West Seattle, Washington
21 Tuesday
Police have checked out several reports of possible gunfire in various areas tonight, and just confirmed one: Officers checking out 911 calls told dispatch they’ve found shell casings at 29th SW and SW Brandon [map]. No report of injuries so far.
PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN FOR WEST SEATTLE BLOG
Hundreds of people spent Sunday admiring and photographing the 12 gardens spotlighted on this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour. Among them was WSB contributing photojournalist Oliver Hamlin, who presents a scene from each garden (including some of the gardeners. First, at Garden A, “A Show of Northwest Natives“:
Charles Anthony, who created Garden B, “Salish Sea Sanctuary,” posed with his Japanese Maple:
Garden C, “Heron Cove,” has its namesake standing sentinel:
Below are Debra Montgomery and Lee Kelly; she bought the “Heron Cove” house 7 years ago and inherited Lee, who has been the gardener for 40 years. She said the previous homeowners sought out a buyer who wouldn’t tear down the house and would keep caring for the garden, which she and Lee both now do.
Garden D was described as “Small Spaces, Big Moments”:
Below (L-R) are the gardeners behind Garden D, Laird Applegate and Brian Pelzel:
Garden E was “From a Sprawling Lawn and One Tree to …”
Blackberries are often the bane of a gardener’s existence, but in Garden F, “Transformation,” they were beautiful:
Garden F’s (L-R) Diane Elie and Raquel Gonzalez store water in 60-gallon rainbarrels and told Oliver that it fills most of their irrigation needs:
At Garden G, “Hidden Gem,” Julie Robinson-Jasper and Maple the dog are seen through a mirror surrounded by star jasmine at Garden G, “Hidden Gem”:
Another scene from Garden G:
Garden H, “Behind the Fences,” sported an arch of bittersweet nightshade:
A clawfoot bathtub graced Garden I, “A Fresh Look for A Once-Beloved Garden“:
Garden J, “Garden of Many Rooms,” was conducive to wandering:
Garden K offered onlookers “Plants from Around the World“:
And Garden L, “Conifer Corner,” featured a 75-year-old wisteria:
(Read details of each garden here.) The West Seattle Garden Tour is organized by a nonprofit that uses the proceeds to support other nonprofits – here are this year’s grant recipients; see how to apply for one of next year’s grants by going here (July 15 is the deadline).
6:56 PM: SDOT says “mechanical malfunctions” have closed the low bridge to all traffic, motorized and non-motorized.
7:43 PM: Still closed, and no progress report from SDOT.
9:15 PM: The live camera shows the bridge is open to surface traffic again.
Bicycle riders to and from downtown likely have seen this already – but if you don’t travel along the northernmost section of East Marginal, you haven’t seen this new public artwork. Here’s how the city’s Art Beat site explained it today:
The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Department of Transportation celebrate the city’s newest public artwork located along East Marginal Way. On the Fence, by artist Will Schlough, is installed along the 1-mile corridor section between S Holgate and S Horton Street, adjacent to the newly built protected bike lanes.
Will Schlough is a Seattle-based public artist whose artwork is site-specific and informed by the community. With a broad portfolio of murals and public sculptures throughout the country, Will aims to create work that is surprising, playful, and thought-provoking, providing moments of playful reflection for passersby.
Intended to beautify and enhance the long corridor, On the Fence is an ambitious panel-based mural inspired by the surrounding environment and designed to visually wrap around the fence to which it’s attached. While on its surface the artwork is a collection of scenes that play out as an illustrated storybook, the work is designed to reflect on our relationship with the landscape, our use of natural resources, and ideas of beauty and value in the context of human industry.
Bicyclists and other visitors will experience a series of vignettes or installations along the corridor. The individual installations are thematically and stylistically connected, presenting flora and fauna that thrive in disturbed and urban areas, as well as human-made elements that help develop an engaging and evolving narrative.
The artist also has a work in West Seattle, shown here on WSB before – in the automotive-technology center at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor).
Thanks to David for the tip. SDOT has changed another intersection in West Seattle to a 4-way stop – this time, 41st SW and SW Dakota on the northeast edge of The Junction. It’s close to schools (Holy Rosary and Tilden), as are many of the newest 4-ways.
Watch FIFA World Cup play and a West Seattle Junction FC match, all in one place, one night! Here’s the announcement sent to us to share with you:
Junction FC is hosting a FIFA World Cup Watch Party on Wednesday, July 1, at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, with gates opening at 4:30 PM and the watch party beginning at 5:00 PM. Fans can watch the world’s biggest tournament on multiple big-screen TVs in a fun, family-friendly outdoor setting with picnic tables, lawn blankets, and seating available. Guests are also welcome to bring their own camping chairs and enjoy food and refreshments while taking in the match.
The first 50 youth attendees will receive a FREE Panini World Cup Sticker Album, sticker packs, country flags, and World Cup goodie bags.
They will also have a full restock of our popular Red, White, & Blues third kits, inspired by the FIFA World Cup, West Seattle, and America’s 250th anniversary.
Following the watch party, Junction FC hosts Bigfoot FC under the lights with kickoff at 7:30 PM at Southwest Athletic Complex.
In the 5 pm match during the watch party, the USA men will face Bosnia-Herzegovina. The watch party is included in adult tickets for the match; kids 12 and under are free.
We’re just five days away from the 4th of July, so it’s time to remind you that the holiday brings a quarter-century-plus tradition – the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade! This is a “show up and you’re part of it” parade, starting at 10 am Saturday at 45th SW and Sunset SW [map] in North Admiral, winding through a few residential blocks before crossing California SW and heading into Hamilton Viewpoint Park for post-parade fun – sack races, activity booths, food trucks. This is a non-motorized parade (except for the classic pickup truck and fire truck that usually lead it), but pedaled bikes, push scooters, wagons, and strollers are welcome. The Admiral Neighborhood Association presents the parade, powered by volunteers, donations, and sponsorships (more on that here).
(As explained by photographer Rosalie Miller: ‘Small Dusty Wave moth on unopened coreopsis bud in my garden”)
Here’s what’s up for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FAMILY STORY TIME: 11 am at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
SPRAYPARK SEASON: Daily splashing continues at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), whatever the weather, 11 am-8 pm.
COLMAN POOL: Noon-7 pm, daily operation continues at the outdoor pool on the shore at Lincoln Park – see the session schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: Weekly 2 pm meeting IS happening today – here’s the agenda. (Remember that this meeting does NOT include a public-comment section.)
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUPS: 6:30 pm, weekly group gatherings for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee. Before you go, RSVP/register here. (4034 California SW)
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too! $5.
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 3: Three venues offer you the opportunity for trivia tonight! Music Quiz night at Easy Street Records</a> (4559 California SW), 6:30 and 7:30 pm sessions … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) and 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
PRACTICE SPEAKING SPANISH: 6:30-8:30 pm, this informal group meets at Future Primitive Brewing in White Center (9832 14th SW), all welcome as long as you’re committed to speaking Spanish while participating!
PINBALL TOURNAMENT: Pinball players can enter Admiral Pub‘s 3-Strike Tournamment starting at 7 pm, with play beginning at 7:30. (2306 California SW)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players are welcome to enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
ALKI MEDITATION: Two ways to calmly conclude the start of the week – first, Monday night meditation at Alki UCC, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: Also – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Enjoy Monday night jazz with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Finish your Monday with a song – 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!
That map shows seven blocks in Gatewood where Seattle City Light is about to start work replacing poles and lines, according to this announcement we just received:
Seattle City Light will be upgrading overhead power lines in West Seattle soon. City Light crews will start work along SW Webster Street near 40th Ave SW today. This upgrade will strengthen the power lines and increase their capacity. In the future, this will improve reliability. Crews will install new utility poles. Once the poles are installed, crews will connect new overhead power lines. Please see the attached construction notification and project map.
Construction notifications are being mailed to City Light customers in the project area this week.
Planned power outages will be needed to complete this work safely. Once a planned power outage date is identified, City Light will notify affected residents at least five days before any planned outages.
Here’s the notice residents will be receiving.
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, June 29, 2026. No Seattle World Cup match today – next one’s on Wednesday.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Today’s forecast is for clouds early, sun later, and a high in the upper 60s. Sunrise was at 5:14 am today; sunset will again be at 9:11 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular summer schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedule Fridays and Saturdays.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule. Check the alert page for last-minute changes.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
The city cameras’ updating-framegrab feature is back, as shown on the the SDOT map, so they’re back in our morning lineup:
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:
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!
| 10 COMMENTS