West Seattle, Washington
10 Saturday
Three West Seattle food/beverage business notes:
WESTWOOD PANDA EXPRESS UPDATE: Back in October, we reported that Panda Express is moving into the ex-Pet Pros spot next to Westwood Village QFC, according to the shopping center’s site map (which is the only place WWV’s new-ish owners usually “announce” new tenants). The Chinese-food chain hasn’t responded to our inquiry yet but there’s further confirmation of the plan – it’s now appeared in the city permit system.
HOTWIRE’S MANAGER MOVING ON: Hotwire Coffee wants to be sure ustomers have a chance to say goodbye to longtime manager Nicole Crisostomo – this is her last week.
Hotwire says Nicole is “moving on to a new opportunity” after 10 years at Hotwire. “Nicole has played an integral part in our journey with Hotwire, first as loyal customers and then in 2016 as owners. She was part of the deal when we took over the business and promoted her to manager,” explains co-proprietor Jeffrey Silva. “We will miss her and wish her the very best with her next adventure!”
HOLIDAY FOOD: Husky Deli is again offering to prepare a full holiday dinner for you – ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and ice cream, serves 5 – $150, last order December 22nd for pickup on Christmas Eve. … If you’d rather buy something to cook yourself, Lady Jaye‘s annual Meat Market, with wagyu beef and more, is one week from tomorrow – 4-8 pm December 19.
Tonight’s lights are from Eric, who describes the biggest feature in his Gatewood display as a “candy castle.” You can see the twinkling lights near 41st/Austin. (And if you have a display to suggest – whether yours, or one you’ve admired – please email us, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)
(WSB photo, Saturday night, projected art by B Anthony Nelson)
If you weren’t at Saturday night’s GLOWS (Glorious Lights of West Seattle) festival in The Junction to see the community-created art – you have another chance: All week, the projections continue on the south-facing wall of Alaska House (the apartment building bordering Junction Plaza Park). We don’t have the exact hours but we went through The Junction around 6:30 pm and the projections, with the artists’ name and their creations, were already under way. West Seattle Junction Association executive director Chris Mackay says they’re working on making the art available online, too.
P.S. If you skipped the festival, you also missed an hour of amazing holiday performances by an all-star group of local singers and musicians – we have 10 clips, plus the set list, in this report.
If you could give a few hours Wednesday afternoon, Neighborhood House asked us to share this last-minute call for holiday-party help:
Volunteer at Neighborhood House
December 13 | 2 – 5 pmThe Winter Wonderland event is Neighborhood House’s winter celebration for children and their families living in the West Seattle High Point area. The event provides a fun space for children and their families to engage outside the preschool classroom.
We’re seeking 20 volunteers to set up the event, help with children activities, serve food, and clean up. Link to sign up: x.gldn.io/e/lQmiqI30hFb
Neighborhood House is at 6400 Sylvan Way SW.
(WSB photo from September day when stolen Hyundai, Kia were dumped together)
At her final full City Council meeting tomorrow, District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold plans a resolution urging the feds to recall the much-stolen Kia and Hyundai models. Here’s the announcement from council staff:
Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold (District 1 – West Seattle) will propose a resolution calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to recall specific Kia and Hyundai models and require the manufacturers to install industry standard anti-theft technology.
The lack of immobilizer technology in some models made between 2011 and 2021 has made the vehicles vulnerable to theft. That has negatively impacted public safety in cities across the country – including Seattle.
Earlier this year, the Seattle Police Department said that, from 2021 to 2022, there had been a 363 percent increase in reports of stolen Kias and a 503 percent increase in reports of stolen Hyundais. A more recent investigative report found astounding trends in 68 other cities in the U.S.
In January, Seattle became the first city in the nation to file a lawsuit against the automakers. That lawsuit, which is still pending, is seeking to recover damages for the City from the automakers.
If passed, the City of Seattle would join cities such as Baltimore and Philadelphia in passing a resolution urging a recall.
The NHTSA, however, is not currently contemplating a recall, according to what they told us in response to our inquiry after getting the announcement above. They note that the heart of the theft problem is “intentional criminal conduct,” while adding, “However, since last year, NHTSA has repeatedly met with Hyundai and Kia to discuss the causes contributing to the theft vulnerability, review the scope of differing software and hardware in the affected models, and receive regular updates on the companies’ action plans. NHTSA will continue to monitor this issue, spread awareness of further updates to local authorities, and lend its expertise in efforts to strengthen motor vehicle safety.”
Today we welcome our newest WSB sponsor, Seattle Seafood Center, located at 717 S. Michigan St. in Georgetown. When new sponsors join us, they get the opportunity to tell you about themselves – here’s what Seattle Seafood Center would like you to know:
With more than 3,000 square feet of space, Seattle Seafood Center is south Seattle’s largest fish market, run by Patrick Price, who has 40 years experience in selling unique seafood products at prices not typically found in the chain grocery stores and big-box outlets. He’s inviting everybody down for the holidays to shop the wide assortment of live, fresh and frozen seafood that includes King, Dungeness and Snow crab, Sockeye Salmon, Halibut, and a variety of holiday smoked Salmon.
Seattle Seafood Center also features tanks with live King Crab from Norway, Dungeness from the Washington coast, and New England Lobster arriving this week.
Seattle Seafood Center would also like to let you know that coming up in 2024, they will be adding a tap room and restaurant. But in the meantime, there’s a steady supply of dinner and holiday party items that can make an evening more festive – especially their king crab legs, just $39.99 while supplies last.
Find Seattle Seafood Center‘s hours, and a map, here.
We thank Seattle Seafood Center for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here; email patrick@wsbsales.com for info on joining the team!
12:38 PM: SFD has a hazmat response at the Arrowhead Gardens senior-living complex in southeast West Seattle right now. According to the dispatch, they’re checking out “white powder” found in a hallway, possibly related to a dispute between neighbors; police have responded too. No reports of injuries.
1:32 PM: All but two SFD units have been dismissed.
1:52 PM: SFD says that “the substance was determined (to be) not hazardous” and everyone’s been cleared.
Almost three months after the city asked people to use less water, the reservoirs are finally back to normal or near-normal, according to an announcement this morning from Seattle Public Utilities. This of course is thanks to not only reduced water use but also above-average fall rain (with scenes like the Lincoln Park “waterfall” in video from last Tuesday) – this month is at more than triple the average so far, and rain since October 1st is three inches above normal, though rain since January 1st remains two inches below normal. The city says the Cedar Reservoir is back to normal; the South Fork Tolt Reservoir is not, but they think it will be within a few months. Saving water is still a good thing, SPU says, so you can go here for advice on that. When the city asked customers to use less water, usage totaled 149 million gallons a day, and SPU set a goal of cutting that by a third, to 100 million gallons a day; archived updates say the usage almost reached that goal, bottoming out at 101 million gallons a day.
(Seen in Gatewood – any tree can be a Christmas tree!)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
FOR VETERANS: If you need help filing a disability claim, the DAV offers free drop-in assistance 9 am-1 pm. (4857 Delridge Way SW)
FIFTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH: No public events tonight.
INJURY ASSESSMENT FOR RUNNERS: Come to West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) 4:30-6 pm for an individual injury assessment with Biojunction PT.
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, first-time players too. $5.
INTRODUCTION TO MEDITATION: The Alki Dharma Community invites you to Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) for this twice-monthly event. Doors open at 6:45 pm.
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three weekly events – 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Live music with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
Have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:07 AM: Washington State Ferries says “unscheduled necessary vessel maintenance” has the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route down to one boat until further notice, following the #2 schedule. The real-time map shows the boat having trouble is M/V Kitsap, which had problems last week too. Updates to come.
11:59 AM: WSF is moving M/V Suquamish from the Bainbridge-Seattle run so that two-boat service can resume on the Triangle Route.
6:00 AM: Good morning. It’s Monday, December 11. This is the last week of school before winter break.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Forecast says partly cloudy today, high near 50. Sunrise today is at 7:47 am; sunset, 4:17 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today. Watch the real-time map if wondering where the boat is.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, 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!
9:33 PM: Police are temporarily blocking off 48th/Beach Drive/Lincoln Park Way while investigating confirmed gunfire. 911 callers thought it came from a vehicle (we haven’t yet heard a description). Responding officers told dispatch that so far they’ve found “several casings” on Lincoln Park Way. No report of injuries or damage.
ADDED: No additional information, but if you have info or video that would help police investigate, the case to refer to is 23-355206.
MONDAY UPDATE: A few more details from the report summary SPD released today – “Witnesses advised of a white SUV that fled the scene after a passenger fired multiple shots out the window. Officers located 5 spent shell casings in the intersection and a ‘Stop’ sign and ‘No Parking’ sign that had been struck by gunfire.”
For a second consecutive night, Junction Plaza Park was the setting for a winter-holiday lighting ceremony – last night a Christmas tree, tonight a Hanukkah menorah. This is the fourth night of the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights. Despite this being a “time of rising antisemitism around the world,” as Kol HaNeshamah Rabbi Sabine Meyer described it – as a security guard stood watch on the park’s edge – her congregation was there again this year to be “visibly Jewish” and to take a stand for freedom:
Along with candle-lighting, the progressive synagogue offered donuts to any and all in attendance:
Orin Reynolds led Hanukkah songs including these two:
West Seattle has one more public Hanukkah celebration scheduled this year – the Torah Learning Center of West Seattle plans to light its giant menorah on Alki at (updated) 4 pm Thursday, the eighth and final night.
There’s light at the end of the calendar tunnel … we are now at the earliest sunset point (rounded, 4:17 pm) and next Friday (December 15), it starts getting later (rounded, 4:18 pm). The sunrise, though, doesn’t start getting earlier until January 7th. Meantime, we have holiday lights to keep things bright. The photo above is from Stacey: “We are in White Center and have lots of Christmas lights. I’m not sure if we are too far from WS. 11343 4th Pl SW.” Yes, we do feature lights just outside the city limits a couple times per season! Keep the West Seattle and vicinity tips coming – with or without photos/video – at westseattleblog@gmail.com; scroll through this archive to see what we’ve already shown (and previous years, too).
1:53 PM: Per a text from Kersti Muul, orcas are southbound, just past West Point. mid-channel, visible from Alki. Let us know if you see them.
2:22 PM: See comments for updates, including that these are Southern Resident Killer Whales.
ADDED SUNDAY EVENING: Thanks to David Hutchinson for photos! Above, one of the orcas; below, people viewing from Constellation Park:
That’s what it looked like on Alki in November 2020, when a 12.6-foot “king tide” was enhanced by atmospheric conditions. 12.6 is where the next round of “king tides” will peak late next week – too soon to tell if any atmospheric enhancement is likely this time (so far the forecast looks relatively calm). The highest high tides will be 12.6 feet at 7:30 am Friday (December 15), 8:14 am Saturday (December 16), 8:58 am Sunday (December 17), 9:43 am Monday (December 18). This winter’s highest predicted “king tides” will hit or surpass 13 feet in mid-January. P.S. If you need sandbags, remember the closest city-stocked pickup spot this year is in South Park.
Another holiday donation drive in The Junction – this one until 1 pm at Seattle Fire Station 32 in The Triangle (38th/Alaska). There you’ll find U.S. Marines on behalf of Toys For Tots, accepting new, unwrapped toys – and, this year for the first time, nonperishable food. In our photo are Lance Corporal Boze, Private First Class Camacho, and Lance Corporal Nguyen.
P.S. If you can’t get to this collection point, other drives with at least a few days left are listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – scroll down to Giving Opportunities!
Right now at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, volunteers from the Kiwanis Club await your donations of coats and warm clothing! Until 1:30 this afternoon, their booth at the south end of the market, right past the barricades at California/Alaska, is headquarters for the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive – cocoa for donors! Everything collected goes to the people helped by the West Seattle Food Bank. (Our photo shows all the donations from the first filled barrel being offloaded so there’s room for more!)
(Seacrest, photographed Friday afternoon by Lynn Hall)
Welcome to December’s second Sunday! Here’s what’s happening – from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:
‘WINTER WANDER’ SCAVENGER HUNT: Alice Kuder‘s West Seattle scavenger hunt ends today, and you can still register to participate until 6 pm! Go here to find out more and to sign up.
HOLIDAY FUN PHOTOS WITH GAIL ANN: 8:30 am-2 pm is the window today for sessions at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse – book your time here.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at 9 am at rotating locations – today it’s Ampersand Café on Alki.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open as usual between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering late-fall fruit and vegetables as well as cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, candy, more – even Christmas trees (from Three Tree Farms)! Here’s today’s vendor list.
COCOA AND COAT DRIVE AT FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-1:30 pm, bring coats and warm clothes to the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle booth at the south end of the market, for the West Seattle Food Bank, and get a cup of cocoa while you’re there! Part of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays.
(A few of the Pathfinder wreaths, photographed last Sunday)
PATHFINDER WREATH SALES DURING FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm on the southwest corner of California/Alaska, look for Pathfinder K-8‘s famous handmade wreaths and other “door decor”! And if you can’t get to the market, you can “still buy wreaths online or have a custom one made, and pick up at Pathfinder – www.pathfinderk8ptsa.org/shop.”
BEIGNET POP-UP: 10 am-2 pm, Jet City Beignet is popping up at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW)
FOURTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH – FAMILY WORKSHOP: 10 am, the Torah Learning Center of West Seattle is at The Home Depot, 7345 Delridge Way SW, for “a free family-friendly woodwork shop where we build a Menorah/Dreidel game!”
FIREFIGHTERS’ TOY/FOOD DRIVE: 11 am-1 pm, bring new, unwrapped toys and/or nonperishable food to Fire Station 32 (38th/Alaska), one of five stations around the city participating in a special collection drive today.
WINTER MARKET AT TILL DAWN: Noon-4 pm, local vendors await your shopping visit to
SANTA AT MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: At 4736 California SW in The Junction:
Santa is making his annual visit to Three Little Birds. He will be in store twice:
(Today) from 1-4
Saturday 12/16 from 10-1Families can sign in and then will be called when their turn comes. They CAN take their own photos, or have us take them as well, tell Santa what their Christmas wish is, and then get a treat to go. The cost is $5 per family.
TEA AND SCI-FI SOCIAL MEETUP: 1 pm, online, explained in our calendar listing.
‘SNOWED IN’: ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) presents its holiday production, “a journey of song, dance, friendship, family, and the true meaning of the holidays.” 3 pm today. Tickets are available here – just a few as of early this morning!
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’: The radio-play edition of Twelfth Night Productions‘ beloved show at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 3 pm – get ticket info and other details on the Brown Paper Tickets website.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: At C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor): Deb Seymour brings her “offbeat songs” starting at 3 pm.
FOURTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: West Seattle congregation Kol HaNeshamah returns to Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) with “Pop-Up Chanukah,” featuring candlelighting, songs, and “donuts to go.” 5 pm, all welcome.
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, times vary. Tickets and info here.
NORTHWEST BOYCHOIR: 7 pm, Northwest Boychoir‘s annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” at Holy Rosary Church.Get tickets here. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Or for the West Seattle Holiday Guide? Please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
That was a curtain call of sorts for local musicians who were part of a musical showcase during The Junction’s GLOWS festival that could have been an event all its own – an assemblage of “West Seattle All-Stars” led by Jay Cates, performing holiday songs for about an hour right before the tree lighting and projected-art show. For the finale, Ayron Jones – soon to head out on a world tour – with a wistful rendition of “Silent Night“:
Some holiday history, with The Sonics‘ “Santa Claus” performed by Scott Helgason, David Cinnamon, and Zach Rourke here’s a sample:
Tomo Nakayama took on “White Christmas“:
And then there was “Blue Christmas” by BB Jones and Peder Nelson of Sulk:
The inescapable classic “All I Want for Christmas” sung by Z:
Rachael Reis, Billy Joe Huels, and friends with “Santa Baby“:
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” promised Cameron Lavi-Jones of King Youngblood:
B Anthony Nelson and Johnny Nails delivered a bluesy “Run Run Rudolph“:
Cates – who credited Nelson with producing the All-Star assemblage – contributed “Winter Wonderland”:
And our last clip features Cates and “Voice of the Mariners” Tom Hutyler dueting on “Little Drummer Boy“:
That’s not even the entirety of the show – but enough to give you an idea of what an epic holiday concert it turned out to be. (Asterisks mark a few performers whose names we didn’t catch – we hope to fix that by obtaining a list ASAP.)
MONDAY UPDATE: We’ve replaced those asterisks with names – here’s the set list; here’s the slide deck of performer names with QR codes you can use to find out more about them.
Earlier coverage: Festival’s first two hours – including video of Endolyne Children’s Choir, West Seattle School of Rock, and ArtsWest‘s “Snowed In” cast – covered here; the tree lighting and art projection, here.
ORIGINAL SATURDAY NIGHT REPORT: Police are looking for an injured driver who walked away after crashing on West Marginal Way near Andover [map]. The man is described as white, about 6′, 230 pounds, gray sweatshirt, and jeans, seen walking southbound on 16th. Blood in the car suggests his head may have hit the windshield, police reported, and they’ve found a “long gun” in the car. Also, police have told dispatch that there’s a considerable “debris field” from the crash, including barriers along the bike lane, with fluid going into the drain, and SDOT is apparently going to be delayed in getting there to help with cleanup because of an incident elsewhere in the city.
MONDAY MORNING: We followed up with SPD. They never did find the driver; meantime, neither the car nor gun was reported as stolen.
That’s the official West Seattle Junction Christmas tree, on the south edge of Junction Plaza Park, officially lit during tonight’s GLOWS (Glorious Lights of West Seattle) festival, after a countdown led by Junction entrepreneur (and Christmas-lights enthusiast) Jack Menashe, six of his grandchildren, and Santa Claus:
Once the tree was on …
… it was time to start the projected community-contributed art display on the side of Alaska House on the north side of the park – we recorded some of this first-ever display on video, but you really had to be there to appreciate it:
One more report to come from tonight’s festival – some of the performances from Jay Cates’ All-Star Ensemble of West Seattle musicians! (Here’s our first report, with photos and video from the first two hours.)
(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)
4:18 PM: Never mind the rain – the West Seattle Junction’s biggest event of the holiday season is happening now. SW Alaska is closed to vehicle traffic between California and 41st, for the Night Market (vendor list/map here), tree lighting, and Glorious Lights of West Seattle (GLOWS) festival. Here’s the schedule for what’s onstage (42nd/Alaska intersection), following host Marco Collins’ welcome:
4:00-5:00: Costume contestants walk through tunnel of lights [alley west of the park]
4:05: Endolyne Children’s Choir performance
4:30: School of Rock performance
5:00: Host in the Audience with Christmas music
5:15: ArtsWest performance from ‘Snowed In‘
5:30: Light Costume Contest on Stage* [here’s how the contest works]
6:00: The Jay Cates West Seattle All-Star Jazz Ensemble
7:00: Menashe Public Address & Tree Lighting
7:15: West Seattle GLOWS Art Projection Spectacular [on side of Alaska House north of park]
8:00: Close of event
Updates to come!
4:30 PM: Found Santa Claus! Meanwhile, the Endolyne Children’s Choir is just wrapping up its festival-opening performance:
Steps away, the Tunnel of Lights (alley between the park and Panterelli) is open for costume contestants – and photo ops:
Host Marco Collins is sporting an illuminated hat:
The beer/wine garden is open on the southeast corner of 42nd/Alaska, near the stage. More coverage to come!
5 PM: Just concluding the second performance, West Seattle School of Rock:
Costume-contest judging by the crowd is coming up in about half an hour.
5:25 PM: ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) brought a song from “Snowed In”:
The rain’s very light, so no umbrellas needed currently.
6 PM: An hour of music is about to launch – with some surprise All-Stars joining Jay Cates – and then it’s tree time. This past half-hour, the costume competition winners were chosen by audience acclamation. At center below is Archer, who won the “individual” category with her costume of “many jellyfish”:
(added) Closer look:
Archer said she worked for months on the costume! Junction merchants donated the prizes – they’re presenting this whole thing, in fact, as it’s a West Seattle Junction Association production (with community co-sponsors including WSB).
(Added) The “groups” winner was “Santa and Lucy the dog”:
(Photo sent by Amy)
(Added) Three clips from the costume contest – dogs here, individuals here, groups here … Enjoy the break in the rain – the Night Market continues until 8:
And 7:15 pm is when the light projections of community GLOWS contributions are set to start, on the Alaska House wall high above Junction Plaza Park.
8:09 PM: The tree was lit, the community art projected, the serious rain held off … and the All-Stars were so awesome, we’re breaking those videos out into a separate (updated) third report, after Report #2 shows the tree lighting itself … all ahead.
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