West Seattle, Washington
30 Tuesday
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
OPENING NIGHT: Thanks to those who’ve e-mailed us to say tonight’s opening night for the three-night run of West Seattle High School‘s student-directed plays “Reverse Transcription” and “No Exit,” 7:30 pm tonight, Friday, and Saturday in the WSHS Theater (tickets $5 at the door).
5/31 RUN – AND MORE? Checking the WSHS website, we noticed something that’s interesting for more than 1 reason:
Save the Date! WSHS PTSA 5K Fun Run/Walk on May 31, 2009
This fun community event will be held in partnership with the City of Seattle and their “Summer Streets” (car-free) day on Alki. Mark your calendars, tell your family and friends, and get ready for a healthy start to summer at Seattle’s most beautiful park, West Seattle’s own Alki Beach. Watch Westside Notes and this website [WSHS site] for more information about how to sign up!
First we’d heard of a date being set for a Car-Free Day this year (here’s our coverage of last September’s Alki Car-Free Day). Will be pursuing more information from the city; we had noted that a “Summer Streets” briefing was on the agenda for the February 12th Parks Board meeting. Meantime, discovered something ELSE – till February 6, you can take this online survey to tell the city what you thought of the 2008 Car-Free Days. THURSDAY NIGHT UPDATE: The mayor’s office confirms there is a “Celebrate Seattle Streets” event in West Seattle on May 31st. More details to come.
That’s Madison Middle School student Bazel Rivera, who’ll be in the Admiral Theater spotlight this Saturday night as a student of a different school – the Paul Green School of Rock Music. They’re presenting a salute to The Monkees – the TV rockers whose heyday was so long ago, some of the 8-to-18-year-olds heard about it from their grandparents. Or via a recent resurgence, as Bazel explains in a quick interview clip you’ll see ahead:Read More
As first featured here two months ago, that’s Lynda, who won “Alki Idol” Season 1 (and $1,000)! Now it’s time for the second round – here’s the announcement from organizer John McKenzie:
The Bamboo Bar and Grill on Alki will be hosting Alki Idol Season 2 starting Thursday, January 29th at 9:30 PM. Alki Idol is an eight-week karaoke competition set up for local amateur singers to compete for cash and prizes on a weekly basis, as well as a grand prize for the overall winner. Season 1 was a huge success and featured some amazing local singers.
The contest will include 6 weeks of auditions with 2 contestants qualifying each night based on voting by a panel of judges. The final field of 12 will compete in a semi-final competition on March 12th, reducing the field to 6. The 6 finalists will then compete in the finals for cash and prizes on March 19th. The Bamboo Bar and Grill is located at 2806 Alki Ave SW. Check for updates on Alki Idol at www.alkiidol.com or www.bamboobarandgrill.com.
You might have seen a citywide article or two suggesting arts organizations are struggling in these tough times. Not ArtsWest, retorts exec director Alan Harrison in this essay.
On West Seattle’s Puget Ridge, South Seattle Community College‘s own celebrated wines were at centerstage, along with offerings from other famous Washington wineries, during the fundraising food-and-wine gala “Gifts From the Earth” on Saturday night. We dropped by to survey the scene at SSCC’s Brockey Center in the early going — including the team ready to show off the college’s famed culinary program too:
For all who attended, beautifully laid-out tables awaited:
“Gifts from the Earth” is an annual fundraiser for the SSCC Foundation. Meantime — earlier tonight, we mentioned West 5‘s first-ever movie screening. Before the lights went down, we stopped in (good-sized crowd!) to ask moviemaker Jamie Burton Chamberlin about the venue where “Gearhead” screened tonight:
He’s working to get “Gearhead” distributed and is also in postproduction on “Double Down Live” (working title).
Toni Reineke from West Seattle’s community orchestra, Westside Symphonette, tells WSB the last call for recruitment was a success — with new brass players joining (thanks!) — so she’s looking for players in three more areas of specialty: Bassoon, oboe, harp. Interested? Next rehearsal is Tuesday at Chief Sealth/Boren (map); call Toni at 206-243-6955 or e-mail tonireineke@comcast.net to find out more.
One more reminder: 8 pm tonight, you’re invited to the first-ever movie screening at West 5 in The Junction — an award-winning documentary by filmmaker Jamie Burton Chamberlin (who lives in West Seattle when not in L.A.): “Gearhead: 4 Days on the Road with Billy F. Gibbons” (of ZZ Top fame). Find out more about the film at its MySpace site.
We launched this in the WSB Forums last week (here’s the official announcement) and want to make sure everybody gets a chance to make suggestions, so we’re posting it here on the main page too. Big happy crowds enjoyed Movies on the Wall in the Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) courtyard last summer (here’s the report on the one we sponsored), after the movies were chosen from a list that included suggestions from WSBers – and this year, we’re proud to be one of the sponsors for a new Winter Movies on the Wall series, with dates set for three Saturday nights in March — March 4, 11, 18 — at the new West Seattle Christian Church activity center (opening soon). So what movies would YOU like to see on those three nights in March? Please post a comment here and/or at the series’ official site. Deadline for suggestions is end of this month; you can see some of the suggestions already made here.
A little past midway through Saturday night’s 4th birthday bash for Twilight Artist Collective – held in the West Seattle Junction spot (west of Easy Street) that they took over in late ’07 – they were serenaded with the traditional birthday tune, in a not-so-traditional way. Haven’t met Erin, Mary, and Cheryl yet? Info’s here, for their original Pike Place Market location as well as their Junction space. (They have a separate blog-format website, too.)
Among your many entertainment options on tonight’s West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Two “classic silent comedies” accompanied (with ragtime!) by Donald Sosin at Kenyon Hall (interior photo above). If you aren’t well-acquainted with that venue, time to fix that. We revisited the historic building (on 35th just south of Kenyon – here’s a map) recently to talk with manager Lou Magor and find what’s new – read on!Read More
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