West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
ORIGINAL FRIDAY FYI: If you have a view across Elliott Bay toward the downtown skyline, you might be able to see this – from a Mariners advisory:
In celebration of Ichiro Hall of Fame Weekend at T-Mobile Park, the Russell Investments Center in Downtown Seattle will display Ichiro’s number 51 by illuminating the building’s windows after sunset tonight (8:30 pm).
The “51” will be visible from the western side of the building facing the Puget Sound and Seattle Waterfront.
Additionally, multiple buildings in Downtown Seattle will participate by coloring their exterior lights blue.
Ichiro’s No. 51 will be retired by the Mariners in a special pregame (6:00 pm) ceremony on Saturday, August (corrected) 9 prior to a 6:40 pm first pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Mariners will celebrate Ichiro all weekend, with festivities throughout the ballpark on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Fans can learn more about Ichiro HOF Weekend events at Mariners.com/Ichiro.
ADDED SATURDAY EVENING: Theresa Arbow-O’Connor sent this photo of the tribute (thank you!):
As of tonight, the King County Elections vote count is close to caught up – it’s counted almost 32 percent of voters’ ballots, only two points behind the 34 percent it’s received. And the latest count has further widened the leads for challengers in three Seattle citywide races.
SEATTLE MAYOR: Katie Wilson now has 50.15%, more than eight points ahead of incumbent Bruce Harrell‘s 41.70%.
SEATTLE COUNCIL CITYWIDE POSITION 9: Dionne Foster is up to 57.89%, 22 points ahead of incumbent Sara Nelson‘s 35.77%.
SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY: Erika Evans is now at 55.33%, more than nine points ahead of incumbent Ann Davison‘s 35.83%.
Complete results are here; the archived results reports from Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are linked here. Next vote count is expected Monday afternoon. Top two will go to voters for a final decision on November
This Crime Watch roundup starts with a stolen pickup truck:
STOLEN YELLOW TRUCK: Mike emailed the report: “A friend of mine’s 2021 Ford F-250 truck was stolen from near Luna Park on Wednesday. It’s BRIGHT YELLOW! Stock photo attached.” We’re waiting for the plate number and police-report number, but in the meantime, “bright yellow” is distinctive enough that it might be identifiable if abandoned somewhere. (SATURDAY UPDATE: Police found it.)
That same area is where this bicycle theft happened, one of three more bicycles in reader reports this evening:
STOLEN KIDS’ BIKE: Reported by Sarah:
Someone stole our daughter’s bike today or last night. It was tucked behind a tree in front of our house, on 32nd Ave (near Avalon Way). Normally it’s locked up but we had it unfortunately left out. It is a neon yellow Giant bike with distinctive teal basket with flowers, a cat squeeze horn. The streamers in picture aren’t on handles any more.
It’s been reported to police – temporary number T00036420.
ABANDONED, POSSIBLY STOLEN: M. noticed these in Admiral:
Been walking by these for the past two or three days, and it finally occurred that I have been walking by these for the last two or three days. Perhaps you can help them find their way home. SW corner of Lafayette playground.
(Sweat bee on calendula, photo by Rosalie Miller)
Not all bees are created equal. The Washington Bee Atlas‘s mission is to identify and map our state’s wild bees, and they’re looking for more volunteers to join in, You’ll be able to talk with some of them – including West Seattle photographer/gardener Rosalie Miller – this Sunday (August 10) at West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW; WSB sponsor). They’ll be tabling 10 am-2 pm, so you are welcome to drop in at any time during that window. WSN’s announcement invites you to “learn more about local pollinators, how you can get involved, and why wild bees are so important to our ecosystems.” Find out more about the Washington Bee Atlas here.
Sent by Lara this afternoon: “We’re getting brown water at 42nd Ave SW and Charlestown. It might be a result of the construction across the street, hard to tell. We’ve had SPU trucks on the block for the last few weeks as well.” Most common reason: Hydrant testing. If brown water happens in your home/business, be sure to report it to Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800, and let us know too!
A year and a half after we first reported on proposed Metro bus-stop changes in Highland Park – seemingly proceeding at the time with little notice or feedback opportunities – the final plan is out. It looks much different from the original plan, though it still includes bus-stop closures. Here’s what we received today from Metro:
Bus stop upgrades on routes 125 and 128 in West Seattle are heading for construction this summer as part of an effort to improve transit conditions along 16th Avenue SW between SW Holden and Henderson streets.
Metro collected feedback from riders and neighbors in 2024 and developed proposed changes to be built by the City of Seattle that reflect rider and community requests. The plan moving forward is to make improvements at five existing bus stops and two new stops.
The improvements include bus boarding zones that are accessible for individuals who use mobility devices, seating and shelter for transit riders, and bus bulbs designed to enhance transit service and reduce pedestrian crossing distances at intersections.
Four current bus stops located at SW Elmgrove and Cloverdale streets will be closed once nearby bus stop upgrades are completed and riders would be directed about one block away to new or improved bus stops.
Location improvements on 16th Avenue SW and SW Henderson Street:
SW Holden Street
Stop No. 21410 (northbound): Accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.
SW Kenyon Street
Stop No. 21400 (northbound): Wider sidewalk “bus bulb” for easier crossing and accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.
Stop No. 22000 (southbound): Accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.SW Thistle Street
Stop No. 21380 (northbound): New bus shelter, new seating, wider sidewalk “bus bulb” for easier crossing and accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.
SW Trenton Street
Stop No. 21360 (northbound): New seating and accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.
Southbound: New bus stop location.Southwest Henderson Street
Westbound: New bus stop location with seating, wider sidewalk “bus bulb” for easier crossing and accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.
Questions about Metro’s plans can be emailed to community.relations@kingcounty.gov and questions about construction plans can be emailed to Aidan Bernal at the Seattle Department of Transportation, aidan.bernal@seattle.gov.
We’ll be following up with SDOT regarding construction timeline.
P.S. Thanks again to Juan for the original tip last year!
The photo and report are from Tami in Seaview:
I found a bike on the 6500 block of 49th Ave SW near a cul-de-sac. Found on or around Aug 8th. Here are 2 photos. Happy to reunite with owner. Please identify the laminated card that was wedged in the spokes and the bike is yours. Here is my number, text is best. Thanks. 805.215.2944
As announced earlier this summer, today is the first day of this year’s West Seattle Glass Float Hunt, a collaboration between the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Over the next week, a total of 100 glass floats like the one shown above, crafted by Avalon Glassworks, will have been hidden all around West Seattle – both inside local businesses and outdoors. Get the daily clues – and see where floats already have been found (eight as of this writing!) – at westseattlefloathunt.com.
(Early-morning photo by Stewart L.)
Here’s our better-late-than-never lineup for your Friday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH TRANSFER STATION: A reader suggests a reminder that it’s closed for most of the rest of the month.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: The center is open for plant-shopping Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: The spraypark is open every day 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
WADING POOLS: Lincoln Park (noon-7 pm), Delridge, and Hiawatha (both noon-5:30 pm) will be open today.
COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water pool is open to the public today, noon-7 pm.
SEATTLE TERIYAKI HISTORY & MORE: See the newest exhibit at the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) while the museum is open noon-4 pm today.
QI GONG AT VIVA ARTS: Fridays at 12:15 pm – info in our calendar listing. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT: Health screenings, free school supplies, free food, more at Greenbridge Plaza (9800 8th SW), 4-6:30 pm.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) hosts Songwriters’ Showcase, 6-8 pm.
SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: As announced earlier this week, tonight’s concert is canceled.
COMEDY AT THE SKYLARK: Need a laugh? Doors at 7, show at 8, Andrew Rivers and Luke Severeid at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
‘MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING’: GreenStage‘s free outdoor Shakespeare is at Camp Long (5200 35th SW) tonight, 7 pm.
‘MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM’: More outdoor Shakespeare! The condensed Backyard Bard edition of this classic will be performed at Delridge Playfield (4458 Delridge Way SW) at 7 pm.
RELEASE EVENT AT EASY STREET: Release event for Baby Metal at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 7 pm, free, all ages.
FREE OUTDOOR MOVIE: “Barbie” screens at West Seattle Mercantile (3270 California SW), 8 pm.
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Chocolate Chuck spins tonight! (4547 California SW)
MAKE IT LOUD: Skating with live music and/or DJ – tonight, SWEAT at the DISCO w/DJ Slayground – 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $18 cover/$5 skates.
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Seattle Police photo)
Thanks for the tip. Seattle Police report this morning that crash-and-grab burglars drove into another West Seattle Junction smoke shop just before 3:30 today, this time the World of Smoke and Vape in the 4800 block of California, almost exactly 24 hours after the attempt at West Seattle Smoke Company less than a block north. Here’s the police summary:
Seattle police are investigating a burglary at a West Seattle smoke shop early Friday morning after suspects used a stolen car to ram the front and gain entry.
At 3:29 a.m., officers responded to an alarm in the 4800 block of California Avenue Southwest. When officers arrived, they found a gold Kia left at the scene after it had been used to crash through the front entrance of the business.
A witness told police he saw six masked men arrive in two vehicles. One suspect drove the Kia into the building. Five of the suspects entered the store and began grabbing merchandise while the sixth stood lookout. The suspects fled northbound on California Avenue SW at a high rate of speed in a silver vehicle before officers arrived.
The impact caused major damage to the store, including a destroyed security gate and shattered front windows.
Police confirmed that the Kia had been reported stolen from Seattle.
General Investigations Unit detectives are leading the investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Seattle Police Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. Incident Number: 25-225915
Listening back to the archived incident audio, one thing not mentioned in the police summary: The model of the car used to ram the store. As with the one a day earlier, it was a Kia Sportage.
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, August 8, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunshine expected today, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:56 am; sunset will be at 8:32 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Admiral Bridge work continues.
-So does work on curb ramps for all four corners of 60th/Admiral.
-The major nighttime work on and around 16th SW in White Center continues – details here – and King County Road Services has announced intermittent closures toward the end of next week.
-If you’re heading north via 99 this weekend, note this alert from WSDOT:
From 4 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10, bridge maintenance will close the right two lanes of northbound State Route 99 in Seattle at the Aurora Avenue Bridge for bridge inspections.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday (tonight!) and Saturday nights, and on other weeknights with Mariners home games.
STADIUM ZONE
T-Mobile Park tonight – Mariners vs. Rays, 6:40 pm.
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!
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