Another closure announced: Alki Tavern’s shutting down
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 6:08 PM: In March of last year, we reported that a stretch of Harbor Avenue including the Alki Tavern‘s site was up for sale, listed for almost $4 million. Tonight, the tavern has announced via Facebook that it’s closing:
Well, it’s finally true… After 38 years the Alki Tavern will be closing on March 17th… St Patrick’s Day. Let’s make these last 3 months unforgettable!
King County property records show transactions including the tavern site within the past two weeks. We’re following up to find out more.
(Inside Alki Tavern tonight)
ADDED 7:17 PM: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand has just spoken with Alki Tavern manager Gill McLynne, who is the son of its current owners (and has a brother working there too). He confirms that they’re moving because of a pending project, and says the family does not plan to try to re-create the Alki Tavern somewhere else – you can’t duplicate something that’s one of a kind. So between now and St. Patrick’s Day – a closing day they chose because of their Irish heritage, and the fact it was always a big day at the tavern – watch for some special celebratory nights so people can come by and say goodbye, including, he said, nights to honor some of the former bartenders and servers. He estimates as many as 300 people have worked there over the years. Since it’s a family-run business with many regular customers, it’ll be sad to say goodbye, he said, but he and his family will work to make the final few months special for the regulars as well as for the whole neighborhood.
ADDED 9:36 PM: County records show the sale spanning two transactions on December 21 and 24, with Salty’s Properties listed as selling the entire site to YMSA Co. Ltd. for $3.2 million in one transaction on the 21st (the same day YMSA registered with the state, listing its company directors as two people with addresses in Korea), and the tavern owners’ interests deeded to Salty’s Properties for $392,000 on the 24th. We could not find any specific development proposal filed online so far for any part of the site, though there were land-use consultations in fall of 2011; the land is zoned for up to 65 feet (six stories).
Hiring in the New Year? Remember WSB’s free job listings
One of our resolutions for WSB in the New Year is to make the site even more useful. Part of that means more visibly showcasing some of WSB’s most popular features. 
Among them: The WSB Forums‘ “West Seattle Jobs Offered” page. We have long offered FREE “help wanted” listings there for West Seattle/White Center/South Park-area companies/employers (that includes families seeking child-care help and other such jobs) – and even without promotion, it’s consistently one of the top five most-viewed pages on WSB. So starting today, the “Jobs Offered” page has its own link on our row of tabs under the sunset header photo – clicking the JOBS tab will take you directly to the section of the forum where you can see the latest listings and/or post a new one (you have to sign up for a Forum account first, but it’s quick ‘n’ easy). No “job wanted” listings, please – just “job offered” – thanks, and we wish all businesses (and job applicants) a successful 2013!
Easy Street Records’ Queen Anne store closing; West Seattle to ‘carry on’
While announcing today that his Lower Queen Anne location is closing after 12 years, Easy Street Records owner Matt Vaughan reiterated that West Seattle is NOT going anywhere. The announcement about Queen Anne is on the Easy Street website, where Vaughan explained that the Queen Anne landlord wanted a longer-term lease than he was ready to commit to. However, as reported here in February of last year, Vaughan also noted in today’s announcement about Queen Anne that, here in West Seattle, he DID recently renew long-term:
We recently signed a new 15-year lease at our original store in West Seattle, where we will carry on the Easy Street tradition of great in-stores, yummy breakfasts, tasty vinyl, and overall, an excellent selection of music.
The Easy Street Queen Anne location’s last day of operation is January 18; Vaughan writes that a Chase Bank branch is moving in. (Before Easy Street, you might remember the Queen Anne storefront as having been home to Tower once upon a time – we do.)
West Seattle wildlife: Brown pelican still hanging around
In sharing this photo today, Jon Anderson described the big beautiful bird he photographed at Don Armeni Boat Ramp this morning as “our resident brown pelican.” Beginning to look that way, since it’s going on a month since the first sightings. (Not long after we received Jon’s photo, we spotted the pelican ourselves, and we’ll add some of our photos later to the WSB Flickr gallery – *added* here’s one of them:)
P.S. After a previous mention of the pelican, we heard from International Bird Rescue, which asks that if you see one with a blue band – which this one does NOT appear to have – please report it to them, as they are tracking hundreds of pelicans they’ve rehabilitated and released since the species came off the endangered list in 2009, and IBR says some have been spotted even further north, in British Columbia.
Post-holiday giving: Blanket drive at West Seattle Autoworks
The holidays are over, but the opportunities to give to people in need continue year-round. Here’s one of your first opportunities of 2013: West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) is hosting a drive to collect blankets to help homeless people stay warm during these below-freezing nights. Co-owner Todd Ainsworth says his wife Dianne came up with the idea and plans to take the blankets to the Nickelsville encampment here in West Seattle and to the Union Gospel Mission (which helps people in South Park and White Center as well as operating its shelter downtown). The official collection time for the drive is this Saturday (January 5th), 9 am-3 pm, but Todd tells WSB they will also accept blankets dropped off during regular WS Autoworks business hours before then – or even after. They’re on the southwest corner of 35th/Webster (map).
West Seattle Wednesday: South Seattle CC; Southwest DC; more
(Mt. Baker, as seen from 35th/Myrtle on New Year’s Day afternoon; photo by Karen Derby)
Slowly revving back up to post-holiday reality … as is the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, from which most of today’s highlights spring:
TRASH/RECYCLING/YARD WASTE – AND CHRISTMAS TREES: Reminder that again this week, because of the Tuesday holiday, Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday city pickup is on a one-day delay (so if you get Tuesday service, it should be picked up today, etc.). And you are welcome to put your Christmas tree out at curbside, or take it to the transfer station, free through January 13th – here again are details on that.
SSCC’S WINTER QUARTER BEGINS: Today is the first day of winter quarter at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor). Many other area schools (including all Seattle Public Schools) don’t go back till next Monday.
THREE LOCAL STORY TIMES … today/tonight in West Seattle, at your local public libraries. See them all on the Seattle Public Library Calendar of Events!
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL – NEW TIME, NEW LOCATION: The monthly meeting of reps from community councils and other organizations around western West Seattle is now at 6:30 pm on first Wednesdays, at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle). As previewed here last week, tonight’s agenda includes presentations by applicants for city grants to fund traffic-safety (and other) projects. Come see what your neighbors are proposing – public’s welcome.
TRIVIA AT SKYLARK: 7 pm, weekly trivia with Brittanica is back at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW). Here’s how it works.
MONA CONCEPCION AT COMEDY UNDERGROUND: As previewed here on Tuesday – Mona’s the only West Seattleite in a showcase of new comics at Comedy Underground in Pioneer Square at 8 tonight (our preview included a link to buy a ticket online for half the door price).
LIVE MUSIC: Tonight’s listed venues include Benbow Room and Locol.
(added) BONUS PHOTO: Thanks to Pamela Neithercott for sharing views from Alki Point – including an eagle headed for the knoll:
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Back-to-work Wednesday
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Still on holiday break till next week? Lucky you! Overall, we know it’s back-to-work day for more than a few people today, so we are resuming the daily traffic/transit trackers. As a refresher – this is the spot for updates if needed on not only the morning commute, but traffic trouble throughout the day and into the evening, if there’s any – and a place to talk about what you’re encountering, whether you’re driving, riding the bus, bicycling, walking, taking the Water Taxi, a state ferry, etc.
TRANSIT SCHEDULES: Back to normal, including Metro.
WEEKEND RAMP CLOSURES: One month ago after first word of the Spokane Street Interchange Vicinity Special Bridge Repair project, the first closure weekend is almost here: 10 pm this Friday 1/4 through 5 am next Monday 1/7, two ramps will be closed – Columbian Way (Beacon Hill) to West Seattle Bridge, and Southbound I-5 to West Seattle Bridge. Here’s the detour map. Again, that’s this coming weekend.
West Seattle Little League history: Online registration launched
This year, something new for West Seattle Little League – online registration. 
Here’s the official announcement, from Laurie Rasmussen:
West Seattle Little League baseball registration has begun!
West Seattle Little League is excited to announce that we will be offering ONLINE REGISTRATION as well as our traditional IN-PERSON REGISTRATION for the 2013 season. To register online go to westseattlelittleleague.com and click the “Register for 2013 season” button. The in-person registration will be held at the West Seattle High School Library on Tuesday, January 15, and Thursday, January 24, from 6 pm-8 pm. West Seattle Little
League’s website has more information regarding registration and the items needed to register your child.
If you have any questions, please e-mail playeragent@westseattlelittleleague.com
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