West Seattle, Washington
13 Monday
Story, photos, and video by Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
This afternoon, community members gathered at West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center to celebrate Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The event was hosted by the Trần Hưng Đạo foundation, the nonprofit group that operates the center.
To start off the event, the crowd was called to attention by emcee Thúy Nguyễn, with an explanation that 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, thought to represent energy, vitality, grace, and free spirit, and hopes tthat the horse would “bring you into the joyous year ahead. … May this year find you abound in good health and your family be blessed with luck, love, and prosperity!”
Then came a flag ceremony carried out by Vietnamese military veterans, raising the flag of South Vietnam and singing its anthem, after a salute to the U.S. flag. There was also a moment of silence to honor the fallen U.S. and Vietnamese service members from the Vietnam War.
After the conclusion of the ceremony, onlookers were invited to watch a lion dance performed by Vovinam Burien.
Appearances were made by two city councilmembers, Seattle’s Rob Saka and Tukwila’s Jane Ho, who provided short speeches and expressions of gratitude for being invited to the celebration.
(Center director Lee Bui with Councilmember Rob Saka)
Councilmember Saka – representing District 1 including West Seattle, South Park, SODO, Pioneer Square and Georgetown – took to the microphone first. He extended congratulations to fellow Councilmember Ho in light of her recent election, and added that as one of the few local elected officials of Vietnamese ancestry, her representation matters. He continued thanking volunteers from the foundation, including for their support of unhoused neighbors in the community.
Ho, a graduate of West Seattle High School and a newly elected member of the Tukwila City Council, followed. She affirmed Saka’s notion of representation by adding that it was an honor to be representing the Vietnamese community. She thanked the Bui family – center director Lee Bui and his daughter Lynda Bui – for enabling her to celebrate the Lunar New Year this afternoon.
At the conclusion of the speeches, attendees were invited to eat and socialize. An array of food was served outside, with some portions placed on the indoor altar to be shared with the ancestors.
Other aspects of the traditional altar were incense, flowers, fruit, as well as the five-color flag representing the five fundamental elements of the universe. Music ensued and some participants opted to sing karaoke while others ate. Celebrations were somewhat rushed this year, however, because of continuous rain.
Eventually, the center will have an indoor space in a building under construction on the property along SW Orchard west of Delridge Way. Lynda Bui said the building would serve as a retail front, with living spaces as well as a hall to support the cultural center. However, construction is currently on hold.
The Trần Hưng Đạo foundation’s next community event at the Vietnamese Cultural Center will honor the Trung Sisters on March 14. The sisters were integral in “raising an army to fight colonial oppression, earning them a place in history,” according to the Vietnamese Cultural Center website.
9:28 PM: Thanks to the texter who tipped us that the 35th entrance to the eastbound West Seattle Bridge is closed. Live traffic camera doesn’t show the blocking but the lack of traffic seems to substantiate; we haven’t found any official alerts to verify, and there are no crashes logged, but the texter – traveling westbound – says it appeared to be another case of barriers pushed out of place.
9:34 PM: We don’t know how long the closure lasted but it’s over now, with eastbound traffic streaming back onto the bridge, and an SDOT Response Team truck being reloaded with the signage that was in place just out of the camera’s view.
Though the sign that’s been on the door for more than three months says Miso at 16th SW and SW Holden is “temporarily” closed, right under the NOW OPEN banner, the closure appears to be permanent. We noticed in a routine check of commercial listings that the small restaurant space next to the Seamart convenience store is up for lease and is described as “vacant.” Miso originally opened as a Korean restaurant in September 2023 but eventually broadened the menu to include teriyaki/wok offerings, and had a two-week closure in 2024. The space was previously home to Wanna Burger and Teriyaki, and the original home of legendary Zippy’s Giant Burgers before that.
(WSB photo, March 2025 rally outside WWV Post Office)
Just got word of a rally outside Westwood Village Post Office on Sunday morning. The National Association of Letter Carriers is starting contract talks and planning rallies outside dozens of post offices Sunday. Our tipster explains, “Our union is beginning negotiations for our next contract with USPS. Our branch for the Seattle area is having our rally at the Westwood post office and would love to see folks out supporting our local mail carriers!” (Here’s what the union says it’s “fighting for.”) The rally will be one of seven in our state and is set for 11 am. It’s been eleven months since a rally outside the same post office, attended by more than 100 people, in opposition to feared privatization of the Postal Service.
Lots of reopenings in our news stream lately. Thanks to the reader who texted us that photo today, with a banner showing March 1 as the reopening date for I Luv Teriyaki just across the 1st Avenue S. Bridge from West Seattle. Lots of interest in this restaurant, closed since an afterhours fire – ruled accidental – gutted it three years ago. We went by just a few days ago and the only new banner was one for job openings, so this is new since then. Restaurant co-owner Eva Lo told WSB in late January that they planned to open in about a month; March 1 fits that timeframe (and that’s two days before the third anniversary of the fire).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The first enthusiastic users of Hiawatha Community Center this morning, once the ribbon was cut and the doors were open, were the youngest ones.
Hiawatha’s downstairs gym quickly filled with toddlers and preschoolers zooming around.
(WSB photos from here by Dave Gershgorn)
Among them, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson‘s daughter Josie, who accompanied her mom for a brief speech pre-ribboncutting, in which Wilson declared community centers to be far more than “just amenities”:
She also hailed the conversion of Hiawatha to all-electric: “Our oldest community center is leading the way on our energy future.” As you also saw in that clip, the mayor was followed by District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka, who (accompanied by daughter Maeve) noted the “who’s who of West Seattle” present for the reopening, and acknowledged the community advocates who pushed the city steadily to make sure the work to strengthen and renovate the 115-year-old center got done.
(Wilson and Saka with former Mayor Greg Nickels, longtime Hiawatha advocate Sharon Nickels, and Maeve Saka)
The center closed in 2020 for the pandemic and then stayed closed because the work seemed imminent, but – as we chronicled here many times – was not. A variety of delays dragged the closure out to almost six years; the eventual price tag, more than $7 million. In her speech today, interim Seattle Parks superintendent Michele Finnegan apologized:
But then, as DJ George Yasutake spun party music like Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration,” it was time to hand ribboncutting scissors to both dignitaries and young community members:
Here’s our clip of the snip:
The party inside included a spread catered by West Seattle’s own Husky Deli:
Parks and Rec swag, too:
If you didn’t get to the celebration, here’s the plan for Hiawatha in the weeks ahead:
Through March 6, there’s drop-in programming –
*Tot Gym 10 am to noon Mondays and Wednesdays
*Fitness Room 10 am-2 pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (18 and over)
*Open Gym 2 pm-6 pm Tuesdays and Thursday, 10 am-2 pm Fridays (18 and over)
After that and continuing into June, programming expands to add badminton, pickleball, and basketball (adults except for basketball, which also will be offered for youth) – see the schedule on the center webpage.
(WSB photo, last year’s recycling event)
Reminder, with one month to go – on the first full day of spring, you’ll get a chance to jump-start spring cleaning and de-cluttering with the first big recycling event of the season. New location this time for the 9 am-noon Saturday, March 21, event – the south lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) instead of the north lot. We’re still awaiting the official list of what will be accepted at this free event coordinated by the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, but typically it’s a variety of recyclables/reusables, and shredding.
(The Brothers, photographed Friday morning by James Bratsanos)
Happy Saturday! The highlights are as usual mostly from the West Seattle Event Calendar:
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: At West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), you can join the Saturday 8 am free group run.
FREE MEDITATION: Get a quiet start to the weekend with Heavily Meditated, 9 am free meditation at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska).
INTRODUCTORY WALK and WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 9:30 am, walk a mile before the 10 am well-being walk (or just show up for that one). Both start from 47th SW and Fontanelle.
HIAWATHA CC GRAND REOPENING: 10 am-noon celebration of Hiawatha Community Center‘s reopening after six years! Ribbon-cutting, kid activities, tours, free beverages, music, more. (2700 California SW)
SSC GARDEN CENTER: 10 am-3 pm, open today! North end of campus at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor)
KNIFE-SHARPENING POP-UP: Kneighborhood Knives is back at Hotwire Coffeehouse (4410 California SW), 10 am-5 pm.
PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Visit the Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW) 10 am-noon.
MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am free, weekly, in-person, critique-free group – details in our calendar listing.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), geared toward families with kids up to 5 years old.
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open, noon-4 pm (61st SW and SW Stevens).
NEW YEAR AT VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center celebrates Vietnamese New Year, noon-2 pm, with a lion dance, flag-raising, martial arts, food, more. Free. (2236 SW Orchard)
MENDING AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: White Center Solidarity is organizing this community mending/repairing event, noon-3 pm, no cover. (9444 Delridge Way SW)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open, with wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
YOGA & NUTRITION WORKSHOP: 1-3 pm at Lagom Studios (4509 SW Wildwood Place) in Fauntleroy – our calendar listing has full details.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: Open 1-6 pm on north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
GARDEN PLANNING: 1:30-3 pm, preregister for this workshop at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
FREE MASSAGE: 3-5 pm walk-in clinic offering short, specific massages at Nepenthe. (9447 35th SW)
CYBER UNICORN STORY HOUR: 5:30-8 pm open-mic series at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm at C & P Coffeehouse (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Roo Forrest and Friends perform. Free, all ages.
ASTRA LUMINA: Held over into late winter, the celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, first admission 6:15 pm. Tickets and info here; extended through February.
LISTENING PARTY: 7 pm, be at Easy Street Records to be among the first to hear Mitski‘s new music. (4559 California SW)
HOTTIES OF COMEDY: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW): “Featuring six incredible comedians from the Pacific Northwest, this night is all about big laughs, bold perspectives, and redefining what it really means to be ‘hot’.”
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG: Online tickets are sold out for ArtsWest‘s 7:30 pm performance, but you can check at the box office to see if anything opened up. (4711 California SW)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: 8 pm show with Shell the Ghost, Far Far Far, Midnight Snack, $12 at the door. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
REVELRY ROOM: 9 pm, Deejay Hershe. (4547 California SW)
SK8 PARTY: 9 pm-midnight at Southgate Roller Rink (9676 17th SW), with rotating DJs spinning old-school funk & hip-hop, $18 plus $5 skate rental.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Have a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome to a listing on our calendar, free of charge, always! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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