West Seattle Saturday: Junction Tree Lighting & other holiday happenings; Westside School open house; more…

| Holidays | West Seattle news

That’s the Junction Plaza Park Christmas Tree – photographed Friday afternoon, just about ready for tonight’s gala Hometown Holidays lighting ceremony at 5 pm (see you there)! That’s one of many events from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide (and our regular calendar) in this morning’s list of highlights:

WEST SEATTLE KIWANIS COMMUNITY PANCAKE BREAKFAST: As mentioned earlier this morning, it’s happening right now! Pancakes, juice, Husky Deli ham, photos with Santa, and more, till 11 am at the Masonic Hall, 40th and Edmunds. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots if you can (and note that West Seattle Hi-Yu is selling their blown-glass ornaments, too).

THE COVE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 9:30-11 am today, come check out this West Seattle preschool (WSB sponsor) – details here.

WESTSIDE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon today, you are invited to drop by Westside School (WSB sponsor), an independent elementary/middle school, at 7740 34th SW – last open house during this admission season. Official invitation with details here!

HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS: 3rd annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Show. 10 am-4 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation Social Hall, 7141 California SW. “You’ll find original and one-of-a-kind gifts: felted hats; knits; jewelry; watercolor paintings; designer bags and accessories; greeting cards and stocking stuffers; edible holiday goodies; glass art; Shibori fiber art; and more. Enjoy free refreshments. Cash and checks only.”

DRUM, DANCE, AND SING: 11 am at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), for kids and parents – details here.

AVALON GLASSWORKS OPEN HOUSE: Holiday Open House at Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way), noon-4 pm. Details on the Facebook event page. Buy a beautiful glass apple to benefit White Center Food Bank!

BENEFIT PET PORTRAITS: Noon-6 pm at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District, benefiting Art for Animals’ Sake. Details here.

‘SANTA PAWS’: Noon-3 pm, 4700 42nd Ave SW, Suite 600, Jefferson Square Shopping Center: Bring your dog, cat, friend, or family for a complimentary photo with Santa! Or, just drop by to say hello, and enjoy some coffee and holiday treats. Hosted again this year by Prudential Northwest Realty and West Seattle Food Bank. Accepting donations for the Food Bank & Toys for Tots, but no contribution is required. Appointments recommended but not necessary – 206-932-4500.

FREE HOME-RENOVATION WORKSHOP: 1 pm at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor; California and Findlay), but call to see if there’s room – get the number and more info, here.

SNAP NEIGHBORHOOD-PREPAREDNESS MEETING: 1 pm at Hiawatha Community Center.

(“Ex-Westwood Santa” – photo courtesy Lisa Myers of CAPERS)
‘EX-WESTWOOD SANTA’ AT CAPERS: That’s where the Santa some knew as “Ex-Westwood Santa” (from 2010 and previous years) can be found. From CAPERS‘ Lisa Myers – It’s a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank. Cash and canned food will be collected to share with our neighbors in need. 2-6 pm today (for other dates, and other Santas, see the Holiday Guide).

JUNCTION TRIVIA CRAWL: Starts at 3 pm today, but you have to sign up! Get the info here.

ART UNDER $100: South Park’s big annual event, 3:30 pm-9 pm, full details here

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT FLEURT: 4-7 pm at Fleurt (4536 California SW). Proprietor Sam says, “We will be offering light snacks, a raffle, and door prizes. We would like our guests to bring along a food item for donation to the West Seattle Food Bank.”

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS TREE LIGHTING IN THE JUNCTION: West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Christmas Tree Lighting, 5 pm. Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska). Here’s the lineup, as published on WSB earlier this week, including live entertainment.

‘ROCKY HORROR’ AT THE ADMIRAL: Midnight tonight (like the first Saturday of most months) at Admiral Theater, it’s “Rocky Horror Picture Show” with shadow cast and all.

As long as this list is, it’s just part of what’s happening – see the Holiday Guide for more Santa photos, for Christmas tree sales, etc., and see the regular calendar for non-holiday events.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Alki mudslide reported

December 1, 2012 8:38 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Weather Watch: Alki mudslide reported

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to the WSB’er who shared the photo; after a night of pounding rain, a mudslide behind a building in the 1300 block of Alki Avenue SW is reported to have damaged three vehicles, pushing them into each other. We’ll be checking to find out more; the National Weather Service‘s newest forecast says showery, breezy weather will continue today. Any weather trouble where you are? Let us know – thanks!

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Happening now: Holiday Shopping Spree for almost 100 students, courtesy of West Seattle Rotary Club and friends

December 1, 2012 7:17 am

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| Holidays | Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

The first students have crossed the bridge and arrived at Sears SODO for the biggest event the Rotary Club of West Seattle organizes every year, the Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree. They’re coming here from five elementary schools in West Seattle – 96 kids [updated number], greeted by a corps of volunteers more than double that size:

A little breezy this morning! Inside, volunteers of all ages – from high-school students to retirees – have already been busy in the pre-dawn hours, getting ready:

The tasks range from assembling bags for the kids – who are from Arbor Heights, Highland Park, Sanislo, Schmitz Park, and West Seattle Elementaries – to keeping track of the volunteers:

They’re not just West Seattle Rotarians, but also Panhellenic sorority and fraternity members, as well as the aforementioned students, including University of Washington Rotaract members and Mercer Island High School Interact members. They’ve all just heard the morning’s order of events from West Seattle Rotary president Andy Horner:

He noted this has been growing since 1972, when the West Seattle Rotary held the first shopping spree … for nine students. With him in that photo, at left, is Martha Sidlo, who organized this year’s shopping spree. Next up – volunteers are paired with kids, for breakfast, followed by shopping – $100 gift cards, to be used to purchase essentials (with a 10 percent discount) – Santa photos, and lunch.

ADDED 8:14 AM: Before shopping, there’s the waiting …

Then the smiling (with Rotarian Josh Sutton):

The shoe-fitting:

The coat-choosing (with Rotarian Dr. Susanne Gee):

And inside Sears, the shopping (that’s Anissa the Elf, offering a greeting)

ADDED 11:48 AM: Santa listened to many wishes, and posed for many photos, but this scene said it all:

To make this happen, it takes many donors and sponsors – they had big thanks, for example, for their baked-goods donors The Essential Baking Company and Macrina Bakery, as well as for SODO Kitchen, the venue in the Sears/Starbucks building where everyone gathered – and you can donate too: A link to the Shopping Spree fund is on the Rotary home page.

P.S. Some extra info from WS Rotary president Andy: 256 was the final volunteer count – 35 Rotarians, 221 non-Rotarians. Four drivers from First Student transported the kids – Chuck, Robert, David, Jim. The schools each had coordinators – including Arbor Heights principal Christy Collins, Pam Rago from Highland Park, Nina Bowman from Sanislo, Jennifer Toth from Highland Park, and Tracie Thompson from West Seattle Elementary.

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Update: Hundreds enjoy pancakes with West Seattle Kiwanis and Santa!

December 1, 2012 7:00 am

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| Kiwanis Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB, added 8:41 am: Brian Riggs, right, making pancakes)
ORIGINAL 7 AM REPORT: Don’t cook breakfast this morning – let the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle cook it for you! Their annual Community Pancake Breakfast is set to start right about now – 7 am till 11 am, at the Masonic Hall in The Junction (40th and Edmunds, plenty of parking). You’ll see Santa Claus there, as well as dozens of volunteers, and even West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Junior Court royalty. In addition to the low, nonprofit-benefiting admission price ($7 adults, $3 kids, if you don’t already have an advance ticket), they’re also collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. More photos later!

ADDED 3:33 PM: The pancake breakfast drew a crowd – all morning long:

That’s Hi-Yu Junior Court Princess Emily Galvin talking with breakfasters about buying one of the Hi-Yu benefit blown-glass ornaments. As always, local Boy Scouts volunteered to help serve:

In a more serious moment, the Scouts gathered onstage for a big “thank you”:

Back to the pancakes:

5-year-old Everett Burdett particularly enjoyed his:

This morning also was a time to give:

Marine Cpl. Justin L. Knox, there for Toys for Tots, shook the hand of Andrew Archide, one of the breakfast attendees who brought a toy to donate. Speaking of toys … we haven’t yet mentioned the most famous toy giver of all:

Santa, of course, held court onstage – where, in our photo, he was joined by Karl de Jong from West Seattle Kiwanis, while the Hi-Yu Junior Court spoke. Kiwanis of Industrial Seattle was on hand too – Angelika Tam showed off a wreath:

This was the 66th annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast; its history is in this preview from last month.

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West Seattle holidays: Savoring the season at Husky Deli open house

December 1, 2012 5:50 am

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Katie Meyer)
Another holiday-season-opening tradition in West Seattle last night – the annual Husky Deli open house in The Junction. Purple-and-gold-shirted elves assisted all around the store, with Husky proprietor Jack Miller himself at centerstage:

Other West Seattle treats were showcased – here are Gretchen and Noah serving up cake from nearby Bakery Nouveau:

And Peter Bos of Northwest Wine Academy poured samples of the wines (including rose, riesling and merlot) made by his students at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor).

Spotted sharing the season’s spirit – Mr. and Mrs. Claus, aka Paul Carr and Libby Carr from the forthcoming premiere run of “Santa’s First Magical Ride, The Musical“: