West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
This Saturday, you’re invited to the second annual Oktoberfest celebration at Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, which just might be the biggest Oktoberfest party in West Seattle. Organizers are sponsoring WSB this week to be sure you’ve heard about it, in case you haven’t already seen it in the WSB Event Calendar. This Oktoberfest party has it all – food options including schnitzel, brats, and German pretzels; beer; live music; and games (Hammerschlagen, Cornhole, Stein challenge). Even a costume contest! Tickets are $40 and the proceeds raise money for youth-scholarship programs. You can get your ticket(s) now online – just go here. The center’s at 40th/Edmunds, and the party’s happening in their lower-level event venue all afternoon on Saturday – noon to 5 pm.
How big is Fauntleroy Church‘s Second-Time Sale? So big that about two dozen people were waiting to get in when we arrived just before the doors opened at 9 am. So much stuff, the Fellowship Hall is brimming – even some items on the stage:
And more outside!
Here’s the overview from volunteer Judy Pickens: “Bargain-priced items range from towels to fine jewelry, books to cookware, and china to furniture, all clean, culled, and well-organized. Proceeds benefit the ministries of this active United Church of Christ congregation.” (That includes community projects like next Saturday’s Recycle Roundup!) The sale is on at 9131 California SW until 4 pm today, with an encore session 11:30 am-3 pm Sunday.
Starting Friday, there’s a new place for little ones and caregivers to play indoors – Arbor Heights Community Church is reopening its “Stay ‘n’ Play” indoor gym for ages 5 and under. It’ll be open for drop-ins (but not dropoffs) 10 am to 11:30 am on Fridays. The area is set up with toys and indoor play equipment, and there’s no charge. The church is at 4113 SW 102nd.
Celebrating one of the most abundant vegetables of the season, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is hosting the Zucchini 500 today. First you make a zucchini vehicle, perhaps with parental help; then you decorate it …
and then it’s off to the race track!
You’ll find all this at the south end of the market, right by the California/Alaska entrance. The zucchini and trimmings are free (though since the market is a nonprofit, donations are always welcome).
(WSB photo: Chief Sealth cheerleaders in July’s West Seattle Grand Parade)
The start of school doesn’t mean the end of summer. For three days next month, the Chief Sealth IHS Cheer Team is leading a summer after-school mini-camp for kids K-8 as a fundraiser. The mini-camp is happening 4-8 pm September 13-15 at CSIHS (2600 SW Thistle). On the final day, students will show their new skills during a Sealth game at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex across the street. The deadline for signups has just been extended to next Monday (August 28th); this flyer has more info. When you’re ready to register your student(s), use this form!
Just in from organizers – the final two glass floats have been found, so the second annual West Seattle Glass Float Hunt is over. The scavenger-hunt-style search for a total of 100 floats was a collaboration of the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, with the floats hand-blown in West Seattle by Avalon Glassworks. Last year, a grant covered the cost; this year, money from sales of bridge-closure “Reunited” T-shirts provided the funding; WSJA executive director Chris Mackay told us today they’re hoping for a grant so they can do it again next year, and maybe even broaden the invitation beyond the peninsula, so float-hunting becomes a reason to visit West Seattle. P.S. We’re told the last one found was found today near the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse.
This is the fourth day of this year’s West Seattle Glass Float Hunt, with 19 of the first 50 still waiting to be found. Of those that have been found, one was hidden almost afloat:
That’s Jonah of Alki Kayak Tours “hiding” a float on a piling – note the tide (and weather!) difference when float hunter Phil found and retrieved it:
Of the remaining 19, organizers say:
All of them are in businesses and none are outside. Here are the found locations (which will not be repeated):”
Alki Kayak Tours
Beveridge Place Pub
By & By Skate Shop
C&P Coffee
Cupcake Royale
Dumplings of Fury
Easy Street Records
Emerald Water Anglers
Hotwire Coffee
Launchpad Coworking
Log House / Historical Society
Meeples Games
Next to Nature
Princess & The Bear Wines
Starbucks
The Alley
The Grove
Three 9 Lounge
WEND Jewelry
Marination
Me-Kwa-Mooks
By the nursery
Whale Tail
Jack Block Park
Belvedere Park
Schmitz Park
Lowman Beach Park
Dakota Place Park
Totem Pole Park
Madison Middle School
Hope Lutheran
If you’re just finding out about this, backstory is in this preview from last week.
We have an update on the other current West Seattle scavenger hunt too – this one is the West Seattle Glass Float Hunt, presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Organizers tell WSB that after the first day, “27 have been found so far. 23 still out in the wild!” They also provided selfies sent by happy finders, including this family:
After the first 50 are found, another 50 are waiting to be hidden. If you’ve missed previous coverage, here’s how it works.
Haven’t planned out your Sunday yet? Alice Kuder says her pirate-themed Summer Scramble scavenger hunt has one more day to go – until 7 pm Sunday – and it’s not too late to sign up:
69 teams of pirate hunters are scouring West Seattle this weekend in search of cache pouches! Each one leads to booty from local businesses. There’s still time to join in this FREE fun. Go to bit.ly/Summer-Scramble to register your team.
Just received this reminder to share with you – the second-ever West Seattle Glass Float Hunt starts tomorrow (Saturday, August 5):
FINDERS KEEPERS! This is what you’re looking for:
Starting Saturday, August 5th, 100 glass floats will be hidden throughout West Seattle: Alki to Roxbury, the Sound to the Duwamish. If you find one, it’s yours! Please be mindful of the environment when hunting. Outside floats will be in public spaces, not on private property. One float per household, per year.
Share your hunting experience(s) for a chance for it to be reposted! Regardless of finding one or not, let’s hear about it! What new places have you discovered? Tag @westseattlejunction @westseattlechamber on Instagram.
This event is brought to you by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the West Seattle Junction Association from the money raised through Reunited T-shirts last year. Avalon Glassworks made each individual glass float with a pattern never to be recreated! Pecos Pit sponsored the tags, which we are so grateful for.
HAPPY HUNTING!
The first Glass Float Hunt happened a year ago, in the weeks before the West Seattle Bridge’s 2 1/2-year closure ended.
You can make a difference thousands of miles away by showing up for an event tomorrow (Sunday, July 30th) here in West Seattle. It’s a “summer festival” fundraiser for Books & Bricks Global, with a concert by the band Tinkham Road, plus food and drink. It’s happening 4-6 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), and you can find more info here. Books & Bricks Global works to increase access to education for kids in Africa.
That’s our video from 2019, when Ranger and The Re-Arrangers performed during the last pre-pandemic Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. This year, the Admiral Neighborhood Association brought the series back, and this band will be on stage Thursday night (July 27th) for the last of this year’s free shows. WSB has been a community co-sponsor of the series since its start more than a decade ago, so we’re reminding you today to get your chair, blanket, and picnic ready to take to the east lawn of Hiawatha (along Walnut south of Lander). Showtime tomorrow night is 6:30 pm.
(WSB photo of float at Avalon Glassworks)
The second of two West Seattle scavenger hunts that start next week is also an encore – another search for hidden glass floats. It’s again a collaboration of the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. If you haven’t already seen it in our calendar, here’s their explanation of what kicks off August 5th:
Are you ready to go on a West Seattle scavenger hunt? Back by popular demand, the 2023 West Seattle Glass Float Hunt kicks off on Saturday, August 5, 2023. This year’s theme is “GO WEST.” inspired by the stunning sunsets of West Seattle, as well as the neighborhood’s geographical direction. Beginning Saturday, August 5th, the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce invite everyone to search for glass floats hidden throughout West Seattle. 50 floats will be hidden on August 5th, with 50 more the morning of Saturday, August 12, 2023. A total of 100 floats will be hidden both indoors – in beloved local businesses – and outdoors.
Each 2023 glass float is individually hand blown by Avalon Glassworks in stunning red and yellow hues reminiscent of West Seattle sunsets. Each 4-inch sphere is stamped with a heart and “WS” on the sealing button. Float hunters should look high and low for colorful round balls peeking out through the mesh of a knotted net bag. Labels encourage the lucky finders to register the float, as well as tag the local business where it was discovered on social media.
Chris Mackay, Executive Director of the West Seattle Junction Association, shared, “We are thrilled to bring back our Glass Float Scavenger Hunt this August! This engaging event is for participants of all ages who want to discover new businesses and nature areas as they search for gorgeous glass floats. Come one, come all and have fun combing the area for yellow and orange glass balls!”
Whitney Moore, Executive Director of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, added, “We’re so looking forward to our community exploring more of the peninsula and local businesses for the second year of the Glass Float Scavenger Hunt in West Seattle! We hope you delight in this two week search for beautiful, custom-made glass floats. Happy hunting!”
Details for the 2023 West Seattle Glass Float Scavenger Hunt are available at https://wsjunction.org/float-hunt.
Two West Seattle-wide scavenger hunts start in early August. First, on August 3rd, Summer Scramble, brought to you in part by the creator of Winter Wander. Here’s the announcement:
Registrations are now open for a unique community oriented augmented reality pirate adventure that is coming to West Seattle from August 3rd – 6th this year. The Summer Scramble yARrrr Pirate Adventure is a mashup of Pokemon Go, Geocaching, and the prior Winter Wander events. Similar to prior years, team members will solve clues to discover the pirate locations. But this time, they must “capture” the pirates there using their phones to discover where the treasure chests are hidden.
This AR adventure is sponsored by over 20 West Seattle businesses, run by veteran community event organizer Alice Kuder, and developed by West Seattle mixed-reality designers Robert and Laura Peckyno.
Each treasure chest is directly sponsored by one of the local businesses and contains a unique discount or offer for participation. Teams that find all 20 treasure chests will be entered into a special drawing for one of three physical treasure chests filled with swag donated by local businesses.
Charge your phones, grab your pirate hats,
batten down the hatches, and hide the catnip!!
The hunt begins on August 3rd!!—
To participate and learn more about Summer Scramble, register your team today @ bit.ly/Summer-Scramble
To learn more about the yARrrr Pirate Adventure and see all of the participating local businesses, visit: pecknotes.com/pirate-adventure
We’d also like to put out a few more treasure chests…! Any businesses wishing to participate can still do so by contacting Alice Kuder directly before July 30th at: wssummerscramble@gmail.com
While most of the rest of the nation is hotter than usual, our temperatures remain “seasonal” – so it’s prime time to enjoy being outdoors. Here are four unique local events that arrived in the WSB inbox recently (not even all in our calendar yet)
RAT CITY RUMBLE: Another block party in White Center! Lariat Bar is leading this one, 11 am-5 pm Saturday, with 16th SW closed between 98th and 100th, and wrestling matches – in keeping with Lariat’s theme – among the highlights. Here’s the announcement published on our partner site White Center Now.
S2S FEST: Peace Peloton presents a festival of food/drink, music, and arts/crafts at Seacrest Park (1660 Harbor SW), 3-10 pm Saturday. You can RSVP for free by going here.
SOULFEST BLOCK PARTY: Starting at 4:30 pm Saturday, music, food, and fun will fill the site of this unique celebration in Seaview. Ticket link, music lineup, and more are in our calendar listing.
(Seattle Opera photo by Sunny Martini)
OPERA IN THE PARK: Sunday at 10 am, in Highland Park (1100 SW Cloverdale), Seattle Opera will present “our 2023 touring production, Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, a 35-minute-long bilingual opera written for youth audiences. This interactive piece features an updated text that moves seamlessly between English and Spanish.” Read more here about the event (which will be repeated August 13th if you can’t go this Sunday).
Huge night ahead for three reasons – so we’ll start with them!
SUMMER FEST EVE: It’s the night before the big three-day festival in The Junction, and the streets will be closed in the festival zone by 4 pm – California between Oregon and Genesee and between Oregon and Edmunds (Oregon stays open to east-west traffic), Alaska between 42nd and 44th. Here’s the festival map showing where:
All are welcome to come to The Junction tonight, walk in the streets, and enjoy the pre-festival evening, which coincides with the monthly West Seattle Art Walk (more on that below) and also features bonus events like DancePowered‘s flash mob at the Walk All Ways crossing around 7:15 pm, performers at KeyBank Plaza (including Aurora Ave.!), and “tons of colored chalk lying around” for sidewalk/pavement art. (And don’t miss Easy Street Records‘ film premiere, previewed here.)
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, WITH THE ART OF MUSIC: 5-9 pm, at venues all over the peninsula, it’s the night to celebrate art! Here’s the map/list for this month:
For specifics on artists/locations, go here. Tonight’s two Art of Music performances are 6-7:45 pm, Hopscotch at the Alki Arts pop-up (California/Oregon) and Jean Mann at Wend Jewelry (3278 California SW).
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: The Admiral Neighborhood Association is reviving the free concerts on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (along Walnut south of Lander) for three Thursday nights starting tonight, 6:30 pm, with the West Seattle Big Band. Bring your own chair/blanket (and picnic dinner if you feel like it) – everyone welcome. And as noted here – visit Admiral Art Walk participants first to get “passport stamps” and then enter a prize drawing at the concert!
Also happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SPRAYPARK OPEN: Daily operations continue at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
HIAWATHA WADING POOL OPEN: (corrected) Noon-5:30 pm. (2700 California SW)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, noon-7 pm – here’s the schedule of sessions. (FYI, closed for swim meets Friday and Saturday.)
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), Thai-U-Up will be visiting.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run!
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at The Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.
(Wednesday sunset, photographed by James Bratsanos – tonight’s sunset is at 9:05 pm)
OPEN MIC: 7-9 pm, musicians of all genres at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
THURSDAY NIGHT CORNHOLE: Go play at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm.
HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH: Second week for the return of this hit musical at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing includes the ticket link.
There’s even more in our calendar!
Just two days away …
Thursday’s the night, the east side of Hiawatha Community Center (along Walnut south of Lander) is the place, 6:30 pm is the time, and West Seattle Big Band is who you will see and hear – it’s the first of three Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association for the first time since 2019! That’s also West Seattle Art Walk night, so, the ANA tells us, “The Admiral Art Walk participating businesses have passports – those who get theirs stamped (6) and drop them at the ANA booth at the concert will be entered into a drawing for an Admiral Business Prize Pack.” Meantime, as shown on the poster above, the concert series will continue for three consecutive Thursdays – July 13th, 20th, and 27th. Bring a chair and/or blanket to sit on, picnic dinner if you want, and get ready to enjoy outdoor music.
(WSB photo from last year)
West Seattle’s next big summer event will bring a crowd to Alki Beach on Saturday (July 8th) for the Seafair Pirates’ Landing. We’ve checked with a spokespirate to get details. Like last year – unlike pre-pandemic years – this will be “just” a landing, not a daylong festival. They’re aiming to arrive around 1 pm, but we’re warned it could be a little earlier, or later. As usual, you’ll hear offshore cannon fire as they approach. On the beach, look for the taped-off area by Alki Bathhouse for the path they’re expected to follow on arrival. On the street, you’ll see their legendary parade boat, the Moby Duck; their spokespirate says they’re also planning to visit Christo’s on Alki, El Chupacabra, and the Benbow Room while in West Seattle.
P.S. Two weeks after the landing, you are invited to breakfast with the Pirates at Brookdale Admiral Heights – 8:30 am Saturday, July 22nd, before the West Seattle Grand Parade – details in our calendar listing.
(WSB file photo)
The peninsula’s biggest holiday event starts at 10 am tomorrow – the West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade! This afternoon we have some final words from organizer Megan Erb for everyone planning on participating or watching:
Tomorrow is the West Seattle 4th of July Kids Parade that heads through the North Admiral neighborhood and ends up at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. Here’s a few things to know if you’re planning on attending.
The kids are the parade! Dress up in your favorite 4th of July duds, decorate your bike, scooter, wagon, stroller, and yourself and join the fun! Or you can grab a chair and a flag and watch all the cuteness walk by. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the intersection of 44th Ave. SW and Sunset Ave. [map] with a welcome speech by parade organizer Megan Erb, the singing of the National Anthem by Mode Music, and the parade countdown! There is a bunch of 4th of July swag that will also be handed out by Red Level sponsors of the parade: Neighborhood Naturopathic, Westside School, Holy Rosary School, and South Seattle Cooperative Preschool. Make your way to the start of the parade for pinwheels, flags, necklaces, and more!
If you’re heading to the fun at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, please note you will not be able to park at the parking lot. It’ll be blocked off for the safety of the paradegoers. SPD will be on hand to help keep everyone safe. Two food trucks, Lil’ J’s Super Dawgs and Homebites, will be there, and West Seattle Grounds will have a cold-brew coffee cart with pastries.
Several sponsors will have table activities for kiddos at the park, including Neighborhood Naturopathic, Holy Rosary School, South Seattle Cooperative Preschool, Outer Space Seattle, Sensa Play, Mathnasium, Mode Music, and the Admiral Neighborhood Association. The event isn’t possible without these sponsors and others, including West Seattle Blog, Potter Construction, Fit4Mom West Seattle, South Seattle Crossfit, West Seattle Food Bank, and Westside School.
Potato-sack races will kick off shortly after 11 for kids of all ages – including adults. The event ends at noon. For questions, please contact Megan Erb at meganerb@hotmail.com.
Also note if you’re traveling in the area between 10 am and 11 am, the parade does cross California SW south of Hamilton Viewpoint, so there’ll be some traffic stoppages. The parade’s been a tradition for more than a quarter-century!
(2016 Mini-STP group; photo courtesy Don Brubeck)
West Seattle Summer Fest is headed our way fast – weekend after next – starting with Summer Fest Eve fun in The Junction on Thursday night, July 13th, then continuing with the full festival Friday through Sunday, July 14-16. If you have a bicycle, you can join a fun way to get to Summer Fest on the final day – the annual “Little STP Ride” with West Seattle Bike Connections! If you haven’t already seen it in our Event Calendar, here are the specifics;
Have you ever wanted to do the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride, but forgot to sign up – or train? Here is your big chance! Do it in 2 hours! Same weekend as Cascade’s big STP, so you can brag and post pix like the other one-day riders. Join West Seattle Bike Connections on a Cascade Bicycle Club free group ride starting at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. We will be riding from SW Seattle Street to SW Portland Street, and back north to Summer Fest at the West Seattle Junction, for a fabulous finish-line party. After an hour or two there, participants can ride home independently, or ride with a leader back to the start. 10-mile, somewhat hilly route at a leisurely pace. We invite and welcome everyone, including people of all ages, languages, ethnicities, genders, races, and abilities.
Online registration is required and is free. See more information and register at cascade.org/node/81260.
See this year’s festival map here.
(WSB file photo)
Just in from the Admiral Neighborhood Association – the park east of Hiawatha Community Center will be available for their Summer Concerts series after all! ANA’s Dan Jacobs tells WSB they were able to get the park for three Thursday evenings in July, and the lineup is set:
July 13 – West Seattle Big Band
July 20 – School of Rock and Mid Pak
July 27 – Ranger and the Re-Arrangers
You’re probably familiar with WSBB and School of Rock; Ranger (et al) was part of the last Hiawatha slate in 2019 – they play “gypsy jazz.” These are free, all-ages, bring-your-own-chair-or-blanket concerts – ANA promises other details soon.
Just got late word of this, along with a texted photo – until 3 pm, you’re invited to the Genesee Hill Elementary lot for a car show organized by two fifth-graders. “Some cool cars,” we’re told – at least 14. The lot is off Genesee near 51st.
Before we get to the list of what’s up today/tonight, we have new details of one of Saturday’s coolest events – it’ll be like going to the mountains without leaving West Seattle! Camp Long (5200 35th SW) is presenting Mountain Fest all day, and shared this preview (with photos):
Join us this Saturday, June 24th for Mountain Fest at Camp Long! This is our annual celebration of all the things that make Camp Long the hidden gem it is and more!
We will have lots for you to do including old favorites like our rock climbing, naturalist programs and the high ropes course along with other organizations sponsoring events like bouldering on the north rock tower by Vertical World and rappelling down the Glacier by Mountain Madness, The Falconer, a smores station by the Girl Scouts, and even more!
We will have activities for all ages and everything is free! Some activities require waivers and registration at the main booth in the center of the field.
The event will run from 11 am to 5 pm with some activities starting/finishing at various times within that window but come out and enjoy our lovely park and all that it has to offer! We look forward to seeing you.
If you haven’t been to Camp Long, you might wonder, why Mountain Fest? Its famous Schurman Rock is one big reason.
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