For all the Patches Pals – and pug fans – in WSB-land, one more photo from Saturday’s Westwood Village Street Fair, shared by Karen. She says, “My friend Kristi worked the Seattle Pug Rescue booth at Westwood Street Fair on Saturday. She got JP to pose with her pugs Viola and Suzy.”
First major outdoor West Seattle festival of the season, and the sun decided to defy the forecast! Dog show under way till 1 pm, JP Patches expected noon-2 pm, raffles (including a big prize from WSB sponsor Wyatt’s Jewelers), come down and say hi – you’ll find us next to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, with lots of West Seattle info. The street fair’s on till 7 pm, headquartered in the lot between Bed Bath Beyond and Pier 1 Imports.
12:12 PM UPDATE: Finally adding photos. It is a spectacular day and there are plenty of people here – great to meet everyone who has stopped by our table to say hi! Lots of dogs too – this is a dog-friendly event, and not just because a dog show has been under way:
If you stop by our table, we have a list of summer events around West Seattle that you can pick up if you’d like something to tack up to remind you of the highlights – plus some flyers about other things happening around the area. Meantime, JP Patches has just arrived as well and is onstage now – he posed for pictures as he walked toward the stage – here you see him with West Seattle Chamber CEO Patti Mullen, who’s tabling for the Chamber next to us:
1:11 PM: This is also a good chance to come down and learn a little more about local nonprofits – White Center Food Bank is here, as are reps from WestSide Baby:
If you come down, be sure to enter the drawings – we have entry forms at our table (across from Sleep Country and Radio Shack, under the red/white canopy, rainbow tablecloth, bouncy slides behind us). Right next to us, there’s a booth for the newly reopened Evergreen Community Aquatics Center in White Center. And among the many folks who’ve stopped by to say hi were a couple of young ladies handing out info about ReFRESH Southwest – the Delridge Day/Sustainable West Seattle Festival that’s coming up two weeks from tomorrow (June 5th, 1-5 pm, Delridge Community Center).
1:31 PM UPDATE: Here’s a full schedule of what’s ahead for the rest of the day/evening here:
Right now: Active X (sponsored by 24 Hour Fitness)
2 pm: Drawing
2:30 pm Fashion show (presented by Chico’s)
2:55 pm: Drawing
3 pm: Stephen Clark (magician)
3:25 pm: Drawing
3:30 pm Video Arcade Bus arrives
3:50 pm: Pizza-eating contest (presented by Giannoni’s Pizza)
3:55 pm : Drawing
4 pm: Live music – Another Perfect Crime
4:25 pm: Drawing
4:30 pm: Live music – Memphis Radio Kings
5 pm: Drawing
5:30 pm: Drawing – Wyatt’s Jewelers gold/diamond pendant
5:35 pm: Live music – Red Hot Blues Sisters ADDED 2:45 PM: More scenes from the fair so far, starting with JP Patches signing autographs:
Toby Matasar from Eats Market Cafe, which is selling drinks and treats including popsicles:
And this is the Wyatt’s Jewelers pendant that a lucky winner will get after the 5:30 pm drawing:
The Chico’s fashion show is under way right now. Here’s a shot from the early going (Heather is the model):
3:15 PM: We also have some photos from Highland Park photographer extraordinaire Dina Johnson – these are some of the more unusual dogs spotted at the event:
Reminder that we have the schedule of events higher up in this story – live music starts at 4 pm.
4:38 PM: Thanks to Tiffany for sharing that photo of her Jetson, with the news that he won 1st for Best In Show at the Westwood Village dog show earlier here at the Street Fair. She explains, “He’s a 4-month-old Deaf Double Merle Australian Shepherd Mix” and says you can find him on Dogster, here. We’ll be publishing a wrapup story late tonight with more Westwood highlights (including some video). Meantime, it’s music time:
5:08 PM: The Memphis Radio Kings – who performed at Feedback Lounge(WSB sponsor) last night as part of KEXP Hood-to-Hood – are onstage now (the stage is at the Bed Bath Beyond side of the lot).
As just forwarded by Delridge’s Neighborhood District CoordinatorRon Angeles, that’s the official poster for ReFRESH Southwest, the umbrella name for the combined Delridge Day/Sustainable West Seattle Festival event set for June 5 at Delridge Community Center. It was an agenda item for the North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s monthly meeting last night; Angeles asked the group for ideas on where to focus cleanup efforts for the Clean and Green event that’s also part of the day. Suggestions included spots where blackberry and ivy vines have overgrown sidewalks, particularly in front of vacant homes; Angeles plans to scout locations with fellow city employee Ron Harris-White. One other NDNC update: Nancy Folsom said the group’s ongoing Adopt-A-Street efforts will soon be recognized with a street sign, location TBA.
North Delridge Neighborhood Council meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month, Youngstown Arts Center, 6:30 pm.
(Photo from June 2009 Westwood Village Street Fair)
If you’re looking to start scheduling your summer – more dates are rolling in. Last night, we noted that Sustainable West Seattle is taking exhibitor applications for its festival, to be held in conjunction with Delridge Day on June 5th. The Morgan Community Association announced last week that its 2010 festival is set for June 12th. And the West Seattle Junction Association started planning months ago for this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest, July 9-11. Now, today, we have word that Westwood Village will have a festival again this year too – but earlier than last year. According to WV general manager Stuart Crandall, the date’s set for May 22. Full details to come, but they’re working on activities for not only kids, but also pets! 8:47 PM UPDATE: More details of the festival were revealed at tonight’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting (separate meeting story to come) – including the fact they’re expecting an appearance by beloved clown J.P. Patches! The news was shared by Evie Knoke, who had advance copies of promotional flyers for the festival. Also planned: Live bands, magicians, inflatable bouncers for the kids, hourly raffles including a diamond pendant from Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor), and an amateur dog show – you can sign up now at Pet Pros in WV.
This year’sSustainable West Seattle Festival is being held in conjunction with the Delridge Day celebration, June 5 at Delridge Community Center – and organizers are taking applications right now. Here’s the form – May 15 is the deadline for applications. (This is a change for the festival – it’s been held in May in The Junction the past two years – but this year, Delridge Day is a bigger-than-ever event, and the SWS Festival is part of it.)
The party has started – and it’s a raucous one! Starting at the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard and heading southward, HONK Fest West is bringing more than five hours of marching-band style music to venues around The Junction – free! – starting with Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band from Boston (seen and heard in our iPhone clip above). Schedule and maps here.ADDED 4:41 PM: We just took another spin, north to south, along California and caught up with several bands. We’ll break most of the video into a separate story later – including our short march alongside one of the bands – but in case you still haven’t made it down (some accounts say there’ll be music till 6) – here’s the exuberance of the Hungry Marching Band on the north side of the Walk-All-Ways intersection, in front of Cupcake Royale (WSB sponsor):
That’s one of many videos you can find on YouTube from last year’s Honk Fest West – which didn’t include West Seattle, but this year, as previously reported, it will. Just heard from organizer David Stern, who says more than 20 marching bands will be in The Junction for Honk Fest West on April 11th (other parts of the city earlier in the weekend). They’ve got a permit to shut down California SW that day between Alaska and Oregon, he says, and while bands will play in the closed-to-traffic street, they’re also still looking for other places the bands can perform – if you have a suggestion, please e-mail HonkWestBooking@gmail.com.
West Seattle pride is at the heart of West Seattle Summer Fest – T-shirts like that one, photographed at Summer Fest ’09, are one way to show it; if you’re a local business, even better, be part of the festival! Now that it’s March, Summer Fest is a scant four months (and change) away, and the West Seattle Junction Association reminds us all that the first deadline’s rolling up: Local businesses interested in being part of Summer Fest need to get their applications in by March 15 (as first announced here); make sure you write “West Seattle Local” in the comment area on your app. Get the forms here; see you there!
From last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting at Youngstown Arts Center, lots of updates, including new information about what’ll be the biggest Delridge Day event ever, as well as this fall’s Gathering of Neighbors. Read on for the full report:Read More
Our clip from July 10, 2009, captured the iconic moment of last year’s West Seattle Summer Fest – Dow Constantine talking about his eventual-landslide King County Executive campaign as he introduced Mudhoney, who performed for thousands in the heart of The Junction. Now the dates are set for this year’s Summer Fest – July 9, 10 and 11. And the five months between now and then will go fast, so Susan Melrose at the West Seattle Junction Association has an announcement to share:
I know it’s early, but we’re already planning for Summer Fest. There has been a steady stream of phone calls all month from regional craft and food vendors wanting to apply to this event. The good news is that West Seattle businesses get top priority!
In order to have a stronger West Seattle event, we are offering West Seattle businesses priority over non-West Seattle businesses if they apply by March 15th. If you’re a West Seattle business and want to apply for Summer Fest, visit www.westseattlefestival.com, download the appropriate application and write “West Seattle Local” in the comment section to be given priority. Applications received after March 15 will be handled like any other applicant.
Curious about Segways? Ride one at the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, continuing till 6 tonight outside Fauntleroy Church/YMCA and Fauntleroy Schoolhouse across the street (here’s a map). Another adventure – kids can climb one of those portable walls:
Crafts too:
It’s not all fun and games – you can find out more about what’s happening in Fauntleroy these days – like the deal to purchase the schoolhouse and part of its site, which Fauntleroy Community Services Agency‘s Kevin Wooley will be happy to discuss with you at his table:
And if you live in Fauntleroy, the Fauntleroy Community Association would love to have you in its membership ranks – look for the balloons, where we found Gary Dawson and Marty Westerman nearby:
Even if you can’t get there till the last hour or so, there are music and dance performances on tap too, plus bratwurst for dinner. Although we’re not sure if the dancing stilt-walker will appear again – we did get some video:
From tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting: Two big events coming up this weekend – Saturday morning, 9-noon, the Cove Park cleanup, volunteers welcome (it’s the little beach park on the north side of the Fauntleroy ferry dock). Sunday afternoon, the FCA is among those involved in the Fauntleroy Fall Festival (schedule details here), 2-6 pm at multiple venues in the heart of Fauntleroy (Church/Y, Schoolhouse). FCA also is looking all the way ahead to next year, discussion this year’s membership event/Food Fest and who to invite next year. FCA president Bruce Butterfield recapped last week’s meetings on the Combined Sewer Overflow projects (our reports are here and here); Vlad Oustimovitch reported back on last week’s Southwest District Council meeting (our coverage, here). P.S. Remember FCA is on Facebook – with detailed listings of upcoming events – you can “fan” them by going here. (Then be sure you’re connected with WSB on FB here!)
We’re off to get photos of both, but in the meantime, this quick note.
(photo added 10:59 pm – Proletariat Pizza proprietors Stefanie and Mike, and daughter)
As of a little more than an hour ago, it’s opening night for Proletariat Pizza on 16th SW in the main White Center business district, and cash only for starters, according to neighbor Full Tilt‘s post in the WSB Forums. Meantime, speaking of food:
(Friday night photo)
That’s the outdoor food court at Westfest (WSB sponsor) at Holy Rosary School (map here; event schedule here) and open tonight till 10, then 10 am-10 pm tomorrow. More to come!
Fire-dancing at dusk was featured again this year at the Nature Consortium‘s Arts-in-Nature Festival, which opens its second and final day at Camp Long at 11 this morning – last night, however, a different act ignited the fire … The Cabiri. These photographs are by Greg Wright, who also caught the aerial troupe in a less-incendiary moment:
Though The Cabiri isn’t on today’s Arts-in-Nature schedule, so much more is — see the schedule by looking here — including the Camp Long cabins in their temporary new roles as art zones:
“BIG BONANZA” DAY IN THE JUNCTION: Saddle up and gallop to The Junction for Western-themed fun spotlighting a multi-merchant end-of-summer sale – more than two dozen participants, many with deals you’ll find listed here; WSB sponsors on the participant list include Brunette Mix, Dream Dinners (discount on orders placed today at the store OR online – if the latter, note “Junction Bonanza”), Hotwire Coffee (drink specials), Mural Apartments (fees/deposits waived if you sign an agreement today), Square 1 Books (15% off), Wallflower Custom Framing (kids’ art special), Pharmaca – just get on down to The Junction and support your neighborhood businesses (and check out the Junction Association’s booth at Walk-All-Ways for extra fun, including the high noon water fight).
FINAL “MOVIES ON THE WALL” TONIGHT: That’s the trailer for “Cars,” the summer’s lastWest Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall presentation, tonight in the courtyard by Hotwire/Dr. Wolff. West Seattle Christian is tonight’s presenting sponsor and they’re grilling up FREE burgers and hot dogs before the movie, starting at 7 pm; the show’s free but bring a few bucks for charity-benefiting concessions and raffles.
ARTS-IN-NATURE FESTIVAL: Found that YouTube video of Nyamuziwa Marimba Ensemble – just one of dozens of groups, artists, dancers, performers and others coming together at the Nature Consortium‘s Arts-in-Nature Festival (WSB sponsor) today at Camp Long – 11 am-9 pm (and tomorrow 11-6) – schedule and much more info here.
(WSB photo from 2007) GREAT CROSS-SOUND RACE: This morning at 9, you’ll see dozens of rowers off Alki, heading toward Bainbridge in the annual Great Cross-Sound Race; the winner is likely to be back in less than an hour. It’s fun to watch from shore and cheer when announcers call out the finishers as they cross the line.
MORE! And the Me-Kwa-Mooks history talk, Washington IPA Challenge, dozens of other events, all in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.
(2008 Arts-in-Nature Festival photo by Marco, featuring Pyrosutra performing at Camp Long)
It’s the hottest ticket in West Seattle this weekend – The Nature Consortium is getting ready for its annual Arts-in-Nature Festivalthis Saturday and Sunday at Camp Long, and joined WSB as a sponsor this week to help get the word out. The arts at the festival span multiple disciplines, from visual to audio, from performance to participation, and the artists include musicians like now-West Seattleite Chris Ballew (from Presidents of the United States of America) performing as Caspar Babypants – here’s our video of CB at West Seattle Summer Fest last month:
He’s scheduled to perform in the Geodesic Sound Dome (one of five venues) at 2 pm Sunday; festival hours are 11 am-9 pm Saturday, 11 am-6 pm Sunday. Lots more highlights – including The Cabiri (aerial dance), plus your last chance to see Mandy Greer‘s art installation Mater Matrix Mother and Medium, a crocheted river by Polliwog Pond:
During West Seattle Summer Fest coverage last Sunday, we showed the West Seattle High School cheerleaders who were raffling off a barbecue while tabling outside TrueValue in The Junction. The winner — Matthew Mors, who sent that photo of the prize delivery, and this info:
The proceeds of this event will help the cheerleaders with their expenses for camp and uniforms. The cheerleaders would like to thank Junction True Value for the partial donation of the barbeque, and for allowing them space in front of their store for the three days of the street fair. The cheerleaders would also like to thank everyone that donated and really appreciate the support of the West Seattle community.
(scroll down for the latest photos and ongoing updates)
(Summer Fest organizing gurus with West Seattle Farmers’ Market flowers West Seattle Summer Fest is scheduled till 7 pm today – and while it’s off to a showery start, you know how fast the weather can change around here. One big reason to come today: Support the organizations and businesses that make West Seattle a great place to be. Dozens of groups are having raffles, selling T-shirts and providing other offers to entice you to help them get the $ to do what they need to do. And some are there to get the word out about big events ahead – like WestSide Baby‘s Stuff the Bus diaper drive (which WSB is proud to co-sponsor this year), just one week from today! Bring an umbrella – or wait a while till things change (we see a break in the clouds to the southwest) – see you there.
12:35 PM UPDATE: The sun has JUST come out! Lt. Ron Smith from the Southwest Precinct is supervising police here again today and just told us a great story – Somebody lost their spine at the Street Fair and has just been reunited with it. It started late last night when security guards spotted someone on the run with one of those plastic spines that chiropractors set up in their booths. The guy dropped the spine and kept running. The folks at West 5 took the spine under their wing, so to speak, and kept it till someone came looking for it today. And now – the lost spine and its owner are reunited. More common for police to be reuniting lost kids with parents here – although last night a service dog and its owner got separated, and you’ve never seen someone so happy as the owner on the way to the reunion. A West 5 side note – out front, you’ll find a booth selling items including these popular “West Seattle … More Cowbell” T-shirts:
12:51 PM UPDATE: We were asked on Facebook (find us there as WS Blog) if the bouncy toys in the kid zone are open despite the rain. Short answer – yes. They’ll be closed in case of MASSIVE downpour, or lightning, or high wind, but right now, open, and lots of kids are sporting rain gear. We wanted to add a thanks here – to the folks who’ve kept us hydrated during three days of tabling – including the Fresh Bistro team, which has been selling KILLER strawberry lavender lemonade at the booth just south of us, where they’re co-housed with Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor) — and Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor). Lots more candidate sightings already today, by the way – including Mike McGinn, the Seattle mayoral candidate co-endorsed by the 34th District Democrats this past week (along with Mayor Nickels, who we haven’t seen yet, though that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been here):
Supporter Christi Stapleton says they’re planning to set up a silk-screening station here shortly for people to bring their own T-shirts and get McGinn logos added to them. Also spotted, City Council candidate David Bloom:
He’s running for the same council position for which the 34th District Democrats co-endorsed Sally Bagshaw, who’s here today for the second consecutive day, and Dorsol Plants, who was also here yesterday.
1:51 PM: The crowd has REALLY picked up. West Seattle Farmers’ Market is wrapping up for the day shortly but we had some interesting sightings there too – like Kimberly Johnsen with live crabs from Quil Bay Seafood:
And your food options continue to be plentiful. Melody shares a photo of Isabella Sarkies with a giant slice of pizza from Talarico’s:
3 PM: As mentioned even before Summer Fest began, this is a big weekend for Junction Plaza Park – it’s getting a share of the proceeds from the beer garden at the park site (which we’re told did especially well on Friday night in connection with the nearby Mudhoney concert) and donations in several collection boxes – including one here at the center tent (California). One very young donor collected up all her spare change and decided to give it to the park – her name is Sophia and she got a boost up to the donation slot courtesy of Erica Karlovits, president of Junction Neighborhood Organization, who’s here as a volunteer for Friends of Junction Plaza Park:
When it comes to youth in action, some may be a little too young to volunteer – so they’re just having fun. Here’s video of Nathan (who incidentally is the son of Seattle’s Poet Populist Mike Hickey and his humor writer/photographer wife Mona), puddle-jumping around noon, just a few feet from our side of the big central JUNCTION/PARK/INFORMATION/SURVEY tent:
3:48 PM: Some kids are here with candidates – who happen to be their parents – like Sydney, who’s campaigning with dad Marty Kaplan, who’s in the City Council race with Nick Licata and Jessie Israel (who are the 34th District Democrats’ co-endorsees):
4:11 PM: We mentioned this on Facebook and Twitter but didn’t get a chance to add it here till now – West Seattle High School cheerleaders were raffling off a barbecue over at TrueValue – they were only there till 4, though:
4:21 PM: Just started raining again. Hope it’ll be shortlived. Folks are fleeing for cover and/or umbrellas at the moment.
4:35 PM: However, it’s not dampening spirits. Big crowd watching a dance troupe between us and the Alaska Stage. We’ll be adding video of that and of the downpour. The rain’s lightened now and more people have resumed walking around. (added 5 pm – here’s that video)
(added 6:43 pm – the downpour from two hours ago, looking toward Easy Street)
4:52 PM: Green Pajamas has started its set on the Alaska Stage, as scheduled.
(here’s video, added 9:14 pm)
Summer Fest continues till 7. Right by our tent, Easy Street Records just announced low-low-low prices on its sidewalk/tent sale, some items as low as $1.
5:31 PM: More candidate sightings – Norman Sigler, who’s running for mayor:
David Miller, City Council candidate co-endorsed by the 34th District Democrats along with Robert Rosencrantz:
6:24 PM: 35 minutes left in Summer Fest – definitely quieter but the music’s still going. Overall, even though the crowd was bigger (particularly during the Friday-Saturday sunshine), police tell us things have been relatively quiet. The booths are technically open till 7 (we’re here till then) but the packing-up process has definitely begun at some we just walked past. Time to start looking ahead to some of next week’s big events – starting with the West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park next Tuesday (7 pm, Hiawatha, with the West Seattle Big Band, free, bring a blanket and/or chairs, and help us celebrate the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition recipients!) — and more along the way, with next weekend’s highlights including the West Seattle Grand Parade presented by American Legion Post 160 at 11 am Saturday (preceded by the Kiddies Parade – presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle – at 10:30 am, all kids welcome to participate, gather at Genesee and California), the Alki Car Show all day Saturday, and the West Seattle Garden Tour all day Sunday ($15/person with kids 12 and under free, find out at westseattlegardentour.com where to get your tickets).
6:49 PM: Junior Member of the Team got a few closing shots – a booth wrapping up, and a young climber who wasn’t going to pass up one last chance to head for the top:
6:55 PM: With five minutes to go, the biggest question: How soon till cars are allowed through The Junction right now? We’re getting the answer from Lt. Smith and his team right this moment … Answer: Technically the streets are posted closed till midnight, but Lt. Smith says, “They’ll open sooner if they’re ready to.”
ADDED LATE SUNDAY NIGHT: Video of the last announcement of the festival – the guy outside Easy Street with a megaphone (and a siren):
The first two aren’t even ABOUT West Seattle Summer Fest (day 3, hours away, 11 am-7 pm) but we have posters on our side of the tent so we’ve been asked…
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SUMMER OUTDOOR MOVIES ON THE WALL? The series, co-sponsored by WSB and other fine local businesses, starts next Saturday, in the courtyard between Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) and Dr. Wolff. Here’s the official site with the full list and the cool poster (both in the right sidebar).
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SUMMER OUTDOOR CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA? We’re also co-sponsoring this new series, which starts Thursday, July 23. The lineup is on the series’ new website. (but you can get a taste of tunes on the Hiawatha east lawn THIS Tuesday, 7 pm, at the traditional West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park featuring the fabulous West Seattle Big Band AND the celebration of the first honorees in the new West Seattle Volunteer Recognition program). Next:
WHERE ARE THE RAT CITY ROLLERGIRLS? On the north end of the festival, not far from the California Stage, is where you’ll find their dunk tank, east side of the street. Now to the east-central part of the festival, the “community tent”:
WHERE’S THE DELRIDGE PLAYGROUND BOOTH? Holli sent that photo along with this explanation, after some folks saw the preview about the (heart) Delridge T-shirts and rushed over in hopes of buying:
Our booth is located on Alaska Street beside Supper Supplements, facing Cupcake Royale and Swee Swee Paperie. The confusing part is that our generous sponsor providing the booth, WS Nursery, has a huge banner along the top of the booths. We had several gardening questions today that we couldn’t answer …
Our volunteers will be there Sunday from 11am – 7pm. You can still buy T-shirts ($15). We have all our building volunteers, but could use some help preparing food.
The big playground-building day is this Friday! Next Summer Fest question:
(scroll down for frequent updates, till about 9 pm)
(Caspar Babypants – aka Chris Ballew of The Presidents etc. – live at Summer Fest this afternoon)
6 pm already. The West Seattle Summer Fest Street Dance is coming up around 8:15 – both stages, with Supersonic Soul Pimps on the California Stage, Thee Sgt. Major III at 8 pm on the Alaska Stage followed by 70 Proof at 9:30. You might have already been here today and are looking ahead to tomorrow – we recently found a few of the things folks have been asking us about. First, cotton candy is down on the south end by the kids’ fun zone:
And for the folks who asked us about hanging plants – Julius Rosso Nursery has a booth along the western corridor on California, near Husky Deli and Taqueria Guaymas:
A light cloud cover has just moved in and the temperature out here is perfect. Dinner time for a lot of folks – we’ve been asked multiple times about restaurant recommendations – rest assured, we’re offering plenty – the most recent folks to stop by the table went ding-ding-ding when we mentioned the Pagliacci $2 slices (as noted here a few days ago when they wrote to tell us they’d be offering that deal). Let us know about any deals you’ve spotted worth sharing for people coming tomorrow! Beverage deals abound all over the place – for healthy drinks, stop by the table outside Pharmaca (WSB sponsor):
7 PM: Light rain – nobody’s running for cover, not too serious, just summer rain. Also another candidate sighting – mayoral candidate James Donaldson is here.
Other sightings – “the wizard guy with the snake” is a staple at many festivals we’ve attended, and he’s here tonight:
8:05 PM UPDATE: The booths have closed for the night but the music is going strong – with the Street Dance getting going at both stages. Lots of people still here, including a sizable contingent of police – who tell us things overall have been even quieter than last year, despite what appears to be higher attendance – we caught a photo during “Summer Fest roll call”:
Uh oh – some lightning and thunder, just a bit to the northwest. Probably not a great idea to be sitting here with laptops and lots of cords, so we’re going to wrap it up and head north to get some video of the Supersonic Soul Pimps before taking refuge at WSB HQ. Will add that video and more pix a bit later. Summer Fest hours tomorrow are 11 am-7 pm – and remember the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is happening as usual too – Chipotle Mexican Grill plans a promotion at the WSFM, first 100 shoppers at 11 am get some freebies – they’re also delivering burritos to merchants.
ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: As promised, the Soul Pimps clip:
(Balloon artist Miriam FitzPatrick, who’s set up outside Petco) West Seattle Summer Fest has begun for its second day. Official hours today are 10 am-8 pm, but music continues after that, with the Street Dance at both stages kicking off around 8:15 pm. One note: The video arcade in the former northern half of Capers WILL be open today, according to Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association. More to come! (But if you have friends heading this way soon, please remember, there’s still traffic trouble on the WESTBOUND West Seattle Bridge because of the rollover crash we’ve been covering – here’s our updated report.)
11:16 AM UPDATE: Adding the first photos of the day. We’re told the video arcade should be open around noon or shortly afterward:
11:50 AM UPDATE: First candidate sighting of the day – City Council candidate Sally Bagshaw, who just got the dual endorsement of the 34th District Democrats last Wednesday night for Position 4 along with West Seattle’s Dorsol Plants. She and supporters are here with signs and flyers.
Also happening right now – Westside Dermatology, right around the corner from Summer Fest on 44th north of Edmunds, is having its Skin Care Fair today – lots of freebies (you’ll need sunscreen here today – they’re giving it away!) – and advice on keeping your skin healthy. Jon and Jennifer from Westside Dermatology (which is a WSB sponsor) stopped by our HQ at the Information/Junction/Park/Survey tent at Alaska/California (we’re facing KeyBank) to spread the word:
The Skin Care Fair continues till 4 pm. Live music also is about to start – earlier today since it’s now officially the weekend – as noted earlier this morning, Caspar Babypants (the children’s-music sideline of Chris Ballew from the Presidents of the United States of America) plays at 3:30 pm; tonight at 8:15, it’s the Street Dance, both stages.
12:16 PM: Just got a report from co-publisher Patrick at Alki Beach – TONS of traffic for theSeafair Pirates’ Landing (hard to believe because so many people are here at Summer Fest, but hey, it’s a big peninsula). Look for photos/video later (the Pirates hadn’t yet materialized as of a few minutes ago). Speaking of Alki, Shari Sewell from West Seattle-based Northwest Hope and Healing is here to get the word out about the second annual Alki Beach Run, coming up in September:
12:39 PM: We have word that the crash on the bridge we covered earlier is finally clear, so that opens up traffic to everybody heading this way (Summer Fest continues till 8, and beyond with the Street Dance starting right about then). Speaking of traffic – while you’re here, if you have a question about the Viaduct/Tunnel project and other components of what’s changing in the “corridor,” stop by the official booth, just a bit north of Petco on the east side of the street – we found Katie and Lara there this morning:
Tons of info online, by the way, atalaskanwayviaduct.org. Second candidate sighting of the day – now standing alongside our booth before working the crowd, City Council candidate Dorsol Plants, who chaired the Highland Park Action Committee during the first intensive wave of the jail-sites fight. Also here to work the crowd with him, Dina Lydia Johnson and her husband, previous HPAC chair Blair Johnson. Here’s Dina with Dorsol:
One question we’ve fielded several times – when will the Delridge Playground volunteers be in the Community Tent (which is on Alaska just past the stage) – the schedule shows them here 2-8 pm today, so you can get a raffle ticket, buy a (Heart) Delridge T-shirt.
1:07 PM UPDATE: Dave Montoure from West 5 just came by en route to deliver veggie dogs for the “dog-eating contest” coming up at 1:30. Lots of little fun moments like that throughout the day/evening. If you don’t get a festival guide somewhere else, stop by our table at California/Alaska, facing KeyBank/food court/Easy Street (we’ve got the first-ever WSB T-shirts on sale, $15, with $6 of that – past our $9 cost – going to local nonprofits). P.S. We have word now the Seafair Pirates landed after 1 pm. Co-publisher Patrick will be back with photos and video for a separate story.
1:32 PM UPDATE: Lots of other neighborhoods representing – besides Erica Karlovits from Junction Neighborhood Organization (whose next meeting is this Tuesday, July 14, 6:30 pm, Ginomai), Chas Redmond from Morgan Community Association (whose Cindi Barker was last seen heading for the Community Tent near the Alaska Stage), Mark Wainwright and Jim Del Ciello from the Admiral Neighborhood Association, Sharonn Meeks from the Fairmount Community Association; yesterday we talked with Bruce Butterfield of the Fauntleroy Community Association … there’s a list of all West Seattle community groups with websites. We also have information here about some of the upcoming events we’re co-sponsoring – Outdoor Movies on the Wall, starting a week from tonight with “The Princess Bride” (courtyard between Hotwire Coffee [WSB sponsor] and Dr. Wolff, at dusk) and ANA’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, which start a week from Thursday (July 23) with Alma Villegas. Here at Summer Fest, the entertainment’s happening everywhere, and demonstrations too, like the Evergreen Tae-Kwon-Do Academy right by our tent a bit earlier:
3:32 PM: Caspar Babypants is under way at the Alaska Stage, right behind us and by Junction Plaza Park and its park-construction-benefiting beer garden – whimsical music, geared for kids but fun for grownups too.
SUMMER FEST DAY 2: 10 am-8 pm, West Seattle Summer Fest will be in high gear for day 2 after day 1’s Junction jam – busier than day 1 last year by many accounts, and not just because of the Mudhoney crowd. Remember you can browse the vendor list here, the music slate here, other entertainment here, if you want to have a plan before you go – or come to the big tent in the California/Alaska intersection to get the official festival guide (available elsewhere around the site too) – look for the JUNCTION/INFORMATION/SURVEY banners. Junction Plaza Park information (and a donation “keg”) and the West Seattle Junction Association, which brings you the festival (and is selling Junction-logo T-shirts), are on the north side of the booth. Speaking of T-shirts, after noon today, we will have a limited amount of the first-ever WSB T-shirts available at our spot on the west side of the booth – $15, checks only; $6 goes to local nonprofits (beyond the $9 each shirt cost to make). But the really big deal on our side of the tent is a quick online survey for WSJA asking what you think of Summer Fest – please stop by, say hi, sit down at a laptop for five minutes to share your thoughts, and you get entered into a drawing for a $100 Junction shopping spree. We’ll report live from Summer Fest again all day and into the night (via Twitter, too, including cameraphone photo links, at @westseattleblog – also check the WSB Twitter page for other folks mentioning Summer Fest – some interesting tweets and photo links last night from the big concert – and bound to be some tonight for the Street Dance at both stages). Note (and thanks to Howie for the reminder), today’s music includes Caspar Babypants – Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America doing kids’ tunes – as seen here on YouTube:
Caspar Babypants performs at 3:30 pm on the Alaska Stage (previewed here though the time was different then). Now, westward from The Junction to Alki:
(2008 Seafair Pirates’ Landing photo by David Hutchinson) SEAFAIR PIRATES’ LANDING: Huge day at Alki Beach, too. The Seafair Pirates themselves say they’ll land between 11:30 and 12:30 – here’s their official page for the event – but there’s lots to do before and after – kids’ activities, food and crafts, entertainment. Someone stopped by the Summer Fest booth last night to say they’d never been and wanted to know exactly what happens. It’s a little different every year but let’s just say, lots of pageantry at sea – keep an eye on the water and the assembled group of vessels because you never know exactly what’s going to happen before the Pirates show up and storm the shore. Remember our state’s official ship, the Lady Washington, is part of it this year too. Now, on to High Point:
(Thanks to Daniel for this photo from Marination Mobile’s 4th of July visit) HIGH POINT STREET FOOD: Marination Mobile is back at 35th/Graham today, 11 am-2 pm, after its debut last week on the 4th of July. Read about ’em here.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE … The West Seattle Weekend Lineup has the full rundown for today and tomorrow – see it here. (And if you’re wondering – yes, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market happens tomorrow during Summer Fest too; more on that later.)
From tonight’s 
“BIG BONANZA” DAY IN THE JUNCTION: Saddle up and gallop to The Junction for Western-themed fun spotlighting a multi-merchant end-of-summer sale – more than two dozen participants, many with deals you’ll find 
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