West Seattle, Washington
01 Tuesday
The sky was clear, as were the voices of The Dickens Carolers, as the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship made its first of this year’s three West Seattle stops tonight at Don Armeni Boat Ramp. We recorded the mini-concert of holiday classics on video:
The downtown skyline provided a gleaming backdrop, including the red and green roof lights of the SODO stadiums. This year’s West Seattle schedule is the same as last year, so you have two more chances tomorrow to see and hear the Christmas Ship without leaving the peninsula – 5:35 pm at/near Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW, WSB sponsor) and 8:35 pm at Alki (usually near the Bathhouse, 60th/Alki), with a Seattle Parks-supervised bonfire on the beach.
(WSB photo: Santa roaming in The Junction last year)
We’ve made the list and checked it twice – and it’s likely to grow – but for now, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, here are 11 Santa photo ops in West Seattle, starting tomorrow!
SANTA PHOTOS IN ADMIRAL, NOVEMBER 25: Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor) hosts Santa for your DIY pics, noon-3 pm. (2606 California SW)
SANTA PHOTOS AND PANCAKES, DECEMBER 2: Santa photos are part of what you’ll find at the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle pancake breakfast, 7 am-11 am December 2nd at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds) – details in our calendar listing.
SANTA PAWS, DECEMBER 2: Pet photos with Santa at Windermere West Seattle (4526 California SW), 10 am-noon.
SELFIES WITH SANTA, DECEMBER 2: The West Seattle Junction Association offers Selfies with Santa from 12 pm – 3 pm in the Holiday Room at 4210 SW Oregon St. (lower level of the Senior Center of West Seattle)
SANTA AT OUNCES, DECEMBER 2: Bring the kid(s) to Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) 2-5 pm for free photos with Santa Claus.
SANTA PHOTOS AT HIGHLAND PARK CORNER STORE, DECEMBER 3: 11 am-2 pm:
Santa is making a stop at Highland Park Corner Store! Sunday, December 3rd he’ll be here to spread good cheer and take photos with your pets (kids of all ages welcome as well!). For a $25 donation, you’ll get access to a digital library of photos taken by Erika Smith Photography. Proceeds from the photos support Forgotten Dogs Rescue. Happy Howl-idays!
(7789 Highland Park Way SW)
SANTA PHOTOS WITH GAIL ANN, DECEMBER 12-13: Two dates during Gail Ann Photography‘s holiday run at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse have limited Santa availability – book ASAP.
SANTA ON THE STREET, DECEMBER 14: Look for Santa roaming The Junction during the December West Seattle Art Walk, 5-8 pm.
SANTA AT WEST SEATTLE REALTY, DECEMBER 14: Santa Claus is expected at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor) during Art Walk, 5-8 pm.
SANTA AND GRINCH PHOTO FUNDRAISER, DECEMBER 15-16: Photos to raise money for West Seattle-based nonprofit Stephanie’s Lifeline, 4-7 pm each day at The Blu Grouse. (9839 17th SW)
SANTA PICS AT LADY JAYE, DECEMBER 19: Santa photos will be part of the annual Lady Jaye Meat Market, 4-8 pm December 19. (4523 California SW)
Know of others? Email us soon as you can so we can add to the list! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photos)
All weekend long, the main hall at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse is transformed into a one-stop shop for holiday gifts during the annual holiday-season Native Art Market.
We visited this afternoon and photographed some of the artists – above, elk-skin drum maker Margie Morris; below, Coast Salish artist Peter Boome:
They’re among more than 15 vendors this year, as is Sue Shotridge from Raven’s Nest on Vashon:
You can buy food while you’re there too – we noticed more than a few marketgoers enjoying frybread. Also worth the visit, you can see the exhibits in the Cultural Center outside the hall where the market is happening, and shop the Longhouse gift shop too. The market continues Saturday and Sunday (November 25-26), 10 am-7 pm, 4705 W. Marginal Way SW. And if you haven’t been to the Longhouse in a while, note that they now have parking lots immediately north, same side of the street.
(Photo courtesy ArtsWest – “Snowed In” cast)
West Seattle’s only playhouse, ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), is days away from opening its holiday show, “Snowed In.” Here’s the ArtsWest explanation of this brand-new homegrown production:
This holiday season, ArtsWest will present the world premiere of “Snowed In,” a new holiday musical by Corinne Park-Buffelen and ArtsWest Artistic Director Mathew Wright. Directed by Kelly Kitchens (Mrs. Caliban, Book-It Repertory Theatre) and featuring beloved Seattle musical theater stars Rachel Guyer-Mafune (ACT’s The Wolves), Christian Quinto (Village Theatre’s Mamma Mia), Sarah Russell (Seattle Rep’s Lydia and the Troll), and Nik Hagen (The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Sweeney Todd), Snowed In performs at ArtsWest from November 29 through December 23. Tickets are available online at artswest.org, or by phone at 206-938.0963.
In this fast-paced musical comedy, four musical theater stars (and best friends) are commissioned by ArtsWest to write the most magical, fabulous, fantastic holiday musical of all time. The only problem is they open tomorrow night and all they have is the opening number. When they get snowed in with no escape, a cozy mountain cabin retreat becomes a drama-filled pressure cooker. Will they finish the show and make it to the stage on time?
Writers Park-Buffelen and Wright have aimed to create a holiday musical that speaks to the now. This production takes all the best elements from vintage holiday TV specials, SNL, the Rockettes, and old Hollywood, and mixes in the humor, voice, and reality of 2023. Co-creator Corinne Park-Buffelen remarks, “The magic of this production is that at the heart of the show, we have cast four real-life friends who have never had the opportunity to take the stage together. Mathew and I had the pleasure of writing a show around their incredible talent and chemistry. The holidays are about spending time with people that you love, and we have built that into the show by forming this incredible production team and extend that to welcoming our audiences.”
Snowed In features holiday classics alongside original music by Rich Gray (Forbidden XMas), Corinne Park-Buffelen, and David Taylor Gomes (Ranked, A Musical) with additional musical arrangements by Aaron Norman and Riley Brule, and choreography by Shadou Mintrone (The Can Can). This brand-new musical will have you dancing and singing along with the cast.
ArtsWest will present Snowed In, Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3 pm.
(WSB photos)
The newest place in West Seattle to browse and buy art is now open. As previewed here, this is soft-open day for Alki Arts at 6030 California SW in Morgan Junction. Proprietor Diane Venti is settling back in to a bricks-and-mortar location after recent pop-ups:
You can check out the new space until 6 pm. Official grand-opening day is Saturday, December 2nd; regular hours for Alki Arts will be open Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon-6 pm, and by appointment. The space will also be available for event rentals, with “a deep discount to nonprofits.”
(Photo courtesy Thunder Road Guitars)
As previewed here, Black Friday transformed into Truck Friday at Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor), where proprietor Frank Gross booked the Dick’s Drive-In truck to come be part of a special event – they’re raffling off this $2,300 guitar:
And if you buy a $10 raffle ticket before the truck leaves at 2 pm, you get a burger and shake. (The truck is just there as part of the raffle – no separate sales.) Sasquatch is there for photo ops, too. TRG’s sale, meantime, lasts through Sunday. (So does the sale at co-housed The Bass Shop, also a WSB sponsor – details on that here.)
(WSB file photo, 57th/Alki restrooms)
Seattle Parks has started the process of turning off water fountains and closing some park restrooms for the winter. But this year, more of the latter will remain open – Parks says it’s on track “to make all 129 public restrooms available for year-round use by the end of 2028.” As part of that, crews have “winterized” eight more park-restroom facilities, three of which are in West Seattle and marked by asterisks in the list below of all West Seattle park restrooms that SPR says will stay open this winter:
ALKI BEACH 57TH AVE SW RESTROOM
ALKI BEACH 63RD AVE SW RESTROOM
ALKI BEACH BATHHOUSE RESTROOM
ARMENI BOAT RAMP RESTROOM
CAMP LONG WEST RESTROOM
E.C. HUGHES PLAYGROUND*
HIAWATHA COMMUNITY CENTER RESTROOM
LINCOLN PARK BEACH RESTROOM
LINCOLN PARK COLMAN POOL RESTROOM*
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL SHELTERHOUSE RESTROOM
SEACREST PARK RESTROOM
WESTCREST PARK NORTH*
WEST SEATTLE STADIUM NORTH STANDS (Limited use for events/programs)
WEST SEATTLE STADIUM SOUTH STANDS
Though only three restroom facilities are identified as newly winterized, we note the West Seattle list is almost twice as long as last year’s. Meantime. SPR’s announcement adds, “While we strive to keep these restrooms open for the winter, there may be times when we must close them for repair or due to extreme low temperatures.” If you happen onto a Parks restroom – or other facility – in need of repairs/maintenance, the 24/7 hotline is 206-684-7250. The reopening process will start in March.
(Frosted leaves, photographed this morning by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s happening on the day after Thanksgiving – first, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:
DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE NATIVE ART MARKET: This is your annual chance to buy from Native artists and crafters the weekend after Thanksgiving. 10 am-7 pm today through Sunday. Food vendors too. And now there’s more parking, north of the Longhouse! (4705 West Marginal Way SW)
Next, local businesses that have sent word of their sales/specials for Black Friday – full details are in the Holiday Guide:
ALKI BIKE AND BOARD SALE: Multiple items on sale today and tomorrow. 2606 California SW (WSB sponsor). Shop open today 10 am-6 pm.
EMERALD WATER ANGLERS (4502 42nd SW): “We will be offering 40% off on select items in-store for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. We will also be offering a free casting lesson with the purchase of any single-hand rod.”
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS: On Black Friday, not only a sale, but also a $10 raffle ticket for an awesome guitar that also will get you a burger and shake from the visiting Dick’s Drive-In truck noon-2 pm – details here. (6400 California SW)
BLACK FRIDAY OFFER AT AVALON GLASSWORKS: The shop/studio at 2914 SW Avalon Way will be open 12-4 pm, and: “Shop with us in-person on Black Friday and receive a free original-photography greeting card as our gift to you.”
BLACK FRIDAY = RECORD STORE DAY AT EASY STREET: Huge day at Easy Street Records, open until 9 pm – free in-store concert with Princess Pulpit and Linda From Work at 6 pm. (4559 California SW)
BLACK FRIDAY AT SSC GARDEN CENTER: The Garden Center will be OPEN for Black Friday Weekend with 20% off Plant Sales. 10 am-2 pm Friday. (6000 16th SW, north lot)
BLACK FRIDAY AT NW WINE ACADEMY: Also on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, north lot: “1 tasting included with the purchase of any bottle and 3 for 42$ on all 2016 bottles!” 11-4 pm.
BLACK FRIDAY AT CARMILIA’S: At the Junction boutique at 4528 California SW: 15% off entire store today. Hours 11 am-5 pm.
Other holiday events:
GIFT WRAPPING: Hosted by The Clay Cauldron at Jet City Labs, 4-8 pm, by donation, with part of the proceeds benefiting cancer research. (4547 California SW)
CHRISTMAS SHIP: The brightly lit boat with carolers on board makes its first stop of the season at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW), 5:35 pm. Gather on shore to listen! Full season schedule (including 2 more West Seattle visits, both tomorrow) is here.
And at least two returning Christmas tree lots open today/tonight:
HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT: This year’s Holy Rosary Tree Lot, on the north side of the campus, is scheduled to open today, 4-9 pm. Wreaths, garland, and poinsettias (collaborating with Hope Lutheran School) will be available too. Part of the proceeds go to local nonprofits.
TREES BY THE SEA (2530 Alki SW) … This lot opens today too. Friday hours are 10 am-8 pm.
Now from the year-round West Seattle Event Calendar and our coverage archives:
SCRABBLE CLUB: You can play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café inside the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
GH PASTA & PIZZA GRAND OPENING: This is the official opening day for the new restaurant, 5-9 pm after 4-5 pm happy hour. (7500 35th SW)
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room/wine bar open – wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Try the newly released red wines!
DANCE NIGHT AT THE SPOT: Fridays are DJ Dance Night at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.
DJ NIGHT AT REVELRY ROOM: Music 9 pm-1 am on Fridays! (4547 California SW)
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:37 AM: Collision reported in 3000 block of SW Avalon Way, minor injuries to pedestrian.
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, November 24th, aka “Black Friday,” when one of the biggest shopping events on the peninsula is at the corner usually shown in the traffic camera above – Record Store Day at Easy Street.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny, high in the mid-40s. Sunrise today is at 7:27 am; sunset, 4:24 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – Back to regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Water Taxi – No service today – boats or shuttle buses.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
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