West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Thanks to Oleana for sharing this display, including a photo as well as the address (7900 block of 30th SW). Here, it’s not the lights as much as the carvings! We’ve added this to the ongoing WSB West Seattle Christmas Lights map. Keep the tips coming, with or without photos – editor@westseattleblog.com. (You can also find the map on the West Seattle Holidays page any time, and the photos of lights we’ve already featured are archived here.)
One of the most fun fundraisers so far this holiday season in our area happened last Sunday night at West Seattle Christian Church‘s Activity Center in The Junction. Builders of all ages comprised more than three dozen teams for the Extreme Gingerbread Challenge – some as young as Elle, who was the “foreperson” for her parents’ entry:
The Shaughnessy family built a demonstration gingerbread house, not to enter, but to showcase what the night was all about – raising money to help bring safer water to villages in Central America, a project with which WSCC has been involved for several years:
The gingerbread structure built by Bella, Jen, Mike, and Lauren is actually a replica of the church visited by WSCC volunteers doing well-building work last year with WSCC’s Pastor Dan Jacobs, who oversaw the gingerbread-fest too:
As for the entries – here’s a team of Junctionites constructing a gingerbread replica of fashion-forward Clementine Shoes (including Clementine’s proprietor Linda Walsh):
One of the winners: Furry Faces Foundation, for Santa’s North Pole Pet Adoption Center – talk about a place to find your “forever home”!
You can see the F3 creation on display for the duration of the holiday season at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), by the way, as noted in the WSB Forums – and if you want to congratulate F3, their multiple-session “Wrap It Up” fundraising gift-wrap services continue tomorrow (and twice more next week, as listed here). Other winners: The Gustafson Family, Naomi Cox, and the WSCC middle-school youth group in the General class, and with F3 in the Open class were the Aird Family and Sophia Seago. Even if you weren’t there, you can still help the WSCC well-building program (which is headed to El Salvador next year) – find out how at wsccwaterwells.org.
Covering the basketball hoopla at Chief Sealth International High School last night, a WSB team member got a hot tip: Go check out what’s happening on the other side of the campus at Denny International Middle School. Turned out to be the 2nd annual Posada Navideña celebration (here’s our coverage of the first one last year) – first one in the new Denny, adjacent to Sealth. Principal Jeff Clark explained:
Our crew got him to pose with some of the folks he mentioned who made the big, busy event happen:
Members of Denny’s City Year team were on hand, too:
Admission fees were waived for anyone who brought a traditional Mexican dish to feed at least 10 people. After dinner, treats included cupcakes:
Our crew had to get back over to the Sealth gym – but we’re told last night’s celebration also included piñatas and live music.
This Santa knows you’ve been naughty AND nice. Till 7 pm, you can get down to Easy Street Records in The Junction for a photo with not only the Santa also known as “Cocoa Crisp Crinkle” but also his fetching elf “Pickle Whistle.” (Here’s the announcement tweeted by Easy Street proprietor Matt Vaughan.) Suggested donation for a photo $15, benefiting Northwest Harvest and Toys for Tots.
Handmade holiday gifts, anyone? Get over to Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW) in the next couple hours while a dozen artists/crafters are selling and showing their stuff. It’s the first time proprietor Jessie SK has done this, and we found her having fun at a table for making/decorating cards:
Among those whose wares you can check out – Eric and Ryan from Skylark’s new neighbors to the north, the screen-printers at ThisThat:
The bazaar’s on till 7. Skylark has a few other special holiday offerings ahead – Christmas open mike at 8 pm next Friday (December 23rd), with Jessie herself promising her annual round of “Santa Baby”; and New Year’s Eve “Wings of Desire” burlesque, 9 pm (December 31st).
Twice a month, you’ll find Sustainable West Seattle at the WS Farmers’ Market. Tomorrow, they’ve got a special seasonal mission – accepting your no-longer-needed (or no-longer-usable) holiday lights for recycling. We’re filling a bag to turn in …
As explained on the SWS website, you should be able to find their booth fairly easily, since they’re also promising a demonstration comparing the power-usage difference between LED lights and the old-fashioned type. As always, the Farmers’ Market is 10 am-2 pm Sunday, 44th/Alaska. And remember the special nighttime Farmers’ Market coming up this Thursday, 5-8 pm; after that, no market for a few weeks, since the following two Sundays (12/25 and 1/1) will be holidays.
We were headed north to The Junction to check out a caroling group’s pre-announced appearance at California/Alaska … when suddenly, at the Fauntleroy/California stoplight, we caught sight of these unannounced carolers. They were in front of Zeeks Pizza while we waited for the light to change, then moved south, but we managed to catch them for a photo on the other side of the intersection. They’re from nearby Seaview United Methodist Church (which also had performers at last summer’s Morgan Junction Community Festival). After resuming our northbound journey, we found the Junction carolers:
That’s We3Carolers – and friends from South Seattle Community College‘s choir. They are collecting donations for West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline, so if you drop a dollar in the kitty, that’s where it goes to. They were planning to perform till 3 today, and again next Saturday (Christmas Eve). Meantime, Helen Fenigsohn shares a photo of the roaming carolers she encountered today:
Helen says, “I was enjoying a cup at the Westwood Village Starbucks at noon and in walked these carolers. It was a very pleasant surprise!”
Sealth and WSHS athletes also competed in the water on Friday. Thanks to Katy for sharing results from the West Seattle High School/Chief Sealth International High School swim competition vs. Lakeside; see it all here (PDF).
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Story and video by Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Pep band? Check! Mascots? Check! Cheerleaders and dance squad? Check! Crowded bleachers? Check! Two varsity-level basketball contests between local rivals? Check!
What else could you ask for from your Friday night on the peninsula?
Did you say ‘overtime?’
Sure! Why not?!
Chief Sealth International High School played a gracious, but not too gracious host, to cross-neighborhood rival West Seattle High School, with the Sealth girls winning 55-41 before the Seahawk boys gave the packed gym an overtime thriller, coming away with a 63-59 victory.
(More details, video, photos ahead)Read More
DR titled that photo “USS Seattle” – it does resemble the skyline as a ship, sailing on a sea of fog. But hey, it’s not raining or snowing, a good thing for a big holiday shopping (etc.) day. Here are some of the highlights (reminder that these listings all come from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar and, this time of year, the Holiday Events/Info list, and are usually on those lists days if not weeks ahead of time, for those who like to plan way ahead):
SANTA APPEARANCES: Lots of them today and tonight – busy guy! Check out the Santa section on the Holidays page – we’ve moved it up to the top of the page so you can find it fast.
HAPPY 5TH ANNIVERSARY, BAKERY NOUVEAU: Just posted on their official “blog” – today marks their 5th anniversary, and they’re offering some discounts. Read about it here.
GIVEAWAY AT WEST SEATTLE PRODUCE: Seattle Bagel Bakery is giving away free bagels till noon. Details in the WSB Forums.
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: Support group for Alzheimer’s patient caregivers, and others dealing with people facing memory loss, meets monthly in West Seattle – 10 am; details here.
‘FABULOUS FAMILY FUN’ WITH THE NOISE GUY: Fabulous Family Fun Series – Entertaining shows for all ages on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 10:30 am at High Point Community Center (6920 34th Ave SW)! Each event is $3 per person; $15 max for families. Today – The Noise Guy (for ages 1 and older). What bellows like a reindeer, jingles like a sleigh bell and flushes like a toilet? It’s the Noise Guy!
CAROLERS IN THE JUNCTION: We3Carolers is bringing holiday music in support of the Food Bank to the corner of Alaska and California SW on the next 2 Saturdays. Members of the South Seattle Community College Choir will also sing with us. This year (as in years past) 100% of the caroling proceeds will go to both the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks. Caroling will be on the Southwest corner, noon-3 pm today. All are welcome to join in the singing!
HOLIDAY SHOPPING DISCOUNTS: In The Junction, Admiral, and elsewhere! Check out this special WSB page with holiday-season coupons.
HOLIDAY PARTY FOR KIDS: At Delridge Community Center, noon-2 pm (from fall brochure).
WINE, CHEESE, CHAMPAGNE TASTINGS: Wine and cheese tasting at Admiral Safeway, noon-4 pm. La Crema Sonoma Pinot Noir, La Crema Sonoma Chardonnay, Kendall Jackson VR Summation Red, paired with the following cheeses: Black Diamond – 2 year aged; Castello Blue Cheese; Laura Chanel Goat Cheese; as well as a 3 Pigs pate. … West Seattle Cellars‘ special 1-5 pm tasting is the annual holiday grower Champagne tasting … Bin 41 features “holiday Italian arrivals with Vito,” 1-3 pm.
TRY THE TANGO: Argentine Tango Classes in West Seattle at Allstar Fitness, 2629 SW Andover. Saturdays from 1-3 PM, $7. Series classes available starting in January, with registration currently open; more info here. Contact Layton Miller: info@gttango.com
NEED GIFT WRAP HELP? “Wrap It Up” gift wrapping with Furry Faces Foundation and AARF. First of four events to benefit animal-advocacy work: 2-7 pm at Rocksport (4209 SW Alaska) in The Junction.
‘SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE’: Paul and Libby Carr have written “Santa’s First Magical Ride – A Christmas Tale,” and will be making an appearance at Alki Tully’s store (dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus), 3-6pm.
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN SOUTH PARK: Posada Navideña Christmas celebration on 14th South in South Park, 4 pm-10 pm, live music and lots more, see the details here.
CRAFTS/ARTS SALE @ SKYLARK: Skylark Café and Club hosting an art/craft fair/bazaar, 4-7 pm, with eleven artists/crafters participating – including photographer Machel Spence (who shared the photo above) – more info here (3803 Delridge Way SW).
MORE ARTS AND CRAFTS, PLUS LIVE MUSIC: Arts/crafts and music at Café Rozella, 6-9 pm (details here)
(Photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, A LIVE RADIO SHOW’: 7:30 pm performance of Twelfth Night Productions‘ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show,” at Kenyon Hall. Based on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, playwright Joe Landry’s take on “It’s a Wonderful Life” comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast at historic Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th SW. Tickets available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and at Kenyon Hall, $15/adults, $12 students & seniors.
(Rehearsal photo courtesy Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale)
MUSICA SACRA AT HOLY ROSARY: Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale presents its inaugural Christmas Concert at Holy Rosary (42nd/Genesee), 7:30 pm. Bring donations for West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline. Full details in our previously published preview.
‘EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY’: ArtsWest presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!).” 7:30 pm; ticket info here.
| 2 COMMENTS