West Seattle, Washington
10 Tuesday
So we’re lunching at Easy Street a little while ago, enjoying today’s soundtrack (a Chic LP from disco’s heyday!), and … noticing bubbles floating by the street-level window now and then. Music-induced flashback to roller disco, maybe? Nope. Went outside and found those folks on the roof over West Seattle Optix — they explained simply, “It’s a great day for bubbles!”
We asked SDOT what they were, we asked SCL, got nowhere, but finally the answer comes from one of our fellow community-news websites, MyBallard. Those mystery poles with two solar panels and a sensor belong to the Traffic.com network (this photo is from 99; there’s also one near Walking on Logs). We should have known this because our last “old media” employer, KCPQ, was a Traffic.com affiliate, and we knew they were expanding their detection network (which figures into travel-time calculation among other things) onto some of the roads not previously covered, like the Viaduct and the WS Bridge. (Traffic.com’s “latest incidents” updates, by the way, are permalinked from the WSB Traffic page, which also has West Seattle-relevant traffic cams.)
Been meaning for a few days to photograph the “Developer’s Dream” real-estate sign on that house (1774 Alki; can’t find a listing or price online). Didn’t notice the smaller sign till we downloaded the pic.
Seems like it’s important to say first, we’re not sharing these types of reader reports in the spirit of having everyone freak out about the motives of every stranger they encounter. But from the comments and discussions, there seems to be power in people sharing this kind of information in this way — even if it’s just to gain knowledge and reassurance. Maybe someone out there knows what these incidents were really about and can enlighten everyone. So, toward that end, two more unusual sightings — this time involving people taking pictures — read on:Read More
Some young guy, white, brown hair, Comcast polo shirt, badge around his neck, claiming to be from Comcast doing a customer survey. We’ll check with their PR department tomorrow if they were legit, but seriously, do they send people around door-to-door at 7 pm asking for opinions on their service? We told him through the window, just send around a link to an online survey and we’d be happy to fill it out.
A little cruel that the sun finally showed up in the evening of “Opening Day” — but boaters braved the drizzly day anyway – we spotted these sailboats (and several others) coming out of the bay @ Don Armeni around mid-afternoon, while the schpritz (as we call it) dripped on down. Also seen around West Seattle:
West Seattle was the center of the plant-sale universe today, with several sales under way – that picture and the one below are from the Furry Faces Foundation animal-rescue fundraiser in the courtyard next to Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) – $20 gets you a hanging basket, you pick the plants and they’re assembled for you on-site. This sale continues tomorrow, 10 am-4 pm.
If you’re not intimately familiar with Junction geography, the sale site is at California/Genesee, just a few blocks northeast of 44th/Alaska, where you’ll find two big events tomorrow: West Seattle Farmers’ Market (10 am-2 pm) and the first-ever Sustainable West Seattle Festival (10 am-3 pm, full program here) — we’ll be at the latter with West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (next Saturday!) info and blogging tips for anyone who’s been thinking about starting one.
Got this photo from Admiral Theater employee Brandon, who says Sam asked for the prom-proposal space and they said, sure. We just drove by and it’s still up, but Brandon tells WSB it’s coming down around 9 pm. No word yet whether the would-be prom date has seen it and/or accepted! 9:39 PM UPDATE: Brandon just sent word that Stephanie said yes – and that he got a video interview with the happy couple a little while ago; he promises to send us the link when it’s uploaded.
Polar bear loose in The Junction! Well, not so loose, really – Sustainable West Seattle unleashed the bear as a reminder of its first-ever Sustainable West Seattle Festival next Sunday, 10 am-3 pm in the Wells Fargo parking lot @ 44th/Alaska (here’s the WSB in-depth preview from earlier this week). Other less-furry members of SWS were working the crowd at the nearby West Seattle Farmers’ Market, including Gary Lichtenstein, who’s the person you can e-mail (energy@sustainablewestseattle.org) to find out how to help at next weekend’s festival (they’re still looking for more volunteer assistance). Two more West Seattle weekend scenes ahead — sports and scenery:Read More
Just in from Pam of Nerd’s Eye View:
We were walking back from the Farmers Market today and saw a swarm of bees in the hedge along California in front of the church at Cali and Othello, right here in Gatewood. I figured if anyone knew of a West Seattle beekeeper, this would be the place to find them – the keeper, not the bees.
The bees are placid enough. I don’t know much about bees, but they showed no interest in us and look to be of the fuzzy honey making variety, not the waspy kind that built a nest in our friends’ house.
Beekeepers, go get ’em. Those allergic might want to walk on the East side of Cali at Othello in Gatewood.
Bzzzz.
Anybody have expertise in this? Leave ’em … bee? (P.S. If the woodpecker reference in the headline seems out of context, look here.)
Tons going on today; much of it is in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup list, but not everything:
No idea what those City Light crews were up to along Fauntleroy just west of 35th, but we couldn’t resist a picture. Next, something else we happened onto – a line outside the Westwood Village post office, where a passport fair is under way:
Last but not least, a quick pic from the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club Hi-Yu Fishing Derby at Seacrest this morning, as a participant gets help bagging the fish he caught:
(We have video too, which we’ll include in a later roundup, but more Saturday events to cover first!) EARLY SUNDAY UPDATE: Here’s the clip, as promised:
West Seattle photographer Eric Bell sent that shot with the following musings, including one similar to our headline:
After seeing this, I know without a shadow of doubt that Christmas is over, but then again … was Mama caught kissing Santa Claus and a jealous party caught ’em in the act? Or is this a futile attempt by persons unknown to hold back the chilly-weather gods? Maybe “Proudly Made in Oklahoma” was stamped on his butt. Whatever the reason for Santa’s demise, does he deserve to be dumped head first in an ill-fitting trash can? By the time I found him he was cold and there was no pulse.
We love sharing your pictures … send ’em to editor@wsb.blackfin.biz …
That photo taken a short time ago shows the work that’s under way right now to dismantle this wall put up earlier this year along Harbor Ave (without proper permits, according to the city) east of Salty’s – here’s the photo we took last month:
As we wrote at the time, the city had posted “stop-work” orders earlier in March; the project is NOT related to Salty’s at all — it’s an industrial site with a different owner. We have messages out to city inspectors to try to find out more about the site’s status.
Thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing that photo of a bald eagle he and his wife saw in the “tall tree” near 61st/Alki on Friday afternoon, not far from the Statue of Liberty (now wouldn’t THAT be a photo op someday, if an eagle ever alighted ON the statue …).
Ah, it’s sunset-photo season again! This is from Cove Park next to the Fauntleroy ferry terminal just as the Issaquah was about to head westward at sunset tonight. Now, from the middle of the bright height of the early-afternoon sun:
That’s some of the fun from Healthy Kids Day at the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) today (second photo courtesy Josh Sutton from the Y). The activities were today only, but the Y has waived joining fees for the whole weekend, so that part continues tomorrow. So does the event that brought out this line on Harbor Ave just north of The Bridge this morning:
For the second straight adoptathon, Kitty Harbor (next to ActivSpace) had a line of would-be cat adopters waiting to get in as soon as the doors opened. The adoptathon continues tomorrow, 11 am-7 pm. Last but not least, a bonus photo that’s actually from last night’s lovely sunset:
WSB contributing photojournalist Matt Durham shot that from Don Armeni. (Prints of Matt’s WSB photos and his other work are available through his site, MattDurhamPhotography.com.)
RAMP BACKUP: Heading westbound on The Bridge past the Harbor/Avalon exit around 6 pm, we noticed traffic was backed up all the way to the bridge deck itself, and it looked like gridlock along Harbor, even worse than summertime. Guessing the road narrowing at the pump-station project along Alki is a major factor.
FIRE PITS? Received e-mail from someone noting the fire pits are absent at Alki. We can’t find any indication online that they would be permanently gone, and can’t quite recall if there’s usually a seasonal removal. Any enlightenment?
REMINDER FOR PET OWNERS: Dani sends an important reminder, which she titled “Hot Cars = Hot Dogs,” after a close call in the Alki area. Read on:Read More
This came up in the WSB Forums today – and WSB contributing photojournalist Matt Durham got the photo. He writes: “A tour bus, packed to capacity with members of the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI, which is conducting a symposium this weekend in downtown Seattle), visited Little Prague European Bakery at 6045 California Ave SW Friday morning to sample delectable Czech pastries. A Czech pastry’s dough is light and flaky sometimes filled with a fruit preserve or cream. What sets the pastries apart from others is the moderate amount of sugar used, resulting in other flavors reaching the taste buds. Little Prague European Bakery will set up their booth for the West Seattle Farmers Market the last Sunday in April to kick off the Summer Market season.” Prints of Matt’s WSB photos and his other work are available through his site, MattDurhamPhotography.com.
We just spotted this in The Junction while distributing Garage Sale Day posters (sign up now!). Destination unknown. Seems oddly synergistic with two of our previous 3 posts.
Thanks to Chas Redmond for that photo of a cake donated by Bakery Nouveau (procured by Grace Bennett) for the Camp Long dessert auction Saturday night and auctioned off for the top price of the night, $520. More photos Chas sent from that event, plus other West Seattle weekend pix, straight ahead:Read More
Seen this morning along California SW:
That sign’s for the building going up at the ex-burned-out-Schuck’s site (WSB video coverage of the December demolition here) – now christened Charlestown Shopping and Business Center. A short distance south, the California/Andover gas station is now an ex-Exxon:
And in The Junction, that new banner is hanging outside the laundromat next to Yummy Teriyaki. (Which island? Vashon? Blake?)
From Shannon Felix at Avalon GlassWorks, blown-glass razor clams that she says are the “sleeper hit” of the Shell Show her shop’s having through April. A portion of the $30 price goes to the Seattle chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. Next, the ongoing art of nature itself, shot at Alki by Jessica Seeley (who was there doing legwork for an Alki tour you’ll see on her Seattle Neighborhood Watch blog later this week):
Also from the shore, one more shot of the Corinthian Yacht Club race featured here yesterday – this pic came in tonight from Tracy W, with a Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry appearing to mix it up with the sailboats (CYC has now posted race results, BTW):
And finally, we go indoors, for a triumphant shot from Saturday night’s “Blarney Bowl” fundraiser at West Seattle Bowl, put on by Beer Church to raise money for Whisker City (and raise $ they did – more than $6,000, as you can see on their site). The night included the first-ever “Bar Brawl” with local establishments fielding teams for friendly competition; this Beer Church photo shows Beveridge Place Pub proprietor Gary Sink at left congratulating “brawl” winner Dave Montoure of West 5, who’s getting a hug from a member of the BPP staff:
One last photo-related note — this time, about a photo featured here earlier this week: The most-recent WSB picture of the Lincoln Park house with the war-toll sign led to a followup posted tonight on the P-I site, including quotes from the original comments posted here.
Remember this future-townhouses site at 5232 California, across from West Seattle Nursery?
Exactly one month after we reported on its demolition permit, WSB contributing photojournalist Matt Durham was there today to document firefighters putting it to good use:
More info from Matt: “SFD Recruits drilled in rooftop ventilation techniques; they also practiced ‘search and rescue’ scenarios inside a smoke-filled, two-story house. Firefighters charged the home with nontoxic smoke to simulate the rigors of operating in low visibility. Good luck to SFD recruits during your rigorous and stressful year. Their first year is inundated with hands-on training and classes and high expectations.” (Matt knows; in addition to being a photojournalist, he’s also a professional firefighter. Prints of his WSB photos and his other work are available through his site, MattDurhamPhotography.com.)
Talk about work that requires you to go to great heights! WSB contributing photojournalist Matt Durham describes this scene: “A window washer at Merrill Gardens transitions to his ropes six and one half stories above 35th Avenue SW.” (Prints of Matt’s WSB photos and his other work are available through his site, MattDurhamPhotography.com.)
Above, from WSB contributing photojournalist Matt Durham: Elijah Hajduk (age 5) and his dad Jonathan are towed by their dog Momo on a custom longboard at Alki. Below: Mac caught the fireboat Chief Seattle doing maneuvers off Salty’s:
And here’s a pic sent by “X,” who happened onto it while out geocaching on Alki with his wife:
“X” elaborates further: “On our walk back home along Alki, we heard a motorcycle rev up and then make a crazy sound. A poor lad had the misfortune of loosing control of his prized possession. We watched the bike slam under a truck. The driver flopped, bounced and slid. When we ran over to check on him, we were relieved to find him without any serious injuries, however, his motorcycle didn’t look so good.”
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