(July 2023 photo by Jamie Kinney)

The annual tribal Canoe Journey, involving tribes’ canoe families from all over the region, has begun – but no Alki Beach stop with a large number of canoes is expected this time. This year, the journeys comprise Paddle to Elwha, hosted by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. Since that makes it a northbound journey for most, few will be passing this way; for those that do, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, which has hosted canoe families at Alki Beach in past years, will be hosting at Saltwater State Park in Des Moines this time (Saturday, July 26). According to the newest official map for the journeys, the West Seattle-based Duwamish Tribe canoe family plans to set out from Alki on Sunday (July 27). The official landing at Lower Elwha, just west of Port Angeles, is July 31, and the canoe families will be gathered for a celebration August 1-5. (The host tribe has been dealing with the effects of last Friday’s tanker-truck spill but that’s not sidelining the plan.)

RETURNING! All-City Band hosting Band Jam in West Seattle this Friday

July 21, 2025 6:00 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Our photo shows members of the Seattle Schools All-City Band in Hiawatha Park on Saturday morning as they prepared for the West Seattle Grand Parade (in which they won the Grand Prize, again). These student musicians from around the city are busy with parades throughout the summer, plus a special event that’s returning to West Seattle: Band Jam. The band hosts this “jam” for visiting bands, primarily the ones that will join it in the Seafair Torchlight Parade. This was originally held at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, then moved post-pandemic to Memorial Stadium downtown, but is now back, since the overhaul of that stadium is under way. (All-City Band is also practicing at NCSWAC this summer, as you know if you’re in earshot.) Band Jam is a free event open to spectators – here’s the announcement from the band’s website:

Founded in 2009 by All‐City Band Director Dr. Marcus Pimpleton, Band Jam is an outdoor marching band jamboree where spectators can enjoy full performances of the marching bands many typically see only in passing on parade routes. This non-competitive event, held each year the night before Seattle’s Torchlight Parade, is free and open to the public as a celebration of what we all know to be the best part of any parade – the bands.

Date: Friday, July 25th, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex

Performances begin at 6:00 pm with a band lineup that is soon to be announced. The event is free of charge. Please invite everyone you know. We expect to finish by 9:00 pm.

(We covered that first one in 2009!) NCSWAC is at 2801 SW Thistle.

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From White Center Now: $2 million bail set for murder suspect

July 21, 2025 3:28 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

Just published on our partner site White Center Now, an update from today’s court hearing for the 23-year-old man arrested in the double shooting early Sunday that killed one man and injured another, including details from the court-document narrative. Read the update here. The suspect’s bail is set at $2 million; a charging decision is expected by Wednesday.

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Get ready for this year’s West Seattle Glass Float Hunt!

July 21, 2025 2:57 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

If you love a fun challenge, here’s another event to get ready for – this year’s West Seattle Glass Float Hunt is less than three weeks away! We received the official announcement this afternoon:

Back by popular demand and now in its fourth year, the 2025 West Seattle Glass Float Hunt kicks off on August 8 for one week, ending on August 15th , 2025. The West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce invite everyone to search for glass floats hidden throughout West Seattle, both inside beloved local businesses and outdoors. The West Seattle Glass Float Hunt brings joy to the community and helps promote the businesses who are the backbone of our neighborhood.

Last year, the float finders reported spending thousands of dollars in West Seattle by staying to shop and dine. Local businesses reported a jump in new visitors and clients, and one business even sold out of a promotional item during the Float Hunt.

Each 2025 glass float is individually hand blown by Avalon Glassworks in stunning pinks and purples. Each 4-inch sphere is stamped with a heart and “WS” on the sealing bottom. Float hunters should look high and low for beautiful glass balls peeking out through the mesh of a knotted net bag. Each float will be labeled with a tag so the finder can register their float, and tag their float sponsor, via the QR code on the tag.

This year, we have a website, westseattlefloathunt.com, that will feature all of the daily clues for float seekers. There will also be a map showing where hunters have found their floats, uploaded in real time, once they have registered their floats.

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MORE BEACH NEWS: When to see low-low tides on West Seattle shores this week

July 21, 2025 1:30 pm

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| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(June low-low tide photo by Gary Jones)

Another round of low-low tides arrives this week (here’s the tide chart), and with mild weather, it’s yet another excellent chance to explore the shore – the last round of daytime low-low tides this summer. Here’s what’s ahead:

Tuesday: 9:30 am, -2.6 feet
Wednesday: 10:20 am, -3.0 feet
Thursday: 11:07 am, -3.0 feet
Friday: 11:52 am, -2.6 feet

Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists are scheduled to be at Constellation Park (63rd SW/Beach Drive SW) on Wednesday (9 am-11:30 am) and Thursday (9 am-noon) to answer low-low-tide questions.

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Beach volleyball on Alki is about to get more accessible and safer, thanks to new type of court

July 21, 2025 11:55 am

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It’s difficult to imagine a day at Alki Beach without volleyball. Beachgoers stringing up nets and playing, in between trips to coolers, or across the street in search of refreshments, are a frequent sight between June and August. If you’ve ever seen groups playing and wanted to join in, starting Wednesday (July 23), you’ll get the chance, as Alki Beach gets its first-ever permanent Volleyball court, across from the Christos on Alki/future Do Si KBBQ building [map].

(Photos courtesy Hannah Cassius)

It’s easy to assume that because the beach has volleyball poles, it has an accessible setup, explained Hannah Cassius, who helped organize this project in cooperation with the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department after she noticed several problems with their old system. The new court will feature clearer lines and a permanent net, scheduled to go up this week.

Until now, the lack of a permanent net and the poorly defined court have led to two problems, Cassius said. First, if you don’t have a net or a friend to play with, it makes the pastime inaccessible for the average person. The new court, which is set to open at 9 am on Wednesday, will feature a permanent net and a clearly defined court. As Cassius put it, “If you’re walking on the beach and you wanna play, you can play.”

The second problem was safety and quality. “We would find glass and nails in the sand, and the poles were crooked,” she said. “So having these permanent lines and nets makes beach volleyball more accessible to the community.”

The new court runs on a special system, called a “challenge court,” that keeps with the competitive spirit of the sport, while making it accessible to new players. If you want to play, you set down your sandal in a line to indicate your space. While people often show up in groups, there are no rules preventing anyone from simply walking up and joining the line to play. If you win your match, you get to stay for a maximum of two games before going to the back of the line.

“Here’s a hypothetical example,” Cassius said, “My husband Reid and I are playing against two other friends of ours, Brandon and Anissa. You put your shoe in line to play the winner. Reid and I win the game. We play you and your friend.” While this is new to Seattle, challenge courts are common at public volleyball courts in other states, like New York and California, according to Cassius.

(Seattle Parks Department rules)

The issues first came up earlier this year, at a Parks and Recreation Department town hall. Then, she slowly began to drum up support from the local volleyball community. Watching people come out in force, and the Parks Department’s quick and enthusiastic response to the quickly growing group’s concerns, was both surprising and heartwarming. Several hands-on work days and a change.org petition later, the courts are about to open to the public. According to Lisa Nielsen, the Athletic and Event Scheduling Manager with Seattle Parks and Recreation, the cost was approximately $900, covered by reservations for the other, non-permanent courts.

“I was actually positively surprised,” she said. “A lot of the older volleyball players said ‘the Parks Department doesn’t do anything, you won’t see any changes, et cetera,’ and for many of us, it was our first time working with them, but they’ve been with us every step of the way.”

Permanent courts on Alki aren’t the only thing they’ve managed to get done in cooperation with the Parks Department. They’ve managed to update the Volleyball poles to support men’s, women’s, and co-ed play, leveled the sand around the court, had the Alki showers turned on in April (in previous years they’ve waited until late May or June to turn them on), and even increased restroom maintenance.

They’re not done yet, though. Cassius says they have plans on the horizon to set up a community tool shed, with sifters and rakes to keep the courts safe, and add even more poles and sand. “At the end of the day,” She said, “ the larger Seattle volleyball community is a lot of people, from a lot of diverse backgrounds, but everyone is united by wanting to play this sport. This is an opportunity for more public athletic spaces with the community.”

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Comedy, story time, more for your West Seattle Monday!

July 21, 2025 9:54 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sunday night photo by Kevin Stock)

Here’s our Monday highlight list from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (are we missing something? let us know!):

SUMMER FOOD: As reported here, there are multiple sites/times/days in West Seattle where kids can get breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks during summer break.

FAMILY STORY TIME: Southwest Library‘s 10:30 am story time is open to wee ones and their parents/guardians/caretakers. (9010 35th SW)

HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)

COLMAN POOL: Continuing through Labor Day, the outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park is open every day (except for swim-meet closures), noon-7 pm. Fee.

WADING POOLS: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) are scheduled to be open today, noon-7 pm. Free.

CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm “briefing meeting” today; see the agenda here; watch live via Seattle Channel. (No public comment at the briefing meetings.)

HEALTHY AND WEALTHY TEENS: Four-week series continues today, 2:30 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).

CRAFTING & CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm, Monday is “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.

D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players welcome too!

LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group, participate once, occasionally, or every week. Fee.(4034 California SW)

COMEDY: Greg Beachler headlines tonight’s show at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), 7 pm, tickets still available at last check – see our calendar listing for the link.

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: Three places to play tonight! 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW), 21+ … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

ALKI MEDITATION: Doors open at Alki UCC at 6:45, and the meeting is from 7-8:30. (6115 SW Hinds)

POOL TOURNAMENT: The Corner Pocket‘s weekly pool tournament starts at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)

FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: More Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Live jazz with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.

MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm Mondays, sing karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).

Thanks to everyone who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or otherwise update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP: West Seattle Food Bank Clothesline ‘in urgent need’

July 21, 2025 9:04 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Food Bank also has a clothing bank, the Clothesline, and WSFB development director Robbin Peterson tells WSB what they need most right now:

We are in urgent need of back-to-school clothes. When you shop at a clothing bank for your kids, it takes multiple visits to get everyone ready for back-to-school & our shoppers have already started. The Clothesline is in need of kids’ clothes 5T through teen sizes. Hoodies, jackets, jeans, athletic pants & tops, sneakers, new underwear/bras/socks, dresses, skirts. Clothing can be dropped off at The Clothesline (4425 41st Ave SW) Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am – 1 pm.

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Monday info

July 21, 2025 6:01 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:24 AM: Emergency crews are dealing with a possible person in crisis on the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge, so FYI if you are heading that way any time soon.

9:32 AM: Situation quickly sorted out and the response will be ending.

Earlier:

6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, July 21, 2025.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Warming trend – sunshine expected today, with a high in the upper 70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:34 am; sunset will be at 8:56 pm.

ROAD WORK

-The major nighttime work ahead on and around 16th SW in White Center continues – details here.

-Admiral Bridge work continues, with both directions now carried on the south side instead of the north side.

-A stretch of Admiral Way mostly west of 59th has “no parking” signs taking effect today for an apparent paving project; we’ll be checking with SDOT today. (Anybody in that area get a notice you can share?)

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.

Washington State Ferries – WSF has resumed three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Cathlamet, and M/V Issaquah. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.

Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, and on weeknights with Mariners home games (and certain special events).

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.

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!

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WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE 2025: Report #6 – more community groups!

July 20, 2025 11:35 pm

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| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

Some of the community organizations that participated in Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade already have been shown in our previous coverage, mostly in the list of winners. But we wanted to show you the others too – this is in order of where they were in the parade running order.

Scouting America, which has multiple local troops and packs:

Skunk Works Robotics, a regional organization for high-school students:

West Seattle Amateur Radio Club, whose members engage in a tremendous amount of community service, including preparedness work to support communication in case of catastrophe, and education:

West Seattle VFW, whose entry featured commander Steve Strand driving a 1943 Willys Jeep:

Nile Shriners, the regional chapter of the service fraternity best known for helping young burn victims:

Orca Network Parade Pod, representatives of the regional group that advocates for and shares sightings of whales (not just orcas!):

Girl Scouts of Western Washington, whose entry focused on the scouts’ affinity for camping:

DubSea Fish Sticks, which are more than a baseball team (as explained here):

RainWise helps eligible residents with rebates for installations like raingardens and cisterns that conserve water and reduce the stormwater load on the sewer system:

West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor), which offers a wide variety of programs for people of all ages at two locations in WS and other branches around the region:

Center for Active Living, focused on helping elders thrive, but also open to all ages:

Invest in Youth, which provides tutors for kids at some local schools:

West Seattle Food Bank Clothesline, the clothing bank that supports local families in need:

Softball champs!

West Seattle Indivisible and West Seattle Resist, local pro-democracy advocates who described their ~100 marchers as a “human float”:

West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the peninsula-wide business-advocacy group:

American Red Cross, which helps in times of trouble large and small:

A Cleaner Alki, founded by Erik Bell, an army of volunteers who tidy up far more than the beach (parade routes, for example!):

And the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle operated an announcing stand at California/Charlestown again this year:

We may yet have another gallery or two to share; browse our previous coverage here!

(Photo credits: Oliver Hamlin, Tracy Record)

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BIZNOTE: Seaside Grill now open in ex-Locust Cider spot on Alki

July 20, 2025 8:20 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks for the tips. After a “soft open” last night – described by reader Tina as “friendly, beachy vibes and food” – Seaside Grill opened today in the Alki spot abruptly vacated by Locust Cider back in December. It promises “sports, soups, sandwiches, spirits, salads,” with hours listed as 11 am-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 11 am-10 pm Mondays through Thursdays and Sundays. (Friends who went tonight report the menu includes burgers too.) According to the online liquor license application, the team behind it includes the people who long operated Pegasus Pizza a short distance east (where Lotus on the Beach opened last year).

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CRIME WATCH: Deadly shooting in White Center; gunfire on Harbor Avenue; Admiral carjacking (updated Monday – latter two were linked)

July 20, 2025 6:18 pm

| 30 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL SUNDAY NIGHT REPORT: Three Crime Watch reports from the weekend:

(Reader photo)

DEADLY SHOOTING IN WHITE CENTER: Since our initial report on partner site White Center Now this morning, King County Sheriff’s Deputies have confirmed that one of the two men shot after midnight near 16th/98th has died. A 23-year-old man is in jail for investigation of murder and assault. KCSO investigators believe it started when an allegedly drunk driver hit a parked car; the ensuing confrontation ended in gunfire. They say the suspected shooter is “an associate” of the alleged drunk driver, who was cited for suspected DUI. They have not said which of the victims was the struck car’s owner. We hope to get more information tomorrow when the suspect is likely to have a bail hearing.

Now, two West Seattle incidents for which police have released initial summaries:

GUNFIRE INVESTIGATION: SPD says this was reported at 4 am Saturday:

Officers responded to a 911 call regarding a report of shots fired in the parking lot in the area of 1900 blk of Harbor Ave. SW. Upon arrival, they located a vacant vehicle hanging off the edge of the dock. The vehicle was unoccupied. During the course of their investigation, shell casings were located at the scene and collected as evidence. Officers determined the vehicle was stolen and impounded [it] at the request of the Robbery Unit. According to a witness, the vehicle was seen doing donuts in the parking lot shortly before backing through the chain-link fence and coming to a stop on the edge of the pier. No suspects were located at the time of this call. The vehicle was impounded. The SPD Harbor Unit along with the United States Coast Guard and Port of Seattle PD responded to the scene to conduct an area check of the waterway.

If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 25-203472.

CARJACKING: SPD says this was reported after 11:30 pm Friday:

The victim was parked at the 3000 block of 44 Ave SW and about to pull out of a parking spot. A sedan pulled up next to him and the passenger exited wearing a mask. S#1 (Suspect #1) put the victim at gunpoint and demanded his cell phone. S#1 then demanded that the victim exit his vehicle. S#1 grabbed the victim and threw him to the ground. S#1 entered the victim’s vehicle and left Southbound on 44 Ave SW. S#2, who was driving the sedan, drove away in the same direction. The victim had visible injuries from the incident. Officers conducted an area check, but the suspects weren’t located.

The summary had no descriptions of the carjacker or of the stolen and suspect vehicles; we’ll be seeking those along with the report narrative when it’s available. Meantime, this incident # is 25-203304.

ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON, RE: CARJACKING: We obtained the police-report narrative. It says the initial call came from an apartment building in the 3000 block of California SW. The victim was parked on 44th SW, facing northbound (the report does not say exactly where on 44th), pulling out, when a gray Kia Soul pulled up in front of his vehicle, blocking him from leaving. A passenger got out of the car, the victim told police, pointed a black handgun at him, yelled for him to “get out of the car,” and then grabbed the victim and threw him to the ground when he opened the door. The victim told police he said “Don’t kill me, don’t kill me” and then the robber demanded his cellphone, which the victim said he didn’t have on him; the robber then got in the victim’s car, described only as a CR-V with California plates, and drove it away southbound on 44th, with the Kia Soul also heading that way, both then turning left on SW Hanford. Both the driver and the robber were described as Black, male, mid-20s; the robber was wearing a ski mask.

Turns out the car in that incident is the same stolen car later found abandoned by Salty’s after the gunfire incident mentioned earlier in this story. We’re adding info from that narrative next.

ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON, RE: GUNFIRE/STOLEN CAR: As mentioned above, the car abandoned in this incident was the same one stolen in the carjacking several hours earlier, described in this report as a black 2025 Honda CR-V with California plates. Here’s what we learned after obtaining the narrative today:

Police were dispatched a report of gunfire in the Salty’s parking lot at 1936 Harbor SW. dispatched to a shooting in the parking lot of Salty’s restaurant at 1936 Harbor Ave SW. They were told a black SUV might be involved. Then came the update that a black SUV was “located near the water in Salty’s parking lot and hanging off a dock.” They went there and called for backup in case armed suspects were inside. The report notes:

The vehicle that was being called out was on the north side of the parking lot on raised wooden posts. Per a Salty’s employee, this location used to be a helipad and was on private property. The car had reversed onto the wood slats and was stuck on the far edge about to fall into the water. The fence blocking people from reaching the area of the helipad was run over and dragged onto the wooden slats by the vehicle.

Eventually it was determined no one was inside. The report continues:

The parking lot of Salty’s had rubber tire marks that went back and forth in the lot and in circles. There were indications that one or more vehicles were doing burnouts and driving recklessly prior to our arrival. There were also tire marks that led toward the Honda stuck above the water.

Seattle Fire Rescue 1 arrived on scene at 0422 hours and stated that we needed to accompany them to clear the vehicle first before they attempt to get it onto concrete. There was no safe and feasible way for this to be done. SFD put wood planks and ladders down to reach the vehicle.

The first tow truck on scene wasn’t able to retrieve the vehicle “from the dangerous and compromised location where it stood,” the report said. Meantime, SPD’s Harbor Unit, US Coast Guard, and port police all searched the water to be sure no one had gone in. Officers checked the scene multiple times for gunfire evidence and finally “found a spent 9MM shell casing on the SW corner of the gravel lot directly east to Salty’s parking lot. The spent casing was found near the brush and lamp post.” The report also says some fuel from the CR-V’s punctured tank spilled onto the water. A second tow truck arrived and was able to get the vehicle fully onto land for impounding. One other note: “There was also a large rock found on the floor of the driver’s side. This was an indication that the occupants may have placed the rock on the accelerator after doing the burnouts and reversed the vehicle, attempting to send it into the water below. There was also a pair of earplugs on the front passenger seat.” Later, the report says, officers “found a second 9MM spent case about two feet away from where the first one was located.” And before they left, they “put up caution tape on the area of the parking lot where the fence was struck down. It was exposed to the wooden planks and water, so we felt it was necessary to put the tape up as a precaution.” The report does not include any information on possible suspects but said police might be able to get surveillance video from the restaurant after they opened at midday Sunday.

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From White Center Now: 10 scenes from ‘Chrome and Community’

July 20, 2025 4:23 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | White Center

As noted in our calendar and event list on Saturday, the Eazy Duz It Car Club‘s show “Chrome and Community,” with dozens of cars from around the region, lined 16th SW – closed to through traffic – in downtown White Center for much of the day. We sent Dave Gershgorn to photograph some of the cars and people, and you can see the gallery on our partner site White Center Now.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Alki Art Fair 2025, final day

July 20, 2025 1:11 pm

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

1:11 PM: Those are some scenes from the Alki Art Fair‘s second day, including singer Monica Ramos of Monamor; Day 3 is happening right now, and today’s live music is under way until around 5 (see the lineup here), and the artists’ booths are open until 6. WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen is there to feature more of the fair beyond what we covered Friday:

Above is sculptor Michelle DeLarme, and her baby (and mascot!) Phoebe, with Happy Yak Creations.

She specializes in miniature polymer-clay animals, and she’s been sculpting since middle school. “I like working on a smaller scale, it helps me keep things fun, and sorta whimsical. For a while I was making them so small they’d fit on the tip of your finger.” Last year Michelle was an “emerging artist” at the fair, so this is her first year with her own booth.

Her favorite item by far is the dragons. “I got on a dragon kick a long time ago, and I’ll probably never get off it.”

ADDED 1:30 PM: Up on the bathhouse stage this past hour, Stargazy Pie.

Vocalist Jack inroduced the Tacoma-based shred-pop band, signing off with “and I am Jack, and I don’t know what I’m doing here. … If you wanna get merchandise, or, if you wanna talk to my dad, you can do that,” pointing to the parentally staffed merchandise stand next to the stage before beginning another song.

ADDED 2:07 PM: Meet Sabella – an artist, writer, and designer living in Seattle who works under the moniker “the monarq.”

“This is my first time doing anything in West Seattle and it’s been great, the crowd has been very supportive.” She works primarily in goauche, acrylic and collage, with the goal to create varying images of Black women.According to her bio, “(Sabella’s) series “Portraits of Black Women I Have Yet to Name” began as a form of art therapy that helped her heal after burning out from work. While creating this series, she found the strength to quit fulltime employment
and pursue a career in the arts.” Sabella can be found seasonally at Pike Place Market, and at shows across Seattle.

ADDED 2:43 PM: It’s Johanna Lindsey‘s 18th year at the Alki Art Fair.

“There’s been a really great turnout this year, lots of out-of-town folks, and it’s gotten a lot more professional.” She’s the artist behind Penguina Designs, weaving together jewelry using beads and specialized thread. “We have our own little traditions at this point, like always getting dinner down here … It’s almost like a family reunion, seeing the same artists and people every year.” Below, she showed off one of her favorite pieces this year. When the fair is over, she’s going to keep experimenting with this orange & teal color combination:

2:59 PM: With a few hours to go for the 2025 Alki Art Fair, the beach is still flooded with people. Evan Hilsenberg-Riley, a Shoreline-based artist, was painting the Puget Sound horizon live for a crowd while chatting with onlookers.

Hilsenberg-Riley has had a tent at the Alki Art Fair since 2018, but she’s been painting with acrylics since she was 12.

“It’s been a fabulous weekend, and I’ve had a lot of practice painting and talking to an audience today.” Today, she’s painting Blake Island. “You won’t find me on top of a mountain or anything, but I love bringing out the easel to paint live, it makes the colors feel so much truer … I also like painting teeny-tiny pieces” She said, showing off a hand-held painting, also of Puget Sound.

“Shipping-container ships,” Hilsenberg-Riley said, “move a lot quicker when you’re trying to paint them.”

You can find her work in coffee and gift shops, including CAPERS (WSB sponsor) in The Junction.

The fair – which is on and around the Alki waterfront promenade west of 2701 Alki SW, with more than 90 booths – continues until 6 pm!

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If you get brown water in the Alki area (or elsewhere … updated)

July 20, 2025 11:33 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL 11:33 AM REPORT RE: ALKI … one of your neighbors wants you to know that it’s likely the result of hydrant testing, as SFD was just seen testing one at 57th/Admiral. Hydrant testing is a common cause of discolored water, because it stirs up “sediment” – aka rust – in the lines, but not always, so if brown water happens at your home/business/school, without an obvious explanation like confirmed testing (or a water break) nearby, report it to Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800.

ADDED 1:34 PM: Elsewhere, we have this report from Mike southwest of The Junction: “About an hour and a half ago we started getting brown water out of our tap here.” And Chemist, in a comment, reports seeing hydrant testing in Seaview.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: Alki Art Fair’s final day, Dacha Theatre, GreenStage, ‘Tea Dance’ at Seacrest, much more!

July 20, 2025 6:59 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Saturday photo by Chris Frankovich)

Our Sunday list includes three outdoor-theater performances in one park, plus the third and final day of the Alki Art Fair, and other events, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WESTIES RUN CLUB: This week’s 9 am Sunday Funday run leaves from Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way).

AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Meet up with other players – all levels – 9:30-11:30 am at The Missing Piece. (35th/Roxbury)

ALKI ART FAIR FINALE: 10 am-6 pm, one more day for you to enjoy art and music along the Alki Beach promenade. See the music lineup here.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Back to its normal location this week, on California between Oregon and Alaska, 10 am-2 pm, the heart of summer produce season, plus lots of baked goods, cheeses, meats, fish, prepared foods, condiments, flowers, more.

MASTER GARDENERS: They’re back at the market today, also 10 am-2 pm, if you have a garden question/challenge/etc. that would benefit from expert advice.

FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)

SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open every day, no matter what the weather, 11 am-8 pm.

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to, or can’t, buy it? You’ll probably be able to borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE RESISTS: Sunday signholding in The Junction (California/Alaska), 11:30 am-1:30 pm.

COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is back open today as its 7-day-a-week season resumew, noon-7 pm, with four hour-and-a-half swim sessions, each half lap swimming and half open swim – see the schedule here.

WADING POOLS: Also at Lincoln Park, the wading pool is expected to be open, as is the EC Hughes wading pool (2805 SW Holden) – hours for both today are noon-7 pm.

ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Weekly free tours during the summer, but not the next two Sundays, so if you’ve been intending to go, do it today! Grounds at 3201 Alki SW open at 1 pm; last tour starts 3:45 pm; more info in our calendar listing.

WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Enjoy your summery Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)

ALKI TEA DANCE: At Seacrest, Marination ma kai is hosting two DJs, 3-8 pm, with a 21+-only patio, for its first-ever “Alki Tea Dance”! (1600 Harbor SW)

MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), singer-songwriter David Johnson performs, no cover, all ages.

LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS: The 10U All-Star tournament continues at Bar-S Playfield on Alki Point, and the 10U West Seattle Little League Baseball All-Stars play today at 3 pm. (64th SW/SW Admiral Way)

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK X 2: GreenStage has two free Shakespeare performances in Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) today/tonight – 3 pm, it’s “Much Ado About Nothing,”, and at 7 pm, it’s “Richard III.“

IRISH DANCE POP-UP CLASSES: Preschoolers at 4 pm, older kids at 5:30 pm, both at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW).

FREE OUTDOOR YOGA: 6 pm at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (4500 block of Beach Drive SW) with Dragonfly.

(Photo courtesy Dacha Theatre)

UPDATE: We just confirmed that this has been canceled, possibly to be rescheduled in early August, due to illness. OUTDOOR THEATER – ‘THE GROWN-UPS’: Interested in non-Shakespeare outdoor theater? That’s available in West Seattle tonight too! Dacha Theatre presents “The Grown-Ups” one more time at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 8 pm – see our calendar listing for details.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Sunday night music provided by the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.

Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could feature on the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE 2025: Report #5 – public-safety personnel participation

July 20, 2025 5:54 am

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| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

Both Seattle Police and Seattle Fire were part of Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade:

That’s the SPD Motorcycle Drill Team, once an almost taken-for-granted feature in local parades, until the pandemic and staffing shortages. Last year they made a surprise, if small, comeback; this year, eight officers performed. Our video shows them toward the end of the parade route in The Junction; the voices are those of parade announcers Brian and Christa Callanan … SFD sent Engine 29 from the Admiral District’s Station 29, with some of its crew walking alongside:

We have yet more parade video and photos to roll out later today – see what we’ve already published by scrolling here!

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WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE 2025: Report #4 – the winners!

July 19, 2025 6:25 pm

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| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

When the West Seattle Grand Parade ends, the final phase of that group’s work begins – deciding the winners in a dozen categories, as well as the overall grand-prize winners. They are the parade’s volunteer judges, and along with that photo, we’ve received the list of their decisions about today’s ~90 parade entries! We’ve already published images of some of them, and will be adding more to this list in the hours ahead as we continue processing all the video and photos we have:

OVERALL GRAND PRIZE WINNERS:

1st Place: Seattle All-City Band

2nd Place: Electronettes Hi-Steppers Drill Team & Drumline

3rd Place: West Seattle Mrs. Ropers

CHEER TEAMS:

1st Place: West Seattle High School Co-Ed Cheer Team

2nd Place: Chief Sealth International High School Cheerleading

COMMUNITY DANCE TEAMS:

1st Place: Joyas Mestizas

2nd Place: Comerford Irish Dancers

3rd Place: West Seattle Irish Dance

MARCHING BANDS:

1st Place: Seattle All-City Band

2nd Place: The All-Star Drumline

3rd Place: Kennedy Catholic High School “Lancer” Marching Band and Color Guard

PERFORMING ACTS:

1st Place: Hi-Liners Musical Theatre

2nd Place: Seattle Chinese American Chamber of Commerce

3rd Place: Rain City Ropeworks Jump Rope Team

CARS AND ANTIQUE CARS:

1st Place: Corvette Marque Club

2nd Place: STS Construction

3rd Place: 1942 American-LaFrance Fire Engine

COMMUNITY YOUTH:

1st Place: Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby

2nd Place: Endolyne Children’s Choir

3rd Place: Highline Premier FC

COMMERCIAL:

1st Place: Dragonfly West Seattle

2nd Place: Airport Towing, Burien Towing, & Columbia Towing

3rd Place: Can Doo Pet Waste Service

COMMUNITY ADULT:

1st Place: West Seattle Mrs. Ropers

2nd Place: F3 Seattle

3rd Place: West Seattle Lions Club

DRILL TEAM SENIOR:

1st Place: Electronettes Hi-Steppers Drillteam & Drumline

2nd Place: Rhapsody Winterguard

3rd Place: Evergreen Drill Team

DRILL TEAM JUNIOR:

1st Place: Babynettes Drill Team (Jr. Electronettes team)

2nd Place: Daughters of Royalty Drill & Dance Ensemble

CONVEYED FLOAT:

1st Place: Holy Rosary School

2nd Place: Calvary Chapel West Seattle

SEAFAIR:

1st Place: Seattle Seafair Pirates

2nd Place: Seattle Seafair Clowns

3rd Place: Seattle Commodores

Again, we’ll be adding photos and video for as many of the winners as we can – and we have more parade scenes to come beyond this list, too! (We should note that the Rotary Club of West Seattle Foundation presents the parade, and community sponsors help cover the costs, which are considerable; volunteer power is vital, too.)

Photo credits: Most by Oliver Hamlin for WSB. A few photos, plus the videos, by Tracy Record. Others as credited.

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WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE 2025: Report #3 – the schools

July 19, 2025 5:27 pm

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| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

You don’t generally see individual Seattle Public Schools bands in summer parades because musicians from schools around the city join forces for the All-City Band, which not only appeared in today’s West Seattle Grand Parade, as shown in our video above, but also is practicing on the peninsula this year – at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex – since Memorial Stadium is out of commission for its overhaul. This also means ACB will host Band Jam here this year, next Friday (July 25) – a showcase of bands as well as a practice for those who are in the Seafair Torchlight Parade – more on Band Jam later. Other school groups in today’s Grand Parade included, up from Burien, the Kennedy Catholic High School Marching Band:

Our area’s two largest high schools both had cheer teams in the parade – here’s West Seattle High School:

And Chief Sealth International High School:

When Holy Rosary School went by with its float, we noted about 100 people walking alongside!

And Hope Lutheran School brought along its eagle mascot:

Next up – the parade judges’ winning picks!

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WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE 2025: Report #2 – the honorees

July 19, 2025 3:00 pm

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| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

(First and third photos by Oliver Hamlin for WSB)

For more than a decade, we’ve photographed Lou Cutler walking or running. Today, he was riding … in a convertible from the Corvette Marque Club, as Grand Marshal of the 2025 West Seattle Grand Parade. Lou, a retired P-E teacher, was honored primarily for his many years volunteering with and raising money for Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes to seriously ill children.

Lou’s “Make-A-Wish Friends” walked behind his car to raise awareness that you can help too (here’s how to volunteer, and here’s how to support MAW through Lou’s latest fundraiser).

Also riding in a convertible as parade honorees, Joanie Jacobs and Dan Jacobs of the Admiral Neighborhood Association (as well as many other community endeavors):

The West Seattle Grand Parade Committee chose them as this year’s recipients of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community; Mr. Rummel was the parade’s founder, and our story about last year’s honorees includes a list of those who’ve received it dating back to 1984 (including WSB in 2010). The Jacobs’ focus has been on community connections, and that was in evidence during this stop along the parade route:

They also got two turns riding in today’s parade, turning up toward parade’s end atop the Seafair Pirates‘ Moby Duck.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
More parade reports ahead!

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CRIME WATCH: Burglary attempt at West Seattle Arcade

July 19, 2025 2:00 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Three days after the break-in at Alki Coffee Company, would-be burglars tried to get into neighboring West Seattle Arcade, whose proprietors Matt and Elyssa sent this report with security-video images:

wWe had an attempted break-in at West Seattle Arcade this morning around 4:20 am.

Three men pulled up in a gray Hyundai with no plates, and attempted to pry open our door and pick our lock. They were unsuccessful and scared off by people that were out and about.

Our wonderful neighbor saw the attempt and called the police and then notified us.

Here some shots of the suspects:

If you have any information, the SPD incident # is 25-203483.

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WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Report #1 – status updates

July 19, 2025 10:50 am

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| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Grand Parade is happening now, with SPD’s motorcycle unit – eight officers this year – having just headed south on California from the parade starting point at Lander, by the north end of Hiawatha. The rest of the 90+ entries will start walking, rolling, etc. soon too. If you’re not settled in to watch the parade, remember that California is closed from Admiral to the south end of The Junction, and buses are rerouted, until the parade is over – we’re covering it from our usual spot near the start (with team members elsewhere too) and will update when it wraps up here and elsewhere; usually the street is reopened section by section.

12:20 PM: After an hour and a half, the parade is over in Admiral – with parade coordinator Michelle Edwards riding down the route at the end – but it continues southbound to The Junction for a while longer – we’ll be following so we can update when it’s concluded there too. And then – lots more coverage to come, with photos and video.

1:15 PM: Done in The Junction too,

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PRE-PARADE: 550+ run, walk, roll in 2025 Float Dodger 5K

July 19, 2025 9:54 am

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

FIRST REPORT, 9:54 AM: Again this year, the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s “wheel” parade float is what runners and walkers in the Float Dodger 5K are “dodging” at California/Alaska. The race, presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) as a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank, precedes the West Seattle Grand Parade, which is just about an hour away. Development director Robbin and volunteer Michelle were at Hiawatha selling $5 tickets to the WSFB’s raffle of Taste of West Seattle (September 25!) tickets:

More than 550 participants were registered as of pre-5K:

(Photos from here by Dave Gershgorn for WSB unless otherwise credited)

My Team Triumph started the race, as has become a tradition.

As for the first finishers – we’ll add coverage later – participants will be off the parade route in time for the parade’s start with SPD motorcycles around 10:45! And if you’re in or near Admiral, West Seattle Runner is hosting a beverage garden and parade-watch party to raise even more for WSFB; you can buy raffle tickets there too.

ADDED 3:46 PM: The results are here. First finisher, timed at 16:10, was 22-year-old Jonathan Grothe:

Next was 17-year-old Mason Murison, timed at 17:04:

First female finisher was 43-year-old Megan Heuer, timed at 19:02:

Second female finisher was 22-year-old Adeline Roza, timed at 19:35:

One more Float Dodger 5K note: There was a moment of silence before the race for Christi Rohlena, sister of WS Runner co-proprietor Lori McConnell; she died in a car crash this past February, Lori explained when we stopped by the shop post-parade to find out more. Lori said many family members were visiting from out of town and showed us the special race bibs they had made in Christi’s memory: