West Seattle, Washington
28 Tuesday
The next major city levy to expire will be the one that provides a third of the funding for the Seattle Public Library system. We’ll find out tomorrow what Mayor Katie Wilson wants to ask voters to approve to replace the levy when it expires at year’s end. The mayor is scheduled to announce her library-levy proposal at 12:30 pm Tuesday (March 10). The expiring levy was put forward by then-Mayor Jenny Durkan in 2019, a seven-year, $213 million levy that in turn replaced the seven-year, $123 million levy passed by voters in 2012. If you want to know how levy money’s been spent, here’s a page devoted to that info. After the mayor’s announcement tomorrow, the City Council starts reviewing it at 9:30 am Wednesday as the Select Committee on the Library Levy; you can comment at the meetings as well as at a public hearing April 2nd.
Four biznotes from food providers!
THAI-U-UP IN HIGHLAND PARK: Last year, we reported that the owners of the former Morning Star Market site at 9th SW and SW Henderson were exploring ideas for the lot including food trucks. Tonight we got a tip that one is there for a test run – the Thai-U-Up truck, 4-8 pm daily for two weeks. (That’s the truck that was at the 30th/Roxbury gas station for years.)
CRAVE IN MORGAN JUNCTION: The Filipino street food pop-ups by Crave at The Neighborhood in Morgan Junction are now happening every Tuesday instead of every other Tuesday, 4-8 pm or until sold out. (Tuesdays are a night The Neighborhood, at 6503 California SW, would otherwise be closed.)
DINNER AT THE ALHADEFF: With its renowned Culinary Arts program, South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) is famous for food. Its sit-down Alhadeff Dining Room is offering three nights of prix-fixe dinners next week, 6 pm March 17-18-19, by reservation, $45/person. Above is the Wednesday menu (18th); see the Tuesday (17th) menu here and the Thursday menu (19th) here. For reservations, email david.hatfield@seattlecolleges.edu.
WINE DINNER WITH DARBY X DRIFTWOOD: Driftwood Restaurant co-proprietor Jackie Mallahan sends word they’re selling tickets for a multi-course dinner April 23rd on their terrace (2722 Alki SW) in partnership with West Seattle Junction-based Darby Winery: “Guests will enjoy a multi-course chef’s menu paired with Darby wines, guided by the winemaker and Chef Dan Mallahan. Throughout the evening, you’ll hear stories from the cellar and the kitchen, ask questions, and experience the collaborative spirit that makes each pairing shine.” Tickets are $150, available here.
(WSB photos)
With spring less than two weeks away, garden prep work is top of mind for many people – including high-school students at Summit Atlas in Arbor Heights. They’re launching the second year for the school’s giving garden, created by AP Environmental Science students last school year:
Mondays are club days in the afternoon study-hall period, and that’s why the Gardening Club was out at work on the southwest side of the campus, with two special visitors:
At center is Denis Sapiro from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle and at left is Erik Bell from A Cleaner Alki. Denis was there to present a $100 grant to the club, which is working to raise $500 to support its work this year; Erik brought tools from his legendary cleanup operation, including a weeding tool that was in use in a very special section of the garden:
That’s “Jeni’s Garden,” we were told, named for a classmate who died. It’ll be filled with purple flowers, because that was Jeni’s favorite color. The rest of the garden, upslope from this section, will be focused on produce to be donated to local food banks; the students, advised by educator Ayla Wilk, are raising seedlings including peas, tomatoes, and cabbage.
We’re almost through day 1 of the three-day closure of the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge. Since buses do usually use the bridge, some readers were wondering why no reroute advisory had appeared. We asked Metro, whose spokesperson Jeff Switzer explains:
Routes 113, 131 and 132 are rerouted during the state’s emergency work; however, buses continue to serve every one of the bus stops for these routes and no bus stops are missed.
In this situation, we don’t issue a transit alert as, from the riders’ perspective, there isn’t an impact to where they board or exit. We appreciate riders’ patience while we reroute around this important emergency work.
Overview
131 and 132: Regular route southbound from Downtown Seattle to Burien Transit Center; switches to the South Park Bridge traveling northbound from Burien to Downtown Seattle.
113: Regular route to Shorewood from Downtown Seattle; switches to the South Park Bridge traveling to Downtown Seattle from 26th Avenue SW/SW 116th Street
This closure is supposed to end by 8 pm Wednesday (March 11), at which time all northbound lanes will be open, though the temporary 25 mph speed limit will continue. A longer repair closure is expected next month, and a full bridge deck replacement next year.
By students, for students! This spring, the first-ever West Seattle Math Competition will challenge middle-schoolers to test their skills. An organizer’s parent asked us to share this announcement – if there’s a middle-school student in your household, be sure they’ve heard about this, because signups are happening now!
West Seattle Math Competition is a small group of middle school students who have been competing in the Math Counts competition throughout their middle school careers – and they have decided to put together their own math competition! They have designed their own website and have written all of the problems themselves. It is very impressive what they have done and myself and the other parents involved are very proud of them.
The competition is put together BY middle school students and is FOR middle school students. The competition will be held at the Admiral HUB in West Seattle (the old Admiral Church building) from 12 PM to 5 PM on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Registration is OPEN and will close on April 18, 2026. This event is for ALL middle school students grades 6-8. Kids can sign up individually or as teams of 2 to 4. If you check out their website, there is a ton of information about signing up, how the competition is structured, as well as sample problems within the Registration tab.
Find all that by going here.
Whether you’re selling or shopping, if you’re planning to be part of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day this year, we are here to remind you it is exactly two months away: always the second Saturday in May, and that’s relatively early this year, Saturday, May 9! WSB has coordinated WSCGSD since its fourth year (2008); it’s not just one big sale, but rather hundreds of sales of all sizes (more than 500 last year) all around the peninsula and a bit beyond, depending on who decides to sign up. We’ll open registration on April 1 and keep it open for a little over three weeks; watch for the announcement here when we’re ready, then get ready to browse, buy, and/or sell 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 9, 2026!
Though the Sound Transit Board is still weeks/months away from decisions about revising West Seattle light rail to get the projected cost closer to the available funding, a new city survey about station-area planning is out today. The survey only asks about Delridge and Junction station areas, a further reminder that the Avalon station is in the cost-cutting crosshairs. The survey is from the city Office of Planning and Community Development, which has planning processes under way for the Junction station area and Delridge station area, and that’s reflected in the survey, which only asks about those two, and includes this map – note that the areas of focus go far beyond the immediate vicinity of even just those two station locations:
Here’s how the survey is explained:
The City of Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) and the Seattle Department of Transportation are kicking off a Station Area Planning effort in the West Seattle Junction and Delridge areas.
“Station area planning” is separate from Sound Transit’s light rail station design and construction. While Sound Transit determines where and how stations are built, the City of Seattle’s role is to work with communities to decide what happens in the neighborhoods that are ½ mile to 1 mile from the stations over the next 20 years. This includes decisions about housing, transportation, places for community to gather, safe streets, job access, and local businesses.
How to be involved
Take a brief community survey. Share your insights and experiences by March 27, 2026: bit.ly/StationAreaSurvey
The survey deadline is March 27. A major touchpoint ahead in Sound Transit planning, meantime, is the board retreat March 18, by which time the board is supposed to receive cost-cutting “scenarios” for projects including West Seattle light rail.
That video shows a burglar trying unsuccessfully for a minute and a half to pry open the drive-up/ride-up window at West Bay Coffee and Smoothies (2255 Harbor SW) around 5 am today, before the glass finally breaks. The video was provided by proprietor Jennifer, who tells WSB, “Nothing major stolen – milk, orange juice, music speaker and our terminal for cashing customers out.” West Bay is open but still awaiting the window replacement. Here’s another look at the burglar (who as seen at the video’s end had an accomplice) and car:
If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 26-065511.
Thanks to Jerry Simmons for the almost-spring photo! Here’s what’s on our list for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE TAX HELP: 11 am-4 pm drop-in help at Alki Masonic Center. (4736 40th SW)
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). Free.
‘SOLUTIONS, NOT RESOLUTIONS’: Weekly speaker series continues with 1 pm presentation on “Benefits of Advanced Planning” at Brookdale West Seattle (4611 35th SW). Our calendar listing explains how to RSVP.
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Cookie Booth season continues – find your nearest sellers here!
FREE HOMEWORK HELP: Drop-in assistance for K-12 students at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group gathering for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee; before you go, RSVP/register here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 3: Three venues for trivia/quiz tonight! 6:30 and 7:30 pm at Easy Street Records, it’s Music Quiz Monday … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
MEDITATE IN ALKI: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC is back this week, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
CHESS NIGHT AT MISSION CANTINA: 7 pm in the upstairs mezzanine: “All levels of chess players welcome. 5- and 10-minute games, over the board chess.” (2325 California SW)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players! You can enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
MEDITATE IN FAUNTLEROY: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 9 pm Mondays, karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Big thanks to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
8:55 AM: A texter reports three orcas in Elliott Bay, “way in next to container wharves!” Let us know if you see them too.
4:05 PM: Thanks to Steven Rice for sending photos from this morning’s visit, which he says happened fast!
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, March 9, 2026, the scheduled start of a 3-day repair closure for the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge. One major detour for people coming from the south will be across the South Park Bridge:
The West Seattle low bridge is an alternative for crossing the river, too.
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.
BUS REROUTES: Metro hadn’t posted any as of early today but check here.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Rain/snow mix possible this morning, says the forecast – high in the upper 40s. Daylight Saving Time is here, so it’s unrise at 7:33 am; sunset at 7:06 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for any changes to the 3-boat schedule.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes.
MORESPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
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.
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!
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