West Seattle, Washington
30 Thursday
Five years after the “sexpresso” trend was the talk of the town, people don’t seem to get steamed up any more over the concept of espresso stands with baristas in lingerie. Nonetheless, it’s noteworthy that one of these stands has turned up here, first one we recall hearing about: At 9435 Delridge Way SW in the South Delridge Triangle, the former Java Joint drive-up stand has just been repainted pink and given the new name Brewlesque Espresso. Noticing this while in the area today, we stopped for a photo; the barista told us the stand has new ownership as of just a few days ago, and that’s who made the change. (As was noted in coverage five years ago, as long as the baristas keep their naughty bits covered up, it’s all perfectly legal.)
If you look up Metro Transit info online, Metro wants to know what you think about a new homepage they’ve put up for a test drive. They say it highlights the most popular features – route schedules, announcements, trip planning – and works better on mobile devices than the current site. Check it out here, and then answer a survey that you’ll see at the very top of the page. This is just for the home page; they plan to roll out other changes later this year.
Longtime West Seattle businessman Jim Sweeney, who has operated Alki Lumber in The Triangle for more than half a century, has died. (This was reported in the WSB Forums last night, and both the family and the business have now confirmed it.) Our photo is from September 2010, when the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle honored Mr. Sweeney as an “Everyday Hero” for donating materials to a club service project at Westcrest Park. He had told club members that day that, while Seattle had more than 130 lumber yards when he took over Alki Lumber in 1959, only a handful remained by the turn of the millennium. Mr. Sweeney was 73 years old; his memorial service is planned for 2 pm Sunday at Our Lady of Guadalupe. We’re expecting additional information from his family later, and will add it then.
ADDED 3:32 PM: From the Sweeney family:
James Brandon Sweeney, 73, of West Seattle died peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, February 5, 2012 at Swedish Hospital. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. Jim was born in Seattle on December 30, 1938 and grew up in West Seattle. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1957. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Judy, and their two daughters, Lisa (John Guthrie) and Lynn (Matt Pedersen), five grandchildren, his sister Karin (Don Boos) and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and a long list of friends. Jim owned and operated Alki Lumber for over 50 years. The business was founded by his grandfather in 1921. He was an avid, expert skier and enjoyed traveling the world with Judy by his side. Among his greatest gifts, above all, were his generosity, patience and incredible wisdom that touched many lives.
A vigil will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG) Catholic Church, 7000 35th Avenue SW, on Saturday, February 11, at 7 pm, and funeral Mass at OLG on Sunday, February 12 at 2 pm. A reception celebrating Jim’s life and legacy will follow at The Hall at Fauntleroy. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to West Seattle Pee Wee Baseball or the Medic One Foundation.
Thanks to Eric and Kristen, who both sent word of what looked like a car-bicycle crash at 8th and Roxbury (map) earlier this morning – but was instead a case of a pedestrian hit by a car, according to King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West. (It’s their jurisdiction because it happened on the county side of the Highland Park/White Center line, though as you can see in the photo, which Eric sent, Seattle Police helped out.) Sgt. West says the driver was southbound on 8th, getting ready to turn left (eastbound) onto Roxbury, and was apparently “blinded by the sun” when she hit a 67-year-old woman who was walking northbound across the street. She was driving very slowly, Sgt. West says, so the pedestrian suffered only “very minor injuries.” The bicycle seen on the ground by passersby belonged to a witness who stopped to help, NOT to the victim, according to Sgt. West.
Four West Seattle schools are honored in the newest round of annual statewide Washington Achievement Awards. Thanks to Laurie for the tip – she e-mailed to let us know about Alki Elementary, which won for Closing the Achievement Gap, as explained on the school’s website. Checking out the full statewide list, we also note that Madison Middle School won three – for Excellence, Improvement, and Science – and that Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School both won for Improvement. Congratulations to all!
(Early Thursday morning, by Don Brubeck from the WSB Flickr group pool)
BRIDGE CLOSURES THIS WEEK: Again this week, TWO overnight closures of the West Seattle Bridge’s easternmost and westernmost sections are scheduled EACH weeknight, 9 pm-5 am – the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct (for the SSV Widening Project), east of the 1st Avenue South exit, and the Fauntleroy Expressway (for its seismic-retrofit work), west of the Delridge Way exit. Details on both closures are here.
STAIRWAY WORK IN ALKI: As previewed here on Friday, SDOT plans to start work today on the project to add an upper stairway to the 60th/61st/Spokane connection.
WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB:: This week’s meeting info is at westseattlecookingclub.org – 2:30 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, theme “Marinated.”
WEST SEATTLE HI-YU FESTIVAL: Hi-Yu general membership meeting, including pin contest (more details here), 6:30 pm, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church hall.
VAN HALEN ALBUM PREVIEW PARTY 8 pm tonight at Feedback Lounge, with the folks from Easy Street Records on hand to sell it (details here).
MORE NIGHTLIFE: Trivia with Brian Calvert at Christo’s on Alki, 7 pm … Karaoke with Kelli at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm … Also at 9 pm, the “Flat Earth Society” weekly vinyl DJ’ing at West 5 features DJ Backbacon (Matt Lukin – alumnus of the Melvins and Mudhoney) … Talarico’s has karaoke @ 9:30 pm.
The theme of our most widely circulated story this past week was – don’t miss an opportunity to tell people how much you love/appreciate them. We keep trying to find the right time to tell you exactly that, but there’s always one more story that needs to be written, one more e-mail to answer … but finally here in the middle of the post-Super Bowl night, we’re going to just stop and say: THANK YOU.
The occasion: January’s final numbers for WSB readership are in, and it was a record-setting month:
*First month ever with more than 1,100,000 pageviews (final total: 1,165,345 pageviews for January 2012)
*First month ever with more than half a million visits (final total: 500,844 visits for January 2012)
The previous WSB records were set last October, the first month ever with more than a million WSB pageviews, part of a big 2011 that we never just stopped down for a second to mention either:Read More
If you shop at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral, you’ve seen courtesy clerk Andrew Borracchini smiling at you from that banner outside the store, and signs inside, for a few months now, following his victory as Washington state’s Best Bagger (as reported here in October). And if he’s helped you with your groceries lately, you might have noticed his custom name badge:
This was Andrew’s last weekend of work before he and an entourage of supporters take off for Las Vegas, where he’ll compete in the national championship at the Mirage Hotel on February 13th, just eight days away.
We talked with Andrew on Saturday morning at the store, where he’s been working weekends for more than a year. In recent weeks, he’s been given an hour to practice during every shift he’s worked. There’s a lot at stake – a $10,000 prize (with cash prizes for 2nd-5th place too) – and he will have a bigtime cheering section: Not only are about 20 members of his family traveling with him for the big event – so are some high-profile supporters from Metropolitan Market, including store general manager Glen Hasstedt and MM ownership. On Saturday, the store allowed Andrew to show us his winning skills – while he explained the keys to good grocery-bagging:
Andrew, by the way, is a junior at O’Dea, and says his sister Angela, who preceded him in Metropolitan Market employment, is the one who taught him the ropes in the bagging world. Last year’s national champ was from the Northeast – will Andrew bring the Golden Grocery Bag Trophy home to the Northwest this year? We’ll find out a week from tomorrow.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, beyond ongoing WSB breaking-news (etc.) coverage:
*The owner of an Alki-area rental vacation home thought it was odd that the renters pulled a rental truck up to the residence on their last day. He dispatched a friend to park in front of the house to see if any items were being stolen. The renters noticed the lookout and left. The owner later discovered miscellaneous items such as DVDs and board games were missing. They also failed to pay for the week’s stay.
Six more summaries ahead:Read More
(Photos by Rick Rasmussen)
2:13 PM: Just got a call from The Whale Trail‘s Donna Sandstrom that orcas are in the vicinity again – west of west-facing West Seattle shores, north of Blake Island, at last report. This is one day after killer whales were seen off Ballard’s Golden Gardens Park (great reader video shared by our friends at MyBallard.com).
ADDED 6:07 PM: Donna explains in a comment: “It was a group of about 10 transients, including 3 males and some juveniles. They were on the far west side of the Sound, but clearly visible with binoculars. They were mostly traveling, with some deep dives and possibly foraging.”
ADDED 9 PM: Thanks to Rick Rasmussen for sharing photos! He says, “We were fortunate enough to have a close encounter with the Orcas today. We were sailing NE of Blake Island and they crossed our path and swam past us heading North. It looked like 3 adults and 2 smaller ones. Amazing!”
Thanks to Kathy Weitz for sharing that photo she took this morning as the US Coast Guard cutter Healy sailed through Elliott Bay on the final leg of its trip home to the downtown Seattle waterfront. According to this Associated Press story published by our partners at the Seattle Times, the Healy has been out on patrol for 254 days. KING 5.com has video from its arrival at Pier 36.
The West Seattle Garden Tour is putting out one last call to local artists – deadline for their contest for the art on this year’s Garden Tour poster is just four weeks away, March 3rd. What they’re looking for: “Artwork content should be an interpretation of the WSGT’s theme ‘The Art of Gardening‘ focusing on color, design and texture in the garden.” The rest of the guidelines, the rules, and the entry form are all on the WSGT website; the winner gets $500, and the top 10 entries will be shown during the May edition of the West Seattle Art Walk. (Speaking of which, this month’s edition is coming up Thursday!) The Garden Tour itself happens this year on July 15th, and WSB is proud to be among the co-sponsors again this year. (Photo from July 2011 WSGT, by Tina Doherty)
From Sunrise Heights, Laura shared the photo and note:
My daughter, Becca (age 8), is selling homemade mini-donuts to raise money for her favorite charity, WestSide Baby, this morning. We are at 34th and Holden across the street from the 37 fire station. We’ll be here until (at least 1 pm) or until the donuts sell out. 3 donuts for one dollar.
12:44 PM UPDATE: Laura mentioned on the WSB Facebook page that they were almost sold out – so if you haven’t gone, probably too late.
1:10 PM UPDATE: Becca raised almost $59, according to her mom.
(Good turnout for Hiawatha pancakes! Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
A few notes for this sunny Super Bowl Sunday in West Seattle:
BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE SUPER BOWL: We asked for info on what various venues are up to – and here are the results. A few are closed or curtailing hours; some of course are having Super Bowl parties, or counterprogramming, or afterparties. Anything to add? Let us know. We’ll tweak the list all the way up till gametime.
PANCAKES TILL NOON! Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser continues till noon at Hiawatha Community Center (just north of West Seattle High School). From the announcement: “Come in and eat PANCAKES! All-you-can-eat pancakes with warm maple syrup and melted butter with all you can eat coffee and juice. We will also have ham, sausage, bagels and fruit available in limited portions. All proceeds are applied toward our scholarship fund! $6 (ages 13 and up), $5 (ages 4-12), $4 (ages 65 and up), FREE (3 and under).”
FARMERS’ MARKET: West Seattle Farmers’ Market in The Junction, 44th/Alaska, 10 am-2 pm. Looking for last-minute Super Bowl ideas? Market managers put a great list on their Facebook page – see it here. Also, say hi to Sustainable West Seattle.
DONUT SALE: 34th and Holden – 8-year-old Becca is selling 3 donuts for a dollar, raising money to donate to WestSide Baby. Till approx. 1 pm.
FOOD TRUCK: Snout and Co. (Cuban-influenced) food truck at 35th/Graham, 11 am-3 pm … Contigo at lunchtime in The Junction.
TONIGHT AT SKYLARK: Michael the Blind & the Els from Portland, performing at Skylark Cafe and Club, 7 PM, $5 cover. From their announcement: “The band is comprised of Michael Levasseur who has been playing shows as Michael the Blind for a little over a decade, his wife Rachael Renee’, who rocks the electric autoharp, bass player/wild card Elwood Johncox, and Nathaniel Kees Leigh on drums.” (They have an album due out soon.) (As noted in comments, Skylark is closed because of the Super Bowl – this show rescheduled for April.)
(Photos by WSB editor Tracy Record, added 8:34 am)
7:44 AM: Some residents in the Fauntlee Hills area woke up to water trouble this morning, according to several notes we have received. Greg reports, “Awoke to low water pressure and brown water coming from taps. Called city and they said there was a water emergency in the area and it would be at least 3 hours before water was restored.” Liz, who says she was given that same time frame, says her water service has been out since at least 3 am and that she was told the problem was a water-main break. We’re heading out to check.
8:26 AM: Just back from talking to the crew at the site of the break, which is on 39th SW just a bit north of SW Barton (which is wet for a few blocks downhill – luckily not quite cold enough to freeze). They have already fixed it and are flushing the lines. Just a cold-weather break, they told us, one of the 100-plus water-main breaks in the city every year (about 140, SPU reps told the recent meeting regarding Arbor Heights upgrades). This 12-inch main feeds homes for a 5-block area that zigzags around the spot where the pipe broke. Our photo shows the main and the silver clamp over the spot where it broke; the smaller green line on the right feeds the closest home, whose resident was out looking at the work and saying he’s glad it’s done because he’s overdue for his morning coffee.
Hope you spent lots of time in the sun! It’s supposed to be back tomorrow, and Monday. Five views from today – above, pilot/photographer Long B. Nguyen‘s peninsula overview, always amazing to see (click for a larger view; he shared two others we’re saving for the next day or two). Next, Melanie Dixon says it was so nice, even her “resident owl” had to come out:
In the Alki area, a hot spot for eagles drew a squabbling group today. From the WSB Flickr group pool, Danny McMillin caught this view:
Gary Jones photographed two in a more serene moment:
Back to the WSB Flickr group pool, Eugene Kogan spotted wildlife on a raft, with the frosted Olympics behind:
Thanks to all the photo-sharers in WSB-land … here’s how to share yours.
Christine wonders if anybody saw this happen:
I’m hoping because West Seattle is such a tight community that someone will have witnessed this event. I was driving west from downtown Seattle via Spokane Street at approximately 6:30 p.m. last night. Where the two lanes on Spokane street merge into one for a brief span for construction, a full size white truck merged into the side of my vehicle and then sped off up the Admiral hill. I got a partial license plate number and a hit-and-run report was filed but no one has been caught at this point. If you were a witness to this event or see a full size white truck with red paint down the passenger side and/or running boards, please give me or the SW Precinct any information. My family has called West Seattle home for a long time and we value the integrity and small-town care that is ever present. Thank you for any assistance in this matter.
The partial plate number starts with A4142, according to Christine.
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center is a hotbed of dance these days. Before too much more time elapses, we wanted to make mention of a big event from last weekend that still has people talking – young local dancers filling the center during a two-day visit by the Manhattan Dance Project, a touring program with professional dancers coming to town to work with youth. Youngstown’s Margaret Way reported, “My rough estimates, there must have been 75 – 100 youth taking classes in everything from ballet to jazz, tap to hip hop. The youth were from all around the area and were mainly connected with various local schools of dance.” One of them was the legendary Kathy’s Studio of Dance in The Junction, whose Miss Kathy shared photos with us (thank you!) – the senior company, above, and a group shot here:
Margaret says the Manhattan Dance Project has “fallen in love with our venue and have already penciled in their dates for their Seattle tour in 2013 right here at Youngstown!”
Everybody has a specialty. One of Mark Bourne‘s specialties is spotting appearances of The Grouchos – the mysteriously appearing and disappearing Groucho Marx likenesses seen alongside the West Seattle Bridge over (at least) the last five years. He just spotted them somewhere they haven’t been seen before, and writes about it here.
Three major topics at this week’s monthly meeting of the Southwest District Council, comprised of reps from neighborhood groups and organizations, mostly around western West Seattle – Metro‘s first community discussion of its newly revised route-restructuring plan; Councilmember Sally Bagshaw talking about her priorities now that the committee she chairs is about neighborhoods as well as parks; and the first Gathering of Neighbors since 2010, with new coordinators this year. Details on all three topics, ahead:Read More
(Photos courtesy Bruno Cross)
He’s the Denny International Middle School music director, he’s the Chief Sealth International High School band director, Seattle’s All-City Band director – and he’s now officially a Golden Apple Award winner: Last night was the big event for Marcus Pimpleton, and we’ve received photos from the ceremony at the Intiman Theatre downtown. Sealth Jazz Band musicians were there:
And so were colleagues – with the honoree in the next photo, Alki Elementary principal Chanda Oatis (former Denny assistant principal) and Denny principal Jeff Clark, who notes, “Mr. Pimpleton does incredible things with our scholars every day — he richly deserves this prestigious honor”:
This is the 20th round of Golden Apple Awards presented by KCTS 9; we published first word three months ago. Here’s the official news release with the full list of statewide honorees.
The seniors playing basketball for West Seattle High School were honored last night during a busy night at the WSHS gym, with Eastside Catholic visiting. Though both varsity teams lost, it was an occasion to pay tribute to the hard work this season and the achievements of the departing players – we have the seniors’ photos, plus game recaps, ahead:Read More
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
(Refresh for latest “live” view of the eastbound WS Bridge)
*NO* BRIDGE CLOSURES SCHEDULED THIS WEEKEND: Just to reiterate that! Next ones don’t start till 9 pm Monday. (P.S. This WSB report from last night contains SDOT’s report on last weekend’s informational shortcomings – and what will be done to prevent future reruns.)
KIDS’ CLOTHING AND TOY SALE: 9 am to 3 pm in the Social Hall of West Seattle Christian Church. From the announcement: “Come support our young families and find some great clothing, toys, and equipment. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Water Well Drilling Team for 2012. The Water Well Drilling Team will have an informational table at the sale.”
COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF WEST SEATTLE OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-2 pm, 9450 22nd SW. More info on the CSWS home page. (CSWS is having one 10 am-2 pm next Saturday, Feb. 11, too.)
GRAND OPENING WEEKEND: Festivities today (and tomorrow!) at Pink Gorilla Games, 6053 California SW, 11 am-7 pm – snacks, raffle prizes, more. (Read about Pink Gorilla’s WS expansion here.)
CRAFT SALE #1: Freshy’s Coffee is hosting another “Homemade Brigade” craft sale from 10 am until 4 pm. From the announcement: “Local artists, with items ranging from jewelry, knits, prints, soaps, trinkets & such.”
OPEN HOUSE: Open house at Cometa Playschool, 3212 California SW, 10 am-noon – details on the Cometa website.
B & N STORYTIME: Storytime at Westwood Village Barnes and Noble bookstore on Saturdays at 11 am. From the announcement: “We usually do 2-3 stories, and offer treats for the kids. All ages are welcome!”
OCCUPY WEST SEATTLE: Per the announcement published here earlier this week, you’re invited to its meeting 2-5 pm at Alki UCC.
RAISING LANTERNS: Fundraiser at the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of South Seattle Community College, 3-6 pm, $20/person at the door.
POETRY WORKSHOP: “The Poetry of Place: Witness the Wise Words of White Center” with Seattle’s Poet Populist and SSCC creative writing teacher Mike Hickey, reading from his new book “A Dress Walked By With a Woman Inside,” as well as conducting a Q-&-A session and leading a workshop in which participants will create their own poetry! 2 pm at White Center Library.
(Photo courtesy Camp Fire; Wolverines members making Valentines for wounded warriors)
CAMP FIRE CANDY SALES CONTINUE: The Wolverines Camp Fire group from Westside School (WSB sponsor) will be selling candy 2-4 pm at West Seattle Thriftway. (Any other groups selling candy in WS this weekend? Let us know and we’ll add your location.)
CRAFT SALE #2: Crafts and Draughts craft/art bazaar at Skylark Café and Club, 4-7 pm, see Facebook invite here.
OWL PROWL: Look for Lincoln Park’s owls with naturalist Stewart Wechsler, 4:30 pm – full details here.
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT: Free admission! “Monsters vs. Aliens” will be shown on 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Pathfinder K-8, 1901 SW Genesee. Pizza and other concessions available for purchase; proceeds go to the Pathfinder World Travel Program. Donations also accepted. Bring your own chair/blanket.
‘WONDERLAND’: This is described as a belly-dance version of Alice In Wonderland, 7-9 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Tickets $18/door, kids 12 and under are $10, 5 and uner are free.
FOOD HANDLER’S PERMIT CLASS FOR TEENS: Need a job? Already have one, but need a food handler’s permit? Southwest Teen Life Center has you covered! Every first Saturday of the month Southwest Teen Life Center is hosting (in partnership with Power of Place Programs) food handler’s classes! Free for teens 13-19, 7 pm. For more information stop into the Southwest Teen Life Center! 2801 SW Thistle St.
LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT: Announcement we received from the folks playing Skylark Café and Club:
We get the engines runnin’ with the folksy smokey alt-country talent of STACEY UNCK (9:00)
Then we fire things up with the soulful, fiery, and eclectic styles of CHRISTA SAYS YAY (10:00)
And…just when you think you can’t take the heat, you will blast off to another world with the vibrant, mesmerizing, melodic, space-age rock of
JULIA MASSEY & THE FIVE FINGER DISCOUNT (11:00)http://www.sonicbids.com/ChristaSaysYay
http://www.sonicbids.com/JuliaMassey
http://www.sonicbids.com/StaceyUnck
LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN! Monthly “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” shadow casting and all, at Admiral Theater, Saturday night/Sunday morning at midnight.
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