In addition to more photos from WSB photojournalists – we’ve received Night Out photos taken and shared by WSB’ers around the peninsula. Above, shared by Dina Johnson (second from left), taken on what she proclaims, “The BEST block in Highland Park!” Next, from another “Park” neighborhood:
Thanks to Erik for that photo from Upper Luna Park – one of the neighborhoods visited by West Seattle firefighters tonight! Meantime, touring north West Seattle neighborhoods for WSB, Christopher Boffoli found Engine 29 at 57th/Winthrop (Upper Alki):
Ginny Woo shared this next photo of her young neighbors on the front fender of Ladder 11 at a Night Out party in Fauntlee Hills:
Ginny reports, “We had a great block party with a visit from one of West Seattle’s fire trucks, multi-generational attendees, hula hoopers, and jump ropers. Great fun was had as we sipped root beer floats and visited with our neighbors.” Not far from there: While we featured one photo earlier from the big Fauntleroy party at 45th/Henderson – this one tweeted by @sthecaddy has a scenic backdrop:
From Fauntleroy, going diagonal across the peninsula to Pigeon Point on the northeast corner: Cliff DesPeaux visited that neighborhood for WSB, and noted the dishes contributed by dozens:
P-Point’s Pete Spalding sent photos taken by his wife Kerry Hughes – first one, that’s Pete with Southwest Precinct Capt. Joe Kessler;
Next, PP Neighborhood Council co-chair Jim Sander with a game Pete says Jim cooked up for the kids:
Pete says it was “by far (their) largest-ever” Night Out event. Crowd shot:
Cliff DesPeaux took that, as well as this one from a party not far away: In the 4100 block of 25th SW, 8-year-old Kelsea Edwards (right) raced other kids during the block party:
From 34th and Findlay, David and Michelle Parker share photos from their 2-block party – including a neighborhood child eyeing part of the dessert potluck that was a major attraction:
They say at least 50 people showed up. And check the homegrown zucchini bread, urging onlookers to “eat local”:
We’ve got one more report to come, with more neighborhood-party portraits by Christopher Boffoli – he caught so many, even neighborhoods that hadn’t contacted us – ones he spotted while traveling around – they get a report of their own.
(This report features photos posted as we “toured” – report #2 coming up with more!)
6:07 PM: Let the block parties begin! We’re hitting the road for Night Out 2010 around West Seattle, stopping by some of the parties that folks were kind enough to let us know about. For starters – the setup above is for at the party closest to WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy. If we don’t get to yours or you didn’t answer the request for invites, we’re also thrilled to have a photo of what you’re up to – here are all the ways to send it in.
6:27 PM: We’re heading from Fairmount to Hansen’s View, neighborhoods on either side of Providence Mount St. Vincent. Above, a quick shot of the group gathering in Fairmount Community Association leader Sharonn Meeks‘ backyard. Next, we’re stopping at the HQ of the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network‘s founders.
6:38 PM: At left in the photo above, with name tags etc., is the always-organized Karen Berge from the WSBCN – co-blockwatch captain for Hansen’s View, south of The Mount. Next, we head into Gatewood.
(next photo added later)
6:53 PM: Actually that one turned out to be more like Morgan Junction. Thanks to Brooks for the invite. They’re expecting a fire-engine visit sometime later – police and fire units do often make the rounds on Night Out! And that group had a couple examples (we’ll add more pix from our travels later – in a hurry and on the go, we’re defaulting to the cameraphone photos we snap first) of true fun in the street: kids scooting and tricycling without risk – great to have that one night a year! Off now a few blocks south. But first – a photo in from a big party southwest of The Junction – Dave shares this photo of neighbors Obie and Rosinia:
(added later) Dave also caught the live neighborhood concert – with a Nirvana cover:
7:09 PM: Just left a party in Gatewood – thanks to Sue for inviting us. There we found a longtime WSB sponsor – John Moore from Northwest Insurance Group (and most recently, the tipster who let us know about the smash-and-grab at The Swinery that turned out to be toward the start of the smash-and-grab “pattern”):
Next stop – Seaview.
7:27 PM: In Seaview, blockwatch captain Melody told us that Erma – with the white hair, background right – is the neighborhood’s original blockwatch captain. She also told us we’d just missed a visit by Community Police Team Officer Kevin McDaniel, who apparently is the only one making West Seattle Night Out visits tonight because of a big case elsewhere in the city that is keeping everyone busier than usual. We’re now en route to Arbor Heights – with a photo to add from Fauntleroy:
Thanks to Fauntleroy Community Associationpresident Bruce Butterfield for sharing the pic! They’re gathering on SW Henderson, between 45th SW and Fauntleroy Way. 7:51 PM: The Arbor Heights party we just visited is the first one since 1996 in a neighborhood near Hillcrest Presbyterian Church. They had a great barbecue going:
Now we’re in Highland Park, 8600 block of 12th SW – thanks to Christie for the invite here. (We have crews in the north and east too and will incorporate their photos in a second report later.) Photo (added afterward):
8:15 PM: We’re moved to North Delridge. We’re checking out the 25th/Findlay party (photo added):
And just before arrival, got this 26th/Juneau shot from Betsy Hoffmeister:
That’s Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow on the right.
8:26 PM: From the aforementioned 25th/Findlay party (thanks to Sabrina for permission to stop by) – the impromptu sound system they’re using for tunes – iPod, speaker and mixer:
Speaking of music, our next stop is a South Admiral party that’s one of several tonight reported to have bands. But first, the sun’s already set – Chas Redmond sent this photo from outside The Hall at Fauntleroy (not a Night Out party there, instead, the Citizens Advisory Group meeting regarding the Murray Basin Combined Sewer Overflow control project – yes, it’s not ALL about Night Out tonight):
8:49 PM: From the 3700 block of 42nd SW – where the band 4 Outta 5 just finished playing for a big crowd before we arrived after sunset:
(better photo substituted for earlier cameraphone pic)
We’re now checking out two parties in the Fairmount Springs/north-of-Morgan-Junction area – one to which we were invited, another we spotted while parking, which seems to have a police officer visiting.
8:57 PM: We’ve seen a LOT of kids tonight – including babies as little as 2 weeks old. The one we got in this photo (south of Graham, west of Fauntleroy) wasn’t quite that young – but mugged for the camera quite nicely – with Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith alongside:
(added) Across Graham from there, this is the alley party @zeitgeist33 tweeted about. The sign was a nice touch:
The “official” Night Out window of time is running out – though we know a couple parties were planning outdoor movies around 9:30 – meantime, we’ll definitely have another Night Out report later, with some non-cameraphone imagery, not just from our tour, but also from photojournalists Christopher Boffoli (who toured The Junction and points west) and Cliff DesPeaux (who made a couple stops in northeast WS), and from a few e-mailed/tweeted scenes we haven’t published yet. Thanks to everyone who shared word of their parties!
Reunion time, if you are a 1990 graduate of West Seattle High School! Noelle Knapp-Lucero wants to get the word out:
The WSHS Class of 90 is holding our 20-year reunion on the weekend of August 20.
We will meet at Rocksport (4209 SW Alaska) on Friday, August 20th, at 7:00 pm. The DJ starts at 9:00. Rocksport would like a headcount, so please let us know if you will be attending (see below for contact info). On Sunday, August 22, we will have a picnic at Lincoln Park. We have reserved tables 23-33 from 11:00-2:00 (see attached map for exact location within the park). There are two grills there and we can bring in our own if we like. To simplify matters, everyone should bring with them whatever they’d like to have for lunch.
That’s the word late today from SDOT – the concrete pour for the connection between the existing Spokane Street Viaduct and the new eastbound offramp at 4th Avenue is done, but it has to cure for two weeks before they can put on the finishing touches, then open the ramp and reopen the lane:
Today the contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) completed the final concrete pour to close the gap between the new eastbound Fourth Ave S off-ramp and the Spokane St Viaduct. The concrete will take approximately two weeks to cure; then crews will place an epoxy coat on the roadway and stripe it.
Please note, during concrete curing the area must be left clear to properly solidify, so crews will not be out on site.
If all goes well, that means the total closure will be closer to four weeks than the “up to six” first predicted.
Fruit and juice samples are part of what awaits you at the second Delridge Fresh Food Spot ‘Night Market’, in the north lot of Super 24 at Delridge/Findlay (map) till 8 pm tonight – the samples are free, but fresh produce is on sale too. The first Night Market, as part of transforming Delridge into a fresh-food oasis instead of its current “food desert” status, was held on a Saturday, but this one’s on a special night to link up with everybody out and about for Night Out. Just look for the signs:
(WSB video of Blue Angels’ flyby before landing at the Museum of Flight @ 3:15 pm today) ORIGINAL 3 PM REPORT: We are on the second-story balcony at the Museum of Flight, overlooking the Boeing Field runway from which the Blue Angels take off and land during their annual Seafair visit. Semi-official word here at MOF – subject to change, obviously! – is that the latest estimated time of arrival is 3:23 pm. Updates if/when we get them. And visuals once they’re here! P.S. A 787 is about to taxi here, too, bonus for aviation fans. P.P.S. KIRO TV promises a live feed here.
3:24 PM UPDATE: They arrived a few minutes earlier than predicted. We’re uploading the MOF flyby video now. They’ve just finished taxiing into their Seattle HQ “parking” spots on the south side of the MOF.
ADDED 3:44 PM: The flyby clip’s been up for about 15 minutes, and we’re adding one more – the jets taxiing, as seen from the MOF balcony (thanks to MOF for the surprise invite – we’ve never been up there before.)
Just announced today by PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) – a remodeling project is set to start this month, and will continue through fall, with expected completion around the holiday season, according to PCC’s Tom Monahan. Highlights from the official announcement:
The deli will offer pizza made fresh on-site, a gelato bar, kombucha on draft, self-serve hot foods and a larger soup bar. The deli will continue to feature a variety of salads and entrees, but displayed in new cases and prepared in a remodeled kitchen.
The produce department will be relocated to the east side of the building, bathing the fruit and vegetable displays in natural light from large new windows along California Avenue. The grocery aisles will benefit from a more open layout and design and the meat department will receive a new prep area and feature new display cases.
The classroom will be moved to the southeast corner of the store. The state-of-the-art kitchen classroom will be surrounded in glass, so customers can see the acclaimed PCC Cooks instructors in action. PCC Cooks is an award-winning cooking school offering more than 1,000 classes annually, with plans of offering over 200 classes at the West Seattle store post-remodel.
The outside of the store will benefit from the remodel as well. New seating will be provided for customers and there will be cosmetic upgrades to the exterior.
SEAFAIR FLEET, EARLY SIGHTING: G. Jones shares that photo, taken before the morning “marine layer” started burning off, reporting that it shows”the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser, USS Port Royal (CG 73) entering Elliott Bay to participate as part of the Seafair fleet … West Point lighthouse in the background.” The official Seafair Fleet”parade of ships,” including the Port Royal, is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, with tours Thursday-Sunday (here’s the info on the Seafair website).
BLUE ANGELS UPDATE: Per several sources, they’re currently expected to arrive at Boeing Field between 3 and 3:30 this afternoon. Note that this may change. We’ll add updates to this item if/when we get them – barring major West Seattle breaking news, we’ll be on scene (and tweeting at @westseattleblog).
Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Ncompass Cottage Company, West Seattle’s only contractor specializing in backyard cottage design and construction. As reported here last fall, the city now issues backyard-cottage permits, which allow homeowners to build small dwellings on their property. Ncompass Cottage CompanyownersDrew Foster (photo, left) and Stefan Hansmire say the current demand for cottages includes people looking to house kids returning from college as well as people creating home-office space or making a place for older parents who want to be near family. Both say that building a cottage allows for a fun, livable dwelling that makes efficient use of the space available. Ncompass has built three cottages; two are in West Seattle — one by the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, the other in the Schmitz Park neighborhood. Overall, they have more than a decade of experience in the remodeling and construction trade, which also gives them experience with the permitting process needed to build a cottage. Drew and Stefan also have partnered with designers who have cottage floorplans on file and with finance people that they recommend to prospective clients. They say that they have streamlined the process to make it easier to get your cottage built. Ncompass Cottage Company belongs to the Better Business Bureau andBuilt Green Builders Association; Stefan and Drew both live in West Seattle and have kids in neighborhood schools. You’ll find Ncompass Cottage Company online at ncompasscottages.com, with contact information here.
We thank Ncompass Cottage Company for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
(Alki Beach 5K photo from September 2009)
Less than four weeks till the Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run (WSB sponsor) – coming up August 29th, benefiting Northwest Hope and Healing, a West Seattleite-run organization that helps newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients all over the region. If you’re not signed up yet, you can get a $5 discount on your registration fee during a special Alki Beach 5K Registration Party at Coastal (2532 Alki SW) this Friday, 4-7 pm. “Treats, drinks, giveaways” also are promised in the announcement on Coastal’s website – plus a 20 percent discount on one item, if you sign up while there. (If you just can’t make it to the party, you can register online by going here.)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: It’s “Night Out” in neighborhoods coast to coast, including dozens in West Seattle that have signed off to block off their streets for parties. Even if you’re not having one – do take note, you may drive your usual route home from work, and suddenly find a barricade requiring a detour; official hours are 6-9 pm. Some neighborhoods have bands; some are ending the night with outdoor movies! Thanks to everyone who e-mailed (etc.) to let us know we’re welcome to drop by for a photo; we’ll be out and about, reporting “live” (here and via Twitter), starting right at 6. … Tonight, hundreds of friends and family are expected at the Sealth/SW Athletic Complex baseball field (north of Westwood Village) for a candlelight vigil remembering West Seattle sailor Jarod Newlove, found dead in Afghanistan last week. It starts at 8 pm. (Organizers asked that our original announcement include their request for the media to stay away; WSB is honoring that request.) … By the Super 24 on Delridge, it’s the second “Night Market” to celebrate community and sell fresh food, 4-8 pm (here’s our coverage of the last one) … And on Alki, as noted here last night, free live music by Michael Powers, 6 pm, by the Bathhouse, bring chairs/blankets/nonperishable food-bank donations. … P.S. You may also see the Blue Angelsin the sky over (probably just eastern) West Seattle at some point today – they’re due to arrive at Boeing Field/Museum of Flight “mid-afternoon,” and once there’s OFFICIAL word of a specific arrival window, we’ll publish a separate update. … More on the Events calendar!
(From December 2009 – “current” and “future” views of Avalon Place site)
Last December, the project finished Design Review – now, construction’s about to start. Transitional Resources has officially announced August 14th as the date for its groundbreaking ceremony at the site of Avalon Place (2988 SW Avalon Way). Read on for the TR news release:Read More
If you take a look at the photos on this webpage – especially the one with the throng of dancers – you’ll get an idea of how popular the Trianon Ballroom in downtown Seattle must have been in its heyday. West Seattle writer/activist Georgie Bright Kunkel is casting a wide net to find others who danced at the Trianon, so they can join her at a reunion on this side of the bay. It’s eight weeks away, but she is hoping to get the word out in a big way. So she is sharing the following announcement and photo with WSB’ers too:
Georgie Bright Kunkel invites everyone who ever danced at the old Trianon Ballroom, formerly at 3rd and Wall in downtown Seattle, to a reunion to be held at Bridge Park Retirement Center – 3204 SW Morgan Street in West Seattle – on Sunday, September, 26th at 3 o’clock. The reason for this early invitation is to obtain RSVPs from as many people throughout Seattle as possible.
Georgie will MC with a little comedy and introduce the guests who will share their experience at the Trianon. Bill Teasley will play guitar so guests can sing along to the tunes popular during WWII. There will be a display of antique postcards of the Trianon era, Shirley Temple dolls popular at the time, and a collection of Saturday Evening Post covers of the WWII era. If you danced at the Trianon Ballroom or know someone who did, please call Helen Teasley at 246-1501 or Georgie at 935-8663 to RSVP.
Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, 
From the 
Georgie Bright Kunkel invites everyone who ever danced at the old Trianon Ballroom, formerly at 3rd and Wall in downtown Seattle, to a reunion to be held at Bridge Park Retirement Center – 3204 SW Morgan Street in West Seattle – on Sunday, September, 26th at 3 o’clock. The reason for this early invitation is to obtain RSVPs from as many people throughout Seattle as possible.
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