FOR THE LOVE OF CHEESE: The annual festival at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) is under way through the 28th, bringing artisan cheesemakers to their stories including Mt. Townsend Creamery owner Matt Day at the Admiral MM this Sunday, noon-5 pm.

BREAKFAST AT BRICKYARD: Brickyard BBQ proprietor Dan Kriley says they’re now serving breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 9 am: “We are featuring a full breakfast menu and more than you can eat for $8.50. It’s Football season and we have all the games. College and NFL all weekend long.”

HEAVENLY COFFEE, CAKES, BREADS: In a recent e-mail update, Heavenly Pastry and Cake co-proprietor Michael Stein noted that Heavenly has “added Stumptown Coffee/Espresso to the mix, and a latte with one of our Cinnamon Roses is, indeed, a thing of Joy! Also a big ol’ bunch of beautiful cakes are now part of the Heavenly range, as well as some killer breads.”

SKYLARK HOURS CHANGE MONDAY: One more reminder that Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) starts its new 7-day-a-week schedule on Monday, opening at 3 pm on weekdays (no lunch, but food is available starting at 3). They’re still serving brunch 9 am-3 pm on weekends, too.

NEED TO CONSULT A MENU? In the WSB Forums, member “Mannamc” came up with a great idea – scanning local to-go menus and posting them in blog format online. Here’s what’s up so far.

AND IN WHITE CENTER … Proletariat Pizza celebrates its one-year anniversary this weekend, coinciding with the monthly White Center Art Walk. The full list of participants is here.

It’s currently atop the list of questions we’re frequently asked: When’s the new Wing Dome in The Junction opening? No date yet, but it’s far enough along – one year after first word it was in the works – that we managed to swing a peek inside – courtesy of manager Andy Pattalochi and Wing Dome marketing director Nicole Aly:

The video clip atop this story walks you around inside for a little over a minute. As you can see, it has the same “garage” theme as other Wing Domes, though Nicole and Andy – a West Seattleite who managed the Kirkland Wing Dome for three years – tell us this is the first one Consolidated Restaurants has built and opened since buying the Seattle-based mini-chain, so it’s their “ideal Wing Dome.” And the first one with a fire-pit-equipped patio out back, to which a sign by the rear door directs you:

The concrete for the patio was just poured the other day, in time to beat the rain. (You will be able to enter the restaurant from the alley.)

Besides the patio, a few more features: Both restrooms (which are in a hallway that’ll be shared with Tuscan Tea Room next door) will have changing tables; each of the big screen TVs (you see them in our walkabout video) has its own cable box for individual control of what’s shown (as long as it’s sports!); six beers will be on tap, including Manny’s from not-too-far Georgetown:

There’ll be counter seating as well as standalone tables and the half-booths against the north wall. And for next summer – the front windows will fully open:

You can keep an eye on their West Seattle-specific promotional website thefireisspreading.com – after the slogan that’s been on those windows since West Seattle Summer Fest. (The team’s a little bummed they won’t be open in time for this Sunday’s West Seattle Junction Car Show, since the automotive theme would synergize nicely.) And speaking of fire – yes, of course they’ll have the 7-Alarm Challenge (eat 7 of their “7-Alarm” wings in 7 minutes, and you make the Wall of Flame).

ORIGINAL 10:22 AM REPORT: As expected, there’s a line outside Spud Fish and Chips on Alki – about to celebrate its 75th anniversary with a day of prizes, specials, and live music (details in our Tuesday preview).

ADDED 12:01 PM: Can’t have a Spud celebration without … as seen in the West Seattle Grand Parade, among other public appearances … the actual Spud! Also sighted: Steve Johnson from the city, reading a proclamation declaring this “Alki Spud Fish and Chips Day“:

The “I Love Spud” essay contest is kicking off too – watch the Spud Facebook page for how to enter your essay.

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Tomorrow morning, the longtime manager of Spud Fish and Chips on Alki will be at work before dawn.

They’re expecting quite the lunch rush – almost certainly a line, despite the fact it’ll be a Wednesday in autumn. The occasion? Spud turns 75 years old (and is sponsoring WSB to promote the occasion) – and throwing a party.

Manager Carol Kelly – at right with daughters Ashley and Tory, who were on duty with her there when we chatted Monday afternoon – has worked at Spud on Alki for about half the restaurant’s three-quarters-of-a-century lifespan … almost 38 years.

Just kind of happened that way, she explains – she graduated from West Seattle High School, and other members of her family were already working at Spud. “I really like working with the public … and it’s such a well-established place. … I enjoy it down here.”

Quite the view, of course, since from behind the counter – inbetween rushes – you can look right out at Alki Beach and Elliott Bay.

Tomorrow, the view will feature a lot of people, pomp and circumstance, and prizes.

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We detect a theme here … though the following is half planned coverage, half “hey, look what we happened onto”: The former, is the pig roasting outside Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) in Fauntleroy. Since the Calle Ocho Parking Lot Pig Roast starts serving at 5:30 tonight, we figured the pig had to be on the spit hours ahead of time. Little did we know how MANY hours – turns out they started roasting it at midnight! (That’s Mary, tending it when we stopped by.) It’s a 65-pound pig and getting a share of it will cost you $15 (adults), $7.50 kids (side dishes included), 5:30-8:30 – tables are being set up in the lot:

Now, the unscheduled sighting:

Passing by Roxbury Safeway after visiting the Endolyne Joe’s parking lot, we spotted one of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles right out front. Specific schedules aren’t listed on the Oscar Mayer website or the Wienermobile “blog,” but there’s a NW-placed icon on the “where are (the Wienermobiles) today?” map.

The Jewish High Holy Days are early this year – starting with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, tonight – and local synagogue Kol HaNeshamah is observing for the first time with its new leader, Rabbi Zari Weiss. She spoke with WSB while preparing her sermon for tonight’s service, which along with other High Holy Days celebrations will be held outside West Seattle because there’s just not enough room in their regular home – they’re co-housed with Alki UCC Church.

Rabbi Weiss joined Kol HaNeshamah two months ago, and says she’s gotten to know the congregation as an “incredibly intelligent, creative group of people.” Since KHN has only been in operation for seven years, “parts of the infrastructure are not (yet) in place” – but she’s been working on that along with a new board and new educator, to “build on what’s already been built these last seven years.” High Holy Days, says Rabbi Weiss, provide the synagogue with an opportunity for outreach, since many “non-affiliated” Jews come to the services – KHN will use the chance “to let people know we have a congregation, we have a new rabbi, a whole new way of approaching things.” That includes what she draws from her background in areas such as healing and spiritual exploration – and she says, “by virtue of the fact I am a woman rabbi.”

One thing Kol HaNeshamah has always done differently – no tickets required for High Holy Days services – rather than raising money by charging admission, they have counted on donations, whatever people wish to give. But the services are being held at Seattle First Presbyterian downtown (map) since they may have up to 700 people and there’s just no room for that at Alki UCC.

So what’s in her sermon for tonight? Rabbi Weiss laughed and said she didn’t want to give it all away, but it’s “about the changing nature of the Jewish community.” Her life has changed as well – her last full-time role as a rabbi was in Berkeley, California, before she moved to Seattle in 2001 (ten years after her ordination), but she has served many congregations in this area in a part-time role: “I hadn’t yet found the right community (to serve full-time) – and now I have.”

We asked what’s ahead after the High Holy Days; Rabbi Weiss is planning a series of classes, workshops, readings, discussions, and more, to “explore what it really means to be Jewish, and to be a Jewish community in the 21st century.” The dates aren’t all worked out yet; you can watch the KHN website for details. And if you haven’t already checked out the synagogue – you are welcome at their services and celebrations this season, wherever you are on your spiritual journey. Here’s the official announcement of what’s planned and where:

WHERE: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services are held at Seattle First Presbyterian, 1013 8th Ave., Seattle.
WHEN: Wed., Sept 8 – 7:30 p.m. Rosh Hashanah Evening service
Thurs., Sept. 9 -9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., Rosh Hashanah Children’s service
10:30 a.m., Rosh Hashanah morning service; Tashlich picnic follows at Madrona Park Picnic Shelter, 853 Lake Washington Blvd.
Fri., Sept 17 – 7:30 p.m. Kol Nidre service
Sat., Sept. 18 – 9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., Yom Kippur children’s service
10:30 a.m., Yom Kippur morning service
2 p.m. – 4 p.m., study sessions
4 p.m., Afternoon services with light break fast following

We reported on Monday that legendary local burger chain Dick’s had announced it would be building its first new store in decades, and had launched an online poll to let customers decide where.  (The poll is still active here; there had been some problems with it because of the crush of traffic it received – more than 32,000 votes – but it’s fine now.)

We received more than 150 comments about that story, and another 35+ comments on Facebook, along with heavy activity on Twitter. WSB readers certainly have their opinions about the famous eatery!

In the poll, West Seattle is lumped into the “South” group with other locales, and is currently running 2nd in the polling:

Where would you locate the new Dick’s Drive-In?

RESULTS:
North (Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Edmonds, South Everett) – 42% (13781 votes)
South (West Seattle, South Seattle, Renton, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila) – 30% (9836 votes)
East (Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Sammamish) – 26% (8618 votes)

Total Votes: 32,235

SEPTEMBER 2 UPDATE: Many thanks to those who commented and e-mailed to let us know about the news reports (including this one, from partner KING 5) that the Dick’s vote had been “hacked.” Voting is still open, and Dick’s says they’re “scrubbing the numbers” now.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
West Seattle has some great burgers, both sitdown and takeout – we are sure you’ve got your fave – but you have to admit, the peninsula is a little short on fast-food burger options. So a big announcement today by the fabled Seattle burger chain Dick’s has some West Seattleites abuzz as well as folks elsewhere around Puget Sound: Dick’s just announced it’s going to build a new location for the first time in decades. You can vote for the “South” option – including West Seattle – in the official webpoll

Thanks to West Seattle-based journalist Gregg Hersholt for the tip – the awnings have gone up at the future Highstrike Grill, in the restaurant space at West Seattle Bowl (where Terrace West closed a month and a half ago). While snapping the photo, we dropped in to check with WS Bowl owner Andrew Carl, who says they’re hoping to be open by mid-September – the kitchen equipment is coming in next week, and more signage is on the way. He also says there’ll be a website up soon with info including the Highstrike Grill menu.

Just spotted the announcement in the WSB Forums. (It’s on the Zippy’s FB page too.) Sunday hours: Noon-7 pm.

Thanks to Brian Presser at TouchTech Systems in The Junction for sharing that photo – the sign’s going up for the new Wing Dome next to CAPERS, almost eleven months after we brought you first word the company was looking at West Seattle. We have a message out to see if an opening date’s been set yet; last time we checked in with the Wing Dome folks, they were hoping it would be this month.

5:04 PM UPDATE: Colleen O’Leary with Wing Dome’s parent company Consolidated Restaurants says they’re just clearing the permit phase and they should have word of an opening date soon.

Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Dan Atherton is “A New England Original,” and that’s what his new West Seattle restaurant will be too.

If all goes well, this October, Dan will be opening “Jonny Bostons,” a take-out sandwich shop featuring cheesesteaks, hamburgers, and sausages — New England style.

The former Authentic Home paint shop at 4151 California SW (map) in The Junction – which went online-only 4 months ago – is where Dan plans to create a space that delivers good food efficiently, so that people who have a limited time for lunch can spend it eating, not waiting in line.

Dan, also in the building business with Artistic Design, moved to Seattle from the Boston area in 1990. Since then, he says, he’s been “always looking for something familiar” to eat. He’s never found anything that hit the spot, and he feels Seattle is “lacking in good intermediate restaurants. You’ve got McDonald’s and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, but not much in between.” He promises that his food will be the same as “what you’d pick up in downtown Boston.”

Dan’s so serious about the Boston theme that baseball fans will recognize the color scheme of the shop as reminiscent of Fenway Park, with its “Green Monster” color outside, and the interior done in dark camel with Boston Blue and Red. His longterm plan is to replace the front wall with a roll-up door, so he can offer sidewalk seating in good weather.

Jonny Bostons will be open for lunch and dinner, 11 am-8 pm, Mondays through Saturdays.

Just five weeks after first word that Blackboard Bistro would replace short-lived Eness at 3247 California SW – it’s Grand Opening Eve for proprietor Jacob Wiegner (above left) and his team. Friday night, they’re officially open; tonight, they welcomed food writers in for a “media preview”; we don’t partake during such things but we did drop in for a few photos. Blackboard Bistro actually has been serving guests in “soft-open” mode for at least a week; as promised, the menu’s on a blackboard:

Here’s a closer look at the “savory” side (as opposed to the right side of the photo, which was the “sweet”):

You can also see the opening menu in the news release we published July 28th. And here’s a food photo, tweeted by @valentinavitols during/after tonight’s sneak peek. Per the Blackboard Bistro website, Friday night’s grand opening is 5-11 pm and you should have made a reservation by now – but you can always check tomorrow to see if there’s room left (or make plans to visit on subsequent days/nights).

Another update on Blackboard Bistro, going into 3247 California, formerly and briefly home to Eness: They’ve set August 13 for the opening date. Proprietor Jacob Wiegner explains, in the announcement (which also includes menu details)Read More

2 quick updates on the restaurant change at West Seattle Bowl, previously reported here when owner Andrew Carl confirmed last month that the Terrace West Chinese Restaurant would be replaced by a new food/beverage operator. Carl tells WSB that Terrace West is closing after tonight, and confirms the future restaurant’s name, as noted here when WSB’er Diane spotted a help-wanted ad – Highstrike Grill. (We’re using its logo with permission.) Any more information to share about what Highstrike will be like? we asked. Not till next month, Carl says.