West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
For years, it’s been an “if you know, you know” thing – the night before West Seattle Summer Fest begins, when the streets in the heart of The Junction close and the setup begins, locals flock to wander the streets and enjoy entertainment pop-ups as well as the first night of festival-only sidewalk cafés at your favorite year-round restaurants and bars, all coinciding with the July West Seattle Art Walk. The nickname “Summer Fest Eve” has taken hold in recent years and now that Thursday night is practically opening night for Summer Fest, turning it into a 3 1/2-day festival. Most of the fun next Thursday (July 10) will be 5-9 pm, though setup starts sooner – here’s some times to be aware of:
7 am Thursday – “no parking” enforced along California SW, Oregon to Genesee, for stage setup, which starts at 9 am
2 pm Thursday – California SW closed to traffic between Oregon and Genesee
3 pm Thursday – “no parking” forced on California SW between Edmunds and Genesee, and on SW Alaska between 42nd and 44th
4 pm Thursday – Those stretches of California and Alaska will be closed to traffic so street-fair setup can begim
6 pm Thursday – Food vendor load-in starts – remember this year the food zone is west of California and Alaska, not east
And some lineup highlights from the West Seattle Junction Association (which also provided the times above):
Five of the musical performances are part of The Art of Music – you can preview those here. Watch for the art preview linked here next week. And we’ll have daily festival previews from here on out!
Thanks for the tip! A reader told us about the message on the sign at the former Morning Star Market at 9th SW and SW Henderson. It’s been almost four years since we reported the mini-mart beloved for its barbecue was closing after the sale of the property. Now there are signs — and a literal one in the form of a marquee—announcing what might come next – coffee shop, perhaps.
We reached the owner, Ben Greene of Greene Information Systems, this week. He told us he initially intended to use property for office space – as we reported in early 2022 – but he ultimately opted against that. Greene has an IT and data-migration business with a location in the Alaska Junction. Because the Morning Star property had been used as a restaurant and convenience store, he circled back to that, but didn’t want to run those businesses himself. Now he’s looking for one or more businesses that would be interested in leasing space, or who might need a business partner. This could be a coffee shop, a restaurant, food trucks, or something else entirely.
Greene says he’s had a handful of calls so far with interest, and he looks forward to talking to more people about their ideas for the space, which he is calling “Backyard West” as a concept name. He calls the location an “underutilized space at a good intersection.” The marquee, as shown in our photo, has Greene’s contact information.
(File photo – Junction flags, which will fly on the Fourth)
We’ll have a full daily list in the morning as always, but in case you’re about to unplug, here are six things to know about the Fourth of July in West Seattle!
BUSINESS CLOSURES/CHANGES: Here’s the list we’ve been adding to after putting out a call for info earlier this week. Not too late to add to it – email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302.
KIDS’ PARADE: 10 am, starting from 44th SW/Sunset SW in North Admiral, proceeding to Hamilton Viewpoint Park for sack races and other activities, details here.
ART GLASS SECONDS SALE: A Fourth of July tradition at Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way), 10 am-2 pm.
FIRST FRIDAY, HOLIDAY EDITION: Want to celebrate with friends and neighbors? Highland Park Improvement Club is continuing its First Friday events at the past-and-future HPIC site, 12th SW/SW Holden, 5-8 pm, this time including hot dogs and a pie bake-off!
FIREWORKS: The big show is over Lake Union at 10:15 pm (and shown live by KONG TV) and many will crowd north-facing West Seattle viewpoints to get a partial view of them. … If you’re looking for what else is visible from here, southwest West Seattle might have a view of the Vashon Island fireworks at dusk over Quartermaster Harbor. And the highest easternmost points in WS, with a distant view of Bellevue, might be able to see those 10:05 pm fireworks
LOSE OR FIND A PET? The noisiest night of the year tends to lead to more lost/found pets. Remember that WSB has for more than a decade and a half kept West Seattle’s original lost/found pets page – send info/photo to us at westseattleblog@gmail.com or via text 206-293-6302.
As we’ve noted, outdoor-music season is heating up, with West Seattle Summer Fest a little more than a week away (next preview later today!), but we want to take a moment to look a little further into the future: Two weeks from tonight, the Admiral Neighborhood Association presents the first of three free Admiral Music in the Parks (AMP) concerts! The lineup, as announced in late May:
6:30 PM July 17th @ Belvedere Park: Get your dancing boots ready for PNW country-tonk band Lookout Mountain Lookout
6:30 PM July 24th @ California Place Park: West Seattle’s fan favorite Michael Pearsall and friends return for a second year at AMP!
6:30 PM on July 31st @ Hamilton Viewpoint Park: Enjoy the music of John, Paul, George, and Ringo as we welcome The Flaming Pies to close out our 2025 season.
As with all “free” events, they’re not “free” to the organizers, so if you can support the music series, donations are welcome.
P.S. New this year, knitting circles at every concert, with Seattle Yarn!
If you’re within view of Elliott Bay, be on the lookout for a baleen whale. Kersti Muul says one was reported west of Colman Dock in the past hour – initial reports were a humpback, but she says it’s since been described as a gray.
Last weekend, we reported on The Row House‘s announcement it would close its West Seattle Junction location (4203 SW Oregon). The announcement mentioned another business taking the space in early August. We’ve been working since then to find out more about that; now we’ve received an announcement directly from the prospective tenant, NW Fitness Project, sent on behalf of co-founders Kyle Davis and Matt Holland:
After eight years of building community-centered fitness in Fremont, we’re excited to share that we’re in early discussions about bringing our personal and small group training philosophy to a second location in West Seattle. For those not familiar, we believe fitness should adapt to your life, not the other way around and want to help you train smarter and get stronger.
While nothing is finalized yet and lease negotiations are still ongoing, we’re thrilled about the possibility of serving the West Seattle community with the same sustainable, personalized training that has defined NW Fitness Project since 2017 at our flagship studio in Fremont.
We understand that West Seattle Row House members may be searching for a new fitness home, and should our expansion move forward (fingers crossed!), we’d love to assure that the community would be in very capable hands. Whether through our small (10 people max) group classes or one-on-one personal training, we focus on meeting each person exactly where they are while building relationships both in Fremont, and hopefully, in our new home in West Seattle.
We’re committed to taking the right steps at the right pace – growth that’s sustainable for our team, our values, and most importantly, for the community of clients we serve.
They promise updates at nwfitnessproject.com/westseattle and also are offering, if you’re interested, a free class at their current location in Fremont.
(St. John’s Wort blossom, photographed by Steve Bender)
With the holiday weekend almost here, we have a shorter-than-usual list for your West Seattle Thursday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Clouds or sun, it’s the heart of gardening season! The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW).
MEDICARE INFORMATION PRESENTATION: Get your questions answered, 11 am at Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open today and every day through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm. Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
WADING POOLS: The city says it’s expecting sunshine and warm-enough temperatures this afternoon to open the wading pools, so that means Lincoln Park will be open noon-7 pm and Delridge and Hiawatha will be open noon-5:30 pm.
COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) will be open noon-7 pm – see the schedule here.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to get the details of where they’re playing today.
DROP-IN CHESS: Teens are welcome to come play at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:30 pm.
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two regular Thursday night events here – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Jeremy’s Chicken.
WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.
VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor). Stop in for wine by the glass or bottle! (Closed for the holiday, so go by tonight for your wine needs!)
NO WESTIES RUN CLUB: With the holiday approaching, the Westies are skipping this week.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Want to walk? Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC IN THE JUNCTION: 6-9 pm, Patrick Rifflin performs Thursdays at Pegasus Pizza in The Junction (4520 California SW).
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Maple Valley’s Lucia Flores-Wiseman, seen (and heard!) on “The Voice,” performs at Easy Street (4559 California SW), 7 pm, free, all ages.
‘THE EFFECT’ AT ARTSWEST: Third week begins for new ArtsWest production “The Effect“ at 7:30 pm. Check here for tickets. (4711 California SW)
DJ NIGHT: The weekend spinning starts early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ B Max, 8 pm.
Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Before we get to the rest of what’s happening today/tonight, a reminder that Seattle Parks plans to keep lights on at some local fields in hopes of deterring fireworks use. And at the synthetic-turf sites, the lights will stay on four hours later than last year. The lights will be turned on at these fields at 9 pm tonight and tomorrow:
Lights at the following synthetic fields will be turned off at 11 p.m. on July 3 and 3 a.m. on July 5 :
Delridge Playfield, 4458 Delridge Way SW
Hiawatha Playfield, 2700 California Ave. SW
Walt Hundley Playfield, 6920 34th Avenue SWLights will be turned off at the following grass fields at 11 p.m. on July 3rd and July 4th:
West Seattle Stadium, 4432 35th Ave. SW
In addition to turning on the lights, Parks says the fields will be “monitored” 9 pm-2 am.
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, July 3, 2025, the day before the Fourth of July.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly cloudy, then clearing, high around 70. Today’s sunrise was at 5:17 am; sunset will be at 9:09 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY AND TOMORROW
Metro buses – Regular schedule today. Sunday schedule on the holiday, with “extra late-night service.”
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. The route will run on a “weekend schedule” Friday.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; spring/summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, plus weeknights with Mariners home games (and some other events). Regular Friday day/night service on the holiday.
STADIUM ZONE
The Mariners continue their homestand tonight, with a 7:10 pm game against Kansas City, followed by fireworks.
HOLIDAY TRAFFIC ALERTS
-The Fourth of July Kids’ Parade crosses California SW near Hamilton Viewpoint Park, so there’ll be some waits there in the 10 am hour.
-Note that waterfront streets (Harbor, Alki Avenues) will be very congested late Friday night (the fireworks show from Lake Union is partly visible, and it’s at 10:15 pm).
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!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Before Mallory Carlson, a young mom of three, talked with us about the reason for our phone interview, she wanted to tell us about her love for West Seattle.
She moved here the first time at age 14, to live with an aunt and uncle. She attended Chief Sealth International High School.
The second time she moved here was the first time with her husband and their first child, a son who’s now 4 years old. They had to leave because her husband’s job search led them to California. “We’ll be back,” they promised each other. And this spring, they managed to return to what Mallory calls an “incredible community,” home to many members of her family.
It seemed like the first step into a warm, bright future. They had expanded their family with identical twin girls half a year ago.
And then, just weeks after their return to West Seattle … “this happened.”
That word, “this,” encompasses so much heartache … but also hope. Sisters Josie and Lucy were diagnosed with an aggressive type of leukemia that Mallory says affects only 100 babies a year – ALL. The girls are now two weeks into an experimental chemotherapy treatment that they will have to endure for nine months. And that’s if they’re lucky. That’s inpatient chemotherapy at the start of a two-year treatment plan, their mom explains.
“The girls are stable – but not doing well,” Mallory told us when we talked Tuesday afteroon. “At least, they’re not in danger of dying today. … For every day, we’re grateful, but this is truly terrifying.”
Mallory is a self-employed wedding photographer. She can’t work now for multiple reasons – not just the need to stay at Seattle Children’s Hospital with Josie and Lucy, but also because she has to limit her exposure to other people, for fear she’ll catch something and spread it to them. “If they catch a cold, it could kill them, so I’m trying to be incredibly careful.” Her husband has just started his new job and hasn’t accumulated paid time off, so he has to keep working so that they can cover mounting medical bills and keep the “fixer-upper” West Seattle house they’d bought before “this.”
So they are crowdfunding, painful in its own way for someone who says she’s never had to ask for help before, “but I have to put my pride away.” In addition to raising money, Mallory is also trying to raise awareness and end the stigma that invariably arises with the word “cancer.” If people don’t want to help her family, she says, maybe Lucy and Josie will inspire them to donate to a foundation researching childhood cancer.
Research has suddenly become a large part of the family’s life. The girls are part of a clinical trial right now – a trial that hadn’t begun when they were diagnosed, but, Mallory explains, was opened seven months early to admit them. It is a trial that expands the chemotherapy currently used to treat ALL.
How did they both get it? Because they shared a placenta, one spread it to the other, Mallory explains. Josie was the first diagnosed, and the double diagnosis drew researchers’ attention quickly, enabling them to get into the aforementioned trial. “It could save them, at least keep them in and no matter what happens to them, it could change medical history … (but) even if it doesn’t save them, I want to bring awareness to this awful, awful rare disease.”
Their care is estimated to cost $1 million per twin – per year. “We are doing everything we can, but this fight is bigger than us alone,” Mallory says. And bigger than two very little girls living in a hospital right now.
Here’s the crowdfunding/updates site set up by friends and family.
10:51 PM: Though much of what’s been reported to police as “possible shots fired” in recent nights has been fireworks, one tonight actually was gunfire: Officers just told dispatch they’ve found casings at 27th SW/SW Cambridge, near Roxhill Park. No injuries reported.
5:19 PM THURSDAY: The police summary reaffirms that no injuries were reported; no property damage either. Officers wrote that they recovered 10 casings “in the middle of the road.”
(WSB photos)
Tiara and Joshua Silas are about to open Fourth Emerald Games in the West Seattle Junction, upstairs from the breezeway, at 4517 California SW. The focus here is on electronic games, for sale (they buy games too), for rent, or to play on site in a lounge where you can reserve a spot – which they nicknamed “Emmies” – for $12/hour.
Tiara explains, “We have PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch installed at each Emmie, loaded with hundreds of games to play per console. People also have the option of renting one of our games from our retail area to try out (included in the price).” The space is new, but the business isn’t: “We initially began as an online store, and got tons of feedback from gamers saying how much they wish we were a physical location, so we had to give the people what they wanted! We really wanted to accommodate the late-night crowd as well.” The hours: 1 pm to 9 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, 1 pm to 10 pm Fridays and Saturdays, 11 am to 5 pm Sundays, closed Mondays. The name comes from a line in a Sonic the Hedgehog game, and you’ll see it – and Sonic – in this mural by the entrance:
The artist is Carlos Aguilar (@theydrift), who also has a mural downstairs at Rush Hour.
Tiara and Joshua have lived in West Seattle for two years, close to The Junction: “We fell in love with this community and when we started our business, we thought it would be the perfect location for not only proximity but a tight knit community as well. Being surrounded by other business, local restaurants, etc. just seems perfect for us!” This Saturday, July 5, is their grand opening; they’ll have a tournament under way, and are also planning one (Smash Bros.) for West Seattle Summer Fest the following weekend. P.S. Fourth Emerald isn’t a café or bar, but will offer “drinks and snacks.”
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
With summer heat arriving, and short nights, fire pits are becoming increasingly common. However, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and accidentally cause trouble for neighbors, or even get hurt. A WSB reader suggested we spotlight the rules – so here’s what we found out.
Fortunately, the Seattle Fire Department and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency have put together a set of rules for outdoor fires.
Before we break down the rules, it’s important to check if there’s a burn ban in effect. Anyone caught burning while a burn ban is in effect may be ticketed, and even prosecuted, according to the Department of Natural Resources. (There has been a stage 1 burn ban in place since Monday for all of unincorporated King County, though that does not affect recreational fires.)
There are two types of common outdoor fires, the first of which is a recreational fire. According to the Seattle Fire Department’s Outdoor Regulations and Prohibitions guide, recreational fires are any fires “for cooking, pleasure, religious, ceremonial or similar purposes” where the fire is “not contained in an outdoor fireplace, grill or barbecue pit.”
If you’re planning to use a recreational fire, there are several things you have to consider. First, recreational fires must be located at least 25 feet away from any structure or combustible material, and any conditions that could cause the fire to spread should be removed before starting the fire.
Second, you must always have fire extinguishing tools on hand, including a shovel, buckets of water, and a hose or fire extinguisher. Finally, at least one adult should tend to the fire until it is completely extinguished.
(Using a 5-gallon bucket – available at most hardware stores – and sustainably sourced firewood for an outdoor fireplace)
The rules for what you can and can’t burn are the same regardless of what kind of fire pit you have. Any fires meant to dispose of debris or burn garbage are not considered recreational and therefore prohibited. Only charcoal, dried firewood, and manufactured firelogs are considered acceptable fuel sources, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
The second type of outdoor fire is one inside a portable outdoor fireplace. Again, according to SFD’s guide, these “may be constructed of steel, concrete, or clay and may or may not be equipped with a short chimney.”
(The reporter’s own portable outdoor fireplace, made of steel)
Two things set this type of fire apart from a recreational fire. First, you must abide by any instructions given by the manufacturer of the portable fireplace. Second, if you live in a single-family home or a duplex, there is no minimum distance requirement for placing your fire pit, though you should always exercise caution and common sense.
(Here’s another example- an outdoor portable grill. You’d have to follow the same rules on fuel, placement, and safety for a grill that you would for an outdoor fireplace)
The summer is the perfect time to get outside, socialize, and throw parties, but as neighbors, it’s important to be considerate, which also extends to fires. Any fire that sends excessive amounts of smoke into a neighbor’s property, causes any type of property damage, or causes a nuisance should be swiftly put out.
If regulations are not being followed, the Seattle Fire Department can immediately extinguish a burn if it constitutes a fire hazard, and fines for illegal fires often start at $2,000, in addition to the cost required for SFD to extinguish the burn.
For more information about fire safety, including a full list of prohibited fuel sources and additional information about outdoor fires, check out SFD’s full Outdoor Regulations and Prohibitions guide.
Two Crime Watch notes this afternoon:
STREET ROBBERY: A woman was robbed in the 9000 block of 35th SW just after 8 pm last night, according to a police report. We obtained the narrative, which says the victim was outside an apartment building talking with several other people when a man walked up to her, demanded she give him money, then punched her in the head and threatened to kill her. A woman subsequently approached and kicked her in the ribs while trying to take her purse. The two left after stealing some cash from the victim, who did not want medical assisstance. The robbers are described as a Black man in his 50s, 6’6″, medium build, wearing a baseball cap and light-colored clothing, and an Asian woman in her 30s, 5’4″, heavy build. Police noted in their report that the nearby apartment building “does have video footage of the incident (but officers were told) by staff that they will only release video footage with a subpoena.”
MURDER SUSPECT’S WEST SEATTLE TIES: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that it has charged a man with murder in an Auburn shooting death a little over a month ago. Skimming the charging documents – sometimes a non-WS case will have a WS link – we recognized the suspect’s name, Kyree-Brian A. Jackson; he was arrested in Arbor Heights a little over a year ago after allegedly pointing a gun at people who tried to intervene in a suspected domestic violence incident in his car along a Fauntleroy street. As we noted at the time, Jackson had an extensive record and had just gotten out of prison six weeks earlier. He is now charged in an Auburn shooting death in late May that prosecutors describe as related to a gang dispute. Reading all the way to the end of the documents, the police report from the new case reveals that Jackson was taken into custody last Friday in West Seattle – at or near the state Department of Corrections field office on 35th SW just south of Morgan. His residence is listed on the police report as at an address in Kent. The victim in the Auburn murder case, 21-year-old Keivon Bias, was described as having been killed in an “ambush.” As far as we can tell from online records, Jackson was never charged in the Arbor Heights incident; there could be a variety of reasons for that, so we’re following up to see if police ever referred the case to prosecutors. His bail in the Auburn murder case is set at $5 million.
(Wednesday 7:03 pm update: KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney checked for us. Police indeed did not refer the case for a felony review. But it did go to the City Attorney’s Office, which filed two “unlawful use of weapons” charges. More than a year later, that case has yet to go to trial, with the next hearing planned later this month.)
We noticed while traveling Alki Avenue a few days ago that the awning signage was up for Do Si Korean BBQ, taking over the space vacated by Duke’s. So we’ve been working to reach the new restaurant’s operators to find out how soon they plan to open. We talked briefly this afternoon with managing partner Brian Hoang, who tells WSB that some “mechanical work” remains before they can get all the permits they need, so he is now expecting to open “late July, early August.” Do Si KBBQ already has a location in Kent. As we first reported three months ago, the menu will be similar to what Do Si offers there, but with a bigger beverage selection because this location has a bigger bar. If you haven’t had KBBQ before, it’s centered on grilling your own meat at the table
The home of West Seattle’s history might be where you discover some of your own history.
Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Elizabeth Rudrud told us the story of Chuck Burtch‘s visit to SWSHS’s Log House Museum. While chatting with the 93-year-old, she learned about his history in West Seattle, including his years working at Bethlehem Steel – the mill that’s now Nucor (WSB sponsor). Elizabeth picks up the story:
Chuck started working at Bethlehem Steel in 1958. He lived just up the hill from the plant. In 1977, he became the chief metallurgist. He was sharing his story and memories with me when I suggested we look in our catalog for photos of Bethlehem Steel from that era. We found several photos of the plant, his neighborhood, and yes – even a photo of him from the year he became chief metallurgist! We talked for a long time about his work and the plant and when other visitors came in, he was able to share his story with them – including the fact that we found a photo of him from almost half a century ago in our collections!
That photo is in this collage –
That’s Chuck above the center, in dark-rimmed glasses. After his visit, Elizabeth told managers at Nucor about it, and though she hadn’t gotten his contact info while he was there, she managed to track him down. So they subsequently arranged for him to visit the mill. That’s now happened, and Samantha Hogan at Nucor tells us it was quite a special occasion – she shared photos:
The first picture is a keepsake our teammate (Mark Hanson) made on our waterjet cutting table.
The second photo is Chuck with Kenny Lyons, a fourth generation Nucor teammate. Chuck worked with both of Kenny’s grandfathers and his father.
The last photo, from left to right, is our General Manager Mark Davis, Chuck, and current Chief Metallurgist Erik Nissen.
As a postscript, Elizabeth notes that the Log House Museum has come into possession of some other West Seattle steel history: “Just a week or so prior, we received a donation of a tool box from a machinist who worked at the factory in 1917. We have his tool box, tools as well as correspondence about a die set the artifact’s owner helped patent for what was then Pacific Coast Forge” – preceding the mill’s Bethlehem Steel days. (Nucor took over in 2003.) Some of the photos already in SWSHS possession include this early-20th-century aerial:
And a photo of Bethlehem Steel workers after their 1937 Salmon Derby:
That’s just a tiny fraction of the historic treasures the museum has. Ultimately, Elizabeth says, all this is a reminder of the connections that can be made from the present and future through the past, with the help of an organization like SWSHS. Whether or not you have deep local roots like Chuck, you’ll probably find something memorable at the Log House Museum, usually open to visitors noon-4 pm Fridays and Saturdays, at 61st SW/SW Stevens, one block inland from Alki Beach.
The balloon animal in the logo for this year’s West Seattle Fourth of July Kids’ Parade is more than a graphic – it represents one of the activities that await kids at Hamilton Viewpoint Park post-parade! We are now two days away from West Seattle’s biggest Fourth of July event, which usually brings more than 1,000 people to North Admiral. The parade, now presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, starts at 10 am Friday from 44th SW/Sunset SW [map]. No pre-registration necessary, just show up! This is a non-motorized parade, aside from Seattle Fire Engine 29, a police motorcycle escort, and the “community pickup truck” that usually lead off. At the 44th/Sunset gathering point, the national anthem will be sung by 12-year-old Lola Orza, and with the ringing of a ceremonial bell, the parade will proceed west/southwest to Atlantic, east on Atlantic, across California – this is what even non-participants should know: Police block traffic for the parade to cross California, so you might experience a delay if you’re traveling through that area during the 10 am hour on Friday (although last year the officers brought the parade across in multiple groups, punctuated by passage for waiting vehicles). At the park, local businesses and organizations will offer activities, and other highlights include sack races and public-safety vehicle tours. This year there’s an expanded lineup of food/beverage/treat trucks and carts (listed here). The park activities will end by 1 pm, and then it’s off to the rest of the holiday. The parade and activities are offered free of charge, but it’s a big cost to the ANA (from permits to porta-potties), covered in part by sponsors (listed here) and donations (here’s how to help).
(Hydrangea blossom, photographed by Janelle Otterholt)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly as featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PINT FOR A PINT: Blood drive today until 4 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th SW/SW Myrtle) with special gift – a pint of Seattle Sorbets – for donors. Check our calendar listing for link to see if spots are available.
SUMMER FOOD: As reported here Monday, there are multiple sites/times/days in West Seattle where kids can get breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks.
CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: The meeting that just began includes items related to Sound Transit’s in-city light-rail projects, including West Seattle. Here’s the agenda, which has all the document links. You can watch via Seattle Channel.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fauntleroy (this is a last-minute reminder, so set your calendar for next Wednesday morning if interested!).
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW)
CHAIR YOGA: 10:30 am weekly class at Dragonfly (3270 California SW): $20 drop-in.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day, 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: The open-every-day season continues at Lincoln Park‘s outdoor, heated salt-water pool! Noon-7 pm; see the session schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WADING POOLS: Open today – Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW) will be open noon-5:30 pm; Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) will be open noon-7 pm.
REJUVENATE YOGA: Weekly class at Viva Arts, 1:30 pm. Drop-in. $20. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: All levels welcome, 2-4:30 pm at The Missing Piece (35th/Roxbury).
‘WILD ROBOT’ READ-ALOUD CLUB: 1 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), starting today! Info here.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Got something that’s broken? Fix it instead of discarding it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
CRIBBAGE: New schedule for cribbage at West Seattle Eagles (4426 California SW), including 6 pm tonight.
CLASSIC SF BOOK CLUB: 6 pm at Paper Boat Booksellers (4522 California SW) – this month’s book is “Inverted World.”
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: All are welcome at the group’s weekly happy-hour meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW).
OPEN STUDIO AT POTTERINGS: 6 pm, get creative at the studio! (3400 Harbor SW)
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – all welcome.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
SOCCER: West Seattle Junction FC home match vs. Midlakes United, 7 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). “Kick Cancer Night.” Get tickets here.
KUNDALINI YOGA & GONG BATH: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio/Sanctuary (3618 SW Alaska), $35.
MUSIC BINGO: at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
REGULAR TRIVIA x 4: Four West Seattle trivia locations on our Wednesday list: Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) at 7 pm … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday trivia at 8 pm … Quiz Night also begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Your chance at centerstage – 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Something coming up that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As we mentioned last month, the West Seattle Art Tour is doubling this year, to two days, and organizers are working on the lineup now. The final deadline, for artists, is just days away, so here’s one more reminder:
West Seattle’s community-wide arts event is back – now a two-day event! Save The Date for Art, September 20th & 21st!
The West Seattle Art Tour returns on September 20- 21, 2025 (10 am – 5 pm) for its fourth year, and its first year as a two-day event. This free, self-guided tour features a full spectrum of high-quality art, a chance to meet and talk with artists, and the opportunity to purchase exceptional works of art, all while exploring West Seattle’s beautiful neighborhoods. This year, sites will be open for two days, allowing more time for visitors to see all of the locations.
Artists interested in participating will want to act quickly. Artist applications are due by July 6th. Artists can review event details, artist criteria, how to host and submit their application at: wsartwalk.org/west-seattle-art-tour
The West Seattle Art Tour is organized by local artists and art lovers with support from West Seattle Art Walk. Individuals interested in supporting the West Seattle Art Tour can reach out to WSArtHop@gmail.com
WSB is media sponsor for this year’s West Seattle Art Tour.
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, July 2, 2025, with the Fourth of July just two days away.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly sunny, high in the 70s,. Today’s sunrise was at 5:16 am; sunset will be at 9:10 pm.
ROAD WORK
-Gas work in Highland Park near Highland Park Way/Holden, according to Kay (we’ve received a notice of bus stop effects for the next 2 weeks too).
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – Regular schedule 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; spring/summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights, plus weeknights with Mariners home games (and some other events) … including, again, tonight:
STADIUM ZONE
The Mariners continue their homestand tonight, with another 6:40 pm game against Kansas City.
REMINDER FOR FRIDAY
The Fourth of July Kids’ Parade crosses California SW near Hamilton Viewpoint Park, so there’ll be some waits there in the 10 am hour.
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!
The scanner is hopping with “explosion” calls all around the peninsula. In this dry time of year, this is what can result, as just reported by Rose in Admiral:
Some jerks drove up to our traffic circle at the corner of 39th and Lander and deliberately threw a loud firework into the dry grasses, which caught fire. The flames consumed about a1/4 of the vegetation before my neighbors and I managed to put it out carrying bowls of water and a watering can because no one’s hose could reach that far. We had it out by the time the firefighters arrived (bless them). The police also arrived.
Thanks to Allyne Armitage for the photo looking south around sunset, as clouds gather – they’re in the forecast for the next few nights, but days are still expected to bring sunshine, including the holiday on Friday. Temperatures are also supposed to be a bit cooler – staying in the 70s – after 87-degree highs the past two days.
When the Seattle Public Schools Board convenes its next meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, July 2), they’ll hear from at least two people who want to express opposition to a district plan to move the Interagency Academy high-school program out of the “Old Roxhill Elementary” building at SW Roxbury and 30th SW. The district also is planning to move the BRIDGES Transition program, for young adults with developmental disabilities, out of the building. Those are the two major programs that the district placed in the “Old Roxhill” building (as explained here) after the Roxhill Elementary program moved to the historic, renovated EC Hughes Elementary building seven years ago. Here’s the letter sent to the BRIDGES and Interagency programs’ students, families, and staff in mid-June by district Chief of Staff Bev Redmond and Associate Superintendent Dr. Rocky Torres-Morales:
Earlier this school year, Seattle Public Schools leadership initiated a series of conversations with students, families, and staff at the Old Roxhill Elementary site, which currently houses some of the Interagency and BRIDGES programs. After careful consideration and in response to the input we received, SPS has developed a proposal to relocate both programs to different sites so that we can better support student learning, needs, and safety.
Starting in the 2025–26 school year, the following changes are being considered:
=Students enrolled in the Old Roxhill Interagency Southwest campus will transition to the Interagency Columbia site (3528 S. Ferdinand St.), a location and learning environment better suited to the program’s goals. Plans are also underway to determine a permanent location for the program in the Southwest region by the 2026-27 school year.
-Students in the Old Roxhill SW BRIDGES program will now attend the BRIDGES at Chief Sealth International High School program site (2600 SW Thistle St.), where they will benefit from being co-located with the resources of a comprehensive school campus. Students who were temporarily attending Old Roxhill SE BRIDGES during the Rainier Beach High School construction project will return to Rainier Beach High School.
As we continue to consider the impact of the move on students, staff, and families, we recognize transitions can bring both excitement and uncertainty. We are committed to ensuring a smooth and supportive move for each school community.
We are also ensuring the plan aligns with board policy. We are actively working with leadership teams at both receiving campuses to prepare for transition. You can expect to hear directly from your school principals with specific details about what to expect next and how to prepare. We appreciate your continued partnership and trust as we work together to create the best possible learning environments for all students. We will continue to listen as this plan is refined and finalized.
We’ve asked the district if that means the Old Roxhill building would be fully closed or whether it would be kept open for some other use; to date, we have not received an answer, only, “The plan to relocate the Interagency and BRIDGES programs at the Old Roxhill Elementary site is under consideration. As of now, this is just a proposal; there is additional work that needs to be done before the plan is final.” Though there was no elaboration on the “safety” concern voiced in the district’s letter, concerns were voiced after the building was hit by bullets earlier this year.and the building’s general condition was described as “deplorable” 13 years ago, with no major remodeling in the years since (just some seismic-retrofit work).
Back to what happens next: We’re still trying to find out; community members are signed up to speak at tomorrow’s board meeting though there’s no related matter on the board’s agenda.
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