West Seattle, Washington
18 Monday
When we stopped by West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) just after 1 pm to check in on the CityDog Magazine Cover Dog Search photo shoot, we found out that 36 dogs were already signed up, just after hour 1. Dogs of every size, as you can see in the photo above … and we even spotted a dog in a tie:
That’s Willie, dressed to the nines. Or at least the eights. At the CityDog table, Carol from Doney Memorial Pet Clinic – beneficiary of today’s $10 photo fees – and West Seattle-based CityDog founder Brandie Ahlgren:
Carol told us this is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for Doney, run by volunteers and supported by donations; the clinic takes care of pets for people in need who otherwise might not be able to afford that care. (She says she also gets big help in our area from White Center’s Puppy Perfectors.) Meantime, the photos are on till 3 pm – just head to Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy) if you see this before then. We’ll find out later this year if another West Seattle dog will grace the CDM cover next winter!
If you’re taking a bicycle to PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) before 3 pm for the donation drive collecting bikes and parts for Togo, West Africa, say hello to Olowo-n’djo Tchala, founder and managing director of Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care. His company works with two cooperatives in Togo, generating fair-trade shea butter and coconut oil for their Thurston County-produced products. Alaffia has been collecting bikes since 2004 to help kids in Togo who otherwise have no way to get to school aside from hours of walking.
The Log House Museum/Southwest Seattle Historical Society have some big plans in the works, all coming up before the end of August, and you’re invited to all three. Their Ice Cream Social (featuring Husky Deli ice cream!) is on the calendar for August 19th, 1-3 pm, in the museum courtyard. SWSHS has also partnered with the Museum of History & Industry to offer a historical “Log House to Longhouse” biking tour on August 25th from 10 am to noon. And the same weekend, on August 26th, the Log House Museum is celebrating the opening of a new exhibit titled “Telling Our Westside Stories” from 1-4 pm. You can find out more about all three events here .
We’re into the quieter heart of summer now – past most of the big festivals – a time to just enjoy the weather and the sights. Sunrise is still early enough that many of us miss it, but West Seattle photographer Danny McMillin – whose images you’ve seen here before – put together a video look during Saturday’s early morning “golden hour.” He says it’s for a contest on the video-hosting service he used, Vimeo, but wanted to share it more widely here, too (thanks!)
(“Anything Goes” at 3 today! Photo by Ron Dugdale, courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
And now the full list of what’s up today/tonight …
BIKE-DONATION DRIVE: Adult-size bikes that work, and bike parts, are welcome at PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor) today 10 am-3 pm, for the Alaffia drive collecting bikes for Togo – info here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska, with summer fruit including peaches among today’s featured produce.
WEST SEATTLEITES TO ‘STAND WITH THE SISTERS’: A bus leaves Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s new Parish Life Center at 11 today (Myrtle/35th) to head across town to today’s rally in support of the nuns’ organization – explained here.
SOUTHWEST FAMILY FEST AND CAR SHOW: At and around Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle), music, food, kids’ activities, and a car show, 11 am-5 pm.
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: Today and every Sunday (watch their FB page in case of changes), 11 am at Fairmount Playfield, Fauntleroy and Brandon.
IS YOUR DOG A FUTURE COVER DOG? West Seattle-founded CityDog Magazine is back at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) today for its annual photo shoot to track down a future “cover dog,” noon-3 pm. $10 fee supports the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic.
FIRST MATINEE FOR ‘ANYTHING GOES’: The Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) version of the Cole Porter classic is in its second weekend, and today’s the first Sunday matinee – 3 pm, West Seattle High School Theater.
LIVE MUSIC: On the schedule today – Faerabella at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm … The Limit Club and On The Make at Skylark Café and Club, 3 pm …
Two quick previews for Sunday – both special events at local grocery stores – from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
BICYCLE DONATIONS: Have a bicycle and/or bicycle parts you don’t need? PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is collecting them on Sunday, 10 am-3 pm, for people in Togo. More info here.
CITYDOG MAGAZINE COVER-DOG SEARCH: West Seattle-founded CityDog Magazine is once again looking for a cover dog via a series of photo shoots around Seattle, and Sunday is the annual visit to West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), noon-3 pm. $10 fee goes to the Doney Memorial Pet Clinic.
As of right now – about 8 pm – there’s still some room in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard (4410 California SW) for tonight’s upcoming free West Seattle Outdoor Movies show, “Iron Man” – that’s Hotwire’s Lora with preshow announcements. Local band Wrecking Yard is in the middle of its pre-show set:
Concessions and raffle tickets are on sale to raise $ for charity – cool pile of raffle items (including a couple we gathered as one of tonight’s spotlight sponsors – all donated by local merchants – candy from Atomic Boys, which also donated the bag that holds it along with classic comic books; plus a $20 certificate for Full Tilt Ice Cream and a certificate to get out on the lanes at West Seattle Bowl; and a $20 certificate from Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in a handy reusable shopping bag. Even more raffle items from other spotlight sponsors, including a Sonicare toothbrush from dentist Dr. Wolff, Hotwire’s courtyard neighbor. Movie’s at dusk, so get down here if you’re not here already.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Like so many benefit 5K’s, today’s Breathe Deep Seattle walk/run in Lincoln Park was both a big-group celebration, and an intensely personal event. Breathe Deep benefits the lung-cancer-fighting LUNGevity Foundation, and the tributes to lung-cancer patients past and present were everywhere, like the one D.J. Vallaca wrote before the start:
… and the one worn in support of Ray Flores, whose Team Flores had dozens of members:
Extra inspiration came from survivor Eva Borsi, speaking before the race:
More scenes from today’s Breathe Deep Seattle 5K – including the top finishers, one of whom was half the other one’s age! – ahead:
Picnic at the Precinct isn’t just a chance to meet your local police – community reps are here too, like (from left) Cindi Barker, Karen Berge, and Deb Greer – they work together on West Seattle Be Prepared, and Deb and Karen founded the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains Network (you don’t have to be a blockwatch captain to be part of it). The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council is here too:
From left, president Richard Miller and board members Dot Beard and Betty Wiberg. (added) A while after our first photo, their table got a visit from two City Councilmembers, Tim Burgess and Sally Bagshaw:
(With all the precincts having these events today, the councilmembers divided up who went where.) Of course you can check out Seattle Police vehicles and equipment too – like Parking Enforcement:
And SWAT:
Even the basics – the Aggressive Driver Response Team car and motorcycle, and a standard-issue squad car:
And the police too. At left, operations Lt. Pierre Davis, and at right, precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen, with Pete Spalding, who’s here on behalf of the West Seattle Food Bank, but is also on the Precinct Advisory Council:
Plus, a bouncy house, a barbecue, and entertainment – including live music with Maia Santell and House Blend:
This is happening in and around the Southwest Precinct, at Delridge and Webster (the latter street is blocked off for the occasion), till 4 pm.
Two more hours to get to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) for today’s arts/crafts sale – even some plants, if you check out Rose Jarvey and her kale out front (she can even share recipes). Vendors are inside as well as outside. Go see the miniature art of India Spence:
That photo is courtesy of her mom Machel Spence, whose photos you’ve seen here on WSB, as well as many other places, and she’s there too. Back outside, we met Danielle and David Robbins:
Besides arts and crafts, they also have a website – eatingthescreen.com. Go browse and have some coffee or tea, till 3.
The giant Highland Park Improvement Club multi-seller rummage/parking lot/yard sale is on now, with everything from classic garden advice (above) to Dan Mullins‘ traditional annual rubber-duckie giveaway (one per kid, while they last):
… to a $3 lunch, hot dog and drink …
… and you gotta get your Highland Park T-shirt!
HPIC is at 12th/Holden, and whether you need a $5 boom box or a pair of shoes or Halloween decor, you just might find it on somebody’s table there, till 3 pm today.
It’s a cross between a flea market and a sidewalk sale, as Admiral District Business Association president Parris Sadow (with son Quinn outside the family’s shop Atomic Boys) will be the first to tell you. Merchants were invited to bring out stuff that’s been in the back closet a while. Parris’s items include party supplies. Over at Alki Bike and Board, we found proprietor Stu Hennessey wheeling out “recycled bicycles”:
Deals so good, we almost sprung for one, but then somebody texted us about a car crash and we had to move on. Not before, however, we said hi to Flower Lab proprietor Wendy Damoth:
Her items include everything from that metal heron to Christmas bric-a-brac (really, there’s no better word). And you can even get snacks at today’s sale – Chris was outside Zatz A Better Bagel (WSB sponsor):
He’s selling treats including bags of bagel chips, plus cookies and mandelbrodt. Other stores we noticed participating include West Seattle Fabric Company and even tables on the Heartland Café/Shipwreck Tavern block. This is all on till about 2 pm today.
Just as another fun-filled weekend is beginning – take a minute to check your schedule for next weekend, to and see if you can spare a few hours 
to help make the sixth annual Delridge Day festival happen one week from today at Delridge Community Center/Park. Organizers are circulating one last call for volunteers; they’re all volunteers too – including members of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council, which took over the festival last year when previous organizers were unable to keep it going. Next Saturday’s fun, 11 am-3 pm, includes the Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor) skate contest, live music, food trucks, and a kids’ zone (co-sponsored by WSB), and dozens of vendors. All they need now is some more help for setup and cleanup – 8:30-10:30 am and/or 3-4:30 pm – if you can help with either, please e-mail Tanya ASAP, ocean_bee@hotmail.com. See you there!
Thanks to local artist Stani Meredith for the sunset view from Lincoln Park last night. Lincoln Park is also where today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar begin:
BREATHE DEEP SEATTLE 5K: Last-minute registration is under way right now for this 5K run/walk in Lincoln Park, benefiting the LUNGevity Foundation. The runners/walkers head out at 9:30 am from the starting line near upper-park Shelter 1. Course map and more info here.
ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR AT C & P COFFEE: 9 am-3 pm, coffee-shop shopping! 5612 California SW.
GIANT GARAGE SALE: More than 20 sellers at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th and Holden), 9 am-3 pm.
ADMIRAL DISTRICT SIDEWALK SALE: Wander the district for flea-market-style sales, 10 am-2 pm.
K-5 STEM AT BOREN PLAYDATE: Going to the new school this fall? Meet other families at the playground south of Lincoln Park for a playdate this morning, 10 am.
BLOWOUT PLANT SALE: 11 am-3 pm, north end of South Seattle Community College campus (6000 16th SW). Details here.
STEAK SANDWICHES AT THRIFTWAY: Barbecue lunch, cooked up outside the south door at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), starting at 11 am – proceeds go to the Humane Society.
VIETNAMESE STORY TIME: 11:30-noon at Delridge Library (Delridge/Brandon) – more info here.
MAGNOLIA CRAWFORD’S SWAN SONG: It’s Magnolia’s last drag brunch at Skylark Café and Club before moving to L.A., noon today, tickets still available per a tweet from Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
PICNIC AT THE PRECINCT: Meet your Southwest Precinct police while enjoying food and music at a street-fair-style celebration on SW Webster, alongside the precinct, west of Delridge, 1-4 pm. Come say hi to community-group reps too – and to us; we’ll be there covering it live.
TOUR THE LIGHTHOUSE: When August is over, so is Alki Point Lighthouse tour season – 1-4 pm weekend afternoons till the end of the month.
OUTWEST BAR’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY: Today is the “official” anniversary day, and special celebrations are planned through the night. Open at 4 pm (California/Brandon); here’s the preview published here a week ago.
‘IRON MAN’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Make a night of it in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) at 4410 California SW – starting with live music and continuing with “Iron Man” on the big wall screen at dusk. WSB is one of tonight’s co-sponsors (as well as media sponsor for the entire series) and we’ve put together the raffle prizes to raise money for charity, including a bag of big fun with vintage comic books, classic candy donated by Atomic Boys, gift certificates donated by Full Tilt Ice Cream and West Seattle Bowl, and more.
LIVE MUSIC AND OTHER NIGHTLIFE: Sasha Hromyk at C & P Coffee, 6-8 pm … Marley’s Ghost at Kenyon Hall, 7 pm … Candylandia, the monthly dance party at the Benbow Room, 9 pm …
These are just some of the highlights … lots more on the calendar, for today/tonight and months ahead!
A busy few hours so far late Friday/early Saturday for local police and firefighters:
(First two photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Most recently, Beach Drive near the Lincoln Park Way intersection at Lowman Beach had two crash calls within minutes in the 6700-7000 blocks, around quarter till 1. The former was where WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams found the scene above. No official details available at this hour but, per scanner traffic, authorities had to call for cleanup help, because of a 30-foot spill of fluids from the crashed car.
Earlier, around 10 pm, Delridge was closed for a while at Cloverdale because of a two-vehicle crash:
Barbara shared the photo. We also are still trying to reach police for official comment on this, but she said it appeared one woman was being taken to the hospital.
The Feedback Lounge is a hunk-a-hunk-a-burnin’ musical love for The King tonight, including Roger Anderson – in our video clip above – all the way from Bonney Lake. It’s the second annual El-Fest at The Feedback, organized by Hellon Wheels, who’s in the photo below with Feedback co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert AND her Elvis memorabilia, including an essay she wrote about him in 5th grade!
Not only is The Feedback hosting tribute singers tonight, but they’re also offering Elvis-inspired food and drink specials. This time of year is prime time for Presley tributes, of course, because the anniversary of his death in 1977 at the early age of 42 is coming up – August 16th.
ADDED: From WSB contributing journalist Nick Adams, two views of Bret Wiggins‘ performance, the fan …
… and the spangles:
Wiggins – a West Seattleite – won this year’s Elvis Invitationals.
Another fine Friday night of music at Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) – The Haggis Brothers were this year’s second act in the four-show summer outdoor concert series at The Mount, bringing along their down-home tunes. Two more Friday night shows remain in the series – the 85th Street Big Band next week (August 17th) with a classic-car show that night too; and Rainbow of Hawaii on August 24th. Music starts at 6 pm (free), with dinner on sale at 5:30 – either the full-meal deal (tacos next time, jerk-chicken sandwiches on 8/24) or hamburgers/hot dogs.
If you missed the announcement yesterday … or forgot … here’s a reminder before it’s too late: The city says residential recycling that was missed Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday LAST week because of the Waste Management strike will be caught up TOMORROW (Saturday), so be sure your cart is at the curb (along with any overflow). And yes, they say, even with that, if your regular pickup is then coming up this M/T/Th, they will be back again on the regular day.
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Rick Cook, aka the “Psychic Barber” (per the iconic neon in the window of his shop, featured here in 2009), is moving operations – another West Seattle business displaced by development.
Rick says he recently received 30 days notice to vacate the 19-year home of his Rick’s Barber Shop at 5251 California, to make way for a future project.
His landlord Hasan Ocak, who also owns the adjacent restaurant Ephesus, told WSB he isn’t yet ready to discuss his plans for the new development (a preliminary city filing mentions a 3-story mixed-use building, which is the height limit for the zoning on that site).
But Rick already knows where he’s going – someplace that’s both new and old:
(Photo of Rachel Marie and firefighters during this morning’s smoke incident, by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
1:55 PM: This morning’s West Seattle Water Taxi trouble (WSB coverage here) led us to ask about the status of the new boats that have long been in the pipeline. West Seattle’s County Councilmember, and Ferry District Board chair, Joe McDermott replied that the money for replacement boats is in this year’s budget: “80 percent of the funds are federal grant monies, and the required 20 percent match is from ferry district funds. Total cost for two boats is estimated to be $10 million to $13 million.” He says the Marine Division of the county Transportation Department is “taking the lead,” with a project-management firm hired and a request for proposals/qualifications under development, to go public by early next year, with “the new boats in service probably 2014.”
3:41 PM: The county subsequently has sent a news release on the same topic – see it here.
4:06 PM: Rachel Marie, by the way, has just been cleared to return to service, says the county, and will be back on the West Seattle run as of the 4:15 pm departure from downtown. Councilmember McDermott says, ” Some excellent work all day by the Marine Division. My appreciation to them and all of our riders for their understanding and cooperation.”
From Marybeth Turner at SDOT: City crews are about to start work to seal cracks on 13 stretches of roadway through the city, and two West Seattle streets are on the list: Alki Avenue between 59th and 63rd, and SW Barton between California and 35th. The work, Turner says, “will reduce the amount of water that seeps under the pavement during the year causing potholes and other roadway damage.” No exact dates – the crew will start in North Seattle next Tuesday and move south. No street closures are planned, but SDOT expects some lane closures and parking restrictions.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project is unmistakably into its end stage – and “it may look done to the public” – but it’s not done, and there’s still a lot going on, according to the project team.
We heard from them at noontime today during the final meeting of a community task force set up to address communications challenges after the February closure that caught many by surprise.
So there’s still no date for the opening of the new 1st Avenue South on-/offramp, but project manager Stuart Goldsmith told the task force he expects they’ll be able to establish one “in 10 days or so.” Once they know the date the ramp will be ready, they’ll plan a ribboncutting for that date and get it open to the public ASAP, promises SDOT.
So why is this opening so much later than originally estimated? We asked that question, and Goldsmith gave a detailed reply. Believe it or not, the project is under budget and the contractor is still within the amount of “working days” in the contract – the explanation, ahead:
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Nine months ago, they saddled up in the loft at Mission. Three months later, they put on a launch party that soared through the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ. And last night, the ringleaders of the arts-advocacy posse The West presided over its first fully public event, a West Seattle Art Walk afterparty:
Photojournalist Nick Adams was there for WSB, under the lights and amid the fog of the Heartland Café‘s legendary Benbow Room. Hobosexual was the headliner (top photo); 11 more scenes ahead:
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