The nice weather encouraged more to attend and the event was very successful. Twenty people joined up last Saturday for the Fairmount Ravine’s 19th annual cleanup and reforestation. It is quite apparent that pedestrian users of the ravine regularly help keep the ravine clean (thank you) as there was little trash alongside the road from top to bottom by Salty’s. As usual, most of the trash is located under and alongside the bridge itself, as well as considerable graffiti, which means discarded spray-paint cans.
We found two homeless young men living under the west side of the bridge and Seattle Police stopped by to ensure we did not have another pit bull incident like last year. One young man departed but the other chipped in and helped clean up the hillside. We still find one or two “pop top” cans amongst the undergrowth but the most unusual item was a perfectly good king size mattress set……(see photo). Several people removed ivy growing on trees as it eventually kills the mature trees within the ravine and they topple over.
This year, we also chose to clean the top of the ravine, namely sidewalk along the north side of the bridge. Since no one could even remember the last time it was cleaned by the city, years of dirt, decayed leaves and even three foot tall weeds were growing on the sidewalk. A special thanks to Kevin and Marie for tackling this major undertaking. It looks terrific. We also want to thank Tully’s Coffee for again supplying coffee and supporting this neighborhood effort.
(Singing Marcello the painter: Jason Fowler; entering, as Rodolfo the poet: Gino Lucchetti)
On the lower level of The Kenney, the strains of “La Bohéme” have been resounding for months – as Lyric Opera Northwest prepares to perform Puccini‘s “crowd-pleaser” opera at The Moore downtown next Sunday afternoon. With the company’s founders based in West Seattle, Kim Cooney explains, The Kenney became its “secret rehearsal site” … she adds, “Sometimes at night you can hear a soprano soloist singing in the dark on the way to her car.” The rehearsing’s almost about to make way for showtime. Lyric Opera NW co-founder Pamela Casella is directing the production; co-founder Craig Heath Nim sings the role of Colline.
One of the reasons they chose “La Bohéme” for their next production: The cast includes more than a few children (as you’ll see in the background in our video clip); they have a children’s workshop on Queen Anne and this enables some of their proteges to return to the stage (some of them were in an earlier LONW production of “Oliver“). We dropped in on their rehearsal Friday night; they practiced at The Kenney again tonight, and now move to The Moore for dress rehearsals and a preview, before the Sunday 4 pm show (March 27 – ticket info here, including an online-purchase option).
Every other Sunday, you’ll find Sustainable West Seattle at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market – always with a different demonstration, something sustainable you can work into your life if you’re not doing it already. Today, it was worm composting – worms and all, as well as an example of six-months-in-the-making compost. (Here’s composting how-to’s from Seattle Tilth.) Tomorrow night, SWS hopes to see you at the Admiral Theater for an evening focusing on sustainable fishing – including a talk with Mashikoproprietor Hajime Sato, and a screening of the film “The End of the Line“:
For more details about the evening ($5 suggested donation), here’s an update on the Sustainable WS website. At the booth today, we also talked with SWS’s Patrick Dunn, Christina Hahs and Chas Redmond about the upcoming West Seattle Tool Library move. Before they get to the April 9th grand reopening in the new location at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, April 3rd will be the last day at the old location, followed by the tool “migration.”
(Photos and video by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
As this weekend began, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge was the place to be for a high-energy free talent showcase – the latest for the youth of Youngstown All-Access classes, available free to local teens (and a few for tweens). When the session ends, there’s a special showcase, and the latest one was on Friday night, including breakdancing faceoffs – one for high schools, one for middle schools. After the jump, video and photo highlights:Read More
ORIGINAL 3:04 PM REPORT: In the Admiral storefront at 2604 California SW, Bird on a Wire Espresso is suddenly closed – just 4 months after the popular Westwood shop expanded there, first to serve coffee in tandem with Heavenly Pastry (which was baking in the back of the same space), then going it alone when Heavenly completely pulled out in January. We received two messages about the closure this afternoon, and here’s what we can tell you: We went to Bird on a Wire’s original (and still open) SW Henderson location, where owner Heidi Herr told us she wasn’t ready to comment yet. Then we went to the Admiral storefront, where we found only the empty windows seen in the photo above. A reader who e-mailed us about this said there had been a note on the door this morning saying the closure was as of 5 pm yesterday and mentioning something about a lease; however, when we checked about an hour ago, there was no note in sight. So far we do NOT know if this is a permanent or temporary closure; if we get additional information, we’ll add it here. (Again, Bird on a Wire remains OPEN at its Westwood location at 3509 SW Henderson.)
ADDED 4:18 PM: Just e-mailed by Bird on a Wire’s owner:
Essentially, due to the original intent for the Bird/Heavenly venture obviously changing (their decision to shut down completely), and then given the impact of the Safeway development, I was concerned and did not want to risk the health and vitality of the Original Bird (at SW Henderson St). I saw no improvements on the horizon, so I made the decision to fly back South.
We will miss the new friends we made in the Admiral ‘hood and hope to see our new “peeps” at our other shop when life or business takes them in that Southernly direction.
And YES the Bird is alive and well at 3509 SW Henderson St! We will even be extending our hours soon-stay tuned!
The Garage Sale will be held Saturday April 2nd and Sunday, April 3rd, 2011, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The address for dropping off donations and of the garage sale itself is: 3014 45th Ave SW.
People must write their suggested asking price on the item and we will have the discretion to lower the price if need be to sell the item. There will be several homes on this block hosting this event, and Admiral Starbucks will provide coffee carafes and we will have Rachel’s home-baked cookies! All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross for the people affected by the earthquake/tsunami and checks will be made out to them. …
More from Shelley after the jump, including plans to pick up donations if you can’t bring them over, plus a suggestion for kids:Read More
REMEMBER, THE VIADUCT’S CLOSED AGAIN: Alaskan Way Viaduct shutdown scheduled till 6 pm; the closure often ends earlier on Sunday, so watch here (and our new Facebook page – “liked” it yet? – plus Twitter) for updates if it does reopen sooner.
FLOWERS AND FOOD AT THE MARKET: West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska),
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RUMMAGE SALE: Garage Rock rummage sale at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 11:30 am-6 pm.
BOWLING BENEFIT FOR AMANDA KNOX DEFENSE FUND: 2-4:30 pm at West Seattle Bowl, a community fundraiser for the costs her family continues to incur. (Official flyer here). Questions? Al or Julie at tootdelafruit@gmail.com or almco@aol.com
ZUMBA FOR WEST SEATTLE YMCA PARTNERS WITH YOUTH: Spend up to two hours Zumba’ing 5-7 pm tonight (or any portion thereof) to raise money for the Y initiative that supports so many programs in the community – details in our preview.
LIVE MUSIC TODAY/TONIGHT:Jamtime at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm … Locöl hosts the Jacob Lakatua Quartet, 8 -11 pm (here’s the Facebook invite) … Note that Skylark Café and Club is NOT presenting live music tonight – instead it’s closing after brunch for floor repair (open till 3 pm).
| 3 COMMENTS