Just before we get to the long Labor Day weekend, a busy Thursday in West Seattle – here are highlights from the WSB calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: From our night-by-night/day-by-day list, southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed again overnight, 9 pm-5 am, and northbound 1st is closed at (surface) Spokane, 10 pm-5 am. Reminder – the new 1st Avenue South ramp to/from the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is scheduled to open early TOMORROW (Friday) morning.

TRAFFIC/WATER TAXI ALERT: Seahawks play at home tonight – which means not only lots of traffic in SODO/Pioneer Square, but also extended West Seattle Water Taxi sailings (details here).

PRE-BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENTS:
-Barbecue @ Roxhill Elementary School, 4:30 pm
-Barbecue @ Seattle Lutheran High School, 5 pm
-Barbecue @ Sanislo Elementary, 5:30-7 pm
-Open house/ice-cream social @ Gatewood Elementary (times/grades here)
-Orientation/ice-cream social @ Denny International Middle School, 6:30-8 pm
(Any we missed? Let us know and we’ll add!)

COMMUNITY KAYAK TOUR OF DUWAMISH RIVER: Tour with Alki Kayak Tours (WSB sponsor) and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. Tonight’s tour leaves 6 pm from Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park. Details, map here.

SHOP LATE THURSDAYS – GRAND FINALE: 6-9 pm, go shop The Junction for the special summer hours’ last hurrah. Who’s part of it, you ask? All listed here.

MARRIAGE-EQUALITY FUNDRAISER AT OUTWEST: 6-9 pm, the Campaign to Approve Referendum 74 has a fundraiser/end-of-summer party at West Seattle’s OutWest Bar – full details (and pre-registration if you’re interested) in our calendar listing.

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA – GRAND FINALE: Go enjoy Curtains For You, free, on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, 6:30 pm – it’s the last of this year’s six concerts presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (with co-sponsors including WSB). All ages invited, and as announced last night by ANA, they’re offering free face-painting and popsicles! Bring your own chair/blanket.

FREE HEALTH TALK AND QI-GONG CLASS: 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), details here.

CITY DATA SERVICES OUTAGE STARTS TONIGHT: If you use City of Seattle online services, remember that much of it will be offline starting tonight through Labor Day (as explained here), so pay bills, do searches, etc. by 5 pm today. (This also affects some offline services that are dependent on city data services.)

REGISTERED FOR THE CAR (AND MOTORCYCLE) SHOW YET? While you can decide at the last minute to participate in the West Seattle Junction Car Show (co-sponsored by WSB) on September 16th, to get the early registration deal, your mail-in entry has to be postmarked by Saturday. Motorcycles/mopeds are welcome this year too. Find the rules/forms here!