West Seattle, Washington
15 Sunday
This is a big week for holiday-season/winter concerts in West Seattle (you can see the list in our Holiday Guide). Among the groups performing are the ensembles within West Seattle Community Orchestras; two presented their free winter concert on Monday night, and two more are performing tomorrow (Wednesday, December 11), 7 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle). Above is a clip sent tonight by Dawn Hepburn, a member of the WSCO Concert Orchestra, from its performance of “Sleigh Ride” on Monday night. No tickets required for tomorrow’s concert – just show up! (Here’s more info about the WSCO.)
Time for tonight’s Christmas lights spotlight! Thanks to Eric for the photo:
Miracle on 34th street (okay, 34th Ave SW). On 34th a block and a half south of Camp Long.
If you see, or have, lights we should spotlight on WSB, please email the location (with or without photo) to westseattleblog@gmail.com, or text our hotline, 206-293-6302. Go here to scroll through our archive of past spotlights!
7:02 PM: Thanks for the tip. That SDOT-camera screenshot captures part of the scene of a crash at 35th/Morgan, blocking southbound lanes (not in view) at last report. We’ll be checking with SFD regarding injuries; only one engine was dispatched, so apparently nothing major. Avoid the area for a while.
(Added: Photo texted by Jeremy)
7:36 PM: Metro has sent an all-clear notice, but the live SDOT camera shows the southbound lanes still blocked.
7:52 PM: A tow truck is on scene now.
8:06 PM: Now there’s some cleanup work in view.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo says their crews “treated a 21-year-old man who was in stable condition. AMR transported him to a hospital for further care.”
(WSB photo, tonight)
Thanks for the tips. That’s how we found the front window of Locust Cider‘s Alki taproom at 2820 Alki SW, after going there tonight to verify reports it had abruptly closed. No note or explanatory sign, but the company website says “ALKI BEACH PERMANENTLY CLOSED. Thank you for 5 great years on the beach! Visit us at our downtown Seattle taprooms at Post Alley or Market Place.” (The company elaborated on social media (and via its email list) that it’s closed seven taprooms in all – Alki, First Hill, Redmond, Olympia, Vancouver, and Walla Walla in Washington, and Fort Worth, Texas” – while seven remain open. The company statement adds that “while this decision is necessary to ensure the future health of our company, it’s also incredibly painful.” We first reported five and a half years ago that Locust planned to take over the space where Alki Urban Market had closed almost two years earlier. That adds another space in transition on Alki Avenue – next to this space, Gary’s Place is about to open; a block east, the former Starbucks is set to become Alki Coffee Co./Ben and Jerry’s next year; and the former Alki Cleaners is getting ready to open as West Seattle’s second Happy Lemon tea shop.
That’s the one and only visual you’ll find at the drop-in event happening right now at Seattle Parks’ Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle, enter from the south side). It’s a board with possible elements for its play-area replacement – but there’s a twist. Project manager Colin Campbell tells WSB that they’re really hoping to hear from teenagers because there’s a strong chance the replacement (for which $720,000 is budgeted, from a grant) will be all or partly geared toward teens, since the SWTLC is, well, a center for teens, and the neighborhood already has a traditional play area (uphill and west, on Seattle Public Schools-owned property, where the old Denny IMS used to be). You can stop in until 6 pm (free drinks and snacks!) to offer your thoughts (when we dropped in, just one comment was written – “swings are important”) and/or you can answer this new online survey, which will be open until January 2. Campbell says the playground is being replaced because the department tries to keep its play structures on a 20-years-or-so replacement cycle. This is only the first design discussion; the next one is likely to have “design concepts” on display.
(WSB photo, July 27, 2022)
SDOT will be changing directors again. After 2+ years, Greg Spotts announced today that he’s leaving in 2025. “This morning I notified the Mayor of my intent to resign my position effective 2/12/25. On a personal level, moving to Seattle alone has been hard, particularly living so far away from my mother in CA and father in NY. In 2025 I will pursue professional opportunities closer to my loved ones.” Spotts was an executive in Los Angeles’s transportation department when Mayor Bruce Harrell hired him to succeed SDOT’s previous non-interim director, Sam Zimbabwe; he was confirmed right before the West Seattle Bridge’s 2 1/2-year closure ended in September 2022. Harrell at the time called him a “transformational leader.” Zimbabwe had the job for three years, hired by Harrell’s predecessor Jenny Durkan.
(L-R, Unified Care Team’s Ali Peters and Darius Foster, SW Precinct Capt. Krista Bair)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
We’ve already reported the two major headlines from last week’s quarterly Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council meeting – an update on the shooting death of 15-year-old Sudaysi Ida, and news of a one-day retail-theft crackdown at Westwood Village.
Now, the rest of the news from the meeting, facilitated by Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite. Precinct commander Capt. Krista Bair was there, Operations Lt. Nate Shopay too, community liaison Officer German Barreto, Unified Care Team director Ali Peters and UCT manager Darius Foster, who focuses on the south end via SDOT, plus two Community Service Officers and two reps from the mayor’s office.
PRECINCT UPDATE: After the two updates mentioned earlier. Capt. Bair opened the floor to Q&A. A resident of the 25th/Brandon area said “it’s an interesting place to live” – no break-ins or robberies on their block but they’re “surrounded by disorganized crime” within a few blocks – homes with too many people living there, ‘we’ve talked to the police ad nauseam and finally given up.” They’re trying to beat back the disorder. “Do you guys know roughly what the population in our precinct is?” Bair didn’t know (but we can offer the estimate of 115,000, since it’s West Seattle and South Park) – Satterwhite will look into it. Bair said “we have a staffing issue” but said she was very excited to hear that SPD hiring “is picking up in numbers – for a while it was trickling in”; not everybody qualified all the way through the process, but now they have 8 to 10 officer candidates going through the academy and they’re “feeling very positive … we’re moving in the right direction – getting some quality candidates.” Regarding the SW precinct, between the three watches, each one has about 20 people or so “BUT we don’t always have 20 people working at any given time.”
They launched into more detailed discussion of specific houses near the attendee’s block.
Thanks for the tip! That sign announces a new business on the way to the former Second Gear Sports space at 6529 California SW in Morgan Junction – Happy Doggy, described as a pet grooming salon and self-serve dog wash, aiming to open in January. We have messages out to the person listed in public records as the owner, hoping to find out more. The signage mentions a specific dog-washing system – here’s the background on that.)
(Camp Long meadow, photographed this week by Don Brubeck)
Here’s today’s list – highlights of what’s happening today/tonight, mostly from our Event Calendar, where you can preview what’s happening days, weeks, even months ahead, and our West Seattle Holiday Guide:
FAUNTLEROY CHURCH FESTIVAL OF TREES: Second week you can go see the decorated trees in the Fellowship Hall at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), until noon, and “vote” for your favorite(s) with nonperishable food donations. If you miss it today, they’re open for viewing 9 am-noon Mondays-Thursdays all month, plus one hour before the church’s upcoming holiday concerts (see the Holiday Guide).
BLOOD DRIVE: BloodWorks Northwest is back in West Seattle today and other upcoming dates – sign up to donate!
SHOP AT THUNDER ROAD GUITARS: Extended hours until Christmas – open 10 am to 6 pm today. (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor)
POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY: Long-distance advocacy via handwritten postcards sent to voters in other states – the work continues post-election – drop in 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all welcome.
HOLIDAY LUNCH: 11:30 am at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) with live music – call ahead to be sure there’s room.
HOLY ROSARY DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: Noon-10:30 pm, dine at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4721 California SW) and tell them you’re there for the Holy Rosary 8th-grade trip fundraiser so a percentage of proceeds will go toward it.
HOLIDAY ROOM SELFIES: Drop-in DIY photo ops with a holiday backdrop at Curious Kidstuff (4740 California SW), noon – 5 pm.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Lunch meeting at noon at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW), program details in our calendar listing.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
PLAYGROUND DESIGN: Drop by Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle) 4-6 pm for feedback on proposed designs for the center’s renovated play area.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $10 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
THE KENNEY’S HOLIDAY MUSIC: The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW) hosts Seattle Metropolitan Choir at 6:30 pm with “Norman Rockwell Holidays.” Free but reservations required; call 206.937.2800 or email tickets@thekenney.org. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER WOMEN’S WORKSHOP: 6:30 pm, big event at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – a Women’s Workshop: “We will have 3 presenters focused on covering topics specific to the female runner.” Details are in our calendar listing, along with the RSVP link.
MAKE POTTERY: Weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).
THE WHALE TRAIL: Gather with The Whale Trail for updates on the Southern Resident Killer Whales – details, including ticket link, in our calendar listing. 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).
BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
OPEN MIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral).
TRIVIA X 5: Five trivia options for Tuesday – new, 7 pm trivia with Amelia at Future Primitive‘s Beer Bar on Alki (2536 Alki SW) … The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Hosting an event, seasonal or otherwise? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar and/or Holiday Guide – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
With several book clubs continuing to grow, it’s clear West Seattle is a reader’s paradise. Another book club is starting up this week and we’re mentioning it in case you haven’t already seen the listing in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. Ed explains, “I’m starting a new book club for fans of classic SF (speculative fiction) such as ‘Dune’ and ‘Lord of the Rings.’ It’s called ‘The West Seattle Classic SF Book Club’.” He’s launching at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) Thursday night (December 12), 6 pm. “We’ll be reading ‘The Stars My Destination‘ by Alfred Bester (1956). If people want a new copy they can purchase the book at Paper Boat and get a 10% discount.” Ed notes, “It’s only 211 pages so there’s still time to read.”
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, December 10th.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Frosty, then partly sunny, high in the mid-40s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:47 am, while sunset will be at 4:17 pm – as early as the sunset gets – Saturday, it starts getting later! (But the sunrise gets later too, for a while longer.)
(Monday clouds, photographed by James Bratsanos @ Alki)
TRANSIT
Water Taxi today – Regular service today.
Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Issaquah and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Sealth as the “ghost boat.” Check here for last-minute changes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
ROAD WORK/CLOSURES
*Beach Drive gas-pipeline work continues into January, PSE tells us – here’s our update.
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the south half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the north side. Fairmount Avenue remains closed beneath the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon. SDOT finally provided that update at the end of last week, with word of a lane shift, too.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
See trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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