ORIGINAL SUNDAY 8:26 PM REPORT: As KING 5 reported tonight, a local tour group is trying to get out of Egypt, among the ongoing anti-government protests there. What the TV report (embedded above) didn’t mention is that the company that set up the group, Alki Tours, is based in West Seattle, with offices on Fauntleroy Way in Morgan Junction. We talked tonight with Alki Tours’ founder/president Claire Nolan, who says the tour manager whose phone interview you heard in KING’s report, Tyson Verse, is doing an amazing job keeping everyone safe and comfortable. The 35-member tour group includes 12 people who live in West Seattle, according to Nolan, who’s run the travel/tour company – now with clients worldwide – for 18 years.

She tells WSB the group’s 10-day tour was wrapping up when they got to Cairo, after activities including a cruise on the Nile, and found themselves caught in the heart of the protests, with “riots” around the station where they got off a train. No one was threatened or injured; after armed guards escorted the tourists to their hotel, Nolan says, “We were able to get everybody to the airport, and they’re in a secure location” – but they’ve been waiting to find out when the airport, closed because of the political upheaval, will reopen. Most recently, they’ve been told by the U.S. State Department that flights will be chartered to get Americans out of Cairo, and that those flights will start at 2 pm tomorrow Cairo time (about 4 am tomorrow morning our time) – they’ll be taken to Europe, and will connect to US-bound flights from there.

So with all the news about communications being cut off, you might wonder how Alki Tours has stayed in touch with its tour and manager. According to Nolan, incoming phone calls are working, but not outgoing. She says they send “about 100 people a year” on tours to Egypt (here’s next year’s itinerary), from among their 35,000 annual clients, and while they’ve had to deal with unpredictable situations before, having people “actually holed at the airport” is a new situation. She has words of praise for their tour manager, who has been handling “provisions and blankets for everyone.” They’re not sure how soon everyone will be home – depends on what happens once those evacuation flights begin.

1 AM MONDAY UPDATE: It’s now 11 am in Cairo, and that’s the time American travelers interested in those flights, including the local travelers, had been told to gather at a particular terminal (4) at the airport (here’s the State Department advisory). Alki Tours management here said their group was planning to move to that terminal ahead of time to beat the rush.

10:07 AM MONDAY UPDATE: We just stopped by Alki Tours, where they say everybody on their tour is headed out of Egypt, either via Lufthansa or Delta.

As reported here last month, Liberty Bell Printing has closed its Junction storefront, while staying in business without a retail store, via online/phone orders. But they still have “35 years of extra stuff” to get rid of – and in this WSB Forums post, they’re inviting you to come down and check it out, 2-4 pm today and 1-3 pm tomorrow (Sunday), 4736 California SW.

(Photo courtesy Donna Ryan)
When West Seattle Junction-based photographer Donna Ryan decided her 4218 SW Alaska kids’ store/natural-light-portrait studio space needed a name, she launched a contest. More than 400 entries came in, according to Donna, who has just chosen the new name and is announcing it today. However, it wasn’t from among those 400, though she says they inspired her “to think about my own childhood and favorite stories … and I just could not let go of my favorite story ‘The City Mouse and the Country Mouse’. Of course, growing up in the city and without a car, I literally had the world at my feet and definitely identified with that city mouse. I have a fresh, urban take on fashion and portraiture and I take great joy in watching all the little toddlers scuttling around the Junction, but more importantly, I really love the meaning on another level – the resourcefulness of the city mouse …” And so, her business becomes … City Mouse Studio and Store! Since nobody won, Donna says she’s donating the prize to WestSide Baby on behalf of everyone who entered. P.S. Besides the new name, she says City Mouse has new merchandise too – edible finger paints from Wee Can Too just came in, and Baby Soy (half-soy/half-cotton) clothing arrives next week.

Thanks to the WSB’ers who have e-mailed to ask what’s moving into the ex-Juneau Street Market space at California/Juneau (map), since the “for lease” signs have come down and shelving has appeared in the formerly empty space inside. We have just spoken to the new tenant, who says it’s going to be … the Juneau Street Market: “A grocery store with beer and wine, food service too.” (Cheeseburgers, chicken, wings, hot dogs, corn dogs, burritos, pizza, made off-premises, he elaborates.) He says this is his first store, though he has management experience, most recently a gas-station market in Redmond. Depending on how licensing goes, he’s hoping to be open within a few weeks. (If you forgot the backstory here – the previous market was closed for 8 months because of damage related to a September 2009 fire in the apartments above the store; they reopened in May 2010, but shut down less than 6 months later.)

We took that photo tonight after Judy forwarded us the e-mail she received about the upcoming closure of Museum Quality Framing in the Admiral District (2352 California SW). Though the sign says it’s “moving,” the e-mail announcement says the store is “closing” and invites customers to patronize a South Lake Union location after this one closes January 27th. This will leave West Seattle with at least four framing stores by our unofficial count – Artistic Framers, Northwest Art and Frame, U-Frame-It, and Wallflower Custom Framing. (P.S. Yes, the store that’s closing is the same one a car drove into last May.)

Five months after first word of the remodeling project at PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor), the store celebrated its completion this week. We stopped by for a quick tour with PCC’s Diana Crane, who showed us the results – some of which are so subtle you might not notice till someone points it out. In the top photo, of course, what you see in the background can’t be missed – new deli offerings, including pizza and gelato. Closer to the foreground – the cheese case, like refrigeration/freezer cases all over the store, now has LED lighting, which is cooler and more energy-efficient. Ahead, some of what else is new:Read More

It was a new-year celebration of sorts today for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, with a capacity crowd – we counted more than 65 people – for its annual meeting over lunch at High Point Neighborhood Center. For one, it marked the changing of the guard; at right, L-R, outgoing board chair Jerome O. Cohen joined CEO Patti Mullen in welcoming new board chair Dave Montoure (West 5). When Montoure asked the lunch crowd how many were attending their first Chamber lunch, more than a few hands rocketed up. The businesses represented in the room ranged from retail to real estate, banks to bars, media to mortuaries, and beyond; they convened small groups to brainstorm ideas for boosting West Seattle’s economic health. That, in fact, should be the Chamber’s number one mission, according to more than half the respondents in a survey the WSCC conducted recently. Comparing the 2010 survey responses to earlier years – 2003 and 2006 – it was clear to see how priorities have changed; strengthening the economy is way up, providing networking opportunities way down. The respondents’ assessment of the Chamber’s relevance to their businesses was dramatically higher, too – less than a fifth of the respondents in 2003 thought it was relevant; now, almost all respondents said its relevance is either high or medium. One big focus for this year is to expand efforts to get the word out, on and off the peninsula, about West Seattle’s businesses and other attributes. You’ll see that online, too, with a tourism-based website (experiencewestseattle.com – not up yet) in the works, and a new Facebook page for the Chamber (ready to be “liked” – just go here). Want to get involved in other ways as the Chamber keeps growing? Membership info’s here.

In its newest e-mail newsletter, Bird on a Wire Espresso confirms that Heavenly Pastry and Cake “has closed its doors completely” in the Admiral location where it had briefly operated the retail storefront that Bird recently took over. But never fear, Bird proprietor Heidi Herr writes, the brewing — and baking – will go on, along with a variety of culinary creations:

If you haven’t heard, Heavenly Pastry has closed its doors completely but has graciously gifted us their Heavenly Raspberry Scone recipe! You can get it at both shops, along with MORE “nest”-baked goods a’la our newly-certified baker, Kayla! Look for new scones, savory bites, bread puddings, quick breads, crepes (Bird Deux only), in addition to our home-cooked soups, sandwiches, quiches, strata, casseroles & more!

We had left a message seeking comment from Heavenly’s owners after getting a WSB’er tip about their closure earlier this week, but so far, no reply.

We had checked out rumors in the past few weeks that this was likely to happen – but no official announcement was made till now. Thanks to Aaron for sharing e-mail from Arcane Comics confirming its West Seattle store (3219 California SW) is closing:

“Arcane Comics West Seattle is closing. Over the last two years we have appreciated the opportunity to serve the West Seattle neighborhood.

For subscribers, we will continue pulling your subscriptions through January 19th. We are more than happy to move your subscription boxes to Ballard at any point between now and then. However, we realize that Ballard may be too long of a trip for your comic books. If you would like we are more than happy to e-mail your subscription list to any shop of your choosing as well. Just let us know what you are interested in doing.

You can send an e-mail to acws@arcanecomics.net letting us know if you prefer Ballard, another Shop or closing your box. Let us know at your earliest convenience. We will be making other announcements throughout the weeks ahead. But you who have supported us through this process will be the first alerted.

As of today Monday, January 10th, 2011 only at Arcane Comics West Seattle Location – All single issue comics are $1.00. 50% off everything else in the store.”

Arcane opened in April 2009, taking over part of the storefront previously occupied by Prudential Northwest Realty before its move to Jefferson Square.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions involves home remodeling … there’s a chance this week to find out more about how the process works, no cost, no obligation. Longtime WSB sponsor Ventana Construction is resuming its series of free workshops with information on remodeling (and custom building), 6 pm this Tuesday (January 11th). At right is a photo Ventana shared that shows one of their more unusual recent projects – a bathroom where the tile installation creates the appearance of a “pool” in the bamboo flooring, “spilling” down past the Vetrazzo countertop. Ventana also has a project in the January issue of Seattle Homes and Lifestyles magazine (page 72, headed “Green Living,” not online yet). If you’re interested in the Tuesday workshop, just call to RSVP – they’re at (206) 932-3009.

We covered the actual opening last week, but the grand-opening news didn’t arrive till today: The new 35th/Barton 7-11 plans a grand-opening party 11 am-1 pm** this Friday (January 7th) with freebies, says the announcement: “…complimentary sandwiches, grill items, drinks, chips, and dessert, to name just some of the items. 7-Eleven will be giving away prizes for all visitors as well.” (We asked – the free drinks will include Slurpees.)

**Time changed since original publication.

Two months after the would-be owner of West Seattle Pharmacy in the former Westside Pharmacy space at California/Brandon gave up his hopes of opening, the For Lease sign has gone away (thanks to Kathleen for that tip). WSB contributor Keri DeTore tracked down the new tenants who are taking over the space. While they don’t want to go fully public yet, they told Keri they are in the very preliminary stages of creating a “small, neighborhood restaurant and bar.” Though they haven’t even started seeking permits yet, they are hoping to open “a friendly place where people feel welcome,” sometime in the first half of next year. (P.S. Keri’s also writing today about the new tenant of the former Jade West Café – her story’s coming up.)

AVALON: Less than 2 months after we first reported on Avalon, the new restaurant going into the ex-Café Revo space in the Luna Park business district, it’s set its opening date: According to Avalon’s Mary Palmer, they will open next Monday, January 3rd, “for happy hour and dinner service only (no dinner on Sundays). Happy hour is from 3-6 pm weekdays, dinner service will start at 5 pm. A couple weeks after we open we will have brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.” There’s more info about Avalon at avalonws.com.

WEST SEATTLE AUTOWORKS SIGN: Thanks to Todd Ainsworth at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) for sharing the photo of their brand-new sign:

He and co-proprietor Chris Christensen are proud to have the big bright sign officially up after a bit more than two months in business. They’re at 7501 35th SW (map), and online at wsautoworks.com.

GARLIC JIM’S PIZZA: As promised, the Junction location reopened today after a weeklong shutdown:

We stopped in to photograph new owners Jeff and Page Taylor, shown with Kelsey and Devon, who came from their Edmonds location to help out for starters. We reported on the ownership change in this story last week.