(This report features photos posted as we “toured” – report #2 coming up with more!)
6:07 PM: Let the block parties begin! We’re hitting the road for Night Out 2010 around West Seattle, stopping by some of the parties that folks were kind enough to let us know about. For starters – the setup above is for at the party closest to WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy. If we don’t get to yours or you didn’t answer the request for invites, we’re also thrilled to have a photo of what you’re up to – here are all the ways to send it in.
6:27 PM: We’re heading from Fairmount to Hansen’s View, neighborhoods on either side of Providence Mount St. Vincent. Above, a quick shot of the group gathering in Fairmount Community Association leader Sharonn Meeks‘ backyard. Next, we’re stopping at the HQ of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network‘s founders.
6:38 PM: At left in the photo above, with name tags etc., is the always-organized Karen Berge from the WSBCN – co-blockwatch captain for Hansen’s View, south of The Mount. Next, we head into Gatewood.
(next photo added later)
6:53 PM: Actually that one turned out to be more like Morgan Junction. Thanks to Brooks for the invite. They’re expecting a fire-engine visit sometime later – police and fire units do often make the rounds on Night Out! And that group had a couple examples (we’ll add more pix from our travels later – in a hurry and on the go, we’re defaulting to the cameraphone photos we snap first) of true fun in the street: kids scooting and tricycling without risk – great to have that one night a year! Off now a few blocks south. But first – a photo in from a big party southwest of The Junction – Dave shares this photo of neighbors Obie and Rosinia:
(added later) Dave also caught the live neighborhood concert – with a Nirvana cover:
7:09 PM: Just left a party in Gatewood – thanks to Sue for inviting us. There we found a longtime WSB sponsor – John Moore from Northwest Insurance Group (and most recently, the tipster who let us know about the smash-and-grab at The Swinery that turned out to be toward the start of the smash-and-grab “pattern”):
Next stop – Seaview.
7:27 PM: In Seaview, blockwatch captain Melody told us that Erma – with the white hair, background right – is the neighborhood’s original blockwatch captain. She also told us we’d just missed a visit by Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel, who apparently is the only one making West Seattle Night Out visits tonight because of a big case elsewhere in the city that is keeping everyone busier than usual. We’re now en route to Arbor Heights – with a photo to add from Fauntleroy:
Thanks to Fauntleroy Community Association president Bruce Butterfield for sharing the pic! They’re gathering on SW Henderson, between 45th SW and Fauntleroy Way. 7:51 PM: The Arbor Heights party we just visited is the first one since 1996 in a neighborhood near Hillcrest Presbyterian Church. They had a great barbecue going:
Now we’re in Highland Park, 8600 block of 12th SW – thanks to Christie for the invite here. (We have crews in the north and east too and will incorporate their photos in a second report later.) Photo (added afterward):
8:15 PM: We’re moved to North Delridge. We’re checking out the 25th/Findlay party (photo added):
And just before arrival, got this 26th/Juneau shot from Betsy Hoffmeister:
That’s Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow on the right.
8:26 PM: From the aforementioned 25th/Findlay party (thanks to Sabrina for permission to stop by) – the impromptu sound system they’re using for tunes – iPod, speaker and mixer:
Speaking of music, our next stop is a South Admiral party that’s one of several tonight reported to have bands. But first, the sun’s already set – Chas Redmond sent this photo from outside The Hall at Fauntleroy (not a Night Out party there, instead, the Citizens Advisory Group meeting regarding the Murray Basin Combined Sewer Overflow control project – yes, it’s not ALL about Night Out tonight):
8:49 PM: From the 3700 block of 42nd SW – where the band 4 Outta 5 just finished playing for a big crowd before we arrived after sunset:
(better photo substituted for earlier cameraphone pic)
We’re now checking out two parties in the Fairmount Springs/north-of-Morgan-Junction area – one to which we were invited, another we spotted while parking, which seems to have a police officer visiting.
8:57 PM: We’ve seen a LOT of kids tonight – including babies as little as 2 weeks old. The one we got in this photo (south of Graham, west of Fauntleroy) wasn’t quite that young – but mugged for the camera quite nicely – with Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith alongside:
(added) Across Graham from there, this is the alley party @zeitgeist33 tweeted about. The sign was a nice touch:
The “official” Night Out window of time is running out – though we know a couple parties were planning outdoor movies around 9:30 – meantime, we’ll definitely have another Night Out report later, with some non-cameraphone imagery, not just from our tour, but also from photojournalists Christopher Boffoli (who toured The Junction and points west) and Cliff DesPeaux (who made a couple stops in northeast WS), and from a few e-mailed/tweeted scenes we haven’t published yet. Thanks to everyone who shared word of their parties!
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