West Seattle, Washington
27 Monday
Thanks to Joe Follansbee for these photos of the Denny Middle School marching band in this afternoon’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade downtown. Joe reports: “The rain eased off for us and the wind was light, so conditions were tolerable. And the kids were near the beginning of the parade, so they (and their parents) didn’t freeze halfway to death!”
While we were visiting Denny yesterday morning (longer story to come), music director Marcus Pimpleton told us the marching band’s next parade is the Junior Daffodil Parade, two weeks from today in Tacoma (more info here).
The original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” is the second of three Winter Indoor Movies on the Wall in The Junction … at The Admiral, the singalong “Mamma Mia” will be preceded by a real-life wedding onstage … there’s a property auction and two rummage sales … a poker tournament tonight to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society … Gatewood Elementary and Pathfinder K-8‘s big fundraisers … the last weekend to buy Girl Scout cookies … and free yoga! That’s all among more than 40 events in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More
Thanks to Dina Johnson for sharing photos from tonight’s Chief Sealth High School PTSA-presented Multi-Cultural Night. Raffles and a silent auction helped raise money toward the “wish list”:
But that was only part of it – student performances took centerstage:
Along with dancing and music – poetry too!
Besides cultural celebration and fundraising, tonight’s CSHS event included buffet dinner, too!
From Alki Bathhouse in the northwest, to Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) north-central, to Skylark (WSB sponsor) and Youngstown Arts Center in the northeast, to multiple Junction-vicinity venues in the middle, and on to The Kenney in the south, the West Seattle Art Walk is under way right now all over WS. Here’s the map. See highlights – with art samples and venue details – on the official Art Walk blog. It lasts till 9 pm –great night to be out, have fun! (And if you take pix, we’d love to share ’em!)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Seattle could and should be “the independent fashion capital of the world.”
That’s the bold – yet not boastful – declaration of the three men who comprise Heart On My Sleeve, a fashion (and design, and music, and more) business based in a deceptively drab Pigeon Point duplex, a stitch away from the West Seattle Bridge.
Johnathan Oliver, 23, is a Navy veteran. Shelton Sampson, 25, is a former UW football player. Art B, 32, has a music focus.
Focused on fashion creations from recycled clothing, Heart On My Sleeve started 2 years ago when Johnathan and Shelton met in Hawaii, where John was working on a production of the “Lion King” musical with which Shelton’s sister happened to be involved. They became fast friends and business partners, hatching the HOMS idea and coming up with the logo in a Hawaii Starbucks – presaging their eventual headquarters in Starbucks’ hometown (how they got from there to here is a whole ‘nother tangent for another time’ — in short, Shelton was from here, and finally convinced Johnathan to move).
If you haven’t heard of Heart On My Sleeve before, that’s what they’re trying to hurdle now. They are working around the clock, getting by, but confident they’re on the brink of that one big breakthrough.
They’ve gotten attention already. When we saw a KING5 feature a while back (watch it here) — our ears perked at the mention of “West Seattle,” but we couldn’t find contact information online. Someone eventually sent it to us after an online discussion, but it fell through the proverbial cracks. Then Johnathan sent a note just yesterday – along with some files including portfolio-style photos of their work:
So let’s get to what their creations are all about. The heart of what they do is recycling: Here’s Shelton, for example, with a work in progress on one of the mannequins standing in the room where I chatted with him, John, and Art this morning:
That started with a jacket – something that might have come from a thrift shop, or a donation. Then it’s examined with a fresh eye – a vision – and becomes the foundation of something completely new. The knot you see around the waist is for sizing – it’s a device they use if they’re consulting with a client.
The clothing is major, but Heart On My Sleeve doesn’t just design.
Big event of the weekend, the first Winter Movies on the Wall series starts with “The Mummy,” 7 pm Saturday night – then hours later, spring forward – set your clock one hour ahead at 2 am Saturday night/Sunday morning. But you’ll never miss that hour of sleep, just too much to do: A solar job fair in The Junction, the annual Fairmount Ravine cleanup, a swap event on Saturday, a fashion show Sunday, and a jazz benefit Sunday night, all among more than 40 events listed ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More
That’s the trailer from “The Mummy,” which you can see free this Saturday night in the first presentation of the first-ever West Seattle Junction Winter Movies on the Wall, on the big screen inside West Seattle Christian Center‘s new activity center. And Lora Lewis of Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) sends a reminder this morning that it’s not just a movie – for one, they’re looking for teams for a pre-show contest:
Our pre-show activities will be the mummy ‘wrap- n-race’. The idea is we’ll have 3 teams of 2-3 people who will wrap a person from head to foot in two rolls of bathroom tissue and then race to a finish line.
And while there’s no charge for admission, just like the Summer outdoor Movies on the Wall, donations will be collected for the West Seattle Food Bank (and for the next two months, those donations count for more than face value, because of the Feinstein Challenge) – and there’ll be a raffle, with entry proceeds benefiting a local nonprofit. You’ll even find treats at the concession stand. Just bring your family, friends, chairs, and be ready for fun – doors will open at 5:30 – the center’s on 42nd SW just south of Genesee (map) – movie’s at 7. (And as for the following two Saturday nights, the “season slate” is in this WSB report and on the official Movies on the Wall site; WSB, we should note, is proud to be among the movie series’ co-sponsors. If you’re on Facebook — where we’re WS Blog — you can go here for a link to share about the movie series, or use the “Share This” feature under this item to share it via FB, Twitter, e-mail, or several other services.)
(“History Boys” photo by Matt Durham, mattdurhamphotography.com)
OPENING NIGHT: Three nights after we brought you first word of their 2009-2010 season, ArtsWest continues the current season with the first performance of “History Boys,” 7:30 tonight in The Junction.
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN WEST SEATTLE: Council President Richard Conlin is scheduled for a guest appearance at the Southwest District Council‘s (WSB sponsor) monthly meeting, 7 pm, board room at South Seattle Community College.
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORS: If you live in the North Delridge area, meet your neighbors and see how you can help work on neighborhood issues as the North Delridge Neighborhood Council meets tonight, 6:30 pm, Delridge Library.
FAUNTLEROY SERIES: “Re-creating Community in Our Day” continues with leadership expert Bill Grace, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (after 6 pm “simple supper” by donation).
(video added Tuesday, Alan Harrison discussing AW’s mission)
Just back from ArtsWest in The Junction, where the 2009-2010 season was announced tonight with a first-of-its-kind onstage event. Four of the six productions are Seattle premieres (and one is a National New Play Network World Premiere). The six are: “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Carol Roscoe, 9/9/09-10/3/09; “Measure for Pleasure” by David Grimm, directed by Christopher Zinovitch, 10/21/09-11/14/09; “Plaid Tidings” returns for the 2nd consecutive holiday season 12/2/09-12/27/09; “Love Song” by John Kolvenbach, directed by Kate Witt, 1/27/10-2/21/10; “Sunlight” by Sharr White, directed by Vanessa Miller, 3/10/10-4/3/10; “Tell Me on a Sunday” (Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s one-woman show, starring Jessica Skerritt with Zinovitch directing), 4/28/10-5/23/10. ArtsWest executive director Alan Harrison told the announcement audience that despite the economy’s troubles, ticket sales for 2008-2009 are up 30 percent from a year earlier, and even art sales are up. (Meantime, ArtsWest’s next production of the current season, “History Boys,” opens this Wednesday.)
Thanks to Sally for the tip that the Lagarto Glass studio in Pigeon Point (1904 SW Dawson; map) is having a sale today to clear out the garage studio and switch to work-at-home mode. Get there as soon as you can – they’re just going till it’s gone. Meantime, we’ve also stopped by the first-ever Rat City Rummage at the old White Center skating rink – good turnout of sellers and shoppers:
This one’s going till 6 tonight and you can see a few more pix as well as an artist/seller interview at our partner site White Center Now.
ADDED 9:52 PM: Thanks to Highland Park’s Dina Johnson for sharing this page full of photos of other artists and craftspeople who were on hand at Rat City Rummage.
It’s the size of a greeting card … full of writing and art, 36 pages worth: A new zine, born into the literary world, resolutely on paper instead of in pixels. Jonathan VeraKat, who presided tonight at the Twilight Artist Collective party in The Junction launching his zine, says each issue will focus on a single topic. The first one — “ghetto,” including answers to the question “Is there a ghetto in Seattle, and if so, where?” (seven answers – 4 no, 3 variations on yes). Jonathan explained to us how the topic was arrived at, as well as – why a zine?
If you want to get a copy, or have a question or idea for Jonathan (who’s based on Capitol Hill), the first edition of XVIII ends with his e-mail address: JVKXVIII@gmail.com
This time around, the West Seattle Weekend Lineup includes several notable events outside West Seattle boundaries that we thought you’d like to know about anyway — including “Remember This” tonight at Seattle Center, the first-ever Rat City Rummage and a beer/ice-cream tasting event in White Center and a wine festival in Des Moines – but we have lots of West Seattle happenings too, including a family “game show” night and the Highland Park Elementary all-ages school dance tonight, the Sanislo Elementary used-book sale tomorrow, your first chance to get directly involved in the city’s review of whether The Junction needs pay stations or other on-street parking changes. In all, more than 40 events are listed ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More
West Seattle’s arts scene just keeps growing. This Friday night at Twilight, add literature to the mix:
The MySpace site for XVIII describes it as “a brand-new literary journal based out of but not confined to Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood … to connect the general community of Seattle with the literary community of Seattle.” With an Easy Street After Hours show next door, Friday night will really jump in The Junction.
It’s Oscars weekend, and yes, we have a West Seattle Oscars party (trivia! prizes!) – along with a poetry reading tonight, two Saturday events that could change your financial future, plus the chance to meet an “American Gladiator,” among more than three dozen events ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More
That’s Blue 55 playing the Alki Boardwalk last August, one of two Alki summer concerts presented by the Parks Department, and it looks like they’re doing more this year – this announcement just in:
Alki Community Center in West Seattle is planning a series of Music in the Park events for the summer of 2009, and is looking for bands who are interested in playing on dates in July, August, and September 2009.
Bands should play music that families will enjoy. Interested bands should call MaryPat Byington at 206-684-7430 or e-mail her at marypat.byington@seattle.gov by Monday, March 16, 2009.
That’s Khayelitshe, South Africa, home to the Baphumelele Children’s Home, which helps kids whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS. 
Tomorrow afternoon, you’re invited to a Children’s Music Festival — the senior project of Seattle Lutheran High School senior Lauren Vanderpool (left) — to benefit the children getting assistance from Baphumelele Home. It’s at 2:30 pm Sunday, Grace Church (10323 28th SW; here’s a map), and a free-will offering will be taken at the door. Lauren writes, “Children and teens from Seattle Lutheran and around Seattle are sharing their musical talents in a variety of ways.
… There are over 14,000 orphaned children in the small village of Khayelitshe. Baphumelele is a haven for these children whose lives are affected by AIDS. Right now the women of Baphumelele are in the process of building several more ‘Cluster Homes’ so the children have a warm place to sleep, and a health clinic (they have a doctor and two nurses who visit twice a week). Baphumelele is run by local women from the Khayelitshe village. The children of South Africa need our help and support.” You can find out more at www.baphumelele.org.za — and by going to the Children’s Music Festival tomorrow afternoon at Grace Church.
HELP PUPPY-MILL RESCUEES BY GETTING YOUR DOG/S CLEAN: Self-serve dog washes at The Wash Dog and “bath-only dogs” at Muttley Crew Cuts both will send 50 percent of today’s proceeds to help the puppy-mill rescuees/rescuers in the North Sound. For The Wash Dog, hours are 8 am-7 pm; for Muttley Crew, hours are 9 am-7 pm, and you need to call for an appointment — 932-6888 — they’re having a bake sale with hot coffee and cocoa too.
HELP STUDENTS BY GETTING YOUR CAR CLEAN: 10 am-3 pm at West Seattle High School, student fundraiser car wash, suggested donation $10.
FREE STRAWBERRY WHITE MOCHA: Go to Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) and mention you heard about the free drink at West Seattle Blog – they’re open 7 am-7 pm.
FREE EXERCISE: 9 am at Youngstown Arts Center, the NiaDivas (WSB sponsors) invite you to start Valentine’s Day by doing something good for your heart (and the rest of you) – in a free “Welcome to Nia” introductory class.
FREE MUSIC: Check the West Seattle Weekend Lineup for all the places you can enjoy free music today and tonight – one late add, Henta and Marias performing 3-5 this afternoon at Pearls on Delridge.
Those are just a few of today’s biggies — the full list is here.
‘Tis the day before Valentine’s Day, and all through the … no, wait. Anyway, LOTS of love around West Seattle, today through Sunday. Tonight: Highlights include spaghetti and music to benefit the Chief Sealth music program, and comedy at Admiral Theater, to help the rescued puppy-mill dogs in the North Sound. Tomorrow (Saturday): Love coffee? Free strawberry white mocha at Hotwire (WSB sponsor) IF you mention you heard about it from WSB, a free class from the NiaDivas (WSB sponsor), dog-washing to benefit the North Sound rescuees, plus ways to show your love for our beautiful greenspaces. Sunday highlights include a Seattle Lutheran senior presenting a music festival to help kids on the other side of the world, free cholesterol checks at Pharmaca (WSB sponsor), and a WSB Forum potluck get-together and fundraiser. LOTS more – more than three dozen events ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More
Hard to believe, but 24 hours or so ago, it was sunny, and your WSB co-publishers were wandering around taking photos. We didn’t get a chance to publish them last night but they’re still fresh enough today, so here goes. Above, that’s renowned local sign-painting artist Japhy Witt, detailing coins in the window of … where else … West Seattle Coins, at California/Oregon in The Junction, under the Senior Center – here’s one he’d already completed:
Japhy told us he’s likely detailing vintage bills for the wider window between the two coins. You’ve seen his work at many other West Seattle businesses, including — right across SW Oregon from this project — Shadow Land (here’s WSB coverage from 2007). Other signs that caught our eye included one at a Harbor Avenue development that now has a name:
If you can’t read the sign, it’s “Indus Work/House.” (That last part has an interesting historical connotation, but then again, elsewhere in new-ish West Seattle real estate, so does The Dakota.) And on the other side of the real-estate fence, bright-yellow signs around North Delridge pointed to an “auction” – we followed them, and found this house on SW Nevada, west of 30th SW:
The signs included this web address – the specific listing says the auction is 10 am 2/20, onsite. The yellow sign in the window says minimum bid is $50K. (Here are the latest local foreclosure stats, from Seattle Bubble, which reports King County’s foreclosure total in December – more than 600 – was the second-highest ever [last July, 730, was the highest, in the stats SB uses].)
Lots of options today, and clicking here will take you directly to our list of them, in the Saturday section of the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup. Highlights include Neighbor Appreciation Day activities at Southwest Pool (free swim at 1 pm!) and 2 community centers, fundraisers including a student car wash and the Rocksport silent auction/live music tonight for Waunda from Sports Junction, and work parties where you can help spruce up West Seattle’s natural treasures, including Lincoln Park and Camp Long. Head directly to the Saturday lineup here.
First the freebies – swimming and yoga; then, the fun is all over the list, including Rainbow Bingo, baseball tryouts, a family night out for parents of diabetic children, a world-premiere musical event; and the ways to help include everything from a pancake breakfast to tea to a silent auction to “Have a Heart” haircuts — all among the more than 40 events ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More
That’s a quick clip of one of the hottest tickets at last year’s West Seattle Summer Fest, Green Pajamas, and we’ve pulled it out of the archives to let you know that application forms are now available online for bands that want to play in this year’s Summer Fest. So are applications for prospective food and craft vendors. The forms are all linked from the Summer Fest home page, which you can find here; the festival’s set for July 10th-12th. (We got first word of this at last night’s Southwest District Council meeting; more headlines from SWDC are coming up a bit later.)
Drama! ’60s rock nostalgia! Yoga to help an ailing teacher! Free coffee and breakfast treats for everyone who helps with the Admiral Adopt-A-Street cleanup! And of course, West Seattle Super Bowl parties! All happening in West Seattle now through Sunday night, more than 40 events ahead in the Super Bowl weekend edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More
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