West Seattle, Washington
16 Tuesday
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: 6 pm tonight, it’s the first South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting of the year, St. James Place, 9421 18th SW (map). 6:30 pm, it’s the Southwest Design Review Board meeting for 2743 California SW (medical/dental-office building going in just north of PCC), West Seattle (Admiral) Library branch. Also at 6:30, at Seattle Public Schools HQ in Sodo, the final public hearing for the citywide closure proposal that involves three West Seattle schools/buildings (archived WSB coverage here). At 7 pm, at the new Duwamish Longhouse, the world premiere of “Angeline,” a documentary film on the life of Princess Angeline, daughter of Chief Seattle. Also at 7 pm, the Seattle Parks Board gets an updated briefing on beach fires, park HQ downtown (as reported here yesterday – looks like status quo for this year).
ADDED 12:58 PM: Also just got word that the West Seattle High School music department’s winter concert is tonight, 7:30 pm, WSHS Theater, all welcome – and it’s free!
Photo sent to us by Marlow Harris, along with this explanation:
West Seattle resident and licensed architect Bret Wiggins has had a lifelong dream to channel the King and does so at every opportunity. He’ll get a chance to do so again this Saturday at the 2009 12th Annual Elvis Invitationals.
Bret is from West Seattle, and has a wife, Judy and 3 boys. They all know about 100 Elvis songs (they have to put up with dad singing in the shower..) Bret has been doing Elvis since he was a teenager (he’s now 47) and it has just become a very fun hobby. He does a tribute show for friends and family and occasionally for special parties or events. On several occasions he has done Elvis at auctions for fundraising, but he’s not giving up the day job, so to speak. He is a licensed architect from Seattle and has been in the design field for nearly 25 years, currently working at Callison. Bret placed 3rd in this competition 2 years ago and would love to win it this time!
The Elvis Invitationals are at 8 pm Saturday, Club Motor in Sodo (map); you can get a hunka hunka burnin’ info (and then some) by going to the official website.
That’s just some of what’s new, according to today’s Ripe ‘n’ Ready list of what you can expect to find at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska.
(Photo courtesy Southwest Seattle Pony Baseball: Red Sox, 2008 Bronco Division champs)
In the past week, we’ve brought you news of West Seattle Little League registration (another session coming up Tuesday) and West Seattle Association of Pee Wee Baseball signups (ongoing, online). This morning: Southwest Seattle Pony Baseball. It’s spring tryout time, according to the announcement we’re sharing, from Doug Groesbeck:
Southwest Seattle Pony Baseball will be holding Spring Tryouts for the Bronco Division on February 7th and 8th between 11 AM and 1 PM at High Point Playfield in West Seattle (map). The Bronco Division is open to players ages 11 and 12 (birthdays between 5/1/1996 and 4/30/1998). You can pre-register for the tryouts through the league website (link here).
Southwest Seattle Pony Baseball also has two teams in our Pony Division for players ages 13 and 14 (birthdays between 5/1/1994 and 4/30/1996). Currently, both teams have a full complement of players and we will not be holding tryouts for this age group on the dates listed above. If however, your child has an interest in playing at this age level, we can facilitate getting you and your child in touch with another Pony League in our area who may be in need of players. If your child would like to have this opportunity, please contact Dennis Crawley (Player Agent) through our website (here’s the link).
Southwest Seattle Pony Baseball is dedicated to providing a competitive, fun and affordable baseball experience to the families of the Greater West Seattle area. The majority of Bronco Division games are played in beautiful Lincoln Park right here in West Seattle. Pony Division home games are held at High Point and Highland Park Playfields, also here in West Seattle.
What we mean by that is: Our weekly list of Friday-Saturday-Sunday events is a “map” in its own right, but the big map activity this weekend happens tomorrow afternoon, when Snowstorm ’08 WSB mapmaking star Alice is leading an informal session on how to make Google Maps – that, and other activities including a big concert rescheduled from its snow-scuttled date, are all part of more than 30 events and activities in West Seattle this weekend, ahead:Read More
Tomorrow morning at 10 am, ArtsWest starts taking applications for its always-popular musical-theater summer camp. No auditions are required, but only the first 30 to sign up are guaranteed a spot. This year’s production: “A Year with Frog and Toad.” Full scoop here.
This week we’re sharing news of baseball signups — first West Seattle Little League (here’s our Monday mention), tonight West Seattle Association of Pee Wee Baseball. President Eric Olson tells us it’s the largest baseball league in West Seattle, with more than 350 kids ages 5-10, who live in neighborhoods from Admiral on the north all the way to Sea-Tac Airport in the South. Teams are named after their sponsors, like the 2008 Mustang Division champs, Tom’s Automotive, coached by Manny Flores:
Eric shares the league’s goals: “The objectives of the WSAPWB shall be to firmly implant in the boys and girls of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage, and reverence so that they may be finer, stronger and happier children and will grow to be good, clean, healthy men and women. The objectives will be achieved through providing supervised, competitive baseball and softball games. The supervisors shall keep in mind that the attainment of exceptional athletic skill and the winning of games is secondary to the above objectives and that the molding of future men and women is of prime importance.” WSAPB traces its history back more than half a century; read about it here. And yet, starting this year, they’re offering the most modern of conveniences — online registration! You can sign up (and even pay your registration fee) right now, at westseattlepeewee.com.
The next two Tuesday nights, it’s sign-up time for West Seattle Little League. Cami e-mailed us the official announcement: “Grab your glove – It’s time to register for Little League! In-person registrations will be held on Tuesday, Jan 13th and Tuesday, Jan 20th – 7-9 pm at West Seattle High School, Rm. 212. West Seattle Little League teaches not only baseball, but lessons learned through teamwork, dedication and pride. Divisions include T-ball, Coach-Pitch, Minors, Majors, Juniors and Seniors. T-ball through Majors play most games at Bar-S Fields, at 6464 SW Admiral Way. For forms, payment and more information, go to westseattlelittleleague.com.” Registration also is under way now for West Seattle Pee Wee Baseball — details on that, coming up later.
SEACREST TV-SHOOT REMINDER: If you missed it yesterday – read this – and know that (a) parking is scarcer near, and unavailable at, Seacrest, through 6 pm; (b) if you see police and fire, and hear something loud, it’s just make-believe. (Best view: This webcam.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Organizers say last week’s flooding did affect some of their vendors, but the market will be open today, 10 am-2 pm. See the “fresh sheet” here.
DOGA: Late word of another “doga” class for dogs and their people, Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction, 5 pm today. You can register and pay online.
Among this weekend’s highlights: Two nighttime explorations presented by Camp Long; a free introductory class by new WSB sponsors NiaDivas; and your chance to join the new group West Seattle Change – more than two dozen events and activities in West Seattle this weekend, ahead:Read More
Thanks to Judy Pickens for calling our attention to this recent change: The Southwest Library branch is now open Sundays, which means — along with the West Seattle branch in Admiral — there are now two WS libraries you can go to on Sunday afternoons. Both are open noon-5.
Need something to look forward to, as this windy, rainy, post-snow, post-holidays first-full-week-of-the-year chugs on? How about — tomorrow night’s West Seattle Art Walk! Second Thursday of every month, 6-9 pm, and if you haven’t checked it out lately, you might not realize it’s spread far beyond its original Junction-area borders, with venues in Admiral, Alki, Delridge, Morgan Junction, and more – in fact, one of the newest participants is in Fauntleroy – The Kenney. The venues and artists are listed on the official West Seattle Art Walk blog, where you can get the walking map too.
This morning, we’re welcoming new WSB sponsors offering you a chance to start 2009 with a unique way to keep your New Year’s resolutions for fitness and fun: West Seattle’s own NiaDivas. 
Jill Pagano (left) and Lesley Tinker (right) invite you to start your new year by stepping into fitness the Nia way. The Nia Technique(R) is a low-impact, aerobic exercise of dance, martial arts, and healing arts such as yoga. Done barefoot to music, semi-choreographed, Nia delivers a whole-body workout. More than a physical workout, Nia also strengthens mental awareness and inspires a self-expressive spirit. The happy results are a stronger body, increased flexibility, better overall fitness and lots of fun. Jill and Lesley, known as NiaDivas, are so sure that you’ll love Nia that they offer a FREE Welcome Class the second Saturday of every month at the beautiful dance studio in the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on Delridge Way. What’s the best way to describe Nia? Jill and Lesley, who have been teaching Nia in West Seattle for three years, sum it up with “it’s inspirational fitness for an extraordinary you.” Click here to sign up for the next FREE Welcome to Nia class — coming up THIS Saturday! WSB welcomes the NiaDivas to our sponsor team; full list is here, with info on how to be part of it!
(12/28/08 West Seattle Farmers’ Market photo by JayDee)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Some vendors didn’t make it out last week because of the snowstorm’s aftermath, but the Farmers’ Market is expected to be back to full strength today, 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska. Here’s today’s fresh sheet; among other things, it says tulips are back (we photographed them this time last year).
ONE MORE SHOW FOR “AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS”: Last chance to get your delayed-holiday entertainment on! (Or, to simply see a good show.) Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) has one more performance of “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” 3 pm today at Youngstown Arts Center; tickets are available online or at the door. (To see what else is happening today/tonight, see the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.)
The snow woes forced a two-week hiatus for the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, but now that wintry weather is down to its usual dull roar (knock wood), we’re ready to resume. From Twelfth Night Productions‘ (WSB sponsor) “Amahl and the Night Visitors” (read more here) to work parties tomorrow in three local forests to the Duwamish Tribe‘s longhouse dedication, to free yoga, in all, more than two dozen West Seattle Friday-Saturday-Sunday events are listed ahead:Read More
For everyone who missed out on some of the usual pre-holiday fun because of Snowstorm ’08 — tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday, you have four chances to make up for it, with four performances of Twelfth Night Productions‘ “Amahl and the Night Visitors” at Youngstown Arts Center here in West Seattle. Twelfth Night is sponsoring WSB through the weekend to get the word out — here’s its announcement of the show, which it has presented annually for more than a decade:
Twelfth Night Productions celebrates Twelfth Night with its twelfth annual performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors, a short opera by Gian Carlo Menotti.
This fully orchestrated production of Menotti’s brilliantly scored opera tells the story of a poor young shepherd and his mother who receive a visit from the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem: “Amahl’s mother welcomes the royal sojourners, who rest in the small, bare house where love and faith work miracles during the night.” (Publisher’s Weekly, 1986)
“Our production has become a tradition for many families in the Seattle area. It is a beautiful way to close the holiday season,” says artistic director Mary Opland Springer. Each year many cast members, musicians, and dancers return to recreate the magic of this beautiful opera.
Twelfth Night Productions is a non-profit performing arts organization located in the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. This production features several artists from the West Seattle community as well as the greater Seattle area.
Amahl and the Night Visitors runs in a special limited engagement at the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, the former historic Cooper School, in West Seattle. Showtimes are: Friday, January 2nd, and Saturday, January 3rd, at 7:30 PM, with matinees at 3:00 PM on Saturday (1/3) and Sunday (1/4). Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students & seniors, and are available through Brown Paper Tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com), and at the Youngstown Theater on performance days.Due to the popularity of this production and limited seating availability, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance. Amahl and the Night Visitors is produced through special arrangement with G. Schirmer Publishing Inc.
Here’s the direct link to the Brown Paper Tickets page for “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” We thank Twelfth Night Productions for supporting WSB with this sponsorship, and we hope you’ll support the local performing arts by enjoying “Amahl and the Night Visitors” this weekend!
-The liquor store closes at 8 pm. Closing time is 7 pm at West Seattle Cellars.
-Several West Seattle restaurant/bar parties are listed on the WSB Holidays page, as is the Emerald City Wanderers‘ New Year’s Eve walk through West Seattle – start and finish at your own pace..
-Across the bay, Space Needle fireworks are planned, as usual, unless really bad weather gets in the way. (The day after Thanksgiving, it was too breezy for the downtown fireworks that accompany the lighting of the Macy’s star, so here’s hoping the weather doesn’t get in the way of tonight’s show too – per the TV preview, the Fire Department makes the call. Last year, a computer glitch threw things off a bit.)
Just for the record. The National Weather Service crafted its late-night forecast to say it was expecting the strong wind to start around midnight; we’re just noticing it now, at 2 am. (Reference link which hopefully won’t be needed: Seattle City Light power outages are usually listed here.) 3:02 AM NOTE: 3 am NWS observation at Alki Point – gusting to 43 mph.
Wanted to let you know that while holiday fun went on the back burner during Snowmare ’08, a list of West Seattle New Year’s Eve happenings is well under way on the WSB Holidays page, from church services to restaurant/bar parties – even a walk! (If you know of one [or more] WS NYE events we’re missing, please e-mail us a few details, editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
(added later, 12/28/08 WS Farmers’ Market photo, courtesy JayDee)
Two things that were supposed to happen in West Seattle last Sunday but didn’t, because of the snow, ARE happening today:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET – Back after an extremely rare cancellation. 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska. Here’s the link to the latest Ripe ‘n’ Ready Fresh Sheet.
ADMIRAL SINGS CHRISTMAS – Feel like you missed out on the usual dose of Christmas music because of being snowbound? This West Seattle holiday-singalong tradition was postponed a week – and you’re welcome to join in at 4 pm today at Admiral Congregational Church, California/Hill (here’s a map). Read more about it here.
If you need some entertainment tonight (or just need to get out and go SOMEWHERE) – the Admiral Theater does show movies. Christmas-specific schedule is on the Admiral’s website – click each movie for its showtimes. (Shows start with “Religulous” at 3:50 pm.)
The last holiday event we made it to before Snowpocalypse ’08, Snowmare ’08, whatever you prefer to call it, was the Christmas Ship at Seacrest on December 13th. We went to that one to get video, intending to bring it back to WSB HQ, publish it (which we did), and then go see the Lowman Beach/Alki stops later that night, just for fun (which we didn’t). The snow started (around 7 pm as chronicled here), and so did the WSB Collaborative Continuous Community Coverage (just made that one up). With most of us largely snowbound (except for essential runs like food or work), we’re not the only ones who missed out on some holiday traditions, including ones that happen outside West Seattle. So in the days ahead, we’ll make special note of anything you can catch up on. For starters, the WSB Holidays page has the new dates for a couple Christmas performances that were postponed because of the snow; also, we are noting that what we consider to be Puget Sound’s most wonderful Christmas lights display, Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo/Aquarium in Tacoma, has extended its run — it’s usually closed Christmas but is reopening tonight, and also adding an extra early-January weekend (see full details on the PDZA website). We have a favorite way of getting there – take the Fauntleroy ferry to Vashon, drive down Vashon to the Tahlequah/Point Defiance ferry. Not sure if the roads on Vashon are all clear yet, but in another few days, we might brave it. Our second-favorite lights display, Garden D’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden, says online that it’s hoping to reopen tomorrow. Stay tuned for other notes about extended chances to catch up on holiday cheer, and if you know of New Year’s Eve/Day events, please let us know, as the WSB Holidays page is in action till then – editor@westseattleblog.com. (Junction Christmas tree photo by Marybeth Coghill)
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