West Seattle, Washington
03 Tuesday
Autumn Lovewell and Monica Colgan have brought a lot to Morgan Junction, with many community-building events and initiatives, while running their three small independent businesses here. And soon, they’re going to leave a void when they close all three. They announced today that they’re closing their three businesses – Youngstown Coffee, HeartBeet Organic Superfoods Café, and Launchpad – at 6030-6032 California SW on September 30th. Thanks to everyone who forwarded the announcements sent to the Youngstown and HeartBeet email lists – from the former (which you can read in its entirety here):
… While there are a handful of reasons we’re closing permanently, ultimately fate has decided for us with the sale of our 100-year-old building and the closure of our sister businesses HeartBeet Cafe and Launchpad Co-Working space (all closing on Sept 30th).
Monica, myself, our kids, and our amazing staff will exit with our heads held high, proud of the magic we made in our tiny corner of West Seattle called Morgan Junction. With your support we’ve built a beautiful community and have accomplished so much together in these short but long 3+ years. From our Pride marches, to fundraisers, and supporting local marginalized businesses at our markets, we’ve all made an impact together. We’re so proud of you and all of us.
We’re asking you continue to support the incredible small businesses in Morgan Junction. Supporting small is so vital to the health of our people! …
From the letter to customers of HeartBeet, whose Queen Anne location will close too:
… The list of reasons for our closure is long and mostly financial-related, but we are proud of our accomplishment of making it nearly 15 years in Seattle, while all odds are against small businesses. During that time, we’ve sold well over 100,000 dishes of our very popular Buddha Bowl, we served roughly 1.1 million customer meals (wow!), and tens of thousands of hacked coconuts. Together we’ve made it so far with the events affecting HeartBeet: a flood, a major light rail construction project, snowpocalypses, heat domes, multiple burglaries, and even a global pandemic!
The ultimate last straw prompting closure is the loss of our main production facility in West Seattle, due to the pending sale of our 100-year old building. Were we in a better financial position, were financial institutions more supportive of small restaurant businesses, were the delivery service fees through UberEats and DoorDash (which comprise a large volume of our sales), not 30%, and were it not getting so hard to hire staff, things might be different….
In West Seattle, Autumn and Monica took over Youngstown Coffee three years ago; HeartBeet was founded elsewhere in the city but then opened a Junction pop-up before the Morgan location. They converted the north side of the California SW storefronts to an event space that then became Launchpad. Before Autumn and Monica’s businesses, the spaces held others including Harry’s Chicken Joint (closed in 2019) and Jade West Café (closed in 2010). Again, they don’t plan to close until September 30th, but as the HeartBeet letter notes, that may be a challenge if the coffee shop and café staff find new jobs sooner (and the Youngstown message says, “If you have any leads for them, please email us at hello@youngstowncoffeeseattle.com).
This was one of those rare summer weekends without any major events. The next two weekends are a different story, so here’s a reminder:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20: Alki Beach Pride is one week from today, and this year part of the celebration will be in the street as well as on the beach. It’s happening noon-7 pm next Sunday and Alki Avenue SW will be closed between Marine and 60th. Here’s the official community notice, including setup and breakdown times. Watch the ABP website for the schedule of events.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26: Both ends of the peninsula will be partying in the street on this date:
Admiral Funktion – California SW will be closed between Admiral Way and College for the second annual festival presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. Festivities start at 11 am that day and continue until 10 pm. (WSB is a community co-sponsor.)
(WCN photo from 2022 White Center Block Party)
White Center Block Party – Also starting at 11 am that day and continuing into the night, the annual WC Block Party takes over 16th SW from Roxbury to 100th. Highlights are in this announcement published on our partner site White Center Now.
(Added: Photo by John Skerratt)
Thanks for the texted tip. Six weeks after the Bremerton-based aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) got home from deployment, it’s headed out again. MarineTraffic.com shows it currently west of Alki Point, midchannel.
The photo is from Abigail G., who spotted two coyotes – including that one – around 1:30 am today. She first saw them at 34th and 102nd and “followed them for a block before I could get a good photo. They were both in the middle of the road when I turned the corner and one took off down 102nd and the other one went into a yard.” This continues the recent resurgence in sightings (you can scroll through our archives here). So it’s a good time to learn about coexistence – including encouraging them to keep their distance by not providing food (from pet food to unaccompanied pets) – they can live just find by foraging for everything from fruit to rodents.
Now that the heat is here – mid-80s at mid-afternoon – the National Weather Service has upgraded its alert to an Excessive Heat Warning. But it’s also shortened the duration; instead of stretching into Thursday, the NWS is currently expecting the alert to expire late Wednesday night. The alert warns of: “Dangerously hot conditions with daytime temperatures in the low to mid 90s and lows in the 60s expected. This will pose a major risk of heat-related illness.” Keep yourself hydrated (and if you have a bird bath, keep that full too).
We’ve also had questions this weekend about aircraft flyovers beyond usual patterns. Here in south West Seattle, we were just seeing general-aviation aircraft, but further north, a far more memorable sight. Commenter Jeff solved the mystery (and this morning, Kathleen sent a photo): Historic aircraft flying out of the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field, from the Commemorative Air Force. Scheduled rides (aboard a B-17 or B-25 bomber) ended at 1 pm but ground tours continue until 6 pm – info here.
While out on errands, we started getting messages from people wondering about a smoky smell in the air and noting there are no local fires on the Real-Time 911 log. Yes, it’s apparently wildfire smoke again – take a look at not only the view from Don Armeni Boat Ramp a short time ago (the Cascades aren’t visible), but also the air quality readings. The Washington Smoke Information website also foresaw smoke from the Sourdough fire heading to the west side of the Cascades, with wind out of the north/northeast (which is how it’s blowing right now).
Around this time every summer, we start checking online calendars to compile a list of school-year start dates, since it’s a matter of interest beyond school communities – neighbors, businesses, drivers, etc. So far we’ve found that for at least one school, this is the last weekend of summer – the first day at school for Summit Atlas, the charter middle/high school at 35th/Roxbury in Arbor Heights, is this Wednesday, August 16th. (Yes, they do get out earlier – June 7th is the last scheduled day of the 2023-2024 school year.)
Side note: According to the Washington Charter School Commission website, Summit Atlas is up for authorization renewal this year; public comment will be accepted through early October. The school opened in 2017. Renewal materials say the school has almost 500 students enrolled.
(Photographer Jerry Simmons says this squirrel was ‘just hanging out’)
Welcome to Sunday! Here’s what’s on our highlight list:
WEATHER ALERT: Temps will be going up starting tonight, warns the National Weather Service.
WEST SEATTLE GLASS FLOAT HUNT: The second wave of 50 floats were hidden by Saturday morning, so searching continues today. (Here’s where NOT to look.)
HELP FOR MAUI: Here’s our updated list, including a few today-only opportunities.
BABY DEVELOPMENTAL PLAY AND Q/A: 9 am at Alki Beach – details in our calendar listing.
SILENT BOOK CLUB AT THE BEACH: Also at Alki, 10 am-noon, the popular “read your book and talk about it, or don’t” event goes to Alki! Details in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering summer fruit and vegetables as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN THE ALLEY: 10 am-4 pm behind Carmilia’s (4528 California SW): “Vintage, Art, Music, and Street Tacos” – new weekly event in August. Vendor info in our calendar listing.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm daily through Labor Day, shine or rain. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
E.C. HUGHES WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (2805 SW Holden)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, this outdoor salt-water pool is open noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day. See the session schedule here.
CHERRY CONSIGNMENT CELEBRATES 14 YEARS: All weekend, Cherry Consignment on the north edge of The Junction is celebrating 14 years in business – 14 percent off and special treats (Shug’s sorbet today) – the shop is open noon-5. (4142 California SW)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Free weekly tours resume today, 1-4 pm, last tour starts at 3:45. Only three more chances this summer after today! (3201 Alki SW)
BENEFIT BEER: 1-11 pm, Future Primitive in White Center (9832 14th SW) is donating 10 percent to Access Walk, which supports people’s travel expenses to access reproductive health care.
POP-UP TREATS: 2 pm-5 pm, Lovely & Dapper Desserts will be at Ounces with their famous mini-cakes. (3809 Delridge Way SW).
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: At C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), live music with Steve Itterly, 3-5 pm.
SUNSET GONG BATH & MEDITATION: 7 pm at Lowman Beach (7017 Beach Drive SW) – details in our calendar listing. $25 suggested donation.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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