West Seattle, Washington
05 Sunday
At the south end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, just inside the road-blocking signs at California/Alaska, Kiwanis Club of West Seattle members are back for fall. At their booth, you’ll find free coffee and other features – crafts for kids this week, including pinwheels that worked nicely in the morning breeze. Later in the season they’ll also be assisting with donation drives, and they’ll be selling tickets to their holiday-season pancake breakfast. Stop by and say hi, any Sunday during market hours, 10 am-2 pm.
Permits have shown for a while that the ex-Alki Café space was likely being taken over by the proprietors of Driftwood next door. Today, they’re finally ready to announce their plan for it: A “coffeehouse and bakeshop” called Seaglass. Here are the details they provided:
Driftwood, the acclaimed Alki Beach restaurant founded by Dan and Jackie Mallahan, is expanding its imprint in West Seattle with the addition of a neighborhood bakeshop and coffee house: Seaglass. The new project will be led by Seattle coffee entrepreneur Seth Allen alongside Chef and Pastry Chef Gerald Hawkins Jr., blending curated specialty coffee with bold, ingredient-driven pastry in a warm and intentional community space.
Seth Allen, founder of Numa Coffee, has established himself as a leader in Seattle’s specialty coffee scene, building a brand known for its community-driven hospitality and collaborations with celebrated roasters including Passenger, Dak, KWC, Moxie, Rush Rush, Calendar, Little Wolf, and Valor. Numa has partnered with brands such as Filson, Driftwood, Amazon Galaxy Studios, Snapchat, Nordstrom, Sézane, Arc’teryx, and Seattle Bouldering Project.
Chef Gerald Hawkins Jr. brings more than a decade of experience spanning the Carolinas, from small-town bakeries to acclaimed restaurants such as Leah & Louise in Charlotte, a four-time James Beard Award nominee. Born in Durham and raised in Norlina, North Carolina, Hawkins draws inspiration from family traditions, Southern foodways, and local agriculture. His eclectic pastry style reflects both nostalgia and modern culinary techniques, with an emphasis on sustainability, creativity, and storytelling through ingredients.
Together, Allen and Hawkins will bring a new energy to Alki, creating a neighborhood and destination bakeshop that celebrates both Pacific Northwest ingredients and Gerald’s Southern roots. Guests can expect inventive pastries, breads, and seasonal offerings paired with world-class coffee—designed to be both approachable and exceptional.
“Driftwood has always been about telling the story of time and place through food,” said Dan Mallahan, Chef and Co-Founder of Driftwood. “This next chapter with Seth and Gerald allows us to expand that vision—bringing together coffee, pastry, and community in a space that feels like home for West Seattle.”
The bakeshop is slated to open in Spring 2026 on Alki Beach, at the old Alki Beach Cafe Space, adding to Driftwood’s commitment to building meaningful connections through food, drink, and hospitality.
The Mallahans opened Driftwood almost three years ago.
At 5 am, we received video from a reader on Alki, an example of a situation often brought up at community meetings – loud music long after the beach closed and that eventually drew a police response last night after dozens of people called it in. The music was audible through the residence’s windows whether closed or open. Here’s part of the clip, and what the sender told us via text:
Just trying to share awareness as we are at our wits end and not able to rely on the police to respond to calls and take action. (And share with people who are hopefully civicly engaged, to help call for assistance long term). If anyone else is complaining about music this morning, it’s going on between 57th and 58th Ave on Alki Ave. We’ve had calls in for over 90 minutes with no response. Audio shows inside with all windows and doors closed, vs how far it carries outside. Not to mention the public intoxication and smashed beer bottles and dangerous-for-pedestrian racing.
Not THIS bad typically, but this has been a reoccurring Friday-Sunday night issue since mid-summer now. We figured it would die down with the cool weather. We can get an officer response quickly if it’s before 10 pm, then maybe 30% of the time after, during the “third shift”. I will be highlighting at the next Alki community council meeting. Wasn’t able to make the one in September.
At some point after 5:30 am, we heard police dispatched; the dispatcher described it as a “large noise complaint, with more than 40 callers.” The texter confirmed “three squad cars arrived”; we asked what happened:
The allied security night watchman that U of W hired to guard the sand volleyball equipment for the weekend tournament they’re hosting said it was going for six hours before officers arrived. 2 hrs since we called.
They got what little remained, about 10, to disperse. Just flashing lights and intercoms on them telling them to go. About 5 cars drove off. All intoxicated, I’m sure. No arrests made. Originally it was 60+ people in front of Blue Moon inbetween 57th and 58th with the very loud car audio setup in the video, but that car left and most of the people left before officers arrived.
Seattle noise rules are summarized on this SPD page. P.S. If you have a question or concern for SPD, wherever you live, the next Southwest Precinct Advisory Council meeting, open to all community members, is this Tuesday, October 7, 6:30 pm, at the Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds).
Sent by Matt:
I saw this PS4 and some other items on a wall next to the alley on the north side of Genesee just east of 44th. Thought it might be stolen and abandoned.
(This morning’s moonset, photographed by Carol Ann Joyce)
Good morning – here’s what’s up for your Sunday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more listings!) and inbox:
EXTRA WATER TAXI RUNS: On this day/night with big games downtown (1:05 pm Seahawks, 5:03 pm Mariners), the West Seattle Water Taxi is following its summer-Saturday schedule tonight – last run from downtown leaves at 10:45 pm.
GARAGE/YARD SALES: Check for listings in the WSB Community Forums. (If you have a sale to add, but don’t have a WSB Forums login, go to westseattleblog/log-in – thanks!)
FLU/COVID VACCINE CLINIC: 9 am-3 pm at Chief Sealth IHS (2600 SW Thistle), open to all, but follow that link to get an appointment first.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run starts at Moonshot Coffee (9622 16th SW, White Center).
UW BEACH-VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT: The Huskies are back at Alki Beach today for the second day of a two-day tournament, starting at 9 am.
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: The Sunday games are on hiatus until The Missing Piece reopens in its new Junction location (no date yet, as of our followup this week).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Find the year-round market on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in early-fall produce season (stone fruit, berries, tomatoes, peppers, greens, roots, bulbs), plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, flowers, more.
WEST SEATTLE BEE GARDEN: You’re invited to help work in the Bee Garden today as fall begins. 10 am-noon. (Graham/Lanham)
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska).
SOUTHWEST ART SHOWCASE OPENING RECEPTION: 11 am-12:30 pm, come see the entries in this year’s community art showcase at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) and meet some of the artists.
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.
OKTOBERFEST AT OUNCES: Third and final day at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), open noon-7 pm today. That includes Kids’ Day activities. See today’s full schedule on the Ounces website.
COMMUNITY CLOG DANCING LESSONS: 1 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), all welcome at this introductory session.
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Kick back and enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Theo Mcgaughey Jazz Trio performs 3-5 pm – come early to get your beverage – at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
MODERN CLASSIC BOOK CLUB: Discussing Ira Levin‘s “Rosemary’s Baby” at 3 pm at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW).
‘THE ROOMMATE’ AT ARTSWEST: 3 pm matinee performance of the newest play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW).
LISTENING PARTY AT EASY STREET RECORDS: 4 pm listening party for Taylor Swift‘s album ‘Life of a Showgirl,’ free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-8 pm, live music with PëtrichØr & Trashasaurus Rex, free, all-ages. (9444 Delridge Way SW)
SCREAM CLUB SEATTLE: 7 pm at Lincoln Park Picnic Shelter 4 (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), second monthly gathering to, yes, have a communal scream.
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: 7:30 pm, free to play. (4302 SW Alaska)
JET CITY AT ARTSWEST: Improvised comedy musical at 7:30 pm; our calendar listing has the ticket link. (4711 California SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, Sunday nights are live music nights with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could add to the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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