day : 21/05/2011 11 results

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Alki Kayak Tours/Mountain to Sound Outfitters will offer stand-up paddleboard demos during Sunday’s Alki Summer Streets party. We asked WSB contributor Stephanie Chacharon to take a closer look at what this sport is about; she went out last Tuesday night, and tells the story first-person.)

Story by Stephanie Chacharon
Photos by Christina Chacharon
On assignment for West Seattle Blog

Conditions weren’t exactly ideal for my first stand-up paddleboard (SUP) experience. The north wind was blowing strong, waves crashed into the rocky beach, the sun was preparing for its descent behind the peninsula, and the temperature hovered just below 60 degrees.

Nevertheless, the group gathered at Seacrest Boathouse was visibly excited for Alki Kayak Tours‘ second Tuesday Night SUP’r of the season.

I found myself under the guidance of Alki Kayak Tours’ lead SUP instructor, Shoshannah Moxley (who also works on the other end of Alki at La Rustica). She selected a short, wide paddleboard for me — a stable model that’s ideal for beginners, women, and children.

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Season’s 2nd parade for West Seattle Hi-Yu float ‘Sparkling Seattle’

May 21, 2011 10:16 pm

| Comments Off on Season’s 2nd parade for West Seattle Hi-Yu float ‘Sparkling Seattle’

| West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

This year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival float, themed “Sparkling Seattle,” has now been to two parades (the last Seattle-neighborhood float on the parade circuit). Hi-Yu shares these photos from their trip to the 76th annual Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival parade. Hi-Yu president Tim Winston tells WSB, “The morning rain stopped in time for the parade. We didn’t win any awards this week, but the crowd loved the float.” Last week, “Sparkling Seattle” got the Mayor’s Award at the Sequim Irrigation Festival parade.

Tim says the float will make its next appearance at the Mason County Forest Festival parade in Shelton on June 4th. Its details include the Space Needle and Mount Rainier:

P.S. Hi-Yu just launched a new page on Facebook, where it just had a “group” previously. You can “like” the page here.

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West Seattle 5K and Alki ‘Summer Streets’ tomorrow! Newest map

May 21, 2011 6:12 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Environment | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just hours till the West Seattle 5K run/walk hits Alki Avenue SW tomorrow morning (last chance to register, 8 am at Alki Bathhouse), followed by the Alki Summer Streets party. As we’ve reported previously, after the race at 11 am, the all-day street closure is much shorter than years past. Here’s the newest map from the city, also pointing you to planned attractions:

(Click here to get a larger version as a PDF.) Good news – the forecast suggests tomorrow will be a bit warmer, with some afternoon sunshine. See you on Alki!

ADDED 8:56 PM: One more PDF (thanks to Alki Community Council reps for pointing this out) – with a closer look at the “party” zone and the entertainment schedule. See it here.

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West Seattle businesses: Spira Power Yoga plans June 1st opening

May 21, 2011 5:08 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Another new West Seattle business has set its opening date. We first told you in February about Spira Power Yoga coming to the former Herban Feast Catering storefront in the Admiral District (2332 California SW). Proprietor Dora Gyarmati (who provided the photo at right) explained at the time that she’s expanding here partly because of West Seattle’s “loving, relaxed vibe.” Dora sent word this week that her new studio will be open June 1st, with a grand-opening celebration on June 4th, featuring free classes that day, 9 am and 4 pm, as well as a party that night at 7:30 pm. She says: “Everyone is welcome to come in, check out the place, and meet the teachers. I will be serving snacks; it could be a perfect little time killer for the movie goers!” (Admiral Theater is across the street.) Dora adds that the business’s website at spirapoweryoga.com is now set up for online purchases.

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Happening now: Westwood Village Street Fair 2011, till 7 pm

May 21, 2011 2:45 pm

| Comments Off on Happening now: Westwood Village Street Fair 2011, till 7 pm

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | Westwood

Our video includes part of the dog show that kicked off today’s Westwood Village Street Fair – continuing till 7 pm. It’s dry but still a bit cool, which isn’t stopping the steady stream of visitors, especially families with kids. Next to our booth, a face-painting artist has drawn a line (not TOO long) – with the resulting work on display on kids’ faces everywhere:

And throughout the fair zone (mostly in the parking area between Bed Bath Beyond and Pier 1), there are inflatable slides and obstacle courses. Live music is scheduled to start at 3. Here’s more of who and what else is here – it’s up, up and away on the climbing wall:

Next: Know where your Emergency Communication Hub is, in case of disaster? West Seattle Be Prepared can show you – they’re here too:

From left, that’s Cindi Barker, Karen Berge, and Dave Brown. Here’s the pendant from Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) that’s being raffled off:

3:18 PM: The live music hasn’t started quite yet, but once it does, Hondo II is scheduled to play first, followed by Gunn and the Damage Done (sometime after 4 pm), and then School of Rock.

4:29 PM UPDATE: Second fashion show of the day, before the bands began – here’s part of the show put on by Dress Barn:

The inflatables are scheduled to be here till 6; it’s a bit chillier and drizzlier than it was earlier, so there’s not much of a wait!

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Followup: West Seattle’s Luca Rose wins award at SIFF

May 21, 2011 2:41 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS culture/arts

Congratulations to 11-year-old Lafayette Elementary student Luca Rose for winning the youth award this morning in the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) 3-Minute Masterpieces competition this morning. Word came from Luca’s mom Gayle Rose, who also shared the photo: At left, that’s Luca, with classmates Olivia and Kenny, seen in the film ( mentioned here two days ago), “Our Grass Is Always Greener.” (Another co-star, Johnny, wasn’t on hand.) The winners were also announced online, here. If you missed it in our Thursday story, you can see it here, via YouTube (the rather anthemic song is by Luca’s dad Tim Rose).

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Fishing in the rain: West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club pond at Seacrest

May 21, 2011 1:37 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(Photos by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
Every year (for at least as long as we’ve covered it), the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club has had a canopy for its annual kids’ fishing pond event at Seacrest Pier. Some years, it’s a good shield from the sun; this morning, it served as rain protection. Above, that’s Jake with his catch (and dad Justin). WSSC provides bamboo rods and arranges for the pond to be stocked the day before with trout (and they keep watch all night till the early-morning event, too).

Kids got to keep their catch – if they wanted to. Find out more about the WS Sportsmen’s Club – established 1934! – by going here.

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West Seattle Trader Joe’s: Permit issued, construction to start

May 21, 2011 11:57 am

| 17 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news | West Seattle Trader Joe's

STILL skeptical about the West Seattle Trader Joe’s that was first announced almost a year ago (after years of rumors, speculation, discussion, etc.)? If nothing will cure your skepticism but the sight of construction work at the site, get ready to see it.

On the heels of the land-use approvals first reported here earlier this month, the first construction permit was granted yesterday – for interior “soft demolition” work, and a source tells WSB that construction work is expected to start next week. The exterior construction permit is still pending (here’s its page on the city website).

If you are just catching up on all this – Trader Joe’s plans to open a store at 4545 Fauntleroy Way SW, the old Huling Brothers Buick showroom. They are not tearing down the showroom building, but instead, converting it, and adding a facade (the rendering above was distributed when the store plan was formally announced last June). So when will it be open, you ask? When we reviewed hard-copy plans at city offices downtown in February, we found a projection of a six-month construction schedule.

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Westwood Village Street Fair 2011: Rain or shine, it’s still on!

May 21, 2011 10:27 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | Westwood

Even though the only sun in evidence right now is in that makebelieve scene on the back of one of the inflatables, the Westwood Village Street Fair is indeed on, set to start at 11 am. “Train” rides again this year too!

The “amateur dog show” is scheduled to start at 11; live entertainment is scheduled too (we don’t have the full schedule yet but will publish it as soon as we do). Community groups and businesses (us included) will be there with booths and tables. It’s all scheduled to run till 7 pm in the lot between Bed Bath Beyond and Pier 1. See you there!

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West Seattle Saturday: Westwood Village street fair, Sportsmen’s Club kids’ fishing pond, more…

May 21, 2011 6:03 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Duwamish River sunrise, photographed Friday by Danny McMillin as he biked to work)
The fun starts early today, so here’s an early look at highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: It’s back! 11 am-7 pm in central Westwood Village, between Bed Bath Beyond and Pier 1. A dog show starts things off 11 am-1 pm – if you haven’t signed up yet, you can do it at WV starting at 10:30 am – plus a fashion show, live music, magician, and those fun inflatable rides. Also a drawing for a pendant, courtesy of Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor). As usual during street-festival season, you’ll find us there, reporting “live” as the day unfolds – come say hi!

GO FISH: As previewed here earlier this week, this morning’s another season-starter, the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club fishing pond at Seacrest , 8 am-11 am, they provide the gear. Free.

FAMILY FUN FAIR: It’s at Gatewood Elementary (4320 SW Myrtle), 12-3 pm. Activities will be located in the back parking lot on SW Frontenac street and in the school gym/cafeteria area. There will be a dunk tank, inflatables (bouncy houses), henna painting, carnival games with prizes, food, or try your luck at the cake walk. Proceeds from the cake walk go to help support the 4th and 5th grade overnight camp to Warm Beach.

PLANT SALE: First day of the year for Furry Faces Foundation‘s famous plant sale (with pet-adoption opportunities too). 10 am-4 pm, 3809 46th SW. Details here.

BOOK SALE: Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor, 3940 41st SW), from 10 am – 1 pm holds its “semi-irregular somewhat annual” used book sale (a fundraiser for one of the women’s groups) and tries to “stem the tide of the eReader revolution.” Hardbacks $1, paperbacks fifty cents. Refreshments available for purchase at “the goodie café” to help you enjoy your purchases immediately. Full story here

RUMMAGE SALE: Last day of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church‘s famous rummage sale, 9-3. Held in Parish Hall at 3050 California Ave SW and SW Hanford.

FLOWERS: First annual Peony Festival at Seattle Chinese Garden at South Seattle Community College (6000 16th Ave SW), 4 – 6 pm. Come out and celebrate peonies with us. See them in bloom, bring your own cut peonies for display, and buy herbaceous peony plants.

VOLLEYBALL: AVA beach volleyball on Alki, see full details here.

BASEBALL: The West Seattle High School baseball team plays in the state tournament, 1 pm at Skagit College against Shorewood. Also playing, Auburn Mountainview vs. Seattle Prep 10 am. If WSHS wins its first game, they play at 4 pm the same day against the winner of the 10 am game.

OPEN HOUSE: Link Apartments (WSB sponsor, 4550 38th SW) invites one and all to its open house, 11:30 am-3:30 pm.

FINAL SHOW FOR ‘SHIPWRECKED’: Closing night for ArtsWest‘s latest production, 7:30 pm.

WHITE CENTER ART WALK: 6-9 pm tonight. Here’s where to go.

NOT IN WEST SEATTLE, BUT …: New Balance Girls on the Run event, at Seward Park, 10 am – lots of West Seattleites involved. More info here.

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Update: Man stabbed in Arbor Heights, taken to hospital

May 21, 2011 1:59 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

ORIGINAL 1:59 AM REPORT: Police and medics are at the scene of a stabbing in the vicinity of 37th and 99th (map). According to scanner traffic, the victim is a 25-year-old stabbed in the abdomen and face with a “kitchen knife.” He’s being rushed to Harborview Medical Center.

2:17 AM UPDATE: At the scene, police tell us they are questioning a suspect. Adding a photo. No information on the circumstances yet, but we’ll be checking back.

1:08 PM UPDATE: Details on the circumstances, just obtained from Lt. Ron Smith of the Southwest Precinct: He says the incident started with an “ex-boyfriend forcing his way into the residence.” That man, he says, attacked his ex-girlfriend and another woman – until “another male in the residence … stabbed the (domestic-violence) suspect in an effort to stop the assault.”

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