One of the last remaining independent small businesses at Westwood Village is closing its brick-and-mortar doors. Lauren’s Jewelry, formerly known as Wyatt’s Jewelers, is going online-only. Proprietor Lauren Wiggins already has started promoting a going-out-of-business sale (as noted here) and is now officially announcing her shutdown plan:

It is with a heavy heart that after 5 years of Lauren’s Jewelry, we are closing our store. Lauren and Tyler would like to thank each of our friends, and customers for allowing us to do what we love to do, and being a part of our lives.

Please come in and take advantage of this opportunity to save up to 70% on our entire inventory of diamonds, color stones, and silver jewelry. Come in and enter to win a pair of 1.00ctw diamond earrings.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. -Lauren

It’s been a challenging five years – as noted in this January report, Lauren reported having a collection of seven SPD officer cards from investigations of burglaries and attempted burglaries (and now, add the truck theft to that). Meantime, Lauren tells us she hasn’t set a hard-and-fast closing date yet – the going-out-of-business sale will include a “VIP preview” event next Tuesday through Friday for starters, and she’ll see how things go from there. She bought Wyatt’s Jewelers from previous owners Kirk and Joni Keppler when they decided to move on after 15 years.

COUNTDOWN: 2 weeks until West Seattle Bee Festival!

May 4, 2024 8:32 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Fun stuff to do | High Point | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

One of the year’s first festivals is exactly two weeks away – the West Seattle Bee Festival in High Point. Here’s the overview of what’s planned for the festival 9 am-4 pm Saturday, May 18, at Commons Park (home to the West Seattle Bee Garden) and along Lanham Place:

During the noon-4 pm festival, two dozen nonprofits, schools, agencies, and city departments will have informational booths so you can connect with your community. That and the other Bee Festival activities and performances are all free!

SIDE NOTE: You can help get the Bee Garden ready for the festival by volunteering there Sunday morning!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Advertising-wrapped truck stolen, linked to car prowl (update: found)

May 4, 2024 6:45 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

You might have seen this truck parked in various West Seattle spots the past few days:

Aside from what it’s advertising (we have a separate story to come about Lauren’s closure plan) – if you have seen the truck today, please tell police where, and refer to case # 24-121342 – because it was stolen last night. Before we found out about that, a reader sent this photo after their security camera caught people using the truck in a car prowl early this morning:

That was around 5 am in the 5200 block of 46th SW; someone from the box truck broke the driver-side window on a parked truck, but apparently an alarm then spooked them into taking off. The reader says the truck came by, apparently to case, a few minutes before returning for the prowl.

UPDATE: As discussed in comments (and confirmed by Lauren’s), the truck’s been found.

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REMINDER: Emerald City Ride on westbound bridge, West Seattle streets on Sunday morning

May 4, 2024 4:41 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WSB photo: Sign seen on Harbor Avenue last night)

Two months after we first told you about the Cascade Bicycle Club‘s ride across the westbound West Seattle Bridge and around the peninsula, tomorrow is the day for the Emerald City Ride. It starts and finishes in SODO, 7 am until about 11 am, heading onto southbound 99 to get to the westbound West Seattle Bridge – the westbound lanes (NOT the eastbound lanes) will be closed approximately 5:30 am to 9:30 am Sunday. Then the riders head around the peninsula:

(Course map, from Emerald City Ride website)

They’ll head back on the regular bike route across the low bridge. P.S. Registration has closed, so no last-minute signups. Cascade was expecting at least 2,000 riders.

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PHOTOS: Orcas off West Seattle

May 4, 2024 3:29 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

3:29 PM: Just texted by Kersti Muul: Orcas are “super close to shore,” northbound, headed toward Lincoln Park.

7:51 PM: Thanks to David Hutchinson for sending photos of the orcas – transients, he says – as they passed Constellation Park and headed into Elliott Bay.

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UPDATE: Crash on westbound West Seattle Bridge

May 4, 2024 2:58 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Added: SDOT image)

2:58 PM: Thanks for the tips. A crash is blocking multiple lanes on the westbound bridge just west of 99.

3:44 PM: SDOT says the scene is clear.

4:25 PM: Listening back to archived radio exchanges, officers and firefighters at the scene reported the same thing as officers below – two people walked away from the crash. Police checked the plates and the car, registered to a West Seattle address, had not been reported stolen.

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CONTINUING SUNDAY: Meet local artists at West Seattle weekend pop-up

May 4, 2024 1:09 pm

| Comments Off on CONTINUING SUNDAY: Meet local artists at West Seattle weekend pop-up

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

One option for this cloudy Saturday afternoon – enjoy local art and meet the artists! We just visited the Feather in the Wind multi-artist pop-up over Alki Arts (6030 California SW) – there we found Diane Bellisario:

Kassie Hennessey:

Tracy Mintz:

And Damian Grava:

The pop-up is open until 7 tonight and again noon-6 on Sunday.

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1 week to West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2024! See the map

May 4, 2024 11:37 am

| Comments Off on 1 week to West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2024! See the map

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

If you haven’t already seen it, we want to let you know that we published the map for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day early this morning, as promised! The interactive online map is here; the printable guide (with all 500+ sale listings, PDF, 32 pages) is here. The sales cover the peninsula and even stretch a bit beyond – this year we have a seller in South Park. Over the next week, we’ll publish previews and updates, including some mini-lists. One behind-the-scenes note – each year we sort the list by zip codes, low to high one year, high to low the next – last year was high to low (meaning the southernmost zip code, 98146, was atop that list) so this year the numbering starts with the 98106 sales. The map page explains how to search if you want to find which listings have a certain type of item you’re seeking, like “camping” or “toys.” West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is one week from today – 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 11 – second Saturday in May every year (except for the pandemic hiatus) since 2005, coordinated by us here at WSB since 2008. More previews ahead!

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 32 notes!

May 4, 2024 6:07 am

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 32 notes!

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Harbor seal, photographed by Erin B. Jackson)

Welcome to May’s first weekend! Here are highlights and other info for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LANE CLOSURES: The two northbound right lanes are scheduled to be closed on the First Avenue South Bridge this morning until 11:30 am, for maintenance.

LIBRARY CLOSURE: The Southwest Library is closed Saturdays through June 4.

WATER TAXI’S LATER-EVENING RUNS: Third weekend of spring/summer season the West Seattle Water Taxi, so it’s making later-evening runs tonight.

WEST SEATTLE RUNNER GROUP RUN: The store is where to meet for the weekly free group run at 8 am. (2743 California SW)

FREE! HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). Free event every Saturday but please register.

BENEFIT PLANT SALE: Alley sale in High Point, benefiting educational programs of (corrected) PEO Sisterhood (just west of High Point Library in the 6000 block of the alley between 35th SW and 36th SW, cross streets SW Raymond and SW Graham), 9 am-3 pm.

COMPOST GIVEAWAY: 10 am-1 pm at Westcrest Park P-Patch (9000 8th SW), but this one is different from past giveaways – important info in our calendar listing.

SSC GARDEN CENTER: Plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-3 pm.

MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.

FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am-11 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).

FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.

FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

DRAG BRUNCH: At Harry’s Beach House (2676 Alki SW), two seatings, 11 am and 1 pm – ticket link is in our calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE BOAT SWAP/SALE: 11 am-4 pm at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska), the focus is on human-powered watercraft – if you’ve got something to sell, dropoff time is 9 am-11 am.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: At West Seattle’s only comic-book store, Tails to Astonish (4850 California SW), “We will have free comics for all who come, and a variety for all ages. Open 11:30-7:00.”

BIZARRE BAZAAR: Community artisan market at Box Bar (5401 California SW), noon-4 pm

POP-UP ART GALLERY: Noon-6 pm, the Feather in the Wind weekend pop-up continues over Alki Arts (6030 California SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASEBALL: WSHS has a postseason game vs. Lincoln at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, 1 pm.

VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

MUSIC FESTIVAL: More than a dozen bands are playing on 2 stages, 1-9 pm (see the schedule in our preview), at The Heron’s Nest (4818 Puget Way SW). Tickets $20, raising $ for ongoing restoration and education work at the site.

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Open 1-6 pm at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.

‘MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM,’ 2 PERFORMANCES: See the Chief Sealth IHS Drama Club/Bayfest Youth Theatre production at 2 or 7 pm at the CSIHS Theater (2600 SW Thistle) – get your ticket(s) online here.

READY FREDDY PREP PARTY: Free 45-minute event with disaster-preparedness coach Alice Kuder of Just In Case (WSB sponsor), 3 pm at Whisky West (6451 California SW) – email alice@justincaseplans.com to be sure there’s room.

NEPENTHE’S WALK-IN MASSAGE CLINIC: 3-5 pm, show up at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) with a specific problem to be addressed by massage, and you’ll get a free (gratuities appreciated) trial of their work.

BELLS OF THE SOUND: See and hear the renowned handbell choir in concert at 7 pm, Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW).

ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)

AT KENYON HALL: Vocal quartet Princess Guy brings “a non-stop thrill ride of vocal harmony and insane comedy” to Kenyon Hall. Doors at 7, show at 7:30 pm, tickets here.

AT THE SKYLARK: “AzuQar is the longest running Queen Latinx Dance Night in Seattle, We started it in the fall of 2015-ish. We saw a void in Seattle’s night life for Queer Friendly Latinx music could be played and danced to.” The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) is a new venue – doors at 8 pm, 21+.

BEATS: Saturday night DJs at Revelry Room – 9 pm. Tonight, DJ Supreme La Rock. (4547 California SW, alley side)

KARAOKE: Saturday night, sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.

Planning a happening? If the community’s welcome, your event belongs on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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