West Seattle, Washington
01 Friday
Three items in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon, starting with a stolen car to watch for. From Basil:
My 1984 Subaru 4WD wagon, (license plate) # 860SEP, light blue, with freshly painted white spoked rims and front bumper guard, was stolen from in front of my house this a.m. I live in the 5000 block of SW Olga St. If anyone sees it in the area please call the police (911).
After the jump – a WSB Forums member’s report of car prowling reported to police early today (and what happened when police responded), plus arraignment for two of the suspects in last month’s medical-marijuana-dispensary heist:Read More
(“After” rendering from the “before and after” drawings by Fuller Sears Architects)
Quick note from this afternoon’s City Council meeting: Councilmembers gave unanimous final approval to the changes in the Admiral Safeway project (79 apartments instead of 35 plus flex-work spaces), which the city considered a “minor” amendment to the plan. As first reported here in January when the changes originally came to light, Safeway said the developer for that side of the site (east of the new store) couldn’t get financing for the flex-work units after all. If you want to watch Councilmember Sally Clark summarizing the change, followed by Councilmember Tom Rasmussen pointing out that the Admiral Neighborhood Association supports the change but protests not being included earlier in the revision plan, and finally the vote, it’s all in the video of this afternoon’s council meeting. The Admiral Safeway item starts 4 minutes into the session, and lasts about 6 minutes. Safeway has said the project remains on track for completion this summer.
After 2 pm on a gray, drippy day, yet the new Beachside Café was still close to half full when we stopped in to check on how Day One was going.
Co-owner Sharon Bang (above photo, left) told us, “It’s been steady all day.” Some items even sold out – so they’re adjusting strategy for tomorrow. For a closer look at the menu, click the next photo to open a larger version:
As you likely know, the Beachside is in the 61st/Alki space that previously held the Alki Bakery, suddenly shuttered last November. The old awning is still up, but not for long:
Co-owner John Bang says the rainy weather delayed installation of the new awning, but they’re hoping for tomorrow. Meantime, if you want to check out the Beachside Café on Day 1, you have till 7 pm.
Will it be another record year? As of right now, registration is open for the 7th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (WSB’s fourth year of coordinating and presenting the event). The big day is 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 14, 2011. Here’s the link to the registration form (registration is online-only again this year). Something new on the form: To further reduce paper use, if you are OK with getting your “packet” via e-mail instead of postal mail (general info including the sign template and how to donate leftovers through Northwest Center if you choose), please click “yes” on the form.
Backstory if you’re new: This is NOT one big sale, but rather, one day with many sales all over West Seattle, big and small (last year, a record – more than 200!). There’s a registration fee to cover coordination/promotion costs – same fees for a fourth consecutive year (different fees for individual, group/business/block/organization sales). If you don’t have somewhere to sell your stuff, but still want to get in on WSCGSD, get in touch with Lora @ Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), at the shop (4410 California SW – try a Peep latte!) or info@hotwirecoffee.com. Again this year, she plans to open the Hotwire courtyard as a group-sale spot (and if anyone else is interested in hosting a group spot, please contact us to coordinate – garagesale@westseattleblog.com). Registration will be open for 3 weeks – but whether you’re selling or not, mark your calendar, set an alert, whatever it takes, for BIG garage-saling on May 14.
P.S. Along with periodic updates here on WSB and on our NEW (“liked” it yet?) Facebook page as well as Twitter, we also have a WSCGSD website – you can browse it to see highlights from the past three years’ sales, if you want to get a feel for what it’s like – and a Facebook page for WSCGSD (go here). And if you’re having a garage sale before or after WSCGSD, remember you can list it for free in the WSB Forums‘ Freebies/Deals/Sales/etc. section.
(Photo courtesy Heartland Café)
In the Admiral District, the Heartland Café is marking its first anniversary, and as owner Jay Wergin observed the demise of the Charlestown Street Café down the street, he decided to try to help fill a bit of the void:
With the latest news on the Charlestown Cafe closing its doors, we have come to realize that there will be a void to fill when it comes to good old fashioned American food. We have had many request to open our doors earlier as a result of the closure. Starting tomorrow, we will be open for breakfast Tue-Sun starting at 6:30 am. We serve breakfast until 4 pm. We are closed Mondays until 3 pm for cleaning and maintenance.
Previously, breakfast at the Heartland started at 8 am. They’re at 4210 SW Admiral Way.
Dozens of special young visitors were at West Seattle Food Bank headquarters this morning – to celebrate something they helped create: Listening to Food Bank executive director Fran Yeatts are Lakeside School sixth-graders who collaborated with West Seattle Elementary fourth-graders to create new mosaics unveiled today – here’s a closer look:
The art celebration is part of a big, busy springtime for the food bank – the annual Instruments of Change benefit is just a month away, and the WS Food Bank has news about that:
The West Seattle Food Bank would like to send a very big thank you to all that have signed on as sponsors for the Instruments of Change fundraiser coming up on Friday, May 6th, 2011 at The Hall at Fauntleroy.
The Food Bank has received its largest single sponsorship to date from Jackson, Morgan & Hunt [WSB sponsor]. The West Seattle accounting firm has generously signed on as a $5,000 “Community Humanitarian” sponsor. Charles Morgan CPA, Managing Partner, stated they upped their sponsorship because we know that a lot more people are having to use the food bank’s services.
Last year families visited the agency 37,396 times, a fifty percent increase in the past several years. “We are very grateful to Jackson, Morgan & Hunt and all the other sponsors (including WSB) that are helping to make this event a success,” said WSFB Executive Director Fran Yeatts.
King County Executive Dow Constantine is the keynote speaker at this 4th annual Instruments of Change – the West Seattle Food Bank’s largest fundraising event of the year. The event also features a cocktail hour, live music and a Dessert Dash.
Tickets are selling fast. Those interested in buying event tickets or being an Instruments of Change sponsor can contact Anna Guitchounts at 206-932-9023 or at anna@westseattlefoodbank.org. Individual tickets are $75 and sponsorship levels begin at $500. Individual tickets can also be purchased through brownpapertickets.com at .
To see the full list of generous sponsors to date and get more information about the event, visit http://www.westseattlefoodbank.org/IOC2011A.asp.
This morning’s photo is courtesy of Lisa Stencel – on a morning when the grayness is back, a different viewpoint on water! Meantime, highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
BEACHSIDE CAFE´OPENING DAY: New owners have reopened the old Alki Bakery space as of 7 am today (here’s what they’re offering).
SPRING QUARTER BEGINS AT SSCC: South Seattle Community College‘s spring quarter starts today.
WEST SEATTLE PRESCHOOL FAIR: 5:30-7:30 tonight, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW), free (more details in yesterday’s preview)
WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE: The league‘s first games are scheduled today.
PAJAMA DRIVE FOR FOSTER KIDS: Sleep Country USA starts collecting them today – their local outlet is in Westwood Village, just south of Eats Market Café.
LIBRARY STORY TIME: The High Point Library has a Family Story Time on Mondays at 7 pm! All families are welcome to enjoy songs, rhymes, games, and books. (More info here)
ADMIRAL SAFEWAY: Seattle City Council will consider Admiral Safeway agreement changes because of the project change, doubling the number of residential units – 2 pm meeting.
The call that went out this past half-hour as a “car fire” turned out to be a bus fire. Passengers on board a Metro bus southbound on Fauntleroy Way got an extra jolt to start their Monday – they had to evacuate their bus while firefighters handled the situation. One passenger told WSB they didn’t know anything was wrong until the driver pulled over at the north end of Lincoln Park and said, “Everybody off the bus!” Nobody was hurt; no major smoke/flames. (We’re checking which bus route – the display boards on the bus were all turned off while we were on scene.) 8:28 AM UPDATE: Linda Thielke with King County DOT says it was a 54, and the bus has been towed back to base to be checked out, while passengers caught the next bus.
(WSB photo from Saturday morning)
From the WSB inbox overnight, a public thank-you to the many who joined in this successful benefit effort:
Thank You West Seattle, for your generosity and compassion; you have done it again! Our West Seattle Community Garage Sale raised three times the amount we expected, for our friends in Japan, affected by the earthquake and tsunami. And thank you Tracy, editor at the WSB, for advertising and photographing this event, and getting it out into the community. Not only do we thank all our generous and enthusiastic neighbors who donated and bought items (like little 6 year-old Naziah Hendrix, who donated her Leap Pad and games), but to all the neighbors who worked three straight days, to make this not only a successful, but fun community event. Local teens ran the bake sale ( and brought in over $700.00 for the goodies they and other neighbors made), while volunteers worked tirelessly in the pouring rain, setting up garage sale items. Emiko and Jeff Keller fed the workers home-made sushi and rice balls, and Lori Braseth donated tents and tarps to keep everyone dry. What a contagious group effort this was! Once again, thank you to all of you, who helped ease the suffering of our friends in Japan, through your kindness and generosity.
Sincerely,
Gary & Shelley Lebert
West Seattle Community Garage Sale for our Friends in Japan, Coordinators
Grand total, by the way, according to Shelley – $4,600 for the sale (including $800 from the bake sale alone!) plus $1,000 matching contribution from a company. Congratulations!
Once again this April – Disaster Preparedness Month in our state – we’re spotlighting preparedness every night on WSB, with a special focus on earthquakes. As noted here last night, one of the in-person training sessions you can check out in West Seattle this month is an earthquake-retrofitting workshop on Saturday, April 16, 11 am-2 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. But realize that readiness is about the little things, too. One of the preparedness experts who responded to our call for resource suggestions shared a link to a quiz about how to make your living room safer – through earthquake-proofing for the everyday items it just might contain, such as a wide-screen video monitor, a bookcase, glass/ceramic art pieces, mirrors on the wall. It’s a simple quiz with graphics and multiple-choice questions; we’ll confess that we only got half the answers right, so we learned a lot. It’s from a California agency, but don’t let that stop you – the quiz starts here. Even if you only take away one or two things you can easily do in your home to earthquake-proof some of its smaller contents, that’s progress. Till tomorrow – we’ll close with another important reminder: Get to know West Seattle Be Prepared – especially your nearest Neighborhood Emergency Communication Hub.
(Earlier coverage: First customers on the last morning, here; midday update, here)
Story and photos by Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
At 2:45 p.m. today, the last meal was cooked and served at Webster’s Charlestown Street Café.
Hesper Guerra, a waitress at the restaurant for two decades, raised a little plastic glass of apple cider, tears sliding down her cheeks, and gave a toast. The staff gathered behind her raised their glasses, and dabbed their own tears.
The last customers of the restaurant left slowly, shaking hands with owner Ron Hanlon, sharing their thoughts on what the restaurant has meant to them.
“The food is great, but the love is better,” said Debbie Coscorrosa, who followed Hanlon from Webster’s restaurant to the Charlestown.
Two notes from the WSB inbox might best be termed “neighborhood alerts” – one a warning of vandals on wheels, the other, a potential scavenger, at the very least – read on:Read More
Even as customers mourn the closure of one longtime West Seattle restaurant, there are updates tonight on three new ones we’ve been telling you about. First, a peek inside El Chupacabra as it prepares to open on Alki (in the former Casa Feliz at 2620 Alki SW) this Friday. Owner Aaron Wright, who talked with us back in January for our first report on his West Seattle expansion, was hard at work again today getting everything ready, with just five days to go:
You’ll see some activity inside during a “soft open” night this week, but the official public opening is next Friday (April 8), 11:30 am. (For a taste of their menus – which Wright says include plenty of vegetarian fare – here’s a link from Facebook.) The original El Chupacabra has been in operation on Phinney RIdge for five years. Meantime, in The Junction:
BANG BAR THAI RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE: A banner is now up for Bang Bar Thai, at the site of the former Tom Yum Koong, next to the future A Terrible Beauty. It’s been a month and a half since we reported the TYK closure, followed by the confirmation of Bang (pronounced “bahng”) Bar moving into the space. With the banner promising “coming soon,” we checked in with its owner. Kay Fuengarom told WSB contributor Bill Hutchison that she’s hoping to open “around the beginning of May” – renovations should be done by the last week of April. In addition, Bang Bar Thai has a website up – still clearly a work in progress, but there’s some information of note, particularly on the “about” page, which says they plan to deliver (as did TYK).
Last but not least, back to Alki, where a grand opening is hours away:
BEACHSIDE CAFE OPENS TOMORROW MORNING: Just a reminder that the ex-Alki Bakery space will open tomorrow morning with new ownership and a new name, as Beachside Café, owned by Sharon and John Bang, who also own Alki Café across the street. Hand-pulled espresso (new machine, above) is one of the improvements they touted when we visited for a sneak peek one week ago, along with soft-serve frozen yogurt, waffles, and more. They’re planning to open at 7 am tomorrow (Monday) morning.
****FOOD/DRINK SIDE NOTE: Our friends at the Seattle Weekly just spotlighted a couple already-open WS venues – atop their subsite Voracious.
Seafair Pirate Chuck Marcoullier and “Justin Bieber” (the cardboard version) were among the star attractions at this afternoon’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Spring Tea and Auction at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Before the day was out, “Bieber” was to be bid on – but not before Hi-Yu royalty got to share the stage as well:
There were many other things for the crowd to bid on, too:
Hi-Yu’s theme this year is “Sparkling Seattle,” as decided at the Hi-Yu holiday-season meeting (WSB coverage here) – and we’re told they’re still looking for a home for this year’s float, with parade season fast approaching: Got an idea? An offer? Hi-Yu contact information is online.
It wouldn’t be “Catsino” without cats, now would it? These two are part of the crowd at the Furry Faces Foundation fundraiser “Catsino,” under way at Beveridge Place Pub till 6. And F3’s Teri Ensley is ecstatic – she told WSB it’s a full house, all 85 tickets sold. And between the players and the hosts – some memorable sights:
More photos after the jump:Read More
As first reported here in February, On Safari Foods has moved to SODO from its former headquarters at 9005 35th SW; the lettering across the building’s facade was just taken down the other day. Owner Jim Sullivan is leasing the building as three spaces and tells WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz that a tenant has just been signed for one – a gift shop selling handcrafted items, collectibles, and other gifts, expected to open later this month; the other two are still available. More to come.
No rain so far – fine time to head to the beach (sun or no sun), and while you’re there, stop by Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW) and sign up for the bone-marrow registry (while also checking out the art that’s on display and on sale!). Nothing painful – just the one-in-a-million chance that maybe someday you would have the chance to save somebody’s life, maybe that of Christy Bemis, whose story is at the end of our report about Marnie Devlin (at left in top photo), who came up with the marrow-drive idea to celebrate her 25th birthday, and got community sponsors to donate prizes and treats (Alki Arts donated use of its space, too).
The event continues till 6 tonight.
7:56 PM UPDATE: Via Facebook, Alki Arts reports more than 100 people registered!
If you’re still looking for a place for your preschooler – you’ll want to check out the second annual West Seattle Preschool Fair tomorrow night. Organizer Renee Metty of The Cove School says they’ll have it in January in future years – closer to the time when families make decisions about the next school year – but the new West Seattle Preschool Association decided to go ahead with it now since many new families are moving here, and it’s been tough to find out about all the potential preschool choices. Admission is free, and they’ll also have a fundraising raffle ($2/ticket, 3 for $5) with prizes including a gift certificate to Proletariat Pizza, a Birthday Bash at The Little Gym, and a music basket including a year membership to Soundbridge. Renee adds that they’ll have the NCAA championship game on a TV set, too! The WS Preschool Fair is 5:30-7:30 pm tomorrow, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW).
The famous Pigeon Point community signpost along SW Andover has held a tribute to longtime community advocate Vivian McLean – painted by Jim Sander – since shortly after news of her death started circulating a week and a half ago. When we published our first report about Ms. McLean’s passing at age 90, memorial plans hadn’t been finalized yet, but according to Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council chair Brita Long and the Seattle Times (WSB partner) obituary published today, they have: A celebration of Ms. McLean’s life is set for 2:30 pm next Saturday, April 9th, at Delridge Community Center.
(Our first report, as the café’s doors opened one last time this morning, is here)
Story and photos by Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The scene at the Charlestown Street Café is dramatically different a few hours later as fans crowded through the doors for a final Sunday morning breakfast.
Servers swiftly seated customers, teared up while taking orders, and hugged their “regulars” goodbye.
Among those giving and getting hugs: JoAnne Morrison (pink vest), who picketed in front of the Charlestown a few years ago to stop the landlord from demolishing the restaurant, came in for the last breakfast and ordered a spinach omelette. “Everyone is so friendly and nice, I just got to know everyone,” Morrison said.
Morrison said she had breakfast every Sunday at the Charlestown, and often for lunch or dinner during the week as well. From now on, she will probably just make breakfast at home on Sunday, she said.
Owner Ron Hanlon was out getting more groceries, said waitress Tama Warrior, who was working her final shift, along with Hesper Guerra. We’ll try to catch up with him later as he prepares to lock the front door of the cafe for the last time today.
5:55 PM UPDATE: We’ll publish Kathy’s final update a bit later this evening; she says the doors did not close at 3 pm spot-on, nor for a while afterward, but we went back a little while ago and found the final sign on the finally closed door:
Last time they were here, they recycled 20 tons of unwanted items – and you can help them aim for a new West Seattle record today. The trucks from 1 Green Planet are back in the Fauntleroy Church parking lot at 9140 California SW (map) till 3 pm. The church’s Green Committee has a flyer showing what they’ll accept – you can see it here (PDF).
FAUNTLEROY CHURCH SIDE NOTE: The next “Sweet, Sweet Music” show is this Friday night, April 8th – 7:30 pm in the church sanctuary, with a focus on choral music, opening with the church’s chancel choir and closing with the Chief Sealth International High School Honor Choir (still accepting donations to cover its Easter trip to sing at Carnegie Hall). Full details on the church website!
Shared by Alki photographer David Hutchinson, who has also tracked local Canada goose families in seasons past, two photos and this report:
Spring seems to have arrived despite the cool weather. The first Harbor Avenue Canada Goose goslings have shown up right on schedule. If they manage to survive the bald eagles, off-leash dogs, and thoughtless humans, they should be making their first flight in about 2 1/2 months. Please keep an eye out for them as you drive along Harbor Ave as the grass always looks greener on the other side.
The view from Don Armeni about an hour ago hinted at the promise of sunshine later. Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar (got an event? e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!):
CHARLESTOWN CAFE’S FINAL DAY: Here’s our update from when the restaurant opened this morning; they’re scheduled to close forever at 3 pm.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY’S FINAL SSCC DAY: The West Seattle Tool Library‘s moving to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, and today’s its final day at the original South Seattle Community College location (north side) – drop by, borrow a tool, 1-5 pm.
FAUNTLEROY RECYCLING EVENT: 10 am-3 pm, the Fauntleroy Church Green Committee “is again offering to rid the neighborhood of tons of recyclable computers, monitors, appliances, bicycles, phones – pretty much you name it. Bring your stuff to the church parking lot [9140 California SW] and 1 Green Planet will take it away, break it down locally, and recycle everything responsibly.” Free (but donations accepted); full list of accepted items at fauntleroyucc.org
GARAGE SALE FOR JAPAN RELIEF, DAY 2: Shelley Lebert and friends welcome you to 3014 45th SW for a second day of garage-saling to raise money for Japan relief – 9 am-4 pm. (Here are our photos from Day 1.)
BIRTHDAY PARTY/BONE-MARROW DRIVE: 2-6 pm at Alki Arts, help Marnie Devlin celebrate her quarter-century birthday by potentially giving others the gift of life – or at least hope – sign up for the bone-marrow-donor registry. No invasive procedures. (Here’s our story about why Marnie’s doing this – and a first-person note from someone else who’s been waiting for the right match more than half her life.)
CATSINO! Furry Faces Foundation‘s fun-draiser with casino-style games and a silent auction is 2-6 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. Door prizes, hors d’oeuvres, a drink-ticket and more for $25 at the door.
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU SPRING TEA AND AUCTION: Also fundraising and having fun today – West Seattle Hi-Yu, with its spring tea and auction at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 2-4:30 pm (also $25).
FINAL PERFORMANCE OF ‘RUMORS’: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents “Rumors” one last time at 3 pm today, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
ROXHILL ELEMENTARY GARDEN WORK PARTY: 9 am-noon – your help would be appreciated! – see our preview here.
MASTER GARDENERS RETURN TO WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska as always – From market manager Catherine Burke, “Lots of plant starts including flowers, cool season greens, and hot crops. Also, this weekend marks the seasonal return of The Master Gardeners to answer all your localized gardening questions.”
WEST SEATTLE SOCCER CLUB SPRING SEASON BEGINS: As reported here last night, you’ll see WSSC players in action on eight fields around West Seattle today as the schedule of six Sunday-afternoon games gets under way.
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