(Image from SDOT traffic camera looking at Easy Street’s corner)

Big news from Easy Street! Here’s the announcement

After 25 years, Easy Street (Café) is extending its hours. Open until 6. 7 days a week.

“We have been testing a Happy Hour menu for about 6 months and with Spring in the air, we’ve decided to make it official,” says owner Matt Vaughan.

“We made some improvements to the kitchen over the last couple of years. We have more storage, refrigeration, and better equipment. We hired Ali Graham six months ago to manage the cafe. We’ve never had a General Manager, so that has us all working together more efficiently.”

Our chef Isidro Lucatero has been with us now for 21 years. He brought in Juan Navarro (originally from West 5) and we all worked together on a Happy Hour menu (see it here). All items are currently only $10 each. So far, we are getting great response on our Paul Westerburger (smash burger), the Fleetwood Mac n Cheese, and the Rick James Buffalo Wings. There are a few carry-overs from the main menu too.

The coffee bar is going back to pre-pandemic hours. It will stay open til 6:00 and sometimes longer on event nights. Two more specialty coffee drinks have been added, the Cardi B (Cardamom Latte) and the Starman (2bl Macchiato w starry sprinkles), to go along with longstanding favorites The Amazing Grace and The Mudhoney. 16-year Easy Street vet Rebecca Gifford says, “We got a new La Marzocco machine last year and the coffee is tasting so good. Now that the weather is brightening up and temperatures are rising, the garage door will go up and you’ll start hearing more clinks of iced coffee drinks going up and down the block. That’s when you know spring in The Junction has finally arrived !”

(Easy Street photo: Sunday bartender Kisha Vaughan and lead bartender Patrick Johnson)

The Easy Street cocktail/vinyl bar (in the mezzanine) is over 2 years old now. It’s open for additional dining as well (21+). “I think the word is finally out, but it’s really just a locals-secret loft bar for now. We have cocktail specials during happy hour from 3-6 and some draft beer specials too.” says Matt.

“With the bar, people were requesting food, so nice to be able to provide that now. Also, been great to offer our musicians and bands something to eat before their instore performances. It’s a sonic and sensory journey in here, merging nostalgia, music, coffee, drinks, and good food, it’s such a unique and unforgettable experience,” says GM Ali Graham.

“Easy Street has always been a safe place for our youngsters after school. Now they can at least get a plate of fries or grilled cheese sandwich with a Jones soda or whatever and hang out with their friends and/or meet their parents here,” says Matt.

The patio had its first opening of the year a few days ago. Patio is open (weather permitting).

If somehow you’ve never been to Easy Street … the café and store are on the northwest corner of California/Alaska in the heart of The Junction.

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BIZNOTE: Happy 14th anniversary, West Seattle Runner!

April 4, 2024 7:19 pm

| Comments Off on BIZNOTE: Happy 14th anniversary, West Seattle Runner!

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

For the next three days, our area’s only running-focused store, West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) is celebrating its 14th anniversary. Here’s what’s in store – a sale and more:

We are celebrating and thanking the wonderful community of West Seattle for all their generous support and encouragement over the past 14 years. This means we are offering 10% off footwear and 15% off apparel and accessories. For the folks already in our Customer Loyalty Program, you will enjoy 15% off footwear and 20% off apparel and accessories. We also have several events throughout the weekend:

Friday, April 5th, 6:15 pm – Brooks-sponsored Group Run: Come and run in a pair of Brooks shoes and run whatever distance you would like! Afterward, we will host The Potholes, who will play a live show back at the shop. We will have beverages and snacks for this social event.

Saturday, April 6th, 8 am – Group Run with donuts and chocolate milk afterward. Sponsored by Superfeet, and they will be giving away a pair of semi-custom inserts valued at $150.

Sunday, April 7th, 10 am – Runner Relay Event: Join in for fun, silly running-related tasks and come back to the shop afterward for beverages and snacks

Meet at West Seattle Runner for all events!

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UPDATE: House fire on Halleck SW in upper Alki, overheated wiring suspected

April 4, 2024 4:54 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

4:54 PM: SFD is responding to a fire reported in the 2100 block of Halleck SW [vicinity map]. Updates to come.

4:57 PM: SFD says it’s a residential fire and their crews have water on it.

(Added: Reader photo)

5:04 PM: The fire is now reported “knocked down” and firefighters are searching the interior of the residence.

(Added: This photo and next by Christopher Boffoli)

5:15 PM: No one reported inside, and no injuries, per SFD.

5:57 PM: Many of the units have been dismissed; several are still on scene. The fire’s cause is under investigation.

ADDED FRIDAY: We asked SFD if the cause had been determined yet. Spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB, “Investigators ruled the fire was accidental, and likely caused by overheated electrical wiring. Estimated loss is $150,000.”

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VIDEO: Mayor unveils proposed transportation levy: $1.35 billion over eight years. Now, your turn to sculpt it

April 4, 2024 3:33 pm

| 62 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(Added: Seattle Channel video)

3:33 PM: Mayor Bruce Harrell has just debuted the first draft of his proposed transportation-levy renewal. The current Levy to Move Seattle is expiring after nine years and $930 million, covering 30 percent of the city’s transportation budget; the new levy would run for the next eight years, raising $1.35 billion. Harrell was clear that this is “the start of a discussion” – as with the expiring levy, this one will likely go through some changes before a final version is sent to the November ballot. The summary of the levy says, “The proposed levy would cost the median Seattle homeowner about $36 per month, approximately $12 more per month than the current levy.” (A current “median home” is considered to be valued at $866,000.)

Here’s the full draft proposal. It includes a few West Seattle specifics as example projects the levy could/would fund:

• Fauntleroy Way SW — Paving to keep roadway functional during light rail station construction and support future improvements.

• 35th Ave SW: SW Morgan St to SW Alaska St — Street reconstruction with a corridor safety analysis and evaluation of transit improvements. Includes sidewalk repair, crossing improvements, and evaluation of bike routes.

• Olson Pl SW / 1st Ave S: 2nd Ave SW to SW Cloverdale St — Street reconstruction with a widened sidewalk or trail and treatments to keep vehicles from skidding on wet pavement.

As mentioned in the Fauntleroy description above, some of this would synergize with the upcoming Sound Transit light-rail expansion to West Seattle (which is projected to open just as this new levy expires at the end of 2032), including “connections” for the West Seattle Junction station, and ST’s interim CEO Goran Sparrman (who is also a former SDOT director) spoke at the unveiling. (added) The 35th SW project is also notable, as the corridor went through rechannelization and other changes south of Morgan in the 2010s before the idea of an overhaul north of Morgan was shelved in 2018 (with some spot changes then made, such as the Graham crossing and the Camp Long light).

WHAT’S NEXT: You have three weeks – until April 26 – to offer feedback to shape the final levy proposal the mayor sends to the City Council in May; go here to do that. The final version of the levy is expected to go to voters this November.

ADDED 5:48 PM: District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, who chairs the Transportation Committee and will lead the council review of the levy proposal, sent this statement:

This Transportation Levy is a once-in-a-decade chance to build a safer, better connected and more reliable Seattle.

Over my first 100 days in office, I have helped fill potholes with road maintenance crews, walked along city streets in desperate need of sidewalks, and surveyed the state of Seattle’s bridges. At every turn, I saw SDOT employees hard at work with limited resources doing everything they can with to keep our city safe. Now, it’s time for us elected leaders to step up and make sure they have everything they need to do their jobs better, faster, and more effectively.

I appreciate Mayor Harrell’s work on this framework for the levy and see we are in alignment on many key issues. The Council has a lot of hard work ahead of it to review and improve upon this proposal. I am ready and eager to lead that collaborative effort.

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Spruce Hill Winery: Welcome, new WSB sponsor!

April 4, 2024 2:20 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS beverages

Today we’re welcoming Spruce Hill Winery as a new WSB sponsor. New sponsors get to tell you about themselves – here’s what Spruce Hill Winery wants you to know:

Spruce Hill Winery is owned and operated by Mark and Jo Bader, former longtime residents of West Seattle. While we recently moved out of the area, we raised our now-grown kids in West Seattle and still have many ties there.

Our winemaking goes back 20 years, from humble beginnings in our garage, to working for other wineries, and finally to opening our own winery. We are both graduates of Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College. We are a small, family-owned operation, and we make the wine ourselves in our SODO facility, from selecting the grapes to bottling the final product. We are involved in every step of the process and are proud to offer our guests a taste of our craft and passion.

We love being outdoors, and our brand and artwork reflect our love and appreciation of the Pacific Northwest. The Spruce Hill Winery name and iconic mountain view on the label were inspired by a visit to one of our favorite places, the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, where we were awed by the majestic Sitka Spruce trees. Our mission is to make premium wine, sourced from some of the best vineyards in Washington State. From crisp whites perfect for warm weather to bold, full-bodied reds, we have a selection of wines to suit every taste.

Our tasting room in SODO is a 7-minute drive from the Junction, just two blocks north of the West Seattle Bridge on 4th Ave S. It has an industrial vibe, with active winemaking often happening during tasting room hours, especially in the fall. We are always happy to answer questions about winemaking or show guests around the production space.

We share our tasting room space with another winery, T2 Cellar, owned by West Seattle residents Todd Threlkeld and Anne Stevens, and Republic of Cider. The businesses run independently but guests can select from any of the offerings in the tasting room, creating an opportunity for everyone at the table to get exactly what they want. Guests appreciate our easy-to-find location, our close proximity to several other wineries, easy free parking, and, of course, our delicious wines! Spruce Hill Winery is a member of Seattle Urban Wineries, a trade organization that focuses on promoting Seattle area wineries and tasting rooms.

Spruce Hill Winery Tasting Room is at 2960 4th Ave. S., #109. Hours are Friday, 3-6 pm; Saturday, 1-6 pm. Questions? info@sprucehillwinery.com or 206-588-6643.

We thank Spruce Hill Winery 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!

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Spring is here. Your nearest park restroom might not have reopened yet.

April 4, 2024 1:19 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

That’s a Google Maps image of the restroom building at the Whale Tail Park end of Alki Playground. Andrew emailed us about it, noting that it’s still “perpetually closed” despite usage in high gear with the arrival of spring, including youth baseball and soccer, pickleball, and other park/playground users. We checked the Seattle Parks map/dashboard tracking restroom status – which labels it a “seasonal closure.” Andrew says one side also has signage about vandalism, but a Parks spokesperson checked on that and reported back, “Just closed for winter. Will be reopened soon. Sounds like the winter closure sign may have gone missing and the vandalism sign was the one that the staffperson had on hand.” So take note that the spring reopenings of buildings closed for the winter aren’t complete yet; if you happen onto what instead seems to be a maintenance or damage problem at any Parks facilities, the number to call is 206-684-7250.

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One big day to help local salmon habitat: Time to choose your site for Duwamish Alive!

April 4, 2024 11:38 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

The river and the salmon need you. Find your spot right now for the one-day, multiple-location Duwamish Alive! restoration event – here’s the info:

Celebrate Earth Day with Duwamish Alive! Help Restore Our River.
Saturday, April 20th, 10 – 2 at multiple watershed locations

Join us for Duwamish Alive! in restoring habitat along the Green-Duwamish River for juvenile salmon that are coming down the river this spring. Our river is home to all 5 salmon species, including Chinook, which are important to our local resident orca. We will be restoring habitat at multiple locations throughout the watershed along the river, its upland forests and creeks – we are all connected. Həʔapus Village Park will have our Duwamish tribal welcome, presentations, and tabling — all are invited, volunteers and visitors. Instruction, tools, and snacks are provided for restoration activities. This is a family friendly event, all ages welcome.

Afterward, attend a special event at the Duwamish Longhouse with two indigenous Wisdom Keepers from the Hopi and Spokane Tribes sharing indigenous perspectives about climate change and their experience attending the Dubai Climate Summit: Duwamish Longhouse 4705 W Marginal Wy SW – 1:00 – 3:00

For more information and volunteer registration go to DuwamishAlive.org

Questions? info@duwamishalive.org

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Silent Book Club, ‘Mean Girls,’ ‘English,’ Jokes at The Junction, dine-out benefit, more for your West Seattle Thursday

April 4, 2024 10:08 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Bald Eagle in pond on future Alki Elementary site, photographed by Don Brubeck)

Here are the highlights of what’s up today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

EXPANDED FAUNTLEROY YMCA HOURS: First week of the Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) soft-opening its newly expanded hours – 9 am to noon and 4 pm to 7 pm, Mondays through Thursdays.

FREE PLAYSPACE: Drop-in space open at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau) until noon.

NAVIGATING MEDICARE: Learn about it at 11 am at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon)

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.

STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm class at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).

DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: 4-9 pm, get food from Habit Burger (35th/Avalon) and part of the proceeds go to the West Seattle High School softball team – here’s the flyer to print out or show on your phone.

HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s MoMo’s Kebab.

FREE ECO-ARTS CLASS: New time – 5-7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – you’re invited to drop in!

VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood. (Walking option, too!)

BLUES NIGHT: 6:30-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.

(Photo courtesy Lisa Stromme Warren)

‘MEAN GIRLS: THE MUSICAL’: Second-to-last chance to see West Seattle High School‘s production, 7 pm. Ticket info is in our calendar listing.

SILENT BOOK CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Long list of places you can read this month with the Silent Book Club – and they’re all in our calendar listing (with some specials too)! Grab your book and be there – somewhere – 7 to 9 pm, (Early arrival advised to snag a spot.)

NORTH HIGHLINE UNINCORPORATED AREA COUNCIL: The community coalition for White Center and vicinity meets online at 7 pm – our calendar listing has agenda and connection info.

THURSDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: Burger Planet (9614 14th SW) in White Center now has Thursday night trivia at 7 pm – prizes!

OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘ENGLISH’: Almost sold out already! The new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) opens at 7:30 pm.

JOKES AT THE JUNCTION: 8 pm comedy at Great American Diner & Bar (4752 California SW), featuring Emmett Montgomery – tickets here!

Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in daily preview lists like this one? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Celebrate International Beaver Day at Ounces on Sunday

April 4, 2024 9:00 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

That’s one of the resident beavers in West Seattle’s Longfellow Creek (video sent by Manuel in March). Want to know more about these wild neighbors? Here’s an advance look ahead to a one-of-a-kind event this weekend in West Seattle: Sunday afternoon, you can celebrate International Beaver Day with locally based Beavers Northwest at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW). Part of the proceeds will go to the nonprofit. And all of the fun goes to you! Arts and crafts, DIY beaver trivia, live music with Sue Quigley. Full details here; be there 2-5 pm Sunday (April 7); Sue performs at 3:30 pm. Ounces is all-ages.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday info

April 4, 2024 6:00 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6 AM: Good morning. It’s Thursday, April 4.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Mostly cloudy, showers possible, high in the low 50s. Sunrise will be at 6:40 am, sunset at 7:44 pm.

TRAFFIC ALERT

Tree-trimming today and tomorrow on a north section of 21st SW in advance of repaving – details here.

SPRING BREAK

Continuing through Friday for some schools (including Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Holy Family, and the Highline district). Then next week, it’s most other schools, including Seattle Public Schools.

TRANSIT NOTES

Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here – lots of trip cancellations this week.

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is. Reminder, no service the weekend of April 13-14 to prepare for the summer season.

Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for last-minute changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, 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:

1st Ave. S. Bridge:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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