West Seattle, Washington
26 Friday
(Photos/video by Patrick Sand for WSB unless otherwise credited)
If you didn’t experience it in person today at the Nature Consortium‘s Arts In Nature Festival – which continues tomorrow at Camp Long – you can watch our clip to see and hear the “fire organ” by kinetic sculptor/sound artist Trimpin, one of an almost-endless array of amazing sights and sounds at the festival. At midday today, a festival tradition – the Species Parade (which happens again Sunday at 1:45 pm):
(Photo courtesy Trileigh Tucker)
Puppets by Sarah Lovett were part of the parade, glimpsed by some while wandering between performance zones. Here’s an owl puppet we spotted before the parade:
Even setup can be interesting – this was part of the preparations being made for The Cabiri (who perform again Sunday at noon):
Throughout the park, you’ll find music. On Saturday, the Park West Chamber Players performed:
(Photo courtesy Trileigh Tucker)
Local writer/photographer/musician Trileigh Tucker says that from left to right, the players are Kate Vincent, Jane Johnson, Karen Larsen, Robert Baker, Saralee Stata, and Ann Kendall. She adds, “Most of these wonderful musicians are affiliated with the West Seattle Community Orchestras.” Then there’s music in the dome:
Rose Laughlin was there at midday today:
Right about the same time, West Seattle-based Caspar Babypants entertained families in the Camp Long Lodge:
Throughout the park, festival venues are both indoors and outdoors, many interactive/participatory. The festival schedule for tomorrow is here; Camp Long is at 5200 35th SW.
The free barbecue before tonight’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of “Toy Story 3” was a hot ticket, according to BBQ-sponsoring West Seattle Christian Church‘s Pastor Dan Jacobs – he says two dozen people were already camped out waiting for the barbecue, and free movie, half an hour before the gates officially opened and the BBQ officially started. On this beautiful night following the hottest day so far this year, the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) was filling fast:
Among the families, Tracy Corey (below right) of Nurturing Expressions (one of our newest WSB sponsors) and daughter Kayleigh, with her team member Magy Hamilton and Magy’s kids Joel and Sophia:
If you were planning to head to the movie and haven’t left yet, don’t wait; it’ll start at dusk, but space is at a premium. One more reminder – WS Outdoor Movies will stretch out an extra week BEYOND tonight, since the original season opener, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” was more like “Ferris Bueller’s Rainout” back in mid-June. So that’s the movie NEXT Saturday, wrapping up the series.
Besides meeting local police (that’s Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen at right, above), there are dozens of other reasons to come on over to the Picnic at the Precinct street party before it wraps up at 4 – including a bouncy house for kids, live music/dancing, ice cream and hot dogs.
The party’s on SW Webster west of Delridge.
3:59 PM: It’s just wrapped up – but in the meantime, we’ve seen Mayor McGinn, Police Chief John Diaz, city tech boss Bill Schrier (a West Seattleite), the Southwest Precinct lieutenants who so often help us get information, and lots of cool people who stopped by our table to say hi. The mayor posed with West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network honchos Deb Greer (left) and Karen Berge (right):
Here’s Lt. Alan Williams chatting with West Seattle Crime Prevention Council president Richard Miller (the council resumes meetings next month):
Someone you’ll also see at those meetings is Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon, who had lots of pamphlets and stickers to hand out today:
The city Department of Neighborhoods represented, too – that’s district coordinator Steve Louie at left in the next photo, with Community Police Team Officer Jon Kiehn:
P.S. In case you wondered – the precinct picnics around the city are presented by the nonprofit Seattle Police Foundation, which among other things also launched a campaign to save the budget-cut-threatened, West Seattle-based SPD Mounted Patrol Unit. Several of its horses visited, including Harvest – who posed with SPD Chief John Diaz:
And though this just might be the warmest day of the summer – the heat was on in the hot-dog “kitchen”:
Crime-fighting equipment was on display too – including the always-popular bomb robot.
That’s the coolest bouncy toy we’ve seen today – part of the Arbor Heights Community Church-sponsored Block Party, continuing till 4 pm in ARK Park at 41st and 102nd (map).
Face painting, volleyball, overall fun in the sun. And face painting!
The AH church is also where a crime-prevention meeting is planned on August 30th – 7 pm.
(UPDATED Saturday night, as we keep getting photos, including one night shot from Port Townsend)
(Added 12:42 pm)
11:51 AM: The Missile Defense Agency would only say, when confirming Friday that its SBX (“big white ball” Sea-Based X-Band Radar dome that’s been on Harbor Island for three months) would leave Seattle today, that its movement would be “in daylight hours.” We’ve been watching MarineTraffic.com in lieu of staking out Harbor Island all day – and the tracking on that site suggests SBX and accompanying tugboats are now under way. Off to check. Let us know if you’re seeing it.
12:21 PM: Commenters confirmed it, and now we can too – it’s definitely moving out, albeit very slowly, so it’ll likely be visible from West Seattle shores for a few hours; it hasn’t even rounded Duwamish Head yet.
3:51 PM: It’s close to being out of Elliott Bay – off Magnolia at last report. Bob A. sends this view from North Admiral:
Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos – just going through them now!
MORE PICTURES ADDED SATURDAY EVENING – click ahead!Read More
We caught Erin from Twilight Artist Collective in the frontier-fun mood as The Junction goes Wild West (Seattle) today for its annual late-summer “Big Bonanza” sale day. (Their big deal of the day is described here.) Around the corner from Twilight, Brian at Easy Street Records with the vinyl:
Further north on the west side of California between Alaska and Oregon, Marcie told us Jan’s Beauty Supply has discounts today on one-liter sizes:
And we finished our quick jaunt at California/Oregon’s northwest corner, saying hi to Hank at Fleurt:
Who else is on the Big Bonanza list? All here, including WSB sponsors Click! Design That Fits and Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, where you’ll want to be at 6:30 pm tonight as gates open for the West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of “Toy Story 3,” preceded by a free barbecue (enough food for 225 people, first come, first served) courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*When a 17-year-old Burien resident decided to swipe $900 worth of clothes from an Alki business, it was her misfortune to do so just as an off-duty State Patrol officer walked by with his girlfriend. He chased the thief down while the girlfriend alerted the store owner to what was going on. When contacted, the suspect’s mom said, “Just take her to juvenile detention,” before hanging up on officers. But the Youth Service Center wouldn’t admit her, so she ended up going home after all.
*Late Monday a chronic 19-year-old offender, well known to officers, was spotted in a convenience store parking lot at 16th and Holden. Officers knew he was wanted on at least two warrants (it ended up being four with a bail total of $50,000) and they placed him under arrest without incident.
Seven more summaries ahead:Read More
(Bret Wiggins is part of the 1st-ever El-Fest @ Feedback Lounge tonight; photo courtesy Marlow Harris)
Summer finally decided to behave itself! Could get into the mid-80s, per the National Weather Service. From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT CLOSED, SOUTHBOUND: Traffic reminder – you can use The Viaduct leaving the peninsula, but it’s closed all
weekend heading back (southbound) this way.
SBX LEAVING TODAY: As reported here on Friday, the “big white ball” that’s been a Harbor Island fixture for three months is scheduled to head on out – but the Missile Defense Agency would only say “during daylight hours.”
(Photo added 8:55 am)
BREAKFAST TO BENEFIT VETERANS’ MEMORIAL: At the south-central tip of West Seattle, in the south Delridge Triangle, there’s a Veterans’ Memorial. A pancake breakfast under way right now at Holy Family (9615 20th SW) is raising money for some TLC, looking ahead to a rededication next month. The breakfast continues till 11 am. Pancakes with FRESH blueberries, we are told!
HUGE RUMMAGE SALE #1: Peace Lutheran Church TAG SALE! Giant Indoor Tag Sale. Something for everyone. 9 am until 3 pm – 39th SW & SW Thistle.
HUGE RUMMAGE SALE #2: At Highland Park Improvement Club all weekend, 9 am to 5 pm today. There will be *multiple neighbors* with lots of *great stuff* for sale. 12th & Holden.
EVEN MORE YARD/GARAGE SALES: See who’s listed theirs (free!) in the WSB Forums’ Freebies/Deals/Sales section.
‘BIG BONANZA’ ALL DAY IN THE JUNCTION: Wild West (Seattle) deals, wild fun, in Downtown WS – the annual late-summer “Big Bonanza” sale, 10 am-6 pm, look for red balloons and checked tablecloths at participating stores (and here’s a preview of some of the deals).
GET GREENER: Third Saturday Green Seattle Partnership plant restoration party at Camp Long (happens to be during Arts In Nature Festival). 10 am – 1 pm.
GARDENING CLASS: Pests & Diseases – How to Manage Problems Organicallygardening class at Community Harvest Garden at White Center Cultural Community Center (9421 18th Ave. SW), 10 am – noon. Learn how to tackle pest and disease problems in the garden organically. This class is offered in partnership with Community Harvest of SW Seattle. $36 or $25 for Seattle Tilth members. Registration details here.
HELP THE CREEK: Help enhance the Longfellow Creek and the Legacy Trail by planting and mulching at Brandon Street Natural Area every third Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm. This is a Green Seattle Partnership event. Directions: Get on Delridge Way SW. Turn West on Brandon St. Go two blocks and park on 26th Ave SW. Walk down Brandon 1/2 block and look for the gateways on the south.
FREE YOGA! SoundYoga (WSB sponsor) presents free yoga, 10:30 am
ARTS IN NATURE FESTIVAL: All weekend long, it’s the Nature Consortium’s one-of-a-kind Arts In Nature Festival at Camp Long, 11 am-9 pm today – check out the performance schedule here.
ARBOR HEIGHTS BLOCK PARTY: Block party at ARK Park behind Arbor Heights Community Church, noon-4 pm, details here
PICNIC AT THE PRECINCT: Picnic at the Southwest Precinct, meet your SPD team and have fun, kids’ activities and a lot more, plus community groups including West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network. WSB will be live on site all afternoon. 1-4 pm (more here).
SALMON AT THE LONGHOUSE: Duwamish Longhouse Salmon Bake at Duwamish Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW), 4-6 pm, $10. Free admission to exhibit area and art gallery.
LUCHA LIBRE! Lucha Libre, celebration of Mexican wrestling and South Park itself! 4-8 pm at 14th/Cloverdale in South Park, wrestling starts at 6 – more info here.
ART WALK: White Center Art Walk, 6-9 pm, with live art all over White Center! Full details here
OUTDOOR MOVIE WITH FREE BARBECUE: West Seattle Outdoor Movies in The Junction is showing “Toy Story 3”, movies start at dusk, courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), 4410 California SW – free barbecue starting at 6:30, courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church.
CELEBRATING ‘THE KING’: Elvis Festival at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 7 pm (free!).
2ND TO LAST CHANCE TO CATCH ‘OLIVER!’ Twelfth Night Productions presentation of “Oliver!” (to benefit Treehouse – bring school supplies for foster kids!), West Seattle High School Theater, 7:30 pm, 3000 California SW.
Looking ahead while looking back, the West Seattle Helpline celebrated a “Gallery of West Seattle History” last night at Alki Arts. That’s executive director Tara Byrne, with one of the displays, which recounted Helpline’s own 22-year history. This time of year, Helpline has traditionally helped local kids with school supplies – and this year, they’re working to help the efforts of Pencil Me in For Kids, a project near and dear to partygoers Martha and Sue:
Showing off food donated by nearby Alki restaurants as well as Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering was Helpline board member Rev. Ron Marshall from First Lutheran Church of West Seattle:
Miss the party? You can reach out to help Helpline any time; find out how by going to their website.
If you garden, you know our area is described as having a “Mediterranean” climate. Last night at West Seattle Nursery, Mediterranean also applied to the music and food at the 34th District Democrats‘ annual Garden Party/Auction – above, the Sinovi Tamburitza Orchestra, specializing in Croatian music. Another guest star: New York Vinnie returned to West Seattle – more than a year after his move to Pittsburgh – to serve as auctioneer. WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand asked Vinnie what he misses about life here:
Ahead, more photos from the 34th Dems’ fundraiser, outdoors on a lovely summer night, including costumes and shades:Read More
West Seattleite Jacob McMurray was at Easy Street Records in The Junction on Friday night to sign “Taking Punk to the Masses: From Nowhere to Nevermind.” As explained on the Easy Street website, the book chronicling the rise/evolution of grunge, from punk, is companion to the EMP Nirvana exhibit curated by McMurray. Easy Street is selling the book; the exhibit continues at EMP for another year and a half.
Another West Seattle author is one week away from his customary annual reading here in the home ‘hood: After releasing “Legends of Shannara: The Measure of the Magic” this Tuesday, megaselling fantasy author Terry Brooks will be at the Westwood Village Barnes and Noble the following Saturday (2 pm August 27th). He has drawn a crowd there every summer, dating back at least as far back as WSB goes (our coverage: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).
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