BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Portage Bay Café sets West Seattle opening date
9:15 PM: Something to look forward to in the new year: Four months after we first reported that popular breakfast/brunch mini-chain Portage Bay Café was expanding to West Seattle, the opening date is set. PBC’s general manager Peter Gunnar tells WSB they plan to open the doors at 4725 42nd SW on Friday, January 6th. Portage Bay was still finalizing the deal for the new location when we first talked with them in August, but at the start of October, after Agave Cocina quietly closed its doors, the secret was out. We’re still awaiting final word on Portage Bay’s West Seattle hours, but all four of their current cafés start the day at 8 am; you can see the current menu here.
ADDED MONDAY: Gunnar tells WSB today that the hours/days will be Thursdays 8 am-1 pm, Fridays 8 am-1:30 pm, Saturdays and Sundays 8 am-2 pm, Mondays 8 am-1 pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Also: “The menu will be the same as our other four locations, but like each of our stores, the chef is in charge of his monthly specials, and they differ cafe by cafe.”
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Christmas burglary at Delridge Deli Mart
Another West Seattle business was hit by burglars over the Christmas weekend. This time, Delridge Deli Mart (in the strip mall at Delridge/Andover). We went over to ask after a tip from Steve. The store confirms they were broken into before midnight last night, by burglars who popped this lock out of the door:
They told us the burglars got away with lottery scratch tickets, cigarettes, and change – some rolls as well as loose. This is the same store whose owner was seriously hurt trying to stop a shoplifter three months ago. If you have any information on last night’s break-in, the SPD incident number is 22-343643.
One more wind casualty: Light show at ‘the 4040 house’
This morning’s wind burst brought an earlier-than-planned end to the season for the holiday light show at “the 4040 house,” Ryan‘s display on Genesee Hill, featured here December 4th. We got this update from Ryan:
Unfortunately, our hopes of running the show through the New Year will not be possible. This morning’s high winds damaged some of the support structure and with higher winds in the forecast there is not enough time to safely initiate repairs.
While this may be disappointing news, the good news is we have already started planning for next year! While we don’t want to spoil any surprises, you can expect to see even more lights and holiday cheer.
On a personal note: We would like to thank our neighbors for their patience and support this holiday season. Without your kindness this would not have been possible.
We would also like to thank everyone who visited us this year. Seeing so much joy and happiness made this entirely worthwhile.
Please have a safe and prosperous New Year. We will see you at 🎃 Halloween!
WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Wind Advisory alert for Tuesday (evening update)
3:47 PM: Seems this morning’s brief burst of strong wind was just a preview. We mentioned wind in the forecast for tomorrow, and now that’s been upgraded to a Wind Advisory alert for our area, 7 am to 7 pm Tuesday. The National Weather Service alert says in part, “South winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected over the Seattle vicinity.” So charge everything and scout around outside for anything in danger of getting picked up and tossed by the wind; if you have extra garbage/recycling out for pickup tomorrow, consider strategies for securing it. Metro has already warned the wind might affect Water Taxi service, with this advisory: “The Vashon Island and West Seattle Water Taxis may experience delays and/or cancellations tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 27, as a result of high winds and waves in the forecast for Puget Sound. We will begin service as regularly scheduled and will provide customer updates throughout the day.”
9:40 PM: The NWS has now extended the alert to last until 1 am Wednesday morning, and added this: “Strongest winds in the afternoon and evening. Isolated gusts to 60 mph possible in the afternoon and evening.”
UPDATE: Power outage in Gatewood
2:04 PM: Thanks for the tips. Seattle City Light blames “tree/vegetation” for a Gatewood power outage that started just after 12:30 pm, affecting 156 customers. It’s the biggest one reported in West Seattle so far today – there are also a few other pockets on the outage map with single-digit totals.
2:51 PM: Thanks to Kerriann for sending this video of a utility-pole fire from Orchard east of California:
5:34 PM: Power’s restored, according to a note we’ve received, and the disappearance of the outage from the map.
VIDEO, PHOTOS: Here’s what this morning’s ‘king tide’ looked like in West Seattle
This morning’s burst of wind hit right before something that WAS predicted – the “king tide” peaking at ~13 feet just before 8 am. We went to Alki for a look, and have received others’ photos from West Seattle shores (thank you!). Above and below are our photos from the Alki Bathhouse vicinity – sandbags were out around Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza:
Kelsey Carlson sent video of the water lapping toward the plaza:
Next photo is from Sam Uzwack, at the west end of the Alki promenade:
From around the point at Constellation Park, Betsy Ackerley caught the waves and wind from above:
At ground level, video from Greg Jalbert:
From Lincoln Park, Sydney Hammerquist sent this view:
(added Monday evening) And video from Fred Hammerquist:
Tomorrow morning’s high tide at 8:40 am will be just a bit lower – 12.9 feet – and then in January, 13-foot tides return January 23-24-25.
WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Gusty wind brings down trees
9:23 AM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos from the aftermath of this morning’s burst of wind. First, the strong wind was relatively brief but brought down trees and limbs. The photo above is from 41st/Thistle, sent by Guillaume Wiatr. And Bill Schrier in Admiral reports a downed tree limbs block SW Holgate street 4500 block and 46th SW at SW Holgate:
Next photo is from an anonymous reader, along 42nd between Juneau & Findlay.
No injuries or major power outages reported so far. There’s been no wind alert, either, but the forecast for Tuesday night warns of gusts above 40 mph.
ADDED 11:09 AM: This photo was just tweeted from the same stretch of 42nd SW shown above:
Also, as noted in this comment, there’s an unmapped power outage several blocks east of there along 37th SW. RB also tells us via email that the neighborhood is on an “old 4KV feeder” that SCL has confirmed won’t show up on the outage map – and they’ve been pushing for an upgrade “for years.” Meantime, Waikikigirl sent this photo from North Shorewood:
She reports, “Huge tree down on 26th Ave SW Southbound between 110th and 114th.”
ADDED 3:51 PM: From L’Nayim:
Dog owners should take note that a huge tree took out a portion of the fence at Westcrest dog park.
9:40 PM: Update from 41st and Thistle – the street’s been cleared by city crews working into the evening. Also of note, Susan Romanenghi sent this photo of a downed tree across the Lincoln Park north path:
That was at midday; we don’t know if it’s since been cleared.
Last week’s snow and ice are long gone but one lasting memory is in view along curbs: Uncollected garbage, recycling, and yard waste. This morning 
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