West Seattle, Washington
01 Wednesday
Arraignment hearings are now in the books for all five of the men arrested in West Seattle – though none of them live here – for allegedly arranging to pay for sex with what they thought would be underage girls. We reported a week and a half ago on the charges filed after the undercover online police operation. Four of the men were arraigned last week; a fifth waived his right to a speedy arraignment and appeared before a judge today. All five pleaded not guilty to the two felony charges filed against each, Communication With a Minor For Immoral Purposes and Attempted Commercial Sexual Abuse Of A Minor. According to the minutes filed online, all the hearings were brief, from two minutes to eight minutes long. We did learn from the arraignment documents that all five were out on bail – and the amounts varied: Bail for 30-year-old Chien-Cheng Wang of North Seattle was set at $5,000; for 32-year-old Curt R. Naraval of Spanaway, $20,000; for 45-year-old Inderjeet S. Nehal of Everett (the last to be arraigned), 21-year-old Jordan M. Kaapana-Ross of Kent, and 27-year-old Manuel C. Leggett of Burlington, bail was set at $75,000 each. All five were arrested at separate times over the course of two days at or near the West Seattle Junction Bank of America parking lot, the location suggested by the undercover detective, offering various explanations such as that was near the “girl’s” home or where the “girl” was staying with a relative. All five defendants remain out on bail and have their next hearings scheduled later in the summer.
(WSB photos, this afternoon)
If you’ve been by Alki Elementary lately (3010 59th SW), you’ve likely noticed the new school looks pretty close to done. Today we learned the date that’s been set for the ribboncutting ceremony, so you can mark your calendar: August 26. Long before then, though, staff will start moving in; according to the latest project newsletter, that begins next Monday (July 6).
Alki Elementary has spent the past three years temporarily housed at the former Schmitz Park Elementary, which will be vacant next year so some maintenance work can be done, the district told us in March.
Thanks for the tips. Via social media, the Great American Diner and Bar has announced it’s closing its West Seattle Junction location (which has long been listed for lease). Today is the last day, proprietor Glen Quadros tells WSB, while adding that the closure is temporary, in a way. First, here’s the announcement:
Dear West Seattle
There are moments in life that are difficult to put into words, and this is one of them.
After nearly nine unforgettable years, the time has come for us to say goodbye to our home on California Avenue.
When we first opened the doors to Great American Diner & Bar, we simply hoped to build a place where everyone would feel welcome—a place where good food, warm service, and genuine hospitality could make someone’s day just a little brighter. We never imagined just how much this community would give back to us.
West Seattle, you became family.
You celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, new jobs, first dates, and countless everyday moments with us. Some of you came every morning for coffee. Some joined us every Friday for happy hour. Many of you walked through our doors as customers and left as friends.
When the pandemic turned all of our lives upside down, you reminded us what community truly means. During those uncertain months, we kept our lights on and our kitchen going because we believed our neighbors deserved a familiar place they could count on. Whether it was sunshine, pouring rain, or even the rare Seattle snow, we were here—and you were there for us too. Every takeout order, every encouraging message, every familiar face helped keep us going. We will never forget that. …
When we first reported on the 4752 California SW plan in May 2017, Great American was the sixth restaurant/bar to try their luck in that space in 10 years; the one it followed, Shelby’s Ice Cream and Bistro, lasted less than six months. But Great American almost outlasted all those predecessors put together. It was particularly memorable for being open to serve customers on holiday – the lists we have assembled for many years showing which West Seattle restaurants were open on Thanksgiving and/or Christmas invariably included the diner.
However, the proprietor tells us, this isn’t a permanent farewell to West Seattle: “We will be opening in the very near future somewhere close by to continue the Wonderful tradition of the Great American Diner.” Glen also notes that he and his family operate Skillet & Vine Bistro (2800 East Madison).
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum on Alki has been a place to visit on the Fourth of July for various reasons over the years. After all, it’s a holiday about history! Two things to know about the museum’s Fourth of July plan this year:
(Rendering courtesy SWSHS)
-Though the original hope was to be able to open the new permanent exhibit on the Fourth, it’s still a work in progress, SWSHS executive director Elizabeth Rudrud told WSB when we checked in for a progress report. She says the goal now is a grand opening in August.
-But here’s a reason to visit on the holiday anyway: Fourth of July Storytime, 11 am-1 pm, a drop-in event in the museum courtyard:
Join us for a festive morning highlighting American icons. Experience the wonder of storytelling with Eva Abram, who brings folktales and stories from American history to life. Then get in on crafts that explore three Statues of Liberty — the original, the one on Alki Beach, and the original statue that stood on Alki Beach, coming soon to the Log House Museum.
If you’re going to the Fourth of July Kids’ Parade, this is just downhill at 61st/Stevens, and also free.
(WSB photo – All-City Band in 2025 West Seattle Grand Parade)
The Seattle Schools All-City Marching Band is a signature sight and sound of summer. And this year the All-City Band celebrates its 75th anniversary! You’ll of course see them in the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 18. But before that – two events of note, both in West Seattle – All-City Band alumni and supporters are invited to this celebration:
Seattle All-City Marching Band 75th Anniversary Banquet & Auction
Friday, July 17, 2026 | 5:00–11:00 PM
Brockey Center | South Seattle CollegeCelebrate 75 years of music, memories, and tradition at an evening of dinner, fellowship, live and silent auctions, and special recognition of the alumni, directors, and supporters who have shaped the Seattle All-City Marching Band.
Reconnect with fellow alumni, share memories, and honor the rich legacy of the Seattle All-City Marching Band.
Tickets: $75 per person
Alumni: Please register by July 6, 2026, to guarantee your banquet ticket.
Current band members and their families: Ticket sales open July 7, 2026, based on availability.
The band also invites alumni to perform with them in the Chinatown Parade on July 19 and in West Seattle at this year’s Band Jam, which is also free to spectators, 6 pm Friday, July 24, at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
For banquet tickets, and/or alumni-performance registration, go here. (And if you’d like to support the Seattle All-City Marching Band another way, you can donate here.)
(Weather Watch Park, photographed by Bob Burns)
Here’s our delayed-by-breaking-news list of event notes/reminders/listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, first two events already in progress:
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.
SPRAYPARK SEASON: Daily operations continue at the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) – free, scheduled 11 am-8 pm daily.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: No regular meeting today, as the club is having its presidential installation dinner tonight.
FINAL DAY FOR AVALON GLASSWORKS: Last day open before the owners retire, noon-4 pm. (2914 SW Avalon Way)
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)
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
OTHER EVENTS AT THE CENTER: Dozens every week! Go here for the full Center for Active Living calendar.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Regular weekly 2 pm meeting; here’s the agenda, which explains how to participate, in person or remotely.
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.
TUESDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB: Alki Kayak Tours and Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) are presenting this weekly 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)
OPEN MIC AT TIM’S: 6 pm signups, 7 pm music at all-ages open mic hosted at Tim’s (16th SW and SW 98th) in White Center.
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 – the link explains how to RSVP.
PAST, PRESENT, & ELSEWHERE: Album-listening sessions at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), every Tuesday night, 7-9 pm.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Weekly lessons continue at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), 7 pm – lots of info 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 trivia venues 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; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub, free, prizes. (2306 California SW).
KARAOKE AT POGGIE TAVERN: 9 pm Tuesdays, until 1:30 am, your turn to sing! (4717 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!
9:41 AM: Thanks for the tip and photos. What’s on the Seattle City Light outage map as a 7-customer outage is affecting some Westwood Village businesses. The texter sent these photos – seen on the door at the dialysis facility Davita:
And at West Seattle Licensing:
The texter says the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) child-care center is open but is having a partial outage. We’ll go over and check on other businesses as soon as we can.
10 AM: We’re there. Surveying the rest of the SW Trenton side, the Post Office is open, not affected, but the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health clinic and Total Wine & More are both closed with signs on the door. (The latter also affects bus drivers who use the restroom, the signage notes.) Total Wine sign:
And VMFH:
10:50 AM: This outage is no longer shown on the SCL map. We’ll go back a bit later to see if any of the affected businesses have reopened.
1:45 PM: Customers are going into Total Wine, but the aforementioned other businesses still have the closure signs up.
Though we’re just barely stepping into summer, local artists invite you to an event Thursday that’ll preview one of the biggest art events of fall – the <strong>West Seattle Art Tour September 19-20! Here’s the invitation for the preview:
West Seattle Art Tour announces its 2026 Preview Event at Viscon Cellars, July 2-September 26! Get a Sneak Peek at art from this year’s West Seattle Art Tour participating artists during preview nights this summer!
The West Seattle Art Tour is pleased to announce that Viscon Cellars (5910 California Ave SW, Suite B) is hosting the West Seattle Art Tour Preview Event, Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons, July 3-September 26, 2026!
The fun begins Thursday, July 2, from 5:00–9:00 pm. Stop by for a sneak peek at the colorful, dynamic work of this year’s tour artists. Meet some of the more than 50 artists in person to chat about their work and answer your questions. While you’re there, enjoy a glass of Viscon Cellars’ delicious wine and mingle with other art lovers.
If you can’t make it Thursday, July 2nd, the artwork will be on display Fridays, 5:00-9:00 pm and Saturdays, from 1:00–6:00 pm through September 26th. Or join us during West Seattle’s Art Walks July 9th, August 13th and September 10th, 5:00-9:00 pm. Print copies of this year’s Tour Map will be available on site during the previews.
About the West Seattle Art Tour: The West Seattle Art Tour is a free, self-guided tour that showcases a unique array of art created by exceptional West Seattle artists in the spaces where artists create, live, teach and work. This year sites will be open for two days, allowing more time for visitors to see all of the locations. This year’s tour Information includes a printable map, an interactive online map and artist profiles to help guests plot their own adventure across the West Seattle Peninsula. Maps and more are available on the Tour’s website, https://www.westseattlearttour.org.
The West Seattle Art Tour is organized by local artists and art lovers with support from The West Seattle Blog, Viscon Cellars, Alki Arts, BECU, Susi Musi & Co., Capers Home, West Seattle Garden Tour, C&P Coffee, and Cat Brooks Design.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, June 30, 2026. No Seattle World Cup match today – next one’s tomorrow (1 pm Wednesday, Belgium vs. Senegal).
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Today’s forecast is for clouds and a high in the upper 60s. Sunrise was at 5:15 am today; sunset will be at 9:10 pm.
(Photo by Dave Leake)
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. Also, extra runs on World Cup match days (tomorrow and next Monday are the last two dates).
Washington State Ferries – Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route is on the regular three-boat schedule. Check the alert page for last-minute changes.
STADIUM ZONE TONIGHT
Mariners are home, playing the Angels at 6:40 pm.
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!
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!
A West Seattle couple rode near the front of today’s big Pride Parade through downtown Seattle.
We reported earlier about the Seattle Pride organization honoring Stacy Bass-Walden as this year’s recipient of the Ackerman Award for Service. Stacy and wife Jolie founded Alki Beach Pride – an annual late-summer celebration, unique to West Seattle and its beloved beach. As this year’s honoree, Stacy rode in a convertible in the parade, with Jolie at her side.
She invited community members including us to walk alongside, and in true WSB “we always show up” style, we did. Before the parade began, we watched some of the staging, including the rollout of the huge Pride flag that has made a guest appearance at Alki Beach Pride the past few years:
(This year you’ll see it on August 1st.) Once the parade got rolling, the hundreds of entries headed north on 4th Avenue from south of Westlake Park:
Thousands of people lined the street – and some watched from above:
About two-thirds of the way down the route, a reporter from KIRO, which had broadcast and streaming rights, stopped Stacy and Jolie for an interview:
After that, their driver had to step it up a bit to close a big gap with the entries ahead, and we were walking alone for a while, carrying our sign congratulating Stacy. We caught up just as the parade made the turn onto Denny Way:
Minutes later, at the end of the route – an hour after the lead cars started rolling – we talked briefly to Stacy and Jolie about the parade-riding experience:
We hit the “stop” button a bit too soon – what they went on to say at the end was an invitation to join them for this year’s Alki Beach Pride, on August 15.
Some complicated technical trouble tonight took WSB down for a few hours. Please forgive us for the downtime; we’ve been working on stories offline so we can catch up as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience (and thanks also to those who contacted us to make sure we knew about the site’s inaccessibility – best way to reliably reach us 24/7 with a question or message is to text 206-293-6302).
As we first reported in April, Avalon Glassworks‘ owners are retiring, and June 30 is their final day – so you have two more days to shop their retail store adjacent to the glass-blowing studio, 12 pm to 4 pm Monday and Tuesday.
(2025 photo courtesy West Seattle Glass Float Hunt)
For those wondering what this means for the annual West Seattle Glass Float Hunt, for which Avalon Glassworks has made the floats, we noticed this paragraph in a recent news release about city grants:
$29,100 to West Seattle Chamber of Commerce for the West Seattle Glass Float Hunt, taking place August 7 through August 16, 2026, is a free community art event that invites residents and visitors to explore neighborhoods across the West Seattle peninsula while searching for handblown glass floats hidden in parks, greenspaces, trails, public walkways, and participating businesses from Alki Avenue to Roxbury Street. Created by local glass artists, each float is a small piece of public art meant to be discovered, photographed, and shared. The hunt encourages people to experience West Seattle’s parks, neighborhoods, and small businesses in a new way while celebrating the region’s connection to Pacific Northwest glass artistry. It also serves as a small business activation and economic development effort that guides participants through neighborhood commercial districts and encourages visits to local shops, restaurants, cafés, and other businesses helping support the independent, local business culture in West Seattle. Community match: $29,320
Since the news release specifically mentioned the Chamber, which has partnered with the West Seattle Junction Association on the float hunt, we asked executive director Rachel Porter about its status, and she replied that Avalon Glassworks has already made this year’s floats: “We were able to get them made before they close, so this is our last year with them at the helm of the glass blowing. The goal will always be to use a West Seattle business, and we are hoping the next owners of Avalon will help us keep this tradition alive! We don’t know who we will work with next year, but fingers crossed that someone buys Avalon soon.”
Thanks to Mark Jaroslaw for the clip from last night’s free Seattle Chamber Music Society “Concert Truck” show outside the Alki Bathhouse. As you can see in Mark’s video, it wasn’t just instrumental – an opera vocalist sang, too. The “Concert Truck” series has one more stop in West Seattle this summer, Wednesday (July 1) at 6 pm at the Seattle Chinese Garden (north end of South Seattle College campus at 6000 16th SW) – you can see the performers and program (for last night too) by going here.
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