West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
(Southern Residents during pre-Thanksgiving visit, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Four months after the most recent news of Southern Resident Killer Whale deaths, we’ve had no further losses – but no gains, either.
So the endangered resident orcas’ population remains at 73, attendees were reminded at The Whale Trail‘s Winter Gathering this past week.
TWT executive director Donna Sandstrom gathered supporters and experts at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) both to celebrate the season and to review the whales’ status and what action you can take to help. Here are the highlights:
A longtime Christmas-season landmark in West Seattle is shining again. We received multiple tips abut the return of lights to the Gai Family house in the 3200 block of 36th SW. Not just the lights, but also the Madonna:
The family retired the display in 1996, according to a newspaper ad that year thanking the community. That was nine years before the death of patriarch Phil Gai, who with his brother Henry ran their namesake breadmaking company. One of the tipsters who told us about this, Douglas, says the Gais’ son Ron was “putting on the final touches” just last night.
P.S. Know of lights we should see? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Just went over to check again on the 35th/Alaska intersection closure – and found it had ended early. S 35th is open again along the entire stretch that had been restricted because of the closure. SDOT plans to close the intersection again next weekend, so watch for updates on that as the projected Friday (December 20th) start time gets closer.
4:51 PM: If you like your Santa photos on the jolly side – it doesn’t get more fun than photos with Cocoa Cris Cringle. He has arrived at Easy Street Records (California/Alaska) for his annual holiday-photo session, $20, raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank. Props and hats are on hand for your use. Cocoa Cris is at ESR – with live music this year! – until 7 pm.
7:25 PM: Added photos – that’s Cocoa Cris with assistant Aubrie above, and his first visitors of the evening below:
Video of Hugh‘s musical accompaniment:
P.S. It’s not a family-photo op – 21+ venue – but Cocoa Cris will be back in West Seattle 7-10 pm next Sunday, December 22nd, for a “mostly music” show at Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way).
(WSB photo from October, site currently planned as temporary off-leash area at Westcrest)
A Westcrest Park neighbor who says the planned temporary replacement for the dog park is too small will argue her case downtown tomorrow.
West Seattle’s only dog park is closing for up to six months next year because of a drainage project; we first heard about it when Inge Anderson‘s appeal was mentioned at an HPAC meeting in August. At the time, as we subsequently reported, the city only planned to keep the “small/shy dog area” open during the closure, but it has since – as reported here in October – planned to cordon off some extra space north of the Westcrest P-Patch. Not big enough, Anderson says, so she continued to pursue her appeal of the Determination of Non-Significance filed by the city in relation to the drainage project. Anderson contends Seattle Parks should create a much-bigger temporary dog park with some of the space further north at Westcrest, atop the underground reservoir. When that came up at an October community meeting about the temporary dog park, a Parks rep said it wasn’t possible, but Anderson communicated separately with Seattle Public Utilities, which told her it was. (We asked Parks Friday about the discrepancy and have not yet received an answer.)
Her hearing before the city Hearing Examiner, previously set for September, is now scheduled for 9 am tomorrow in the HE’s hearing room on the 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower (700 5th Ave.). There’s not likely to be a decision immediately, as the HE usually issues a written ruling a few weeks after a hearing. The drainage project that will close the permanent off-leash area is expected to start next spring.
The rain’s stopped, the game’s over – so here’s where to go: Now until 4 pm at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW), it’s the one-of-a-kind St. Nicholas Faire. This combination holiday shopping event/fundraiser features dozens of custom-made gift baskets with themes – cooking, sports, gardening, toys, picnic gear, barbecue accessories, much more – and gift certificates/cards for local businesses.
Art too:
You bid for them, silent-auction-style, while also enjoying sips (wine tasting!) and snacks. There’s a small admission charge, raising money for the West Seattle Helpline and West Seattle Food Bank (which also benefit from the overall proceeds); a longtime supporter of both, the church’s pastor Rev. Ron Marshall, is emceeing:
Bring a nonperishable food donation too.
P.S. If you’re driving, there’s a big parking lot behind the church, at 44th/Dakota.
Good news if you don’t make it to Good Day Donuts (9823 15th SW) by 1 pm for Chief Sealth IHS senior Emily Un‘s “Bringing Warmth” caat/blanket collection – the folks at the shop say they’ll keep a bin throughout the holidays so you can drop off a donation some other day. GDD is open 7 am-2 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 am-2 pm Saturdays, 9 am-1 pm Sundays.
As the official start of winter nears, here’s a reason to dream of spring – colorful garden-inspired art at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor). West Seattle artist Lorene Edwards Forkner is in the shop with prints of her paintings, described here as “part of a daily practice in which I pick something from my garden and try and capture the colors in what I call a watercolor gesture.” She’s debuting these color-blocked creations in a pop-up continuing until 3 pm today.
For all the opportunities to get Santa photos in West Seattle, dozens of local kids also had the chance for a photo with The Grinch. That was part of the festivities during this morning’s “Shop With A Cop” event at Westwood Village Target.
Seattle Police officers teamed up with dozens of students to do some holiday shopping.
This is the result of a partnership between Target, SPD, the Seattle Police Foundation, and The If Project.
Today’s event was bigger than some we’ve covered before – SPD says more than 60 kids participated.
(Northern Flicker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:
SANTA PHOTOS: Find St. Nick at CAPERS, 9 am-noon, DIY photos with $20 suggested donation benefiting West Seattle Food Bank. (4525 California SW)
SANTA AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE: Your one chance this season for Santa photos at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse2 with Gail Ann Photography, 9 am-2 pm, “semi-private 10-minute visits with Santa,” packages starting at $30. 20% will be donated to the Fauntleroy Community Service Agency. “Children of all ages will experience the wonderment of everything Christmas as they are welcome to explore under the tree, chat with Santa, read a book with Santa and most important, share their Christmas list with Santa!” Pets welcome too. Walk-ins welcome. (9131 California SW)
BRINGING WARMTH: Bring blankets and coats to Chief Sealth IHS senior Emily Un‘s donation drive, 10 am-1 pm at Good Day Donuts in White Center. (9823 15th SW)
LAST DAY FOR TREES BY THE SEA: Presented by the same West Seattleites who bring you Shipwreck Honey, this Alki Christmas-tree lot is closing for the year after today. 10 am-8 pm. West Seattle tree delivery available! (2530 Alki SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round in the street in The Junction, 10 am-2 pm. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
WREATH SALES: Pathfinder K-8 PTSA and students are selling handmade wreaths in The Junction during the West Seattle Farmers Market (10 am-2 pm). All proceeds go to support outdoor education. (California/Alaska)
NATIVE HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR: Duwamish Longhouse Native Northwest Holiday Gift Fair is open one last day, 10 am-5 pm: Native artists and vendors at a beautiful venue.(4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
VIVA TOUR: Vashon Island Visual Artists have an open-studio tour continuing today too and are sponsoring WSB to get the word out. 10 am-4 pm – last day! (Map and info here)
CLICK! POP-UP: Pop-Up with local artist Lorene Edwards Forkner at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), 10:30 am-3 pm. (4540 California SW)
SANTA + FACE-PAINTING: Santa House in The Junction, 11 am-2 pm, with free holiday face-painting. South end of Farmers’ Market. (California/Alaska)
BONUS SHOPPING DAY: Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) at Westwood Village is open Sundays noon-5 pm this season for extra holiday shopping. (2600 SW Barton)
SAINT NICHOLAS FAIRE AND AUCTION At First Lutheran Church of West Seattle from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm – unique shopping opportunity with dozens of themed gift baskets to bid on. Admission $5 per person or $15 per family. Bring a non-perishable food item. All proceeds go to the West Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle Helpline. This year we will be having 3 events at the Faire: Silent Basket Auction, Live Auction, and Raffle for a 55” LG TV. (4105 California SW)
SANTA AT TRAM’S: Santa photos at Tram’s Salon, 1-4 pm. (4110 California SW)
SEASONAL SIPPING: Holiday High Tea at South Park Hall, 1 pm. Tickets here. (1253 S. Cloverdale)
JAMTIME: Bluegrass and more at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm. No cover. 21+. (5612 California SW)
FINAL PERFORMANCE: Join Twelfth Night Productions for “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play. 3 pm at Kenyon Hall. Buy your ticket(s) online at this Brown Paper Tickets link, or at the venue box office. (7904 35th SW)
COCOA CRIS CRINGLE: Photo time at Easy Street Records, 4-7 pm: “Making my unique annual holiday memories with fun photos, $20 – hats, props, and candy canes provided. This year we have live musical accompaniment with keys by Hugh Sutton; I will be singing some holiday classics! Pets welcome. Proceeds benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.” (California/Alaska)
CHURCH CONCERT #1: Enjoy music of the season in a free vocal and instrumental concert at Fauntleroy Church, starting at 4 pm in the sanctuary. Fully accessible by elevator from parking. (9140 California SW)
CHURCH CONCERT #2: “The Gift: An Alki UCC Musical Christmas,” 6 pm. Details here. (6115 SW Hinds)
SEE THE LIGHTS: Uehara-Bingen Christmas Lights Show on Alki! 5:45 pm. “The show is ~25 minutes long, and everyone will gather outside the front of our house, so be sure to dress warm!” (1736 Alki SW)
JAZZ CONCERT OF CHRISTMAS CLASSICS: Mark Lewis Trio & Dick Lupino at the Pacific Room on Alki (WSB sponsor), 6 pm – details and cover info here. (2808 Alki SW)
NORTHWEST BOYCHOIR: The annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” at Holy Rosary Church, 7 pm. Tickets here. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)
SUNDAE + MR. GOESSL HOLIDAY REVUE: 7 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
BLUEGRASS JAM: 7 pm at Whisky West. 21+. (6451 California SW)
NORTH CORNER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: This “professional conductorless chamber ensemble” performs at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 7:30 pm. Details and ticket info here. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
SEE MORE … in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar
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