West Seattle, Washington
16 Thursday
Two updates on tonight’s roster of neighborhood meetings: First, thanks to Pete for pointing out that we had omitted a mention of the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council‘s meeting tonight; it’s their holiday potluck, Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee), 6:30 pm. On the agenda is an update from Seattle Police on the rash of burglaries lately in that area (several of which have been included in West Seattle Crime Watch reports). Also – if you are going to tonight’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting (agenda here), thanks to Diane for reminding us that the location has changed; it’s not at the usual spot, but instead at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).
Just in case you were wondering – the resurfacing work along three blocks of California SW between Alaska and Morgan Junctions is NOT closing the road. We went out this morning to get a look at the work zone; crews were starting on the north end – at SW Findlay – and heading south toward SW Graham. One lane is open in each direction for the entire stretch. No parking on California on those blocks, though (and we saw what appeared to be one car getting towed from that zone). As SDOT announced last week, they found enough money in the “Rubble Yard sale” proceeds to add these three blocks of repaving work, which is scheduled to happen 9 am-5 pm daily through Thursday.
Need help wrapping your presents? “Wrap It Up” gift wrapping with Furry Faces Foundation and AARF is back:
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Added the latest from Occupy at 10:48 am, after the port news release; also added 1:11 pm, photo tweeted by WSB partner Seattle Times’ Mike Lindblom from Westlake)
As first previewed here last week, the Occupy movement’s “West Coast Port Shutdown” actions today include planned rallies/protests in Seattle, close to the lower West Seattle Bridge. The Port of Seattle has just sent a statement saying it’s “working closely” with authorities to “ensure that port facilities remain open”:
As you may have heard, the Occupy Seattle movement is planning a protest at Port of Seattle seaport facilities later today. The action is a part of a coordinated effort at ports along the West Coast.
Nearly 22,000 men and women work in jobs created by the cargo that moves across the port’s docks. Just one day’s wages for those jobs total $1.9 million – dollars that can’t be earned if they can’t go to work.
Money is tight for many of us, particularly at this time of year, and those who work the port’s docks must be able to do their jobs.
(Photo by Annika Bowden – Christmas Ship & fleet off Seacrest on Saturday)
The Christmas Ship is back for an encore tonight – but before and after that, we have major road-work alerts, planned protests that could affect the “low bridge” and vicinity, and a big football game of note to commuters:
CALIFORNIA SW RESURFACING: As announced by SDOT last week, three blocks of California SW are scheduled for resurfacing today through Thursday. Businesses in the area are reminding their customers that means no parking out front – for example, C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) will offer “Stop and Go” parking in the alley behind the shop (between Findlay and Juneau).
PROTESTS PLANNED: Possible afternoon protests near the east end of the “low” bridge (details here) as part of the Occupy movement’s “West Coast Port Shutdown” day. Their schedule, as detailed in our link, starts with a 1 pm march from Westlake Center downtown, and includes 3 and 6 pm rallies at the Spokane Street Fishing Bridge.
FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY OVERNIGHT CLOSURE TONIGHT: Though you probably don’t call it that, Fauntleroy Expressway is the official name of the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge, and the quake-safety work enters a new phase requiring some overnight/weekend closures. The first one is tonight, as explained here (with a map), 10:30 pm-5 am.
SEAHAWKS GAME TONIGHT: They’re facing St. Louis in the Monday Night Football game, 5:30 pm (more from our partners at the Times), which of course means traffic challenges in the stadium zone.
We will be tracking all of the above throughout the day and evening, so check back here for updates on traffic effects, etc. (as well as WSB on Facebook and on Twitter, if those are more convenient). As for everything else – the highlights:
LIFE’S JOURNEYS: 1-2:30 pm at West Seattle Senior Center. From organizers: “This group will explore the territory we find ourselves in when involved in a significant transition. Are you in a changing time – relationships, housing, health, mobility, losses, retirement, etc? Are you looking for ways to make new connections?” Facilitated by Laurie Becharas, Licensed Marriage and Family therapist, and D’vorah Kost, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Cost: $20/month donation; no one turned away for inability to pay.
WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB West Seattle Cooking Club! Today’s theme: Holiday cookie exchange! 2:30 pm, Beveridge Place Pub.
TINY TIGER GAME DEMO: As previewed earlier this morning – 3-6 pm at Cupcake Royale in The Junction.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT STREET TREES? Street tree ordinance public-input meeting, High Point Community Center, 6:30 pm, details here.
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting, 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – different location than usual.
WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? 7- 9 pm in the Community Room at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 7125 Fauntleroy Ave SW. Meeting and conversation with West Seattle neighbors and elected officials, hosted by the West Seattle Unit of the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County. Hear from West Seattle neighbor and City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and others about major issues facing our community as well as their priorities. Ask questions, and engage in conversation. Free and open to the public.
CHRISTMAS SHIP VISITS ONE MORE TIME: Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship in West Seattle one more time! 8:40-9 pm at Don Armeni Boat Ramp.
LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY INFO? Christmas lights, Christmas tree sales, and upcoming events … all on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
Two West Seattleites have just developed and released a new iPad/iPhone game for children, and are inviting families to drop by Cupcake Royale in The Junction this afternoon to give it a try – with free cupcakes and book giveaways for the kids. The game is called Tiny Tiger and Friends; its developers are Aaron Hedquist (left) and Steven D’Amico (right). According to the online notes, Hedquist’s firm The Curio Dept. developed it with the intent of not talking down to kids – “Children are way smarter than we adults give them credit for!” Here’s a kid-presented trailer for the game:
The game’s developers have serious pedigrees: Hedquist has been an interactive designer for a decade, with past projects for clients from the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum to the BBC. He is a partner at Curio Dept. with Fremont resident and software-industry veteran Scott Dierdorf. D’Amico is the illustrator of the “Ella The Elephant” picture-book series, for which he says a TV series is now in development. He’s also produced illustrations and designs you might have seen on websites for PBS Kids, Nick Jr., and the Disney Channel. Just bring your would-be game-tester to Cupcake Royale between 3 and 6 pm today (during CR’s regular “DIY” decorating party) to give Tiny Tiger a try.
Sports notes to share this morning from the weekend: First, congratulations to the two West Seattle Soccer Club‘s teams that the club says won statewide championships over the weekend, the BU-11 (boys) and GU-15 (girls) teams both named the Crush.
Second, in high-school basketball: Friday night, West Seattle High School‘s boys-varsity team beat Bainbridge 68-53 on the road, while the varsity girls lost 69-24. Chief Sealth International High School‘s girls-varsity team beat Rainier Beach at home, 54-12, while the varsity boys lost 83-52. And on Saturday, Seattle Lutheran High School‘s boys won at Shoreline Christian 58-46, while the girls lost 46-44. The Sealth games were at home, and we covered them; photos and summaries ahead:Read More
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*On Tuesday afternoon in a Junction-area alley, an alert officer spotted a man that he knew was wanted on a $10,000 warrant for driving under the influence. Upon arrest, a records check showed that he was wanted on a second $10,000 warrant for failure to appear on an assault charge. The West Seattle resident was booked into King County Jail.
*A citizen reported that a man was walking near 16th and SW Orchard with his pants down. Officers found the suspect near Delridge and Orchard, trance-like and unresponsive to verbal commands. He was transported to Harborview for an involuntary commitment. He is already well-known to area officers as a prolific residential burglar.
No LEDs in view; the lights of Christmas past still deck this little home in Highland Park. It is tonight’s featured display, thanks to a tip from Tiffany. This view is the “side show” – the side of the house, plus its back yard, seen from SW Barton, where the home faces 10th (its front is brightly lit too, but not as wide). There are multiple groupings of Nativity-scene figures, as well as Santa, Frosty, and the other secular Christmas classics:
We’re just shooting from the roadside; go see for yourself, to get a closer look and really appreciate the collection here. We’ve added this home to our new map of all the Christmas lights we’ve featured so far – the map’s on our West Seattle Holidays page, or directly reachable via Google Maps here. Got a bright-lights tip? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
7:51 PM: A few minutes ago, we heard two loud blasts that couldn’t have been far from WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy/south Gatewood. Mindful that these are usually fireworks, we didn’t call police, but someone did, as the scanner indicates two units are responding to check the area, after a call from someone in the California/Thistle area.
8:01 PM: Via Facebook, someone nearby says it was fireworks, adding that she saw the “sparkly” aftermath. No indication via the scanner that police have found anything, but we’ve got someone out looking around the area too.
(Click for a larger view)
Thanks to Shannon for sharing that view of tonight’s sweet sunset, photographed from Fauntleroy. The clearing just over the mountains at sunset time is related to the reason there’s a new weather alert out tonight – a “freezing-fog advisory”, from the National Weather Service, takes effect at 10 pm. It’s not just about fog-related visibility problems, but potentially icy-slick streets, especially bridges. We’ll monitor traffic closely tomorrow morning, just in case it leads to any problems.
ADDED 6:16 PM: One more great photo of tonight’s sunset just came in:
(Click for a larger view)
Thanks to Kristi for sharing this one via the WSB page on Facebook.
This weekend’s second local tree-lighting ceremony (after Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday) is now history, and festive history at that! With a trilingual countdown, the lights went on at Veterans’ Triangle Park (16th/Roxbury), as the White Center community celebrated its 2nd annual tree lighting. Last year, a longrunning effort to get power to the mini-park finally succeeded in time for the first tree-lighting ceremony (as reported on our partner site White Center Now). This year’s tree arrived just two days ago, as we showed you on Friday. Detailed coverage with more photos is in the works on White Center Now; we’re also adding this tree to our updated-daily map of local holiday lights – find it here or on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
Just look for the Airstream out front (it’s Caravan, featured in our West Seattle Art Walk coverage earlier this week) and the creative entrepreneurs inside the building, as the “Gifted” holiday arts/crafts fair/bazaar at Feedback Lounge (6451 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues till 6 pm. Unusual gift ideas abound, from the repurposed Frangos tin above, to star sketches, below:
And if you missed microphotographer Machel Spence at last weekend’s C & P bazaar, she’s at “Gifted” right now, and she can show you her photo spread in Natural History Magazine:
Other enterprises on hand include A Bit of Butter, seen in this photo tweeted by @bellwethr:
Almost three hours left to go check it all out in Morgan Junction.
Haven’t had a chance yet to get a Santa photo with your pet? Till 5 pm today, you can do exactly that and help the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic, which treats pets whose owners are in need, by going to The Puppy Perfectors, 9629 17th SW. West Seattle Girl Scout Rainbow Troop 52698 is presenting the event; photos are by donation ($25 or more – here’s the official flyer), but you can also help by stopping by for coffee, cocoa, or a holiday Stuffed Cakes treat ($3/$2/$1 donation respectively), and/or drop off a donation of canned pet food or other pet items (Puppy Perfectors has a collection ongoing through the holiday season). Thanks to April for sending the photo!
It’s the second Sunday of “Hometown Holidays” (co-sponsored by WSB) in The Junction – but the first with the Belgian-mule-drawn carriage back for free rides! Till 3 pm; get on board by the Hometown Holidays HQ canopy at the KeyBank corner (California/Alaska). That’s kitty-corner from Junction-sponsored Santa Photos at City Mouse (4218 SW Alaska), also till 3 pm (professionally photographed today, $15 donation goes to local charities). And of course the Farmers’ Market continues till 2 pm. Here’s the full Hometown Holidays schedule.
No, that’s not a typo in our headline – when we stopped by CAPERS in The Junction just before musician Caspar Babypants and artist Kate Endle started their 11 am appearance, we asked about the order of events – music, then reading, then signing, or? “We’re singing the books,” they explained, “so it’s a book ‘singing,’ then a book ‘signing’.” We’ll add video of the singing part when we’re back at HQ. You can find out more about their new books “Bunny Rabbit in the Sunlight” and “My Woodland Wish” here – they’ll be at CAPERS till noon or so.
ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Here’s the video, as promised. It begins with Caspar B explaining how he added the kids-music sideline to his rock ‘n’ roll career:
As Kate said in the comment section, pre-signed books are still available at CAPERS, among other items of hers.
(Added 11:22 am: Pathfinder K-8 selling handmade holiday wreaths again today at WS Farmers’ Market)
From the WSB West Seattle Holidays page and Events calendar:
FARMERS’ MARKET: West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska) – note that the market has a special evening edition 12/22, and then is closed the following two Sundays, since those are Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS IN THE JUNCTION – CARRIAGE RIDES AND SANTA! *Mule Carriage Rides* 11 am-3 pm, free. Take a traditional carriage ride down California SW pulled by beautiful Belgian Draft Mules. Carriages depart on California in front of KeyBank at Hometown Holidays Headquarters. Same time period, Santa Photos at City Mouse Studio and Store, professionally photographed by Donna Ryan Photography, with a suggested donation of $15 or more going to West Seattle charities.
CASPAR AND KATE AT CAPERS: At CAPERS, 4525 California SW: West Seattle artist Kate Endle and musician Caspar Babypants will be reading their two new children’s books, “My Woodland Wish” and “Bunny Rabbit in the Sunlight,” with a book-signing session to follow, and a bit of music. 11 am.
HOLIDAY BAZAAR AT THE FEEDBACK: Arts/crafts on sale at the Feedback Lounge‘s (WSB sponsor) annual Holiday Bazaar, 11:30 am-6 pm (6451 California SW).
CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT THE LONGHOUSE: Duwamish Longhouse Christmas Concert — Teachings of the First People with Ravenspeaker. Local Native storyteller Ravenspeaker (Robert Frederiksen) of the Tsimshian Raven Clan shares NW stories, song and dance. Born and raised in Seattle, Ravenspeaker has travelled all over North America as a recognized Culture Bearer for the Northwest Coast’s First Peoples. Children and friends will be invited to join in song and dance. Includes hot cocoa & cookies. $10 general, $5 students, retired seniors, unemployed. Doors open at 1 pm.
HOLIDAY PET PHOTOS: West Seattle Girl Scout Rainbow Troop 52698 presents Holiday Pet Photos at The Puppy Perfectors, 9629 17th Ave SW, 2-5 PM to benefit The Doney Memorial Pet Clinic (a volunteer-run clinic providing free veterinary care for low income and homeless people’s pets.) For a donation of $25 or more, you will receive a 4×6 print of your favorite shot and a CD of all shots taken. There will be fun and goodies for people and pets.
SELF-DEFENSE FOR KIDS: Class at Lee’s Martial Arts, 2-4 p.m. This class is designed to inform and empower children ages 6-11 on the basics of self-defense. The class includes a highly rated film, role playing and physical self-defense skills. Material is presented in an age-appropriate way and is taught by Lisa Skvarla, who chairs the American Women’s Self-Defense Advancement (AWSDA) and is a third-degree black belt in taekwondo. Call 206-938-3375 to see if there’s still room.
CONCERT AND FOOD DRIVE AT C & P: Trevor Ras performs live 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW, and it’s a food drive for West Seattle Food Bank – bring donations!
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE,’ RADIO-STYLE: 3 pm performance of Twelfth Night Productions‘ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show,” at Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th SW. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets.
‘EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY’: ArtsWest in The Junction presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!).” 3 pm; ticket info here.
‘WONDER’: Christmas Concert at Fauntleroy Church, 4 pm: “Wonder.” An original cantata by Bronwyn Edwards, performed by the Chancel Choir and various soloists. Details in our preview.
ADMIRAL SINGS CHRISTMAS: 4 pm and 7 pm, the popular annual singalong/concert, free (donations accepted, and nonperishable food will be collected too). Details in our preview.
‘EXTREME GINGERBREAD CHALLENGE’: Tonight at 5 pm in the WSCC Activity Center (4400 42nd Ave SW): “Join what will undoubtedly be the largest gathering of questionable talent for an amazing holiday creative venture which, while certainly being memorable, will also be contributing to our effort to provide clean water to a village in El Salvador.” At least 40 teams are signed up – come cheer them on!
WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK BENEFIT: Not in WS but benefits one of the food banks that serve our area: Dueling Piano Holiday Food Drive: 5 and 7 pm at Three Tree Community Church, 16261 First Ave. S. in Burien, to benefit White Center Food Bank and the Union Gospel Mission. Performers from Chopstix Dueling Pianos will entertain and take requests – for a donation of either cash or food.
WHITE CENTER TREE LIGHTING: 5 pm at 16th/Roxbury – details here.
‘BIG CHRISTMAS BROADCAST OF 1941’: Free show at Westwood Christian Assembly (with dessert afterward), 7 pm, 9252 16th SW.
FOOD TRUCK: Looks like just one visiting West Seattle today (aside from those based here) – Snout and Co. food truck at 35th/Graham, 11 am-3 pm.
Classic Christmas songs are made for singalongs, which is exactly the plan for “Admiral Sings Christmas,” the annual tradition that’s happening twice today at Admiral Congregational Church. Music director Keith Terhune wanted to be sure you were officially invited to be part of it. He, jazz musician Overton Berry, and The Admiral Choir are featured, and Keith explains, “We’re doing two shows at 4 and 7 PM with a chocolate reception 1/2 hour before each show. It’s the most fun way to really get everyone in the holiday spirit, singing as many Christmas songs as we can pack into an hour.” No admission charge, though donations are accepted, and they’re collecting nonperishable food donations, too. Admiral Church is at California/Hill.
Two weeks till Christmas! And while it seems the holidays are busy for everyone – imagine being part of your city’s best-known holiday production. More than a dozen West Seattle students, from a second-grader up to a 12-grader, are part of the Pacific Northwest Ballet‘s “Nutcracker“ this year, and in case you’re among the many people going to see it as its run continues through December 27th, we thought you’d like to know. From the list provided by PNB:
Calista Burke-Conte, “Small Servant,” Seattle Country Day School third-grader
Celeste Burke-Conte, “Infantry,” Seattle Country Day School sixth-graderKeegan Daley (above photo), “Toy Theater Boy,” Madison sixth-grader
Sebastian Fanucchi, “Infantry,” Sanislo fifth-grader
Nikolas Jordan, “Party Boy,” Westside School fourth-grader
Megan Kennedy, “Chinese,” The Center School twelfth-grader
Ailee Knauff, “Baby Mouse,” Lafayette second-grader
Carlin Kramer, “Fighting Mice Woman,” homeschooled/Running Start eleventh-grader
George Legler, “Little Boy,” Westside School second-grader
Vanessa Lincoln, “Tall Servant,” Seattle Country Day School seventh-grader
Benjohn Magcalas, “Toy Theater Boy,” West Seattle Elementary fourth-grader
Luchlan Munteanu, “Infantry,” Sanislo fifth-grader
Tayler Nguyen, “Little Boy,” Arbor Heights second-grader
Flynn Schuehle, “Tall Servant,” Seattle Girls School seventh-grader
Erica Schwartz, “Tall Servant,” McMurray-Vashon seventh-grader
Nathanlel Solis, “Fighting Mice Man,” West Seattle HS eleventh-grader
Fletcher Weld, “Toy Theater Boy,” Tilden School fifth-grader
PNB points out that you won’t see all of these students in every performance, as they have “two and a half casts” of participating children/teenagers. (P.S. Photo above was shared by Keegan Daley’s mom Sue – if you are a parent of any of the other West Seattleites in the cast, we’d be happy to add more photos – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
Before this season’s benefit beer Whale Tail Ale arrived, local venues raised money for nonprofits by selling its predecessor Löwman Bräu. At Beveridge Place Pub in Morgan Junction, the shared portion of the proceeds went to Camp Long – whose Advisory Council invites you to come help them thank the BPP crew next Thursday. CLAC’s Mat McBride sent the invite:
It’s been a good year for volunteering in Seattle. Good people rolling up their sleeves and putting shoulders to the wheel. But all that volunteerin’ is hard work, and the Camp Long Advisory Council is taking a break in December.
The Beveridge Place Pub made a generous donation from the proceeds of Lowman Brau to the park, and we’d like to say “Thanks!”. On Thursday, December 15th, the Advisory Council will present a limited edition screen print by local artist Damon Brown [right], and then stick around a while to raise a few pints. You should come and join us, it’s a great opportunity to support your local. It’s also an opportunity to learn more about Camp Long, about Environmental Learning Centers in Seattle, and about why we care so much about getting kids into authentic encounters with nature. We’ll be there from 7:00 – 9:00 PM.
Beveridge Place is at California SW and … of course … Beveridge Place. Camp Long sprawls across 68 acres of spectacular greenspace accessible at 5200 35th SW.
Tonight’s spotlighted Christmas lights are the ones that catch your eye just off the southwest (Fauntleroy Way) end of the West Seattle Bridge. In fact, they are on the east end of Fauntleroy Way itself, which runs a few blocks along the bridge in frontage-road style, in the 4000 block (map). Jodi lives there and also tipped us about her family’s twinkling display back in 2007. Since our photo is a wide look at the entire house, it doesn’t do justice to some of the close-up sights – you just have to go take a walk down the block; Jodi says, “We love it when families bring their kids and get out of their cars and walk around; we can always hear little voices talking about all the animals.” We’ve added her home to the list of featured lights on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page, and we renew our invitation to let us know about any must-see display, yours OR someone else’s!
ADDED 1:33 AM: Finally made a map with the lights we’ve featured so far (including the two ceremonially lit trees). We’ll keep adding at least through Christmas!
You’ll also find this map on the Holidays page.
Bigger fleet than usual accompanying the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship tonight for its first West Seattle stop this season. The Dickens Carolers are on board tonight, and they serenaded Seacrest Boathouse and vicinity with Christmas classics:
Two more stops for the Christmas ship tonight – and The Dickens Carolers are scheduled to be on board for those too – Lowman Beach Park at 8:50, Alki Beach at 9:40. Like Seacrest, those two stops also are scheduled to have a beach bonfire for spectators who want to warm up; the weather at Seacrest wasn’t too bad, chilly and a little drizzle (three years ago, on this night, The Big Snowstorm began right after the Seacrest stop – we never made it to the other two). If you can’t get out tonight at all, you do have one more chance – the Christmas Ship will come to Don Armeni on Monday, 8:40 pm, with Soundwave on board; the full regional schedule for the rest of the Christmas Ship season is here.
Tomorrow at Fauntleroy UCC Church, music director Bronwyn Edwards‘ new cantata “Wonder” debuts, and you are invited to come enjoy it, free. Here’s the story behind it, shared by Irene Stewart:
Wonder, a cantata celebrating the wonder of the season, is a new work by local performer, composer, and music director Bronwyn Edwards. Inspired by interviews with David Kratz, senior pastor at Fauntleroy Church, UCC where Edwards serves as music director, “Wonder” presents concepts and stories ranging from biblical times to modern day and includes personal reflections on the meaning and wonder of the season.
The work will be performed Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. in the sanctuary at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California Ave SW). The program begins with a carol sing-along. A reception will follow in the church’s narthex. The concert is free and all are welcome to attend.
“The music is diverse in its mood and message,” says the composer.
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