West Seattle, Washington
12 Friday
Picnic at the Precinct isn’t just a chance to meet your local police – community reps are here too, like (from left) Cindi Barker, Karen Berge, and Deb Greer – they work together on West Seattle Be Prepared, and Deb and Karen founded the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network (you don’t have to be a blockwatch captain to be part of it). The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council is here too:
From left, president Richard Miller and board members Dot Beard and Betty Wiberg. (added) A while after our first photo, their table got a visit from two City Councilmembers, Tim Burgess and Sally Bagshaw:
(With all the precincts having these events today, the councilmembers divided up who went where.) Of course you can check out Seattle Police vehicles and equipment too – like Parking Enforcement:
And SWAT:
Even the basics – the Aggressive Driver Response Team car and motorcycle, and a standard-issue squad car:
And the police too. At left, operations Lt. Pierre Davis, and at right, precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, with Pete Spalding, who’s here on behalf of the West Seattle Food Bank, but is also on the Precinct Advisory Council:
Plus, a bouncy house, a barbecue, and entertainment – including live music with Maia Santell and House Blend:
This is happening in and around the Southwest Precinct, at Delridge and Webster (the latter street is blocked off for the occasion), till 4 pm.
Two more hours to get to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) for today’s arts/crafts sale – even some plants, if you check out Rose Jarvey and her kale out front (she can even share recipes). Vendors are inside as well as outside. Go see the miniature art of India Spence:
That photo is courtesy of her mom Machel Spence, whose photos you’ve seen here on WSB, as well as many other places, and she’s there too. Back outside, we met Danielle and David Robbins:
Besides arts and crafts, they also have a website – eatingthescreen.com. Go browse and have some coffee or tea, till 3.
The giant Highland Park Improvement Club multi-seller rummage/parking lot/yard sale is on now, with everything from classic garden advice (above) to Dan Mullins‘ traditional annual rubber-duckie giveaway (one per kid, while they last):
… to a $3 lunch, hot dog and drink …
… and you gotta get your Highland Park T-shirt!
HPIC is at 12th/Holden, and whether you need a $5 boom box or a pair of shoes or Halloween decor, you just might find it on somebody’s table there, till 3 pm today.
It’s a cross between a flea market and a sidewalk sale, as Admiral District Business Association president Parris Sadow (with son Quinn outside the family’s shop Atomic Boys) will be the first to tell you. Merchants were invited to bring out stuff that’s been in the back closet a while. Parris’s items include party supplies. Over at Alki Bike and Board, we found proprietor Stu Hennessey wheeling out “recycled bicycles”:
Deals so good, we almost sprung for one, but then somebody texted us about a car crash and we had to move on. Not before, however, we said hi to Flower Lab proprietor Wendy Damoth:
Her items include everything from that metal heron to Christmas bric-a-brac (really, there’s no better word). And you can even get snacks at today’s sale – Chris was outside Zatz A Better Bagel (WSB sponsor):
He’s selling treats including bags of bagel chips, plus cookies and mandelbrodt. Other stores we noticed participating include West Seattle Fabric Company and even tables on the Heartland Café/Shipwreck Tavern block. This is all on till about 2 pm today.
Just as another fun-filled weekend is beginning – take a minute to check your schedule for next weekend, to and see if you can spare a few hours 
to help make the sixth annual Delridge Day festival happen one week from today at Delridge Community Center/Park. Organizers are circulating one last call for volunteers; they’re all volunteers too – including members of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, which took over the festival last year when previous organizers were unable to keep it going. Next Saturday’s fun, 11 am-3 pm, includes the Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor) skate contest, live music, food trucks, and a kids’ zone (co-sponsored by WSB), and dozens of vendors. All they need now is some more help for setup and cleanup – 8:30-10:30 am and/or 3-4:30 pm – if you can help with either, please e-mail Tanya ASAP, ocean_bee@hotmail.com. See you there!
Thanks to local artist Stani Meredith for the sunset view from Lincoln Park last night. Lincoln Park is also where today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar begin:
BREATHE DEEP SEATTLE 5K: Last-minute registration is under way right now for this 5K run/walk in Lincoln Park, benefiting the LUNGevity Foundation. The runners/walkers head out at 9:30 am from the starting line near upper-park Shelter 1. Course map and more info here.
ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR AT C & P COFFEE: 9 am-3 pm, coffee-shop shopping! 5612 California SW.
GIANT GARAGE SALE: More than 20 sellers at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th and Holden), 9 am-3 pm.
ADMIRAL DISTRICT SIDEWALK SALE: Wander the district for flea-market-style sales, 10 am-2 pm.
K-5 STEM AT BOREN PLAYDATE: Going to the new school this fall? Meet other families at the playground south of Lincoln Park for a playdate this morning, 10 am.
BLOWOUT PLANT SALE: 11 am-3 pm, north end of South Seattle Community College campus (6000 16th SW). Details here.
STEAK SANDWICHES AT THRIFTWAY: Barbecue lunch, cooked up outside the south door at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), starting at 11 am – proceeds go to the Humane Society.
VIETNAMESE STORY TIME: 11:30-noon at Delridge Library (Delridge/Brandon) – more info here.
MAGNOLIA CRAWFORD’S SWAN SONG: It’s Magnolia’s last drag brunch at Skylark Café and Club before moving to L.A., noon today, tickets still available per a tweet from Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
PICNIC AT THE PRECINCT: Meet your Southwest Precinct police while enjoying food and music at a street-fair-style celebration on SW Webster, alongside the precinct, west of Delridge, 1-4 pm. Come say hi to community-group reps too – and to us; we’ll be there covering it live.
TOUR THE LIGHTHOUSE: When August is over, so is Alki Point Lighthouse tour season – 1-4 pm weekend afternoons till the end of the month.
OUTWEST BAR’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY: Today is the “official” anniversary day, and special celebrations are planned through the night. Open at 4 pm (California/Brandon); here’s the preview published here a week ago.
‘IRON MAN’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Make a night of it in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) at 4410 California SW – starting with live music and continuing with “Iron Man” on the big wall screen at dusk. WSB is one of tonight’s co-sponsors (as well as media sponsor for the entire series) and we’ve put together the raffle prizes to raise money for charity, including a bag of big fun with vintage comic books, classic candy donated by Atomic Boys, gift certificates donated by Full Tilt Ice Cream and West Seattle Bowl, and more.
LIVE MUSIC AND OTHER NIGHTLIFE: Sasha Hromyk at C & P Coffee, 6-8 pm … Marley’s Ghost at Kenyon Hall, 7 pm … Candylandia, the monthly dance party at the Benbow Room, 9 pm …
These are just some of the highlights … lots more on the calendar, for today/tonight and months ahead!
A busy few hours so far late Friday/early Saturday for local police and firefighters:
(First two photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Most recently, Beach Drive near the Lincoln Park Way intersection at Lowman Beach had two crash calls within minutes in the 6700-7000 blocks, around quarter till 1. The former was where WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams found the scene above. No official details available at this hour but, per scanner traffic, authorities had to call for cleanup help, because of a 30-foot spill of fluids from the crashed car.
Earlier, around 10 pm, Delridge was closed for a while at Cloverdale because of a two-vehicle crash:
Barbara shared the photo. We also are still trying to reach police for official comment on this, but she said it appeared one woman was being taken to the hospital.
The Feedback Lounge is a hunk-a-hunk-a-burnin’ musical love for The King tonight, including Roger Anderson – in our video clip above – all the way from Bonney Lake. It’s the second annual El-Fest at The Feedback, organized by Hellon Wheels, who’s in the photo below with Feedback co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert AND her Elvis memorabilia, including an essay she wrote about him in 5th grade!
Not only is The Feedback hosting tribute singers tonight, but they’re also offering Elvis-inspired food and drink specials. This time of year is prime time for Presley tributes, of course, because the anniversary of his death in 1977 at the early age of 42 is coming up – August 16th.
ADDED: From WSB contributing journalist Nick Adams, two views of Bret Wiggins‘ performance, the fan …
… and the spangles:
Wiggins – a West Seattleite – won this year’s Elvis Invitationals.
Another fine Friday night of music at Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) – The Haggis Brothers were this year’s second act in the four-show summer outdoor concert series at The Mount, bringing along their down-home tunes. Two more Friday night shows remain in the series – the 85th Street Big Band next week (August 17th) with a classic-car show that night too; and Rainbow of Hawaii on August 24th. Music starts at 6 pm (free), with dinner on sale at 5:30 – either the full-meal deal (tacos next time, jerk-chicken sandwiches on 8/24) or hamburgers/hot dogs.
If you missed the announcement yesterday … or forgot … here’s a reminder before it’s too late: The city says residential recycling that was missed Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday LAST week because of the Waste Management strike will be caught up TOMORROW (Saturday), so be sure your cart is at the curb (along with any overflow). And yes, they say, even with that, if your regular pickup is then coming up this M/T/Th, they will be back again on the regular day.
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Rick Cook, aka the “Psychic Barber” (per the iconic neon in the window of his shop, featured here in 2009), is moving operations – another West Seattle business displaced by development.
Rick says he recently received 30 days notice to vacate the 19-year home of his Rick’s Barber Shop at 5251 California, to make way for a future project.
His landlord Hasan Ocak, who also owns the adjacent restaurant Ephesus, told WSB he isn’t yet ready to discuss his plans for the new development (a preliminary city filing mentions a 3-story mixed-use building, which is the height limit for the zoning on that site).
But Rick already knows where he’s going – someplace that’s both new and old:
(Photo of Rachel Marie and firefighters during this morning’s smoke incident, by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
1:55 PM: This morning’s West Seattle Water Taxi trouble (WSB coverage here) led us to ask about the status of the new boats that have long been in the pipeline. West Seattle’s County Councilmember, and Ferry District Board chair, Joe McDermott replied that the money for replacement boats is in this year’s budget: “80 percent of the funds are federal grant monies, and the required 20 percent match is from ferry district funds. Total cost for two boats is estimated to be $10 million to $13 million.” He says the Marine Division of the county Transportation Department is “taking the lead,” with a project-management firm hired and a request for proposals/qualifications under development, to go public by early next year, with “the new boats in service probably 2014.”
3:41 PM: The county subsequently has sent a news release on the same topic – see it here.
4:06 PM: Rachel Marie, by the way, has just been cleared to return to service, says the county, and will be back on the West Seattle run as of the 4:15 pm departure from downtown. Councilmember McDermott says, ” Some excellent work all day by the Marine Division. My appreciation to them and all of our riders for their understanding and cooperation.”
From Marybeth Turner at SDOT: City crews are about to start work to seal cracks on 13 stretches of roadway through the city, and two West Seattle streets are on the list: Alki Avenue between 59th and 63rd, and SW Barton between California and 35th. The work, Turner says, “will reduce the amount of water that seeps under the pavement during the year causing potholes and other roadway damage.” No exact dates – the crew will start in North Seattle next Tuesday and move south. No street closures are planned, but SDOT expects some lane closures and parking restrictions.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project is unmistakably into its end stage – and “it may look done to the public” – but it’s not done, and there’s still a lot going on, according to the project team.
We heard from them at noontime today during the final meeting of a community task force set up to address communications challenges after the February closure that caught many by surprise.
So there’s still no date for the opening of the new 1st Avenue South on-/offramp, but project manager Stuart Goldsmith told the task force he expects they’ll be able to establish one “in 10 days or so.” Once they know the date the ramp will be ready, they’ll plan a ribboncutting for that date and get it open to the public ASAP, promises SDOT.
So why is this opening so much later than originally estimated? We asked that question, and Goldsmith gave a detailed reply. Believe it or not, the project is under budget and the contractor is still within the amount of “working days” in the contract – the explanation, ahead:
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Nine months ago, they saddled up in the loft at Mission. Three months later, they put on a launch party that soared through the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ. And last night, the ringleaders of the arts-advocacy posse The West presided over its first fully public event, a West Seattle Art Walk afterparty:
Photojournalist Nick Adams was there for WSB, under the lights and amid the fog of the Heartland Café‘s legendary Benbow Room. Hobosexual was the headliner (top photo); 11 more scenes ahead:
Might be the busiest summer Friday yet. Because of this morning’s breaking news, we’re sending you to the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar for full information on TWENTY options for your Friday – including The Haggis Brothers at The Mount, THREE outdoor movies (including the rescheduled Thrive benefit), E-Fest at The Feedback, Rockypalooza at The Admiral … On the calendar page, click the “plus” on the right side of any line to expand the entry. For full details from there, including a map, click “read more” at lower right. Have fun!
(TOPLINE: Water Taxi evacuated 7:30 am after smoke led captain to return it to dock. Service resuming at 11:30 from Pier 50 with Melissa Ann)
(Added, photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB – firefighters on board Rachel Marie)
FIRST REPORT, 7:38 AM: Just got an alert that the West Seattle Water Taxi is having mechanical trouble and has returned to Seacrest. Jana, who was on the sailing, tweeted that a “strong smell (was) emanating from the engine room.”
Oooops.
#RachelMarie is returning to alki dock. Strong smell emanating from engine room.@westseattleblog— Jana Uyeda (@jana_obscura) August 10, 2012
And now the Fire Department is headed there as a fire response. More to come.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
7:45 AM UPDATE: About half the units have been canceled, as they have determined it’s not a major fire after all, but what’s there is still causing a traffic jam-up at Seacrest in addition to having interrupted Water Taxi service.
7:50 AM UPDATE: And yes, if you’ve heard a helicopter, it’s related – at least one media chopper was checking out the situation. Per scanner, we’re hearing that they have not found flames – just some “burned wires” so far. Updated a few minutes later – apparent “burned-out alternator.” A city fireboat is at Seacrest too – just added photo from WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli.
8:05 AM UPDATE: Harbor Avenue remains blocked around Seacrest. Thanks to Toni for this overview:
No indication of injuries at this point. Update regarding service, from Christopher:
Rachel Marie captain Tara Rochester tells me that they had just departed Seacrest for downtown when the Rachel Marie started to fill with smoke. They returned to the dock. Everyone got off OK. One of the engines was on fire. Rochester says no replacement vessel available now but they’ll probably have something worked out for the afternoon.
8:20 AM UPDATE: April, who’s on board the 37 after having been evacuated from the Water Taxi when it returned, says she and others then had to wait to get through on Harbor. In comments, Paul says the road has just reopened, and WSB’s Patrick Sand at the scene has just confirmed that.
8:27 AM UPDATE: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore has briefed the media at the scene. He says captain Rochester did all the right things in getting Rachel Marie back to the dock so everyone could get out safely. The fire was confined to the engine room. TRAFFIC UPDATE – Patrick reports that while traffic is being allowed to use Harbor going TOWARD the bridge, the westbound direction toward Seacrest is still blocked at Fairmount.
9:03 AM UPDATE: Harbor Avenue has reopened, according to police. Here’s our video of the briefing by SFD’s Moore:
Water Taxi management says via a text alert, “Plans for repairs and resuming service are under way.”
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
10:38 AM UPDATE: Forwarded by County Councilmember Joe McDermott, who chairs the board that oversees the King County Ferry District, including Water Taxi matters, an update from Paul Brodeur, county Marine Division director:
This morning’s incident on the RM was a failed alternation on the port generator.
This is a small (one gallon milk jug size) 12 volt electrical unit that charges the batteries which start the prime mover. Just to put it in perspective, your car has one of these alternators which also charges your cars battery. This failure caused smoke -NO FIRE – When the captain was notified of the smoke, she took appropriate action and the trained crew responded by securing fuel and air to the engineroom.She secured the vessel at the dock and the crew debarked the passengers with no injuries. The Us Coast Guard and the Seattle fire department responded and Seattle fire provided assistance.
The USCG is currently aboard and taking crew statements. We are awaiting their investigation and permission to move the vessel back to pier 50 at which time service can resume using the Melissa Ann.
11:14 AM UPDATE: The Rachel Marie has headed downtown (per MarineTraffic.com and a sighting from Sunny near the pier). We’ll update when we see/hear Melissa Ann taking its place. (A few minutes later) From Councilmember McDermott: “We are notifying passengers that we will resume West Seattle service with the 11:30 a.m. Pier 50 sailing. Our current plan is to repair the Rachel Marie this afternoon in time for the afternoon/evening sailings.”
4:10 PM UPDATE: Jeff Switzer with King County DOT confirms that Rachel Marie has been fixed and cleared to return to service, and should be leaving downtown around 4:15 pm.
So far, a relatively quiet week in West Seattle Crime Watch reports … four reports to share, and a reminder about your chance to meet local police at the Southwest Precinct tomorrow. Read on:Read More
The Admiral District Business Association invites you to come on over and wander their shops this Saturday (August 11th), 10 am-2 pm, for flea-market-style shopping. First time the recently organized Admiral merchants’ group is trying a sidewalk sale like this, so as you browse and buy, let them know what you think!
Making an early stop on the West Seattle Art Walk, we found a bake sale! Parents and students from Schmitz Park Elementary are outside Carmilia’s tonight, raising money for the 4th grade trip to Islandwood. (Inside Carmilia’s, you’ll find artist Randi Rohde and her photography of theatrical vignettes featuring perfume bottles.)
Also in The Junction, Wallflower Custom Framing is debuting a new show:
Northwest photographer David Atkinson is there tonight; his work will be up for about a month. More to come – and if you’re out on the Art Walk tonight, check out the free tickets for the 9 pm afterparty at the Benbow Room, with Tyson Meade, The Grizzled Mighty, and Hobosexual.
8:16 PM UPDATE: We stopped by the Benbow to peek in on preps – here’s the stage where the music (MC’d by Brent Amaker!) will happen later:
Back on the Art Walk route – two more stops in the Admiral District. First, at Atomic Boys, artists Quinn Sadow and Chance Williams:
They’re showing their drawings tonight. And over at Mind Unwind, living art:
We found Herban Flora outside – featuring Rachel Grossman and Holly McNeill, whose art is focused on plants – succulents, mosses, and air plants.
They’ve been playing together for decades – and tonight, the folk duo of Reilly and Maloney are onstage alongside Hiawatha Community Center‘s east lawn, for the third show in the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series. They’re just wrapping up a break between their two sets – so you still have time to drop by. It’s free and casual – bring your own blanket, chair, water, snacks; also come say hi to ANA reps and some of us co-sponsors at the tables east of the crowd. Next week’s concert is down the hill at Alki – The Braxmatics, 6:30 pm Thursday night, August 16th; rest of the series is listed here.
FIRST REPORT, 3:48 PM: Just announced by Seattle Public Utilities – If the Waste Management strike caused you to miss a recycling pickup on Monday 7/30, Tuesday 7/31, or Thursday 8/2, you will get a catch-up recycling pickup THIS SATURDAY (8/11).
ADDED 5:26 PM: Susan Stoltzfus from SPU answered a couple questions we sent her after they were raised in the comment section, regarding next week’s schedule, plus a question regarding whether the catchup pickups are costing the city extra – and, she adds a reminder:
Regular collections for all customers are expected next week for garbage, food and yard waste, and recycling.
Our contract with Waste Management does not pay for overtime for drivers.
We would also like to remind your readers that the performance fees being assessed will be coming back to customers affected by the strike. We still have to get the total of the fees and finalize an equitable way to distribute back to the customers. Likely they will see a credit on a future utility bill.
(West Seattle Fabric Company’s Monica Skov and daughter, outside WSFC’s future sewing-studio site)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After less than two years in business, West Seattle Fabric Company proprietor Monica Skov has learned what might be the most important lesson an entrepreneur can learn.
Listen to your customers. And respond.
Hers have been asking for things that just wouldn’t fit into her cozy retail space at 2210 California SW in the Admiral District – an area for open sewing (your machine or theirs), for parties, for quilting.
Now, she’s found a place where that can all happen, a second site that will become the West Seattle Fabric Company “Creative Sewing Studio” (working title, so that might change). The space is at 5910 California SW, in the former Emerald Spiral space in the California/Juneau business node (directly across from Pan Africa Grill).
We talked with Monica there this morning, just as remodeling work was about to begin:
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