West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Just out of the WSB inbox from Jennifer, regarding a hit-run reported in The Junction:
We are looking for a burgundy VW van with black ski equipment on the roof – it just rear-ended my boss’s Toyota Camry at the corner of California and Erskine, just around 3:15pm today.
If anyone knows the license plate or saw what happened, we’d appreciate it if you could contact the Seattle PD…as you can imagine, my boss was a little shaken up and didn’t see the license plate number.
Much appreciated for any help!!
AVALON: Less than 2 months after we first reported on Avalon, the new restaurant going into the ex-Café Revo space in the Luna Park business district, it’s set its opening date: According to Avalon’s Mary Palmer, they will open next Monday, January 3rd, “for happy hour and dinner service only (no dinner on Sundays). Happy hour is from 3-6 pm weekdays, dinner service will start at 5 pm. A couple weeks after we open we will have brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.” There’s more info about Avalon at avalonws.com.
WEST SEATTLE AUTOWORKS SIGN: Thanks to Todd Ainsworth at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) for sharing the photo of their brand-new sign:
He and co-proprietor Chris Christensen are proud to have the big bright sign officially up after a bit more than two months in business. They’re at 7501 35th SW (map), and online at wsautoworks.com.
GARLIC JIM’S PIZZA: As promised, the Junction location reopened today after a weeklong shutdown:
We stopped in to photograph new owners Jeff and Page Taylor, shown with Kelsey and Devon, who came from their Edmonds location to help out for starters. We reported on the ownership change in this story last week.
1:17 PM REPORT: Thanks to Nicole for the tip on this: According to a kirotv.com report, a West Seattle woman is among four snowshoers who are being sought by searchers at Snoqualmie Pass right now. The report says 53-year-old Venetia Runnion of High Point is one of the four, who went snowshoeing yesterday afternoon and called for help four and a half hours later. Reports say all four are in phone contact with rescuers but the visibility’s poor so they’re having trouble narrowing down their location but hope to reach them soon. One of the other three snowshoers is identified by KIRO and by the Seattle Times (WSB partner) as 50-year-old Marynell Matt of Vashon Island, but no names or hometowns are reported for the other two.
1:37 PM REPORT: Good news – all four found safe, per multiple sources including seattletimes.com.
ADDED EARLY TUESDAY: Jennifer had mentioned via Facebook that the group actually included 2 West Seattle women; according to the Times, the other one is 51-year-old Sandie Davis, featured in their update.
(Photo by Christopher Nelson)
West Seattle/Los Angeles filmmaker Jamie Burton Chamberlin is shooting a new rock ‘n’ roll film – explained here. He shared the photo from a shoot last week at Morgan Junction’s own Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), adding, ” We will be shooting around West Seattle and downtown over the next several weeks.” In fact, you could find yourself part of it, if this announcement he included sounds like you:
CASTING CALL:
LOADED feature film shooting Wednesday 29th in Seattle. Looking for interesting characters in unique attire. If interested, e-mail:
theloadedproject@gmail.com
Though the film centers on rocker Duff McKagan‘s current group Loaded, it’s not a documentary – Chamberlin shared his synopsis, and you can read it after the jump:Read More
(View of Link’s south side along SW Alaska, photographed today)
New information today about the child-care center coming to Link, the almost-complete mixed-use building in The Triangle: Bright Horizons has set the date for a parent-information session. Though it won’t be open till spring 2011 – as noted on its official webpage – it’s welcoming interested parents to stop by Cupcake Royale in The Junction (California/Alaska) on January 20th, open-house style from 4-7 pm, to meet regional manager Mahira Aleem and ask questions. Aleem tells WSB the center in Link (4530 38th SW) will “serve 150 children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old (and) offer full-time infant, toddler and preschool care year round.” Link has been under construction for 13 months; in addition to about 200 apartments, it also will be home to a 2nd location for Chaco Canyon Organic Café, as reported here last month, which expects to open in April.
As first reported here last Tuesday, the official city signage is up at the future West Seattle Trader Joe’s site (map), announcing the formal application for city permits. 
They’re not creating new buildings on the site, as noted in this followup after the original announcement in June, so no public hearing is planned at this point, but a public-comment period is now open. Today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin includes the first two official notices published online, both with comment deadlines set for January 9th: One for 4545 Fauntleroy, including building modifications and part of the parking, and one for 4527 Fauntleroy for the rest of the parking. Both of those links go to city pages that include instructions on how you can comment on the project, which requires an environmental review taking into account an “environmentally critical area” on the site (a steep slope on the north side of the site; a “preliminary assessment” of the site is viewable online here).
(Sunday photo by Chas Redmond)
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is admittedly usually fairly quiet – though the “s” word remains in the forecast for later this week – but there are a few things to share: First, for transit users, remember that Metro continues “reduced weekday service” between the holidays … From the WSB Forums, there’s a La Leche League meeting this morning, 10:30 am at Seaview Methodist Church (4620 SW Graham) … Tonight, families are welcome at Pajama Story Time at High Point Library (35th/Raymond), 7 pm … C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) doesn’t usually have live music on Mondays, but tonight, regular performer Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice is scheduled to play, 6-8 pm … Monday night means that Scrabble‘s the word, raising money this time for Books for Prisoners, tonight at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 7 pm registration, 7:15 pm game (details here). … And if you feel like dancing, you’ve got the floor at Kenyon Hall during Balorico‘s Family Holiday Dance Party, 4:30-5:45 pm (details here).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
He’ll be the first to tell you he’s still not a star.
Might never become one.
But West Seattle-born-and-raised, New York-dwelling comedian Adam Cozens met a goal this year – to earn enough money from comedy to pay at least one month’s rent.
Dare he set a goal of two months, for next year? Too soon to tell. But his longterm goal remains that of turning comedy into a career, rather than a “glorified hobby,” and he is working as intensively at it this year as he did when last we spoke.
Right now, Adam is home for the holidays, presenting and starring in a Comedy Underground show this Tuesday – as he did at this time last year – so it seemed like a good time to sit down and find out what’s happened over the past year. (Here’s our story about Adam from this time last year, which goes into detail about his background, summarized on his own website here.)
Obvious first question for an interview like this: What’s the biggest thing that’s happened in the past year?
Back in early November, Amy reported two nights of egg-throwing hitting her condo building in The Junction near 44th/Oregon (map). Tonight, she says it’s happened again – twice in the past three days – and she’s frustrated and angry enough to offer a reward for catching the culprits, if that would help:
The first day was Friday, Christmas Eve, and the other time was tonight about 30 minutes ago (8:10 pm, 12/26). The police are on their way to interview us again.
Here’s what happened:
We were sitting in our living room and saw the eggs hitting our sliding glass door on the balcony.
My husband, Tim, then ran outside to see if he could see anything. Outside Tim talked to a neighbor, who was taking out his trash, and asked him if he had seen any activity outside (in the dark) of our building. Our neighbor said he saw two boys/young men run past him through the alley between the townhomes next to our building. Tim then hurried into the alley to look for signs of the boys. When he arrived in the alley, Tim saw a car (dark blue) driving south down the alley toward SW Oregon Street (near the corner of 44th and Oregon). When Tim approached the car, it sped off down the alley, turned west onto Oregon, and sped away.
I don’t know if you post these kinds of activities on the blog, but it has been four or five times now that we’ve been egged and I’m sure you can imagine how frustrating this is to the homeowners of this building, many of whom are elderly, having to clean up eggs night after night on our balconies.
In the Junction business district, several business owners had to clean up after the same type of vandalism a week ago, according to Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor)’s Twitter feed.
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Kaly Cook says someone poisoned trees on her Harbor Avenue property five years ago, at which time she called the state for advice, but was unsure what else to do. Now, saying that more trees have been poisoned, Cook has taken her complaint to the public in a very visible way.
You might have seen the banner she hung this fall on the slope over her home near Seacrest, reading “Trees Poisoned For View”; WSB has received a few notes asking “what’s the story?”
Today’s a little too blustery to haul your tree out to the curb, but in case you’re thinking ahead to the post-Christmas cleanup, here are your options for tree recycling, from the West Seattle Holidays page – plus an opportunity to recycle old holiday lights, too:
FREE TREE RECYCLING VIA THE CITY: For Seattle Public Utilities solid-waste customers, they’ll pick up ornament-free/flocking-free trees curbside on your regular collection day provided you follow the rules, or you can take yours to the transfer station in South Park (slightly different rules), both options available through January 9th – full details/rules here. (If you live in a multifamily building, your recycling rules may vary, so check with management if applicable.)
TREE-RECYCLING FUNDRAISER: If you want to drop off your tree without leaving West Seattle, but with the knowledge it’s helping a local youth organization, here’s an alternative. On January 8th from 9 am-2 pm, the West Seattle Rainbow Girls will be collecting trees in the lot outside the Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction, 40th/Edmunds, $5 suggested donation.
RECYCLING YOUR OLD HOLIDAY LIGHTS: West Seattle-based Fleming’s Holiday Lighting is collecting used (or unused/unwanted) holiday lights through mid-January to raise money for the Moyer Foundation. This is a regional effort with three local dropoff spots are Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village, The Artistic Framers, and McLendon Hardware in White Center.
(Alki rainbow, from Russ via Twitter, added 2:47 pm)
The sudden wind and rain are the subject of a “short-term forecast” alert from the National Weather Service, which says we might see gusts up to 40 mph during the next few hours before this finishes moving through. (And the “possible midweek snow” alert we mentioned last night is still in effect.)
2:47 PM NOTE: Still blustery! And looking ahead to that possible snow, the newest forecast is targeting Wednesday late afternoon and beyond, with a snow level around 300 feet.
Last night, we mentioned today’s “Boxing Day” sale at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market (with Market Bucks available at the info booth while they last), which continues till 2. Here’s what else we’ve found regarding after-Christmas sales around West Seattle and vicinity. First, from WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping Guide sponsors:
*Funky Jane’s Consignment: 25% off everything in the store, through January 2
*Wyatt’s Jewelers: $25 off in-store purchase with WSB Holiday Shopping Guide coupon, good through this Friday (12/31)
*TouchTech Systems: Also through Friday, $50 off MSRP for MacBooks
*Budget Cuts: 12 prepaid haircuts for $99 – deal available through Friday
(Also from the guide, salons Illusions Hair Design and Envy on Alki have New Year’s Eve hours in case you need last-minute pre-party hair help.)
Other sales we’ve found:
*West Seattle Fabric Company (per Facebook): Noon-4 pm Sunday, 30% off all holiday flannels, cottons and Minky.
*CAPERS (per website): 11 am-5 pm Sunday, ornaments half-price
*West Seattle Cellars (per promotional e-mail): Starts noon today, runs through Friday. 15% off everything (20% for club members).
*Many Moons Trading Company (per Facebook group mail): Noon-5 pm Sunday, 50% off
*3.14 Bakery in White Center (via Twitter): All frosted Christmas Cookies 50% off today and Monday.
(added 3:11 pm) West Seattle Nursery (via Twitter): All Christmas merchandise 50% off “while supplies last.”
Having an after-Christmas sale, or know of one, not already mentioned here? Add a comment or e-mail us – thanks!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In these final moments of a holiday whose backstory stars a family seeking shelter, a West Seattle-based organization continues to work toward its dream of once again helping families find shelter.
Family Promise of Seattle has not yet reached its $90,000 goal – but that’s all they need to resume helping homeless families stay together, safe, and warm.
It’s been four months since Family Promise of Seattle put its sheltering operation on hold, as first reported here. The organization’s leaders decided they would reopen as soon as they raised $90,000 to fund adequate staff and resources for the intensive job of offering newly homeless families not just shelter, but also assistance in finding employment.
We sat in on Family Promise’s most recent fundraising committee and board meetings, back to back on a rainy night earlier this month. They had progress to celebrate, but a ways to go to the goal – and in less than a month, the board says it will decide whether to soldier on, or call it quits.
(WSB photo of promotional sign at West Seattle Farmers’ Market last Sunday)
There’s a whole lot of after-Christmas shopping to be done right here on the peninsula. (We’re compiling a list of sales/specials to publish tomorrow morning, so if you have or know of one, share the news!) One place you might be surprised to find specials, West Seattle Farmers’ Market. It’s open 10 am-2 pm tomorrow as always, and the market will observe Boxing Day in a unique way. Explains Chris Curtis: “Farmers have been encouraged to provide good deals in boxes all day long to market shoppers.” One more bonus: Stop by the information booth to ask about free Market Bucks to “spend on the spot … while supplies last,” according to the Seattle Farmers Markets page on Facebook. (If you’re new or visiting, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market is at 44th/Alaska.)
First saw a mention at KING5.com, then noted it’s also part of the newest “forecast discussion” from the National Weather Service: There’s a chance of lowland snow around here at midweek, forecasters say. Enough of a chance that the NWS has just issued a “special weather statement” about it – read it here. Excerpt (caps theirs):
THERE IS A CHANCE OF LOWLAND SNOW BEGINNING ABOUT WEDNESDAY AND LASTING INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. A DEEP UPPER TROUGH WILL SETTLE OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON. PRECIPITATION WILL BE SHOWERY AND WILL DIMINISH BY THURSDAY. HOWEVER IT IS LIKELY THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL BE IN THE FORM OF SNOW. WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 30S AND LOWS IN THE 20S…SOME OF THE SNOW WILL STICK.
THIS SNOWFALL IS STILL FOUR DAYS AWAY AND THE FORECAST COULD CHANGE.
(Seems Cliff Mass mentioned this last night, too.)
While things are quiet on this Christmas Day, another set of West Seattle holiday scenes we’ve been saving up – photos from a gingerbread-house-making event at West Seattle Christian Church earlier this month.
We shot most of our photos at kid’s-eye level, but builders of all ages participated. The result here was described as “gingerbread house after an earthquake”:
The next one might qualify for the label “gingerbread doghouse”:
Some builders eschewed the “house” shape altogether:
But there’s also beauty in tradition:
Thanks to WSCC and EVERYONE around West Seattle who has sponsored fun holiday events, including many that doubled as charity fundraisers/donation drives, for the community this season (many of which we were honored to feature on our West Seattle Holidays page, which is now down to today and New Year’s Eve/Day – please let us know if you are having a public New Year’s event that’s not on the page yet).
(Taken in The Junction by smohundro, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Merry Christmas!
We’ve updated the “who’s open for groceries/coffee/dining & drinks” list to winnow it down to just the businesses open today – including 9 coffee shops and more than a dozen places to get food. See the list here.
Metro’s on a Sunday schedule today; details here.
Looking for a Christmas Day church service in West Seattle? Check here.
Thinking about driving around to look at lights tonight? The schedule for the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular (the music-synched lights at 3908 SW Charlestown) is here.
And if you’re mulling a movie – Admiral Theater opens at 4 this afternoon (movie listings/schedule here).
(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
As promised, a few more of the West Seattle business windows painted with holiday scenes – seemed to us like there were more than usual this year, so we thought it would be fun to showcase some on Christmas Eve/Day; we showed the Talarico’s tribute to Bob Ross earlier. In this roundup, the top and below photo are from the display that’s generated the most buzz in The Junction – Puerto Vallarta‘s fun-loving, thong-sporting holiday entourage:
Those are by Sign Savant, Japhy Witte with Z. Rockstad; SS also painted the tamer scenes at West Seattle Coins and Courtesy Tire:
At Northwest Art and Frame, a rare non-Sign Savant window creation. This one’s by TJ Swier of TJ Grafix:
We’re planning to show a few more windows tomorrow.
Crime takes no holiday. Well, there’s always hope for tomorrow. But tonight, we have two reports about one case of car vandalism – one from “k,” who drove by and noticed it; then came this direct report on behalf of the victim, from Martha:
My ex-husband, who is recovering from open heart surgery, had his new little Toyota vandalized two days after his return home from the hospital last week. The CD player was taken and glove compartment rummaged through. Last night the car was spray painted with black paint “this car is gay” along the entire passenger side. Two stripes of black and white left on the driver’s side rear panel. I just discovered this this afternoon when I was visiting. I have called the police and they are sending out an officer. This is particularly upsetting to our family at this time of year and with him in such frail health. Thanks to whoever did it for an extra kick in the teeth for Christmas!
This was one of two vandalized cars noticed by “k” in the south of Admiral area; she says it was near 45th/Spokane, while the other, near 48th/Hinds, also had black spray paint on it.
First word of this came in the WSB Forums on Wednesday; Angel posted to say her brother and the rest of the West Seattle Garlic Jim’s staff had lost their jobs when the Junction pizzeria suddenly closed. Her post blamed new owners for “laying off the entire staff.” Much discussion ensued, so we sought out the new owners to find out their side of the story.
They are Jeff and Page Taylor, who since April have owned a Garlic Jim’s in Edmonds, and since Wednesday, own the one in West Seattle. We talked by phone this afternoon with Jeff Taylor, who told us they’re working at the Edmonds pizzeria tonight to give the staff a Christmas Eve break. Ahead – his explanation of what happened, and their plans for the West Seattle store, which first opened in 2007, at least a few prior owners ago:Read More
In case you saw the big callout – either via the 911 log or via seeing (or hearing) the trucks race by – Christopher Boffoli checked out last hour’s fire response on 32nd SW in High Point. It closed pretty quickly and appeared to have been triggered by incense that got knocked over, according to what firefighters told Christopher. No notable damage, no injuries.
This e-card from Seal Sitters was sent with holiday wishes for all WSB’ers as well as those of us here at HQ, so of course we have to share! You can keep up with Seal Sitters year-round here. (Reminder, if you’re looking for Christmas Eve dinner/drinks/groceries, check here; for church services, check here.)
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