We’ve had this on the WSB Events calendar ever since we spotted it on the USCG Local Notice for Mariners (a wonderful weekly bulletin to watch) — a fireworks show tonight for the conclusion of the Downtown Sailing Series races. We finally succeeded in getting details about the show, with a call to Olympia-based Entertainment Fireworks — they say the show will be from a barge offshore at Elliott Bay Marina in Magnolia, just west of the Port of Seattle’s piers. Time — probably 8:45-9 pm-ish. Rain or shine, says the fireworks company — their main pyrotechnics wizard, Ken Julian (with whom we worked while managing TV fireworks shows a few years back), is out assembling the show right now. So you’re likely to be able to see something from north-facing West Seattle spots.
What a deal – awesome entertainment rolled up with the chance to help keep after-school arts programs FREE at Youngstown Arts Center. “Skiffle” is happening tonight, and we found a few more details on the big-name musicians who’ll be part of the show: the blog Bring the Noisequotes an e-mail from Pearl Jam‘s publicist as saying Bison, which is part of the “Skiffle” lineup, includes PJ’s lead guitarist Mike McCready, Dave Dederer from Presidents of the United States of America, Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, and members of the Dusty 45’s. More details in our previous mentions; tickets are available at the door for a suggested donation of $25, doors open 6 pm, show at 7. And don’t forget the auction that’s also part of the fun(draising) – original works to be created at Youngstown this afternoon by performers, youth program participants, and community members.
Also tonight – providing the weather clears (National Weather Service says the showers should stop) – it’s the rescheduled West Seattle Movies on the Wall presentation of “Finding Nemo” in the courtyard by Hotwire, with cooler-than-ever raffle prizes and free treats (get the full scoop on the raffle offerings, and more, here). If the weather still looks iffy later in the day, check back here because we’ll post up-to-the-minute info on whether the movie’s a go. 1:27 PM UPDATE: Lora at Hotwire says the movie’s still a go since the forecast continues to look promising. But we’ll have another update late in the day.
In case you lost track of this somewhere along the way — Blayne the barista from Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) is still in the running as the latest season of “Project Runway” arrives at its sixth episode tonight; after designing for Brooke Shields last week and Olympic athletes the week before that, tonight’s challenge involves creating something for drag queens. Must-see TV, on the big screen at Ginomai (bring a dessert to share and see what other sweet treats turn up) on the southwest corner of 42nd/Genesee, doors open @ 8 pm, show’s on at 9.
We caught those seagulls in full picnic-interrupting action at Alki this afternoon, just as we read a note from Lora Lewis at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) reminding one and all that the rescheduled West Seattle Movies on the Wall showing of “Finding Nemo” is this Thursday night — and we liked the seagulls in “Nemo” (video) even better than Nemo, Dory, et al. Remember to bring nonperishable food for West Seattle Food Bank and a few bucks for concessions (presented by West Seattle Christian Church and benefiting WSFB) plus fundraiser raffles – Lora says the prizes up for grabs so far include “four $25 gift cards from Pagliacci, a Sonic Care toothbrush from Dr. Wolff and 50 goldfish goodie bags, plus a hand painted table from WS Christian Pre-School.” (Later add: Free BBQ Pork Sliders from Dream Dinners [WSB sponsor], as well as — for the raffle — a $100 Dream Dinners gift certificate and a Dream Dinners Exclusive pitcher, tray and 6 beverage glasses.) The movie’s at dusk (we’d advise getting there no later than 8 pm); two days after this special Thursday showing, the final Sidewalk Cinema presentation is “Galaxy Quest” on Saturday night.
The sizable crowd was all aglow just before tonight’s West Seattle Movies on the Wall presentation of “Ghostbusters” in the courtyard next to Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor): One of tonight’s movie co-sponsors, Curious KidStuff, provided glow sticks for all, and the crowd waved them for the WSB camera. A more natural source of light appeared right before intermission, as the full moon rose over the building to the left of the movie screen, within view of all. Another of tonight’s co-sponsors, Square 1 Books, announced it’s planning a 21-percent-off sale in November, during its 21st-anniversary celebration, and Garlic Jim’s Pizza (WSB sponsor) provided free slices for moviegoers. Proceeds from this week’s raffle (tickets are sold pre-movie, drawing at intermission) benefited WestSide Baby (we won one of the prizes, an adorable sock toy for cats, created by Teri Ensley from Furry Faces Foundation; our cats have a couple already so we’ll be giving it to one of our best pals’ ailing senior kitty). You’ve got two chances to enjoy Movies on the Wall, powered by Sidewalk Cinema, in the next week – “Finding Nemo,” rained out last Saturday, is rescheduled for this Thursday, and then the season finale, “Galaxy Quest,” is planned for next Saturday night.
You see them sometimes at Alki – and they’re headquartered right here in West Seattle, at Westcrest Park – today, two members of the Seattle Police Mounted Patrol are at the Picnic at the (Southwest) Precinct, continuing through 4 pm. We have LOTS more photos and video to share with you in a separate report later, but in case you check in online before then and you haven’t been – there are also free treats (hot dogs, ice cream) in the precinct parking lot, which is off-camera to the right of this shot showing the setup running along Webster westbound from Delridge:
Cool robots, a Segway, and lots more – Delridge and Webster, park in Home Depot and walk over. While heading home, we passed the intersection of 16th SW/Holden and had to pull over when we saw these folks handing out free samples:
That’s Jodi Robbins, Pinky the dog mostly hiding behind the sample tray, Darlene, and Jodi’s husband from JoJo’s Fine Espresso at 16th/Holden. They just put their blended-iced-drink setup into action, so they’ve got a tropical setup at the corner and trays of free samples. Not sure how long they’ll be out – we were there around 2:30.
If you see this before 2 pm, it’s not too late to go join in the High Point celebration of the Neighborhood Center groundbreaking. We took that photo a short time ago, as a buffet of multicultural cuisine opened up following an hourlong ceremony involving a variety of local leaders, from High Point Neighborhood Associationpresident Andrew Mead to Congressman Jim McDermott. We have video that we’ll post in a separate report later, but back at the scene at High Point’s Commons Park, food and entertainment continue for another hour or so. Meantime, some of what else is happening today (the rest was originally posted this morning):
That’s some of what you’ll find on sale/display at the Arts/Crafts Fair under way till 3 pm today at C and P Coffee Company. Meantime, 3 pm is when the finals begin at the daylong EVP Pro Volleyball Tour event happening right now on Alki – we stopped by the beach earlier this morning to survey the scene:
WSB is the “media sponsor” for today’s event (ergo the signs you see in that shot) — only the second year this popular pro tour has stopped at Alki, and as we mentioned last night, the players include local stars. Comcast will televise the finals, and you’re invited to be in the official TV section of the audience — women’s finals start around 3, men’s finals at 4:30.
Fun, food, free. Also a traffic note — Webster is shut down on the south side of the precinct (Delridge westward) for this event (here’s a map to Delridge/Webster).
Cool crimefighting gizmos are just part of the draw at the annual Picnic at the Precinct, 1-4 pm tomorrow at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster; here’s a map). Tomorrow alone is jampacked – before you picnic with the police, you can help celebrate the High Point Neighborhood Center groundbreaking, at which we’re told you will be invited to share your hopes/dreams for the project’s success:
Event starts at 11 am – Massive Monkees hip-hop dance performance at 1:15! And then when the sun sets and tomorrow starts to cool a bit, you can stay out of your probably-not-air-conditioned house and enjoy a comedy classic:
“Ghostbusters” is tomorrow night’s feature at West Seattle Movies on the Wall. And tonight in The Junction, you can enjoy ArtsWestair conditioning with “Pippin”:
(photo by Nichole DeMent)
So what ELSE is going on from tonight through Sunday night, you ask? Well, for one, a pro volleyball tour appearance co-sponsored by WSB! That’s among the 51 events and attractions, listed ahead:Read More
That’s video of the West Seattle Big Band playing in last month’s Hi-Yu Concert in the Park – and tonight, they’re outdoors again, for the same admission price (FREE!), as Providence Mount St. Vincent‘s (WSB sponsor) outdoor concert series continues. Jim Edwards with WSBB tells us that Elizabeth Hott from the Kings of Swing will be the guest singer with them at The Mount tonight. As we showed you last week (here) and the week before (here), these concerts are drawing fun all-ages crowds; dinner and beer/wine are offered for sale starting at 5 pm, music starts at 6. Lots of other fun tonight too, with more music — including Alma Villegas at Cafe Rozella — and then just wait till we start talking about Saturday, with Picnic at the Precinct, “Ghostbusters” at Movies on the Wall … anyway, all that will be in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, here before noon.
Inspired by beach volleyball competition at the Olympics? Envious of what you see on the sand at Alki (and by the way, the EVP Pro Tour will be there Saturday)? The wildly popular Seattle Free School has just announced a free “beach volleyball for beginners” class, 6 pm August 22nd on Alki. But you have to sign up – here – ASAP.
TONIGHT: 34th District Democrats‘ monthly meeting, with guests including City Council President Richard Conlin and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson, plus a jail-sites-fight update from Highland Park Action Council, 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy.
TONIGHT: “Project Runway” week 5 and Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) barista Blayne is still in the running, so that means another viewing party at Ginomai (42nd and Genesee). Doors open 8 pm, show at 9 pm.
TOMORROW: West Seattle Second Thursday Art Walk, 6-9 pm. More than 30 venues – and not all in The Junction! – get the map and find out about some of the artists, at the official Art Walk blog (here’s a direct link to the map).
The Highland Park Improvement Club (NOT the same as the HP Action Committee, though HPAC meets at the HPIC’ historic facility) is having its big annual rummage sale right now, 12th/Holden, under way till 3 pm. (If you live in the area, you can also join in its potluck starting at 1 pm, but everyone’s welcome to come browse/shop!) HPIC, by the way, is the oldest community club in Seattle – founded in 1919, which is why its web address is hpic1919.org. We stopped by the sale site a little while ago to get some pix and found one that already had a story behind it, two hours into the sale:
Becca told us a man asked her how much she’d sell the bear hat for. She said, three bucks. He said, here’s five – gave her the money – and said “Just keep wearing the hat.” So who knows what you might find there; tere’s a map to the sale’s location.
Thanks to Karen Berge for sending pix again this week from the outdoor concert series at Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) — Friday night’s featured performer was Maia Santell, and we caught a video snippet of Maia and her backup band:
Two more outdoor concerts during the monthlong Friday night series — next Friday, it’s the West Seattle Big Band (get a video preview in our Hi-Yu Concert in the Park coverage from last month). The fun all happens in the courtyard/parking area on the south-central side of The Mount, with dinner and beer/wine going on sale at 5 pm, the free tunes starting at 6.
Just got a note about the citywide “Healthy Parks, Healthy You” launch, which is happening 8/23 at Green Lake — and until we read it through twice, we almost missed this very cool related program briefly mentioned in the same announcement: “Try It for $2” is a city initiative to offer various classes and activities at community centers citywide in September/October, for only two bucks. This city webpage lists specific activities and times offered for the $2 sampler fee (scroll all the way down to $2 Trial Activities and look for “South Locations” to see what’s on tap at the community centers in West Seattle), from yoga to cooking to art to martial arts, and more.
**SATURDAY NIGHT NOTE: THE “FINDING NEMO” SHOWING HAS JUST BEEN RAINED OUT**
In the unlikely event you’ve never seen “Finding Nemo,” there’s the trailer; it’s the next West Seattle Movies on the Wall presentation, and one of the co-sponsors, Dream Dinners (also a WSB sponsor), will be offering pulled-pork barbecue sliders … free! (Be sure to bring a West Seattle Food Bank donation, money for fundraising concessions and raffle, too.) Meantime, tonight’s highlights include the next outdoor concert at The Mount (WSB sponsor) and the 34th District Democrats‘ annual Garden Party fundraiser, then tomorrow (besides the aforementioned movie) two tribute bands team up at the Poggie in honor of the 13th anniversary of Jerry Garcia‘s passing, Sunday’s got the Highland Park Improvement Club rummage sale and the season’s first Seal Sitters training … more than three dozen events ahead:Read More
Good thing they’re not gathering at the school — since as we first reported last week, the renovations are ramping up, and the campus is closed for two years. But they’re partying just the same – all former Chief Sealth High School students from the ’60s and ’70s are invited to a gathering at West Seattle Golf Course tonight. The Class of ’73 is sponsoring it in honor of its 35th anniversary, but they want to share memories with those who came before and after. They describe it as “a free, casual event with a no-host bar and food available from the Cafe. Get-together starts at 5 pm, with music of the era until 10:30. Bring any Sealth yearbooks and memories along. No RSVP needed!”
Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle, the folks behind last weekend’s first-ever Edible Gardens Tour of West Seattle (WSB coverage here) and volunteer tree-harvesting to collect food for those in need, is offering free canning classes this month, plus a Community Canning Kitchen, focusing on plums. The classes are at 10 am August 23rd at PCC and 6:30 pm August 27th at the Senior Center (Community Harvest says that one’s open to all ages). Here’s more info on the CHoSS website.
Idyllic setting for the free Blue 55 concert east of the Alki Bathhouse this evening … the lawn right in front of the band was sparsely occupied but outside the photo frame, many more people were enjoying the music from the seawall and the sand. More outdoor music Friday – the second of four summertime Friday night concerts at Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor), this time with Maia Santell – dinner and beer/wine available for purchase at 5 pm, music starts at 6. Back to tonight: Another outdoor party, this time in White Center:
JenV sent that photo tonight from Big Al Brewing, whose grand opening we mentioned earlier in the day. And another followup – after we posted the $4.01 gas-price sighting from California/Andover this afternoon, we got two reports of $3.99 gas elsewhere, and photographed this one (California/Charlestown) tonight while heading to Alki:
In the background, you see Charlestown Center – today was the day the leasing company had told us it would be “turned over” to its first tenants (a fitness center and hair salon, as reported here last week). No sign of them yet but we’ll keep an eye out. Speaking of fitness centers, we see Snap Fitness – coming to Jefferson Square – has posted job openings in the WSB Forum “West Seattle Jobs Offered” area (free to any business hiring for a job actually located IN West Seattle!); speaking of salons, Salon 08 on Genesee south of California has its grand-opening celebration Friday night.
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