West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
Parade season is under way! West Seattle High School music director Ethan Thomas sent the photo and report:
The West Seattle High School Marching Band participated in the 88th annual Spokane Lilac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade last Saturday. The weather was cold and wet, but we had a great time performing for a large and enthusiastic audience. The West Seattle High School Marching Band was recognized as one of the Lilac Parade’s Gold Standard bands. The Lilac Festival has been a tradition in Spokane since 1938. The parade featured over 150 entries from across Washington State.
You will likely see some of these student musicians in the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 18 as part of the Seattle Schools All-City Marching Band. The WSHS Band’s schedule each year includes leading the Costume Parade during the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival.
Back in March, we told you about plans for the first-ever West Seattle Math Competition – organized by students, for students, all middle-schoolers. The competition happened this past Saturday at the Admiral HUB – and we were there to photograph the conclusion of the competition (the first few hours happened behind closed doors). It ended with a trophy ceremony for both the individual and team winners. Individual winners were Bella, Zhenyu, and Sadhika:
They were all from the Skyview Mathematics team, which came in first and also included Brayden:
The second-place team, the Three Musketeers – Prayaag, Neilai, Ashrith:
And the third-place team, the West Side 3, with Ayan, Oliver, Sterling, Rohan:
The competition spanned four rounds, including algebra, geometry, probability, and number theory problems.
P.S. Thanks to Lacey, parent of an organizer, for letting us know about all this; she says, “It is very impressive what they have done and myself and the other parents involved are very proud of them.”
10:31 AM: Thanks for the tips. Southbound Delridge Way SW is blocked at 20th because of a crash (near Boss Drive-In and the 7-Eleven). Avoid the area.
11:16 AM: Commenter Pearl says the scene is clear.
(Photo by James Osprey – juvenile Bald Eagle facing off with River Otter)
Here are event notes/reminders/listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE AT CHURCH OF NAZARENE … open today, now through noon, drop in with your little one(s). (42nd SW and SW Juneau)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: 10 am-11:30 am drop-in program for ages 0-5 and their caregivers at The Bridge School Cooperative Elementary (10300 28th SW; WSB sponsor).
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: New postcard-writers as well as returnees are welcome at this weekly advocacy gathering, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if this is your first time.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course, today’s guest speaker: Gerry Garrison from Global Help Network. (4470 35th SW)
MEGA-LOW TIDE: Out to -3.8 feet at 1:25 pm. Tread lightly!
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome to play! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
OTHER EVENTS AT THE CENTER: Dozens every week! Go here for the full Center for Active Living calendar.
CITY COUNCIL: At City Hall, at 2 pm, the council holds its main weekly meeting. Today’s agenda explains how to comment and/or watch.
SW LANDER DROP-IN WITH SDOT: Want to find out and offer your ideas for future plans regarding the stretch of SW Lander south of Lafayette Elementary? Visit the SDOT drop-in info session 2:30-5:30 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander).
MADISON MS DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: Dine at Mioposto (2139 California SW; WSB sponsor) 4-9 pm and part of the proceeds will support Madison Middle School music.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: Free assistance for students, 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-8 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $15 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
SINGING RESISTANCE: Join their gathering at 7 pm at Dragonfly (3278 California SW, upstairs).
WEST SEATTLE PFLAG MEETING: 7 pm – info here.
FREE ARTS WORKSHOP: 7 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW).
OPEN MIC AT TIM’S: 7 pm at all-ages open mic hosted by Levi Said at Tim’s (16th SW and SW 98th) in White Center.
TUESDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB: Alki Kayak Tours and Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) have launched this Tuesday night event for stand-up paddleboarders – details here – 5:30 pm. (1660 Harbor SW)
INTERFAITH FREEDOM VIGIL: Weekly, 5:30-6:30 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza candlelight vigil open to all. (61st SW and Alki SW)
TRACK RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: Meet up by 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
OPEN CHOIR REHEARSALS: 6:30 pm Tuesdays at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW), come sing with the Boeing Employees Choir, even if you aren’t a Boeing employee – email to RSVP.
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER EVENT: 7 pm at the West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor), prospective volunteers for summer-event season are invited to come learn about the ways you might help.
PAST, PRESENT, & ELSEWHERE: Album-listening sessions at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), every Tuesday night, 7-9 pm.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Weekly lessons continue tonight, 7 pm at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), details in our calendar listing.
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group meditation at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034-A California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you go.
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play trivia tonight – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 pm and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free, hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub, free, prizes. (2306 California SW).
If you are organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc., tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
Before we get to today’s full list of what’s happening, one spotlight for families who have yet to register incoming kindergarteners and preschoolers for next school year. A registration/information event is happening at West Seattle Elementary (6760 34th SW), 4-6 pm today. This flyer (PDF) explains what you need to bring if you want to register.
Kersti Muul tells us orcas are in Elliott Bay, same transients as Monday, “and they have a brand-new calf with them.”
8:18 AM: They’re T124As and T124A1s, for those keeping track, currently by the Coast Guard station on the south end of the downtown waterfront.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Mostly cloudy, slight chance of pm rain, low 60s high. Sunrise was at 5:27 am; sunset will be at 8:45 pm.
BRIDGE ALERT
The weekend closures of the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge are followed up again tonight by lane closures.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule. Check the alert page for any last-minute changes.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Now on “summer” schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedules Fridays and Saturdays.
STADIUM ZONE
The Mariners homestand continues tonight, 6:40 pm game vs. the White Sox.
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!
Another mega-low tide brought out the shore explorers this afternoon, and brought in more wildlife photos. The photo above, and the two of the Great Blue Heron below, are from WSB senior contributor Christopher Boffoli:
Amadeusz Wieczorek sent the next two photos after discovering crabs on the shore of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook:
And from Curry Gibson, a strawberry anemone:
A sea pen:
And another look at a heron:
Tomorrow brings yet another mega-low tide – bottoming out at -3.8 feet at 1:25 pm.
The school year has about a month to go. The Chief Sealth IHS PTSA is expecting to finish strong, starting with Wednesday night’s meeting – all invited!
High Point CC is at 6920 34th SW.
If you have room in your garden or yard, perhaps you can give a healthy plant a new home this Saturday!
The Fauntleroy Community Association maintains box planters near 45th and Wildwood near and across the street from Endolyne Joe’s restaurant. This Saturday, May 23rd is the spring “planter party” – volunteers will refresh 27 planters with summer color. Some of the plants have grown too big for the planter boxes and are available to anyone who would like them. To help these boxes thrive in the future we are asking for people to pay what they can for the plants on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The plants are big, healthy and would make great additions to your landscape. There are some great bargains including:
2-Oriental arborvitae
1-Lawson cypress
4-Juncus Grass
2-Longstalk sedge grass
1-Euphorbia wulfenii
1+- variegated carex grasses
3-Evergold sedge grass
1-Wilma cypress
1-Juncus reed grassIf you’re interested, bring your shovel and tools at 9:00 am on Saturday morning so you can dig them out before the volunteer crew shows up at 10. Available plants will be tagged in red. These are big plants, so come prepared.
The report and photo are from Merve:
A Tern HSD S5i cargo e-bike (2022 Jubilee edition, sage green color) was taken from inside our garage on California Ave SW (98136) sometime between roughly 10 PM on May 17th and 7 AM on May 18th. A neighbor’s Ring camera captured two unknown male suspects on foot passing the house at approximately 12:04 AM and returning toward our garage about three minutes later. The bike is a compact longtail cargo bike with a Bosch motor, child seat (Tern Clubhouse Mini), Hauler rear rack, and Sidekick footrests, fairly distinctive.
The bike has serious sentimental value (we shipped it from Europe when we relocated to Seattle two years ago) and it is also my only means of getting our two young kids to school. An SPD theft report has been filed and the bike is registered as stolen on Bike Index.
If anyone spots it on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, or being ridden anywhere in the area, I’d be very grateful to hear from them, they can reach me at yurdagulun@icloud.com
WSDOT has one more traffic alert about the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge, in the wake of two full-weekend closures:
Northbound State Route 99 will reduce to two lanes across the First Avenue South Bridge from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly Monday, May 18, through Wednesday morning, May 20.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will take down the work zone used for Phase 2 emergency deck repairs to the northbound SR 99 First Avenue South Bridge.
Crews completed those deck repairs during full closures across the northbound SR 99 First Avenue South bridge the weekends of May 8-11 and 15-18.
(2024 WSB photo)
Lots of outdoor music this summer! Another announcement today – The Seattle Chamber Music Society Concert Truck is hitting the road again with live free chamber music. Its schedule in June and July includes two West Seattle stops – here’s the announcements:
The Concert Truck returns to Seattle in Summer 2026! This concert hall on wheels brings live chamber music directly to neighborhoods, parks, and markets across the region—free and open to the public. Seattle Chamber Music Society musicians join The Concert Truck founder Susan Zhang, to perform engaging, hour-long programs that transform everyday spaces into vibrant concert experiences. Perfect for families, first-time listeners, and music lovers alike, The Concert Truck makes world-class music fun, accessible, and unforgettable.
The Concert Truck returns to Seattle on June 18!
Summer Festival 2026 Residency: June 18 – July 6
(editor’s note – many dates around the region, we’re just listing West Seattle)
Sat. June 27 | 7 pm | Alki Beach Bathhouse
Wed. July 1 | 6 pm | Seattle Chinese Garden
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Thanks to everyone who sent tips about that sign sighted in the Morgan Junction storefront window that was long Little Prague (and briefly a barbecue pop-up). We tracked down Royal Bagel‘s prospective proprietor Eric Boughman, who provided this statement:
Royal Bagel is planning to open in Morgan Junction late this year at 6045 California Ave SW. A homage to the owner’s relative Royal Brougham, the great Seattle Post-Intelligencer sportswriter and local philanthropist, Royal Bagel will offer New York style bagels and schmear to-go with plans to eventually extend its menu. Updates to come as opening plans are established.
West Seattle doesn’t currently have a dedicated bagel shop; Zatz A Better Bagel closed in The Admiral District in 2015.
(Photo by Lars Lindblad, who explains: ‘My daughter aboard the Water Taxi heading home at sunset after a Mariners game. That boat ride never gets old!’)
Here’s your Monday list of highlights, mostly from our West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). For up-to-18-month-olds. Free.
MEGA-LOW TIDE: 12:36 pm, out to -4.1 feet. Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists will be at Lincoln Park beach 11 am-2 pm.
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm; no public comment but the agenda explains how to watch.
FREE HOMEWORK HELP: Drop-in assistance 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond)
‘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 at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 6:30 and 7:30 pm … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) and 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
HONORING STUDENTS: Alki Masonic Lodge invites you to tonight’s annual award ceremony for outstanding students from West Seattle’s public high schools, 7 pm. (40th/Edmunds)
COMEDY AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: Monthly chance to laugh, tonight featuring Scott Losse, 7 pm. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players! Enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
CRAFTING: It’s Crafting Night at Tim’s (16th/98th, White Center), 7 pm, this time with art, games, and music too.
ALKI MEDITATION: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
MEDITATION 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 jazz with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: End your Monday with a song (or two) – 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!
He’s a West Seattle-rooted music legend, but you might not know much about Earl Robinson. Here’s your chance to change that, while supporting a summertime concert series. Here’s the announcement from the Admiral Neighborhood Association:
The Admiral Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Far Away Entertainment and the Historic Admiral Theater, is excited to announce a screening of Earl Robinson: Ballad of an American in support of our 17th annual concert series, Admiral Music in the Parks.
You may recognize his face from Desmond Hansen’s signal box artwork on California and Hanford, but do you know his story? An Admiral resident and graduate of West Seattle High School, Earl Robinson’s musical legacy endures through his works Joe Hill, The House I Live In, Ballad for Americans, The Lonesome Train, and Hurry Sundown, and more; capturing the progressive spirit of America in song.
Join us at the Admiral Theater at 6:30 PM on Robinson’s birthday, July 2nd, for a screening of filmmaker Prof. B.J. Bullert’s award-winning documentary featuring archival footage and performances of Earl Robinson’s iconic American repertoire by Joan Baez, Frank Sinatra, Paul Robeson, Josh White, Three Dog Night, Peter, Paul and Mary and of course Robinson himself. Then stay for a Q&A with the filmmaker moderated by local historian Clay Eals to learn more about Robinson’s life and works.
AMP: Admiral Music in the Parks is committed to supporting local musicians, artists, and craftspeople while fostering engagement in our neighborhood. Your ticket to Earl Robinson: Ballad of an American supports free and accessible arts programming in our neighborhood. Like Earl Robinson, we love our Admiral neighborhood and believe in the power of public art and music to bring people together. Join us in celebrating, hope, joy, community, and the enduring American spirit this summer!
Learn more about AMP and get your ticket to Earl Robinson: Ballad of an American at www.connecttoadmiral.org/amp.html
We start Monday with orcas in the area! Kersti Muul tells us transient orcas are southbound approaching the Fauntleroy ferry lanes.
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, May 18, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Mostly cloudy, becoming sunny, mid-60s high. Sunrise was at 5:28 am; sunset will be at 8:44 pm.
AFTER THE CLOSURES
The weekend closures of the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge and driving lanes on the West Seattle low bridge both ended in time for this morning’s commute.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedules.
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule. Check the alert page for any last-minute changes.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Now on “summer” schedule, with extra Friday/Saturday/Sunday runs including later-night schedules Fridays and Saturdays.
STADIUM ZONE
The Mariners homestand continues tonight, 6:40 pm game vs. the White Sox.
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!
For those wondering about the Seattle Fire “scenes of violence” response at an apartment building just south of The Junction, in the 5000 block of California SW: This was dispatched as a person believed to be injured from self-harm.
(Reminder: The 988 crisis hotline is there to offer help, 24/7.)
PHOTOS BY OLIVER HAMLIN FOR WEST SEATTLE BLOG (unless otherwise credited)
The sea of people rolling out from the West Seattle 5K start line at 61st/Alki this morning was deeper than ever – more than 1,800 registered runners and walkers by race time, a new WS5K record. Here’s our annual video of everybody taking off when the airhorn blew:
The West Seattle High School PTSA has organized the West Seattle 5K since 2009 as its biggest fundraiser of the year, and school-community members turn out in support as well as others – WSHS vice principal Ron Knight gave the pre-race pep talk this year:
Of course the best supporters are usually the ones you brought along:
This year’s participants spanned the years from toddler through senior:
First finisher this year was 30-year-old Marcelo Laguera, in 14:24:
The WSHS PTSA sent us the photo below of him with WS5K race director Pam Hebrow, saying he donated back his prize (shoes) because he’s a pro marathon runner, and: “After posing for pics he asked if he was all done so he could go for a run!:
Second finisher was 22-year-old Jonathan Grothe, in 15:21:
First female finisher was 12-year-old Beau Sitzmann for (corrected) the THIRD year in a row, in 18:40:
Second was 37-year-old Jamie Morgenstern, in 19:09:
Pre-race, Dragonfly led this year’s warmup:
Student musicians from School of Rock West Seattle played by Alki Bathhouse:
WSHS cheerleaders and cross country runners added energy:
(This photo and next five by WSB’s Tracy Record)
So did announcers Zola Northup (a WSHS student) and Fred Northup:
And some of the race’s community co-sponsors had booths by the Bathhouse and were busy answering questions about health and fitness – a few WSB sponsors. were among them, including the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA:
And West Seattle Runner:
They’re presenting the Float Dodger 5K again this year, just two months away – July 18 – right before the West Seattle Grand Parade; you can register by going here.
P.S. Today’s full results can be seen here.
5:56 PM: Thanks for the tip! Seattle City Light says 319 customers in the Brace Point area lost power just before 5:30 pm. That’s the same area where SCL has been working for months on a long-delayed project to replace equipment including buried cables that have factored into past outages. No word yet what’s to blame this time.
1:25 AM MONDAY: Still out, per SCL’s map.
Thanks for all the photos! Mega-low tides these next few days have brought out shore explorers for a close look at wildlife. Bob Burns sent the top photo of the much-exposed Lincoln Park beach; that’s also where Brandy DeWeese photographed these creatures:
Janelle Otterholt sent these from Lowman Beach:
The mega-low tides can also be a boon to birds and others fishing for food – James Tilley caught an osprey in action:
The mega-low tide will be even further out tomorrow – -4.1 feet at 12:36 pm.
Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite asked us to share this volunteering request with you:
The Seattle Police Department Training Unit is looking for 10 additional volunteers to consume marijuana (in whatever form they prefer), and allow Officers to practice DUI testing.
The Green Lab will be held on Friday, May 29, at our Training Facility in SODO, from approximately 9am – 4pm.
We will ask you to provide your own marijuana products and paraphernalia.
We will provide lunch and snacks.
If you would like to volunteer – please email Jennifer Satterwhite at Jennifer.Satterwhite@seattle.gov with the following information and she will get you confirmed:
-Name, email address & cell phone number
-Method of consumption (edibles, smoking, vaping, etc.)
-Transportation Plan
We ask that you do not drive to or from the training – and not for the rest of the evening.
We can assist with getting you a ride, if needed
-Snack preferences
-Dietary restrictionsFeel free to reach out with questions, or for additional information about how the Training will be structured.
Thank you for your time and consideration.-Jennifer Satterwhite
Wet Lab & Green Lab Participant Coordinator
Seattle Police Department
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