West Seattle, Washington
30 Thursday
Before we get to what’s up today/tonight – just wanted to let you know, if you’re looking ahead, our lists of restaurant and grocery-store hours for Christmas Eve/Day are available. The restaurant list is here – we list restaurants that told us they would be open Christmas Eve and/or Day – if they’re closed for both, or if they did not reply to our inquiries, they’re not on the list. As always, we offer the caveat that establishments sometimes change their plans after we have already checked with them, but this is the best info we have right now. The grocery-store hours, meantime, are listed in the Christmas Eve/Day section of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which we continue to update daily through New Year’s.
With the clear, dry weather tonight, it’s a perfect time to look at lights – even just a walk around your neighborhood. This one is an eye-catcher on the north end of Arbor Heights, on the north side of SW Roxbury at 36th SW. We’ve featured it before – in 2007 and 2011 – but hadn’t seen it in a few years, until an AH resident sent the photo (thank you!). To see the other lights we’ve featured this season, scroll through our newest-to-oldest archive. We also have a list of lights-and-music shows in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. Speaking of which, something special tomorrow night:
Brownie Troop 41169 will be at West Seattle Lights handing out hot cocoa to anyone who stops by with a non-perishable food donation (or small cash donations) for the West Seattle Food Bank. They are hoping to spread a little cheer and help boost food donations during the holidays. If you haven’t stopped by this house yet, there is no better time! Our Brownies would love to give you a cocoa to warm yourself while you watch the light show. We hope to see you there!
What: Cocoa for a Cause
When: Thursday 12/21 from 6:30-8 pm
Where: 3908 SW Charlestown
From King County:
For the first time, King County Metro will offer free rides on New Year’s Eve between 4 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31, and 4 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 1, including DART and Access service. In addition, Metro will add service to its night routes. The Seattle Streetcar will also be free on New Year’s Eve and Sound Transit will extend Link light rail service between Angle Lake and the University of Washington.
“As we put the finishing touches on 2017, we want you to be able to get out on the town and come home safe,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Whether you are heading to the Seattle Center or other King County destinations on New Year’s Eve, Metro will get you there and back, all for free. It’s our way of saying thank you for making Metro the nation’s best transit system, and we look forward to riding with you next year.”
“We want people to go have a good time and know they can get home safely, affordably, and reliably,” said King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove, who proposed the idea.
Metro will operate regular Sunday schedules on New Year’s Eve with extra buses as needed on several routes serving destinations such as Seattle Center, Capitol Hill and downtown. New Year’s revelers can take advantage of Metro’s recently expanded Night Owl network, with added service on major routes between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Sound Transit will operate extended Link light rail service with trains running northbound from Angle Lake Station every 30 minutes until 1:30 a.m. Southbound trains from the University of Washington will run until 2 a.m.
The Seattle Streetcar will operate until 1 a.m.
Metro routes with added service as needed will include 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, 24, 32, 36, 40, 41, 62, 65, 70, 101, 106, 120, 124, 150, 255, RapidRide A, B, C, D and E Lines, and ST 550, ST 554. The fareboxes and ORCA card readers on Metro buses will be covered to remind customers not to pay. A regular valid fare will be required on Sound Transit Express buses.
Haven’t locked in your New Year’s Eve plans yet? We’re continuing to add to the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, which already includes ideas from bar parties to the annual Emerald City Wanderers walk, and here’s the newest addition:
A big new venue for the “Kid Party” that jammed the Admiral Bird last year. Co-proprietors Corina and Heidi now also run historic, renovated South Park Hall, just over the ridge (1253 S. Cloverdale), and they’re moving the “Kid Party” there this year. 7-9 pm, with the East Coast ball drop on a big screen, plus a hot-cocoa bar for the kids, “adult drinks” for their chaperones, pulled-pork sliders, mac and cheese, dancing, activity tables … Tickets are available in advance online for $10/person, or $15 at the door.
As we make our way through the pre-holiday week, we’re rounding up information on holiday closures, and thought you might want to know that Seattle Public Library branches will be closed Sunday (Christmas Eve) as well as Monday (Christmas Day). King County Library System branches, too. Closure info will be in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide for reference, as will info on what’s open (our holiday restaurant list, for example) – and any info you have is appreciated – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
(WSB photo)
Tonight’s featured Christmas lights are in Westwood, on the east side of 30th SW, south of Barton – one recent night we noted multiple festive displays on 30th between there and SW Roxbury, and made a note to go back for a photo when we could. This particular house is notable for multiple trees of lights in the yard – hard for the photo to do justice; we had to angle the camera a bit to get everything in. Thanks again to everyone who’s been suggesting displays (editor@westseattleblog.com); more tomorrow, and if you haven’t seen the big displays yet, you can find them any time in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.
(2017 photo by Robert Spears)
For everyone who has been asking – yes, the annual West Seattle New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge at Alki Beach is on – with something extra, as just announced by longtime organizer Mark Ufkes:
Yes, the West Seattle Alki Polar Bear Plunge is on again. We line up along the beach in front of Duke’s on Alki, hold hands, and with a countdown, we all run into the water together. Over 500 of us did it last year. We plunge into the water at 10 am sharp January 1, 2018. Don’t be late. Bring water shoes, a towel, a warm change of clothes, and your hopes and dreams for the new year.
This year’s event is a great way to wash away the complexities of the first year of a Trump Administration. And the cold, crisp 47-degree Puget Sound water will wash us with an understanding of why Trump and the mostly white, Republican men who run Congress, after attacking President Obama on a daily basis for eight years about the deficit, would add $1.5 trillion to the deficit during an economic boom to give tax benefits to mostly the wealthy in society, while taking away our net neutrality and reducing lands preserved in our national monuments.
Wear Pink Into the Water: After 62 years of life, and as a white man, I have come to the conclusion that white men (mostly Republicans) are not capable of running our federal government in an honest, equitable manner. Therefore, I will be wearing pink into the water to acknowledge the reality that we need to elect women into every position in the U.S. Congress and fully hand over the reins of federal government power to women. We all know that they will do a better job.
See you January 1 at 10 am!
(WSB photo)
Our featured lights tonight are on the west side of 40th SW, just north of SW Charlestown. Wendy e-mailed to say, “Check out 40th Ave SW between Charlestown and Hinds for awesome Xmas lights. Practically every house on the street (both sides) is lit up.” And indeed they are. She also pointed out that this is right around the corner from music-synched West Seattle Lights (39th/Charlestown), so while you’re checking out that show, explore the blocks nearby – we saw plenty of brightness on 41st and 42nd in the area, too.
Thanks for the West Seattle Christmas lights tips – more welcome, editor@westseattleblog.com – and check out the shows listed in our Holiday Guide!
Even before Lori and Tim McConnell opened their one-of-a-kind West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) in 2010, a holiday-lights run was a tradition. Tonight was the night they gathered runners and walkers in their shop for a celebration with something extra. First, a group photo:
Then, off on a route that, as usual, was scheduled to head east of The Admiral District, with highlights including music-synched West Seattle Lights (3908 SW Charlestown), about a mile away:
As the McConnells reminded everyone, it wasn’t a race, just a lot of fun. Some brought strollers, some brought dogs. And when they got back to the store, they were scheduled to celebrate’s Tim upcoming milestone birthday – we got a peek at the cake:
By the way, WS Runner isn’t just for experienced runners – they nurture beginners too – and toward that end, they’re about to launch a new round of the free couch-to-half-marathon program Get Fit West Seattle, with an informational night at the shop, 7 pm Wednesday, December 27th.
Tonight’s featured Christmas lights are the legendary Menashe Family Lights (5605 Beach Dr. SW) – because this is the night that Santa is there, to delight young West Seattleites and to collect food for the West Seattle Food Bank.
Santa’s there until 10 tonight; the Menashe Family Lights are on nightly throughout the holiday season, leaving faces aglow with wonder:
More lights tomorrow night! See what we’ve showcased already by scrolling through our archive. And if you’d like to suggest a display, let us know where it is – with or without a photo – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
(WSB photo from 2016 Cocoa and Coat Drive)
Last year, generous West Seattleites donated more than 200 coats during the Hometown Holidays Cocoa and Coat Drive at the WS Farmers’ Market – and tomorrow’s the day you have the chance to help beat that total! Between 10 am and 2 pm on Sunday, look for the Junction Association, Kiwanis Club, and West Seattle Christian Church booth at the market (California/Alaska) – get free cocoa while dropping off coats, hats, and/or gloves, which will all go to West Seattle Helpline. (And nearby, you’ll be able to board the free Santa Trolley for the second and final Sunday of that new Hometown Holidays feature.)
Santa’s everywhere today, as previewed in our highlights list – until 2 pm you’ll find him in Morgan Junction at My Three Little Birds (6959 California SW; WSB sponsor), where we photographed him with proprietor Jennifer Young. Santa’s had his own section all season long in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, by the way … including the much-awaited West Seattle Food Bank-benefiting photos tonight at the Menashe Family Lights (6-10 pm, 5605 Beach Drive SW, bring nonperishable food to donate).
(WSB photos)
Continuing to spotlight Christmas lights nightly … the Wenn family’s residence is still shining brightest on the well-lit 4000 block of Fauntleroy Way SW alongside the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. Many famous characters to appreciate, too, including this timely trio:
Thanks for the ongoing tips (editor@westseattleblog.com) – with a pic if you have one, and if not, we’ll check it out as we did with this one.
Santa Claus has arrived at HomeStreet Bank (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) for photos until 6 pm! Cocoa and cookies too – drop in for holiday cheer; it’s also a donation drive for the West Seattle Food Bank, so bring along nonperishable food for the bin. Tomorrow, Santa’s photo stops include My Three Little Birds (6959 California SW; WSB sponsor) 11 am-2 pm, and on Saturday night, the Menashe Family Lights (5605 Beach Drive), 6 pm-10 pm, also a WSFB food-donation drive.
As far as we know, the Holy Rosary School tree lot is the only school-benefiting Christmas tree lot in West Seattle – and part of the proceeds go to other nonprofits (emergency-assistance-providing West Seattle Helpline, domestic-violence-survivors-assisting Hickman House, hunger-fighting West Seattle Food Bank), too. The volunteers who run the lot asked us to remind you that Sunday is its last day! Hours for the remainder of the run are 3:30-10 pm today, 9 am=10 pm Saturday, 9 am-9 pm Sunday. It’s on the north side of the campus, off 42nd SW between Genesee and Dakota. (If you can’t tree-shop until after Sunday, our full local lot list is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.)
Huge thanks to everyone who’s shared news of holiday happenings for this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – and with a little over two weeks remaining until New Year’s, we wanted to remind you that we’re still updating daily, and that includes churches’ Christmas (etc.) services as well as New Year’s celebrations – bar parties and beyond. Those are just two of the categories – and there’s even more in the guide – so if there’s anything holiday-ish that you haven’t let us know about yet (including last-minute shopping hours for Christmas Eve!), please e-mail info to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
For the eighth year, Denny International Middle School‘s Posada celebration brought holiday family fun – from a piñata, to music by Banda Vagos:
(Added) Here’s a sample of their big sound – in our video clip:
Denny principal Jeff Clark was in his Dolphins-blue suit as he provided piñata assistance:
Today (Friday) is the last day of school before winter break for Denny and other Seattle Public Schools – with one-hour early release.
(Photos by Leda Costa for WSB unless otherwise credited)
6:06 PM: Santa Claus is in The Junction! It’s a double-special night – the second-to-last Shop Late Thursday before Christmas, and the holiday edition of the West Seattle Art Walk. Also roaming The Junction right now – the Silver Belles carolers, who you might recall from the Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting celebration almost two weeks ago. We caught them here in the distance:
Lots of other highlights tonight – places to stop, things to see – check our preview from last night to find the Art Walk venue list and Shop Late highlights. And again, it’s not just The Junction – Art Walk venues are all over West Seattle, like Welcome Road Winery (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor) in South Admiral:
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
ADDED LATE THURSDAY NIGHT: More photos! Eight artists’ work – including the Mug Show – at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor):
Next, CAPERS had a multi-artist show too, and Santa caught up with some of the artists (L-R below, Stephanie Hargrave, Christine Olson, Magdalena Cooney, Genna Draper, Amy Stone):
Meantime, the Silver Belles caroled on – below, outside Wild Rose Antiques:
Art at Virago Gallery:
Santa visited Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) to get some ideas on how to spend the offseason:
(Photo courtesy of Emerald Water Anglers)
Merry Shop Late Thursday to all, and to all a good night!
The Easy Street Records marquee, by the way, reminds everyone that Caspar Babypants is live in-store Saturday at 6:30 pm – and right outside at the Farmers’ Market on Sunday, bring coats for the donation drive AND catch the Santa Trolley nearby – more on the Hometown Holidays page.
‘Tis the season for holiday/winter concerts, especially this week, with many local school groups performing in the nights before winter break. Last night at Hope Lutheran School, it was a full house for the “Sounds of Winter” concert by groups from Hope and nearby Seattle Lutheran High School.
We stopped in toward the start of the concert. Above, the Hope Concert Band opened the night; our top photo and our video below feature the Hope Chapel Band/Choir:
Also performing, the SLHS Band and Hope’s Handbell Choir and Glee Club. We’re told some of the Hope musicians will also be performing at the Senior Center of West Seattle this afternoon.
P.S. See the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide for more music (and other events/info)!
Thanks to Trissa for the photo! She explains:
I decided that I wanted a tree of lights & our whole family worked together to create this. We’re on Pigeon Point & you can see it when you’re driving east on Yancy from Avalon. Happy Holidays!
Also visible to the south when driving up Andover from Delridge. We’ll be showcasing lights nightly through Christmas – thanks to everyone who’s sent tips and photos – more tomorrow, and we’ll be adding to the list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!
(Click to see larger image)
The next huge Hometown Holidays night in The Junction is tomorrow (Thursday, December 14th) – when the December edition of the West Seattle Art Walk happens on Shop Late Thursday, which means many reasons to be there! Including Santa – roaming! – and caroling by Silver Belles, 5-7 pm, starting at Cupcake Royale at 5, then to Wild Rose, and then wandering between other Junction businesses. Here’s the latest Shop Late list from the Junction Association.
Art Walk highlights, running from 5 to late, are here – including the Mug Show at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) and the Puny Picture Show at Wallflower Custom Framing. You’ll also want to visit Emerald Water Anglers (42nd/Oregon; WSB sponsor) tomorrow night for the shop’s holiday party and sale.
And of course the Art Walk stretches beyond The Junction – if you wander south, for example, you can shop for holiday wine at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) while meeting and seeing the work of artist Sandy Simpson. Venues to the north, too – see the map above!
Cocoa Cris Cringle is in the house – well, the shop – at Easy Street Records, for his annual photo sessions, benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. (Discount if you bring a nonperishable-food donation!) We were there as Cocoa Cris’s fans of all ages started showing up for pics:
Holiday photos of course include the family pet(s) sometimes too:
Cocoa Cris is scheduled to be at Easy Street until 8 tonight – full details here. (And while you’re there – check out the used-vinyl blowout sale, which continues tomorrow!)
(WSB photos. Santa and Frosty are the highlight at this house)
With just under two weeks until Christmas, it’s time we start showcasing more lights, so we photographed a few displays on 16th SW tonight after getting this note from Meredith – the subject line, “Love the lights in Highland Park”:
Just wanted send some love out to my neighbors. I live in Highland Park near the fire station. I have to drive down 16th to Burien everyday for work. I just ADORE all the winter holiday lights everyone has put up on the stretch between Holden and Barton on 16th. It literally brightens my day and warms my spirit. Thanks and don’t stop!
We traveled the stretch at dusk and photographed a few displays. Nothing really big and flashy … just enough to warm the heart. This one is just south of Holden:
Next to that, lights are shining on DutchBoy Coffee:
Let us know where you’re seeing lights – we hope to feature some nightly through Christmas – e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com (photo if you have one, if not, just let us know where to look and we’ll go get one ourselves).
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