What’s it like to move to West Seattle? A writer who recently arrived from elsewhere shares a few vignettes.
(Peninsula, looking north from Sea-Tac Airport – photo by Gatewood resident Long Nguyen)
By Marika Malaea
Special to West Seattle Blog
I
We were driving the last of our stuff over the West Seattle Bridge when reality finally hit: We were moved! I bounced in my seat, riding a wave of anticipation. “We’re almost there!” I said in a rush, anxiously euphoric. We came around the bend and I saw the welcome sign. “Look,” I cried, “we’re official!”
I shielded my eyes from the sun, trying to read the whole thing. “It says ‘Welcome to West Sea….’I trailed off, confused. I leaned forward to peer out the window, blinking several times – then turned to stare at my boyfriend, unsure of what to say. “Why are there half-naked metal children leaping onto the freeway?” I asked.
“Welcome to West Seattle,” he said, laughing at me.
II
I saw an ad on Craigslist for a vintage industrial desk, and I had to have it, despite the message attached: “First come, first serve. No, I won’t hold it for you, I’m not your mother. U-HAUL, I’m not going to help. If I ignore your email, it’s gone so don’t email me again. No flakes.”
I sent the guy a message, noting the desk was in West Seattle and that soon we would be residents. Would he be willing to hold it until the next morning, just seven short hours away?
That photo e-mailed to us shows part of the crew getting ready for tomorrow’s 4th Grade Used Book Sale at Sanislo Elementary, raising money for their annual educational overnight trip. Coffee, tea and treats, too! 10 am-2 pm, 1812 SW Myrtle (map). That’s one of four benefit sales tomorrow in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup – TONS going on – review the list here.
We dropped by the Denny International Middle School cafeteria just before lunch today – to visit the fabled Lunch Ladies who had let us know earlier this week (as reported here) about their plan to try to break a record for most school lunches served in a day. The old record was 599 – and Doree Fazio-Young sent word late today that they did it, serving 604! We talked to her moments before they started serving – and she explained the day’s OTHER big events:
Doree and Sue have worked together for 20 years. Congrats on the record!
(Thursday night photo by Christopher Boffoli) As reported here a week ago, May 17 is now set as the date when the city will permanently close the 1st Avenue South/South Spokane onramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge – and that means no access to The Bridge between I-5 and Highway 99 until the new 1st Avenue South on/offramp opens more than a year and a half later. In the meantime, more traffic will be using the “low bridge” – including rerouted Metro buses – so it’s been suggested that the city should reopen its request for restrictions on marine use of that bridge during rush hours. (In 2008, the U.S. Coast Guardrejected a request for permanent restrictions.) This week, we checked with the city regarding the status of a new request to the USCG; SDOT communications manager Rick Sheridan tells us today it hasn’t been formally filed yet:
SDOT is interested in temporarily prohibiting evening rush hour openings of the Lower Spokane Street Swing Bridge starting in May, when a new phase of work begins on the Spokane Street Viaduct. While we believe this proposal has merit, we also understand there might be impacts to some marine users. We are currently in conversations about it with the marine industry, the Port of Seattle and the US Coast Guard, which is an important coordinating step prior to submitting a formal request to the Coast Guard.
City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, chair of the Transportation Committee and main backer of the previous proposal to restrict rush-hour openings, says he’s aware of this and “willing to help.”
From Dicki at Endolyne Joe’s in Fauntleroy – the photo at left and the plea for help finding that sign:
My partner, Mark Silver, who built Joe’s, made a great Pig holding a sandwich board sign that said Eat at Joe’s. We have been putting it on the corner of 45th and Wildwood. He made this incredible sign for free because he loves Joe’s. One of my Managers forgot to bring it in the other night, and alas he is gone! We love our pig and want him back. Would he go under lost pets? He was like a pet to us.
No, this is more Crime Watch than Lost/Found Pets. If you’ve seen the pig, please contact Dicki, 937 5637.
Just got the call from Jeff Hogan at Killer Whale Tales: Five orcas off Lincoln Park – closer to the ferry dock – transient orcas, the kind that hunt sea lions and seals, and he says “they just made a kill” so you may see birds hovering around where they are. Let us know if you see them! 4:15 PM UPDATE: Back from an expedition. Very quick sighting in the distance, via binoculars, off north Vashon. Looked from the Lincoln Park shore like KING5’s chopper found them – video’s not on their site yet, but we’ll add a link here when it’s available. 5:14 PM: Adding the embedded video atop this item.
A new ruling on the city’s ban on guns in certain park/community center facilities – and this time, the judge says it’s constitutional, according to this story just published by our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times. They were ruling on the challenge that happened here in West Seattle last year, filed by the Kent man who went into Southwest Community Center last November (after letting the city and media know of his intention) and was asked to leave (WSB coverage here). This follows a county ruling in a separate challenge, overturning the ban (here’s that story). The Times says the city’s trying to sort out what this all means. 6:12 PM: The city has sent out a news release – more of a summary than a reaction – read on (also added, the ruling document itself):Read More
(Photo from “Sunlight” by Matt Durham)
It’s the first weekend for “Sunlight” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – you can see the play tonight, Saturday night or Sunday afternoon – and that’s just part of a HUGE slate of events: Rummage sales, book sales, food drives, a chance to help brainstorm the Seattle Waterfront’s future, benefit dinners, school open houses, live music, forest-restoration events … you HAVE to browse the list. Plus, Daylight Saving Time kicks in Sunday morning – at 2 am, forward ahead an hour to 3 am. From tonight through Sunday, more than SIXTY! events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food:Read More
While we were at King County Department of Transportation HQ on Thursday afternoon to talk about some of the ongoing routing changes caused by construction, KCDOT’s Linda Thielke mentioned a proposed change was in the works for Route 22 through Gatewood. She didn’t have full details, but they’re out now: Metro wants to take the 22 off about half a mile of residential streets (41st and Ida) and move it to California SW for the full stretch through Gatewood, so that it stays on arterials all the way. Here are the details; note the “online survey” on the right side for comments. If Metro goes through with the change, it’ll take effect in October. (Disclosure, because we always try to let you know when we have skin in the game: WSB HQ is on the proposed new route.)
It’s kicking up bigtime at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy – the forecast does mention possible gusts up to 45 mph “midday” and this afternoon. (No advisories so far, though.) 10:54 AM: Just a quick Flip clip to let you know, it’s NOT Windpocalypse – just gusty from time to time:
Coming to The Junction at California/Oregon, in the space recently vacated by Craze – you might have seen the window sign for Fleurt (WSB sponsor), a flower/gift shop. We asked Sam at Fleurt for comment – and she put together an official announcement:
April showers brings flowers and Fleurt, a new locally owned flower and gift shop that have taken over the former Craze store on the corner of California Ave and SW Oregon. The gals at Fleurt are hard at work giving the store a complete makeover and hope to open on or before April 1st.
The flower gals will offer charming and unique fresh flower arrangements and stems in the shop, free West Seattle delivery, a $10 charge for other Seattle locations. They do events, occasions, weekly installments for businesses and say “I do” to weddings.
Fleurt uses flowers that are locally grown (whenever possible) that are always fresh, seasonal and a little wild. The containers include one of a kind vintage pots, antique glass, and vessels reclaimed sustainable from nature. An assortment of gift items will also be available at the shop
“We are so excited to be able to offer our neighbors in West Seattle a special place to browse, enjoy and purchase unique flowers and gifts. We have waited years for the right location in West Seattle to become available, and when the former Craze store closed, we jumped with joy at the opportunity to open Fleurt. A quick thank you to Funky Jane’s for their support and guidance!” Check out their website at www.fleurtstudio.bigcartel.com
As at least one WSB’er has pointed out – The Junction had a flower shop at that intersection for years – Neilsen, right across the street, where Shadowland is now.
Just a few highlights before the West Seattle Weekend Lineup comes out later:
TWO CHURCH RUMMAGE SALES, DAY ONE: It’s the unofficial start of Garage/Yard/Rummage Sale Season in West Seattle – two churches with two-day mega-sales, today and tomorrow. Here’s where and when to find them – just blocks apart, so you can easily hit both: Tibbetts United Methodist Church, 3940 41st SW (map), 9 am-4 pm today and 9 am-3 pm tomorrow; West Side Presbyterian Church, 3601 California SW (map), 9 am-5 pm today and 9 am-2 pm tomorrow (Facebook fan page, with photos, here).
“LUCK OF THE IRISH” BENEFIT DINNER: The West Seattle Eagles are raising money tonight for the 2010 MS Walk tonight, with a corned beef and cabbage “Luck of the Irish Dinner.” Dinner (served 5:30-7 pm) and music are open to the public (non-members who would like to drink must be signed in by an Eagle member). 4426 California SW (map; please use the door at the back of the building, closest to the alley).
From Dicki at 
Coming to The Junction at California/Oregon, in the space recently vacated by Craze – you might have seen the window sign for
| 44 COMMENTS