West Seattle, Washington
20 Saturday
Fans of “Vanishing Seattle“ will want to watch the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s next online event in the “Words, Writers, Southwest Stories” series two weeks from tonight. The December 11 speaker will be Cynthia Brothers, founder of “Vanishing Seattle” – here’s the SWSHS announcement:
Vanishing Seattle is a multimedia movement that documents and celebrates the disappearing landmarks, small businesses, and cultures of Seattle – as well as the ones that are still here.
The award-winning Vanishing Seattle film series has screened at Seattle Black Film Festival, Queer Voices: NYC Film Festival, Alaska Airlines in-flight, and more. Vanishing Seattle also includes a large-scale, immersive signage exhibit (featuring iconic businesses such as Sunset Bowl, Andy’s Diner, and Admiralty House Antiques) and an accompanying book, “Signs of Vanishing Seattle.” Join us to take a deeper dive into a legendary local establishment featured in both the exhibit and book, with stories and memories shared by Vanishing Seattle’s followers.
Cynthia Brothers (she/her) is the founder of Vanishing Seattle. Cynthia curated the “My City’s Filthy” exhibit at Bumbershoot (2025), the “We Were Here” exhibit at the Here-after/Crocodile (2024– 2025), and the Vanishing Seattle exhibit at RailSpur (2023). She has been a presenter, collaborator, and producer in numerous creative partnerships and events, including for Town Hall Seattle and MOHAI. She has released two books: “My City’s Filthy” (2025) and “Signs of Vanishing Seattle” (2025), published by Tome Press. She is a proud alumna of the high school where Bruce Lee first demonstrated his famous “one-inch punch.”
To register and get the link for this event at 6 pm Thursday, December 11, just go here.
Thanks to MJ for the photo, and thanks to whoever keeps decking the Admiral Way Bridge railings each year with cheery red bows! MJ notes they “look new” this year – certainly the paint on the railings is.
(WSB photos)
The West Seattle Eagles‘ tradition of community giving extends every year to a free Thanksgiving dinner, open to all at their HQ in The Junction (4426 California SW). The feast awaiting you there includes a wide variety of pies:
No membership required, all ages welcome, until 5 pm.
Heidi‘s car was stolen on Queen Anne but the airtagged keys were dumped at the Junction 7-11, so it may still be in this area.
Stolen in the evening or early hours of Thanksgiving. It is a 2014 Mazda CX-5, dark gray color. It has an Alaska sticker on the left rear window and an Oregon Ducks license plate cover on the rear plate.
If you find it, call 911 and refer to the incident number.
12:59 PM: If you don’t already have plans for Thanksgiving, you have two more hours to get to The Hall at Fauntleroy to enjoy the free community dinner that DSquared/Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering has served for more than 20 years. It’s on the south end of the historic schoolhouse at 9131 California SW and all are warmly welcomed, until 3 pm. More photos soon!
1:44 PM: Above, the kitchen crew; below, today’s menu!
Some of the donated desserts:
And donated warm clothing for anyone who needs some:
Seen on a tabletop:
And a plate on its way to a guest:
If you don’t see this in time to get there, our Holiday Guide features info on two other free community dinners in West Seattle today – the Eagles (no membership required) 2-5 pm, Admiral Pub (21+) starting at 6.
11:12 AM: Thanksgiving Day had an unpleasant start for two Admiral businesses, where someone smashed large front windows. We got this report and photos from one of the businesses, Alki Bike and Board:
Sadly both us and Baked (the bakery next door) had our windows smashed this morning at 4 am with bricks. We have footage and it seemed to have been someone in a mental health crisis, just wanted to smash things not steal. We had a pretty big bill here to get this fixed, hoping y’all can encourage some support from the community to shop with us – we were already in the slow season and this just gave us a big hit. Big shout-out to the SPD & SFD for being there and helping the cleanup for both shops.
We have a message out to Baked – reader Susan sent this photo of their window:
We won’t be able to reach police for followup information before tomorrow.
12:51 PM: Via email, Kristina at Baked tells us, “We just got done boarding up the windows. Nothing was stolen, fortunately, but both large windows are completely smashed.” Her business is nationally known for its creative custom cakes, and she teaches classes too.
(Hummingbird, photographed by Stewart L.)
Happy Thanksgiving! We are ever-thankful that you are here. As we do every major holiday, we’ve gathered information in hopes of being helpful:
GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: The list of what’s open and when is in the Thanksgiving section atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: That list – including more than 15 local indies (as of our research calls – let us know if you find a change) – is here.
RESTAURANTS/BARS OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: 20+ on the list – see it here.
PRE-TURKEY RUNNING : Three options in our guide, and the biggest is the West Seattle Runner Gobble Gobble Group Run, 8 am from Alki – bring food donations – enter a raffle for running shoes! Look for the sign pointing you to the WSR gathering place, and get full details here.
PRE-TURKEY DANCING: The West Seattle YMCA (36th SW and SW Snoqualmie) is open 7-11 am this morning (Fauntleroy is closed) and invites everyone 5+ to Zumba Shine Dance Turkey Trot, 8:30 am.
PRE-TURKEY WALKING: Walking for Well-Being decided again this year to change to a morning walk today. Meet by 10 am at 47th/Fauntleroy.
WHERE TO ENJOY A FREE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER: Three options this year:
*As announced here, The Hall at Fauntleroy‘s legendary sit-down community dinner is happening again, all welcome, noon-3 pm. (9131 California SW)
*West Seattle Eagles are also again serving a sitdown community dinner for all, 2 pm-5 pm (4426 California SW)
*Admiral Pub, free Friendsgiving feast starts around 6 pm, followed by live music. 21+. (2306 California SW)
WANT TO HELP? You can drop off donations of gently used warm clothing, new blankets and socks, and desserts at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 10 am-1 pm, same address as above (south end of the historic schoolhouse).
WHAT TO DO AFTER (OR BEFORE) DINNER: The Admiral Theater is open this afternoon and evening – see the movies and showtimes here (2343 California SW).
THANKSGIVING TRANSPORTATION NOTES:
*Metro buses are on Sunday schedule
*No Water Taxi boat or shuttle service
*Sound Transit light rail and buses, Sunday schedules
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on a holiday schedule
*No charge for parking today on city streets with pay stations
*Traffic cameras: West Seattle-relevant ones here; citywide views are available via this SDOT map
OTHER INFO:
*No trash/recycling/etc. pickup today – Thursday pickups will happen Friday; Friday pickups on Saturday (transfer station is closed today too)
*Seattle Parks‘ holiday closed-and-open list (including the West Seattle Golf Course, which is open until 2 pm)
*No Seattle Public Library or King County Library System services today
*USPS holiday
*Banking holiday
LOST/FOUND PET? Sometimes it happens with all the holiday traveling, visiting family/friends, etc. – email or text us the info so we can post on our West Seattle Lost/Found Pets page!
Much more seasonal info for today and beyond is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. We hope you have a joyful holiday! (And if you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we are forever thankful for your tips, reader reports, calendar listings, photos, questions, etc., every day/night of the year – now WSB’s 19th!)
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