10:59 AM: It’s a spectacular late-summer day and we’re on site at this year’s Admiral Block Party, in and along California SW in the block between Admiral and College. Main-stage music is about to start – here’s the schedule:

Justin Kausal-Hayes – 11 am
Sad Dad Autumn – 12:00 pm
School of Rock – 1:15 pm
Michael Pearsall – 2:30 pm
Potholes – 3:45 pm
Baby Crow Flight School – 5:15 pm
Six Killers – 6:30 pm
Sun King – 7:45 pm

We’re right next to the booth for the Admiral Neighborhood Association, which presents the festival – and on the other side, Timeless Kitchen Design (WSB sponsor). Lots of coverage to come! Better yet, come on down and see who’s here!

11:36 AM: Justin Kausal-Hayes is performing mostly classics – in our clip is part of Paul Simon‘s “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.” Sad Dad Autumn follows him at noon. … Justin was introduced by ANA president Joanie Jacobs:

She mentioned that at 5 pm today onstage, ANA will present the first annual award named after the late WSB co-founder Patrick Sand. If you’re here at 5, come to the stage and applaud the recipient (secret until then), an amazing community advocate who, like Patrick, does their work without seeking the spotlight. … ANA also is having a raffle during the festival – stop by their booth (in front of West Wings, looks like a little beige house with white-trim windows) to ask!

12:11 PM: No formal kid zone here, but lots to do – games in the street and in some booths, and a face painter right across from our booth:

Face painting is on the east side of the street, in front of Head to Toe, between the booths where you’ll find the Community Emergency Communication Hubs (stop by and find out where your nearest one is, in case of catastrophe!) and Emerald City Threads (motto, “local gear that doesn’t suck”).

12:58 PM: The music schedule has slid a bit so Sad Dad Autumn is still onstage as 1 pm approaches. Above is a a sample of their acoustic-accompanied harmonies, a fitting soundtrack for late summer. After a stop by the stage, we checked out the north end of the festival, where you’ll find a booth with two truly hot tickets you might want to get in on fast:

The West Seattle Food Bank booth still has some $5 tickets left for their “win tickets to the Taste of West Seattle” drawing, and this is your last chance to buy them – the drawing is on Monday. And of course you also can buy tickets to the Taste (September 25) directly – online too! WSFB is by the extended Arthur’s outdoor café today, west side of the street.

1:18 PM: Next to WSFB, this booth is a don’t miss:

Tired of bad news, doomscrolling, hearing about what’s wrong and never hearing about what’s right? For six years, Matthew Lee Johnston has published PMA magazine, celebrating good people and good things that are happening. So go step into the Positivity Portal here at the Admiral Block Party and be inspired.

2:40 PM: School of Rock is wrapping up onstage; Michael Pearsall is up next. Meantime, another activity option – bowling!

West Seattle Bowl, up from The Junction, is presenting the activity, promoting learning how to bowl.

3:33 PM: Another drawing you might consider getting in on while you’re here – look for this display at the Admiral Neighborhood Association booth:

$25 – to support ANA events like this one – gets you a ticket in the drawing for one of two gift boxes worth more than $500 each. The drawing will be held at 6:15, so you still have two and a half hours to buy a ticket. … Michael Pearsall is onstage; we recorded one of the songs he performed at his recent Admiral Music in the Parks concert (AMP is another ANA presentation), “These American Dreams“:

Another local favorite, The Potholes, will follow him.

4:50 PM: The Potholes have wrapped up as the vendors/activities part of the festival approaches its final hour – those of us with booths are staying at least until 6 pm (after that, it’s up to individual participants). Music will continue until about 9 pm; this block of California SW will remain closed until everything is fully cleared out overnight. But there’s still a steady stream of people, and we’re presenting the first ANA award in Patrick’s honor in a few minutes, so the Block Party goes on!

5:24 PM: The first recipient is Stu Hennessey, of Alki Bike and Board and more (Sustainable West Seattle and Puget Ridge Edible Park come to mind, as well as his Walkable Admiral) proposal. Separate story later! Meantime, Baby Crow Flight School is onstage. …

7 PM: We left the festival at 6, so we’re not there to cover its final hours. But ANA leadership was heard expressing joy in how it turned out – especially the weather, compared to last year’s soggy, chilly day. ANA’s president Joanie Jacobs also took the mic multiple times today to thank both sponsors and the corps of volunteers who helped keep it running smoothly.

(At least one person wore both hats – Paula Kennedy of Timeless Kitchen Design not only was a sponsor with a booth there all day, when pack-up time arrived at 6, she grabbed equipment left by A Cleaner Alki‘s Block Drop cleanup program and started patrolling for litter!)

9:54 PM: WSB contributing photojournalist Dave Gershgorn was there for the evening bands!