West Seattle, Washington
16 Saturday
11:03 PM: The National Weather Service has another Dense Fog Advisory in effect until 10 am New Year’s Day. If you were thinking of going out to see the Space Needle fireworks, sorry, no view from West Seattle unless there’s a midnight miracle – we came down to Harbor/Alki Aves to check if the bay’s socked in – yes, it is. (Only positive thing to report is that street-level fog is a lot thinner down here – uphill it’s thick.)
12:03 AM: The TV stream of the Needle fireworks shows they’re even fogged in for the cameras right beneath.
Every year, this is our only “year in review” story – the 10 WSB stories with the most comments during the year. And as we note each year, that doesn’t mean they were the most important, or most read, stories; the comment totals just happen to be a quantifiable component in our publishing system. With hours left to go in 2025, here are this year’s top 10:
#10 – WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL OPPONENTS NOT GIVING UP
January 7, 2025 – 124 comments
#9 – POLICE OFFICER SHOOTS, KILLS MAN OUTSIDE SOUTHWEST PRECINCT
March 19, 2025 – 132 comments
#8 – KATIE WILSON HOLDS LEAD IN MAYOR’S RACE, ONE WEEK AFTER VOTING ENDED
November 11, 2025 – 133 comments
#7 – 100+ SHOTS FIRED IN NORTH DELRIDGE
March 30, 2025 – 134 comments
#6 – SCUFFLE OVER SIGN IN THE JUNCTION
October 13, 2025 – 135 comments
#5. – 2+-HOUR CENTURYLINK OUTAGE IN WEST SEATTLE AND BEYOND
June 19, 2025 – 142 comments
#4 – LIGHT-RAIL OPPONENTS’ ‘RETHINK THE LINK’ FORUM
January 25, 2025 – 154 comments
#3 – $2 MILLION SMASH-AND-GRAB ROBBERY IN 90 SECONDS AT MENASHE JEWELERS
August 17, 2025 – 170 comments
#2 – BEL GATTO CLOSES AFTER LESS THAN A YEAR
January 6, 2025 – 180 comments
#1 – SDOT GOING AHEAD WITH REMOVAL OF DOWNHILL DRIVING LANE ON HIGHLAND PARK WAY HILL
March 5, 2025 – 183 comments
PREVIOUS YEARS: Here are our previous most-commented-stories lists, going back to 2011:
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
Thanks for the tips and photo. Lee’s Produce Market, a South Delridge/White Center fixture for more than 40 years, is mourning its “heart and soul,” Nam Suk Nasatka. She died this past Monday at age 75. A Seattle Times magazine story from 2017 says she started working at Lee’s in 1983 and bought the business a decade later. As the photo shows, a memorial is set up at the market. That’s all we know so far; we will update with anything we find out about a service/gathering.
Thanks for the tips. Five months after the owner of Lucky Sushi in Columbia City confirmed a plan to expand to West Seattle, with a space in a new building at 5216 Delridge Way SW, the plan is off. Multiple readers told us that the space appeared to have cleared out recently and the Lucky Sushi “coming soon” signage was gone; a person who spoke with us by phone when we called the Rainier Avenue location confirmed they’d scrapped the plan, because the space couldn’t be licensed for what they needed. Before she had to end the conversation to deal with customers, we asked if they’re hoping to find another space in West Seattle, and she said they’re looking around because they now own two restaurants worth of equipment. We also contacted broker Susi Musi to ask about the space’s status and she told us, “The parties were unable to align on build-out terms and mutually agreed to part ways. The space is now available for an office use.”
(Reader photo sent by CJ, December 14)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Is it the drivers’ fault or the pavement’s fault? The discussion reignites almost every time we report a crash toward the southwest end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge, in the general area of the pullout near the two remaining “Walking on Logs” sculptures and the “Welcome to West Seattle” sign. The “drivers’ fault” faction says people are just driving too fast. The “pavement’s fault” faction blames an inconsistency in the road surface right in that spot.
(Reader photo sent by Mike, October 26)
We don’t have hard-and-fast data on crashes at this location – the SDOT collision map is neither comprehensive nor (location-wise) precise, and our archives are not necessarily comprehensive either, nor is publicly visible data: The SFD 911 log will show a collision only if there was a dispatch for injuries, and the SPD police-data map if the crash was reported by a 911 caller. Plus, there’s no functioning traffic camera in that spot, so for visuals, we’re reliant on reader photos. But our archives alone show more than a dozen mentions of crashes in that spot just this year.
(Reader photo, October 24)
Back in February, we sought and reported on SDOT’s response to our inquiry about whether any action was planned regarding this area. A department spokesperson said at that time that they planned “to add safety enhancements to encourage drivers to approach the curve at a safer speed” and then might evaluate pavement work if that didn’t help. The timeline given was “this year.”
(Reader photo, OMarch 24)
So now we’re at the end of “this year.” After more crashes in mid-December, we asked SDOT for an update. Here’s how they responded this time:
Based on recent crash activity and additional review, we will be installing two near-term safety enhancements to improve driver awareness of the curve:
-curve warning signs, and
-raised pavement markers to enhance visibility for approaching drivers.The work orders have been issued.
This represents a slight change from what was discussed earlier this year. While reflective markings on the existing guardrail were previously mentioned as a potential third treatment, that option is still under internal evaluation.
As we shared in February, our pavement engineers and Vision Zero team have also been evaluating longer-term solutions to improve traction in this area, including either grinding the top layer of pavement or installing a high-friction surface treatment. Those options remain under consideration and would need to be scheduled further out, taking into account resources, weather, crew availability, and traffic impacts.
We’ll continue to monitor conditions at this location and assess whether additional measures are recommended.
Some pavement work was done in that area during the 2020-2022 West Seattle Bridge closure, as we reported, and showed, in this story about a visit to the work zone toward the end of bridge-repair work.
11:36 AM: If you’re heading east toward the east end of the Roxbury corridor, note that emergency responders are headed for what’s reported as a “rollover” on the county (eastbound) side of SW Roxbury at 5th SW [map].
11:41 AM: Thanks to Lisa for texting the photo, stuck in traffic at the scene. She reports a bystander said everyone’s OK.
12:49 PM: Thanks to another texter for sending the wider view above. We have less over-the-air info on this since it’s being handled by the King County Sheriff’s Office rather than SPD, but we did catch that a tow truck was on scene as of about half an hour ago, cleaning up debris and a fluid spill as well as handling the flipped car.
(Mount Rainier and the Duwamish River, seen from the bridge earlier this week – photo by James Bratsanos)
What’s below is mostly from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – regular Wednesday events remain on our calendar but we haven’t verified whether they’re all still on despite the semi-holiday, so this list is focusing on the NYE-specific:
RESTAURANTS AND COFFEE SHOPS THAT ARE OPEN TONIGHT (AND TOMORROW): We ask about New Year’s Eve/Day while compiling our Christmas coffee-shop list – see that list here – and restaurant/bar list – see that here. (Changes/additions? Please tell us!)
GROCERY STORE HOURS: Some changes for New Year’s Eve/Day, and one closure – here’s the list.
CELEBRATE NEW YEAR AT NOON: You can do this noon-2 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
NEW YEAR’S EVE WALKS: The Emerald City Wanderers‘ are offering 5K and 10K routes again tonight (and tomorrow):
New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day
Say farewell to 2025 with a New Year’s Eve walk along Alki. Enjoy sunset views of Puget Sound and city lights of downtown Seattle, as well as the holiday lights of the West Seattle neighborhoods. Return on New Year’s Day for a lovely morning walk on a different route through West Seattle. On both days, join us afterward to warm up and socialize, with snacks and hot soup at the Start Location.
New Year’s Eve: Registration: 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Start Location: St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave. SW
NYE AT THE 4040 HOUSE: The lights-synched-to-music display at 4040 47th SW is on for New Year’s Eve! Received this morning:
Join us tonight from 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM as we ring in the New Year the best way we know how — with music, lights, and a whole lot of joy. We’ll be rocking straight through the night with a few new songs and a special midnight countdown to welcome 2026 in glowing style. Bundle up, bring your people, dance a little, and help us celebrate another year of community at the 4040 House. Friendly parking reminder: Please park along Dakota or Andover. Residents on 47th Ave SW rely on street parking, and the street is quite narrow.
NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT PARADE: Highland Park Improvement Club presents the NYE tradition – all-ages parade with noisemakers through neighborhoods in HP, leaving from Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW). Gather at HPCS 5:30-6 pm; parade takes off at 6.
MASQUERADE NYE 2026 – New Year’s Eve celebration, 9 pm-2 am, at Jet City Labs & Revelry Room: “A stylish New Year’s Eve gathering with soulful DJ sets, a full buffet, a midnight champagne toast, and plenty of room to celebrate. Masquerade attire and masks encouraged.” Ticketed event. More info here.
THE FINAL TOAST: West Seattle Supper Club party at Phoenecia (4717 42nd SW)
8 pm-1 am, Various levels of ticketing and experiences – all in our calendar listing – ticketing page here.
MIDNIGHT FIREWORKS: Yes, the Space Needle plans pyrotechnics and drones again to greet 2025. Light shows precede the big display, starting at 10 pm – see the schedule here. If you’re not going downtown, myriad north/northeast-facing West Seattle spots have a view of the Needle (the Alki/Harbor waterfront gets clogged, though, so if you’re headed there, go early).
Anything to add? westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to get us calendar/event listings, all year ’round!
End of the year, end of the holidays, end of the long-running donation drives. Here are two that you can still show support for:
WINTER-CLOTHING DRIVE AT DAVE NEWMAN STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENCY: The annual warm-clothing drive at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency (3435 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues through today.
FOOD DRIVE AT FITNESS TOGETHER: At WSB sponsor Fitness Together in The Junction:
Fitness Together West Seattle will be having a food drive supporting Immanuel Community Services for the month of December! Please bring holiday items and non perishable items to our studio to help those in need!
Please drop items at our studio on the 2nd floor:
4546 California Ave SW
(Our entrance is in the Alley behind The Matador – Look for the green awning)
And remember that food-donation bins will be set up at Alki for tomorrow’s 10 am Polar Bear Swim – bring nonperishable food if you can.
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s New Year’s Eve – Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
As noted a few hours ago, a Dense Fog Advisory alert is in effect until 10 am. After that – the forecast says it’ll be partly sunny, high in the mid-40s, cloudy tonight but no rain expected before Thursday pm. Sunrise will be at 7:57 am (as late as it gets, and it’s staying there for a few more days); sunset at 4:27 pm.
SCHOOL’S STILL OUT
Winter break continues for a second week (most if not all schools reopen Monday, January 5).
TRANSIT TODAY & BEYOND
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, fall/winter schedule. The Water Taxi will NOT run on New Year’s Day, but will run fare-free all day today, New Year’s Eve.
Washington State Ferries – The Triangle Route has its third boat back and is now on the winter schedule, per WSF’s alerts page. A weekend schedule is planned for New Year’s Day.
Metro buses – They’re back on the regular weekday schedule and routes in our area; Metro is now fare-free until 3 am Thursday (New Year’s Day)..
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
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 at the scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
(SDOT traffic-cam screengrab from right before we published this story)
3:12 AM: Perhaps 2025 just wants to vanish into the fog. The National Weather Service has a Dense Fog Advisory alert in effect for our area until 10 am. This not only could mean visibility problems, but also the possibility of icy streets, as the fog meets near-freezing temperatures. So give yourself extra time to get wherever you have to go.
9:22 AM: The advisory has been extended until noon – forecasters believe the fog will linger longer.
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