West Seattle, Washington

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day : 27/06/2015 7 results

West Seattle scene: ‘Educational sleepout’ by Seacrest
June 27, 2015 11:54 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

Carolyn shared that photo via the WSB Facebook page and wondered what was happening; we just went over to find out. A dozen or so people are camped out on the sidewalk east of Seacrest for the second-to-last in a series of “educational sleepouts” organized by the homelessness advocacy/shelter-operating organization SHARE/WHEEL. According to the flyer they gave us, the location for this one was chosen because they think that some of the money the county is spending on the Water Taxi – which was finishing its late-night runs when we stopped by – should go to SHARE instead, to help pay for shelter operations, which they say were affected by a county budget cut. The group has had “sleepout” protests before, including one we covered in 2009 outside then-Mayor Greg Nickels’ house in North Admiral. Its final sleepout in this series is Monday night in Georgetown; details are on the SHARE/WHEEL website. They told us they’ll be on the sidewalk by Seacrest until about 9 am tomorrow.

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REPORT #2: Mayor hands over key to the city as Seafair Pirates land on Alki Beach
June 27, 2015 9:13 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand unless otherwise credited)
So how do pirates wind up with the key to the city? Particularly pirates who storm ashore with a roar – and a trident?

(Photo by David Hutchinson)
All in a day’s work – make that, a day’s plunder – as the Seafair Pirates sailed through an armada of onlookers on the water and on the shore at Alki Beach this afternoon, amid a haze of cannon smoke:

Once a few shots were fired at sea, not much resistance – in fact, it was Mayor Ed Murray (former Alki resident) himself who handed over the key:

We did glimpse a dagger here and there:

More in evidence: Stickers:

Perhaps that helped draw in the youngest pirate recruits:

Others were in danger of being spirited away when the Pirates made their landlubbing escape via Moby Duck:

But we have it on good authority that the West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty and Miss Seafair are safe:

Same goes for this year’s Miss Seafair contenders, last seen taking refuge in the Alki Bathhouse:

That’s Lorelei McFadden, last year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Queen, second from right in the back row. We’ll find out on Seafair Torchlight Parade night in four weeks who wins. Meantime, today, it seemed as if everyone won:

If you don’t recognize that scalawag – it’s Oliver Little, event manager extraordinaire, who not only wrangled this 66th annual Seafair Pirates Landing, but also will be making things happen as tens of thousands storm The Junction for West Seattle Summer Fest July 10-11-12. As for the Pirates:

Last seen off to scowl and saunter elsewhere – but they’ll return to West Seattle for the Grand Parade three weeks from today, 11 am Saturday, July 18th – more on that as we get closer.

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VIDEO: West Seattle teen and dad heading out on another big bicycle ride to help Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
June 27, 2015 7:20 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That quick video is a pitch from Cal Prinster, who you’ve probably seen here before – dating back to 2011, when he and dad Gordon Prinster finished a 1,732-mile West Coast bicycle ride, raising money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation along the way. The year after that, they rode cross-country. And today, we learned they’re about to head out on a ride to Austin, Texas, as Cal explains in the clip – he’s now a sophomore at West Seattle High School, where his dad is the school psychologist. Gordon’s wife Bernadette Brown says, “While it’s shorter than their ride to NYC, it’s going to be a challenging one with two mountain ranges and ridiculous heat.” If you’re inspired to donate to PBTF, you can do that online, here – as they say on that page, “Now, we know we’ve hit you up a few times over the years, so you might have a touch of ‘solicitation fatigue,’ but we also know there’s no better cause to support. No, nobody in our family is sick. But there are plenty of kids who do need our help. Every day, 13 more kids in the US will be diagnosed with a brain tumor. By supporting the PBTF, we can help give these kids hope for a brighter future!”

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Alki parking: New plan for lot next to the Homestead
June 27, 2015 4:18 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(SWSHS photo: Matt Schilling, son of Alki Homestead owner Dennis Schilling, finishing the sign)
Walking toward Alki Beach along 61st SW this afternoon, past the early-stage-renovation-under-way Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge, we noticed that sign, and maybe you did too. Clay Eals of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society shared the photo and this explanation/announcement:

Now that restoration work has begun on the city-landmark Fir Lodge​​/Alki Homestead, a procedure has been established for parking during construction work that will transpire over the next year or two.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society holds an easement for use of the Homestead parking lot. Thus, visitors to the organization’s “Birthplace of Seattle” Log House Museum can park free in the Homestead lot during the museum’s open hours of noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Access is via the alley behind the Homestead lot.

Immediately upon parking in the lot during the open hours, a museum visitor must obtain a parking pass at the museum and return to his or her car and place the pass on the dashboard.

Staff and volunteers of the organization also can park in the Homestead lot during open hours and at other times by displaying a permanent parking pass.

The lot also is available to the general public seeking to park for non-museum purposes. Those seeking parking in the Alki area can park in the Homestead lot for a fee of $10/day.

The funds, which will go to Homestead owner Dennis Schilling, are collected in a locked honor box at the parking lot. Signs posted at the lot explain the procedure and fee.

Spaces will be designated for museum parking (and moved, as needed, to accommodate construction vehicles) so that no matter how many spaces are filled by those who pay for parking, there will be spaces available for museum parking during open hours.

The Homestead parking lot sits one-half block north of the museum. Access to the lot is via the alley behind 61st Avenue SW, between Alki Avenue SW and SW Stevens Street. (The alley entrance from Alki Avenue is between Starbucks and Top Pot Doughnuts.)

More Homestead restoration info, including the new parking policy, is on the SWSHS website.

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REPORT #1: Seafair Pirates Landing 2015 on Alki Beach
June 27, 2015 1:32 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

1:32 PM: In case you’re not already at the beach but were wondering – no, the Seafair Pirates have *not* yet landed. Today’s schedule suggested we’ll see them around 2:15 pm; already a big crowd, and of course, the Pirates’ landlubbing getaway vessel vehicle, the Moby Duck, currently in use (top photo) as a photo-op backdrop.

More vendors than we recall seeing in previous years, plus live music, bouncy toys for kids (ticket purchase required), lots to see and do, both west and east of the Alki Bathhouse (at 60th/Alki – and we can attest to parking being maxed out for at least half a mile in all directions).

1:49 PM: We’re told the Pirates are about 10 minutes out; meantime at the stage, emcees are rounding up kids for a “pirate contest.” Next update, when they arrive.

2:05 PM: The Pirates landed about 10 minutes ago, if you’re keeping score. After multiple rounds of cannon fire, Global Diving and Salvage’s Prudhoe Bay brought them to the beach, and suddenly they were mobbed.

ADDED 3:46 PM: Adding a few more photos before we move on to other news, and then we’ll have a big treasure chest of pix in Report #2 later. Above and below, photos by Gary Jones, including the mayor giving the Pirates the key to the city (or did they seize it?):

Gary also noted a pirate-pet-quality bird in attendance:

More later!

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‘We’re ecstatic’: Thunder Road Guitars’ first day in big new Junction home
June 27, 2015 11:56 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(1st four photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
It’s opening day for the newest shop in The Junction, Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) at 4736 California SW. And proprietor Frank Gross tells us he’s “ecstatic.”

As first reported here in May, Thunder Road is making the move from a storefront about a mile north, where it was “busting at the seams” after two and a half successful years – the business started online in 2011. Biggest thing about the new shop is, in fact, its bigness – tripling the square footage, 2,500 feet now, up from 800 sf before. That means more instruments – about 200 on hand at any time – but also more services and partnerships. Another West Seattleite, Chad Beeler of The Bass Shop and Bass EFX, is now partnering with Thunder Road:

Also new: TRG will be offering lessons starting next month (there’s studio space in the back) – watch for more on that soon. In the meantime, even if you’re not a musician, it’s fun to browse the selection of fine vintage and used guitars – acoustic as well as electric – and other instruments and equipment, including amps.

Thunder Road has new hours as it launches the new storefront – there today 10-6, which is the Tuesday-Saturday schedule; on Sundays, when you might want to stop in as a side trip while at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market in the next block to the north, they’re open 11 am-4 pm. And you can’t miss the sign:

(Thanks to Michael for this photo!)
Besides visiting in person, check in online – on the Web. TRG is also fun to follow on Instagram, for the regular “Today’s Catch” feature.

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West Seattle Saturday: Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki; wading-pool season starts; Field Day; more…
June 27, 2015 6:34 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Cabbage butterfly, photographed by Danny McMillin, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

First full weekend of summer begins – highlighted today by the Seafair Pirates – and hot weather – keep cool, stay hydrated, and have fun!

TAI CHI ON THE BEACH: 9 am free class, all levels welcome, including beginners – details in our calendar listing.

SEAFAIR PIRATES LANDING: All-day festival on Alki Beach near the Bathhouse, 10 am-6 pm, but event management tells us the Seafair Pirates themselves will land on West Seattle’s shore later than usual, around 2:15 pm. First band at 11 am – see the schedule here; activities also include bouncy toys for kids, vendors, more. (60th/Alki)

NO POLE VAULTING, THOUGH: Here’s why you WON’T see the longrunning semi-companion event at Alki today.

THUNDER ROAD GUITARS OPENS ITS NEW JUNCTION LOCATION: Less than two months after announcing its move to a new Junction location, it’s opening day for Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) – you can come see for yourself 10 am-6 pm. (4736 California SW)

BENEFIT CAR WASH: The West Seattle High School volleyball team is washing cars by donation today, 10 am-3 pm – details in our calendar listing – at Les Schwab. (Alaska/Fauntleroy)

WADING POOL SEASON STARTS: 11 am-8 pm, first day for the Lincoln Park wading pool, first one to open in West Seattle; it’ll be open those same hours every day (unless temps are below 70 degrees) for the rest of the summer. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

OTHER PLACES TO GET INTO THE WATER, OUTDOORS: 11 am-8 pm, Highland Park Spraypark is open (1100 SW Cloverdale); noon-7 pm, Colman Pool is open for swim sessions on the shore at Lincoln Park.

FIELD DAY: 11 am today through 11 am Sunday, amateur-radio operators are set up on the south side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, and you’re invited to visit, watch, and learn, as previewed here. (6000 16th SW)

KIDS’ STORY TIME AT CHACO CANYON: Author Alexis St. John will read to kids 11:30 am-noon at Chaco Canyon Organic Café. Free! (38th/Alaska)

CATS AWAITING FOREVER HOMES: Weekend adoption event at Kitty Harbor, noon-5 pm. (3422 Harbor SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Noon-4 pm, regular hours at the home of West Seattle’s history – side trip while you’re at Alki for the Pirates, perhaps? (61st/Stevens)

ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Another Alki side trip – 1 pm-4 pm, join U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers at the historic lighthouse on Alki Point. Free! (3201 Alki SW)

MODE MUSIC STUDIOS SUMMER-CAMP RECITAL: 5-7 pm at The Skylark, you’ll hear musicians from Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) next door – free all-ages show! (3803 Delridge Way SW)

NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS … see them on the calendar page.

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