West Seattle, Washington
16 Sunday
7:21 PM: We’re in the second hour of Band Jam, hosted by the Seattle Schools All-City Marching Band at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
After a drumline, color guard, brass band, and more, we’re currently seeing the first marching band of the night, from Kennedy Catholic High School in nearby Burien. This is free and fun, and currently going exactly to the schedule/lineup we obtained from ACB director Dr. Marcus Pimpleton (who played trombone with the Soul Jambalaya Brass Band a little while ago).
So c’mon down to 2801 SW Thistle. Food trucks!
9:09 PM: Just ended. On our way back to HQ to add video.
10:24 PM: Arguably the highlight of the night was the first part of the All-City Band’s performance, which also featured the alumni band set up for this 75th-anniversary season – they’re in the foreground, yellow shirts:
The alums then left and the ACB performed for 15 more minutes, counting more shouted declarations at the very end, beyond the repeated “Who are we? All-City Band” – this included “What do we do? Entertain!” That, they do:
They were preceded by the official Sounders FC band Sound Wave. We just recorded two slices of their set, but as a whole it was intensely local, from Nirvana’s “Come” to the ’60s TV song “The Bluest Skies I’ve Ever Seen are in Seattle” and beyond.
They followed another pro-sports-team-affiliated group, the Seahawks’ Blue Thunder drumline, who at several points in their set led everyone in a round of “Sea! Hawks! Sea! Hawks!”
Up from Pierce County, the Sumner HS Marching Band is a frequent Band Jam participant:
The only band to march – well, more like stride – onto the field chanting PAR-TY, PAR-TY, was Neon Brass Party:
Both that band and the Kennedy Catholic HS Marching Band (mentioned above) had lots of pop songs in their sets.
As also mentioned above, the Soul Jambalaya Brass Band played, with musicians including ACB leader Dr. Marcus Pimpleton.
The first drumline of the night was Seismic Sound:
And it all began with the Rainbow City Color Guard – in our clip, you’ll see them perform to “How It’s Done” from the hit animated movie “K-Pop Demon Hunters”:
Some of those who performed tonight will be in Saturday night’s Seafair Torchlight Parade along the downtown waterfront. Band Jam started at NCSWAC in 2009; it eventually moved to Memorial Stadium, but the rebuild started last summer so Band Jam came back here. The rebuilt Memorial Stadium isn’t expected to open until fall of next year, so we might see Band Jam in West Seattle next year too.
Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos and/or reports of that huge cloud visible looking toward the Cascades. Even before researching, we guessed it had to do with the wildfires, and that’s what Kevin Freitas, who sent the photo above, says: “Pyrocumulus cloud from the Little Giant Fire.”
(added) The photo above this line was sent from Tasha, aboard the Water Taxi.
(Blue Angels as seen from West Seattle before 2023 arrival, photographed by David Hutchinson)
ORIGINAL FRIDAY REPORT: For U.S. Navy Blue Angels fans – and non-fans – we have the estimated time of their arrival for Seafair: 2:30 pm Wednesday (July 29). Since they’re based at Boeing Field during Seafair, and that’s just over the ridge from West Seattle, their comings and goings draw extra attention here. We don’t know yet if one will arrive earlier in the week as usual for fly-alongs with various VIPs, but otherwise, their schedule is usually various. practice and survey flights on Thursday, then shows on Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Here are the time estimates, from the Seafair website:
*The Blue Angels will perform two practice runs on Thursday, July 30th from approximately 11:00 AM-1:00 PM and 3:30 PM-4:40 PM.
Blue Angels 3:30 pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday
The Seafair Airshow page also lists the other airshow participants and when they’ll be flying.
ADDED MONDAY: Here’s confirmation of the earlier arrivals, via a Seafair spokesperson:
Blue Angels 7 Tuesday at 1235
Blue Angels C-130 Wednesday 1300
NALO (blues crew) Wednesday 1300
And that’s right before the main Blue Angels pilots fly in around 2:30 pm Wednesday.
ORIGINAL FRIDAY REPORT: Thanks to Sonya for the indirect tip. She called our attention to someone claiming on social media that someone had “defaced” the remaining two Walking on Logs (aka “dancing children”) sculptures. We drove roundtrip across the bridge to get to the pullout for a look, and what we found was a construction-company crew who told us they were there working on replacing the sculptures’ log bases, because of rot.
The crew had no further details. But as you might recall, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce announced plans last fall for “refresh” work on the site; we have messages out to ask them what role this work plays in that and what’s next.
MONDAY UPDATE: Chamber executive director Rachel Porter confirmed to WSB today what we found out at the site Friday: “Yes, the improvements are part of our multi-phase revitalization of the Walking on Logs area. The two other statues will be recast and more landscaping is forthcoming. We are working with NUCOR, A Cleaner Alki and Devonshire Landscaping as partners in this work.”
Our photographer went to Hamilton Viewpoint Park for a look at what city notification warned could be a big, loud day of production for the web series “Car Show Rivalry,” potentially restricting park access until early evening. Director Preston Goings told us they’re wrapping up early, likely by 2 pm.
While we were there, they were doing a scene featuring actors, a classic Ford Mustang convertible, and the city skyline.
This is a bootstrapped series – Goings has been releasing episodes via YouTube.
The flashing beacons at the 63rd/Beach Drive crosswalk are now activated, reports Pooja, who sent the photo. They were installed but not activated last month because of restriping work that still had to be done, SDOT told us at the time. The poles for the lights went up six months ago, but SDOT had to wait months longer for the “equipment and materials.”
A little over three weeks after the Great American Diner and Bar closed at 4752 California SW, the Indian restaurant Taste & Best has opened in its place. They allowed our photographer in for a quick look about an hour ago:
Operations manager Yajas Reddy told us the bar’s not open yet (we had noticed Taste & Best hasn’t appeared on the liquor-license application list yet) but they hope it will be “in about a month.”
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s our highlight list for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Open 10 am-3 pm on the north end of the main campus of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
WHITE CENTER LIBRARY GUILD SALE: 11 am-4 pm at White Center Library (1409 SW 107th), shop the semi-annual sale organized by Library Guild volunteers to support library programs. Books, rummage-sale items, more!
BABY STORY TIME: 11 am at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Daily-splashing season continues at Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.
WADING POOLS: Hiawatha (2700 California SW) and Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW) are open noon-5:30 pm today, Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open noon-7 pm.
COLMAN POOL: Noon to 7 pm today, swim in the outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) – here’s the session schedule.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: 12:30-2 pm, practice with other adult learners at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, and/or buy a bottle.
ALL-CITY BAND HOSTS BAND JAM: 6-9 pm free marching band and drumline performances at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), hosted by the acclaimed Seattle All-City Marching Band on Seafair Torchlight Parade eve. Our preview includes the schedule and list of participants.
‘A COLLECTION OF QUEER JOY’: Drop-in multimedia community event at Inner Alchemy Studio and Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska), details in our calendar listing.
COMEDY AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm, C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) features Midnight Mystery Theater‘s radio-style comedy. No cover. (5612 California SW)
TAROT WORKSHOP AT MR. B’S: 6 pm at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW) – RSVP info in our calendar listing. Extra decks available for practicing if you don’t have your own tarot cards.
LIVE AT KENYON HALL: Tobi Kunkel ft. Rootbeer/a>, 7 pm doors, 7:30 pm music (7904 35th SW), all ages, tickets here.
CASI AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Gracie AbramsCASI performs in-store, 7 pm, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7, music at 8, for Eastlake Garage, Antarcticans, Post Revolver. $10 at the door. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
SPINNING: Revelry Room (4547 California SW) regular Friday night spinning features DJ Lady Coco, starting at 9 pm.
‘MAKE IT LOUD’ SKATING WITH MUSIC: Tonight, ’90s Club Skate with DJ Slayground, 9 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $20 cover/$5 skates.
MEGASTAR KARAOKE: 9 pm at Max’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW).
If you have something to showcase on our event lists or ongoing calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo, 2026 West Seattle Grand Parade)
Back when we first reported on WestSide Baby‘s 25th-anniversary celebrations last spring, we noted that the nonprofit planned to revive the “Stuff the Bus” diaper-donation drive that used to be a fixture. Last Saturday, WestSide Baby promoted the plan by driving its old-school school bus in the West Seattle Grand Parade, and now the donation dates are set – with these two in West Seattle:
West Seattle QFC (4550 42nd AVE SW) | Thursday, July 30 | 2:00p – 6:00p
Westwood Village QFC (2500 Barton AVE SW) | Saturday, August 29 | 11:00a – 3:00p
On either or both of those dates, just bring boxes/packages of diapers to help “Stuff the Bus”!
6:29 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, July 24, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
An overcast start today, but the forecast says we’ll eventually see sunshine and a high around 80. Sunrise was at 5:37 am today; sunset will be at 8:53 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 (tonight!) and Saturdays.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule; check the alert page for updates.
BRIDGE TRAFFIC CAMERAS
A few from the SDOT map:
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 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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