West Seattle, Washington
22 Thursday
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
How often do you get to look at Seattle Fire Department engines/trucks close up, and talk to firefighters in non-emergency circumstances? Here’s your chance – get over to Fire Station 37 before 2 pm!
The station at 35th SW and SW Holden is open for a Fire Safety Fair – and that means you get to see what’s based there, Engine 37 (above) and Ladder 13 (below):
Displays and activities inside, too:
All ages welcome:
Station 37 is one of four in West Seattle but it’s the only one open for this special event today!
Though local advocates had suggested they planned to focus on bigger off-peninsula gatherings today, we just found demonstrations along California Avenue SW. The biggest is in The Junction, at multiple corners of Walk-All-Ways, with many of the sign-holders encouraging early voting, as advocates have been advising. (Added – They’re crossing with the lights; here’s a California/Alaska traffic-cam screenshot:)
We also saw a lone protester at California/Fauntleroy, and two three close to our HQ, holding signs by the “Do Not Enter” barricade at California/Thistle.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Alki Community Council meeting on Thursday night at Alki UCC featured a robust candidate forum with six hopefuls for public office, as well as a tsunami-focused emergency-preparedness briefing, and a heartfelt farewell to the council’s leader.
Thursday night was the last official meeting for ACC president Charlotte Starck, who was gifted with flowers and treats from fellow board members to mark the occasion; she said she’ll continue to support and advise the council as needed.
Starck thanked her fellow board members and past and current volunteers, and touted the organization’s accomplishments and its strength going forward. Elections for additional board members are planned next month.
(The European Hornbeams of 35th – WSB photo by Anne Higuera)
Here’s our list of what to know as the third weekend of October begins, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MOON ROOM SALE: The “sweet little gift shop in the universe” at 5902 California SW is having a sale this weekend – 15 percent off both in-store and online. Moon Room (a WSB sponsor) is open today 11 am-5 pm, 24/7 online.
BOOK-BUYING BENEFIT CONTINUES: Get books at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor) through Sunday, and part of the proceeds benefit Chief Sealth IHS girls’ soccer!
RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: 8:15 am, get your weekend off to a running start with an at-your-pace run. (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SALTY HALF & 10K: 8:30 am start from Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW), no day-of signups but we’re mentioning this in case you see the runners and wonder what’s up!
GET ‘HEAVILY MEDITATED’ FOR FREE: 8:45 am at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska), free meditation to start your weekend!
VACCINATION CLINIC: The series of flu/COVID vaccination linics at local schools that we previewed here continues today at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW), 9 am-4 pm.
GUIDED HIKE IN WEST DUWAMISH GREENBELT: 9:30 am, meet at Riverview Playfield (7226 12th SW) for this month’s hike.
FALL ‘DUWAMISH ALIVE!’: 10 am-2 pm, volunteer to help Seattle’s only river and its watershed – check the website to see if any sites still need help. All welcome, volunteering or not, at 10 am welcoming ceremony at White Center Heights Park (10208 7th SW). Afterparty at the Current Festival, starting at 1 pm at Duwamish Waterway Park.
RIFLE RANGE OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-2 pm, you can visit the Roger Dahl Rifle Range (4470 35th SW), operated by the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club, and learn about its programs.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: Larger location this season, which ends October 31! 10 am-2 pm, shop for fruit and vegetables, prepared food and beverages, artisan body care, makers’ creations, more. (9th SW and SW Henderson)
DACHSHUND WALK ON ALKI: 10 am Saturdays, dachshunds and their people meet up at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki) for a group walk.
VISIT THE LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: 10 am-4 pm, at the Log House Museum (3003 61st SW), learn about West Seattle and vicinity hisstory!
MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
FREE WRITING GROUP: The 10:30 am, free, in-person, active writing group is back – our calendar listing explains how it works and how to participate.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor)
(added) FIRE SAFETY FAIR: Noon-2 pm at Fire Station 37 (35th SW and SW Holden), stop by for a fun and educational open house.
NO KINGS DAY PROTEST: Most local advocates are joining up with the bigger off-peninsula gathering, but there’s a protest noon-1 pm on the South Park Bridge, all invited.
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Chief Sealth IHS hosts Bishop Blanchet, noon at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
FRESH HOP FEST & FALL BEER SHOWCASE: Noon-9 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW).
POSTCARDING TO ENCOURAGE VOTING: 12:30-2:30 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), show up and be ready to write!
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open, with wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm, wine bar and tasting room open on north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
SECRETS OF MAGIC: 2 pm workshop at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW).
‘MOBY DICK’ ON VASHON – 2 SHOWS: 2 pm and 7:30 pm performances by Vashon Repertory Theatre at Vashon Center for the Arts (19600 Vashon Highway SW).
OLD TYME ADULTS FOR DEMOCRACY: They’re gathering for a protest too, 2:30-3 pm at Admiral/California.
WALK-IN MASSAGE CLINIC: Free “short, specific” massage sessions at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW), 3-5 pm, first come, first served.
VIVAARTS GRAND OPENING: The studio has moved to 4736 California SW, where it’s celebrating its grand opening starting with a 4:45 pm ribboncutting and then a night of demos and dancing.
TWO BANDS AT MR. B’S: Will Rainier and The Pines, 7 pm at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW), all ages, no cover.
LIVE AT EASY STREET – SOLD OUT: SYML performs live in-store at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW) tonight at 7 pm, but the show’s sold out – maxed out by record-buyers.
LIVE AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, Naby Camara Band & Talne Trio – tickets here. (7904 35th SW)
REVELRY ROOM SPINNING: 9 pm with DJ Wizdumb. (4547 California SW)
SATURDAY NIGHT SKATING: 9 pm to midnight, skate at Southgate Roller Rink (9676 17th SW), with rotating DJs spinning old-school funk and hip-hop, $18 (plus $5 skate rental).
KARAOKE IN THE SOUTH: 9 pm, sing Megastar Karaoke with KDJ Mythikal at Max’s Triangle Pub. (9454 Delridge Way SW)
KARAOKE IN THE NORTH: Saturday night karaoke begins at 10 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Planning a West Seattle event/class/show/etc. that’s open to the community? Tell us about it; it’s free to list something in our Event Calendar, always! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to JayDee (above) and Ryan (below) for photos from the pink sunset that ended our unseasonably warm Friday.
How unseasonable was it? According to the National Weather Service’s Daily Climate Summary, the 77-degree high was 17 degrees above the normal 60-degree high for this date. The morning low, though – 46 – had actually been one degree below normal. And for one more datapoint, that 77-degree high wasn’t anywhere close to a record – the NWS reminds us it was 88 degrees on October 16, 2022.
As featured in our Friday highlight list, West Seattle band Sulk took the stage at Easy Street tonight for a show celebrating the release of their album “In the Shadows.” West Seattle journalist/writer/historian Clay Eals was there and recorded the first three songs by the trio, whose members are Carlynn Nelson, Peder Nelson, and Jasper McCann.
Another one of those “looks bad on the SFD Real-Time 911 page but was downsized almost immediately” calls this past hour at an apartment near Admiral Safeway. Initial dispatch was “fire in building,” quickly downsized to “automatic fire alarm” – SFD says a dryer fire set off the sprinklers. Only one unit is still at the scene.
Ballots are arriving and general-election voting has begun. Today King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Elections Director Julie Wise joined other officials in celebrating the county’s 100th ballot drop box. It’s in Shoreline, but the milestone is a reason to remind you how to find your nearest drop box. Our area has boxes in The Junction, Morgan Junction, High Point, and Puget Ridge, plus White Center and South Park. They’re all mapped here, and they’re all now open 24 hours a day. You’re urged to vote as soon as you can, even though the deadline isn’t until November 3.
SIDE NOTE: And if you want the experience of voting with others, West Seattle Indivisible is organizing a “Bop to the Box” procession from St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW) to the Junction box, 2 pm Sunday, October 25.
Thanks to Lura Ercolano for the view of the Duwamish River and Mount Rainier from the bridge this morning. Tomorrow (Saturday, October 17) is the day the river and its watershed get lots of TLC from volunteer restoration and cleanup events, in West Seattle and beyond, during the fall edition of Duwamish Alive! If you’re not already signed up for one, check the list on the Duwamish Alive! home page, to see where they’re still looking for help. Even if you’re not volunteering, you’re invited to the 10 am welcoming ceremony at White Center Heights Park (10208 7th SW) and the afterparty at the Current Festival at Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park (7901 10th Ave. S.), starting at 1 pm.
As noted in our morning traffic roundup, last night/this morning was scheduled to be Seattle City Light crews’ final session of restoring ~80 West Seattle Bridge streetlights that had gone dark due to wire theft. SCL spokesperson Kate Jacobs promised us a “definitive” update today, and then provided this simple one: “The work is complete, and all lights have been restored.” We’ll take a look after sunset to see.
SDOT‘s been busy south of Admiral. Another texted reader report and photo:
New this morning. First time ever crosswalks at 47th and Charlestown (aka the OTHER West Seattle freeway!)
Note this is the ONLY stop sign on Charlestown west of California.
Sunday brings the annual Fauntleroy Fall Festival, and as we’ve been reporting, there are some major changes this year, so we’re publishing the map and schedule early to help you plan. One change: It’s earlier this year, 1-4 pm. Here’s what you’ll find and when:
And festival activities are happening almost entirely on the east side of the 9100 block of California SW – the church/Y side – rather than both sides:
But the most important things haven’t changed – free fun for the community, by the community. See you there this Sunday (October 18)!
(Sunbow over Alki – Thursday photo by Bob Burns)
Here are highlights for your Friday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BOOK-BUYING BENEFIT CONTINUES: Get books at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW; WSB sponsor) through Sunday, and part of the proceeds benefits Chief Sealth IHS girls’ soccer!
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: 10 am to 6 pm today, visit Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) to see the work on display this month!
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Fall gardening? The center has plants! Open until 3 pm on the north end of the main campus of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).
VISIT THE LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Open noon-4 pm on Fridays – the home of West Seattle’s history. (3003 61st SW)
ENGLISH CONVERSATION CIRCLE: Practice with other adult learners at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 12:30-2 pm.
TASTING ROOM AND WINE BAR: Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 5-9 pm Fridays. Stop in to sip, and/or buy a bottle.
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 6-8 pm, singer-songwriter J.R. Rhodes at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), no cover, all ages.
FREE SWING DANCING: All welcome to this free “social dance” at Puget Ridge Cohousing (7020 18th SW), 6-8 pm.
LIVE AT KENYON HALL: Monthly singer-songwriter open mic with signups at 6, performances at 6:30 pm (7904 35th SW).
AUTHOR EVENT HOSTED BY PEGASUS BOOK EXCHANGE: Pegasus says this is only their second event ever:
Help us in welcoming esteemed film critic/journalist, AS Hamrah, for our 2nd event in store history! Friday, October 16th, from 7-9 at neighboring Jet City Labs, we will host a Q&A by Pegasoid Brett Botting, with MC Eric O giving the intros. Hamrah’s newest book, Algorithm of the Night, will be available for sale as well as his other works. After the event, we go back to Pegasus Book Exchange for a meet/greet while a documentary (“We’re Here to Stay,” about Hands Off Washington and the politics of hate) created by our lovely friend Liz Latham, will be playing in back. Y’all can shop the store after hours while chilling with Pegasoids, film critics, and auteurs…woweee, lucky you! The event is free, beverages will be available for purchase at JCL, afterparty dranks und snacks provided by PBE.
(4547 California SW)
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Sulk‘s album-release show, 7 pm in-store, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
SPINNING: Revelry Room (4547 California SW) regular Friday night spinning – with DJ Twilight tonight, starting at 9 pm.
‘MOBY DICK’ ON VASHON ISLAND: It’s a whale of a tale, and Vashon Center for the Arts (19600 Vashon Highway SW) is where you’ll find it this weekend, opening tonight, 7:30 pm. More info in our calendar listing.
JAZZ AT THE RINK: Tonight, “Sidney Hauser & Nik Singleton: Other Kinds – Earshot Jazz Festival – tickets: $38.50 adults (includes fees),” 9:30 pm at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). 21+. $20 cover/$5 skates.
MEGASTAR KARAOKE: 9 pm at Max’s Triangle Pub (9454 Delridge Way SW).
If you have something for our event lists and ongoing calendar, please email what/when/where/etc. info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
We received that photo by text on Thursday, with the sender noting that theboat was sailing close to the Beach Drive SW shore, with someone on board photographing each house along the way. We speculated it might be on behalf of the King County Assessor’s Office, since their work valuing homes includes photos taken from the street. We contacted the Assessor’s Office to see if that might be it, and got a reply last night from Chief Deputy Assessor Al Dams, verifying, “You are correct — we use the Sheriff’s boat for waterfront property assessments.” Photos are part of field inspection of properties; here’s an FAQ about those inspections.
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, October 16, 2026.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Partly sunny and warm, high around 70, but then rain is possible late tonight. Sunrise will be at 7:30 am today, with sunset at 6:19 pm.
BRIDGE LIGHT REPAIRS
After two weeks of work, Seattle City Light tells WSB that West Seattle Bridge streetlight repairs should be complete by this morning; they promise more info later today.
TRANSIT TODAY
Washington State Ferries – The Triangle Route is now on the two-boat schedule with an unscheduled third boat, until at least early November. Check the alert page for last-minute changes.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule – any reroute/stop advisories will be here.
West Seattle Water Taxi – Now on the regular fall schedule.
BRIDGE TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Here are four bridge views from the SDOT map:
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
Thanks for the tip. More than four years after 22-year-old Javyantre C. Sin was charged with two sexual attacks – one against a 26-year-old woman in North Delridge and one against a 16-year-old girl at Southcenter Mall – he is about to be sentenced. Sin pleaded guilty in September to reduced charges, second-degree rape by forcible compulsion and indecent liberties. The charges originally filed against him in August 2022 included first-degree rape and robbery. At that time, we reported not only on the charges but on the two attacks and the revelation they were committed after Sin escaped from a low-security juvenile facility in Ephrata, in which he had been placed despite an extensive history of convictions including multiple robbery, burglary, and theft cases – an escape that was not followed by any serious attempt to find him. Since his arrest for these attacks,he’s been in jail for more than four years in lieu of $750,000 bail; the court file is massive and it’s not clear why the case has taken this long to resolve. He is scheduled to be sentenced at 3 pm Friday by King County Superior Court Judge Kent Liu. Court documents say prosecutors will recommend just under 18 years in prison, which is the low end of the standard sentencing range (210 to 280 months).
Colorful … and creepy. Tonight’s Halloween-decoration photos were sent by Margaret Way, who describes it as a “crazy, scary setup,” located “on 9th Ave SW, just north of Trenton.”
We’re showing pics nightly through Halloween – if you don’t have pics, we’ll take tips too and go photograph it ourselves! westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
The report and photos were sent by Lucas:
Today at around 9am SDOT installed these 4 concrete barriers with new signage on 45th Ave SW in front of Madison Middle School. Two are located at 45th and Hinds, and two more at 45th and Spokane. One of the barriers at Spokane is offset slightly to leave room for fire hydrant access. These are part of the ongoing conversion of the school street from temporary to permanent status.
It’s been almost two years since the “School Street” changes were launched. The concept is explained here; other local schools with them include Genesee Hill Elementary and Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School.
P.S. The Madison conversion was previously mentioned back in July, when we published an SDOT list of upcoming Safe Routes to School projects.
5:38 PM: Thanks for the tip. Southbound 35th SW is blocked at/near SW Webster by a two-vehicle collision and the emergency response. The vehicles involved are described as a Mazda CX-5 and a Toyota RAV-4; no word yet on injuries.
5:48 PM: Officers just told dispatch that SB 35th has reopened. Both SFD units have cleared the scene, with no medic unit assigned, suggesting no life-threatening injuries.
Salmon season is here! Two notes from two salmon-bearing West Seattle creeks:
LONGFELLOW CREEK: Thanks to John McIntyre for the video and photo of salmon seen in the creek by the foot bridge at SW Yancy, next to West Seattle Health Club. He sent a photo, too:
FAUNTLEROY CREEK: As volunteer watchers gear up for prime time, the date’s been announced for the community gathering to sing and drum, welcoming the coho home. It’s set for 4 pm Sunday, October 25 – go to the corner of SW Director and upper Fauntleroy Way, by the fish ladder, and you’ll be directed to the gathering.
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The Fauntleroy Community Association board gathered for their October meeting on Tuesday night at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, chaired by FCA president Frank Immel. Here are the key topics discussed:
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: The area’s biggest family party of the season is coming up this weekend, Sunday, October 18 from 1-4 pm at 9140 California SW. Find more information at the festival website. As we previewed earlier this month, organizers say there are some logistical changes this year:
The Fauntleroy Fall Festival will be on October 18th this year, with a little bit of a different twist. This year the festival’s primary space will be at the Fauntleroy Church and YMCA. The Fauntleroy Children’s Center will be open for a quiet space for festival goers to move away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd, and will also serve as a diaper-changing room.
All 3 levels of the parking lot will be open and all the fun attractions you have come to love will be on one side of the street. Pumpkin-painting, birdhouse-building, live music, and so much more!
This decision was made for several reasons. One of them was safety- With less going on across the street, we hope there will be less bodies crossing, but our crossing guards will still be there! There is a private event going on at The Hall at Fauntleroy in the afternoon, so the back parking lot will not be available for parking. We highly encourage attendees of the festival to walk or use public transit.
We are looking forward to another wonderful Festival. See you on October 18th!
And some changes to the popular pumpkin hunt as well:
There’s quite a change-up for the Great Pumpkin Search this year. The search will be run from the FCA table at the Fall Festival, and it will begin at the same time as the festival opens, at 1:00. There will be new hiding places, which will be described when Searchers sign in. As in past pumpkin searches, in addition to pumpkins, there will be prizes hidden, the most special one being a beautiful glass pumpkin from Avalon Glassworks.
NEW SAFETY FEATURES AT FAUNTLEROY / WILDWOOD: Board members reviewed and discussed the city’s informational handout (online version here) describing the ongoing construction work happening at Fauntleroy/Wildwood, also tracked and summarized on SDOT’s website, to prepare for the installation of bike lanes and related safety features and parking/loading modifications (recent WSB coverage here and here, and posted on FCA’s website).
As we reported previously, Mayor Katie Wilson signed an executive order earlier this fall that – along with other things – mandated the construction of a protected bicycle lane by the end of 2026 on SW Wildwood Place, which is the street where bicyclist Maridee Bonadea was killed in June near the Fauntleroy ferry dock.
Members of the public are encouraged to send feedback about the project to SDOT at FauntleroyPBL@seattle.gov or via phone at (206) 900-8734. FCA board members said they also planned to share the project handout with impacted local businesses in the area, for awareness.
EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI READINESS: As we mentioned earlier this week, the Great Washington Shakeout drill is coming up today at 10:15am, and preparedness for earthquakes and tsunamis has been a hot topic as of late, with a presentation at the Delridge Library earlier this month and a planned tsunami-prep briefing at tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting at 7pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).
The Fauntleroy Community Association will be doing their part as well, hosting a presentation on October 27th from 6-8 pm at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse called “The Talked About Earthquake and Tsunami – How It Will Affect Our Area and How to Prepare.” For details, check out this PDF info sheet. The featured presenter will be Mac Macdonald, a longtime West Seattleite and emergency response strategist and trainer who specializes in “What If” scenarios and was a guest at last month’s FCA meeting as well. Members of the public and from all neighboring community groups are welcome and encouraged to attend.
BOARD MEMBER RECRUITMENT: As noted at the September FCA meeting, the group is looking for new board members (especially secretary and treasurer). On Tuesday night, two neighbors were in attendance who had expressed interest in potentially joining the board, and they were in attendance to observe and learn. Anyone interested in serving on the board should contact FCA via their website.
OTHER BUSINESS:
WHAT’S NEXT: The FCA board meets on second Tuesdays, 6 pm, at historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, with the next meeting scheduled for November 10. As mentioned above, the groups plans to have guests present to provide updates on various construction/improvement projects impacting the area.
The nonprofit West Seattle Tool Library has connected people with tools and usage/repair know-how for many years. One of its leaders, though, has just lost his own toolbox to theft – the report and photos are from Sean:
On Monday night/Tuesday morning (Oct. 12/13th) I had my personal 3foot Knaack tool box stolen from the Youngstown Cultural Arts center parking lot.
It contained multiple tools borrowed from the West Seattle Tool Library, some of my personal tools, and spare parts and bolts purchased with my own money that I have been using to rebuild my blue Kei truck that was in the parking lot … I would just like to have the tool box returned.
If you have any info you can contact Sean through the WS Tool Library, where he is operations director.
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
An Alaska Junction storefront where yoga has been practiced for 20+ years will soon be a studio again. The owners of Belltown’s Take Care Yoga say they’re expanding to West Seattle at 4747 California Ave SW early next year.
“It is just such an incredible location,” says Take Care Yoga’s co-owner Anna Douglas. “We are excited to be part of The Junction.” Douglas says she and her husband have been looking for a new studio location for close to 2 years. West Seattle came up frequently as an option, within both their studio community and a number of their teachers who live on the peninsula, but they hadn’t been able to find the right location until this summer.
That’s when Junction Hot Yoga closed its studio after 5 years, citing an uncertain future in the building. As we reported in June, the property is part of a stalled redevelopment project; Junction Hot Yoga’s lease was up at the end of June.
Douglas says they’ve signed a lease for 6 years with eyes wide open. “We’re aware of the project that is on the horizon. We’ve spent a lot of time talking to the people, with the understanding that the project might happen after that.”
Making the studio ready will take several months, with plans in the works to replace flooring and many fixtures, along with installing some supplemental heating. “The space has been really loved,” she says, with the inside knowledge of her friends’ parents, who had the space in the early 2010s when it was Bikram Yoga.
Douglas and her husband Joel Schneider opened Take Care in Belltown right at the start of the pandemic. “It was brutal,” she says. “We opened, we closed, we opened, we closed.“ But after the initial hurdles, “the community helped us keep it alive and bring it to life.” Douglas says she had been teaching yoga and managing studios for 14 years before venturing out with her own business. “When I started the studio, my husband wanted to create one that is beginner-friendly. We wanted it to be a really welcoming community hub experience.” Take Care has grown over recent years to include 26 teachers and a variety of different yoga practices. Douglas and Schneider are planning a similar program in West Seattle.
“We really try to be a third space for people,” she says. Take Care Yoga West Seattle will be open 7 days a week and offer a variety of classes: “From Vinyasa to Hatha to Yin. We’re also looking at putting some strength and mat Pilates on schedule.” As with their Belltown location, Douglas says there will be options for drop-in, class packages and memberships.
With plans to start construction next week, Douglas is expecting to reopen the space for yoga practice in mid- to late-January. “We walked into the space and it just felt really welcoming,” and with improvements over the coming months, Douglas is looking forward to welcoming the community back inside.
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