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Holidays 2670 results

TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Seeing stars
December 25, 2024 10:06 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

One last Christmas-lights photo to spotlight, received tonight from roving photographer Theresa Arbow-O’Connor, a sighting in North Admiral. It joins our other spotlights in this WSB archive (where you can scroll through previous years’ lights too). Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

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Christmas Day 2024 in West Seattle, and first night of Hanukkah: Here’s who’s open and what else you should know
December 25, 2024 6:03 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Photos from texter who says, “Westwood mystery artist has been spreading holiday cheer”)

Merry Christmas today, Happy Hanukkah tonight! Here’s info we hope will be useful on this holiday:

BUSES: Metro‘s running on the Sunday schedule.

WATER TAXI: Not sailing today.

STATE FERRIES: Weekend timetable today – check the alerts page for status/changes.

MORE TRANSPORTATION NOTES: No charge for street parking in areas of the city with pay stations … West Seattle-relevant traffic cameras are here; see all cameras citywide via this map.

COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: We found eight – here’s our list. (Plans can change after our research, so if you encounter a change, please text or call us – 206-293-6302 – thank you.)

RESTAURANTS AND BARS OPEN TODAY: Fifteen are on our list – see it here. (And please let us know of any changes!)

GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: Again this year, as noted in our Holiday Guide, only the three Safeways (Roxbury, Admiral, Jefferson Square) are open (8 am-5 pm) – all other West Seattle grocery stores are closed until tomorrow.

CHURCH SERVICES TODAY: Four of the churches on the list in our Holiday Guide have Christmas Day services.

OTHER NOTES: Trash/recycling pickup is delayed one day for the rest of the week (next week too) … Seattle Parks closure info is here … Libraries (city and county) are closed.

SEE A MOVIE: The Admiral Theater (2343 California SW) is open this afternoon/evening – first screening of the day, 3 pm.

ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show continues tonight on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, opening at 5 pm. Timed tickets and info here.

OTHER LIGHTS TO SEE: Scroll through our archive to see the local homes we’ve shown all month!

If you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we appreciate your tips and collaboration every hour of every day and night!

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HOLIDAY HUMOR: Bob Rivers video for ‘Decorations,’ featuring a house you’ll recognize
December 24, 2024 8:55 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

A texter identifying themselves as veteran radio personality Bob Rivers‘s longtime agent sent that link – a new video featuring one of his popular holiday spoof songs, taking on Christmas lights and starring West Seattle’s best-known well-lit house. So if you’ve wearied of singing along with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and/or “Joy to the World” after the 20th time, check this out. (And explore Rivers’s “Twisted Christmas” discography.)

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: ‘Sense of stillness’
December 24, 2024 5:08 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

On this Christmas Eve, a decoration display that evokes the Christmas wish for “peace on Earth”:

This winter scene at the “Candy Cane Pole” will breathe a sense of stillness into your soul. With its crisp white forest and Deer a-grazing, you will be taken back to a simpler time. Can you spy Santa peeking out the window?

Stop and pause awhile at 6303 45th Ave SW
Mr and Mrs Winter Merriment

To see what we’ve shown previously, scroll through this WSB archive!

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Can you help Nick’s Christmas cards find their way home? (update: resolved)
December 24, 2024 9:13 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

9:13 AM: From the WSB inbox this morning:

Our Christmas cards were delivered to the wrong address yesterday and we’re wondering if the blog could help? They are labeled correctly, but a certain delivery company dropped them at the wrong house! (Photo attached – this isn’t our front porch!)

We’ve driven the few streets surrounding our house to check similar house numbers, but no matching house exists… is there a chance that the blog could help crowd-source finding our missing cards?

If you got them by mistake – contact us (westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302) and we’ll connect you!

2:39 PM: Nick says “the house has been located.”

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GIVING: Arrowhead Gardens residents ‘warm up a lot of feet’ – and hearts
December 23, 2024 9:12 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photos)

Over the past decade-plus, hundreds of residents of the Arrowhead Gardens senior-living complex in southeastern West Seattle have “warmed up a lot of feet,” as resident council president Diane Radischat describes it, donating more than 12,000 socks to people in our area. At a party tonight, they hosted this year’s recipients:

25 members of the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps came to Arrowhead Gardens to enjoy pizza, cookies, cocoa, and cider, and to choose presents for their families – not just some of those socks, but also hand-knit blankets, handmade jewelry, and other items geared for all ages so they could find something for everyone in their families.

The gift items for the youth to choose from were all donated by residents – including almost 1,000 socks – donated at a recent Christmas brunch, Radischat explained (she’s second from right below, with, from left, some of the other organizers, L-R, Joe, Diana, and Marty):

Over the years, the Arrowhead Gardens residents’ donations have gone to shelters, tiny-house villages, and the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Clothesline. This year’s recipients, the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, are deeply involved in their community too, with the program including outdoor work from tree planting to raingarden construction.

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Familiar faces out front
December 23, 2024 7:36 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Thanks to Jeff for the Christmas Eve-Eve lights spotlight photo! He emailed to say: “For the young and young at heart. Merry Christmas, Mom!” This display is at 5420 40th SW and if you zoom in on the photo, you’ll see many familiar Christmas-character faces … Santa, Rudolph, “Bumble,” Frosty, Grinch, Snoopy, among others. We still have a few more in queue, so check in on Christmas Eve, Day, maybe beyond … and scroll through this archive to see what we’ve already shown!

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From White Center Now: Rat City Tree Lighting rallies around mousy tree
December 23, 2024 3:51 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | White Center

Nate Little from Lariat Bar does the honors at Rat City Tree Lighting

The last tree lighting of the season happened Sunday night in downtown White Center, and the tiny tree brought a lot of big smiles. Check out the story on our partner site White Center Now!
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HOLIDAY GUIDE: Last call for West Seattle Christmas Eve info! Shopping, services …
December 23, 2024 11:49 am
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

The WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide already has a long list of Christmas Eve church services but if yours isn’t there yet, there’s still time for us to add it. Also, we invite businesses that plan to be open on Christmas Eve to send their hours, in recognition of our fellow procrastinators (or maybe you just didn’t have the time). In both cases, the best way to send the info is westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

P.S. The Holiday Guide already has grocery-store info for Christmas Eve/Day as well as links to our lists of restaurants and coffee shops that are open at least one of those days.

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VIDEO: West Seattle Runner’s annual Christmastime light-seeing run, and what’s ahead
December 22, 2024 8:40 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

A little rain doesn’t stop dedicated runners … like the ones in our photo, who showed up at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) tonight for a beloved tradition – the annual Christmas Lights Run. It’s one of countless running events that proprietors Tim and Lori McConnell – whose store will celebrate its 15th anniversary next spring – presented this year, including the Float Dodger 5K, the first-ever Halloween Lights Run, and Thanksgiving morning’s Gobble Gobble Run and food drive.

After a safety talk (and a moment to remember WSB co-founder Patrick Sand, who has been there to take the group photo at the start of so many previous Christmas Lights Runs), everyone headed out on a route the McConnells had planned:

You can see the route map here.

P.S. Looking into 2025, West Seattle Runner’s free fitness programs get going right after New Year’s – Get Fit (January 2 info night), Full Fit (also January 2 info night), and Got Fit (January 8 info night).

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Branching out in North Admiral
December 22, 2024 7:24 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Tonight’s Christmas-lights photos were sent by Deb, showing not one house, but several in the same block – 1900 block of Sunset Avenue in North Admiral. What they have in common: Trees with light-encrusted branches and/or trunks.

Still at least three showcase spots through Christmas, so we’re still welcoming photos/location suggestions – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (And scroll through our archive to see what we’ve shown already.)

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Cocoa Cris Cringle’s annual visit at Easy Street Records
December 22, 2024 5:08 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

After setting up the stage in the Easy Street Café, Cocoa Cris Cringle has launched his annual West Seattle photo session. If you get here before 7 pm, you too can get your pic taken with Cocoa Cris for $20 (benefiting charity) – hats and props available if you want to use them. Kids and pets welcome too. Santa pics can be serious business but it’s always fun with Cocoa Cris – who says he’s been doing this for more than 20 years!

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FROM OUR HOLIDAY GUIDE: Restaurants, bars planning to be open Christmas Eve and/or Day in West Seattle
December 22, 2024 4:12 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

If you’ll be looking for someone else to do the cooking – or pouring – on Christmas Eve and/or Day, our annual list is now up – linked in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, or go directly to it here. We may have some changes/additions, so check back before you go. The coffee-shop list will be up later tonight; the guide already features grocery stores’ hours for Christmas Eve/Day.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Last chance for Pathfinder K-8 wreaths
December 22, 2024 12:00 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Last chance to get a handmade wreath benefiting – and made by – Pathfinder K-8 students and supporters! Look for the booth at the KeyBank corner until 2 pm.

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READER REPORT: West Seattle High School students’ gifts for ailing kids
December 22, 2024 11:52 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Thanks to Brooke for the photo and report about students’ generosity:

Saturday we dropped off about 25 shopping bags full of new games and toys collected by West Seattle High School students, benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital. (Pictured: Adam Gosztola, Junior and Student Council member)

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: ‘Fun display with 2 modes of transportation’
December 21, 2024 7:02 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Thanks to Yvonne for sending the photo! Here’s how she describes tonight’s featured lights, as seen on her walking route: “Here is a Santa sled taking off northbound from a snowy rooftop and there is a southbound holiday train on the front of the house complete with engine and caboose with festive laden cars inbetween. A fun display with 2 modes of transportation! Located on 32nd Ave. SW between SW Elmgrove and SW Kenyon Streets.” Still at least four more nights to showcase Christmas lights, so you still have time to suggest a location (with or without photo), westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you! (See every display we’ve shown already by scrolling through this WSB archive.)

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SUNDAY PREVIEWS: Bonus food drive; local dancers’ ‘Nutcracker Suites’
December 21, 2024 6:13 pm
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 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Advance alerts about two Sunday events of note:

EXTRA FOOD DRIVE: Robbin Peterson from the West Seattle Food Bank tells us the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle will be back at the south end of the Farmers Market tomorrow – California/Alaska – with “a final push to collect non-perishables for WSFB. While the holiday spirit inspires generosity, January often brings a sharp drop in donations—but the need remains. Contributions now will ensure we have the food to support families when regular distributions resume after the holiday. Let’s stock the shelves and start the new year with hope and abundance for all!” Find the booth at the market 10 am-2 pm.

DANCE! WEST SEATTLE: Back during the November West Seattle Art Walk, we recorded that video of Dance! West Seattle previewing “Nutcracker Suites” at Alki Arts. Tomorrow, 1:30 pm at Highline Performing Arts Center, you can see the full show, and Dance! West Seattle asked us to share this final invitation:

On the search for holiday cheer this Sunday? You are cordially invited to join Dance! West Seattle as we perform Nutcracker Suites, a newly choreographed ballet offered to the greater community. This fresh, engaging, charming show is filled with holiday spirit, providing the perfect opportunity for a delightful afternoon out at a great price!

Our 1st Act will be performed by all D!WS students showing demonstrations of what they are working on in classes, followed by our 2nd Act of Nutcracker Suites! Limited tickets are still available for ONLY $28, with no additional taxes or fees, and going quickly! Less than 100 tickets remain! Please email us at info@dancewestseattle.com to secure your seats for tomorrow’s incredible show!

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GIVING: Caroling in the West Seattle Junction in the rain, to fight hunger
December 21, 2024 5:20 pm
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 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Despite the rain, despite the traffic passing by at California/Alaska, that hardy group – call them 3 Carolers 3 aka B Sharp Studio – serenaded West Seattle Junction passersby for two hours at midday today. It’s a holiday-season tradition to raise money for the White Center & West Seattle Food Banks. If you didn’t get the chance to listen in and drop a contribution in the box, you can also help the WCFB – which serves southern West Seattle too – by donating here, and/or help the WSFB by donating here.

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REMINDER: Alki Beach Polar Bear Swim is on for New Year’s Day 2025, eleven days away!
December 21, 2024 2:33 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(File photo by Robert Spears)

We brought you first word in November that the annual Alki Beach Polar Bear Swim was on again for January 1, 2025, after covering an Alki Community Council meeting at which organizer Mark Ufkes was one of the guests. Today, for anyone who missed that first announcement, Mark has just sent this reminder:

Alki Beach Polar Bear Swim
New Years Day – January 1, 2025, in front of Duke’s West Seattle
Make sure that you are in good health if you participate.

We go into the water at 10:00 am sharp; after a group countdown from 10, 9, 8 . . . There will be a huge crowd (well over 1,000 last year), so plan accordingly. Line up and down the beach. Spread out. Holding hands with someone you love makes going into the water much easier. Trust me on this. Once the countdown begins, get ready to run. And keep your kids close.

Wear good water shoes, bring a large towel and a warm sweater to put on after you get out of the water. And remember, the water will be warmer than the air, making the experience much more pleasant.

In that brief moment, as you run into the water, you will be surrounded by joy and laughter from the huge crowd. The entire beach is filled with cheering, abundance and happiness. It’s really quite amazing. And the crowd watching us from the sidewalk will be cheering too, with a touch of envy, for not joining us.

So, wash away the complexities of 2024, and your fears too. And as you come out of the water, you will bask in the unlimited possibilities that life offers to each of us in the New Year.

Whatever it is that you want in life, go for it. That is what the New Year, and our great nation, is telling us. Enjoy life and go for it.

Everyone has a GREAT time. You will too.

Sincerely,

Mark Ufkes and Lois Schipper (20-year Alki Polar Bear veterans)

While the beach across from Duke’s is where you’ll find Mark and his megaphone, you can find a spot pretty much anywhere on the sand to be part of the crowd running in and out.

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HOLIDAY GIVING: Last call to help domestic-violence survivors via CAPERS’ Giving Tree
December 21, 2024 12:02 pm
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 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(CAPERS’ giving tree, photographed last weekend by Mel)

Got some room in your heart and budget for a little more holiday giving? Every year, CAPERS in The Junction has a Giving Tree for Hickman House, which helps domestic-violence survivors. Tomorrow (Sunday, December 22) is the last day to swap an “ornament” on the tree for a new, unwrapped gift item, so today you can stop in and get one or more ornaments to go shop to fulfill the gift wish. Details from CAPERS:

The CAPERS Giving Tree is a neighborhood collaboration that helps support women and families who are survivors of domestic violence at Hickman House, a local transitional residence. Since 1990, this tradition has brightened the lives of hundreds of families through the generous support of our community. This Giving Tree is a beautiful example of neighbors helping neighbors, and a testament to the kindness and compassion of our West Seattle community. Over the years, thousands of gifts have been collected, making a meaningful impact on countless lives. We invite you to become part of this wonderful tradition. Stop by CAPERS for more details and to select your star. Together, we can make the season magical for families in need. Thank you for your generosity this holiday season!

1. How It Works: Choose a Star: Stars, lovingly crafted by Hickman House staff, are hung on the Giving Tree in our store.

2. Purchase a Gift: Pick a star, fulfill the wish, and purchase the requested item. Gift cards to local businesses are also welcome.

3. Return by December 22: Bring the unwrapped gift back to the store by December 22.

What Happens Next: The gifts are delivered to Hickman House families, spreading joy and hope to those in need.

CAPERS (a WSB sponsor) is at 4525 California SW, open until 6 pm today, 9:30 am-5 pm Sunday.

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Beach balconies shine brightly
December 20, 2024 7:27 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Though most of the decorated homes whose Christmas lights we show are houses, multifamily buildings can go all-out too. Every year we enjoy checking out the buildings on Alki Avenue; this week, this one in the 1500 block caught our attention. Others are well-lit too, so if you’re heading out to drive, ride, or walk to see the lights, consider Alki Avenue. (We still have a few showcase nights remaining until Christmas – send your suggestion, with or without a photo, to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!)

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: First of two pre-holiday events at Easy Street Records
December 19, 2024 6:16 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

This is not an official “Shop Late Thursday” in The Junction, but there’s at least one place you CAN shop late tonight … Easy Street Records is hosting a mini-Holiday Bazaar in the café area until 9 pm. We dropped in and visited two artists – Hannah from Rubbish Goods, who makes clay creations:

And Alexander K. Harris, who’s a photographer and illustrator:

Easy Street has another holiday event coming up this Sunday night (December 22nd) – the annual photo sessions with Cocoa Cris Cringle, 4:30-7 pm, a “funraiser” – $20, goes to charities. No appointment needed – just show up!

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FROM OUR HOLIDAY GUIDE: Friends of Roxhill Elementary request
December 19, 2024 9:05 am
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 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Many holiday donation drives featured in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide have ended, but the Friends of Roxhill Elementary say there’s still time to help their school’s students and their families (donate here):

Every child should have a holiday meal and present, and parents and caregivers could use less stress this holiday season. You can make a difference by donating today to Friends of Roxhill Elementary, our school’s non-profit PTO.

Bring holiday cheer and help families cover basic household needs (e.g., groceries, cleaning supplies, utilities). Our goal is to provide each family with $200 in holiday and household support this year.

While we typically have about 50 families in our community who need support through the holiday season, Roxhill Elementary School’s counselor, Ms. Amber, has shared that the need for assistance has increased this year.

“Roxhill Elementary has the most amazing community of bright, loving kids and caring, generous families,” said Ms. Amber. “I know how hard it is to ask for help, so I honor every parent that has had the courage to let me know they need help right now. This is what community is about.”

Roxhill Elementary is a small but mighty Title I school with approximately 245 students, located in the south end of West Seattle. 60% of our students are on free and reduced lunch. Over 72% of our students are from BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color). Our school has a strong sense of community. We come together to celebrate and support each other.

You can help us show every family that they are seen and cared for.

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