FRIDAY: West Seattle street party & more for KEXP’s ‘Hood-To-Hood,’ plus traffic/transit alert

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1:56 PM: Seeing the “No Parking” signs in The Junction a little while ago reminded us to remind you: Tomorrow’s the day for West Seattle’s victory party in KEXP‘s “Hood-To-Hood Challenge” – the prize for being the neighborhood that donated the most in a fundraising drive last summer – and even if you’re not joining the celebration, you need to know that California SW will be off-limits to vehicles between Alaska and Oregon. SDOT says the closure hours will be 6 am to 9 pm. Metro has a reroute advisory up for Route 22 – see it here.

Now the fun part: KEXP has many more details up on its website, beyond what we’d reported earlier. The live broadcast in The Junction, with band performances, runs noon-6 pm – first show at 1 pm, per the published schedule. 6-9 pm, nine venues feature KEXP DJs as they “Take Over West Seattle” (all listed on that same page); and live-music showcases start at 9 pm with West Seattle-residing DJs Kevin Cole @ Feedback Lounge and Troy Nelson @ The Skylark.

ADDED 7:11 PM: Thanks to Kathy for mentioning in the comment section that West Seattle Bike Connections will be part of the street party, too. Don from WSBC has since sent this preview:

Noon-4 pm, West Seattle Bike Connections will put on a bike rodeo for young riders to have fun learning skills and road safety, during the KEXP Block Party at the West Seattle Junction. Kids, bring your bike! Fun and prizes. Helmet fitting. Bike checks by West Seattle Cyclery. Support from Cascade Bicycle Club. On California Ave SW at SW Oregon St.

West Seattle Hipster May 28, 2015 (3:47 pm)

Odd. Close this street for a hipster music event but not close it for a much beloved car show.

Lame

Scott May 28, 2015 (4:44 pm)

Wow one day notice, shouldn’t they have to have three day notice on no parking.

Lindsey May 28, 2015 (5:00 pm)

So much whining in these comments lately. Who would complain about a series of free shows in the heart of our wonderful community? I’ll be there to show my support. West Seattle best Seattle! (Just ignore the whining.)

Kim May 28, 2015 (5:37 pm)

Agreed, Lindsey!

kumalavula May 28, 2015 (5:44 pm)

just how inconvenienced is inconvenienced?
it’s almost like people are going to start complaining that the sun is shining.
sheesh.

laura May 28, 2015 (5:47 pm)

Very excited, need to check it out!

Dawson May 28, 2015 (6:06 pm)

Uh oh, someone inconvenienced by something in West Seattle. Free concerts starting at lunch! Looks like a trip back over here and long lunch! Love KEXP

Andi May 28, 2015 (6:32 pm)

Agreed, Lindsey. It is so disappointing to be reminded how utterly curmudgeonly a lot of our fellow West Seattleites can be.

This show is being put on because of something wonderful our neighborhood accomplished last year. Even if you aren’t attending, pull your head out of where it doesn’t belong and appreciate that others have something to celebrate.

Dan May 28, 2015 (6:56 pm)

this should be fun!

Kathy May 28, 2015 (6:57 pm)

Kids, bring your bikes & helmets to the Bike Rodeo which will be held at the north end of the event space tomorrow from 12-4PM. There will be skills tests, prizes, stickers, safety checks, helmet fitting & more. You can bring your parents, whether or not they are “hipsters”, we might just have something for them, too. Sponsored by West Seattle Bike Connections.

WSB May 28, 2015 (7:10 pm)

Thanks, Kathy. Don just sent some info on this too – had no idea until your comment – if anyone else reading this knows of activities besides what’s mentioned on KEXP’s website (which primarily involves the bands/DJs), please let us know. Of course we’ll be there tomorrow afternoon and will roam the zone, but it’s great to know in advance, too, as we’ll be publishing our daily preview earlier in the morning – TR

Jason May 28, 2015 (7:08 pm)

This is going to be awesome, so happy I work in the junction at times like this. Looking forward to a really fun Friday afternoon!

tim May 28, 2015 (7:09 pm)

I think it’s great. I’m taking off work tomorrow to hang out. I told my boss at SDOT about going to this and he asked me…do they have a permit! I said I don’t care! Beer garden!!

West Seattle Hipster May 28, 2015 (7:22 pm)

I think it is super fabulous the KEXP event will be in WS, as a hipster you can bet your Pabst I will be there (after a trim at Rudys and some shopping at TJ’s).

However, I wonder why this event gets the green light and not the annual car show?

Andi May 28, 2015 (8:03 pm)

As I have little interest in a car show that’s not info I’m aware of, but I know it’s been discussed here:

https://westseattleblog.com/2015/05/no-west-seattle-car-show-this-year-organizers-announce/

It seems to me if it’s that important to you, maybe you can switch out your Pabst for some Kombucha (Hipsters drink that, right?) to get more people into maybe seeing what needs to be done to put something together? It takes little energy to complain on the interwebs, I know.

West Seattle Hipster May 28, 2015 (8:20 pm)

Andi, please read a link before you post it.

There is not much that can be done about the car show, the junction will not allow it to take place “Due to all the changes in The Junction, including scheduling and space restrictions”.

As for complaining on the old interwebs, looks like you are pretty good at it.

WSB May 28, 2015 (8:29 pm)

OK, everybody, please chill. We are still bummed about the car show ourselves … we sponsored it, and tabled at it, every year since its inception. It led to our first-and-only production of free tchotchkes (well, not counting the failed T-shirt attempt), the famous (?) WSB ice scraper. (Hasn’t really snowed since we handed those out. Hmm.) There are two big differences, though, here … (1) Not a weekend day, (2) closing one block, not four (the car show closed California from Oregon to Edmunds and Alaska from 42nd to 44th). Other differences? I don’t know. But those are big – TR

dano May 28, 2015 (9:30 pm)

Do they have beers there?

Sweets May 28, 2015 (9:40 pm)

Very excited this is happening in our neighborhood, great for the businesses around the junction and a great way to celebrate the sunshine. KEXP is a fantastic part of living in Seattle, we are lucky to have an organization like that in this city, it is globally respected and adds to the amazing culture we have here.

TM May 28, 2015 (10:20 pm)

Will be a great session. KEXP and WS denizen Kevin Cole throwing down in our hood on a beautiful early summer Friday, really looking forward to it

AM May 28, 2015 (11:13 pm)

Just think of it as practice for the ultimate lack of parking to come in the near future.

That said, I think it’s great they’re bringing fun to the streets of West Seattle!! Enjoy, be safe and happy Friday!

shannon May 28, 2015 (11:28 pm)

one day notice?… lame.. but the event sounds cool.. i wish i had more time to plan

WSB May 28, 2015 (11:42 pm)

To clarify those points:
(a) We just noticed the no-parking signs today but that doesn’t mean they weren’t up sooner.
.
(b) The event itself was announced with three weeks’ notice:
.
https://westseattleblog.com/2015/05/west-seattles-kexp-hood-to-hood-victory-party-set-for-may-29th
.
The fundraising victory was one year ago so it’s been known since then that it would happen here this year for the first time in 5 years, but the date wasn’t announced until May 7th. Here’s hoping folks can at least get out of work early (cough, cough) and come spend part of a sunny Friday afternoon out in the street … TR

party on May 29, 2015 (6:31 am)

Great weather for this.

Ok But May 29, 2015 (6:40 am)

I’m stoked! Proud to have KEXP over for a day. Thanks WSB.

Keith May 29, 2015 (9:59 am)

I noticed the parking alert signs on Tuesday (which was the first time I’d been in the Junction for weeks, so they could’ve been up sooner), so I can confirm that people need to chill out about that. :)

Also playing tonight at Skylark as part of this KEXP day celebrating West Seattle are SISTERS — they’re soooooo good! Playing WS Summerfest as well. I believe they are a local (as in WS) band.

David May 29, 2015 (10:07 am)

man – mood killers – West Seattle Hipster and Scott.

Who cares really. Geez – hard to please anyone. It’s funny how people always relate things to themselves, in this instance a ‘car show’ and ‘parking’.

I hope everyone has a great day! enjoy! life goes on and these types of events make it even better :)