West Seattle, Washington
15 Monday
5:41 PM: A “thunderstorm of art” is how one attendee described our first stop on tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk:
It’s happening in the back room at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) – the preview of the upcoming WWest Seattle Art Tour. Many of the artists who’ll be spotlighted on the two-day tour are at Viscon Cellars tonight:
And of course, so are examples of their art:
Taste wine, taste art – you can do both if you want at Viscon Cellars until 9 pm (and the preview art will be up the next two days too). Meantime, here’s the list of Art Walk venues:
Tonight’s specific venues and shows can be previewed here – and go here for the lineup of the Art of Music mini-concerts, which start at four venues at 6 pm!
6:28 PM: Alki is a hotspot this Art Walk, with shows at three venues, including the Log House Museum, tonight showing work by Shannon Kringen:
The artist had stepped out for a moment when we stopped by, but should be back if you visit. Some of her items are reminders that she was long famous on public-access TV – what YouTube has become, in part – as Goddess Kringen. Meantime, Art Walk night is also a rare chance to see the museum in the evening (it’s regularly open Fridays and Saturdays noon-4 pm) – it’s at 61st/Stevens, open tonight until 8.
7:31 PM: Alki Arts (6030 California SW) is the southernmost Art of Music venue this month – we visited for a quick clip of the instrumentalists playing there tonight:
That’s Bob Antolin and Chet Corpt (Chet’s playing the kora), with tonight’s setting sun behind them and to the right.
Tomorrow brings September’s West Seattle Art Walk – last one of summer! – featuring these venues for art and/or food and drink specials:
Three highlights:
*The Art of Music brings four mini-concerts. 6-7:45 pm:
Trevor Ras @ Welcome Road Winery [WSB sponsor] in the greater Admiral District
Katydids @ Verity Credit Union in The Junction
Taryn Hadfield @ Darby Winery in The Junction
Bob Antolin/Chet Corpt Duo @ Alki Arts in Morgan Junction
Preview the performers and their music by going here.
*The West Seattle Art Tour preview, at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), 5-9 pm
*Alki is abuzz with art this month, with receptions at West Seattle Arcade, Gary’s Place, and the Log House Museum – details are all here (along with other venues around the peninsula hosting receptions Thursday night)!
(WSB is a community co-sponsor of the West Seattle Art Walk)
(WSB photo from 2024 South Park Fiestas Patrias parade)
In case you wondered, this year’s Fiestas Patrias celebration – presented by Sea Mar – is on this weekend, beginning with Saturday’s annual parade in South Park celebrating Latin American heritage and culture. This year’s theme is “Our Voice, Our Strength“; State Supreme Court Justice Steven C. González is the Grand Marshal this year. Dozens of entries, from folkloric dancers to horseback riders, will head eastbound on South Henderson to 14th Avenue South at 10 am Saturday (September 13), then heading north on 14th to South Cloverdale, and turning westbound. It’s a relatively short – 45 minutes last year (WSB coverage here) – but spirited parade. Sea Mar also presents a Fiestas Patrias event all weekend at Seattle Center (see the program and schedule here).
Seems like it’s all about Lincoln Park lately. That’s where Anne snapped this photo and sent it to us. The group is Aztec (Anáhuac) – we showed a similar scene, same park, two and a half years ago (and as often happens, more information emerged in the comments).
Also coming up this week – Thursday is West Seattle Art Walk night, and this month’s special features include the first of three preview dates for the upcoming West Seattle Art Tour! Here’s what to know:
Get a Sneak Peek at the 2025 West Seattle Art Tour During Preview Night (and more) September 11-13!
The West Seattle Art Tour is pleased to announce that Viscon Cellars (5910 California Ave SW, Suite B) is hosting the West Seattle Art Tour’s Preview Night, September 11–13, 2025! The fun begins Thursday, September 11, from 5:00–9:00 pm. Stop by for a sneak peek at the colorful, dynamic work of this year’s tour artists. Many of the artists will be there in person to chat about their work and answer your questions. While you’re there, enjoy a glass of Viscon Cellars’ delicious wine, sample some snacks, and mingle with other art lovers.
If you can’t make it Thursday, the artwork will also be on display Friday, September 12, 5:00-9:00 pm and Saturday, September 13, from 1:00–6:00 pm. Plus, don’t miss the chance to see paintings by artist Eric Peterson, whose work will be featured at Viscon Cellars through the end of September.
About the West Seattle Art Tour: The West Seattle Art Tour (September 20-21) is a free, self-guided tour that showcases a unique array of art created by exceptional West Seattle artists in the spaces where artists create, live, teach and work. This year sites will be open for two days, allowing more time for visitors to see all of the locations. This year’s tour Information includes a printable map, an interactive online map and artist profiles to help guests plot their own adventure across the West Seattle Peninsula. Maps and more are available on the Tour’s website, wsartwalk.org/west-seattle-art-tour. Print copies of This year’s Tour Map will be available on site at Viscon Cellars all three days.
The West Seattle Art Tour is organized by local artists and art lovers with support from West Seattle Art Walk as well as in-kind sponsorship from West Seattle Blog, Viscon Cellars, and Alki Arts.
Lots of opportunities for singers in West Seattle this fall and beyond! Here’s another announcement we were asked to publish:
Love to sing?
The choir of West Side Presbyterian Church in West Seattle is welcoming new singers who love to sing in our community. The choir sings in the beautiful sanctuary space at WSPC and is also joined by an orchestra ensemble for festival services. For more information about how to join our welcoming and vibrant group of people, please reach out to Music Director Anthony Spain at anthonys@wspc.org
West Seattle’s most prolific public artist is part of the new show that opened with a reception at Alki Arts last night. In our photo above is Lezlie Jane, with three of the six paintings inspired by her Luna Girls on Alki metal sculpture. She explained to us that the paintings imagine what the “Luna Girls” might be up to when nobody’s looking. She’s showing and selling a few remaining miniature versions of the original sculptures, too:
The Luna Girls are just west of Salty’s on Alki, on the Harbor Avenue shore; Lezlie’s other West Seattle public-art work includes half a dozen installations mapped here. The Luna Girls paintings are part of “Four Narratives” at Alki Arts, with work by three other artists, including former award-winning journalist Christine Sharp, with whom we also spoke at the reception:
Her work in this show is about “politics,” Christine explains – her way of dealing with the current chaos (that word is the name of one of her four paintings on display – the others are “Saving Democracy,” “No Place to Run/No Place to Hide,” and “Searching for Home.” The other two artists participating in “Four Narratives” are Chris Holt and Joanne Shellan; the gallery’s at 6030 California SW (in north Morgan Junction) and open until 6 tonight.
2:16 PM: The sun is back and the Children’s Moonlight Festival is on until 5 pm at the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2236 SW Orchard, north of The Home Depot). A lion dance by Vovinam Burien is yet to come; activities under way now include food and face-painting, as well as karaoke. If you haven’t been here in a while, enter just east of the center’s under-construction building fronting Orchard.
3:49 PM: We’re back at HQ. The lion dance has concluded (video added) …
… but there’s still lots of fun – the lantern parade is ahead:
There’s a little fun fishing going on:
Storytelling too – the 20+ kids in attendance were photographed with performers dressed as the main characters in a legend telling the story behind the celebration this time of the year, the moon and her friend, a banyan tree:
The legend was recounted by emcee Tammy Dang:
Attendees were welcomed by center director/founder Lee Bui:
And performances were preceded by the U.S. and South Vietnam anthems, plus a moment of silence for “fallnn heroes who fought for freedom”:
Besides special events like this, the center is open for visits most Saturdays, (corrected) noon-3 pm.
Announced by local musician Kevin Freitas:
After forming Better As Brass 2 years ago, one comment on West Seattle Blog’s post stuck with me: “Can you PLEASE also form a Jr.?!” Plus, as my kiddo grows up, I want him to have the opportunity to play alongside me in a fun setting.
Introducing: West Seattle Fam Band! We play fun, upbeat tunes and welcome musicians at any experience level. Seriously! Parts for our music are organized by beginner, intermediate, and experienced. Our guiding principles with this intergenerational band are mentorship, fellowship, and fun where we hope high schoolers can lift up younger kids (and get your service learning/volunteer hours!), elders can pass on sage advice, and folks who’ve never played an instrument can give it a go.
Now, the requests…
1. I’m interested! We’re currently seeking brass and percussion players (but may expand later so still let us know). We rehearse twice a month (time and place TBD), play around West Seattle, and follow the school calendar with fresh new tunes each year. Elementary on up are invited (kids 12 or under, bring your parents to play together!) Don’t play brass or drums? Try one out! Don’t have an instrument? Let’s find you one!
2. Help out! Do you have a space (gym, event space, place of worship, etc.) we could rehearse in? Want to sponsor us or donate to help buy instruments, t-shirts, and more? Are you a designer who can help with a logo or awesome merch designs? Photographer/videographer who can help capture some memories? Social media pro who wants to share our fun? Have some other skill or passion you want to contribute? Let us know.
Kevin currently leads and plays trumpet in Better As Brass and is formerly a founding member of 8-Bit Brass Band, where he played sousaphone and arranged tunes. Before that, he played in Trash Talk, got his Honk band start with D20 12 years ago, and has sat in with various Honk bands through the years. He grew up playing trumpet in school and wishes fun bands like this existed when he was younger.
(WSB photo, 2023)
The two Walking on Logs sculptures toward the southwest end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge are what’s left of what originally was a four-sculpture installation. Today the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, caretaker of the “Welcome to West Seattle” sign nearby, announced that the entire area, including the sculptures, is planned for replacements, repairs, and a “refresh.” Here’s the announcement sent by the Chamber:
Structural repairs are beginning at the site and visitors will notice changes during this phase. Replacement sculptures are planned, with a detailed timeline and next steps to be shared soon.
Walking on Logs is a beloved bronze art installation by Phillip Levine that features four children balancing driftwood beside the Welcome to West Seattle sign. Installed in 1996, this piece of community art has become an enduring landmark, symbolizing both the playful spirit of youth and the distinctive character of West Seattle. Over time, the installation has faced theft and weather impacts, including the loss of one figure in 2014 and additional theft in 2023. These incidents helped catalyze the Chamber’s action.
“This Chamber initiative centers on stewardship of public art and community identity. The Chamber’s role is not only to advocate for business but also to safeguard the cultural touchstones that define West Seattle’s sense of place,” said Rachel Porter, ExecutivevDirector of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. “By leading this restoration, thevChamber affirms its belief that economic vitality and cultural identity go hand in hand. … We are caring for a piece of West Seattle identity … Walking on Logs will keep its spirit while we strengthen the site for the long term. Same spirit, new footing.”
The Chamber is coordinating with partners to ensure safe access, careful site work, and a refreshed welcome into West Seattle. A Cleaner Alki, led by Erik Bell, will refresh and clean the landscape as part of a multi-phased approach. The Chamber, Nucor Steel, and other stakeholders are working together to repair and replace the statues, ensuring that this iconic entryway continues to inspire both residents and visitors.
The West Seattle Chamber remains committed to projects that strengthen the community beyond commerce. From supporting local businesses to preserving public art, the Chamber’s leadership demonstrates how community partnerships can protect shared spaces, celebrate history, and carry West Seattle forward.
Original Walking Logs culptor Phillip Levine died four years ago; we have followup questions out to the Chamber, including who they have working on the replacements. As for the cleanup effort, that would fill a void left when other volunteer efforts ebbed many years ago for lack of participation.
Deb Achak is a West Seattle-based fine-art photographer. After living in various neighborhoods around the peninsula for almost two decades, in 2013 she and her husband bought and renovated the former Villa Heidelberg B&B along Erskine Way, where they now reside with their two sons, and where she works from her home photography studio. Last year Deb had her first solo fine-art photography exhibition in New York City, and also oversaw the publication of a new monograph: “All The Colors That I Am Inside.” West Seattle Blog senior contributor Christopher Boffoli recently sat down with Deb – who was fresh from travels in the Himalayas, where she was shooting her next project – to talk about how she came to photography, her connection to West Seattle, and the power of intuition.
(All images courtesy Deb Achak Photography)
By Christopher Boffoli
West Seattle Blog senior contributor
Deb Achak didn’t nurture childhood dreams of becoming a visual artist. She didn’t employ Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000-hour rule” in pursuit of a life with a camera in her hands. In fact, you wouldn’t know from looking at the stunning, painterly fine-art images that she produces, that she came to photography fairly late in life, in what she has characterized as a “sudden and demanding compulsion.”
As someone who actually did start young, who has spent decades working at photography, and who still frequently fails at it, it’s hard to not be a bit envious. After all, we photographers can be a competitive lot. Observing Deb’s work often feels like eavesdropping on a conversation of someone particularly eloquent and perceptive. While photography may not have been in her early plans, some of the experiences of her childhood would inform the creative work that would come.
As a girl growing up in Amherst, New Hampshire, a creative career was the furthest thing from her mind. Neither of her parents were exceptionally creative. Both worked long hours supporting the family. There simply wasn’t anyone in her world who provided a blueprint for a career in the arts. Sometimes, though, life has a subtle way of illuminating things that we will circle back on later, even if we’re not initially conscious of it: like acorns that rain down around us, never knowing which ones will find purchase, seek out rays of sun, and later send up green shoots.
“My mother was a crafter. She was a quilter, “ says Deb. “She sewed clothes for us, did needlepoint, made stained glass. But we didn’t think of her as an artist. She worked as an HR director and she did these things at home.” Deb saw these endeavors as hobbies, apart from work life. “I figured you’d always have creative hobbies and then you’d have a real job.”
Deb’s childhood summers were a time of light. New Hampshire isn’t really known for its coastline, all 15 miles of it (18 miles by the most generous estimates). The state’s limited seashore is underwhelming as beaches go. But in the eyes of a child, it might as well have been the French Riviera. Like a lot of blue-collar families in the area, Deb’s spent time during their summers at Hampton Beach.
It’s perhaps not much different now than it was in the ’80s. One might not hear the same “woca-woca-woca” sound of Pac-Man spilling out of the arcades, but across the narrow ribbon of beach, and beyond the gray asphalt perpetually jammed with cars, you’re likely to find the same clam shacks and fried dough stands, T-shirt and souvenir shops, salt-water taffy vendors and people playing Skee-Ball. “We didn’t go to fancy beaches. That’s how we grew up. We didn’t have money.” Deb says that she mostly remembered it as “crowds of people relaxed and at ease, enjoying the ocean.” For what it lacked in luxury, it more than made up in sensory stimulation.
Later she would major in English at the University of New Hampshire, with an minor in studio art. But she claims the latter was more of a casual interest and never something that she imagined as a vocation. “I didn’t have any example of working artists. It wasn’t even on my radar.”
Like many who finished college at the end of the (first) Bush administration, a deep recession made for a challenging job market. Despite working multiple jobs, Deb just found she wasn’t surviving. “So I saved every penny and moved to the West Coast because a friend had moved here.”
Seeking adventure – and hopefully employment – Deb moved to Seattle in 1992. That version of the city would look largely unfamiliar to those moving here now. At the time, though, it seemed to suddenly be on the cultural radar of the world, in the midst of the white-hot success of the grunge music genre. Around this time, Starbucks had its IPO with around 165 total locations. AIDS deaths were still on the rise and Amazon was just a river in South America. Microsoft Windows was on its third version. “Sleepless in Seattle” was filming in town and Cameron Crowe‘s film “Singles” was screening in theaters. The Kingdome was still the city’s main sports and entertainment venue.
Deb couch-surfed with a friend for a while as she scrambled to work multiple jobs including waiting tables, staffing a catering company, and taking on cleaning jobs. At the same time she was diligent about sending out resumes and watching for openings. At length she found more promising prospects in a listing at Harborview, counseling victims at what was then called the sexual-assault center. She soondiscovered that she had a facility for the work, and found it fulfilling. This led her to similar work as a patient-care coordinator at a clinic at the University of Washington, where she liaised with physicians and nurses, helping with coordination between the medical side and law enforcement in pursuing sexual-assault cases. For a while she considered careers in law, or medicine, or mental health. But ultimately she chose social work, pursuing a master’s degree at UW.
Around the same time that she started working on her master’s, she met Ramin, the man who would become her husband. By the end of the ’90s, they decided it was time to buy a house, which led them to West Seattle. Over the next fifteen years they lived in several neighborhoods on the peninsula, during which time they became parents. Looking for something more spacious, they fell in love with the former Villa Heidelberg, which they bought (in 2013) and then spent years meticulously renovating. The exquisite result of that project has been featured in design magazines.
Deb’s transition from a challenging, if fulfilling, career in social work, into motherhood, and then into a multi-year house renovation project, progressively led her to picking up a camera. At first, she says, it was – like it is for a lot of parents – about documenting the childhood of her small children. But as much as she found cameraphones to be convenient, she quickly found herself chafing against the limits of the technology. “I just wanted something better to shoot with,” she says. After her husband gave her a compact Canon DSLR as a gift, her interest was supercharged. “I went everywhere with that camera. I really fell down the rabbit hole. I read the manual and taught myself everything that I possibly could.” Deb says that she set up an account on Flickr, which was very popular around that time, taught herself editing software, and joined every photo club she could find.
Soon after discovering this passion, Deb had an instinct to do something with a package of delicate optics and electronics that maybe wouldn’t be so intuitive to most: she wanted to submerge it in seawater. That risky decision fortunately would not end in disaster. In fact, it became the genesis of her first official series of elevated fine-art images.
Though it’s called the Boeing Employees Choir, you don’t have to have any affiliation with Boeing in order to join it, so they’re sending out a call for singers as open rehearsals approach. Here’s the announcement:
Singers Wanted!
Gershwin? Brahms? Whitacre? If you love to sing or want to discover your talent, we invite you to join the Boeing Employees Choir (open to all), performing everything from Bach to Broadway.
Open Rehearsals
Starting September 9, 2025
Tuesdays @ 7 PM
Tibbetts United Methodist Church
3940 41st Ave SW, West SeattleFor more info: www.boeingchoir.org
Please let us know by email if you are coming!
Email: president@boeingchoir.org
(WSB photo, Wednesday evening)
That’s what remained of the 20+-year-old wooden-schooner sculpture Paragon at həʔapus Village Park by Wednesday night. As we reported Tuesday, a city contractor was hired to down the wood, leaving the supports for an expected replacement that Paragon artist Don Fels said he is planning. Fels had told WSB he planned to be on site for the demolition, so we asked him about that via email last night, and also about his timeline for the replacement:
I was there for the first 3 hours. I found it too emotional to stay any longer. I of course knew what was going to happen but that didn’t make it any easier. I don’t take personally what occurred, but nevertheless on a personal level it was very difficult to witness. The demo contractor was good to talk with and appreciated that it wasn’t easy to see something that had represented so much effort and community involvement disappear.
Here’s what he told us is ahead, after a “very hard” year of back-and-forth with the city about the replacement:
I’ve signed the contract with the City for the new iteration of the Paragon. I hope the design phase will be concluded in the next weeks and then we can submit the plan to the City. Once they approve it, fabrication at the Nucor mill will begin. I hope and expect we will install the new boat section in Spring 2026.
As we first reported a year ago, the city said it had to “de-accession” (disown) and then demolish the wooden bones-of-a-boat sculpture, a familiar sight to those who travel West Marginal Way SW south of the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, because it had deteriorated and might collapse. Fels contended the city could have maintained it in a way that would have prevented major deterioration. More backstory is in our original report from last year.
Another big fall event is approaching – and tonight you can preview which artists and locations you’ll be able to meet and visit during the (free!) West Seattle Art Tour on Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21. Here’s the update:
Maps and Artist Gallery are Live for the West Seattle Art Tour
The West Seattle Art Tour is pleased to announce that this year’s map and artist guide are live! Peruse the artist guide, get to know more than 50 local artists, and plan your route ahead of the September 20-21 Tour! This year’s tour information includes a printable map, an interactive online map, and artist profiles to help guests plot their own adventure across the West Seattle peninsula.
The West Seattle Art Tour is a free, self-guided tour that showcases a unique array of art created by exceptional West Seattle artists in the spaces where artists create, live, teach, and work. This year, sites will be open for two days, allowing more time for visitors to see all of the locations.
Not sure where to start planning your Tour? During the September 11 West Seattle Art Walk, Viscon Cellars is hosting the Tour’s Preview Night, where a sampling of art from every site and medium will be on display, with many of the artists on hand. Stop by Viscon Cellars (5910 California Ave SW) during the Art Walk or tasting room hours on Friday 9/12 and Saturday 9/13, enjoy the artwork, and pick up a copy of the print map.
The West Seattle Art Tour is organized by local artists and art lovers with support from West Seattle Art Walk as well as community sponsorship from West Seattle Blog, Viscon Cellars, and Alki Arts.
Endolyne Children’s Choir, “West Seattle’s community youth choir,” is starting a new season and welcoming new singers – here’s the invitation sent to us to share with you:
Do you know a child who loves to sing? The Endolyne Children’s Choir is kicking off our 23rd season in September and it’s not too late to register! We offer five grade-level-based choir ensembles for singers in grades K-12.
ECC is proud to be West Seattle’s community youth choir. Our mission is to make quality choral music education accessible to as many children as possible. We don’t require an audition or any previous choir experience, and we offer multiple payment tiers, including full scholarship available to anyone.
Our singers learn music theory and vocal technique, build performance skills, make friends, and have fun! Learn more here – and come sing with us!
If you don’t have a potential member in the household but you’re interested in the choir’s work, look for not only their own concerts, but appearances at community events such as The Junction’s Christmas-tree lighting and the summertime West Seattle Grand Parade.
(WSB photo: Paragon, today)
More than a year after the artist who installed Paragon along West Marginal Way SW sounded the alarm about the city’s intent to demolish it for safety concerns, the demolition is scheduled to happen tomorrow. We reported on the situation involving the Paragon sculpture multiple times over the past year. Last time we checked on its status was in spring, when the city’s public-art overseers voted to “deaccession” it – disown it so it could be demolished. While the city says it’s deteriorated dangerously, artist Don Fels has said that’s the city’s fault for not maintaining it properly. He told us in spring that he worked to gather volunteer support and donated materials to rebuild it but then the city insisted he take on a liability level that he could not. In notifying us this morning that demolition is planned for early tomorrow morning, city Office of Arts and Culture spokesperson Otts Bolisay tells WSB that “The steel armature and concrete portions will be left in place through the end of 2026 if Mr. Fels wants to replace the wooden portion of the sculpture.”
We had by then inquired with Fels and he revealed a plan is indeed now proceeding, telling us:
While it is true they are demolishing the wooden section of the sculpture … it is going to be replaced by a new steel (with wooden parts) iteration.
After a lengthy and sometimes harrowing negotiation with the City which has gone on well over a year- I am pleased with the outcome. Thanks to an incredibly generous offer – Nucor Seattle has jumped in to make possible that the Paragon, in a new and even more complete rendition – truer to the original 100-year-old Paragon- will rise again on the site. Nucor is providing engineering, fabrication and installation of the new boat section on the current steel and concrete support. We are currently in the design and engineering phase. Once that is complete we will present the City with our plans. Once approved, fabrication will begin at the Nucor site. Nucor has been wonderful to work with – their expertise, hearts and souls are fully behind the project.
This positive outcome is the result of the amazing support from the West Seattle community, largely of course the result of the WSB, and that of the Seattle Parks Foundation and Allied Arts. I have been astounded by and am extraordinarily grateful for the outpouring. Without the public support, the demolition of the wooden boat would have been followed by demo of the entire sculpture.
When we checked back with A&C’s Bolisay after hearing from Fels, he said the city’s role in this isn’t finalized: “Re-accessioning is a separate process and isn’t guaranteed.” Meantime, a contractor will be on site starting around 7:30 a tomorrow.
(Los Flacos presented by Sustainable Music NW, August 5. WSB photo by Jason Grotelueschen)
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Music is a part of Seattle’s identity as much as good coffee and bad traffic. But the community-centered, grassroots performances often associated with our neck of the woods have faded away as time has gone on. At least, that’s how West Seatte musician Kevin Nortness sees it. To solve this problem, Nortness and four other Seattle-based musicians and music educators have banded together to create Sustainable Music Northwest, Seattle’s newest music nonprofit.
(Photo courtesy Sustainable Music Northwest)
Sustainable Music Northwest is a nonprofit that performs free concerts at community gatherings and events, and local music shows. “The Seattle music community is missing something – giving music to the public that’s outside of nightclubs and concert halls,” said Nortness, who’s made his living as a performer and teacher for the better part of 20 years. Through this nonprofit work, Nortness and his fellow board members – Marc Fendel, Samantha Boshnack, Chuck Demonnin, and Adam Gross – want to redefine what a concert can be. “We’re making it about the gathering as much as it is the music,” Nortness said. “The performance and the conversations should be at equal sound levels, we want people to be able to use the music as an enhancement of the occasion.”
(Sustainable Music Northwest photo: Board member Kevin Nortness)
On August 5th, the nonprofit made its debut at a Delridge gathering for Night Out, featuring local band Los Flacos. The event was a surreal experience for Nortness, who has been working on this project for the better part of a year and a half. “I put so much time into this,” he joked, “that I didn’t realize I was slowly going broke.” Fortunately, though, his efforts have paid off, and in cooperation with the Musicians’ Association of Seattle, he’ll be receiving a stipend for his work on the nonprofit. They’ll also be working with Seattle-based consultant firm Scandiuzzi Krebs, which specializes in local community-building organizations.
With the combined support from both the Musicians’ Association and Scandiuzzi Krebs, and the collective effort of Nortness and his fellow musicians over the past year and a half, Sustainable Music Northwest is now budgeted for ten more shows in 2025.
(Sustainable Music Northwest photo: Board member Marc Fendel)
“It’s especially heartwarming to see it come together,” said Nortness, “and it’s so nice to finally be in a position to say ‘this is what we’re doing’, and we’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback.”
Now that they’re finally established, they’re going to take a breath and keep pushing forward. Nortness has his eye set on the Alki Beach promenade, Kenyon Hall, and the lobbies of West Seattle’s condos and apartments for performances. The nonprofit is also continuing to apply for grants, looking for new board members, and scoping out new locations to perform at. If you’re interested in any of those areas, Nortness says they’d love to hear from you.
“We’re trying to get the word out,” He said, “This exists, and it’s a resource. We’re essentially offering a free band for people to gather their communities together, create connections, and maintain those connections.” (The musicians, like Los Flacos on Night Out, do get paid.)
For more information about Sustainable Music Northwest, to apply to become a board member, or to book them for an event, check out their website here.
With less than a week and a half until most students will be back in school, summer activities are wrapping up – including Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association‘s Summer Youth Program:
The program’s participants included one dozen paid teenage interns who worked ten hours a week for the past six weeks, taking on a variety of tasks. With them in our photo is DNDA art program specialist Claire DeBenon, who says their last task of the summer was litter pickup in the area near Neighborhood House High Point on Friday afternoon, shortly before we took the picture. Claire also showed us another beautification project carried out over the summer – this mural on the Neighborhood House basketball court:
The interns got to free-style some touches:
Other work spanning DNDA’s art and environment focus included stenciling storm drains to remind people that fish are She explained, “The youth has done a lot for their community by working with kids and families to facilitate an educational, fun, and safe summer for West Seattle residents.” The interns are ages 13-17 and got a stipend for their work – for most if not all, their first experience drawing a paycheck, added DNDA’s Yeggy Michael, with whom we also spoke while there for the photo op. “This is a starting point for them,” he declared. He and Claire explained that getting into this program is “very competitive” – they had 40 applicants before narrowing it down to the dozen participants.
The next Intergenerational Theatre Project has adult participants and is ready to welcome teens too. Here’s the announcement:
CALLING ALL TEENS
for the Fall session of the BAYFEST Intergenerational Theatre Project!
Open-to-All Intro Session Saturday, August 23
Would you like to perform and have fun with people of all ages?
7-10 teens and 7-10 senior adults, chosen by BAYFEST for this exciting, fun and collaborative project, will form the Fall 2025 “Intergen” Cohort, following the success of our first cohort this past winter/spring. The group willmeet every few weeks over several months (usually on a weekend morning) in West Seattle for a fun, meaningful learning process, using theatre games and exercises, guided discussions, participant writing and collaboration. The project will start with an open-to-all intro session (no obligation to continue) on Saturday, August 23rd from 10 AM – 1 PM at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle Street) NO THEATRE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY and the Project is COMPLETELY FREE to all chosen participants!
Questions? Contact director Robert Shampain at bayfestyouththeatre@gmail.com.
(WSB photo, The Mount concert, August 1)
This year’s Summer Concerts at The Mount (WSB sponsor) will go into the books as just one concert. For the third consecutive week, The Mount has sent word they have to cancel:
Due to recent COVID-19 cases and recommended health precautions, the Summer Concert originally scheduled for August 22 at Providence Mount St. Vincent has been canceled. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to prioritize the safety and well-being of our residents and community.
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you back to the concerts next year!
The one concert that did happen was back on August 1, when Danny Vernon presented The Illusion of Elvis (WSB coverage here). The canceled concerts were to feature a Frank Sinatra tribute, a country group, and a big band.
The next “Write YOUR Story” free workshop for young writers still has a few spaces – here’s the announcement:
Now enrolling!
Write YOUR Story Fall 2025
Theme: Silly SupermanWho is invited? People age 7-11 who like stories
When? Every Sunday, September 24 – December 7, 2025 (12 sessions) 4:00—5:00 pm
Where? Upstairs activity room, Curious Kidstuff toy store
4740 California Ave SWStories we’ll read:
The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen and
I, Crocodile by Fred MarcellinoWrite YOUR Story, est. 2012, is a free workshop led by local writers for local kids
“We read, we write, and we have a lot of fun.”
jdouthwa.wixsite.com/writeyourstory1
For info or to enroll contact: juliawsea@gmail.com
(WSB photo – early donations during last Saturday’s drive)
One week ago, we visited the heart of The Junction as volunteers from the Rotary Club of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) collected instrument donations for Music4Life. Tonight, Rotarian Brian Waid, who coordinated the dropoff donation drive, reports on the results:
I’m pleased to report that on August 9, with the support of the West Seattle KeyBank branch, the Rotary Club of West Seattle received donations of 43 used musical instruments for the benefit of Music4Life, including: drums (3, including an unusual split drum), flutes (6), clarinets (10, including 3 Buffet clarinets), trumpets/cornets (6), french horn (1), trombone (1), saxophone (1), recorders (2), guitars (4), and a banjo (1). We also received a generous cash donation for Music4Life, an instrument tuner, clarinet repair kit, music books, and several music stands.
Missed the drive? You can still donate instruments and/or money – here’s how. Music4Life works with 15 school districts in the region, including Seattle.
Major stories got in the way of our usual “as it happens” West Seattle Art Walk coverage last night, but we do have some pics to show you!
(First six photos by WSB’s Torin Record-Sand)
Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) hosted another session of its pop-up artists’ market “Emerge“ – we found Vineta Jackson selling custom night lights!
Other artists at the Jet City Labs pop-up included watercolorist Carrie Scroggins:
This Sunday (August 17) you can pop into JCL to check out the next 206 Makers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm, same hours as the adjacent Farmers’ Market.
A few doors north of JCL, Compass Real Estate (4531 California SW) hosted 11-year-old photographer Colton Haveson:
The photographer’s proud mom Mara Haveson is managing broker of the office, which has a tradition of displaying community artists’ work. Colton’s photographs span thousands of miles of inspiration, from West Seattle life to recent travels in Europe.
South of The Junction, West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW) hosted an artist this month – Macki Stratton brought a selection of her paintings under the umbrella “Growing Moss.”
She says “Moss has been a source of inspiration for color and form for many years …”
She added in her artist statement that, “In these unprecedented times in our country, this primordial plant has some valuable lessons to draw from, like how community can make all the difference for resilience and survival.”
The Art Walk also brimmed with music again last night, including Easy Street Records‘ presentation of The Sinister Six:
Thanks to Ian for sending that photo of the garage-rock band performing what was its third-to-last show before going on hiatus for reasons including a search for a new drummer.
The major music presence during the night was the five-show slate for The Art of Music, the collection of mini-concerts complementing the Art Walk many months. It’s curated by John Redenbaugh, who shared a few photos – here are Belle Shea and Selena Tibert at Due Cucina:
And Fae Wiedenhoeft at West Seattle Grounds in North Admiral:
Here’s a sneak peek at The Art of Music lineup planned for the next West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday, September 11:
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