West Seattle, Washington
24 Saturday
12:46 PM: Heads-up from West Seattle educator/expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen: “Really high aurora alert starting *now*. We’ll see if it lasts until dark here. It may not.” But, in case it does, now you know to check for conditions tonight. See this page on Alice’s website for links to check for aurora possibilities as well as advice on how/where to look, when it’s happening.
5:40 PM: Still a possibility! From Alice’s links, this is the one that will show you if an aurora is happening or imminent.
10:58 PM: We’ve been watching it through the evening, as has Alice, and our photographer even went out to Myrtle Reservoir Park to look. In all, no reports so far.
12:35 AM: Suddenly looking promising, we just heard from Alice. Levels are higher than they’ve been all night.
(Photo of last year’s intergenerational-theater cohort)
The BAYFEST Intergenerational Theatre Project is back – and recruiting! They have some adult openings but are particularly looking for teens to join. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share:
Interested in performing? Would you like to get paid to rehearse and perform with other teens and adults?
Calling all teens for the Spring 2026 cohort of the BAYFEST Intergenerational Theatre Project!
8-10 Teens and 8-10 Senior adults chosen by BAYFEST will meet every 2 weeks or so (except during school holidays) from late February through early June in West Seattle on a weekend morning. We’ll use theatre games and exercises, guided discussions, group collaboration, and writing to create an original piece of theatre that explores intergenerational themes in new and creative ways. The Project will culminate with several public performances in early June.
NO THEATRE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY and TEEN PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE A STIPEND OF $25 PER SESSION FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION (and/or community service hours). It is free for participating adults.
Anyone interested in applying should email us ASAP at BAYFESTyouthTheatre@gmail.com . We will send an application. The project will be led by BAYFEST Director Robert Shampain, who has over 35 years experience leading this type of workshop-format project.
NO THEATRE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, just a willingness to commit to working with a multi-generational ensemble and having fun! Visit BAYFESTyouthTheatre.org and follow the links for more info.
This one-sheet about the project has additional background information, too.
(WSB photo – seen in Gatewood)
The list for today/tonight starts with a few MLK Day holiday changes/notes:
LIBRARIES, BANKS, POST OFFICES, GOVERNMENT OFFICES: Closed
SEATTLE PARKS/RECREATION FACILITIES: Here’s what’s closed and what’s open.
SOLID WASTE PICKUP: West Seattle is NOT one of the areas of the city where it’s delayed a day this week.
Now the events, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group gathering for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee; RSVP here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 3: Three venues for trivia/quiz tonight! 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
ALKI MEDITATION: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC is back this week, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
COMEDY!: 7 pm, “Routine Killers” comedy show at Otter on the Rocks in The Admiral District – check here to see if any tickets remain. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players are invited to enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Mondays, sing karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks as always to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As we reported last Tuesday, that’s a map of the blocks where SDOT plans “conceptual design” of potential new sidewalks and/or walkways, funded by the Seattle Transportation Levy. Full details are in this report, and SDOT is asking for feedback by tomorrow (Tuesday, January 20), so in case you didn’t have time last week, here’s your reminder. levysidewalks@seattle.gov is where to send your comments.
9:30 AM: There’s a report of a four-car crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge near the 99 exit, right lane. Waiting for emergency responders to confirm on arrival – nothing visible on the traffic cam so far, in the fog.
9:35 AM: Crash confirmed. Via police/fire radio, one person was trying to walk/run away from the scene but was stopped by “bystanders” and is now being detained by police – possibly related to a different crash.
9:42 AM: Police tell dispatch that the right two lanes are blocked as is the exit to 99.
(Added: Video from Molly, passing the right lane with some of the aftermath)
9:56 AM: The ramp to 99 is open again; the bus lane is still blocked, officers just told dispatch. (Side note, SDOT’s traffic center does not seem to be on duty, as the traffic camera has not been turned to show this scene as would be usual; only thing you can tell fro the camera’s fixed westward angle is that it’s very foggy.)
10:33 AM: The camera shows traffic flowing again. We’ll be following up on injuries and the possible arrest.
Earlier:
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, January 19, 2026, the holiday honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; schools are closed today.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
The forecast predicts another sunny day, high around 50. Sunrise at 7:49 am; sunset at 4:51 pm. (Next Sunday, the sun sets at 5 pm!)
(Sunday sunset, photographed by Bob Burns)
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service today, fall/winter schedule, no holiday changes.
Washington State Ferries – According to WSF’s alerts page, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is on two-boat service today because of boat moves.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes today, no holiday changes.
PARKING HOLIDAY
*In neighborhoods with paid street parking, it’s free to park today.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Alki Community Council heard the same Seattle Police stats on Thursday night as two other neighborhood groups earlier in the week – but unlike the other two groups, they got a delegation of five SPD employees. But crime/safety was only one of the meeting’s many topics.
ACC SURVEY: As noted here, the group circulated an online survey for Alki residents earlier in the week “to find out what’s important to neighbors,” said ACC president Charlotte Starck, who reported 173 responses had come in over three days. The “high-level snapshot” of those replies (see it here) included love for Alki’s natural beauty and concern about encampments/RVs (particularly residents in the east Alki area) as well as the lack of a community center. Starck talked about frequently fielding questions about why city-owned Alki Bathhouse is “so often empty.” (Alki Community Center, meantime, was converted to a child-care-only facility years ago and is currently closed even for that purpose because of the school construction next door.)
Regarding the open-ended final question on the survey, requesting a message for the mayor, the #1 theme “consistent, visible public-safety enforcement “so Alki feels safe day and night.” Also, “traffic speed, reckless driving, vehicle noise” comprise a problem for which survey respondents said they would like to see enforcement. (A question came up, does the Traffic Unit even exist? Brown confirmed – “yes, it does.” We’d add that you can hear them radioing in from enforcement spots including Admiral Way, West Marginal, 35th SW, and other places. Listen for call signs that start with “T,” though regular-duty officers can sometimes be heard too.)
Summed up, the ACC hopes to “work collaboratively to keep Alki safe, welcoming, and vibrant.” Now, on to those stats:
POLICE: Seattle Police had four uniformed officers at the meeting (three of whom said they hadn’t been to meetings before, including one who said he’d been on the force a year and at the Southwest Precinct just a few wweeks) plus interim Crime Prevention Coordinator Matt Brown (his position is a civilian job). Brown brought the same precinct-wide data presented at Tuesday’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting (WSB coverage here) and Fauntleroy Community Association meeting (WSB coverage here), saying total reported crime in West Seattle/South Park last year was down 19 percent. For Alki specifically, reported crime in 2025 was down 10 percent, 177 reported crimes, down from 200 – mostly property crime – both reports taken in person or filed online/by phone. Brown explained, “Any way that you report allows us to (include it in the data) and that enables us to ask for resources … your reports show us what you need.” One attendee said people are tired of reporting if they feel they’re not going to get a response; Brown said he regrets that, but begs people, please report it so they can get the resources. Even if you’re not sure – like maybe, maybe not shots fired – call in and report it. As we’ve reported before, Brown confirmed the non-emergency line does get answered part of the time now.
Why can’t you just set up an email account for minor reports? one attendee asked. That would be something to request from the city, Brown said. ‘
Then he went back to another crime category, noting 91 shots-fired calls confirmed in the precinct jurisdiction last year, and that’s down. But – this was information we hadn’t heard previously – the number of casings per incident is going up – 4 to 5 in 2023, last year about double that. Alki had 10 shots-fired incidents last year, no injuries, no deaths. Twice as much as a year earlier, though, with the highest amount in August. Working with Park Rangers to close off areas (like Don Armeni Boat Ramp) seemed to help, and they plan to do it again this year, Brown said.
Brown also talked about encampments and Mayor Wilson’s recent decision to put a Ballard cleanup on hold. The Unified Care Team will continue to work, evaluating and responding to encampments, though (as the mayor’s office told us earlier in the day). He also briefly addressed the drug-use policy misinterpretation that erupted recently (“nothing changed with the policy” is the true bottom line, he said). Has ICE been seen in the Alki area? one attendee asked. Short answer: No confirmed sightings.
TRANSITION TEAM MEMBER: South Seattle College student Russell McQuarrie-Means, a member of Mayor Katie Wilson‘s 60-person transition team (and featured here a year ago), said he wasn’t present to be a spokesperson for the mayor but to be an advocate “for all of you.” Starck asked McQuarrie-Means what youth are concerned about, since his official role on the team is as a student/youth adviser. He said they’re worried about ICE and about affordability, to mention two, declaring that this city is unaffordable for his generation,.
EMERGENCY HUBS: Another guest appearance was by Cindi Barker, a longtime volunteer with the Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs. The what? you ask. That was her point: “Did you know you have a disaster gathering place here on Alki?” In case of catastrophe, neighborhoods need to fend for themselves, at least for a while – as Barker pointed out, “there are 800,000 of us (residents), but only 204 firefighters on duty at any given time” – so it’ll be neighbors helping neighbors if disaster strikes. Know where your hub is and how you’d help. West Seattle and South Park have 15 hubs right now. “Why do I not know this?” asked one woman. “Because we’re not part of the city, don’t have a budget, etc.,” Barker replied. She explained simply how the hubs will help collect info post-disaster, so people can come to them and find out what’s going on if regular communication channels are disrupted – information circulation will be done with the help of amateur=radio operators in some cases. They’ll be able to communicate hub to hub, neighborhood to neighborhood, with white boards of info available. Find out more, including hub locations, by going here.
GIVEAWAYS AT POLAR BEAR SWIM: Vice president Zak Nyberg talked about the emergency blankets ACC gave away at the beach on New Year’s Day (see one in our coverage). Starck said next year they want to budget to give out even more.
ALKI HOLIDAY LIGHTS: Nyberg also recapped the biggest-yet holiday event held the weekend before Christmas – carolers, Santa, a DJ, drinks, food, and the Christmas Ship. “It was a really great event!” As shown in our coverage, there was a “wish wall,” and that was brought to this meeting so the wishes could be shared with attendees. The wishes were heartfelt “wonderful messages,” Starck daid.
NEW BANNERS: As first shown here Wednesday, new flags (banners) are up along Alki – “to bring back vitality and neighborhood identity, to celebrate the beauty of the place,” Starck said.
40 YEARS OF ACC: 2025 marked the 40th anniversary of the ACC. Starck said that pages on the ACC website celebrate and detail their history – look at the accomplishments page, for one.
STATUE OF LIBERTY PLAZA MAINTENANCE: For more than a decade and a half, the ACC has overseen the plaza’s basic maintenance contract with Seattle Parks, based on excess funds from the plaza’s publicly funded creation. Starck said there’s maybe eight years worth of funding left and it’s time to start talking about how to keep that going.
COMMUNITY GARDEN: Attendee Gretchen talked about the Beyers Bulldog Community Garden P-Patch in South Alki, featured here last year, saying volunteers want more people to get involved. They’ve received a Small Sparks city grant for some improvements – they’re having a meeting at 11 am January 24. (The P-Patch is at 54th/Edmunds.)
NEXT MEETING: The ACC usually meets on third Thursdays, 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), so February 19th is up next.
One more “week ahead” preview – this time, what’s in two types of forecasts:
SUN’S NOT DONE: Jen sent that photo of tonight’s sunset reflected off the downtown skyline. It’s a reminder that precipitation doesn’t return to the forecast until Thursday. Sunshine is expected tomorrow; then clouds are expected tp start their comeback, but “a chance of rain or snow” doesn’t appear until Thursday night. Temperatures are likely to remain in the normal range – upper 40s highs, upper 30s lows.
KING TIDES’ FINAL APPEARANCES: The morning high tides will be above 12 feet all week, peaking at 12.6 feet on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings (January 22-24), then again on February 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, with the highest high tides dropping below 12 feet entirely by late March.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
PACKAGE THIEF: Christina says her porch on SW Orchard in Gatewood has been hit by package theft twice in the past week. They don’t have visuals of the first theft, but this is from the second one, at 4:38 am Saturday:
Christina says this car was used by the thief:
Christina adds, “Seems like there’s been an uptick in package theft in our area so sharing for awareness.” The initial placeholder number for the police report is T00049379.
DRIVE-UP CAR PROWLERS: Janna sent this video from Alki:
We had a well-coordinated attempted theft and car break-in, 59th Ave SW. Two cars:No plates. White Toyota Corolla. White Prius.
Two males, one white and one black, drove directly to our house (wrong way, SouthBound up the one way 59th ave sw). Parked, checked phone, pulled up to our SUV,
White male in Corolla walked down street to ping/alert other car (white Prius – unknown driver) to come assist. Walked our car specifically and then proceeded to beak window to gain access to car. Alarm spooked them and both cars fled up to Spokane Street.
Placeholder police report in this case is T00049226.
4:51 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” headed for a possible house fire in the 1700 block of Sunset [vicinity map]. Updates to come.
4:53 PM: First crews on scene aren’t seeing signs of a fire so far, so they’re reducing the response to four units.
4:56 PM: The crews remaining at the scene are still looking for any evidence of a fire – still no flames, no smoke, no “heat signature.”
5:07 PM: They’ve finished investigating; still nothing found, so they’re demobilizing.
Among this week’s main events, the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly gathering on Wednesday night, this time at a new venue – Alki Arts, the event venue/gallery at 6030 California SW. The full agenda (which includes a link if you’d rather attend online) is here. It includes updates related to Morgan Junction’s two big city projects-in-waiting – the park expansion’s future “skate dot”/all-wheels area, and the EV-charging lot – plus leadership election and a business spotlight. All welcome, 7 pm Wednesday (January 21); here’s our coverage of last quarter’s meeting, held in October.
The Seattle Police Community Service Officers – who help people in a variety of circumstances – are coordinating this donation request that we were asked to share:
We are looking for:
Full-size shower towels for a local community shower.
Lightly used ok, but please ensure they are CLEAN.
Please email Jen for pickup: jennifer.tenorio@seattle.gov
Any questions, that’s also who to ask.
The Triangle Route has had some scheduling changes in recent weeks because of boat trouble around the Washington State Ferries system, and one more is ahead. Tomorrow (Monday, January 19), WSF says that “Due to the timing of boat moves, the route will be on the two-boat schedule with the Kittitas and Cathlamet.” But it’s expecting the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route to return to regular three-boat service as of Tuesday (January 20).
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor – WSF and Kitsap Transit vessels on Elliott Bay)
Wednesday is the day for WSF’s next two systemwide community meetings, both to be held online, one at noon and one at 6 pm; we’ve published the announcement before, but here’s WSF’s reminder:
This is your chance to share feedback and ask us questions. Each meeting will start with a short presentation that looks back at 2025 and previews our 2026 service. We’ll cover topics including new vessel construction, terminal upgrades needed for charging vessels, our Service Contingency Plan, workforce development efforts, our budget, and what to expect in the 2026 Washington legislative session.
Both meetings will cover the same topics, and most of the time will be dedicated to answering questions. Registration is required. To learn more and register, visit our Community Participation webpage.
(Saturday sunset at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook – photo by Bob Burns)
On the third Sunday of the new year, here’s what’s happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find more listings!):
SUNDAY FUNDAY RUNDAY: The Westies Run Club starts its 9 am run at Highland Park Corner Store today. (7789 Highland Park Way SW)
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Weekly Sunday morning games at the new location of The Missing Piece (4707 California SW), 9:30 am.
SUNDAY MORNING MEDITATION: 9:30 am at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open as usual on California SW between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in winter produce-and-products season – roots, greens, peppers, mushrooms, beans, garlic, apples, more – plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, pasta, more.
FREE NIA CLASS: Begins at 10:15 am; first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary. (3618 SW Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESIST: Back to the regular weekly West Seattle Resist Sunday sign-holding event, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. South of Farmers’ Market. (California SW and SW Alaska)
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Spend part of your Sunday afternoon relaxing at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
LIVE AT TIM’S: 2 pm, Korner Blues at Tim’s Tavern (9655 16th SW, White Center), all ages.
WINTER ART MARKET: First of two events today at Mr. B’s Mead Center – Winter Art Market with vendors, musicians, art, performances, food! 1-5 pm. (9444 Delridge Way SW)
WORKSHOP AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5:30 pm, Inner Canvas: A Journey in Vision Crafting, all ages, tickets here. (9444 Delridge Way SW)
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, 5:15 pm and onward tonight. Tickets and info here.
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: 7:30 pm, free to play, win prizes! (4302 SW Alaska)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, wrap up your weekend with live music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could add to the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to the reader who texted that photo from tonight’s Seattle University men’s basketball game vs. Gonzaga, after being surprised to see a halftime performance with West Seattle’s own Rain City Ropeworks jump-rope team. “It was a great show, got the loudest applause of the night,” the texter added. (Seattle U lost the game, 71-50.) Rain City is coached by Rene Bibaud, the West Seattleite who holds multiple jump-rope world championships.
Tire-dumping in West Seattle greenspaces seems to be a recurring problem. After multiple reports in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, tonight word of another location – a texter sent the report and photos:
Someone dumped maybe 50 tires on the side of the road on Fairmount Avenue. It’s kind of a criminal amount of illegal dumping … I just got home from the airport … Sounds like this happened sometime Thursday night or Friday.
That timeframe was according to the texter’s neighbors. The city’s page about illegal dumping explains, among other things, how to report it (and also has a map of recent reports).
P.S. Almost forgot to mention, the dumped-in-Fauntleroy spa chairs shown here earlier this week have been taken away, reports Tom (who sent the original photo of the chairs).
Metro is proposing changes affecting Route 60, which runs from Westwood Village to Capitol Hill via White Center, South Park, Georgetown, Beacon Hill, the International District, and First Hill. The changes could affect other transportation-corridor users, so you might be interested in offering feedback even if you’re not a bus rider. They’re asking for feedback via this survey, and detailing the proposals in four segments – here’s the summary of how the West Seattle (and vicinity) segment could change:
Segment 4: East Marginal Way & 16th Avenue South to Westwood Village (South Park, Westwood-Highland Park).
The East Marginal Way to Westwood Village segment includes portions of the South Park and Westwood-Highland Park neighborhoods. The route serves multiple community assets such as the Olson/Myers Park and Ride and Westwood Village.
Potential improvements to this segment may include:
-A new bus priority lane on Cloverdale Street approaching 14th Avenue South. This lane would help buses bypass long lines of traffic during morning and evening rush hours.
-Intersection improvements near the Olson Place and Myers Way Park and Ride to reduce travel time and improve bus reliability.
-Closure of the eastbound bus stop at Barton Place and 22nd Avenue Southwest. Removing this stop will help improve travel time and result in better stop spacing that aligns with Metro’s recommended guidelines.
All segments’ proposed changes are detailed here. Metro is asking for responses to its Route 60 survey by February 20.
We often publish obituaries on WSB, mostly for humans, but occasionally for pets, like this one sent by Jyl, whose dog Boo was a bit of a “neighborhood celebrity,” so Jyl wanted the community to know he’s gone:
Boozhoo (aka Boo) the self-proclaimed Mayor of West Seattle, passed away at home on January 16. Boo was 13 1/2 years young and was deeply loved.
He was rescued in 2019 as part of a hoarding case in Texas. Because of his sweet spirit, Boo served as a temperament tester for the rescue before he was sent to Seattle for his retirement years. Boo was adopted at the start of COVID and quickly learned why West Seattle is the best Seattle. Like many pit bulls, he knew he had to be an ambassador for his breed, so he was always seen with a T-shirt and bow tie on so people knew he was a sweet boy. He made friends with every dog he met and every human who would stop to pet him. Until he started to slow down in his super senior years, he could be seen daily walking all over the neighborhood in search of a good smell and a friendly pet. People regularly stopped traffic to say hello and on at least one occasion to give him a serenade. Friends like Bernie and David showered him with gourmet treats whenever they crossed paths.
In his self-appointed role of Mayor, he supported local businesses. The guys at Alki Lumber became his favorite source of treats and “dad pats,” and RealFine Coffee on Fauntleroy always had the best pup cups. He wooed the staff at Next-to-Nature Pet Markets to give him extra snacks, and he knew a stop at El Chapulin Oaxaqueño meant his favorite carnitas. Boo was a big fan of all the folks at Pet Care Center at Luna Park, even when they trimmed his nails.
He visited Alki Beach regularly, and he watched all the football games at West Seattle Stadium. If you’ve walked down Avalon Way and found your path blocked by an 80-pound pit bull hoping for a pet, that was Boo. He will be missed by his large extended family in the Westside Flats apartments and all his dog friends, especially Naya, Lemon, Misha, Kiba, Buddy, Scarlett, and Robbie. If you loved Boo, you can honor his memory by donating to the shelters who rescued him, Dallas Dog RRR and Seattle Humane. Boo made stickers every year for his friends, and if anyone would like one, they can stop by RealFine Coffee on Fauntleroy to pick one up.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
(Added: WSB photo, Water Taxi boarding just before 4 pm)
If you’re going to the Seahawks‘ playoff game (5 pm at Lumen Field vs. the 49ers), reminder that you can take the West Seattle Water Taxi there and back. The WT website says, “After the game, there will be special post-game sailings from Pier 50 to the Seacrest dock at 8:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Then you can take the free shuttle from Seacrest to the West Seattle Junction (Route 773) or ride along Alki (Route 775).”
Something else the sunshine brings to mind … spring cleaning, and the free West Seattle recycle/reuse events that can help with it. Here are two dates to save (both Saturdays):
(WSB photo from March 2025)
MARCH 21: The annual recycle/reuse event organized by the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is set for this date. This is in partnership with multiple organizations that accept a variety of recyclable/reusable items. We don’t have this year’s specifics yet – and the location might change from past years – but we’re told you can definitely count on this date.
APRIL 25: This will bring Fauntleroy UCC‘s next twice-yearly Recycle Roundup – one partner but a long list of items they’ll accept, including electronics, and plenty of capacity. (We usually are able to publish that list well in advance; not this early, though.)
UNTIL THEN: Can’t wait to dispose of some items? Find options via the Seattle Public Utilities “Where Does It Go?” lookup.
The sunshine reminds us that spring isn’t far. For many families, that means youth-sports seasons are approaching too. This year, two local lacrosse clubs are welcoming prospective players from kindergarten age to high-school age – and offering free drop-in sessions soon. Here’s the invitation sent to us to share with you:
Looking for a fast-paced, team-oriented sport for your child? Try lacrosse!
(Photo by Mike Jacobs)
There are two clubs that serve our area — the Southwest Lacrosse Club (a.k.a. SW Titans) and the West Seattle Lacrosse Club. We would love to meet your family and support your player this spring. Whether your child is brand new to lacrosse or has played before, our spring season is a great way to learn the game, stay active, and have fun with friends.
Our youth teams (K-8) welcome players from West Seattle, White Center, South Park, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, Normandy Park, and Des Moines. High school teams welcome any West Seattle High School, Chief Sealth International High School, or private high-school student who lives in the West Seattle or Highline School District reference area.
Registration for our co-ed player development program (K-2), girls and boys youth teams (3-8), and girls and boys high-school teams is open now! K-2 clinic starts in April (Sundays) with two weekend game jamborees planned in May. Grades 3-8 practices begin in February (two nights per week), and weekend games run from mid-March through the end of May.
Register for the K-2 Development team or Boys Youth Teams through the SW Titans: swlacrosseclub.org/registration
Register for Girls Youth Teams, Girls High School Team, or Boys High School Team through West Seattle Lacrosse: https://www.westseattlelaxclub.org/home
Interested in the sport, but want to try it out before you commit? We’ve got you covered! Join our FREE drop-in sessions for new players in 2nd to 8th grade. Saturday mornings (February 1, 8, and 22; March 1) from 9-10 am at Hiawatha Playfield. No RSVP or equipment necessary, just show up and play!
We believe lacrosse should be accessible to everyone. Both clubs offer full and partial scholarships, loaner equipment, and a great community of players and families. If you have questions, please email us at swlctitans@gmail.com or westseattlelax@gmail.com with any questions.
(Mount Baker, aka Kulshan, photographed by Kevin Freitas)
Happy Saturday! Yes, there’s more going on than just The Game. Here’s our list for the hours ahead, mostly from the West Seattle Event Calendar:
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: At West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), you can join the Saturday 8 am free group run.
FREE MEDITATION: Start the weekend with Heavily Meditated, 9 am free meditation at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3620 SW Alaska).
INTRODUCTORY WALK and WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 9:30 am, walk a mile as a prelude to the 10 am well-being walk (or just show up for that one). Both start from 47th SW and Fauntleroy Way SW.
PLAY-TO-CONNECT + OPEN HOUSE: At The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary (10300 28th SW), come to play and to learn about the school.
MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am free, weekly, in-person, critique-free group – details in our calendar listing.
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Four varsity home games today/tonight – 11:30 am, Chief Sealth IHS boys host Cleveland (2600 SW Thistle); 1 pm, Chief Sealth girls host Cleveland; 4:30 pm, West Seattle HS girls host Bishop Blanchet (3000 California SW); 6 pm, WSHS boys host Blanchet.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open, noon-4 pm (61st SW and SW Stevens).
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm Saturdays, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open, with wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Today, 12 percent off all bottle purchases in honor of the Seahawks‘ playoff game!
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: Open 1-6 pm on north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
LISTENING PARTY AT EASY STREET: 3 pm, listen to new music – NOT live (that’s later this month) – by The Format. (4559 California SW)
FREE MASSAGE: 3-5 pm walk-in clinic offering short, specific massages at Nepenthe. (9447 35th SW)
PLAYOFF GAME: Just a reminder – the Seahawks host the 49ers at 5 pm.
ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, first admission 5:15 pm. Tickets and info here; extended through February.
EVENING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Roo Forrest & Friends at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm, all ages, no cover.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Local live music at The Skylark, doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, Soft Pass, Hard Softee, All Friends Here, $10, 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 7 pm, free in-store show by Katherine Van Bebber. (4556 California SW)
LIVE AT TIM’S TAVERN: Benefit for the venue, featuring Well Adjusted, MFD, Two Minute Hate, doors 7 pm, music 8 pm, tickets here. (16th SW & SW 98th, White Center)
WINTER PARTY AT WOLFPACK CELLARS: 8 pm-midnight “aprés ski” party even if you haven’t been to the slopes! Ticketed event at Wolfpack Cellars (9617 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
REVELRY ROOM: 9 pm, DJ Buttnaked spins. (4547 California SW)
SK8 PARTY: 9 pm-midnight at Southgate Roller Rink (9676 17th SW), with rotating DJs spinning old-school funk & hip-hop, $18 plus $5 skate rental.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Got a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome to a listing on our calendar, which is free of charge, always! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
SATURDAY NOON UPDATE: The missing man’s family reports he’s been found.
Earlier:
It’s already Saturday in Paris, where Bakery Nouveau owner William Leaman has just 3 days left before his second Coupe du Monde de Boulangerie competition, this time as a coach.
We first told you in October about Leaman’s return to the competition two decades after winning it as a member of Team USA in 2005. Since agreeing to coach last year, he’s been traveling regularly to practice with the 3 bakers selected from around the U.S for the competition. The team made it past the preliminary round last October in Las Vegas, and has been focused on the finals ever since.
(photos by William Leaman)
Leaman shared a photo of a recent practice day, showing the breads, pastries, savory “snacks,” and an artistic piece that depicts “the great inventions of your country” that each team must produce in a single day. They’re up against nine other teams from around the world. The competition is held every 2-3 years.
“We are done with practice and made our adjustments to the French flour; honestly, we feel pretty good!” said Leaman.
Next they will search Paris’ higher-end markets for finishing touches. “We have 2 more days to select the best possible ingredients we can find to garnish our products.”
Leaman says they’re staying across the street from Porte De Versailles, the exhibition hall where the competition is held, making it a hassle-free commute when it’s showtime very early in the morning on January 20th. Team USA will bake alongside Brazil, France, Japan, and Senegal. The following day, it will be Canada, Chinese Taipei, Denmark, Morocco, and South Korea, with judges announcing winners on January 22nd.
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