Thanks to Andrew for the photo and an in-progress report on the 13th West Seattle Beer Dash:

Started at Alki Pub (pictured), then West 5, then Talarico’s, next was Rocksport, and soon to be the Poggie! We have about 100 people hopping, and the donations going to the West Seattle Food Bank.

No word where they’re going next, but Andrew just confirmed they’re at the Poggie right this moment.

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2 West Seattle Soccer Club teams in tournament finals

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo courtesy WSSC)
Congratulations to the West Seattle Jets (BU-13) and West Seattle Moctezuma (BU-16) teams for making it into the championship round of the Founder’s Cup state tournament! West Seattle Soccer Club‘s Tim McMonigle sent word tonight that both won their games today, and it’s the first time WSSC has had two teams in the finals (Moctezuma is defending champ in its age group). The Founder’s Cup, Tim explains, is for both recreational and select teams, so: “This means these two recreational teams have beat select teams to become one of the best (two) teams in the state at their age group, which is a very big accomplishment for these boys.” Tomorrow’s games are at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, with the Jets playing on field 3 at 2:45 pm, Moctezuma on field 2 at 3:15 pm. Good luck! (P.S. As noted here earlier this week, registration is now under way for WSSC’s spring season – more info on the club’s website.)

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Madison Middle School students compete in Project Citizen

February 5, 2011 5:35 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two classes at West Seattle’s Madison Middle School are taking humanities/social studies to the next level. Next Friday, they will face three well-known West Seattle political leaders to present “informational panels” on two meaty topics, as part of We the People: Project Citizen. Local activist Karen Chilcutt sends word of the event, explaining that Project Citizen helps teach middle-schoolers about “competent and responsible participation in local and state government,” with participants learning “how to monitor and influence public policy.” Both classes include eighth-graders taught by Starr McKittrick at Madison; they each hope to become the school and district’s representative at a statewide competition in May, with that event’s winner representing the state at a national competition in Washington, D.C.

On Friday, they will “present their panels and answer questions,” according to Chilcutt, before King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, former Mayor Greg Nickels, and Seattle School Board president Steve Sundquist. The topics:
• To Eliminate Police Brutality through Crisis Intervention Training and Cultural Awareness
• To Eliminate the State’s Ability to Reroute to the General Fund Federal Monies Designated for Education

The students’ presentations are scheduled for 12:25-2 pm next Friday at Madison.

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Family Promise founder’s West Seattle message: ‘They can do this!’

February 5, 2011 5:11 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news

That’s Karen Olson, founder and national president of homelessness-fighting Family Promise, while visiting West Seattle to support and encourage the local affiliate’s efforts to reopen its shelter program. Almost six months after they announced they had to put the shelter on hiatus until they could raise enough money to reopen (here’s our August 2010 story), they’re more than halfway there, and Olson told the local board during her visit that she has confidence “they can do this!”

WSB talked with Olson last night, just before she was the guest of honor at an Alki reception for Family Promise of Seattle supporters (we last updated their campaign with this Christmas Day story). She founded the organization in New Jersey almost 25 years ago, and says other chapters have gone through rocky times, but the West Seattle-based group has a lot going for it – including the congregations that are “eager to begin again.” Instead of having one fixed-location shelter, Family Promise offers homeless families a place to sleep hosted by a rotating group of congregations, each of which commits to shelter and feed a family an average of once per quarter. Olson describes it as an “interfaith hospitality network.”

The national office is relatively small and helps coach and mobilize local affiliates, but does not raise money for their operations, and that’s why it can’t “bail out” groups like this one. Instead, it helps empower them to “identify people passionate about homelessness,” and the Family Promise mission – “helping homeless families achieve sustainable independence.” Right now there are 162 affiliated organizations nationwide, in 41 states; in our state, the only other one is in Spokane, and Olson was visiting them too while out west.

Eighty percent of the homeless families helped by Family Promise manage to find housing within 8 weeks, Olson says, calling that a “remarkable” success rate, with the “interfaith network” usually resulting in hundreds of volunteers being involved in each community – a “cost-effective (way to) mobilize existing resources” that “helps to heal the hurt of homelessness.”

To keep them going till they are helping families directly again, Olson says she counseled the local board to keep building its ranks with “people who can offer specific talents,” and to “keep remembering the families they served in the past, and the families with no place to turn” – there are no other organizations in the area that allow homeless families to stay together while they work to get back on their feet.

“They need the community to respond, and to help,” Olson added. You can do that by donating – here’s how.

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Beach Drive cow saga conclusion: Towed away by SPD

February 5, 2011 12:26 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

12:26 PM: If you have followed the comments on our original Wednesday story about the dead cow that washed up on Beach Drive, you know it was towed away by Seattle Police Harbor Patrol this morning. We are at Don Armeni, where they have just turned it over to Seattle Animal Shelter agents.

1:13 PM: As one of the SAS agents told us, it’ll be difficult for anything to live up to this – for at least the rest of the day! This morning, Beach Drive Blog kayaked over to the latest discovery site to talk with police (video interview in this story). They also tweeted when the SPD boat towed the cow away, and that’s when we picked up the chase. Watching the police boat pass Duwamish Head very slowly – and spotting a SAS truck passing us on Alki Avenue – we put two and two together and continued on to Don Armeni.

(video no longer available due to blip.tv shutdown)

That’s where we found the agents awaiting the boat (and awaiting the rendering truck they had called for). In short order, the police boat tied up – cow in tow:

The agents pulled the cow onto the boat ramp, and kept their truck there guarding it till Bud Mothershed from QAR Rendering Services in Graham showed up. Note what’s written on the side of his truck:

Once he’d winched the cow up off the ramp and into his truck, Bud gave us a refrigerator magnet that points out his company deals in “dead stock removal” and “private cremations.” He’s been in business more than 30 years. And he’s the last stop for the mystery cow of Beach Drive – whose origins remain unknown, though the speculation continues (did it float over from Vashon, which has a history of cattle ranching?), and may for quite some time.

ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: The Beach Drive residents whose beach was the cow’s final unplanned West Seattle stop have sent word of praise for authorities – read on:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car found; home broken into

February 5, 2011 11:13 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Arbor Heights | Crime | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

This morning’s West Seattle Crime Watch update starts with good news before we get to a new crime report. Last time around, we included Shay‘s report about her stolen car. She e-mailed last night to say a WSB’er found it!

Because of you, we got our stolen car back SO MUCH FASTER than I ever imagined. One of your faithful readers read about our incident today, called us, and we found our vehicle! There was damage and my skateboard was stolen, but we can’t be more appreciative of the service you provide for our community. When you have your property violated by strangers, it’s very reassuring to know that there are a whole lot more strangers that actually care.

There was rope left in our trunk and the back bumper looked as though it pulled something along (maybe someone ON my skateboard?). If anyone SAW an old Accord pulling anything (Thursday) night, please let us know.

Now, the burglary report – it happened yesterday afternoon in Arbor Heights, 9800 block of 42nd SW (map):

They kicked in the back door between 12:45 pm and 3:00 pm. They stole our Mac desktop, iPad, and iPod touch, plus my jewelry. The police came and we filed a report. If anyone knows anything please let us or the police know.

Thanks again to everyone whose watchfulness helps catch suspects or at least find stolen property. P.S. Got a Block Watch? Be sure it’s linked up with the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network – currently conducting a survey, too.

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Ride Metro? Don’t forget to check if your route changed today

February 5, 2011 9:50 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Just in case it slipped your mind … the latest round of “service changes” for Metro kicked in today, and that includes some noteworthy route changes downtown for buses serving West Seattle, to get around ongoing construction, among other reasons. Metro has it all laid out online – start here, then click the tab for “schedule and route revisions,” and click your route number to get a popup box detailing the changes.

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West Seattle Saturday: Chat with a councilmember, & more…

February 5, 2011 9:10 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: Chat with a councilmember, & more…

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo from Thursday performance of “Age Only Matters…” by Ben Ackers)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar for today: Final performance of “Age Only Matters If You’re Cheese,” by West Seattleites Yvonne Belshaw and Bron Edwards Cryer. All local cast, chorus, and orchestra. 7:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California Ave. SW). $12 general admission, $10 for those 65+, $25 for a family of 4. Tickets available in the church office or prior to performance. 932-5600 or www.fauntleroyucc.org. … Final performance of West Seattle High School student production of “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody,” 7:30 pm in the campus theater, tickets $5 at the door … Got something to say to – or ask – a City Councilmember? Tom Rasmussen is at the High Point Library (35th/Raymond) 11:30 am-1 pm today to chat with anybody who wants to stop by. He chairs the Transportation Committee, by the way … Also at midday today, the first appearance of the Lumpia World food truck in West Seattle 11 am-2 pm in the Rite-Aid parking lot on California SW south of The Junction (while Marination Mobile continues its 11 am-2 pm Saturday visits to the Hans VW lot at 35th/Graham) … As noted last night, WestSide Baby has a big day – benefit tea is sold out but there’s a benefit cocktail party tonight and dropoff child care this afternoon (details here) … Movie night at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor): “The King and I,” 6:00 pm for dinner then at 7 pm, Caesar salad, pasta, dessert, free (but donations welcome) … At Kenyon Hall: Simple Measures returns with Significant Others at 2 pm … More on the calendar!

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Walker Rock Garden update: Now listed for sale, $392,000

February 4, 2011 10:54 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy of Rhonda Porter)
The official listing is now online for West Seattle’s quirky Walker Rock Garden (and accompanying house), whose owners announced here 2 1/2 weeks ago that it would be put up for sale. Mark e-mailed today to say he had spotted the listing (and fears it will be snapped up by a developer because it’s a big lot) – the asking price is $392,000. The family of its creators, Milton and Florence Walker, say they can’t maintain it any more and are hoping to sell it to someone interested in preserving it – though they told us they don’t intend to require that as a condition of the purchase.

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Update: Armored police vehicle at 36th/Morgan

February 4, 2011 10:26 pm

| 20 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

10:26 PM: Thanks to everyone who has texted/e-mailed about this, and to Jason for sharing photos. We’re still working to see what police can/will say about camouflaged officers with an armored vehicle in the 36th/Morgan vicinity tonight. All indications are that it is not a “standoff”-type situation – this kind of presence is not unusual when an arrest and/or search warrant is involved, for example. But we have no official comment yet; just wanted to let you know we’re checking on it, and will add any information we do obtain.

12:22 AM: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams says the Eastside Narcotics Task Force was searching a residence – not SPD. No arrests reported at this point, but since it wasn’t SPD, we’ll have to pursue more info with ENTF next week.

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Big day Saturday for WestSide Baby – and you can be part of it

February 4, 2011 10:16 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

Tomorrow is WestSide Baby‘s annual fundraising tea – and while the tea itself is sold out, two adjacent events are not, according to late word from WS Baby’s Nancy Woodland. First: The Little Gym of West Seattle is holding a Rainy Day Playdate Camp from 2-4:30 pm tomorrow for children age 3-10 (potty-trained). The cost is $25 with a $15 sibling discount. Nancy explains, “The camp was created as a possible child care option for WestSide Baby supporters attending the 10th Annual Benefit Tea but it’s open to anyone who wants a great place to leave their children for a few hours of fun tomorrow!” You can save a space by calling 206-937-0311 right now and leaving a message. Then tomorrow night, tickets are still available for the first-ever WestSide Baby benefit Cocktail Party – 7-9 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. $30 per ticket, available right now online at WestSideBaby.org, or at the door. Nancy says, “The evening promises great appetizers, fun drinks, cool drawings, a program to share WestSide Baby, and a lively opportunity to give.”

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Milestone nears for Avalon Glassworks ‘Feed the Core’ fundraiser

February 4, 2011 9:35 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Courtesy Aguero Photo)
This is the third year of Avalon Glassworks‘ “Feed the Core” fundraiser for White Center Food Bank, and it’s getting close to a milestone, according to a news release we received today – 34 more apples to sell till the amount of money donated hits $10,000. The apples sell for $80, with half of that covering the production costs and the other half – $40 per apple – going to WC Food Bank, which can buy up to 200 pounds of food for that sum. So far, they have sold 216 apples! Once they hit 250, and therefore the $10,000 mark, AGW owners Shannon and Jon Felix are planning a celebration – and hoping that’ll be possible by early summer. P.S. If you can’t get to Avalon Glassworks in person (2914 SW Avalon Way), the apples are available online.

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Newest state ferry Salish to be visible from West Seattle shores

February 4, 2011 6:41 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSDOT photo, December 2010)
The state’s next Kwa-di Tabil Class ferry, the Salish, will be visible off West Seattle shores on Monday, according to an announcement from Washington State Ferries. Under tow, the Salish will make its first trip out of Todd Pacific Shipyards starting around 8 am Monday, headed for Everett Shipyard, “for final outfitting and system testing prior to conducting dock and sea trials,” according to WSF. When it’s ready, the Salish will join the 1st ferry built in its class, the Chetzemoka, in serving the Port Townsend-Whidbey Island run.
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In case you wondered too: Concrete re-do on 1st Avenue ramp

February 4, 2011 4:50 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news

4:50 PM: In the WSB Forums, via a comment, and a phone call, we’ve been asked about what looks like a re-do of some concrete work on the new 1st Avenue South onramp/offramp to the Spokane Street Viaduct section of the West Seattle Bridge. SDOT‘s Marybeth Turner confirms that’s what it is: “Yes, the contractor is taking out a piece of the barricade on the First Avenue S Ramp and will redo it. One end was off by five inches. It’s at no cost to the city and it won’t affect the project schedule.”

ADDED 8:41 PM: Thanks to Scott for pointing out in comments that the Seattle Times (WSB partner) has just put up a story with additional details.

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AlkiMoves: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor

February 4, 2011 3:47 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Erik LaSeur of AlkiMoves, the only practicing Feldenkrais teacher in West Seattle. New sponsors get the chance to tell you about themselves: Erik’s wellness work at AlkiMoves is based upon the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, a Russian-born Israeli scientist and judo master. Erik says what differentiates the Feldenkrais method from most of the health/wellness field is that this isn’t a therapy — rather, it’s a method of learning: “We use movement as a means of learning because it’s easier to measure movement as opposed to thinking, feeling, and sensing. This is the same kind of organic learning we all did when we were infants.” From his work at the Senior Center of West Seattle, he says he’s been able to help people dealing with balance problems and neurological challenges:”I’ve had great success working with people who live with Fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis. What keeps people coming back is their curiosity about learning to be their own best healers.” He says he gets referrals from massage therapists, naturopaths, and acupuncturists: “People usually seek me out after they’ve tried everything else and are still in pain, or something physically bothers them.”

The other members of the AlkiMoves staff are Anna Oeste and Mary Morrison. Sessions are held for groups of seven at a time. Erik also works with small companies to help them lower health-care costs by teaching more-efficient, less-painful ways to work, whether it’s lifting heavy weights or sitting at a keyboard. Erik is a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and a member of the West Seattle Champions BNI group, is treasurer of the Northwest Region of the Feldenkrais Guild of North America, and is a member of Feldenkrais Teachers in Seattle.

We thank AlkiMoves for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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Potential plea bargain for 2nd suspect in Highland Park attack

February 4, 2011 2:57 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Two weeks after the sentencing of one defendant in the Highland Park hate-crime attack (WSB courthouse coverage here), there’s word the second suspect might also enter a plea instead of going to trial. A hearing scheduled today for 21-year-old Jonathan Baquiring was instead postponed till next Friday, and a new document in the online court files explains the delay as: “Parties likely have reached a plea bargain.” A hearing is now tentatively set for next Friday morning; Baquiring’s trial had been set for February 22nd. He is charged with robbery and malicious harassment in the May 2010 attack on Shane McClellan, the teenager beaten and tortured for hours on a Highland Park staircase. The other defendant, 23-year-old Ahmed Mohamed, admitted with his guilty plea that he “maliciously and intentionally … caused physical injury” to the victim because of his race; Mohamed was sentenced to almost six years in prison.

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West Seattle school news: Westside, HP Elementary, WSC Preschool

February 4, 2011 2:05 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Three notes about local schools – starting with video from Westside School (WSB sponsor), where the Garfield High School Lion Dance Team performed at a Lunar New Year assembly this morning, introduced by Westside’s Chinese-language teacher Steven Whiting. (Westside has an open house coming up next week for its new middle school – 6 pm February 9th).

Second, special visitors at Highland Park Elementary School:

(Highland Park Elementary event photos by Deanie Schwarz for WSB)
Cinnamon, a six-week-old dairy calf from Monroe, was the surprise guest on Thursday as part of Harvest to Table education in Seattle Public Schools. Health Intervention Specialist Helen Walsh told WSB, “This month we are highlighting dairy and how important it is for our bodies. Next month, we will be doing potatoes, and who knows what we will be doing for that!” Also visiting along with Cinnamon, Kelsey Schubach, a Dairy Ambassador for the Dairy Farmers of Washington:

She talked to students about what cows eat and how they are milked, and widened some eyes by explaining that cows have four stomachs.

Last but not least – a student art display in The Junction:

Art from West Seattle Christian Preschool is now hanging at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, where proprietor Lora noted that Hotwire’s newly repainted walls are an even-better backdrop for art. Hotwire is one of the stops on the monthly West Seattle Art Walk – next week’s edition is less than a week away, next Thursday night (February 10th), 6-9 pm.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car, hit-run sightings sought

February 4, 2011 11:17 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Several West Seattle Crime Watch reports from the WSB inbox – a stolen car to watch for, a stolen car apparently found, and two hit-and run cases, one unsolved – (update: a newly reported roof-rack theft added) – after the jump:Read More

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West Seattle Friday: Theater x 3; ‘Birds + Bees + Kids’; more

February 4, 2011 9:21 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Little Red Wheelbarrow, from the WSB Flickr group pool)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: A benefit for the Phan/Harm family, survivors of last September’s shootings, happening tonight in Tacoma: “TacSea! TacSea! A Celebration of Music, Art, and Life,” full details on the official flyer (PDF) … The Pathfinder K-8 PTSA presents its second special talk about puberty, with Amy Lang of Birds and Bees and Kids, 6-8 pm at the school, RSVP to lashannaw@gmail.com … Friday Night Skating rolls on at Alki Community Center, $3/person, bring your own skates or borrow theirs, 6:45 pm-8:45 pm … At Senior Center of West Seattle this morning, it’s a drop-in Chair Yoga class, 11 am-12:15 pm, $5 members/$7 nonmembers … Three theater productions tonight: “Emilie” @ ArtsWest, 7:30 pm (get tickets online here); “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody” @ West Seattle High School, 7:30 pm (update – got a call from WSHS that prices on their website are wrong and tickets are now just $5!); “The Real Inspector Hound” @ Chief Sealth International High School Little Theater, 7 pm (free).

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Skylark Café: Bigscreen Super Bowl; burlesque Valentine dinner

February 4, 2011 8:35 am

| Comments Off on Skylark Café: Bigscreen Super Bowl; burlesque Valentine dinner

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Two notes this morning from Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor): First, they’re planning to show Sunday’s Super Bowl game on the big projection screen in the club (and will move the first band of the night back to 7:30 pm so there’s no conflict if the game runs long) – so go for brunch, stay for the game! Second, it’s not too late to get tickets for their “Mambo Italiano” three-course Valentine dinner and burlesque show, 7:30 pm Monday, Feb. 14th. (Get tickets online here.) P.S. Burlesque is now back at Skylark, last Thursday of each month.

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WSBeat: ‘Their word against mine’; ‘Watch this!’; ‘Want a war?’

February 3, 2011 11:56 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

Twelve summaries this week – click ahead:Read More

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Zippy’s Giant Burgers moving from Highland Park to White Center

February 3, 2011 6:45 pm

| 127 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | White Center

(Photos by Deanie Schwarz for WSB/WCN)
Earlier this week, Zippy’s Giant Burgers said it would likely have news of a new location by the end of the week, since the foreclosure mess at its original Highland Park location didn’t seem likely to result in a continued lease, or purchase, of the building – and tonight, West Seattle Blog/White Center Now contributor Deanie Schwarz has just confirmed with Zippy’s ownership that the new location is final: A long-empty restaurant spot on the northern edge of White Center. 9614 14th Avenue SW (map), right behind the Roxbury Bartell Drugs, about a block and a half north of Big Al Brewing.

Blaine Cook from Zippy’s explains that among other things, staying at the current location would have meant triple the current rent. As for other possibilities around West Seattle and White Center, it would have cost too much for the “buildout” at other locations they explored. Staying in this area was important, since of their 11 employees, all but two live in West Seattle or White Center. The new location – with previous names including the Cookbook Café – is now inked for a three-year lease with two options for five-year extensions, he says. It’s a lot bigger than the current location – 1,600 square feet, with room for up to 60 people to sit down. That means they might eventually expand their menu – breakfast is a possibility.

This also means:

–They can accept credit cards
–They’ll cut their own fries
–They’ll seek a license to offer beer

They’re hoping to open in late April or early May, with minimal downtime for a moveout from Highland Park before their lease expires on April 19th. The White Center site is truly turnkey, Cook says – some floor work and “kitchen tweaks” are needed, plus permits. But overall, he says, “We are stoked!” They’re looking forward to being part of White Center’s ongoing renaissance. And remember the term SoRo – South of Roxbury – if it catches on, he’s the one who made it up!

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Happy Lunar New Year! Lafayette first-graders’ parade

February 3, 2011 6:35 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Luckie for sharing photos from a Lafayette Elementary tradition – the first graders’ Lunar New Year parade. She reports, “Children from the other grades lined the halls to watch, cheer, and sound their noisemakers. Included in the parade was a dragon, musicians playing drums, and lots of rabbits, as the Year of the Rabbit has just begun. The first graders also enjoyed Chinese noodles, oranges, and sweets.”