West Seattle, Washington
09 Saturday
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Happy Thanksgiving! And thank you for another year of community collaboration so we can continue publishing West Seattle news/info 24/7/365 – like this:
COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: Our list includes 17 West Seattle coffee shops open for at least part of today – see them here. (Others? Please text us – 206-293-6302!)
GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: This list is in the Thanksgiving section atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide.
RESTAURANTS/BARS OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: 13 on the list this year – see it here.
PRE-TURKEY EXERCISE : Three options this morning, indoor and outdoor, also in the Thanksgiving section atop the Holiday Guide.
WHERE TO FIND A FREE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER: Three options this year, everyone welcome:
*The Hall at Fauntleroy is offering takeaway dinners, 11 am-2 pm, follow the link for info if you haven’t already RSVP’d. (9131 California SW)
*West Seattle Eagles sitdown dinner, 2 pm-5 pm (4426 California SW)
*Admiral Pub, free Thanksgiving dinner starting at 7 pm – $5 donation requested if you can. (2306 California SW)
WANT TO HELP? You can donate socks and blankets at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 9:30 am-noon, same address as above (south end of the historic schoolhouse).
WHAT TO DO AFTER (OR BEFORE) DINNER: The Admiral Theater is open this afternoon/evening – see the movies and showtimes here (2343 California SW).
THANKSGIVING TRANSPORTATION NOTES:
*Metro is on the Sunday schedule
*No Water Taxi service
*Sound Transit light rail and buses, Sunday schedules
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on the Sunday schedule
*No charge for parking today on city streets in neighborhoods with pay stations
*Traffic cameras: West Seattle-relevant ones here; citywide views are available via this SDOT map
OTHER INFO:
*No trash/recycling/etc. pickup today – Thursday pickups will happen Friday; Friday pickups on Saturday
*Seattle Parks‘ holiday closure list
*No Seattle Public Library services today
Seasonal info for today and beyond is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving! (And if you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we are thankful for your tips all year long!)
(WSB photos. Above, Rheanna Atendido at a rehearsal for ‘We’ve Battled Monsters Before’)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Tonight, a public preview performance debuted “We’ve Battled Monsters Before” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) in The Junction.
Even before the lights went up, ArtsWest managing director Laura Lee was already imagining how emotional a moment that would be.
It’s been a long 20 months, even more uncertain and unnerving for the arts than for some other disciplines and businesses. ArtsWest was about to open “St. Joan” in March 2020 – had just presented the preview, in fact – when pandemic-safety orders shut down many businesses and venues, including theirs.
“St. Joan” never opened, and ArtsWest stayed closed. They thought, Lee recalled, that the shutdown might last “a few months, and then we’ll get going again.”
Thanks for the tips (including Mark, who also sent the photo): Southbound 26th SW has reopened between SW Barton and SW Roxbury. That’s the first time in almost four months that the stretch of 26th has been open both ways. It’s been rebuilt – one direction at a time – to better withstand the constant pounding it takes from buses. It’s been a years-long problem, with neighbors complaining their homes shook when buses passed on the flimsier pavement.
Jim sent this report, as an alert to other dog owners:
(Tuesday) at about 2 pm, I was walking our 12-year-old Brittany “Copper” on his leash on our daily walk on Harbor Ave when Copper was attacked by a white pit-bull dog which was dragging its leash and not under control of its owner.
As we passed the Marination patio and walked north on the path a man was standing there and a dog was coming from the bushes. It approached Copper and then almost immediately attacked him, pinning him to the ground and holding him down with his mouth. It took both myself and the man to get the dog off and away from Copper.
I took Copper to South Seattle Veterinary Hospital immediately and he was taken in for surgery. Copper has multiple deep puncture wounds and we are glad that he is alive. The clinic and its doctors and employees deserve our thanks.
I am filing reports with Animal Control and the Seattle Police Department. I want this information to be out there for all to see. This dog attacked Copper without provocation. This dog was not being controlled. The owner was not remorseful. He left the scene telling me that this was the fault of my dog having “bad energy.”
I see so many West Seattle dog owners walking their dogs along the water all day every day. They need to know to be careful and always aware that this can happen to them. Copper has never been in a dog fight, much less provoked an attack, and he did not deserve to suffer this fate. If you are the owner of this dog, you should be very ashamed and you should take responsibility for your dog’s actions.
The Seattle Animal Shelter case number is C06730536; you can contact Animal Control with any info at 206-386-7387.
Two reader reports:
STOLEN PICKUP: The report and photo are from Terese:
Neighbors, we need your help! Our truck was stolen from outside our house near Alaska Junction on or around Sunday 11/21/21. It is a 2001 dark blue Chevy Silverado 1500 4×4 with extended cab, has decals on rear window of US flag and WSU/Coug. LICENSE PLATE # B68902G. It is (or was!) in great condition – brand new trailer hitch, tires…
If you spot it please call 911.
Side note: before dawn a week or two ago, a neighbor witnessed two men in a tan sedan who parked in front of our house and broke into the same truck (both times locked, with no damage and no idea how they broke in), and pilfered the contents. (All they took was a red bag of wrenches). Not sure if the two incidents are related.
Thank you for any help! I’ve heard great stories of community helping to identify and retrieve stolen property, so here’s hoping.
Terese 206.890.2277
TENT THEFT: From L:
I’d like to report a stolen Thule roof rack and Roofnest roof top tent.
November 23, 2021 – A pickup truck drove by my house at 3:45 AM, and what appears to be the same pickup and a dark van then drove by the house at 4:56 AM. At 5:25, the same pickup backed up and parked next to my car. There were at least 2 individuals but I suspect 3- as it weighs 135 pounds. They quickly removed the tent and put it in the back of the pick up truck. One individual sprinted to what I’m guessing is the dark van. This took less than 3 minutes. They removed the entire Thule rack with the tent attached.
Police Report Number: 21-921995
5:32 PM: Avoid the area of California/Findlay – police and fire are there. We’re headed that way to see if we can find out more.
(WSB photo – medical units staged on 42nd, east of the collision scene)
5:50 PM: We are told at the scene that a driver hit a pedestrian. The victim’s injuries are not life-threatening, so she is being taken to a hospital by private ambulance. The street has reopened but there’s debris to clean up.
8:37 PM: SFD says the victim is a woman in her 30s and confirms that she did not suffer major injuries.
Multiple break-ins, one person, reports Kelli:
At 5:08 AM on 11/24/21, our car and garage were broken into. A workbench full of tools, an Echo home studio speaker, a Kindle, a leaf blower, and my daughter’s green wagon was stolen. Next the thief went across the street and broke our neighbors’ gate and broke into their car as well.
This happened in the 6300 block of 44th SW in Morgan Junction.
As usual, we’ve made lists of who’s open on Thanksgiving Day in West Seattle in case you’re looking for a latte, a cocktail, a meal cooked by somebody else – or if you forgot something and have to make a run to the supermarket. Here’s where to find our lists:
-Restaurants/bars open Thanksgiving – here
-Coffee shops open Thanksgiving – here
-Grocery stores open Thanksgiving – in our Holiday Guide
We gathered the information by phone, online, in person (and thanks SO much to the businesses that sent us their plans), but some never answered on repeat tries, so we might be missing a venue or two that plans to open on the holiday – if so, please send (westseattleblog@gmail.com) or text (206-293-6302) us the info so we can add – thanks!
The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW) has two invitations for you if you’re interested in sharing your holiday spirit with their residents (and others). First, something you can do at home:
Feeling the holiday spirit? Looking for a unique and creative service project for your kiddos or group organization? Help us #BringTheJoy to The Kenney residents this holiday season by sending in a video! Whether it’s of you and your family singing Christmas carols, your school orchestra playing a song or just wishing them a Merry Christmas, or reciting poetry, we want to hear from you!
For more information and to submit your video, please visit heritage1886.org/joy-video!
The Kenney is a part of the Heritage Ministries family of retirement communities, so not only do our local residents see your video, but also at our properties back east. It’s a great way to make the season shine for many others! Join us!
They’ll be accepting videos through mid-December. In the nearer term, how about a pup parade this Sunday? Here’s that announcement:
The Kenney announces its first-ever “Holly-paws Dog Parade”! Walk off your holiday meal, give your pup some exercise and bring some joy to our residents! Dog moms and dads are invited to come brighten the day of our elders and walk their well-behaved dogs around the block of The Kenney. Holiday attire for all is encouraged! Residents will be gathered in two areas to watch.
Sunday, November 28 – 1:30-2:00 PM
-Meet on the corner of Othello and Fauntleroy, to proceed north on Fauntleroy at 1:30 PM.
-Feel free to dress your dog up in costume or holiday attire!
-Each pooch will receive a goodie bag of homemade dog-biscuits made by our residents.
-People-masking and physical distancing is highly recommended/strongly encouraged for the safety and enjoyment of all.
-If your dog is social and enjoys exuberantly greeting people, please exercise great caution with our residents.
(Peregrine Falcon in Lincoln Park, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
Here’s what’s up for the hours ahead – from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:
FESTIVAL OF TREES: Visit the Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW) lobby 8 am-8 pm daily to see the donated, decorated trees.
ST. NICHOLAS FAIRE, ONLINE: This year’s benefit bidding for gift baskets and holiday items to help First Lutheran Church of West Seattle help the WS Food Bank starts today, and it’s all online again this year – get started here.
FREE THANKSGIVING-EVE LUNCH: Noon at The Junction Church (4157 California SW), all welcome.
WSHS WINTER CARE-PACKAGE DONATION DRIVE: Today, 3-5 pm outside West Seattle High School‘s north entrance (3000 California SW) is your first opportunity to drop off donated items for this student-led, student-benefiting drive.
THEATER: Tonight is public preview night for the first ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) production since pre-pandemic, “We’ve Battled Monsters Before,” 7:30 pm. Get your ticket(s) here. (4711 California SW)
OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups, 8:30 pm performances at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
If you can buy a turkey or two and get it to the West Seattle Food Bank between 9 am and 3 pm today, you can help ensure families’ holiday meals are joyous and bountiful. WSFB says it was able to buy 1,300 turkeys this season thanks to generous donors, but they’re running low and still distributing food today. Take your frozen-turkey donation to the Food Bank HQ on the southeast corner of 35th/Morgan before 3 pm – you should be able to pull into the garage off Morgan just east of 35th.
6:01 AM Good morning! One day until Thanksgiving.
WEATHER
Mixed forecast again, possibly some light rain, high in the 40s.
ROAD WORK
26th SW – Southbound closure between Roxbury and Barton continues for RapidRide H Line prep work.
20th/Roxbury – Also part of the RapidRide project, with work starting on the SW side of the intersection.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule, except for the rerouting in RapidRide H Line work zones, including 26th SW. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations. (Thursday will run on the Sunday schedule, Friday on a regular weekday schedule.)
Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is in service – here’s the West Seattle schedule – but no service Thursday-Friday.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
611th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.) No change for the holiday.
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
South Park Bridge:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. South Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Police have just told dispatch they’re finding shell casings and a “shot-up vehicle” near 16th/Cambridge [map]. So far, 14 casings, they report. No word of anyone hurt,
Thanks to Fred Hammerquist for the view of tonight’s sunset. By the time we get to the holiday on Thursday, we might not have anything resembling this – the Thanksgiving forecast so far predicts “rain at times” during the day, and heavier rain that night. Breezy, too.
Almost two years (and one pandemic) after the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) announced its plan for a new preschool/child-care center on the north side of Westwood Village, it’s finally getting ready to open. We toured the space with its director, Jill Mudge:
She’s worked with the Y in West Seattle for 29 years and is excited about not just how the new center is coming together, but about what it will be like to work with 124 kids ages 4 weeks through 5 years. “It will be amazing to watch their growth.” The rooms at the center are spread across two levels of what used to be a vision clinic. Even former patients wouldn’t recognize the configuration – walls have been moved and removed to create the big, bright rooms.
The West Seattle area has desperately needed more chlid-care/preschool options, Mudge says – some couples whose babies haven’t arrived yet are already on a waitlist. Each infant room will have two staffers caring for up to eight babies.
While most of the rooms are age-specific, there’s also flexible space where smaller groups can have lessons, The preschool instructors will teach with The Creative Curriculum:
You might notice in that photo that some books are in Spanish – Mudge says they’ll have some bilingual instructors who can teach in Spanish as well as English. Lots of opportunities to play, too.
That includes outdoor play – by the time the center opens, an expansive playground will be set up a short walk away, in what’s currently little-used parking-lot space immediately south of the Westwood post office. Mudge also foresees the Y’s facility being a boon for the shopping center, too, with an infusion of families shopping and dining before/after picking up or dropping off their little ones. The center’s even designed with hygiene in mind – two little tot-height sinks close to the entry:
They’re expecting to be open by the end of January, 6:30 am-6 pm weekdays. Right now, the Y is offering tours of the space and taking applications – go here to find out more.
The report and photos are from Tomba, who :
Our condo garage gate was broken into last night 11/23 at 3:00 am. ‘
Our security camera recorded the burglar checking out the gate at midnight, he arrived on a bike, returned at 3:00 am on foot with tools, broke into the gate, then cut the security cable on the Hand Trike and left at 3:15 am, riding the hand trike south on Harbor Ave.
This is a Top End Force Three Hand Trike, black with red lettering, customized for a young man that uses a wheelchair full time. This is not easily replaced. I would think this will be very hard for the burglar to sell.
Maybe someone in our West Seattle neighborhood has seen this burglar or this hand trike.
We’ve requested the report number. (Update: It’s 21-921955.) Meantime, if you find the trike, let us know and we’ll connect you.
After a somewhat subdued display in 2020, the Menashe Family Lights will be brighter this year. We stopped by the house in the 5600 block of Beach Drive today and found work already under way in and around the house’s front yard and trees. Josh Menashe tells WSB that they’re expecting to flip the switch on West Seattle’s brightest lights on December 2nd. As noted in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, Santa will be back this year for photos – 6 pm-10 pm Saturday, December 11th (bring donations for the West Seattle Food Bank).
NOVEMBER 26 NOTE: Though the display appears to still have some finishing touches missing, many of the lights are on, we noticed while passing through the area tonight.
With the holiday almost here, we want to remind you one more time about free community dinner opportunities on Thanksgiving Day:
HALL AT FAUNTLEROY, TAKEAWAY BY RSVP: 11 am-2 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW) is offering free takeaway holiday meals, but please RSVP ASAP. Some limited delivery is available too. Details and contact info are in our original preview.
WEST SEATTLE EAGLES, SIT-DOWN DINNER: 2-5 pm Thursday, the West Seattle Eagles are serving up their traditional free sit-down community dinner. No reservations needed; all ages welcome. Just show up at 4426 California SW.
P.S. On Thanksgiving Eve, The Junction Church is serving a free community lunch at noon, at 4157 California SW.
Three months after Tacos y Mariscos El Tiburón closed at 17th/Roxbury, the sign’s up for its successor. MexiCuban has opened a takeout/delivery operation as the first phase of its plan for the space, with a sit-down restaurant to follow. Until now, MexiCuban, founded by Chef Octavio Ortega, has been truck-based, but has now added this bricks-and-mortar space in South Delridge. Their food is as the name describes, a Mexican/Cuban fusion – here’s the menu (or, here’s a photo that Therese sent – thank you! – after happening onto Mexicuban’s takeout opening last Sunday), from “fluffy tacos” to Cubano sandwiches and bowls. Via email, MexiCuban tells WSB they’re now open for business Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 am-8 pm (but will be closed this Thursday for the holiday): “We are currently just doing online orders for pickup and delivery. We have a dedicated quick-pickup window on 9448 17th Ave SW. We expect to be open for dine-in by February 1st, with a full-service bar. Orders online can currently be placed at MexiCuban.online for pickup and delivery.”
Three months after SDOT closed the Andover bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the west end of the West Seattle Bridge, they’re one month into construction of its retrofit, with two months to go. Here’s the update we just received:
We began construction in mid-October on the SW Andover St Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project and are on schedule to complete construction in the next two months.
The SW Andover St Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge is a vital pedestrian connection between the Youngstown and Genesee neighborhoods. The bridge was built in 1961, prior to the modernization of the seismic design code. This project will strengthen key bridge components to better withstand seismic events like earthquakes.
What’s happening now?
We’re installing new bridge expansion joints, which allow the concrete to naturally expand and contract without cracking. The bridge deck was originally supported by three joints that were not adequately connected to each other to withstand an earthquake. The bridge will be fused together with steel plates, additional rebar, and concrete to improve its resilience to earthquakes.
We’re also strengthening the east side of the bridge where it is secured to the ground. Four long steel rods, called ground anchors, will be installed 40 feet deep into the ground to support this side of the bridge. These improvements will make the bridge stronger and safer in the event of an earthquake.
We are on schedule to complete the work in the next two months. As soon as construction is done, we’ll open the bridge for use again.
Cost of the project is estimated at $1.9 million.
Thanks for all the tips! Orcas are back in our area today. According to the most recent report, from Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales, they were southbound south of Brace Point. Kersti Muul says they’re residents (added: J Pod, to be specific). They eventually have to head north, though, so be on the lookout later!
(Lincoln Park on Sunday – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide and year-round Event Calendar:
HOLIDAY ORDERING DEADLINES: If you don’t want to do all the cooking, two stores’ deadlines are today – Whole Foods Market, info herem and QFC (info here),
FESTIVAL OF TREES: Visit the Brookdale Admiral Heights (2326 California SW) lobby 8 am-8 pm daily to see the donated, decorated trees.
NEED THANKSGIVING FOOD? 10 am-2 pm, the West Seattle Food Bank (35th/Morgan) has turkeys available for walk-up distribution.
UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE: Patrice Lewis will be at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) again today, 11 am-12:30 pm, for individual consultations – call to see if any time’s open.
DEMONSTRATION: Join Scott‘s weekly demonstration for racial justice, 4:30 pm-6 pm at 16th/Holden; signs available if you don’t have your own.
GAME NIGHT: Tuesday nights are Game Nights at The Spot West Seattle (2914 SW Avalon Way), 5-9 pm.
BINGO: 8 pm-10 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), join hostess Cookie Couture for free “Belle of the Balls Bingo.”
The photo is from Our Lady of Guadalupe School – near the city’s highest elevation at 35th/Myrtle – where the Huskies’ flag is flying this week. Here’s why:
Monday morning, Principal Anton Kramer raised the University of Washington flag above Our Lady of Guadalupe school. UW came out on top at last year’s Huskies v. Cougars spring-auction showdown, which means the highest point in Seattle will be flying Purple and Gold for this weekend’s Apple Cup.
At OLG’s 50th Golden Anniversary auction, in March of 2022, we will again be auctioning the honor of raising either the WSU or UW flag at OLG. Who will come out on top? Will Crimson and White be flying above OLG this time next year?
Want to attend to make sure that your school’s flag is raised? Or looking for a local sponsorship opportunity? Please reach out to olgprocurement@gmail.com we would love to chat with you.
P.S. The principal’s flag-raising assistants in the photo are Husky fans Stella and Gresham.
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