West Seattle, Washington
13 Monday
Many storefronts are already festively lit and decorated in the Admiral District, and more will be by tonight – including wreaths going up on some of the business-district light fixtures, like this spot outside Alki Bike and Board (whose proprietor Stu Hennessey is in our photo, with Dave Weitzel from Weitzel Construction). The “work party” was already planned before today’s forecast took a turn for the sunny! Also helping decorate – Max and Quinn, as in the Atomic Boys‘ original namesakes (sons of store owners Parris and Kent Sadow):
Among the holiday fun coming up in the Admiral District, Dinah Brein at the historic Admiral Theater says she’s finalized the date for the free Christmas movie, 7 pm December 20th. She’s still finalizing the movie; once again this year, she asked us to ask you for ideas – see the suggestions here.
If you’re out in public with the art you put your heart and soul into, it helps to have a cheering section nearby. If our photo’s angle were a bit wider, you would see Rose Jarvey‘s mom off to the left. Rose is one of the artists showing and selling their wares at WSB sponsor C & P Coffee‘s Holiday Arts/Crafts Fair right now, till 2 pm (5612 California SW). It’s all about family over in the other corner of C & P’s front room:
That’s micro-photographer extraordinaire Machel Spence (who has shared work here on WSB many a time) and daughter India – while mom’s known for photographing tiny marvels, India created these:
Feet away, Barbara Noonan was using coffee and croissant as a still-life inspiration for another chalk creation:
She was C & P’s featured West Seattle Art Walk artist last month. Others we saw at today’s fair include Ebrima Jatta with Africa-inspired crafts, painter Sheila Lengle, and Jewelry by Brett Today’s other bazaars/fairs/events are listed on our ‘West Seattle Sunday‘ preview, here.
(Seacrest Boathouse file photo, by Christopher Boffoli)
Our partners at the Seattle Times report today that the city Parks Department has chosen a new (not-yet-identified) operator for Seacrest Boathouse. The owners of Alki Crab and Fish have been the official operators for a decade, the length of the city contract that expired last June; this past fall, the city put out a Request for Proposals for operating the food/drink concession at the boathouse/pier (see the RFP here, including the city’s terms and conditions).
A document on the city website includes Q/A with the city in response to an unidentified “interested proposer” (see it here). As that document notes, Alki Kayak Tours is a subcontractor to the restaurant operator. We asked its proprietor Greg Whittaker, who has offered tours as well as rentals (not just kayaks, but skates, bikes, and standup paddleboards, among other things) for 7 years, how this would affect his operation. His reply: “I am not really sure how this all will turn out. We have worked really hard to develop this business and hope to negotiate a solution with Seattle Parks and Recreation.” Alki Crab and Fish’s owner told the Times he plans to send the city a protest letter.
The reported plan to turn Seacrest over to a new operator requires City Council approval, with a vote expected early next year. We’ll be following up with Parks tomorrow.
Fresh this morning – a micro-scene at Lincoln Park, courtesy of photographer Machel Spence, who’ll be at the C & P Coffee Company holiday arts/crafts fair today – part of another busy list of possibilities! From the WSB West Seattle Holidays and Events calendars:
C & P HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR: Meet the artists and shop at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 9 am-2 pm (5612 California SW).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska. Today you’ll also find a booth with Waste Management promoting and answering questions about its recycling challenge – with its neighborhoods around the city (including West Seattle) competing over the next few months to win a $50,000 neighborhood-improvement grant, depending on which one has the biggest reduction in waste.
WEST SEATTLE ARTISTS’ STUDIO TOUR: Final day, wide variety of West Seattle artists featured at local artist studios during the Seattle Sampling Artists Studio Tour: Visit Penguina Designs Studio (penguinadesigns.com), Brace Point Pottery (bracepointpottery.com), Ken Turner Pottery Studio (kenturnerpottery.com) or Marilyn Moore Studio all without leaving West Seattle! Multiple artists are featured at each studio; full details at seattlesampling.com. 10 am-5 pm.
BRUNCH, ANYONE? While you’re out shopping … WSB sponsor Fresh Bistro serves brunch 10 am-3 pm; see the menu here.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS: SANTA PHOTOS! Santa Photos in The Junction! 11 am to 3 pm at City Mouse Studio and Store, with photographer Donna Ryan; suggested donation of $15 or more goes to help West Seattle charities.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS HEADQUARTERS: 11 am-4 pm, in front of KeyBank at California/Alaska, it’s Hometown Holidays Headquarters for information on festivities, shopping, the Holiday Raffle and in-store events. Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) info here. (P.S. In case you are wondering, the mule-drawn carriage rides are the NEXT TWO Sundays, NOT today.)
DECK THE MUSEUM WITH BOUGHS … (etc.): You’re invited to join in decorating the Log House Museum and potluck lunch 12-2 pm. Help get the Log House Museum ready for the holidays! Join us to string lights and decorate the tree. Also bring a side dish or small dessert for a Potluck Lunch with staff, board and volunteers! And, if you have some, we need extra lights for outside and thumb tacks, small nails, or a staple gun to hang them. So come on over; it’s always fun to share work and food! 3003 61st SW.
HOLIDAY ART, ENERGY, AND HEALING: Greet old friends, make new ones, and shop for unique, uplifting gifts at Alki Arts, 1:00-4:00 p.m. Stone readings, crystals, Peruvian rattles, crystal/flower essences, animal totem pendulums, smudge kits, art, books, and more! Rose De Dan of Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing, Robyn Fritz of Alchemy West, and Vicki Draper of Vi Miere will be there to answer your questions about energy healing for people and animals as well as assist you in finding the right energetic gift for yourself, family, or friends
CAPERS’ OPEN HOUSE AND “DIY SANTA”: CAPERS holiday open house continues 11-5; meet Mary Conzatti of M. Frances Jewelry (noon-4 pm), and take your own photos with Santa, 1-5 pm.
DREAM HOMES TOUR: Multi-agency Open House tour of 11 West Seattle “dream homes,” 1-4 pm. From the announcement: “Our intention has been to generate an energy within our community through agency solidarity, as well as to show what the housing market coupled with the current interest rates can buy. We love West Seattle and want to do whatever we can to help it thrive in this economically challenging time. There are some amazing opportunities available for first time home buyers all the way up to those ready to move up!” Here’s the list of homes.
SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS: Dreading the holidays because of the death of a loved one? Grace Church will host a “Surviving the Holidays” one time seminar, 2 pm, 10323 28th SW. Everyone is welcome. Contact Barb at 206-932-7459.
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE,’ RADIO STYLE: 3 pm matinee for 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 are available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and at Kenyon Hall, $15/adults, $12 students & seniors.
‘EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY’: Also continuing today, ArtsWest presents the Seattle premiere of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez. 3 pm; ticket info here.
EVENING SHOPPING: 3rd annual St. Nicholas Faire, a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle Helpline, at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, 4105 California SW, 4 pm to 7 pm. Cost is $5 per person, $15 per family (with at least one can of food per person) or $10 per person, $25 per family (when there are no donations). Come and buy gift baskets and baked goods for people on your holiday shopping lists. Also enjoy wine tasting, a wine toss and tasty treats and drinks!
(Click to see larger image)
From photographer Danny McMillin – a seasonal sighting:
Brant geese feeding on eelgrass near Constellation Park on Alki (today) This is my first sighting of Brant this fall/winter. They’ve migrated from their summer breeding grounds in Alaska and the high Arctic of Canada. Man, that’s a long way to fly!
Danny frequently contributes to the WSB Flickr group and we’ve been fortunate to be able to showcase some of his photos here on the site. You can see more of his work in a photography display that’s about to open at Shanti Salon and Spa (WSB sponsor), “A Sampling of Birds II,” opening next Wednesday and continuing all month. Danny will be at Shanti on West Seattle Art Walk night next Thursday (December 8), 6-9 pm (2138 California SW).
UPDATE, 5:40 PM: The official West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Christmas Tree is lit, after another festive ceremony that saw hundreds packed into Junction Plaza Park, with holiday music from the Endolyne Children’s Choir and the Starlight All-Stars band, emceed by Marty Riemer from The Mountain. The post-lighting music has just wrapped up.
ADDED 6:18 PM: Our video clip shows the countdown and the tree-lighting – the actual counting was done onstage by the West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court (Queen Thea, Princess Amanda, Princess Elena) with Marty. Here are the first two songs by the Endolyne Children’s Choir:
The Endolyne singers perform at Chief Sealth International High School this Tuesday night, with the West Seattle Community Orchestras – concert details here. Here’s the Starlight All-Stars later:
Before the lighting ceremony in the park, the West Seattle High School Band played Christmas music in the heart of The Junction:
It’s all part of the Hometown Holidays celebration (co-sponsored by WSB), which continues tomorrow with Santa photos 11 am-3 pm at City Mouse Studio and Store (4218 SW Alaska), $15 donation goes to local nonprofits including WestSide Baby, whose executive director Nancy Woodland spoke tonight. Other speakers: West Seattle Junction Association president Todd Carden of Elliott Bay Brewing, with a quip about the official tree:
West Seattle Christian Church‘s Pastor Dan Jacobs spoke too, about the spirit of the season.
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ORIGINAL REPORT (4:56 PM): A crowd has gathered at Junction Plaza Park and musical warmups are under way … c’mon down!
We’re now out on the bazaar beat. As previewed in our “West Seattle Saturday” lineup this morning, there’s an abundance of places to check out arts and crafts today, in addition to shopping at our area’s fine stores. Till 3 pm, there’s the annual holiday bazaar at Schmitz Park Elementary:
On the east side of the cafeteria, don’t miss the students whose crafts are raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank. (Post-bazaar update – We’re told they raised almost $100 for the food bank!) In other sections of the bazaar, you’ll find other student vendors (as well as adults):
Jack Bennett and Ben Godwin (in the aviator’s cap), both Schmitz Park first-graders, are selling airplanes and comics. Nearby, fourth-grader Blake is selling handmade duct-tape wallets:
Lots to check out at 5000 SW Spokane till 3.
On to Freshy’s Coffee in the Admiral District, where there are a few vendors outside and more inside:
In the foreground is the work of Starheadboy (who told us he also has a display up at Red Cup Espresso through this month). Inside – perfect for today’s weather – you’ll find warm hats (and more) from Maxx Designs:
The Freshy’s event is on till 4, as is a Holiday Gift/Art Fair at the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation church in Gatewood (7141 California SW):
The vendors there today include Shelby:
And there’s even more going on out there … here again is today’s **long** preview.
More than 100 people who don’t have anywhere to go in from today’s bone-chilling damp cold will benefit from the donation drive that’s culminating today at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights – where they’re hoping to “stuff the bus” with items for the people of all ages living at the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville, which moved back to West Seattle (West Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way SW) last spring. Our Friday update has the newest information on what they’re hoping to collect, with active living manager Nichole overseeing things:
They’re collecting money too – donations are being accepted for coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies right outside the MH entrance, 2326 California SW.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Gary:
My dark green 4-door 1996 Honda Accord was stolen yesterday (Fri 12/2) between 8 AM and 5:15 PM from the Metro park and ride underneath the WS bridge. I parked in the lot closest to Avalon. WA license #ABW 9695. Bumper sticker on rear says “All Mixed Up rocks.” Has been reported to Seattle police.
With a crew of volunteer pancake chefs including Michael LaFranchi (and his holiday-spirit apron), the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is filling the Masonic Hall this morning for its 65th annual Community Pancake Breakfast:
…and that’s only half the room! There’s still time to get there before 11; $6 adults/$3 kids for pancakes, ham, and orange juice, with proceeds benefiting Kiwanis community programs including research into childhood cancer. Plus they are collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. In addition to volunteers from the Kiwanis, high-school clubs, and Scouts, West Seattle Hi-Yu volunteers and junior royalty are on hand too, and you can buy one of their gorgeous glass fundraising ornaments:
And a very special guest … in the background of this shot featuring Hi-Yu Junior Princess Amanda, Queen Thea, and Princess Elena … Santa!
40th/Edmunds – the canopies and signs point the way to the entrance.
Tonight’s West Seattle Junction tree-lighting ceremony is the biggest event on a full slate of holiday happenings (plus a few others) – at right, we photographed the tree late Friday afternoon. From the WSB West Seattle Holidays page and Events calendar:
ROTARY CHILDREN’S SHOPPING SPREE: Happening now at SODO Sears – our ongoing coverage is here.
KIWANIS PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Happening now! Santa photos are part of Kiwanis Club of West Seattle‘s annual pancake breakfast, through 11 am at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds): This year’s breakfast has a special emphasis. A major part of the proceeds will help fund the Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Project (KCCP). This effort by Kiwanians of the Pacific Northwest will support fellowships for juvenile cancer research at Children’s Hospital. $6 adults/$3 kids at the door. **Bring unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots!!**
GIVE THE PARK A GIFT: Join the Friends of Lincoln Park doing invasive plant removal from 9 am to noon. Meet in the north parking lot at the kiosk (Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Rose St). Dress warm!
STORY TIME! At Kol HaNeshamah, 6115 SW Hinds, 9:30 am The PJ Library Storytime at Kol HaNeshamah Congregation. The PJ Library welcomes Erik Lawson as our guest musician, with PJ Library manager Amy Paquette as our storyteller. Book: “The Hanukkah Trike.”
STUFF THE BUS FOR NICKELSVILLE! Bring donations to Nichole at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor, 2326 California SW), 10 am-4 pm, as they gather items for the encampment’s residents, which include children. We published an update yesterday with the “wish list” of items, for a specific family with kids as well as the encampment in general – details here.
WEST SEATTLE ARTISTS’ STUDIO TOUR: Wide variety of West Seattle artists featured at local artist studios during the Seattle Sampling Artists Studio Tour this weekend: Visit Penguina Designs Studio (penguinadesigns.com), Brace Point Pottery (bracepointpottery.com), Ken Turner Pottery Studio (kenturnerpottery.com) or Marilyn Moore Studio all without leaving West Seattle! Multiple artists are featured at each studio; full details at seattlesampling.com . Hours today (and tomorrow) are 10 am-5 pm.
SCHMITZ PARK HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: Schmitz Park Elementary‘s Holiday Craft Fair, 10 am-3 pm, 5000 SW Spokane Street, including crafts made by students to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank, as well as a variety of vendors.
HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW AT WSUU: 2nd Annual Holiday Gift Show Featuring Fine Arts and Crafts By Local Artists. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation Social Hall, 7141 California Ave SW.
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: At CAPERS in The Junction, 10 am-6 pm (including Santa – see that listing below).
HOMEMADE BRIGADE: Freshy’s Coffee “Homemade Brigade” sale, 10 am-4 pm, details on this Facebook event page.
‘HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS’ AT THE KENNEY: Luncheon & open house/tours at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). Tours begin at 10:30 a.m., Lunch served at 11:45 a.m. RSVP ASAP to 206-938-6941. 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW.
MAKE YOUR HOME QUAKE-RESISTANT: Seismic retrofitting DIY workshop at Seattle Public Library’s West Seattle (Admiral) branch, 11 am.
SANTA PHOTOS: Daily photos with Santa at Westwood Village (breezeway just east of Bed Bath Beyond). Carolers on Saturdays, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Giving tree for the Salvation Army. Hours and Santas listed here. … Bring your own camera to CAPERS in The Junction for “do-it-yourself” photos with the Santa who worked at Westwood in years past, 1-5 pm.
SANTA PAWS: Santa Paws is Coming to Town! Gather up your 4-footed friends for a free photo with you and Santa on Saturday, Dec. 3 from noon-2:30 at the Prudential Northwest Realty Office in Jefferson Square. Santa is very busy this time of year, so he only has 30 time slots available. Call 206-932-4500 to check if there’s room – 4700 42nd Ave SW, Suite 600.
ALKI ARTS BAZAAR: Holiday Shopping Bazaar at Alki Arts, 1-5 pm. From owner Diane Venti: “Fun Day of Shopping with local artistic vendors! For one day only Alki Arts turns into a mini vendor showroom. Shop table to table with some of our local friends and neighbors for great gifts and treasures. We will be hosting… Three jewelry artists will have tables set up, Two handbag designers will be holding their sample sales, and one handmade scarf designer is coming, along with all of the regular art we have in stock by West Seattle’s working artists. Oh yes, and we will be serving mimosas and cookies! yum! Bring your girlfriends and shop with us!
WINE TASTING: Bin 41 in The Junction has a special Saturday wine tasting, 1-3 pm.
ORNAMENT-MAKING PARTY: At Young at Art, now open in The Junction (42nd south of Alaska, west of Jefferson Square), 2-4 pm, fun for the whole family before the tree lighting!
REMODELING/CUSTOM HOMEBUILDING WORKSHOP: Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) had a couple spots available as of late last night, for this free 2 pm workshop at their HQ (California/Findlay) – info here.
ART UNDER $100 IN SOUTH PARK: This big sale is happening tonight too, 3-10 pm at South Park Community Center (details here).
BELLI CAPELLI ANNIVERSARY: This West Seattle salon is celebrating 20 years! Open house 3:30 to 6:30 pm. Live music, hors d’oeuvres, raffle tickets and door prizes, for the first 40 guests. 3902 California SW.
BAZAAR IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Blithe Bazaar in West Seattle, 4-8 pm near Arbor Heights Elementary – full details here
JUNCTION TREE LIGHTING: The West Seattle Junction Christmas Tree Lighting event is at 5 pm. Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) – West Seattle High School Band plays at 4 pm outside KeyBank; Endolyne Choir and others perform during the tree lighting itself.
CLOTHING, TOYS, ETC. SWAP: Join Duwamish Co-housing for the second annual Fall Clothing, Toy, and Household goods Swap on Saturday, December 3rd from 5-8 PM in the Common House. Please bring your clean, gently used clothes (women’s, men’s, & kid’s), accessories, toys, and durable household goods on Saturday to swap! All clothing items should be clean and free of any tears or stains. Toys should have all parts and be in good working order, as should small household items. Please bring instruction manuals for small appliances. (No furniture, white elephant, large appliances please). Light beverage service will be provided- feel free to bring a snack to share. Duwamish Co-housing is located at 6000 17th Ave. SW. There is limited parking in the community so please park on 16th Street (across from South Seattle Community College) and come down the zig-zag pathway across from the middle entrance to the college.
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE,’ RADIO STYLE: 7:30 pm – second night for 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. This live radio show will be performed at historic Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th SW. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and at Kenyon Hall, $15/adults, $12 students & seniors.
‘EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY’: Continuing tonight, ArtsWest presents the Seattle premiere of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez. 7:30 pm; ticket info here.
‘ROCKY HORROR’: The monthly midnight showing at Admiral Theater is tonight.
We’re in the SODO Sears/Starbucks building right now along with hundreds of people from teens through seniors, all volunteers who are here with one mission: To make this a happier holiday for about 100 kids from local elementary schools. It’s the annual Rotary Club of West Seattle Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree, and as those kids arrive, they’ll be matched with volunteers for a busy morning including breakfast, choosing warm clothing – our top photo shows volunteers, sorting – shopping, talking to Santa, and more. It’s a herculean effort to organize and stage:
ADDED 7 AM: That hallway suddenly filled, as the first kids arrived:
The kids participating today are from Alki, Lafayette, Gatewood, and Roxhill Elementary Schools, Pathfinder K-8, and Concord International School. Volunteers include not only West Seattle Rotarians, but also members of the National Panhellenic Council of Seattle and its associated sororities and fraternities (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Kappa Alpha Psi) – plus the Loren Miller Bar Association, and youth volunteers (we just met a group from Tukwila’s Foster High School):
ADDED 8:10 AM: More photos – from just part of the crowd of more than 300 volunteers:
… to the actual shopping!
We’re sitting next to a table with two volunteers and a little girl, making a list as they ask her what she’s interested in finding; this is all about practical gifts like warm clothes and shoes, and yet it’s a fun and festive atmosphere too (a table away, other volunteers are decorating the area where Santa will start meeting with the kids a bit later … update, he arrived to cheers and applause at 8:35 am).
ADDED: And even more photos, ahead, including a visitor from the Seahawks!Read More
Pete says he was in his office along College Street Ravine in North Admiral this morning when “to my surprise, a visitor showed up outside my window.” He says the coyote went through the yard 4 times. Meantime, Bly reported a south Morgan Junction sighting (California/Frontenac) via Twitter.
Coyote reports we’ve received over the past three-plus years are archived here.
Thanks to Mitch Spute for the quick clip of West Seattle’s Olio Glee Club caroling downtown Friday night in the much-watched Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition. He shared this photo, too:
Winners will be posted later today on the competition’s Facebook page. Meantime, last we heard, Olio was still open to new members – follow the name link above to get to their official site and find out more.
It’s the downside of rainlessness … the National Weather Service says our area is now under an “air-stagnation advisory,” and it’s not expected to get better before Monday night. Read the alert here, with advice for people dealing with respiratory illnesses. No burn bans so far, though.
P.S. If we’re still without (or with few) clouds this time next week, we just might see a share of a lunar eclipse that’ll be visible pre-dawn in the west on Saturday, December 10th – read about it here.
(Photos by Katie Meyer for WSB)
Every year, it’s the iconic photo of holiday-open-house season at West Seattle businesses – smiling proprietor Jack Miller bustling about Husky Deli in The Junction. The open house is on till 9 tonight, with taste treats including this chocolate cake:
(The cake was from nearby Bakery Nouveau, by the way.) Nice Santa hat!
Other members of the Miller family on hand included daughter Kate:
The annual openhouse is always a showcase for a few vendors, too – among them this time, Krista Conner‘s West Seattle Honey:
(Krista was featured on Seattle Channel this fall – here’s the video.) Husky Deli marked its 79th anniversary earlier this year. This begins a huge holiday weekend in The Junction – with Hometown Holidays activities including the tree lighting at 5 pm tomorrow (Junction Plaza Park) – preceded by the West Seattle High School Band playing outside KeyBank at California/Alaska – and Santa photos 11 am-3 pm Sunday at City Mouse Studio and Store.
We’ve received two notes about this so far – anyone else? They both report homes in the 50th/Alaska vicinity shaken by something explosion-like around 6 pm. Nothing on the fire log, though.
As we write this, the always-popular Husky Deli holiday open house has just begun, continuing till 9 pm. Photos to come. But Husky’s not the only venue you can visit for treats, sips, and holiday cheer. Two WSB sponsors are welcoming visitors this evening:
Till 9 pm in central Westwood Village, along the road between the post office and Barnes & Noble, visit Joni and Kirk Keppler at Wyatt’s Jewelers – and the overhead Christmas tree! Starting this weekend, by the way, Wyatt’s adds extra holiday shopping hours – noon-4 pm on Sundays.
At 4828 California SW, Cascade Dizziness and Balance Physical Therapy has an open house this evening too, till 7 pm, along with other practitioners in the space:
From left, Cascade’s Lisa Eaton, with Kinetic PT‘s Fawn Coussens, and Linda Spain.
ADDED: Later in the evening, we stopped by the holiday party at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor):
Proprietors Anne and Clarence Higuera welcomed staffers, friends, and clients into their HQ, a converted home at California/Findlay (the rustic log-house-style exterior is unmistakable as you drive between Alaska and Morgan Junctions). It’s where they’re having another free remodeling/custom building workshop again on Saturday, 2 pm – more info here.
And in The Junction, WSB contributor Katie Meyer dropped in on Bin 41, which was inviting folks in for a tasting (close enough to an open house!) – winemaker Bryan Crane from Kerloo Cellars in Walla Walla was there:
Bin 41 has a special Saturday tasting this week too, 1-3 pm.
Tomorrow – tons more open houses (and bazaars, and more) – browse the list on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page!
Planning winter travel? The Rotary Club of West Seattle and its fellow area Rotarians send news of a group headed out on a particularly exotic journey:
Only one more week to go before local area delegates from Rotary District 5030 leave the comforts of Seattle for Nepal. As posted over the summer, Rotary’s Group Study Exchange is a vocational exchange program that is sending a team of young professionals to Nepal (December 2011 – January 2012). Three of the five delegates are from West Seattle and two are sponsored by the West Seattle Rotary. Learn more about the program and the team – they could be your neighbors – and follow them along on their Himalayan adventure at gse2011seattle.blogspot.com.
Tomorrow morning, by the way, Rotary members have a big event a lot closer to home: With the help of volunteers and donations, they will be helping 100 local kids have a happier holiday season through the annual Children’s Shopping Spree. If you’d like to chip in, there’s a donation link on their official website, here.
1:30 PM: We are in the courtroom of King County Superior Court Judge Bruce Heller, who is to sentence Monty Richardson in the Fairmount Springs attack case from last July. Judge Heller has just entered; defendant Monty Richardson, who entered a type of guilty plea while not acknowledging guilt, is now at the bench. The victim is here, as is her daughter and three family friends. On behalf of Richardson is his wife, their daughter, a former landlord of theirs, and the church he attends. Richardson is being sentenced for burglary and assault, to which he pleaded guilty on November 17th. Here’s our most recent report, after we discovered that plea bargain in court records.
The attack “fairly shocks the conscience,” says senior deputy prosecuting attorney Erin Becker, saying Richardson went into the victim’s home – across the street from his – and “inflicted extreme injuries … 26 fractures” including two spinal fractures. She was “left unconscious and alone when the attack ended. … Frankly, it’s very hard to have to explain to victims that this is what the Legislature proscribes for a crime .. a standard range of 26 to 34 months.” She mentions that some letters written in Richardson’s support allude to comments here that suggested somebody else did it.
1:36 PM: The victim is now speaking.
(Our as-it-happened coverage continues ahead, concluding with the sentencing decision just after 2 pm – video added of the judge explaining his decision):Read More
Looking for a moment of Friday afternoon distraction? Just got this link from the “BIG Map Blog,” of which we’ll confess we hadn’t previously heard. They have posted the 1891 “Territorial Growth of Seattle” map in a cool zoomable/scrollable viewer. Large swaths of the peninsula are unmarked – looks like this was part of “the last frontier.”
(Viaduct demolition photo taken last week by WSDOT)
WSDOT has more information today about the partial Alaskan Way Viaduct closure we reported here last night – including accompanying ramp closures. The main shutdown is 10 pm Monday (December 5) through 5 am Tuesday, but two main access points will close an hour earlier, and there will be some “rolling” northbound effects – read on for details:Read More
(WSB photo from 2010 Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast)
One more reminder – tomorrow morning the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle cooks for you, Santa’s on hand for photos, and lots of other holiday fun will be served up at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds on the east side of The Junction), 7-11 am. Bring new unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots drive – they would love to present a big stack of future gifts when it’s all said, done, and donated. The breakfast itself costs $6 at the door for adults, $3 for kids 12 and under (that includes a Santa photo), with proceeds benefiting Kiwanis community programs including children’s-cancer research. It’s a huge day of holiday happening (as listed here) around West Seattle, so get it started right with a good breakfast and a good time. More info here!
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