailers lose sales on trick or treat day. I know that I wasn’t going anywhere near there. And I also know that people come with vans full of kids from Kent and Tukwila and Renton to West Seattle for this. And they are not coming back to shop later in the year.

If the stores are too crowded for your baby, dress him up on a different day, take baby around to the stores, everyone will ooo and ah, and you can hand baby a piece of candy yourself at any point in the store.

Oh, I forgot. This isn’t for the baby, is it.

Elliott October 28, 2007 (4:53 pm)

Thank you to all the merchants that participated. The popularity and size of the event is to the point where closing down the street makes sense. As it was, people were walking in the street to get around the crowded stores.

miws October 28, 2007 (5:36 pm)

“My 19 month old nearly grabbed breakable things off the shelves while making our way in and out. I shouldÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve let him break something – maybe theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢d learn.”
Comment by A Ã¢â‚¬â€

Yeah! I hear ya!

Makes me kinda wish I had a kid, or more. Then we could get together and have almost a year to recruit other disgruntled parents, and come up with a strategic plan, should the Evil NW Art & Frame choose to give away their FREE candy in the middle of the store again next year!

Each kid could grab a breakable and break it on the way back to the FREE candy handout location. And if the store staff is not quick enough in cleaning up the broken breakables, each kid could grab another breakable and break it on the way out, to show the parents’ displeasure in the little ones stumbling over the previously broken breakables!

That’ll learn ’em!!

Mike

A October 28, 2007 (8:54 pm)

It sure would miws. Completely idiotic to make us walk into the store. You comment was stupid as I’m sure you are. As for the other idiot mentioning babies not trick or treating – ya, 19 months can eat candy stupid! Get a life and choke on your gerber chew sticks!

Maria October 28, 2007 (10:23 pm)

So the merchants should subsidize taking a day off while paying their employees to give preschoolers candy. The rent each day costs them at least $150 dollars plus power and payroll. And you are too lazy to walk in the store for free candy and while there want to punish the provider for making you walk an extra ten feet. Are you on welfare?

Brad October 29, 2007 (1:04 pm)

Since when did having fun with the family and getting free candy become so hostile? I’m thinking the merchants that have things broken will learn for next year. . . . they might just learn not to participate. . . . I’m not sure the average trick-or-treater realizes how much these wonderful folks spend to provide a safe experience for our kids. . . . .

Brad October 29, 2007 (1:04 pm)

Since when did having fun with the family and getting free candy become so hostile? I’m thinking the merchants that have things broken will learn for next year. . . . they might just learn not to participate. . . . I’m not sure the average trick-or-treater realizes how much these wonderful folks spend to provide a safe experience for our kids. . . . .

JW October 29, 2007 (1:22 pm)

Geesh people, why all the abuse? Try to talk nice, please! As for suggestions for the future– we’ve done this event with our kid/now kids for 3 years now, and I always say “why don’t they close the streets?” Especially when the weather is as wonderful as Saturday, we’d LOVE to spend more time down at the Junction, would probably spend some of our money on food or other items, and would otherwise make it more worthwhile for the merchants… IF it wasn’t so darn crowed. The way it is now, we just want to escape after an hour. Please consider doing that next year! And yes, thanks so much for making this a great tradition!

Jan October 29, 2007 (1:52 pm)

wow…all of you parents out there with children should just be thanking your lucky stars that the merchants are doing this so your children can have a fun( and safe) experience. As far as “breakables” in NW Art and Frame….or anyplace else that chooses to give candy away in the middle of their store. YOU’RE the parent…so parent…and teach your children to respect things that don’t belong to them, whether in a store or a home. This isn’t a free-for-all. You’re supposed to be in control…that also goes for the parents who want the streets closed so there’s more room to find your children when they get away from you. Hand Holding 101 is offered quite a few times a year…maybe you need a refresher course.

Lighten up, everyone…if this was such a terrible experience for you and your kids, perhaps you simply need to skip it in the future so others can enjoy it.

Jan October 29, 2007 (1:57 pm)

yes…a cranky Monday…hehe :)

JW October 29, 2007 (2:50 pm)

Jan, listen to yourself. (“Lighten up”? Yes, you should.) I know from your other (frequent) postings that you are a parent, but possibly not a recent one of small children? You might want to curb your enthusiasm when talking about something you apparently don’t know that much about. I couldn’t agree with you more on the subject of breakables in NW Art and Frame, but you should’ve ended your rant there and skipped the self-righteous Hand Holding 101 bit. Have you done the Junction event with a 3 year old? Do you understand the sheer CRUSH of that crowd? Little people, despite a firm grip on their little hands, cannot stand up to that mess of people, attempt to trick or treat, and actually have a decent time (not to mention the toll in takes on the parent, to keep that child on the right path). By suggesting the street be kept closed for 2 hours for such a popular event, I hardly think we parents deserve your bitterness– we may even be suggesting something that could result in an improved experience for the merchants. Can I suggest that you lay off the blogging a bit, when you are having a “cranky Monday”? Even blogging deserves good manners.

Keith October 29, 2007 (3:42 pm)

Beggars can’t be choosers, indeed. Apparently that golden rule should be amended to allow some constructive criticism and bitching? ;)

So, let’s see… the Junction merchants need to stop car & bus traffic through a major neighborhood hub, hire cops to redirect traffic, keep the stores open but unable to do real business by blocking the entrance (and have their merchandise maliciously broken should they not comply), ban pets and require proof of local residence to enter the area, all so little junior can haul in his or her share of free candy, regardless of whether s/he’s old enough to actually eat and enjoy it (and don’t forget to grab extra for Mom & Dad)! If I had a business in the Junction, I’d consider turning off my proverbial porchlight.

Having said all that, I do support the closed street idea for safety’s sake, and I say this as someone who lives near the Junction and would definitely feel the impact in terms of traffic, parking, rerouted buses, etc. But if it can happen for the Hi-Yu parade it should happen for this, at least from Oregon to Edmunds. And perhaps it would become more relaxed and leisurely, allowing some parents/shoppers to support the businesses giving out free candy.

ps Has anyone else noticed that many kids don’t even bother to say “Trick or Treat” or “Thank You” when collecting their candy loot? Boo on that.

JW October 29, 2007 (4:06 pm)

The vast majority of families participating in this event are NOT there for Ã¢â‚¬Å“free candyÃ¢â‚¬ÂÃ¢â‚¬â€ weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re there to celebrate this time of year with a fun, local tradition for our kids. ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s the same spirit that drives many of us to shop locally as much as we can in West Seattle, and patronize the many wonderful merchants in the Junction ALL YEAR LONG. West Seattle is full of families with small (or smallish) children, and I think the Junction merchants know thatÃ¢â‚¬â€ hence their incredible patience with this crowded, crazy event. I think all events, free or otherwise, deserve careful criticism and suggestions for improvementÃ¢â‚¬â€ otherwise, they die out as particpation drops. Please consider making some improvements to this, the whining notwithstanding.

WestSeattleMom October 29, 2007 (5:05 pm)

We love trick-or-treating in the junction! I want to shout out a big THANK YOU to the merchants for making West Seattle a fun place to live. My mom was visiting from out of town and she really enjoyed seeing all the babies, toddlers and big kids in their costumes. Wow, lots of moms went all out this year. I think closing the street would be awesome for next year. Also, more chocolate please!
PS: My shy guy was reminded everytime to say trick-or-treat and thank you, sometimes in the crush and rush it’s hard to get those words out so do give our kids the benefit of the doubt!

s October 29, 2007 (5:48 pm)

I went trick or treating with my sister and neices in the junction. it was PACKED. it was hard to get in and out of the stores that gave out candy inside the store. i get that the point is to promote business in the store. but i sincerely doubt that many people were actually stopping to shop while trick or treating. we didnt. although we did go back to at least one business after it was over. and the merchants were taking advantage of the crowds by handing out coupons for your return visit. good for them

kudos the guy from the nursery for setting up a candy station on the sidewalk in front of petco. very cool.

i like the idea of closing the street. how about having a junction halloween carnival?

TH October 29, 2007 (7:27 pm)

My daughter (age 4) and I had a good time at the event. A big thank you (she said it in person) to all the merchants.

Jan October 29, 2007 (8:03 pm)

crankiness aside now…it’s all over. I think “s” has a great suggestion…a Hallowe’en Carnival for West SEattle that could happen later in the afternoon the weekend before Hallowe’en. Close the streets then for the event, and shoppers get their turn earlier in the day. Have hay rides, candy stations, costume contests, picture taking..and a safe place for kids to be with their families. As West SEattle grows and grows, some of us fear that the “small town-ness” of WS will be a thing of the past. Something like this always seems “small town” in it’s flavor. Dave at West 5…are you listening? :)

Yes, JW, my daughter is 27 now. We didn’t have things like this in WS when she was small..had to contend with walking the neighborhood only….

carla October 31, 2007 (3:07 pm)

I grew up in West Seattle and now live away. I bring my child to the junction to share with him the traditions. Every year we come to the parade and for trick or treating at the junction. I also shop in the junction whenever I’m in the area. I appreciate the businesses that hold to the traditions of West Seattle and make it the special place that it and has been. I taught my two year old to say trick or treat and thank you and was with him to remind him if he forgot.
Thanks West Seattle, we appreciate you!