West Seattle, Washington
10 Tuesday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The other shoe has dropped following the sale of 4480 Fauntleroy Way SW in The Triangle – the three businesses in the building have been given notice to leave.
And a document filed online with the city suggests they’ll be making way for a business that’s been promising a West Seattle location for almost two years.
At least two of the existing businesses – Diva Espresso and Maestro Motors – are looking for new West Seattle spots.
Here’s what we have discovered so far, following research that started with e-mail tips this morning (thank you!):
Welcome to seattle #7! pic.twitter.com/Gt4m2vEeJD
— Seafair Festival (@SeafairFestival) July 28, 2014
Earlier today, we mentioned military aircraft sightings linked to Marine Week, which is part of Seafair this year. But the big show is yet to come – the return of the Blue Angels. Love them or hate them, you might want to know when they’re coming in, in addition to when they’re practicing and performing. So we’ve just confirmed that six Blue Angels arrive at Boeing Field tomorrow (Monday) by 1 pm. (One arrived unannounced today – see Twitter photo above.) A downtown flyby is expected around 12:30 pm. Wednesday, #7 goes up for demonstration flights with one “influencer” and one media person. Then Thursday (9:45-noon and 1:15-2:40 I-90 bridge closures) and Friday are practices, Saturday-Sunday are the official shows (12:15 pm-2:40 pm I-90 closures the latter 3 days). More as the week goes on. Also:
PARADE OF SHIPS/FLIGHT: We’ve already mentioned this feature returns this year too, and the ships will be visible from West Seattle shores on Wednesday afternoon – you might glimpse the aircraft from here too, though in the past we’ve noticed the flybys were closer to downtown. Here’s the list of participating vessels and aircraft expected along the downtown waterfront around 1:45 (so, obviously, passing West Seattle earlier):
Parade of Ships
USS Essex
USS Chancellorsville
USS Howard
CGC Mellon
HMCS Edmonton
HMCS BrandonParade of Flight
MV-22B
AH-1Z
UH-1Y
CH-53E
CH-46E
Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demonstration – MH-54D
(WSB file photo)
The Duwamish River, along West Seattle’s eastern border (and beyond), is in the spotlight more than ever this year. Some cleanup is under way and plans for more are in the works. A high-profile awareness campaign by the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition has even brought a high-profile supporter, Seattle-based hip-hop superstar Macklemore (who wrote about it here).
But you don’t have to be a star to help the river. You can do something as simple as taking a tour. And DRCC has just announced this year’s series – every other Thursday night, 6-8:30 pm, starting this week (July 31st), through the end of September. Three tours leave from T-107 Park on the West Seattle side of the river – July 31st, August 14th, September 11th – while the other two leave from Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park – August 28th and September 25th. And they’re all in partnership with West Seattle-headquartered Alki Kayak Tours (with whom you need to RSVP – tours@kayakalki.com – $45/person unless you’re bringing your own kayak, in which case, it’s by donation). Here’s the flyer with full details (PDF).
Transportation issues dominated this quarter’s Morgan Community Association meeting – with information of interest beyond Morgan’s borders.
SPEED CAMS: In addition to the two new ones that will be activated on Roxbury (by Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School) this fall, dozens of other locations remain under evaluation around the city, according to SDOT‘s Brian Dougherty. Since the first one to be activated in West Seattle is on Fauntleroy Way near Gatewood Elementary, and since a flashing (cameraless) beacon recently went in on California SW near Gatewood, Dougherty was asked if the latter location would likely get a speed camera. He said he thought that 35th SW by Our Lady of Guadalupe – frequently staked out by the flexible-location “speed van” – would be a more-likely priority for another West Seattle speed cam. Once there’s a new list of proposals, they would require City Council approval, and you’ll recall that the money generated by the cams is all slated to go to school-safety projects. One such project is in the works for the aforementioned Fauntleroy crossing by Gatewood, at Myrtle – bulbs to shorten the crossing.
FLASHING BEACONS ON FAUNTLEROY: Dougherty also mentioned that new flashing school-zone beacons will go up on Fauntleroy Way before newly expanded Fairmount Park Elementary reopens this fall, so look for that work soon.
The meeting included even more transportation info – regarding the Fauntleroy/California intersection – click ahead: Read More
Next Saturday night, “Sleepless in Seattle” (the movie that inspired the cry, “You can’t get to Alki like THAT!”) will be onscreen as part of West Seattle Outdoor Movies, sponsored by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society as a wrapup of the summerlong celebration of the 30th anniversary of the dedication of the “high bridge.” As you know if you’ve been to a WSOM screening before, the screen is on a big wall in the courtyard outside Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), which has been partnering with SWSHS in the summerlong celebration.
Back on July 14th, 30 years to the day after the bridge’s dedication, the courtyard was the site of a panel discussion of the bridge’s history – not just how it got built, but also, the bizarre spinoff story that became a murder mystery. In case you missed that event, here’s our video:
Back to next Saturday’s WS Outdoor Movies presentation: According to the full preview on the SWSHS website, preshow entertainment includes live music and more of those historic bridge-related video clips previewed here earlier this month. And as with all WSOM shows, it’s free! But you can bring $ for not only nonprofit-benefiting concessions and raffles, but also to buy an anniversary T-shirt and commemorative coffee. Make a night of it – August 2nd, 4410 California SW.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:52 PM: Texter this morning asked about Ospreys seen over West Seattle – the kind with rotors, not feathers, most recently mentioned here three months ago during preparations for a Presidential visit. This time, we are fairly certain they’re part of Marine Week, a new addition to Seafair. Here’s the schedule. No specific aircraft mentions, but the Museum of Flight at nearby Boeing Field is expecting some for its part of Marine Week, with arrivals Tuesday night, according to its website. Add all this to the Blue Angels‘ impending return, and the sky’s going to be a lot busier than usual this week.
BLUE ANGELS UPDATE, ADDED 6:59 PM: It seems they’re keeping a different schedule this year. Seafair is showing one Blue Angel arrived today, and TV stations are reporting more coming in tomorrow, reportedly a 12:30 pm downtown flyby. We’re checking…
If you haven’t already checked the calendar:
(Added: WSB photo of Katherine Pryor at WSFM just as her hour was concluding)
AUTHORS AT WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: “Readers to Eaters” presents two local authors at the WSFM today – until 11 am, it’s West Seattleite Kim O’Donnel with her “Meat Lovers’ Meatless Cookbook“; 11:30-12:30, it’s Katherine Pryor (from Magnolia) with the kid-geared “Sylvia’s Spinach.” The market itself is on until 2 pm as always. (44th/Alaska)
EXPLORE THE BEACH: The tide is low enough for exploring today (-0.6 at 11:53 am), so volunteer beach naturalists are back at Constellation Park and Lincoln Park, 11 am-1:30 pm.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Perfect weather to tour Alki Point Lighthouse – note that there are no tours next weekend because of Seafair, so after the 1-4 pm tour window today, only half a dozen chances remain, later in August. (Alki SW/Beach Dr. SW)
(Thanks to Karen for the photo from Saturday night’s GreenStage production at Lincoln Park)
FREE OUTDOOR SHAKESPEARE: GreenStage presents “Othello,” 3 pm at Lincoln Park; details in our calendar listing. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE GREEN SPACES COALITION: The group continuing to work on the future of the “surplus substations” in this area meets at 3 pm, Southwest Branch Library; details in our calendar listing. (35th/Henderson)
PIANO-MANIA AT KENYON HALL: That’s how the historic concert venue bills Radoslav Lorkovic‘s performance at 7:30 tonight:
Radoslav first came to our attention as the coy keyboardist for Ronny Cox. A few months ago he wowed the audience at Kenyon with his remarkable talent as composer and singer, and we invited him to come back whenever he can. Luckily for us, he’s on the west coast again this month, and has agreed to return to the hall.
E-mail kenyonhall@earthlink.net for your reservation. (7904 35th SW)
(Torchlight Parade photo courtesy West Seattle Hi-Yu)
Congratulations to West Seattle Hi-Yu for its award-winning appearance in Saturday night’s Seafair Torchlight Parade. The craftsmanship and creativity that went into the 80th anniversary Hi-Yu float – which features a steam-emitting teapot – won the Seafair Workmanship Award. Hi-Yu’s Denise Davis told us via Facebook, “Duane (Davis), the driver/builder, said the judges were beaming when they saw the teapot steaming and the cake spinning and the court members dancing to ‘Welcome to my Tea Party’.”
UPDATED P.S. Thanks to Hi-Yu for sharing the parade photos – look closely at the one above this line to see driver/designer Duane!
High-school basketball season is still four months away – here’s the schedule, taking shape – but the West Seattle High School court was busy on Saturday afternoon.
The first annual West Seattle High School Alumni Game was organized as a benefit for the current program. The schedule included a shoot-around and 3-pointer competition; for the main game, players were split between the school’s past and present mascots, Indians (gray T-shirts) and Wildcats (white T-shirts), with 2004 as the dividing line. Missed the game? Look for the second-annual edition next year. And you can support WSHS athletics any time via the WS Booster Club.
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