West Seattle, Washington
15 Tuesday
Summer Fest was just the beginning – much more outdoor music to come this summer in West Seattle. Here are highlights – first one just hours away!
(WSB photo from West Seattle Big Band 2024 Concert in the Park)
TUESDAY, JULY 15
West Seattle Big Band‘s Concert in the Park, 7 pm, High Point Commons Park (behind 6400 Sylvan Way SW)
TUESDAYS, JULY 15, 22, 29
West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Play Along in the Park continues Tuesday nights all month, 6 pm, at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), for spectators as well as musicians
THURSDAYS, JULY 17, 24, 31
Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Admiral Music in the Parks, 6:30 pm, three bands, three parks, starting this week with Lookout Mountain Lookout at Belvedere Park (3600 SW Admiral Way)
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, JULY 18-20
Alki Art Fair along the promenade, with a DJ spinning on Friday, and a full live-music lineup Saturday-Sunday (2701 Alki SW)
FRIDAYS, AUGUST 1-22
Summer Concerts at The Mount, 6 pm, starting with Danny Vernon‘s Illusion of Elvis on August 1 (4831 35th SW)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
Alki Beach Pride, with a full stage lineup TBA
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23
Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Block Party, with a full stage lineup TBA. (California SW north of Admiral Way)
All of the above are FREE shows (in some cases with options available for $ like BBQ dinner at The Mount). Are we missing anything? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to Melissa for the photo and update:
Thought I would pass an update along about the West Seattle Little League Softball 10s playing in State in Vancouver, Washington. They are 3-0 in the tournament, playing tomorrow at 5:30 in the semifinals against Pacific Little League. Mackenzie Hart threw a perfect game and no-hitter to beat Issaquah 11-0 yesterday.
We didn’t cover these crashes in real time but after reader questions, we did get SFD info on three people injured in two incidents today:
TWO MOTORCYCLISTS COLLIDE: This happened in the midnight hour on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge. SFD says both riders were taken to Harborview in stable condition, a 34-year-old man and a 27-year-old man.
TIPPED TRUCK: Thanks to the texter who sent the photo after a tractor-trailer went sideways on the East Marginal grade-separation flyover bridge early this afternoon. SFD says a 71-year-old man was treated, in stable condition when he too was taken to Harborview.
Two neighboring businesses in the 3400 block of California SW were targeted by burglar(s) overnight Saturday into Sunday. The photos and first part of the report are from the owners of Larry’s Tavern:
Around 5 am (Sunday) there was an attempted break-in.
They were unsuccessful, but they were able to break into Prost.
We requested the police report on that burglary. It says the alarm was tripped around 5:25 am Sunday by someone who pried open the front door. They were gone by the time police arrived; the report says the cash-register till was taken but that there was very little in it, so the burglar(s) didn’t get away with much. If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 25-196665.
(WSB photo)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Steps away from the sun-splashed grounds of West Seattle Summer Fest, more than 60 people devoted the heart of their Sunday afternoon to a topic that was anything but festive.
They were invited by West Seattle Indivisible to the Center for Active Living‘s upstairs hall for what was billed as a half-hour with Mayor Bruce Harrell answering questions about the city’s response to the federal operation aimed at deporting thousands of immigrants. He instead spent more than an hour and a quarter talking with the group, mostly in Q&A, though he said he was unable to answer some questions because he didn’t expect a large crowd and hadn’t brought an entourage of assistants/cabinet members/etc..
The 66-year-old mayor – who is running for a second term – opened by acknowledging most of those in the crowd appeared to be close to his age, calling them “seasoned” and declaring, “We are unapologetically patriots.” Then he proclaimed, “What we are seeing now is one of the most offensive gestures against human rights that we’ve ever witnessed.”
He said multiple times during his appearance that at both local and national levels. discussions continue regarding “what SHOULD we do?” as well as what is possible. He mentioned a pamphlet that “talks about our values (as) a human-rights city … the 14th Amendment says, due process for all persons, not just for all citizens.”
He veered into personal territory, with the story of his Japanese-American mother’s internment resulting in him growing up “in a household where my mom said, ‘don’t trust the government’.” Then he went back to the aforementioned pamphlet, which he said contained advice such as the right not to open your door, the right to stay silent, the right not to sign anything.
The city government is dealing with federal demands too, Harrell said. observing that “the judicial body is keeping us afloat right now.”
He also had advice for those who choose to participate in protests: “We have to be loud, we need to be organized,” but also, protesters, Harrell said, should be aware they too are being watched, and that they may be infiltrated by “disruptors” whose sole intent is to cause trouble and who “are not dressed like you … but carry signs with what we believe in.” He mused that “there has to be a reason for” the federal administration’s attack on human rights, including LGBTQ people’s rights; he suggested the attacks are rooted in “a vision for this country that’s not healthy and not right.”
Q&A began shortly thereafter. “Are we safe to protest on sidewalks?” Harrell said he wasn’t certain, but audience members quickly answered, “You can protest but you can’t obstruct!” The mayor then suggested maybe the city could print a list of protest do’s and don’ts.
Will Seattle Police collaborate with ICE and federal troops in any way? “No,” Harrell replied, to both. (One attendee later claimed SPD had “cooperate(d) with ICE” at a Federal Building event and that SPD let agents “drive away with kidnap victims in the back of a van”; Harrell said the incident in question is “being investigation” and he’s so far getting “mixed information.” It was also suggested that SPD officers are getting conflicting directives from the police union and Harrell said that is currently the subject of “active discussions.”)
What can police use against demonstrators? The mayor referred to the recent filing seeking to end the federal consent decree, and said he is “confident I have the right people,” including newly confirmed Police Chief Shon Barnes, making decisions.
“What are you and SPD doing to keep people from being taken by masked agents?” This led to a somewhat contentious exchange. The mayor said he’s on record as opposed to agents being masked, “but we are not allowed to interfere” and they don’t get advanced intel on “how they are going to raid, who they are going to raid. We can’t stop an officer when we don’t know what they are going to do.”
“What about when you’re not sure who they are?” That was a reference to operations in multiple states – including one recently in White Center – in which the agents wore masks and vests simply marked POLICE, and traveled in unmarked vehicles. Questioners wanted to know how known authorities – like SPD – could even know for sure that these are authorized federal agents. “To impersonate an officer is a crime,” Harrell noted, and then suggested people call 911 if they suspect impersonation is happening. One person then asked bluntly, “Will you investigate before or after a person is taken?”
Harrell got a bit defensive as this line of questioning went on, saying he had a directive “to protect people from these illegal unauthorized ICE raids” but also acknowledging they may not know who’s “authorized” and who’s not: “Our officers are not going to get into fisticuffs with a federal agent” but suggesting that “police will come between (unverified agents and prospective detainees) to make sure a crime is not being committed.”
How can police verify that agents really are ICE? Harrell said there’s no policy/procedure on that yet because these operations involving masked, generically dressed people are a recent phenomenon. He added that “no mayor in the entire country has this figured out, this is uncharted territory” but says his administration is working on it, as are other mayors (noting that he had spoken to the mayors of Nashville and Portland the day before).
Asked about Lewis County in southwestern Washington expressly declaring itself “not a sanctuary county,” Harrell observed that “we are a welcoming state so I don’t think that’s consistent with state policy” but went on to caution that he has “84 square miles in the city to protect” and doesn’t “have the bandwidth to go out to Lewis County.”
The remainder of the questioning focused largely on what concerned people can and/or should do to help with the immigration situation. (Take “rapid response” training, one attendee suggested; WSI is offering that July 31.) The mayor said he’ll meet with deputy mayor Greg Wong “to develop an answer,” adding that he was inspired by “the energy in this room” but insisted that he’s been “focusing on the people (who’ve been) getting arrested, not the politics.” To that end, he noted, “this isn’t the only thing I have to worry about” from the federal administration – the “big bill,” cybersecurity, “lack of regulations in the AI space…I apologize if I don’t know every answer to every question but …it’s not a great time to be a mayor of a blue city, trust me, we are a big target for them.”
In conclusion, he noted again that he had shown up without an entourage – “I came here a little vulnerable, frankly” – but promised that he would fulfill the “marching orders” presented to him during the Q&A: “The biggest is to come back and strategize what we can do together.”
If you’ve noticed more charred driftwood today at Lincoln Park, note that it has been reported to police. The photos and report are from a texter:
Someone is setting fire to logs at Lincoln Park again. This is across from picnic shelter 3 on the south side.
It’s still smoldering right now and there’s also a half-burned log at the picnic shelter.
The fire did not appear to have been reported to SFD, so we suggested the texter do that, since it was “smoldering”; they reported back, “I called 911, and they transferred me to SFD, who transferred me to SPD because I think nothing was actively on fire. Then they transferred me to non-emergency, who surprisingly answered in less than 2 minutes.” (Side note, it was mentioned at a recent community meeting that the non-emergency line is being covered at least some of the time again. Nonetheless, the advice remains, start with 911.)
West Seattle writer (and more) Julia Douthwaite Viglione leads the Classic Novels (And Movies) Book Club (most recent meeting just yesterday), coaches kids to write, and also happens to be a historian/scholar. Every year she offers a Bastille Day quiz on this calendar date; this year we have a chance to feature it, so if you’re game, see the questions – and how to send your answers – by going here.
(Seen from Fauntleroy-Vashon ferry, photo by Anne Higuera)
Here’s what’s on the Monday highlight list from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (are we missing something? let us know!):
SUMMER FOOD: As reported here, there are multiple sites/times/days in West Seattle where kids can get breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks.
FAMILY STORY TIME: Southwest Library‘s 10:30 am story time is open to wee ones and their parents/guardians/caretakers. (9010 35th SW)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: Continuing through Labor Day, the outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park is open every day (except for swim-meet closures), noon-7 pm. Fee.
WADING POOLS: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) are scheduled to be open today, noon-7 pm. Free.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE INFO SESSION: 1 pm, in person at Cascade Hall. Come find out about learning at SSC! (6000 16th SW)
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm “briefing meeting” today; see the agenda here; watch live via Seattle Channel. (No public comment at the briefing meetings.)
HEALTHY AND WEALTHY TEENS: Four-week series starts today, 2:30 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
CRAFTING & CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm, Monday is “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players welcome too!
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group, participate once, occasionally, or every week. Fee.(4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: Four places you can play tonight! Easy Street Records hosts every-other-week Music Quiz Monday, 6:30 and 7:30 pm (4559 California SW) … 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
ALKI MEDITATION: Every Monday – doors open at Alki UCC at 6:45, and the meeting is from 7-8:30. (6115 SW Hinds)
POOL TOURNAMENT: The Corner Pocket‘s weekly pool tournament starts at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: More Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Live music on Mondays! Jazz with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Mondays, sing karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Thanks to everyone who sends info for our calendar – we’re catching up on what’s been in queue while we were immersed in Summer Fest; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo, Alki Art Fair 2024)
Another three-day festival is right around the corner – the Alki Art Fair, this Friday-Sunday (July 18-20). In case it wasn’t already on your calendar, here’s the official announcement:
FRIDAY 2-8 pm
SATURDAY 10 am-6 pm
SUNDAY 10 am-6 pmNow in its 28th year—this FREE, family-friendly, annual arts and music festival brings Alki to life with over 100 professional artists, craftspeople and emerging artists. There will be live music, children’s activities, live demonstrations, and local artisan food vendors for everyone to enjoy.
Visitors can take in the colorful views while strolling the promenade, as they eat and shop among the expansive lineup of artists, makers and performers. It’s a great opportunity to engage with the local creative community and celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of our local arts and culture.
The Alki Art Fair still needs volunteers to help with this year’s festival. Volunteers can assist and mingle with the artists, help with the silent auction, staff the information booth, assist musicians, and more. Visit Volunteer at AAF 2025 for a full list of volunteer opportunities and to sign up today!
Event Highlights:
–100+ local artists & crafters selling works in a variety of media including painting, pottery, glass, textiles, metal, jewelry & more.–Live music and performances throughout the weekend on the Bathhouse Stage sponsored by Canna West Culture Shop and Live Oak Audio Visual. This year we’re featuring a variety of genres including Latin, Soul, Funk, Pop, Rock and more. See the full lineup and schedule at alkiartfair.org.
–Interactive Kid Zone with creative activities for all ages.
–Silent auction in the historic Alki Bathhouse featuring unique items from local artists and businesses.
–Local food lineup features a range of sweet, savory, spicy and delicious options including Little Jamie’s Mini Donuts, Alpenglow Cocktail Company, Theory Cambodian Foods, The Snack Shop, Oh Dang in a Cup, Road Dawg, and Caribbean Cuisine.
And of course there’s a lineup of year-round food and drink purveyors right across the street!
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, July 14, 2025. West Seattle Summer Fest is over and Junction streets have reopened to vehicles.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
After Sunday’s 90-degree high, mild weather is expected today, but a Heat Advisory alert will be in effect noon Tuesday through 10 pm Wednesday. Today, though, is expected to be sunny, high in the 70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:26 am; sunset will be at 9:03 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Back to regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has resumed three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).
ROAD WORK
-Admiral Bridge work continues, and readers report the open traffic lanes have switched sides again, now on the south side instead of the north side.
-Three weeks of major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center start this Wednesday – details here.
-16th SW speed cushions have been installed near Cloverdale and near Trenton; here’s our story on what else is on the way.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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 a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
The Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting is coming up Wednesday (July 16) at 7 pm. You can attend in person at the West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd SW/SW Juneau) or via videoconference. Agenda highlights will include:
● SW Precinct, Updates from SPD
● MoCA’s Proposed Changes to One Seattle Plan for Morgan Junction
● October Elections for MoCA BoardNew in Morgan Junction
Happy Doggy – Dog grooming & self-serve dog wash
6529 California Ave SW, 206-255-4574The Neighborhood – Restaurant & Bar
6503 California Ave SW,Community Business
● Morgan Junction Community Festival Recap and discussion of its future
● Pedestrian Safety Project – Fauntleroy at Rose Street: SDOT
● Morgan Junction Electric Vehicle Charging Station: Seattle City Light
● Morgan Junction Park Expansion: Seattle Parks
● Briefing: Gatewood Elementary School Neighbor Disaster Support Team
The group might also hear from some of the candidates on the August 5 primary ballot.
3:02 PM: This is it – last call to get down to West Seattle Summer Fest, which wraps up at 5 pm. Music ends around 4 – last scheduled act is Massy Ferguson, on the West Side Stage at 3 pm. And Better As Brass (above), founded by West Seattle resident Kevin Freitas, is busking at California/Alaska right now. Kevin says this is their second year at Summer Fest, and that he started it because “I just wanted a brass band in West Seattle!” …Also an unofficial part of the festival, the canvassers – WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen talked to Erin Phillips, volunteering for Washington Bus – an organization that encourages young people to get politically active- drumming up support for Seattle’s Democracy Voucher program.
She’s from Northeast Seattle but told Hayden she’s having a great time learning about West Seattle during her first Summer Fest. (Speaking of politics, mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan remains the only candidate we’ve seen here, but incumbent mayor Bruce Harrell is due at the West Seattle Indivisible meeting in the Center for Active Living at 3:30 pm – we’re planning to be there.)
Meantime, we found a booth with multiple artists exhibiting, from Rain City Clay in Arbor Heights:
That’s one of the artists, Jody Wally.
4:23 PM: A sign that the festival is wrapping… deflation has begun:
The Summer Fest crew’s goal is for breakdown to be done by 9 pm; streets are expected to remain closed until 10.
6:26 PM: The mayor’s appearance lasted more than twice as long as planned; story to come. Your editor got back to the festival in its waning moments. Huge thanks to everyone who hung out with us, contributed content, and/or stopped by to say hi over the three days, and therefore made it possible to get through the first Summer Fest without WSB co-founder Patrick Sand (who usually spent many days ahead of time preparing, from collecting and collating festival info to amassing and packing tabling supplies like tape and tacks – we managed to find all that and brought it along).
9:20 PM: One loose end from this afternoon – we did get some video of Massy Ferguson, last scheduled stage band of the festival, but technical trouble prevented us from a timely upload:
Thanks to concertgoers who sent the video, including John Severson, whose clip is above. It’s from last night’s Climate Pledge Arena concert with music legend Barry Manilow, who honored West Seattle High School music educator Ethan Thomas as the latest winner of a $10,000 grant from his Manilow Music Project, which the superstar singer said has given out $10 million to help buy instruments and cover other costs of music education. As you’ll hear Manilow explain in the video, they’ve been asking music students in cities on his concert tour to vote for music teachers to win the award. The award was first announced in a WSHS newsletter before school got out for the summer (thanks to the parent who forwarded it):
Congratulations to WSHS Band Director Ethan Thomas, who won the Barry Manilow Music Project’s Outstanding Music Teacher Contest! Mr. Thomas will be honored on July 12 during Barry Manilow’s Last Arena Tour. He will receive $5,000 in new instruments for the WSHS music program.
The award turned out to be $10,000!
(Photo by Dave Gershgorn for WSB)
10:27 AM: The West Side IS the best side, as artist Cody Huff‘s painting declares, and West Seattle Summer Fest is a reminder! The third and final day has begun, and we’re again on site to cover it. Here in the Info Booth, the biggest question so far this morning is “where’s the Farmers’ Market?” – answer: North of Oregon, right now, until 2 pm. We’re heading that way right now!
11:12 AM: Just back from the market. What you won’t find this week is many of the fresh-cooked food providers – but produce abounds, berries and greens and more. Among the produce sellers, the Alvarez farm, with both purple and white spring onion bunchesam!
The market’s on until 2; meantime, here in the festival zone, music just started, West Side Stage only today, with this lineup:
11:00 Matt Benham & David Weidig
12:00 WSMA + Sweetiest Sweeties
1:00 Sonny Parker
2:00 Baby Crow Flight School
3:00 Massy Ferguson
And the nonprofits with us in the Info Booth right now are the Seattle Emergency Hubs (learn what to do and where to go in case of catastrophe) and,making an encore, RainWise. Even if you’ve been here once, Sunday is a stellar day to wander one more time.
12:28 PM: The day is flying by. Remember that there’s lots of room to sit in the shade – like by the only music stage operating today, the West Side Stage:
That’s the crowd cheering for West Side Music Academy students on the stage (which is sponsored by the WSMA) this hour. We recorded one of them – great job on piano!
Headed to Summer Fest are the 16 riders who joined in the “Little STP” bike ride in West Seattle this morning – Al sent the photo from the Portland end of the ride (44th SW/SW Portland in Gatewood):
If you have trouble finding bike parking, there’s a corral toward the northwest end side.
12:56 PM: Speaking of transportation, Sound Transit is here, on the south half (south of Alaska) of the booth zone, if you have questions about light rail. And here in the info booth, the 1 pm changeover has brought in the Puget Sound Regional Council – ready to chat about big-picture issues – and SPD civilian staff, with crime prevention the focus (ask about the safety class that’s coming up this week)…. The Trombone King, featured here last night, has started playing again. WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen talked to him briefly:
Hayden reports, “Roy Lancaster, aka Trombone King 504, is a performer from New Orleans. He wished everyone a happy Summer Fest, and said ‘please deposit any complaints on the back of a 100 dollar bill’.”
1:45 PM: Last few hours mean one more chance to connect with vendors. Hayden talked to the local handmade-earring creators at Kellan and Kiera:
Last call for the Farmers’ Market, too, bursting with berries and cherries today as well as our personal favorite, salad greenery – the market closes at 2 as usual; the rest of Summer Fest is carrying on until 5.
We’re getting reports of brown water in south Highland Park this morning. While that’s often a sign of hydrant testing this time of year,i it’s also sometimes a sign of trouble somewhere in the lines, so whenever it happens, be sure to report it to Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800.
(Live traffic, or lack of it again today, camera at California/Alaska)
We begin the Sunday list with the final day of West Seattle Summer Fest, and the temporarily relocated Farmers’ Market:
SUMMER FEST DAY 3: Festival hours are 10 am-5 pm. Highlights include:
-Music 11 am-4 pm on the West Side stage (SW Alaska by Wells Fargo drive-thru), lineup list here.
-Kids Zone 10 am-5 pm, with free fun as well as ticketed inflatables (SW Alaska east of California)
-Food Court 10 am-5 pm, in the street AND the lot behind KeyBank, with shade and seating for the first year (west of California)
-Free filtered water to refill your cup/container, available at stations around the festival
-In addition to vendors, year-round businesses have sidewalk sales, special streetside booths, more
-Festival merch is at the Info Booth, as are we, and local nonprofits/community groups.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Today only, it’s relocated, to California SW north of SW Oregon, because of Summer Fest. Same hours, 10 am-2 pm, most of the same vendors (some skip festival week). Remember that SW Oregon remains OPEN to through traffic – with officer assistance – so be extra-careful coming and going. See you in The Junction!
ROAD CLOSURE REMINDER: California from Oregon to Edmunds and Oregon to Genesee, Alaska from 42nd to 44th, continuing until the festival is broken down late tonight.
Here’s what else is on the Sunday schedule – mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MOON ROOM SUMMER SALE: The Moon Room Shop and Wellness (California/Juneau) is continuing to offer “15-20% off In-Store and Online” today! Find this WSB sponsor online at moonroomshop.com.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run leaves from Fresh Flours in South Delridge.
‘LITTLE STP’ BIKE RIDE: It’s an annual tradition, riding your bike to the festival (or The Junction in general) via this ride from North Admiral (SW Seattle Street) to Gatewood (SW Portland Street) and then to The Junction – 9:15 am – details in our preview.
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Meet up with other players – all levels – 9:30-11:30 am at The Missing Piece. (35th/Roxbury)
MASTER GARDENERS: No clinic today.
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)
DYING – EVERYONE’S DOING IT: 11 am discussion of end-of-life issues at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW).
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open every day, no matter what the weather, 11 am-8 pm.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESISTS: Sunday signholding in The Junction (California/Alaska), 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open today as its 7-day-a-week season continues, noon-7 pm, with four hour-and-a-half swim sessions, each half lap swimming and half open swim – see the schedule here.
WADING POOLS: Also at Lincoln Park, the wading pool will be open, as will the EC Hughes wading pool (2805 SW Holden) – hours for both today are noon-7 pm.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Weekly free tours! Grounds at 3201 Alki SW open at 1 pm; last tour starts 3:45 pm; more info in our calendar listing.
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Enjoy your summery Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
WEST SEATTLE CLASSIC NOVELS (& MOVIES) BOOK CLUB: 3 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
‘THE EFFECT’ AT ARTSWEST: Today is the closing performance for the current play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), 3 pm – check here for tickets.
MAYOR VISITS WEST SEATTLE INDIVISIBLE: As previewed here, membership meeting for WSI at 3:30 pm, starting with a half-hour scheduled appearance by Mayor Bruce Harrell. at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon)
YOGA & CREATIVITY CLASS: 5 pm at Limber Yoga (7901 35th SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Sunday night music provided by the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could feature on the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(PHOTOS BY DAVE GERSHGORN FOR WSB)
Two intense days of main-stage music at West Seattle Summer Fest 2025 wrapped tonight with Reignwolf closing out Saturday.
Preceding Reignwolf’s star turn was Monsterwatch:
Overnight, the stage will be broken down, so the Farmers Market can occupy the block north of Oregon 10 am-2 pm today (Sunday); there’s still a slate of Sunday Summer Fest music on the West Side Stage north of the food court.
Sent by Noelle:
This evening, July 12, between about 7 and 8:30 PM, my WHITE, 2000 HONDA CRV, BMA5579, was stolen from 17th Ave SW and SW Myrtle.
Has a side-swipe scar on the passenger-side doors.
PLEASE keep your eye out for this!
Report # 25-196224
If you find it, call 911 and refer to that case #.
(Photos by Dave Gershgorn for WSB)
6:32 PM: The biggest night of West Seattle Summer Fest is happening now. It’s dinner time from the food court (alongside and behind KeyBank, with reusable serviceware) to the year-round restaurants (many of which have special-for-the-festival sidewalk cafés). If you’re wandering the booth rows on California, we have another nonprofit on the east side of the Info Booth until 8 pm, RainWise. And speaking of water, bring your own container (or buy the Summer Fest edition) to use the free filtered water available this year:
West Side Stage music is wrapping up this hour, but the Main Stage (California between Oregon and Genesee) continues with this lineup for the rest of the night:
7:00 The Alain Johannes Band
8:00 New Constellations
9:00 Monsterwatch
10:00 Reignwolf
7:42 PM: We’re back from checking out Alain Johannes and band, introduced by Matt Vaughan of Easy Street Records:
Johannes started off playing music mostly from his time with the band Eleven:
Though the Main Stage is the only stage that’s active right now, there’s more music – the Trombone King is playing near Walk-All-Ways.
Meantime, AnUngulate was on the Main Stage before Alain Johannes:
More photos to add in a bit – first we’re going to take another spin around the festival grounds – looks like many booths are still open though it’s post-8 pm – somebody asked about this earlier – and that includes food, like the $14 elephant ear:
ADDED: And as we always note, many year-round businesses offer festival-food options too. Every year, Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller is grilling outside:
And whether or not the music brings you to Summer Fest, the music shopping might:
Not only the longtime Junction businesses, but also the newer ones like Rush Hour jump into the Summer Fest spirit too:
One more day to get in on the deals.
(West Seattle Lions’ entry in 2024 parade, WSB photo)
Two big street-closing summer events are only a week away – so it’s time for us to remind you that the West Seattle Grand Parade and Float Dodger 5K are happening next Saturday (July 19th)! California SW will close that morning from Admiral Way to Edmunds, so heed the no-parking signs when they appear this week – on parade day, vehicles get towed. The Float Dodger is presented by West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank, and includes a kids’ dash as well as the main 5K, which goes from Hiawatha on down the parade route on California, pre-parade. The parade itself, presented by the West Seattle Rotary Foundation, starts from California/Lander at 11 and rolls/strolls/etc. southbound, so you can pick a spot just about anywhere to watch; you’re also invited to a special Parade-Watching Party at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor), near the beginning of the parade route, with seating and treats. Parade-watching is free, but if you want to run/walk in the 5K, you’ll need to register – do that here.
10:50 AM: The Junction is jumping! The second, and biggest, day of West Seattle Summer Fest is in its first hour and we’re back with more as-it-happens coverage. First thing we noticed: The ticket booth for the giant inflatables drew a crowd as the day began, with the line at one point stretching across the street:
There’s free fun in the Kids Zone too, but the inflatables are irresistible:
(Friday WSB photo by Dave Gershgorn)
Music starts at 11 am on both stages today – the Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) showcase on the main stage, and Country Dave Harmonson on the West Side Stage (by the Wells Fargo drive-thru off the west side of SW Alaska). We’re off to catch at least one if not both!
11:45 AM: The Mode show was quite an extravaganza.
Mode’s founder/leader Erin Rubin took the mic to talk a bit about her business, which has a booth here this weekend, and then introduced 9-year-old keyboardist/singer Ashton, whose set included a Kooks cover.
Erin also explained that two members of THEM – the West Seattle-rooted band that performed last night -had been coaching the summer rock-band camp that would also perform.
Hudson and Thompson talked about what fun they’d been having at camp, forming a band they said they called McSalmon, “an acronym of all their names.”
And it’s almost noon, so the Comerford School of Irish Dance is performing in the intersection south of us – c’mon over if you’re in The Junction!
12:20 PM: Here’s a bit of the dancers:
We’re heading out again shortly to see what else is up. Stop by the Info Booth if you’re at the festival – nonprofits tabling on the east side of the booth today include Ridge 2 River until early afternoon, and then Seal Sitters and The Whale Trail will be here. … And where the dancers have just wrapped up, The Bubbleman will be doing his bubbly thing (last seen at the Morgan Junction Community Festival last month) starting around 1 pm!
12:50 PM: But first… you have until 2 pm to detour into ArtsWest (west side of California just south of California) and visit the “instrument petting zoo” presented by the West Seattle Community Orchestras:
Musicians are performing just outside the ArtsWest doors, too.
1 PM: Seal Sitters and The Whale Trail have arrived so you can come chat with them until 4-ish. We also have some help on the north end of the Info Booth -two volunteers, Mike and Scott from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, which has lent a hand in the booth for many years, and WSB’s ad coordinator Annette.
Up on the main stage, Princess Pulpit is playing now, with afternoon highlights including the Dusty 45s at 4 pm. And the Bubbleman is starting to get bubbly in Walk-All-Ways.
1:58 PM: Busy and breezy day! Lots of innovative sun protection too – we’ve seen several parasols, including an elegant black lace one. … Meantime, shoutout to some of the WSB sponsors who are here:
Canna (right on the south side of California/Alaska)
STS Construction Services (on the west side of the block between Oregon and Alaska)
Fitness Together (on the east side of the same block, short ways up from the Info Booth)
Rotary Club of West Seattle (featured yesterday – further up the east side of this block)
Mode Music Studios (as mentioned previously and as showcased on the main stage earlier)
CAPERS (year-round Junction shop, west side of block between Oregon and Alaska)
Since we’re on the subject … remember that the main stage wlll be broken down after tonight’s last show and the Farmers’ Market will be on that block, Oregon to Genesee, on Sunday, same hours as usual, 10 am-2 pm (while the festival continues 10 am-5 pm tomorrow, south of Oregon, and the West Side Stage will have a Sunday music slate).
2:33 PM: Here’s a full song from Princess Pulpit‘s main-stage set last hour:
3:29 PM: The Everlovers are on the West Side Stage right now, and people are dancing:
(added) Here’s our video of the band:
Steps away, Shug’s Mini is visiting from South Admiral with an ice-cream cart:
(Photo by Dixon Hamby)
And The Missing Piece has a beverage popup in front of their future new location (former Pharmaca, next to the back of KeyBank) –
Proprietor Eric tells us they’re hoping to be open by September 1st, and they will be open even later than their current 35th/Roxbury location – until 11 pm. Meantime, the festival popup is selling lemonade with lavender and “campfire” cold brew – which he tells us has a toasted marshmallow!
4:41 PM: We’re back from the main-stage zone, where the Dusty 45s – led by West Seattle’s own Billy Joe Huels – are rocking a nice-sized crowd:
Evening is arriving and we’re going to start a separate story after at least one non-festival items. Thanks again to everyone who’s stopped by to say hi!
Another West Seattle Summer Fest tradition is happening again this year – the mini-STP bike ride with West Seattle Bike Connections is tomorrow! If you haven’t already seen it in the Event Calendar, here’s the announcement with a WSBC-provided photo:
West Seattle Little STP Bike Ride
Sunday, July 13, 2025 – 9:15 am to 1:00 pm
Meet at Hamilton Viewpoint Park
1318 Palm Ave SWHave you ever wanted to do the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride? And forgot to sign up? Or train for it? Here is your big chance! Do it in 2 hours and end up at a huge finish line party! Same weekend as Cascade’s big STP, so you can brag and post pix like the other one-day riders.
Join West Seattle Bike Connections for a ride starting at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in West Seattle on a 10.2-mile route at a leisurely 10-12 mph pace! Register at the start. We invite and welcome everyone including people of all ages, languages, ethnicities, genders, races, and abilities. Riders under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
We will be riding from SW Seattle Street to SW Portland Street, and back north to Summer Fest at the West Seattle Junction, for a fabulous finish line party. After some time at the festival, participants can ride home independently, or ride with a leader back to Hamilton Viewpoint.
Our goal will be to stay together as a group. Be prepared for a moderately hilly route. There are a couple of hills that some may wish to walk up. That’s fine! We will regroup at the top of hills.
If you have questions, contact ride leader Nick at westseattlebikeconnections@gmail.com.
Restrooms are not available at the start. Closest public restrooms are at Seacrest Marina Park (the water taxi dock) on Harbor Ave. We will stop along the way for restrooms/water at mile 2.7 at the Alaska Junction.
Check brakes and tires before leaving home. Arrive in time for 9:15 ride description and safety briefing. Must be present at the safety briefing to participate. Helmets required. No ear buds. Steady rain cancels. We will ride if there are just light showers.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN CAR: Via email:
2021 gold-brown Kia Sportage.Stolen off 36th SW, cross section Dawson, Friday night at 6:30 pm. Colorado license plate CMBU24.
(Update) police report # 25-195157. Call 911 if you find it.
NAKED WOULD-BE BURGLAR: Received via text:
Around 4:30 am on 7/11/25 a naked man (wearing only sandals) was caught by a neighbor’s doorbell camera jiggling the handle of a home on SW Graham St near 41st Ave SW. He is a thin, white man of average height and it looks like he has shoulder length dark hair. Difficult to say more from the camera footage. Fortunately he was not able to easily break into the home. Be on the lookout, neighbors!
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