West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Quite the breeze out of the north, late this afternoon – Alki looked more like an open-ocean beach than protected waters. Matching the wave energy, music and rhythm energy by the Bathhouse:
Eric Wilson was offering a round of his “Fitness Rhythms” to anybody who cared to join in – like the little guy in the foreground. And in conjunction with the Vedic Cultural Center‘s “Dance for Peace” nearby, a Jagannath Ratha-Yatra religious procession made its way along the water-side Alki sidewalk:
That was one of two religious processions we covered today – though this one was without advance notice; we just happened by – our story on the other one, the Holy Rosary centennial procession to St. John the Baptist, is coming up.
Thanks to Daniel for the photo from Sunrise Heights; we were in Morgan Junction when we spotted the four choppers approaching from the southwest (checking to see if our Flip video is worth using). It was a Washington Army National Guard flyby for the Mariners’ pregame, per TV. ADDED 6:23 PM: Here’s our (distant – Flip doesn’t zoom) video:
We stopped by one of the Prudential NW food drive spots – West Seattle Thriftway – just intending to get a photo to add to the advance blurb published this morning, but Kristi Freeburg and helper Audrey made such a cute picture, we’re showcasing them separately. Audrey was there to make a point: Local food banks need pet food donations too. The Prudential drive is over but you can help the local food banks any time – follow the links: West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank. Meantime, here’s a photo you could caption “Bird’s Eye View from Nerd’s Eye View”:
Gatewood author/artist Pam Mandel (best known for her site Nerd’s Eye View) shared that photo taken at Alki.
We’re still more than nine months away from next year’s West Seattle Garden Tour, but the gardens for next year are chosen much sooner – and organizers are inviting more people to apply right now, since they tour prospects during October. (The photo above is used by permission of WSGT, showing one of last year’s highlighted gardens.) This page on the WSGT website has more info on the tour and how to find out if your garden might qualify.
Grocery stores have lots of food demos and promotions, but the Metropolitan Market “For the Love of Cheese” event fascinated us because we heard directly from Molly in the cheese department, who’d been working for a long time helping plan and prepare for the big event, particularly the demonstrations yesterday and today. Above, that’s Molly, showing how they make hand-pulled mozzarrella, which MM manager Brad Halverson says is unique to their markets in this area. Our video is from Friday afternoon, but you’ll find cheese demos, samples and specials there this afternoon too:
Demos continue till 5 pm – schedule is here.
Eight days till the October 11th Eat Local Now! dinner/auction/entertainment event at Alki Masonic Hall, with co-presenters including Sustainable West Seattle and CoolMom, and co-sponsors including WSB. Kate Kaemerle shares the latest on WHOSE food you’ll be eating at Eat Local Now! – check it out:
The featured chefs include many West Seattle favorites, including:
Toby Matasar – Eats Market Cafe
Tony Kurzinski – Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor)
Dalis Chea – Fresh Bistro
Hajime Sato – Mashiko
Nance Tourigny
Bill Taylor
Maria Gonzalez
Brad GlabersonLocal food providers include New Roots Organics, 21 Acres Farm, Beechers Handmade Cheese, Boistfort Valley Farm, Field Roast Grain Meats, Full Circle Farm, Helsing Junction Farm, Jubilee Farm, Lazy Locavores, Local Roots Farm, Plum Forest, SPUD! and Theo Chocolates. Local beer, wine and cider will be available at a cash bar from Elliott Bay Brewery, Georgetown Brewery, Bainbridge Winery and Rockridge Cidery.
The evening includes dinner, speakers active in the local-food movement, exhibitors, a silent auction, music and dancing. It’s an opportunity to enjoy a locally produced dinner while celebrating the people who grow, cook and support the local food movement.
Tickets for 2009 Eat Local Now! are available online at eatlocalnow.org or Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com or at the door. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children under 10.
Alki Masonic Hall is in The Junction, 41st/Edmunds. See you there!
Thanks to Victoria and Thomas for sending word that a truck is stuck under the bridge by Luna Park; Thomas included the photo. We’re heading over to figure out exactly what’s blocked, but in the meantime, good area to avoid. 10:44 AM UPDATE: The truck is blocking the ramp where you turn either southbound from Harbor or northbound from Avalon to go toward the eastbound West Seattle Bridge (here’s a map). Some of its wheels are up on a concrete barrier. So if you need to get to The Bridge, don’t go that way, TFN. 11:02 AM UPDATE: We just took these pics for a closer look. No word so far how long till this will be cleared:
11:29 AM: Heading back over to see if it’s cleared yet. Meantime, note other traffic challenges around the area, as discussed in comments. The Viaduct has reopened, though, just got word on that. And thanks again to everyone who sends tips – which in turn help many other people – please check our contact options and consider storing in your cell phone/smartphone/etc. whichever one would be easiest for you to use whenever you have something to report. 1:32 PM UPDATE: The scene is now clear and you can get to the ramp from either direction.
We’re heading out to take pics that we’ll subsequently add, but for now, a few “happening now” highlights from the West Seattle Weekend Lineup:
FOOD DRIVE: Prudential NW has reps at five area grocery stores till 2 pm today to collect donations for local food banks: Admiral, Jefferson Square and Roxbury Safeways, West Seattle Thriftway, White Center Albertson’s.
RUMMAGE SALE: The Westside UU’s are having their big sale at the Masonic Hall in The Junction (41st/Edmunds) till 3 pm.
NORTH DELRIDGE CIDER PRESS: Happening till 3 pm – you’re welcome with or without apples to contribute. Location and other info here.
SOLAR TOUR: Sun-powered facilities all over the state are on display till 4 pm – including half a dozen in West Seattle (here’s the list – it’s a self-guided tour).
Even more here!
More Saturday previews a bit later, but first, one last reminder: The Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to be closed in both directions 8:15-11:30 am for the Puget Sound Heart Walk. (And if you’re heading back west on The Bridge, watch for an unrelated lane closure today.)
Unless you’re personally involved with the West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival, you may not realize that its volunteers are at work for months before the peak summer events, and months afterward – pretty much all year round. But parade season is ending after tomorrow, and Hi-Yu President Tim Winston sent these photos with this update tonight:
We are wrapping up a very successful parade season with the Issaquah Salmon Days Parade, Saturday at 10 am.
This will be the last outing for our “How Sweet It Is” candy-themed float. It has won awards in 7 parades (out of 8 where we are eligible).
Thanks to John at GT Towing who has been storing our float.
BTW, Monday starts the new season for Hi-Yu. I am president again for the next year and most of the board is continuing.
Our major project for the fall is a new, covered float trailer. We are looking for a few major sponsors that will be recognized with advertising on the new trailer. A photo of a trailer like the one we plan to order is attached.
Thank you!
Tim Winston
President
West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival
We report them first on Twitter and Facebook while we’re out at the games, if you just HAVE to know ASAP. Now both games are over and we’re processing our reports – but first making note of the scores here too: West Seattle High School 55, Ingraham 0 at SW Athletic Complex in Westwood; Nathan Hale 20, Chief Sealth High School 12 (but it was close for much of the game) at NE Athletic Complex (next to Hale). Details and video coming up.
10:44 PM: First, from Patrick on the WSHS game (which he tweeted live at @wsblive): Despite steady drizzle, West Seattle managed to keep their footing to defeat Ingraham 55-0. The standout performance of the night came from Markeem Adams, who carried the ball only five times but managed to score four touchdowns. He ended the night with 157 yards. Overall, the Wildcats had 570 yards of total offense. After the game, Coach Davis Lura talked about what he saw tonight as he gets ready for next week’s game against Cleveland:
The Wildcats are now 4-1 (3-0 in conference play). Here’s their schedule/stats/record page at seattletimes.com (WSB partner).
ADDED 12:30 AM: From Tracy on the Sealth game: The score was close much of the way. We got there as the Seahawks embarked on a drive that got them within one point of the Raiders – here’s our Flip-cam view of the touchdown that made the score 13-12:
The conversion attempt after the TD failed, and Hale’s next drive got them a TD and PA, which resulted in the final score, 20-12. Sealth (stats etc. from seattletimes.com here) plays Franklin next Friday (on Oct. 16); still one more high-school game for West Seattle players this weekend – Seattle Lutheran High School‘s homecoming game, 1:30 pm tomorrow at West Seattle Stadium vs. Friday harbor.
The cupcakes from West Seattle’s own Splendid Cupcake are going fast at the Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) 5th birthday party, says Click’s John Smersh, who shared the pic. They’re there till 9 pm, with treats and discounts. Click! is in the Admiral District at 2210 California SW. Tomorrow, as you may have seen in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, lots of chances to share your time, talent and treasure — including the food drive promoted at Walking On Logs:
Dawn Nelson from Prudential Realty sent the photo tonight as another reminder of their food drive tomorrow at five local supermarkets – 10 am-2 pm at all three West Seattle-area Safeways, plus West Seattle Thriftway and White Center Albertson’s. She says they’ll be out rain or shine!
A quick note from SDOT‘s Marybeth Turner:
SDOT crews plan to work on the West Seattle Bridge at the Harbor Avenue exit tomorrow (Oct 3) from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. replacing a crash cushion. They will be working on the shoulder and will merge traffic around the work site.
And yet one more reminder, The Viaduct is closed both ways, 8:15-11:30 am tomorrow.
Tomorrow at 10:30 am, Providence Mount St. Vincent hosts the first of three “Blessing of the Animals” events scheduled for West Seattle this weekend. In honor of that, our occasional series of stories about West Seattle “shop cats” returns with the tale of the cats at The Mount:
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Fifteen years ago, when the assisted-living (and more) center known to West Seattleites as “The Mount” underwent a major philosophical shift from a “medical model” to a “social model,” it instilled some major changes: Nurses stopped wearing starched uniforms and switched to regular clothes; strict waking and sleeping schedules were abolished; cheerful dayrooms were built — and a cat moved in.
Nurse Manager Brenda Jennings, who has seen many changes at The Mount over the past 30 years, says that the new watermark for staff and clients was to see The Mount as home. Residents are not seen as “sick people” — they are essentially well, but with chronic conditions; they are allowed to direct their own care and be more independent. Cats have become an important part of that home culture.
The Mount has five different units which are known as “neighborhoods” and each neighborhood has its own cat.
The city has announced this year’s list of Mayor’s Small Business Award winners — with Alki Kayak Tours and Cupcake Royale among them! Read on for the full announcement:Read More
It’s definitely fall. While some of the 50-plus events on this weekend’s list are out-and-out fun (like Family Fun Night at Seattle Civic Dance Theater in Fauntleroy tonight!) there’s also a lot of practicality – the Seattle Solar Tour, CROP Walk, flu shots, the WSUU Rummage Sale (well, the amazing Frogsquatch will be fun) … Read on to see it all, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club – read on!Read More
Looking ahead to this weekend’s high-school football games (previewed here yesterday), we checked in again with Chief Sealth High School‘s defensive coordinator Ernest Policarpio, as the team goes for its third consecutive win:
Sealth and WSHS both play at 7 tonight – Sealth at Nathan Hale, WSHS at SW Complex vs. Ingraham (which Sealth beat last week) – Seattle Lutheran at 1:30 tomorrow, homecoming, hosting Friday Harbor at WS Stadium. We’ll have coverage on Twitter as it happens (@wsblive) and here on the site later. Meantime, WSHS girls’ soccer faced Ingraham yesterday and per this comment, they won 4-1. (Send in YOUR sports reports!)
(July 2009 West Seattle Grand Parade photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Once you’ve been grand marshal of the West Seattle Grand Parade, what’s left to do on the peninsula? Two and a half months after that high-riding moment – and a year after his stint on the nationally televised reality show “Project Runway“ – the barista known best as Blayne is about to leave his four-year job at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor). We caught up with Blayne late this morning to ask about his plans after his last Hotwire day tomorrow:
You can see his fashion/design work here. If you want to say goodbye in person, Blayne told us he’ll be working tomorrow morning (but that’s as specific as he’d get).
(Wikimedia photo of Alki Homestead, pre-fire)
Two weeks after Alki Homestead owner Tom Lin stood before the Alki Community Council to discuss his proposal for the fire-ravaged landmark’s future (here’s our story) – possibly a restaurant/bar/B&B complex – the Southwest Seattle Historical Society has forwarded news outlets a letter they and other groups have sent to Lin. It expresses concern for its condition and a request that it be “restored … to its pre-fire condition.” It’s similar to a statement the SWSHS issued last March, two months after the fire (read that statement here). Here’s the full text of the letter:
Dear Tom Lin:
We are writing to you today to express our collective concern regarding the state of the Alki Homestead Restaurant, a City of Seattle Landmark, also known as the Fir Lodge Estate. As a result of the fire in January, 2009, this site is now included in the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Most Endangered Property List,” announced in May this year. The Washington Trust, together with other preservation and community organizations noted below, have indicated their support for the preservation of this landmark.
Given the state of the Homestead and the on-going damage that inactivity brings to the structure, we collectively urge you to decide and act upon your vision regarding this property.
We collectively ask that you (1) take immediate action to prevent further decay by securing the property and building from vandalism and protecting it as the rainy season approaches; (2) restore the Homestead to its pre-fire condition as befits a city landmark.
We firmly support preserving “a bit of old Seattle” (as Doris Nelson referred to the Homestead) and we believe the community of West Seattle and the City of Seattle will be enhanced by retaining this amazing Seattle landmark. We look forward to working with you to restore the Homestead to its rightful place on Alki. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society stands ready to assist you at every point in preserving the Homestead/Fir Lodge site.
Sincerely,
Judy Bentley
President, Southwest Seattle Historical SocietyAndrea Mercado
Director, Log House MuseumJennifer Meisner, Executive Director
Washington Trust for Historic PreservationJoe Follansbee
Association of King County Heritage OrganizationsJim Kelly, Director
4CulturePatricia Mullen, Executive Director
West Seattle Chamber of Commerce
We have e-mailed Lin a request for comment/response and will publish anything we hear back.
Tomorrow in North Delridge! Betsy Hoffmeister forwards the invitation:
Are you looking for a fun, free activity on Saturday? The North Delridge Neighborhood Council’s annual community cider press event is this Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm. You are welcome to drop by for as much of that time or as little as you want. The address is 5624 26th Ave SW [map].
The event is held at a private residence, using an old-fashioned, electric operated press. It is a small, neighborhood operation, not a big-time event, so expect gritty and fun. We have several goals: to meet our neighbors and exchange news; to make use of ugly, bruised, wormy, inedible fruit that would otherwise go to waste; to reduce pest infestations by removing fallen fruit from the ground; and to bring home locally made, sustainably produced fruit juice. Please bring:
* Yourself, friends, neighbors, and kids. Be prepared to supervise children under the age of three. The property is a wonderful place for kids to run around and play, but, Longfellow Creek flows through the property and no one will be supervising your children but you.
* Fresh apples, pears, or asian pears. Ideally, these will be windfalls or apples from neighborhood trees. We don’t want anyone to feel like they have to go to Thriftway for apples (but there are many fruit stands in the area, particularly in White Center and Beacon Hill, that have extremely good prices on “seconds” fruit). Please, please wash your fruit ahead of time.
* Clean containers to bring the cider home in.
* A snack to share with neighbors. You WILL get hungry.
* A camera.
* Wear VERY messy clothes and layers, you absolutely will get very, very dirty if you help out! Waterproof shoes are also a reasonable idea.Please do not bring: pets.
We need at least one volunteer to help clean up afterwards.
The homeowner and North Delridge Neighborhood Council are not liable for any harm
or injury that may befall attendees as a result of drinking too much cider, getting
stung by a yellowjacket, slipping on apple peels, etc. So be careful.
After the untimely death of Cafe Revo co-owner Chef Sean “Chano” Goff two weeks ago (story here with tribute comments), it was noted that the family’s left with medical bills to deal with from his long illness, while continuing to run the popular Italian restaurant (a WSB sponsor) in the Luna Park business district. This morning we have word of two benefits coming up, both promising food and fun while building a fund for the family:
THE SANCTUARY AT ADMIRAL, OCTOBER 14: Here’s the flyer for this one, sent by Sanctuary at Admiral owner Dahli Bennett. It reads in part:
“Big Night”
Dinner and a Movie Benefit at Sanctuary at AdmiralPlease join us Wednesday, October 14th
-Four course Italian dinner-Prepared by Chef Constance Bennett hailing from the Tipsy Pig in San Francisco and Chef Andrew Ingrahm of Café Revo fame.
The evening starts at 6pm with appetizers and wine, followed by a special communal style dinner. After dessert and coffee, we will get settled in for a viewing of the film “Big Night.”
$50 tickets are on sale at Cafe Revo.
WESTENDERS’ “OPERATION CHANO,” NOVEMBER 7: This one’s also dinner-and-a-movie. The Goffs have been active in the scooter community – including the mural on the restaurant’s south side – and the Westenders Scooter Club is organizing this benefit at the Rainier Yacht Club – here’s the official flyer sent by Nicky Ducommun, which includes:
Guests will enjoy a pasta feed, beverages, and a raffle. DJ Ace Face will be spinning tunes, and Eric Pravitz will screen his scooter-themed adventure-comedy “Mondo Scooterama” for entertainment … “A rollicking adventure-comedy that pays homage to the ‘biker’ movies of the 50s
and 60s, Mondo Scooterama features a talented young cast of up and coming Northwest actors, and features hilarious cameo appearances by well-known figures on the Seattle scootering scene!”
Suggested donation, $20. (Here’s a map to the RYC.)
An update this morning from Alaskan Way Viaduct project managers says the next semiannual inspection shutdown weekend is coming up October 24-25. Details:
Both decks of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed between Spokane Street in the south through the Battery Street Tunnel in the north. The closure is scheduled from:
* 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24
* 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25In recent years members of the public have been invited to join us during these closures for a tour of the structure. Unfortunately, a public tour will not be possible during the October inspection, due to limited daylight hours to complete the necessary maintenance and the decision to reopen the viaduct earlier than normal to accommodate traffic for the Oct. 24 Sounders game.
And another reminder, The Viaduct closes both ways 8:15-11:30 am tomorrow for the Puget Sound Heart Walk.
Two business notes from Admiral for today/tonight, before the West Seattle Weekend Lineup emerges later:
CHEESY AFTERNOON (AND EVENING) AT METROPOLITAN MARKET: A two-week celebration of cheese hits its high point this afternoon/evening with demos by cheese-world luminaries 3-7 pm at the Admiral store. According to MM’s Brad Halverson, Beecher’s cheesemaker Brad Sinko and Boat Street Pickles owner-chef Renee Erickson will be on hand, while the store’s own cheesemakers will make their unique hand-stretched mozzarella. (Full list/lineup here.) They’ll also be showcasing an early release of Rogue River Blue, the American Cheese Society‘s 2009 Best of Show Winner, which Halverson says is “the first raw milk American cheese to ever be shipped out of the USA.” The cheese event continues tomorrow – more here.
CLICK! CELEBRATES #5: A few blocks north, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) invites you to its 5th birthday bash tonight, previewed in this WSB feature. 6-9 pm, cupcakes, bubbly and discounts. More here.
| 1 COMMENT