Theft alert: When something left at curbside is not a freebie
Over the weekend, this reader report sparked a discussion about curbside freebies. Today, we got e-mail from JG, wanting to share an alert about a curbside-donation thief:
Please tell people not to put out their pickup for Northwest Center until 7:30 am or a little before. I had mine out the night before and was woke up with headlights coming in my bedroom and saw a white car, late 90’s or early 2000’s model with a sunroof, stealing my donation. The passenger that took my donation was a girl with brown hair to her shoulders or a little longer. I should have gotten up right away but I hesitated for a couple minutes, then got in my car to see if I could find the car and get the license plate number. I know probably a stupid thing to do but I didn’t find them. This was around 1:30 last night.
We asked JG a couple followup questions — what was in her donation? (clothes & shoes) was it clearly marked as a donation so this wasn’t a case of someone mistaking it for a freebie? (yes, it had the Northwest Center tag on it). So … consider yourself alerted.
Fauntleroy Creek salmon update – and video
The Fauntleroy Community Association website has posted a short video clip from the recent Fauntleroy Creek coho return – follow the link from the fauntleroy.net home page. And there’s new information beyond what’s posted with that video — we visited the fish-ladder overlook (across the street and up the bluffside staircase from the ferry dock) over the weekend and saw a note headlined “IT’S A WRAP,” indicating creek-watchers believe this year’s return is over — but they did count more than 90 fish during the week-long return, compared to none last year and 46 in ’05. Next step, according to that note – watching for fry in February.
From land-use land, post-holiday edition
TOWNHOUSE GLUT? WHAT TOWNHOUSE GLUT? Not long after reading this article (which we also mentioned over the weekend), we found permit applications for another teardown-to-townhome project in north West Seattle, on 44th just south of Atlantic (map): it spans two addresses, 1506 44th and 1508 44th, and is next to what appears to be a similarly sized project for which permit applications were filed a few weeks earlier, 1510 44th and 1512 44th.
LAST CALL FOR DESIGN REVIEW ON 2 PROJECTS: The official notice on these came out last week but might have gotten lost in the pre-holiday rush: The Southwest Design Review Board meets December 20th — at Denny Middle School instead of the usual SW Precinct — for the “recommendation” phase on the townhouse/”live-work” proposal at 6053 California (where the martial-arts tenant just had its moving sale weekend before last) and 7901 35th, known for spiritual pursuits from the Seventh-Day Adventists to Temenos to Mars Hill bus parking, now proposed for auto repair (including a new 2-story building).
Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza Project: Looking for $80,000 more
Holiday weekend’s winding down, time to get back to the news. We’ve got updates in the works on some ongoing major West Seattle issues/stories, including, right now, the latest on the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza Project. As we reported here last Monday, the approved ’08 city budget includes the $50,000 that city leaders announced for a new pedestal just before the recast statue was placed atop the old one in September. The group raising money in hopes of surrounding that new pedestal with a plaza has just updated its blog (read it here) with the latest on fundraising efforts for the plaza project (last public meeting about it was September 13; here’s our detailed report from that night). In the new blog update, project committee co-chair Paul Carr writes, “… we may need another $80,000 or so, just to be on the safe side”; we e-mailed to see if that meant cost estimates had changed. Paul’s reply to WSB: “The estimate is still the same; as far as we know, the $157,000 is the construction estimate. However, even though no one on our committee is making a dime (no salaries or other labor costs), there still are fund-raising expenses. The Fiscal Sponsor takes a small percentage for being the Fiscal Sponsor and keeping charge of the money, we have printing costs: brochures, etc. Bottom line: If we can raise another $80,000, we estimate we can safely do everything the community wanted.” The Sealady Blog update also mentions a “gala dinner” for the project in the works coming up in late December @ the Alki Duke’s. (If you are just coming in on the statue/plaza story, all our previous coverage is archived here.)
Shadowland menu revealed
Drawing a lot of gawkers in The Junction today: The menu and wine list for Shadowland are now posted in its front window (NE corner of California/Oregon). Sample from the “small plates” lineup: Cassie, $6, ingredients listed as “white cheddar, macaroni, love.”
West Seattle holiday shopping: It’s a party
As you head out today, to the Farmers’ Market perhaps, or just to enjoy the sunshine, you might want to poke your head inside some of your favorite West Seattle shops. 
We’ve started to hear from more stores planning special events during the holiday shopping season (like the early-early-bird Black Friday sale we covered @ Friends & Company); to name just a few, Husky Deli is having a holiday open house 5-9 pm next Friday (11/30) that’s also a 75th anniversary celebration (historic photos here); much-appreciated WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits in the Admiral District is planning December “Late Night Thursdays” with treats on 12/6, 12/13, and 12/20 where they’re staying open till at least 8 pm (or longer; “we just hang around until people leave,” Click! co-owner Frances Smersh told WSB); less than a block from Click!, Shanti Salon and Spa has a holiday open house with refreshments 6:30-8:30 pm Thursday 12/13; the Junction Association says a variety of retailers are planning promotions during Hometown Holidays next weekend; between Admiral and Alaska Junctions, Saturday night shopping parties are the plan at basic green box, with wine and cheese. We’re going to drop by as many WS businesses as possible to keep track of what’s planned for the holiday season, but with so many of them, we’d also love to hear from local retailers directly, and from shoppers who hear about upcoming events. E-mail or call us; here’s all the contact info.
Reader Recommendation Request: Wood work & tile work
One more to send out this holiday weekend — Deb writes:
We’re in need of a talented and reasonably priced woodworker to make a
couple of pieces of custom cabinetry (an odd-sized bookcase and a music cabinet). In addition, we also have a small tiling job that I’d like someone to do or teach me how. Any personal recommendations … would be much appreciated.
Please leave your recommendation(s) as comments on this post. You can find all WSB Reader Recommendation Requests, and ensuing responses, archived here.
What’s hot tomorrow at West Seattle Farmers’ Market
The “fresh sheet” is back after a week away. And this is a good chance to remind you, the Farmers’ Market continues in full 10 am-2 pm swing through the end of the year; then in January and February, it’s the winter edition, 11 am-2 pm. Now, the tastiness:Read More
‘Tis the season for … curbside freebies
That photo is from Eric Bell of fridgefoto.biz, who explains it so well we wouldn’t dare change a word:
The seasonal spirit of giving is alive and well in the Admiral District, not to mention that great American tradition of dumping your cr*p on a sidewalk and hoping someone will take it away. I spotted this bargain – in festive green – adjacent to the Crosswalk of Death (the intersection of Admiral and SW Waite St., near Alki Mail & Dispatch). Dog not included.
Boozeless Bamboo (temporarily)
Thanks to WSB reader Venkat for the tip that Bamboo Bar & Grill on Alki is mighty dark tonight — because of a big orange notice posted out front from the Washington Liquor Control Board: Liquor license suspended. We went by for a closer look; too dark for us to make out the exact dates on the notice – looked fairly short term — but we could read that the suspension was for “furnishing alcohol to minors.” We can’t find a press release about the suspension on the Liquor Control Board website, but did see info there that Bamboo was fined $350 for the same thing in May, then fined $1500 for the same thing in October. SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Looks like the suspension’s over; Bamboo’s open again.
Reader Recommendation Request: Cable or satellite?
From Tom:
We are tired finally of the old “rabbit ears.” Looking online it appears the Direct TV (dish) is about $20.00 less per month than cable (for the stripped-down, one-step-up-from-the-minimum package). However, I have heard of dish systems being unreliable or having poor reception in certain areas. So … I thought I’d appeal to my co-Westies. I am on 35th by High Point. Any input about your experiences are welcome; in particular nearby folks’ tales of success or failure would be especially helpful.
Please respond by leaving a comment; thanks to everyone who takes the time to participate in RRRs! Meantime, you can find all WSB Reader Recommendation Request discussions archived here.
From the Black Friday front lines in West Seattle
So a particular chain retailer at Westwood Village had this incredible laptop deal. Got there when they opened at 6 am … 100 people in line, plotting near-military strategy for bargain reconnaissance. We retreated. Friendlier crowd at the one Junction store that opened its doors at 5 am, the rubber-stamping store Friends and Company, where we caught up with proprietor Doris Goulet and her early-bird shoppers during the first half-hour:
Reminder that this Thursday night (6:30 pm, West Seattle High School library) is the first major public meeting about 
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