1 week to go and holiday happenings abound – as do other events, including the West Seattle Garden Club meeting this morning/afternoon and the Nature Consortium‘s free eco-hike this afternoon … which is also when winter vacation starts for most West Seattle students. Then as we get into the weekend – bundle up your donations to bring (a food-bank item at the very least) to the free Christmas movie “Elf” at Admiral Theater tomorrow … the final Hometown Holidays Sunday (co-sponsored by WSB) will brighten The Junction (with Santa, mule rides, gift wrap, and deals, including six merchants’ “free stocking stuffers” all weekend – before Sunday, by the way, it’s your last chance to get in on the $6,500 Junction Giveaway) … “Plaid Tidings” (WSB sponsor) has two matinees this weekend … Fauntleroy Church (also a WSB sponsor) has its Christmas concert on Sunday … more than 50 West Seattle events/activities in all, holiday and non-holiday, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club:

Thanks, Skylark Cafe and Club, for sponsoring the WSWL!

WEST SEATTLE HOLIDAYS PAGE (including Christmas tree price check, Christmas light list)

WANT TO JUMP AHEAD TO SATURDAY? CLICK HERE

WANT TO JUMP AHEAD TO SUNDAY? CLICK HERE

ONGOING THROUGH SATURDAY: Enter the $6500 Junction Holiday Giveaway at participating merchants (listed here) – final drawings on Sunday

ALL WEEKEND: Southwest Pool open again

ALL WEEKEND: Movies (and more) at the Admiral Theater

ALL WEEKEND: West Seattle history on display @ Log House Museum at Alki, Thursdays-Sundays, noon-4 pm

FRIDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: 10 am to 2 pm, West Seattle Garden Club, meeting at Alki Congregational Church, 6115 S W Hinds Street. A Holiday Theme will prevail as the West Seattle Garden Club’s regular monthly meeting begins with a business meeting, Bazaar and Bake Sale, followed by Memory Games with Sharon Barrea. Commentary on Floral/Horticultural exhibits featuring Santa, Candles and Evergreen State greens will precede the Brown Bag Lunch at noon. The club will serve dessert and beverages. The Holiday theme continues in the afternoon with a surprise presentation by Kate Mitchell and her committee. Donation $5. More information at 206-932-2540.

FRIDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Heather’s Tummy Care, which specializes in digestive care products for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is having an in-store event in West Seattle, free samples, discounted prices on products, a raffle for autographed book by best selling IBS author Heather Van Vorous, and a full question and answer session about everything IBS. Fresh Vitamins-Westwood Village, 11 am-2 pm. Everyone welcome!

FRIDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: Expressionist Landscape art show at ArtsWest gallery, noon-7 pm

FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Nature Consortium free eco-hike through West Duwamish Greenbelt, meet at 14th/Holly, 1 pm (more details here)
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FRIDAY NIGHT: Hanukkah’s final night begins at sundown

FRIDAY NIGHT: Holiday Feast and Giving Tree at Hiawatha Community Center, bring a toy donation and dinner’s free, 6-8 pm (see the menu here!)

FRIDAY NIGHT: Live music at C & P Coffee with Angela Reed, 6-8 pm

FRIDAY NIGHT: Friday Skate Night is back at Alki Community Center! (Note: There will be no skate night on December 25, 2009 or January 1) Time is from 6:45 pm- 8:45 pm every Friday. Cost is $3 per person. Skates are available on site. For more information please call 206-684 -7430.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Live music at The Bohemian: Eric Johnson on blues piano, 7-10 pm, followed by Late Night with DJ Fij (“classic funk and rare grooves”) at 10

FRIDAY NIGHT: “Plaid Tidings: The Holiday Edition of ‘Forever Plaid'” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm (buy tickets online)

FRIDAY NIGHT: A Kenyon Hall Christmas, with Louis Magor, Connie Corrick, Aaron Shanks, and more, 7:30 pm

FRIDAY NIGHT: Live music at Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor), with Russell Turner, Harmonic Superkill, Beggars and Saints, 9 pm

FRIDAY NIGHT: Live music at Shadow Land, starting at 10 pm

FRIDAY NIGHT: Alki Tavern’s 33rd annual Christmas Party. Mike Auchter will play with the Tim Turner Band

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: H1N1 vaccination clinic in White Center for those who can’t afford it, 9 am-5 pm (full details on partner site White Center Now)

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON:Come one — Come all
Volunteer event at Brandon Street Natural Area
10 – 2
Meet at gateway on Brandon Street at 10 under the tent. This is the last event of the year. So if you didn’t make a event this year, here’s your chance. E-mail Jay at jaymirro@hotmail.com

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: West Duwamish Greenbelt work party with the Nature Consortium, meet at 14th SW and SW Holly, 10 am-2 pm

SATURDAY MORNING: Fabulous Family Fun series continues at High Point Community Center with Family Gingerbread Houses, 10:30 am (tickets $3/person in advance, $5 on show day)

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Duwamish Longhouse Museum open to the public, 10 am-5 pm

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Marination Mobile food truck is expected back at 35th/Graham, 11 am-2 pm

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Trunk Show 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at ArtsWest Playhouse & Gallery (WSB sponsor). Presenting entire collections from Karazi Design, Birna Jewelry, Laura B Design & Michelle’s Jewelry Box.

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON The Hiawatha Tae Kwon Do Club is looking for new members for its ongoing classes at the Hiawatha Community Center in West Seattle. Adults (18 and older) can sign up to learn Tae Kwon Do, a Korean martial art known for its fast sparring techniques, dynamic forms, and strong kicks. The club is focused on self-improvement in a non-competitive atmosphere that promotes unity, respect, and indomitable spirit. Classes cost $30/month and meet Mondays & Thursdays 7-8:30pm and Saturdays 11:15am-1:15pm. Beginners are definitely welcome and preferred; new students can join at any time! Check out our website at www.hiawathatkd.org, email hiawathatkd@gmail.com for questions, or call (206) 684-7441 for registration information

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Free holiday movie at The Admiral Theater, “Elf,” noon – price of admission, a food-bank donation (bring other donations including items for Navos, if you can: They say, “many residents cannot afford basic items like soap, shampoo, deodorant, combs and brushes. We package these things into kits and distribute them to clients.”)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: Expressionist Landscape art show at ArtsWest gallery, noon-7 pm

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Holiday Party at Delridge Community Center, noon-2 pm

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Noon-4 pm Saturday and Sunday, Santa Claus at Westwood Village in his new digs, the former Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) location on the breezeway (they’ve moved to a new spot next to Chico’s) – bring a food bank donation and your Santa photo is free; bring diapers for WestSide Baby (sizes 3-6 preferred); free gift wrap, with donations going to local nonprofits

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Furry Faces Foundation “Wrap It Up” giftwrapping at Shadow Land, 1-6 pm (more info in the WSB Forums)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: From West Seattle Cellars: Winemaker Ben Smith will be the shop on Saturday, December 19, from 1:00 to 4:00, to pour his new releases. Ben’s tastings have been some of the most popular in the shop and we are excited to have him back for the last Saturday tasting of 2009. Cadence Winery is located right down the road, in Georgetown, and Ben’s wines just keep getting better and better. This Saturday he will be pouring his fabulous 2007 wines all Bordeaux-style blends, including the Ciel du Cheval, Tapteil, Camerata, Bel Canto, and the Coda.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” this month’s featured film for the West Seattle Film Forum, Southwest Branch Library, 1:30 pm (full details here)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: “Plaid Tidings: The Holiday Edition of ‘Forever Plaid'” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 3 pm (buy tickets online)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: Live music at C&P Coffee with Judd Wasserman, 6-8 pm

SATURDAY NIGHT: Live music at The Bohemian: piano jazz with Norm Bellas, 7-10 pm

SATURDAY NIGHT: “Plaid Tidings: The Holiday Edition of ‘Forever Plaid'” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm (buy tickets online)

SATURDAY NIGHT: A Kenyon Hall Christmas, with Louis Magor, Connie Corrick, Aaron Shanks, and more, 7:30 pm

SATURDAY NIGHT: At Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor): Live music with Ruby Hill, Vanaprasta, Thunderbird Motel, Unmanned Drone, 8 pm

SUNDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: West Seattle Farmers’ Market @ The Junction, 10 am-2 pm

SUNDAY MORNING: At Tibbetts United Methodist Church, Sunday School Christmas pageant, 10 am

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Hometown Holidays in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB), noon-4 pm, including Santa photos and mule-drawn carriage rides (*11 am-3 pm for rides*), plus complimentary gift wrap with $50+ purchase from participating merchants, final drawings in the $6,500 Junction Giveaway, face-painting at Hometown Holidays Headquarters by Pathfinder K-8

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Christmas gift sale; will be held this Sunday, December 20th, at St John the Baptist Episcopal Church‘s parish hall. It is open to the community from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Come enjoy a cup of coffee and shop for your Christmas gifts; we have ornaments, cards, jewelry, stocking stuffers, quilts and framed artwork, all home made. Along with the home made items there is a second section with gently used beautiful Christmas gift items.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Noon-4 pm Saturdays and Sundays, Santa Claus at Westwood Village in his new digs, the former Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) location on the breezeway (they’ve moved to a new spot next to Chico’s) – bring a food bank donation and your Santa photo is free; bring diapers for WestSide Baby (sizes 3-6 preferred); free gift wrap, with donations going to local nonprofits

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: SafeFutures haircut and canned food drive, SafeFutures (6337 35th SW), 1-6 pm (more info here)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Fundraiser bottle sale and gift-wrap event at Beveridge Place Pub, benefits Animals First Foundation (foster care), elves from Furry Faces Foundation participating, 1-5 pm

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Lunch at Cafe Revo (WSB sponsor) and kids can hear stories from Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) – today, Babbo tells his own story – 1-3 pm (and bring a gift for Furry Faces Foundation or WestSide Baby for the giving tree and get 10 percent off your bill)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: “Plaid Tidings: The Holiday Edition of ‘Forever Plaid'” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 3 pm (buy tickets online)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Live music at C&P Coffee with Phil Hansen, 3-5 pm

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: (not West Seattle, but we were asked to share) Magical Strings is proud to celebrate its 31st year of Celtic Yuletide concerts with a performance at 3 p.m., at University Christian Church (4731 – 15th Ave NE) in Seattle. With the sweet sounds of Celtic harps, hammered dulcimers, whistles, concertina, strings and more, Philip and Pam Boulding and their family (including five grown children and grandchildren) are joined for each Celtic Yuletide by the lively stepdancing of the Raney Irish Dancers and the award-winning Tara Academy of Irish Dance, Thomas Arthur’s lyrical juggling, Colleen and Mark Raney’s soulful Irish songs, and Tom Creegan on his haunting Uilleann pipes. The Concerts also feature a magical tale in the ancient Celtic tradition, along with a rousing and joyful medieval processional, in which the audience is invited to join the fun. The evening ends in carols by all in the hall, resounding in glorious harmony with the final carol of the concert, “All Through the Night.”

SUNDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: Sunday Market Cocktails, KPLU Jazz Sundays (4-6 pm), Sunday Ribs (“Southside Tony’s Rib Special,” 4 pm “till we run out”) at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Live music at C&P Coffee with Jamtime, 1-4 pm

SUNDAY NIGHT: Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) Holiday Concert, 6 pm

SUNDAY NIGHT: All-ages live music at @ Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor) with Ambulance, Typewriters, The Hoot Hoots, 7 pm

Are we missing anything? Let us know! And between weekends, keep an eye on our continuously updated Events page.