West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Sometimes, businesses close quietly … not even a note on the door. Not the Feedback Lounge in Morgan Junction. Almost three weeks after its proprietors announced its days were numbered, the closing-night party to end all closing-night parties is under way right now. We stopped in for a few photos – above, co-proprietors Paul Larkin and Jeff Gilbert; below, co-proprietor and award-winning mixologist Matt Johnson:
The Feedback opened in spring 2009, showing personality even earlier – like a sign outside promising “opening soon-ish.” It sported rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia as part of the decor, and eventually got around to live bands, with two performing tonight:
We got there during Dead Letters‘ set (above); The Black Bangs was to follow. Many will remember the Feedback even more for its community spirit, hosting benefits for causes big and small, each one with a poster created by Gilbert, a prolific graphic artist – who told us tonight, “West Seattle can’t get rid of me!” so expect to keep seeing him around. As for the space at 6451 California SW, which was home to Beveridge Place Pub before its move across the alley, and to Full Moon Saloon before that – somebody’s moving in, but nobody’s saying who, yet.
Still a few weeks left in summer – and 7-12-year-olds interested in the indoor-soccer game known as futsal are invited to a weeklong camp at High Point Community Center, starting one week from today. David just e-mailed us about it tonight, saying his son is signed up but the camp needs a few more signups by Tuesday or else it’s in danger of cancellation. Information about the camp is here; information about futsal is here; if you have trouble signing up online, David says, you can stop by the community center (6920 34th SW) or call 206-684-7422.
Planning the rest of your weekend? The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is circulating one more reminder of two special events tomorrow with one guest speaker 
– logger-turned-log-house-preservationist David Rogers, who was the contractor for the renovation of what’s now the SWSHS’s HQ, the Log House Museum. First event is 2-4 pm at the museum (61st/Stevens): “Rogers will conduct an interactive demonstration of log-restoration techniques and describe in detail the hands-on work he did on our museum building.” No charge, but the museum would love to have you RSVP if you’re expecting to go – do it here. Then at 6:30 at West 5 in The Junction, he’s speaking during a no-host dinner event as an SWSHS fundraiser – details here.
Earl M. Mickelson, a West Seattle native and lifelong resident, has died at age 89. Here’s the remembrance his family is sharing:
Earl passed away at home at the age of 89 on July 31st. He would have turned 90 in September.
Earl was born to Christian and Martha Mickelson, both descendants of Norway, at West Seattle hospital. Earl spent his entire life in West Seattle; he was a graduate of West Seattle High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps, receiving an honorable discharge in 1946. He served for 27 years as a Seattle Department firefighter, retiring in 1974. Earl was very proud of his Norwegian heritage. He loved West Seattle and, after retirement, boasted about having no reason to cross the West Seattle Bridge.
Earl enjoyed time spent with his family and his many neighbors that he grew so fond of. For many years he was the neighborhood Block Watch captain. He took pride in his work overseeing the neighborhood and actually kicked a neighbor’s door down to save the life of a woman who collapsed and was trapped in her home.
Earl was very generous in donating to many charities over the years. He was the elder statesman for both the West Seattle Yacht Club and West Seattle Eagles. He was a longtime member of the American Legion. Earl is survived by his lovely wife of 65 years, Sylvia, whom he met on Alki Beach; his three children, Susan Scott (Daniel), Chris Mickelson (Kimberly), Bart Mickelson, and his four grandchildren, Shawna Clark (Steve), Christiana (George), Trine and Tristen Mickelson. Earl is survived by sister-in-law Beverly Alger and many nieces and nephews. His brothers and their spouses Kris (Janet) and Kenny (Marian) Mickelson are deceased. He was looking forward to his first great-grandchild, expected in February.
Earl’s feistiness and humor continued to the end and he will be missed by all his family and friends. He was always very macho and gruff but deep down he could be very compassionate and kind. He is remembered to many as a wonderful father, grandpa, father-in-law, firefighter, neighbor, husband, and friend. We want to thank his family and many caretakers over the past years and especially Mary Ikua (who referred to Earl as the commander), Maureen, and Susan (his most recent caregivers) and his neighbors, along with Station 29 of the Seattle Fire Department, for all their service over the years.
A celebration of life is planned at a later date. Services will be private. Memorials may be sent to the Medic One Foundation.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
12:27 PM: Police are investigating a bank robbery that happened a short time ago at the Umpqua Bank branch just north of Admiral Safeway. Scanner traffic indicates the robber gave tellers a note; no weapon was seen. We only have a partial description so far – dark shirt, jeans, multi-colored bag, last seen walking south on California SW, might have then gone on to a 4-door champagne-colored compact car. If you have any information, call 911.
1:07 PM: No word of an arrest yet; no additional descriptive information, either, but we’re trying. Checking our archives, this is the first West Seattle bank robbery in more than a year; last one was north of The Junction in May 2014.
11:29 AM: Sunbreaks and a pleasant breeze are gracing the opening hour of this year’s Delridge Day festival, presented by VIEWS (Visualizing Increased Engagement in West Seattle). Come join hundreds of your neighbors at Delridge Community Center Park and enjoy live music …
That’s Quarter Past 8, first of today’s four bands. The stage is next to the community center, where you’ll also find two food trucks in the driveway:
Two food trucks at Delridge Day – @314PIESeattle and Yummy Box pic.twitter.com/TpVdlNiiCA
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 8, 2015
More to come!
NOON: Hour 2! The skating competition is back this year, and from our booth, we can hear the cheers from the skatepark a few yards away – if you’re not competing, go watch, and cheer!
You can also find out more about a variety of community organizations and projects – for starters, you can talk with city reps about the Delridge Action Plan and the upcoming Find It/Fix It Walk:
Don't miss the @CityofSeattle booth at Delridge Day, including info on 10/3 Find It Fix It walk pic.twitter.com/GswxRpswUB
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 8, 2015
You can also come sign up for an ORCA or ORCA LIFT card, find out about becoming a member of the Delridge Grocery Coop (WSB sponsor), and talk with organizations including South Seattle Co-op Preschools (next to our booth), West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, West Seattle Be Prepared, West Seattle Food Bank (buy a raffle ticket), 34th District Democrats, West Seattle Democratic Women, West Seattle Timebank, and that’s just one row – we have to wander over to take a look at row 2 soon!
12:28 PM: Current Delridge Day visitors include Mayor Murray and Police Chief O’Toole:
And the music continues:
Back over at the Community Center, if someone in your family needs a backpack for school – just go inside! A backpack giveaway is on until 3 pm.
1:30 PM: Time is flying here at the festival – so many cool people. Here are two of them – Seattle Police Explorers, and twin sisters, Christina and Rebecca:
One more reminder that the police “Picnic at the Precinct” is part of Delridge Day again this year and is over on the 26th SW side of the park, including free ice cream, so don’t miss the chance.
(At right, Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith, pitching in with ice-cream operations.) Also here: Straight Blast Gym (WSB sponsor), which is headquartered here in North Delridge – we recorded a quick Instagram clip of the demonstration under way at SBG’s booth:
Straight Blast has classes and programs for all ages. Speaking of spanning age groups – West Seattle Community Orchestras are all about that too, and they also are here:
WSCO’s new season will start in the fall – watch for information on how to join.
2:01 PM: Last hour already! Still time to come down and check things out. More skating!
And more music.
3 PM: The festival’s wrapping up. We have lots more photos – will either add them here after we get back to HQ, or possibly a second report. Thanks to everybody who came by and said hi!
ADDED 12:44 AM: Our additional photos made more sense as part of this report, so they’re added throughout, including, below, a few more of the people who stopped by – first, we always photograph candidates who stop by our booth at festivals, and today there were two – City Council District 1 candidate Shannon Braddock:
And School Board Position 6 candidate Leslie Harris:
Patricia London, a new WSB sponsor via her Independent Living Skills/Etiquette Factory classes, also stopped by:
So did Southwest Precinct Captain Pierre Davis, seen below with Deb Greer and Karen Berge of the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network:
WSB was among the sponsors of today’s festival. Presenting organization VIEWS plans to donate a portion of festival fees to the scholarship fund at Delridge CC.
Especially if you’re in east West Seattle, you might be wondering about a big Seattle Fire response on Harbor Island. It went out as a full major “fire in a building” response but has since been scaled back. Scanner traffic indicates it’s a generator fire at or near Vigor Shipyards. No injuries reported so far.
(Osprey, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Happy weekend! Today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE URBAN FARM TOUR: 10 am-3 pm, organized by Seattle Farm School – tour “urban farm” food-growing sites in West Seattle. Map provided once you buy a ticket (kids and teens free!) – go here for info – if you hadn’t ordered one already, get one at the Seattle Farm School booth at 4127 49th Ave SW.
DUWAMISH REVEALED – CITY MEDITATION CREW: 10 am-4 pm, a unique waterborne observation of the Duwamish River – details on the Duwamish Revealed website. You’re welcome to watch or participate, at Terminal 107 Park in West Seattle. (4700 W. Marginal Way SW)
DELRIDGE DAY: 11 am-3 pm at Delridge Community Center/Skatepark, the festival’s even bigger this year, with vendors, games, live music, food trucks, Seattle Police’s “Picnic at the Precinct,” a skating competition … Find festival info here as well as in our preview. (Delridge/Genesee)
OPEN HIVE DEMONSTRATION: 11 am, be at the West Seattle Bee Garden in High Point for an open hive demonstration – find out more about the small creatures on whom we depend, more than you might know. (31st/Graham)
FREE REMODELING/CUSTOM-BUILDING WORKSHOP: 2 pm at the headquarters of award-winning Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) – call ASAP to see if there’s still room. (California/Findlay)
SALSA ON ALKI: 4:30 pm lesson, followed by dancing until 10 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty – details here. (61st/Alki)
WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Gates open at 6:30 pm at the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) for “Big Hero 6.” Movie at dusk (8:30-ish), preceded by a free barbecue courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church. If it’s raining by late afternoon, check here for updates on the movie’s status. (4410 California SW)
‘INTO THE WOODS’: Twelfth Night Productions’ second performance of “Into The Woods,” at the West Seattle High School Theater, 7:30 pm. (3000 California SW)
DUWAMISH REVEALED – AERIAL PERFORMANCE: 8 pm at The Estuary, West Seattle aerialist Tanya Brno performs, suspended from a crane on the river, in “an illuminated moon.” Also, the Duwamish Riverside People’s Chorus (all welcome to join – see details on afternoon rehearsal to learn the music). Info here. (4651 Diagonal Ave. S.)
FEEDBACK LOUNGE FINALE: 9 pm, Black Bangs perform (with special guest Dead Letters) to close out the Feedback Lounge‘s seven-year run. (6451 California SW)
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE? Browse the rest of today/tonight, and beyond, here!
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