West Seattle, Washington
29 Saturday
(Photo from February 2019 Polar Plunge, courtesy Andrew Malinak)
Saturday (February 22) is the big day: The Seattle Polar Plunge at Alki, with an all-day beer and food-truck festival, benefiting Special Olympics of Washington. The Plunge is at 1 pm; the beer tent and food trucks open at 11 am. Not registered yet? You can sign up to plunge alone or as part of a team – all the info, and the registration link, can be found here. Beer and food are separate, but you can get advance tickets for the beer festival by going here.
You probably have Valentine’s Day handled by now. How about a date night on Leap Day (Saturday, February 29th, just two weeks away)? The West Seattle High School Class of 2020 has an offer for you:
On February 29, 2020 the West Seattle High School Senior class ASB will be hosting our ‘Parents Night Out’ fundraiser, to raise money for our senior class and 2020 prom.
We’re offering child care for children ages 3+. This includes dinner (pizza), healthy snacks, drinks, activities, and a movie.
The event will be held on February 29, 2020 from 5:00-10:30 pm at West Seattle High School, 3000 California Ave SW. Parents should drop their kids off at the historical entrance on the (north) side of the building or follow our signs.
Pricing will be $40 for one child, $35 sibling discount per child, or with a donation of 2 cans of food for the West Seattle Food Bank.
Interested? Or, questions? Email wshsasb206@gmail.com.
Haven’t bought that Valentine’s Day gift yet? Via the West Seattle Junction Association, here are two ideas (though the presents’ payoffs are delayed):
(WSB file photo)
FLOWERS: You can adopt a flower basket that’ll hang in The Junction all summer, with a plaque honoring your Valentine. $159 covers the entire season. Go here to get started.
WINE: The spring Wine Walk in The Junction isn’t until May 15th, but tickets sell out way in advance, so get yours now, and you’ll have a date night to anticipate all spring. Here’s how.
(February 2019 photo by Andrew Malinak)
The post-holidays stretch of winter tends to be a little light on big events, but one is now just under four weeks away: The Seattle Polar Plunge at Alki, with an all-day beer and food-truck festival, happening Saturday, February 22nd, benefiting Special Olympics of Washington. The Plunge is at 1 pm; the beer tent and food trucks open at 11 am. You can sign up to plunge alone or as part of a team – all the info, and the registration link, can be found here. Beer and food are separate, but you can get advance tickets for the beer festival at a discount by going here.
From Seattle Parks‘ Lifelong Recreation program:
If you are an adult aged 50+ in West Seattle, Lifelong Recreation (Seattle Parks and Recreation’s senior program) has some great programs coming up! Scholarships are available for all programs.
New class looking for more participants like you! Relaxation Meditation
Explore a personal journey of relaxation and stress relief using easy and effortless meditation techniques. Each week you be guided to step into the gift of silent awareness and walk out feeling a little lighter! Classes run on Tuesdays, 10-11 am, through March 17. $50 for the series.
Join us on a pleasant and informative trip to our state capitol in Olympia. Receive a guided tour of the Legislative Building beginning at noon, then enjoy free time to explore the inviting, spacious grounds. Thursday, January 30 from 9:30 am-3:30 pm, $31 (online registration ended, but call to check for spots)
Field trip to Seattle Art Museum: Aaron Fowler Exhibit and Others
Join us to see works of great new art! Fowler’s large-scale sculptural assemblages (using found materials) are showcased around the world and are infused with personal meaning that call attention to a range of complex concerns, issues, and ideas- American history, identity issues and black experiences. Pick-ups from Hiawatha and High Point Community Centers, lunch fee on your own. Thursday, February 6 from 10 am-2:30 pm, $11
Field trip to Seattle Repertory Theater: “The Children”
Love theater but hate driving and parking downtown? Join us in for a matinee performance of of this potent, witty drama which is a recent Broadway hit and has been nominated for a Tony Award. Thursday, February 27 from 9:15 am-3:15 pm, $25
We also have several other great classes, such as Zumba, yoga, Tai Chi, book clubs, walking groups, pickleball, and so much more! For more info, browse our brochure, or the online catalog. For more information about programs or scholarships in West Seattle, please contact Masha at 206-256-5403 or masha.shtern@seattle.gov
The Vashon Center for the Arts has joined the WSB sponsor team to ensure you know about entertainment options like this, a ferry ride away:
Rise Up, the Hamilton Tribute Band! is coming to the Kay White Hall on Saturday (January 25th), 1 and 7 pm! Rise Up is an ensemble of top Seattle vocalists and musicians that performs the amazing music of “Hamilton,” a record-breaking Broadway musical and winner of 11 Tonys including Best Musical. It is a sweeping national cultural phenomenon with music that marries hip hop, R&B and Broadway.
Rise Up delivers a performance that captures all the sophistication, detail and emotion of the music of “Hamilton”. Rise Up has performed extensively in the Northwest, selling out venues including The Triple Door in Seattle, Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia, Rialto Theater in Tacoma, Alberta Rose Theatre in Portland, and many others. Rise Up was named runner up for Best New Musical Act in Seattle Weekly’s Best of Seattle 2018. (Note: This is not a theatrical performance of the musical “Hamilton” but rather a live performance of the smash hit’s music.(
VCA Members – $24, Sr./Students – $26,
General Admission – $30, Premium Seats (first 2-3 rows) at $35
Tickets are available online.Vashon Center for the Arts started more than 50 years ago, making it the oldest private non-profit community arts organization in the State of Washington! VCA is a one of a kind art center located on beautiful Vashon Island. A short 20 minute ferry ride away from West Seattle, it’s home to The Kay White Hall – a 300 seat performance theater built in 2016 which attracts international, regional and local talent. The 2000 sq. foot art gallery presents art exhibits on a regular basis (usually monthly) that include paintings, sculpture, mixed media, photography, wood, glass, ceramics and fiber. And VCA offers a variety of dance and art education classes for youth and adults year round and has robust scholarship opportunities for families in need.
Here are some quotes from our visitors: “Intimate venue, professional acoustics and bonus lobby art gallery.” “Beautiful space and excellent selection of both performing and visual arts.” “The hall has amazing quality sound. Nice comfortable venue.” These reflect how people experience the Kay White Hall and art gallery, but VCA offers so much more. Our Dance school and Arts Education program have been cornerstone to bringing the arts into the lives of children and adults for generations. We frequently hear from students that their experience at VCA has changed their lives. Here’s an excerpt from a handwritten letter from one of our dance students. “You have opened my eyes to the thing I love the most. I am so grateful for you pushing me and giving me so many opportunities.” Art changes live. For many of us, it’s our life blood. That’s why people keep coming to VCA and why all of us who work here believe in what we do. We hope you venture across the waters and join us for performances, classes, summer camp, or a leisurely walk through the gallery!
VCA is at 19600 Vashon Highway SW – here’s a map.
It’s school-fundraiser season and Fairmount Park Elementary invites everyone to its event, this year titled FAL-CON. Not only are you invited – organizers suggest five reasons for community members to buy tickets. Here’s their pitch:
Fairmount Park Elementary is throwing its annual PTA Auction on February 8th and wants YOU to BUY TICKETS!
“But why,” you ask? “I don’t have children in the school to benefit from a PTA fundraiser.”
There are lots of reasons you might want to support a local school! First off, maybe you feel strongly that children in your community should be able to read fluently – studies show that kids who aren’t reading at grade level by third grade will struggle rest of their educational career in processing information. Auction proceeds fund specialist positions and programs not in the school district budget.
Perhaps you like the idea kids learning to process complex emotions and situations appropriately. Having a school counselor on staff (also not funded by district) is key for social/emotional development!
You may be an outdoor enthusiast who loves the idea of kids getting the experience of going to wilderness camp – the annual auction helps make the 5th grade trip to Islandwood affordable and accessible to all students!
It could be you think teachers should not have to spend their own money on supplies for the class – the PTA covers that so they can focus planning lessons rather than stretching dollars. If you know a teacher, you also know how hard they work and that having the right tools makes all the difference.
Or maybe you just like to party! The Fairmount Park Elementary Auction is Comicon themed – named FAL-CON after the Fairmount Park Elementary mascot – the falcon! It will be over-the-top fun. For the price of admission you will get a full belly of delicious food offerings, a complimentary beverage, access to a bunch of elaborate games and movie inspired photo-ops. Plus, there will be great deals on donated items from West Seattle businesses! Often items in the silent and ticket auction go at or below retail value, so you could technically make money by attending and shopping for gift cards you can use all year.
Come to FAL-CON. Dress up, hang out, eat, drink, take a selfie with E.T., but most of all, support educational opportunities for local kids. After all, we all have to live with them once they grow up.
Auction details:
Date: Saturday, February 8th, 2020
Time 5:30 – 9:30 pm
Location: The Hall at Fauntleroy in West Seattle.
Buy Tickets: https://fpepta.schoolauction.net/falcon2020/homepages/show
Got a school event – fundraiser or other type – open to the community? Send us info for our calendar (even just the basics) – we don’t know unless you tell us! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Another fun-filled holiday weekend is days away, featuring two unique events in The Junction:
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Junction Association)
PAJAMARAMA, SATURDAY AM: That mug is one of the potential bonuses to a new West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays event – shop in your jammies this Saturday from 9 am to noon! Junction merchants invite you, “Gather friends and mugs, as we’re having a pajama party. Shop in your pajamas, enjoy free cocoa, whipped cream, and sprinkles at the cocoa filling station. Why stop at home in your pajamas when you can shop here! When you shop in jammies and spend $20 or more, you’ll receive a limited-edition diner mug too. Supplies are limited, so come early.”
Imagine the photo opportunities. Speaking of which, before the weekend’s out:
(Photo courtesy Cocoa Cris Cringle)
COCOA CRIS CRINGLE, SUNDAY PM: There’s no Santa photo like a photo with Cocoa Cris Cringle at Easy Street Records (California/Alaska), and he’ll be there Sunday (December 15th), 4-7 pm: $20 includes the use of hats, props, and candy canes. Proceeds benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. Bonus: “This year we have live musical accompaniment with keys by Hugh Sutton; I will be singing some holiday classics!” P.S. Pets welcome.
(WSB file photo: Some of what was raffled off at a past Turkey Bowl)
‘Tis the season to give. The West Seattle-based Beer Church has done that every holiday season for more than 20 years via its beer-and-bowling benefit, the Turkey Bowl, and you’re invited to the party Saturday night at West Seattle Bowl. The lanes are sold out, but, Kim Sharpe Jones of the Beer Church says:
We encourage the community to come join the fun.
– enter to win target raffle prizes (tickets are $5, must be present to win; drawing will be around 7:15 pm)
– bring non-perishable food donations or monetary donations for the food bank
– try a Beer Church IPA – a collaboration beer by Two Beers Brewing, Georgetown Brewing and Airways Brewing to benefit Northwest Harvest
Stop by WS Bowl (39th/Oregon) between 5:30 pm and 8 pm tomorrow and be part of it.
Your Halloween doesn’t have to end when this night is over. Two shows/displays continue tomorrow:
SKELETON THEATRE: Tonight was the first of two nights that draws people from miles around to 36th/Hanford, to see the labor of love that a theatrical professional-led crew has staged, with various themes, for 14 Halloweens:
This time, the Skeleton Theatre crew is reprising their skeletons-in-space saga “Ulna 13,” not a bad choice considering we just marked 50 years since the first moon landing.
Skeleton Theatre shows are more comic than creepy, and run about 20 minutes, continuously with brief intermissions, 6 to 9 pm. Seems the skeletons have a new project, too:
From there, we headed to Alki.
‘NIGHTFALL ORPHANAGE’: This too is the creation of someone with a professional background. as noted in the preview; for a third year, the creator and his accomplices have put on a “garage haunt” to spread Halloween spirit at the beach:
Our photos only hint at the experience; see more on the official website. Better yet, go experience it for yourself, until 10:30 tonight and again 7:30-10:30 tomorrow and Saturday. Bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank.
(WSB photos)
Among the scariest West Seattle spots this Halloween night … it’s the 15th year for the Meeds Manor Haunted House! Different location this year – 45th and Stevens. We stopped by in the early going pre-dusk:
The Meeds family says the displays just keep growing every year.
Bring non-perishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank so you don’t run the risk of having to walk the plank:
It’s among the spooky sights highlighted in our Halloween Etc. Guide.
4:10 PM: The new “Magic of Morgan” Halloween celebration – previewed here Wednesday – is on until 5 pm at Morga Junction businesses. We’ve stopped at a few – above, pumpkin decorating is happening inside Youngstown Coffee Company (6032 California SW); below, Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) is offering treats:
4:50 PM: Other participants – Frank at Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW):
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Julie and Dayton at O’Neill Plumbing (6056 California SW):
(Both those businesses are WSB sponsors.) More West Seattle Halloween coverage to come!
3:36 PM: As previewed last night, West Seattle High School students have joined the Admiral District trick-or-treating lineup this year, with a “trunk-or-treat” arrangement of decorated cars between the southwest edge of Hiawatha and the northwest edge of the WSHS campus. Worth a look even if you don’t want candy!
Otherwise, looks like this year’s participants are mostly along California, both sides of Admiral. More photos in a bit; Admiral trick-or-treating continues until 6 pm.
4:23 PM: Working our way north, above is A Kids’ Place Too Dentistry for Children (WSB sponsor); below, Admiral Bird:
Fun costumes spotted, too:
Tomorrow, two more business-district trick-or-treat events – Magic of Morgan (3-5 pm) and Westwood Village (4-6 pm).
Businesses in booming Morgan Junction have decided to join the list of local business districts hosting trick-or-treat events. Zoe from Youngstown Coffee Company (6032 California SW) came up with the idea for “Magic of Morgan” – 3-5 pm tomorrow (Halloween), “Businesses will be handing out candy and goodies and Youngstown Coffee will be doing pumpkin decorating.” For 21+, she adds, Beveridge Place Pub has a doggie-costume contest starting at 6 pm. The businesses listed are primarily on both sides of California north of Fauntleroy; Zoe says you might see some last-minute additions. We’re adding this, meantime, to the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide.
Since 2006, a spirited group of residents and friends has transformed a yard in southeast Admiral into the stage for Skeleton Theatre, a multimedia extravaganza starring animatronic skeletons. They’re at it again for Halloween 2019, bringing back their space epic “Ulna 13.” Skeleton Theatre tends to be more goofy than spooky, so it’s safe even for the easily scared. Just look and listen for the crowd at 36th/Hanford [map] Halloween night and Friday (November 1st), a free 20-minute show running continuously 6-9 pm both nights.
P.S. “Ulna 13” was originally presented six years ago – here’s our coverage from that Halloween.
(2018 trick-or-treating at WSB sponsor A Kids Place Dentistry for Children)
New date this year, so we’re reminding you again tonight that tomorrow (Wednesday, October 30th) is when Admiral District businesses will be welcoming trick-or-treaters, 3-6 pm. Not only will businesses around the Admiral/California junction be participating, don’t miss the businesses on 42nd SW, such as WSB sponsors Metropolitan Market (north of Admiral) and West Seattle Realty (south of Admiral, on the east side of the Admiral Safeway building). Also, the West Seattle High School ASB will host “trunk or treating” along the road between Hiawatha and the school’s front entrance, 3-5 pm, so wander up that way too!
With Halloween two nights away, we’re previewing the spookiest shows in town – starting with “Nightfall Orphanage”:
That’s a new video preview for the “garage haunt experience” and West Seattle Food Bank donation drive happening in an Alki yard – you might have already been to the pre-Halloween presentations, and/or seen it in the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide, but if not, the official news release:
Now in its 3rd year, Nightfall Orphanage (located at 2130 Alki Ave SW) is quickly becoming West Seattle’s premier Home Haunt attraction, collecting non-perishable food donations for West Seattle Food Bank through its entire run (continuing Oct. 31, Nov.1, November 2, 7:30 pm -10:30 pm). On Halloween, October 31, Nightfall Orphanage will feature special guest and scaracter ChesterJester!
Mr. Black invites you to step back into the Bad Place, a gateway into the phantasmagoric realm of the Dark Reach that exists in the shadows between worlds. The radiant abyss where spectral echoes of what once was, and what should not be, materialize and take shape.
Admission is free to all, and guests are strongly encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations to help struggling neighborhood families. More information is available on the website.
“Scaring is caring!” says Mr. Black, the chief architect of Nightfall Orphanage. “Halloween is always about community, because the best Halloween traditions start right here in the neighborhood. There are more than 10,000 families in West Seattle alone that live below the poverty level, and West Seattle Food Bank is committed to providing food security and community connections to neighbors in need. ‘We’ is the most important part of ‘Halloween,’ and when we act locally, we can inspire change globally.”
For over 20 years ChesterJester has been scaring guests at high-tier haunts such as Six Flags Magic Mountains Fright Fest. He has been featured on news programs where he developed a special “taste” for newscasters, (https://youtu.be/QxlegGohjX4) and loves to teach his own unique approach to painting (https://youtu.be/-brLAeiNW5I). He will be haunting Nightfall Orphanage on Halloween to provide screams, and collect food donations for those in need.
(2015 photo by Jason Enevoldsen)
Our West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide has been missing something – a Teal Pumpkin Project mention! We got this gentle reminder this morning from Bethany in Seaview:
I was adding my house to the Teal Pumpkin Project map this morning and noticed that our lovely peninsula is a lot more sparse on food allergy free trick or treating spots than in previous years.
Does it fit anywhere in your Halloweek/Halloween reminders to let our neighbors know the map resets each year, so an address must be added again if non-food treats are continuing to be offered?
Thanks, Bethany! For a detailed TPP explanation, check out this 2018 story contributed to WSB by Alice Enevoldsen.
(WSB photos/video)
Something new at the West Seattle Monster Dash this year – the addition of a Family Fun Zone meant this morning’s event in Lincoln Park was about more than dashing. The 5K, however, was still the main event:
This year’s turnout to support West Seattle Cooperative Preschools was more than 430, bigger than last year. Here are some of the costumes we noticed:
This was the eighth West Seattle Monster Dash – first one was back in 2012.
(WSB photo)
Young shoppers at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) are invited to the annual Kids’ Halloween Party, now until 1 pm. Look for the table on the north side of the store, where mini-pumpkin decorating is happening, and treat bags await. Thriftway is at California/Fauntleroy/Morgan.
Again this year, Halloween is more like Hallo-week, with some of the 36 events in our West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide happening tomorrow, continuing through a big busy weekend, and then more leading up to, and of course on, Halloween. If you haven’t sent us your event yet – from school carnivals to bar parties – it’s not too late; westseattleblog@gmail.com is the address. To check out the updated guide – now up to 36 listings – just go here. (Photo: Jack-o-turkey, sent by Wyatt)
(WSB photo, August 2019)
Two months ago, kid-rock superstar Caspar Babypants closed out the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series with another lawn-filling performance; next Sunday, he opens Kindiependent‘s new Sunday family concert series at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW). This show is at 1 pm, right before the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, but the other nine shows in the twice-monthly series will be on Sunday mornings, 10:30 am. Tickets are required for everybody over 6 months old – series passes are on sale here; tickets for the Caspar Babypants show are on sale here. (Second show: The Not-Its, 10:30 am November 10th.)
(WSB photo, 2018 West Seattle Monster Dash)
Three weeks till the busiest weekend of October – and it’ll start on the run, with the 8th annual West Seattle Monster Dash, 9 am Saturday, October 26th at Lincoln Park. Something new this year – the Family Fun Zone. You can still register at a discount rate until October 20th – just go here. The Monster Dash is a fundraiser for South Seattle College (West Seattle) Cooperative Preschools.
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