West Seattle, Washington
01 Friday
After 2 years in business at 2329 California SW, it appears the restaurant/bar Porterhouse is closed. Over the past week-plus, several WSB’ers e-mailed to say they had been told by restaurant staff that Porterhouse would shut down its West Seattle restaurant/pub after Saturday night, but management/ownership did not confirm this when we asked. However, all signs point to the closure having indeed happened. For one, it was dark on Sunday during what would have been operating hours (no note on the door when we went by, though); for two, its West Seattle website at westcoastales.com switched Saturday night to an error page; for three, its West Seattle Facebook page no longer exists. No one answered the phone Sunday during what would have been prime dinnertime.
Porterhouse opened in August 2009, eleven months after Blackbird Bistro closed in that same space. Last July, it closed briefly for an “extreme makeover” and reopened with a new menu focused on burgers. The original Porterhouse in the Skagit County town of Mount Vernon appears to still be open. As for the West Seattle space’s fate – looks like it’s up for sale. (Addendum: Confirmed later Monday, when a “BUSINESS FOR SALE” sign went up in the window.)
The screengrab at right from the city’s police-call map tells the tale: The spray-paint can is the city map’s icon for property-damage reports; the map is not real-time, so the icons represent mostly incidents reported last night or this morning. Though details on those reports aren’t available, so we don’t know details of the “property damage,” the icon locations correspond with what we’ve heard anecdotally through a variety of channels – a spate of vandalism incidents against cars. First word we had was this morning, when a WSB’er who asked to be anonymous reported, “This morning coming back from coffee at 6 am i noticed a truck with its street side window broken out. The truck was on SW Hill St between 42 and 44th streets. And a few minutes ago I found half a blue rubber glove hanging on a trailer lock handle and a fresh thumb print in the dirt on the trailer door lock. This happened near Hill St and Sunset.” We got two other reports as well – read on:Read More
EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks so much to Fauntleroy Creek volunteer Dennis Hinton for sharing earlier updates as well as this wrap-up on the annual coho watch at the creek, restored a decade ago. Since no fish returned last year, this year’s returns were cause for celebration.
By Dennis Hinton
Special to West Seattle Blog
The first three coho spawners to come into Fauntleroy Creek this year were spotted by volunteer Jack Lawless and friends on Saturday morning, Nov. 19.
The last two spawners were seen by watcher Anne Samenfink on Saturday morning, Nov. 26. They were the first fish that Anne has seen in 10 years of watching.
All told, eight creek volunteers spotted 14 coho during the season, compared to zero last year.
Watchers also noted:
*Three spawning pairs (location of their redds marked)
*Three coho carcasses (examined by volunteer biologist Steev Ward)
*20 Alki Cooperative Preschool kids, plus chaperones, seeing two spawners on their Nov. 21 field trip.
*About 100 people checking out spawning activity from the fish-ladder viewpoint (SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way SW, across from the ferry terminal). Note: The viewpoint is a treat to visit anytime but is especially interesting during spawning season (Halloween to Thanksgiving).
Local volunteers joined the county-wide Salmon Watch program in 2000. Since then, watchers have tallied 479 spawners (chart after the jump):Read More
Did you take advantage of the dry, clear day to put up lights? A LOT of lights? The Burns Family at 3216 SW 114th has 20,000 lights up and invites you to come have a look – they shared the photo along with that invitation. “We have been decorating our home for about 20 years starting with a few strings of lights in 1991,” they explain. Here’s a map to the area; the lights are on 5-10 pm nightly through New Year’s Eve. If *you* have a whole lot of lights – or know someone/someplace that does – we’d love to feature them again this year, and will add them to the “Christmas Lights” section on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events and Info page too; e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com (photo not mandatory, we can come take one if need be!).
Another holiday scene to share in addition to all the others we’ve photographed/reported on this weekend:
This weekend, CAPERS in The Junction not only had its annual Holiday Open House, the shop also played host, as promised, to the popular Santa Claus who used to have Westwood at the top of his list, so to speak. He was there for “DIY photos” – you bring your camera – the past two afternoons; above, he posed today with Frances and Teagan. He’ll be back at CAPERS 3-7 pm next Friday and 1-5 pm next Saturday and Sunday (next Sunday, December 11th, is a huge day for CAPERS because they’re also hosting Caspar Babypants at 11 am!). And he’s planning a Holy Rosary visit 9 am-noon next Saturday (December 10th). Of course, Santa is everywhere; the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays charity-fundraiser Santa photos were a hit today too, with quite the line when we visited for our first pic.
Till 7 pm, First Lutheran Church of West Seattle‘s basement is aglow in white Christmas lights and good cheer for a combination gift-basket silent auction and wine-tasting event, the 3rd annual St. Nicholas Faire. There’s an admission charge, with funds raised benefiting West Seattle Helpline and West Seattle Food Bank. (We found board members from the former – the church’s pastor Rev. Ron Marshall – and the latter – Pete Spalding – on hand.) The 110-plus gift baskets were put together by Larraine King, who organized the event, with a bit of help:
The baskets have themes from cookies to toys to cuisine and beyond, even this beach “basket”:
The wine is courtesy of Rev. Marshall’s winemaking brother Rich Marshall of award-winning Maryhill Winery:
If you missed this and this weekend’s other bazaars/fairs, and giving opportunities, no worries – more next weekend – keep an eye on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events and Info page!
The house that’s home to West Seattle history, the Log House Museum, is a lot more Christmasy tonight after a volunteer decorating party this afternoon. When we stopped by, volunteer Pete was helping with the lights outside:
Inside, the gift shop – which is now on the museum’s first floor, instead of in the annex out back – is having a holiday sale. And we talked with museum/Southwest Seattle Historical Society leaders about perhaps the biggest project ahead in the New Year, restoration and upright display of the totem pole that’s been stored at the museum:
That’s the one that used to be at the Admiral Way Viewpoint. Artech, which restored the Rotary Viewpoint Park totem pole after its theft and return two years ago, will do the work on this one too. Funding will come in large part from a grant made by the National Society of Colonial Dames of the State of Washington. (added) WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli photographed it in 2004, while it was still in its old spot:
You can stop by the Log House Museum at 61st/Stevens any Thursday-Sunday, noon-4 pm, to see the exhibits and find out more about everything new they’re doing with everything old!
While Santa Claus got ready to see his next visitor, volunteer Lauren from WestSide Baby offered a bright-as-Christmas-tree-lights smile. WS Baby is one of the local charities benefiting from the $15 donation for West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Santa photos happening till 3 pm (and again 11 am-3 pm next Sunday, December 11th) at photographer Donna Ryan‘s City Mouse Studio and Store (4218 SW Alaska). Also stop by the H-Holidays booth at California/Alaska for extra holiday cheer – and enter the Junction’s $3,500 Holiday Raffle while you’re going from shop to shop (here’s the list of participants – look for a wrapped entry box like the one in this story).
ADDED MONDAY: The Junction reports $1,500 was raised for local nonprofits with Sunday’s Santa photos!
Many storefronts are already festively lit and decorated in the Admiral District, and more will be by tonight – including wreaths going up on some of the business-district light fixtures, like this spot outside Alki Bike and Board (whose proprietor Stu Hennessey is in our photo, with Dave Weitzel from Weitzel Construction). The “work party” was already planned before today’s forecast took a turn for the sunny! Also helping decorate – Max and Quinn, as in the Atomic Boys‘ original namesakes (sons of store owners Parris and Kent Sadow):
Among the holiday fun coming up in the Admiral District, Dinah Brein at the historic Admiral Theater says she’s finalized the date for the free Christmas movie, 7 pm December 20th. She’s still finalizing the movie; once again this year, she asked us to ask you for ideas – see the suggestions here.
If you’re out in public with the art you put your heart and soul into, it helps to have a cheering section nearby. If our photo’s angle were a bit wider, you would see Rose Jarvey‘s mom off to the left. Rose is one of the artists showing and selling their wares at WSB sponsor C & P Coffee‘s Holiday Arts/Crafts Fair right now, till 2 pm (5612 California SW). It’s all about family over in the other corner of C & P’s front room:
That’s micro-photographer extraordinaire Machel Spence (who has shared work here on WSB many a time) and daughter India – while mom’s known for photographing tiny marvels, India created these:
Feet away, Barbara Noonan was using coffee and croissant as a still-life inspiration for another chalk creation:
She was C & P’s featured West Seattle Art Walk artist last month. Others we saw at today’s fair include Ebrima Jatta with Africa-inspired crafts, painter Sheila Lengle, and Jewelry by Brett Today’s other bazaars/fairs/events are listed on our ‘West Seattle Sunday‘ preview, here.
(Seacrest Boathouse file photo, by Christopher Boffoli)
Our partners at the Seattle Times report today that the city Parks Department has chosen a new (not-yet-identified) operator for Seacrest Boathouse. The owners of Alki Crab and Fish have been the official operators for a decade, the length of the city contract that expired last June; this past fall, the city put out a Request for Proposals for operating the food/drink concession at the boathouse/pier (see the RFP here, including the city’s terms and conditions).
A document on the city website includes Q/A with the city in response to an unidentified “interested proposer” (see it here). As that document notes, Alki Kayak Tours is a subcontractor to the restaurant operator. We asked its proprietor Greg Whittaker, who has offered tours as well as rentals (not just kayaks, but skates, bikes, and standup paddleboards, among other things) for 7 years, how this would affect his operation. His reply: “I am not really sure how this all will turn out. We have worked really hard to develop this business and hope to negotiate a solution with Seattle Parks and Recreation.” Alki Crab and Fish’s owner told the Times he plans to send the city a protest letter.
The reported plan to turn Seacrest over to a new operator requires City Council approval, with a vote expected early next year. We’ll be following up with Parks tomorrow.
Fresh this morning – a micro-scene at Lincoln Park, courtesy of photographer Machel Spence, who’ll be at the C & P Coffee Company holiday arts/crafts fair today – part of another busy list of possibilities! From the WSB West Seattle Holidays and Events calendars:
C & P HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR: Meet the artists and shop at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 9 am-2 pm (5612 California SW).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska. Today you’ll also find a booth with Waste Management promoting and answering questions about its recycling challenge – with its neighborhoods around the city (including West Seattle) competing over the next few months to win a $50,000 neighborhood-improvement grant, depending on which one has the biggest reduction in waste.
WEST SEATTLE ARTISTS’ STUDIO TOUR: Final day, wide variety of West Seattle artists featured at local artist studios during the Seattle Sampling Artists Studio Tour: Visit Penguina Designs Studio (penguinadesigns.com), Brace Point Pottery (bracepointpottery.com), Ken Turner Pottery Studio (kenturnerpottery.com) or Marilyn Moore Studio all without leaving West Seattle! Multiple artists are featured at each studio; full details at seattlesampling.com. 10 am-5 pm.
BRUNCH, ANYONE? While you’re out shopping … WSB sponsor Fresh Bistro serves brunch 10 am-3 pm; see the menu here.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS: SANTA PHOTOS! Santa Photos in The Junction! 11 am to 3 pm at City Mouse Studio and Store, with photographer Donna Ryan; suggested donation of $15 or more goes to help West Seattle charities.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS HEADQUARTERS: 11 am-4 pm, in front of KeyBank at California/Alaska, it’s Hometown Holidays Headquarters for information on festivities, shopping, the Holiday Raffle and in-store events. Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) info here. (P.S. In case you are wondering, the mule-drawn carriage rides are the NEXT TWO Sundays, NOT today.)
DECK THE MUSEUM WITH BOUGHS … (etc.): You’re invited to join in decorating the Log House Museum and potluck lunch 12-2 pm. Help get the Log House Museum ready for the holidays! Join us to string lights and decorate the tree. Also bring a side dish or small dessert for a Potluck Lunch with staff, board and volunteers! And, if you have some, we need extra lights for outside and thumb tacks, small nails, or a staple gun to hang them. So come on over; it’s always fun to share work and food! 3003 61st SW.
HOLIDAY ART, ENERGY, AND HEALING: Greet old friends, make new ones, and shop for unique, uplifting gifts at Alki Arts, 1:00-4:00 p.m. Stone readings, crystals, Peruvian rattles, crystal/flower essences, animal totem pendulums, smudge kits, art, books, and more! Rose De Dan of Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing, Robyn Fritz of Alchemy West, and Vicki Draper of Vi Miere will be there to answer your questions about energy healing for people and animals as well as assist you in finding the right energetic gift for yourself, family, or friends
CAPERS’ OPEN HOUSE AND “DIY SANTA”: CAPERS holiday open house continues 11-5; meet Mary Conzatti of M. Frances Jewelry (noon-4 pm), and take your own photos with Santa, 1-5 pm.
DREAM HOMES TOUR: Multi-agency Open House tour of 11 West Seattle “dream homes,” 1-4 pm. From the announcement: “Our intention has been to generate an energy within our community through agency solidarity, as well as to show what the housing market coupled with the current interest rates can buy. We love West Seattle and want to do whatever we can to help it thrive in this economically challenging time. There are some amazing opportunities available for first time home buyers all the way up to those ready to move up!” Here’s the list of homes.
SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS: Dreading the holidays because of the death of a loved one? Grace Church will host a “Surviving the Holidays” one time seminar, 2 pm, 10323 28th SW. Everyone is welcome. Contact Barb at 206-932-7459.
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE,’ RADIO STYLE: 3 pm matinee for Twelfth Night Productions‘ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show,” at Kenyon Hall. Based on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, playwright Joe Landry’s take on “It’s a Wonderful Life” comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast at historic Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th SW. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and at Kenyon Hall, $15/adults, $12 students & seniors.
‘EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY’: Also continuing today, ArtsWest presents the Seattle premiere of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez. 3 pm; ticket info here.
EVENING SHOPPING: 3rd annual St. Nicholas Faire, a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank and the West Seattle Helpline, at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, 4105 California SW, 4 pm to 7 pm. Cost is $5 per person, $15 per family (with at least one can of food per person) or $10 per person, $25 per family (when there are no donations). Come and buy gift baskets and baked goods for people on your holiday shopping lists. Also enjoy wine tasting, a wine toss and tasty treats and drinks!
(Click to see larger image)
From photographer Danny McMillin – a seasonal sighting:
Brant geese feeding on eelgrass near Constellation Park on Alki (today) This is my first sighting of Brant this fall/winter. They’ve migrated from their summer breeding grounds in Alaska and the high Arctic of Canada. Man, that’s a long way to fly!
Danny frequently contributes to the WSB Flickr group and we’ve been fortunate to be able to showcase some of his photos here on the site. You can see more of his work in a photography display that’s about to open at Shanti Salon and Spa (WSB sponsor), “A Sampling of Birds II,” opening next Wednesday and continuing all month. Danny will be at Shanti on West Seattle Art Walk night next Thursday (December 8), 6-9 pm (2138 California SW).
UPDATE, 5:40 PM: The official West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Christmas Tree is lit, after another festive ceremony that saw hundreds packed into Junction Plaza Park, with holiday music from the Endolyne Children’s Choir and the Starlight All-Stars band, emceed by Marty Riemer from The Mountain. The post-lighting music has just wrapped up.
ADDED 6:18 PM: Our video clip shows the countdown and the tree-lighting – the actual counting was done onstage by the West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court (Queen Thea, Princess Amanda, Princess Elena) with Marty. Here are the first two songs by the Endolyne Children’s Choir:
The Endolyne singers perform at Chief Sealth International High School this Tuesday night, with the West Seattle Community Orchestras – concert details here. Here’s the Starlight All-Stars later:
Before the lighting ceremony in the park, the West Seattle High School Band played Christmas music in the heart of The Junction:
It’s all part of the Hometown Holidays celebration (co-sponsored by WSB), which continues tomorrow with Santa photos 11 am-3 pm at City Mouse Studio and Store (4218 SW Alaska), $15 donation goes to local nonprofits including WestSide Baby, whose executive director Nancy Woodland spoke tonight. Other speakers: West Seattle Junction Association president Todd Carden of Elliott Bay Brewing, with a quip about the official tree:
West Seattle Christian Church‘s Pastor Dan Jacobs spoke too, about the spirit of the season.
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ORIGINAL REPORT (4:56 PM): A crowd has gathered at Junction Plaza Park and musical warmups are under way … c’mon down!
We’re now out on the bazaar beat. As previewed in our “West Seattle Saturday” lineup this morning, there’s an abundance of places to check out arts and crafts today, in addition to shopping at our area’s fine stores. Till 3 pm, there’s the annual holiday bazaar at Schmitz Park Elementary:
On the east side of the cafeteria, don’t miss the students whose crafts are raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank. (Post-bazaar update – We’re told they raised almost $100 for the food bank!) In other sections of the bazaar, you’ll find other student vendors (as well as adults):
Jack Bennett and Ben Godwin (in the aviator’s cap), both Schmitz Park first-graders, are selling airplanes and comics. Nearby, fourth-grader Blake is selling handmade duct-tape wallets:
Lots to check out at 5000 SW Spokane till 3.
On to Freshy’s Coffee in the Admiral District, where there are a few vendors outside and more inside:
In the foreground is the work of Starheadboy (who told us he also has a display up at Red Cup Espresso through this month). Inside – perfect for today’s weather – you’ll find warm hats (and more) from Maxx Designs:
The Freshy’s event is on till 4, as is a Holiday Gift/Art Fair at the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation church in Gatewood (7141 California SW):
The vendors there today include Shelby:
And there’s even more going on out there … here again is today’s **long** preview.
More than 100 people who don’t have anywhere to go in from today’s bone-chilling damp cold will benefit from the donation drive that’s culminating today at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights – where they’re hoping to “stuff the bus” with items for the people of all ages living at the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville, which moved back to West Seattle (West Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way SW) last spring. Our Friday update has the newest information on what they’re hoping to collect, with active living manager Nichole overseeing things:
They’re collecting money too – donations are being accepted for coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies right outside the MH entrance, 2326 California SW.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Gary:
My dark green 4-door 1996 Honda Accord was stolen yesterday (Fri 12/2) between 8 AM and 5:15 PM from the Metro park and ride underneath the WS bridge. I parked in the lot closest to Avalon. WA license #ABW 9695. Bumper sticker on rear says “All Mixed Up rocks.” Has been reported to Seattle police.
With a crew of volunteer pancake chefs including Michael LaFranchi (and his holiday-spirit apron), the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is filling the Masonic Hall this morning for its 65th annual Community Pancake Breakfast:
…and that’s only half the room! There’s still time to get there before 11; $6 adults/$3 kids for pancakes, ham, and orange juice, with proceeds benefiting Kiwanis community programs including research into childhood cancer. Plus they are collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. In addition to volunteers from the Kiwanis, high-school clubs, and Scouts, West Seattle Hi-Yu volunteers and junior royalty are on hand too, and you can buy one of their gorgeous glass fundraising ornaments:
And a very special guest … in the background of this shot featuring Hi-Yu Junior Princess Amanda, Queen Thea, and Princess Elena … Santa!
40th/Edmunds – the canopies and signs point the way to the entrance.
Tonight’s West Seattle Junction tree-lighting ceremony is the biggest event on a full slate of holiday happenings (plus a few others) – at right, we photographed the tree late Friday afternoon. From the WSB West Seattle Holidays page and Events calendar:
ROTARY CHILDREN’S SHOPPING SPREE: Happening now at SODO Sears – our ongoing coverage is here.
KIWANIS PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Happening now! Santa photos are part of Kiwanis Club of West Seattle‘s annual pancake breakfast, through 11 am at the Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds): This year’s breakfast has a special emphasis. A major part of the proceeds will help fund the Kiwanis Children’s Cancer Project (KCCP). This effort by Kiwanians of the Pacific Northwest will support fellowships for juvenile cancer research at Children’s Hospital. $6 adults/$3 kids at the door. **Bring unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots!!**
GIVE THE PARK A GIFT: Join the Friends of Lincoln Park doing invasive plant removal from 9 am to noon. Meet in the north parking lot at the kiosk (Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Rose St). Dress warm!
STORY TIME! At Kol HaNeshamah, 6115 SW Hinds, 9:30 am The PJ Library Storytime at Kol HaNeshamah Congregation. The PJ Library welcomes Erik Lawson as our guest musician, with PJ Library manager Amy Paquette as our storyteller. Book: “The Hanukkah Trike.”
STUFF THE BUS FOR NICKELSVILLE! Bring donations to Nichole at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor, 2326 California SW), 10 am-4 pm, as they gather items for the encampment’s residents, which include children. We published an update yesterday with the “wish list” of items, for a specific family with kids as well as the encampment in general – details here.
WEST SEATTLE ARTISTS’ STUDIO TOUR: Wide variety of West Seattle artists featured at local artist studios during the Seattle Sampling Artists Studio Tour this weekend: Visit Penguina Designs Studio (penguinadesigns.com), Brace Point Pottery (bracepointpottery.com), Ken Turner Pottery Studio (kenturnerpottery.com) or Marilyn Moore Studio all without leaving West Seattle! Multiple artists are featured at each studio; full details at seattlesampling.com . Hours today (and tomorrow) are 10 am-5 pm.
SCHMITZ PARK HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: Schmitz Park Elementary‘s Holiday Craft Fair, 10 am-3 pm, 5000 SW Spokane Street, including crafts made by students to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank, as well as a variety of vendors.
HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW AT WSUU: 2nd Annual Holiday Gift Show Featuring Fine Arts and Crafts By Local Artists. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation Social Hall, 7141 California Ave SW.
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: At CAPERS in The Junction, 10 am-6 pm (including Santa – see that listing below).
HOMEMADE BRIGADE: Freshy’s Coffee “Homemade Brigade” sale, 10 am-4 pm, details on this Facebook event page.
‘HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS’ AT THE KENNEY: Luncheon & open house/tours at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). Tours begin at 10:30 a.m., Lunch served at 11:45 a.m. RSVP ASAP to 206-938-6941. 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW.
MAKE YOUR HOME QUAKE-RESISTANT: Seismic retrofitting DIY workshop at Seattle Public Library’s West Seattle (Admiral) branch, 11 am.
SANTA PHOTOS: Daily photos with Santa at Westwood Village (breezeway just east of Bed Bath Beyond). Carolers on Saturdays, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Giving tree for the Salvation Army. Hours and Santas listed here. … Bring your own camera to CAPERS in The Junction for “do-it-yourself” photos with the Santa who worked at Westwood in years past, 1-5 pm.
SANTA PAWS: Santa Paws is Coming to Town! Gather up your 4-footed friends for a free photo with you and Santa on Saturday, Dec. 3 from noon-2:30 at the Prudential Northwest Realty Office in Jefferson Square. Santa is very busy this time of year, so he only has 30 time slots available. Call 206-932-4500 to check if there’s room – 4700 42nd Ave SW, Suite 600.
ALKI ARTS BAZAAR: Holiday Shopping Bazaar at Alki Arts, 1-5 pm. From owner Diane Venti: “Fun Day of Shopping with local artistic vendors! For one day only Alki Arts turns into a mini vendor showroom. Shop table to table with some of our local friends and neighbors for great gifts and treasures. We will be hosting… Three jewelry artists will have tables set up, Two handbag designers will be holding their sample sales, and one handmade scarf designer is coming, along with all of the regular art we have in stock by West Seattle’s working artists. Oh yes, and we will be serving mimosas and cookies! yum! Bring your girlfriends and shop with us!
WINE TASTING: Bin 41 in The Junction has a special Saturday wine tasting, 1-3 pm.
ORNAMENT-MAKING PARTY: At Young at Art, now open in The Junction (42nd south of Alaska, west of Jefferson Square), 2-4 pm, fun for the whole family before the tree lighting!
REMODELING/CUSTOM HOMEBUILDING WORKSHOP: Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) had a couple spots available as of late last night, for this free 2 pm workshop at their HQ (California/Findlay) – info here.
ART UNDER $100 IN SOUTH PARK: This big sale is happening tonight too, 3-10 pm at South Park Community Center (details here).
BELLI CAPELLI ANNIVERSARY: This West Seattle salon is celebrating 20 years! Open house 3:30 to 6:30 pm. Live music, hors d’oeuvres, raffle tickets and door prizes, for the first 40 guests. 3902 California SW.
BAZAAR IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Blithe Bazaar in West Seattle, 4-8 pm near Arbor Heights Elementary – full details here
JUNCTION TREE LIGHTING: The West Seattle Junction Christmas Tree Lighting event is at 5 pm. Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) – West Seattle High School Band plays at 4 pm outside KeyBank; Endolyne Choir and others perform during the tree lighting itself.
CLOTHING, TOYS, ETC. SWAP: Join Duwamish Co-housing for the second annual Fall Clothing, Toy, and Household goods Swap on Saturday, December 3rd from 5-8 PM in the Common House. Please bring your clean, gently used clothes (women’s, men’s, & kid’s), accessories, toys, and durable household goods on Saturday to swap! All clothing items should be clean and free of any tears or stains. Toys should have all parts and be in good working order, as should small household items. Please bring instruction manuals for small appliances. (No furniture, white elephant, large appliances please). Light beverage service will be provided- feel free to bring a snack to share. Duwamish Co-housing is located at 6000 17th Ave. SW. There is limited parking in the community so please park on 16th Street (across from South Seattle Community College) and come down the zig-zag pathway across from the middle entrance to the college.
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE,’ RADIO STYLE: 7:30 pm – second night for Twelfth Night Productions‘ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show,” at Kenyon Hall. Based on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, playwright Joe Landry’s take on “It’s a Wonderful Life” comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. This live radio show will be performed at historic Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th SW. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and at Kenyon Hall, $15/adults, $12 students & seniors.
‘EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY’: Continuing tonight, ArtsWest presents the Seattle premiere of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez. 7:30 pm; ticket info here.
‘ROCKY HORROR’: The monthly midnight showing at Admiral Theater is tonight.
We’re in the SODO Sears/Starbucks building right now along with hundreds of people from teens through seniors, all volunteers who are here with one mission: To make this a happier holiday for about 100 kids from local elementary schools. It’s the annual Rotary Club of West Seattle Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree, and as those kids arrive, they’ll be matched with volunteers for a busy morning including breakfast, choosing warm clothing – our top photo shows volunteers, sorting – shopping, talking to Santa, and more. It’s a herculean effort to organize and stage:
ADDED 7 AM: That hallway suddenly filled, as the first kids arrived:
The kids participating today are from Alki, Lafayette, Gatewood, and Roxhill Elementary Schools, Pathfinder K-8, and Concord International School. Volunteers include not only West Seattle Rotarians, but also members of the National Panhellenic Council of Seattle and its associated sororities and fraternities (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi Beta, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Kappa Alpha Psi) – plus the Loren Miller Bar Association, and youth volunteers (we just met a group from Tukwila’s Foster High School):
ADDED 8:10 AM: More photos – from just part of the crowd of more than 300 volunteers:
… to the actual shopping!
We’re sitting next to a table with two volunteers and a little girl, making a list as they ask her what she’s interested in finding; this is all about practical gifts like warm clothes and shoes, and yet it’s a fun and festive atmosphere too (a table away, other volunteers are decorating the area where Santa will start meeting with the kids a bit later … update, he arrived to cheers and applause at 8:35 am).
ADDED: And even more photos, ahead, including a visitor from the Seahawks!Read More
Pete says he was in his office along College Street Ravine in North Admiral this morning when “to my surprise, a visitor showed up outside my window.” He says the coyote went through the yard 4 times. Meantime, Bly reported a south Morgan Junction sighting (California/Frontenac) via Twitter.
Coyote reports we’ve received over the past three-plus years are archived here.
Thanks to Mitch Spute for the quick clip of West Seattle’s Olio Glee Club caroling downtown Friday night in the much-watched Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition. He shared this photo, too:
Winners will be posted later today on the competition’s Facebook page. Meantime, last we heard, Olio was still open to new members – follow the name link above to get to their official site and find out more.
It’s the downside of rainlessness … the National Weather Service says our area is now under an “air-stagnation advisory,” and it’s not expected to get better before Monday night. Read the alert here, with advice for people dealing with respiratory illnesses. No burn bans so far, though.
P.S. If we’re still without (or with few) clouds this time next week, we just might see a share of a lunar eclipse that’ll be visible pre-dawn in the west on Saturday, December 10th – read about it here.
(Photos by Katie Meyer for WSB)
Every year, it’s the iconic photo of holiday-open-house season at West Seattle businesses – smiling proprietor Jack Miller bustling about Husky Deli in The Junction. The open house is on till 9 tonight, with taste treats including this chocolate cake:
(The cake was from nearby Bakery Nouveau, by the way.) Nice Santa hat!
Other members of the Miller family on hand included daughter Kate:
The annual openhouse is always a showcase for a few vendors, too – among them this time, Krista Conner‘s West Seattle Honey:
(Krista was featured on Seattle Channel this fall – here’s the video.) Husky Deli marked its 79th anniversary earlier this year. This begins a huge holiday weekend in The Junction – with Hometown Holidays activities including the tree lighting at 5 pm tomorrow (Junction Plaza Park) – preceded by the West Seattle High School Band playing outside KeyBank at California/Alaska – and Santa photos 11 am-3 pm Sunday at City Mouse Studio and Store.
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