West Seattle, Washington
01 Sunday
(WSB photo from 2016 Monster Dash)
Third running-related story of the day: Just two months until the 2019 West Seattle Monster Dash. Set your calendar for 9 am-11 am Saturday, October 26th, when the costumes-encouraged event will return to Lincoln Park. Besides the 5K trail run, the Monster Dash also will feature kid dashes and a family-fun zone. Proceeds benefit the South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools. You can register right now at earlybird prices. (Here’s our coverage from last year.)
5:45 PM: Thanks to Emily for the tip at midday today that Alki Chicken and Waffles, months in the works at 2738 Alki SW, appeared to be open. We then went over and talked with proprietor Tom Lin, who said they weren’t open to the public yet but were doing a “friends and family” test run. He told us he’s expecting the restaurant will be open Monday (August 26th). It’s the spot where B’s Po Boy closed last winter.
7:54 PM: Kate from the Alki Chicken and Waffles staff says they’re planning a “soft open” 9 am-1 pm tomorrow.
Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales just texted to say orcas are in view off Alki, headed south. We also have another texted report of a sighting from Me-Kwa-Mooks. Let us know if you see them!
The West Seattle Beer & Music Festival‘s second day is under way – but first, a toast to this year’s beneficiary, the West Seattle Food Bank! Those toasting were participants in this afternoon’s fundraising fun run, the .5K Run4Food. Festival organizer Joe Jeannot led the refreshing celebration at the finish line:
The run was literally around the block where the festival’s happening, at the Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds) in The Junction:
Participants included the WSFB’s tireless executive director Fran Yeatts, who feigned fatigue at the finish line:
Go here to see what’s happening at the festival through 10 pm; it’s followed by the second-night #NotDoneYet afterparty until 1 am. (Dogs are welcome at the WSBMF until 7 tonight.) Ticket info’s here. Community co-sponsors are listed here (including WSB).
2:14 PM: A West Seattle teenager is attempting an endurance feat right now on the Olympic Peninsula. Sent on behalf of Riley Nachtrieb by her family:
West Seattle High School senior and Cross Country co-captain Riley Nachtrieb is running The Olympic Discovery Trail to set the first recorded FKT (Fastest Known Time) on Saturday, August 24th.
The trail is 138.5 miles spanning from Port Townsend to La Push. Riley is aiming to complete it under 45 hrs solo, supported by her family. This is not a race; there is no competition or award for completion. It is just her and her personal motivation as a new ultra-distance runner. Riley said, “I know I sound crazy, but I am very curious and want to understand how far we can actually push ourselves and where the mind goes to during a long duration like this attempt. Comfort is within the state of being uncomfortable.”
She recently completed a 27-mile trail run on the Tiger Mountain loop, with WSHS Cross Country teammates Tao Norsen and Addy Nachtrieb. This is a big step for her; however, she has been running for 4 years, and says, “After 20 miles, the pain is all the same. It just lasts longer. It’s the mental pain I’ve never met before at this distance.”
You can follow her on her Instagram (@rileyknachtrieb) for live updates on her Instagram Story!
She should be about six hours in by now.
6:12 PM: According to an Instagram update a few minutes ago, “Riley has completed over 38 miles of 140 miles” so far and should be in Port Angeles around 9 pm.
1:31 PM SUNDAY: Riley’s dad posted this on her Instagram account about half an hour ago:
I (Dad) pulled Riley from the course at 9:30am today, Sunday. I pulled her at 82 miles completed and drove her to La Push, the final mile to contemplate what a massive accomplishment this experience was for her, and a building block for her ultra career. Riley was complaining about the top of her foot last night, but said it was not a sharp pain and manageable. Today she was in difficulties running and slowing significantly. I looked at her foot and she had a contusion on the top of the foot which is now slightly bruising. Not sure what it is yet, but it’s too much trauma for me to be comfortable with her continuing. She’s not happy about it. She feels great otherwise, and besides the usual ups and downs, she felt mentally and physically strong. I decided not to let her push the injury further without me knowing what was going on. She’s frustrated, but understands. Thanks everyone for supporting her. The comments and messages we read to her, helped immensely!!!! You’ll see her out here again. She will post her own account and thoughts soon.
Haven’t been to the Arts & Crafts Fair at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) yet? You have until 2 pm to go browse items created by your neighbors!
It’s happening in the coffee shop’s sunny front yard.
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Indie-folk artist Noah Gundersen played an in-store show for a big crowd at Easy Street Records on Friday night, in support of the Seattle musician’s release of his new album Lover.
The album, which released on Friday on the international label Cooking Vinyl, is Gundersen’s fourth solo record and was recorded in Seattle by producer Andy Park (Death Cab For Cutie, Pedro The Lion).
Easy Street proprietor Matt Vaughan introduced Gundersen, noting that he had played several times at Easy Street previously:
Gundersen was joined on stage for several songs by his sister and longtime collaborator Abby, on violin and vocals:
Video clips from the performance:
Gundersen’s manager Mark Cunningham, who also manages Brandi Carlile, was in attendance and said Gundersen would be touring the U.S. starting in September (including a date at The Showbox on Nov. 16) and will be touring Europe in 2020.
Upcoming in-stores at Easy Street are listed on their website, including Carrie Akre on August 31 and Jack West on September 6.
(Woodland Skipper, photographed by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Welcome, weekend! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR: Start your weekend by shopping local artists/crafters’ creations during this one-day event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 8 am-2 pm. (5612 California SW)
GROUP RUN: West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) invites you to the free Saturday group run, leaving the shop at 8 am. (2743 California SW)
GREAT CROSS-SOUND RACE: Sound Rowers and Paddlers‘ annual race from Alki to Blakely Rock and back, 7 miles, starting at 9 am. (2701 Alki SW)
(added) WEST SEATTLE APPRECIATION DAY: Visit the Living Computers Museum (WSB sponsor) in nearby SODO today, 10 am-6 pm, to learn about computing history and get a ticket discount if you buy online! More info here. (2245 1st Ave. S.)
CELEBRATION FOR MARGARET MIAULLIS: Stop by the West Seattle Eagles 1-4 pm to wish Margaret Miaullis a happy 100th birthday! (4426 California SW)
SABAR IN THE PARK: 1-7 pm at Westcrest Park, two 2-hour dance classes with a 2-hour drum class inbetween, “featuring traditional Sene-Gambian West African music.” (9000 8th SW)
AXE THROWING: Haven’t tried it yet? Your chance is today at Ounces, 1-4 pm. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE BEER & MUSIC FESTIVAL: Day 2 of the second annual WSBMF begins with doors opening for VIP ticketholders at 1:30 pm, general admission at 3 pm. Music and beer lineup here; even more info’s on the ticketing page here. Dogs allowed today, 3-7 pm. Special highlight – .5K Run4Food at 2:45 pm, raising $ for the festival’s spotlight beneficiary West Seattle Food Bank. And the 10 pm #NotDoneYet afterparty! It’s all happening at Alki Masonic Center. WSBMF community co-sponsors include WSB. Attendees must be 21+. (4736 40th SW)
PAUL GERARD: “Golden voice and heartfelt lyrics” – hear for yourself at C & P Coffee Company, 7-9 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
TYRONE HASHIMOTO: His “first official performance” at Kenyon Hall! 7:30 pm. More info (including ticketing) in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
FLOORED FACES & GUESTS: Psychedelic rock starting at 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
10:19 PM: Traffic alert if you are outbound tonight or tomorrow: At the lower right of the traffic-camera image above, SDOT trucks and crews have two lanes of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge blocked near 1st Avenue S. so they can do pavement repairs/resurfacing. The SDOT alert says this work could continue until 7 pm tomorrow.
4:11 PM UPDATE: Still working. You can check the camera here.
8:47 PM: Though this was supposed to be done by 7 pm, camera shows the work zone is still blocked off.
The beer is cold and the music’s cool as the first night of the second annual West Seattle Beer & Music Festival continues at Alki Masonic Center (4736 40th SW). We were there as the live music got going with Fly Moon Royalty:
Next up onstage, Marmalade, scheduled for 8:15 pm, followed by DJ Indica Jones. The music’s on the north side of the site, with beer booths on both sides, including local faves like White Center’s Future Primitive Brewing:
Above are Dave, Shelley, and Andrew. (See the music and beer lists here.) The festival (including tomorrow’s 2:45 pm .5K Run4Food) is raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank, and you can stop by their booth on the south side to find out how they help thousands of your neighbors every year:
Above are WSFB executive director Fran Yeatts with volunteer Bobby. Not far away, food trucks with options from tacos to banh mi. The festival segues into the #NotDoneYet afterparty at 10 pm; tomorrow’s the long day, with VIP tickets getting you in at 1:30 pm, music starting with Willow at 2:15 pm, general admission at 3 pm. Tickets/info here!
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
STOLEN SCOOTER: From Garrett:
Make/model: 2018 Honda Metropolitan
Color: Dark blue body, beige seat
License: 9F5337It was stolen from the 3500 block of Walnut Ave SW.
Call 911 if you see it.
MAIL THEFT: Jim reports this happened last night in the 3500 block of SW 100th:
Our mailbox (which is a locking mailbox- see attached) was pried open with some sort of a tool (screwdriver I assume?) and our mail was stolen. Our neighbors said they heard a commotion around 3am and saw an SUV pull up and then pull away a minute or two later. It looks like they attempted to hit several of the mailboxes in the cluster of mailboxes (and items were taken from mailboxes that do not have locking mechanisms.)
The neighbor also reported that he saw the person/persons walking up to doors of the homes in the area to see if they were locked. I guess it all happened so quickly he did not have time to call the police.
In the last 3 months, our car (in an off-street carport) was broken into as well and several items were taken.
As the weekend begins, you can plan to be part of a fun event that’s happening toward its end – “bring a non-perishable food item and enjoy fun soccer-related games and activities with Highline Premier Football Club coaches and players,” 5-8 pm Sunday (August 25th) at Walt Hundley Playfield. Donated food will go to the West Seattle Food Bank‘s ongoing assistance for thousands of your neighbors. The field is at 34th SW and SW Myrtle.
Three and a half months after we first reported that Biscuit Bitch would expand to White Center, its opening date is set. We talked with proprietor Kimmie Spice at the new location (9602 16th SW) today and she told us it’ll open Thursday, September 5th. It’s just about ready to go:
Biscuit Bitch already has three locations downtown; see the menu here.
(2013 aerial of Dragonfly Garden/Pavilion, by Long Bach Nguyen)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Sometimes one face-to-face conversation is worth a thousand email chains.
On Thursday, Parks Department staffers met with community volunteers at the Dragonfly Park garden in North Delridge (28th/Dakota), to listen to concerns about a Parks plan to cover its distinctive but weed-plagued beds with grass (reported here last week).
A sizable portion of the meeting was spent straightening out one reason for the volunteers having been blindsided by news of the plan: Though they had been in communication with Parks for years – including the recently retired lead gardener – their group’s existence was not officially on record. They had done their part, filling out documentation of work parties, even working toward the type of official agreement Parks has with “Friends of” groups that donate a lot of time and effort to some parks … but it had never been finalized and entered into the system.
Parks is in a time of transition, explained the four staffers who were there – not just with new leadership (Jesús Aguirre‘s recent return as superintendent), but also with 100 jobs open and a lot of other changes, such as, they said, the department being down to 6 crew chiefs from the previous 9.
A hit-run crash in Morgan Junction back on Tuesday led to this message from Heather:
I wanted to give a huge THANK YOU to all the wonderful people who came to my aid after a car accident on 8/20 on California Ave and Graham. Within a few seconds of the crash, I had around 20 people holding my hand, comforting me, helping me in any way they could. It was absolutely amazing and I am truly overwhelmed by your kindness and care. This incident, while it hurt my body and my car, brought comfort to my heart and increased my love for the WS community. Thank you for all you did for me. It means more than you know.
Also, if anyone knows where the it and run driver is, please contact me. It was a 2000’s model Toyota Camry, maroon, with heavy front-end damage. He left the scene at high speed and turned west on to Fauntleroy toward the ferry dock. I’m hoping a camera might have picked up a license plate number. If you have any info, please email me at hlhanson1975@gmail.com
Thank you!
Police incident # is 19-309656.
(Swainson’s Thrush, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
It’s the gateway to your weekend!
BINGO: Weekly bingo! 11 am-2:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)
WEST SEATTLE BEER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL: WSBMF is back for a second year, starting tonight at 5. First, a video invitation from Michael Browder of Project 968 (a festival sponsor, and a WSB sponsor too):
The festival starts at 5 pm at the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction. Here’s the schedule – with music starting when Fly Moon Royalty takes the stage at 6:45 pm. Even more info on the ticketing page. See you there! (4736 40th SW)
CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: 5:30 pm, dinner’s available for purchase; 6 pm, music begins. 85th Street Big Band‘s classic sounds close out the series tonight. Free, bring your own chair/blanket. South side of Providence Mount St. Vincent campus. (4831 35th SW)
‘BOBCAT BOB’: 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), music with Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
ROCK OUT FOR SEA LIFE: At The Skylark, benefiting SR3. Doors at 7, music at 8, all ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
JOHN STEPHAN BAND: Blues/rock at Poggie Tavern, 9 pm. 21+. (4717 California SW)
THE LAST-MINUTE MAYBES: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MORE! See it all on our complete calendar.
You are invited to an event tomorrow (Saturday, August 24th) in honor of Margaret Miaullis turning 100. The announcement:
Margaret is a 72-year resident of West Seattle and has been active in the community for many years.
She was the owner of Margaret’s Apparel in The Junction for 38 years, retiring in 2003 at age 83. During those years, she belonged to the West Seattle Chamber and Junction Merchants Association, where she did all the promotions for The Junction including the merchants’ sidewalk sales; which she turned into the West Seattle Street Festival and did all the coordinating of the festival for 21 years. Margaret was known as the “Queen of West Seattle.”
Margaret received many awards for her work in the community, including the 2005 Hall of Fame induction from the Washington Festival and Events Association. “Making a difference in West Seattle.” She was on the board of the West Seattle Senior Center for several years. Cooked meals at the center, among many other things. Was an avid golfer and captain of the West Seattle women’s golf club/team. Also, sponsored and bowled on a team at West Seattle Bowl since the 1950s. Since her retirement, for the past 15 years, she has been doing fundraising to benefit the American Cancer Society/WS Discovery Shop, raising over $40,000 and going strong.
In honor of her 100th Birthday, there will be an open house on Saturday, August 24th, from 1 pm to 4 pm at the West Seattle Eagles. Stop by and wish her a Happy 100th!!!
The Eagles’ aerie is at 4426 California SW.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning!
BRIDGE WORK TONIGHT/TOMORROW: As announced by SDOT, work is planned on the eastbound bridge tonight and tomorrow.
WHAT’S AHEAD FOR AVALON/35TH PROJECT: The newest weekly update includes a warning of intersection closures ahead, plus work outside the zone.
STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners are back home starting tonight, 7:10 pm game against Toronto, followed by fireworks.
Inside that building is the new home of The Clothesline, the clothing bank offered to people in need by the West Seattle Helpline. It’s on the West Seattle Christian Church campus, only about half a block from its previous home, which was in a church-owned building set for demolition and redevelopment. We got a quick look inside during tonight’s reopening celebration.
The Clothesline is set up like a clothing store – except that it’s free. That is of course thanks to generous donors, and the volunteers who sort and process what comes in:
Wondering how to help? Here’s what they need. Wondering how to get help? That info’s here.
Seattle Fire says a “full response” dispatch to an apartment building in the 9200 block of 15th SW was for a kitchen fire that’s already out. One person is being evaluated for “exposure to smoke.
The weekly Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project update from SDOT includes a schedule for some work outside the basic project zone – the treatment on the steep SW Charlestown hill west of California SW. Also, early warning of a weekend closure of the 35th/Avalon intersection. Here’s the full update:
Asphalt base paving is complete on the north side of Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW) and crews have begun excavating on the south side of Zone C.
Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:· Finishing concrete paving work on the new bus island at SW Yancy St this week
· Completing curb ramp and sidewalk work at SW Charlestown St. SW Charlestown St should reopen as soon as the end of this week.
· Rebuilding the sidewalk on the west side between SW Bradford and SW Charlestown streets
Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW, including:· Demolishing and excavating the road base on the south side of the road this weekend and next week
· Maintaining daytime driveway access when safe and feasible during the workday. If you need to leave your driveway, please plan for delays of up to 1 hour. We encourage you to speak with our crews to check when excavation will take place near your property.
· Placing steel plates or building temporary driveways between 5 and 7 PM to maintain evening access
· Paving the north side of the road is anticipated for Friday, August 30. This work is weather dependent and subject to change.
· There will be no driveway access on August 30 from 7 AM to 7 PM
· If you need access to your car, plan to park on side streets the night before. You will not be able to use your driveway while the pavement cures.
Zone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:· Concrete paving on the west side of the street this week This work is weather dependent and subject to change.
· SW Snoqualmie St remaining closed for staging
While we are not conducting work in Zone B until we return to complete final paving, you may see private projects restricting parking and utilizing traffic control.
35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way Intersection:
To rebuild the concrete roadway, we will be closing the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way. The 35th Ave SW and Avalon Way SW intersection must be rebuilt to extend the useful life of the road, make utility upgrades, and make transit improvement for people walking, bicycling, driving, and riding the bus. Closing the intersection will allow us to complete this work as quickly and safely as possible. This intersection closure is weather dependent and subject to change.
(Corrected map substituted Friday morning – SDOT fixed Genesee’s mislabeling as Dakota on prior version)
· The intersection will be closed from Friday, September 6 at 9 AM to Monday, September 9 at 6 AM, weather depending
· Metro buses will be allowed southbound on 35th Ave SW from Fauntleroy between 3 PM and 7 PM on Fridays to assist with the evening commute
· This work will take up to 3 weekends
· Please visit our website for more information
· Please follow posted detour routes, see map above
High Friction Surface Treatments
In the next few weeks, crews will be placing high friction surface treatments on SW Genesee St and Charlestown Ave SW.· Crews will be working on SW Genesee St from SW Avalon Way to 30th Ave SW. One lane of traffic will be maintained, with flaggers present to direct traffic in each direction.
· Crews will be working on Charlestown Ave SW from 46th Ave SW to 47th Ave SW. Charlestown will be closed to through traffic from 45th to 48th. Please follow posted detour routes.
· Work is expected to take place on both SW Genesee St and Charlestown Ave SW on August 28-29 and September 3-6 from 9 AM to 3 PM
In case you wondered:
What is a high friction surface treatment?
We use high friction surface treatments on steep hills throughout the city to reduce the likelihood of slipping on the roadway. Crews will put down an epoxy and then place coarse rock-like material on top, to create a rougher surface for cars to travel over.
6:44 PM: Caspar Babypants fans are filling the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center for what’s invariably the bounciest night of the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s annual concert series. “My Flea Has Dogs,” “Free Couch,” “Mr. Rabbit,” and other faves already have the youngest concertgoers dancing nonstop.
Mr. Babypants intro’ing ‘Free Couch’ pic.twitter.com/8aPRoQb8dp
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 23, 2019
You have until 8 to get here and share the fun.
While you’re here, say hi to the series sponsors tabling on the east edge of the crowd, including WSB sponsors West Seattle Realty (with Otter Pops) and Dream Dinners (with crafts).
(Added: Dream Dinners’ table, above; West Seattle Realty’s Otter Pop-ularity, below)
7:50 PM: Show just ended – and with it, this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. We have more photos/video to add when we’re back at HQ.
10:21 PM: Adding more photos and video. Caspar B (who most probably know by now is Chris Ballew, who had a pre-Babypants claim to fame with The Presidents of the United States of America) insisted “every song is a true story”:
You can’t argue that when the song is, for example, “Banana Bread,” telling the practical tale of why you don’t have to discard overripe bananas. Many of his songs are critter tales, though, like this:
As you saw there, some fans didn’t even stop bouncing when the music stopped. That can have side effects:
Many more were starting to wind down by show’s end. Afterward, there was a chance to buy merch and art – CB’s cover artist Kate Endle, who also happens to be married to him, was there:
One more person to acknowledge – Stephanie Jordan, who plans and coordinates the Hiawatha series for ANA:
Watch next year for word of the 2020 series!
Why wait until your 100th birthday to have a big party? West Seattle writer, comedian, and political activist Georgie Bright Kunkel is about to turn 99, and friends gathered on a sunny Gatewood lawn to celebrate. The guest of honor wore a tiara; host Ann Martin and the West Seattle Democratic Women – of which Georgie is a past president – provided birthday fixings from a cake to flowers to two golden “9” balloons. And a round of “Happy Birthday”:
Ann read words of wisdom that Georgie wrote upon turning 90: “Never be defined by one’s arthritis or pain or age. Keep your spirit shining out of your eyes and put your best foot forward when you go out into the world. … Never give up hope. All through history, there has always been a light at the end of the tunnel to lead the way into a better life.” But right now, Georgie told partygoers (who included local political leaders), “I appreciate everything, and life is good.”
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