West Seattle, Washington
19 Friday
9:14 PM: Police are investigating an armed robbery reported at the strip mall on the northeast corner of 35th and Roxbury less than half an hour ago. We haven’t heard the business name mentioned over police radio, but a texter says it was the smoke shop. So far officers have told dispatch that the robbers were described as two Black men in black jogging suits, at least one armed with a black handgun, who got away in a white 4-door Hyundai Elantra, apparently with a third person. No injuries reported.
9:30 PM: This may be related to at least two subsequent robberies mentioned by dispatchers, both south of Seattle, in White Center and North Burien, both with similar suspect/vehicle descriptions.
As mentioned in our Event Calendar and daily preview list, Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation Park right now, helping people explore what’s in view because of the nighttime low-low-tide. Thanks to Sara for sending photos!
They’re scheduled to be out until 10 pm – just look for the canopy, and the people on the beach, at 60th and Beach Drive.
But tread lightly – low tides like this one expose sealife that’s usually submerged.
P.S. The naturalists won’t be out, but tomorrow night the tide will be just as low at 10:18 pm, -2.5 feet.
Though their victories last night earned them berths in state-tournament competition no matter what, West Seattle High School‘s girls’ and boys’ basketball teams each had to play one last district game this afternoon at Bellevue College. Both scores are now in: The girls won, beating Eastside Catholic, 60-57, taking fifth place in the district; the boys lost to Rainier Beach, 71-58, finishing sixth. Seedings for the state tournament are due to be announced tomorrow afternoon, so that’s when we should know where and when both teams will play their first games in state competition, which begins Tuesday.
5:20 PM: Thanks for the tips. As of about half an hour ago, Seattle Public Utilities is handling a water problem on Puget Ridge. It’s centered near 17th/Myrtle, according to SPU’s map. Though the map also projects a restoration time of 10 pm, we offer the same caveat as in power outages – those estimates are really just guesses, so could be much sooner or much later. If you’re having trouble and you’re not in the area shown on the map, call SPU at 206-386-1800 and be sure they know you’re affected too.
7:39 PM: We went to Puget Ridge and tried to find any SPU crews working around 17th/Myrtle; no luck. Water in the street, more than would be residual from the last round of rain, was in evidence on Myrtle between 16th and 17th, though.
The Senior Center of West Seattle‘s corner ground-floor space at California/Oregon is hosting another pop-up shop. If you haven’t been yet, you have through tomorrow to go browse the art of Bjoern T.M. Larsen, who tells us a bit about himself and his work:
I’m a Danish artist locally residing in Seattle.
I studied art in Venice (Italy) and within decades I was able to build my own unique style by using iridescent Acrylics and resin on Canvas. I won several Art Festivals (Art Shoreline Festival 2020), I sell originals, prints of different sizes, and greeting cards.
With me there is Lucia, an Italian jewelry and candle maker.
Larsen’s pop-up is open until 5 pm today and again 11 am-5 pm tomorrow (Sunday, February 19th).
Next Saturday (February 25th) is the day – you’re invited to the Polar Plunge “winter beach party” at Alki, benefiting Special Olympics Washington. Even if you don’t plan to participate in the plunging, you can stop by to watch, play beach games, contribute, and/or enjoy food trucks, a beer garden, and liv music. As explained by Special Olympics, the event is to raise money “that directly goes to providing athletes with year-round opportunities to train and compete, as well as receive free health screenings and leadership training … (ensuring) that over 7,500 Washington children and adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunity to participate at no cost to them.” Events start near Alki Bathhouse (60th/Alki) at 8 am next Saturday, with a costume contest at 12:10 pm (the crowd gets to judge), and “polar plunging” beginning at 1 pm. Individual and team registration starts here.
Thanks for the tips. Sorry we didn’t have an advance alert about this, but we just went to check after a couple of texts, and here’s what we found: SW Holden is blocked because of ongoing work on the new pedestrian signal that’s being installed at 12th SW.
The report and photo are from Alexandra:
My friend’s blue truck (corrected – F-350) was parked at our house overnight and it was stolen between 930pm and 530am. Parked on Webster St by 7505 32nd Ave SW. It’s more royal blue in color and has a big fuel tank in the bed. License plate C85364V.
SPD incident number is 23-047033.
(Puddle-jumping at Alki Promenade – photo by Dave L., leaping by Carol L.)
The three-day Presidents Day weekend has begun, and we have a vast variety of options for your Saturday:
SATURDAY MORNING ULTIMATE: 8 am at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW), just show up to throw with the West Seattle Ultimate Frisbee Family.
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT: Drop in for birdwatching at Camp Long (5200 35th SW), 10-11:30 am – free, no RSVP required.
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS SALE: The Presidents Day Weekend Sale is on at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) – get gear and apparel for snow sports, with lots of time left in this year’s season – some items up to 40 percent off! Open 10 am-5 pm today. (3602 SW Alaska)
SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN: 10 am-5 pm, the garden’s centerpiece courtyard is open, while the rest of the garden’s grounds are accessible dawn to dusk. More info here. (5640 16th SW)
GRIEFSHARE RECOVERY GROUP: Continuing at 10:30 am today, “Grace Church will host a 13-week GriefShare recovery support group for those who have lost a loved one by death. There is a one-time charge of $20 for the GriefShare journal.” Meeting in the church basement. (10323 28th SW)
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Find out about Marco’s music here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH FAMILY READING TIME: In partnership with Explorer West Middle School, 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) – details in our calendar listing.
DICK’S DRIVE-IN TRUCK: Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) is hosting the Dick’s Drive-In burgers-and-shakes food truck 11 am-2 pm today.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Visit the home of West Seattle’s history is noon-4 pm Saturdays. (3003 61st SW)
VISCON CELLARS: 1-6 pm, the doors are open for your visit to the tasting room at Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) – selling wine by the glass or bottle. Learn about their wines here! (5910 California SW)
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: At the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, NWA is open for tasting 1-6 pm today.
BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School boys and girls teams both have district-tournament games at Bellevue College (3000 Landerholm Circle SE) this afternoon, boys at 3 pm vs. Rainier Beach, girls at 4:45 pm vs. Eastside Catholic.
IN-STORE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Midnight Marauders EP release show, 6:30 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW). Free, all ages.
EVENING MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: 7-9 pm, Roo Forrest and Friends perform at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all ages, no cover.
(canceled) ‘AN ENDLESS SHIFT’: This solo show at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) has its second-to-last performance 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.” Get your ticket(s) here.
NIGHTTIME LOW-TIDE BEACH WALK: Find Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists at Constellation Park (63rd and Beach Drive), 8-10 pm. (Tide’s out to -2.5 feet at 9:30 pm.)
OUT AT THE BOX: “An evening of drag and laughs” at Box Bar (5401 California SW), 9:30 pm. No cover.
If you have a show, event, meeting, seminar, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or ? for our calendar … please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
3:47 AM: If you’re heading out early this Saturday morning, be forewarned there’s a big crash response toward the east end of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge – it’s just been upgraded to a ‘rescue extrication” response. … Firefighters tell dispatch that three vehicles are involved, and they’re going to need to cut somebody out of one of them.
4:05 AM: The eastbound side is completely blocked by the response, as the traffic-camera image above shows, so if you need to get to I-5, the old detour route through Georgetown is a better choice right now. No word so far on how many people are hurt.
5:02 AM: Traffic camera shows the scene is cleared and eastbound traffic is moving through that stretch again.
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