West Seattle Saturday: Viaduct’s closed, so here are your reasons not to leave the peninsula

Northbound 99 is closed between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel (that’s why the right lane’s blocked off in the “live” webcam image above), and scheduled to remain closed all weekend; southbound 99 is closed until 6 pm tonight and scheduled for a 5 am-6 pm closure again tomorrow. So here are highlights of what you can do without heading east! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):

SWIMMING WITH BRICKS: Along the Alki promenade this morning:

A West Seattle man will attempt to swim one mile in Puget Sound with a brick in each hand. The swim will commence from the Bathhouse at Alki Beach at approximately 8:30 am. The swimmer is Sam Day, 53, an artist and wedding painter, who swims regularly at Alki Beach with the Notorious Alki Swimmers throughout the year. The idea for swimming with bricks came from his Danish great-great grandfather, who, according to family lore, swam around a tall ship with a brick in each hand.

You’re welcome to cheer him on. (60th SW/Alki SW)

DRAGONFLY PARK GARDEN PARTY: 9 am to noon, Friends of Dragonfly Park would love your help as they provide TLC to this special spot in West Seattle. Tools provided. More info in our preview. Even if you can only help for part of that time, just go show up! (28th SW south of SW Yancy)

‘ART INTERRUPTIONS’ WALK: Also in North Delridge – 10 am-noon, join a guided walk in North Delridge along the temporary art installations we first showed you two months ago. Here’s the newest map:

Meet at Cottage Grove Park for the 1.8-mile walk. As shown on the map, there’s a shorter “family-friendly” loop too. (5206 26th SW)

BEAUTIFY STEVE COX MEMORIAL PARK: This White Center park used by so many from WC, West Seattle, and beyond, needs TLC too. Be there 10 am-noon today to help out. (1321 SW 102nd)

SEATTLE LUTHERAN CHEERLEADERS’ CAR WASH: Need your vehicle washed? 10 am-3 pm, stop by West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) and the Seattle Lutheran High School Cheerleaders will handle it! By donations – no set price. (35th SW/SW Webster)

SEE ART, MAKE ART: At Southwest Library, as part of the monthlong celebration of art that also features the Community Art Showcase, you’re invited to make “felted monsters” with Lene Sangster, 1-3 pm. Free. (9010 35th SW).

OKTOBERFEST AT OUNCES: 2-10 pm at Ounces in North Delridge, you’ll find biers, brats, Bavarian music, costume contest, more. All ages. (3809 Delridge Way SW)

‘SCREENAGERS’: Worried your kids are spending too much time with screens? This is the film to see – with them. Free screening at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), 3:30 pm – presented by West Seattle Cooperative Preschools, with a short facilitated discussion afterward. (6000 16th SW)

WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: This month it’s “What the Health” – info here. Doors open 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

VIGIL FOR LAS VEGAS: 7:30 pm in the Fauntleroy Church parking lot – inside the sanctuary if it’s raining. (9140 California SW)

THE ESOTERICS IN CONCERT: New choral music, 8 pm at Holy Rosary. Ticket and program info here. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)

Diane October 7, 2017 (2:53 pm)

I have to leave the peninsula to get to work on Queen Anne, a trip that usually takes me 17 mins via the viaduct; any suggestions for best route to get through downtown to top of QA via car?

WSB October 7, 2017 (3:06 pm)

In case nobody comes along with a better suggestion:

I’m partial to 4th to get through downtown in general, as it’s one-way north. But at some point before you get to the end, you’d want to turn and head a few blocks west (Google Maps shows Wall or Cedar might work) to connect with Western, which then will take you to the west side of QA, where you can turn onto one of the streets that take you onto QA, depending on where exactly on the top of the hill you’re headed.
- Diane October 8, 2017 (4:06 pm)
  
  thanks; I ended up taking 1st through downtown because the drivers on the wsbridge were doing so much crazy lane changing, speeding down bus-only lane and cutting in (freaking out about not knowing viaduct was closed?) and nearly all were funneling into the 2 lanes going to 4th and I-5; then it was slow going through Pioneer Square, especially where it narrows to one lane; in all, my usual 17 min drive via viaduct took an hour; thank god I don’t have to do that everyday, and dreading the viaduct tear-down fall-out

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