West Seattle, Washington
15 Friday
That’s the first sign for a Saturday sale that we’ve seen – and we’re pretty sure it’s for an official West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day sale, as Sale #117 is at 57th and Orleans. We saw the sign, however, in Gatewood, more than three miles from the sale location. Not too soon to put out signs if you feel like it, since we’re now just 60 hours away from the official start of WSCGSD at 9 am Saturday (May 9)! Even if you’ve already looked through the online map, remember to check back for updates including mini-lists and last-minute cancellations (we can’t drop sales from the printable list, just the clickable list, so we make notes on that page of which ones to scratch out). Now,our mini-lists tonight – music!
VINYL RECORDS
#40 (old record player), #122, #143 (vintage jazz records), #196, #395, #409, #428, #432, #454, #480, #554, #614, #653, #655
HUGE VINYL SALE
Sale #409 is Kenyon Hall‘s Vinyl Swap ‘n’ Spin at 7904 35th SW, “hosting vinyl sellers/collectors from the West Side and Greater Seattle – with Live DJs spinning all morning & afternoon.” Also collecting nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
#40 (guitar pedals), #76 (unspecified “musical instruments”), #87 (piano), #156 (keyboard), #159 (guitars), #206 (free piano), #244 (guitar. pedals), #256 (guitars), #302 (guitars), #363 (drum kit), #432 (guitar pedals), #448 (guitar), #534 (vintage alto saxophone)
HUGE GUITAR SALE
Sale #502 is Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor), which has a Garage Sale Day sale every year but this year is really doing it up big because – like many WSCGSD sellers – proprietor Frank Gross is having a Moving Sale, before TRG moves to its bigger new HQ in Admiral. If you want to see the full list of what TRG is selling on Saturday, you can email seattle@thunderroadguitars.com to ask for it.
QUIRKY MUSIC-RELATED ITEM
Sale #16 is offering “vintage rock-concert T-shirts.”
That’s it for tonight’s mini-lists but we’re working on multiple updates for tomorrow as time is flying. We’re also finalizing the list of who’s interested in donations post-sale, so if your nonprofit or other organization is looking for specific items, email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com ASAP – thank you! Again, the clickable map is here; the printable list (38 pages, PDF) is here!
P.S. WSCGSD Weather Watch: Mostly sunny, high of 72.
Kamala hopes somebody has seen items taken when her car was broken into:
My car was broken into today between 8am-1:30pm near 30th and Roxbury. A pink metallic bag was taken that contained a lot of personal dance items. I dance with Bailadores de Bronce, and a number of my dance shoes and specific headpieces and accessories are now gone. They won’t be worth anything to the taker, but it will be a large undertaking for me to replace everything. Hoping someone in West Seattle might find the contents dumped somewhere?
Here are photos Kamala sent of some of the stolen items:
(And others.) If you think you’ve found one or more of these items, please let us know and we’ll connect you.
(Google Maps image, looking north on 63rd from Admiral)
With all the traffic-calming features installed in the Alki area so far, including speed bumps across 60th, 61st, and 62nd, residents have asked why not 63rd too, given its use as a straightaway south of Alki Avenue. We asked SDOT again recently and got an answer today: It will get some too, though not any time soon. That answer came in connection with a package of other traffic calming, according to our response from SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:
We’ve been focused on traffic calming in the Alki neighborhood and recently installed speed cushions on 60th Ave SW, 61st Ave SW, and 62nd Ave SW to help reduce speeding on nearby north-south streets.
We’re planning to extend similar treatments to 63rd Ave SW between SW Admiral Way and Alki Ave SW, with installation anticipated as early as next year.
Separately, additional traffic calming improvements are under consideration along Alki Ave SW between 58th Ave SW and 63rd Ave SW through the District Project Fund. These could include speed cushions, raised centerlines to encourage slower turns, and intersection visibility upgrades. These proposals are not yet finalized and will ultimately be decided by the City Council.
We also asked about the status of the flashing beacons at 63rd/Beach Drive, where the poles have been up, waiting the lights, for months now, and Bergerson says it could be months more: “We are still awaiting equipment and will move forward with installation once materials arrive, which we expect in the coming months.”
SIDE NOTE: District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka and his staff released a sheaf of updates on other transportation projects this afternoon; we’ll have a report on those later toight.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Center for Active Living “wants to be your community gathering place,” even if you’re not a senior – yet.
So declared The Center’s executive director Amy Lee Derenthal as she spoke to supporters at Tuesday’s “The Center of It All” benefit breakfast, an event so big that it has a new home, Brockey Center at South Seattle College. Besides The Center’s own West Seattle Junction building being a “community gathering place,” she said while making the case for giving, it is also a home to services that you might not need when you first start visiting in your 50s or 60s, “but that eventually become absolutely essential.” Here’s everything Derenthal told the crowd:
A theme woven through the speakers was that The Center is more than it seems, in so many ways. Each week, myriad health and fitness classes are offered (you can see them on The Center’s calendar). Line-dance teacher Chris Banta noted that her specialty isn’t just performed to country music – she and her students have line-danced recently to decidedly not-country artists like Elvis Costello and The Spice Girls.
She didn’t lead a demonstration, but Tai Chi teacher Richard Lazeres did, saying he’d do his best to condense 30 years of teaching into five minutes:
(We also note, checking The Center’s calendar for this report, Lazeres is leading a birding class there as we write!) In a nod to the calendar date – May 5th – Cinco de Mayo music was provided by the mariachi musicians of Estrellas de México, before breakfast was served.
During breakfast, the most moving story came from Katy Aversenti Schumaker, a Center board member who talked about her mom’s time at The Center, while fighting eventually deadly cancer
For anyone in the crowd who wasn’t already a Center volunteer and/or member, a new “Day at The Center” video was shown to give them a taste of what happens there, day in and day out (and some nights too!)
As a fundraiser, this event was fairly simple – rather than auctions, there was a raffle, with tickets sold in the early going, and a monetary donation opportunity toward the end. Attendees had been reminded that memberships only cover 10 percent of The Center’s budget. Some of it comes from grants and government allocations – one elected official that got a shout-out for being there was District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka:
Now that the final totals are in today, Derenthal had this message for supporters:
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Annual Fundraising Breakfast, “The Center Of It All.” It was such a joy to see so many new and familiar faces celebrating together. I’m proud to share that we had 300 people in attendance, a new record for this event!
To our donors who couldn’t be there in person but still contributed to our campaign, thank you! Your support of our work means the world to me.
And a big thank you to Nucor, who surprised us again with a $12,000 matching gift, on top of their already generous sponsorship.
I’m excited to share that, thanks to you, we exceeded our $125,000 fundraising goal and raised more than $150,000! These funds will have a lasting impact on our organization, putting us in a great position to serve more community members in 2026.
Kudos to our peer-to-peer fundraisers, table captains, board members and volunteers for their help to make our event a success.
The message at the heart of it all is, as said at the event, “to meet the broad needs that come up as we all age as human beings.” You can support that any time by going here.
(WSB file photo of Lincoln Park wading pool)
Seattle Parks has just announced its summer aquatics hours. We’ve already reported on the Colman Pool schedule – what’s brand-new today is wading pool/spraypark hours. First to be open will be West Seattle’s lone spraypark, Highland Park (1100 SW Cloverdale), with daily operation 5/23 through 9/7, 11 am to 8 pm every day.
Then come the wading pools (a quick look at last year’s schedule shows they’re opening, and closing, later than last year):
Lincoln Park – 6/27-9/7, every day, noon-7 pm
E.C. Hughes Playground – 6/29-8/23, Mondays, Tuesdays, Sundays, noon-7 pm
Delridge Community Center – 7/1-8/21, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, noon-5:30 pm
Hiawatha Community Center – 7/2-8/22, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, noon-5:30 pm
We’ll link the full citywide announcement when it’s up on the city website. (UPDATE: Here it is.)
Back on April 30, we reported that the community group long working to get a “skate dot” into the Morgan Junction Park Addition project had word that Seattle Parks would present the newest design to the community on May 13. Now it’s official – Parks has sent this announcement about the gathering one week from tonight, which will start at 6 pm instead of the previously reported 5:30:
Seattle Parks and Recreation is hosting an Open House to share an update on the Morgan Junction Park Expansion Schematic Design. Join us on May 13, 2026 from 6 to 7:30 pm, at The Kenney, 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW in West Seattle.
The Open House will provide an opportunity for community members to view the updated schematic design, connect with the project team, and learn more about the current phase of the project.
The expansion area is now open to the public for interim use. The site will remain accessible until the start of Phase II construction, when the existing park, additional parcel, and the Eddy Street right-of-way will be closed off for construction.
Following more extensive than anticipated soil work, the project design has been value engineered to align with available funding and site conditions. Permit review and final design are anticipated to continue through fall 2026 with construction anticipated to begin by late summer 2027.
To view the schematic design, visit: Morgan Junction Park Addition | Engage Seattle Parks
Seattle Parks and Recreation purchased the 0.47-acre property [in the early 2010s] at 6317 California Ave SW, just north of Morgan Junction Park, to expand the park and provide additional open space for this high-density neighborhood. The project was placed on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic as the City focused on essential services. In September 2022, the Seattle City Council, acting as the Park District Board, approved funding for the project as part of the 2023–2028 Park District cycle.
(Recent sunset, photographed by Curry Gibson)
Here’s our Wednesday list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – which you can preview any time – here’s what’s happening today/tonight:
REMINDER – WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks start from 47th/Fontanelle (so if you didn’t see this in the calendar and missed it here’s your reminder for next week).
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor).
PLAY AMERICAN MAH JONGG: 2-4 pm, join players at Missing Piece (4707 California SW).
VR FOR TEEN WELL-BEING: 2:30 pm, explore it at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)
ART WITH REC’N THE STREETS: 3-4:30 pm, free art activities at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Here’s what’s on the Metro League schedule today: One softball postseason game, West Seattle HS at 3:30 pm at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), vs. Eastside Catholic.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
TALK ABOUT MENOPAUSE: 4:30 pm at The Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon), “menopausal insomnia” is the topic – learn about solutions!
ROCK BAND GAMING AT MR. B’S MEAD CENTER: 5-10 pm, weekly gaming event in South Delridge! (9444 Delridge Way SW)
ALSO AT MR. B’S – HAPPY HOUR FOR SAD PEOPLE: 5-7 pm with Listening to Grief at Mr. B’s Mead Center.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: The free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm workshop is back at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center), and the library is open for borrowing.
FAUNTLEROY/ROSE CROSSING MEETING: 5:30 pm, as previewed here, all are welcome at a community meeting with SDOT at Southwest Library to discuss the plan for this crossing. (9010 35th SW)
CRIBBAGE NIGHT: Play at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ (4426 California SW), starting at 6 pm.
PIANO NIGHT AT UPWELL: 6 pm monthly piano night. (4811 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: Discuss our city’s growth, present and future, at the weekly 6 pm meetup at Great American Diner/Bar (4752 California SW).
CLASSIC SF BOOK CLUB: 6 pm, ‘The Centauri Device‘ is this month’s book – talk about it at Paper Boat Booksellers. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
KUNDALINI YOGA: Do it at 6 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska). $35.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: Midweek movement – join the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) tonight – all welcome, all paces!
HUM-IN PROTEST: Tried [rotesting via sound vibration? Gather 6:30-7 pm Wednesdays at Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW and SW Alaska).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
‘WHAT IT TAKES’: Substance-abuse recovery is is detailed in this documentary having its West Coast premiere at 7 pm at The Admiral Theater (2343 California SW).
MAD CRAFTY: Bring your project to Revelry Room (4547 California SW), 7-9 pm.
PIANO NIGHT AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: All-request piano night, starting at 7 pm. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MUSIC BINGO: Weekly music bingo at at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 3: Three West Seattle trivia venues – Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … And trivia starts at 8:30 pm at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: It’s your stage at West Seattle’s longest-running open-mic night! 7:30 pm signups for the weekly event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
SWING IT! Swing dancing and live music at 8:15 pm at South Park Hall (1253 S. Cloverdale).
KARAOKE AT ADMIRAL PUB: Sing at the pub starting at 9. (2306 California SW)
Planning something that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
With the school year ending next month,it’s time to finalize where your child(ren) are going to school in the fall. For those still deciding, independent preK-8 Westside School in Arbor Heights (WSB sponsor) is offering online info sessions starting tomorrow:
Westside is hosting a series of Virtual Coffee sessions with our Head of School, Dr. Daryl Wright. These are short, informal Zoom gatherings designed to give prospective families a feel for our community, learn about our approach to joyful learning and high academic standards, and ask questions in a relaxed setting.
Upcoming sessions:
May 7 | 9:00–9:30 am
May 14 | 9:00–9:30 am
May 20 | 11:15–11:45 am
May 29 | 12:00–12:30 pmRegistration is required here, and families will receive the Zoom link after signing up.
9:08 AM: A vehicle is reported to be blocking northbound 35th SW at Barton. SPD is joining SFD at the scene.
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Partly sunny, high in the upper 60s. Sunrise was at 5:44 am; sunset will be at 8:28 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is back to the regular three boats. Also, work at the Fauntleroy dock trestle is not expected to wrap up until Friday.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Now on “summer” schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedules Fridays and Saturdays.
CLOSURE ALERTS
-The schedule for 1st Avenue South Bridge northbound repairs – starting with a full closure this weekend – is here, with some nighttime lane closures again tonight for preparation.
-Also, as announced last week, the West Seattle low bridge will be closed to drivers May 16-17.
-And the Highway 99 tunnel is closing both ways overnight late Friday night into early Saturday morning – here’s the WSDOT announcement:
Both directions of the State Route 99 tunnel in Seattle will close from 10 p.m. Friday, May 8, to 6 a.m. Saturday, May 9, for maintenance. Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews will start closing northbound and southbound lanes at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 8, with the tunnel fully closed by 10 p.m. People going south on SR 99 will need to take the Harrison Street off-ramp, while northbound SR 99 travelers must exit at Alaskan Way. The Sixth Avenue North and South Royal Brougham Way/Colorado Avenue South on-ramps also will close at 9 p.m.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners have a day home game vs. Atlanta today, 1:10 pm.
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 (25 mph speed limit):
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 trouble 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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