West Seattle, Washington
05 Thursday
(Photos by Will Pyfer)
It’s a winning season for one of our area’s newest high-school sports! We first mentioned West Seattle Water Polo – open to players from other schools too, not just WSHS – when players came to a meeting to ask then-School Board director Leslie Harris for district acceptance. This is now the team’s second season! Here’s the update we received, including two ways to support them – as a spectator and/or donor:
WSHS Girls Water Polo is having a winning season with a league record of 5-1, logging wins again Ingraham, Roosevelt, Shorecrest and Newport and is on pace to qualify for the Division 2 State Championship Tournament in Puyallup the third weekend in May. Sadly, the team had their first loss of the season in a heartbreakingly close 8-9 game against Mercer Island on Friday, April 25th at Medgar Evers Pool.
The team will host its first home game in West Seattle versus Bellevue at Colman Pool on (updated) May 9th at 6:20 pm. Bellevue will bring both varsity and JV teams, so there will be water polo to watch from 6:20-8 pm. This Friday, the varsity team will host Roosevelt at Medgar Evers at 8:50 pm and then on Saturday the JV squad will head down to Tacoma for a full-day tournament at Silas High School.
Earlier this year, the girls held a successful Tread-a-Thon fundraiser (thanks to all our supporters) and jumped right in to a busy season, consisting of 14 games, 3 one-day tournaments, and at least 1 multi-day tournament.
The team has set up an ongoing online auction with the goal of making the team more affordable. Supporters can join the auction to bid on gift cards donated by local businesses at: paybee.io/@wswaterpolo@3
(WSB photo, August 2024 WS Boat Swap)
Ready to get out on the water? (Or maybe you’ve been out already!) Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) invites you to the annual West Seattle Boat Swap this weekend:
This community event is a great opportunity to buy and sell human-powered watercraft (Kayaks, SUPs, Canoes) and accessories!
We will have used Kayaks and Standup Paddleboards from Alki Kayak Tours‘ rental operation, as well as scratched and dented SUPs and Kayaks from Mountain to Sound Outfitters for sale at amazing Spring steal prices!
To shop, just show up at M2SO 11 am-4 pm this Saturday and/or Sunday (May 3-4). To “swap” (sell), drop off your item(s) 9 am-11 am Saturday, after signing up online.
Thanks to Kim for sending the photo of fishing boats clustered off west-facing West Seattle. As WSB archives confirm, May 1 is the annual start to recreational lingcod season. (Learn about lingcod here.) Though we haven’t been by to doublecheck yet, Seattle Parks had told us last week that Don Armeni Boat Ramp would be fully operational by today – just in time. Other big local fishing events coming up include the brief-and-popular spot-shrimp season on May 21.
(Great Blue Heron during low-low tide, photographed by Rainer Klett)
So many options! Here’s what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES CLOSED: This is the annual in-service training day.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Spring planting season continues. The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
MAY DAY RALLY #1: Also at South Seattle College, staff/faculty concerned about budget cuts plan to gather at the clock-tower plaza at 10 am.
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD COMMITTEE: The board’s Executive Committee meets at 10:30 am, with its first look at the first set of goals for new CEO Dow Constantine. Attendance and commenting info is on the agenda document.
NAVIGATING MEDICARE: Presentation at The Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) at 11 am.
BELGIAN BEER WEEK: Special event continues at The Beer Junction (4511 California SW), open today noon-10 pm.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to get the latest on where they’re playing today.
MAY DAY RALLY #2: Old Tyme Adults for Democracy will rally on the corners at California/Admiral, 2-3 pm, to voice their concerns about developments in D.C.
LOW-LOW TIDE: Another perfect day for a beach walk. Out to -2.8 feet at 2:17 pm.
CINCO DE MAYO KICKOFF: Mission (2325 California SW) plans five days of festivities, starting with mariachi music 4-5 pm today.
SPORTS: No local high-school games or matches on the schedule for West Seattle fields today.
DROP-IN CHESS: Canceled today because of SPL closure (see above).
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of three regular Thursday night events tonight here – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Maroom Thaim.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: This is also an every-Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: HPCS is also the starting point tonight for running 3 miles, or walking a shorter path, in the neighborhood near HPCS with the Run Club, leaving from the store at 6:30 pm, returning for beverages – info here.
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle!
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This group’s 6 pm weekly Thursday run departs from The Good Society in Admiral (California/Lander).
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Again this week, more good weather for walking – meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC IN THE JUNCTION: 6-9 pm, Patrick Rifflin performs Thursdays at Pegasus Pizza in The Junction (4520 California SW).
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: West Side Jam & Skylark Fundraiser!. Signups at 6, music at 7. Suggested donation $10 at the door. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
DUSTY THURSDAYS: 6 pm at Tim’s Tavern (98th/16th, White Center). From West Seattle’s own Billy Joe Huels:
Dusty Thursdays concert series is returning at Tim’s Tavern 6-9pm on the outdoor stage. Each week we will feature a top local band (most hailing from West Seattle) followed by The Dusty 45s. It’s free, all-ages and everyone is welcome!
Featured tonight – Joe Ross and the Birdwatchers.
WEST SEATTLE BOOK CLUB: This month brings another long list of venues offering you a place to settle in and read starting at 7 pm – see the May lineup in our calendar listing!
JAZZ NIGHT AT THE CENTER: Larry Knapp and friends entertain, you enjoy! 7-10 pm at The Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon), $10 cover.
NORTH HIGHLINE UNINCORPORATED AREA COUNCIL: The community coalition for White Center and vicinity meets at 7 pm at the North Highline Fire Station (1243 SW 112th).
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet, hosted by Good Old-Fashioned Local Trivia (9614 14th SW).
DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts spinning early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Teddy Ruckspin, starting at 7 pm.
‘YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN’: Opening night for the classic play at Chief Sealth International HS (2600 SW Thistle), 7:30 pm. Ticket info is in our calendar listing.
‘ATHENA’ AT ARTSWEST: Final week begins, 7:30 pm at ArtsWest Playhouse (4711 California SW), for “Athena,” by Gracie Gardner – get tickets here.
JOKES AT THE JUNCTION: 8 pm comedy night at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW) presented by Cozy Comedy – ticket info in our calendar listing.
Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:05 AM: If you have a view of Elliott Bay, you might have a view of killer whales this morning. Kersti Muul reports that orcas have gone into the bay. Let us know if you see them!
(Added: Photos by Robin Sinner, from Duwamish Head around 10:30 am)
11:17 AM: They’re out of the bay and headed southwest past west-facing West Seattle, per an update from Kersti in a comment below.
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, May 1, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny and warm, high in low 70s. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 5:51 am and 8:22 pm.
(Wednesday sunset, photographed by James Bratsanos)
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later-evening sailings Fridays and Saturdays.
Metro buses – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Salish is serving as the “bonus boat”. P.S. Next round of community meetings – online, systemwide – have been announced for later this month.
ROAD WORK
-The Admiral Way Bridge’s outside lane on the eastbound/southbound side is still closed.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to 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 (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem 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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