West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
10:41 PM: We’ve watched solstice and equinox sunsets with her, and now a Mars landing – West Seattle’s NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen presided as a crowd of more than 40 at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) just watched the NASA feed bring word that Curiosity had landed successfully. There was applause here to mirror the applause from Mission Control; we’ll have video shortly (added – here’s the video):
(First big round of applause is about :45 in)
A lucky few went away with buttons to commemorate the occasion – reading “7 minutes of terror”:
That’s in honor of the nailbiting interval between its entry to Mars’s atmosphere, and touchdown.
10:59 PM UPDATE: Almost half an hour after touchdown now, and at least a dozen people are lingering to talk about it.
(The NASA feed says there was so much interest, two of their websites crashed.) Back in June at Alice’s summer-solstice-watch event, Lego models of the lander were on display, and they’re here too:
The Solar System Ambassador program (explained here) has more than 500 volunteers around the country, including Alice, who has been part of it since 2010 (here’s her listing on the NASA website).
EARLY MORNING P.S. Another new image has since come in from Mars – see it here.
Thanks to Erin for the view of what she described as the “super spectacular sunset” (seen from Upper Fauntleroy). It ended another day with a high temperature past 90 – but tomorrow will be a lot closer to 80, according to the newest forecast, which says there’s even a chance of an overnight thunderstorm. The heat advisory that had been in effect since noon Saturday expired at 8 tonight and wasn’t renewed. Tomorrow is expected to start with low clouds/fog before it clears off and gets warm but not hot, with a high expected mid-70s to low 80s. (Added – Another colorful sunset view, this one from Debra Salazar Herbst:)
ADDED OVERNIGHT: There’s a discussion in the comment section about lights in the sky seen during the 10 pm hour. We also received a few notes, like this one from Tamora:
My husband and I saw 14 orange, round, bright, moving objects in the sky tonight from our street outside our house in West Seattle. They appeared 1 at a time, below the big dipper, from the west, flying just beyond the North Star toward the east before they faded and disappeared from view. They were orange, and brighter than the stars. I first saw 2 at the same time, then 1 at a time flew in a similar path. They appeared more frequently, until about the 10th, then there was more lag time between them. For the last few, there was a couple of minutes between their appearances, until they stopped appearing.
Sounds a lot like “sky lanterns,” often launched to celebrate a special occasion – if you know of anyone who was launching them in West Seattle last night, let us know so the mystery can be solved!
With the next closure just hours away, it’s time for our weekly list melding the city and state announcements of upcoming West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street Viaduct/Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 closures – plus a long-term narrowing of 1st Avenue South near the WS Bridge. Note that the Sunday-Thursday 99 closure pattern is interrupted this week:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 (tonight)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99: Closed southbound between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am
MONDAY, AUGUST 6
*1st Avenue South: Lane closures begin; SDOT says it will be down to one lane each way, 24/7, for “approximately eight weeks,” between S Horton and S Spokane Streets.
*Spokane Street Viaduct: Westbound lanes closed between I-5 and Highway 99, 10 pm till 5 am. This means no access to the West Seattle Bridge from I-5 or Beacon Hill.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7
*Spokane Street Viaduct: Westbound lanes closed between I-5 and Highway 99, 10 pm till 5 am. This means no access to the West Seattle Bridge from I-5 or Beacon Hill.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99: Closed southbound between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am
THURSDAY, AUGUST 9
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99: Closed southbound between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge, 9 pm-5 am
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10
*No closures scheduled (after SB 99 reopens at 5 am)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11
*No closures scheduled
There’s an expanded list of Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project-related closures on the city website here, and an expanded list of Alaskan Way Viaduct/99-related closures on the state website here.
FIRST REPORT, 4:37 PM: After a few reports of power flickering, the 911 log shows a transformer fire reported off Beach Drive near La Rustica. On our way to check it out.
4:49 PM UPDATE: Per scanner, this – like an earlier incident elsewhere – was apparently a case of bird vs. wires. No lingering outages, and Seattle Fire cleared the scene before we arrived – there’s no sign even of debris in the area.
Thanks to commenter “Admiral-California” for the reminder – the West Seattle Water Taxi schedule is extended for tonight’s Sounders game. It’s scheduled to leave Pier 50 downtown at 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30 pm. (Even if you’re not going to the game, boat rides are another good way to cool off, including Washington State Ferries from Fauntleroy.)
(Spotted by Ali on Alki – following the advice of not leaving pets in cars!)
With the fan going, and a big glass of ice water nearby, we asked on Facebook at midnight last night for air-conditioning suggestions, since Saturday’s temperature got up into the low 90s and today could be even warmer. (See the full list here!) Here’s a sample of the West Seattle/White Center suggestions as of late morning (we’ve linked the websites in case you don’t know their locations):
From Brittany: The library (here’s a map of all locations)
From Patrick: Freezer section, any grocery store
From Brian: Coolers at The Beer Junction
From Helen: Skylark Café and Club
From Ian and Farah: West Seattle Bowl
From Kristina: Barnes and Noble-Westwood Village
From Goldie and David: Beer section of QFC
From Patrick: Angelina’s
From Carissa: Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
From M.J.: Muttley Crew Cuts
From Lisa: Talarico’s
From Alice: Thriftway and Target (and late tonight, her Mars party @ The Kenney)
From Lindsay: OutWest Bar
From Ronnie: Pet Pros
From Donna: Heartland Café
From Kate: Beveridge Place Pub
From Noelle: Seating areas at Admiral Safeway, QFC, and Subway/Jefferson Square
From Sharon: Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor)
From Krissy: Home Depot
Justin at Full Tilt Ice Cream and the folks at Seattle Yarn suggested their respective businesses.
What’s YOUR tip for where to find air conditioning (if you don’t have it at home, as some of our FB respondents said they do – especially window units they haul out for days like this)? Add a comment!
P.S. You can find the city swimming pool/wading pool schedules in today’s daily preview, if you’re thinking about staying cool via water.
(Saturday photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Blue sky, loud planes, fast boats, high temperatures. This is it – Seafair Sunday. And there’s more, from morning through night (the Mars landing!), from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERT FOR TONIGHT: Southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct will close 9 pm-5 am between the Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge.
SEAFAIR, THE FINAL DAY: Since the Blue Angels‘ show often includes a few West Seattle passes, they’re usually top of mind here – but there are other local links, like the Miss Beacon Plumbing hydroplane, which underwent a makeover at South Seattle Community College recently (WSB coverage here) – we found it in the pits on Saturday:
(Saturday WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Today’s full all-day schedule for hydros and airshow, including the Blue Angels around 1:40 pm (after a 1:30-ish takeoff from Boeing Field by the Museum of Flight), can be seen here. It’s also your last chance to tour the Seafair Navy Fleet – noon-3:30 pm.
SWIMMING TODAY: In case the hot weather inspires you to go swimming, some schedules: Wading pools, here; Colman Pool (outdoors at Lincoln Park), here; Southwest Pool (indoors, 2801 SW Thistle), here.
MORE HINTS FOR STAYING COOL: We asked for suggestions on the WSB Facebook page overnight – and here’s what we got! Still time to add yours – we’ll be turning this into a story a bit later.
WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY SOCCER: Join the fun with a pickup soccer game at Delridge Playfield at 7:30 am – early enough that it won’t be too hot yet! More info on the WSSS Facebook page.
‘NEW TO NIA’ CLASS SERIES STARTS: $5 class – find out what Nia is all about. 8:30 am, Highland Park Improvement Club (12th and Holden).
GET FIT WEST SEATTLE: A new round of the fun training program begins at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor; California/Charlestown), 9 am today. They describe it as “couch to half-marathon” – as explained here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm – go shop in the sunshine and see what’s new (highlights are in our calendar listing), 44th and Alaska in The Junction.
BRING HOME A NEW FELINE FRIEND: Adoption event at Next to Nature in The Junction, 11 am-3 pm – details here.
PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 1-4 pm today at Little Rascals Preschool of West Seattle (WSB sponsor); map here.
FINAL PERFORMANCE OF ‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE JR.’: 3 pm at ArtsWest.
LIVE MUSIC: 3 pm at Skylark … 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) …
MARS LANDING PARTY: NASA will be watching and waiting around 10:30 tonight to see if Curiosity makes it out onto Mars … and you can do the same thing during a gathering with West Seattle’s own Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen, who’ll be equipped with the live online feed and air conditioning at The Kenney. Here’s our preview.
More on the calendar!
Now that it’s Sunday, just two days till this year’s Night Out – a time for community-building, crime-fighting block parties, coming up Tuesday night, 6-9 pm. Two updates right now:
NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP WITH SPD: We checked last week to see what the deadline is – and Seattle Police say there’s really not one; sign up your block party by Tuesday, get on the map, and make your party happen. How to do it:
*Go here to register (you can close off your non-arterial street without a permit or fee)
*Add your block party to SPD’s online map (not mandatory)
*Print your street-closure and neighborhood-invitation signs
WEST SEATTLE LIBRARIES GET IN THE ‘NIGHT OUT’ MOOD: Shared by children’s librarian Amy LaVare:
West Seattle’s libraries will be offering a variety of Night Out programs and displays during the week of August 7th. Night Out is an annual event promoting community spirit and safety. The Family Story Times at the High Point Branch on Monday, August 6, and at the Delridge Branch on Tuesday, August 7, will feature songs and stories about neighbors. All of the West Seattle libraries (Delridge, High Point, South Park, Southwest, and West Seattle) will have displays of “neighbors” or “nighttime” books, and your local librarians would love to help find you more items!
Your library locations/hours/programs are all online at spl.org.
P.S. If you’re having a Night Out party and wouldn’t mind if we stopped by for a photo – every year we make the rounds to stop by as many neighborhoods as we can – please e-mail us the location (and let us know if you or someone else will be the person we ask for when we get there) – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
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