West Seattle, Washington
12 Thursday
Three restaurant notes tonight:
SUNFISH REOPENS: A reader wondered recently when Sunfish, the fish-and-chips spot at 2800 Alki SW, would reopen after its long winter break, so we’ve been checking in. Tonight we saw the OPEN sign; stopped in, and they told us this was their second day back. So if Sunfish is your fish-and-chips place of choice, it’s time to get back to the beach.
SALTY’S ON ALKI: At the other end of Alki, Salty’s (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor) has some reservations remaining for Valentine’s Day – looks like afternoon, when last we checked. Here’s where to go. They’re also having a gift-card promotion through next Tuesday (January 31st) – buy a $50 card, get $10 bonus; buy a $100 card, get $20 bonus.
CAMP WEST: The new restaurant/bar in The Junction is usually closed Tuesdays but will be open 5-9 pm Valentine’s Day (Tuesday, February 14th) with a special 3-course prix-fixe dinner (which will also be offered the preceding Friday through Sunday). Entree options include Braised Short Rib, Bouillabaisse, or Morel and Kale Risotto:
The other two courses are starter and dessert options (even Camp West’s famous S’mores!). You can see the rest of the menu – and make reservations – by going here.
(Photo courtesy Friends of West Seattle Elementary)
In the photo above are student leaders with a “fundraising thermometer” they’re using to track progress for Friends of West Seattle Elementary‘s first fundraiser. We told you two months ago about the launch of FOWSE, the school’s new Parent Teacher Organization, and tonight we have an update:
As of today, we have raised $4,225 (8.5% of our goal) — WOW! We are so grateful for the support we’ve received so far, but we have more fundraising to do! Our goal is to raise $50,000 by March 1st and won’t be able to do so without the support of community members and business.
If you are able, please consider making a one-time or recurring donation to support West Seattle Elementary students and staff. Any contribution helps ensure students, regardless of race, background, socioeconomic status, receive the best education possible.
You can make a donation online via this link.
Community members interested in getting involved with FOWSE are welcome to contact the group at friendsofwse@gmail.com.
ORIGINAL FRIDAY REPORT: Police are investigating the second West Seattle bank robbery in two days. This time, Washington Federal at California/Dakota. Police tell us at the scene that they believe the robber – so far described only as a white male – got away on foot. Yesterday’s holdup was at HomeStreet Bank (41st/Alaska; WSB sponsor).
ADDED MONDAY: The only additional detail from police available so far is, “Suspect passed a note to staff demanding money with a threat of harm. Suspect obtained cash and fled the scene on foot SB.” We are also following up on both robberies with the FBI.
UPDATE: One added detail from the FBI – they believe the two robberies were committed by two different robbers.
Last night’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting featured SDOT staffers talking about the low bridge and West Marginal Way. For the former, what SDOT’s Meghan Shepard told WSTC was mostly a recap of last week’s presentation to the City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee. We covered that here. She had one new stat – numbers from the one week of free rides offered on the West Seattle Water Taxi and Metro bus users who used the Transit GO app. Shepard said 2,100 people used the app that week – the last of three weeks the low bridge was closed to street and path use – and 1,435 free ride tickets were redeemed. (The funding for that is from the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure sales tax.)
Also last night, SDOT’s Brad Topol presented an update on West Marginal Way. You won’t be surprised to hear that its traffic volume dropped 60 percent “overnight” when the high bridge reopened in mid-September. It’s down to about 15,000 vehicles a day, same as what the volume was pre-COVID. The number of more interest: During a two-week test in September and October, closing the outside southbound lane north of the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, driver speeds dropped 12 percent.
They’re expecting that converting that lane into a protected bicycle lane – its temporary use since the low-bridge closure – will drop the average speeds even more. And they still contend that won’t noticeably add travel time to roadway users.
They’re evaluating the corridor for other possibilities that could cause “visual friction” encouraging drivers to be closer to the posted speed limit (30 mph) – bumping out curbs, for example. As for path/lane use during the low-bridge closure, Topol said it averaged 100 to 200 a day, mostly bicycle riders. (added) Here’s the full slide deck from SDOT’s portion of last night’s meeting.
NEXT WSTC MEETING: The group is meeting every other month now, still on fourth Thursdays, so the next scheduled meeting will be at 6:30 pm March 23rd. They might switch over to hybrid – in-person and online – meetings by then; they haven’t yet finalized a location.
It is undeniably soup season. If you like making your own, you might be interested in the West Seattle Timebank‘s annual Soup Swap. It’s happening outdoors this Sunday at 2 pm. In case you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, we’re mentioning it this afternoon while there’s still enough time to make and freeze the soup you’ll bring. Here’s how it works. That page includes the RSVP link (you’ll get the address after you RSVP). If you’re just interested in the Timebank, not soup, they’re having a meeting online Sunday night at 6:30 – the link is also in our calendar listing for both events. (Image courtesy Pixabay)
Since West Seattle has long been without a standalone bagel shop, fresh truly local bagels aren’t easy to find. Adam Pfeifle bakes them and is having a pop-up this Sunday, for which he’s taking pre-orders. Adam is a veteran baker, and also a military veteran. He says his first baking job was as a donut baker in Snoqualmie; he later went to culinary school and worked in restaurants including two now-closed West Seattle eateries, West City Kitchen and Ma’ono. His culinary career was punctuated by joining the military in 2001 and serving “two tours in Iraq as a combat medic, in 2004 and 2008.” Adam says his bagels are made with sourdough starter “in 200-bagel small batches from my home’s chefs kitchen, based in West Seattle. To achieve optimal flavor, our products cold-ferment from 20-24 hours.” His pop-up is for 1-3 pm pickup on Sunday (January 29th) west of The Junction. Here’s the pre-order link (10 varieties!).
From Nancy:
Someone left a bike leaning against our fence on Tuesday ( 1/24) and we suspect it was stolen. We would love to reunite it with its owner. Reach out and describe the bike and we will let you know where to go to retrieve it!
We asked for a hint on location and type: “Found just west of California on Fauntleroy Way. Blue 10-speed.” If you’re missing that type of bike, contact us and we’ll connect you.
Here’s what’s ahead as this Friday continues:
DONATE WARM CLOTHING: Three drives wrap up today, and both welcome your donations of clothing/coats to help neighbors in need keep warm: Admiral Church (noon-4 pm dropoff at 4320 SW Hill); Dave Newman State Farm Agency (dropoff until 5 pm at 3435 California SW; WSB sponsor), and Alki Beach Pride‘s drive with seven dropoff spots.
SCRABBLE CLUB: Come play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café in the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room on the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus is open 1-6 pm Fridays (and Saturdays).
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.
AFTER-SCHOOL MAGIC LEAGUE: Weekly 4-6 pm event for 12+, $5 per player – learn about and play “Magic: the Gathering” at Meeples Games (3727 California SW)
SILENT DISCO: Dance to music only you can hear! 5-7:30 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki) – info’s in our calendar listing.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: 7 pm doors, 8 pm music, all-West Seattle lineup as previewed here, starting with Not Dead Yet. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: No local home games tonight.
‘AN ENDLESS SHIFT’: New play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues tonight, 7:30 pm:
Created from verbatim accounts of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Seattle nurses who were there, AN ENDLESS SHIFT is a tribute to the everyday heroes who were confronted with what would become the longest shift of their lives. Seattle theater artist Gloria Alcalá, in a solo tour de force performance, embodies and voices the multitude of perspectives on the harrowing journey Seattle nurses faced in an ever-shifting landscape.
Get your ticket(s) here.
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
It’s difficult to focus on your studies if you have basic needs that aren’t being met. For students in need at Chief Sealth International High School, a small fund can help cover some things. But the fund itself needs a boost, according to this request we were asked to share with you:
Please consider donating to the CSIHS InvestED fundraising campaign. These funds are used to help our students that are struggling to fund the basic needs for a successful high school experience. Our fund is running significantly lower than last year where we were able to serve 130+ students with this fund.
There are a range of basic needs that students have at Chief Sealth International High School. Currently, many students have been requesting basic items such as backpacks, pencils, bedding, emergency gear, socks, underwear, and jackets. There have also been requests for many seniors who cannot afford their cap and gowns, dance tickets, yearbooks, and more. Not to mention athletes who wish to participate in sports related activities. This includes fees for art class, ASB stickers, funds for IB tests, certain textbooks and books required for classes and not available at school, etc.
Your donation will go directly into the InvestED Fund at Chief Sealth International High School to help the students in need there. Simply designate your donation to Chief Sealth High School from the drop-down list on the donation page. Anything helps… Donate here!
6:03 AM: Good morning! Friday has arrived; it’s January 27th.
WEATHER
Cloudy, more rain likely, high in the upper 40s.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro is on its regular schedule but still running with fewer buses and fewer drivers – keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions.
-Regular schedule for the West Seattle Water Taxi.
-Washington State Ferries’ Triangle Route remains on a two-boat schedule – check here for alerts/updates.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
High Bridge – the camera at the top:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – open again:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All working traffic cams citywide can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do it safely) – 206-293-6302.
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