West Seattle, Washington
11 Saturday
(WSB photos/video)
On this first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, West Seattle synagogue Kol HaNeshamah took their celebration outdoors to Junction Plaza Park. Rabbi Zari Weiss and assistant Abe lit the menorah’s first candle, and she explained the traditional blessings:
…and then it was time for singalongs:
Rabbi Weiss also spoke of the spirit of Hanukkah, inspiring all those who have sought freedom from persecution.’
Despite the return of the rain, the celebration drew a good-sized crowd, and everyone was offered Hanukkah treats – jelly donuts. Hanukkah continues for eight nights, with the menorah’s last candle to be lit one week from tonight.
Know someone who needs a Christmas tree but can’t afford one? Holy Rosary School‘s lot is giving away what they have left – a few dozen as of 9 am. The lot is just north of the school, off 42nd SW between Genesee and Dakota. Self-serve, while they last.
Feel like baking cookies, but don’t have anyone to bake for, and/or can’t eat them yourself? Or … baking cookies and have the bandwidth for an extra batch you could donate? Now’s the time to bake for The Christmas People, who again are putting out the call for thousands of homemade cookies that they can include with holiday meals to be delivered to people in need. You can drop off cookies 9 am-5 pm Monday or Tuesday, and starting at 9 am on Christmas Day, at Alki Masonic Center (4736 40th SW). They’re also asking for volunteers to help prepare meal trays those days – and if you know someone in need of a no-cost holiday dinner, they’ll offer a full buffet, same location, noon-4 pm on Christmas Day. (Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay)
As The Junction bustled with shoppers today, there was a musical surprise outside Carmilia’s Boutique at midday – caroling by the Byrd Ensemble. They’re a chamber vocal group whose artistic director Markdavin Obenza is a West Seattleite. The ensemble was out “Caroling for a Cause,” collecting donations to support Seattle Music Partners’ musical education for kids; if you missed them in The Junction, you can still donate by scrolling down the group’s home page.
After 3+ inches of rain today alone, you might be saying it’s weather fit for a fish. Or – a mermaid! Just in time for Garland the Holiday Mermaid‘s scheduled appearance tomorrow in West Seattle, 2-5 pm Saturday (December 21st) at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW). From the announcement:
Come meet Garland, pose for pictures, share your holiday wishes, and enjoy a delectable craft beer while you wait. Kids and pets are welcome.
Professional photography available, with digital images delivered to your inbox ($15 for 2 images). Suggested donation of $10, for images taken on your own smart device.
Garland is appearing via Seattle Mermaids.
(WSB photo of group gathered for 2017 Christmas Lights Run)
By Sunday night, the forecast suggests, the rain will likely be past, just in time for this year’s Christmas Lights Run! It’s a West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) tradition. Everyone’s welcome on this fun run. Be at the shop (2743 California SW) by 6 pm Sunday night (December 22nd) – “wear reflective, headlamps, and festive garb!” WSR’s Lori McConnell adds, “We are still hoping to have a caroler in the bunch so someone can lead us in jingles as we go. This is a leisurely paced run and we will go over the route before heading out so folks who want to walk are welcome to join as well!” No charge, but if you can bring a nonperishable food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank, that’s appreciated. Then: “We will serve nog and sweets back at the shop for fellowship and fun post-run.”
We’re still adding to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide so we’re making one last request for Christmas Eve/Day info from businesses, churches, etc. – if you’re open for last-minute shopping on Christmas Eve, if you haven’t sent us your Christmas Eve service(s) schedule yet, if your coffee shop/restaurant is open for a while on Christmas Day (or closing early Christmas Eve), please let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text/call 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(WSB photo, December 2018)
Sunday is the first of eight nights of Hanukkah, and West Seattle synagogue Kol HaNeshamah invites you to join in celebrating its start. Again this year, Kol HaNeshamah plans a “Pop-Up Hanukkah” in The Junction. In case you haven’t already seen it in the Holiday Guide, here’s the announcement:
Everyone is welcome to celebrate community solidarity at Kol HaNeshamah’s Pop-Up Chanukah in Junction Plaza Park. Join your West Seattle neighbors as we welcome the first night of the Jewish Festival of Lights. “Say NO to hate and YES to donuts!” Kol HaNeshamah is your progressive Jewish community in West Seattle, find out more at www.khnseattle.org
The event is set for 5-6 pm. The park is on the northwest corner of 42nd/Alaska.
Holiday gift shopping not done yet? Tomorrow brings the last West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Shop Late Thursday of the season – with a bonus – the Gift Rescue:
The Junction volunteers will be set up in the Windermere lobby ready to wrap! Loaded with wrapping paper, bags, festive tissue paper and ribbons, we’ll be ready to wrap gifts you’ve purchased throughout the season in the Junction. Plus, it’s Shop Late Thursday in the Junction; many of the Junction merchants will be open till 8 PM (or later). The merchants will be ready to help you hand-select the perfect gift. There’s always free gift wrapping and bags too at CAPERS, Curious Kidstuff, and Click! It’s the Junction to the rescue!
You might need an assistant with an umbrella – or at least a water-resistant shopping bag.
The photo is from the Holy Rosary School tree lot, just north of the school, off 42nd SW between SW Genesee and SW Dakota, where the proceeds also benefit local nonprofits West Seattle Helpline, West Seattle Food Bank, and Hickman House. They want you to know they’re open through Saturday (December 21st) or until all trees (they just got a fresh delivery last Friday) are gone. They sent this pic of the price list, too. (Our full list of local tree sellers is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – let us know if you find anybody sold out so we can update – thank you!)
The photo and report are from Judi Yazzolino at the West Seattle Food Bank:
Dan Austin, owner of Peel and Press, is a generous supporter of the West Seattle Food Bank. For the last 5 years Dan has done a percent-of-sales fundraiser for the food bank on Peel and Press’ anniversary in November and then buys turkeys or hams (whatever we need) for the holidays. Today Dan delivered $1,300 worth of hams just in time for our holiday distribution! Thank you, Dan, for helping those we serve have a wonderful holiday meal with their friends and families.
If you would like to help our families with food or cash, we will be open Wed. 9am – 7pm or Thurs. & Fri. 9 am – 3 pm or you can donate at westseattlefoodbank.org or mail to 3419 SW Morgan St., Seattle, WA. 98126.
For tonight’s Christmas-lights spotlight, we went a bit south of the city/county line. These lights are on the west side of 26th SW, just south of SW 102nd [map]. Lots of twinkling if you stop and watch for a while; the house on its north side has a fun display too. If you drive 26th south from Barton (Westwood Village), you’ll see several other bright displays along the way.
Want to suggest lights for us to check out? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! See what we’ve showcased already – scroll through the archive!
As Christmas draws near, some families need help getting toys for their kids. Here are three giveaways coming up:
SATURDAY AT NOON: High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), sponsored by the JuiceTheGod Foundation. Register in advance – info’s in the flyer here.
SUNDAY AT 10 AM: Victory Outreach Church (10851 1st Ave. S.), with support from Toys for Tots.
SUNDAY AT NOON: Duwamish Tribe Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW), with support from Toys for Tots.
Any others? Please let us know!
4:51 PM: If you like your Santa photos on the jolly side – it doesn’t get more fun than photos with Cocoa Cris Cringle. He has arrived at Easy Street Records (California/Alaska) for his annual holiday-photo session, $20, raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank. Props and hats are on hand for your use. Cocoa Cris is at ESR – with live music this year! – until 7 pm.
7:25 PM: Added photos – that’s Cocoa Cris with assistant Aubrie above, and his first visitors of the evening below:
Video of Hugh‘s musical accompaniment:
P.S. It’s not a family-photo op – 21+ venue – but Cocoa Cris will be back in West Seattle 7-10 pm next Sunday, December 22nd, for a “mostly music” show at Parliament Tavern (4210 SW Admiral Way).
The rain’s stopped, the game’s over – so here’s where to go: Now until 4 pm at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (4105 California SW), it’s the one-of-a-kind St. Nicholas Faire. This combination holiday shopping event/fundraiser features dozens of custom-made gift baskets with themes – cooking, sports, gardening, toys, picnic gear, barbecue accessories, much more – and gift certificates/cards for local businesses.
Art too:
You bid for them, silent-auction-style, while also enjoying sips (wine tasting!) and snacks. There’s a small admission charge, raising money for the West Seattle Helpline and West Seattle Food Bank (which also benefit from the overall proceeds); a longtime supporter of both, the church’s pastor Rev. Ron Marshall, is emceeing:
Bring a nonperishable food donation too.
P.S. If you’re driving, there’s a big parking lot behind the church, at 44th/Dakota.
Extra-big crowd at Menashe Family Lights (5605 Beach Drive SW) tonight because of the special guest – Santa Claus! He’s there until 10 pm for photos with the twinkling display as a backdrop. Bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank, and look for the canopy out front.
P.S. If you can’t catch Santa there tonight, look for him at the Hometown Holidays Santa House on the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market tomorrow, 11 am-2 pm, California/Alaska.
The photo is from Tiffany at Trees by the Sea, Alki’s only Christmas-tree lot (2530 Alki SW). Their announcement:
This is going to be our last weekend, so if there are repeat or new customers that were going to come down and get a tree from us, then this is the last weekend for it! We still have plenty of trees to choose from, from tabletop trees to 8-foot nobles. All of them cut in the past 10 days so they are all still fresh, great-looking trees. Hours are 10-8 Saturday and Sunday. We are also still offering free delivery within West Seattle through the weekend.
With one fewer option after tomorrow, that means this is your peak weekend for Christmas-tree shopping. Other options are listed in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
Yes, there are people shopping in their jammies in The Junction – first-ever Pajamarama until noon! Businesses are in the spirit too – above, Emily at Lika Love Boutique; below, Paula and Sam at Fleurt:
You get free hot cocoa for visiting the filling station in the Windermere lobby, where we found Susan, Lora, and Kathleen from the Junction Association:
Spend $20 this morning, get a cool Hometown Holidays mug!
Santa hasn’t gone back to the North Pole just yet to get ready for Christmas – he has a busy weekend of appearances left in West Seattle, starting with this one at HomeStreet Bank (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) in The Junction. That’s branch manager Nam Le in our pic with Santa. Stop by for a free photo until 6 pm!
That’s part of the pile of Toys for Tots donations dropped off at the office of Northwest Insurance Group (WSB sponsor) this season. John Moore sent the photo and these words of gratitude: “HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN OUR WEST SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD for their generous contributions to the toy drive. We were overwhelmed and thrilled to be able to deliver these toys to kids in need.”
P.S. Got a donation drive/giving tree/etc. still in progress? Let us know if it’s not already in our West Seattle Holiday Guide‘s “Giving Opportunities” list!
(WSB photo from 2018 St. Nicholas Faire)
One of this weekend’s big events is the St. Nicholas Faire, a one-of-a-kind holiday shopping event and nonprofit benefit, with one major change this year: It’s happening on Sunday afternoon instead of evening. The Faire is at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, just north of The Junction at 4105 California SW, 1-4 pm Sunday (December 15th). Its central event is a silent auction of a huge variety of custom-made gift baskets with themes including:
Children’s Books
Air Fryer
Children’s Science Gear
Beer & Wine
Gardening
Baked Goods
Seahawks Gear
Olive Oil/Vinegar
Framed Photos
Kitchen Gadgets
Tools
U of W Gear
Holiday Items
Barware
Baking Tools
Storage Containers
Art Supplies
Tea & Coffee Items
Also gift certificates/cards for local businesses. The St. Nicholas Faire has a small admission fee that benefits local nonprofits, and it’s less if you bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank. P.S. If you’ll be driving to get there, the church has a big parking lot in back.
Though West Seattle Lights is no more, the neighborhood near that show’s former site is still full of holiday spirit – including Wyatt‘s house at 40th and Charlestown. Wyatt notes, “Our whole block is also very festive again this year.” Thanks for sending the photo! More tips – with or without photos – appreciate at westseattleblog@gmail.com; you can scroll through our archive of Christmas-lights coverage by going here.
(WSB photos)
For tonight’s West Seattle Christmas lights spotlight, we head back to the north half of the peninsula – Doug and Diane Hintz sent word of their display at 3403 SW Manning.
They’re on a corner, which means multiple sides to admire!
We’ll keep featuring lights nightly through Christmas – now just two weeks away – if you have a suggestion, whether your own display or one you’ve seen, let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (Our archive of previously shown lights is here.)
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