West Seattle, Washington

23 Tuesday

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day : 01/04/2011 15 results

Spirited Junction fundraiser #1: Bin 41’s anniversary party
April 1, 2011 11:39 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
Their official first anniversary – as noted here – was two weeks back, but tonight was the night the owners of Bin 41 wine shop in The Junction set aside for the party, and they welcomed plenty of guests. Bin 41 owners T. Frick and Jon McNamara also donated the night’s $5 tasting fee – as they have done the past several tastings – to Japan quake/tsunami relief.

Guest winemakers tonight were from West Seattle – from left in the photo above, winemaker Chris Gorman, Bin 41’s Jon McNamara, winemaker Darby English, Bin 41’s T. Frick McNamara. Surprises were promised – and those turned out to include raffles, with prizes including the Argentinian wine boxes Jon holds below:

The guest winemakers were pouring Cabernets and Syrahs, WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen reports: Gorman poured his “Pixie,” 100% Syrah, and “Zachary’s Ladder,” which is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petit Verdot mix, named after his son. Darby poured from his original line, but his main feature was an unveiling of his new line “Live Wire”; he poured a Cabernet Franc and a Syrah from Live Wire.

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Alki Homestead review déja vu: Restoration? Reconstruction?
April 1, 2011 8:26 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Alki Homestead | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 1/16/2011)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It’s come up before, and now it’s come up again:

To reopen the city-landmarked Alki Homestead (originally the Fir Lodge), will it take restoration, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or some combination of all of the above? The scope of the proposal came up this morning downtown as owner Tom Lin and his architect team from Alloy Design Group returned to the Architectural Review Committee of the city Landmarks Preservation Board for a third review, with historic-preservation advocates watching from the sidelines.

The same question arose when Lin and a different architect brought a different proposal to the committee a year and a half ago, as reported here. Back then, they were proposing adding “other uses” to the site – a bar, maybe a bed-and-breakfast – but that plan was scrapped, and the new plan is all about bringing the Homestead back as a restaurant and banquet facility.

But how can it be done, when it needs a new foundation and a new roof – and some degree of replacement inbetween? “Tricky” is one word that was used.

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Spring colors, the feathered version: ‘Bright little birds’
April 1, 2011 6:33 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

A little more relief from the relentless gray: “Bright little birds,” as Trileigh Tucker describes them. She shared the photos while reporting:

The first Rufous Hummingbird of the season showed up at my feeder on Monday! These gorgeous little aerial jewels show up in early spring after migrating an incredibly long distance – all the way from Texas and Mexico. If readers are interested, there’s a migration map available … along with a link you can click to animate the migration. Such a tiny bird flying such a long way to come visit us during the spring and summer!

I’m also attaching a photo of one of our resident birds, only slightly larger than a hummingbird – a golden-crowned kinglet. They stay with us all winter long and provide a bright spot in the rainy woods!

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Grocery shopping tomorrow? Get extra for West Seattle Kiwanis food drive
April 1, 2011 4:54 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Kiwanis Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

Five West Seattle grocery stores, six hours, one day of service for the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle – tomorrow, 9 am-3 pm, Kiwanis and Key Club members will be collecting nonperishable food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank, outside Metropolitan Market and PCC West Seattle (both WSB sponsors) as well as West Seattle Thriftway, Junction QFC, and Jefferson Square Safeway. (And this is still that time of spring when donations to food banks count extra – as explained here.)

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West Seattle schools: Seattle Lutheran’s new football coach
April 1, 2011 3:33 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Just in from Seattle Lutheran High School principal Mark Henderson: A new football coach is on board for SLHS. Jim Wright most recently was on the coaching staff at Eastside Catholic High School. Read on for Seattle Lutheran’s full announcement:Read More

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New concept in court fight over The Hole: How about talking it out?
April 1, 2011 3:21 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Triangle | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of ‘The Hole,’ taken in February)
How much time, how much money, and how much work do you put into court fights over a complicated (as most parties describe it) case, before just saying, “Can we sit down and talk this out?” This afternoon — after the end of yet another court hearing in the ongoing legal fight over issues related to the stalled project that has left The Hole in the heart of West Seattle instead of the once-envisioned apartments/Whole Foods/Hancock Fabrics project — King County Superior Court Judge Susan Craighead asked the question: “Have you (lawyers) started talking about mediation yet?” Not really, they said, but it might not be a bad idea, several of them allowed – unofficially, of course, since they have to consult their clients. (And the parties who were not represented in court today, since the afternoon’s proceedings didn’t involve everyone in the case.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Package theft; SWAT aftermath
April 1, 2011 1:45 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Crime Watch: Package theft; SWAT aftermath
 |   Crime | Highland Park | Triangle | West Seattle news

Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon. First, from Jeff:

For the 2nd time in the past 3 months we have had packages stolen off our front door that were delivered by UPS (w/online confirmation of delivery). We live (in the 900 block of) SW Austin Street [map] and the our front door can only be seen if someone is coming from the East of SW Austin (i.e. someone coming from the apartments on the corner of Holden & Highland Park). I spoke to a UPS driver the other day and mentioned that there have been reports of packages stolen from previous posting on the blog but, he wasn’t aware of any recent incidents.

Meantime, a followup on Wednesday’s SWAT standoff at the Seattle West Inn (which will temporarily close as of Monday, as reported here yesterday) on Wednesday.

Police responded to our request for more information with the narrative from their report. It includes new information, including a mention of something we had heard on the scanner but not had confirmed till now – that the man has a record. Read on:Read More

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Think summer: Suggestion time for West Seattle Outdoor Movies
April 1, 2011 11:33 am
|      50 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

(WSB photo from 7/18/2010, biggest opening-night crowd ever for WS Outdoor Movies)
Drippy, murky weather, and just one easy antidote (unless you have a private plane you can take to the tropics at a moment’s notice) – dream of summer. Here’s one way to do it: Suggest a movie for this summer’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies (with WSB again among the sponsors)! If you are a new arrival, here’s the backstory: Every summer, the parking courtyard alongside Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in The Junction turns into an outdoor moviehouse for six consecutive Saturday nights – concessions are sold as fundraisers, there’s always some kind of wacky pre-movie entertainment, you bring the chairs and blankets. And when spring arrives, you suggest the movies! Every year there are some licensing-terms constraints, so even if something seems like the absolute popular choice hands-down, there might be an obstacle, but don’t let that get in your way – if there’s something you would love to enjoy under the stars (and one night last year, hardy souls even stayed through some rain), suggest it now! (If you’re worried about being redundant, here’s last year’s lineup.)

P.S. Two more Hotwire notes, while we’re at it – the Peeps drinks are back (there’s another way to beat the gray-sky blues) – read more about them in the latest Hotwire newsletter – and Hotwire is offering table space for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (May 14th, 9 am-3 pm, sales all over West Seattle – 200 last year! – registration opens Monday). If you don’t have room for your own sale, e-mail Lora to reserve a free courtyard spot: info@hotwirecoffee.com. (And if you use Facebook, you can “like” the WSCGSD page for updates and for the chance to post wall info about your own sale when May 14th gets closer!)

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West Seattle help for Japan: Group dog walk at Alki tomorrow
April 1, 2011 10:24 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

The earthquake/tsunami victims and survivors of Japan include pets – and a West Seattle entrepreneur has just announced he’s leading a “mass dog-walk” at Alki tomorrow. Anthony Hardt of Left Coast Dog Services invites “all people and dogs” to join him at noon at Anchor (Luna) Park, from which they’ll head west toward the Alki business district. Hardt tells WSB they’ll accept donations if participants want to participate, but they also will “have a big banner showing a secure website with PayPal so folks can donate online” to this Japanese animal-advocacy organization.

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West Seattle restaurants: Opening day for Chaco Canyon Café
April 1, 2011 9:33 am
|      37 COMMENTS
 |   Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

The doors are open, the kitchen is in action, and the display case is stocked at Chaco Canyon Organic Café, which opened at 7 am this morning on the south side of the brand-new Link (WSB sponsor) building at 38th/Alaska. Here’s another view:

The wall in that photo is where the future retail items will be set up; as owner Chris Maykut had noted recently, that would follow Opening Day by a few weeks; the Kid Zone also has some elements yet to be added, and the beer/wine license is still in the works. But they’re open and serving vegetarian/vegan food, till 9 tonight; hours, menu, and other info can be found on the Chaco Canyon website.

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Still too soggy for West Seattle Little League Jamboree
April 1, 2011 8:05 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

First it was set for last Saturday … then, because of soggy weather, this Saturday … and now West Seattle Little League president Mark Terao just sent word that the WSLL Jamboree is off again, with the league’s focus turning to trying “to get the fields ready for the first game of the regular season on Monday, April 4th.” He adds, “We will redesign the Jamboree and give all of the kids an opportunity to be announced and run out on the field during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new concession and storage building. Once that day is determined, we will make the announcement.”

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Food composting starts Tuesday at WSHS – buckets needed!
April 1, 2011 7:02 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle online | West Seattle schools

If you have a 5-gallon bucket (or more than one!) to spare, West Seattle High School can use it. Jennifer Hall explains why:

Our YMCA Earth Service Corps has been getting West Seattle High School students and staff ready for a “Compost Test Drive” to be held on Tuesday, April 5. Cedar Grove Composting will be partnering with us, as we get our program up and running. They are helping us out by delivering a trial compost dumpster on Monday. We are also looking for donations of five gallon buckets to be used for food scraps and napkins in classrooms, in offices, and in our staff lounge. We are also going to be using the buckets as liquids buckets, and encouraging better recycling of milk cartons and cans at our school. Students will be able to earn community service hours by helping us out at lunch times, before and after school.

We are a little apprehensive; food composting at WSHS is going to be a big undertaking. But we are also excited, and feel that food composting is the right thing to do for our school environment, for our community, and for our future.

If readers would like more information about food composting at West Seattle High School, or if anyone would like to help us out by donating a bucket or volunteering, please e-mail or call Jennifer Hall, West Seattle High School Earth Service Corps Advisor – jlhall@seattleschools.org, 206-252-8845.

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West Seattle Friday: From bake sale to ‘Hypnosteria,’ & much more
April 1, 2011 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Those are before and after photos from Day 1 of Community School of West Seattle‘s bake sale to raise money for Japan relief – Day 2 is today. Director Sarah Airhart reports:

The Community School of West Seattle has been busy baking for the last 2 days for their bake sale and (Thursday) they raised $570 in ONE HOUR of selling. All funds will be donated to the Red Cross to aid the Japan relief efforts on behalf of a former preschool teacher from Japan, Mayuko. The bake sale will be refreshed (today) with more goodies so please stop by from 12 to 1pm.

CSWS is at 9450 22nd SW (here’s a map). Speaking of goodies:

CHACO CANYON CAFE OPENING DAY: When you check out Chaco Canyon Café at Link (WSB sponsor), 38th/Alaska – which opens at 7 am today – take a look over the door to the “community room” on the restaurant’s north side. Owner Chris Maykut surprised us with a West Seattle Blog-inscribed “brick” (lower left of the photo), on behalf of WSB’ers’ support for his WS expansion – which started when we published the question of whether you were interested in a vegetarian/vegan organic café (results: big “yes”). If you want to say you were there on Day 1, they’re open till 9 pm.

CHIEF SEALTH BASEBALL AUCTION/DINNER: Spaghetti dinner and three types of auctions (live, silent, dessert) – starts at 5:30 pm in the school Galleria; full details here.

‘RUMORS’ RESUMES AT YOUNGSTOWN: APRIL 1-3: Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” presented by Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, third-to-final show is at 7:30 tonight – schedule and tickets here.

FREE LAWN CARE CLASS: Elementary Lawn Care at West Seattle Nursery, 6-7 pm tonight, free, with WSN owner Mark Smith leading the class.

BIN 41 CELEBRATES YEAR ONE: First anniversary celebration, 5:30-7:30 pm, at Bin 41 wine shop in The Junction: Darby Winery and Gorman Winery featured; savory snacks; surprises, 5:30-7:30 pm, raising money for Japan earthquake relief by donating 100 percent of the $5 tasting fee.

BEER CHURCH ALE RELEASE: Also in The Junction: Celebrate the release of Beer Church Pale Ale. Join Beer Church at West 5, 6-9 pm. One dollar for every pint sold will be donated to Pints for Prostates, a non-profit organization that works to increase prostate cancer awareness. Prize raffle included.

YOUTH MEDIA INSTITUTE SILENT AUCTION: Youth Media Institute “No Fooling” Silent Auction takes place at Dubsea Coffee (9910 8th Avenue SW), 6 pm – 8 pm.

TERESA TUDURY AT KENYON HALL: Bay Area vocal artist Teresa Tudury returns to Kenyon Hall (7904 35th Ave SW), 7:30 pm. Reserved table seats are $14. Row seating is $12 general and $10 seniors. With a reservation, row seating is $10 general and $8 seniors. Elementary, middle, high school students are $5. Pre-school children are free. To make a reservation, please e-mail kenyonhall@earthlink.net.

PUGET RIDGE MEANINGFUL MOVIE: “I Bring What I Love” by Youssou N’Dour. At Puget Ridge Cohousing Common House, 7020 18th Ave. SW (at Myrtle), 7:15 pm. Discussion to follow. “I Bring What I Love” is a musical journey about the power of one voice to inspire millions. Youssou N’Dour won a Grammy for his album Egypt. Watch trailer here.

HYPNOSTERIA AT SENIOR CENTER OF WEST SEATTLE: Hypnosteria comedy show with Kevin Colllins, hypnotist. Evening schedule:
5:00 pm Happy Hour with Hooter Girls serving
6:30 pm Chicken dinner
7:30 pm Hypnosis Show
9:00 pm Live DJ Dance Music
Donation $20 members/$25 non-members for fundraiser by Senior Center of West Seattle. Reservations, please — call 206.932.4044.

TRAFFIC ALERT: 1st Avenue closes at Spokane northbound again overnight tonight, 8 pm-5 am, which means reroutes for buses 21, 22, 56, 85 night owl.

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Garden notes: Final P-Patch design Sat.; Roxhill needs help Sunday
April 1, 2011 3:53 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news | Westwood

BARTON STREET P-PATCH, FINAL DESIGN MEETING: Tomorrow (Saturday, April 2nd) is the final community design meeting for the new P-Patch at 34th/Barton, and as organizers say, “It’s not too late to get involved.” Though the big decision about the big birch tree has been made (here’s our most recent story), it’s now time to settle the garden’s look, feel, number of spaces, etc. You’re invited to Southwest Community Center, 1:30-3:30 pm Saturday.

Then on Sunday, not far away at Roxhill Elementary School …

ROXHILL GARDEN WORK PARTY: Joshua Medaris‘s drawing gives a hint at what Roxhill’s garden will look like when it’s done. We covered some early work last summer; now, your help is needed Sunday morning for “phase 1 of the garden renovation – moving the new garden beds over to the original garden area.” Advice from organizers: “Bring clothes that can get dirty, work gloves if you have them, a water bottle, and a friend.” The garden’s on the northwest side of the school, 9430 30th SW. The party is 9 am-noon Sunday; if you have questions, call Ariana Taylor-Stanley at 206-660-8958 or e-mail ariana.taylor-stanley@kingcounty.gov.

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Alki Beach safety reminder: Why fires belong in the rings
April 1, 2011 3:06 am
|    Comments Off on Alki Beach safety reminder: Why fires belong in the rings
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

The forecast calls for some sunshine this weekend, but before you go rushing off to the beach, maybe even to walk barefoot in the sand – consider the story of Mike Daigle‘s disturbing discovery on Alki last weekend, which led him to share what is both a reminder and a warning:

Just as a reminder to everyone who loves to play on and enjoy Alki Beach. Beach fires are required to be confined to the metal “rings” on the west end of the beach. Starting a fire outside of the rings is a violation of Parks Department rules but has much deeper consequences then a fine. (Last Saturday) I checked out a few black spots in the sand where fires had been started outside the rings. I found about 100 rusty nails in a 2’x2’ area where someone had been burning scrap wood. We got most of them up but I’m sure more remain. I have a message in to the Parks Department and I am awaiting a reply.

Besides rusty nails in the sand, fires outside the rings usually result in hot coals being buried just below the surface. These hot coals smolder for hours and days awaiting a poor soul to step into it and burn their foot. Another likely scenario is a child digging in the sand and burning a hand. Even in the rings, as per Seattle Fire Code, you are not allowed to burn anything other than clean cord wood. No scrap wood, no garbage, no melting glass bottles in the hot coals. The Seattle Fire Department has publications with more information. Here is the link.

*Keep it in the rings
*Keep it clean wood
*Keep a bucket of water nearby

Here’s even more information – via the city Parks Department’s page about Alki Beach fire pits.

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