day : 06/01/2014 10 results

West Seattle biznotes: Vidiot soft-opens in Admiral; Edie’s closing Junction store; Beni Hoshi mystery; Ventana obliges Hawks fans

Four West Seattle biznotes tonight:

VIDIOT OPENS IN EX-SHIPWRECK TAVERN: You might call it a “barcade” – you can play AND sip at Vidiot, which is in a soft-opening phase at 4210 SW Admiral Way, vacant since the Shipwreck Tavern closed more than a year ago. A new-liquor-license flyer had been up in the window for a few weeks; then Friday, Vidiot soft-opened, according to co-proprietor Tony Mitchum, with whom we spoke tonight. Its centerpiece: Games, some there now, more to come. On the main floor, you’ll find older arcade games such as Pac-Man and Defender (photo above); pinball machines are coming in later this week; the upstairs loft will have classic Atari and Nintendo consoles, as well as board games. Vidiot is open 5 pm-2 am nightly, cash only for starters.

EDIE’S SHOES CLOSING IN JUNCTION, CONTINUING ON CAPITOL HILL: In the window at Edie’s Shoes in The Junction is a hand-lettered sign reading “END-OF-LEASE SALE.” When that sale is over – no firm date yet – proprietor Erin says, she will close the 4310 SW Alaska shop after nine years, and focus entirely on her Capitol Hill location.

BENI HOSHI TERIYAKI OUT OF BUSINESS? After WSB Forums member BubbleGumMom posted that question earlier tonight, we went over for a look.

Indeed, as BGM posted, the signs are gone (or turned over), except for the sign-board slogan; the phone number is disconnected. Nothing in public records offers a hint about why – but we do recall this story from two years ago. At the time, now-former City Councilmember Richard Conlin wrote that the city was studying the possibility of public/private development on the site, a former substation (NOT one of the ones on the current “surplus” list). So City Light is one source with whom we’ll follow up tomorrow to try to find out what happened and/or what’s next.

VENTANA CHANGES WORKSHOP DATE – THANKS TO SEAHAWKS! WSB sponsor Ventana Construction has changed the date for its next free remodeling/custom-building workshop, by fan demand – Seahawks fans! The workshop WAS planned for next Saturday, but then the Seahawks’ playoff game was scheduled, so now the workshop is set for the next day, 2 pm Sunday, January 12th, at Ventana’s offices (California/Findlay). RSVP if you’re interested – 206-932-3009.

Share This

First community-council meeting of 2014: WWRHAH, tomorrow

January 6, 2014 8:07 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | Westwood

(WSB photo from December 30th, alongside ‘Wall of Buses’ by Roxhill Park)
Eight days after leading a tour of the Westwood Village “transit hub” and its challenges (WSB coverage here), a followup discussion will be part of the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council (WWRHAH) meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) night, 6:15 pm at Southwest Branch Library. Here’s the agenda just sent by chair Amanda Kay Helmick:

6:15-6:20: Introductions & Community News:
6:20-6:25: Review Bylaws
6:25-6:35: Infrastructure Committee Update: Update from Committee Leader, Chris Stripinis.
6:35-6:50: Metro & Stakeholders December 30th Walk Update: With Amanda Kay Helmick, and Joe Szilagyi
6:50-7:40: Roxhill Park Updates: Updates on efforts to clean up the park; Rehydrating the bog; lighting; Grants
7:40-7:45: Wrap Up: Breakdown the room; library locks up promptly at 8 pm.

The library is at 35th/Henderson; all are welcome.

Share This

Update: Extension cord blamed for Sunrise Heights house fire

January 6, 2014 5:56 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Sunrise Heights | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

5:56 PM: Seattle Fire crews are in the 3100 block of SW Webster (map) at a house-fire call. Arriving crews are seeing smoke from the eaves, per an SFD tweet. More to come.

6:01 PM UPDATE: The fire is “knocked down,” per radio communications (and then a moment later, “under control”). No injuries reported. (Yes, that’s a TV helicopter overhead checking it out.)

(Photo by Tony Bradley)
6:17 PM UPDATE: Our crew at the scene says the fire was confined to one room of the house, but they’re not sure what started it, and they’re going to keep watch for a while in case of flare-ups or hot spots. The couple who live there got out OK, per SFD.

7:39 PM UPDATE: It’s been a busy night for fires around the city (though this is the only major incident in West Seattle so far), so the on-duty fire investigator has just arrived.

9:31 PM UPDATE: SFD says the fire was caused by an “overheated extension cord,” and estimates damage at $45,000.

Share This

Video: See the City Hall inauguration ceremony; read the speeches

January 6, 2014 3:39 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(UPDATED 7:55 PM – archived ceremony video now substituted in the embedded player)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:39 PM: Not at City Hall for the ceremony inaugurating Mayor Ed Murray and Councilmember Kshama Sawant, as well as re-elected Councilmembers Mike O’Brien, Sally Bagshaw, and Nick Licata, and City Attorney Pete Holmes? Watch live via Seattle Channel by clicking the “play” button above, which takes you to the live SC feed (which will move on to other programming afterward – we’ll replace it with the archived event video when that’s available later *update, archived video now live as of 7:55 pm*).

You’re also invited to a City Hall reception starting around 4:30 in the Bertha Knight Landes Room (street level from the 5th Avenue entrance) and the inauguration celebration at 7 pm at Benaroya Hall; Councilmember Sawant is also having a party (6 pm, SEIU HQ at 215 Columbia), with a suggested donation for retiring campaign debt but, she says, “no one will be turned away.”

5:15 PM: The inauguration ceremony is over, wrapping up just after the top of the hour. The oath of office was administered by former Gov. Gary Locke:

I do solemnly swear… pic.twitter.com/tnekokYDZp

— Ed Murray (@Mayor_Ed_Murray) January 7, 2014

Earlier in the day, new Councilmember Sawant tweeted photos from her first council meetings, starting with the morning briefing:

My first council briefing! pic.twitter.com/Ox1xkVniKy

— Councilmember Kshama (@cmkshama) January 6, 2014

Again, we’ll substitute the archived video from this afternoon’s ceremony when it’s available.

5:36 PM: Seattle Channel says that might not be until tomorrow. CM Sawant’s speech text was just sent. Read on (update: other speeches’ texts/links added, too):

Share This

Hearing tomorrow for microhousing-rules-related challenge – parts of which have been dismissed

January 6, 2014 2:47 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

(3266 Avalon Way microhousing project, photographed today)
Neighborhood activists face off against the city Department of Planning and Development tomorrow before the city Hearing Examiner, in their challenge of a ruling related to the proposed city rules about “microhousing.”

As reported here two months ago, the challenge is to the department’s “determination of non-significance” – a ruling that the proposed rules do not need a separate environmental-impact review. More than 50 documents are already in the case’s online file; among them is deputy Hearing Examiner Ann Watanabe‘s dismissal of parts of the appeal. The challenge is led by an advocate from elsewhere in the city, but as noted in November, the 10 groups supporting the appeal include two West Seattle groups, Morgan Community Association and SeattleNERD (Neighbors Encouraging Reasonable Development). The hearing examiner usually issues a ruling within two weeks of a hearing.

The city mentions the appeal in a DPD-website update about the microhousing rules, published last Thursday, saying, “This process must be complete before we can begin discussing the new rules for micro-housing with City Council. But as soon as it is completed, we will work with the Council to begin briefings.” The DPD update projects the rules could be adopted by March. They would not affect projects already on the drawing board or under construction, which in West Seattle number at least three, 3266 Avalon Way SW (under construction), 5949 California SW (for which permits are issued but construction has not yet begun), and 3050 Avalon Way (proposed but no recent activity), in addition to built-and-now-leasing Footprint Delridge.

Tomorrow’s hearing, open to the public, is scheduled to start at 9 am on the 40th floor of the city Municipal Tower downtown.

Share This

Comcast trouble in West Seattle? Should be over, or soon

January 6, 2014 1:37 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Several have asked about Comcast trouble in the past hour-plus. Via Twitter, @ComcastWA said a few minutes ago “Washington state customers whose services were affected by issues should be back up or coming back up.”

Share This

Looking for preschools? West Seattle Preschool Fair 1 week away

January 6, 2014 10:57 am

| Comments Off on Looking for preschools? West Seattle Preschool Fair 1 week away

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Current or future preschooler(s) in the house? One week from tonight, you’re invited to the fifth annual West Seattle Preschool Fair, announced by WS Preschool Association president Renee Metty:

The 5th Annual Preschool Fair hosted by the West Seattle Preschool Association is planned for Monday, January 13th, from 5:30-7:30 pm, at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California SW.

For families visiting the fair, admission is free and children are welcome. There is an elevator to accommodate strollers. Please check our website frequently as information will be added as we receive it and (added) schools attending will be listed.

For schools still interested in participating, we have a couple spots still available; Please call 206-923-2683 or e-mail info@westseattlepreschoolassociation.com.

The participant list so far numbers more than 15 preschools, including WSB sponsors Westside School and West Seattle Montessori School.

Share This

West Seattle Monday: What’s on the calendar for today/tonight

January 6, 2014 9:45 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sanderlings photographed Sunday at Constellation Park by Matthew Olson; click image for larger view)
If you’ve been off on holiday break – welcome back! It’s been busy. Today, the schedule’s relatively low-key. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

‘THE HAPPINESS PROJECT’: Four-week session starts noon today at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – details here – free, but check before going to see if there’s still room to sign up, since space is limited. (5230-B California SW)

INAUGURATION DAY: Not in West Seattle but of citywide interest – in the grand lobby at City Hall, 3:30 pm today, it’s the formal inauguration for new Mayor (and former West Seattleite) Ed Murray (who actually took the oath of office at home on New Year’s Eve), new Councilmember Kshama Sawant, re-elected councilmembers Sally Bagshaw, Nick Licata, and Mike O’Brien, and re-elected City Attorney Pete Holmes. Details here; the public’s invited – get there early! – as is the case with the inauguration celebration tonight, 7 pm at Benaroya Hall. If you’re not going, you can see this afternoon’s ceremony live via Seattle Channel, online as well as via cable.

OIL-PAINTING CLASSES AT ALKI BATHHOUSE: 6 pm, a new series of classes begins – more info here. Check directly with Alki Bathhouse re: registration. (60th/Alki)

‘RIGOLETTO’ PREVIEW: Going to the Seattle Opera‘s new production? Check out the preview at the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library tonight at 6:30. (2306 42nd SW)

Share This

West Seattle back-to-school scene: Madison luminarias

January 6, 2014 9:04 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle back-to-school scene: Madison luminarias

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Greeting Madison Middle School students returning today after the two-week holiday break – luminarias! Thanks to Al for sharing the photo. (Last time we featured a luminarias-at-Madison photo, it was BEFORE the break, two years ago.)

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Back-to-school/work/etc. Monday

January 6, 2014 6:03 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: School is back in session after winter break, which in turn means family-vacation time is over, so just about everyone will be back on the roads, the buses, the sidewalks, the trails, etc. Be careful until everyone’s used to each other again! If you see a problem, text or call us *if/when you can do so legally and safely*, not while behind the wheel – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

TRAFFIC ALERTS THIS WEEK: Late-night/early-morning I-5 closures – details here.

7:14 AM UPDATE: Multiple commenters are warning about icy/slick roads. WSDOT too, regionally, via Twitter:

Travel times aren't horrible but we've seen a ton of collisions. Please be cautious, it's very slippery out there.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) January 6, 2014

7:35 AM UPDATE: Not really a traffic update but if you see police in the Beach Drive/Richey Viewpoint/Weather Watch Park vicinity, they’re doublechecking on what some people called in as possible gunshots – one officer said over the radio that he was in the area, heard it, and is fairly sure it was fireworks.

7:41 AM: Back to those slick roads. Co-publisher Patrick Sand is just back from an errand and reports California SW through Gatewood is among them. We also have multiple reports about Sylvan Way, including this one from Linda in comments: “… Incredibly icy going up Morgan to 35th then down Sylvan way where a car had already spun out. A bit icy down Highland Park way, hit a patch making the right at the bottom of the hill and didn’t hit clear roads until I was on the freeway towards Burien.”

7:56 AM: Some consolation for the return to school, bridge traffic, etc. – a beautiful sunrise:

Thanks to Lise Thivierge for the photo from the Water Taxi dock at Seacrest.

8:18 AM: From the scanner – police have been called to check out someone sleeping and/or intoxicated on a Metro bus by Roxhill Park.

9:08 AM: Annie warns via Twitter that there’s debris as you head off southbound I-5 and onto the westbound West Seattle Bridge – some kind of “metal pipe.” As we noted on Twitter, when you can safely make a phone call, please report a hazard to 911 or (if a city roadway) 206-684-ROAD.

Share This