West Seattle, Washington
14 Tuesday
Thanks to the reader who sent the photo from this morning’s 80th annual Easter Sunday sunrise service at Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor). The West Seattle Ministerial Association presents the service, with volunteer support by the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle. The reader reports, “Incredible testimony of recovery and now in school by Erin LaBreche. Service was well attended. Looking forward to next year.” In 2020, Easter will be on April 12th.
The first egg hunt of the weekend was off and almost-running at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) this morning – and yet there’s always a moment amid the rush for a bunny-meets-bunny moment:
Once eggs have been procured among the produce (or kitchenware, or …) it’s time to stop and check what’s inside:
For the smallest participants, that requires assistance:
And the search went on:
Thriftway just celebrated its 31st birthday and will have other special events as the spring and summer roll on – next Saturday, for example, weather permitting, they’ll try again for the first benefit barbecue of the season – buy an outdoor-grilled lunch starting around 11 am, and the proceeds will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank.
(WSB photos)
Well-dressed egg hunters were in view at Hiawatha Community Center this morning, one of many Seattle Parks-run centers around the city that welcomed local kids on this semi-sunny Saturday. Bunny ears were a popular accessory:
The littlest egg hunters got a bit of grown-up help:
This annual tradition involves a lot of planning and preparation by center volunteers and staffers – then suddenly it’s time to gather by age group, and the biggest final task is to get the excited attendees to wait for “go”!
(Added) Minutes after we published this, we received two photos from the Austins:
They write, “It was crazy! The high school helpers work awesome, as well as everyone else who volunteered to make this day a success. My kindergartner was very happy.”
Kids ready for a second round of egg hunting have their choice of several local churches having them tomorrow before or after holiday services – check our list for locations!
The Easter … stormtrooper? That was among the sightings at Lincoln Park this morning during one of three egg hunts we covered. This one is presented every year by Eastridge Church and draws hundreds of kids.
Thousands of eggs were in the meadow for the “hunters.”
More egg hunting this afternoon and tomorrow – see our list! And we’re working on more coverage of this morning’s big fun elsewhere, too.
All week long, along with non-religious events like egg hunts, our Easter/Passover/More page is where to find special local services and gatherings. Tomorrow night (6:30 pm Wednesday), St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church invites the community to a unique Stations of the Cross observance:
The devotion known as the Stations of the Cross is an adaptation to local usage of a custom widely observed by pilgrims to Jerusalem: the offering of prayer at a series of places in that city traditionally associated with our Lord’s passion and death.
The number of stations-which at first varied widely-finally became fixed at 14. Of these, eight are based directly on events recorded in the Gospels. The remaining six (numbers 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 13) are based on inferences from the Gospel account or from pious legend.
In this innovative and adaptive version of the liturgy; elements of art and music are blended to create a unique experience of Jesus’ passion. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to experience prayer, live-painting, stringed instruments, and candlelight woven together into a blend of story and emotion as we prepare to walk the final days into Jesus’ death and resurrection.
St. John’s is at 3050 California SW. See what else is happening this week by browsing our page here.
(WSB file photo)
This time next Saturday, things will be hopping. It’s the big day for pre-Easter egg hunts. You’ll find the times and places on our updated Easter/Passover/More page – which also has listings for local religious services and events in the week ahead. You can browse the list here. And if you have something to add – a service, an egg hunt, even an Easter brunch – there’s still time to add it, so please send us the info ASAP at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo, 2017)
We are now less than two weeks away from Easter and the start of Passover, and our annual one-stop-shop list for egg hunts, services, and more, is live – see it here. As usual, we will continue updating as long as new listings come in, so if you have something to add, please send us the info ASAP – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
We’re now two and a half weeks away from Easter weekend and the start of Passover. As always, we’re working on a one-page guide to local events and services, so if your organization, business, church, synagogue, school, etc. has something public planned, please let us know – and thanks to those who have sent info already – westseattleblog@gmail.com!
Every year, we check on St. Patrick’s Day to see if the mysterious green stripe on 41st SW north of Admiral Way has been freshened … and today, there it was, with a few shamrocks/4-leaf clovers along the way, stretching a few blocks north.
Tomorrow afternoon, the 48th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes over 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle, starting at 12:30 pm at 4th and James and heading north to Westlake Center. This year’s Grand Marshal is a West Seattleite, County Councilmember Joe McDermott. The parade’s running order includes one entry we know has West Seattle ties – the Comerford School of Irish Dance has long held classes at the VFW Hall in The Triangle. P.S. If you feel like being part of the parade, the sponsoring Irish Club says that “individuals are encouraged to march in the parade without any pre-registration.”
(Another Mark Wangerin “snowbird” photo – Dark-Eyed Junco)
LIBRARIES: All Seattle and King County library-system locations are closed.
CITY PARKS: Here’s what’s closed and what’s open.
TRASH/RECYCLING/ETC. PICKUP: Seattle Public Utilities says it’s expecting pickups to be back on regular schedule this week.
FREE-PARKING DAY: If you’re going to a neighborhood that has street parking with city pay stations, there’s no charge today.
Also today/tonight:
BASKETBALL: Both West Seattle High School teams play for third place at the district tournament – girls vs. Lake Washington at 10 am, boys vs. O’Dea at 11:45 am, both games at Sammamish High School. (100 140th Ave. SE, Bellevue)
QUIZFIX TRIVIA: 7:30 pm at The Skylark, all ages, free, prizes! (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a Day of Service for many – among them, thousands of volunteers organized via United Way of King County. Dozens of them are helping out at WestSide Baby‘s regional headquarters in White Center – including a big group of Starbucks workers, many of whom brought along their own kids.
WestSide Baby relies on a lot of volunteer help to “process gently used donated items and prepare them to be distributed to children in our community … quality checking clothing items, getting clothes on our shelves and filling actual orders from hundreds of social workers who help local low-income families.” Among the items they’re quality-checking, car seats:
The MLK Day of Service also points out that “WestSide Baby is the only social service agency in West King county area that collects, inspects and distributes free diapers, clothing, cribs and safety gear for babies and children. More than 114 local social service agencies, including shelters and food banks, rely upon us to provide critical necessities for low-income families.” WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland says they have an ongoing need for volunteers, especially with car seats.
Contact WS Baby if you can help – here’s how.
No calendar-highlights list today because of the overnight windstorm, but if you check the calendar itself, you’ll see a few events including this – the West Seattle Rainbow Girls‘ annual Christmas tree recycling event at the Masonic Center in The Junction. We just went over to be sure the storm hadn’t changed their plans and confirmed they ARE there in the parking lot (40th/Edmunds), taking trees by donation until 1 pm (that’s an earlier cutoff time than announced) – that’s Laurel in our photo. Unlike curbside recycling, you don’t have to cut your tree into sections to drop it off.
Now that the holidays are over, so is the 10th season of West Seattle Lights. Received tonight from the music-synched light show’s creator Jim Winder:
I would just like to thank everyone in and around the West Seattle area for coming to see West Seattle Lights and for donating to our two charities, The West Seattle Food Bank and Northwest Parkinson Foundation. Because of your generosity, we were able to deliver to the West Seattle Food Bank over
300660 pounds in foodstuffs along with $402 and another $402 to NW Parkinson Foundation!! Thank You! Thank You!! Thank You!!! for a great holiday season!!!!
(If you enjoyed WSL this year, you can still donate to its charities online.)
The West Seattle Lights display (which we showcased on Christmas Eve this year) is at a home where friends of Jim’s live. He also now runs a show in Maple Valley.
15 minutes before hundreds ran in and out of Puget Sound for this year’s Alki Beach New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim, organizer Mark Ufkes hollered that the water was warmer than the air – 46 degrees and 36 degrees respectively.
Did you notice the fireboat in the background in that clip? Here’s what it did after most were out of the water:
And thanks to @SeattleFire for the fireboat show! pic.twitter.com/8Yv5jEGLeh
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) January 1, 2019
Of course there were plenty of sights on the beach – hats and masks, for example:
Or declaration of Rose Bowl allegiance:
Organizer Mark sported closer-to-home college gear (plus the pink trunks he explained in his announcement of the event):
He also brought TSA-auction-bought corkscrews again for pink-wearing swimmers:
But for many, it was all about the thrill and the chill …
… with a bonfire awaiting some as a reward.
P.S. This year brings a second “polar” swim to Alki – as we reported last month, the Special Olympics of Washington Polar Plunge fundraiser is returning to West Seattle waters for the first time since 2011. February 9th is the date and they’re hoping for a sizable enough turnout to set a record.
(Photo by Robert Spears)
Happy 2018 2019! Here’s information you might find helpful on this New Year’s Day, interspersed with photos from the midnight fireworks (THANK YOU to everyone who sent photos!)
NEW YEAR’S DAY WALKS: Emerald City Wanderers are hosting 5- and 10-kilometer walks in West Seattle, sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association, noncompetitive. Start any time between 9 am and noon from St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Routes go through North Admiral, with 10K walkers heading down to Jack Block Park. Hot soup and snacks! (3050 California SW)
NEW YEAR’S DAY ALKI POLAR BEAR SWIM: 10 am sharp on the beach across from Duke’s – you’re advised to be there by 9:45. Here’s the original announcement. (57th SW/Alki SW)
NEW YEAR’S DAY FITNESS: Yoga and Nia classes this morning! See our Holiday Guide for info.
(Photo by Bill Morgan, from Hamilton Viewpoint)
RESTAURANTS THAT TOLD US THEY WOULD BE OPEN TODAY: Here’s our list – with the annual caveat that some establishments may have changed their plan since we called, so if you discover a discrepancy, please let us know – thank you!
TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION INFO: Sunday schedule for Metro today … No Water Taxi service … Sound Transit Express buses are on Sunday schedules … Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on its regular weekday schedule … No charge for street parking in neighborhoods where the city has pay stations.
TRASH/RECYCLING: No pickup today, and everyone’s schedule slides a day again this week, same as last week.
SEATTLE PARKS FACILITIES: Here’s the list from Parks – what’s closed, what’s open.
LIBRARIES: All Seattle Public Library and King County Library System facilities are closed today.
(Photo by David Hutchinson, from Seacrest Park)
HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND OTHER INFO FOR TODAY/TONIGHT … see the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
First, the final sunset of the year:
Thanks to Chris Frankovich for that photo. Next one is from Susan Romanenghi:
As we observed while tweeting a different view earlier, looks like Mount Rainier is wearing a party hat. And speaking of party:
West Seattle Junction venues with New Year’s Eve specials have gold balloons outside to entice you in – see the list here, and have a great (safe) celebration! Thanks again to everyone who shared photos, tips, reader reports, and more this year … 206-293-6302 or westseattleblog@gmail.com any time!
(Last rainbow of 2018? Sunday photo by Donna Benaroya)
Happy last day/night of 2018! What you need to know for the next 12-plus hours:
LIBRARIES: Seattle Public Library locations are open today, regular hours – closed tomorrow. King County Library System branches are closing today at 5 pm.
NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER AT ITTO’S: Itto’s Tapas (WSB sponsor) is taking reservations online for 5 pm and 9 pm seatings with a special prix-fixe dinner tonight. (4160 California SW)
OTHER RESTAURANTS: Our holiday list now contains the West Seattle restaurants that told us they would be open New Year’s Eve and/or New Year’s Day. See it here, and please remember that it was compiled in advance, so there’s always a chance an establishment has changed its plans – 206-293-6302, text or voice, if you have an update to share; thank you!
NEW YEAR’S EVE WALKS: Emerald City Wanderers invites you to walk a 5K or 10K route from St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church – start any time between 4 pm and 7 pm:
The New Year’s Eve 5 kilometer route winds through the holiday lights in the Admiral neighborhood and Junction. The 10 kilometer route also enjoys neighborhood holiday lights, heads down to Alki and features the lights on and around Puget Sound, Elliott Bay and downtown Seattle. Flashlights helpful.
This event is hosted by the Emerald City Wanderers and St John the Baptist Episcopal Church, and is sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association. Information about volkssports will be available.
No fee; hot soup and snacks! Noncompetitive. (3050 California SW)
NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT PARADE: All welcome to the traditional neighborhood noisemaking parade in Highland Park – meet outside HP Improvement Club at 6 pm. Optional – stay for the New Year’s Eve party inside HPIC afterward! (1116 SW Holden)
NEW YEAR’S EVE FAMILY PARTY: Want to celebrate 2019 early? You can do it at South Park Hall:
We are having our 6th annual Family Party at South Park Hall from 7-9 pm. $10/person over 2 years old. Each kid gets access to the hot cocoa bar and a gift bag. We will have a countdown on the big screen with the East Coast, and music.
(1053 S. Cloverdale)
BAR PARTIES: See the listings in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide; some require tickets. (Anything to add? Let us know ASAP!)
REMINDER – FREE NEW YEAR’S EVE RIDES ON METRO: 7 pm-4 am. Details here.
NEW SPACE NEEDLE LIGHT SHOW 2 HOURS BEFORE THE FIREWORKS: If you’re planning on spending part of your New Year’s Eve looking at the Space Needle – as noted here over the weekend, there’s a new 10 pm laser light show this year in addition to the midnight fireworks.
PREVIEW 2019 … via our complete calendar!
This seems new. pic.twitter.com/dKnvcT7Gdw
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 30, 2018
We tweeted that after being somewhat startled to see the Space Needle come into view from Alki earlier tonight with those huge pink lights burning bright. Well … huge magenta lights. We figured it had something to do with T-Mobile‘s sponsorship of the upcoming New Year’s Eve fireworks, but that’s still two days away. Subsequent discussion on Twitter, and research, led to this announcement – with news that NYE will include a 10 pm light show from the Needle as well as the 10-minute fireworks display: “Cutting-edge lighting equipment installed throughout the structure will emit brilliant colors and beams of light across the tower and the Seattle night sky …” The Needle will be illuminated in magenta tomorrow night as well as Monday night pre-show, the announcement says. Will it be those big lights we saw tonight or a subtler glow? Guess we’ll see soon enough.
The New Year’s Eve/Day section of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide continues to grow – from New Year’s Eve dining (including the special dinner at Itto’s Tapas [WSB sponsor]) through New Year’s morning fitness – plus we’ve just added another tree-cycling option for the first weekend of New Year’s. Browse it all here – and if you have an event, New Year’s holiday hours, etc., to add, please let us know!
(WSB photo from 2017 Not-So-Silent-Night Parade)
Next Tuesday night’s forecast looks OK, so why not plan to be outside for a while? Both of these free activities are from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which we’re continuing to update for New Year’s Eve/Day (not too late to send YOUR listing):
WALKING: As announced by Emerald City Wanderers again this year, a 5K walk through Admiral and Alaska Junctions, starting from St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW) any time you choose, between 4 and 7 pm. Full details in our guide, and info on their New Year’s Day walks too!.
PARADING: The classic neighborhood all-ages noisemaker Not-So-Silent-Night Parade at 6 pm kicks off the Highland Park Improvement Club‘s New Year’s Eve party, which has a prom theme this year and launches HPIC’s centennial celebrations. Gather in the HPIC parking lot, with or without your noisemaker of choice – drum, rattle. Afterward, stay for the party if you want to – or head somewhere else if you don’t. (1116 SW Holden)
From Seattle Public Utilities: No huge rush to get your Christmas tree, wreath, and other holiday greenery out for recycling this year:
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) invites Seattle residents to compost their Christmas trees and other holiday greens for free through January 31, 2019. Residents should place trees or bundled greens next to their food and yard waste cart on their collection day. Apartment residents may place two trees next to each food and yard waste cart on each collection day. Trees must be cut into lengths of four feet or less and all decorations, lights, tinsel, and other decorations must be removed.
In addition to curbside collection, Seattle residents may drop off trees and other holidays greens for free at SPU’s north or south transfer stations through January 31. Stations will accept up to three trees per vehicle.
Composting Christmas trees is just the beginning when it comes to holiday recycling. Many common holiday items can be recycled or reused. Customers can find out how to cut down on the amount of holiday waste that ends up in the landfill by checking SPU’s Where Does It Go tool.
P.S. Reminder that except for Monday customers, pickup is delayed one day this week and next since there was no pickup on Christmas Day and won’t be any on New Year’s Day.
Of course our Christmas Day lights spotlight would be West Seattle’s brightest display. Thanks to Robert Spears for sharing these photos of the Menashe Family Lights from earlier this season. You’ll find them at 5605 Beach Drive SW as the holiday season continues.
You can see all the lights we’ve showcased this year by scrolling through this WSB archive (and prior years if you keep scrolling!).
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