month : 07/2013 326 results

Your move! ArtsWest game under way in advance of ‘Chess’

July 3, 2013 3:55 am
|    Comments Off on Your move! ArtsWest game under way in advance of ‘Chess’
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(“Chess” rehearsal photo, courtesy ArtsWest)
The young actors in ArtsWest‘s Summer Apprenticeship Program are getting ready to open this year’s show, the musical “Chess,” two weeks from tonight. And as befits a production centered on a game, ArtsWest itself is inviting the community to play one, which they describe as a treasure hunt of sorts – “Find the Queen.” They’re posting a clue a day on the ArtsWest Facebook page, and your job is to figure out who/what/where the Queen is – AW says “it’s a person, location, or thing” – then take a picture of yourself with “the Queen” and post it on the AW FB page. First correct post wins the prize, which is two tickets to “Chess” and two 2013-2014 season subscriptions. If you’re just now hearing about this – catch up by checking out the first clue here and the second clue here; watch for the third clue sometime today here. (And find out more about “Chess” at ArtsWest, running July 17-27, by going here.)

Free football! Chief Sealth to host 7-on-7 passing tournament


(Click image for PDF of full-size flyer)
Though football season is still a ways off, teams are getting ready, and Chief Sealth International High School‘s head coach Luther Carr III is inviting you to a tournament he’s excited about:

We are inviting the whole community to come out and support/watch some of the best high-school football teams in the Seattle area compete in our inaugural 7 on 7 Passing League Tournament. Free to the public. This event is an opportunity for the teams listed to work on their pass offense and pass defense. The line-up is very competitive. Top teams include: Mount Si, Shelton, Woodinville, Issaquah, Liberty, and of course our local favorite, Chief Sealth.

Also: Quincy Carter, QB for Kent-Meridian HS, is considered one of the best athletes in the state, and Kentwood is a perennial powerhouse. Ballard HS is coached by former Kennedy HS and NFL alum Joey Thomas. It will be a great day of football and fun.

This is all happening at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, across from Sealth) 8 am-5 pm Saturday, July 13th.

West Seattle Little League teams play again Wednesday in District 7 Tournament at Bar-S

July 2, 2013 10:13 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Little League teams play again Wednesday in District 7 Tournament at Bar-S
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Jaden Sadis coming home, congratulated by Bowie Hichens, who was going up to bat)
Tomorrow night, you can go to Bar-S Playfield and cheer on either (or both) the West Seattle Little League teams playing in the 9-10 and 11-12 District 7 Tournament games that WSLL is hosting there all week. Both won this weekend; Laurie Rasmussen shares the wrapup of the 9-10 game, along with the photo above:

West Seattle Little League 9/10 All Stars team won their first tournament game Sunday night against Renton, 19-6. It was a close game in the heat of the day for both teams. However, in the fourth inning WSLL batted through the entire lineup and scored 6 runs. While in the fifth inning, things really heated up for Westside. With three players on base , Jaden Sadis hit a 3 RBI triple for Westside, followed by Dylan Mastroianni hitting a triple and finishing that inning up 19-6. Westside was able to hold off Renton in the bottom of the fifth inning with some great pitching by Jaden Sadis to end the game.

West Seattle hit through the line up twice in the game, every player on the team was on base at least once and had a total of 17 hits! Way to go, Westside. Next game is on Wednesday at Bar S fields at 6:00, playing South Highline National.

Also at 6 pm tomorrow, the WSLL 11-12 team plays Pac West at 6 pm, after winning their own game against Renton on Sunday, 13-12. Details are on the WSLL website, where you’ll find brackets and other info about the tournament as it continues through Saturday – everyone’s welcome to stop by and root for the young athletes playing their hearts out.

West Seattle biznote: Swedish Automotive adds solar power

Almost three years ago, when we toured the then-newly built facility that Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor) was about to move into, we reported on its environmentally friendly features – including the potential for adding solar-power system in the future. Now, that future is here, with a 9.6-kilowatt system being installed – Swedish Automotive shared the photo with that news, and, as noted in a detailed report on their website, with the hope of more to come. See more photos in this album linked from the Swedish Facebook page.

Update: 2 in custody after reported carjacking in West Seattle

4:55 PM: Also happening right now: A police response in Highland Park. We’d been monitoring this just before the aforementioned port rescue broke out. Per scanner traffic, it started as a report of a possible carjacking, but then the story got more complicated. They’ve been searching for suspects in the Highland Park Elementary vicinity. Police explain it via Twitter this way: “Officers investigating very strange carjacking report in West Seattle. Started off as report of 6 ppl fighting in 3800 blk of Delridge……suspect fled the scene, but later called 911 himself, spoke briefly with an operator and hung up……officers are now looking for the suspect and a white Toyota Corolla.” Scanner indicates there may be a South Park address associated with this.

5:40 PM: No official updates; a WSB crew just checked the Highland Park vicinity where police were earlier, nothing happening.

5:57 PM UPDATE: Via Twitter, SPD now says, “Officers have taken two people into custody in connection with the carjacking in W. Seattle. More details when we sort all this out.”

LATE-NIGHT UPDATE: No official update yet, but activity into the evening in Highland Park may have been related; we’ll be checking back in the morning.

Update: Seattle Fire rescuers bring down ailing crane operator at West Seattle’s Terminal 5

(Seattle Fire Department photo, shared via Twitter)
4:45 PM: Big emergency response headed to the 3400 block of West Marginal Way right now, with word that rescue help might be needed on a crane. This is at the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5, a possible medical emergency. More to come.

4:54 PM UPDATE: You might see a TV helicopter related to this. No word yet on how the rescue’s going.

(Photo by Mike Scharer)
4:59 PM UPDATE: Rescuers have made it up onto a crane. They say via radio they have found “an adult male, conscious, alert, stable” who might be doing well enough to bring down via elevator rather than in a more precarious way.

5:03 PM UPDATE: Sounds like they plan to bring him down in a basket instead.

(Seattle Fire Department photo, shared via Twitter)
6:28 PM: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore told us at the scene that the crane op, in his 60s, apparently had heat exhaustion. More when our crew gets back.

(Video by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
7:43 PM: Added video of Moore’s briefing for reporters at the scene (including ours), and photos. The patient was brought down from 140 feet up, he said, and at last report is in stable condition.

West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 reader reports, including warning from a parent

Two reader reports this afternoon – starting with this one from a concerned parent, which might not have been a crime but was enough to raise her suspicions and get the word out:

I am writing to report a suspicious person who tried to solicit a conversation with my 13-year-old daughter after following her several blocks and passing her in his car 5 times while she was out walking our dog. Starting in the area of the 4000 block of SW Charlestown St. and contact made on the 3400 block of 38th Ave SW. Police were contacted and report filed.

Description:
late 20s/early 30s
white/caucasian male with glasses
normal build (unknown height)
dark or brown mid-length hair
driving small silver 4 door car

She was walking a 100+ pound dog! Gutsy!!

Also: Rachelle reports a search in her neighborhood, the 4800 block of Delridge Way, early this morning:

I woke up at 3 am 7/2/13 to my dogs barking in the backyard and flashes of light coming through the bedroom windows. I went to the front door and saw police searching outside our house, neighboring houses, and throughout the block. I asked what was going on and they said there was someone breaking into cars/houses and they had just jumped the fence into our backyard. He advised us to stay inside the house. Shortly after, a K9 unit arrived, so they asked us to bring our dogs inside. They searched around our house and block until about 5 am at which time they came and told us they had finished their search. The suspects had gotten away, probably headed south. They said the call came in when the suspects had broken into a garage north of our house. Apparently, there were 2 of them and they were seen with a yellow crowbar.

As much as stuff like this sakes me up a bit, I am so thankful that at least we have the officers in the SW Precinct. They always respond so quickly and are very thorough in their searches/investigations. Their kindness, communication with us, advice and understanding always helps put us at ease (if such a thing exists in a situation like this). This isn’t our first rodeo with events such as these in the neighborhood. Its reassuring to know they’re looking out. Hopefully they catch these guys. Just wanted to make the community aware. Be safe, folks.

We haven’t heard directly from any of the reported break-in victims but we do see a police auto-tweet about a middle-of-the-night break-in report in the 4700 block of 25th SW.

ADDED: After publishing this, we received two notes possibly related to the aforementioned incident:

Read More

West Seattle 4th of July: Late lights at three city-owned fields

Again this year, Seattle Parks will leave the lights on at synthetic-turf ballfields around the city to discourage fireworks. We’ve excerpted its citywide announcement to include the West Seattle fields it mentions (no WS fields will be turned off at 10):

Seattle Parks and Recreation will activate the field lighting on synthetic ballfields throughout the city on the evening of Thursday, July 4, to protect the synthetic surfaces. The ballfield lights will be turned on at 8:45 p.m. and will be turned off at either 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., depending on the field.

The lights will be turned on to discourage the use of fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle and will destroy the artificial turf on the fields. The approximate replacement cost for synthetic carpet based on per average full size field (110,000 square feet) is $1.2 million. All the fields have been renovated in the past several years and benefit field users including soccer, football, baseball, Ultimate Frisbee and lacrosse.

The following fields will be turned off at 11 p.m.:
· Delridge Playfield, 4458 Delridge Way SW

· Hiawatha Playfield, 2700 California Ave. SW

· Walt Hundley Playfield, 6920 34th Avenue SW

For additional questions or information please contact Seattle Parks and Recreation Security Manager Corby Christensen at 206-510-2315.

See the entire citywide list in the full Parks announcement published here.

West Seattle Grand Parade 2013 updates: Grand Marshal, Rummel Award winners; Hi-Yu request

Three updates today as the 2013 West Seattle Grand Parade, presented by American Legion Post 160, gets closer (11 am Saturday, July 20th). First, parade coordinators have announced the two community honorees who will lead the parade:

ANN ADKINS CHOSEN AS GRAND MARSHAL: Generations of swimmers at the West Seattle Y (longtime WSB sponsor) know Ann, who just retired after a very long run as its aquatics director, according to Josh Sutton from the Y:

During her almost forty years, tens of thousands of kids in West Seattle learned to swim and be safe around the water, thousands of seniors engaged in water exercise classes that kept them healthy and active, and hundreds of youth competed on the Y swim team, took lifeguarding classes and started their first job under Ann’s tutelage.

Throughout, Ann has been an indefatigable leader, working within the community, the Y and with other organizations like the Arthritis Foundation and the Red Cross to ensure highly trained staff and volunteers leading high-quality programs at the Y. She does this quietly and without much need for fanfare. In addition, Ann and her husband Ron have lived in West Seattle since the 1970’s, raised their kids and grandkids, just west of the Junction.

We are so happy that Ann has been chosen as the Grand Marshal, and Y staff & volunteers look forward to celebrating with her as we walk the parade route this year!

JUDY PICKENS RECEIVES RUMMEL TROPHY: The Orville Rummel Award for Outstanding Service to the Community (named after the parade’s founder and explained in this 2010 WSB report) goes to Judy Pickens:

Judy’s decades of community service and advocacy have included a longrunning project bringing together education and environmental stewardship – Salmon in the Classroom, working with hundreds of local students and teachers every year (despite government budget cuts for program support) to raise salmon fry at schools, later released into Fauntleroy Creek, where Judy has long been a watershed steward, which in turn involves many other types of volunteer work. The other side of the salmon lifecycle sees her gathering volunteers to watch for returning spawners in the fall, after a popular annual drumming event at the creek overlook to call them home. Judy also currently edits the Fauntleroy Community Association newsletter, which is a beefy look at community news, the type that many community councils used to produce but seldom do any more.

Congratulations to Ann and Judy, who will be officially honored pre-parade during the West Seattle Hi-Yu Concert in the Park two weeks from tonight – 7 pm Tuesday, July 16th — on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center.

Speaking of Hi-Yu:

HI-YU SEEKING JUNIOR COURT ‘ALUMS’ FOR PARADE: That’s this year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival float, peering into the “Alki Deep.” In this year’s Grand Parade, a special group will march, according to this announcement Diane Szender asked us to share:

**** Calling all Past Hi-Yu Junior Court members ****

Come join in the tradition of carrying the Hi-Yu Banner and the Business Sponsor banner in front of the float during the West Seattle American Legion parade on Saturday, July 20th at 11 am. We’d love to have you participate in Hi-Yu reds and white, wearing your tiaras and Hi-Yu sashes. If you’d like to join in, please call 206 932-1704 for more details.

More parade previews in the days ahead! It starts at 11 am July 20th from California/Lander in the Admiral District, proceeding down California to SW Edmunds in The Junction (see the route on the parade website) – following the second annual West Seattle Float Dodger 5K. The parade also continues to welcome donations to help defray the costs of permits and signage.

West Seattle Cyclery: Bike shop gearing up in The Junction

The bicycle boom is coming to The Junction: Just revealed via the windows at 4508 California SW (the ex-Sweetie storefront), West Seattle Cyclery will open there soon. We talked there with proprietor Brad Loetel as well as exchanging e-mail, in which he explained:

West Seattle Cyclery will be a full-service bike shop offering retail bike sales, bike repair, and bike fitting. Our mission at West Seattle Cyclery is to have our customers love cycling as much as we do. We will support our customers in that effort by hiring dedicated, smart, and professional staff who will use their knowledge and experience to ensure the customer purchases the bike and equipment which best meets their needs.

The owner and employees are from West Seattle so we have a strong desire to make sure we provide the West Seattle community with exceptional customer service. We have been waiting for a space in the Junction for quite a while now because we know the Junction is the hub of West Seattle. The development currently going on around the Junction will no doubt bring changes but I think it provides more opportunities for local business to grow and be prosperous.

Brad says the shop will open in phases over the next several weeks – the repair area will be ready first; the sales area will follow.

(Thanks to Amanda for the sign-spotting tip!)

WestSide Baby: Big diaper delivery today; ‘Stuff the Bus’ July 21st

July 2, 2013 10:42 am
|    Comments Off on WestSide Baby: Big diaper delivery today; ‘Stuff the Bus’ July 21st
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Big news for WestSide Baby as this year’s “Stuff the Bus” mega-diaper-drive approaches (Sunday, July 21st). Today its warehouse is receiving a million diapers, the first of two committed shipments by the National Diaper Bank Network, for WS Baby, partner Eastside Baby Corner, and the Tri-Cities Diaper Bank. The WS Baby announcement includes this reminder of why they are desperately needed:

King County reports over 10,000 children* under the age of three living in poverty. The diapering needs for these children is 22 million diapers per year. Unfortunately, this incredible need forces many families to choose between buying diapers and paying bills. Diapers are not covered by any government aid program, including food stamps and Women, Infant and Children (WIC) programs. Struggling students or working parents most often must bring a daily supply of diapers when dropping their children off at daycare.

According to Joanne Goldblum, Executive Director of the National Diaper Bank Network, “Children can miss out on early childhood opportunities if parents cannot supply diapers, which most centers require. Though Early Head Start programs are mandated to provide diapers, the budgets they receive from the federal government are often too tight to allow for that. These programs sometimes turn to diaper banks, community-based non-profits dedicated to keeping every baby clean, dry and healthy.”

Big donations like this are only a drop in the diaper bucket – your help matters in a big way, too. You can donate to WestSide Baby in a variety of ways detailed on their website – and watch for diaper drives big and small, including at the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade this Thursday and then the big Stuff the Bus collection on July 21st, 10 am-2 pm in the parking lot of AmericanWest Bank.

West Seattle 4th of July: Holiday page up and running

July 2, 2013 9:55 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle 4th of July: Holiday page up and running
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

If you’re checking to see what’s happening on the holiday this Thursday, our West Seattle 4th of July page is now up and running – see it here, or find it on the row of navigation tabs beneath the sunset-photo header on every WSB page. The page includes details about the traditional West Seattle events happening again this year, including the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade on Thursday morning. The page is a work in progress until the holiday arrives, so if you have an event, or restaurant/store hours, to add, just let us know – thank you!

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday, 2 days till 4th

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:07 AM: The holiday approaches! So does the weekend 99 closure – Battery Street Tunnel to Valley St., Friday night to Monday morning. Before that, there are holiday transit notes on our newly published West Seattle 4th of July page.

9:35 AM UPDATE: Thanks to Kay for the tip about emergency vehicles on the eastbound bridge. There was a short-lived crash call, already closed, and even as we type, someone has called to tell us the scene is clearing.

6:32 PM UPDATE: Headed into downtown, passed major backup on SB 99. Don’t know whether crash or stall, but 2 SPD cars were pulled over with someone in the stadium zone.

Congratulations, West Seattle Baseball 8U All-Stars!

Coach Eric Olson shares the news about the team that just won a regional tournament:

The 8U All Stars from West Seattle Baseball defeated MTYAA to win the PONY NW Super Regional Tournament Sunday. These kids played great baseball despite the 97-degree heat. Top to bottom, every kid contributed both offensively and defensively over the weekend. This is definitely a special group of kids.

As seen in the photo Eric shared, they are:

Front Row: Jason Mai, Jing Gardner, Patrick Galvin, PJ Barton, Jack Cahill

Middle Row: Ethan Wyatt, Joel Clark, Chase Clifton, Brendan Johnson, Tyler Eisenhut, Mason Holmes, Brody Olson

Back Row: John Cahill, Eric Olson, Paul Barton

Congratulations!

West Seattle Crime Watch: Package prowlers; rack ripoff; more

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, starting with this one just out of the inboxEllie has a warning about package prowlers east of The Junction:

We live on 39th and Oregon and discovered torn-open UPS packages in our front yard this evening, about 9:30 pm. They had not been there a few hours prior. The shipping labels were still intact, so we took the empty boxes and a packing slip that was found further down the sidewalk back to the house the packages were addressed to and gave them to the people who had been expecting their items to arrive safely. Please put a crime watch notice about this on the blog so people in this area can be on the lookout for package prowlers.

This morning, Scott e-mailed word of a theft:

We live on 49th SW between Admiral and Charlestown. Woke up this morning to discover someone took my Yakima roof rack and one bike carrier and fairing. I thought it was locked down but apparently it wasn’t or they broke the locks. The rack and bike carrier were both pretty old and can’t be worth much but I guess desperate people aren’t always rational people. Looking at the crime report on WSB I see there was at least one other vehicle accessory theft last night in the vicinity. Lesson of the day, please lock your cars and make sure accessories are locked down.

And Josh‘s car was prowled near Lincoln Park over the weekend:

I just wanted to let you know that our car was rummaged through (Saturday) night. We live on Kenyon Place by Lincoln Park on a dead-end street. Unfortunately, we forgot to lock the door and they rummaged through and stole our iPod and charger. They left everything else and didn’t do any damage, so that’s a plus.

P.S. Five weeks till this year’s Night Out on Tuesday, August 6th – plan a block party with your neighbors to show solidarity against crime. Register here.

West Seattle summer: Seafair Pirates Landing this Saturday

(2012 photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Now that it’s July, the big events of summer are sailing our way at top clip – including this Saturday’s Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki. From today’s Seafair update:

Join Seafair for a Pirate-style party at Alki Beach in West Seattle on July 6. In accordance with the Legend of Seafair, the cutthroat Seafair Pirate crew has made a deal with their new Captain Kidd and is coming to collect the bounty they left behind last year. The Seattle Seafair Pirates will sail in from the seven seas and will storm Alki Beach in West Seattle to kick off the 64th Seafair. Exhibitors and interactive booths will line the beach and participants can shop, eat and dance along with the Pirates throughout the day! The Seattle Seafair Pirates will land at Alki Beach between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The event will feature a music stage with local bands, dancing and storytelling. Kids can play on inflatable rides and participate in a Pirate look-alike contest to win prizes sponsored by the West Seattle Kiwanis. 2012 Miss Seafair Veronica Asence, the Seafair Foundation Scholarship Program for Women participants and the West Seattle Hi-Yu princesses will make appearances! Dress in your favorite pirate costume and meet us out on the beach – Ready, Aim, Fire!

P.S. According to the Pirates’ website, this year’s Captain Kidd is Rusty Harper, whose home (port) is right here in West Seattle.

Post-Fourth fireworks: ‘Private’ show off Beach Drive on July 20th

Heads up, fireworks fans – while we don’t have 4th of July fireworks in Elliott Bay any more, there will be a show off West Seattle’s west-facing shore a few weeks later. Fauntleroy-founded Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering is getting the word out about the show as part of an event it’s producing on July 20th:

On Saturday, July 20, 2013, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering will be producing a one-time special event in the Genesee Hill neighborhood for an anniversary party. The party will be held at a private residence between 6:00 PM and 12:00 AM. At approximately 10:00 PM, a 10-minute professional fireworks display will be held on a barge on Puget Sound off the 4500 block of Beach Drive (just south of Me-Kwa-Mooks; map). Guests will be viewing this display from a private home.

For surrounding businesses or residents: if you have comments that you’d like to make about any impacts this event will have on your home or business, please e-mail our organization and the City of Seattle Special Events Committee at:

Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering
4101 Airport Way South
Seattle, WA 98108
info@tuxedosandtennisshoes.com
(206) 932-1059

Chris Swenson, Chair
City of Seattle Special Events Office
Seattle, WA 98124 chris.swenson@seattle.gov

Happening now: West Seattle bike-counter celebration

July 1, 2013 5:27 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: West Seattle bike-counter celebration
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

A week and a half after Seattle’s second bicycle counter was installed at the east end of the Spokane Street Bascule Bridge – aka the West Seattle “low bridge” – a celebration’s under way till about 6 pm. The Cascade Bicycle Club – one of the private organizations that funded it – and West Seattle Bike Connections are there along with SDOT, and refreshments. It’s a chance for riders to stop by and take a closer look:

Refreshments too, and a bit of shade. P.S. You can check out the bike-counter stats online, by going here.

ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: A photo taken by WS Bike Connections president Don Brubeck as he headed home a few hours after the event:

P.S. WSBC meets tonight, all welcome – details here.

Highway 99 traffic alert: Weekend closure north of downtown

Early reminder in case you’re getting ready for a long holiday weekend-plus: This Friday night (July 5) at 11 pm through next Monday morning (July 8) at5 am, both directions of Highway 99 will be closed between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street (map), one of two big closures to facilitate work on the West Phase of the Mercer Corridor Project – specifically, demolition of the east side of the Highway 99 bridge over Mercer. If you need to get through the city, you’ll have to take I-5 – alternate routes are suggested on the project website. But if you’re on Northbound 99 and approaching the project zone, you will have to exit at Western.

Close call at Cone Central! Husky Deli freezer fixed

With an official “heat warning” still in effect, news of possible trouble in ice-cream paradise was truly alarming. So WSB’s Katie Meyer went over to Husky Deli to check out a report of freezer trouble. GOOD NEWS – it was only affecting the freezer you see in Katie’s photo, the display case by the front door, and a new replacement motor is already in – Husky’s Jack Miller told Katie it should be cold enough to re-fill within an hour or so. AND they are still scooping cones and cups from ice-cream stock in a different freezer.

When – or whether – to call 911 about fireworks

Though all fireworks are illegal in Seattle (except for sanctioned displays like the one over Lake Union on the 4th), you’re likely seeing or hearing them every night this time of year. When do you call 911? Do you call at all? In an attempt to answer those questions, the State Fire Marshal shared a media advisory today that included a chart created with input from emergency-dispatch centers around the state. We’ve uploaded the chart here:

When and how to report fireworks violations


Again, ALL fireworks are illegal in Seattle, as well as in nearby cities such as Burien and Tukwila – but some are legal in the adjacent unincorporated areas of King County. Here’s the list of fireworks rules (including when they can be sold and used, in places where they are allowed) statewide.

Another way to stay cool: Outdoor music at C & P tonight

July 1, 2013 1:22 pm
|    Comments Off on Another way to stay cool: Outdoor music at C & P tonight
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Temperatures usually peak in early evening, but you don’t have to swelter in an air-conditioning-less house or apartment – C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) invites you to enjoy free live music in their “backyard” tonight, 5-8 pm. The band is Andé Marimba, which C & P says “offers a fresh and new perspective on the ancient sounds of traditional mbira music from Zimbabwe.” Also: “Highly danceable.” Best of all, while the band’s members are originally from New Mexico, tonight’s show features Jasper T., who grew up in West Seattle.

West Seattle Monday: Today/tonight highlights & cooling-off spots

(Photo by Long Bach Nguyen – looking south on California SW from north of The Junction)
Blue sky, sunshine, very warm temperatures – that’s why we’re splitting the daily highlights into the “keep cool” section and the “what else is happening” section for the third day in a row:

WHERE TO KEEP COOL

HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Day FOUR! Hours 11 am-8 pm. (11th SW/SW Cloverdale)

TODAY’S WADING POOL SCHEDULE: Hiawatha and Lincoln Park wading pools are open – see the addresses and hours here.

COLMAN POOL OPEN: See the schedule here. (On the Lincoln Park waterfront – reachable via walking or biking)

SOUTHWEST POOL OPEN: See the schedule here. (2801 SW Thistle)

AIR-CONDITIONED LIBRARIES: Delridge, High Point, and South Park Libraries all have A/C. For addresses and hours, see the Seattle Public Library website.

BOAT RIDE: This is our favorite cooling-off tactic when we can spare the time. Short ride? West Seattle Water Taxi (schedule here). Longer ride? Walk onto a Washington State Ferry from Fauntleroy and ride to Southworth and back (schedule here).

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING

The calendar’s fairly quiet since it’s a holiday week, but here are a few things of note:

PEGASUS ANNIVERSARY: Today is the 20th anniversary for Pegasus Pizza‘s ownership on Alki, and they are offering everybody a 20 percent discount, today/tonight. (

BLOOD DRIVE: 1-7 pm at Peace Lutheran Church – walkups welcome. More info here. (39th/Thistle)

BIKE COUNTER CELEBRATION: The city’s second bicycle counter is up and running on the east side of the West Seattle Bridge, and you’re invited to a celebration during today’s afternoon commute, 4-6 pm; details here.

LITTLE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT CONTINUES: District 7 9-10 and 11-12 All-Star teams are in tournament play all week at Alki’s Bar-S Playfield all week, hosted by West Seattle Little League. According to the brackets on the WSLL site, tonight’s games start at 6 pm. (6425 SW Admiral Way)

FIGHTING FORECLOSURES: Washington Citizens Action Network is presenting a public forum tonight at Delridge Library “to discuss the foreclosure crisis in our communities.” 6:30-7:30 pm. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

‘DIG INTO MAGIC’: Magician Jeff Evans will “unearth subterranean secrets” for ages 5 and up at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 6:30-7:30 pm tonight. (2306 42nd SW)