West Seattle, Washington
29 Thursday
Summertime reunions continue! We received lthis announcement last night:
The West Seattle High School Class of 1958 has reserved time at the West Seattle Golf Course Monday, August 5th, for their annual Golf Tournament. All of the class of ’58 and friends of the class of 1958 are invited to participate.
All that are interested in the Tournament or the following lunch should contact Gary Tisdale or Bob Nuber as soon as possible to secure a spot. Entries must be received by July 24th.
Gary Tisdale: g.tisdale@comcast.com
Bob Nuber: bjnuber@icloud.com
(Friday sunset at Alki seawall, photographed by Catherine Melchior)
Here are your Saturday highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEATHER ALERT – HEAT ADVISORY EXTENDED: Now continuing through 10 pm Tuesday. Friday’s high was 89 (two degrees below the record for that date); 80s are expected again today, then 90s Sunday-Tuesday.
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER’S FREE GROUP RUN: Morning’s an excellent time to run in weather like this. West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is where you and other runners will meet up for the weekly free group run at 8 am. (2743 California SW)
FREE! HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor Avenue SW). Free event every Saturday but please RSVP.
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.
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).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Spraypark season continues – open 11 am-8 pm, free, every day. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: The tide is out to -2.7 feet at 11:47 am; Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation (63rd/Beach Drive) and Lincoln (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) Parks from 10 am to 1:30 pm today.
COLMAN POOL: Open today, noon-7 pm, on the beach at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) – here’s the schedule.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: 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: 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. (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).
SEAFAIR PIRATES LANDING AT ALKI: In the 1-1:30 pm vicinity, with cannon fire offshore and trepidational crowds onshore, the Seafair Pirates will land on the beach and kick off the citywide summer festival. Details in our calendar listing!
PURRDIE BURRDIE IN THE PARK: 1-5 pm at High Point Commons Park (6400 Sylvan Way SW), as explained here, West Seattle artist/author Danitra Hunter will be presenting free fun activities – and free copies of her children’s book about her character Purrdie Burrdie, too, for the third of four Saturdays at West Seattle parks.
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.
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.
SALSA & BACHATA ON ALKI: Dance tonight! 4:30 pm lesson, 5:30 pm dancing, tickets required, full details in our calendar listing. At Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
FISH STICKS BASEBALL: Spend the evening at the ballpark! Tickets remain for tonight’s 6:05 pm game vs. the Washington A’s at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd, White Center). Kids get to run the bases!
THEM AT EASY STREET RECORDS: The video above is the title track from West Seattle-based band THEM‘s new CD, “Girls Mind,” which they’re signing – as well as performing from – at 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW).
CIRCLE OF SONGS: Acoustic music at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW), 7-9 pm.
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
BEATS AT THE ROOM: Saturday night, DJs at Revelry Room – 9 pm. Tonight, Hot ‘n’ Spicy Disco. (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!
11:26 PM: Police are investigating a report of someone seen firing a gun from a car, described as a black sedan – possibly a Chrysler – in the vicinity of 31st SW and SW Holden. The Guardian One helicopter is reported to be on the way to help search. No report of any injuries so far.
11:29 PM: They’ve just canceled the helicopter request, as they don’t have enough descriptive information for it to track anyone. They have found casings, though.
By Christopher Boffoli
Special to West Seattle Blog
When one considers how important utility poles are to modern life, we really don’t give them much thought, until a driver plows into one of them and the lights go out. Nearly 100,000 poles stand around the city, carrying power, communication, and providing light to streets. When I was a kid we simply called them “telephone poles” for the landlines they carried. These days they’re much more likely to be strung with fiber-optic cables than the twisted copper of old. However, while most everything at the top of the pole has gone digital, the communication at the lower reaches of these tall, straight wooden posts remains refreshingly analog.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli unless otherwise credited)
Walk up to any utility pole along West Seattle’s main arterials and you’ll likely find a pincushion of metal staples, nails, and tacks, the remnants of decades of informal, community advertising. Beneath official street signs that direct (or restrict), you might find yard sale posters, lost pet fliers, color photocopies advertising a random assortment of services – from tango lessons to gutter cleaning – and maybe stickers that still remind us that Andre the Giant had a posse. It was also on a utility pole, in the 3400 block of California Avenue SW, that I first encountered a series of enigmatic posters that, while aesthetically executed, left me with so many questions about their meaning and origin.
The first one I noticed could have been a one-off for all I knew; three pieces of white paper with a simple but distinctive red block typeface, which began faded but grew darker as the text descended: “WE ARE LOST STILL WE ARE DEVOTED”
It was restrained in its presentation. Even the punctuation was omitted. The few random words barely comprised a thought. It was not at all provocative, though it did compel my interest. In the days and weeks that followed, as I walked past the pole while running errands, I found myself looking forward to what new piece might be posted there, eager to see if more of the story would be revealed. I was disheartened whenever I would see that the posters had been ripped to shreds, but then was always buoyed by every new installation, which happened with impressive frequency. The forces of destruction were doing their best, but creativity was winning.
The writer in me wondered if there was an overarching story, as a narrative purpose is generally a pretext for art.
(WSB photo, July 2023)
If you are planning on going to the beach to stay cool on Saturday afternoon, here’s your reminder that you might find yourself in the middle of a high-seas showdown – tomorrow brings the annual Seafair Pirates Landing, with the “Pirate Kings of the Northwest” approaching from offshore, barging onto the beach, and declaring this summer’s regional party officially under way. Announcements have listed their expected arrival time as both 1 pm and 1:30 pm, so our advice if you don’t want to miss the spectacle is to be there on the earlier side. Once ashore, the Pirates bluster, mingle, showboat, and become the Pirate Kings of Photo Ops – and then climb aboard their shore-going “ship” Moby Duck, rolling away to other stops on their itinerary (which, two weeks later, will include the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 20th. Tomorrow, look for all this toward the west end of the sandy beach, by Alki Bathhouse. (If you haven’t been before, here’s our coverage from last year.)
3:53 PM: At Delridge/Trenton, SFD is evaluating one person reported injured in what was described over the air as a collision between a vehicle driver and “moped” rider. Buses are being rerouted. Avoid the area for a while.
4:18 PM: Thanks to B for the photos.
Per SFD radio, two people are being taken to the hospital, one via medic unit, one via private ambulance. B says both were from the “moped.” The scene is clearing and Metro says buses are returning to regular routing; we’ll be following up with SFD.
5:13 PM: SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty confirms that both people taken to the hospital were on the two-wheeled vehicle – “~23-year-old male in stable condition, ~24-year-old male in serious condition.”
(May 25 photo by Joe Christian for WSB)
If you haven’t had a chance to cheer yet for West Seattle High School‘s state-championship-winning baseball team – or even if you have! – your next opportunity is just two weeks away: The WSHS champs have been chosen as Grand Marshals of this year’s West Seattle Grand Parade, we’ve learned from parade coordinator Michelle Edwards. The team won the state 3A championship May 25 with a victory over Mount Vernon HS, 9-3, playing in Pasco. That capped a season that also included the Metro League championship plus other honors, including state 3A Coach of the Year (head coach Dylan Mclauchlin) and state 3A Player of the Year (Caden Fahy). Being Grand Marshals means the team will ride toward the start of the West Seattle Grand Parade, which happens two weeks from tomorrow, on Saturday, July 20, starting at 11 am from California/Lander and proceeding southward on California to Edmunds at the south end of The Junction, presented by the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation and supported by volunteers and sponsorships. This will be the parade’s 90th year!
(WSB photo – Fauntleroy dock and ferry at noontime today)
Washington State Ferries has yet another boat in need of repairs, and that’s going to have a domino effect for the Triangle Route and elsewhere – here’s the WSF explanation:
Due to urgent repairs needed, the Walla Walla, the only vessel assigned to the Bremerton/Seattle route, needs to be removed from service for approximately 1-2 days next week. Not doing this work risks a catastrophic failure that could take the vessel out of service for an extended period of time.
To complete these urgent repairs, we need to move vessels around based on capacity and route ridership. We’ll make these moves on Wednesday, July 10 and expect them to last for 1-2 days.
The 144-vehicle Chimacum will move from the Bainbridge route to the Bremerton route, replacing the 188-vehicle Walla Walla.
The 90-vehicle Sealth will move from the Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon “Triangle” route to the Bainbridge route. This means we won’t have the third, unscheduled boat on the “Triangle” route during these repairs.
We will return the Chimacum to Bainbridge and the Sealth to the “Triangle” route as soon as we complete the repairs, which we expect to take 1-2 days.
Sent by Guy
This car is in one of the pay lots in the 4700 block of 44th Ave. SW (across from State Farm building). The passenger-side window appears to be broken from the inside, as indicated by the pile of glass on the pavement.
Reverse image search says it’s a Lexus IS 250.
(River Otter on the beach this morning, photographed by Stewart L.)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Multiple locations and varying times in West Seattle – here’s the list.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, until 3 pm.
LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: The tide is out to -2.8 feet at 11:05 am; Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation (63rd/Beach Drive) and Lincoln (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) Parks until 12:30 pm.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open 11 am-8 pm. Free! (1100 SW Cloverdale)
WADING POOLS: Open today – Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm; Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW) and Hiawatha (2700 California SW), noon-5:30 pm.
COLMAN POOL: Open today, on the beach at Lincoln Park – here’s the schedule.
VISCON CELLARS: The tasting room/wine bar is open tonight for wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm – at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
(added) FISH STICKS BASEBALL: Though the Fourth of July game was a sellout, we’re told tickets remain for tonight’s 6:35 pm game vs. the Washington A’s at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd, White Center).
COFFEEHOUSE COMEDY: Midnight Mystery Theater at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.
AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.
REVELRY ROOM DJ: Tonight’s spinning is by DJ Lady Coco, 9 pm-1 am! (4547 California SW)
YOU SKATE, THEY PLAY: “Make It Loud!” returns at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW), roller skating to live bands, featuring Muñeca, War Puppy, Sun Puddle. $18 cover, $5 skate.
YOU’RE THE STAR: 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
What are we missing? If you have something else to add to our event lists and calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
West Seattle’s Scout Troop 284 has been home to more than 115 Eagle Scouts over the decades – and now you can add Jack Revello to the list of those who have earned that rank! The photo was sent by proud mom Jeannie Revello – that’s Assistant Scoutmaster James Kim shaking Jack’s hand. Jeannie explains that Jack “created a giant playground chessboard at Gatewood Elementary for his Eagle Project.”
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, July 5. Not an official four-day holiday weekend, but we’re guessing it will feel a lot like one anyway.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The heat-advisory alert takes effect at noon; today’s forecast is for sunshine, high in the mid-80s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:18 am, while sunset will be at 9:09 pm.
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project starts Monday; here are more specifics. (Got questions? We’re talking with a project-team member Monday.)
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch.
STADIUM ZONE
For those traveling through SODO, note the Mariners are playing a homestand – 6:40 pm tonight vs. Toronto.
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Back to regular schedule; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Back to regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is. It’s Friday, so there are later sailings tonight.
Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route, but now with the unscheduled “bonus boat” on weekdays when available; check WSF alerts for last-minute changes and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
1st Ave. S. 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!
10:08 PM: It’s become an annual tradition – chronicling emergency responses on this very busy night. Right now police and fire are headed to 18th/Roxbury, reported as driver/motorcyclist collision, blocking westbound Roxbury. Dispatchers are also announcing fireworks reports over the air – in the past few minutes we’ve heard 9000 block of 16th, Roxhill Park, California/Hanford, 58th/Alki.There was also a “brush fire” response in the 7100 block of 28th SW just before 9:30 pm.
10:45 AM: We’re checking on the motorcycle rider; all SFD units are closed out of the call. Meantime police have just found someone that was reported as possibly in trouble in the water off the 2600 block of Alki – they’re reported to be OK. … “They do not need medical,” reported Engine 5 (a non-WS-based crew which we noted in a 6:30 pm spin around Alki was stationed by the Bathhouse). Alki had a major police presence, as we noted last year too, including officers posted at both ends of the Alki Point “Healthy Street” (thanks to the reader who tipped us on that so we could go confirm):
That’s the car that was stationed at the Beach Drive end, while another one was blocking the Alki Avenue end. SPD also had the Don Armeni entrance blocked when we went by minutes later. …
11:05 PM: “Crowds are clearing” on Alki, according to police radio … Reader report from Tyler on west side of The Junction: “My house (in the 4400 block of) 45th Ave SW tonight got a firework thrown at it by a white SUV with 3 people, 2 in balaclavas, they then drove away and this is another attack on our family as my car has been broken into 2 times in June within 3 weeks.” …
11:22 PM: Heard back from SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo on the motorcycle collision: “Crews treated a 30-year-old male who was in stable condition. AMR transported him to Harborview.” … Texter just sent pics from Alki as SPD continues telling people to leave:
11:28 PM: Police are responding to a report of a street robbery in The Junction, 4400 block of 44th SW, and the robbers got away in a red Mustang (possibly the one reported here as stolen earlier in the day).
12:27 AM: Nothing further on that; we’ll check with police later this morning. (SPD incident # 24-183510) … Responders have been called to the 1900 block of Harbor a couple times tonight – earlier, a report of an intoxicated driver hitting a car and then trying to flee, and more recently a 62-year-old woman injured in a fall …
1:06 AM: While firefighters were at that call, they also put out a trash-can fire, a texter reports:
“The firemen are now spraying down a trash receptacle across from our condos because a young man lit it on fire. Thank goodness for our first responders.”
1:57 AM: The big fire calls tonight have been elsewhere in the city. Meantime, police are responding now to someone in Delridge who wants to report that somewhere on Alki, a “white man in his 70s, thin build with a beard, blue tank top, shorts, possibly khaki, intoxicated” pulled a gun on her and her 8-year-old cousin, and fled in “a gray SUV.” No injury reported.
2:19 AM: Another trash-can fire reported, this time with SFD responding to Beach Drive/Oregon, possibly ‘discarded fireworks” sparked it. And police are “trying to catch up to” a van headed west on Admiral with someone inside it reported to be throwing fireworks out the window. … As Engine 32 arrives at the Beach Drive scene, they’re describing it as a “grass fire.”
2:39 AM: The helicopter that just flew westbound over Westwood, Fauntleroy, etc., is a Life Flight helicopter – they often fly over late at night.
3:19 AM: Things have quieted considerably, overall.
One week from tonight, you’ll want to be in The Junction for West Seattle Summer Fest Eve – traditionally a chance to wander the streets the night before the huge three-day festival brings in the crowds. This year, West Seattle Junction Association events director Stacie Woods says the street closures are expected to kick in earlier, so there’ll be more setting up and less loading in during the evening. As usual, Summer Fest Eve will coincide with July’s West Seattle Art Walk, which includes venues all over the peninsula, but The Junction is the neighborhood with the most – In addition to festival setup, you’ll get to enjoy art and music. This month’s Art of Music act in The Junction, 6-7:45 pm on Summer Fest Eve, will be Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints, performing at Verity (4505 California SW). Some of the local venues who add temporary sidewalk cafés for the festival get them going early, so plan on dinner when you come. You’ll see some bonus fun too, like Jennifer Cepeda‘s Dance Powered group practicing for their Saturday “flash mob”-style performance. (See video of what they did last year in our Summer Fest Eve 2023 report.)
9:05 PM: If you have eyes on the water as nightfall nears, watch for whales! Andrew sent word that as of about 15 minutes ago, northbound orcas were passing Arbor Heights, and the Orca Network has a Brace Point report from a few minutes ago. Let us know if you see them!
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Andrew sent this pic this morning, of the view he had from above (the whales are right at the bottom of the frame):
By our unofficial measure, this was the biggest West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade yet – from the lead SPD motorcycle officers to the last stragglers, participants took more than 19 and a half minutes to pass our camera, about a minute past the previous record, 2019. So we begin with our unedited full-parade video:
We recorded from about a block west of the official gathering spot at 44th/Sunset, where the brief pre-parade program included the National Anthem, sung by Eliza Cooper from Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor):
Pre-parade speeches usually include a West Seattle-residing elected official, and this year it was District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka, who told the crowd he and his wife and their three kids have participated before:
Megan Erb, who organizes the parade for the Admiral Neighborhood Association, had a few words too, including gratitude for parade sponsors:
On with the parade, whose red-white-and-blue-decked participants strolled and rolled along the traditional North Admiral route on the way to nearby Hamilton Viewpoint Park for fun and food:
Councilmember Saka wasn’t the only West Seattle elected official in the parade – we spotted State House Rep. Emily Alvarado, too:
Among other sightings, we noticed a few more parading canines than in past years:
Traffic stopped on California at Atlantic so paraders could cross over to the post-parade park fun:
Sack racing emceed by ANA president Joanie Jacobs had kid and adult groups:
Parade sponsors with activity tables/booths included Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care (WSB sponsor):
Biggest food lineup ever! Among the vendors, Triangle-based Seattle Sorbets:
SPD and SFD were at the park too, and kids got to check out Admiral-based Engine 29, which is traditionally one of the few motorized vehicles in the parade:
The parade was founded by a group of Holy Rosary moms 30 years ago; it’s gone through some coordination changes over the past decade, and this is the first year it’s been an official Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented event. ANA of course had a table at the park too – with info on what’s still to come this summer (three Admiral Music in the Parks concerts starting July 18, the Admiral Funktion block party in August).
Sponsorships matter big time to cover cost of everything from street-use permits to traffic control to portable toilets (longtime WSB sponsor Potter Construction provided those this year!) – if your business or organization can help out next year, contact the ANA!
Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN RED MUSTANG: From Alex:
My 1995 Ford Mustang Convertible was stolen from near Southwest Myrtle Street reservoir late last night or this morning. Hoping it’s still in the neighborhood. Plate # CLY2926 – Incident # 2024-182886
UPDATE: This car has been found, outside WS.
ABANDONED BICYCLE: From the dumped-likely-stolen file, reported by Bill:
Seems lost or stolen. Has been in (4800 block of) 38th Ave SW about six days.
If your holiday evening plans include a trip on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route, take note of this Washington State Ferries announcement:
Due to lack of crew, the last trip for the #2 M/V Kitsap is the 6:15 p.m. Fauntleroy to Vashon, no Southworth traffic will be loaded.
The 6:40 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. Vashon to Southworth and back to Vashon sailings have been cancelled
The M/V Salish will resume the #2 schedule at 7:25 p.m. out of Vashon.
You can check lines via the WSF terminal cams.
(‘Little STP’ group; file photo, courtesy Don Brubeck)
A unique way to get to the final day of West Seattle Summer Fest on Sunday, July 14, is via the annual “Little STP” bike ride! We just got confirmation that it’s on again this year – riding a route starting on California Avenue SW at SW Seattle in North Admiral, continuing south to SW Portland in Gatewood, and doubling back to the festival in The Junction. Here’s the announcement from West Seattle Bike Connections:
West Seattle Little STP Bike Ride
Sunday, July 14, 2024 – 9:15 am to 1:00 pmMeet at Hamilton Viewpoint Park
1318 Palm Ave SWContact: Cathy, Ride Leader
Email: cathyd@tutanota.comHave you ever wanted to do the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride? And forgot to sign up? Or train for it? Here is your big chance! Do it in 2 hours and end up at a huge finish line party! Same weekend as Cascade’s big STP, so you can brag and post pix like the other one-day riders.
Join West Seattle Bike Connections for a ride starting at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in West Seattle on a 10.2-mile route at a leisurely 10-12 mph pace! Register at the start. We invite and welcome everyone including people of all ages, languages, ethnicities, genders, races, and abilities. Riders under 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
We will be riding from SW Seattle Street to SW Portland Street, and back north to Summer Fest at the West Seattle Junction, for a fabulous finish line party. After some time at the festival, participants can ride home independently, or ride with a leader back to Hamilton Viewpoint.
Our goal will be to stay together as a group. Be prepared for a moderately hilly route. There are a couple of hills that some may wish to walk up. That’s fine. We will regroup at the top of hills.
Restrooms are not available at the start. Closest public restrooms are at Seacrest Marina Park (the water taxi dock) on Harbor Ave. We will stop along the way for restrooms/water at mile 2.7 at the Alaska Junction.
Check brakes and tires before leaving home. Arrive in time for 9:15 ride description and safety briefing. Must be present at safety briefing to participate. Helmets required. No ear buds. Steady rain cancels. We will ride if there are just light showers.
Another reader report about neighborhood solidarity – this one is a postscript to Pride Month. Last year we reported on Michael Mattinger and his family launching Seattle Pride Night Out block parties. Michael sent a report and photos after a second successful year:
My husband Bradley and I (Michael and Bradley Mattinger) recently hosted our 2nd annual Pride Night Out block party, and I wanted to share the wonderful success we achieved last week. You wrote about it last year which inspired even more West Seattle blocks to participate. Despite some initial concerns over the weather last Thursday and other events happening simultaneously (i.e. the debate), our neighborhood came together to create a truly magical evening.
We were delighted to see a fantastic turnout, with neighbors old and new joining us in the festivities. The event featured a variety of activities, including a talented face painter, toddler bounce house, the local YMCA came out and engaged with arts & crafts, and an abundance of delicious desserts and wine.
The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the performance by local drag queen Dolly Madison, who dazzled everyone with her charisma and talent. Dolly typically performs every Saturday at Lumberyard in White Center.
The overwhelming support and participation from our community made Pride Night Out a resounding success, and we are already brimming with ideas for next year’s celebration. It was a beautiful demonstration of the unity, diversity, and vibrancy that makes our neighborhood so special.
If your block wants to start making plans for next year, Michael tells us, “The tradition is to celebrate the Thursday before Seattle Pride Weekend and we’ll continue that tradition next year – which will be June 26, 2025.”
As we celebrate our nation today, one thing to consider is that a nation is really a collection of neighborhoods. A few in West Seattle have sent us stories of recent celebrations in their neighborhoods – this one is from Monika:
What makes a great neighborhood?
Neighbor Marie celebrated her 99th birthday this past Saturday – here on Rutan PL SW, where she’s lived since the 1950s. Over so many decades, she helped shape an entire neighborhood – in all of the BEST of ways!
(Photo by James Sprague)
A humble brag about our neighborhood on the shortest street in Seattle. We show up. We rise to the occasion. Kudos to our neighbor Karen Arthur White, who organized a festive celebration for Marie’s big day. Karen simply asked that neighbors show up at Marie’s with big hearts – and roses – at 2:00 pm. We all filed in, each bearing best wishes and presenting our roses. Her adult children had prepared refreshments. Then, twenty-six people sang “Happy Birthday” and touched in with one another and the “birthday girl.” It was beautiful. Simply beautiful.
The birthday girl didn’t want to be in the photo, so the people you see are the neighbors and relatives who gathered to celebrate.
(WSB photo, Delridge/Andover flag, photographed on Flag Day last month)
As usual, we start the holiday with a list of potentially helpful information:
TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION
Metro buses – Sunday schedules with extra late-night service
Water Taxi – West Seattle route is on a Sunday schedule today; Vashon route is on regular weekday schedule
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth on holiday schedule
Sound Transit – Here’s the holiday plan
Parking – No charge for street parking in neighborhoods where the city charges for it
Traffic cameras – Here’s the citywide map; here’s our West Seattle-relevant page
WHAT’S HAPPENING/NOT HAPPENING
West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade – Starts at 10 am – details in our preview. (44th/Sunset)
Art on the Corner – 8 am-3 pm, artist Bonnie Bennedsen (featured here last year) sells her work at 39th/Holden to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.
Avalon Glassworks’ Art-Glass Sale – 10 am-2 pm, annual holiday sale. (2914 SW Avalon Way)
Low-low tide – Out to -2.8 feet at 10:22 am; see when and where to find Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists, here.
Highland Park Corner Store cookout – 4-8 pm, HPCS is grilling up burgers and veggie burgers, with outdoor seating, the weekly wine tasting (5 pm), ice cream, more. (7789 Highland Park Way SW)
WHAT’S OPEN/CLOSED
Aquatics – Highland Park Spraypark (11 am-8 pm), Delridge and Hiawatha (12 pm-5:30 pm) and Lincoln Park wading pools (12 pm-7 pm), and Colman Pool (12 pm-7 pm) are all open today.
Other Seattle Parks facilities – here’s the closed/open list
Seattle Public Library – All locations closed
Businesses – We don’t have a list but will add anyone who sends word if they’re open, closed or changing hours. Comment below or text us (206-293-6302)!
Post Offices and banks – closed
WATCHING THE OFFICIAL FIREWORKS SHOW: The Seafair Fourth of July show is over Lake Union, but much of it is usually partly visible from north-to-northeast-facing West Seattle, and crowds generally gather along Harbor Avenue, at the Admiral Way Viewpoint, and certain street-end overlooks. They’ll be broadcast on KONG.
OTHER FIREWORKS YOU MIGHT SEE FROM HERE: If you’re in southwest West Seattle with a view toward mid-Vashon Island, tonight’s fireworks show there will be over Quartermaster Harbor.
LOST/FOUND PET?
Furry friends might run off on the Fourth if fireworks spook them. If you need it, WSB has long had the only all-West Seattle lost/found-pets webpage – email or text info/pic (with your contact #), westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302.
(WSB file photo, past Float Dodgers arriving in The Junction)
On Tuesday, we reported on ways you can help the West Seattle Food Bank this summer. Here’s one more: Before the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday, July 20, you can run/walk the parade route, California Avenue SW from Hiawatha to The Junction, in the Float Dodger 5K! Our area’s only running store, West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), presents the Float Dodger 5K, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and WSR’s Lori McConnell tells WSB, “Dogs, kids, casual walkers, serious runners, all are welcome! The first 600 people registered will receive a free commemorative mason jar to put their root-beer float in (or beer) at the Good Society-sponsored beer garden after the race. Feel free to stay and view the parade from our storefront. All proceeds go to the West Seattle Food Bank again this year!! We are looking for participants, sponsors, and volunteers!” You can register here (same link for the free Kids’ Dash at 8:45 am, preceding the 9:30 am Float Dodger 5K). Sponsoring info is at the bottom of this page; you can join the volunteering team here.
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