West Seattle, Washington
18 Monday
On Summer Fest Eve 2015, that sign appeared in the window of what previously was a butcher shop at 4541 California SW, next to Next-to-Nature in The Junction. Over the subsequent eight years, the “coming soon” has never transitioned to “now open.” We checked in now and then, and finally stopped checking. Then tonight:
(Photo sent by Joseph)
Suddenly the paper’s down and the space is open. A person who said they were affiliated with it told us – as the chalkboard signage says – it’s rented to City Council candidate Phil Tavel this weekend (he’s having a campaign event, and they’re offering it for rentals, but they’re waiting for permit approvals before they can open. We’ll see what more we can find out over the course of the festival weekend.
10:35 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo of a car fire on Alki, between Duke’s and Natalie’s, this past half-hour. No info yet on the circumstances, but it’s out, and there’s no indication of serious injuries. We’re following up with SFD.
10:57 PM: Thanks to Angelo for the photo added above. Meantime, another witness emailed us this report, saying the car “Was in front of me heading West on Alki Ave. Was leaking a ton of gas. It finally slowed and turned left near the burger place then it seemed like it was going to stall and then it sputtered like it needed oxygen. Was blocking both lanes. Then out of nowhere flames came up from under all 3 sides (couldn’t see the front). And a trail of fire following the leaking gas on the pavement behind it started to head back to my car. Had to drive through the flames to get safely around it. Everyone on the sidewalk started running.”
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: SFD confirms no one was injured and has no other info as the fire wasn’t suspicious and therefore the investigator wasn’t called out.
Tonight the West Seattle Big Band, led by Jim Edwards, headlined the comeback for the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s concert series, which has been on hiatus since 2019. Just like the pre-pandemic years, concertgoers of all ages filled the lawn on the east side of Hiawatha Community Center:
The WSBB was formed more than 25 years ago. If you missed them tonight – or saw them and want to see and hear more – they’ve got a concert at High Point Commons Park next Tuesday (July 18th), 7 pm, also free:
The ANA’s concert series, coordinated by Stephanie Jordan with community sponsors including WSB, continues next week too – Thursday (July 20th), 7 pm, with Mid Pak and The School of Rock.
5:31 PM: In the heart of The Junction, the streets are now closed for West Seattle Summer Fest setup:
Until post-festival breakdown/cleanup is over late Sunday/early Monday, California is closed between Genesee and Oregon (main stage through Saturday night, Farmers’ Market on Sunday) and between Oregon and Edmunds, while SW Alaska is closed between 42nd and 44th. (Find bus reroute info here.)
Tonight while setup is under way, it’s Summer Fest Eve, a chance to walk in the street and enjoy bonus features such as street performers, chalk art, and a dance “flash mob” around 7:15 pm. Plus, many businesses are open for the July West Seattle Art Walk – find tonight’s list, and artist previews, here (two special Art of Music performances too!).
Art Walk, of course, stretches beyond The Junction. You’ll also find venues to the north and south, especially in Morgan Junction and Admiral. In the latter, West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW) is featuring art and music tonight – the former with Dan Jacobs (below right), the latter with Michael Pearsall (below left):
Lots more coverage to come!
6:29 PM: That’s the crowd gathered by Walk All Ways for Aurora Ave. Here’s a slice of their performance:
At California/Oregon, for The Art of Music, Hopscotch is performing until 7:45 outside the Alki Arts pop-up on the ground floor of the Senior Center:
And of course, there’s art too. Inside Verity Credit Union (4505 California SW; WSB sponsor), West Seattle artist T. Frick is showing her work tonight:
7:08 PM: A crowd is gathering for the promised DancePowered “flash mob” at Walk All Ways. And steps away, Easy Street Records‘ premiere of Ryan Cory‘s mini-documentary about fabled music photographer Lance Mercer (below) is coming up at 7:30 pm.
(Lance Mercer and daughter Mackenzie, who was assisting with sales)
8:30 PM: Another epic performance – here’s part of it:
Then the dancers invited onlookers to, as the song went, “bust a move”:
Leading it all, Jennifer Cepeda:
Meantime, we made one more art stop – the makers’ market at Jet City Labs:
That’s Lora Radford with her Extra Glorious creations. (Pre-pandemic, when Lora led the West Seattle Junction Association, she would have been running around overseeing pre-festival logistics; tonight, she just got to mingle with shoppers. Stop into JCL – a couple doors up from Easy Street – to see what’s up, all festival long.) Up the street, the stage and beer garden area was starting to take shape north of SW Oregon:
The festival officially begins at 1 pm Friday. Preview everything – vendors, music, food, kid stuff – at westseattlesummerfest.com. We’ll be in the Info Booth at Walk All Ways as in years past – stop by and say hi when you’re at the festival!
As first reported here one month ago, Seattle Parks is proposing two site options for a new dog park (aka Off-Leash Area) in West Seattle: Upper Lincoln Park or just south of West Seattle Stadium.
Your next chance to tell Parks which you prefer has just been announced – a pop-up 10 am-2 pm Sunday, July 23rd, at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska). They’re also continuing the online survey through the end of this month – find the link, and more information about the city’s proposals, by going here.
Quick notes on two eagerly awaited Alki Beach openings:
WEST SEATTLE ARCADE: Six months after we first told you about the plan for West Seattle Arcade in the former Top Pot-and-other-food-biz space at 2758 Alki SW, it’s about to open. We happened to see the proprietors at a grocery store (couldn’t miss the WEST SEATTLE ARCADE T-shirt) and they told us they’re hoping to open as soon as this Monday (July 17th) – that’s also mentioned in discussion here.
FUTURE PRIMITIVE BREWING: Two months after we first told you White Center’s acclaimed Future Primitive Brewing was expanding to 2536 Alki SW, they’re promising a sneak peek to participants in their fundraising fun run this Saturday, the Shark Jump 5K, starting from the new location at 9:30 am. Proceeds go to the White Center Food Bank (which also serves south West Seattle). Here’s how to register!
(WSB photo from first Admiral Junction Funktion, 2022)
In addition to everything happening right now – and soon – here in the heart of summer, some big events are yet to come. Next month, Admiral’s block party returns for a second year – and the Admiral Neighborhood Association wants you to know how you can jump in right now! Here’s the announcement:
The Admiral Neighborhood Association in partnership with Admiral businesses is excited to announce the 2nd annual Admiral Funktion Block Party. It will happen on Saturday, August 26th, from 11 am till 10 pm.
This event will include a live music stage, local merchants and vendors, activities, and of course the food and drinks you enjoy from our local Admiral restaurants. The Admiral Funktion Block Party is now accepting vendor applications.
Sign up at admiralblock.wufoo.com/forms/admiral-funktion-block-party-vendor-formEveryone planning to enjoy this year’s event can also receive an Admiral Funktion Block Party wristband this year – good for 10% off local food and drinks at the block party.It will also enter you into a drawing for a local prize pack valued at $500! You will get a free wristband with any $25 donation to the Block Party to help cover costs. gofundme.com/f/admiral-funktion-junktion-summer-block-party
Today we welcome West Seattle fragrance-maker Filigree & Shadow to the WSB sponsor team, joining other businesses advertising on WSB to let tens of thousands of neighbors know what they’re about. Here’s what Filigree & Shadow proprietor James Elliott would like you to know:
Filigree & Shadow is well-established: “I’ve been in business online for seven years. I had a pop-up event at Twilight Gallery in 2017, then sold my fragrances out of Virago. I worked out of a 117 sf studio at ActivSpace until my business grew beyond the space, and I was lucky to find my new 700 sf space behind Canna West Culture Shop. I moved into my new digs in March and I’ve been (quietly) open since April.”
About Filigree & Shadow fragrances: “I’m an olfactive synesthete and my fragrances are largely inspired by music. I am a self-taught perfumer who began my study of perfumery in 2011, then later launched an inaugural collection of natural perfumes in 2015. I released my first conventional fragrance in 2018 and continue to work using natural and synthetic materials. I made the choice in 2020 to use distilled water as the fragrance carrier after years of frustration with international shipping restrictions, exorbitant shipping costs, and lack of shipping options.” His handmade products also include soaps and candles.
Here’s what James hears about Filigree & Shadow fragrances: I’ve been told by customers that my fragrances are both beautiful and evocative, and some of my scents have become their companions (every so often introducing a new one).”
How can you find out more about Filigree & Shadow? Online here, plus: “My fragrance studio is open by coincidence or appointment. If you see my sign on the sidewalk, come on in!”
P.S. James isn’t the only entrepreneur in his household – “My husband Justin owns and operates Sound & Fog.”
We thank Filigree & Shadow for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here; email patrick@wsbsales.com for info on joining the team!
Huge night ahead for three reasons – so we’ll start with them!
SUMMER FEST EVE: It’s the night before the big three-day festival in The Junction, and the streets will be closed in the festival zone by 4 pm – California between Oregon and Genesee and between Oregon and Edmunds (Oregon stays open to east-west traffic), Alaska between 42nd and 44th. Here’s the festival map showing where:
All are welcome to come to The Junction tonight, walk in the streets, and enjoy the pre-festival evening, which coincides with the monthly West Seattle Art Walk (more on that below) and also features bonus events like DancePowered‘s flash mob at the Walk All Ways crossing around 7:15 pm, performers at KeyBank Plaza (including Aurora Ave.!), and “tons of colored chalk lying around” for sidewalk/pavement art. (And don’t miss Easy Street Records‘ film premiere, previewed here.)
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, WITH THE ART OF MUSIC: 5-9 pm, at venues all over the peninsula, it’s the night to celebrate art! Here’s the map/list for this month:
For specifics on artists/locations, go here. Tonight’s two Art of Music performances are 6-7:45 pm, Hopscotch at the Alki Arts pop-up (California/Oregon) and Jean Mann at Wend Jewelry (3278 California SW).
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: The Admiral Neighborhood Association is reviving the free concerts on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (along Walnut south of Lander) for three Thursday nights starting tonight, 6:30 pm, with the West Seattle Big Band. Bring your own chair/blanket (and picnic dinner if you feel like it) – everyone welcome. And as noted here – visit Admiral Art Walk participants first to get “passport stamps” and then enter a prize drawing at the concert!
Also happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SPRAYPARK OPEN: Daily operations continue at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
HIAWATHA WADING POOL OPEN: (corrected) Noon-5:30 pm. (2700 California SW)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, noon-7 pm – here’s the schedule of sessions. (FYI, closed for swim meets Friday and Saturday.)
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), Thai-U-Up will be visiting.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run!
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at The Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.
(Wednesday sunset, photographed by James Bratsanos – tonight’s sunset is at 9:05 pm)
OPEN MIC: 7-9 pm, musicians of all genres at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
THURSDAY NIGHT CORNHOLE: Go play at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm.
HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH: Second week for the return of this hit musical at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing includes the ticket link.
There’s even more in our calendar!
Family and friends are remembering Ken Schiele and sharing this remembrance with his community:
Kenneth Louis Schiele
October 21, 1969 – June 30, 2023Ken, our son, husband, dad, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully in the early morning on June 30, 2023 with his wife and mother at his side. He was 53 years old.
Ken was born on October 21, 1969 in Inglewood, CA. Over the course of his childhood, he and his family put down roots in Boise, Idaho, Rye, New York, and Tehran, Iran. Ken studied mechanical engineering at Gonzaga University in Spokane, also obtaining a master’s degree for the same from the University of Washington, then settling in West Seattle with his wife Lisa.
Ken’s favorite role in life always was being a father and husband, but this man wore many hats. He had a long career as a ski designer at K2, where he was part of a team creating some of the best telemark skis in the world. If you’ve ever taken a deep powder turn with a free heel on a pair of K2 telemark skis, a bit of Ken Schiele took that turn with you. Ken loved skiing, and it took him around the world with favorite trips including the Haute Route in the Alps, the many days with the K2 crew at Whistler, and Hokkaido in Japan. He also loved to hit the slopes in Idaho at Bogus Basin and Brundage with his dad and brother-in-law Clay.
Ken was fond of saying, “I don’t exercise under fluorescent lights.” Every day he was on the move, and he escaped to the outdoors every chance he got: skiing, kayaking, mountain biking, longboarding, and even taking up downhill skateboarding in his fifties. A lifelong, beautiful-to-watch, expert telemark skier, there are stories of Ken telemark skiing a half pipe and hitting a slopeside playpark to ride some rails in a vintage skydiving suit.
And music! Ken was a drummer, who once set up with his punk band “The Orphans” and played a gig in front of the United Nations in New York City. He was a DJ for years at KAGU, the student-run radio station at Gonzaga, creating and hosting the early ‘90s Saturday night standard, Radio Identity Crisis. For Ken, discovering new music was a lifelong passion, and his collection of Cumbia on vinyl is rumored to be one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest. His love of music and skiing once collided, in fantastic form, when he dragged a pair of telemark skis he had designed to a concert by LA punk band X, gifting a band member and telemark skier with a pair.
Ken loved Peanuts, Charlie Brown, and especially Snoopy. The stuffed Snoopy from his daughter Louise accompanied Ken to the hospital and never left his side.
Above all, at his core, Ken was a family man and will be remembered for his love for and pride in Lisa and Louise. Ken’s generosity of spirit, joie de vivre, kindness, and offbeat sense of humor will be missed by so many people that he touched throughout his life.
Ken is survived by the joy of his life, daughter Louise; his beloved wife of 28 years, Lisa Esztergalyos; parents Roy and Sue Schiele; sister Christine Schiele Gutierrez and partner Jack Culverhouse; sister Janet Schiele Roscoe and husband Clay Roscoe; sister-in-law Maria Esztergalyos and husband Eric Hanson; nephews Marco, Ezra, Rex, and Charlie and niece Estella; and mother-in-law Theresa Esztergalyos, who called Ken her lighthouse.
We will see you soon on those slopes, Ken, where every day is a bluebird day and every run is deep powder and fresh tracks! “All the love. All the power.”
In remembrance of Ken’s amazing life and love of music his family requests that any charitable donation be made in his name to KEXP (kexp.org/donate). A celebration of Ken’s life will be held in October 2023, in Seattle.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:03 AM: Good morning. Welcome to West Seattle Summer Fest Eve Thursday, July 13th.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Morning clouds expected, then clearing, high in the 70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:25 am; sunset will be at 9:05 pm.
WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST EVE
In The Junction, the festival starts Friday, but street closures start today – California north of Oregon this morning, south of Oregon to Edmunds, plus Alaska between 42nd and 44th, starting around 4 pm. You’re invited to come walk in the streets during the West Seattle Art Walk and Summer Fest Eve activities tonight (see our previews here and here). Metro bus reroutes start this morning – find them route by route here.
ROAD WORK ALERT
Thursday and Friday in the Highland Park Way/Holden vicinity, work intensifies for the permanent signal:
Construction will take place on SW Holden St, just west of Highland Park Way SW between 7:00 am and 3:30pm each day. There will not be any full street or intersection closures. Workers will only be doing construction in one part of the road at a time, and while work is occurring people will be directed to drive on the other side of the road. At some times, this may require a single lane alternating between two directions with flaggers to help safely direct traffic.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – As mentioned above, Summer Fest reroutes in The Junction start today – see the info here.
Water Taxi – Regular schedule. The shuttle’s affected by Junction reroutes too.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. See Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – east-end vicinity:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!
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