(Sightseer photo from last Friday, shared by West Seattle Water Taxi enthusiast “expatom“)
Welcome to the largely-devoid-of-official-events week before Christmas, when all through the peninsula, not a meeting was stirring … There are activities, of course. Like today’s Afternoon Book Group at Southwest Library, 2 pm … It’s the fifth-to-last performance of “A Tuna Christmas” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 7:30 tonight (tickets available online) … Be at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) at 7 pm to sign up for the third weekly Scrabble tournament, this time raising money for Furry Faces Foundation … And the West Seattle See Dogs club meets tonight, welcoming everyone potentially interested in helping raise a guide puppy to become a guide dog (more info here). Last but not least, you never know, there could be enough of a break in the weather tonight to glimpse at least part of the total lunar eclipse – this seattletimes.com (WSB partner) story has details.

First thing in today’s preview: Chief Sealth International High School band director Marcus Pimpleton reminds us here that today’s the last day to vote for Sealth in the online Battle of the Bands – that link explains how, as does our original story … From the West Seattle Holidays page, 2 holiday parties tonight: The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s holiday party is tonight at Salty’s on Alki, 5 pm, and the 34th District Democrats, 6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, plus a port-wine tasting at Bin 41 (WSB sponsor and part of our deal-laden Holiday Shopping Guide), 5:30-7 pm … The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council has its monthly meeting an hour earlier than usual, 6 pm, including a presentation about proposed Duwamish River habitat restoration, then a holiday potluck at 7 (Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way) … At the south end of Delridge, the new White Center Community Christmas Tree will be lit at 7 pm … And two events are on the calendar this morning: The Funeral Mass for Tony’s Market proprietor Tony Genzale, 10:30 am at St. Francis of Assisi in Burien (16226 21st SW) as detailed here, and the “One World” discussion series at the Senior Center of West Seattle tackles “Winter Holidays Across Cultures” at 10:45 am (California and Oregon in The Junction).

What’s it like when your house is Ground Zero for school-auction preparations? Just ask Cosmo. His mom shared that photo as items for the Lafayette Elementary “Play It Forward” playground project auction filled the room last night – they’ll be moved today, since the auction is 6 pm tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy. We’re told Cosmo’s holding “the item he covets most, a box of games and toys from Atomic Boys.” (That Admiral shop is part of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping Guide, by the way.) Full auction list here. One more non-holiday event: Last info night for Get Fit West Seattle at West Seattle Runner, 7 pm. Also today/tonight:

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE TREE LIGHTING: 7 pm, 35th/Myrtle (map), the highest-elevation Christmas tree in the city lights up! OLG asks you to bring a nonperishable food donation for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

BELLS OF THE SOUND: Holiday concert at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), 3940 41st SW, 7:30 pm (full details here)

HOLIDAY STYLE NIGHT BENEFITING WESTSIDE BABY: Ola Salon throws a party for charity, 5-8 pm. Free services, drinks and food, raffles, donation of $20 or more at the door suggested, all proceeds benefit WestSide Baby – reservations not required but suggested.

And tonight begins the second-and-final weekend for the Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) holiday show:

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” is based on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film and being performed at historic Kenyon Hall, tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3 pm.

(‘Slip 4’ Duwamish cleanup area, photographed for WSB by Christopher Boffoli)
Here are highlights of what’s notable tonight BESIDES the West Seattle Art Walk, The Junction’s Shop Late Thursday, and West Seattle holiday events: 2 more chances to learn more about the proposed alternatives for cleaning up Duwamish River pollution, 3:30 and 5:30 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Georgetown campus (directions here) … Two major high-school events tonight: At West Seattle High School, find out about financial, with a rep from the National Education Loan Association on hand, 6:30 pm in the WSHS theater … It’s Multicultural Night at Chief Sealth International High School, featuring student performances and appetizers, 6:30 pm … And the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meets tonight at the WC DSHS offices (9650 15th SW), 6 pm. … More (mostly) non-holiday events on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page!

ADDED 9:09 AM: From the comments, one more meeting tonight of note for anyone interested in local Seattle Public Schools.

ADDED 12:41 PM: Couple more additions: Youngstown Arts Center’s All-Access Showcase tonight, with amazing performances by the youth who are part of the afterschool (etc.) program there, 6 pm; Sanislo Elementary has a fundraising book fair tonight at Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village – 6:30 to 8:30 pm – if you buy a book, be sure to tell the clerk it’s to benefit Sanislo!

This morning’s photo is courtesy WSB’er “Veteran Wisdom,” updating the installation of additional lampposts along SW Alaska in The Junction. A bigger light – Alki Lighthouse – figures prominently in one of today’s featured events (as does The Junction): The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle will hear all about it from U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Gary Blore, commander of the USCG’s Seattle-headquartered 13th District; the noon luncheon at Be’s Restaurant is $8, call the Kiwanis office ASAP for a reservation – 206-938-8032 … Tonight at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 7 pm, West Seattle CoolMom talks about greening up the holiday season as well as looking ahead to 2011 … From the WSB West Seattle Holidays list, Westside Dermatology (WSB sponsor) presents its first-ever Holiday Skin Care Party, 5:30-7:30 pm, free but go here to RSVP … Fine Films at Freshy’s (Coffee, 2735 California SW) screens “Elf” at 7 pm.

From the WSB Events calendar and West Seattle Holidays list: AAA West Seattle is having its holiday open house all week – stop in, 4701 42nd SW, 10 am-4 pm … It’s “Open Mike Monday” at Senior Center of West Seattle at 3 pm (call to sign up) … Bingo at Alki UCC church, doors open 5:30, 1st game at 6:30 (6112 SW Hinds) … West Seattle Hanukkah party co-sponsored by Seattle Kollel and West Seattle Torah Learning Center, 6:30 pm (call for location – contact info here) … As previewed here, two school events are also at 6:30 pm: Find out about the new Westside School middle-school program (7740 34th SW); get a design update on the Lafayette Elementary School playground project, school library (2645 California SW) … Monday night Scrabble, raising $ for local causes, starts tonight (previewed here) at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 7 pm registration, 7:15 pm game (3803 Delridge Way) … High Point Library Family Story Time tonight, 7 pm (35th/Raymond).

By the time hundreds of West Seattleites gather for the Community Tree Lighting at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska, photo above) at 5 tonight – emceed by Marty Riemer, featuring music by the Endolyne Children’s Choir – hours and hours of holiday fun, shopping, and helping will already be history. This morning, though, it’s all ahead: Two local service clubs are up VERY early this morning for signature holiday-season events – the Rotary Club of West Seattle gathers at SODO Sears at 6 to get ready to help local kids in the annual Holiday Shopping Spree (not a public event but you can help by donating here) … The Kiwanis Club of West Seattle invites you to the Alki Masonic Hall (40th/Edmunds) 7 am-11 am for its 64th annual Pancake Breakfast, with Santa Claus, West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty, and of course the famous fresh flapjacks … At 9 am, the Admiral Neighborhood Association hits the street for its quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup; be at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) to enjoy complimentary coffee and treats first … 11 am-1 pm, the new Fire Station 37 (35th/Holden) opens its doors for an open house, including dedication of its curiosity-piquing artwork “Lifter” … Sidesaddle Cowboy and The Danged play Poggie Tavern tonight, 9 pm-1 am, in a benefit for West Seattle Food Bank (bring donations) … And outside West Seattle but involving locals, if you can help: Load a container of Ghana-bound bicycles, 9 am-5 pm at Ecolights NW, details and directions here< Then, there are the sales, bazaars, open houses, Santa .... See the WSB West Seattle Holidays page for full details. but in short, the long list includes: More than 30 vendors at Highland Park Elementary, 10 am-3 pm (bring a food-bank donation for a free raffle ticket), plus a fundraising rummage sale … St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church Arts & Crafts Co-Operative Holiday Sale, bring a food-bank donation, 10 am-3 pm in the parish hall (Spokane/42nd) … Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s 1st annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Show in the social hall, 10 am-4 pm (California/Othello) … Affordable Art Sale at Alki Bathhouse, 10 am-2 pm … CAPERS‘ 26th annual holiday open house, noon-4 pm … Merrill Gardens at West Seattle on 35th (WSB sponsor) kicks off the holiday season 2-4 pm with fun from Santa photos to candy-making and kids’ holiday movies … West Seattle Family Zone hosts a WS Entrepreneur Show at 4502 California SW in The Junction, noon-2 pm … Holiday High Tea at Blue Willow Luncheonette, 11 am and 1 pm seatings, 206-938-0988 to see if reservations remain … Santa’s in the house at Westwood Village, noon-4 pm (bring food-bank donations, diapers are being collected for WestSide Baby, too) … South Park Arts‘ “Art Under $100,” more details here – 4-10 pm (8201 10th Avenue South) … And West Seattle’s two holiday theater productions continue tonight: “A Tuna Christmas” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, and “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” by Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) at Kenyon Hall.

At left, one of the wreaths that’s just gone up in The Junction, where the first Shop Late Thursday (previewed here) is tonight, with participants including 3 of our West Seattle Holiday/Business Guide sponsors (P.S. 15 businesses in the guide now – listing deals and special holiday hours!). That means you can shop till 9 tonight – which even gives you time after another big event tonight, Mayor McGinn with Q/A at a West Seattle community meeting, 6 pm (he’s on at 6:35 pm, as previewed here) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). And talented local students have several showcases tonight: At C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), young authors from Denny International Middle School are debuting their first publication with a special event 6-8 pm (5612 California SW; pizza and refreshments for all!); and two events tonight at Chief Sealth International High School – 6 pm, a Community Film Fest with student-made videos, full details here; 7 pm, Jazz Night with student ensembles performing in the auditorium. More on our calendars – holiday events here, other events here!

(Last Friday’s rainbow – photo by G. Sherwood)
If you missed trash/recycling last Wednesday (the second of 2 days with no city pickup because of the snow/ice), put out double today – though note that they’re not guaranteeing recycling … In lieu of business meetings, Highland Park Action Committee and Highland Park Improvement Club are combining it all into a Holiday Potluck Party tonight at HPIC (12th/Holden), 7 pm … Speaking of holidays – now that it’s December, the WSB West Seattle Holidays page is jumping – tonight, Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) has its annual Advent Program and Hobby Table, 7 pm (3940 41st SW) … As previewed here last night, “A Tuna Christmas” opens at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm … Also in The Junction tonight, Bin 41 presents a tasting with two Washington winemakers, 5:30 pm-7 pm … And The Kenney is hosting a free book reading and signing with Tony Vivolo, author of “Growing Up in New York’s Italian South Village,” 6 pm (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW) … More on the calendar!

(Sanderlings in flight at Alki, photographed by Danny McMillin last weekend)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: If you have Tuesday trash/recycling pickup, you can put out double today since the snow/ice canceled last week’s pickup (same goes for tomorrow) … Good news about today’s forecast: Not as windy as it had been looking – but still breezy, up to 30 mph … At City Hall this morning, the City Council’s Committee for the Built Environment considers the California SW upzoning proposal, 9 am (details here) … Love classic movies? Merrill Gardens at West Seattle (WSB sponsor) invites you to a Classic Movie Afternoon, 1 pm, featuring “42nd Street,” free admission and refreshments, 4611 35th SW … More on the calendar!

(Sunday photo from aboard the Washington State Ferry Klahowya, courtesy of Cheryl)
Apropos to this morning’s featured photo, tonight is the periodic Washington State Ferries community meeting for ferry riders along the run that includes West Seattle (Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth). But you’ll have to take a ferry (or drive the long way around) to get there – it’s in Port Orchard, John Sedgwick Junior High (map), 6:30 pm. … If you drive Highway 99 on the north side of downtown, ramp closures during the day today and overnight tonight might affect you – check out the details here … Nothing on the West Seattle Holidays page for tonight, but take a minute to browse ahead to later this week – TONS going on. (And if you have events/holiday services/giving opportunities that you don’t see listed there, please let us know!)

(Photo added Sunday evening – the Pathfinder K-8 wreath sales mentioned below)
In contrast to event-laden Saturday (scroll down the home page to see all the coverage!), today is relatively low-key around West Seattle – at least so far as our Events calendar goes. But there’s still plenty to do. Going to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market? The Pathfinder K-8 school community is scheduled to start selling its handmade wreaths today – raising money to help subsidize students’ outdoor education – more details here (scroll down). Also at the market, 10 am-2 pm as always at 44th/Alaska, here’s what the weekly Ripe ‘n’ Ready list says you’ll find. … Also in The Junction: Friends of the Animals Foundation will have adoptable pets at Next to Nature today (still checking on the times) … And in the “not just Small Business Saturday but Small Business Everyday” vein, three WSB sponsors are among the local businesses that can help you savor your Sunday: Skylark Café (3803 Delridge Way) serves brunch till 3 pm and then there’s all-ages, no-cover live music tonight, with Petros (from Foundry Fire) at 7 pm, The Frost Giants at 8:30 pm (full calendar here); at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW), your Sunday-afternoon relaxation will include live music 3-5 pm by Jacob McCaslin (full calendar here); and at Feedback Lounge (6451 California SW), Sunday ribs have returned, starting at 5 pm.

Mega-quick updates in case you haven’t found them in the regional media:

WEATHER: Snow or no snow? There is NO special advisory or warning out for our area so far – though some other parts of Western Washington have one. The latest forecast for our area has excised the word “snow” until “chance of snow showers” Monday-Tuesday.

GROCERY WORKERS: Will QFC, Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer workers walk out? Still negotiating at last report. The union that’s been sending out most of the updates from the workers’ point of view is promising an update late tonight/early tomorrow (if nothing dramatic happens sooner) on where things stand.

Highlights today/tonight: “Family Science Night at your Hiawatha Community Center will dazzle, amaze, and educate,” they promise – and it’s tonight, “show at 6, experiments at 7,” $5 per family up to four people, $8 for larger families … Nature Consortium‘s toddler-friendly tree-planting at 10 am and eco-hike at 1 pm, both in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, are both today … The West Seattle Garden Club meets 10 am-2 pm at Delridge Community Center, including a 1 pm program on fall/winter garden color; visitors welcome, $5 donation … Fauntleroy Church‘s Fine Art Show and Holiday Gift Faire opens its 3-day run tonight, with 15 talented West Seattle artists and crafters displaying and selling work in a variety of media and prices, 5 pm-8 pm … The 2-day Holiday Open House for Northwest Art and Frame starts tonight, 5-9 pm … While you’re in The Junction for that, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy (WSB sponsor) offers winter skin-health advice 5-6 pm … Miss the last introductory gathering for Get Fit West Seattle (explained here)? You’ve got another chance tonight at West Seattle Runner … And as reported last night, Seattle Lutheran‘s soccer team is in the state semifinals this afternoon.

(The Delridge Dragonfly Pavilion, by pye42, from the WSB Flickr group)
Some of what’s on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for tonight: It’s the 2nd annual Seahawk Spirit Dinner and Auction at Chief Sealth International High School, starting with building tours at 4:30 pm – more here … Meet your Alki Community Center Advisory Council and ACC staff by joining them for a spaghetti dinner tonight – $2/person, $5 family, 6-8 pm … Also at the beach, the Alki Community Council meets at Alki UCC, 61st/Hinds, 7 pm, with a visit from nearby resident City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen on the agenda … The Sanislo Elementary PTA meets tonight, 6:30 pm … Got two hours to help WestSide Baby move 100,000 diapers, among other things? … 7-9 pm, RSVP details here … Of citywide interest given that the City Council’s budget vote is days away, the Seattle Parks Board meets tonight at Parks HQ downtown (agenda here), 7 pm, and while no formal budget briefing is planned, it’s bound to be part of the discussion; Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, chair of the council’s Parks Committee, will be there.