West Seattle, Washington
27 Wednesday
(Sunday sunset with seawall waves at Alki, photographed by Misa Moore)
Mostly regular weekly events on this edition of our Monday highlight list, as featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (are we missing something? let us know!):
SUMMER FOOD: As originally noted here, there are multiple sites/times/days in West Seattle where kids can get breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks during summer break.
FAMILY STORY TIME: Southwest Library‘s 10:30 am story time is open to wee ones and their parents/guardians/caretakers. (9010 35th SW)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: Continuing through Labor Day, the outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park is open every day, noon-7 pm. Fee.
WADING POOLS: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) are scheduled to be open today, noon-7 pm. Free.
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm “briefing meeting” today; see the agenda here; watch live via Seattle Channel. (No public comment at the briefing meetings.)
HEALTHY AND WEALTHY TEENS: This series of teen-geared events continues today, 2:30 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
ART SALON AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 4-6 pm, C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) hosts this gathering:
This is a monthly gathering of artistic, creative people interested in drawing, painting, printing, journaling, collaging and other creative pursuits. The purpose of this gathering is to provide encouragement and community. Creative people at all stages of development, both casual and professional, are welcome but this gathering is especially for beginners, people who are self-taught, and/or those who simply enjoy making art and think a monthly social gathering will help them make time each month for art!
CRAFTING & CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm, Monday is “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players welcome too!
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group, participate once, occasionally, or every week. Fee.(4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT QUIZ/TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play tonight! Easy Street Records‘ every-other-week Music Quiz has sessions at 6:30 and 7:30 pm (4559 California SW) … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
ALKI MEDITATION: Doors open at Alki UCC at 6:45, and the meeting is from 7-8:30. (6115 SW Hinds)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Play in The Corner Pocket‘s weekly pool tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: More Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday music – live jazz with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Mondays, you can sing karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks to everyone who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) is offering a weeklong basketball camp for kids next month – here’s the announcement:
Get ready for a high-energy week of hoops, hustle, and heart! This full-day clinic is more than just basketball—it’s a chance for young athletes to sharpen skills, build confidence, and grow as teammates and leaders. Led by inspiring coaches and dedicated Y staff, kids will level up with focused training in dribbling, shooting, court awareness, strategy, and agility. They’ll also enjoy a fun pool day to recharge and bond. Through exciting drills and games, athletes will boost their abilities, sportsmanship, and resilience in a fun, supportive environment.
When: August 11th – 15th 9 am-4 pm
Who: Kids Ages 8-12
Contact Liz Abbott at labbott@seattleymca.org
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, July 28, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny today, high near 80. Today’s sunrise was at 5:42 am; sunset will be at 8:48 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Repaving will resume on California SW between Holly and Frontenac this Thursday.
-Crews are working on curb ramps for all four corners of 60th/Admiral, and that’s closing 60th during work hours as well as affecting bike lanes near work crews.
-The major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center continues – details here.
-Admiral Bridge work continues.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF is back to three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
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!
(Khalil Taw and Ari Taw)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
While most high-school students in West Seattle were busy counting down the days until summer break, fraternal twins Ari and Khalil Taw were just as eagerly counting the days until the new school year starts for them, at campuses almost halfway around the world. They are heading to Eastern Europe and Western Asia, respectively, having both earned a coveted spot in a program focused on what may best be described as world peace. It involves leaving their parents, friends, and each other for two years, in exchange for an extraordinary opportunity.
“My head’s in the clouds right now,” says Khalil, who will live in the Northern Armenia town of Dilijan. He and Ari, who will study in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, were selected as Davis Scholars with the United World Colleges (UWC). While college is in the name, UWC is a high-school program with 18 schools on 4 continents, and only one in the US — in Montezuma, NM. While UWC is functionally a boarding-school program, it intentionally brings together teens from disparate backgrounds to learn from each other for the betterment of the planet.
UWC was founded in the 1960s in the UK, with a goal of cultivating peace and understanding through education. By being in a classroom together, students from dozens of countries would see not just their differences, but the many things they have in common, and start to understand each other’s perspectives, leading to empathy, collaboration, and ideally, a future with less conflict. Over the years, UWC has grown to global prominence and widened its impact, counting now-King Charles, Nelson Mandela, and Queen Noor of Jordan among its presidents, the latter having served since 1995.
“It’s the best-kept secret in the US,” says Carl-Martin Nelson, UWC’s Director of Communications, who says that’s in part because UWC spends available funds on scholarships rather than marketing. “Our admissions model is different from any other school. We recruit for idealism in a way, unabashedly,” he says, explaining that they might have one full scholarship and one half-scholarship available for a country like Egypt or Venezuela. Each of those countries has a national committee that is then charged with finding students who they think would be a good match for the school. A three-stage application process follows, one that both Ari and Khalil found intense and sometimes intimidating, particularly knowing that only a very small percentage of applicants are accepted. “I became scared through the stages. I was unsure if I was going to fit in because a lot of people are very much one type,” says Ari. “I really do care about my academics, but I’m creative-focused. I think I have this little impostor syndrome. Do I really belong here?”
After the twins completed the third stage, a visit to the American UWC campus in New Mexico earlier this year, the answer was yes for both of them. Then the question was where in the world would they be going to school. UWC allows incoming students to list their top 3 choices and the majority of them put Italy first. Ari asked for Mostar, and got it. “I’m really interested in post-conflict societies,” she says. “That’s what drew me to Mostar — that there are three ethnicities. I wanted to see how they’ve reconciled [after the war in the early 1990s]. I really care about immigration and how people view immigrants. I don’t have clear-cut goals, just helping people.”
Khalil’s interests are more varied, but are centered around equity and access, particular when it comes to natural resources and recreational open space, which he has noticed is often utilized along lines of class and race. “You’re mostly seeing people of higher income, and white. A lot of people can’t appreciate national parks [because of a lack of] transportation, gear, money. There’s so much blocking everyone off from the outdoors.” Khalil thinks his time in Armenia will shape his ideas about how he can bring about positive change. “I want to go into politics, environmental equity, policies, cutting off corrupt international trade. Right now I have so many political tangents. At UWC I‘m going to find out what I’m really going to make a change in.”
Though American policies around travel and immigration are in flux, neither of the Taws is particularly worried about being out of the country for the rest of their high school education. But they both mentioned the big change of leaving their family home at 16 and the impact it will have on their parents. “They’re losing both of their kids. I’ll never live with them again,” predicted Ari. Their dad, Harold Taw, said with a smile, “My wife and I were a lot more supportive of their departure from home 2 years early when we thought it wasn’t a realistic possibility.”
Soon the last days of their sophomore-year classes at Seattle-area schools (Holy Names for Ari and Downtown School for Khalil) will be just a distant memory, and the twins will be on planes with different destinations. Orientation starts at the end of August and Ari’s will include a canoe trip with other students, an activity that will require everyone to pitch in together, something both twins know is exactly what they signed up for. “The beauty of UWC is the friendships you make across cultures— a person from each continent,” Khalil says, “The idea that world peace starts with kids, education… is the most important thing. People hate each other until they talk face to face. [That’s when] you see that someone feels just like you. It’s going to be messy, but also, it’s kind of beautiful.”
(Photo courtesy Northwest Open Water Swimming Association)
That’s Justin Davis, right after he completed what the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association calls the Amy Hiland Swim, Bremerton to Alki Point, this afternoon, as previewed here earlier this week. Supporters were there to cheer his achievement:
(Video by Chris Hasse, courtesy NOWSA)
We didn’t make it to the rocky shore of Alki Point until shortly after Justin arrived (and then left), so we didn’t get to talk with him, but Amanda Winans of NOWSA was there and told us that Justin – in his first official marathon swim – set the unofficial course record, 3:52:16, and is the first male swimmer to solo the 10.4-mile route. Also there was Chelsea Lee, who as also mentioned in our story earlier this week is preparing for a marathon swim, planning to cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca – also 10.4 miles – this Friday or Saturday, depending on the wind forecast. She is exuberantly excited about the swim. They’re all members of the Notorious Alki Swimmers, the open-water swimmers often seen in Elliott Bay right off the beach.
3:27 PM: Emergency responders are headed for the 2600 block of Alki Avenue SW, where a person is reported in possible distress with a flipped canoe about 100 feet out. Updates to come.
3:29 PM UPDATE: Police/fire just told dispatch that the person in the canoe was assisted by paddleboarders and is no longer in trouble, so they’re canceling the response.
Recently, we spotlighted a swimming feat by young athletes from the Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club. Now we have word of big tennis wins too, sent by Chris Smithco, tennis rep on the club board:
The Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club tennis team recently wrapped up an incredible season — and they finished strong!
In the South Seattle postseason competition, Arbor Heights faced off against three other clubs and Arbor Heights won 6 of the 8 championship matches (Girls & Boys 10U, 12U, 14U &Seniors) — a fantastic achievement and a testament to the dedication and hard work of our players and coaches.
I attached a few snapshots from the season to highlight some of the excitement and sportsmanship that made this summer so memorable.
We also are offering Youth Tennis Camps for kids ages 7 to 12 in early August with the camps open to both members and non-members. These camps are a great opportunity for young players to learn the game, build confidence, and have fun in a supportive environment. Register here.
(WSB video and photos by Tracy Record)
That’s the Duwamish Tribe canoe family paddling the Kikisoblu – named after Chief Sealth‘s daughter (also known as Princess Angeline) westward in Elliott Bay this morning, shortly after launching from Don Armeni Boat Ramp, headed out on this year’s regional canoe journey, the Paddle to Elwha. Here’s how it unfolded, once the canoe arrived:
Canoe family members gathered on the dock for a prayer:
Spectators lined the nearby overlook:
We learned that most of the canoe family members for this journey are women (and a 10-year-old girl!) – emblematic of the fact the Duwamish are a matriarchal tribe. Among the crew members is Vanessa, whose heritage covers both ends of the canoe family’s journey – Duwamish and host nation for this journey Lower Elwha Klallam – we talked with her and her mom on video:
This is Vanessa’s first canoe journey, as it was for several others with whom we spoke. But this isn’t just about the journey to the host nation; it’s also about the five-day protocol that will begin after arrival; another canoe family member, Victoria, told us about the weekly practices of the songs and dances the Duwamish will present during that celebration with the other participating canoe families. “The best thing about this is community,” she told us – Duwamish community and regional Indigenous community.
Singing and drumming on the dock accompanied the 18-person canoe’s departure as it first headed to rendezvous with its support boat just offshore:
After that, it was off to Suquamish to stay overnight tonight as the first stop – here’s the map of the stops/departures along participating canoe families’ journeys to the host nation:
The Duwamish canoe family plans to stop at Port Gamble, Port Townsend, and Jamestown before arriving at the Lower Elwha Klallam landing site next Thursday, with protocol to start on Friday.
At Don Armeni, there was a postscript to the Duwamish departure – a smaller canoe family, flying a flag LAND BACK, had put in at the next dock over, and its crew called over to Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, asking for permission to depart:
They said they were local residents with Southeast Alaska heritage and that they hoped the Duwamish “get their land back.” They were singing, prior to departure, when we left Don Armeni on our way to follow the Duwamish canoe from shore.
(WSB photos)
We went to last night’s Seafair Torchlight Parade with the intent of watching a parade we weren’t planning to cover (after this month’s Fourth of July Kids’ Parade and West Seattle Grand Parade) – and checking out its new route along Alaskan Way – but encountered a few sights we wanted to share. Above, King County Executive and West Seattleite Shannon Braddock was reacting to what appeared to be a friend approaching her car on the route; this was her only chance to ride in the parade as KCE, since she’s not running for the job and one of seven candidates will have it by next year’s parade. Also seen – the first Seafair Clown to appear near the start of the route was West Seattle’s own Officer Lumpy (aka Chris Henggeler):
One business with a West Seattle location had a parade entry – Ezell’s Famous Chicken had a roller-skating drill team:
Since the Blue Angels – arriving Wednesday – are such a hot topic this time of year, we took a pic of the parade balloon in their honor:
Also from the U.S. Navy, the Silverdale-based Navy Band Northwest, promoting Seafair’s Fleet Week, which includes the Parade of Ships past West Seattle’s north shore (Tuesday, July 29, noonish):
Meantime, here was at least one West Seattleite in the All-City Band, a uniformed young musician we saw in the West Seattle Water Taxi line as we headed home, so we’re including this video contributed by West Seattle journalist/historian Clay Eals, one of the many West Seattleites who went downtown to see the parade (Clay’s vantage point was the new Overlook Walk, so you get a great look at the parade ambience from there):
(Several of the bands that joined ACB in Band Jam – WSB coverage here – in West Seattle on Friday night were also in the parade – including Kennedy Catholic and Sumner High Schools.) As Clay notes at the start of the clip, ACB was second to last in the parade, which concluded with the cannon-blasting, sword-scraping Seafair Pirates. It lasted almost two hours.
SIDE NOTE: If you’re thinking of going next year, note that signage indicated chairs could be placed along Alaskan Way to hold spots after 2 pm on parade day, but not before. Lots of curb space, as in some places the concrete median on the outside of the bike lane – which along with traffic lanes was closed during the parade – was wide enough for chairs.
(Another low-low tide photo by Rosalie Miller – Piddock clam siphons)
Good morning! Here’s our Sunday list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CANOE SENDOFF: The Duwamish Tribe invites all to the sendoff for its canoe family as they set out on the Paddle to Elwha journey. 7:30 am at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW)
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run leaves from Dough Joy Donuts (4310 SW Oregon).
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Meet up with other players – all levels – 9:30-11:30 am at The Missing Piece. (35th/Roxbury)
RICE, BEANS, & HAPPINESS: Pop-up at Milpa Masa (3416 SW Webster), with chilaquiles and tacos on the menu, 10 am-2 pm.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Find the market on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, the heart of summer produce season, plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, flowers, more.
MASTER GARDENERS: They’re at the market today, also 10 am-2 pm, if you have a garden question/challenge/etc. that would benefit from expert advice.
GRIEF CIRCLE: Listening to Grief‘s monthly gathering, all kinds of grief welcome, 10:30 am at Nurture Wellbeing (6307 California SW).
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open every day, no matter what the weather is, 11 am-8 pm.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESISTS: Sunday signholding in The Junction (California/Alaska), 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY LOCAL TASTE & TENT SALE: Final day that you can shop the tent sale and taste the wares offered by dozens of vendors, noon-5 pm. (California/Fauntleroy)
COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open today as its 7-day-a-week season continues, noon-7 pm, with four hour-and-a-half swim sessions, each half lap swimming and half open swim – see the schedule here.
WADING POOLS: Also at Lincoln Park, the wading pool is expected to be open, as is the EC Hughes wading pool (2805 SW Holden) – hours for both today are noon-7 pm.
‘LET THEM’ BOOK DISCUSSION: 12:15 pm, after services, <strong>Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill) invites everyone to come talk about this potentially life-changing book.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: No tours today or next Sunday.
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Enjoy your summery Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
NOT DEAD YET, LIVE: The West Seattle band is on a bill with four other Seattle bands at Volunteer Park Amphitheater (1139 Volunteer Park Road), 4 pm (the full 5-band show starts at 2 pm). Free, all ages.
FREE COMMUNITY MEAL: 5:30-6:30 pm at Bethany West Seattle (8600 9th SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Sunday night music provided by the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could feature on the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
That’s the beloved Salmon Bone Bridge on Longfellow Creek, subject of this notice that Seattle Public Utilities sent us to share with you about another closure to follow up last year’s work:
Salmon Bone Bridge Temporary Closure
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Salmon Bone Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over Longfellow Creek near the Dragonfly Garden. The bridge was designed by renowned Seattle-based artist Lorna Jordan to invoke the skeletal structure of a fish. SPU replaced the deteriorated decking in the summer of 2024 with a CorDeck Dots decking material meant for slip resistance and to withstand wet weather over a long service life. The new material honors the artist’s original vision and herringbone design, but it will be safer, more durable, and more accessible.SPU plans to finish the restoration of the bridge this year from August to October. Restoration will include:
• Replacing the bridge’s safety cables
• Stripping and repainting the bridge’s metal, tubular “bones”
SCHEDULE
The bridge will be closed for up to 3 months from August to October. This work must take place in the summer months to reduce risk to the fish. Timing, duration, and working hours are subject to change due to permitting, weather, crew availability, and other factors. Thank you for your patience during this work.LOCATION
The Salmon Bone Bridge spans Longfellow Creek where it passes through the greenspace between SW Nevada St/SW Yancy St and 28th Ave SW/26th Ave SW. No other areas of the greenspace will be impacted by this temporary bridge closure.
A once-a-year sight on Alki today – outrigger canoes arriving and departing for the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club‘s annual “Da Grind” day of racing.
The racing wrapped up at mid-afternoon, after competition on 4-mile and 12-mile courses.
It was a sight on the sand, too, as participating clubs set up tents for the day.
Results eventually will be linked at the bottom of this page.
(New court, minus stolen net – photo courtesy Hannah)
In the past few weeks, we’ve been reporting on the installation of a new type of volleyball court at Alki Beach; WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen broke the story after learning about it while covering West Seattle Summer Fest. It was installed this past Wednesday morning. Then Hayden got this update today from his first interviewee:
Some unfortunate news in that it looks like the net was stolen, though the lines and poles are intact. We are very sad because we saw very high public usage of the courts in the days prior. The community may put up a temporary one in the interim while the Parks Department investigated this theft of public property. If anyone is aware of its whereabouts please help in returning it, or contacting the Seattle Parks Department – Lisa.Nielsen@seattle.gov
As shown in Hayden’s Wednesday report, the net’s blue border is clearly, and multiply, labeled as Seattle Parks and Recreation property. (No police report # yet; that would have to be filed by the city.)
(Reader photo)
We reported briefly on that collision at 35th/Avalon this past Tuesday night. It sent motorcyclist TerRon Dawson to the hospital with a broken pelvis, we learned via comments. Readers asked about a chance to contribute to his recovery, so his former wife Emily Dawson, shown below wth TerRon and their children, set up this crowdfunding page.
Emily said in email to WSB – as noted on the page – that TerRon, who works as a contractor, also is expressing gratitude:
TerRon wanted to especially mention that he was thankful for the show of community during his accident. He said there was an off-duty firefighter who helped hold his head steady and gave words of comfort, and there were many others who helped gather his things that had scattered in the accident like his backpack and boots. He really appreciated everyone’s help.
(August 2024 photo by Stephanie Zimmerman)
That’s local marathon swimmer Chelsea Lee, in a photo we published last August, after she swam from Tacoma to West Seattle’s Lincoln Park. She’s one of two Alki open-water swimmers that Amanda Winans from the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association tells us is about to try major marathon swims, as the peak season for them begins:
Justin Davis are going to be attempting the Amy Hiland Swim (~10.4 mi), from Bremerton to the Alki Lighthouse, this Sunday (July 27), starting at 9 am, with an expected finish at around 12:45-1:30 pm. This is his first official marathon swim. You can track his swim here.
Chelsea Lee, who has completed the Amy Hiland Swim and Bert Thomas Swim (Tacoma to Lincoln Park), is attempting to swim across the Strait of Juan de Fuca (~10.4 mi), on August 1 or 2, depending on the weather. She’ll start at Beechey Head, BC [map], and swim to Tongue Point, WA. As it says on our site, this has been called one of the two “Toughest Swims in the World,” according to “Wind, Waves, and Sunburn, A Brief History of Marathon Swimming.” Currents and weather conditions, as well as very cold water, make this a difficult swim. Her tracker link will be the same as Justin’s.
With NOWSA’s help, we expect to have followups on how these swims go.
If you’re interested in whale-watching, Kersti Muul just told us that transient orcas are in the area, northbound off Blake Island. Let us know if you see them!
(Lined chiton, photographed at low-low tide by Rosalie Miller)
Happy weekend! Here’s our Saturday list – mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TRAFFIC/TRANSPORTATION NOTES: If you missed this roundup on Friday, click through for info on Avalon/Yancy and Olson/2nd road work, plus Harbor Avenue parking; also, West Seattle Water Taxi runs extra late tonight because of the Seafair Torchlight Parade (on Alaskan Way, 7:30 pm start after 6 pm Torchlight Run) and Morgan Wallen concert at Lumen Field.
OUTRIGGER CANOE RACING: The annual “Da Grind” racing events are set for today at Alki Beach, 7 am-3:30 pm.
GARAGE/YARD SALES: See the newest listings in the WSB Community Forums.
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) resumes Saturday 8 am free group runs today.
HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free 9 am outdoor meditation at Schmitz Preserve Park (5551 SW Admiral Way) – register here.
INTRODUCTORY WALK: First of two sequential weekly walking events – meeting at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, first at 9:30 am for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: That’s followed immediately by this walk in which you can participate even if you didn’t take the introductory stroll. Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, Saturdays through October, at Hope Academy in South Delridge (9421 18th SW). Fresh produce, cooked-on-site food, body-care products, more!
FISHER SCONE WAGON: Fair-style scones, 10 am-4 pm at West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) as part of the Local Taste/Tent Sale (see below) festivities.
KNIFE-SHARPENING POPUP: Kneighborhood Knives is back at Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW), 10 am-5 pm. $12/knife.
COURTYARD YOGA: 10 am at WEND Jewelry (3278 California SW).
MASTER GARDENERS: Got a garden-related question? They’re ready to answer! Saturdays this summer, they’re at The Home Depot (7345 Delridge Way SW), 10 am-2 pm.
MORNING MUSIC AT C&P COFFEE: Not happening this week.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am – free weekly in-person group for writers of all levels. For location info, go here.’
WHITE CENTER LIBRARY GUILD SUMMER SALE: Support library programs by shopping this rummage/book sale (indoors, a change from the original plan), 11 am-4 pm. (1409 SW 107th)
WEST SEATTLE’S ONLY SPRAYPARK: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) continues daily operations today, 11 am-8 pm.
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY LOCAL TASTE & TENT SALE: Second of three days to shop the tent sale and taste the wares offered by dozens of vendors, noon-5 pm. (California/Fauntleroy)
WADING POOLS: City-run wading pools scheduled to be open in West Seattle today are Lincoln Park (12 pm-7 pm) and Hiawatha (12 pm-5:30 pm).
COLMAN POOL: 12-7 pm swim sessions at Lincoln Park‘s heated saltwater pool (on the shore, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: Explore the present and past at the home of West Seattle history, open for your visit, noon-2 pm (closing two hours earlier than usual today) – see the new exhibit about Seattle Teriyaki! (61st/Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here, and today brings the Summer Festival celebrating the center’s 28th year. (2236 SW Orchard)
LOW-LOW TIDE: Last day for this round; out to -2.0 feet at 12:34 pm.
SONG CIRCLE: Monthly song circle, 1-3 pm, first-timers welcome. See our calendar listing for details.
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).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: On the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus:
The Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room, Wine Bar, and Retail Store are open Thursday-Saturday from 1-6 pm. Come taste and purchase our student-produced wine! The Northwest Wine Academy features a large tasting room and retail store. While tasting one of our current releases, you can request a tour of our barrel room and bottling area. Come support our student winemakers and join us for a student tasting.
HAROLD’S FITNESS CELEBRATION: As noted here Friday, longtime proprietor Harold Calkins has retired and the gym is closing. Potluck celebration at 2 pm today to celebrate the decades of community at Harold’s Fitness. (5908 California SW)
FREE MASSAGE: Walk into Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) 3-5 pm for short, specific free massage.
ALSO AT NEPENTHE: Summer mini-market starting at 3 pm!
OUTDOOR MUSIC & WORSHIP FESTIVAL: “Cross the Street” festival at Grace Church (10323 28th SW), 3-8 pm, food trucks 4:30-6:30 pm.
WINE IN THE WOODS: 4-6 pm fundraiser for DNDA, with a few tickets left as of this morning. Location will be sent to guests.
DUB SEA FISH STICKS: 6:05 pm home game as “the team that almost was,” the Seal Slingers, vs. the Everett Merchants at Steve Cox Memorial Park‘s Mel Olson Stadium. (1321 SW 102nd, White Center). Get tickets here.
LISTENING PARTY: Easy Street Records (4559 California SW) listening party for re-release of Talking Heads‘ “More Songs About Buildings and Food,” 5 pm, free, giveaways.
CONCERT AT ALKI ARTS: 6 pm, Intimate Concert Series: Kelly Hyde & Joey Valentine, performing live in the gallery. (6030 California SW)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK:8 pm, catch Skylark Presents Kenyon Hall Cabaret drag show, all ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: Saturday spinning starts at 9 pm – tonight it’s DJ Wizdumb at Revelry Room. (4547 California SW).
SATURDAY NIGHT SK8 PARTY: 9 pm-midnight with rotating DJ Josh and DJ NightMere, 21+, at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW, White Center).
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: For Saturday night singers, there’s 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Got a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Police are at Zeeks Pizza in Morgan Junction right now, investigating a reported burglary. Officers told dispatch they’ve confirmed broken glass in a back window/door of the restaurant as the apparent site of entry. No other details so far. ADDED: If you have information for police, the incident # is 25-211438.
6:12 PM: Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex is hosting a huge free concert right now – All-City Band Jam‘s return to West Seattle, where ACB director Dr. Marcus Pimpleton founded it, a showcase for marching/brass bands on the eve of the Seafair Torchlight Parade. It could run until 9 pm.
8:50 PM: Just ended. We’ll add video from all 9 groups when back at HQ.
ADDED: Here’s one of the two sports-team-support bands that performed, Sound Wave (official band of Seattle Sounders FC):
And from the Seahawks, here’s Blue Thunder (which led the crowd in the call-and-response “Sea!” “Hawks!” before they were done):
Tons of drums all night long – including the Seismic Sound drumline:
Two brass bands were on the bill – the Blowout Heavies opened the night:
Chaotic Noise Marching Corps were a crowd favorite – with their description proclaiming them a “renegade marching band” and noting that part of their performance is “havoc”; even their outfits were a bit, well, chaotic:
And of course, marching bands … Kennedy Catholic, seen last weekend in the West Seattle Grand Parade:
Rainbow City, which brought a mashup of four ensembles:
Sumner, a huge band with middle-schoolers as well as high-schoolers:
And of course the hosting All-City Band, grand-prize winners in last weekend’s West Seattle Grand Parade and preparing for tomorrow night’s parade downtown. Their director Dr. Pimpleton confessed to the crowd that he secretly dislikes parades and enjoys Band Jam as a chance to enjoy marching bands without the unnecessary parade trappings! Here’s their full set:
(Compare to our video of the 2009 ACB performing at the very first Band Jam!) The ACB is practicing at NCSWAC this summer, as well as hosting Band Jam there, because Memorial Stadium downtown is off-limits while being overhauled; Dr. Pimpleton said he’s pretty sure that means Band Jam will be in West Seattle next summer too.
Whenever we get advance word of road work and other things likely to affect traffic, we include them in our morning traffic roundups (published around 6 am weekdays). But the following three bits of information are all new since this morning’s roundup:
THE AVALON/YANCY ‘CLOSURE’: A reader told us about the signboard saying Avalon/Yancy [map] would be closed all day Saturday. We asked SDOT about it; they said it wasn’t their project, so they pointed us to AA Asphalting. A spokesperson there clarified that this is not a full road closure – there will be officers and/or flaggers there to get drivers/riders/walkers/etc. around the work that will be done. SDOT meantime verified that this work will affect the east (Yancy) side of the intersection.
REPAVING ON OLSON: While we were communicating with SDOT, they dug up word of an all-weekend repaving project on Olson Place SW, near Arrowhead Gardens:
Olson Pl SW between 1st Ave S and 2nd Ave SW [map]
Saturday July 26th and Sunday July 27th, 2025
8 AM – 5 PM
*Weather permitting• SDOT will remove and repave the top 2 inches of the street at the location listed above.
o The project will connect to previous SDOT paving projects on 1st Ave S and Myers Way S.
o SDOT constructed new curb ramps at Myers Way S and 2nd Ave SW in support of these paving projects.• Sidewalk access will not be impacted.
• Traffic Impacts:
o The travel lanes on Olson Pl SW will be reduced and shifted during work hours.
o Access between 2nd Ave SW and Olson Pl SW will be closed during work hours.
▪ SDOT will have a flagger at the intersection and will allow access to the extent possible, but only intermittent access will be allowed.
▪ Access between 2nd Ave SW and Myers Way S will not be affected.
o All streets will be fully open during non-work hours.
Here’s the official notice.
HARBOR AVENUE’S TORCHLIGHT PARADE CONNECTION: Thanks to Kathy for sending word that the annual no-parking signs are up along a stretch of Harbor Avenue in advance of Seafair Torchlight Parade entries heading to and from a parking area at the port. We haven’t been by to see the signage yet but the parade is tomorrow night on the newly overhauled downtown waterfront, and in some years past there’s been a convoy across the West Seattle low bridge related to this.
Not to say the proprietor of Harold’s Fitness is going to ignore his advice and quit working out – but Harold Calkins is closing the West Seattle business through which he’s continued to coach others well into his 80s. Longtime member Petra just sent word that the gym at 5908 California SW will be the scene of a community celebration tomorrow (Saturday, July 26) at 2 pm. Harold “has retired and the gym will be shutting down this weekend,” she explains. The party is open to “anyone who is part of that community to come pay respects to Harold Caulkins, visit old friends, and say goodbye to this West Seattle institution.” It’s a potluck, so if you’re going, bring something to share. Harold has been in the fitness business for 65 years!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Lucky Sushi is rolling toward North Delridge.
We discovered this thanks to a reader who texted about seeing that window sign somewhere on the east side of a mile-plus stretch. We’ve always loved a good mystery, so we set out to narrow it down. Within 24 hours we were talking by phone with proprietor Mikko Yamaguchi about the plan for the south space at 5216 Delridge Way SW [map].
He already runs Lucky Sushi at 5020 Rainier Avenue S., opened a half-year ago, and says he’s had many orders from West Seattle, so he says the expansion seems natural, observing that the sushi market here doesn’t seem maxed out. This is a relatively small space in a new live/work building, so he’ll offer takeout and delivery (no dine-in), focused on sushi and boba tea.
Yamaguchi expects to keep prices reasonable with relatively low operating costs (for example, he’ll be most of the labor), plus the pickup option will save you what he observes are ever-rising delivery fees. But, capitalizing on another recent trend, he plans to be open late, looking to start with hours noon to 11 pm, seven days a week. (He says all his previous restaurants have been open late, and that’s contributed to their success.)
This is sushi with another twist. He says the inspiration for the name “Lucky Sushi” comes from his background setting up sushi bars in small casinos/card rooms. He plans to have a wheel for customers to spin after orders of a certain level, and they’ll have a chance to “win” something – a discount on their current or future order, for example.
Also in keeping with the theme, the classic paw-up “lucky cat” will be part of the decor (see the photo above), which he says will overall be the “cutest” sushi shop you’ve ever seen.
Back to the food – he promises vegetarian and vegan options, which he says are popular at the Rainier Avenue location. But the most popular menu item at all his previous restaurants has been the “Chef’s Roll,” which he says includes shrimp tempura, crab, seared salmon, spicy mayo, green onion, and more.
Now, the big question – how soon will Lucky Sushi open? As with all new businesses, that depends in large part on inspections and permits. Yamaguchi is hoping for mid-September.
Perhaps the timeline will work out; he says he’s long been “lucky in life.”
SIDE NOTE: The space next door to the future Lucky Sushi is still available for lease; contact broker Susi Musi if you’re in the market (she’s also representing office and café spaces in the new Keystone development in South Delridge).
(Blue Angels and West Seattle, photographed from Queen Anne last year by Monica Zaborac)
Yes, it’s that time of year, already. The Blue Angels are based at nearby Boeing Field while in Seattle for the Seafair Air Show, so we usually publish info about their schedule for those who want to be forewarned, whatever the reason. Usually one jet arrives early for media and dignitary ride-alongs, but the main group arrival has been announced by Seafair as around 1:30-2 pm on Wednesday (July 30). Their practice shows will be Thursday and Friday (July 31-August 1), and their official shows as part of Seafair’s big weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, August 2-3. This year they’ll be the airshow finale both days so they’re not scheduled to fly until around 3:35 pm. The Museum of Flight is having its annual Jet Blast Bash both days (admission is charged unless you’re a member) and that will include a view of the runway as they take off, but they’re not parking the jets out in the open south of the museum any more – they’ll be elsewhere at Boeing Field, where Seafair is selling tickets to their famous “walkdown” ceremonies Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
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