As the West Seattle Summer Fest motto goes, “Let’s close the streets and see what happens.” And as of this evening, till sometime Sunday night, closed they are – California SW between Alaska and Edmunds, and Alaska between 44th and 42nd. Setup is under way, but so is fun – The Junction’s third Shop Late Thursdays of the summer (till 9 pm – participating businesses are listed here), and more. We’ll have a full report later, but just wanted to remind you about the streets, for starters. P.S. Can you help make Summer Fest as green as green can be? There’s a need for volunteers on two shifts:

Volunteer Friday 3 pm-8 pm or Sunday 11 am-2 pm. Help educate festivalgoers on how to recycle and compost. Help make the festival a Zero Waste event! Contact Liz@wsjunction.org ASAP …

P.S. Our favorite pre-Summer Fest photo thus far:

Summer Fest officially opens tomorrow morning at 10 – we’ll be in the information booth again this year (at California/Alaska); come by and say hi!

The kids’ activities for West Seattle Summer Fest – in The Junction tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday, with co-sponsors including WSB – are headquartered in the Wells Fargo parking lot along 44th SW, north of SW Alaska. You’ll find art activities coordinated by Pathfinder K-8, which are free, and you’ll find the bouncy rides, which are not. For your planning purposes – the West Seattle Junction Association shared the pricing information from Clowns Unlimited, which provides the inflatable rides/activities. All-day and three-day passes are “unlimited use”:

General Info – We will be featuring 10 rides this year – Dual Lane Slide, Tub’s O Fun, Bounce Slide Combo, Circus Train, Wacky World, Swing Chair Ride, Carousel Bouncer, Fire Truck Slide, All Star Obstacle Course and Climbing Wall. To play on all of these rides one time would cost the participant $23.75. …

Friday – Hours: 10 am to 8 pm
1) All Day Pass = $17.00 per person
2) Three Day Pass = $35.00
3) Individual Tickets = $1.25 per ticket (Each ride takes one to four tickets each)

Saturday – Hours: 10 am to 8 pm
1) All Day Pass = $17.00 per person
2) Two Day Pass = $27.00
3) Individual Tickets = $1.25 per ticket (Each ride takes one to four tickets each)

Sunday – Hours: 10 am to 5 pm

1) All Day Pass = $15.00 per person
2) Individual Tickets = $1.25 per ticket (Each ride takes one to four tickets each)

Yet another Summer Fest preview in the pipeline for later. Reminder, road closures in The Junction kick in at 6 pm, and that means some bus changes too.

Two days till The Junction is alive with festival fun as West Seattle Summer Fest 2011 takes over the streets for three days (and two nights), this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Actually – if this is your first summer here – keep in mind the streets are scheduled to close at 6 pm tomorrow (Thursday) evening for setup, so the stirrings of Summer Fest are even closer. The basics are on the Summer Fest website – the vendor list/map here, music schedule here, GreenLife live-demo schedule here, kids’ area info here, etc. But we’re also checking around for more preview tidbits. Here are a few:

ART DIVE! Again this year, The Junction’s own Twilight Artist Collective is organizing the tent full of artists showing and selling their work. We asked Twilight co-proprietor Mary Enslow who’s hot/new – overall, she says, “We’ve got a great lineup.” From that lineup, she mentions Lady Plume’s Hair Designs, specializing in the hot new trend of adding dyed-feather extensions to your hair. “With Lady Plume, customers will be able to customize their feather combos and get them added to their manes on-site.” Mary also says that jewelry designer Lyndsay Brown will be back with Idle Hands Designs: “Her one-of-a-kind pieces are made from sterling silver, semi-precious stones and vintage elements.” And Solstice Designs, “Twilight’s former floormate from our days in the Pike Place Market … will be selling a variety of handmade goods locally made including lots of hair embellishments.” Overall, according to Mary, “At Art Dive, patrons can meet the maker and buy paintings, clothing, jewelry, magnets, photographs and more!” Look for the tent on California SW north of SW Oregon.

WHILE YOU’RE ON THE NORTH END OF SUMMER FEST … stop by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, WSB’s inaugural sponsor. Proprietor Lora Swift tells us she’ll have a “special Summer Fest menu,” with West Seattle-themed offerings. Hotwire is at 4410 California SW, just south of SW Genesee (with the courtyard that’s home to West Seattle Outdoor Movies, starting the weekend AFTER Summer Fest; 1st movie is Saturday night, July 16th – full schedule here!).

BUBBLEMAN IS BACK ON SUMMER FEST EVE: We confirmed with Elliott Bay Brewing today that, as has become a pre-Summer Fest tradition, the legendary Bubbleman (recently seen at the Morgan Junction Community Festival) will be in front of the restaurant/pub on Thursday night, always a treat for families enjoying wandering the shut-down streets while festival setup gets under way. This year, it’s a Shop Late Thursdays night, 6-9 pm, participants listed here – and Diminished Men will be playing outside West 5 at 7 pm, too.

If you’re a business with a Summer Fest sale, we’re collecting that info for our next preview, and you’re welcome to share a few datapoints so we can include them! editor@westseattleblog.com

Less than a week till West Seattle Summer Fest 2011 (with co-sponsors including WSB) rocks The Junction … and there’s more information online now, so you can start planning your time there:

GREENLIFE AT SUMMER FEST: Exhibits and live demonstrations will be the highlights of this year’s sustainability expo on the south end of the festival zone – and the list of demonstrations is now live on the Summer Fest website; find it here. For example – 4 pm Friday (July 8th), Connie from West Seattle Nursery has the (s)coop on raising backyard chickens; 5 pm Saturday (July 9th), Micah from the West Seattle Tool Library shows you how to make beer at home; 1 pm Sunday, Stu from Alki Bike and Board shows you how to make your bike electric-powered … and lots more before, after, and between all those.

REMEMBER, STREET FESTIVAL MEANS STREET CLOSURES … If you’re new, or otherwise in need of reminding, Summer Fest setup, enjoyment, and breakdown means the streets in the heart of The Junction will close starting this Thursday evening and will stay closed till next Sunday (July 10) night. The north edge of the closure tends to vary slightly year to year but keep in mind that the blocks of California from Oregon to Edmunds and Alaska from 44th to 42nd are closed no matter what.

… WHICH MEANS A FUN CHANCE TO EXPLORE ON SUMMER FEST EVE: Come down and wander those closed streets during Shop Late Thursday in The Junction, 6 pm-9 pm.

YES, THERE’S ONLY ONE STAGE, BUT … one act on the Summer Fest music list (see all 24 acts listed here) will be in the informal performance area at California/Alaska (by the Information Booth, where we’ll be helping out again this year). That would be Caspar Babypants, performing at 6:30 pm Friday, and you’ll see other types of fun performances and demonstrations in that area throughout the festival. P.S. The official stage for the other 23 performers/groups is on the north end of the festival zone, California SW between SW Oregon and SW Genesee (see the map above).

REMEMBER THE ‘HASHTAG’ … if you use Twitter, include #wssummerfest with your Summer Fest tweets.

Next Summer Fest update, we’ll explain what “Hack-Cycle” – which you might have noticed on the map – is all about, and introduce you to the artist who’ll be helping you do it!

One week from Friday, West Seattle Summer Fest begins its three-day run – the peninsula’s biggest party of the year. WSB is a co-sponsor again this year, and as we count down to the festival, we’ll bring you daily infobits, like these:

FESTIVAL MAP ONLINE: There’s more being added to the Summer Fest website just about every day. We’ve already told you about the music schedule and the vendor/exhibitor list; today, there’s a map. (The vendor/exhibitor page also includes this zoomable PDF on which you will be able to cross-reference, by number, whose booth is where – handy for plotting your course ahead of time if there are particular vendors/groups you don’t want to miss.)

DO YOU TWEET? HERE’S THE HASHTAG: If you use Twitter, the Summer Fest-presenting West Seattle Junction Association hopes you’ll share Summer Fest tweets via the hashtag #wssummerfest – which you’ll see prominently displayed around the festival; it’s now on the website, too. (Hashtags provide a way to collect messages around a single topic.)

PARENTS’ REST STOP: Donna Ryan from City Mouse Studio and Store is providing a “parents’ rest stop” again this year in her storefront at 4218 SW Alaska, right in the heart of Summer Fest territory. Donna says, “We welcome families with babies and young children to drop in to the studio space to feed, change or get a little break from the heat (wishful thinking here).”

If you’re a participating organization/business/performer/etc., we welcome your Summer Fest preview info too, to include in our countdown – here’s how to share the news.

(Our earlier festival coverage is here.)

We’re starting a new story for the last few “sunny, finally!” hours of today’s Morgan Junction Community Festival. Above, that’s the 2nd vendor/exhibitor area added this year, next to Washington Federal Savings on the northeast corner of California/Fauntleroy. Among those you’ll find there – Eric Thomas and West Seattle-based Solar Epiphany:

On the west side of California, there’s great music live in the park and alongside Beveridge Place Pub, free, all ages, all the way up till 7 pm. We hear many of the “Bite of Morgan” free food sample participants have run out, and festival organizers hope the participating restaurants will see you here for breakfast/lunch/dinner sometime soon – part of the point of today’s free festival is to showcase Morgan Junction, one of West Seattle’s fun little neighborhoods (not just someplace to drive through on the way to or from the ferry dock). Community groups and businesses (including us) are tabling behind Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor)/Zeeks Pizza and alongside Washington Federal Savings across the street, so come listen to music, meet new friends …

5:04 PM: Speaking of music – one of the midafternoon acts, Gary Reynolds and the Brides of Obscurity:

Performing now – Tongan musicians and dancers from nearby Seaview Methodist Church:

5:58 PM: The music continues for another hour – but the vendors have the green light to pack up, since the wandering crowds have dwindled. We’ll be here another 15 minutes or so. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hi – great to meet so many people, as well as to see all the community advocates and others who spent their day tabling here. Just two weeks till West Seattle Summer Fest in The Junction (July 8-10) – we are looking forward to seeing you there too!

The sun’s not here just yet but the people are. C’mon down to Fauntleroy/California for the 2011 edition of the Morgan Junction Community Festival. We’re with the booths behind Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor)/Zeeks Pizza on the northwest corner; we’ll be updating with photos and video Music and performances are under way in the park just north of neighboring Beveridge Place Pub – with The Bubbleman coming up at 11:15. His trademark purple van is already here:

The park is also where to get your “Bite of Morgan” tickets – free but there’s a limited quantity of booklets, first-come, first-served. Look for the info booth with the whiteboard:

Festival’s on till 7 pm.

12:06 PM: The sun is appearing intermittently. It was out for Bubbleman’s tour de force in the park:

Be sure to wander south of the park toward Feedback Lounge – not just because we’re hanging out in the vendor area behind it, along with cool people like Steve Louie and Ed Pottharst, two of this area’s coordinators from the Department of Neighborhoods:

… but also so you can buy raffle tickets to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank – Shannon‘s at the booth right now:

And on the north side of the Feedback, you’ll find a booth with Full Tilt Ice Cream:

(Sorry, they’re not part of the free “bites” – so bring a few dollars. And West Seattle Thriftway across the street is selling barbecue lunch with all proceeds benefiting the festival!) The music/entertainment lineup is here.

2:01 PM: The free live music is at centerstage – literally – as the afternoon goes on (see the lineup link above). There are performances in the park and at a stage alongside Beveridge Place Pub. Steady stream of visitors overall – people are here with their dogs, too, lots of families with kids, and thanks to everyone who has stopped by to say hi! We’ll launch a second report within the hour with some of what else is going on – including the vendors on the other side of the street.

Just two days till the Morgan Junction Community Festival, 10:30 am-7 pm Saturday in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW), with free music, food, kids’ activities, neighbors to meet (we’re co-sponsors and we look forward to seeing you there) … It’s presented by the Morgan Community Association, an all-volunteer community council, and they are looking for a bit more volunteer assistance to set up and take down. From Becky, the volunteer coordinator:

We need 1-2 strong bodies to assist with stage set-up at 6:45 – 8:00 am and stage take-down from 7:30 to 8:30 pm … 4-6 people to assist with traffic control between 10 am and 6:00 pm (assigning people to 1.5 hr shifts) and another 4-6 people to help with trash pick-up, and breaking down tables, chairs and tents between 6:00 and 8:00 pm.

Can you help with any of that – or think you might be able to, but have questions? Please contact Becky ASAP at beckbick@yahoo.com or 206-407-7618.

With the official start of summer just hours away, we’re looking ahead to this weekend’s festival schedule – starting with the Morgan Junction Community Festival (presented by the Morgan Community Association, co-sponsored by businesses including WSB), in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW) on Saturday, 10:30 am-7 pm, with live music, kids’ activities, and food, plus cool neighbors to meet. Food at the Morgan Junction Community Festival is a little different than your average festival – once again this year, they’re featuring the “Bite of Morgan,” which involves a free coupon book you get at the info booth in the park – first come, first serve! – to take around to nearby establishments. Festival volunteer Kate Gill de la Garza sends the updated final list of participants – nine this year, the most ever! – Abbondanza Pizzeria, Caffe Ladro, Domino’s Pizza, Feedback Lounge, Kokoras Greek Grill, Meander’s Kitchen, Pet Elements (doggie-treat bites), Windermere Real Estate, Zeeks Pizza. (And for a full-meal deal, buy lunch at the barbecue tent outside West Seattle Thriftway – all proceeds go to the festival fund.) As for music and performances, here’s the latest lineup; highlights include The Bubbleman at 11:15 am, the Tongan Choir at 4:15 pm, and lots of music before and after, including cover rockers Offenders at 6:15 pm to wrap up the festival, which runs 10:30 am-7 pm. More info in last week’s preview – see it here!

West Seattle Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB) starts 2 weeks from this Friday – summer’s biggest party in West Seattle, and it’s a three-day celebration as usual. The West Seattle Junction Association has announced a few more details today (we reported on the full music lineup last Friday): For one – the vendor list is now online; see it here. And Summer Fest is very “green” – besides the sustainability/garden expo Green Life, you’ll find Hack Cycle, described as “old bikes ‘upcycled’ into new bikes using human-powered power tools alone,” and a Zero Waste commitment – in partnership with Cedar Grove Composting, WSJA says, “All plates, utensils, beverage containers and napkins are either compostable or recyclable and volunteers will be staffing disposal stations to help festival goers deposit their used items in the proper containers to keep recyclables from becoming contaminated.”

Summer Fest hours will be 10 am-10 pm Friday (July 8), 10 am-midnight Saturday (July 9), 11 am-5 pm Sunday (July 10); the vendors close earlier on Friday and Saturday (6 pm and 8 pm, respectively). Keep an eye on wsjunction.org/summerfest for all the official lists and maps.

Starting six weeks from today, West Seattle Summer Fest takes over The Junction for the three hottest days (regardless of the weather!) of summer – July 8, 9, 10. Today, the West Seattle Junction Association has gone public with the official 2011 West Seattle Summer Fest poster. For the design, they turned to one of West Seattle’s most artistically inclined entrepreneurs, Jeff Gilbert of the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – who routinely designs grabby graphics for his own business’s online and offline promotions. In a news release, WSJA quotes Jeff as saying, “Being asked to design the poster for Summer Fest is the West Seattle equivalent of winning an Academy Award. I’ve been such a huge fan of the festival, every since I was a kid. More so now that I’m old enough to get in the beer garden! It’s an absolute honor to be asked to contribute to the West Seattle community.”

Also as part of the Summer Fest preps, this call for participation:

… we’re gathering performance ideas from the community. Calling all artists, dancers, and performers who’d like to showcase their talents in the heart of the festival. Performers will have a dedicated area (but not a stage) and a sound system. This a great opportunity for school groups, clubs, teams and specialized schools. Email info@westseattlefestival.com to express your interest in performing.

WSB is proud to be among the festival’s co-sponsors again this year! P.S. Trying to remember what last year’s poster looked like? We published it here.

Once again for this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest – July 8-9-10 in The Junction – Twilight Artist Collective is coordinating the Art Dive. And Mary Enslow from Twilight says they are ready to hear from YOU if you have arts/crafts you would like to sell under the Art Dive tent(s). Mary explains, “Art Dive was started as a push to create opportunities for artist who can’t necessarily invest in a booth. The artist are placed under a series of circus tents at the North end of the festival on California. Each artist gets use of a 8 x 2′ table or space to display their goods. Sales are direct from the artist to the customer and Twilight simply acts as a facilitator.” They’ve written more – and linked to application forms – via their website, so if you’re interested in being part of Summer Fest and having thousands of people see your creations (and hopefully buying too!) – here’s where to start.

(WSB photo from May 2010 Westwood Village Street Fair)
Outdoor-festival season in West Seattle is less than 3 weeks away! Even though Westwood Village is changing owners (the deal was made public a month ago), the Street Fair is still on. As announced online, the Westwood Village Street Fair is planned for 11 am-7 pm Saturday, May 21st, and promising “dog show, fashion show, live music, magician, and those fun inflatable rides.” Free. More details to come – but in past years, it’s been centered in the parking lot between Bed Bath Beyond and Pier 1 Imports.

(WSB photo from 2010 West Seattle Summer Fest)
While we keep cheering for spring to really get its act together, it’s nonetheless time to plan for some of summer’s biggest events as well – particularly West Seattle Summer Fest in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB again this year). It’s now less than three months away – July 8, 9, 10th – and we have updates this morning. First, the revamped Summer Fest website is up and running – see it here. Second, applications are available for two more of the festival’s features – the Art Dive, coordinated by Twilight Artist Collective (application available here), and GreenLife, coordinated by Sustainable West Seattle (application available here). There’s also still time to apply for other types of vendors, as well as performers (scroll down the left side of the new Summer Fest site to find the links) – and if you would like to be a Summer Fest sponsor, you have one more month to get in on that.