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West Seattle Grand Parade tomorrow: The route & road closures
July 17, 2009 12:07 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news


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That’s our very simple Google Map showing (top) where the American Legion-presented West Seattle Grand Parade starts tomorrow at 11, (center) where the Rotary Club-presented West Seattle Kiddies’ Parade starts tomorrow at 10:30, and finally, where both end (California/Edmunds). Note that the streets (which are already posted for “no parking”) close around 9 am, according to police – and there are restrictions on a few side streets too, particularly 44th near the start and end of the route, and Lander on both sides of the route because of staging (as we showed last year, which was our first time ever walking in the parade – we’ll be doing that again tomorrow, in celebration of West Seattle volunteers, and some of the newly announced West Seattle Volunteer Recognition honorees have promised to join us) – here’s a staging photo from last year:

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Also in the parade tomorrow, almost 80 entries, including three marching bands (Seattle All-City Band, led by Denny Middle School music director Marcus Pimpleton; Kennedy High School; Sumner High School), two motorcycle drill teams (Seattle PD and Vancouver, B.C., PD), more than a dozen drill teams and cheer squads, plus four good old-fashioned floats (including West Seattle Hi-Yu), and as we reported Tuesday morning, JP Patches is back! Other parade favorites on the list include Art and Gloria, “still married” (2008 photo):

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If you want to get a taste of the past few years’ parades, here’s our archived coverage, newest to oldest.

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West Seattle Grand Parade: JP Patches, another “clown,” more
July 14, 2009 9:21 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

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American Legion Post 160 has finished the lineup for the West Seattle Grand Parade this Saturday – and “Patches Pals” will be pleased to hear that the legendary JP Patches is back! He’s been fighting cancer and wasn’t in the parade last year (our photo above is from 2007), but the lineup says he’ll be riding with Bill and Cynthia Reid again this Saturday just like old times. Speaking of clowns, the Seattle Seafair Clowns announced they’ll have a special guest:

That’s West Seattle’s own Jim Dever from Evening Magazine, clowning around, upside down, in a behind-the-scenes video he posted to his Twitter feed (@jimdever) – Calling Jim “a clown in his own right,” the Seafair Clowns’ news release also notes, “Although not substantiated, Dever claims to be an accomplished concert cellist, foot model and president of the National Association of Male Contortionists.” The Seafair Clowns themselves also have a brand-new vehicle – thanks to West Seattle-residing “Officer Lumpy” for sharing the news (and this link to a look at the vehicle). As for OTHER officers in the West Seattle Grand Parade — with almost 80 entries in all this year, as always, they start with not one but TWO motorcycle drill teams – the Vancouver, B.C. Police right after Seattle’s finest:

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As we reported here a month ago, the parade’s Grand Marshal is designer/artist Blayne, known both for his “Project Runway” season and for his work at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor). The parade starts at California/Lander (by Lafayette Elementary) at 11 am Saturday and continues south on California to the end of the main Junction business district, so stake out your spot anywhere along the way. And all kids are invited to be in the Rotary Club of West Seattle-presented Kiddies’ Parade, which starts at 10:30 from California/Genesee (shorter route and plenty of time to get back to your spot to see the “other” parade!).

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Invitation to join the Rotary Club of West Seattle Kiddies’ Parade
June 3, 2009 12:01 pm
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 |   Fun stuff to do | Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

That’s WSB video from last year’s West Seattle Kiddies’ Parade, presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle right before the American Legion Grand Parade down California SW. Hard to believe it’s a little more than six weeks till parade day (Saturday, July 18) – but the Rotary has just sent its official invitation to local families to plan to be in the Kiddies’ Parade. It travels a shorter segment of the parade route, starting at Genesee/California [map]; full details, including who to call or e-mail with questions, are on this flyer.

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West Seattle Grand Parade report #6: The winners
July 20, 2008 7:17 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

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From the other side of the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run – and a few miles’ drive beyond that – came the winners of both the Float and Overall categories in Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade, the Port Orchard Fathoms O’ Fun float (check out the royalty’s dance moves). Our parade coverage continues (previous installments are archived here) with the full list of winners, and more photos, just ahead:Read More

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West Seattle Grand Parade report #5: The pets
July 20, 2008 5:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

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Thanks to Meredith K. Hailey for sharing her West Seattle Grand Parade photos, including that great close-up of one of the dogs that accompanied the Luna Park Cafe contingent (who won second place in the Commercial category) toward the end of the parade. No cats in the parade, but the next best thing — video of Furry Faces Foundation promoting its fall “Catsino” fundraiser:

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A few more pet sightings from the parade – including the inanimate kind – just ahead:Read More

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Parade report #4: Kids, and the people who help them
July 19, 2008 8:05 pm
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 |   How to help | West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle video

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The kids in that video clip were among the participants in the Kiddies’ Parade presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle right before the Grand Parade — it’s open to all who show up, on a shorter route. There also were many young participants in the bigger parade, as well as entries promoting events coming up to help local kids:

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On the hood of the Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) VW Bug, you’ll see a logo for Pencil Me In For Kids — the pink sign on the car’s sign was a reminder about a car wash tomorrow, 10 am-2 pm at the West Seattle Eagles parking lot, with Illusions staffers scrubbing vehicles to raise money for PMIFK, which buys school supplies for kids in need. And a week from tomorrow, it’s the annual WestSide Baby “Stuff the Bus” diaper drive:

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WestSide Baby‘s Nancy Woodland broke the news to WSB during Summer Fest last weekend, right after First Student offered her organization space on that bus (which took second place in the Community Floats category!) to promote “Stuff the Bus” during the parade (right after the WestSide Baby marching unit) as well as a bus for the diaper collection on July 27. All you have to do is show up at the bus that day – it’ll be parked right next to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on 44th south of Alaska – with one or more packages of disposable diapers, to help “Stuff the Bus.” Meantime – yet more parade coverage later tonight!

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Parade report #3: The citywide parade stars, in West Seattle
July 19, 2008 4:49 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news | West Seattle video

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From sword-scraping to cannon-lighting (and firing), that clip captures the essence of a Seafair Pirates parade appearance – the West Seattle Grand Parade is part of a busy summer slate of parade appearances for these swashbucklers. Here’s a snapshot of that cannon-lighting moment (look close and you’ll even see the blue lighter):

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After the jump, video of another multi-parade attraction, the Seattle Schools All-City Band — led by Denny Middle School music director Marcus Pimpleton — and a few other biggies, including a visiting group you DON’T see in most other local parades, the Vancouver (B.C.) Police motorcycle drill team:Read More

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Parade report #2: Before it all begins
July 19, 2008 4:41 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

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So before the parade gets to you – whether you’ve set up a creative seating area like those folks we snapped as we walked down the parade route, or whether you’re just standing at curbside – there’s months of behind-the-scenes work, and hours of same-day setup. Participating in the West Seattle Grand Parade for the first time, we got a closer look at some of that setup – and what it’s like to be in the staging area before the fun begins.

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That was the pre-parade view westward down Lander, where we were staged on the south side of Lafayette Elementary School with other “community” entries. Same street, other side of California, is where some major marching entries queued up:

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The flag-twirlers are from the Calgary Roundup Band, which won first place in the Bands category (and would have won “came from farthest away” if that category existed!). More preparade scenes ahead:Read More

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Parade report #1: Art and Gloria, “still married”!
July 19, 2008 2:56 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle people

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Back from The Parade. We’ll be presenting coverage in various chunks – photos and video, and with two perspectives – covering it from the sidelines, and participating in it. From the latter viewpoint, we were fascinated to see how everything happens “behind the scenes” BEFORE the parade. Participants are staged in several groups radiating like sun rays from the intersection where it all begins (California/Lander); one of the entries near ours was the couple you see above, Navy veterans Art and Gloria Peters — since we have mentioned them in our parade coverage the past few years, we had to go up and say hello. Art and Gloria have been married 61 years; as the sign on their truck noted, Art’s now 82 and served in WWII and Korea. They live in White Center — “same house, 53 years, it’s all paid for now,” Art notes — and spend some of their time visiting schools to offer history lessons. They’ve been in the parade “four? five years now?” Gloria believes, and participate in other parades too (like the 4th of July parade two weeks ago in Burien) – here’s our video of them from today’s parade, an hour or so after our chat:

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While we were talking with Art and Gloria, one of the Seafair volunteers who help American Legion Post 160 coordinate things on Parade Day came up, gave them a hug, and said it’s good to see them again this year because it reminds her we’re all living longer these days. That occurred to us, too. Many more parade vignettes and pix to come.

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West Seattle Grand Parade today! Here are the basics
July 19, 2008 8:07 am
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 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle Grand Parade

THE ROUTE: At 10:30 am, from the purple marker to the lower green marker, the Kiddies’ Parade travels southbound from California/Genesee to California/Edmunds. At 11 am, between the two green markers, the Grand Parade travels southbound from California/Lander to California/Edmunds:


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WHAT YOU’LL SEE: More than 70 entries, including floats, marching bands, clowns, the Seafair Pirates (who are in a class of their own) – and at the start of the parade, two motorcycle drill teams that perform a block or two at a time, Seattle Police followed by Vancouver (B.C.) Police. Very different styles, and at the end of the parade route, the Seattle officers usually come over to the sidelines to watch their Canadian counterparts.

HOW LONG IT’LL LAST: Lots of variables. Count on about two hours. The traffic restrictions could be in place till about 3 pm at the latest.

WHO PUTS THIS ON: American Legion Post 160 in The Junction presents the Grand Parade. While it is a major highlight of the peak time of the West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival, and Hi-Yu has a unit (float, royalty, volunteers) in the parade, it is not officially presented BY Hi-Yu. The Kiddies’ Parade is presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle.

IF YOU’RE READING THIS BEFORE 10 AM, TWO WAYS TO BE PART OF IT: All kids are welcome in the Kiddies’ Parade; sign up starting at 9:45, California/Genesee (purple marker on the map above). Everyone who’s ever done volunteer work is welcome to join the West Seattle Volunteers Grand Parade Marching Unit (walking the route between a Mini-Cooper), gathering at 10 am at California/Lander (top green marker on the map; more info – and freebie incentive! – here), call 206/293-6302 if you can’t find us.

NEWS DURING THE PARADE: We’ll be setting up an entry atop the WSB home page with the capability for short updates via Twitter, as we did on the 4th of July, so that we can keep you up to date even while we’re covering the parade inside and out.

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West Seattle Grand Parade countdown: Photos from the past
July 18, 2008 9:11 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle history

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Thanks to Gina Terrana for sending those undated photos of West Seattle Grand Parade scenes in years gone by, taken by her grandmother, Alice Webb. Unless you’re very new to West Seattle, it’s fairly easy to tell where they were taken (though the signage certainly has changed):

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Gina explains that her grandmother was active with Eastern Star, so most of the photos involved Masonic parade entries:

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Gina tells us a little bit more about her grandmother, who died in 1986:

Alice Webb was also the wife of Arthur J. Webb. and the mother of Arthur C. Webb; both owned construction companies that did quite a bit of building in West Seattle. A.C. was the builder behind Fauntlee Hills. A.J. built the brick duplex next to the P.C.C., that was his basic construction style. Both styles of construction look the same to me, but my mother was always able to tell, “my father built that. my brother built this.” Grandma Webb thought that they had built everything, everywhere by the time I knew her.

Now go make your own history and check out the parade tomorrow – watch it from anywhere along the route (map in this post last night) OR if you’ve got some volunteering in your past/present (who doesn’t?) you can join the fun little group that West Seattle community volunteer/organizer extraordinaire Cindi Barker is rounding up, with support from WSB (your editor here will walk with the group, and Junior Member of the Team will be handing out candy on the sidelines – no throwing candy, we’ve been warned, but handing it out is OK). We’re scheduled to be about a third of the way down the lineup of 70-plus entries. The Rotary Club of West Seattle presents the Kiddies’ Parade (all participants welcome) at 10:30 am (sign in @ California/Genesee starting at 9:45 am), American Legion Post 160 presents the Grand Parade immediately afterward, starting at California/Lander.

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West Seattle Grand Parade countdown: Traffic alerts
July 18, 2008 8:14 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

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Though the West Seattle Grand Parade (and the Kiddies’ Parade preceding it) follows a straight line down California (see the map in this post from last night), other streets are affected, as you may have discovered if you came home to signs tonight (if not sooner). We asked one of the lead parade organizers, Jim Edwards – who along with others put in ENDLESS volunteer hours to make this happen – for a general outline of what you need to know tomorrow, from early morning through mid-afternoon – note this is an anecdotal sort of description but hopefully helpful:

Edmunds is open across California, I believe, but Southbound California is still closed to Dawson St East approach.

Northbound California (from south of The Junction) is open to Edmunds, but limited to the curb lane.

Oregon and Alaska will have emergency vehicle access. a soft enforcement of the crosswalks essentially.

44th Ave will be cleared to allow a north south detour between the Junction and Stevens, then it is diverted down to 45th through to Admiral Way

Assembly will close:

44th from Stevens to Lander

Lander from 45th to 41st

42nd from Admiral to Lander will be local access only (Safeway)

41st will be cleared to permit a Metro bypass between Admiral and Kander

Stevens from 44th to California will be local access only (PCC/McDonald’s)

The three blocks between Admiral and Hanford on California are closed first thing in the morning.

If you try to drive through you put in danger the many volunteers who bring this parade to you each year.

and dozens, ….. DOZENS of cars do this every year.

If you must get to Safeway to do your morning shopping…. Follow the detours down to Admiral Way starting at Hanford, (44th and 45th) then up Admiral to 42nd to get to Safeway.

It is well posted. but every year people drive by all these signs, claiming they have to get to Safeway.

We designed this assembly area to keep Admiral Way open throughout the parade, and to keep access to the major businesses open throughout the parade.

Jim also believes Metro will start diverting around 7 am, based on what they’ve done in years gone by. More parade countdown coverage a bit later tonight – including some photos from the past – fun to see what the businesses looked like, as well as parade spectators/participants. And note that everything will be open again by tomorrow night, when Saturday night Movies on the Wall begin in the courtyard next to Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) – bring a nonperishable food donation for West Seattle Food Bank – come enjoy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” starting around dusk (stake out your spot sooner); concessions are offered by West Seattle Christian Church (WSB sponsor), with proceeds also benefiting WSFB.

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West Seattle Grand Parade countdown: Less than 36 hours away!
July 17, 2008 11:36 pm
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 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival

If this is your second or third summer as a WSB’er, you know we are huge fans of the West Seattle Grand Parade, presented during the Hi-Yu Festival by American Legion Post 160 (many call it the Hi-Yu Parade but it’s been pointed out that while Hi-Yu participates, the festival does not PRESENT it, the Post does). We’re now just a day and a half away and thought we’d put together some parade notes of interest. First, the route – California and Lander (Admiral District) to California/Edmunds (The Junction); the purple marker denotes the start of the Kiddies’ Parade at California/Genesee (which also continues to Edmunds):


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The Kiddies’ Parade is presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle (all kids welcome to participate; here’s the flyer with details) and starts at 10:30 am – here’s one entry from last year:

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The Grand Parade follows immediately after the Kiddies’ Parade. Next, if you missed it the first time around, here’s the list of parade highlights, as announced by parade organizers (and we’ve just learned of some late additions, including a Charlestown Cafe entry!). Among the many star attractions: If you thought the Seafair Pirates were a blast on the beach, wait till you hear their cannon fire echo down California Ave!

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That’s just one of the photos we published last year. You’ll find the rest in this 2007 post and the links with which it ends – pointing you to all installments of our parade coverage from last summer. This year’s parade has about 70 entries (including the one we’re helping coordinate; you’re invited to be part of it) – and even if you aren’t so sure you’re “the parade type,” it’s another occasion for West Side Pride, since this is the oldest community parade in Seattle. Tomorrow, the countdown continues (as do the previews of other weekend excitement, including the first “Movies on the Wall” showing on Saturday night — “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”).

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Scenes from Hi-Yu Parade Day ’07: Final installment
July 22, 2007 12:41 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival

Hi-Yu festivities aren’t over yet. The community brunch just wrapped up; the coronation of the next Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu is tomorrow night. But this is the last of our parade reports — a few loose ends, including the list of award winners, a few more pix, and links to other parade-photo galleries out there in WSB-land, after the jump:Read More

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Scenes from Hi-Yu Parade Day ’07, 5th installment: The people
July 21, 2007 11:59 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle people

While we sit back in our fold-up chairs and enjoy the parade, we can’t forget how many people it takes to make it happen — not just the hundreds of participants, but the others behind the scenes. Kudos to the Hi-Yu and American Legion folks, among a legion of others. Now, another group of photos — focusing on people. We start with the Hi-Yu royalty and other Hi-Yu folks (red shirts), who held court on the SW corner of Cali/Alaska (the camera crew you see behind/above them involved Art Institute students who have been shooting video at Hi-Yu events as a project):

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Click ahead for more parade people, from the famous to the oughta-be-famous:Read More

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Scenes from Hi-Yu Parade Day ’07, 4th installment: The wheels
July 21, 2007 11:07 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival

Cars, trucks, floats, you name it — if it had wheels, you probably saw it in the West Seattle Grand Parade. Including boats with wheels, like the Seafair Pirates‘ fabled Moby Duck:

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More parade wheels — human-powered, gas-powered, even 100% electric-powered (or so it said), after the click:Read More

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Scenes from Hi-Yu Parade Day ’07, 3rd installment: The enforcers
July 21, 2007 10:16 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival

As always, the West Seattle Hi-Yu American Legion Grand Parade began with two very different police-motorcycle drill teams: Seattle Police and Vancouver (B.C.) Police. Our favorite sight is this one, where the SPD officers stand at Cali/Alaska after their performance so they can watch their VPD counterparts:

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To see the officers actually on their motorcycles — click ahead:Read More

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Scenes from Hi-Yu Parade Day ’07, 1st installment
July 21, 2007 2:10 pm
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 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival

Many more to come later. But for now, four photos, starting with deep-fried disappointment: The Spud Fish & Chips mascot did not show off The Calves (quoth one WSB Team Member, “at this rate, next time the mascot will be in a burqa”):

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We did spot a letter carrier in shorts before the parade, but we were not photographing him for his legs, but rather, his scarf in honor of Literary Phenomenon Du Jour:

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Here’s the parade-watcher with the best seat in over the house:

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Finally (many more pix later), WTG to the Hi-Yu folks who urged the crowd in The Junction to do a “no rain” chant before the parade. Except for a one-minute spray of light mist — it worked. Later tonight, we hear, it could be a different story, so we hope we won’t have occasion to see this parade entry back in WS for something less festive:

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Links to our other parade photo posts:
Second installment (The Kids)
Third installment (The Enforcers)
Fourth installment (The Wheels)
Fifth installment (The People)
Sixth/final installment (The Winners)

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Complete notes from The Parade
July 22, 2006 11:44 pm
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 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle Grand Parade

Maybe next year we’ll live-blog it (or live-vlog it?) just for fun. Sadly, we’re not wireless-Internet-enabled just yet. Here are the highlights from our analog notes:

Read More

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The coolest two people at The Parade
July 22, 2006 7:40 pm
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 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle Grand Parade

Not going to get to the Mega-Post till the dead o’night. So here’s one more thing:

A lovely senior-citizen couple in their military uniforms, with a banner on their car, “ART AND GLORIA/WWII AND KOREA/STILL MARRIED!” and a smaller banner, “ART’S 80 TODAY!”

Don’t know their backstory but they got lots of applause. And deserved it.

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First 5 parade highlights
July 22, 2006 1:04 pm
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 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle Grand Parade

More to come later … gotta head back out to the next Big Summer Thing to Do …in no particular order, here are five of the things we noticed:

-Fine parade, as always. Ran almost exactly two hours, at least from our vantage point near the heart of The Junction (first sighting of the Seattle motorcycles up the street @ 11:19, last vehicle passing with the “Th-Th-That’s All Folks, See You Next Year” banner — new, and a nice touch, for the folks who are never quite sure “is this the end” — around 1:15).

-A little odd that the Rainbow City Band was followed immediately by a Scouts group. Perhaps in the spirit of “can’t we all just get along”?

-Also WRT placement, the giant Henry Weinhard’s beer bottle would have been a particularly special touch if it had immediately preceded the Seafair Pirates.

-The Pirates handed out souvenir silver coins advertising “Iron Horse Casino, Auburn and Everett” on the back. Just made sense somehow.

-The Vancouver Police motorcycle team TOTALLY ROCKED as usual. I would love to know how parade organizers manage to get them to come to the WS parade year after year when as far as I can tell, they don’t appear in any other area parade. It was quite fun to watch the Seattle PD motorcycle team members, who performed right before Vancouver, standing on the sidelines applauding, high-fiving, and exchanging salutes with their compatriots from the north.

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Countdown concludes: Reason #1 to love The Parade
July 22, 2006 8:00 am
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 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle Grand Parade

YOUR FELLOW WEST SEATTLEITES!!!!

OK, this will sound treacly, but it’s true. The parade is all about people: The folks who volunteer their time to plan and stage it; the folks who participate in it (you’ll even get a chance to cheer for our local legislators if you are so inclined); and the folks on the sidelines. Every year we meet somebody interesting; you never know who’s going to wind up in the chairs (or on the blanket next to yours).

So here it is parade time — starting at California & Lander, on the south side of Lafayette Elementary, and rolling all the way down to California & Edmunds on the south side of the Junction, with a “kids’ parade” a little while before the big show. Things will probably be hopping till 1 pm or so; after that, you’ll probably see participants all around WS — usually the Last Resort antique fire trucks turn up down along Beach Drive, and the Seafair Pirates are seen wandering around in search of a tavern (things haven’t been the same since the Admiral Benbow shut down). Check it out; have a blast.

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Countdown continues: RTLTP #2 (and an unrelated vent)
July 21, 2006 6:05 pm
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 |   Transportation | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle Grand Parade

PIRATES! In a double dose … the Seafair Pirates and the Caribbean Pirates (no relation to Cap’n Jack & company), both in tomorrow’s parade. Viewing tip: The east side of the street starts in shade. Just save us a spot over near Petco.

**unrelated vent**

Unrelated but I gotta say it … ONE HOUR to get through downtown en route home tonight, before I could get onto the Viaduct. ONE HOUR IN 96-DEGREE AIR, NO AIR CONDITIONING IN THE MODEST WSB-MOBILE. Once I finally got onto the Elevated Freeway of Doom and past the Mariners backup in the left lane, it didn’t even take 10 minutes to get home. I’m sure somebody out there went through something similar, so I’m mentioning it here for virtual commiseration. MY, the air coming off the bay felt great … once the jammed traffic was past …

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