West Seattle, Washington
17 Sunday
Even if you’re not planning to party all night on New Year’s Eve, going out to dinner seems to be a growing tradition, so the NYE section at the end of the WSB West Seattle Holidays page has a growing list of who’s offering special menus that night around here. We have five so far and room for more, if you are a restaurant owner/employee, or know of something special at your favorite West Seattle/White Center eatery, please let us know so we can add it! (We’re building the list of “who’s open Christmas Eve/Day” too.) editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks! We’ll also take the opportunity to remind you about the one-week-old WSB West Seattle Restaurant Guide; thanks to those who are adding comments to their favorite eateries’ pages (advice on favorite dishes/drinks particularly welcome). And thanks for the feedback; we’re working on additions and other tweaks.
In holiday mode yet? Much of what’s on the list today is from the WSB West Seattle Holidays page – well, and then there are the road and bridge alerts (our photo above shows the still-under-construction 1st Avenue South ramp to the WS Bridge):
ROAD WORK ON 35TH SW: Repaving work is scheduled to wrap up today on 35th SW between Myrtle and Othello – details here.
ROAD WORK ON 48TH SW: Road repair work is scheduled to start in the 6500 block of 48th SW – details here.
WESTBOUND SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT CLOSED OVERNIGHT: 9 pm-5 am, which means no entrance to the West Seattle Bridge from I-5 or Beacon Hill, and during that same time frame, the 1st S./Spokane surface intersection will be closed. This is part of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project.
FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY: A third night of 9 pm-5 am closure of the west end of the bridge is also on the schedule (though we are checking with SDOT to be sure these two bridge closures really are happening the same night).
THREE CHANCES TO SEE SANTA: He’s scheduled to be at JF Henry Kitchenware, Tableware, and Gifts (4445 California SW; WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 11 am-2 pm; West Seattle Thriftway, 3-7 pm; Westwood Village till 8 pm.
HIGH TIDES: They’re really high – the so-called “king tides” – for much of the rest of the month. While the peak here will be the two days after Christmas, today’s is 12.2 feet at 12:46 pm. Here’s the chart for the month.
GRAND OPENING: At 35th/Henderson, new salon CoCo & Co. will be having a Grand Opening and Holiday Party. They invite you to visit between 4 PM to 8 PM to “meet the staff, eat some snacks, enjoy the music and get the grand tour. We will be providing cupcakes from Stuffed Cakes, appetizers from Von’s Roast House, coffee from Bird on a Wire Espresso and music by Sphinx Akashaa Duncan.”
SOLSTICE SUNSET VIEWING: Winter solstice arrives at 9:30 pm our time – and tonight brings a sunset-viewing event at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) with Alice Enevoldsen of Alice’s Astro Info, be there by 4:05 pm (if not sooner).
HANUKKAH CONTINUES: Second night of Hanukkah – local events tomorrow night and Friday night, as listed on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
NO DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT, BUT … DNDC leadership announced a potluck/community mixer at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 7-9 pm. Bring something to share.
INFO NIGHT FOR ‘GET FIT WEST SEATTLE‘: From West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor):
Ever wanted to run or walk a 5K? A 10K? A half marathon? Ever wondered how you would get in shape for one of these and didn’t know where to start? Maybe you have never run before or just want to get in better shape? Well, then this is the program for you! A fully supported, free training program that takes you from never running or from low mileage running to running/walking a half marathon in 23 weeks. This program will allow you to miss some weeks and still be on track to run/walk the Rock and Roll Seattle Half Marathon in June of 2012. The training starts very slow and builds gradually, ensuring you don’t get discouraged with your progress and trying to keep injuries down to a minimum. There will be races added along the way to keep it interesting, including a 5K (or 2, or 3), a 10K, a 15K, and ending with the Rock and Roll Half Marathon, June 23rd. (All race entry fees will be paid for by the participant). It will also introduce you to others from the area, as there will be weekly group runs. There will also be information nights were you will learn about nutrition, injury prevention, stretching, cross training ideas, proper footwear and apparel, and others we will add along the way. So come out, enjoy yourself, get healthy and meet your neighbors! 48 Half Marathon finishers in 2011, let’s double that in 2012!
7 pm tonight at WS Runner (California/Charlestown) – same time 12/28 and 1/4, if you can’t make it tonight.
ONSTAGE AT ARTSWEST: Final week – ArtsWest presents the Seattle premiere of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez. 7:30 pm, ticket info here.
(October 2010 photo by Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales)
Orca pregnancies are said to last up to 17 months – so when southern resident killer whale J16 was photographed by West Seattle whale educator/researcher Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales 14 months ago, she just might have been carrying the newborn calf that’s with her now. The new baby orca was announced in Orca Network‘s Tuesday night e-mail newsletter (see it here if you haven’t already). S/he may not even be a week old yet. The baby, known as J48, is in this photo. Writer Candice Calloway Whiting says this is only the second baby born to the southern-resident orcas this year, and that they now number 89 with J48’s arrival. Reports so far do not say where researchers saw and photographed the newborn orca last weekend.
Lilith e-mailed WSB, wondering if you’ve seen any or all of the bicycles stolen from her porch.
Last Friday night someone stole three bikes off our front porch. We live between Genesee Hill and Alaska Junction. No, they weren’t locked. (Though some of the ones that weren’t stolen were locked–yes, we have a lot bikes.)
We actually heard the noises on the porch about 3:00 am, but initially thought it was our nephew getting his bike to go to work. They made a big crashing noise when they took the second and third ones, though, and didn’t come back for more since we came running out. They must have ridden them away, because we didn’t hear a car or footsteps.
These bikes really have no resale value, so I can’t imagine they were stealing them to sell. They are probably in someone’s alley or at a park. We have looked, but are hoping that someone else may have seen them.
Photos and more information ahead:Read More
Another basketball showdown between neighboring high schools – this time, Chief Sealth International High School and Evergreen High School (White Center), in a girls-varsity game tonight at Sealth. The home team won big; more details and photos ahead:Read More
We had set out to check an Admiral District tip “around 37th/Hanford” but might have been too early – didn’t see the lights in question. However, we found these two homes nearby, at Belvidere/Hanford, and though neither is completely awash in lights, each had a distinctive feature – the luminarias above, and the non-plastic, non-inflatable creche scene below:
We’ve added that corner to the WSB West Seattle Christmas Lights map – and will keep adding at least through Christmas Day; tips still welcome at editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks to everyone who’s helped so far (especially the display creators themselves!)
Long before night fell, we photographed the marquee for posterity (and reminders via Twitter and via Facebook) … Tonight’s the night the doors to the Admiral Theater swung wide open for a free holiday treat, a hot ticket indeed:
Those are some of the moviegoers now watching “A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie,” courtesy of The Admiral and its fellow Admiral District businesses. And look who was there to help Admiral boss Dinah Brein share the holiday cheer (and collect donations for the Humane Society):
We have it on good authority that Santa, in this case, likely arrived via two wheels, rather than eight tiny reindeer. P.S. If you feel like a movie Christmas Day, the Admiral will open at 4 pm Sunday (after closing following the matinees on Christmas Eve).
3:47 PM: Thanks to everybody who called/e-mailed about a major police response in Highland Park, in the 16th/Trenton vicinity. It started with an attempted burglary, according to officers at the scene – including today’s tweetalong-ing Officer Scott Luckie, who hadn’t even gotten a chance to put the news on Twitter yet. Three people in custody, and one vehicle under investigation (in photo above). If/when we get more details, we’ll add them here. (added – one of Officer Luckie’s later tweets, with a photo)
Also via Twitter, the officer says two of the suspects were found in that vehicle, one “hiding in the bushes” at the targeted house.
ADDED 4:15 PM: Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen tells WSB the suspects in this case are “2 males, 1 female,” and are indeed suspects of which police were “aware.” Moments before we asked him about this case, he had sent this update on the overall burglary situation in West Seattle:
As I have stated previously, since Thanksgiving, the West Seattle community had experienced a significant increase in residential burglaries. The men and women of the Southwest Precinct have made apprehending the suspects in these crimes their major priority. Each time a suspicious circumstance call is dispatched, multiple officers have been dropping what they had been doing and rushing to the area.
In the past 3 weeks, we have identified 20 individuals as well as many vehicles. A number of these individuals have been committing burglaries in other Puget Sound communities. We have been collaborating with a number of police agencies who have experienced similar trends and suspects. Most if not all of the suspects are not from the West Seattle community. To date, we have arrested 8 in the past couple of weeks. Our residential burglaries have been reduced by half just within the past week. We will continue to locate and develop probable cause for the outstanding suspects.
Again, I would like to thank our West Seattle community for their assistance in reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhoods…Their observations and 911 reporting have had a tremendous impact in helping us apprehend these individuals which in return have made their neighborhoods safer.
(WSB photo from October 24, taken at Seacrest Pier)
We were asked recently about West Seattle Water Taxi ridership since the week-plus Alaskan Way Viaduct closure. Found the answer hiding in plain sight on the Water Taxi website. Even after the late-October closure, ridership ran way above last year, according to this month-by-month chart, which reports 9,734 rides last month – close to quadruple the 2,578 rides in November of last year. According to both the King County Ferry District‘s online budget documents and discussions we’ve had with the staff of County Councilmember Joe McDermott (who chairs the Ferry District’s Board, another set of hats the council wears), the 2012 plan for the Water Taxi includes a 50-cent fare increase in the spring as well as ongoing planning for new vessels to take the place of the leased boats that have been in use on the WS and Vashon routes. (Most of the cost of those boats will be borne by grants from the federal government.) One more note: No Water Taxi service on the two upcoming “official holiday” Mondays, December 26 and January 2.
Southwest Precinct Officer Scott Luckie admits he wasn’t using Twitter till he was “volunteered” for today’s “tweetalong,” the latest in a series that Seattle Police have done around the city – first one in West Seattle. Until 8 pm, he is “tweeting” what happens during his shift patrolling eastern West Seattle and South Park, starting with the routine – a mention of roll call (11 am, just before we stopped by the precinct to talk with him – the photo at right is the one WE took for Twitter), followed by this:
What will the rest of the day bring? You can follow along at twitter.com/seattlepd. Officer Luckie told us calls he answered in the past few days including a man trying to break into a house by using a chain saw. (We’re looking for the report on that one.) He has some ground rules to follow, including no photos of suspects’ faces, but otherwise, he’s the one doing the tweeting (which surprised us – we figured he might have someone from downtown along for the ride, helping out).
From Cyndi and Steve:
Just a heads-up – last night after 9:00 two of our large outside Christmas decorations were stolen in the 5400 block of 49th Ave SW [map]. One was a a lighted polar bear & the other was a lighted Christmas stocking with presents.
What makes this more difficult is that we lost both of my parents this year as well as other things & we were not going to put anything out but we did it for the neighbors.
Just before winter break, Seattle Lutheran High School students and staff “hit the streets,” as SLHS’s Bil Hood put it, for their traditional community service “to say Thank You and Merry Christmas to this community which has blessed us through the years.” He shared these photos of their work, from food-bank/church/school volunteer projects to quilt-making and cookie-baking – plus yard work “for homeowners who cannot get out themselves.”
(P.S. Though it’s winter break, there’s still activity at the SLHS campus on the north end of The Junction today – basketball games this afternoon vs. the visiting team from Concrete.)
Among the road work continuing today/tonight, the repaving of a block of 35th SW, where we photographed that crew by former Fire Station 37 on Monday. That’s part of what’s on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar and Holidays page for today/tonight:
FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH: Hanukkah, the eight-night Festival of Lights, begins tonight. No West Seattle events on the calendar tonight, but there’s one on Thursday and one Friday – see the Holidays page.
FREE CHRISTMAS MOVIE AT THE ADMIRAL: Tonight at the Admiral Theater, “A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie,” 7 pm, presented by the businesses of the Admiral District. Bring donations for the Seattle Humane Society/Animal Shelter, updated details here. Santa’ll be there too.
SPEAKING OF SANTA: You’ll find him at West Seattle Thriftway 3-7 pm today (California/Fauntleroy) and at Westwood Village (in the breezeway between Bed Bath Beyond and Jamba Juice) 10 am-8 pm.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS RUN: As previewed here last night, the folks at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) are inviting you to join a 3.5-mile “slow” run to see some of the area’s lights tonight, starting at the store (California/Charlestown – meet at 6 pm) and ending at the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular a few blocks east.
CHRISTMAS TREES: Updates to the list on the Holidays page – Stop n Shop at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon) – which just sent the above photo – now has trees for $10. Also, as noted yesterday, West Seattle Nursery has cut prices by 33 percent and West Seattle Produce by 25 percent.
35TH SW REPAVING: It’s scheduled to continue during the day today between Othello and Myrtle. Full details here.
FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY CLOSURE: The west end of the West Seattle Bridge is scheduled for more earthquake-safety work tonight, which means it’s closed 9 pm-5 am. Eastbound, you won’t be able to get on at 35th; westbound, you will have to exit at Delridge. Project details and detour map are here.
SOUTHWEST PRECINCT ‘TWEETALONG’: Seattle Police have done this in other precincts, and today is the SW Precinct’s turn – they’ll be chronicling an officer’s entire shift on Twitter. Details here; to see the tweets, start checking the SPD Twitter feed after 11 am. (You don’t have to be a Twitter user to follow that link.)
Many West Seattle businesses (and other places) make space for “giving trees” this time of year – usually decorated with cards listing gift wishes for people in challenging circumstances. Because of the time needed for distribution, some deadlines already have passed – but not this one. Natalie Dolci from the Salvation Army‘s Hickman House, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children, says opportunities remain on their “giving tree” at CAPERS in The Junction:
If you wanted to come by the store get a wish list item for a child in need, there are three more days to do it!
If you have already committed to getting a toy or gift, there are three more days to drop it off.
Thanks so much, West Seattle, for being such a supportive community!
Any other giving trees awaiting gifts?
(10/24/11 photo taken, and shared with WSB, by Mark)
Two months ago, WSB traffic updates on the first weekday of the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure nicknamed “Viadoom” included breaking news about a West Seattle man hit by a semi-truck while jogging to work east of the low bridge. Tim Nelson wound up in the hospital for more than a week with serious injuries, including broken bones, a collapsed lung, and lacerated kidney and spleen; friends raised money to help with his expenses.
Tonight, a new twist in the incident. Police are reviewing a video/audio recording showing the crash scene through the windshield of a Seattle Police car while insulting remarks are heard off-camera, apparently made by two people inside the car including a Southwest Precinct officer who responded to the scene. Nelson obtained the in-car “dash cam” video and posted an edited version on YouTube, adding music, captions, and his observations:Read More
This West Seattle Crime Watch reader report carries a warning that sadly needs to be repeated this time of year. From Kaela:
Just want to let people know that a package was stolen from my doorstep this afternoon, so be careful sending/receiving gifts and keep an eye out for your neighbors. I live in a townhouse on California just south of Morgan Junction. While I was at work, my neighbor saw a car with three women in it following a UPS truck. After the UPS driver dropped off my package, my neighbor saw a woman get out of the car, grab the package, and drive off, so called the police. The police found the car, which was apparently stolen, just down the street at the Subway across the street from Thriftway.
Two Christmas-lights updates tonight – first, this evening’s featured display:
Not only does the Campbells’ home at 7915 31st SW have plenty of lights – it has a dozen snowmen, too! That’s a cheery sight given this snowless and relatively rainless almost-winter. Thanks to Paul Campbell for sending word of his home’s bright display, which is now added to the others on the WSB West Seattle Christmas Lights map (which you can also find on the Holidays page).
Second – Tim McConnell at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) says they’re leading a Christmas-lights run tomorrow night, based on some of the displays highlighted here. The run will leave WS Runner (California and Charlestown) at 6 pm tomorrow (Tuesday) and finish up at the Helmstetler Family Spectacular display (just a few blocks east of WSR). Tim says, “It’s a 3.5 mile course, we are going to go slow so everyone can see the lights … should be about 45 minutes or so. Holiday attire is encouraged, having some way of seeing and being seen is mandatory. All are welcome. Pets included.” (Not related to lights, Tim says WSR also is launching another “Get Fit West Seattle” series that’ll get you to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon, first info night at WSR 7 pm Wednesday.)
Just east of Alki Point, a section of Alki Avenue SW – from about 63rd SW to the point – is closed so crews can fix a water-main break. Thanks to Kenna Klosterman for the tip, and the photo above. We just went over to check it out; crews aren’t sure yet how long it’ll take to fix, but they say it was a relatively small plastic water pipe, and it’s affecting service to the homes on the water side of the street (north).
7:02 PM: That’s our photo from the repair site; on the WSB Facebook page, you can see a video Kenna shot earlier, while the crew was pumping water out of that section of the street.
It was just as good as – maybe better than! – Santa Claus driving his sleigh up to the West Seattle Food Bank. In this case, a bus borrowed from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), whose Josh Sutton was at the wheel, brought Nucor Steel Seattle‘s 2,100-pound food donation to the WS Food Bank this afternoon. From left are Beth Roush, Jim Peterson, Kate Johnson, WS Food Bank’s Fran Yeatts and Mike Tinker, Clifton Eskridge. Nucor employees also contributed more than $20,000 cash!
The boxes and barrels brought via bus included pet food as well as people food – both are welcome at your local food bank. This is the second big delivery by Nucor this week; we were also at Southwest Youth and Family Services last Thursday when Nucor employees distributed holiday food packages for more than 400 people!
SIDE NOTE: If you know of any last-minute holiday-help needs, please let us know so we can help get the word out – lots of folks are still looking for ways to help!
Procrastinating on that Christmas tree? West Seattle Nursery just cut its prices by a third, per this tweet. And according to a streetside sign, West Seattle Produce has discounted theirs by 25%. Any other discounts offers? Let us know and we’ll add ’em. The full list of local sellers, along with other Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice/New Year’s info, is on our West Seattle Holidays page, where we also have noted that two lots are already closed (Holy Rosary and Son-In-Law).
2:07 PM: Click the “play” button and you’ll see the live video stream of this afternoon’s Seattle City Council meeting, which has just begun, with two items of particular note on the agenda: West Seattle Triangle rezoning (approved by the council’s Committee on the Built Environment three weeks ago) and the plastic-bag ban. We’ll add updates here if and when the public-comment period at the meeting’s start includes Triangle comments, as well as when the Triangle and bag-ban items come up.
2:22 PM: The public-comment period ended with no one stepping up to the podium to talk about Triangle rezoning, which is a few items away on the agenda. Most of the commenters talked about the plastic-bag ban, including, as seen in our framegrab above, the “Bagmonster Singers,” who serenaded councilmembers with a song to the tune of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
2:31 PM: And here’s the Triangle item, which is actually two items – rezoning/changing development standards, and recommending a parking study for the area. Councilmember Sally Clark opens by saying it all dates back to the closure of the Huling Brothers auto properties (briefly Gee Automotive after Huling) and concern over what would happen to the area with so much vacant land. She hands the microphone to Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who as she said has been closely involved in planning for the area’s future. He says RapidRide (scheduled to start in 2012) also was a spark to get the process going, beginning with an “urban-design framework.” He notes that it included a plan for The Triangle’s “streetscapes,” including the Fauntleroy Way “boulevard” concept (the new city budget includes planning money) and SW Snoqualmie as a “festival” street. And of course, it includes rezoning – “neighborhood commercial” that “encourages pedestrian-friendly development” for much of the heart of The Triangle, which he says will also strengthen the pedestrian connection between The Junction and The Triangle. The latter was not recommended for more height, he explains, so as not to put “more pressure” for sales/development of existing commercial properties – but the Fauntleroy/Alaska/Edmunds area includes more than 2 blocks that will be rezoned to 85 feet (20 feet higher than the current zoning).
2:40 PM: Council President Richard Conlin says “congratulations” and notes the importance of the legislation to West Seattle’s future, before Rasmussen reads the list of Triangle Advisory Committee members and also acknowledges DPD and Council staffers for their work. No comments from other councilmembers. The rezoning/development standards bill (read it here) passes unanimously 9-0, as does the recommendation for a parking study. No other councilmembers comment.
2:45 PM: Now Councilmember Mike O’Brien is explaining the plastic-bag ban. You can still use plastic bags for meat and produce in grocery stores, he notes. For this too, no councilmembers are commenting or asking questions, except for Council President Conlin, who thanks O’Brien, who in turn thanks “partners” for help with the bill (including WSB sponsors PCC Natural Markets and Metropolitan Market). The bill passes unanimously; there’s applause in council chambers.
3:15 PM: The official news releases from council staff: West Seattle Triangle rezoning, here; plastic-bag ban, here. The bag ban takes effect next July 1st.
Just in from South Seattle Community College (P.S. Added post-publication – longtime journalist Margaret Larson will emcee!):
Fifteen of the region’s top chefs will participate in South’s 2012 Gifts from the Earth gala, the annual event that celebrates the hospitality industry and raises funds for college programs and student scholarships. The singular event provides food and wine aficionados, donors, and sponsors a unique opportunity to interact with celebrity chefs and South students while enjoying innovative cuisine and the finest Washington wines.
The festivities, sponsored by Food Services of America, take place Saturday, January 28, 2012, at South Seattle Community College beginning at 5 pm. The evening features hors d’oeuvres, wine tasting and a silent auction, followed by dinner and a live auction that includes unique wine and dining packages.
It’s the can’t-miss event of the year, as the region’s celebrity chefs create their own menus and prepare a multi-course gourmet feast for two tables (10 guests per table) each. All the courses are paired with fine wine from Washington wineries, poured by student sommeliers from South’s own Northwest Wine Academy.
Gifts from the Earth is more than a unique fundraising event; it also provides invaluable, hands-on learning and professional networking opportunities for South Seattle Community College students Hospitality Management bachelor’s degree program students manage guest relations, Culinary Arts students prepare meals alongside celebrity chefs, and students in the Wine Technology program pour wine with winemakers.
2012 Celebrity Chefs (* denotes South Seattle Community College alumni):
Ron Arbour – Royal Argosy; Jay DeLong – Canapé & Northwest Wine Academy instructor; Eric Floyd – Washington Athletic Club; Chris Frantela – Bellevue Harbor Club; Mark Guth* and Carly Duke* – Emerald Cove Catering; Kraig Hansen – Palisade Restaurant; John Hart – Sheraton Seattle; Jeff Maxfield* – Sky City; Renatto Medranda – The Westin Bellevue; Brent Novotny – Cactus Restaurant; Cody Reaves – Flat Iron Grill; Sean Rogers – Broadmoor Golf Club; Robert Scribner – South Seattle Community College; Kenneth Slack* – Sullivan’s Steakhouse Seattle; and Travis Chase – The Tin Table.2012 Featured Wineries
Antonville Winery, Barnard Griffin, Brian Carter Cellars, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Chatter Creek, Columbia Winery, Covington Cellars, DeLille Cellars, Elsom, Eroica, Gecko Cellars, Hollywood Hill, Isenhower Cellars, Kestrel Vintners, Martedi Wines, Michael Florentino Cellars, Northwest Wine Academy, Nota Bene Cellars, O.S. Winery, Palouse Winery, Pleasant Hill Cellars, Soos Creek Winery, Stomani Cellars, Waterbrook, and Willis Hall.Additional chefs and wineries may be announced.
Title sponsor Food Services of America (FSA) is one of the nation’s largest foodservice distributors, serving customers in 15 western and mid-western states. This is the fifth consecutive year that FSA, a long-time supporter of South’s award-winning culinary and hospitality industry programs, has participated as the Gifts from the Earth title sponsor. The cocktail hour and silent auction reception is sponsored by Union Bank. Additional sponsors include Boeing, Charlie’s Produce, Interbay Food Company, Tony’s Coffee, Rebar & Associates PLLC, Odom Distribution, and Ferguson Construction.
Tickets for Gifts from the Earth may be purchased for $175 per person. Corporate and table sponsorships ranging from $1,750 to $5,000 are also available. More information on ticket purchase and sponsorship opportunities may be obtained by contacting the South Seattle Community College Foundation at (206) 934-5809, email to ssccfoundation@seattlecolleges.edu, or on the web at www.southseattle.edu/foundation/giftsfromtheearth/index.html.
Celebrity Chef Profile – Carly Duke & Mark Guth, Emerald Cove Catering
VOTED 2010 BEST CATERER OF WESTERN WASHINGTON on King 5’s “Best of”
Emerald Cove Catering Company Operations Director Carly Duke and Chef Mark Guth are seasoned Gifts from the Earth veterans. They participated in the event as Culinary Arts Program students and are returning for the second consecutive year as guest chefs. Both graduated from South in 2006 with certificates in Restaurant Production and Banquet & Catering Operations, and share a unique perspective on the student/chef connection that distinguishes Gifts from the Earth.“We have so many things on our plate, but being part of the school and remembering the experience we had, we thought it would be really fun to do,” said Carly of their decision to participate as guest chefs the first time. “It makes me feel kind of old, but it’s really fun to see the students and remember where you were then.”
Adds Mark, “I think it’s really good for students to interact with people who are actually in the industry. It’s also great exposure, because the guest chefs bring out all sorts of ingredients and methods that students don’t normally see. There’s lots of variety.”
The dynamic duo is bringing along another South alumn, Brandon LaVielle, to help them prepare their special 5-course menu for the evening. All the guest chefs take full advantage of the opportunity to cook foods of their own choosing, and Gifts from the Earth diners are always treated to imaginative, inspired meals.
(WSB photo from 11/26/11 ‘opening night,’ with all the lights turned on between shows)
If you’ll be out looking at lights this Christmas Eve/Day or New Year’s Eve, Helmstetler Family Spectacular mastermind Jim Winder says you’re invited to stop by the famous music-synched show for free hot cocoa 6-9 pm – and on Christmas Eve, they’ll also have free mini-cupcakes donated by Diva Espresso (while they last). The show itself is free, but they’ve been collecting donations for local causes – here’s a Facebook photo of their first delivery to the West Seattle Food Bank; bring nonperishable food when you stop by and look for the bin right in front of the house, which is at 3908 SW Charlestown, across from the water tower. It’s of course also on the WSB West Seattle Christmas Lights map, which we’re updating with new additions nightly. Find out more about the show on its official website, which includes videos from the past two years (we have a couple clips from this year’s opening night, November 26th, in our coverage).
| Comments Off on From the West Seattle Holidays page: New Year’s Eve dinner