PHOTO GALLERY: Night Out 2014 parties in neighborhoods around West Seattle

FIRST REPORT, 6:03 PM: Night Out is on! We’re visiting block parties around West Seattle again this year and will add updates here. Since we can’t get to them all, we’d love one from yours if you care to share – editor@westseattleblog.com (or Twitter/Instagram, where the hashtag is #SeattleNightOut and we are at @westseattleblog) – thanks; updates ahead!

FIRST STOP, ARBOR HEIGHTS – in the block where we attended a Seattle Police Living-Room Conversation at Block Watch Captain JoDean Edelheit‘s home two years ago. (That’s JoDean in the back row, third from right.) This block is getting busier, as it’s near the undergoing-renovations future home of Westside School (WSB sponsor) at 34th/104th.

SECOND STOP, SUNRISE HEIGHTS: Carole invited us to stop by; her husband Michael is Block Watch Captain and has also recently gone through a round of preparedness training, so he’s leading the neighborhood in getting everybody organized to start working on a neighborhood plan. That’s why there’s preparedness info at their party:

They’re hoping not only to be, well, more prepared as a result, but also to inspire other neighborhoods. (Have we mentioned lately – lots of preparedness info at westseattlebeprepared.org, including the location of your nearest Emergency Communication Hub.)

7:20 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Marcia for tweeting this photo from her neighborhood’s party:

Via text, more preparedness, at 23rd and Cambridge, including this photo:

The texter (206-293-6302 any time!) says neighbor Patty Doty got a grant to “put together emergency kits to distribute tonight to our neighbors!” Meantime, back onto our travels:

OUR THIRD STOP, GATEWOOD: Sue‘s neighborhood has an annual “flags of all nations” display:

The biggest flag there in the middle synergizes with the sign – the flag is for Hawaii, the sign says No Ka Oi (Hawaiian for “is the best”) Party. We also discovered while visiting that Jeff is an award-winning amateur winemaker:

As we continue our travels, we’re noting MANY side streets closed off for block parties – way to go! And closing streets takes some logistics – and signage:

OUR FOURTH STOP, HANSEN VIEW: The sign above is from Hansen View just south of The Mount, where Night Out always means a big party. Including bluegrass band The Mighty Fallen.

We just missed visiting firefighters. Lots of neighbors having a great time!

Hansen View is home neighborhood to West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network leaders Deb Greer and Karen Berge, who we’ll see again – and you should come too! – at Delridge Day this Saturday. Meantime, a photo texted from Gatewood:

The band is Woodland, playing near 35th and Rose – thanks for the photo!

OUR FIFTH STOP, FAIRMOUNT: We were leaving Hansen View, headed to Junction Plaza Park (stop #6), when we noticed two Seattle Fire vehicles at a block party, so we pulled over, and got a group shot including the visiting firefighters:

This is Fairmount, south of The Triangle, not to be confused with Fairmount Park or Fairmount Springs. Then it was north to …

OUR SIXTH STOP, JUNCTION PLAZA PARK: The re-activated Junction Neighborhood Organization threw a party in the park … we didn’t arrive until it was almost over, but caught the small spirited group that remained:

West Seattle Bike Connections joined JuNO for the party. Police and fire had visited earlier too, as had City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who was making West Seattle rounds. JuNO had water balloons, too … now THAT is a party. JuNO’s director René Commons says they hope next Night Out will bring their SECOND annual party in the park.

ADDED 9:23 PM – OUR SEVENTH AND FINAL STOP, SEAVIEW: 5900 block of 44th and vicinity – thanks to Kelli for inviting us. A 1970 El Camino was a canvas for chalk art:

Heather from Sparklez Face and Body Art was creating art too:

And the group:

(added) WE STOPPED HERE TOO: Thanks to Sarah for kindly pointing out in comments that we had neglected to publish anything from one of our stops, 6000 block of 37th – and this was actually the first invite we’ve received, from Aaron. Found the pic!

(back to Tuesday night in-progress report) Next: Photos from the inbox – thanks for sharing! First:

That’s from Steve at 16th and Trenton. One block over, at 15th and Trenton, a party photo from Chris:

Next, from Leslie on Canada Drive SW:

Tweeted by Jason in Admiral:

Lots of kid activities at tonight’s parties. Even a bouncy house in Belvidere, on 36th SW – thanks for this e-mailed photo:

Further south on 36th SW, here’s the group photo from Jenny‘s neighborhood (“between Findlay and Brandon, best block EVER!” she declared):

Also very proud of their block:

We love our neighborhood and thought you might like a glimpse of our amazing gathering. 61st Ave SW – between Hinds and Spokane St.

Mary Pyper and Janinne Brunyee, Block Watch Co-Captains

Pigeon Point always has a big bash, and Pete Spalding shared photos – here he is with Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske:

Deputy Chief Mike Washburn also stopped by, as did a Seattle Fire engine:

But neighborhood mingling remained the big draw, as it was with parties from north to south, east to west:

Next, we head all the way to the other end of West Seattle – Jim Edwards of West Seattle Big Band and West Seattle Grand Parade fame shares a photo from North Shorewood:

A first-time event in North Shorewood on 102nd SW. The west end of the block is the City of Seattle. The east end of the block, unincorporated King County. From 28th SW to 30th SW. We are also participating in an informal radio net with the West Seattle Radio Club.

Next year … maybe a band appearance? If you live out that way, keep watch for flyers next summer! Heading back north, to Gatewood again, Long B. Nguyen photographed his SW Portland neighbors:

From the 6300 block of 41st SW, Fairmount Springs vicinity, Jenny explains the next photo as “not everyone at our block party, but still a picture of neighbors enjoying each other.”

From the 3400 block of Belvidere Avenue, Erika shares a photo of the youngest neighbors, noting, “We had another fantastic night of community gathering with our neighbors and the gang of kiddos had so much fun riding bikes and scooters, as well as jumping in a bouncy house! We love National Night Out and look forward to it all year!”

From 46th SW between Walker and Hill in North Admiral, a photo texted earlier in the night:

And from Rutan Place SW, John shares a photo of his well-attended block party:

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: Two more – first, from Diane, the late crowd on 45th SW between Alaska and Edmunds:

The block party had double this amount in attendance earlier, with games, bubbles, a balloon artist, & sidewalk chalk for the kids. Most had headed home by this late hour to get little ones to bed and missed the photo. The block party also had 2 musicians who sang for them through the evening, accompanied with a guitar and double bass cello. A great block party for 45th Street!

And Don‘s neighborhood in Fairmount Springs had visitors who brought goodies – the Ben & Jerry‘s truck that’s making Seattle rounds this month:

Thanks again for sharing glimpses of awesome West Seattle neighborhoods.

24 Replies to "PHOTO GALLERY: Night Out 2014 parties in neighborhoods around West Seattle"

  • dm August 5, 2014 (9:57 pm)

    Had a sweet evening with my neighbors on our 7500 block of 15th Ave SW! Thank you all!

  • jno August 5, 2014 (10:17 pm)

    Thank you to Woodland – the party on 35th and Southern was able to turn off our tinny speakers and enjoy your sublime sounds instead!

  • heylady August 6, 2014 (6:28 am)

    Nice work, West Seattle!

  • Don August 6, 2014 (8:18 am)

    Must have sent my photos of our block in Fairmount Springs to the wrong editor. We hoped to be included no fire trucks or policemen but we did have Tom&Jerry truck stop by and a good time had by all.

    • WSB August 6, 2014 (8:34 am)

      Don, I sent a note back to you last night asking where the photos were from. There was no information in the body or subject and I could not tell from the backdrop or surroundings. I even checked the Ben & Jerry’s twitter feed and they had a montage of photos without saying anything about where they were from (they didn’t even mention West Seattle, let alone a specific area of WS). Now that you mention Fairmount Springs, I can include one. Thanks. – TR

  • HelperMonkey August 6, 2014 (8:28 am)

    this was the first year my street participated – it was really fun! I am looking forward to next year.

  • Rob August 6, 2014 (9:30 am)

    Had a great time at our Night Out Block Potluck on 31st Ave between Holden & Kenyon. How do I post our photo?

  • Sarah August 6, 2014 (9:55 am)

    37th btw. Raymond and Graham had a good time. Someone representing WSB stopped by to snap our photo, but it looks like we didn’t make the cut. ;-)

    • WSB August 6, 2014 (10:11 am)

      Sarah, there really wasn’t a “cut” – I thought with the addition of info from Don, I’ve included at least one photo from every place we stopped and everyone who shared – BUT looks like I missed one of the stops in which Patrick went out to the party and I stayed in the car typing … and I think that was actually the first invite we got, from Aaron. Will find that photo somewhere. Thanks for mentioning … TR

      • WSB August 6, 2014 (10:23 am)

        Update – fixed. Added after what I’d previously billed as our “final stop,” with the slug WE STOPPED HERE, TOO!

  • Jeff August 6, 2014 (9:57 am)

    I got yelled at by a neighbor from a different block for the barricades in his street. I guess I was just nearby and convenient, since I couldn’t seem to get him to understand I had nothing to do with any barricades, let alone ones that were not even on my block. Had fun with actual neighbors though.

  • Hey August 6, 2014 (10:24 am)

    I absolutely love seeing the photos. I need to get my act together for next year and organize my street. Love that WSB gives so much info about this event in advance and provides updates about the night.

  • Geoff August 6, 2014 (11:19 am)

    Great night. Fun to be out with our neighbors/friends on such a beautiful evening. Only downer was the fireworks coming from one street. Not necessary.

  • John August 6, 2014 (4:31 pm)

    Was there less advertising this year? My block participated the last two years, and no one heard about it until Monday, so we didn’t participate this year. I am quite sad about it, as it was a great time the last two years.

  • West Seattle Hipster August 6, 2014 (5:17 pm)

    Great pictures of neighbors getting together. Eventually we can overcome the curse of The Seattle Freeze.

  • tiffany Caroline August 6, 2014 (10:03 pm)

    So I love the idea of night out but hated the fireworks the parties were setting off after 10pm. It was disrespectful and a little disappointing.

  • Doug August 7, 2014 (9:17 am)

    No love for 45th SW between Andover & Dakota? You took photos but I don’t see us here.

    • WSB August 7, 2014 (9:28 am)

      Hi, Doug! I wish we had made it to more of the peninsula – the three hours go so fast! – but no, co-publisher Patrick Sand and I weren’t anywhere near 45th/Andover/Dakota on Night Out (it wasn’t one of the invites we received, either, I just doublechecked). We started in Arbor Heights, headed north, and Junction Plaza Park was as far north as we got. Anything further north in the roundup here was kindly shared by neighbors. – Tracy

  • Tired Neighbor August 7, 2014 (10:28 am)

    Night out looked fun, until disrespectful parties started setting off fireworks after 10pm. Some of your neighbors around 40th/Dakota have to get up very early and this was very rude!

    • WSB August 7, 2014 (10:35 am)

      Just a datapoint: If it was after 10 pm, it was no longer an official N/O party – the time span is 6-9 pm. We in fact tried to stop at a couple more after 8:30 and as we discover most years, the parties tend to fold up once it gets dusk-ish. – TR

  • Doug August 7, 2014 (4:35 pm)

    My mistake – it wasn’t you it was a guy from W. Seattle Herald who came by and took photos. Glad to see there were so many good parties.

  • FionaEnzo August 11, 2014 (6:27 pm)

    Love the photos!! All the Fine Folk of West Seattle!

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