(WSB photos)

If you haven’t had dinner yet, you still have time to get to the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ (4426 California SW), where they’re serving a free feast to anyone who shows up – membership not required – until 5 pm.

Volunteers are serving up a traditional turkey dinner, all the way to the cranberry sauce, and of course dessert:

While dinner is free, donations are welcome too, to support the Eagles’ “People Helping People” mission.

(A sight to be thankful for – photo by Mike Burns)

Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful that you are here with us, whether you’re a new or longtime reader. As is the WSB holiday tradition, we’ve gathered information we hope you’ll find helpful:

GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: This list is in the Thanksgiving section atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide.

COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: That list – including more than a dozen local indies (as of our research calls – let us know if you discover a discrepancy) – is here.

RESTAURANTS/BARS OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: 20+ on the list – see it here.

PRE-TURKEY RUNNING : Multiple options in the guide, and the biggest is the West Seattle Runner Gobble Gobble Group Run, 8 am from Alki – bring food donations – enter a raffle for running shoes! Look for the sign pointing you to the WSR gathering place, and get full details here.

PRE-TURKEY WALKING: Walking for Well-Being decided to change to a morning walk today. Meet by 10 am at 47th/Fauntleroy.

WHERE TO FIND A FREE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER: Three options this year:
*As previewed here, The Hall at Fauntleroy‘s celebrated sit-down community dinner is happening again, all welcome, noon-3 pm. (9131 California SW)
*West Seattle Eagles are also again serving a sitdown community dinner for all, 2 pm-5 pm (4426 California SW)
*Admiral Pub, free dinner starting around 6 pm. 21+. (2306 California SW)

WANT TO HELP? You can drop off donations of desserts and/or warm clothing, blankets, and socks at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 10 am-1 pm, same address as above (south end of the historic schoolhouse).

WHAT TO DO AFTER (OR BEFORE) DINNER: The Admiral Theater is open all day – see the (big!) movies and showtimes here (2343 California SW).

THANKSGIVING TRANSPORTATION NOTES:
*Metro buses are on Sunday schedule
*No Water Taxi boat or shuttle service
*Sound Transit light rail and buses, Sunday schedules
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on weekend schedule
*No charge for parking today on city streets in neighborhoods with pay stations
*Traffic cameras: West Seattle-relevant ones here; citywide views are available via this SDOT map

OTHER INFO:
*No trash/recycling/etc. pickup today – Thursday pickups will happen Friday; Friday pickups on Saturday (transfer station is closed today too)
*Seattle Parks‘ holiday closed-and-open list (including the West Seattle Golf Course, which is open until 2 pm)
*No Seattle Public Library or King County Library System services today
*USPS holiday
*Banking holiday

LOST/FOUND PETS? Sometimes it happens with all the holiday traveling, visiting family/friends, etc. – email or text us the info so we can post on our West Seattle Lost/Found Pets page!

Seasonal info for today and beyond is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. We wish you a joyful holiday! (And if you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we are very thankful for your tips, reader reports, photos, questions, etc., every day/night of the year!)

After commenter “Anonyme” – who has identified themselves previously as a former arborist – noted that the Junction Plaza Park tree that serves as The Junction’s official Christmas tree appeared “butchered,” we went over for a look. Our photo above is what we saw. Definitely trimmed – to put it mildly – in a major way, with the lighting event just a week and a half away. We checked in with the West Seattle Junction Association to see what happened – and executive director Chris Mackay says it’s news to them, though there’s been someone doing uninvited “butchering” on other trees in the area. She wanted us to ask if anyone saw it happening, or “has photos of the culprit.” (If you do have info and/or visuals, please contact WSJA – info@wsjunction.org.) Meantime, the tree lighting will proceed anyway (6 pm-ish on Saturday, December 7), because, as Chris puts it, “we have to” – the tree lighting is part of a 4-8 pm festival that night, featuring performances, a Night Market, beer garden, and more.

(WSB file photo, The Hall at Fauntleroy)

Two days until Thanksgiving! We wanted to take the chance to remind you of what you’ll find in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, related to the first big holiday of the season:

FREE FEASTS: The Hall at Fauntleroy, the West Seattle Eagles, and Admiral Pub all welcome you this year

RESTAURANTS/COFFEE SHOPS: We have two lists linked in the Holiday Guide, if you’re interested in someone else doing the cooking or coffeemaking

GROCERY STORE HOURS: See who’s open (and when) and who’s not

START YOUR HOLIDAY ON THE RUN: Want to move before you eat? See the organized events

Beyond Thanksgiving, our guide lists dozens of West Seattle holiday events and activities. (If we’re missing yours, send it! Email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302, any time!

Shortly after Thanksgiving, two-plus weeks of West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays festivities (co-sponsored by WSB) begin. Here are the dates you’ll want to get on your calendar:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30: Small Business Saturday! We always say EVERY day should be Small Business (Whatever)day, but there’s a national movement attached to this one, so join the party and shop your local indies.

(Better As Brass, WSB video from 2023)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5: Shop Late in The Junction with special sights and sounds – The Silver Belles will carol, Better As Brass will play holiday favorites, Elves will be out and about, and the West Seattle Book Club will be reading at venues inside and outside The Junction.

(Tree lighting, WSB video from 2023)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 – The BIG night! 4-8 pm, this year’s Holiday Festival features the tree lighting in Junction Plaza Park, plus vendors at the Night Market, pet costume contest, Santa, singers, beer garden, and more on SW Alaska between 42nd and California. (See the full schedule here.)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10-MONDAY, DECEMBER 23: DIY photos in a holiday wonderland at Curious Kidstuff (4740 California SW), noon-5 pm.

(Silver Belles, WSB video from 2023)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12: 5 pm “till late,” Holiday Art Walk and Shop Late in The Junction – Santa, The Silver Belles, and The Art of Music.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14: Santa Photos at Curious Kidstuff (noon-3 pm) and John L. Scott (11 am-2 pm)

(Donated coats, WSB photo from 2023)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15: Cocoa and Coat Drive with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at the Farmers Market’s south end (California/Alaska), 10 am-1:30 pm.

Lots of individual businesses and organizations will have special events throughout the season too – if yours is among them, please send us info for our West Seattle Holiday Guide, if you haven’t already – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

(Photo by Nancy Woodland)

7:55 PM: Look for the lights east of Alki Bathhouse and you’ll find the epicenter of Alki Holiday Lights, the neighborhood celebration organized by the Alki Community Council while awaiting the Christmas Ship’s 8:35 pm appearance – with local businesses, and the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens), participating too. Updates later!

(Added: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” excerpt with Pacific Sound Chorus on board)

9:13 PM: The Christmas Ship has sailed on after its Alki stop, second of the night (after Seacrest). We’ll add visuals once we’re back at HQ!

10:15 PM: As promised, the Alki Community Council lined part of the seawall with luminarias – no rain, so they stayed lit! The ACC set up this festive display too:

Along with the businesses offering treats, the Log House Museum was open for the evening, with merchandise including a bake sale and the remaining stock of ornaments, each featuring something or someplace from West Seattle’s history:

The museum was thrilled with the turnout, even though they’re a block inland – they’d counted well past 100 visitors before we stopped by around midway through the evening event. Meantime, that’s it for the Christmas Ship’s 2024 West Seattle stops, but if you want to catch it elsewhere in the region, here’s the full-season schedule.

ADDED: Thanks to Rod for this photo of the Christmas Ship, with its traditional illuminated wish for “PEACE,” sailing away from Seacrest:

Our tour of some of today’s handcrafted shopping opportunities ended at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), where the Christmas Market continues until 4 pm. We found one creative stocking stuffer:

Stacey just started her business selling playing cards with recipes, “Make Meals, Play Cards” – simple ideas for meals, five ingredients for less, right on the cards. (If you miss the market but are interested, email her at mmpcdeck@gmail.com.) Chantel is a teacher who is selling clay creations, from dishes to ornaments:

There’s also an opportunity to give to the Westside Neighbors Shelter – a giving tree that gives you the chance to chip in for sturdy footwear:

And if you’re bringing the kid(s), there are craft tables just outside the sanctuary, where most of the market is happening:

Cider and pretzels are available too , outdoors by the entrance. This is part of a full complement of holiday events, that Admiral Church is offering – all in our West Seattle Holiday Guide, but here’s the list as sent by the church:

“Holy Night”; Christmas With The Chosen. November 26, 6:30-8:30 pm. Free movie screening and discussion of “Holy Night”, by the producers of “The Chosen” series. Christmas cookies and popcorn, too! All welcome!

Grinch and Grahams! December 8, 1:00-2:30 pm. Admiral Church, Family Holiday Event! FREE! “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”, the beloved 30-minute holiday classic movie, followed by making and decorating graham cracker houses! All welcome!

WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT! December 15, 1:00-3:00 pm. Holiday Jazz Concert, dancing as space allows! All Welcome! FREE! And there’s cookies!

On the southeastern edge of West Seattle is a holiday sale worth going out of your way for today – the craft fair at Arrowhead Gardens (9200 2nd SW). It’s also continuing until 3 pm today. You’ll find some tasty surprises – above, “Mama T” is selling lumpia; below, Linda is a devoted canner whose creations include saffron-nectarine jam, “monkey butter,” syrups, jellies, and simple pleasures like pickled carrots:

She gave up canning for a while after 40 years – and then hopped back into it a few years ago, making small batches. Bill, meantime, has channeled his beautiful photos into calendars and gift cards:

The tables throughout the “welcome center” on the complex’s east side also include warm knitted items for all ages:

Holiday decor too, plus jewelry and more. Support the senior artisans and delight your gift recipients!

(Photos by Dave Gershgorn for WSB. Above, DJ Padilla, Carlos Lopez, and Teagan Gaither hand out turkeys)

Until noon – or until supplies run out – anybody who needs some help getting a turkey dinner on the table this Thanksgiving is welcome at the annual Eastridge Church turkey giveaway (outside the church at 39th and Oregon).

No questions asked – anyone can get a turkey and bag of groceries that contains fixings for a full traditional holiday meal. Volunteers were busy packing the bags inside:

(Carol Heisler places a bag of groceries in the pile to be distributed)

Between their West Seattle and Eastside campuses, Eastridge gives away about 1,500 turkeys on the Saturday before Thanksgiving each year – something they’ve been doing for more than two decades.

Our West Seattle Holiday Guide includes info on not only holiday events, but also holiday shopping – including where you can buy a tree!

(West Seattle Nursery photo, 2024 tree arrival)

West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon): got Alpine Nobles in early and expected to have Burton Blue, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Grand Fir, Korean Fir, Noble Fir, and Nordmann Firs trees by today.

Trees By The Sea (2530 Alki SW) opens next Wednesday (November 25) with not only trees but also “wreaths, garland and products available from our honey company Shipwreck Apiaries.” Its hours are in our Holiday Guide.

The Holy Rosary Tree Lot, on the north side of the campus, is scheduled to open the day after Thanksgiving. Part of the proceeds go to local nonprofits.

Those are just three of the places you’ll find trees in West Seattle. Check the Holiday Guide for more, plus lots of other info – including the open-on-Thanksgiving restaurant/bar and coffee lists, both now linked! And if you find info missing, let us know, as we’re updating it daily.

(WSB file photo – seen at a Hall at Fauntleroy Thanksgiving dinner)

Just a reminder this morning that this year’s edition of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide is live and stuffed with Thanksgiving information, from ordering deadlines to free community dinners (both The Hall at Fauntleroy and the West Seattle Eagles are offering theirs again this year). For those in need, the Eastridge Church turkey giveaway is coming up this Saturday morning; the West Seattle Food Bank is not having a drive-up turkey pickup this year, but we have their Thanksgiving-week hours in the guide. Also there, you’ll find a link to our list of West Seattle restaurants and bars planning to be open on the holiday, and our coffee-shop list will be linked later today. If you have additions or changes, please let us know at westseattleblog@gmail.com or (text/voice) 206-293-6302. The Holiday Guide includes lots of other info too, and we’re frequently updating it all season long!

(WSB photo, 2023 Christmas Ship stop)

As noted previously, the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship is making just two West Seattle stops this holiday season, and both are this Saturday night. The second, however, will be extra-festive, because the Alki Community Council is launching a “Nostalgic Neighborhood Tradition“ at the beach. The Christmas Ship is due at 8:35 pm; the community-gathering event is set for 7-9 pm. Seattle Parks promises a bonfire; participating Alki businesses promise treats. And you’re invited to dress up in “ugly holiday sweaters” and/or attire that glows. (Rudolph might be envious.) Plus, bring non-perishable donations for the West Seattle Food Bank! This is all set to happen around the Alki Beach Bathhouse (60th/Alki) and at Alki businesses on Saturday night.