West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Since the Alki-area public-safety meeting convened by District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka last month (WSB coverage here), we’ve been asking SDOT about where specifically they’re planning speed cushions and other traffic calming, as promised at the meeting. They told us last week they were still working on it. Then Councilmember Saka said at this afternoon’s City Council briefing meeting that he would have an announcement later in the day – and it’s just in, with this SDOT map:
Here’s the SDOT elaboration that Saka included:
We now have a final design, and work scheduled, for the concrete speed cushion installations on Harbor, Alki and 56th Ave SW. The map shows the speed hump locations and it is at 90% design. Taking a design from 90-100% is essentially completed in the field.
The work orders are all [in] and field layout is tentatively scheduled … with the actual construction beginning July 29. “Field layout” means people will see temporary markings outlining the locations of the speed cushions, while construction itself shouldn’t take more than 2-3 days.
NOTE: To avoid confusion, speed cushions, humps, and bumps are often used interchangeably. However, speed cushions are done with cut-outs on non-arterial streets which are generally more narrow so to allow for fire truck access. The speed ‘humps’ are more shallow than speed ‘bumps’ to allow for fire truck access but steep enough to slow vehicles down on the arterial streets.
The speed cushion implementation is essentially a Phase 1 of potential improvements. SDOT will also be looking at narrowing the roadway outside the Duwamish Head area, where the lane width is already relatively narrow, and this work will be done likely in September.
The angle parking at Duwamish Head, however, will stay the same for now, though nearby residents have asked for it either to be blocked off or converted to parallel parking. Saka’s announcement continues:
As a longer-term option, SDOT may look at some outreach on alternative options for reconfiguring the Duwamish Head parking. My understanding is that SDOT have significant concerns with reconfiguring the Duwamish Head parking as it would actually create significant more space in the right of way for aggressive driving/passing of vehicles. At the very least, SDOT believes that a parking reconfiguration would require some significant outreach as the impacts could also exacerbate parking concerns in the broader neighborhood.
Here’s the official construction notice circulating to people in the area.
Thanks to Mark Daughhetee for the photo of tall ship Lady Washington off Alki today! Two months ago, another reader caught it headed southbound for a stay in Tacoma; today it’s in transit from Port Orchard to Everett. The 35-year-old replica of an 18th-century sailing ship is homeported in Aberdeen but sails around the region (and beyond) offering day/evening sailing trips and tours (see its schedule here).
(Sound Transit project map)
Two weeks ago, two local organizations – the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and 34th District Democrats – announced a Transit Town Hall for questions and answers about the Sound Transit light-rail project, as decision time draws near. Tomorrow’s the night – Tuesday (July 23), 7 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). You can send a question in advance by using this form. That same form includes a short survey you’re invited to answer even if you don’t have a question. Meantime, next major step in the project is the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement – no date yet but expected within the next few months.
We first reported two years ago on King County Road Services‘ plan to narrow 16th Avenue SW between SW 100th and SW 107th to improve safety on a stretch notorious for pedestrian deaths and injuries. The project is of interest to West Seattleites too, particularly with 107th connecting westward to Arbor Heights. Planning on the project has continued, and the county now plans on construction next year (one year later than originally announced). County spokesperson Brent Champaco summarizes where it’s at now:
To reduce speeds and calm traffic, which makes the area safer for pedestrians, the project narrows the road from four lanes to two and includes a two-way center turning lane. It adds many pedestrian safety features like bumped out sloped curbs at corners and traffic crossing lights with flashing beacons.
The project does not remove the total number of parking spots in the project corridor. Currently there are 43 existing on-street parking spots between SW 100th and SW 107th streets. The design option with bike lanes on both sides adds a total of three spaces to bring the total number of on-street parking spaces to 46. It also moves parking spots around, depending on the block, to accommodate travel lanes and bike lanes.
The design option with no bike lanes brings the total number of parking spots to 67, again, up from 43. It also moves parking spots around, depending on the block, to accommodate travel lanes.
We did community surveys and outreach in 2022 and got to a 30-50% design. It was during the peak of COVID so in-person outreach was difficult. We are holding another meeting, at the community’s request, on July 24 to share updated information about the two options.
If you are interested in seeing the latest plans and asking questions, that meeting is happening this Wednesday (July 24), 6:30 pm, at the White Center Food Bank headquarters, which is in the future project zone – 10016 16th SW. The meeting will also be accessible online; the link is on this page. The project cost is just under $2 million, funded by a federal grant.
P.S. The latest online survey for the project is open, too – find it here.
(Pea tendril, photographed by Rosalie Miller)
Here’s our highlight list for today, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Available different times and locations – here’s the local list.
KNIFE-SHARPENING POP-UP: Dull knife causing kitchen trouble? Right now, until 4 pm today, go to C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) and turn it over to Nolan Reis, who sharpens the traditional whetstone way – details in our calendar listing.
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, since it’s expected to be above 70 degrees this afternoon with sunbreaks, the 7-day-a-week wading pool will be open, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.
BABY STORY TIME: Bring little ones up to 2 years old to Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), noon-12:30 pm, for story time!
(Photo from recent low-low tide, by Brandy DeWeese)
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.1 feet at 12:16 pm; 10:30 am-2 pm, find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm at City Hall, the weekly meeting in which councilmembers talk about their plans for the week ahead. Here’s the agenda. Watch live via Seattle Channel.
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too.
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three places to play on Mondays – 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: All welcome at free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MEDITATION IN ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community hosts meditation at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 7-8:30 pm.
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Start your week listening to live music from The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE: 9 pm start for Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
If you have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar, please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather Saturday to celebrate the life of Gloria Gaupp. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with her community:
Gloria Jean Gaupp, age 94, of Seattle, died peacefully at Aegis Living on July 5.
Gloria was born in Seattle in 1931 to Nellie and Charles Gaupp. Gloria lived her entire life in West Seattle and attended West Seattle High School and Western Washington University.
While at Western Washington University, she was the Homecoming Queen and a member of the Viking Cheerleading Squad. After graduating, Gloria embraced her passion for teaching and shaping the lives of young people by teaching for over 60 years. She leaves behind thousands of former students, friends, colleagues at her church, and in her West Seattle neighborhood where she lived for 86 years.
All are welcome at the service celebrating Gloria’s remarkable life on Saturday, July 27, at 11:00 am at Galilee Baptist Church, 11517 SE 208th St, Kent.
(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)
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, July 22.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The forecast: Mostly cloudy, high in the low 70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:35 am, while sunset will be at 8:55 pm.
TRANSIT NOTES, WITH METRO FLEX DEBUT
Metro Flex – This on-demand service debuts in Delridge today, starting a two-year pilot. Our recent story explains how it works.
Metro buses – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, and the unscheduled third boat may be back. Crew shortages hit again over the weekend, so check that link before you sail
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project is in progress; here are more specifics. Fairmount Avenue is closed under the bridge for the duration of the project, likely into early 2025.
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS (Minus the ones that are still down – SDOT says the recent East Marginal fire is to blame for most)
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
South Park Bridge:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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 open 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!
Our phone photo doesn’t do it full justice but that was an unmistakably smoke-red sunset just moments ago. We noticed the haze about an hour earlier, as the early evening sunlight was tinted that telltale yellow. Current air-quality readings are not suggesting trouble but there are definitely wildfires both to the north in B.C. and over in Eastern Washington. (added 9:08 pm) The National Weather Service‘s just-posted forecast-discussion update describes it as “some light upper level haze from area fires” and says “stronger westerly winds aloft” will push it away tomorrow.
Before the weekend’s out, we have 10 more photos from Saturday’s 90th edition of the West Seattle Grand Parade:
#1: If you watched near California/Alaska, the announcers you heard were Christa and Brian Callanan. Parade organizers presented them with an award for their volunteer service:
#2: We mentioned some first-time participants in our previews. Another sort-of first – this was Rob Saka‘s first Grand Parade as District 1 City Councilmember:
#3: Among this year’s participants were seven WSB sponsors – here’s how they rolled in the parade, from hydro to hearse:
Above, it’s just not a parade without a hydro, and STS Construction Services‘ parade entry included one. Below, Emmick Family Funeral Services had the only hearse in the parade, a classic Cadillac:
We showed you Potter Construction‘s parade preps on Friday night – here’s how the parade sponsor/participants went down the route:
Westside School had a contingent in the parade – showing what you might say was a pride of wolves:
Village Green Retirement Living-West Seattle was one of more than a few parade entries with vans or mini-buses:
Another was The Mount, which added human-powered wheels too:
We showed you some of the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA‘s marchers in our awards gallery; they had this van too!
Finally, one more pre-parade view – at the center of this photo is parade coordinator Michelle Edwards, whose volunteer work organized those 80-plus entries into the 90th West Seattle Grand Parade. This was the moment as she assessed whether it was time to give the Honor Guard the green light to start down the parade route (which is monitored all along the way, Admiral to The Junction, by volunteers including more than a dozen amateur-radio operators):
Watch thewestseattleparade.com for information on how to participate and/or be a sponsor next year!
EARLIER PARADE COVERAGE: Our video and photos of all 42 award-winning entries is here; how the parade began, including the Duwamish blessing and the honorees who rode at the start, is here. For our previews, and coverage of previous years’ parades, scroll through this WSB archive.
(Photo by Tom Reese)
As we look at the week ahead, here’s an event to which you’re invited: The closing reception for an award-winning exhibit at the Log House Museum, 6-8 pm this Thursday (July 25). Here’s the announcement:
Join the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, photographer Tom Reese, the Duwamish Alive Coalition, and Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association on Thursday, July 25 to celebrate the success of t?awi Creek of Hope. The exhibit will be closing at the end of the month.
The award-winning exhibit tells the story of West Seattle’s ancient Longfellow Creek from when salmon first chose to make it their home, through intense urbanization in the late 19th and 20th centuries, through today when the creek and its people are beginning to tell a new story – one of renewed hope.
It features photographs of the creek from award-winning photographer and author Tom Reese and is a collaboration between the historical society, the Duwamish Alive Coalition, and the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association.
“The exhibit has provided a unique opportunity to talk about the natural environment in highly urbanized and industrialized areas. The photos by Tom Reese stunningly describe both the power of this creek to support wildlife and persevere, but also how human impact – both negative and positive – can effect change,” says Elizabeth Rudrud, programs and outreach director. Rudrud also acknowledges the leadership of Sharon Leishman, Executive Director at Duwamish Alive Coalition, and Caroline Borsenik, Environmental Programs Director at DNDA, in creating new connections between the historical society and environmental leaders and educators across the region.
This partnership also resulted in extensive community-wide programs including guided hikes led by DNDA Environmental Education Staff and a sold-out panel discussion hosted at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center that featured researchers from the University of Washington Center for Urban Waters and City of Seattle Public Utilities, authors Kelly Brenner, The Naturalist at Home, and Tom Reese, Once and Future River: Reclaiming the Duwamish, and several community partners.
Last month the exhibit won an Award of Excellence in Exhibits from the Washington Museum Association. To register for the free event, go here!
The Log House Museum is at 3003 61st SW.
Two reports from 19th SW this morning top the latest in our periodic roundups of coyote-sighting reports we’ve received:
That photo was texted along with the note, “SW Brandon and 19th SW – hid for a few minutes then ran west toward 21st.” Also this morning, Barb emailed us this report from about a mile south of there:
I’ve seen stories regarding coyote sightings in WS, but don’t recall seeing any mention in this area. Good sized and healthy looking! It went into a yard at the bottom of SW Austin.
We also received two emailed reports of sightings last Sunday in Seaview. This one’s from Lisa:
Just before 9 PM we watched a coyote walk down the alley between 48th/49th ave SW at Juneau St. It went in to a neighbor’s yard and up on front porch. Eventually left the yard and scurried south back down the alley.
And this one from Robin:
Crow mob chased coyote south down 50th Ave SW. Started at Hudson at 6:30 am … this coyote looked healthy. Hopefully catching a lot of rodents.
Our standard disclaimer: We don’t publish coyote reports for alarm, but rather for awareness. Experts say the best way to keep them at a healthy distance is to not supply food, and that means everything from leaving bowls of pet food outside to leaving small domestic animals unattended. As our coverage has shown over the years, they have been seen in most neighborhoods, so you can’t assume yours is coyote-free just because, for example, you’re not near a greenbelt. To learn more about coexisting with coyotes, including what to do if you encounter one, here’s info from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
10:39 AM: Police and SFD are arriving at Lincoln Park for a “scenes of violence” response. A 27-year-old man is reported to be injured, with a gunshot wound to the hip. Updates to come.
10:53 AM: Our crew has arrived to find out more and reports the police activity is concentrated toward the south end of the main parking lot. They’re focusing on a car parked there.
11 AM: The victim is on the way to Harborview. Police have a person in handcuffs and we’re trying to verify if anyone else is being sought.
11:08 AM: Police tell us at the scene this may be a case of self-defense. Preliminary information indicates that a bystander happened onto a man assaulting a woman, told him to stop, and then was assaulted, and that’s when the bystander, who was armed, fired a shot. The bystander is the person they’re questioning; they’re not looking for anyone else. The assault suspect is the man who was shot – according to a radio transmission, he will be arrested for investigation of domestic-violence assault.
12:50 PM: We just went back to the park; the investigation scene has completely cleared. Meantime, we’re following up on the status of multiple parties to this, including the female assault victim.
1:11 PM: SFD tells us the man who was shot was in critical condition when transported to Harborview. The woman he was reported to have been assaulting is in her mid-30s and reported in stable condition when taken to a hospital by AMR ambulance.
3:01 PM: SPD spokesperson Officer Eric Muñoz says the man who is reported to have shot the assault suspect was still being questioned at last report and “was cooperating with officers.” He also discloses that the man is the son of a Seattle Police lieutenant but says the lieutenant was not involved in the incident.
(Saturday’s sunset, photographed by Curry Gibson)
ADMIRAL CHURCH FOOD DRIVE: Continues today – drop off nonperishable-food donations at the church (4320 SW Hill) 9 am-noon.
PLUNGE INTO THE SOUND: At 9 am, you’re welcome to join a group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 9 am, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for the Sunday run.
(WSB photo: Christopher Allen, displaying and selling his work at this year’s Alki Art Fair)
ALKI ART FAIR, DAY 3: Artists, musicians, and food purveyors await you in booths along the Alki promenade during the Alki Art Fair‘s final day. Artists are there 10 am-6 pm; music is scheduled 11 am-5 pm. (60th-63rd & Alki)
OPERA IN THE PARK: Seattle Opera visits Highland Park Playground (1100 SW Cloverdale) with a special program for youth – 10 am storytime, 11 am performance of a short youth-geared opera, free. Details in our calendar listing.
GRIEF WALK: Join Listening to Grief for this free walk in Schmitz Preserve Park (meet at Hinds entrance), 10 am.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Back to its normal block. after the temporary Summer Fest move. 10 am-2 pm, midsummer produce, plus beverages, baked goods, flowers, cheese, fish, meat, prepared food, nuts, candy, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon.
SMALL BIZ POP-UP: While you’re in The Junction, detour into Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) for a 10 am-2 pm event with small-biz vendors.
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.1 feet at 11:31 am; 9:30 am-1:30 pm, find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open to the public today, noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the season continues for the 7-days-a-week city wading pool, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.
NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY AT SHUG’S MINI: 1-9 pm, go have ice cream at Shug’s Mini (California/Charlestown) to celebrate Ice Cream Day – and Sizzle the Clown will be there making balloon animals 2-4 pm.
<ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS : Reminder that the historic Alki Point Lighthouse is open to the public today for free tours, 1 pm-3:45 pm, Alki Avenue SW & Point Place SW.
CLEANUP & ICE CREAM WITH WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: Meet up with the Timebank 2-4 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW).
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK #1: GreenStage presents “Twelfth Night,” 3 pm at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), free.
BLACK VIIOLET AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 5 pm EP release show and signing, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK #2: GreenStage presents “Henry VI, parts 2 and 3,” 7 pm at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), free.
GONG BATH & NATURE MEDITATION: 7:30 pm at Lowman Beach Park (7017 Beach Drive SW) – ticket link’s in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Enjoy Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm.
Organizing and/or publicizing something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Those are the West Seattle Grand Parade judges, who reviewed the 80-plus entries in today’s parade and chose the winners! Parade coordinator Michelle Edwards just sent us the judges’ final list. (11:55 PM UPDATE: We have finished adding photos and video below over the past several hours, showing all the winners .)
WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE OVERALL GRAND-PRIZE WINNERS
1st Place: All-City Band
2nd Place: Seafair Pirates
3rd Place: West Seattle Mrs. Ropers
CHEER TEAMS
1st Place: West Seattle High School Coed Cheer Team
2nd Place: Kennedy High School Cheer
3rd Place: Chief Sealth High School Cheer
COMMUNITY DANCE TEAMS
1st Place: Grupo Folklorico Citlali
2nd Place: Sayaw Filipino Folk Dance Troupe
3rd Place: Comerford School of Irish Dance
MARCHING BANDS
1st Place: All-City Band
2nd Place: Sumner High School Spartan Marching Band
3rd Place: (Tie) All-Star Drumline and Kennedy Catholic High School Lancer Marching Band and Color Guard
PERFORMING ACTS
1st Place: Hi-Liners Musical Theatre
2nd Place: Rain City Ropeworks Jump Rope Team
3rd Place: (Tie) Southpaw Barbershop and Endolyne Children’s Choir
EQUESTRIAN
1st Place: Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle
CARS & ANTIQUE CARS
1st Place: Corvette Marque Club Seattle
2nd Place: VFW Jeep
3rd Place: Walter’s Wine Shop
COMMUNITY ADULT
1st Place: West Seattle Mrs. Ropers
2nd Place: F3 Seattle
3rd Place: Star Wars Washington
COMMUNITY YOUTH
1st Place: Flower Power! Petals to Metal! Girl Scouts of Western Washington
2nd Place: Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby
3rd Place: West Seattle Fauntleroy YMCA
COMMERCIAL
1st Place: StarCycle
2nd Place: Dragonfly West Seattle
3rd Place: Seattle Gymnastics Academy
DRILL TEAM SR.
1st Place: Dolls & Gents Drill Team and Drumline
2nd Place: Electronettes HiSteppers Drill Team and Drumline
DRILL TEAM JR.
1st Place: Baby Dolls Drill Team
2nd Place: Daughters of Royalty Drill and Dance Ensemble
3rd Place: (Tie) Epitome Drill Team and the Electronettes Jr. Drill Team
CONVEYED FLOAT
1st Place: Holy Rosary School
2nd Place: West Seattle Lions
3rd Place: Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum
SEAFAIR
1st Place: Seafair Pirates2nd Place: Seafair Clowns
3rd Place: Seafair Commodores
We have at least two more parade galleries yet to come. Meantime, see all our parade coverage, including previews, in this WSB archive.
We’ve been processing photos and videos, and now it’s time to start presenting parade galleries! First – how this year’s West Seattle Grand Parade began. If you were in The Junction, you saw and heard Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen bless the parade for the first time. Our video is above. Meantime, at the start of the parade route at California/Lander, it began with the return of Seattle Police motorcycles – albeit a smaller group – for the first time in five years:
They performed simpler maneuvers than you might recall, including some circling:
Their appearance wasn’t announced in advance because even parade organizers weren’t sure they’d be able to make it until they arrived. They were followed onto the parade route by another law-enforcement group, the King County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard:
Also toward the start, this year’s Grand Marshals, the West Seattle High School baseball team, winners of this year’s state championship – and yes, they brought the trophy:
The players and coaches required so many vehicles, we recorded video too:
Also toward the start were this year’s winners of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community – explained here -local volunteers extraordinaire Bianca Thomka and Neil Duncan:
Next up – the list of award-winning entries, as decided by West Seattle Grand Parade judges!
Washington State Ferries ran three boats on the Triangle Route for much of the day, attempting to accommodate Vashon Island’s biggest event of the summer, the Strawberry Festival, but a crew shortage has struck again and the run will be down to one boat – here’s the alert WSF sent:
Due to a shortage of crew, the 3rd vessel on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth has tied up for the evening. The #2 Kitsap will go out of service following the 5:20 p.m. sailing from Fauntleroy to Vashon, which puts the route on one-boat service for the remainder of the day. Customers can expect long waits and delays due to the disruption.
For customers trying to reach Vashon Island, your alternate route is Point Defiance/Tahlequah.
Due to the Vashon Strawberry Festival, we’ll be prioritizing service between Vashon and Fauntleroy. It is highly recommended for Southworth/Fauntleroy customers use Seattle/Bremerton as an alternate route.
From its beginnings on a stub of 17th north of the city-limit line, the White Center Low Rider Block Party has grown in a big way this year, moving to the other side of the line and spreading across multiple blocks of 17th between Roxbury and 100th.
You’ll also find art/vendor booths, two DJ stages (with live music 5-8 pm), community groups, and a food court, but the cars are the stars:
Some with accessories:
A few motorcycles and bicycles too! The Low Rider Block Party, presented by Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery (9414 Delridge Way SW), is on until 8 pm.
ADDED: WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen shared this highlight from an evening dance performance:
10:50 AM: The West Seattle Grand Parade has just begun at California/Lander, starting off with a last-minute surprise – four SPD motorcycles. After years of hiatus, a smaller group is just getting back to parade participation. Someone else to watch for as the parade makes its way south on California to Edmunds, as mentioned in one of our previews, the West Seattle Mrs. Ropers:
This will be the biggest parade in years, with more than 80 entries expected (you can see our previews by scrolling through this coverage archive). Remember that California is closed south of Admiral, to the south end of The Junction, until the route is cleared – the parade proceeds southbound on California. You can watch anywhere that has a view of the street. We’ll update when it’s over, and we’ll of course have lots of coverage later.
12:19 PM: The parade has ended at the north end, with volunteers from A Cleaner Alki:
We’ll update when it’s concluded at the south end. And then – lots of highlights later!
1 PM: Over in The Junction too. Street has been reopening block by block behind it.
Once again this year, MyTeam Triumph led the way at the Float Dodger 5K, celebrating its 10th year as the West Seattle Grand Parade‘s opening act. About 600 people had registered by race time – here’s most of the rest of them “dodging” the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s logo float at California/Lander:
Half an hour before race time, the Kids’ Dash saw dozens of young runners take a lap around the Hiawatha track.
The Float Dodger is presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), and proceeds go to the West Seattle Food Bank, which had a booth at Hiawatha, selling their fundraising summer raffle tickets.
(Above, WSFB’s Robbin Peterson and volunteer Al Carlson, with WSR proprietors Tim and Lori McConnell)
Also on hand – Lake Washington Physical Therapy-West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
Results are posted here.
Welcome to another big-fun West Seattle Saturday! First, the two big events that will close much of California SW to traffic into the early afternoon:
WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: California/Alaska, shown in the “live” view above, is one block from the south end of the route for today’s 90th West Seattle Grand Parade, which starts at California/Lander at 11 am. Scroll through this WSB archive to see the many previews we’ve published! (And remember that California south of Admiral, and some side streets, close as early as 7 for the parade and staging.)
FLOAT DODGER 5K Before the parade, you can run or walk the route while raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank! Last-minute registration can be done before the start, 9:30 am from Hiawatha Playfield (2700 California SW). Come early with your kid(s) and they can run the free Kids’ Dash at ~9 am/
Here are other highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):
DON ARMENI FILMING REMINDER: All day (until 11:59 pm), some parking spots at Don Armeni Boat Ramp and on the street alongside it are off-limits because a film crew will be working.
WEST DUWAMISH GREENBELT HIKE: Free guided hike! Meet at Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee), south end of parking lot; hike starts at 9:30 am.
ALKI ART FAIR, DAY 2: Art, music, and food await you in booths along the Alki promenade in the Alki Art Fair‘s second of three days. Artists are there 10 am-6 pm; music is scheduled noon-7 pm; you can bid on silent-auction items inside the Bathhouse 11:30 am-3:30 pm today. (60th-63rd & Alki)
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market’s fourth season offers produce, plants, condiments, prepared food, more. (9421 18th SW)
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: You’re invited to join others taking a walk in Lincoln Park (meet at 47th/Fauntleroy), 10 am.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Summer gardening season still has weeks to go – add something new! Student-grown 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.
(Sunflower sea star, photographed earlier this month by Rosalie Miller)
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.7 feet at 10:47 am; 9:30 am-12:30 pm, find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.
LOW-RIDER BLOCK PARTY: This year it’s moved from South Delridge to White Center – cars, art, music, more on 17th SW between Roxbury and 100th, 11 am-8 pm.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: Spraypark season continues – open 11 am-8 pm, free, every day. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: Open noon-7 pm on the Lincoln Park shore – find the session schedule online. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, the season continues for the only city-run wading pool in West Seattle to operate seven days a week, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
HIAWATHA WADING POOL OPEN: Also open today, noon-5:30 pm. (2700 California SW)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm. You’re running out of time to see its award-winning Longfellow Creek exhibit, which closes this week! (61st/Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
BIKE & BREW RIDE: Join West Seattle Bike Connections on this ride, family-friendly, leaving at 1 pm from Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: The tasting room/wine bar is open 1-6 pm with student-produced wines and “affordable eats” at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK #1: “Henry VI, parts 2 & 3” presented by GreenStage, at 3 pm, Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW). Free.
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.
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK #2: “Twelfth Night” presented by GreenStage, at 7 pm, Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW). Free.
BEAUTIFUL FREAKS: Show and signing at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), free, all ages, 7 pm.
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
LIVE MUSIC AT WHISKY WEST: Tommy Thomas, 8-10 pm. (6451 California SW)
BEATS AT THE ROOM: Revelry Room continues with Saturday night DJs – 9 pm. Tonight, DJ Toxic Max-Q-Linity. (4547 California SW, alley side)
KARAOKE AT THE PIZZERIA: Saturday nights, you can sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.
West Seattle event coming up? If the community’s welcome, your event belongs on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
It all begins in a matter of hours … and some participants in tomorrow’s West Seattle Grand Parade are just finishing up their entries:
That’s part of the crew from Potter Construction, a parade sponsor and participant (and longtime WSB sponsor too), decorating their truck. We’ve been publishing parade previews all week, after sitting in on the Monday night parade-lineup review meeting as usual. More entries to mention tonight so you can be ready to cheer them on – youth-focused organizations! Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby, Rain City Ropeworks, Endolyne Children’s Choir, Highline Premier FC, West Seattle Junior Football and Cheer, Seattle Gymnastics Academy, drill teams, scouting groups … you can also watch for unique entries like the DeLorean car(s), costumed Star Wars fans, and the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum‘s USS Nimitz replica.
(WSB photo, 2023 Float Dodger 5K)
But first, the Float Dodger 5K sends hundreds of runners and walkers from Hiawatha Playfield (2700 California SW) out onto the parade route at 9:30 am, and you can still register to be part of it – West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) presents the Float Dodger, and proceeds go to help the West Seattle Food Bank fight hunger and prevent homelessness.
As the signs say, parking is off-limits on the parade route – California from SW Lander to SW Edmunds – plus side streets used for staging, starting at 7 am, so get your car moved by then, because tow trucks have their own pre-parade of sorts. Otherwise, just set up a spot somewhere on the route and enjoy the parade. (If you’re not settled on a spot, as we mentioned last night, West Seattle Realty [2715 California SW; WSB sponsor] invites you to their parade-viewing party, out front of the office, treats and restroom access!) The parade, celebrating its 90th year, starts from California/Lander at 11 am and usually ends by ~1:30 at the south end of the route, but this is the biggest one in years, and there are always variables along the way, so that’s just an estimate.
Two reader reports on abandoned items; if either might be yours, please email us and we’ll connect you with the finders:
TOOLBOX: Cynthia sent the photo and report:
This was left behind our condo building and it doesn’t belong to any of us. It has some scuffs on the top so it doesn’t seem to be brand new. But it also still has stickers on it from some kind of retailer. There was only one item left inside but we figured someone might want the toolbox back.
BICYCLE: A reader who wante to be anonymous sent this photo and report:
Bicycle abandoned near Fairmount Ave SW and Harbor Ave. It has been there since last weekend, so clearly it is abandoned. At the back side of Duwamish Head Greenspace behind the pump station.
10:21 PM UPDATE: Marlene’s family confirms she is now safe at home.
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