WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE 2025: Report #4 – the winners!

When the West Seattle Grand Parade ends, the final phase of that group’s work begins – deciding the winners in a dozen categories, as well as the overall grand-prize winners. They are the parade’s volunteer judges, and along with that photo, we’ve received the list of their decisions about today’s ~90 parade entries! We’ve already published images of some of them, and will be adding more to this list in the hours ahead as we continue processing all the video and photos we have:

OVERALL GRAND PRIZE WINNERS:

1st Place: Seattle All-City Band

2nd Place: Electronettes Hi-Steppers Drill Team & Drumline

3rd Place: West Seattle Mrs. Ropers

CHEER TEAMS:

1st Place: West Seattle High School Co-Ed Cheer Team

2nd Place: Chief Sealth International High School Cheerleading

COMMUNITY DANCE TEAMS:

1st Place: Joyas Mestizas

2nd Place: Comerford Irish Dancers

3rd Place: West Seattle Irish Dance

MARCHING BANDS:

1st Place: Seattle All-City Band

2nd Place: The All-Star Drumline

3rd Place: Kennedy Catholic High School “Lancer” Marching Band and Color Guard

PERFORMING ACTS:

1st Place: Hi-Liners Musical Theatre

2nd Place: Seattle Chinese American Chamber of Commerce

3rd Place: Rain City Ropeworks Jump Rope Team

CARS AND ANTIQUE CARS:

1st Place: Corvette Marque Club

2nd Place: STS Construction

3rd Place: 1942 American-LaFrance Fire Engine

COMMUNITY YOUTH:

1st Place: Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby

2nd Place: Endolyne Children’s Choir

3rd Place: Highline Premier FC

COMMERCIAL:

1st Place: Dragonfly West Seattle

2nd Place: Airport Towing, Burien Towing, & Columbia Towing

3rd Place: Can Doo Pet Waste Service

COMMUNITY ADULT:

1st Place: West Seattle Mrs. Ropers

2nd Place: F3 Seattle

3rd Place: West Seattle Lions Club

DRILL TEAM SENIOR:

1st Place: Electronettes Hi-Steppers Drillteam & Drumline

2nd Place: Rhapsody Winterguard

3rd Place: Evergreen Drill Team

DRILL TEAM JUNIOR:

1st Place: Babynettes Drill Team (Jr. Electronettes team)

2nd Place: Daughters of Royalty Drill & Dance Ensemble

CONVEYED FLOAT:

1st Place: Holy Rosary School

2nd Place: Calvary Chapel West Seattle

SEAFAIR:

1st Place: Seattle Seafair Pirates

2nd Place: Seattle Seafair Clowns

3rd Place: Seattle Commodores

Again, we’ll be adding photos and video for as many of the winners as we can – and we have more parade scenes to come beyond this list, too! (We should note that the Rotary Club of West Seattle Foundation presents the parade, and community sponsors help cover the costs, which are considerable; volunteer power is vital, too.)

Photo credits: Most by Oliver Hamlin for WSB. A few photos, plus the videos, by Tracy Record. Others as credited.

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE 2025: Report #3 – the schools

You don’t generally see individual Seattle Public Schools bands in summer parades because musicians from schools around the city join forces for the All-City Band, which not only appeared in today’s West Seattle Grand Parade, as shown in our video above, but also is practicing on the peninsula this year – at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex – since Memorial Stadium is out of commission for its overhaul. This also means ACB will host Band Jam here this year, next Friday (July 25) – a showcase of bands as well as a practice for those who are in the Seafair Torchlight Parade – more on Band Jam later. Other school groups in today’s Grand Parade included, up from Burien, the Kennedy Catholic High School Marching Band:

Our area’s two largest high schools both had cheer teams in the parade – here’s West Seattle High School:

And Chief Sealth International High School:

When Holy Rosary School went by with its float, we noted about 100 people walking alongside!

And Hope Lutheran School brought along its eagle mascot:

Next up – the parade judges’ winning picks!

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE 2025: Report #2 – the honorees

(First and third photos by Oliver Hamlin for WSB)

For more than a decade, we’ve photographed Lou Cutler walking or running. Today, he was riding … in a convertible from the Corvette Marque Club, as Grand Marshal of the 2025 West Seattle Grand Parade. Lou, a retired P-E teacher, was honored primarily for his many years volunteering with and raising money for Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes to seriously ill children.

Lou’s “Make-A-Wish Friends” walked behind his car to raise awareness that you can help too (here’s how to volunteer, and here’s how to support MAW through Lou’s latest fundraiser).

Also riding in a convertible as parade honorees, Joanie Jacobs and Dan Jacobs of the Admiral Neighborhood Association (as well as many other community endeavors):


The West Seattle Grand Parade Committee chose them as this year’s recipients of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community; Mr. Rummel was the parade’s founder, and our story about last year’s honorees includes a list of those who’ve received it dating back to 1984 (including WSB in 2010). The Jacobs’ focus has been on community connections, and that was in evidence during this stop along the parade route:

They also got two turns riding in today’s parade, turning up toward parade’s end atop the Seafair Pirates‘ Moby Duck.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
More parade reports ahead!

CRIME WATCH: Burglary attempt at West Seattle Arcade

Three days after the break-in at Alki Coffee Company, would-be burglars tried to get into neighboring West Seattle Arcade, whose proprietors Matt and Elyssa sent this report with security-video images:

wWe had an attempted break-in at West Seattle Arcade this morning around 4:20 am.

Three men pulled up in a gray Hyundai with no plates, and attempted to pry open our door and pick our lock. They were unsuccessful and scared off by people that were out and about.

Our wonderful neighbor saw the attempt and called the police and then notified us.

Here some shots of the suspects:

If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 25-203483.

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Report #1 – status updates

The West Seattle Grand Parade is happening now, with SPD’s motorcycle unit – eight officers this year – having just headed south on California from the parade starting point at Lander, by the north end of Hiawatha. The rest of the 90+ entries will start walking, rolling, etc. soon too. If you’re not settled in to watch the parade, remember that California is closed from Admiral to the south end of The Junction, and buses are rerouted, until the parade is over – we’re covering it from our usual spot near the start (with team members elsewhere too) and will update when it wraps up here and elsewhere; usually the street is reopened section by section.

12:20 PM: After an hour and a half, the parade is over in Admiral – with parade coordinator Michelle Edwards riding down the route at the end – but it continues southbound to The Junction for a while longer – we’ll be following so we can update when it’s concluded there too. And then – lots more coverage to come, with photos and video.

1:15 PM: Done in The Junction too,

PRE-PARADE: 550+ run, walk, roll in 2025 Float Dodger 5K

FIRST REPORT, 9:54 AM: Again this year, the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s “wheel” parade float is what runners and walkers in the Float Dodger 5K are “dodging” at California/Alaska. The race, presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank, precedes the West Seattle Grand Parade, which is just about an hour away. Development director Robbin and volunteer Michelle were at Hiawatha selling $5 tickets to the WSFB’s raffle of Taste of West Seattle (September 25!) tickets:

More than 550 participants were registered as of pre-5K:

(Photos from here by Dave Gershgorn for WSB unless otherwise credited)

My Team Triumph started the race, as has become a tradition.

As for the first finishers – we’ll add coverage later – participants will be off the parade route in time for the parade’s start with SPD motorcycles around 10:45! And if you’re in or near Admiral, West Seattle Runner is hosting a beverage garden and parade-watch party to raise even more for WSFB; you can buy raffle tickets there too.

ADDED 3:46 PM: The results are here. First finisher, timed at 16:10, was 22-year-old Jonathan Grothe:

Next was 17-year-old Mason Murison, timed at 17:04:

First female finisher was 43-year-old Megan Heuer, timed at 19:02:

Second female finisher was 22-year-old Adeline Roza, timed at 19:35:

One more Float Dodger 5K note: There was a moment of silence before the race for Christi Rohlena, sister of WS Runner co-proprietor Lori McConnell; she died in a car crash this past February, Lori explained when we stopped by the shop post-parade to find out more. Lori said many family members were visiting from out of town and showed us the special race bibs they had made in Christi’s memory:

WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: Grand Parade, Float Dodger 5K, Alki Art Fair, Chrome & Community, more!

Our Saturday list begins with three big events in West Seattle today:

(‘Live’ SDOT camera at California/Alaska, which closes for 5K and parade)

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: More than 90 entries! The parade presented by the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation starts from California/Lander with SPD’s Motorcycle Drill Team around 10:45, rest of parade at 11, proceeding southbound to California/Edmunds. As we’ve mentioned all week, parking restrictions on and near the route start at 7 am; street closures start not much later. Buses are rerouted too. See all our previews by scrolling here.

FLOAT DODGER 5K: Before the parade, the 5K run/walk presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank starts from Hiawatha at 9:30 am. You can still sign up on site and join in! Afterward WSR hosts a beverage garden and parade watch party (2743 California SW).

ALKI ART FAIR, DAY 2: Biggest day of this art and music festival on the promenade and green by the Alki Bathhouse, 10 am-5 pm booths, 11 am-7 pm live music. More than 90 artists! Kids’ Zone and Emerging Artists areas too, plus a silent auction inside the bathhouse 11:30 am-3:30 pm. (Here’s our Day 1 coverage.)

Here’s what else is on the Saturday schedule – mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

GARAGE/YARD SALES: Here are the newest listings in the WSB Community Forums.

SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Not today, since West Seattle Runner is presenting the Float Dodger 5K this morning!

STEM IMPROVEMENT DAY: Volunteer cleanup/beautification/etc. work at Louisa Boren STEM K-8 (5950 Delridge Way SW), 9 a-5 p.

HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free 9 am meditation at Schmitz Preserve Park (5551 SW Admiral Way) – register here.

WEST DUWAMISH GREENBELT HIKE: Free guided hike, this month leaving at 9:30 am from Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee) on Pigeon Point.

INTRODUCTORY WALK: First of two sequential weekly walking events – meeting at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, first at 9:30 am for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: That’s followed immediately by this walk in which you can participate even if you didn’t take the introductory stroll. Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy.

DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, Saturdays through October, at Hope Academy in South Delridge (9421 18th SW). Fresh produce, cooked-on-site food, body-care products, more!

COURTYARD YOGA: 10 am at WEND Jewelry (3278 California SW).

MASTER GARDENERS: Got a garden-related question? They’re ready to answer! Saturdays this summer, they’re at The Home Depot (7345 Delridge Way SW), 10 am-2 pm.

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 group for writers of all levels. For location info, go here.’

CHROME AND COMMUNITY: Eazy Duz It Car Club‘s annual show in White Center, also featuring performances and vendors, 11 am-7 pm on 16th Avenue SW between Roxbury and 100th.

WEST SEATTLE’S ONLY SPRAYPARK: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) continues daily operations today, 11 am-8 pm.

FAMILY READING TIME WITH AUTHOR: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time, with a special guest this week: “Join us for Family Reading Time as we welcome local author Corinn Reinhard to read her book ‘My Brother Has Two Houses’.” (4522 California SW)

WADING POOLS: City-run wading pools that’ll be open in West Seattle today are Lincoln Park (12 pm-7 pm) and Hiawatha (12 pm-5:30 pm).

COLMAN POOL CLOSED: Second and final day of scheduled swim meet at Lincoln Park‘s heated saltwater pool means it’s closed to the public.

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: Explore the present and past at the home of West Seattle history, open for your visit, noon-4 pm – see the new exhibit about Seattle Teriyaki! (61st/Stevens)

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER OPEN: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)

VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: On the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus:

The Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room, Wine Bar, and Retail Store are open Thursday-Saturday from 1-6 pm. Come taste and purchase our student-produced wine! The Northwest Wine Academy features a large tasting room and retail store. While tasting one of our current releases, you can request a tour of our barrel room and bottling area. Come support our student winemakers and join us for a student tasting.

‘HER INK, HER VOICE’: 2 pm free community event at Washington State Black Legacy Institute (2656 42nd SW):

Her Ink, Her Voice brings to life the extraordinary journey of Susie Revels Cayton, daughter of the first Black U.S. Senator and co-editor of The Seattle Republican. Set against the backdrop of the Reconstruction Era and early 20th-century Seattle, Cayton’s story is one of defiant optimism, community journalism, and unyielding advocacy.

The program will be followed by an interactive Q&A and audience discussion, encouraging dialogue around Cayton’s enduring impact and the historical relevance of her work in today’s social and political landscape. Light refreshments will be served.

OUTDOOR SHAKESPEARE #1: 3 pm, Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), GreenStage presents “Richard III.” Free.

FREE MASSAGE: Walk into Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) 3-5 pm for short, specific free massage.

ALSO AT NEPENTHE: Summer mini-market starting at 3 pm!

DUB SEA FISH STICKS: 6:05 pm home game vs. the Blackfins at Steve Cox Memorial Park‘s Mel Olson Stadium. (1321 SW 102nd, White Center). Get tickets here.

OUTDOOR SHAKESPEARE #2: 7 pm, Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), GreenStage presents “Much Ado About Nothing.” Free.

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: 7 pm (doors at 6), catch It’s All Happening, Oscar Warnersmith, 11:59, all ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

REVELRY ROOM DJ: Saturday spinning starts at 9 pm – tonight it’s DJ Shonuph at Revelry Room. (4547 California SW).

SATURDAY NIGHT SK8 PARTY: 9 pm-midnight with rotating DJ Josh and DJ NightMere, 21+, at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW, White Center).

KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: For Saturday night singers, 10 pm karaoke awaits you at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)

Got a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

COUNTDOWN: What to know about Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade, even if you aren’t planning to watch it, and Float Dodger 5K

It wouldn’t be West Seattle Grand Parade Eve if Potter Construction didn’t send a photo of their entry – a brightly decorated work truck. Potter is a longtime WSB sponsor and also a parade sponsor; proprietor Gary Potter also is a member of the Rotary Club of West Seattle, which presents the parade. It follows the Float Dodger 5K, presented by West Seattle Runner (also a WSB sponsor) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank (not too late to register to run or walk in the 5K!). We’ve been previewing all this all week, and including parking/road-closure reminders in our daily traffic roundups, but here’s one more look at what you should know:

PARADE ROUTE: Southbound on California Avenue SW from Lander to Edmunds.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS: The signs have been up for days and they cover more ground than the parade route, including side streets, for staging and detour reasons. So if you see a no-parking sign, pay attention – starting at 7 am tomorrow, the restrictions are in effect, and if you try to get away with ignoring them, you are at major risk of being towed – the streets need to be clear for safety reasons.

STREET CLOSURE AND PARADE/5K START: California closes south of Admiral fairly early in the morning too, with parade entries starting to arrive and getting directed to their staging zone (entries enter the parade route from three directions, as parade coordinator Michelle Edwards and assistants greenlight them). The route has to be clear by the time the Float Dodger starts at 9:30 am, and participants in turn have to be off the route so the SPD Motorcycle Drill Team can get going around 10:45. The other motorcyclist you’ll see is Jim Edwards, past parade coordinator and current safety/communication leader, checking the route and staying in touch with the ham-radio operators reporting in on how things are looking along the route.

RANDOM THINGS TO KNOW: The parade is an official Seafair-sanctioned event, so near the start of the route, you’ll see some of their seasoned parade personnel helping out (the Seafair Clowns, Seafair Commodores, and Seafair Pirates are in the parade too) … Speaking of which, the Pirates usually fire their cannon multiple times along the way, so even if you’re not on or near the parade route, you’ll hear those blasts …The Seafair Clowns have some sirens and horns too, so they can be kind of loud … Three announcing stations are expected this time – Brian and Christa Callanan at California/Alaska, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle at California/Charlestown, and the West Seattle Eagles at California/Genesee … and there are official watch parties at various businesses on California this time, starting at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor) and heading southward (including, on the same block, post-Float Dodger, at West Seattle Runner [2743 California SW; WSB sponsor]) … Be sure to cheer for parade honorees riding toward the start – grand marshal Lou Cutler and Orville Rommel Trophy winners Dan and Joanie Jacobs … We’ll have plenty of parade coverage tomorrow – if you’re going, see you there!

CONGRATULATIONS! Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club girls set relay record

Thanks for the report on what the sender calls a “record-breaking summer at Arbor Heights”:

e Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club 12 and under Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay for a record setting race against Kent (Tuesday night). The girls finished 2:07:27 breaking the 1997 Arbor Heights record of 2:09:86. Congratulations, ladies!! [Dior Webb (backstroke), Katie Trainor (butterfly), Amanda Trainor (freestyle), and Caroline Arthur (breaststroke)]

WEST SEATTLE SCENE: 2025 Alki Art Fair, first day

More than 90 booths/tents line the Alki Beach Park promenade for this year’s Alki Art Fair, with the first of three days on until 8 pm. You can shop and nosh/sip – at one of several food/drink booths (Cambodian food, hot dogs, more), or at Alki’s year-round places right across the street. West Seattle creators we saw include Julia Douthwaite Viglione, with a variety of creations including quilts and the story book created by her students in free writing classes for kids:

Want a stylized map of West Seattle or Puget Sound? Or regional mountain peaks? Elizabeth Person is your person:

Many types of art to browse and/or buy – including jewelry and apparel – and quirky items as well as the breathtakingly beautiful. While you’re at the fair, stop by the Info Booth, where you can buy a “vintage” Alki Art Fair T-shirt from last year for just $10, or one of this year’s design for $20:

The silent auction inside Alki Bathhouse isn’t open until tomorrow, which is also when the live music starts up. But a DJ is spinning today, the Kid Zone is open (nothing fancy but we did see bubbles!), and it’s a fine time to visit the beach. Booths are open until 8 tonight, 10 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday (with live music noon-7 pm Saturday and 11 am-5 pm Sunday).

BIZNOTE: Here’s what’s up with Gyro Heroes

Several readers have asked if we know why Gyro Heroes in The Admiral District has been closed for a few days, with a sign in the window declaring that it’s just “temporarily” closed. When we went by the first time, no one was there to ask, but just now, we found crews at work, and learned that this is a remodeling closure – they’re redoing a lot of what’s inside, even the flooring. They hope to reopen within a week. The restaurant opened almost seven years ago in what had previously been a Baskin-Robbins.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Man arrested for alleged arson at encampment

1:08 PM: After hearing about an arson investigation regarding a fire call this morning near the Southwest Precinct, we asked police for information. They tell us a 46-year-old man was arrested, accused of setting a fire at an encampment across the street from the precinct. Police say an officer saw the suspect get out of what they describe as his “white 2006 Ford Econoline van” around 7:30 am, carrying a gas can, ten walking to the encampment, which “became engulfed in flames” as the suspect returned to his van. Police say the officer described the suspect as “walking out of the brush with smoke and fire trailing him.” They caught up with him after he drove away and arrested him and booked him into jail. No injuries were reported in the fire, which remains under investigation by SPD arson/bomb squad detectives.

SATURDAY UPDATE: The suspect had a probable-cause hearing today. The documents don’t reveal anything about an alleged motive; his “last known address” was downtown. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requested bail be set at $100,000; the appearance-court judge released the suspect – who does not appear to have a record – on his own recognizance. That does not mean he won’t be charged; prosecutors are awaiting a case referral from SPD.

Fauntleroy/Rose crossing design unveiled, with median: Morgan Community Association meeting report #2

We’re continuing our reports on major updates from this week’s Morgan Community Association meeting. On Thursday we updated the Morgan Junction EV charging lot plan; today, the Fauntleroy/Rose crossing (which has been a focus for the neighboring Fauntleroy Community Association too).

(Southward view from the ferry-queue lane on the Lincoln Park side of Fauntleroy Way)

The intersection with Lincoln Park on the west side and a RapidRide C Line stop on the east side used to have a marked crosswalk; we briefly noted its removal in this 2007 report. Community advocates have long lobbied to get it back. And they were repeatedly told (here’s a 2021 example) by SDOT that it wouldn’t happen.

But finally the city relented (as announced in early 2024), and has been working on a plan. SDOT’s Ching Chan attended Wednesday’s MoCA meeting remotely to present an update on the design, which is more than a crosswalk – it will include pushbutton-activated lighting and a raised median to provide “a safe refuge” for pedestrians. The median will not be between north and south travel lanes, but rather between the ferry-queue lane and the travel lanes:

(SDOT-provided renderings above and below; see PDF versions here)

This will narrow vehicle travel lanes a bit, from 12 feet wide to 11 feet wide. It will also expand parking restrictions – about 26′ north of Rose, 140′ south, Chan said.

Concerns surfaced during the meeting included ensuring that any vegetation in the median wouldn’t become overgrown like Delridge Way and Harbor Avenue meetings, as well as whether SDOT is collaborating with WSDOT on traffic-flow effects, given the project planned later this year to signalize the Fauntleroy Way intersection at the ferry dock’s entrance/exit (Chan did not know). As for the timeline, Chan said they hope to build this by summer 2026, but the bus shelter requires collaboration with Metro, so that may have a timeline of its own.

NEXT REPORT: MoCA’s meeting also included guests from Seattle Parks to discuss the status of the Morgan Junction Park addition, which has stalled because of internal city issues regarding the removal of soil contaminated in the site’s past; we’ll have that story later today/tonight.

Alki Art Fair day 1, ‘Beaver Detective’ premiere, Shakespeare in the park, more for your West Seattle Friday

(Sunrise photo by Kent Rhodes)

First on our list, today’s marquee event:

ALKI ART FAIR: The three-day art and music festival begins at 2 pm today, in and around Alki Beach Bathhouse (2701 Alki SW) and the promenade that stretches westward from it. Today’s 2-8 pm schedule focuses on the artists (listed here); DJ Fishlure will spin but live music (listed here) doesn’t start until tomorrow. Our calendar listing has the festival overview.

Now – see what else is happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: The center is open for plant-shopping Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.

HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: The spraypark is open every day 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)

WADING POOLS: Lincoln Park (noon-7 pm), Delridge, and Hiawatha (both noon-5:30 pm) will be open today.

COLMAN POOL CLOSED: The heated salt-water pool is; closed to the public today/tomorrow because of a swim meet.

SEATTLE TERIYAKI HISTORY: See this new exhibit at the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) while the museum is open noon-4 pm today.

QI GONG AT VIVA ARTS: Fridays at 12:15 pm – info in our calendar listing. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)

DUBSEA FISH STICKS: 6:35 pm home game at Steve Cox Memorial Park vs. the Northwest Honkers – tickets here.

‘FREELANCE BEAVER DETECTIVE’: Premiere of film featuring Pamela Adams‘ work documenting the local beaver population 7 p at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – ticket info here.

OUTDOOR SHAKESPEARE: 7 pm, Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), GreenStage presents “Richard III”, free.

AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7 pm, music at 8 pm, Darbi Dhufo, Wave Function, Jackie Tulsa, Spencer List at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW). 21+.

SUNSET REIKI SOUND BATH: 7:30 pm at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) with Inner Alchemy. Info and ticket link are in our calendar listing.

REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Lady Coco spins tonight! (4547 California SW)

MAKE IT LOUD: Skating with live music – tonight, featuring The Highsteppers, “Two sets of incredible music to skate and boogie down to!” – 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $18 cover/$5 skates.

If you have something to showcase on our event lists or calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Celebration of Life planned August 3 for Laura May Bruco

Earlier this year, in the remembrance for Laura May Bruco, friends promised an announcement when her Celebration of Life details were set. Now they are:

Friends (and pets of friends) are invited to celebrate the life of Laura May Bruco on Sunday, August 3rd at 3 p.m. at the Dragonfly Park Pavilion in West Seattle (4111 26th Ave SW). Please dress comfortably for this community gathering in the park.

Photos, memories and condolences can also be shared with Laura’s friends and family at the Kinzley Funeral Home online tribute page at kinzleyfh.com/obituary/laura-bruco

(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)

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Friday info, + big weekend ahead

6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, July 18, 2025, with three big events ahead – the Alki Art Fair today through Sunday, the West Seattle Grand Parade and Float Dodger 5K on Saturday.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

After a high of “only” 86 on Thursday, the cooldown continues. Today’s high is expected to be in the mid-70s, with some clouds. Today’s sunrise was at 5:30 am; sunset will be at 8:59 pm.

WEEKEND ALERTS

-Though the Alki Art Fair (today through Sunday) takes place mostly on the promenade and in/around the Bathhouse, it still means traffic and parking will be busier.

-The West Seattle Grand Parade and Float Dodger 5K on Saturday mean parking restrictions and road closures on and near California SW from Admiral to south of Edmunds. Heed the signs – they tow on parade morning if necessary! Restrictions are in place 7 am-3 pm. There will be bus reroutes Saturday too.

-The Eazy Duz It Car Club‘s “Chrome and Community” show will close 16th SW in White Center between Roxbury and 100th on Saturday, 11 am-7 pm.

-If you’re planning to head to downtown or points north of there over the weekend, you need to know about the NB I-5 lane closures as part of “Revive I-5.”

ROAD WORK

-The major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center continues – details here.

-Admiral Bridge work continues, with both directions now carried on the south side instead of the north side.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.

Washington State Ferries – WSF has resumed three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.

Water TaxiRegular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday (tonight!) and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

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!

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen gray Elantra

Ed reports his gray 2019 Hyundai Elantra GT, license plate BPS3400, was “stolen from my home at 37th Ave SW and SW Monroe St. sometime late Thursday afternoon/evening. SPD report number 25-202017.” If you find it, call 911.

COUNTDOWN: Two days to 2025 West Seattle Grand Parade! More about what/who you’ll see

If your group, school, team, business (etc.) has a float in Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade, it’s definitely crunch time for float-building! Above, Cindi sent that photo of the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club‘s float-in-progress (pickup-truck-borne). The WSARC has another role during the parade, as we’ve mentioned before – ham operators assist with communication, coordination, and safety up and down the parade route, before, during, and after. WSARC is one of more than a dozen community groups in the parade; more than a dozen sports-related groups will be in it too; so will eight dance and drill groups; and six music groups. Those aren’t all the types of entries you’ll see – in all, the parade lineup currently holds more than 90 entries, leading off with the Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team (building back, with at least eight officers this year) departing California south of Lander at about 10:45 am Saturday, headed southbound to The Junction. All of California from Admiral to Edmunds closes for the parade, and parking restrictions (stretching beyond those boundaries – you should have seen the signs by now) kick in around 7 am (you will be towed, so don’t risk it). There are official “parade watch parties” at some businesses this year (we’ve added one to the list, hosted by West Seattle Runner, which presents the pre-parade Float Dodger 5K – if you’re having one that’s not listed but is open to the public, let the parade team and us know – westseattleparade@gmail.com and westseattleblog@gmail.com. See you Saturday!

VIDEO: Lookout Mountain Lookout plays first concert of 2025 Admiral Music in the Parks series!

6:44 PM: Another wonderful warm summer night with the opportunity to sit in a shaded park and enjoy live music! This time it’s Belvedere Park (3600 SW Admiral Way, though it’s best to approach from the 37th/Olga side), opening venue for the three-park, three-show Admiral Music in the Parks series, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. The West Seattle-based “country tonk” band Lookout Mountain Lookout is performing tonight, until about 8 pm – bring a chair, a blanket, a picnic dinner, even your dancing shoes if you feel like it.

We’ll have video clips later; if you can’t get to this show, the next two Thursday nights bring two more – listed here.

9:10 PM: The show lasted until about 8:20 pm. Back at HQ now and downloading video (almost all of which is full of exuberant toddlers and preschoolers dancing in the open space between the band and the audience).

10:03 PM: First clip:

Two more songs:

Their show was largely a mix of country classics and originals:

The band members include lead vocalist Scott Herman and drummer Travis Curry:

Bassist Alex Hagenah:

And guitarist Aaron Stayman:

Emcee was ANA president Joanie Jacobs:

She and husband Dan Jacobs – another ANA Board member singled out for major AMP support tonight along with Meagan Loftin – will ride toward the start of Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade as Orville Rummel Community Service Award winners. Meantime, one more clip from the concert:

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Next Thursday (July 24) Michael Pearsall and Friends will be the AMP performers, 6:30 pm at California Place Park (just east of Admiral Church).

READER REPORT: ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ rally in The Junction

Thanks to Stewart L. for the photos and report on today’s rally as part of gatherings nationwide in memory of U.S. Rep. John Lewis, the civil-rights activist who said “good trouble” was needed to cause change:

I was at today’s West Seattle protest, with a crowd of about 150 people causing good trouble at the Alaska Junction. We had a drum line and the impassioned crowd was really into it.

Rep. Lewis died on this date in 2020 at age 80. The West Seattle rally was a late addition to today’s daily event list.

FOLLOWUP: Film crew at Don Armeni Boat Ramp on busy fishing day – and with drones at night

3:26 PM: As discussed here Wednesday, some were concerned about a commercial film crew using part of the lot at Don Armeni Boat Ramp today when boaters were allowed to head out for chinook salmon. So WSB’s Anne Higuera went there this afternoon to see how things were going.

She noted at least a dozen vehicles associated with the production, which she was told is for a Ford commercial. One person returning from fishing told her he had been able to get in and out without a problem, although, in a side note, he said the biggest hassle of the day had been dealing with a new app for procuring permits. Meantime, a (corrected) Parks employee on duty told Anne that things had been moving quickly as most people were hitting their limit soon after going out, so they returned to shore before long. All the while, the production crew continued its work on the south side of the lot, with lots of gear including a wardrobe rack.

Their permit is for work that could run as late as 1 am tonight.

(Added: Photo by Doug Eglington)

7:23 PM: Doug Eglington, who sent the photo above, just sent this one showing drones awaiting their role in the shoot:

ADDED 11:50 PM: Doug sent later photos of the drones, illuminated:

LAST CALL: Personal-safety class at Southwest Precinct tonight

One more event of note tonight – the next personal-safety class at the Southwest Precinct. We’ve mentioned it before; Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite asked us to remind you one more time, because they’re still taking last-minute signups for this free class:

Personal Safety Training with Seattle PD

6 pm – 8 pm tonight (Thursday July 17th) at the SW Precinct- Community Meeting Room – 2300 SW Webster St

About the Class
Learn proactive tips and steps you can take to enhance your personal safety taught by Seattle police officers and employees.

Training goals:
-Share common-sense safety tips to decrease the odds of being a victim
-Know the important role your instincts and gut reactions play
-Discover potentially dangerous situations and how to avoid them
-Learn to make a safety plan based on different environments

Notes:
-This is a facilitated discussion and lecture about crime prevention and safety.
-This is not a self-defense class.
-This class is open to individuals of all ages and most appropriate for those who are at least 14 years of age or older. For that reason, children should not attend.

Register here

The community room is on the southwest side of the precinct, right off the public parking lot.

Cameras, lights in Morgan Junction EV lot plan, now out to bid: Morgan Community Association quarterly meeting report #1

Updates on Seattle City Light‘s planned Morgan Junction eight-EV-charger lot were among several major topics highlighting Wednesday night’s quarterly meeting of the Morgan Community Association, which we’re breaking into separate reports this time rather than lumping them all into one lengthy account.

First, a timeline reminder: District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka announced earlier this year that the charging lot fronting both Fauntleroy and Morgan just east of 42nd SW wouldn’t open before next spring, three years later than the original announcement. The new spring 2026 date is still the plan, MoCA heard last night:

Project manager Lizzy Kay, joining the meeting remotely, said her best guess is that construction will start in October; the project recently went out to bid. She brought information that MoCA and other community members had requested about the lighting plan for the site:

The lot’s four lighting poles will be half as high and dimmer than nearby streetlights, and they’ll be focused on a “targeted area.” Here’s a map showing where they’ll be:

Other security measures will include cameras, monitored by SCL security employees – in general, Kay said, “We are going to have more security at this site than others.” She didn’t know how many cameras, though (they weren’t part ot her planned presentation, but instead emerged as a topic in Q&A). Attendees asked what else would be done to deter vandalism and wire theft; she said the vendor ChargePoint had developed a “cut-protection technology” involving a “hardened cut-proof cable … hopefully impossible or at least harder to cut.” She also said the site would have an eight-foot Fiberglas fence; asked what would be done to deter/address tagging vandalism, she said it would be handled like other city facilities. (This is a point of particular concern, as you might recall that the site had vandalism trouble with temporary fencing that wasn’t addressed for months.)

Entry to the lot – a former substation – will only be from SW Morgan; Kay recapped why:

That led to a question about a previously revealed plan to trench across Fauntleroy Way during construction. Kay said that remained part of the plan but said it would be done “in sections” so there’s never a total closure of that busy arterial.

WHAT’S NEXT: Bids are due August 6; you can see the bidding documents for the project, which carries an “engineer’s estimate” cost of just under $800,000, by going here.