day : 30/09/2008 13 results

“Nickelsville” organizers say the camp’s moving tomorrow night

nickelsvillesunday.jpgPosted tonight on the Google mail group for the homeless encampment at West Marginal/Highland Park Way: They’re planning to move again at 10 pm tomorrow, but they won’t say till possibly the “very last second” where they will be going. They also say the city has threatened to fine the state unless it gives the campers the boot from the WSDOT land they’ve been on since last Friday afternoon’s city sweep of the original “Nickelsville” site next door. Just an hour before this update was posted, we’d asked the mayor’s communications director Robert Mak if there were any new developments, and he had said no, aside from the city maintaining its stance that the camp was a land-use violation.

West Seattle restaurant updates: Revo mural, Spring Hill changes

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We showed you this mural while it was in progress on the south side of Cafe Revo (Italian restaurant taking over the ex-Murphy’s space on Avalon in the Luna Park business district); now artist Glenn Case is officially done, and Revo’s Sofia Zadra Goff tells us they gave the mural a name: Zetta, the middle name of Sofia’s greatgrandmother. We also peeked into the under-construction restaurant space, where the bar’s being built out of a single piece of wood:

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Revo’s hoping to open around November 1st. Meantime, we got e-mail late today from Spring Hill in The Junction, wondering if we would share some news, and since we know how you all love restaurant info, we’re happy to oblige:

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That’s the cover of the late-night happy-hour menu that Spring Hill is launching next Tuesday, according to the note from proprietors Mark and Marjorie Fuller, who add: “Also, beginning November 2nd we will be opening at 5:15 pm rather than 5:45 pm for fall/winter. One last note: Brunch is coming soon! We are hoping to start brunch the end of November/early December. We would like to extend our thanks to all the people who have supported spring hill restaurant and look forward to seeing you all soon!”

West Seattle scenes, as the sun sets on September

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While down on Alki checking on Lady Liberty’s new plaque (more on that later), we happened onto that lovely sunset. Minutes earlier, we had snagged a nice pre-sunset shot from Don Armeni:

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Then we came home to e-mail from WSB’ers kindly sharing their beautiful sunset shots, like this one from Hopey (featuring all three Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferries):

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And this one from Greg (note the Seattle-Vashon foot ferry):

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Greg’s accompanying brief note seemed spot on: “After a couple days of financial stress it is always nice to see the beautiful sunset from the Fauntlee Hills area.” Or, as we put it … thank heavens the best things in life are still free.

Before you even ask … we already checked … all’s well …

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More trouble for the OTHER new store Whole Foods was supposed to be opening in Seattle … our friends at MagnoliaVoice.com just broke the story that the Interbay project has now devolved into a lawsuit. So before anyone could panic about the West Seattle project again, we checked immediately with Eric Radovich from BlueStar, which is developing “the Whole Foods project” aka Fauntleroy Place (final design rendering above), as we did the last two times questions came up, and here’s what he replied: “All systems go!” … On schedule for a 47,000 sf store with a completion date of February 2010 (only 17 months away!)…Digging as fast as we can before the weather turns …” He also adds that the BlueStar proposal across the street at the ex-Huling Buick site, Gateway Center, should have “updated drawings” available in about a month – here’s the one that was released when that project was announced in March:

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Happening now: Oaxacan weaver/weavings at Cafe Rozella

September 30, 2008 4:28 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Oaxacan weaver/weavings at Cafe Rozella
 |   Delridge | Seen around town | West Seattle news | White Center

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We mentioned the event this morning, and it’s continuing till 9 pm – a Zapotec weaver from a women’s collective in Oaxaca, Mexico, is exhibiting and selling weavings at Cafe Rozella on Delridge less than a block south of Roxbury; thanks to Ricardo Guarnero at Rozella for taking and sharing a few pix (he posted more info on the event and the weavers at White Center Now).

Fauntleroy Way apartment building sale confirmed

It’s usually not as easy to get information on major real-estate sales when they’re complete as it is to get information when the listings go up. Today, though, we have closure on one major listing we told you about — in May, we reported that Garden Terrace, a 32-unit building on Fauntleroy just south of the “Triangle” area (map), was up for sale for $4,650,000; this short article says it’s been purchased for close to the listing price by MorGro Investments LLC, which – according to a quick online search – also owns Harvard Market. 3:41 PM UPDATE: A tenant tells WSB the new owners have announced the sale to the tenants and told them that there are no CURRENT plans to turn the units into condos.

West Seattle Stadium’s future: Your input needed

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Just in from the Parks Department via Southwest District Neighborhood Coordinator Stan Lock, an update on the process to seek proposals for renovating and operating West Seattle Stadium. Bottom line, the Parks Department doesn’t have the money to fix up the stadium, so it’s looking for somebody else to do that, in exchange for “a multi-year contract that allows (the operator) to recoup its capital investment and support its own business.” First step: A draft Request for Proposal (RFP) has just been issued, and the department’s looking for feedback before officially circulating it. A public hearing then is planned before the Park Board on Oct. 23; board members are tentatively slated to vote in November, which then would trigger the formal process resulting in a January decision on who will be chosen to run the stadium. Tons of details in this document, including the draft RFP, the timeline, and specifics on what the agreement would entail; we’re still reading it but wanted to get you the link ASAP.

1 month till Halloween, 2 chilling notes: Zombies, ghosts, witches

ZOMBIES, AKA “THRILL THE WORLD WEST SEATTLE”: An update from Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) proprietor Lora Lewis and her Thrill the World/West Seattle corps of dancers practicing to join the world-record attempt on October 25th: For the actual performance counting toward the record, they’ve joined up with the Seattle Thrillers, and will be in the 200-plus crowd dancing that day at Westlake, with an encore to follow during Trick or Treat in The Junction the same day and at Admiral Theater later that night. You can still join the dancers at the next edition of what Lora calls the “newbie zombie” class – tomorrow (Wednesday), 8:15 pm, West Seattle Christian Church (the full list of rehearsal times and places is on the Thrill the World/West Seattle blog home page).

GHOSTS AND WITCHES: West Seattle-based The Anunnaki Project has announced its annual Halloween event: “The Ghost Game: Tales of 13 Witches,” 8:30 pm Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Youngstown Arts Center, described as follows: “This year’s production, which focuses on tales of witches from world folklore and mythology, features performances by members of The Cabiri performance troupe along with several guest artists including aerialist and butoh dancer Mary Cutrera and Courtnee Papastathis (aka Zita the Aerialist). Steffon Moody, an outrageously engaging humorist, physical performer and songster who has entertained audiences regionally and nationally for the past 20 years, will be playing Guto, the horribly charming yet sinister master of ceremonies. Steffon is a founding member of the UMO Ensemble (Vashon) and is currently a performer with the Big Apple Circus (NYC). Guests at the event will be woven into the evening’s festivities as storytellers, soothsayers, and supplicants as a procession of witches both entrancing and terrifying is presented. On Halloween night, the performances will be followed by a costume contest and reception with the artists.” Dessert too. Age 16 and up. Tickets are being sold by tables of 5, online via Brown Paper Tickets.

Update: Police respond to “disturbance” at Delridge/Juneau

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Thanks to Sage K for e-mailing first word of this: We’re checking out the scene at Delridge/Juneau (map), kitty-corner from the north end of Chief Sealth High School’s temporary campus at Boren, where at least half a dozen police cars are in view. All police will tell us at the scene is that they were “asked to respond to a disturbance.” There are no aid/medic calls on 911, so whatever happened apparently does not involve injury. We’ll update with whatever else we find out. ADDED 12:24 PM: Photo above shows part of the police presence. We also have a reader photo taken looking over the scene, showing a fairly large group of officers and people they appear to be questioning, but we’re not going to post that until and unless we can blur/cover faces, because (a) we don’t know who’s accused of what, and (b) they appear to be juveniles. Meantime, we had checked with Seattle Public Schools‘ communications office to see if this was related to anything on campus, and spokesperson David Tucker checked for us – whatever happened, he says, took place off-campus, so information will have to come from police. ADDED 1:05 PM: Sage K blurred the faces in one of the photos she took (which wasn’t closeup on anyone to start with):

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LATE AFTERNOON UPDATE: Mentioned this in comments and working on a separate followup, but bottom line, from a conversation with Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen – the big response was due in no small part to the fact that it was reported one of the participants (reportedly NOT a Sealth student) was believed to have a gun. No gun was found – one knife, though. And he confirms what we had perceived from the lack of an aid/medic call – no injuries.

Ever wanted to walk on The Viaduct? Here’s your next chance

SCENIC_Alaskan_Way_AWV1.jpgAs mentioned here before, the next scheduled weekend of Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection shutdowns is coming up October 18-19 (the reminder’s up continuously on the WSB Traffic page). The times are now set, too: 6 am-6 pm both days, with the Battery Street Tunnel staying closed overnight between the two days. Plus, the state Transportation Department is offering “short walking tours” the morning of Saturday 10/18. No one under 16, no pets. RSVP required – e-mail viaduct@wsdot.wa.gov or call 888/AWV-LINE. (To catch up on what else is up with The Viaduct, check the WSB coverage archive and/or the official website at alaskanwayviaduct.org.)

Happening today/tonight: Weavers; party; handball; protection

September 30, 2008 10:05 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today/tonight: Weavers; party; handball; protection
 |   West Seattle businesses | WS & Sports | WS miscellaneous

WEAVERS: Special guests are visiting Cafe Rozella (which is on the southeast edge of West Seattle/north edge of White Center) this afternoon/evening — a women’s weaving collective from Oaxaca, Mexico, 3-9 pm. Read more here.

LAUNCH PARTY: Can’t think of the last time we heard a local business announce a “launch party.” But that’s what’s happening tonight at Beveridge Place Pub, 6-9 pm, to inaugurate Farris Law, PLLC, a new practice focused on small businesses. Proprietor Valerie Farris has planned the party as a fundraiser for Furry Faces Foundation and the West Seattle Food Bank through a fundraising raffle ($5/ticket, 4 for $20) for a variety of donated items including many geared toward her potential clientele, from a “PR startup package” to gift certificates for web design.

HANDBALL, ANYONE? Tonight (and/or any other Tuesday), you are welcome to join the open practice for Seattle Team Handball at Hiawatha Community Center, 7-9 pm. “All ages and genders,” according to the Seattle Team Handball website. (Tuesday afternoon note: Organizers say there’s a chance they might have to move to the West Seattle High School gym, so if you don’t find them at Hiawatha, head next door.)

SELF-DEFENSE FOR TEENS AND WOMEN: Tonight is the second of two “self-defense seminars” for teenage girls and women offered this month by Lee’s Martial Arts – open to ages 11 and up. More on the LMA website.

From the followup file: Checking on the California Ave “upzone”

upzonescreengrab.jpgThose big white signs have been up for almost a year now along California between Hinds and Hanford (city map at left), the section proposed for “upzoning” (archived coverage here), and you may wonder from time to time what’s up with the proposal, so we keep checking to see when the decision’s due. Last time we checked, a decision was expected to be published around the end of August. It’s now the end of September, so we checked with the city’s Department of Planning and Development again. Now the guesstimate is “about another three weeks” till a decision will turn up in the Land Use Information Bulletin, according to Bryan Stevens at DPD. (A decision is not the final word – potentially a round of Hearing Examiner and City Council hearings would ensue.) You can keep an eye on the official city project page here.

Battling back: Addie Killam’s wild Wenatchee ride

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One month ago today, we told you about West Seattleite Addie Killam‘s plan to ride her new hand-operated bicycle (photo above) in a Wenatchee-area ride presented by the Mike Utley Foundation, to raise awareness of and money for spinal-cord injuries — Addie is fighting back from paralysis caused by a freak surfing-related injury. Now she’s back from the ride, and telling the story, including: “I can’t believe I never did a ride like this as an able-body.” Read her story at her Caring Bridge site.