White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Thanks to Gill for first word on this – he said Starbucks team members in their Jubilee Days booth told him the new drive-thru at 16th/100th would open on Friday, August 4th, and we have confirmed that with a company spokesperson. (For our most-recent update a month ago, Starbucks had said “August,” without specifying a date.) The opening will be 14 months after we broke the news that Starbucks and Popeyes (which opened two weeks ago) would open at what was the White Center Chevron site. When Starbucks finally confirmed it four months after that, they explained it’s part of a plan to open stores in “at least 15 diverse, low-to-medium-income communities” around the U.S. by next year, and that it would include a job-training program.

In addition to some early highlights we published during today’s parade, here are more memorable sights, photographed by WCN co-publisher Patrick Sand:

Great drill-team/drumline performances, including, above, the Washington Diamonds, and below, Princesses of Elegance:

White Center’s own Evergreen High School brought cheer-team members and athletes:

Riding in the parade as Grand Marshal was Karl Sutter:

Here’s another look at White Center’s honorary mayor “Mac” McElroy, proprietor of the Triangle Pub at 16th/15th/Roxbury:

The White Center Eagles led off the parade, including their famous “walking flag”:

There was a Bigfoot sighting (courtesy of Miss Sheryl’s Ballet):

Also a dinosaur sighting, atop the Jurassic Park Jeep replica:

Four-hoofed magic was provided by the Latin Dancing Horses and their riders:

Many four-wheeled sights too:

They included the McLendon Hardware truck:

And the Wheels of Boom:

Thanks to everyone who participated, and organized, for a great parade!

Finally got a chance to get over to the street fair and kid zone, and you have until 6 pm to do the same (carnival runs until 11 pm tonight). You can shop both the year-round stores and the vendor booths, and talk with local community organizations like the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council:

From left, NHUAC board members Pat Price and Liz Giba were answering questions when we stopped by. Giba also is a North Highline Fire District Commissioner, and they have a big area set up on 17th at 98th:

Kids visiting the NHFD zone can even see what it’s like to fight a fire.

More activities for young street-fairgoers are steps away on the east side of 17th. Back on 16th, a Pinewood Derby is happening this afternoon outside Full Tilt Ice Cream – we were there just a little too early but here’s the track:

All the festival info you need is here.

11:04 AM: Parade time! For the next hour-plus, this year’s Jubilee Days Parade will proceed northward down 16th SW from SW 112th to SW 100th. We’re stationed near the midpoint for photos and video, which we’ll add here later; watch our @whitecenternow Twitter feed for updates in the meantime.

NOON: The parade is headed for the finish line at SW 100th – the North Highline Fire Department’s ladder truck and Engine 18 were the final entries and just passed us at SW 107th a few minutes ago.

A few entries earlier, we saw and heard the Junior All-City Band:

The Wheels of Boom Car Club was particularly memorable – more than 10 Seahawks-fan-themed vehicles:

And White Center’s elected-for-Jubilee-Days Mayor Geoffrey “Mac” McElroy rode in style:

Many more photos to come!

More cool stuff Sunday – day two of the Jubilee Days Street Fair and more. Like … the White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, a great way to fuel up for another day of fun:

The club has good reasons for wanting you to be part of it:

The White Center Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast on July 23 at Holy Family School is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the club whose mission is to make the world better one child at a time. Pictured above are students from New Start High School receiving their Student of the Month awards from club president Nancy Tracy. White Center Kiwanis works with New Start and Evergreen High Schools to provide service leadership opportunities through Key Club. We also work with the Coalition for Drug Free Youth at Cascade Middle School. We volunteer at the White Center Food Bank and provide help to the elementary schools.

The Pancake Breakfast runs from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm at Holy Family School (9615 20th Ave SW). Tickets to the breakfast are $8.00. Youth under 5 are free with a paying adult. We will be accepting diapers for WestSide Baby. Come see the great raffle prizes. Raffle tickets cost $1 each or 6 for $5.

The weekend’s getting closer – and here’s what you need to know about the different layout (and street closures) for the Jubilee Days street fair and other events on Saturday and Sunday:

Note that 16th and 17th SW will both be closed between Roxbury and 100th, as will 98th between 15th and 18th, 6 am Saturday morning through about 11 pm Sunday night.

*Street fair and main stage (music lineup here) on 16th
*Food on 98th
*Car show/kids’ area on 17th

On Sunday, the parade closure will be 9 am-1 pm on 16th SW between SW 100th and SW 116th. The parade starts at SW 112th at 11 am and runs north from there – more info here.

And check out the Jubilee Days site for tons more info! Organizers point out that local businesses in particular have stepped up in a BIG way this year, more than ever, so be sure to hang out with them throughout the weekend – we’ll have another event-specific preview on Friday.

The first night of the White Center Jubilee Days 2017 carnival was clear … and bright, both at midway level and high above. Partly because of the rides:

And also because of the fireworks!

The show was a full 20 minutes. And then, back to the carnival:

The games and rides continue today/tonight, 3 pm-11 pm.

And this weekend’s the big street fair. Schedules and more are at jubileedays.org.

The Jubilee Days festival is almost here! First sign – the Davis Shows Northwest carnival has arrived at Steve Cox Memorial Park. We stopped by for photos just before dusk.

The carnival is scheduled to open at 3 pm Wednesday and run until about 11; those will be the hours through Friday, and then 11 am-11 pm Saturday and Sunday, according to the Jubilee Days program. You can get discounted wristbands – here’s how.

Steve Cox Park is also where you can see the big fireworks show on Wednesday night, around 10 pm.

Just announced by King County Road Services, a closure of one block of SW 104th, from 15th to 16th, starting next Monday, July 24th. “Crews will be replacing a deep, deteriorated underground drainage system,” says the alert. The work is expected to be done by August 11th.

12:42 PM: It’s official … the next White Center restaurant opening is this Wednesday (July 19th), just in time for Jubilee Days. Li’l Woody’s announced the opening date today for its 9807 16th Ave SW location, same building as Beer Star (and the future CTO). The local mini-chain also has locations in Capitol Hill, Ballard, and South Lake Union.

ADDED 1:12 PM: More info from the official Li’l Woody’s news release:

… Li’l Woody’s White Center will be open Sunday-Thursday, 11 am-9 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 11 am-11 pm. The telephone number is 206-403-1294.

Li’l Woody’s will be one of two restaurants sharing the building with Beer Star, the expansive, 40-tap beer hall. Li’l Woody’s 1,400 sq. ft space will be cooking-up their beloved grass-fed burgers, shakes using local ice cream from Full Tilt, and hand-cut fries using potatoes grown in Pasco, Washington from Harvest Fresh Produce. …

The White Center space was once home to the Epicure restaurant, a major gathering spot in the 1950s – known to be where “the elite meet to eat.” The “EP,” as it was called, was owned and operated by Joe Boothby, who cooked roast beef on a spit near the front window. The meat became a favorite offering of the restaurant, along with the annual pancake breakfast fundraisers held downstairs. Li’l Woody’s pays homage to the building’s history with the Epicure sandwich: Slow-braised top round, provolone, caramelized onions, and peppercorn horseradish aioli. An extra kick can be added with the addition of Mama Lil’s peppers for $1.

The Epicure joins the club of a special burger found at each Li’l Woody’s location- Capitol Hill has the Chicken Burger, Ballard has the Salmon Burger and South Lake Union has the Turkey Burger.

“We can’t wait to be a part of the White Center community,” says Li’l Woody’s owner Marcus Lalario. “I’m glad that we can celebrate the history of the building and have a part in this new neighborhood development.“