The Gai Family‘s Christmas display – retired in 1996 but brought back in 2019 – is aglow again as of tonight. And this year, there’s something new – here’s a closer look at the new custom-built setting for the Madonna that bakery co-owner Phil Gai built in the mid-’50s.

Phil and Dorothy Gai‘s son Ron Gai brought back the display, which drew visitors from all around for decades, 14 years after his dad’s 2005 death. You’re invited to go see it in the 3200 block of 36th SW [vicinity map].

Got – or seen – a special display? Email us, with or without photo(s) – westseattleblog@gmail.com; see past spotlights here, and listed in our Holiday Guide!

New traffic cameras for Delridge Way, and more to come

December 10, 2022 5:17 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

SDOT finally has traffic cameras for Delridge Way. We noticed them appear on the SDOT Travelers’ Map recently, but at the time they were only partially functional – no default still image, only visible if you chose “video” from the map windows; they’ve since become fully functional. They’re at Genesee (above), Oregon (1st below), and Orchard (2nd below), and SDOT tells us four more are planned.

The next four, according to SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali, will be at “Delridge Way SW & SW Henderson St; Delridge Way SW & SW Holden Street; Delridge Way SW & SW Juneau St; and Delridge Way SW & SW Thistle Street.” She says they hope to have those cameras operational by early February.

Still no word on whether or when a few key cameras that have been down for months – such as Highland Park Way/Holden and the second camera atop the high bridge – will return. (We keep asking.)

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MUSIC: ‘Loud and Local Band of the Week’ honors for West Seattle’s anMech

December 10, 2022 3:32 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

If you like your music loud and electronic, the West Seattle band anMech might be for you. Band member Noah Schoenfeld emailed us because they’re proud that anMech has been chosen by rock radio 99.9 KISW as its “Loud and Local Band of the Week.” Noah explains that the band plays “a mixture or industrial, metal, and synth wave blended together into unique sound.” They released their first album “The Curse of Hope” on Halloween, “a full-length EP that was recorded this past summer.” anMech plays at venues around the area and Noah, a longtime Delridge resident, says they’re extra-excited to be playing West Seattle’s own Skylark next month – here’s the poster:

You can find more music from anMech – short for “animal mechanical” – on YouTube and Bandcamp. They even have merch.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another crash-and-grab burglary; plus, 3 reader reports

December 10, 2022 1:05 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Four West Seattle Crime Watch reports:

ANOTHER CRASH-AND-GRAB BURGLARY: Five days after the crash-and-grab at Westwood Village‘s Big 5 store, a similar burglary happened early today at the Arrowhead Gardens mini-market El Quetzal (9240 2nd SW). After a reader tip, we went over and found the scene shown in our photo above. A member of the family that owns the store told us the entrance was so heavily damaged, they hadn’t been able to get inside to figure out what was taken. Police told them it likely happened around 5 am; the SPD call log on Twitter shows an alarm call received by 911 around quarter till 5. The store is closed until further notice. The SPD incident number is 2022-329753.

We also have three reader reports received in the past day-plus:

CAR STOLEN, THEN FOUND: This report is from Ray:

We had our 2016 Hyundai stolen from outside our Highland Park house (parked on the street) between 8 pm-10 pm (12/8). We were awakened by police at 2 am who found the car in North Delridge (a neighbor called in the missing car parked in their alley). The back window had been broken by a screwdriver and the ignition had been pulled out to hotwire the car. Just a heads up for other drivers in the area to continue to be cautious of what’s happening in the community.

CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT ATTEMPT: This report is from William:

We live in the Fairmount Park area just a block from the Elementary School. (Friday) morning at 6:15 a large dark-colored pickup backed up to my Honda Element, which was parked in the driveway with the occupants clearly intending to steal the catalytic converter (this would be try #2). Fortunately my wife was sitting at the kitchen table, saw what was happening, ran outside and yelled at the guys, the scum took off but we were pretty surprised at the brazenness of this attempted theft at a pretty late hour of the morning.

PACKAGE SUBSTITUTION: Sindy in Highland Park had two packages taken on Wednesday and trash – including a fast-food receipt and vaping-cartridge box – left behind in their place. “Has anyone else in Highland Park been having similar issues? These were all supposed to be Christmas gifts.”

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Santa’s busy West Seattle weekend begins

December 10, 2022 10:59 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

Santa photos are not just for kids! Everybody’s welcome to a selfie with Santa Claus at the West Seattle Junction Association‘s Hometown Holidays “Santa House” photo ops until 1 pm today. Three different settings await you in the ground-level corner space at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon) – BYO camera/phone. Here’s the full list of Santa photo ops remaining this season (as listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide). Meantime, another major Hometown Holidays event happens tomorrow (Sunday, December 11th) – look for the WSJA booth at the south end of the Farmers’ Market (California/Oregon) to donate coats, get hot chocolate, and/or buy commemorative mugs and holiday garlands.

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LAST CALL: Get a Christmas tree, help save lives

December 10, 2022 10:21 am

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| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Today’s the last day to bid on that Noble Fir we told you about back on Monday – a West Seattle family is offering it to the top bidder to raise money for the Medic One Foundation, in memory of a family member and friend both lost in crashes last year. Two updates from the original call for bids – the tree is removable at 7′ than 8′ so you don’t have to have a mega-high ceiling, and they have the equipment to remove it, so it’s not a “bring your own saw” situation. Email your proposed bid amount to KimberlyMickelson@icloud.com by midnight tonight; they’ll notify the top bidder Sunday morning, with the tree available the same day. (Full details are here!)

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19 options for your West Seattle Saturday!

December 10, 2022 6:34 am

| Comments Off on 19 options for your West Seattle Saturday!

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Harbor Seal photographed off Constellation Park on Friday by David Hutchinson)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:

SANTA HOUSE IN THE JUNCTION: DIY photos with Santa 10 am-1 pm in the pop-up space on lower level of Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon). Free – three different settings you can choose from!

GARDEN CENTER: Postponed from last Saturday – rare open day for the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Garden Center! 10 am-3 pm, north end of campus. (6000 16th SW)

FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – full details in our calendar listing.

EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Whether you’re planning to enroll a student at Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) or just starting your school research early, this chance to tour the school and meet staff is for you. (10015 28th SW)

COVID VACCINATIONS: Community pop-up clinic at Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW), 11 am-4 pm, with walk-ins accepted – both vaccinations and boosters offered.

FIREFIGHTERS COLLECTING TOYS FOR TOTS: Bring new unwrapped toys to Westwood Village QFC (2600 SW Barton) noon-2 pm and meet Seattle firefighters!

PET SUPPLIES PLUS GRAND OPENING: Also at Westwood Village, the new shop celebrates its grand opening all weekend, starting with noon-2 pm festivities today including Beloveds Animal Rescue Relief Foundation:

GIFT-WRAP EVENT: Also with Beloveds, noon-4 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), “We are providing gift-wrapping services for a suggested donation to Beloveds Foundation. We will have some gift wrap, ribbon, etc., and folks can come by who are not customers of Meeples Games too!”

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM GIFT SHOP: Noon-4 pm, visit the gift shop at the home of local history, with a 50%-off sale on glass ornaments and books. (3003 61st SW)

WHITE CENTER SANTACON: 2-5 pm free family activities, then starting at 5 pm, a food/bar crawl requiring a wristband (as a fundraiser for WestSide Baby), all at multiple White Center/South Delridge venues – details here.

(added) NWAA HOLIDAY CONCERT: Chorus with members from West Seattle performs at 2 pm today and tomorrow at Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien (401 S. 152nd).

SANTA AT OUNCES: Santa at Ounces, 3-6 pm. Free DIY photos – people and/or pets. (3809 Delridge Way SW)

SANTA AT MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the famous light display for photos, 5-9 pm. Bring a donation of nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank. (5605 Beach Drive SW)

MONKEYPOX (MPX) VACCINATIONS: 5-8 pm at Arthur’s (2311 California SW), those eligible can get a first or second shot, no appointment necessary.

WEST SEATTLE YULETIDE: Third weekend for thousands of lights synched to music outside the Iversons‘ home on 38th SW between Genesee and Dakota – 6:30-10 pm.

BELLS OF THE SOUND: 7 pm concert with Puget Sound’s premier handbell choir at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW) – more info in our calendar listing.

‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET’: At 7:30 pm, it’s the second night for the Twelfth Night Productions presentation of The Lux Radio Theater version of the classic 1947 film, performed at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – ticket info and other details on the TNP website.

ARTSWEST HOLIDAY SHOW: Tonight at 7:30 pm, it’s the next performance of “Q Brothers Christmas Carol” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – ticket info is in our calendar listing.

LAUGH IT UP: 9 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), it’s comedy night! $10.

Have something to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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