West Seattle, Washington
02 Tuesday
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Today’s forecast is for sun and pm haze, high in the upper 70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:29 am; sunset will be at 7:46 pm.
REOPENED
–Admiral Way Bridge work is mostly done, so Fairmount Avenue beneath the bridge has reopened after 13 months.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Here’s who starts today:
Holy Rosary School
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School
Bridge School Cooperative Elementary
Vashon Island School District
TRANSIT TODAY
Fare changes – Metro and Water Taxi fare changes took effect Monday (mostly increases); here’s what to know.
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 Issaquah, 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 and Saturday nights.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the view 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!
PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN FOR WSB
A Labor Day tradition was carried out again today at Alki Masonic Lodge on the east edge of The Junction: The annual changing of the flag that flies over the lodge. It’s held in conjunction with a community barbecue/picnic, and this year there was a bonus. First, the main event, preceded by a flag tribute read by a member of the Rainbow Girls youth group, who then joined attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance:
Then, with assistance from members of two VFW posts, the old flag was brought down and meticulously folded, and the new one went up:
The retired flag will be kept by Alki Lodge’s outgoing Worshipful Master Ron Creel, who received it from Post 1263’s Traci Williams and observed, “This is special” as a memento of his year leading the lodge:
She was assisted by Ron Palacios from West Seattle’s Post 2719 and Darrell Pilat, also of Post 1263:
After the flag ceremony, everyone enjoyed lunch inside – a little too chilly to grill outdoors, they decided – and then it was time for the scheduled visit from Engine 32 firefighters, based at Junction Station 32:
Firefighter Kelsey Nolta gave tours of the engine, while firefighter Max Wagner demonstrated their gear:
7-year-old Owen was among the kids who got a firsthand look inside Engine 32:
The lodge’s other community events include the annual student awards (here’s our coverage of this year’s presentation).
Each corner of 16th/Henderson had about 10 sign-wavers when we went by about an hour and a half into the two-hour window for West Seattle Indivisible‘s Labor Day rally/protest. Messages included some specific to this pro-worker holiday:
Next up, the organization is hoping to organize 1,000 people jnto a “human banner” on the West Seattle waterfront for International Day of Peace on September 21.
Maybe you can help find this distinctive ebike:
My bike was stolen just outside of the Benbow Room on California and Admiral in West Seattle at 1:04 pm today, September 1st. Distinguishable features include large trunk on back, has light-up pedals, an underglow that can be turned on, as well as an LED sign that lights up on top of the trunk. I have also included photos of the new tires put on recently … This is my daily commuter and use this to get to and from work. Any help is very much appreciated and I am very grateful.
We’ll add the police-report # when we get it. (UPDATE: It’s 25-253565.)
(WSB file photo)
Most local schools will start a new year of classes within the next few days; a few have started already. Even if you don’t have a student in the household, it might be helpful to know who starts when, so we compile this every year:
ALREADY STARTED
Summit Atlas (started August 13)
Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School (started last Wednesday)
Kennedy Catholic HS (started August 22)
STARTING TUESDAY
Holy Rosary School
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School
Bridge School Cooperative Elementary
Vashon Island School District
STARTING WEDNESDAY
Seattle Public Schools (grades 1-12)
Westside School (WSB sponsor)
Tilden School (WSB sponsor)
Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)
Hope School
West Seattle Montessori
Highline Public Schools (grades 1-12)
STARTING NEXT MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 8)
Seattle Public Schools (pre-K and K)
Whichever school(s) you’re affiliated with, tell us what’s new, now and as the year progresses – new principal? fundraisers? events open to the community? successes? – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As mentioned here last week, HomeStreet Bank becomes part of Bay Area-based Mechanics Bank as of tomorrow, and while in The Junction this afternoon, we noted the signage is up at 4022 SW Alaska. Both companies have century-plus histories, but their branches have been in different areas, so there’s no overlap here or elsewhere, we’re told. Before the name change, what was then HomeStreet had one last event:
(Bank-provided photo)
The branch had been showcasing local independent businesses every month, closing out the month with a drawing – this month’s showcase featured M & M Balloon Co.
Quick updates:
WENDY’S WHITE CENTER: We just went over to 10050 16th SW to see if they indeed made their “target date” of today. A worker outside told us no, they’re not open yet, but aiming for “tomorrow after lunch.” We’re awaiting an official reply from the franchisee. (Signage wasn’t up yet either.)
PANDA EXPRESS COUNTDOWN, SORT OF: When last we heard from Panda Express about the Westwood Village location, they were hoping for “the week of September 8.” Then a sign went up three days ago (as noted by a commenter) declaring “coming soon – 4 days.” The sign then switched to “3 days.” But we just checked on our way back from White Center, and it’s been stuck on “3 days” for two days now.
ELSEWHERE IN WESTWOOD VILLAGE: The fourth year of Spirit Halloween temporarily taking over the ex-Bed Bath and Beyond has begun – they’re now open.
LAST DAY BEFORE MOVE: And a reminder, also in the south end: Today is the last day for The Missing Piece Café and Game Lounge at its original 35th/Roxbury location. As first noted here in May, they’re moving to the ex-Pharmaca space in The Junction, 4707 California SW, next to Emerald Water Anglers and KeyBank. The Missing Piece hopes to be open there “the second week of September” if all goes well. (No word yet about a 35th/Roxbury successor.)
(Boats in the setting sun off Alki – photo by Erik Moris)
Good morning! Holiday notes:
TRANSIT/TRAFFIC
–Metro buses are running on a Sunday schedule
–West Seattle Water Taxi is on a regular schedule
-Fares change today for Metro bus and Water Taxi service too – here’s our original report with details
–Sound Transit buses and light rail are on Sunday schedules
-If you’re going to an area of the city with pay-station street parking, you don’t have to pay today
-Check local traffic cams here, citywide cams here
HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT
Last day of the season for most city outdoor aquatic facilities – After today, city-run wading pools and sprayparks are closed until next year – so it’s your last day for Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm, and Lincoln Park‘s wading pool (noon-7 pm). But Colman Pool not only will be open noon-7 pm today, it’ll have two postseason weekends this year, September 6-7 and 13-14.
Last day of the season for Alki summer hours and beach fires – as noted here.
Art on the Corner – artist’s home-studio sale benefiting food banks, 8 am-4 pm at 39th SW/SW Holden
Silent Disco and Plunge for the Orcas – 11 am-1 pm, dance and swim by the Alki Bathhouse.
Labor Day rally – West Seattle Indivisible plans to sign-wave in support of labor, 11 am-1 pm, at 16th SW/SW Henderson.
Flag ceremony, BBQ, SFD visit – Everyone is welcome at Alki Masonic Lodge‘s annual event, starting with the annual flag-dedication ceremony at noon at 40th/Edmunds, including free burgers/hot dogs, and then visiting firefighters/SFD apparatus at 1 pm.
(See our calendar for more!)
NOT HAPPENING TODAY
-Banking (holiday)
-U.S. Postal Service (holiday)
-Libraries (closed)
-Many Seattle Parks facilities (here’s the closed/open list)
-City Council briefing meeting (councilmembers are back from 2-week end-of-summer break tomorrow)
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET
Cloudy, then clearing, high in the mid-70s. Sunrise will be at 6:28 am, sunset at 7:48 pm.
Police are investigating confirmed gunfire in the Alki area. After 911 calls, they went to look for gunfire evidence, and found casings at 59th/Alki a short time ago. No reports of injuries or property damage so far.
11:14 PM: Avoid Delridge/Trenton – a crash is reported to be blocking the intersection and police have just told dispatch that “one of the parties involved” is getting CPR, but at this early stage they’re “not sure if he was a pedestrian or in a vehicle.”
11:30 PM: Thanks to Corey for the photos. Toward the center of the photo above you can see that one driver went through a fence. We haven’t heard anything further about the status of the person initially reported to be getting CPR.
12:28 AM: Police have just described this over the radio as a suspected case of DUI. Meantime, they’re waiting for an SDOT cleanup crew. whose work will enable the intersection to reopen. And we have an inquiry out to SFD regarding injuries.
1:01 AM: Officers have just told dispatch that the intersection has reopened.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: SFD says two people were treated, neither with life-threatening injuries:
-40-year-old male who was in stable condition. He was transported to Harborview via AMR.
-50-year-old female in stable condition. She was transported to a hospital via AMR.
Deb Achak is a West Seattle-based fine-art photographer. After living in various neighborhoods around the peninsula for almost two decades, in 2013 she and her husband bought and renovated the former Villa Heidelberg B&B along Erskine Way, where they now reside with their two sons, and where she works from her home photography studio. Last year Deb had her first solo fine-art photography exhibition in New York City, and also oversaw the publication of a new monograph: “All The Colors That I Am Inside.” West Seattle Blog senior contributor Christopher Boffoli recently sat down with Deb – who was fresh from travels in the Himalayas, where she was shooting her next project – to talk about how she came to photography, her connection to West Seattle, and the power of intuition.
(All images courtesy Deb Achak Photography)
By Christopher Boffoli
West Seattle Blog senior contributor
Deb Achak didn’t nurture childhood dreams of becoming a visual artist. She didn’t employ Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000-hour rule” in pursuit of a life with a camera in her hands. In fact, you wouldn’t know from looking at the stunning, painterly fine-art images that she produces, that she came to photography fairly late in life, in what she has characterized as a “sudden and demanding compulsion.”
As someone who actually did start young, who has spent decades working at photography, and who still frequently fails at it, it’s hard to not be a bit envious. After all, we photographers can be a competitive lot. Observing Deb’s work often feels like eavesdropping on a conversation of someone particularly eloquent and perceptive. While photography may not have been in her early plans, some of the experiences of her childhood would inform the creative work that would come.
As a girl growing up in Amherst, New Hampshire, a creative career was the furthest thing from her mind. Neither of her parents were exceptionally creative. Both worked long hours supporting the family. There simply wasn’t anyone in her world who provided a blueprint for a career in the arts. Sometimes, though, life has a subtle way of illuminating things that we will circle back on later, even if we’re not initially conscious of it: like acorns that rain down around us, never knowing which ones will find purchase, seek out rays of sun, and later send up green shoots.
“My mother was a crafter. She was a quilter, “ says Deb. “She sewed clothes for us, did needlepoint, made stained glass. But we didn’t think of her as an artist. She worked as an HR director and she did these things at home.” Deb saw these endeavors as hobbies, apart from work life. “I figured you’d always have creative hobbies and then you’d have a real job.”
Deb’s childhood summers were a time of light. New Hampshire isn’t really known for its coastline, all 15 miles of it (18 miles by the most generous estimates). The state’s limited seashore is underwhelming as beaches go. But in the eyes of a child, it might as well have been the French Riviera. Like a lot of blue-collar families in the area, Deb’s spent time during their summers at Hampton Beach.
It’s perhaps not much different now than it was in the ’80s. One might not hear the same “woca-woca-woca” sound of Pac-Man spilling out of the arcades, but across the narrow ribbon of beach, and beyond the gray asphalt perpetually jammed with cars, you’re likely to find the same clam shacks and fried dough stands, T-shirt and souvenir shops, salt-water taffy vendors and people playing Skee-Ball. “We didn’t go to fancy beaches. That’s how we grew up. We didn’t have money.” Deb says that she mostly remembered it as “crowds of people relaxed and at ease, enjoying the ocean.” For what it lacked in luxury, it more than made up in sensory stimulation.
Later she would major in English at the University of New Hampshire, with an minor in studio art. But she claims the latter was more of a casual interest and never something that she imagined as a vocation. “I didn’t have any example of working artists. It wasn’t even on my radar.”
Like many who finished college at the end of the (first) Bush administration, a deep recession made for a challenging job market. Despite working multiple jobs, Deb just found she wasn’t surviving. “So I saved every penny and moved to the West Coast because a friend had moved here.”
Seeking adventure – and hopefully employment – Deb moved to Seattle in 1992. That version of the city would look largely unfamiliar to those moving here now. At the time, though, it seemed to suddenly be on the cultural radar of the world, in the midst of the white-hot success of the grunge music genre. Around this time, Starbucks had its IPO with around 165 total locations. AIDS deaths were still on the rise and Amazon was just a river in South America. Microsoft Windows was on its third version. “Sleepless in Seattle” was filming in town and Cameron Crowe‘s film “Singles” was screening in theaters. The Kingdome was still the city’s main sports and entertainment venue.
Deb couch-surfed with a friend for a while as she scrambled to work multiple jobs including waiting tables, staffing a catering company, and taking on cleaning jobs. At the same time she was diligent about sending out resumes and watching for openings. At length she found more promising prospects in a listing at Harborview, counseling victims at what was then called the sexual-assault center. She soondiscovered that she had a facility for the work, and found it fulfilling. This led her to similar work as a patient-care coordinator at a clinic at the University of Washington, where she liaised with physicians and nurses, helping with coordination between the medical side and law enforcement in pursuing sexual-assault cases. For a while she considered careers in law, or medicine, or mental health. But ultimately she chose social work, pursuing a master’s degree at UW.
Around the same time that she started working on her master’s, she met Ramin, the man who would become her husband. By the end of the ’90s, they decided it was time to buy a house, which led them to West Seattle. Over the next fifteen years they lived in several neighborhoods on the peninsula, during which time they became parents. Looking for something more spacious, they fell in love with the former Villa Heidelberg, which they bought (in 2013) and then spent years meticulously renovating. The exquisite result of that project has been featured in design magazines.
Deb’s transition from a challenging, if fulfilling, career in social work, into motherhood, and then into a multi-year house renovation project, progressively led her to picking up a camera. At first, she says, it was – like it is for a lot of parents – about documenting the childhood of her small children. But as much as she found cameraphones to be convenient, she quickly found herself chafing against the limits of the technology. “I just wanted something better to shoot with,” she says. After her husband gave her a compact Canon DSLR as a gift, her interest was supercharged. “I went everywhere with that camera. I really fell down the rabbit hole. I read the manual and taught myself everything that I possibly could.” Deb says that she set up an account on Flickr, which was very popular around that time, taught herself editing software, and joined every photo club she could find.
Soon after discovering this passion, Deb had an instinct to do something with a package of delicate optics and electronics that maybe wouldn’t be so intuitive to most: she wanted to submerge it in seawater. That risky decision fortunately would not end in disaster. In fact, it became the genesis of her first official series of elevated fine-art images.
This Thursday, Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW) celebrates its 23rd anniversary, and as is often the case with business anniversaries, customers get the gift(s). Hotwire will offer 23 percent off everything on its menu that day, and plans to serve a limited-edition “23 Latte” to celebrate (with touches of brown sugar, Madagascar vanilla, and cinnamon). Proprietor Jeffrey Silva says the shop will be open 6:30 am to 5 pm that day (September 4).
(WSB photo, 2023 flag ceremony @ Alki Lodge)
Our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar includes several special events for tomorrow, including Alki Masonic Lodge‘s annual flag-retirement ceremony, with two bonus community invitations: They’ll be grilling free hamburgers and hot dogs starting at noon – you’re welcome (but not required) to bring a side or dessert for the potluck picnic – and around 1 pm, they’re expecting a visit from local firefighters: “This year we are partnering with the Seattle Fire Department to have firefighters available to show off their trucks and emergency equipment. We are hoping to get the word out to parents who would like their children to get a close look at fire trucks. SFD is scheduling their visit in our parking lot at 1:00 p.m. and expects to be there for about 30 minutes.” Alki Lodge is in The Junction, on the northeast corner of 40th SW/SW Edmunds.
Back to school means back to sports for many – and West Seattle Baseball has two programs it’s pitching with this announcement:
Two opportunities to play baseball this fall!
Fall Ball is West Seattle Baseball’s instructional league for the fall season, combining seasonal drills, stations, and opportunities for kids to advance their skills, build their confidence, and enjoy the game of baseball.
Fall Ball will be divided into three primary divisions: Pinto (8 & Under), Mustang (10 & Under), and Bronco (12 & Under). Tuesdays will be instructional days, building skills, and Fridays will be game-playing days, featuring sandlot baseball.
The season will run from September 9 through October 17. The cost to play is $125.
Sign-up link: go.teamsnap.com/forms/494738
Also:
Coach Ballgame is back at the Pee Wees on September 6 from 5-8 PM!
Coach Ballgame is back at the Pee Wee Fields on Saturday, 9/6! Don’t miss out on one of the best baseball training programs out there. Coach Ballgame and his team lead small, quick drills to build skills for kids to learn the game of baseball. He teaches the games of baseball through stories like Jim Abbott, Roberto Clemente, and more.
Sign-up link: hisawyer.com/coach-ballgame/schedules/activity-set/1365015
The Pee Wee Fields are in Riverview – here’s a map.
When Il Nido, the restaurant at the landmark Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge, announced they had to close temporarily for emergency repairs, the proprietors said they hoped to reopen Tuesday, September 2 – and they’re announcing today that it will indeed happen on schedule:
Il Nido is happy to announce that we’ll be re-opening for dinner service on Tuesday, September 2nd at 4 pm! We have completed our repairs and are now in the process of getting the space back in order and preparing to welcome our guests once again. Although this interruption was unexpected, our staff and community came together to help us overcome this challenge.
The outpouring of support from our guest community was nothing short of remarkable. For example, when we announced our closure, so many of you immediately reached out to buy gift cards. Your generosity truly made our reopening possible and touched us deeply.
We want to give special thanks to:
· Our faithful guests for their incredible support during our closure, especially those who purchased gift cards, sent us supportive messages, or stopped by to see us in person.
· The West Seattle Community for rallying behind us and reminding us what it means to be part of something bigger. West Seattle … Best Seattle!
· Petr and his crew who rebuilt our floor.
· The entire Il Nido staff, ‘The Crows’.
· Our Fir Lodge owners: Matt Schilling and the Schilling Family.
· Scott Grigg for helping me paint parking stripes and varnishing tables.
· Eddia A. from Bee’s Plumbing.
· Bill from AutoChlore.
· Rich Barrientos & Travis Chikamura from Electrical Systems Solutions.We truly cannot wait to welcome everyone back for dinner — you are the heart of Il Nido, and we are deeply grateful for each of you.
Cameron Williams & Chef Katie Gallego
Owners & Partners
Il Nido Restaurant
If you’re relatively new to West Seattle, you might not know about the Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge’s extensive history, including the years of uncertainty over whether it could be saved and restored following a catastrophic fire that closed it for a decade – our coverage is archived here (newest to oldest).
11:16 AM: It’s that time of summer where growers have so much zucchini, you can run out of ideas for using it. Zucchini bread, roasted zucchini, sauteed zucchini … but that’s not all. Once a year, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market offers free zucchini and accessories to marketgoers so they can make and race “vegetable vehicles.” That’s happening at the south end of the market (California/Alaska) right now, until 1 pm, as explained in our preview! Big turnout.
1:22 PM: Adding photos by Dave Gershgorn for WSB:
A wide variety of zucchini racers took to the track – after Kiwanis Club of West Seattle volunteers helped with assembly:
Lots of options to contemplate:
Once they were ready to race, it was on to the track:
Notice the jumbo zucchini in the lower right of the photo above? 3 1/2-year-old Colette Steadman brought that from home, where she and her family grew it from seeds provided by the West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor) Growing Gardeners’ Club (explained in our preview):
Homegrown or not, every zucchini racer was a winner today.
Family and friends of former longtime West Seattleite Jason Grube will gather next Saturday (September 6) tp remember him and celebrate his life. Here’s the remembrance and invitation, they’re sharing:
On Monday, August 4th, we lost Jason Grube.
He was a devoted husband to Shannon, and a loving father to Monty (17), Wolfy (14), and Everest (9). He died in a sudden and tragic bicycle accident at just 48 years old.
Jason was so many things to so many people. He was kind. He was loving. He was creative. And he was generous. He was also wise. And funny. He was curious and he was spiritual, embracing beauty and possibility. He was all of these things and more. But to those who knew him best, he is simply irreplaceable.
A recent journal entry from Jason included the following quote: “Every candle is lit by another flame.” He was so often the other flame, bringing light to our lives, right when we needed it the most.
Now, this is our turn to return the light and the love we have been given. We are raising funds to support Shannon and the boys. Your donations will help cover funeral expenses, household needs, and provide stability as they adjust to life without Jason’s steady presence. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your memories. Thank you for sharing.
Jason Grube’s memorial service and celebration of life (after party) will be held on September 6, 2025, just north of Seattle.
Memorial Service:
2 pm at Branches Church
18350 NE Woodinville Duvall Pl, WoodinvilleCelebration of Life:
4pm at Story Cellars Winery
19501 144th Ave NE STE A500, WoodinvilleIf you knew and loved Jason, you are welcome to join us. The plan is to share lots of memories. If you can’t make it, there will be a livestream of the memorial service with details to follow.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
10:02 AM: Holiday-weekend whale visit! Kersti Muul just told us the T137s – transient killer whales – are in Elliott Bay, by Pier 70, so in binoculars-enhanced range, but let us know if you see them closer in!
1:53 PM: Thanks to James Tilley for the photos, taken when the orcas were in view off Constellation Park south of Alki Point.
(Photo by Stan Delles)
Good morning – here’s what’s up for the second day of Labor Day weekend, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
GARAGE/YARD SALES: See today’s 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!)
ART ON THE CORNER: Local artist Bonnie is selling her work again all three days this weekend to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank, 8 am-4 pm. (39th SW/SW Holden)
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)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Find the market on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, still the heart of summer produce season (stone fruit, berries, cherries, greens, roots), plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, flowers, more.
… PLUS ZUCCHINI RACING! Also at the market today, 11 am-1 pm (at the south end), it’s the fun annual event to make and race “vegetable vehicles,” with support from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle and West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor), as detailed in our preview.
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.
DOCKTON ART WALK: Neighbors on Vashon/Maury Islands invite you to ferry over to visit artists in historic Dockton, 10 am-5 pm.
MONTHLY GRIEF CIRCLE: Whatever you’re grieving, this event promises support, 10:30 am at Nurture Wellbeing (6307 California SW) – registration info’s in our calendar listing.
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)
SPRAYPARK: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open, 11 am-8 pm, second-to-last day of the season.
ART GARDEN OPEN HOUSE: 11 am-2 pm, you’re invited to drop in to this new creative space. (4316 SW Othello)
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.
COLMAN POOL OPEN: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open today noon-7 pm, with four hour-and-a-half swim sessions, each half lap swimming and half open swim – see the schedule here.
WADING POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park,the wading pool is open, second-to-last day of the season, noon-7 pm.
NO ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: One last reminder, tours ended early this year (as explained here).
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)
MUSIC BENEFIT AT TIM’S: 2-10 pm, Good Neighbours Festival with eight bands raising money for two nonprofits. (16th SW/SW 98th, White Center)
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Singer-songwriter Jim Page, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
LISTENING PARTY AT EASY STREET: 3 pm, featuring music by Sabrina Carpenter. Free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
LOWMAN BEACH BENEFIT: 5-9 pm, live music and BBQ at Lowman Beach, to benefit Gaza relief. (7017 Beach Drive SW)
FREE COMMUNITY MEAL: 5:30-6:30 pm at Bethany West Seattle (8600 9th SW), all welcome.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW).
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!
Though it’s called the Boeing Employees Choir, you don’t have to have any affiliation with Boeing in order to join it, so they’re sending out a call for singers as open rehearsals approach. Here’s the announcement:
Singers Wanted!
Gershwin? Brahms? Whitacre? If you love to sing or want to discover your talent, we invite you to join the Boeing Employees Choir (open to all), performing everything from Bach to Broadway.
Open Rehearsals
Starting September 9, 2025
Tuesdays @ 7 PM
Tibbetts United Methodist Church
3940 41st Ave SW, West SeattleFor more info: www.boeingchoir.org
Please let us know by email if you are coming!
Email: president@boeingchoir.org
(Rendering of what the finished project is supposed to look like, from 2021 SPU document)
Along with announcing the upcoming emergency culvert repairs in Fauntleroy, Seattle Public Utilities has announced another project in West Seattle. SPU says work will resume – after almost three years – on a section of its “natural drainage” project near Delridge businesses including The Home Depot and Arco/AM-PM.
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is constructing natural drainage systems (NDS) in the Longfellow Creek Basin to address recurring drainage and flooding issues and provide water quality treatment for street runoff that drains to Longfellow Creek. During construction in 2022, crews encountered unexpected underground conditions and the project at this location was postponed. Construction will resume in mid-September 2025.
LOCATION
Sylvan Way SW between SW Orchard St and Delridge Way SW (near the Home Depot Store)SCHEDULE & HOURS
• Mid-September to end of 2025
• Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pmANTICIPATED IMPACTS
• Noise, dust, and vibrations typical of a construction site
• Full lane closure of Sylvan Way SW between SW Orchard St and Delridge Way SW, and parking restrictions near the work area
• Materials and equipment staged near construction activities
• Access to private property and businesses may be temporarily impacted
• Eastbound King County Metro bus stop may be temporarily impacted or relocated
• Pedestrian detours will be in place
Here’s the full construction-notice one-sheet (PDF).
One day every year, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market celebrates one of the season’s most bountiful harvests by offering zucchini racing – young marketgoers get free zucchini and components to turn them into “vegetable vehicles” which they can then send rolling down a short race course (our video above shows a round of last year’s racing). Tomorrow (Sunday, August 31) is the big day, 11 am-1 pm. Look for the booth at the south end of the market, with volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle there to assist, as well as West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor). Marie from WSN tells us that their Growing Gardeners Club for kids gave members containers with soil and zucchini seeds back in March, in hopes some might grow their own to use in Sunday’s races. Then, earlier this month, members got “little race car kits with a set of wheels and stickers they can use to decorate their racers, and information about the Farmers Market races so they can participate.” A WSN rep will be there tomorrow to see if any members show up to race, and to provide club info to prospective new members. Again, this is 11 am-1 pm tomorrow, during the regular 10 am-2 pm market on California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska.
(Reader photo)
2:08 PM: Thanks for the tip and photo. Northbound California Avenue SW is blocked in the 6900 block right now, just south of Morgan Junction, after a multi-car crash. No one hurt, according to our tipster, but avoid the area for a while. The tipster reports, “Driver heading south swerved or lost control somehow and drove into a car heading northbound as well as a parked car.”
2:37 PM: Police are on scene now; our tipster reports the northbound lane is still blocked.
3:37 PM: Our tipster says both lanes are open now.
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