West Seattle, Washington
24 Saturday
7:57 PM: We’re at Lowman Beach, where the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship has just arrived for its first of four West Seattle stops over two nights. The seasonal serenading, courtesy of on-board singers, will be happening here for about 20 minutes, then on to Alki for an 8:40 pm stop (near the Bathhouse). More to come!
8:17 PM: Great crowd at Lowman.
(Photo added, by Robin Sinner: Brightest of the 8 boats with the Christmas Ship)
After a singalong of “Joy to the World,” the Christmas Ship and the 8 boats accompanying it are now Alki-bound.
8:44 PM: The Choir of the Sound is just concluding its first Alki song.
9:05 PM: Sailing back to Pier 55 – but back in West Seattle tomorrow – see our Holiday Guide for the schedule. Photos when we’re back at HQ.
ADDED 10:54 PM: Photos added above and below. As usual, the Alki stop had extra happenings onshore, with Hope Lutheran helping out.
Throughout the holiday season, the Christmas Ship sails around the region with a long list of guest choirs performing Christmas songs.
It’s free to enjoy from shore, or you can buy a ticket to sail on board the Christmas Ship or one of its follow boats – Argosy donates part of the proceeds to charity, as announced during its stops.
(Thursday’s orca sighting, Photo by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Three times in the past week, endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales have passed West Seattle shores.
It’s also been a busy week for one of their most fervent support groups, The Whale Trail.
Just three days after TWT co-presented “Welcome the Orcas“ at Alki – with SRKWs showing up for the occasion – the group’s monthly Orca Talk filled the seats at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor).
Unannounced guest speakers stole the show.
That video is from the security camera at Juneau Street Market (5901 California SW). On Thursday, we published a West Seattle Crime Watch report about its early-morning burglary. Today, the market sent us the video recorded during the burglary. The video shows that only 40 seconds elapsed between the burglar throwing something through the door and his escape back through the broken glass, carrying stolen cigarettes and the register. You can even see the flash as he yanks the register out by its wires. (The break-in starts :40 into our clip, where the camera’s time stamp shows 3:22:50 am.) Here’s the clearest frame grab we could get:
(Added – a better frame grab, courtesy of Todd, originally posted in comments below:)
If you have any information that would help the investigation, the police incident # is 18-454606.
12:04 PM: We’re getting multiple reports of a power outage in Upper Alki, though so far the Seattle City Light map only shows one customer out. Be sure to call SCL if you’re affected (206-684-3000) – and then let us know!
1:11 PM: Though the outage map still shows only one customer, the outage hotline for those affected says 133, per a commenter.
2:36 PM: Power restored, per e-mail from a resident in the outage zone. SCL apologized, meantime, for the map inaccuracy, saying “a server upgrade” was at fault.
Though Christmas is still two and a half weeks away, some holiday gift donation drives like Toys for Tots have only a few days left – so if you can afford to buy just one more thing this weekend and drop it in a donation box, you can brighten someone’s Christmas … as easy as that. Above is Alice Kuder of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate (WSB sponsor), who sent the photo as a reminder about their Toys for Tots collection bins through Tuesday, not only in the lobby of their sixth-floor offices at Jefferson Square, but also on the first floor (4700 42nd SW). New, unwrapped toys for T4T, please! Other donation sites are listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, as well as other holiday-giving opportunities (and if yours isn’t yet, please e-mail us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!).
The Christmas Ship visits West Seattle tonight! It’s on our two-part Friday highlight list, starting with what’s in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
HANDBELL CONCERT: Bells of the Sound at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor): This year’s holiday concert is “Home for the Holidays.” Come see and hear Puget Sound’s premier handbell ensemble at 7 pm – show and ticket details here. (3940 41st SW)
ORCHESTRA & SINGALONG: West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Symphony Orchestra, 7 pm at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium. Get there early for a holiday singalong! Details here. Admission is FREE; donations appreciated! (2600 SW Thistle)
‘JANE EYRE’: ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) presents “Jane Eyre: The Musical, 7:30 pm. (No show Thanksgiving Day.) Directed by Mathew Wright. Tickets available here. (4711 California SW)
‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’: Join Twelfth Night Productions this holiday season for “A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play.” Opening night, 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Buy your ticket(s) online at this Brown Paper Tickets link, or at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)
CHRISTMAS SHIP, NIGHT 1: First of two nights for the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship to visit West Seattle! Two stops are on the schedule:
-7:55 pm at Lowman Beach Park
-8:40 pm at Alki Beach Park (near the Bathhouse, 60th/Alki)
Choir of the Sound will be aboard. Shore activities usually include a bonfire. Just show up and enjoy the music, which usually lasts about 20 minutes.
And from the year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:
HPIC’S CORNER BAR: 6 pm, doors open for this month’s pop-up bar at Highland Park Improvement Club, featuring soul, jazz, and funk with Hello Jello. No cover, all ages welcome. (1116 SW Holden)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth IHS is home vs. Rainier Beach, girls’ varsity at 7, boys’ varsity at 8:30. (2600 SW Thistle) … West Seattle HS is home vs. Lakeside, girls’ varsity at 7, boys’ varsity at 8:30. (3000 California SW)
STEVE ITTERLY: Singer-songwriter live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
Got something for our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If you are … or know … a homeless or otherwise at-risk veteran, next week’s Seattle Stand Down offers help. This announcement is just in from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)
South Seattle College’s Georgetown Campus will host the eighth annual Seattle Stand Down on Dec. 13-14, where homeless and at-risk veterans and their families will be offered free access to a wide array of resources and services. The event is put on by The Seattle Stand Down, a volunteer team of veterans dedicated to supporting veterans experiencing homelessness.
The Seattle Stand Down is a one-stop shop for resources and services available to veterans who currently lack permanent housing or simply need a “hand up” in order to prevent homelessness.
Representatives from local businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, and all levels of government will be on hand with volunteers to provide medical screenings, eye exams, dental services, legal aid, employment opportunities, housing assistance, case management referrals, haircuts, personal hygiene items and meals. The two-day event will also offer employment assistance and legal resources.
Services and resources will be provided at the Gene Colin Education Hall – Bldg C, 6737 Corson Avenue South. Parking passes will be made available to veterans receiving services.
The Seattle Stand Down is unique from other stand down events in that it has a separate area designated for women where they can feel safe and comfortable. Providers will offer services specifically for women veterans including health care, advocacy, counseling, employment and personal care.
For a full schedule of events, please visit www.theseattlestanddown.org.
The Seattle Stand Down was founded as a community service project of student veterans at Seattle Central College. The Seattle Colleges District has hosted the event since its inception eight years ago. Major funding for the Seattle Stand Down has been made possible through a Veterans Employment and Training Service grant from the U.S. Department of Labor as well as additional funding through the King County Veterans Program, funded by the Veteran, Seniors and Human Services Levy.
Here’s a map of SSC’s Georgetown campus.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:04 AM: No traffic incidents; one Metro alert: The 6:43 am Route 56 was running about 20 minutes late.
WEEKEND RAMP CLOSURE: From WSDOT: “SR 99 northbound on-ramp from South Royal Brougham Way will be closed for paving. Closure runs 5 a.m. Saturday until noon on Sunday.”
7:39 AM: Another Metro alert – the 7:47 am Route 57 won’t run.
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