West Seattle, Washington
26 Thursday
Here are five crime reports we received today:
BUSINESS BURGLARY: El Chupacabra on Alki reports a break-in early today, and says it wasn’t the first:
Early Sunday morning, El Chupacabra Alki was broken into by 3 individuals. We were broken into 2 weeks ago and believe it may be the same group.
If you have any information for police, refer to incident # 26-030686.
ANOTHER ABANDONED VEHICLE: An apparently dumped vehicle has turned up in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, for the second consecutive day, Brian reports:
Joining yesterday’s van is yet another dumped vehicle in the Greenbelt this morning. The trails and fields are also becoming a muddy, rutted out mess and it’s a sad trajectory this usually peaceful space is on.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT: Another reader reports, “The catalytic converter was stolen from our 1984 Toyota truck this morning. Our neighbors, whose newer Toyota had its catalytic converter stolen last week, heard sawing at 4 am this morning and saw it was our truck. We are on the 5400 block of Beach Drive, and a police report has been filed.” (Here’s the report from a week earlier.)
PACKAGE THEFTS: Finally, two package-theft reporters, with video. First, from Lerah:
A package was stolen from my front door this morning at 8:31 am in the 9000 block of 17th Ave SW.
Second, from Michelle:
We were hit by a porch pirate on Friday, 1/23/26 in broad daylight in the North Admiral area, on a dead-end street no less. The individual walked up our front steps carrying an empty cardboard box, set it down next to the much larger box filled with over $400 worth of human-grade frozen dog food (our pup’s food stock for the next month), which he nonchalantly picked up and turned tail back down the stairs with. Someone replied (on the Ring network comments) that someone with a similar build also stole their package the day before, and was seen leaving in a red truck. Not sure anything will come of this, but due to the value of the stolen merchandise, I just wanted to put this out there for attention.
The SPD report # is 26-901956.
PHOTOS BY DAVE GERSHGORN FOR WSB
The West Seattle Junction Association‘s first-ever Sweet Stroll this afternoon was sweet indeed – the $20 tickets for tastes at five Junction venues were sold out days before the event. Photojournalist Dave Gershgorn captured some scenes for WSB. Above, A La Mode Pies was the starting spot, where ticketholders could pick up “passports” to get stamped at all five participating businesses for an entry to a prize drawing. The pie tastes they were offering were raspberry crumble a la mode and cookies & cream:
Across the street at Panterelli Patisserie, proprietor Jacques Nawar was serving profiteroles:
Two doors west, Molly Moon’s Ice Cream offered a mini-flight of seasonal flavors:
The Junction’s most-famous purveyor of sweets, Bakery Nouveau, served Sweet Stroll-ers their choice of traditional croissant, sakura petit-four, or brownie:
And at Top Pot Doughnuts, it was a double-chocolate treat – hot chocolate doughnut and mini hot chocolate:
Wondering what’s up next in The Junction? Here’s this year’s event schedule so far – if you’re a fan of the twice-yearly Wine Walk, first one is set for May 15.
(Screengrab from 8:09 pm)
8:11 PM: This was supposed to be fairly quick but for some reason it’s taking crews a while to reposition a barrier near the Fauntleroy end of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge, and dozens of drivers are stuck waiting. If you have to head eastbound, get on the bridge another way.
8:15 PM: The dispatcher just told SPD that SDOT needs “traffic control” for another barrier fix closer to the bridge entrance at 35th; an officer replied, “Just as soon as this one gets figured out.” So avoid 35th/Fauntleroy entirely for a while.
8:19 PM: The live camera just east of 35th shows SDOT now blocking the inside eastbound lane but the others have reopened.
8:30 PM: Now they’re blocking all eastbound lanes again just past the Fauntleroy entrance, per police radio.
9:27 PM: Still blocked, per live view on traffic cameras.
10:34 PM: We’ve been checking the live feed every few minutes; it’s just reopened.
Tomorrow (Monday, February 2) is the first official weekday on the job for Ben Shuldiner, the new Seattle Public Schools superintendent, coming here from Lansing, Michigan. If you’re interested in hearing from him as he gets started, the district plans to livestream a media briefing scheduled to start at 8 am Monday at Mercer Middle School on Beacon Hill. During the briefing, the district preview says:
-School Board President Gina Topp will deliver brief remarks and administer the oath of office to Shuldiner.
-Afterward, Shuldiner will speak about his excitement for rolling up his sleeves and getting to work, spending time in each and every school and their classrooms, and collaborating with communities to build the best schools for all our students.
-Stepping into office in the aftermath of Friday evening’s tragedy in the Rainier Beach neighborhood, Shuldiner will also emphasize his commitment to acting to strengthen student safety and security.
The briefing will be livestreamed via the district’s YouTube channel. (Here’s what Shuldiner told WSB in an interview after the School Board chose him as the lone finalist for the job last fall.)
5:55 PM: If you’re headed this way from points north, avoid southbound Highway 99 – a crash is blocking the ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge. No other details yet.
6:29 PM: Officers have just told dispatch that the ramp has reopened.
Story and photos by Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
South Delridge’s Nacho Mama’s Fry Bread Cafe (9418 Delridge Way SW) is back after a months-long closure for remodeling, and owner Debra Lecomb is looking forward to welcoming in the community for more than its namesake menu offerings.
The updated space is light and bright, featuring a new tile-faced bar area, new floors, updated decorations and furniture and some kitchen improvements, including a commercial dishwasher. Lecomb also added a raised stage area in the corner for musicians to play. She has Marlee Walker booked to play blues on Friday nights from 5-8.
Nacho Mama’s menu is still largely the same, with fry bread as a featured part of everything from breakfasts to tacos, and sundaes to PB&J sandwiches. There are nachos too, and breakfast served all day. Lecomb learned to make fry bread from her grandmother, a skill that she says isn’t as simple as following a recipe. She prepares all of the dough herself.
Lecomb is invested, not just in the food but in the space itself. She says it took more than a year of working nights after her two day jobs to get the space cleaned up and ready to open initially in 2022. Lecomb says it had been broken into, vandalized and occupied by transients before she took it over. This latest 4-month remodel, partly funded by a city grant, allowed her to make some of the finishing touches that she wasn’t able to do the first time around. She’s in it for the long haul: “To be able to work efficiently and stay here for a long time and be here for the community and give back.”
The only vestige of the former Hoang Kim Vietnamese restaurant that Lecomb kept is a mural by artist Sarah Robbins on the north wall. “There was all kinds of graffiti all over these walls, a dragon going down the wall. The ravens were here — I kept them.” Now they are the backdrop for the stage and anchor a space that Lecomb is really excited about. Plus, she now has some help in the kitchen — a family friend who moved here to lend a hand. “I was doing everything by myself. I was cooking, serving, shopping, prepping. Jacob’s been wonderful to me and I really appreciate him.”
Nacho Mama’s is open 7 days: Monday and Tuesday 11 am-9 pm and the rest of the week from 10 am-8 pm.
2:17 PM: Get over to Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – the root beer’s free this afternoon! The historic “community center for the arts” is famous for its root-beer floats, so they’re free during the “Root Beer Social” open house, which continues until 4 pm – Löcol root beer, Husky Deli ice cream.
It’s a chance to wander in for a look at the renovations that closed the 110-year-old hall since midsummer – and some of the memorabilia turned up during the work. More photos to come!
2:56 PM: That’s Kenyon Hall’s Murphy Janssen cutting the ribbon. Meantime, Kyle Canaday is today’s guest organist on The Mighty Wurlitzer:
Here’s some of the memorabilia, including items from the venue’s days as Hokum Hall, and even items from the community sports teams sponsored in the Olympic Heights Social Hall days:
Also the tribute to Kenyon Hall’s longtime operator Lou Magor:
If you didn’t get to any of the reopening-weekend events, you can check out one of the upcoming performances – next one, The Morsel Trio, on Saturday (February 7).
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
1:10 PM: Today, the mythical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is apparently underwater – or afloat – judging by the rainbow photos we’ve received (thank you!).
(Reader photo via text)
Meantime, the National Weather Service says the weather’s warming up – Tuesday through Friday, the highs are predicted to be in the upper 50s!
3:24 PM: One more view, from Jerry Simmons, showing “the other end” of the rainbow:
One week until the Seahawks take on New England in the Super Bowl. Signs of Seahawks support are showing up around the region – this was sent by Samantha at Nucor‘s West Seattle steel mill (WSB sponsor), where a familiar figure is now sporting blue and green:
In case you’re collecting signs of Seahawk spirit from around West Seattle, we wanted to share our Steel Man at Nucor.
Anybody else with team-spirit displays as the week goes on – or venues with Super Bowl watch parties (which we’re adding to our event calendar) – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
(Olympics photographed on Saturday by James Bratsanos)
Welcome to the second half of the weekend! Here’s our highlight list from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SUNDAY FUNDAY RUNDAY: The Westies Run Club starts its 9 am run at Hagosa’s House today. (4800 Delridge Way SW)
FREE WEST AFRICAN DANCE CLASS: Go get moving! 9:30 am at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale).
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Also in The Junction, weekly Sunday morning games at the new location of The Missing Piece (4707 California SW), 9:30 am.
SUNDAY MORNING MEDITATION: See if there’s space in the small-group meditation session at 9:30 am at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Open as usual on California SW between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, now in winter produce-and-products season – roots, greens, peppers, mushrooms, cabbage, beans, garlic, apples, more – plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, pasta, more.
FREE NIA CLASS: Begins at 10:15 am; first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary. (3618 SW Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to find it at, and 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 RESIST: Regular weekly West Seattle Resist Sunday sign-holding event, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. South of Farmers’ Market. (California SW and SW Alaska)
KENYON HALL ROOT BEER SOCIAL: This open house wraps up Reopening Weekend at the historic hall, 2-4 pm; visit to see the renovations as well as memorabilia from its century-plus history. (7904 35th SW)
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Spend part of your Sunday afternoon relaxing at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
SWEET STROLL, SOLD OUT! If you don’t already have ticket(s) for the first-ever West Seattle Junction Sweet Stroll 2-5 pm today, sorry, they’re sold out, so this is just a reminder to those who do, as well as a potential answer to “what’s going on in The Junction?” today after the market.
WEST SEATTLE MODERN CLASSIC BOOK CLUB: 3 pm, this month’s book is “Confessions of a Mask” by Yukio Mishima. Gather at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor).
MUSIC AT C & P: 3-5 pm, singer/songwriter Jim Page provides music to go with your beverages at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
WEST SEATTLE SCHOOL OF ROCK @ TIM’S TAVERN: Two shows, 3:30 pm (“Fleetwood Mac meets Heart”) and 7:30 pm (“Devo vs. The Cars”), ticket info here. (9655 16th SW, White Center)
SCREAMING AT LINCOLN PARK: The monthly gathering of Scream Club Seattle is at 4:30 pm on the Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) waterfront, picnic shelter #4.
ASTRA LUMINA: Held over iinto February, the celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 5:45 pm and onward tonight. Tickets and info here.
UNDERGROUND TRIVIA AT CORNER POCKET: 7:30 pm, play for free, win prizes! (4302 SW Alaska)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 8-10 pm, end your weekend with live music 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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