West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
Driving on Harbor Ave last night, we almost thought we’d flashed ahead a few weeks (and back a few miles) to the legendary Menashe display on Beach Drive … Salty’s on Alki has a big bright outdoor light show:
Another seasonal sign: First word of a poinsettia fundraiser! The Chief Sealth High School Band is selling poinsettias to, as Tim Winston explains, “pay for some extras that aren’t in the school budget – uniforms, marching equipment, music, a bit of travel, and loaner instruments.” Here’s full ordering information:Read More
In the past few days, two of the bloggers on the Other Blogs in WS page, Rhonda and Alice, 
have mentioned the schedule for one of our favorite holiday highlights, the Argosy Christmas Ship Festival. Its West Seattle stops have been listed on our Events page (along with many other WS holiday happenings; please let us know if yours is missing!) for a few weeks now, but in case you hadn’t looked that far down, here are your choices:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8: With Northwest Girlchoir Vivace on board, the Christmas Ship and its accompanying vessels will be at Seacrest 5:15-5:35 pm; with Canterbury Belles on board, it will visit Lowman Beach 8:50-9:10 pm, then sail along Beach Drive and around the point for an Alki stop 9:40-10 pm.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9: With Soundwave on board, a Don Armeni stop is planned 7:10-7:30 pm.
If you haven’t gone out to see the Christmas Ship before, the sounds and sights are always splendid: the brightly lit boat pulls close enough to shore for the choir on board to serenade landlubbers with holiday songs. (Here’s a Seattle Channel video from the 2005 season, featuring a West Seattleite — the announcer shown early on in this ’05 video, Dano Beal, is a teacher at Lafayette Elementary.) All the West Seattle stops are planning bonfires again this year as well (the flames roaring up from a burning pile of pallets are sometimes a more dramatic sight than the Christmas Ship itself!).
Too warm for any other kind of snowflakes, but these pole-borne holiday decorations are up along California Ave between Edmunds and Genesee.
It’s that transition time of year for Tony’s at 35th/Barton — the produce stand is closed and the changeover to trees is looming, marked this year by a distinctive color scheme (since we took the pic yesterday, crews have finished wrapping the entire frame in holiday stripes).
Yes, already. New lot coming to the West Seattle shoreline, according to this CL post. We’re planning Christmas-tree price checks again this year, by the way. 8:10 PM ADDENDUM: Just noticed the organization for one of West Seattle’s best-known tree lots, run by Holy Rosary School in the parking area south of Admiral Safeway, is well under way.
Two clips from West Seattle’s own homegrown Skeleton Theatre last night; you may recognize the soundtrack. (Read all about Skeleton Theatre, including where and when to go see it for Night 2 tonight, on the ST site.)
(video no longer available due to host’s shutdown, sorry!)
Even as some of the bar parties just start getting into gear, we are in for the night. We traveled north to south, east to west, across West Seattle, including a stop at Skeleton Theatre (we’ll put up video in the morning — it’s playing again tomorrow night, so you have another chance to go see for yourself). We saw luminaria and lights, costumes from A(ngels) to Z(ombies), but we’re also glad to be back at WSB HQ sharing your Halloween scenes — including this last round of photos before the Witching Hour arrives. First, from the inbox: Tigger turned up to greet trick-or-treaters at Westwood Village tonight:
More major cuteness from the inbox: Baby Nate goes crustacean for his first Halloween:
We had seen this cool decoration outside a house not far from Skeleton Theatre but didn’t get a picture – Todd did:
Todd also was one of 2 people who sent us a photo of “Feed-O” the scary cat – this “Feed-O” photo is by MIST, who says the cat “was spitting out gummy rats”!
Now a final round of jack-o-lanterns. From Danny and Diane, a pumpkin with a statement:
A seasonal pumpkin array, from “mtnester” of Shorewood:
Huindekmi sent this next one and noted, “We don’t carve our pumpkin till Halloween”:
And the proud wife of Dan sends his creation, saying, “he just LOVES Halloween” …
Speaking of attacks – we have heard one more time from “West Seattle Art Attack,” who e-mailed WSB to say: “I placed a final pumpkin tonight in a deserving yard. It was a very pretty purple and pink one that my wife didn’t want to part with. I’ve discreetly checked on a couple of my previous placements and they haven’t moved. I’m not sure if the owners even know they are there.” Quick! Go check your yard (or tell your friends to check theirs)! You don’t want an unnoticed WSAA pumpkin sitting out there till spring … 11:55 PM ADDENDUM: This blogger tells the sorrowful saga of a nearly trick-or-treater-less night for her first West Seattle Halloween. Boo!
Be safe, whatever you are up to. Here’s another West Seattle jack-o-lantern photo, this time from Heidi & Daniel; one more round later tonight — and thanks again to everyone who has sent theirs in!
While looking online for the legends of “haunted West Seattle,” the most unusual one we came across was … the Rite-Aid on California between Alaska and Morgan Junctions. Scroll to the 4th entry under “Seattle area” on this page. (It’s right below a much-better-known allegedly haunted WS spot, the Rainbow House.) Any favorite lesser-known haunts to share? Meantime – more jack-o-lanterns; first, “pumpkitties” from Margelyn:
And these two are from Kevin — a witch with cauldron, followed by “a tree that wishes you happiness”:
Still time to send yours; we’ll post more during Halloween night.
OK, maybe “caught on camera” isn’t entirely the best phrase, since this photo (and others) came from “West Seattle Art Attack” him/herself — and proves they have accomplices — shown here at one of the five houses where they say they left pumpkins last night. (Catch up on what this is all about by reading yesterday’s first post and later update.) Ahead, see if you recognize the four other distinctively decorated homes “hit” last night — plus, beneath the photos, one caveat from WSAA:Read More
(Jack-o-lanterns designed by Ryan & Abby, carved by Lisa & Abby) The big day/night has arrived. Many Halloween happenings are on our WSB Events page; some biggies include:
MORE BUSINESS TRICK-OR-TREATING: The merchants of the Admiral District are offering treats 3-6 pm today; Westwood Village businesses are welcoming trick-or-treaters 5-7 pm.
GROWNUP FUN: Many WS establishments are partying tonight, including Skylark, where the “Come as You Aren’t” Battle of the Bands sounds like a hoot (full lineup here); and northeast West Seattle will be alive with the sights and sounds of Skeleton Theatre, 6-9 pm.
HIGH POINT HAPS: Check out the full list on the Events page – some great stuff going on in West Seattle’s award-winning development, including a canine costume contest at 7:30.
LATER: We’ll be mentioning some legendary West Seattle haunts, including the most unlikely-sounding one we’ve come across so far. Save your faves for comments on that post!
Before Halloween Eve makes way for Halloween … more pumpkin pix. First, call it the ultimate glass pumpkin — outlined in the windows of the WaMu Center, visible from West Seattle’s north- and east-facing shore – several people sent us photos (thank you SO much!!!!) – this one’s from Allie:
Now a few more jack-o-lanterns from WSB-land, starting with these from Cori and Keith:
Here we have Claire‘s pumpkin:
And from the Heck Family:
Thanks to everybody who’s shared their pumpkin creations with us and the rest of WSB-land … more to come tomorrow (and you can still e-mail us your pix!).
NOTE ADDED 12/22/07 FOR ANYONE WHO FINDS THIS WHILE GOOGLING FOR “NORAD TRACKS SANTA” SINCE IT’S FOR SOME REASON THE #1 RESULT – YOU’LL FIND THAT SITE HERE.
… it’s “WSB Tracks the Art Attack(er)”! Well, “tracking” isn’t quite the right word, but we have received another communique from the mysterious artist leaving glass pumpkins in deserving West Seattle yards. “AA” reports having visited Alki already tonight and is at last report headed elsewhere. (Should we be leaving cookies and milk on the doorstep?)
HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN: Fun stuff happening around West Seattle tonight, including Costume Karaoke at Skylark; check the WSB Events page for more.
JACK-O-LANTERN WATCH: Thanks for sending in the pumpkin photos — keep ’em coming; even after this batch we have more left, but we’ll get them all in before Halloween has come and gone. Our theme this time — jack-o-lanterns with an edge (to say the least). First, we have Luckie‘s cutely cannibalistic creation:
The other two “edgy” jack-o-lanterns are even more PG-13 so our dainty sensibilities are leading us to put them a click off the home page — YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!Read More
Two nights till Halloween! As we count down … first, a photo from what promises to be one of the wildest Halloween night events in West Seattle (and it continues the night AFTER Halloween as well) — Skeleton Theatre at 36th & Hanford. This free neighborhood production drew thousands last year; this year, the Skeleton Theatre team has a website up with lots of info about the show, the people, when and where to see it. And they sent this cool photo:
And we continue showcasing the pumpkin photos you’re sending. In honor of the High Point award mentioned earlier, here are three jack-o-lanterns by a family in HP — first by Rachel; next by Galen; then, by Michael (more later!):
From the inbox (keep those pumpkin pix coming) — Seahawks had the week off but Michael in North Admiral keeps the spirit alive:
MIDNIGHT ADDITION: Dave in Westwood says he spent the “bye week” productively too:
If you haven’t bought your jack-o-lantern pumpkin(s) yet, you might want to check out Erik’s Alki Pumpkin Patch before dusk. As for those of you who not only have pumpkins but have also carved them, share your pix with WSB-land! Here’s the first batch, courtesy of the Grr Family:
(Hi! If you are finding this post because of a 2008 search for Junction Trick-or-Treat info: the event is Saturday, October 25, 1-3 pm; we have tons more Halloween – and winter holiday – event info here – thanks!)
(Original 2007 post follows) As you can see in this photo looking up the sidewalk along California, north from Easy Street — it was elbow-to-elbow, mask-to-mask for this afternoon’s Junction trick-or-treating:
Along that stretch, the treat scene outside Coffee to a Tea with Sugar:
And it seems the Hi-Yu Parade is not the only time you can spot pirates in The Junction’s walk-all-ways intersection:
More business trick-or-treating coming up on Halloween — Admiral merchants 3-6 pm, Westwood Village 5-7 pm (these and other Halloween night events here).
The most unusual something-o-lantern we saw while out on a long walk today:
If you’ve got a great something-o-lantern (traditional pumpkins are great, too), send us a photo, or if you see something awesomely Halloweenish but don’t have a camera, send us the location, since we’ll be out and about taking pix, too.
Halloween itself may not be till Wednesday but you’d never know that with all the activities this weekend. (Some calendar synergy finally comes into play next year when it’s on Friday, and 2009 on Saturday.) You can see the full list in the latest edition of the WSB West Seattle Weekend Lineup, but here are more of today’s highlights (graced by good weather, too!):
SPIDER-POWERED CARS: Happening 10 am-1 pm @ Hotwire Coffee on the north edge of The Junction, cool Halloween craftmaking to benefit animal rescuers.
TRICK OR TREAT IN THE JUNCTION: Big fun expected throughout the business district in the heart of West Seattle, 1-3 pm.
HALLOWEEN IN THE FOREST: Two sessions tonight @ Camp Long.
FAMILY REUNION IN HELL: At Skylark, starting at 9 pm.
WHO’S MORE HALLOWEENISH THAN ‘BAT BOY’? ArtsWest presents a special late performance tonight at 11 (in addition to the regular show at 7:30).
Every city-run community center in West Seattle had a Halloween/Fall carnival tonight; we stopped briefly at Southwest Community Center to check out the decor:
The signature event at the adjacent Southwest Pool happens this Sunday — a Halloween family swim at 2 pm, with pool games including the chance to swim among floating pumpkins. (Family swim means kids under 12 must have parents in the water with them, regardless of how well the kids can swim.) Tomorrow afternoon, it’s West Seattle’s best-known Halloween event — trick-or-treating in The Junction, 1-3 pm. See the WSB West Seattle Weekend Lineup for dozens more fun options. Side note, one thing that’s got us a shade unsettled this weekend — the Saturday night before Halloween is traditionally the night the clocks get set back, but not this year (good news for partiers); that’ll happen on Saturday night 11/3 (technically Sunday morning 11/4).
Our frequently updated West Seattle-wide Events page now has 
25 WS Halloween/”harvest festival” events — some as soon as Friday. The 25 event listings include everything from three groups of local merchants offering trick-or-treating (The Junction on Saturday, Admiral and Westwood Village on Halloween) to a local dive club that’ll be carving pumpkins underwater at Alki. Check it all out here (and if anything’s missing, please let us know!). 10:40 AM ADDENDUM: Yet another of the featured events, Skeleton Theater, now has a website.
**FINDING THIS FROM GOOGLE IN 2009? CLICK THE HALLOWEEN TAB ABOVE FOR NEW INFO**
For everyone making Halloween plans: We’re adding West Seattle Halloween-related happenings to our Events page as fast as we can find ’em. Less than three weeks now till the big night, but all the major organized fun happens the weekend of the 26-27-28, including Trick or Treat in The Junction on Saturday 10/27 and pumpkin decorating @ the WS Farmers’ Market on Sunday 10/28. Got a Halloween event that’s not on our page? Let us know!
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