month : 05/2015 318 results

You can help! Highland Park Elementary’s field day, coming up

May 31, 2015 10:36 pm
|    Comments Off on You can help! Highland Park Elementary’s field day, coming up
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you can spare a few hours on June 12th, you can help with a Highland Park Elementary tradition. From HPE teacher Kevin Schmidt:

Highland Park’s annual field day is June 12th from 8:30-3:00. We are running short on volunteers and are hoping the community could help us out. Volunteers would help run events like shoe kick, Bat Spin and Noodle tag. All stations would be staffed by school personnel with the assistance of volunteers. Volunteers could help in the morning from 8:30-11:30, in the afternoon from 12:00-3:00 or all day. All volunteers must be background-checked and cleared through Seattle Public Schools.

If you’re available/interested, e-mail krschmidt@seattleschools.org or 206-252-8240.

West Seattle Hi-Yu crowns Kelly Crum as new Senior Court Queen

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Congratulations to Kelly Crum, West Seattle Hi-Yu‘s new Senior Court Queen. Kelly is at right in our top photo, crowned by her predecessor Lorelei McFadden, during this afternoon’s Hi-Yu Tea and Silent Auction at The Hall at Fauntleroy.

Queen Kelly has just graduated from Holy Names Academy and is going to Gonzaga University this fall. She is the lone member of the new Senior Court after a last-minute withdrawal by the other candidate, Aislyn Crane, citing family reasons. Watch for Queen Kelly and the Hi-Yu Junior Court at upcoming events and on this year’s traveling Hi-Yu float, themed “Sound Respect,” at this summer’s parades, including the West Seattle Grand Parade along California Avenue from The Admiral District to The Junction on July 18th.

Congrats! Our Lady of Guadalupe chess team’s tournament success

Thanks to Michael Katz for the photo and report on these Our Lady of Guadalupe students’ big achievement on Saturday:

The Chess Team from Our Lady of Guadalupe competed in the Chess Wizards tournament held at the downtown headquarters of Facebook. Teams from around the area competed and OLG’s team finished 2nd! The team consisted of Sophie and Matthew Nguyen and Eleanore Katz. Matthew also brought home a First Place trophy in the individual competition.

HAPPENING NOW: First-ever Flipper Fest with Seal Sitters & friends

If you approach the Alki Bathhouse‘s east side while on your way to Flipper Fest – which continues until 5 pm – you’ll see that life-size inflatable orca, representing, according to a sign and to the trading card that volunteer Laura gave us, J-26, aka “Mike,” a Southern Resident Killer Whale born in 1991. Inside the bathhouse, lots more to learn at this event presented by Seal Sitters with many collaborators and partners:

It’s fun, with a lesson – how to be mindful of, and protect, the creatures with which we share our shores and waters. Even the art has something to teach:

Those images of seals (the one at right, by Denise Hughes from a photo by Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey are made from bottle caps, as is a jellyfish outside:

They are reminders that if you use plastic bottles, be sure to dispose of them safely so they don’t find their way into our waters, where they can do so much harm to sea life. A simple outdoor display also suggests you might want to think twice about Sky Lanterns:

They look beautiful in flight, but fall into the water or onto the ground as dangerous trash. Speaking of trash – at Flipper Fest, you can find out more about Seal Sitters’ beach cleanup coming up on June 13th, which is also the date they’ll be training more volunteers – who are needed for everything from protecting seal pups on local beaches, to helping at events like this. Find out more at blubberblog.org and at Alki Bathhouse until 5 pm today – free, but you can donate to SS by buying $1 tickets for raffles with cool donated prizes listed here.

Use Seattle City Light’s eBilling system? ‘Technical error’ alert

Sent this afternoon by Seattle City Light:

On Thursday, May 28, Seattle City Light discovered that certain customers who were billed on May 27 accidentally received incorrect billing statements through the eBilling online payment service. No Social Security number, bank account, credit card, or debit card information was involved, and this will not result in any disruption of service to customers. Any payments customers made were applied to the correct accounts.

The problem was caused by an internal, technical error. We are investigating and working with a team of specialists to determine what happened. We will provide an update when further information is available.

Until this technical error has been resolved, the eBilling system has been taken offline. However, customers may still make an online payment through the “one-time payment” system on our website, which has not been affected. Our call center staff will be available to answer questions on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and during normal operating hours Monday through Friday.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this might cause our customers. We appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to resolve this issue.

We asked SCL spokesperson Scott Thomsen how many people were affected; he says they don’t know yet, but “It was limited to some customers within the May 27 billing run” – (added) an average daily billing run could have 30,000 customers – and if they determine your bill was involved, you should get e-mail (updated) OR postal mail from City Light – depending on what kind of contact info they have for you.

West Seattle Junction updates: Check out the new banners! Plus, Farmers’ Market move countdown

Two West Seattle Junction notes:

BRAND-NEW BANNERS: It’s magic! Overnight the faded old West Seattle Junction banners disappeared and these new ones materialized.

It was planned, of course, and happened very early this morning (sometime between 1:15 am, which is when we drove through The Junction, wondering if the installation was under way yet, and 9:30 am, when we took these photos).

West Seattle Junction Association director Susan Melrose explains the banners’ inspiration:

The colorful series of five designs is meant to inspire neighborhood pride for all of West Seattle. Design elements include the Alki Lighthouse as a symbol of our strong connection to water, the West Seattle Bridge, a salute to history with the streetcars, our weekly farmers market, and The Junction’s iconic Walk-All-Ways. We hope the neighborhood enjoys this addition to The Junction.

The artist is Jeff Rodriguez of Horsepower Design, who also designs other art used by the Junction Association, from posters to advertising. The banner spotlighting the West Seattle Farmers’ Market brings another reminder:

Today’s market (continuing until 2 pm as usual) is the second-to-last time you’ll find it in its longtime spot at 44th/Alaska. Two weeks from today – June 14th – is the day the WSFM moves out into California SW between Oregon and Alaska. Market management is reminding people that means a change in parking, if you drive – no parking on the market block 7 am-4 pm (flyers are under windshield wipers of cars parked on that block right now) but 45 spots will be open in the lot the market is vacating. And if you bicycle to the market – Bicycle Benefits continue. The market move means “new local Washington State farmers (and) more non-profit community groups ” every Sunday. (WSFM is sponsoring WSB for the next month to help get the word out about the big move.)

West Seattle Crime Watch: Coffee shop break-in

Thanks to the tipsters who messaged us this morning with word that passers-by had spotted broken glass and signs of a break-in at Café Osita in Sunrise Heights. They had alerted police but were worried the owner might not know. We went over to the shop at 7349 35th SW and found out owner Andrea had already been alerted by the building manager; the shop indeed had been burglarized, and the laundromat next door had been broken into recently as well. Café Osita isn’t usually open on Sunday anyway; Andrea and her husband are cleaning up the aftermath and told us the shop will be open tomorrow as usual. They estimate the damage and losses will total at least $500.

West Seattle Sunday: Flipper Fest; Hi-Yu Tea/Auction; more…

(Photo by Lisa Stencel)

Here’s what you need to know for your West Seattle Sunday:

TRAFFIC ALERT: SDOT announced at week’s end that work today would affect West Seattle Bridge ramps in both directions. Details here; we’ll be checking shortly whether the work is indeed as described or if there’s anything else you need to know.

SANISLO RUMMAGE SALE: 9 am-3 pm at Sanislo Elementary School, on the playground. (1812 SW Myrtle)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, it’s the second-to-last Farmers’ Market in the current location/format, before the market’s move out into California SW on June 14th. (44th/Alaska)

PLANTS FOR PETS: Second day of the famous Furry Faces Foundation fundraising plant sale, 11 am-4 pm, more info here! (3809 46th SW)

LITTLE PILGRIM SCHOOL ALUMNI … are invited to a gathering at Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall, 11:30 am-1:30 pm – details in our calendar listing. (9140 California SW)

NORTHWEST GARDEN OF EDEN: Noon-4 pm, the next edition of “Duwamish Foods, Now and Then” at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

FLIPPER FEST: 1 pm-5 pm, visit Alki Bathhouse to celebrate and learn about the creatures who share our shore (and the waters just off it). Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network is presenting the event, with partners from marine-mammal researchers to beach naturalists; it’s free, but bring a few $ and get a chance at raffles with cool prizes – find them listed here along with more info about Flipper Fest. In addition to those drawings, there’s also a free drawing for kids to enter. You can also talk to SS about a June 13th volunteer-training session, and about seal-pupping season, which is just beginning, as also noted on their Blubberblog website. (60th/Alki)

FYI: NO ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Reminder again today – the Coast Guard Auxiliary, which leads Alki Point Lighthouse tours this time of year, says it didn’t have enough volunteers to run tours this weekend.

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU TEA/SILENT AUCTION: 2 pm-4:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, tea, treats, bidding, and the crowning of this year’s Hi-Yu Queen. Didn’t buy tickets in advance? Our preview includes the number you can call to check if any tickets remain. (9131 California SW)

CELEBRATION OF WESTSIDE MUSIC: 4 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation, five of the church’s ensembles perform at a benefit for the church’s Food First social-justice initiative – details in our calendar listing. (7141 California SW)

WHAT ELSE IS UP? Check our calendar, for today/tonight/beyond!

State shot-put champ from West Seattle: Congrats, Dylan Ledbetter

Just found out late tonight about another local athlete to congratulate: Three days after graduating from O’Dea High School, West Seattle resident Dylan Ledbetter won the state 3A championship in shot put today. He’ll be playing football this fall for Eastern Washington University. Thanks to Cami MacNamara for the report; the photo is by Dylan’s proud mom Cheryl Orint.

Duwamish Revealed art project: Maybe you’ve already seen the signs! See what else is in store, from sculpture to dance to …

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

At sites along the Duwamish River, from West Seattle to South Park and beyond, a huge four-month art project is about to “open.” And you might already have seen signs of it … in one case, literally, signs:

When Jonathan tweeted a photo of that sign and called it to our attention Friday morning – with the backdrop at Port of Seattle-owned Jack Block Park, within view of the Shell oil rig Polar Pioneer – we had a hard time imagining that kind of sign could have been guerrilla-installed without port security noticing. Then WSB reader “Grayson Girl” texted us about it this morning and we went over to see for ourselves. She also mentioned another sign out on the pier – and that’s where we found the key clue.

A small label near that sign attributes it to Jack Daws and Duwamish Revealed.

Daws is a Seattle artist; Duwamish Revealed is the name of the big art project that is about to officially open at locations from West Seattle to Tukwila. And we do mean big: More than a dozen sites, and dozens of collaborators. Here’s the program with details (including Daws listed as one of the Jack Block Park artists):

Sarah Kavage and Nicole Kistler are the artistic directors for Duwamish Revealed, a project of the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle, as explained here. (Kavage confirmed to WSB tonight that the Jack Block signs are part of DR, installed with authorization just two days ago.) We recorded them talking about their grand project at last month’s Duwamish Alive! opening ceremony:

Last summer, we published their call for artists – mentioning at the time that it wasn’t just intended for people who already consider themselves artists.

And indeed, the participants are from a range of backgrounds – including students from West Seattle’s Pathfinder K-8 School, whose work at T-107 Park on this side of the Duwamish involves “a sculptural interpretation of a Coast Salish fish trap,” in collaboration with Jennifer Bennett.

Back at Jack Block Park, as noted on the program shown above, you’ll see the Duwamish Lighthouse by George Lee – some of which he’s chronicling on Instagram – plus Jordan Monez‘s work Plant 2015: “To-scale replicas of the ersatz neighborhood built on top of Boeing Plant 2 during WWII are a tribute to the river’s wartime history and the act of revealing, and concealing, history.” Other West Seattle locations on the Duwamish Revealed roster include Terminal 105 and 107 Parks, Lafarge, and Harbor Island (if you can’t see the program embedded above, see it here as a PDF).

Ongoing performance-related art includes free workshops by Ballet Folklorico Angeles de Mexico, weekly in White Center and South Park.

In the photo provided by Duwamish Revealed are Ballet Folklorico’s Aurelia Ramos and Jose Antonio Malagon Garcia.

The grand-opening celebration for Duwamish Revealed is next Friday (June 5th) with soundscapes and sculpture at the installation site called The Estuary on the east bank of the river, 4651 Diagonal Avenue South – details and map here.

Other day/time-specific events along the way include the Water Festival in South Park, August 15-16, and “Revealing Coast Salish Cultures,” with canoe families landing at T-107 Park for an event there and across the street at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse on September 12th. Even sooner than all that, check out what’s on the calendar.

And for all you’ll find there, it’s just a drop from the river of visual art, performance art, and more that will comprise Duwamish Revealed – browse the official website to sample more.

More congratulations: Chief Sealth IHS success @ state track championships

Thanks to Lisa Brody for the photo and report:

Congratulations to the Chief Sealth International High School Girls 4x100m relay team. They placed 5th in the state at the Washington State Championships at Mt Tahoma High School in Tacoma today. They had a PR of 49.79 sec. Here they are with their Coach, from left to right: Imani Carey, Assa Kaba, Coach Billy Hairston, Chloe Myers, and Quinn Wiley. Chief Sealth’s Ronnie Parker also placed 5th in State in the Triple Jump!

Congratulations! Seattle Lutheran High School’s Ally Warnke @ state golf championships

Thanks to Tom Warnke for the photo and report:

Congratulations to Seattle Lutheran High School sophomore Ally Warnke (Class of 2017) for finishing 17th this year at the Washington State Golf Championships in Richmond, Washington this week.

HAPPENING NOW: Emerald Water Anglers’ Fly Fest @ Lincoln Park

For the first time since Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) opened its West Seattle Junction shop almost a year ago, its annual Fly Fest is happening at Lincoln Park, continuing one more hour, until 4 pm. While browsing and testing gear is certainly the star of the show, including casting tests in the not-yet-open wading pool …

… the fun also included food, to prove that fishing-trip cuisine doesn’t have to be dull.

The EWA guides‘ Gourmet Cookoff included proprietor Dave McCoy, above, making salmon tacos and melon salad; below, store GM Reid Curry making barbecue chicken sandwiches:

And Abbie Schuster with ceviche/shrimp tacos.

We’re checking back to see who won. Fly Fest is on until 4 at Shelter 5 in the upper park.

Congratulations! WSHS alum Nick Barnecut graduates from U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Four years ago after we published this note about then-West Seattle High School senior Nick Barnecut‘s acceptance to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, he has just graduated. Thanks to WSHS’s Shelley Yeigh for sharing the photo of Nick shaking hands with President Obama, who spoke at the academy’s 134th commencement ceremony on May 20th; the USCG says that presidents “traditionally address the graduating class at one of the federal service academies on a rotating basis. President Obama addressed the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2014 at West Point last year.” Now-Ensign Barnecut majored in civil engineering. (A gallery of USCG photos from the ceremony is on Flickr.)

TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: SB I-5 crash cleared at West Seattle exit

May 30, 2015 12:59 pm
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: SB I-5 crash cleared at West Seattle exit
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

12:59 PM: In case you’re heading this way from points north – note that I-5 southbound is not a good choice right now because of a crash near the exit to the westbound West Seattle Bridge. (Thanks to the person who tipped us! Check the newest WSDOT camera image here.)

SIDE NOTE: While we’re talking traffic, remember the bridge-ramp alerts for Sunday.

1:20 PM: SDOT says the ramp is open again; beware of residual backups.

PHOTOS: First-ever West Seattle Mermaid Parade – on land

FIRST REPORT, 12:25 PM: If you’re at Alki right now, watch for mermaids. The first-ever West Seattle Mermaid Parade was set to start around noon, after a gathering that started with bellydancing (in our short Instagram video above) by the Alki Statue of Liberty at 11.

Dozens of mermaids gathered in costumes from simple to ornate:

And they spanned the age range from young-at-heart to young:

The mermaids even had a wrangler:

(That’s Amber.) We had to move on before the start of the actual parade, but if you have a photo to share, please e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com or share it to the WSB Flickr group, so we can add – thanks!

ADDED 1:14 PM: Thanks to Lynn Hall for sharing photos from the Anchor Park area, where she says the parade arrived about half an hour ago:

Pirate sighting:

Photo op:

P.S. Thanks to everybody else who sent photos this afternoon – we’re reviewing to add more tonight!

ADDED 10:17 PM: Added photos – first, from Ann Anderson, who notes so many costumes were ornately detailed:

From Loren Beringer:

From SF:

From Eva Talbot:

We’re checking with organizer Leslie Rosen to see if this is likely to become an annual tradition.

ADDED MONDAY: Leslie says no decision is likely before September, when she and the Sirens of Serpentine “re-group.” In the meantime, you can catch them at the Georgetown Art Festival, 3 pm June 13th. P.S. One more photo – thanks to Elizabeth D. for the group shot from Anchor Park:

West Seattle sea scene: Another Shell fleet vessel, Tor Viking II

From the “what’s that vessel?” file: Thanks to Lynn Hall and Don Brubeck for sending photos of this icebreaker/tug seen off West Seattle this morning – that’s Lynn’s photo above. Online information indicates that the Norway-built Tor Viking II is associated with the Royal Dutch Shell offshore-Arctic-drilling fleet; while most of the information involves its tasks from Shell’s 2012 Arctic efforts, this is one of the more than two dozen vessels listed in the U.S. Coast Guard “rule” for Puget Sound “temporary safety zones” related to Shell’s fleet.

What’s up on your West Seattle Saturday: Gator Fest; Fly Fest; Plants for Pets; Mermaid Parade; e-cycling; more…

May 30, 2015 8:32 am
|    Comments Off on What’s up on your West Seattle Saturday: Gator Fest; Fly Fest; Plants for Pets; Mermaid Parade; e-cycling; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(WSB photo: Seen from Pigeon Point on Friday. Today’s forecast: More sun!)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FAMILY FUN FAIR: 10 am-2 pm, the annual Gatewood Elementary Gator Fest family fun fair – details here; free except for a cake walk/snack bar raising $ for camp. (4320 SW Myrtle)

FLY FEST & GUIDE GOURMET COOKOFF: Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) invites you to Lincoln Park today, 10 am-4 pm, for free instruction and demos of fly-casting equipment, plus, at noon, the Guide Gourmet Cookoff (free food!) – details and schedule here. Find Fly Fest headquartered at Shelter 5 in the upper park near the main parking lot – signs will point you there. (Fauntleroy/Rose)

FREE E-CYCLING/SHREDDING: 10 am-1 pm in The Junction parking lot off 42nd between Oregon and Alaska, as previewed here.

PLANTS FOR PETS: The famous Furry Faces Foundation fundraising plant sale is back this year, 11 am-4 pm today and Sunday, with music today, 2-4 pm, by Tim Scallon. Almost a thousand plants! (3809 46th SW)

BENEFIT BARBECUE: 11 am-4 pm, West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) invites you to stop by for its next benefit barbecue lunch, cooked right outside the store, this time raising money for the Children’s Autism Guild. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)

1ST-EVER MERMAID PARADE: 11 am, starting at Alki Bathhouse, all welcome to be part of the first-ever West Seattle Mermaid Parade, as previewed here. (60th/Alki)

WEST SEATTLE BOARD GAMES BENEFIT: Love games? Help raise money for Tim Bishop, as explained:

Today from 1-6 @ Delridge Uptown Espresso and Gameporium. West Seattle Boardgames is hosting a fundraiser for Tim Bishop, who will be facing around $85,000 out-of-pocket costs for cancer treatment. If you want to know more,
see this link

Why should you attend?
It will be an opportunity to play games with a large group of people. We will teach all the games!

*cash only * You can buy inexpensive raffle tickets $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Silent Auction has over 100 items, including rare games, rare magic cards , some valued over $300 all with low reserve. Over 150 games for raffle, many new and each prize pack is worth $75 to $200

The chance of winning should be pretty good given that we are expecting over 200 games to be available. There will be a silent auction for higher value games, some of which are new and popular. The auction will have a low reserve, giving you the opportunity to get these games inexpensively. Most importantly, it’s for a great cause. You don’t need to be present to win. Raffle And auction will be 5-6 pm

www.meetup.com/West-Seattle-Board-Games/events/222145150/

Uptown is at Delridge/Andover.

FYI: NO ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: The Coast Guard Auxiliary, which leads Alki Point Lighthouse tours this time of year, says it is too low on volunteers this weekend, so no tours.

2ND-TO-LAST ‘ANGRY HOUSEWIVES’: 7:30 pm tonight and 3 pm Sunday are the final two shows in the extended run at ArtsWest, and as of this morning, a few tickets are still available. (4711 California SW)

LIVE MUSIC … see who/where on our calendar.

West Seattle development: Ex-Charlestown Café site work expected to start Monday

ORIGINAL REPORT, FRIDAY NIGHT: Four years after the end of its run as a restaurant, the much-vandalized ex-Charlestown Café building is in its final days. Dan Swallow from development firm Intracorp told WSB late tonight that they plan to “break ground” on the site Monday; city records show the demolition permit was issued a week and a half ago. 14 townhouses and 13 live-work units are planned for the site; the Southwest Design Review Board OK’d the plan six months ago. (WSB file photo)

MONDAY UPDATE: The actual building demolition is not planned until next week, we’ve confirmed on followup.

Today’s other West Seattle broadcast: Listen online to KUOW’s ‘Week In Review’ from Youngstown

May 29, 2015 8:13 pm
|    Comments Off on Today’s other West Seattle broadcast: Listen online to KUOW’s ‘Week In Review’ from Youngstown
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

Before KEXP‘s six-hour live West Seattle Junction broadcast got going at noon, another public-radio station had spent an hour live on location in Delridge – KUOW‘s “Week In Review,” starting a seven-week tour of Seattle’s new City Council districts, was live 10 am-11 am today from Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. In addition to host Bill Radke and panelists Joni Balter and CR Douglas, West Seattleite and former mayor Greg Nickels was a guest panelist; community advocate Amanda Kay Helmick was a guest, interviewed about her attempt to run for City Council entirely via signature power. If you weren’t in the studio audience or didn’t get to listen at 10 am or the just-concluded 7 pm playback, you can hear the show via the online archive – just go here.

West Seattle High School softball season ends in Lacey

Two losses today in Lacey mean the West Seattle High School softball team’s trip to the state tournament is over; according to the WIAA bracket page, they lost their first game this morning to North Central (from Spokane) 5-1 and then lost this afternoon to Enumclaw, 19-2. Congratulations to the team on a great season that concluded with many honors and achievements, including a second-place finish in the Metro League.

PHOTOS: KEXP’s 2015 West Seattle ‘Hood-To-Hood’ party

(SCROLL DOWN for updates; event schedule is here)

12:58 PM: KEXP DJ Cheryl Waters is on the air live from The Junction, just north of the Walk-All-Ways intersection, as the Hood-To-Hood “West Seattle Day” street party gets going. Quiet now but likely to be a much-different scene by mid-to-late afternoon. 1st live music is John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats, starting in a few minutes (1 pm) – rest of the schedule is here. If you can, it’s a good time to come down and meet some of your neighbors – organizations here in the early going include West Seattle Bike Connections, with a bike rodeo and safety-check zone …

Meet cool people like Kathy from WSBC …

… and Kristina from the White Center Food Bank.

Speaking of bikes, Seattle Police officers are patroling on 2 wheels.

We’ll be checking back later in the afternoon.

2:05 PM: Looks like the crowd started showing up in time for John Darnielle’s set:

We’re heading back soon to The Junction, where the street party is on until 6, with Miami Horror up next, live at 3 pm; then at 6 pm, nine West Seattle venues are “taken over” by KEXP DJs, and the event wraps with 9 pm live-music showcases at Feedback Lounge (6451 California SW) and The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).

4:10 PM: Just starting, an acoustic set by Telekinesis.

(WSB photo, substituted for previously published KEXP tweet)
Among the fans during that set:

The crowd in The Junction has picked up as the day’s gone on. On the air right now, West Seattleite Kevin Cole, who got a visit from Matt Vaughan, proprietor of steps-away Easy Street Records.

We got back here in time for part of Miami Horror’s set last hour – some of the showgoers danced in the sunshine, and Daniel Whitechurch left the stage to dance with them:

Still adding more photos.

6:23 PM: Street party’s over; we’ll check on the street’s status a bit later.

7:46 PM: Tweeted from one of the KEXP DJ “takeover” venues:

8:21 PM: And from another:

9:09 PM: California SW has just reopened between Alaska and Oregon.

BIZNOTE: West Seattleite brewing Realfine Coffee for The Triangle

Caffe Vita was originally announced as opening adjacent to Rudy’s Barbershop (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle. Then Rudy’s confirmed that’s not happening. But there WILL be coffee – per this announcement we received today:

West Seattlelite Julie Mierzwiak has officially announced plans to open Realfine Coffee late summer, 2015. After many years of skillfully crafting coffee each day in a popular West Seattle café, the local barista has signed a lease for the space at 4480 Fauntleroy Ave. (adjacent to the brand new Rudy’s Barbershop). She is collaborating with friend and fellow Northwest entrepreneur Dani Cone (Fuel Coffee, High 5 Pie, Cone & Steiner General).

Mierzwiak and Cone are excited to serve the community in which Mierzwiak has lived and worked for over 14 years, and Cone has family ties. The business partners look forward to creating a great place for folks to gather, meet, and connect.

“West Seattle is a special place, and also a state of mind,” said Mierzwiak. “With the amount of growth underway in our ‘small town’, it is important for us to maintain the sense of community and connectedness that West Seattle was built on. I am beyond excited to reconnect with my West Seattle customers and neighbors.”

The shop will be open daily from 6 am – 7 pm, and serve superior coffee, local baked goods, beer and wine, and grab ‘n go snacks.

The announcement didn’t say what coffee they’ll use; we’re asking that as a followup.