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Update: West Seattle house fire on Roxbury ‘accidental’
July 5, 2011 1:39 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

1:39 AM: We’re on our way to the house-fire call at 30th and Roxbury – more as we get it.

1:46 AM UPDATE: Roxbury is being blocked off. The fire address has been updated to 32nd and Roxbury (map). Per scanner traffic, firefighters say they have it under control. We’ll be at the scene shortly.

1:55 AM UPDATE: At the scene. No flames visible. No report of injuries. The house is on the south side of Roxbury, closer to 31st than 32nd. Investigators are being called out right now. Again, Roxbury is closed to traffic, since this is right on the corner, with the roadblock starting just east of 35th.

2:04 AM UPDATE: Firefighters confirm nobody was hurt – nobody was home. They don’t know the cause yet, since the investigation is just starting, but they say there’s significant damage inside the house, so it’s uninhabitable at this point.

4:05 AM UPDATE: SFD has published an update on Fire Line, saying they’ve determined the fire was “accidental” – though aside from saying it started “in a couch,” they don’t say how (we’ll check later this morning). Damage is estimated at $61,000; the house is now described as “vacant.”

ADDED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: SFD’s Kyle Moore says “smoking materials” were what ignited the couch, and adds that Seattle Police are investigating.

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West Seattle 4th of July 2011 scenes, from fireworks to float
July 5, 2011 12:22 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Not a cloud in the sky tonight – just fireworks smoke. As seen from Alki – that’s a view of the Winslow (Bainbridge Island) show, courtesy of David Hutchinson. And from Harbor Avenue, the Lake Union fireworks, thanks to Chris Fruitrich:

Of course, there was more to see along Harbor and Alki Avenues than fireworks. Gridlock, even an hour after the fireworks ended – we went over to take a look, thinking we would be going the uncrowded way (westbound), but it was bumper-to-bumper both ways. And a sizable cleanup job ahead – overflow at every trash can, though at least much was bagged (by the time we saw it):

By 11:30 pm, police were out in force along central Alki, which is where the traffic finally thinned on our westward drive. Earlier, we had checked out the fireworks view from the highest point in the city, Myrtle Reservoir Park, which was still under construction last July 4th (opened in fall, dedicated this past April). Not bad, though you have to strategically work around a few tall evergreens that are part of the northward view. Also nice from Myrtle tonight: Crescent moon, setting. Meantime, one more West Seattle 4th of July scene, which is actually from Burien:

As noted in our West Seattle/Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade coverage, the West Seattle Hi-Yu float was in today’s Burien parade, and Jim Edwards – part of the leadership team for the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade coming up July 23rd – shared the photo. Look for Hi-Yu royalty and reps at all the big upcoming events (West Seattle Summer Fest this Friday-Saturday-Sunday, the Seafair Pirates’ Landing on Saturday, etc.) and buy a button to help support the program.

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Happy 70th birthday to West Seattle’s Colman Pool
July 4, 2011 9:21 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

We were on our way to Colman Pool‘s 70th-anniversary celebration this afternoon when the Marine View Drive fire forced a detour – but we went back for a photo in honor of its birthday. There’s a bit of its history in Lori Hinton‘s “West Seattle 101” Colman Pool vignette; its origins as a “tide-fed swimming hole” are also noted in Seattle Parks‘ thumbnail Lincoln Park history. Here’s a Seattle Municipal Archives photo of the then-swimming hole in 1925:

Once built into a gorgeous pool, it was dedicated on July 4, 1941. Here’s a MOHAI photo from that year. The season for this beautiful on-the-beach saltwater swimming pool is short, and September will be here all too soon – here’s the pool schedule to plan your visit.

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Update: Marine View Drive fire blamed on ‘smoking materials’
July 4, 2011 3:36 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(UPDATED MONDAY NIGHT with fire cause – scroll down)

3:36 PM: Fire crews are rushing to the 10100 block of Marine View Drive (map) for a reported house fire. Two people may be hurt, according to scanner traffic.

3:45 PM: At the scene. Needless to say, Marine View Drive is blocked:

The fire is reported to be under control, according to the scanner. No flames currently from our vantage point at the scene.

4 PM: There were two medic units at scene; one has taken a male patient to Harborview Medical Center for smoke inhalation, according to scanner traffic. Our crew at the scene says a private ambulance has arrived for a woman who was able to walk to it under her own power. A Seattle Fire Department public-information officer is being dispatched to the scene, so we’ll have official details before long. Meantime, smoke is no longer coming from the house (we don’t have a clear shot of it yet as police/fire crews are keeping people, media included, way back).

4:20 PM: The public-info officer was canceled; we’ve talked to an on-scene commander, who confirms the people who were hurt are the residents of the home, and both suffered from smoke inhalation. Their grandson was also in the house but was unhurt. The fire is out; investigators have just arrived, so there’s no word yet what caused it, but they say it was on the house’s “wine-cellar level.”

4:42 PM: We’ll be checking shortly to see if Marine View Drive has reopened. Meantime, adding a couple photos. Immediately above this update – since the house was at the end of a fairly long driveway, firefighters had a challenge to string hoses to the scene from the nearest hydrant. At the top of the story, the photo shows the house being aired out with fire crews’ heavy-duty fans once the fire was confirmed out.

5:08 PM: Per announcement heard on the scanner, Marine View Drive is now fully reopened to traffic.

ADDED 9:51 PM: Seattle Fire investigators say the fire was accidental. From the update on their Fire Line website:

… After interviewing the occupants and examining the scene, investigators concluded discarded smoking material on cardboard was to blame for the fire which began in the basement wine cellar. …

Damage is estimated at $70,000.

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Video: West Seattle’s Admiral 4th of July Kids Parade 2011
July 4, 2011 3:33 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Big turnout for this morning’s West Seattle/Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade – bigger than last year, by our informal measure, which is how long our clip of the entire parade runs. Last year we had to break it into 2 clips totaling 13 minutes; this year, our video (above) totals 16 minutes. OK, nonscientific, but still. Another contrast – cloudy last year, bright sunshine this time. Anyway, this is an all-volunteer effort – here’s coordinator Sherri Chun:

She also emceed the games at Hamilton Viewpoint Park post-parade – old-fashioned fun, like sack races:

Inbetween – hundreds of kids (and adults!) on parade. Click ahead for some of the scenes:Read More

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West Seattle Little League: Champs’ car wash for state tourney
July 4, 2011 2:59 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Little League: Champs’ car wash for state tourney
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Another side note from the West Seattle/Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade (full report still in the works): At the end of the route, Hamilton Viewpoint Park, we found Ethan, Austin, and Kevin, promoting a fundraising car wash next Sunday, 10 am-2 pm at Bar-S Playfield on Alki Point, to raise money for the West Seattle Little League 10-11 All-Stars‘ upcoming trip to the state tournament in Eastern Washington. (If you can’t read the fine print – free coffee while you wait!)

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West Seattle 4th of July: Pet reminder – keep ’em inside
July 4, 2011 2:41 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | Pets | Safety | West Seattle news

Reminder before night gets closer … pet experts say keeping your cats and dogs inside tonight is the humane thing to do – fireworks are not only a direct danger, the noise also scares them to the point where they might run out of home territory. Already today, after a night with hours of illegal fireworks, we’ve added five new lost/found pet listings to the WSB Pets page. It’s here if you need it, but better yet, just don’t run the risk.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car stolen on owner’s ‘favorite holiday’
July 4, 2011 2:04 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Crime Watch: Car stolen on owner’s ‘favorite holiday’
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

James hopes you will be on the lookout for his car, stolen early today:

We live down on the 5600 block of 17th Ave. My wife and I were up until 2:30 am watching a movie in our living room and I know my 1997 Honda Accord was still sitting in front of our house. About 9:30 am on my favorite holiday (July 4th), I noticed my neighbor’s car sitting in front of my house. At that point I realized my car was gone. My neighbor said they moved their car there about 7 am to do yard work. So sometime between 2:30 and 7 am on July 4th, my 1997 beige Honda Accord was stolen. It has a little Japanese sticker on the gas tank panel. There is nothing fancy about this car. No high-end stereo equipment. No crazy muffler or rims. Just a plain old car. The police responded within minutes and filed a report.

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West Seattle 4th of July midday notes
July 4, 2011 11:06 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(That’s Griffin, very first kid we saw upon arrival at the parade starting point)
11:06 AM: The Admiral 4th of July Kids Parade is over, so north end of California flowing again (full coverage to come with video and photos, HUGE turnout)… Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) sends word they are open for a few hours (till about 2:30 pm), if you feel like shopping…

12:24 PM: On our way back from the parade and the old-fashioned games (sack race, etc.) that followed at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, we checked out the shoreline to see how the pre-fireworks stakeout was going. Campers already at Don Armeni (along with boats coming back from crab fishing), but not too crazy yet. Spotted stand-up paddleboarders in the distance too, with the future CenturyLink Field as their backdrop:

Forecast still looks good for the rest of the holiday.

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Happy Independence Day! West Seattle 4th of July 2011
July 4, 2011 7:59 am
|    Comments Off on Happy Independence Day! West Seattle 4th of July 2011
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Junction flags are flying this morning – this one is outside Husky Deli)
First up for big events today, the annual Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade, which isn’t just for Admiral – all welcome to participate, starts at 10 am at 44th/Sunset (map), concludes with games and concessions at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. More details on that, plus all the rest of the holiday info, is on the WSB 4th of July page, including transit changes and business highlights.

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‘Rocky Horror Show Live’ about to time-warp into ArtsWest
July 4, 2011 1:10 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Photos by Michael Brunk, courtesy ArtsWest)
If you’re used to the monthly “Rocky Horror Picture Show” screenings at Admiral Theater – or past experiences – a few things you need to know about “The Rocky Horror Show Live,” opening July 13th at ArtsWest in The Junction. Do NOT bring toast, or rice, or any of the other routinely thrown items. Why? Explained here. However, the ArtsWest notes say, verbal audience participation IS welcome. So you don’t have to be as sweet and innocent as Brad and Janet…

… but do keep in mind, this is a production of the Summer Musical Theater Apprenticeship Program at ArtsWest, and not recommended for those under 16. Our reminder of the upcoming “Rocky Horror” run landed in the inbox Sunday night courtesy of cast member Tyler Webster, who has praise for everyone in what Tyler calls “an amazing cast” and adds, ” All of us are dedicated to this performance and have been balancing school, work, and multiple other commitments.” So show ’em some love – showtimes are 7:30 pm Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays from July 13th through July 23rd, with added 11 pm shows on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are available online right now – go here. (Theatergoers under 25 pay only $10!)

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Hours till West Seattle 4th of July 2011: A few notes
July 3, 2011 7:58 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

The holiday’s almost here! We’ve collected updated information on the WSB 4th of July page – but here are a few general notes: We asked Southwest Precinct operations Lt. Pierre Davis a few days ago if any special enforcement or closures were planned along Alki. His reply: No. (Though there’s no longer an Elliott Bay fireworks show, crowds still gather to watch Lake Union fireworks from here, but not enough for road shutdowns like years past. The Parks Department did tell us they’ve placed some extra portable restrooms along the shoreline in popular spots.)

You WILL find some traffic effects tomorrow morning in the North Admiral area from West Seattle’s one and only Independence Day parade, the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade – all welcome, starts at 10 am at 44th/Sunset, winds its way through a few residential blocks, then crosses California so paraders can get to the fun, games, and concessions at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. If you happen to be traveling that end of California SW when the parade’s going by, you’ll have to wait, as police will be holding traffic. As for more parade details plus the rest of the day, again, it’s all on the special 4th of July page (if we’re missing something, please let us know so it can be added!).

A word about NON-official fireworks: They’re illegal in Seattle. Though they are sold in neighboring White Center, even there, they are only legal to use 9 am-midnight on the actual holiday. If tonight is anything like last night (both what we heard on the scanner and what we heard through our windows), many will be disregarding the law. So in case you wondered, here is the official Seattle Police/Fire Departments‘ statement about when to call 911 and when NOT to call 911 about fireworks.

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West Seattle Cooking Club: Not your average potluck
July 3, 2011 6:29 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Cooking Club: Not your average potluck
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It’s fair to say that among the things West Seattleites have in common, a love of food is probably at the top of any list. You probably have a favorite breakfast or pizza place, special dessert destination, preferred grocery store, produce stand, mobile food truck. The West Seattle/White Center area has grown into a neighborhood with an abundance of some of the best and most inviting food destinations in the city. New places continue to open up and we just can’t seem to get enough.

But for some folks, even the plethora of commercial culinary awesomeness surrounding us isn’t quite enough. These people not only like to eat, they like to cook – a lot. And they would like to find others with great recipes who might want to share with the club – and eventually help publish a charity-fundraiser cookbook – while getting inspired and meeting new people.

So the stage is set for a growing group of people who share a passion for cooking: The West Seattle Cooking Club.

Read More

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West Seattle traffic alert: Tree down on Admiral Way hill
July 3, 2011 5:00 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Be careful! A tree has fallen onto the eastbound (bridge-bound) lanes of Admiral Way near the West Seattle Bridge, according to notes we’ve received. Thanks to those who e-mailed to let us know about it. Off to check out the scene.

5:38 PM: It’s been cleared, so all is OK now.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary attempt; vehicle vandalism
July 3, 2011 3:22 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

2 West Seattle Crime Watch reports from the WSB inbox, an attempted burglary and a case of vehicle vandalism – read on:Read More

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West Seattle weekend scene: Vespa Club’s ‘Insanity’ scooter rally
July 3, 2011 2:31 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | Transportation | West Seattle news

If you saw a sizable contingent of scooters zipping through West Seattle streets, here’s the occasion: The final day of the Vespa Club of Seattle‘s four-day “Rally to Restore Insanity” brought dozens of scooter riders (a few of whom are pictured above) to Skylark Café and Club in North Delridge for brunch this morning. From there, they were heading to Vashon via the Fauntleroy ferry, on a ride led by West Seattle’s own Westenders (who have their own rally coming up later this month).

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West Seattle weekend scene: Eagles on the beach
July 3, 2011 12:17 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife


(Click image for a larger view)
Making a very public West Seattle appearance on the eve of the most patriotic of holidays, it’s our national symbol, the bald eagle, times two, on a stretch of Alki sand revealed as the tide goes out (it’ll be -2.0 at 1:56 pm). Thanks to Debra Salazar Herbst for sharing the photo!

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West Seattle Garden Tour: Ten to see, two weeks from today
July 3, 2011 10:03 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

Suddenly, it’s July, and all the big summer events are in view. Two weeks from today, you can spend the day wandering the 10 gardens on this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour on your own schedule between 9 am-5 pm, and learning perennial-design secrets from this year’s guest speaker Sue Goetz (that’s the one event with a fixed time – noon at West Seattle Golf Course). Ticket books are $15 (kids 12/under = free), and they’re more than just your ticket to get into the gardens and lecture on July 17th – they contain maps and information, plus coupons from some of the sponsors (totaling savings, by our informal estimation, that could exceed the $15 price). The WS Garden Tour is a fundraiser with multiple beneficiaries (listed here). WSB is proud to be a WS Garden Tour sponsor again this year (with many others, including these businesses that are also WSB sponsors: Budget Blinds of West Seattle, Highline Medical Group/West Seattle Family Medicine, Jackson, Morgan & Hunt PLLC, Stonehedge Tree Experts, Tom’s Automotive Service, WEdesign, Ventana Construction). You can buy your ticket book today at the locations listed here, or online. (Photo of “Sculptural Greens Garden” by Clay Swidler, from WSGT website)

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See the Duwamish River up close: Kayak tours start Wednesday
July 3, 2011 8:01 am
|    Comments Off on See the Duwamish River up close: Kayak tours start Wednesday
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

(December 2010 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
That’s just one of the sights we saw on a boat tour of the Duwamish River last December. You can get an even better look at the people, wildlife, industry, and history of the river that borders much of easternmost West Seattle by taking an evening community-kayaking tour this summer. The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition presents the tours along with West Seattle’s own Alki Kayak Tours, and this summer’s tour series is about to begin. Every other Wednesday night, from this coming Wednesday (July 6th) through September 14th, a tour will leave either from the West Seattle or South Park shore of the river. The full schedule is here, along with the cost and other parameters.

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West Seattle Sunday: Happy day-before-the-4th!
July 3, 2011 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Happy day-before-the-4th!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(WSB photo from a West Seattle Farmers’ Market day in June)
Day before the holiday (here’s our West Seattle 4th of July page), so while it’s fairly quiet, a few things are up:

SUNDAY SOCCER: 8 am, Delridge Playfield, the ongoing “adult/big kid” pickup soccer game, all ages/skill levels. Check out West Seattle Sunday Soccer on Facebook.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction (44th/Alaska) . From market manager Catherine Burke, update for today’s market:

FRESH SHEET:
Pipitone Farms w/tree-ripened “pipicots!”
Fresh WILD Sockeye and King Salmon at Loki Fish
Martin Family Orchards – Cherries
Welcome our Newest Farmers from Whidbey Is. Five Acre Farm!
Music: Pasquale Santos
Kids’ Tent: WS Helpline

You’ll also find Sustainable West Seattle and Kiwanis Club of West Seattle tabling today.

ADOPT A CAT: Friends of the Animals Foundation will have volunteers on site at Next to Nature in The Junction every Sunday in July from 11 am – 3 pm to help you find the perfect rescued feline companion.

TRAFFIC REMINDER: Venturing outside West Seattle? Citywide alerts for big events today (and through Tuesday) are listed here.

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West Seattle traffic alert: Car hits pole, Sylvan Way blocked
July 2, 2011 10:33 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Photo added 11:30 pm)
10:33 PM: A crash has brought down a pole and wires at Delridge/Sylvan (map), so police are blocking Sylvan at Holly. A medic unit’s now being called.

11:15 PM: The crash is nowhere near Delridge – it’s along the greenbelt area of Sylvan, halfway between Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor), where police have a roadblock on the north side, and the Vietnamese Cultural Center across from Home Depot, where the south roadblock is. So the Delridge-to-35th route through High Point is cut off till City Light finishes repairs. Police said some power was out as a result of the crash, though nothing’s showing on the City Light map; some of the street lights did appear out as we hiked in. The crashed car itself is off the road, so the roadblock is purely for safety reasons.

ADDED SUNDAY AFTERNOON: While Ken noted in comments that the road was still blocked at 8 am, we drove through at noon, so it’s clear now.

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West Seattle summer: 2 sessions ahead for youth camp @ Sealth
July 2, 2011 10:23 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle summer: 2 sessions ahead for youth camp @ Sealth
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

It’s a learning experience not only for campers, but for their coaches, at Chief Sealth International High School‘s 14th annual Basketball and Life Skills Camp. We stopped by the school Friday as the first of this summer’s three weeklong sessions concluded. Coming off his CSIHS team’s amazing year, going all the way to the state 3A Final Four at the Tacoma Dome, award-winning Coach Colin Slingsby was talking with some of the young men and women who help coach the campers.

Slingsby co-directs the camp with Sealth athletic director Sam Reed and Denny International Middle School‘s Coach Diallo Jackson. (When we stopped by on Friday, we spotted CSIHS principal John Boyd there too.) Check out the brochure here – it breaks down the typical day and explains how “life skills” figure into it as well as basketball skills. Two more one-week sessions for 2nd through 9th graders (fall ’11 grades), for both genders, are ahead, one starting July 11th and another starting August 8th;

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West Seattle Summer Fest 2011 countdown: Six days away!
July 2, 2011 6:29 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Less than a week till West Seattle Summer Fest 2011 (with co-sponsors including WSB) rocks The Junction … and there’s more information online now, so you can start planning your time there:

GREENLIFE AT SUMMER FEST: Exhibits and live demonstrations will be the highlights of this year’s sustainability expo on the south end of the festival zone – and the list of demonstrations is now live on the Summer Fest website; find it here. For example – 4 pm Friday (July 8th), Connie from West Seattle Nursery has the (s)coop on raising backyard chickens; 5 pm Saturday (July 9th), Micah from the West Seattle Tool Library shows you how to make beer at home; 1 pm Sunday, Stu from Alki Bike and Board shows you how to make your bike electric-powered … and lots more before, after, and between all those.

REMEMBER, STREET FESTIVAL MEANS STREET CLOSURES … If you’re new, or otherwise in need of reminding, Summer Fest setup, enjoyment, and breakdown means the streets in the heart of The Junction will close starting this Thursday evening and will stay closed till next Sunday (July 10) night. The north edge of the closure tends to vary slightly year to year but keep in mind that the blocks of California from Oregon to Edmunds and Alaska from 44th to 42nd are closed no matter what.

… WHICH MEANS A FUN CHANCE TO EXPLORE ON SUMMER FEST EVE: Come down and wander those closed streets during Shop Late Thursday in The Junction, 6 pm-9 pm.

YES, THERE’S ONLY ONE STAGE, BUT … one act on the Summer Fest music list (see all 24 acts listed here) will be in the informal performance area at California/Alaska (by the Information Booth, where we’ll be helping out again this year). That would be Caspar Babypants, performing at 6:30 pm Friday, and you’ll see other types of fun performances and demonstrations in that area throughout the festival. P.S. The official stage for the other 23 performers/groups is on the north end of the festival zone, California SW between SW Oregon and SW Genesee (see the map above).

REMEMBER THE ‘HASHTAG’ … if you use Twitter, include #wssummerfest with your Summer Fest tweets.

Next Summer Fest update, we’ll explain what “Hack-Cycle” – which you might have noticed on the map – is all about, and introduce you to the artist who’ll be helping you do it!

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