West Seattle, Washington
10 Saturday
The rain stopped just in time for tonight’s tree lighting at the biggest event of the West Seattle Junction Association‘s all-season Hometown Holidays celebration. The countdown was led by Jack Menashe, the Junction entrepreneur who is also responsible for West Seattle’s brightest Christmas lights, who offered words of gratitude first – thanking everyone for supporting local businesses amid the challenges posed by the pandemic and bridge closure. He also introduced the crowd to new WSJA executive director Chris Mackay. After the countdown/lighting, Santa stayed onstage to read a story you’ll likely recognize:
Elvis was this year’s host, with duties including everything from leading Christmas carols to inviting kids up onstage to ask about their holiday wishes;
Earlier in the afternoon, stage performances included the Endolyne Children’s Choir:
Hometown Holidays highlights in the week ahead include tomorrow’s Cocoa and Coat Drive – look for the booth at the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (California/Alaska), 10 am-2 pm; bring “gently used coats, hats, scarves, and gloves” and you’ll get hot cocoa! Also ahead, the holiday edition of the West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday (December 9), 5 pm until “late.”
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN HARDTOP: From John:
The white hardtop was stolen from my Mazda Miata convertible early (Friday) morning while I slept. The car was locked and parked alongside my house in Highland Park. Thief broke a window to enter car. They were cut and bled all over the seats and trunk of car. Police report has been filed.
PACKAGE THEFT: From RC:
Want to share this with neighbors living across from South Seattle College. We had an Amazon envelope stolen off our porch today (12/4/2021) at approximately 2:35 pm by a woman with hair dyed burgundy. Feel free to share images/video with readers to help ID. The property is located along 16th Ave SW.
Thanks to Jeremy Barton for the photo! Tonight’s Christmas-lights spotlight is in the 2700 block of 45th SW [vicinity map]. “Lots of inflated decorations, many of which have motion,” Jeremy notes. We’ll be spotlighting at least one display every night through year’s end, so send your tip (with or without photos) our way – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (Past spotlights are archived here and listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
(Jill and Kevin from the Junction Association)
4:27 PM: On SW Alaska between California and 42nd, the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Night Market is on – continuing until 7 pm, with the Junction Plaza Park tree lighting at 6 pm. Before then, Elvis is emceeing the stage show, and Santa‘s roaming:
Visit vendors and community organizations’ booths at the Night Market – say hi to your West Seattle neighbors like Sally Heit from Hope Lutheran School:
P.S. If you’re going to the Farmers’ Market tomorrow, bring a coat or other warm-clothing donation to the Hometown Holidays booth at the south end! You’ll be rewarded with hot cocoa.
Vendors are listed in our daily preview. More coverage later!
ADDED 6:48 PM: Here’s how it looked after dark:
(Photo by James Tilley)
Thanks for the photos! Last night turned out to be an excellent night to join Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists exploring the shore south of Alki Point during low-low tide.
That’s an orange snail fish, according to Brandy DeWeese, who took that photo and the ones below:
The beach naturalists will be at Constellation Park again on January 29th, 7-9 pm. If you want to explore on your own (carefully!), the low-low tides are even lower, and later, the next few nights – here’s the chart.
Every year for a quarter-century, Pathfinder K-8 students and families have made and sold wreaths as a fundraiser – and they usually sell out. Pre-pandemic, the Pathfinder wreath booth was a fixture in The Junction on Farmers’ Market Sundays, but again this year, they’re only selling the wreaths online – here’s the announcement:
Pathfinder K-8 PTSA is holding our 26th annual wreath fundraiser to benefit outdoor education and classrooms at Pathfinder K-8 School. You usually see us in The Junction during Farmers Market days in December, but due to the pandemic, we have our 100% homemade wreaths available for sale online.
The evergreens in every Pathfinder wreath are foraged from downed branches from this season’s windstorms and salvaged from Christmas tree lots (thank you, Trees by the Sea on Alki, Home Depot, and McLendon), and the flowers and seedpods are clipped from our yards. Then members of the Pathfinder community build each wreath by hand. Each wreath is unique and has been made in one of our distanced, backyard workshops this past week.
Right now we have a good selection of beautiful wreaths available at www.pathfinderk8ptsa.org/shop. If you don’t see something now, check back tomorrow! The inventory is constantly being updated with new wreaths. After purchase they can be picked up at our workshop on Puget Ridge.
Thank you for supporting the kids at Pathfinder School!
If you lose track of this later, you’ll also find the wreath sale listed in the Trees/Wreaths/Greenery section of our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
11:04 AM: From today’s long list of events – Seattle firefighters’ Toys for Tots collection drive is on the road this year rather than at the fire stations, and today’s stop is Westwood Village, outside the QFC store:
That’s the crew of Engine 37 (from Station 37 at 35th/Holden). Besides new, unwrapped toys, you can donate cash/checks, too.
We asked a Toys for Tots rep what specific types of toys they need most. Reply: Toys for babies. So if you’re going shopping for a donation for this drive – on until 1 pm today – that’s an idea. If you miss this, there are also Toys for Tots bins all season long in other spots around West Seattle, including C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) at 5612 California SW.
4:21 PM: From SFD’s Carrie Brazil: “We had a great event, despite the weather. West Seattle showed up and donated 10+ big boxes of toys. Santa’s best guess is 450-550 toys plus cash donations.”
(Mount Rainier, photographed from southwest West Seattle on Friday by Jerry Simmons)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar – first, the biggest event happening today/tonight:
JUNCTION HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS NIGHT MARKET & TREE LIGHTING: From morning into evening, SW Alaska between California and 42nd SW will be blocked off for this event. 3-7 pm, shop local vendors at the Night Market in the street:
Penguina Designs
SQUATCH Industries
Olive Branch Natural Body Care, LLC
Bakery Nouveau
Shipwreck Honey
Tangerine Jewelry
Ugly Yellow House
Deschampsia
Sumac El Sol Handcrafted Textile Arts
Indian Arts
Little Prague
Gazebo (dba Apple Cox)
Caramel Kitchen
Katannah Crafts
In the park, Elvis hosts the tree lighting, which is preceded by performances including his! The schedule:
4:00 – Elvis kicks off show (roaming Santa appears in the Night Market about this time, too)
4:15 – Endolyne Children’s Choir
4:30 – Elvis
4:35-4:50 – School of Rock
5:00-5:50 – Elvis
6:00 – Tree-lighting ceremony including Jack Menashe and Santa
See you there! Also happening today/tonight:
LAST DAY FOR KIWANIS ONLINE AUCTION: If not for the pandemic, today would bring the service club’s annual pancake breakfast to help local kids – so instead, give them a boost by bidding on items including local gift cards. Browse and bid by going here.
SCAVENGER HUNT: Alice Kuder presents the “Winter Wander” scavenger hunt again this year – details here. Today’s day two, so there’s plenty of time to jump in,
THE BRIDGE SCHOOL ONLINE OPEN HOUSE: Looking at educational possibilities for next school year? The Bridge School (WSB sponsor) cooperative elementary has an online open house 10 am today.
SENIOR CENTER HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Shop for handmade holiday gifts at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), with more than 20 artists and vendors. Unique and handcrafted items! 10 am-4 pm.
FREE SANTA PHOTOS: Santa will be at John L. Scott (4445 California SW), 10 am-1 pm.
RAT CITY STUDIOS HOLIDAY EVENT: Holiday Open Studio and Sale, 10 am-4 pm – details in our calendar listing. (2410 SW 106th)
ARTIST GIFT SHOW: One-artist outdoor gift show 10 am-4 pm – location and other info here
TOYS FOR TOTS ONE-DAY DRIVE WITH SFD: 10:30 am-1 pm outside Westwood QFC, bring new unwrapped toys to the firefighters collecting them!
WRITERS’ GROUP: 10:30 am – new participants welcome. Location and other details are in our calendar listing.
SANTA PAWS: Free photos with Santa and your pet(s), 1-3 pm at Windermere West Seattle (4526 California SW).
SHOP AT WEST SEATTLE GROUNDS: Holiday Market, 1-4 pm. (2141 California SW)
WHITE CENTER REMEMBRANCE WALK: Action to honor the businesses struggling as a result of the recent fires and other trouble; meet at 3 pm at SW 98th/16th SW,
HIGHLAND PARK HOLIDAY PARTY: At Highland Park Corner Store parking lot, community holiday party 4-8 pm, “with Jet City Beignets, mulled wine, family-friendly holiday movies, and good cheer with great neighbors.” (7789 Highland Park Way SW)
HANUKKAH: Seventh night of the 8-night Festival of Lights – see our Holiday Guide for the West Seattle community events planned Sunday.
OPEN MIC: 6-8 pm at The Spot West Seattle. All ages! (2920 SW Avalon Way)
‘WE’VE BATTLED MONSTERS BEFORE’: Second weekend for the world-premiere two-person musical at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm, get tickets here.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: The Harper Conspiracy and Fully Realized, 8 pm at The Skylark, $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW).
Got something coming up that should be in our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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