Thanks to everybody who e-mailed us to point out the new “For Sale” sign outside the former Life Care Center of America site at 47th and Admiral. It’s been more than two months since the facility closed; there’s been widespread speculation that some sort of development would follow, but so far, there’s nothing showing in city files for the site, so this is the first public sign of something happening at the property. We’ve tried to find the listing online, but so far, it’s not coming up anywhere, even on the website listed on the sign; we have left messages for the brokers and hope to hear back. The property is currently zoned as LR1, explained in the city code as primarily intended for “low-density multifamily housing” such as townhomes and rowhouses.

We can say that with relative certainty because this is the SECOND West Seattle sighting of this exotic bird that’s been brought to our attention in the past few days. The first one – from Scott, who saw it Friday at 16th and Kenyon – was a little too blurry to use, but when Chelsea sent this photo from Delridge and Webster this morning, we thought it might be time to see if anyone is missing this long-tailed bird that she described as a golden pheasant.

No, it’s not Photoshopped, but yes, it’s a prank. We thought someone was just trying to be April Fool’s funny via Twitter when they tweeted at us this morning, “Uh, they’re putting a Wal-Mart in the hole at Fauntleroy and Alaska?” THEN came the note from a local resident reporting their spouse saw a sign about Wal-Mart and was therefore wondering when the LA Fitness plan changed. So of course we had to go take a picture. Sorry, Wal-Mart fans, it’s still going to be an LA Fitness with apartments on top … whenever construction gets going. (The last public review was three months ago.)

Every year, somebody gets Peeped – last year, a home near Lowman Beach; this year, it’s the Lorentz home in North Admiral! They shared the photo of what the Easter Bunny did after he came in through the chimney …no, wait. 1900 block of 41st SW, if you won’t believe it till you see it firsthand.

On Alki, the Easter Bunny seems to have an engine along with the bunny ears and bunny nose:

Thanks to Lisa Ruiz for sharing that photo. Whatever form the Easter Bunny took, s/he was busy at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor):

The annual C & P Easter-morning egg hunt drew dozens — little kids went first. Over at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, the egg hunt was ongoing, but we did drop by the info booth as participants recycled the plastic eggs:

Steps away, the crew from Blue Geisha Tattoo painted faces, and arms:

And then there’s the Easter Weasel – featured on the WSB Facebook page.

Last night, Kristina told us about that photo via the WSB Facebook page:

At Lowman Beach this morning, there was a sign “I surrender” on a log – someone went to some trouble to letter the sign, and to cut the groove into a log to attach the sign, and I wonder what it’s about. … Who put it there? What does it mean? It’s beautiful and thought-provoking and I am appreciative: thank you.

Reminded us of a stenciled message we noticed on a Lowman Beach log and showed here almost six years ago. But apparently it’s not just a Lowman phenomenon – Kristina then e-mailed this afternoon to say she came across this today in the Schmitz Park area:

Clues, anyone? Seen others?

That’s what Chris W wrote in his note to us accompanying this photo. He took it in front of the Mason Wiggins Realty office at California and Andover (map). So if you lost something there – now you know who to call! (P.S. If you lose or find something, you’re also welcome to post about it in the WSB Forums – except for lost/found pets, which have a page of their own.)

Two people have e-mailed us wondering how this vehicle managed to wind up on the slope along the Fauntleroy Way end of the West Seattle Bridge, just north of Walking On Logs. Nothing obvious on the police/fire logs – so we don’t know; do you? We went over for a look and a photo; no damage visible so far as we could see.

SIDE NOTE: Noticed while there that the sculptures themselves are sporting new red and blue garb to promote Camp Fire candy sales:

According to the regional Camp Fire council, you’ll see Camp Fire youth out and about selling candy starting Friday.

4:41 PM NOTE: The vehicle is still there, as is another one parked in the pullout by it (facing the correct direction) with its emergency flasher lights going. That car was parked there when we first went by at noon but, though it appeared unoccupied, we didn’t pay much attention – till noticing just now that it’s still there.

6:45 PM: Mystery solved. See Andrew’s comment; also, we received this note from another reader:

I was leaving WS at approximately 9.30 this morning and saw the silver Toyota – traveling westbound – hit the central reservation pretty hard (rear end bucked up in the air, thought for a moment it might actually bounce over). Saw other westbound vehicles braking in my rear view mirror – embarrassed now but didn’t feel in a position to stop and call it in safely, and by the time I got to work had already forgotten about it.

There is nothing on the fire 911 log, so apparently – as Andrew’s comment suggests – the driver didn’t need attention from medics. The SUV was gone by 6:45 pm tonight (we passed the area again heading outbound on the bridge).

(Photo by Machel Spence)
A beautiful day, from the frosty floor of Lincoln Park, to the frosty tip of the story pole at Rotary Viewpoint Park …

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
… to the mighty Olympics in the west …

(Photo by John Hinkey)
… and mightier Mount Rainier to the south …

(Photo by Myrtle)
this beautiful day is ending with tidepool exploration by flashlight at Constellation Park.

(Photo by Leslie Dierauf)
(Along with low-low nighttime low tides, including one more at 11:13 pm tomorrow – -2.4 feet – the morning “king” tides are arriving too, 12.8 feet at 5:47 am tomorrow.) Thanks to everyone who shared photos!

We’ve been out covering some of tonight’s events – but before we get to those, three sightings. Above, WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams spotted Santa Claus by the Vashon ferry line in Fauntleroy! That’s not far from where the jolly old soul also spent part of this evening listening to last-minute Christmas wishes – among other things – at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor):

Santa being a ubiquitous sort of gent this time of year, those of course were not the only places he was sighted tonight, but we thank Julie for sharing the photo of the classic beard-authenticity check. As you can see in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, Santa will be back at Thriftway each of the next two days (1-4 Saturday, 3-7 Sunday), as well as a few other spots.

Finally, a lovely view at sunset – looking toward downtown – shared by Toni T:

(Right about then, we were at Alice Enevoldsen‘s winter-solstice sunset watch – story on that, coming up.)

The photo is from Highland Park’s Dina Johnson, who explains:

Yesterday a bizarre sculpture appeared on the Henderson street sidewalk near the corner of 13th Ave [map] in Highland Park.

We thought the thing might have fallen off a passing car, or stolen from someone’s yard. Or maybe it was part of an art installation in a rather unconventional gallery? Maybe someone is looking for it.

It’s the size and shape of a sitting child. It’s heavy; it appears to be made of plaster covered with fabric and wire mesh and glue. The face is a strange painted mask. A tuft of onion grass is attached to the head. It’s slightly damaged – one foot is missing, the other has broken off next to it.

We left it there all day and night, but no one came to retrieve it. We will put it out for garbage pickup if you post the pic and no one claims it. I have respect for art, but really, it’s kind of creepy.

Clues, anyone?

The Google Street View car’s been here before – our most recent report was in July of last year – but we’ve never before had a sighting report from a park pathway! Betsy shared that photo taken this afternoon at the south end of the Lincoln Park waterfront. The list of counties where Google Street View is collecting new imagery does indeed include King.

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Rain can’t stop Halloween – nor did it stop Admiral Treats and Treasures, the Admiral merchants’ annual trick-or-treat event. We brought you a few early photos as it happened; now, here’s a gallery of some of the people WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams found along the way. Above, two Elvii (Kai Medina, 9, and Flora Medina, 11) wait to cross the street, along with “voting machine” Lauren Howe. Next: Olivia St. Germain as The White Rabbit:

The older “kids” enjoyed it too – check out the smile on Aida Gutierrez‘s face as she helps with candy handing-out at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor):

16 more photos ahead!

The legendary Bubbleman put the “trick” in trick-or-treating during the Admiral event:

For at least one trick-or-treater, the event was a scream:

Here’s Brandon Weglin handing out candy on behalf of Harrah’s Automotive:

Getting ahead of the crowd, this trick-or-treater plied the path along California past the ex-Blockbuster:

2-year-old Celeste Campbell‘s greenery was a perfect match for the backdrop here:

More greenery: 3-year-old Cole Fankhauser, dressed as a tree, accompanying his 1-year-old twin sisters, Ella, center, and Erin, right:

Kristina Borgstrom was a spooky sight outside Mission:

You might say Campbell Howe had a playful costume:

There was at least one ghostly apparition:

An Iron Man sighting, too (aka Dillon Newhall):

This is the very first Halloween for 9-month-old Elodie, held by mom Jennifer Jensen:

Outside Zatz A Better Bagel (WSB sponsor), Jesse Allert served up the treats:

Costume-watching was a treat in itself. Lego-headed Aulden Skaggs, 6, wore a homemade costume made from buckets!

And here’s another look at the creatively crafted election-related costume glimpsed in the photo at the very start of this gallery:

So many participating merchants to visit, so little time … and space … 3-year-old Bridger Newhall is the astronaut:

Back at Merrill Gardens, The Hulk muscled in on some treats:

Speaking of Merrill Gardens, we should find out this weekend who won the Admiral treasure baskets in the drawings that trick-or-treaters were invited to enter there – look for Treats and Treasures report #3 when we get the news about that! For info on other Halloween events through Wednesday (including Junction trick-or-treating during tomorrow’s first-ever Harvest Festival) … check the long list on the WSB West Seattle Halloween 2012 page.

In The Junction, several storefronts on the west side of California between Alaska and Edmunds have been awning-less for a few days. We took this photo the other day but before we collected followup information, Breezygirl asked about them in a comment last night, and JWWS helpfully pointed her to this item on Bakery Nouveau‘s website, which explains it’s a round of fall cleaning, with new awnings to follow.

(Photo by Katie Meyer for WSB)
It started with a rock ‘n’ roll ice-cream shop – expanded into an four-shop mini-chain – into restaurants too – and now, you can find Full Tilt Ice Cream in the supermarket freezer case! A few weeks ago, prepacked Full Tilt pints went on sale at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) and FT founder Justin Cline turned up scooping samples in the Thriftway demo kiosk yesterday afternoon. (P.S. Full Tilt recently remodeled its website.)

Three sightings of these “Magic Wishing Pumpkins” have been reported to us in the past two days … from two West Seattle neighborhoods. Top photo is from Dano, who says he happened onto them in the Alki area. They are accompanied by a poem, and a whimsical warning – he shared photos of both:

Dano reported, “Children walking by were making pumpkin wishes after reading the little Halloween poem….. So cool!” Then, two Junction sightings came in .. Desiree sent photos tonight that had the poem and warning on the same page, along with a smaller group of pumpkins, while this one was sent this morning by Mike, saying he saw one big “wishing pumpkin”:

Each of the three “warnings” in Dano, Desiree, and Mike’s photos suggests a different fate would befall a tamperer; the wish invitations, though, each have the same verbiage. To check that it’s not something mass-produced, we tried web searches … nothing comes up for “Magic Wishing Pumpkins,” so maybe they’re just … magic