month : 01/2012 297 results

West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car found; hit-run car sought

In West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon – we start with some good news: A stolen car reported here yesterday has been found. From Kris:

Just wanted to let you know that the 94 Honda Del Sol that I reported to you yesterday (stolen on Wednesday 1/25), was found by Tukwila police this morning. It was parked behind an Apt. complex off of International Blvd. S. The car is running fine and it appears that only a few CD’s are missing. Thanks to all!!

On the flip side – from Kayla:

I was a victim of a serious hit and run around 11:30 (Saturday) morning. The car that hit me was blue and white with 20″ rims. Looked to be an old police car at one time, or a taxi, so I’m thinking it’s a Crown Victoria. Maybe even a caprice. The police said the car was reported as stolen yesterday, and was also reported to be linked with drug trafficking. If anyone sees this car it needs to be reported. Since it was a hit and run, and no one can identify the driver, I am now financially responsible with my own insurance.

Kayla says it happened around 26th and Brandon, and that the car reportedly has been seen before around Delridge and High Point. She wasn’t hurt but her car is totaled. Call 911 if you see a car resembling what she described.

West Seattle wildlife: Bird’s-eye view of well-known goose

While volunteering for Seal Sitters in the Lincoln Park vicinity recently, Alki-based photographer David Hutchinson got a close-up look at the famous white geese who live in the area. (They’ve been discussed on WSB before, but never with such a striking photo – thanks!)

West Seattle Hi-Yu double bill: Spring Tea and coronation!

January 29, 2012 11:56 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Hi-Yu double bill: Spring Tea and coronation!
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

(2012 West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty, photographed by WSB in December – Senior Court Queen Kayli, Junior Court Queen Thea and Princesses Elena and Amanda)
New West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival president James Kline has been visiting community groups around West Seattle to get out the word that Hi-Yu is hoping more people than ever will support their work this year, and beyond. Hi-Yu isn’t just a collection of summertime events – it’s also a traveling ambassadorship of sorts that lets the rest of the region know about West Seattle, the last community in the city to have its own traveling float appearing in parades around Western Washington. Here’s one way to support Hi-Yu this year: Buy tickets and/or serve as a table captain for this year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Spring Tea – which also will include a coronation, since Hi-Yu has made some calendar changes. Here’s the official announcement

This year’s Spring Tea and Auction will be held on Sunday, March 18th, 2:00-4:30. A rare event this year, the Spring Tea will also feature the official coronation of the West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Queen Kayli Schulz, accompanied by her junior court, Queen Thea Pulido, Princess Amanda Elder, and Princess Elena Kline. We are planning a great event at The Hall at Fauntleroy, catered by Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes. Many wonderful auction items have already been procured that are sure to spark your interest. It will be the perfect opportunity for you and your friends and daughters to enjoy the spectacle of a royal event.

Tickets are now available for purchase. You can buy tickets individually or become a Table Captain and buy a table for 10 to share with your closest friends. For those who have filled tables in the past, thanks so much. Hopefully, you and your friends would love to come again. For those who are new to Hi-Yu, seriously consider becoming a Table Captain and purchasing a table to enjoy as a group. This is an event your friends/daughters will remember for years.

All purchases will be helping support the West Seattle community with family events to include Seattle’s last remaining community float and our scholarship program for women. This year’s theme is “Secret Garden.” You can read more about coming events at www.westseattlehiyu.com or view us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WSHiYu. You will also find a link to buy tickets for the Spring Tea which you can share with your friends.

You have two options for purchasing your Spring Tea tickets, by mail or online. To purchase by mail, send a check for $25 each to West Seattle Hi-Yu, PO Box 16130, Seattle, WA 98116-0130. To purchase online, simply click one of the links below and you will be forwarded to our PayPal account, where you may use a major credit card or your own PayPal account. Online ticket purchases are $26, which covers all credit card transaction fees.

Click here to Purchase Individual Tickets

If you have any questions: (206) 388-8778 or lynaiapulido@gmail.com

West Seattle Sunday: School open houses; ukuleles; more

(Great blue heron on the West Seattle shore, by ‘Old Desolate‘ in the WSB Flickr group pool)
Sunday highlights, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

TRAFFIC REMINDER – *NO* SCHEDULED BRIDGE CLOSURE: Just in case you missed it – the work that was supposed to close the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct section of the high bridge us done early – except for one last section of work scheduled for 12:01 am-5 am Monday.

OLG OPEN HOUSE: Our Lady of Guadalupe School Open House, 9 am-1 pm:
3401 SW Myrtle Street, West Seattle
Phone: 206-935-0651
ALSO, view sustainable designed green home model displays at the middle school science fair!

HOLY ROSARY OPEN HOUSE: Holy Rosary School Open House, 10 am-1:00 pm, 4142 42nd Ave SW

AT THE MARKET: West Seattle Farmers’ Market in The Junction, 44th/Alaska, 10 am-2 pm. Here’s what market managers say you’ll find new today:

+ Spot Prawns!!! (via fishing vessel Hat Trick)
+ Wine Sampling (with Rockridge Orchards)
+ River Farm returns w/ ORGANIC chicken
+++BOOTH CANYON’s pears!

HOLY ROSARY PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10:00 – 1:00, 42nd and Genesee Streets. 3/4 and Pre-K classes

HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-2 pm, 9615 20th SW

TOSS IT!: West Seattle Ultimate Family Frisbee, Sunday mornings 11 am, Walt Hundley Playfield at High Point.

ANOTHER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: West Seattle Christian Preschool open house, 1-3 pm, 4425 41st Ave SW

UKULELES IN THE AFTERNOON: The Castaways play ukulele music at C & P Coffee at 3 pm! The group includes two West Seattle-ites, Mark Bader and Pam Mandel.

COOKING CLASS: At the new Mind Unwind in the Admiral District, Freshy’s Coffee proprietor Amber Bennett leads a soup-cooking class – find out about it here (and check to see if any room is left).

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: West Seattleites involved!
What: LISA KOCH BIRTHDAY BASH with ROXANNA WARD & JENNIE MCNULTY
Who: Lisa Koch, Roxanna Ward, Jennie McNulty and special guests
Where: The Triple Door / 216 Union Street / Seattle, WA 98101
Time: 7:00 pm (doors open at 5:00 pm for dinner)
Price: $18 advance / $20 door
Tickets: www.tripledoor.com / 206-838-4333

FOOD TRUCKS: Snout and Co. food truck at 35th/Graham … check Highland Park Improvement Club site to see if anyone’s there today.

Remembering Riverside’s history: Plaza dedication

That Saturday gathering in northeastern West Seattle was on one level about a plaza –

… but it was really about the people. This corner of West Seattle, now towered over by the high bridge, is Riverside, for decades a home to fishing families, mostly Croatian immigrants, whose descendants have mostly moved on, but won’t let the history (as detailed in the plaque inscription) be forgotten:

They gathered Saturday for the dedication of Riverside Memorial Plaza; the word “memorial” took on an added poignancy, for one of the plaza’s tiles bears the name of Jennie Plenkovich:

That’s the maiden name of Jennie Jaramillo, laid to rest earlier this week at age 75. As noted in her published obituary, she was a founding member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, which overflowed with mourners for her memorial Mass just yesterday. Her uncle Frank Zuvela was a driving force behind the Riverside plaza project, and he was keynote speaker Saturday:

You can visit the Riverside Memorial Plaza at 17th SW/W. Marginal Place (map). Read more about it, and Riverside history, here, here, and see photos from Riverside days gone by, here.

West Seattle businesses: Mind Unwind debuts with soup class

January 28, 2012 9:28 pm
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 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

New Admiral District business Mind Unwind – “a playground for the creative imagination” – is hosting its first class tomorrow, and there’s room left, proprietor Krystal Kelley tells us tonight. The class is “The Art of Soup”; the teacher, one of West Seattle’s best-known soup purveyors, Amber Bennett of Freshy’s Coffee. Five spots are left for the 4-7 pm class; registration info is here.

One week later, a memorial to Morgan Junction shooting victim

One week after three shots were fired by Morgan Junction Park, taking the life of 35-year-old Travis Hood hours later, a small memorial is there in his honor. A few dozen people gathered as it was placed there late this afternoon; we received a few calls about the gathering and went over to see what was happening. The memorial includes the logo for the Jacksonville Jaguars, a nod to the hometown Travis left a few months ago in hopes, friends say, of a safer life here. The man charged with murdering him, Lovett Chambers, remains in the King County Jail in lieu of $5 million bail, awaiting arraignment on February 8th.

From the ‘we heard it too’ file: Fauntleroy-area boom

7:32 PM: We apparently aren’t the only ones who heard a loud boom a few minutes ago here in the Upper Fauntleroy area – at least two others have mentioned it on the WSB Facebook page. We’re monitoring the scanner and police and fire crews have been sent to “look around” and check out one caller’s report, same general area, of a “flash” seen about that time.

7:51 PM: No indication so far that they’ve found anything, and the engine’s been canceled.

Video: Year of the Dragon welcomed at Vietnamese Cultural Center

The Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle welcomes visitors every Saturday afternoon (noon-3 pm), but this afternoon was special – a New Year celebration, with lion dance and firecrackers, as you can see (and hear!) in our video, welcoming the Year of the Dragon. Before their fiery performance, members of the Au Lac Vovinam Lion Dance Team – based in High Point, not far from the Vietnamese Cultural Center – gathered to prepare:

This was a busy day for the team; they also performed at a shop in White Center (as reported on our partner site White Center Now). Awaiting their appearance in West Seattle were spectators including veterans who fought for Vietnam’s freedom and are fixtures at the center’s events:

Two weeks ago, the Cultural Center dedicated a new monument to fallen heroes. And in the background of this photo taken during the dance, you can see both the statue of 13th-century hero General Tran Hung Dao, and the new structure built nearby to complement the statue.

It was under construction when we covered last year’s New Year celebration. You’re invited to visit the center next (or any) Saturday, noon-3 pm, 2236 SW Orchard.

Followup: Missing Vashon man with Alzheimer’s found alive

Also just in via TwitterKing County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says the Vashon man who’s been missing since Wednesday (reported widely on Thursday) has “been found alive.” The Vashon/Maury Island Beachcomber has details, reporting 83-year-old Jack Randles was found at a home in the Luana Beach area (map).

4:42 PM UPDATE: From the Voice of Vashon Facebook page, a few more details, ahead:Read More

Followup: Eastbound West Seattle Bridge/Spokane St. Viaduct reopens

3:08 PM: After hours of weekday-magnitude backups (discussed here) on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge because of what was supposed to be a weekend-long closure of the EB Spokane Street Viaduct section – it’s done early, SDOT just announced. They say that section of the bridge is now reopening for full use. There will be one more closure before the weekend is out – 12:01 am to 5 am Monday morning.

3:58 PM: SDOT’s news release, e-mailed, confirming the reopening:

Completing required work early, a contractor for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has now reopened the eastbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct.

The next eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct full closure will occur Monday, January 30, from approximately 12:01 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Motorists heading eastbound will be detoured off the viaduct at either the First Ave S or Fourth Ave S exits, and will be able to use the lower Spokane Street roadway to reach I-5.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Seen this stolen car?

Out of the WSB inbox, from Kris:

My 94 Honda Del Sol, license plate # 848YQR (tabs expire 01/31/12) was stolen from our driveway on Wednesday January 25th, 2012, between 4 and 6:30 am. It was taken from the 10200 block of 1st Ave S. in Top Hat. It has been reported stolen to the police. It is a 2 door, Royal blue. cute little thing! It has a missing lens on the driver-side turn signal and is missing the Honda emblem on the rear trunk. It is NOT the one driving around West Seattle with red rims. If you see it please call it in or drop me an e-mail. Thank you very much for your time. kris.hopkins@live.com

Seattle Police still tweet plates/descriptions of stolen vehicles, but since this is just outside the city limits, you won’t find us there. We’re happy to publish stolen-vehicle reports in Crime Watch coverage; often the thieves dump them fairly close to where they were taken, and several published reports have led to “reunions.”

West Seattle Saturday: Strings; skates; memories; music…

(Friday photo at Seacrest, by Paul Swortz, from the WSB Flickr group pool)
Happy weekend! From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar, here are some of the special events happening today/tonight (and if you’re leaving WS, remember the bridge closure):

MIDDLE-SCHOOL MUSIC-MAKING: Super String Saturday event for middle-school-age instrumental musicians, happening at Chief Sealth International High School, 10 am-1 pm – details here.

EARTHCORPS AT ME-KWA-MOOKS: EarthCorps is hosting an environmental-restoration event at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park, 10 am-2 pm, including invasive-species removal, restoration-site maintenance, and mulching.

CITY HALL OPEN HOUSE: It’s a party for the whole city, 10 am-2 pm today at Seattle City Hall, 5th/Cherry downtown. You’ll find some West Seattleites participating/representing, including reps from local community groups. See the schedule here.

FREE YOGA: Free yoga at WSB sponsor SoundYoga, 10:30-11:45 am.

MENCHIE’S GRAND-OPENING CELEBRATION: Menchie’s Admiral (WSB sponsor; 2620 California SW) is throwing a party all weekend, and donating part of the proceeds to West Seattle Helpline and the West Seattle Food Bank. Freebies today include free T-shirts at 11 am, free frozen yogurt from 11 am–1 pm, free balloon artist 2-4 pm, free waffle bowls 6 pm-9 pm.

RIVERSIDE PLAZA CELEBRATION: Historic West Seattle fishing community celebrates the dedication of a memorial plaza at noon – see this story; all welcome, but you’re advised to carpool, since there’s limited parking.

YES, THAT’S A YACHT RACE: Part of Three Tree Point Yacht Club‘s annual Blake Island Race will be visible from West Seattle shores around midday.

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: Join the celebration at the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle (on SW Orchard north of Home Depot), 1 pm, with lion dance and firecrackers. Public invited! (The center is open noon-3 pm every Saturday.)

CAMP FIRE CANDY SALES: The annual three-week fundraising sale is under way, and the regional council sends word that a Camp Fire middle-school group from Westside School (WSB sponsor) will be selling candy at QFC in Westwood Village 2 pm-8 pm today. (You can also order candy online through the Camp Fire USA website.)

DERBY BRATS AT SOUTHGATE: The Seattle Derby Brats competition-level team (Galaxy Girls) is bouting Kitsap’s Derby Brats 5-7 pm at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center, 5-7 pm. The league includes girls 8 to 17 years old, competing at various levels. The Galaxy Girls are named after their coach, Betty Ford Galaxy, who is a Rat City Rollergirl skater. In addition to a “nominal fee” for admission, per organizers, there’s also a bake sale so the girls can raise money to travel to California for competition.

SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE GALA: The annual “Gifts from the Earth” event is tonight at SSCC, emceed by veteran journalist and TV host Margaret Larsonmore details here.

CD RELEASE PARTY: West Seattle musician Philip Mariconda celebrates the release of his double CD “Dream Chasers,” 7-9 PM, at the main social hall at WSUU, 7141 California SW. Free admission, and half the CD-sales proceeds will be donated to the White Center Food Bank. Samples of the music can be heard at www.philipmariconda.com.

West Seattle Bridge traffic alert: Eastbound Spokane St. Viaduct closure all weekend

(Refresh for latest “live” view of the eastbound WS Bridge looking toward the closure zone)
8:17 AM: If you’re heading out of West Seattle this weekend – remember that the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct section of the West Seattle Bridge is closed all weekend, scheduled to reopen by 5 am Monday. While the recent overnight closures have left the 1st Avenue South offramp open, this one is different – the city alert says,”During the weekend closure, either the First Avenue S off-ramp or the Fourth Avenue Loop ramp will remain open, permitting motorists to use the eastbound S Spokane Street lower roadway to reach either the I-5 ramps or Columbian Way S.”

(Added – midday backup, photo courtesy Lauren via Twitter)
11:17 AM UPDATE: We contacted SDOT about the lack of signage for this – and did get a reply that they’re aware of the situation and working to see what can be done. (added) Barry sent us this sign photo just after noon:

2:28 PM UPDATE: We included City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen on the e-mail thread too, since he is the chair of the Transportation Committee (not to mention, a West Seattleite). He is looking into it too and agrees the city “must do a better job.” Alternatives to suggest: Bus riders say they have gotten across the bridge in reasonable time; we had to go downtown earlier this afternoon and took Highland Park Way to the 1st Avenue South Bridge (go across West Marginal and follow the signs) to get to 99 without taking the WS Bridge, and that route was moving well.

3:09 PM UPDATE: We’ve just published a separate story – SDOT now says the work is done early and the bridge is reopening “for full use.” That eastbound section will close again midnight-5 am Monday morning for a little more work.

High-school basketball: Seattle Lutheran over Crosspoint

January 28, 2012 2:02 am
|    Comments Off on High-school basketball: Seattle Lutheran over Crosspoint
 |   West Seattle news

Two Friday night victories for Seattle Lutheran High School‘s varsity basketball teams – details and photos ahead:Read More

Off West Seattle shores, 2 more looks at what’s happening undersea

Local diver Laura James has shared two more video clips this week with a look at what’s happening underwater right off West Seattle shores. Above, another adventure in retrieving an abandoned battery offshore near Seacrest – as you can read here, the effort was complicated by the discovery of gunnels in it, so the battery was moved closer to shore, marked, and Laura writes that she’s hoping they decided to clear out on their own volition. Meantime, Laura also ventured back to a storm-drain outfall – to see what the recent stormy weather was sending into Puget Sound:

Her background story on that video – the “massive plume” in action just off Alki – is here. P.S. – Remember, you can take action to make those “plumes” less toxic to Puget Sound (which means, ultimately, to all of us).

Leadership-training opportunity for West Seattle teens – free!

January 27, 2012 9:35 pm
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 |   Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

Know a teenager who might be interested? The Rotary Club of West Seattle is getting the word out:

The West Seattle Rotary Club is identifying and nominating West Seattle qualified and interested West Seattle high school students (13-18) to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Seminar (at no cost to the student or school). The conference will be held at Pacific Lutheran University March 1-4, 2012.

RYLA is an intensive leadership training conference and workshop. The program has been carefully designed to provide basic leadership training and experience for young people from Western Washington and Canada. The program will include lectures and discussion periods with skilled and prominent leaders, as well as recreation, good food, and fellowship.

It’s a great way to further develop leadership talents and abilities, add to your resume, and broaden your horizons while having fun.

If you are an interested high-school student, please fill out an application by February 15th 2012. Applications may be sent via e-mail to tarambyrne@gmail.com or via fax at 206.932.2326. For more information visit rylanw.org

The application form can be found here.

Martin’s Way: A store with a dream, at Delridge and Findlay

Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If all goes well, a corner store will open next month at Delridge and Findlay.

Look closely at the upper right corner of the mural on its north side, and you will see its name: Martin’s Way.

As in, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And that is your first hint that this is not just intended to be a store.

From the outside, it doesn’t look like one, and that’s exactly what proprietor Vik Puri intends.

We sat down with him this week to talk about Martin’s Way, its beginnings, and eventual hopes.

This is a labor of love for Vik and his partner Nikhi. As he tells it, that’s about all they have to put into it right now. It’s been in the works a long time, with a shortage of capital. But on the other hand, there are partnerships at its foundation – including the nonprofit that operates a day care immediately behind the building, a source of neighborhood mystery and intrigue as it was built a few years back.

Read More

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in Admiral: New WSB sponsor; grand-opening celebration this weekend!

Today we’re welcoming new WSB sponsor Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, which invites you to its Grand Opening celebration tomorrow and Sunday. Here’s what Menchie’s would like you to know about them:

Menchie’s is a family-friendly venue in which kids, teens & adults can enjoy endless self-serve frozen yogurt combinations. Our commitment to providing an exceptional experience in a fun & safe environment leaves every customer with a smile!

Menchie’s is an original idea – one of mix, weigh & pay. Our store offers frozen yogurt (fro-yo) with a twist. We are a self-service, interactive, and completely customizable experience where customers dispense their own yogurt from a choice of more than 100 rotating flavors of yogurt (14 rotating daily flavors), and move through lines to select from more than 70 rotating “wet” and “dry” toppings. Customers are free to take as little or as much as they want before heading to the cashier station, where their unique dessert creations are weighed and they pay by the ounce. This self-serve, hands-on experience allows customers to choose their own portion, build a perfect mix, and achieve satisfaction every time!

Menchie’s provides an endless number of product combinations which allow customers to “build their own” dessert. Swirl options include nonfat, low-carb, no sugar added, gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, kosher, and tart. Topping options include fresh fruits, granolas, assorted nuts, candies, hot fudges, and chocolates.

Our store offers a safe and engaging hangout with both dine-in and outdoor space for family and friends to gather and enjoy a unique, family-centered experience. A private party room is available for reservation for events such as birthdays, team award celebrations, social gatherings, and business/association meetings. Menchie’s also sells cold beverages, pre-packed frozen yogurt to go, and logo-branded merchandise. It starts with an inviting design and a friendly welcome, adds choice, affordability, great taste and health, and culminates with SMILES all over!

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt is at 2620 California SW in West Seattle’s Admiral District, with grand-opening events – including freebies! – 11 am to 9 pm both days this weekend. Full details are on Facebook, facebook.com/menchiesadmiral.

We thank Menchie’s for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

Task force arrests East Coast fugitive in West Seattle

As Kari tells the story, what she saw at 8:45 this morning happened in a flash:

I was going south on Delridge between Thistle and Barton- two SUV’s pulled out in front of us without signals, went half a block, pulled over right without signals, and out popped undercover cops with rifles, forcing two men on the sidewalk to the ground.

We asked Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith what it was about. He says a regional task force arrested a “dangerous fugitive” on a warrant for robbery; they had “information from New Jersey that he was in Seattle.” That’s all the information we have so far; we’re seeking more.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Neighborhood warning signs

After two notes and one call in the past two days about those signs (and more like them), we had to go check them out. On Fauntleroy Way along a block-plus stretch south of the ferry dock, more than a dozen hand-lettered, orange-flagged signs are placed in planting strips on both sides of the street. Not only do they warn prospective criminals they’re being watched, they have a warning for solicitors, too:

We only found one person to ask about the signs; actually, he found us, driving up while our photographer was starting to take pictures, and asking what we were doing. He wouldn’t comment except to suggest that we check the “police reports” for something that happened recently. One incident is listed, a daytime burglary in the 9200 block of Fauntleroy Way on January 21st, with burglars not only ransacking the house and stealing multiple items of value, but also taking the victims’ car. The police report says someone saw a “white Dodge SUV pull into the driveway one house to the south of the victim house” that morning, with a passenger getting out and going “through the bushes into the yard of the victim’s house. After a short time the passenger got back into the vehicle and the vehicle slowly drove around the block as if they were looking at every house.” (The report did not indicate whether police were called at the time of that sighting.)

West Seattle businesses: QFCs apply for liquor permits

Been wondering if your favorite grocery store will sell liquor when privatization takes full effect? Since the initiative passed last November, we’ve been watching the liquor-license applications online to see when private retailers will start seeking licenses. This week, the first two in West Seattle have turned up: QFC is applying for “spirits retailer” licenses for the Junction and Westwood stores, part of a raft of permit applications for many QFC stores around the county (we only monitor King County applications, so we don’t know about the rest of the region). Fred Meyer stores, owned by Kroger like QFC, also are seeking “spirits retailer” licenses, including the closest one to West Seattle (1st Avenue South in Burien). Private retail sales of liquor will be legal in our state starting June 1st.

West Seattle Friday: Bridge closures; music; drama …

Busy morning, but before we get too much further into the day, a few notes for tonight from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

BRIDGE CLOSURES SCHEDULED TONIGHT: The schedules are always subject to last-minute change, but if you are driving late at night, be prepared – we were out around 9:30 last night and this double closure caused backups in both directions. The Fauntleroy Expressway Seismic Retrofit work is scheduled to close the west end of the bridge 9 pm-5 pm (details here); the EASTBOUND Spokane Street Viaduct will also be closed starting at 9 pm and this will last ALL WEEKEND. Details here.

DON’T ASK: Live music at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm.

‘GOT GLEE?’: At Fauntleroy Church, 7:30 pm, another “Sweet, Sweet Music” performance – this time, you’re invited to “share the fascinating journey of Bron Edwards’ musical life with friends and students.” Admission $5, $15/family, including dessert.

JAZZ AND BLUES: At Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm – Orville Johnson and Casey MacGill. Reserved table seats are $14; row seating $12 general/$10 seniors (discount if you make a reservation – e-mail kenyonhall@earthlink.net).

‘ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT’: 7:30 pm; it’s the second weekend for the new production at ArtsWest in The Junction.