These may already be marked on your calendar in a big way but as the week kicks off, here’s a quick list of the biggest events Thursday-Sunday:

THURSDAY – TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: This fundraiser for West Seattle Helpline is bigger than ever this year – more than 30 restaurants (listed here), and more than “just” one room at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Your ticket (buy it here via PayPal – you don’t have to have an account – scroll down for info on using credit cards) gets you the right to try everything – if you have time and appetite! WSB is proud to be among the co-sponsors of this year’s Taste of WS.

FRIDAY – KEXP HOOD-TO-HOOD PARTY/BROADCAST/SHOWS/MORE: From pre-dawn till long after dark this Friday, West Seattle rocks with the long-awaited victory party for KEXP Radio’s fundraising Hood-to-Hood Challenge (as first noted here last June). Multiple venues will have live bands – of course the premier West Seattle venue for live music, Skylark Café and Club, is among them, but so is Feedback Lounge (also a WSB sponsor), with its very first live performance ever (Memphis Radio Kings and Kandi Coded). KEXP broadcasts live from West Seattle all day, starting at 6 am at Easy Street Records, which has shows all day too – even the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band at 10:30 am. Full Easy Street schedule here. Other venues include West 5 and Prost (DJs), Shadowland (DJs, trivia, bands), Cupcake Royale (WSB sponsor) with family fun including live music (even Caspar Babypants!), and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (DJs, bands). KEXP’s list is here; and if you have friends who need to get over to WS to join you, a free Water Taxi ride coupon is here. Plus, KEXP is having a West Seattle Food Bank food drive at the KEXP tent outside KeyBank at California/Alaska, 10 am-4:30 pm Friday.

SATURDAY – WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: Bouncy toys and magic shows for the kids, live bands/exhibits/activities/raffles for the grownups, even JP Patches! That’s just some of what you’ll find at the first West Seattle street festival of the season, 11 am-7 pm Saturday – here’s the official poster. (Thanks to WV for sponsoring WSB this week to help get the word out.)

SUNDAY – WEST SEATTLE 5K/CELEBRATE SEATTLE SUMMER STREETS: Last year the West Seattle High School PTSA put on the West Seattle 5K for the first time and drew 1,000 walkers/runners; this Sunday, they’re expecting even more. 9 am from the Bathhouse; and like last year, it kicks off the Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets “car-free day” on Alki, with most of Alki and Harbor closed to most vehicle traffic till 5 pm (there’ll be a lane for the Water Taxi shuttle and residents):

(If you’re not registered yet for the WS5K – co-sponsored again this year by WSB – you can do it online till Thursday; after that, you’ll have to do it pre-race onsite.)

Those are just the biggest events – lots more going on, as noted on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.