West Seattle, Washington
29 Wednesday
From Cherisse, teen librarian at Delridge Library – an invite to an event at noontime today:
We would like to invite middle and high school homeschooled students and West Seattle residents to join us in marking Banned Books Week. Professional actors from Book-It Repertory Theatre will present readings from banned or challenged books, and there will be a short discussion about the Freedom to Read after the presentation. The program is free, open to the public, and best suited to those 13 years old and up because of the mature themes of some of the books that will be presented.
What: Danger: Books! A celebration of intellectual freedom
When: Wed. Sept. 30, 2009 at 12:10-1:00 p.m.
Where: Delridge Community Center Multi Purpose Room, 4501 Delridge Way SW [map]
Books:
Call of the Wild by Jack London
Summary: Stolen from home and sold into a harsh life as a sled dog in northern Canada, Buck must quickly learn to survive.
The Controversy: Jack London’s writing was censored and banned in several European dictatorships in the 1920’s, and his books were burned by Nazis.Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser
Summary: Brendan and Gary, who have been mercilessly teased and harassed by jocks who rule their school, take their classmates hostage at a school dance.
The Controversy: There have been several concerns over the book’s realistic depiction of school violence.Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah. S. Brannan
Summary: Chloe’s favorite uncle Bobby is getting married to his boyfriend Jamie and she fears that he won’t have time for her any more.
The Controversy: Challenged at the Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock, Colo. (2008) where a resident wanted the book to be removed from the library and placed in a special area or labeled as inappropriate for children because it features same-sex marriage.
As noted here two weeks ago, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is returning to West Seattle’s Admiral Theater again this year. The festival runs October 16-25; according to its website, the Admiral screenings are on the final two days, with five films on Saturday 10/24 and two on Sunday 11/25 – here’s the schedule. Tickets went on sale today; here’s info on how to buy them. ADDED 1:55 PM: Another festival note, from West Seattle’s State Sen. Joe McDermott, via Facebook: “West Seattle filmmaker Michael Culpepper‘s short After All That shows on Saturday, October 17, at 2 pm at the Egyptian Theater!” (Here’s that link.)
(9/28/08 photo by David Hutchinson)
Northwest Hope and Healing expects more than 1,000 runners and walkers for the second annual Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run (WSB sponsor) this Sunday – 
still time to sign up – just go here – you’re helping NWHH help breast-cancer patients. Meantime – not sure yet what you’re doing tonight? Rainbow Bingo returns to the Senior Center of West Seattle tonight (doors open 5 and there’s a ukulele pre-show!), and it’s Family Fun Friday at Hiawatha Community Center as well as Family Skate Night at Alki Community Center, and Family Night at the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor), as well as KISS Pre-Concert-Ticket-Sale Party night at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). Also this weekend – Tibbetts UMC‘s centennial and two food drives, just part of more than FIFTY events/activities in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club – read on!Read More
When local pilot Long Nguyen sent a few more West Seattle aerials the other day, we knew this one would be perfect for today’s preview mentioning that the Westwood Neighborhood Council is meeting for the first time in several months – what you see above (click for a larger view) is Westwood Village in the foreground, with Southwest Athletic Complex, Southwest Community Center, and the Sealth-Denny project beyond. SWCC (2801 SW Thistle) is where the WNC is meeting tonight, 7 pm; here’s the flyer. What should be in the Seattle Public Schools 2010 levy measure? Be at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW) at 6:30 pm to discuss. More politics today too – West Seattle Democratic Women present a debate between City Attorney Tom Carr and challenger Pete Holmes during their 11:30 am lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW); call 206-938-5706 this morning to see if there’s still room. And tonight’s the High Point Library (35th/Raymond) reading by “Crow Planet” author Lyanda Lynn Haupt (6:30 pm). Even more on the WSB Events calendar – see for yourself here.
That’s Seattle-based author Robert Spector at CAPERS in The Junction last night, talking about his book “The Mom & Pop Store: How the Unsung Heroes of the American Economy Are Surviving and Thriving.” It’s got extra West Seattle significance because several local businesses are mentioned, including Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor), Easy Street Records, Husky Deli and Zamboanga. (Spector’s speaking at Town Hall downtown tonight.)
Meantime, a local author who’s gaining new national attention for her latest work will be at High Point Library tomorrow night: We talked with Gatewood’s Lyanda Lynn Haupt in July about her book “Crow Planet” (story here), which has since been reviewed by the New York Times (read that here). She speaks at HP Library (map) at 6:30 pm tomorrow; her appearance is sponsored by Junction independent bookstore Square One Books (WSB sponsor). (You can also read Haupt’s more-frequent writing at her website The Tangled Nest.)
(Twitpic from Monday night’s Pearl Jam concert at KeyArena)
West Seattle Pearl Jam fans (and others from around the city) are talking about the band’s 1st of 2 KeyArena concerts right now – on Facebook, on Twitter, in bars, at home, wherever. Among them, Olivia, who noted on Facebook that PJ leader Eddie Vedder urged the crowd to vote for fellow West Seattleite Dow Constantine for King County Executive. (Dow, of course, has been rocking the vote in various venues, including the Mudhoney intro we video’d at West Seattle Summer Fest.) According to Olivia, EV then quipped that Krist Novoselic (formerly of Nirvana) told him to say that.
2 MORE ROCK NOTES: Jeff Gilbert of the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction says Sunday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Garage Sale raised $300 for White Center Food Bank. (And they’re working on a Halloween event – stay tuned!) And if you missed Chris Ballew as Caspar Babypants at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on Sunday — the quick clip we featured in our first Junction Car Show report is topped by the fun clip shared by West Seattleite Edgar Riebe: “Three Blind Mice.”
ARTS NOTE: ArtsWest just launched a new fundraising campaign — 500 @ $50. They’re hoping to get at least 500 people to chip in $50 (or more) each.
HISTORY REVISITED: A month and a half after we covered the city Landmarks Preservation Board voting to give city-landmark status to The Sanctuary at Admiral, the West Seattle-based website Vintage Seattle has just published several historic photos and a drawing contributed by the granddaughter of one of its architects. See them here.
EATERY FOR SALE: It’s a blind listing but you’ll probably have the same guess we did, regarding this CL item about a Junction restaurant “across from California at Edmunds” offered for $300,000. (No, it’s not the shuttered Ama Ama – that’s for sale by name at $199K.) We’ve got a message out looking for confirmation. TUESDAY AFTERNOON NOTE: The very first commenter found the listing that confirmed it’s Tom Yum Koong.
Got word from the countywide organization 4Culture that a long list of groups getting a total of $250,000 federal stimulus money to help protect arts-related jobs includes West Seattle’s ArtsWest, which will receive $7,500. Checked with AW to see what the money will be used for; Rachel Jackson tells WSB, “That money will go into our AIF (Artistic Improvement Fund), and will specifically go to paying our actors. Unlike other theaters our size (non-equity houses) we pay our artists an hourly wage instead of just a stipend.” The full list of stimulus $ recipients is here. (ArtsWest is currently in the midst of its season-opening run, with “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” continuing till October 3rd.)
Is there a student in your family who loves to sing? Endolyne Children’s Choir, based in West Seattle, just started its fall session, but still has room for new members – here’s info from Endolyne leader Juliet Nazarino:
All rehearsals take place at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave SW.
Debut is our entry level group for 1st -3rd graders and rehearses on Tuesdays at 6:30 – 7:30 pm.
The Encore and Advanced Ensemble are for 3rd – 8th graders and rehearses on Thursdays at 6:30 – 7:30 pm.
New members are always welcome!
Sing Year Round: September 2009 – June 2010!
a.. Fall Session: Debut: (now through) Dec. 15, Encore/Adv: (now through) Dec. 17
b.. Winter Session: Debut: Jan. 5 – March 12, Encore/Adv: Jan. 7 – March 12
c.. Spring Session: Debut: March 16 – June 5, Encore/Adv: March 18 – June 5Questions? Contact Juliet Nazarino at (206) 934-5490, info@endolynechoir.org or visit www.endolynechoir.org
Holy Rosary School‘s big fall festival Westfest (WSB sponsor) starts at 6 tonight … the 2nd annual West Seattle Junction Car Show (co-sponsored by WSB) takes over Junction streets all day Sunday … WSHS Grad Night has a fundraising car wash tomorrow, which is also when you’ll find the first in a series of monthly Family Fun events at High Point Community Center … Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association invites you to the LINKS Community Barbecue tomorrow afternoon … the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) has announced fun events for America on the Move week – just part of the SEVENTY events/activities in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club – read on!Read More
Double bill at Skylark Cafe and Club tonight – after turntable time, bellydancers took the stage. Dina Johnson shares the photo and a report:
Terrific bellydance show from 7:30 -8:30 at Skylark on Delridge, about 8 short sets by solo and troupe acts. The place was packed with bellydancers & friends, but at least one guy there for the self disc-spinning was surprised and HIGHLY entertained by the bellydance show.
Picture: 3 members of the polished Troupe Hipnotica, who improvise all their routines using invisible cues in American Tribal style. Julia, on the right, is a resident of Highland Park.
Could become a regular thing if enough interest, I hope so!
Skylark is at 3803 Delridge, just south of The Bridge (map), usually known a bit more for their four-nights-a-week live music (here’s the calendar).
While a lot of Twitter marketing is fairly basic “hey! come see us and buy our stuff!” (in the case of us news sites, we send out links in hopes you’ll come READ our stuff), there are also 
cool little moments like this one we just happened onto, hours after it happened: Pearl Jam‘s official Twitter account sent word of a photo (at left) of a limited-edition “record” (remember those?) and said, first person who finds it gets it. If you look at the photo full-size here, you’ll see the visual hint – Easy Street Records coffee cups. According to the comment thread on the Twitpic photo page, “someone named Megan got it.” (Reminds us of the April tale of a local family that found a Tony Hawk skateboard at Shadow Land via Twitter.) We use Twitter not just to send out story links (if you ONLY want those, find ’em at @westseattlenews), but also, at @westseattleblog, other tidbits, newsy and otherwise, plus Twitpics of events we’re covering, while we’re there, like the Denny International Middle School ceremony Monday morning (here and here). You can also just check in on the Web – our main @westseattleblog account is at twitter.com/westseattleblog. P.S. Easy Street itself is on Twitter, here – you’ll see tweets about the Pearl Jam release party this Saturday night and the Black Whales in-store show at 5 tonight.
That’s a Google Street View of West Seattle’s Southwest branch of the Seattle Public Library. (9010 35th SW; map), where two big events are coming up. Julie Enevoldsen from Friends of Southwest Branch Library shares both announcements. First – this one’s less than a week away:
Friends of Southwest Branch Library would like to invite all patrons to an informal Meet & Greet reception for our “new” branch manager, Jane Appling, on Saturday, September 19th from 1-2 pm in the meeting room at the branch.
In June, branch manager Theresa Mayer accepted a new position as Outreach Services Manager at the Central Library, coordinating programs and services to immigrant and refugee communities and the Library Equal Access Program serving people with disabilities. We’ll miss Theresa, but wish her well in her new position!
Jane Appling is our new branch manager (and branch manager of South Park) as of early July. Most recently, Jane served as the Library Services’ Operations and Analysis Manager. She offers extensive and varied public library experience, a very insightful perspective, and a passion for serving the community. Come and meet her on September 19!
Second – a call for artists:
The Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library and the Friends of Southwest Branch Library invite community artists of all ages to the 18th Annual Southwest Community Art Showcase.
(Local artists) may sign up by calling 206-684-7455, or by stopping by the Southwest Branch between Thursday, Oct 1 and Saturday, Oct. 24. Artists of any age and artwork of any medium are welcome.
Art work by Southwest community members will be on display at the Southwest Branch from October 26 through November 15. A meet-the-artists reception is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the library. Artists participating in the Showcase are encouraged to attend. The reception is a chance to discuss art with the artists in a low-key, friendly setting. This is an opportunity to meet your creative neighbors! Refreshments will be served. Join us!
Want to know more about Friends of Southwest Branch Library? Go here.
For the second consecutive year, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival will include screenings at Admiral Theater here in West Seattle. So says the Three Dollar Bill Cinema website, to which we were pointed by this item at Gay Cap Hill, noted on Twitter by our fellow indie-neighborhood-news site Capitol Hill Seattle. The festival runs October 16-25 but the specific movies/dates aren’t public yet – the TDBC site says they’ll be announced next Friday.
More than FIFTY events on the list this week – including: Sunday’s the big 20th birthday party at PCC Natural Markets‘ West Seattle store (WSB sponsor), kicking off at 11 am with free food, cooking demos, samples, more (details here). All weekend long, looks like the weather will keep the summer spirit alive – other Sunday highlights include the Zucchini 500 at West Seattle Farmers’ Market and free Sunday yoga at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor), North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s S’mores in the Park … but first, Saturday’s busy too, with the West Seattle HS Volleyball Team fundraising car wash, Cat Adopt-A-Thon at Southwest Community Center; cats also get a boost from the FCAT fundraiser in White Center Saturday night, which you can check out before Admiral Theater showcases Those Darn Accordions .. Now, the FULL WSB West Seattle Weekend Lineup:Read More
Remember West Seattle Art Walk night last month? Thunder, lightning, downpours? Looks like tomorrow’s expected weather will be much more conducive to wandering. And the offerings keep getting more and more creative. Sampling from among the ranks of WSB sponsors who are participating, for example, Feedback Lounge in Morgan Junction is presenting The Paint Ball – billed as “Four artists, 120 minutes, public scrutiny, suffering” (more here). At Brunette Mix in The Junction, Gatewood artist/writer Pam Mandel (also known for Nerd’s Eye View) is showing collages. Ventana Construction, between Alaska and Morgan Junctions, is having an “artist blowout.” Back in The Junction, Wallflower Custom Framing will show the work of Kelly Rae Cunningham, whose creations adorn walls in Mural Apartments (where Wallflower’s in the ground-level-retail area). Across the street at Dream Dinners in Jefferson Square, Betty Olson Vacca‘s oils, pastels and watercolors. Other WSB sponsors participating: Click! Design That Fits in Admiral, M3 Bodyworks between Alaska and Morgan Junctions, Coffee at the Heights in Sunrise Heights, Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy. One more participant of note: A very young artist, Schmitz Park Elementary third-grader Romy Ehrsam – who likes to draw, paint with watercolor and make block prints – will show her work at Shoofly Pie in The Junction. Here’s the printable map to all of tomorrow night’s participants; look for more venue/artist highlights at the official Art Walk site, and if you have something to highlight, let us know for the next preview tomorrow morning!
(Photos by Matt Durham from mattdurhamphotography.com)
ARTSWEST SEASON BEGINS: The Seattle premiere of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Carol Roscoe, opens the ArtsWest 2009-2010 season tonight. Performances continue through October 3rd. From the ArtsWest news release: “When Jean answers the cell phone of the corpse at the next table, she unwittingly embarks on a quirky odyssey that takes her from a high society funeral to the black market to the afterlife.” Buy tickets online here.
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Just two months after their almost-five-hour endorsement meeting preceding the primary election, the 34th District Democrats plunge back into the waters at tonight’s regular monthly meeting. Here’s the agenda, including a link to a proposed rule change which would set the parameters for endorsement consideration at this meeting.
HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB: Meeting tonight at 7 to kick off a busy autumn, including plans for HPIC’s 90th anniversary celebration and other fall/winter events. More info here.
Notes from WSB contributor Keri DeTore, covering Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting:
(August photo)
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA:
The concert series was a hit and plans are already in the works to do it again next year. There will be an effort to increase the diversity in the music, but certain bands will be asked back as well. To provide feedback regarding the concerts, music types, or what you thought was successful or not successful, e-mail coordinator Katy Walum at: katy.walum@gmail.com.
(August photo by WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli)
DEVELOPMENT:
No updates for either the Admiral Safeway redevelopment or the 3200 block of California rezone. But the 2743 California Avenue project—the 14,100 sf medical and administrative office building behind PCC (WSB sponsor) — is moving forward and a hole for the foundation has been dug.
If you aren’t so sure about braving the damp, cool breeziness – assuming tomorrow doesn’t surprise us all with calmer weather – here’s one indoor option: The Comerford School of Irish Dance is kicking off a new season of lessons at the VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska; map). The official announcement says you can “get ready for holiday jigs and reels” with “instruction by three licensed teachers with World Championship experience and honors.” The class schedule for Mondays and Tuesdays, starting tomorrow, is here; for more info, celticartsnw@hotmail.com or 206-935-3225.
The White Center Food Bank (which serves part of southern West Seattle, too) has issued a unique “call for artists” – decorate a chair to be auctioned at WCFB’s upcoming Harvest Dinner/Auction. Think you might be able to help? Read on!Read More
One week from today, West Seattle’s Twelfth Night Productions will hold auditions for six roles – all male, but ranging in age from teens to 60s – in its fall production “The Diviners.” They sent us the audition notice to share with you; read on for details:Read More
Last chance to enjoy some summertime staples, like Colman Pool at Lincoln Park, open Sat-Sun-Mon before closing till May 2010 … or take a scenic walk on Saturday with the Emerald City Wanderers … taste tomatoes at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on Sunday … more than 40 events/activities through Monday night are all featured in the Labor Day weekend edition of the WSB West Seattle Weekend Lineup:Read More
“CROW PLANET” REVIEWED BY NEW YORK TIMES: The NYT Sunday book reviews comprise arguably the most prestigious showcase in America for an author – and Gatewood author Lyanda Lynn Haupt‘s new book “Crow Planet” has just made it there. Here’s the link to this past weekend’s review. We wrote about Haupt and her book just last month – here’s our story; you can also follow her more-frequent writings at her site The Tangled Nest.
COMMUNITY HARVEST PLUM-PICKING STORY ON TV: We’ve also featured Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle and its “donate your tree” volunteer fruit harvests, and now they’ve made it onto TV too – the story resulting from the KING5 visit to Margaret‘s house last Monday finally aired Friday – here’s the link (video). CHoSS is still seeking volunteers, so they can pick even more of the fruit-laden trees that have been “donated” (the fruit goes to local food banks) – here’s how to sign up!
It’s one of the few things we have now covered four consecutive years since starting WSB in late 2005 – West Seattle-headquartered mega-best-selling fantasy-fiction author Terry Brooks made his annual late-summer appearance today at Westwood Village’s Barnes and Noble. His newest book, released this month, is “A Princess of Landover“; Erin from B&N shares this extra info:
Terry Brooks hosted a bookfair in conjunction with his reading, for the Interagency Academy for Seattle Public Schools. A portion of sales will go to this agency if community members shop at the West Seattle Barnes & Noble and either bring in a voucher if they received one or mention the Brooks bookfair to the cashier. It’s not too late to contribute!
B&N is open till 9 tonight. Less than a mile south of there, Holy Family School is hosting its first-ever “El Carnaval” street fair all weekend – we stopped by about an hour ago:
Bouncy toys for the little ones, too:
Last night’s grand finale to the monthlong Summer Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor) series at Providence Mount St. Vincent featured a bouncer too – with a tropical motif:
Cheryl Serio sang a jazzy set:
Next big event at The Mount: Brian Duffy leads a workshop in retirement planning, 2:30 pm Sept. 22nd.
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