West Seattle, Washington
06 Sunday
(File photo)
What used to be Bike to Work Day is now Bike Everywhere Day, and it’s coming up this Wednesday (May 14) – that’s a change too, since in past years it’s been on Fridays. One thing that isn’t changing: Morning riders are invited to stop at the west end of the path beneath the West Seattle Bridge, where West Seattle Bike Connections and friends will await you. From their announcement:
Homemade baked goods, coffee, and information on bicycling routes and planned improvements will be available, and local enthusiasts can answer questions about commuting, recreational cycling, and other biking issues. Local bike repair shops will provide simple, on-the-spot bike repairs.
That’s happening 6-9 am Wednesday. Then next Sunday (May 18), WSBC is co-sponsoring a Disaster Resilience Ride from South Delridge to demonstrate the role bicycles will have in case of catastrophe. From the announcement:
Sunday, May 18th is the 45th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption. This is an opportunity to remind ourselves to be prepared. With West Seattle Bike Connections and Seattle Emergency Hubs, we are demonstrating that day the connection between emergency hubs and the use of bicycles for navigating broken streets.
What: Disaster Resilience Ride
Where: Salvation Army, 9050 16th Ave SW
When: May 18th starting at 1 pm
Why: To show the need for bicycle response in the case of disaster that can leave roads impassable and automobiles restricted in movement as well as fuel sources.Using a network of Seattle Neighborhood Greenway bike routes, the 8-mile round-trip ride will visit several West Seattle emergency hubs and learn what their function is in case of a disaster. This is a family friendly ride.
No advance registration required for either of these events – just show up.
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Last Sunday, the Chief Sealth International High School Drama Company wrapped their spring production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” It was a moment of pride for the cast and crew, but also bittersweetness for the graduating seniors. For everyone, though, the predominant feeling was hope.
After spending many years without a theater program, Chief Sealth returned to the stage in 2023 with a production of “She Kills Monsters” (as reported here), a play written by Qui Nguyen. Since then, the Chief Sealth Drama Company has produced five shows. The theater program’s revival is thanks to BAYFEST Youth Theatre, a West Seattle-based nonprofit organization which runs K-12 theater programs across Seattle.
Reflecting on the experience, Satomi Giedeman, who played pianist Schroeder in last Sunday’s show, said it’s been a privilege to be in the program. “It’s changed big time,” said Giedeman, who’s been with the Chief Sealth Drama Company since the beginning. “This was by far the best production I’ve been in. Because the cast was so small, we got the chance to get really close together.”
(L-R: Rowan Loidhammer, Leena Nguyen, Satomi Giedeman, Josey Kent, Katie Ackers, Richie Nguyen – photos by Robert Shampain)
Echoing the sentiment were crew members Josephina Smith Matteucci and Georgia Palmer-Markham. As the Stage Manager and Assistant Stage Manager respectively, both of them are excited to see the program continue to grow. Palmer-Markham has also been with the program since 2023, and said the changes since then have been incredible. “For our first show, we didn’t even use the full stage,” she said. “The program has gotten so much bigger, and the community has kept growing and changing.”
Kekoa Dilay, who directed “Charlie Brown,” said it was great to work with such a small cast, especially with the increased support to the crew this year. Dilay, brought on by BAYFEST to direct the show, is a teaching artist and actor and the first out-of-school director for the drama program.
(Katie Ackers as Snoopy in ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’)
Supporting the program is a challenge BAYFEST has taken on enthusiastically over the last few years, and owner and founder Robert Shampain says they’re committed to expanding the program as much as they can. “There are lessons learned from each show, and we want to make sure that each year we’re stepping it up in terms of sets, costumes, and how things are organized.”
Someday, he hopes the program will become self-sufficient. “We’re really trying to focus on making the program sustainable, without needing outside nonprofits. We all believe it should be funded by the school.” It seems like things are going in that direction, as this year BAYFEST signed a contract with the Career Technical Education program to provide academic credit to students participating in the program.
(Rowan Loidhammer as Charlie Brown in ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ – p Robert Shampain)
There are big things on the horizon as well, including the upcoming intergenerational theater project, which we wrote about previously here. In short, the program has Chief Sealth students working alongside adults, with priority given to seniors, as part of a six-month program culminating in a final show in June. “The Intergenerational Theater Project is something I’m especially proud of,” Shampain said. “It’s bringing together senior adults and teens for an intergenerational project which is about more than acting, but also themes of intergenerational life together.”
If you’re interested in supporting the program, you can donate to BAYFEST Youth Theatre here.
(WSB file photo: All ages welcome at West Seattle 5K!)
We’re getting into the time of year when every weekend has something big happening, and next weekend it’s the West Seattle 5K! The run/walk leaves Alki/61st at 9:30 am next Sunday, May 18, headed to Luna/Anchor Park and back. This is another West Seattle tradition dating back to the ’00s; the West Seattle High School PTSA has been coordinating and benefiting from this waterfront run/walk since 2009. Bring the whole family, your neighbors, co-workers, classmates (organizers are especially encourage more students to run and have a friendly class vs. class competition set up) … strollers and dogs are often seen too. You can register online right now. The West Seattle 5K is powered by community co-sponsors, too (including WSB and more than two dozen other local businesses spotlighted here) – we’ll see you at the beach next Sunday!
This week brings multiple community meetings. Among them, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s every-other-month general gathering, 7 pm Tuesday (May 13), last one at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill) – here’s the summary of agenda highlghts we received:
SPD, a representative from Parks to update the Hiawatha project, and an appreciation for Admiral Church and all of its hospitality and contributions to the ANA as they prepare to leave their building in the coming months, as well as an update on their project.
(If you’re just catching up, Hiawatha Community Center has been closed for five years and is undergoing a strengthening/modernization work; Admiral Church is partnering with an affordable-homeownership organization to turn its campus into housing and a new church/community/space.) All are welcome.
From Aubbie in North Delridge:
Spotted this coyote just outside someone’s backyard at the intersection of SW Hudson, Puget Blvd SW, and 23rd Ave SW just now (10:45 am). Neighbors should get small pets inside.
Consulting our email for any unpublished recent sightings, we note that Darrick saw a coyote in the same area last Monday; the photo was too distant to tell if it was the same one. If you’re not already well-versed in coexisting with coyotes, you’ll want to read this.
Family and friends will gather Saturday, May 17, to celebrate the life of Mike Dey, longtime Fauntleroy community leader who died last month. Here’s the remembrance being shared with his community:
Michael Steven Dey died unexpectedly at his Seattle home on April 17, 2025. He was 74.
Mike was born in Stuttgart, Germany, where his father was the provost marshal of the US Army occupying force after WWII. During the war, his mother, Captain Margaret Dey, was one of General Eisenhower’s nurses. Mike returned stateside with his family in 1953, eventually ending up at Fort Lawton (now Discovery Park) in Seattle, where his father, then Colonel John Dey, served as commanding officer until his retirement.
After his 1968 graduation from Queen Anne High School, Mike earned a B.S. in biology and chemistry from Western Washington University. Several years of figuring out what he didn’t want to do led him to pursue and earn a Ph.D. in toxicology and pharmacology.
The summer after graduation from Western, Mike ran the boating program at YMCA Camp Orkila on Orcas Island, Washington, and had a summer fling with a co-worker, Susan Lantz. Their fling led to 52 years of love, best-friendship, and adventure together.
Mike had envisioned using his Ph.D. to launch a career in environmental toxicology but drastic federal funding cuts to environmental agencies compelled him to reconsider. The pharmaceutical industry proved to be a good second choice. Mike and Susan moved to the intersection of New York, Vermont, and Quebec, where he took a position as a bench scientist in drug development. After his work revealed unique components in a natural medication for menopausal hormone replacement therapy, he moved into executive positions, culminating in president of Wyeth Women’s Healthcare. His motto: “Do what’s right for women, and you’ll do what’s right for the company.” Post retirement, Mike kept his scientific interests alive by serving on the boards of several small companies started by colleagues.
He was a natural mentor and was always giving of his time. During his working years, he coached many young professionals. In retirement, he nurtured young people in his greater family, from high school through college and into their early careers. He also provided reassurance and guidance to family and friends as they wrestled with medical decisions.
Returning to the Pacific Northwest, Mike and Susan settled into the neighborhood where she had grown up. Serendipity brought them full circle to the house with the oak tree under which they had been married. They loved the closeness of the community and built many friendships in the course of advocating for neighborhood issues prior to and during his 12 years as president of the Fauntleroy Community Association.
Retirement gave Mike and Susan opportunities to follow their hearts, from hours boating and crabbing in local waters to entire summers exploring the remote coastline of northern British Columbia and the islands of Southeast Alaska. Days of seeing no other boats, or more whales than boats, and anchoring in the company of loons, ravens, and forest birds were the best.
Extended travels to the southern hemisphere during the winter months became their norm. Southern Africa, New Zealand, East Africa, Australia, and Central and South America offered many remarkable experiences. Learning firsthand about the culture, way of life, and hopes for the future from villagers in remote East Africa was especially memorable.
Mike’s life will be celebrated on May 17 at 4:00 at the Hall at Fauntleroy.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity for Washington habitatwa.org; West Seattle Food Bank westseattlefoodbank.org; White Center Food Bank whitecenterfoodbank.org; Public Broadcasting Service pbs.org; National Public Radio npr.org; or a charity of your choice.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
(Spiderlings in photographer Rosalie Miller’s West Seattle garden)
Mother’s Day is often quieter on the calendar as many families plan their own activities or stay home, but we still have some options for your Sunday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and previously published previews:
POST-GARAGE SALE DAY SALES: As noted at the end of our as-it-happened coverage of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday, some sellers said when they registered that they planned to sell today too. Use these numbers on our map to look up more details (and be aware that some may have changed their plan since registering):
Sale #26: 3205 SW 110th St
Sale #51: 7558 44th Ave SW
Sale #84: 5633 44th Ave SW
Sale #107: 5032 48th Ave SW
Sale #174: 5911 38th Ave SW
Sale #200: 7333 29th Ave SW
Sale #212: 9705 35th Ave SW
Sale #227: 8155 28th Ave SW
Sale #238: 3209 SW Juneau St
Sale #284: 9220 35th Ave SW
Sale #315: 1317 44th Ave SW
Sale #324: 2485 55th Ave SW
Sale #356: 5103 SW Waite St
Sale #362: 4732 49th Ave SW
Sale #375: 1111 Harbor Ave SW
Sale #395: 4016 47th Ave SW
Sale #396: 2237 California Ave SW
Sale #416: 3710 40th Ave SW
Sale #505: 4056 44th Ave SW
Sale #511: 844 SW 96th
Sale #518: 7943 11th Ave SW
Sale #526: 1600 SW Graham
Sale #539: 4712 25th Ave SW
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Today’s Sunday Funday run leaves from Realfine Coffee (35th/Kenyon), 9 am.
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Meet up with other players – all levels – 9:30-11:30 am at The Missing Piece. (35th/Roxbury)
MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND BRUNCH: La Chingona Taqueria (2940 SW Avalon Way; WSB sponsor) invites you to celebrate both days this weekend with 10 am-2 pm brunch featuring food, drinks, and live music.
VASHON ISLAND SPRING STUDIO TOUR: Catch a ferry and visit artists’ studios around the island 10 am-5 pm today, last day of the tour! Tour organizers are sponsoring WSB right now to amplify the free tour. Details in our calendar listing!
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, with spring produce (lots of greens! asparagus too) plus beverages, flowers, cheese, yogurt, fish, meat, prepared hot food, baked goods, nuts, dried peppers, garlic, candy, condiments, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
MASTER GARDENERS: While you’re at the market, look for Master Gardeners, ready to answer your questions! Sundays this spring and summer, they’re back at the market, 10 am-2 pm.
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am Sundays, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool to get something done? 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.
OPENING DAY FOR COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open again today during the first of six preseason weekends, noon-7 pm, with four hour-and-a-half swim sessions, each half lap swimming and half open swim – see the schedule here.
‘THE IDOLATRY OF WHITENESS’: Second session of six-week class at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), noon-1:15 pm. Details in our calendar listing.
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
MAKE A BANNER: West Seattle Indivisible is making a banner 1:30-4:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
HAND-BUILD A MUG: Workshop at The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), 2-4 pm, $50. “Create a mug and add color with slip.” Text Frances at 206-330-7027 to sign up or for more information.
LADIES’ MUSICAL CLUB: Bring Mom, and/or anyone else, to West Seattle (Admiral) Library for this free 3 pm concert themed “The Flute in Nature.”
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: End your weekend with 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 should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
4:55 AM: Seattle Fire has sent a sizable response to what they’re describing as a “residential fire” in the 4500 block of 36th SW [vicinity map]. Updates to come.
5:15 AM: Some responders are being dismissed, so this is winding down.
5:30 AM: SFD says the fire was in “a detached shed” and quickly controlled; no injuries reported.
MONDAY UPDATE: SFD says the fire was ruled of “undetermined” origin.
(WSB photos by Oliver Hamlin)
Hours after the aforementioned water-polo match, Colman Pool opened to the public for the first time this year. Noon today marked the start of this year’s first preseason weekend. Photojournalist Oliver Hamlin, who showed us a behind-the-scenes look at the outdoor saltwater pool’s final preparations, went back today. Above is Ed W., who’s been swimming at Colman Pool since he was 10, using the fastest lane today. Below, lifeguard Jude M. watches over the pool during this afternoon’s brief drizzle:
Jimmy, who was first to tip us when this year’s opening day was revealed, shared this observation: “Despite the chilly temperatures, there was a solid turnout — I counted around 32 lap swimmers in the water. No one was there for recreational swimming (understandably, given the cooler weather), but the lifeguards responded quickly to the lap lane demand and added a fifth lane, which was great to see.”
During the preseason, Colman Pool will be open to the public for four hour-and-a-half sessions between noon and 7 each Saturday and Sunday, until it starts 7-day-a-week operations in mid-June. If you’ve never been, it’s on the shore at Lincoln Park, and getting there requires walking, running, or rolling.
(WSB photos by Tracy Burrows. Above, WSHS’s Iris Christian)
By Tracy Burrows
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Friday night, the West Seattle High School girls’ water-polo team made history, playing in the first-ever high school water polo match at Colman Pool.
The girls won a thrilling match against Bellevue High School by a score of 9-8. The Wildcats led for much of the game, led by outstanding goalie play by Matty Ogle (above) and great passing work that opened up effective shots.
In the fourth quarter, Bellevue came storming back, tying the game 8-8 on a penalty shot. With 1 minute left, West Seattle’s Marlo Pietch (above) rocketed a shot into the goal and the team hung on to win, 9-8.
The West Seattle team is now tied for first place in their district — an outstanding achievement for this new sport at the school. After the game, Coach Steve MacKinnon said he was super proud of all the girls who played in this historic match. He noted that water polo’s popularity is growing. “That’s especially exciting for girls’ water polo, which hasn’t traditionally gotten as much attention,” he said.
The Junior Varsity team also won their game by a score of 7-4 against the Bellevue squad, powered by a flurry of scoring in the 4th quarter.
UPDATED TUESDAY WITH PHOTOS, SUMMARY COURTESY CSIHS BASEBALL
ORIGINAL SATURDAY REPORT: As mentioned here earlier, the Chief Sealth IHS Seahawks were due to play in the 2A district semifinals this morning at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. They emerged victorious, 11-1, over Sultan, and will play for the district championship at 7 pm Friday (May 16) vs. Nathan Hale, also at Steve Cox. And because they made it to the district championship game, they’re guaranteed a berth in the state tournament.
ADDED TUESDAY: Sent by Sealth athletic director/baseball head coach Ernest Policarpio:
Teo Perala (photo above) drove in four runs on two hits to lead Chief Sealth past Sultan 11-1 on Saturday. In the fifth inning, Perala hit a grand slam to left field in the fifth inning, part of a seven-run fifth inning for the Seahawks.
Seth Clark (photo above) led things off on the mound for Chief Sealth, giving up only four hits and one run over six innings, striking out four and walking none.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN BLUE ELANTRA: From Julia:
My car was stolen last night from SW Stevens and 53rd Ave near Schmitz Park. It is a 2012 light blue Hyundai Elantra, license plate CDV1250. It has two bumper stickers and dents on the side of the car from the last time this happened to me LOL. It will also be missing a door handle, presumably the driver’s side one. That was all that was left of it this morning. The incident number the officer gave me is 25-126107.
Call 911 if you find it.
SUITCASES TAKEN IN CAR BREAK-IN: We’re still missing some details on this, but if you happen to find strewn suitcases full of men’s clothing, they might be the ones Rick is looking for: “My car was broken into last night (Friday) and two suitcases of clothing were stolen dedicated to the Welcome Table (sponsored by the Westside Interfaith Network), for our guests, who are generally lower income or homeless.” When we find out (a) where the break-in happened and (b) what the suitcases look like, we’ll update.
SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Rick tells us, “The car burglary was in the Arbor Heights neighborhood, The two suitcases are black. One is full sized (wouldn’t be a carry-on} and the other smaller.”
That’s a photo from a volunteer helping out at the West Seattle Junction Post Office as letter carriers and volunteers sort the donations received during today’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive. It’s a nationwide food drive organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers every year on the second Saturday in May; you leave a bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox or slot, your carrier picks it up, and it’s destined for local food distributors like Food Lifeline. This morning, we got a call from a woman who identified herself as a local carrier and said she wanted us to convey thanks to everyone who donated – she explained that the carriers are no longer provided with thank-you cards, but wanted to express their gratitude for so much generosity.
(The online WSCGSD sale map is here … printable PDF list/guide is here … Scroll down for frequent updates!)
9:04 AM: The 20th-anniversary West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is on! Above all else, it’s a fun day of community connection, and what’s above is one of the most fun photos we’ve seen so far, Drew at Sale #162 (6038 49th SW) – one of the lemonade-stand sales listed here. … At least one sale is so exciting, it has people waiting in line:
That’s Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor), Sale #73, where Frank and team have a huge Garage Sale Day Sale every year, and one of our photographers noticed the crowd. … In Gatewood, multi-family Sale #150 (7800 39th SW) has “a lot of vintage table pieces,” our photographer reports:
Toward the south end of the WSCGSD map, Sale #1, the White Center Eagles‘ multi-seller site (10452 15th SW) is set up outdoors:
Vintage stuff we spotted there included classic sci-fi movies on VHS, and padded barstools … Meantime, just in via text:
Crazy Bob’s (#437, 3243 56th SW) is back! Look for the Snowman Tube Guy. Gnomes galore. New kites. New outdoor equipment!
9:58 AM: The second hour is about to begin! One of the big sale sites (all listed here) is Our Lady of Guadalupe (Sale #170, 7000 35th SW, in the gym) which has tons of baby/kid stuff, including these cribs:
At OLG, we’re told, “We have a ton of stuff and will be offering 50% off at the end of the day and possibly free items.” … In Arbor Heights, Amy‘s plant sale raising money to fight lung cancer – in honor of her mom Sue – is a WSCGSD tradition:
That’s Sale #27, 3703 SW 107th. … Also in the south end, the Community School of West Seattle (Sale #530, 9450 SW Roxbury) is having its first collective sale in years:
Turning north, here’s another WSCGSD tradition, the art glass extravaganza (Sale #302, 3241 47th SW)!
Also on 47th (4142, to be specific), Sale #413 is highlighted by a bake sale raising money to fight breast cancer, and they had quite a crowd when we visited:
Same block has other sales – including more baked goods at 4111 47th SW, Sale #517 – the Scout Troop 284 fundraiser:
Looking for chairs? Here are options! Iris sent this photo from Sale #298 at 4333 SW Hudson:
11 AM: Hour three of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day begins! Here’s a combination business/fundraiser sale, at Potter Construction (5639 California SW; WSB sponsor), Sale #50, they’re donating proceeds to the West Seattle Rotary Foundation:
(Our photographer just came back to HQ with a $10 office chair from that sale!) … Also on the fundraiser beat, Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby has a benefit sale in Highland Park, 7755 12th SW (Sale #550), to help pay for competition trips, with skates and a bike among the merchandise:
As mentioned in our daily highlight list, the skaters have a home bout tonight, too! … Got young shoppers with you who need a play break? Tilden School (out back of 4105 California SW; WSB sponsor; Sale #333) is positioned as a “Rest Stop” for families – our photographer reports, “Games for the kids, including cornhole, along with refreshments for sale and a few items, including vintage school chairs.”
There are also activities inside Combat Arts Academy (5050 Delridge Way SW; Sale #545) – and unique merchandise, even tie-dyed martial-arts apparel:
Historic Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) is raising money again this year with a Swap ‘n’ Shop sale featuring music equipment, records, and guest DJs all day:
Records – as in vinyl – are also a hot item at Sale #360, 1738 Alki SW:
A different kind of hot – just in from Sale #153 at 9640 42nd SW:
We still have a great Weber Kettle with plenty of fun accessories for pizza and smoking. Someone out there in West Seattle is probably needing this! :)
12:04 PM: WSCGSD enters hour 4! If you haven’t been to the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse multiseller site yet (out back at 9131 California SW, Sale #96), the primary goal is to raise money for a new van for Fauntleroy Children’s Center:
Also fundraising in Fauntleroy, this crew at Sale #88, 4313 SW Concord – Tricia explains it’s “for Seattle Children’s Hospital in the fight against AML.”
Looking for Mother’s Day gifts? Eddie sent this photo:
My daughters and her friends working our garage sale location #130. They have been working for several weeks creating hand-made jewelry for the garage sale. Bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and more.
They’re at 8812 39th SW. … We’ve encountered a lot of music-related merchandise today. This is part of the layout at the sale nearest to WSB HQ, at 8237 California SW (Sale #156):
A big part of Community Garage Sale Day is the spirit. Sellers at 8647 Delridge Way SW (Sale #563) had plenty of that when we stopped by (lemonade and hot dogs too):
1 PM: In The Junction, the California/Genesee sale (#431) is always popular. You never know what Mike (who sent the photo), John, and friends are going to have:
This is right across Genesee from the multi-seller Hotwire Coffeehouse site (4410 California SW; #431). … Elsewhere – Barbies, anyone?
Kristin sent the photo from Sale #293 (5707 SW Bradford). … Update from the Our Lady of Guadalupe sale (#170, 7000 35th), everything is now half-off and cribs (see pic above) are still available … Another update: We checked back at Thunder Road Guitars (Sale #73), where we showed the pre-opening line in the early going. Proprietor Frank Gross remains exuberant:
He told us that along with deals inside the store, there’s a large selection of discounted guitars and other equipment in the parking lot behind the store.
1:35 PM: Just under an hour and a half left to shop and sell! Sale #38 outside Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle) is a benefit for the Chief Sealth IHS Gymnastics Team:
At Sale #538 in South Delridge (8124 18th SW), the description mentioned an art show of small clay sculptures – here they are:
Meantime, more enterprising young sellers .. via text, we received this photo and report:
Plant and 3-D-printed fidget sale run by 1st graders at 5636 47th SW (site #98).
And at Sale #94 (5646 46th SW), a mango lassi stand!
2:10 PM: Final (official) hour! Among some photos sent in the early going, this one from Sale #403 (3628 61stS SW) offered an unusual collection:
“Nerf gun arsenal” is how Liam described all that … Not far from there, Sale #457 at 1338 Alki SW is a five-family sale:
And if you’re going to Alki, for sales or otherwise, you might see orcas – Kersti Muul tells us a group is in Elliott Bay again today!
2:50 PM: A seller on Alki comments below that they just experienced some rain. Definitely wasn’t in the forecast, and the radar suggests it was a brief shower with nothing behind it … If you want to keep shopping even though official WSCGSD hours are ending, we’ve made a list of sales that planned to continue tomorrow (Sunday, May 11), at least when they registered and sent in their description:
Sale #26: 3205 SW 110th St
Sale #51: 7558 44th Ave SW
Sale #84: 5633 44th Ave SW
Sale #107: 5032 48th Ave SW
Sale #174: 5911 38th Ave SW
Sale #200: 7333 29th Ave SW
Sale #212: 9705 35th Ave SW
Sale #227: 8155 28th Ave SW
Sale #238: 3209 SW Juneau St
Sale #284: 9220 35th Ave SW
Sale #315: 1317 44th Ave SW
Sale #324: 2485 55th Ave SW
Sale #356: 5103 SW Waite St
Sale #362: 4732 49th Ave SW
Sale #365: 6606 SW Admiral Way
Sale #375: 1111 Harbor Ave SW
Sale #395: 4016 47th Ave SW
Sale #396: 2237 California Ave SW
Sale #416: 3710 40th Ave SW
Sale #505: 4056 44th Ave SW
Sale #511: 844 SW 96th
Sale #518: 7943 11th Ave SW
Sale #526: 1600 SW Graham
Sale #539: 4712 25th Ave SW
3:12 PM: Texter says Fauntleroy Schoolhouse/Children’s Center sale (Sale #96, 9131 California SW) still has lots left and is now “pay what you want.”
Yes, some garage sales do happen in garages ..
That’s from Lisa at Sale #356, and this is from Bobby at Sale #59:
Those are two more of the preview pics we received from sellers (see others, featuring unique items, by scrolling through this archive) leading up to today’s marquee event:
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY: This isn’t just any old WSCGSD, it’s the 20th anniversary, and it’s another record-setting list of sales. More than 570 sellers signed up. As is the case every year, we’ve had some last-minute cancellations; the numbers are in the updates and links atop the WSB page where you’ll find the clickable map (if you’d rather use the printable PDF guide/list, find that here). Sales are all over the peninsula, all sizes, all types; official sale hours are 9 am to 3 pm, but some start early, some end late, some even plan to continue tomorrow. See the sale descriptions as well as locations on both versions of the map, and even if you just stroll to the sale nearest you, have a great day! We’ll start as-it-happens coverage at 9.
Now, today’s other West Seattle happenings – mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SET OUT YOUR BAG FOR ‘STAMP OUT HUNGER’: Every year, besides West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, the second Saturday in May also brings “Stamp Out Hunger,” the National Association of Letter Carriers‘ door-to-door food drive. Fill a bag with nonperishable food – the special blue bag, if you got one with your mail this week, or another other sturdy bag – and put it by your mailbox/mail slot early this morning.
CRAFT FAIR AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 8 am-2 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), as part of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (#61!), browse and buy craft creators’ work.
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) at 8 am for the free weekly group run.
FREE FIT4MOM CLASSES AT ALKI: Three events this morning, including a Family Fun Run at 7:30 am – details in our calendar listing.
HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free community meditation, 9 am at Inner Alchemy‘s sanctuary/studio (3618 SW Alaska)..
INTRODUCTORY WALK: First of two sequential weekly walking events – meeting at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, first at 9:30 am for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: The second event is this walk in which you can participate regardless of whether you were on the introductory stroll. Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy.
MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND BRUNCH: La Chingona Taqueria (2940 SW Avalon Way; WSB sponsor) invites you to celebrate both days this weekend with 10 am-2 pm brunch featuring food, drinks, and live music.
MASTER GARDENERS: They’re out again in the community, ready to answer your questions! Saturdays this spring and summer, they’re at The Home Depot (7345 Delridge Way SW), 10 am-2 pm.
KENYON HALL SWAP & SPIN: 10 am-3 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW). Record sale, local DJs, “lunch on the lawn” by neighbors The Locöl!
VASHON ISLAND SPRING STUDIO TOUR: Visit artists’ studios around the island 10 am-5 pm today and tomorrow! Tour organizers are sponsoring WSB right now to amplify the free tour. Details in our calendar listing!
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am – “This is a free, weekly, in-person active writing group grounded in the Amherst Writers and Artists method. It is a safe, critique-free space. Writers of all levels welcome, 16 and up.” Our calendar listing has location and RSVP info.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), stories and songs for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW)
OPENING DAY FOR COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) opens today for the first of six preseason weekends, noon-7 pm, with four hour-and-a-half swim sessions, each half lap swimming and half open swim – see the schedule here. (And see our behind-the-scenes photos here.)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: Explore the present and past at the home of West Seattle history, open for your visit, noon-4 pm – see the newest exhibit, about the West Duwamish Greenbelt! (61st/Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER OPEN: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
SHOE LAUNCH: Visit Carmilia’s noon-4 pm and see these new shoes for yourself! (4528 California SW)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
FREE MASSAGE: Walk into Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) 3-5 pm for short, specific free massage.
WEST SEATTLE INDIVISIBLE: General meeting, 4 pm at The Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
SOUTHSIDE REVOLUTION JUNIOR ROLLER DERBY: Bout night at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW), 4:15 until 8 pm-ish. Get your ticket(s) here.
LIVE AT C & P COFFEE: 6-8 pm, Riley Majzun performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all ages, no cover.
CHARCUTERIE WORKSHOP: Join Boards by Erica at Mr. B’s Mead Center (9444 Delridge Way SW) at 6 pm to learn how to make charcuterie, while sipping on crisp mead. Check here for remaining tickets.
CHORAL CONCERT: The Boeing Employees Choir sings for you tonight at 7 at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), $10 suggested donation.
MONSTERWATCH LIVE AT EASY STREET: Album-release show! 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), free, all ages.
LIVE, BUT NOT MUSIC, AT THE SKYLARK: Quizfix Presents: Draft Night – THE DUNDER MIFFLIN DRAFT!, doors at 7, game at 7:30, all ages, admission = donation to Skylark Relocation Fund. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: Saturday spinning starts at 9 pm – tonight it’s Soul Focus FM at Revelry Room. (4547 California SW).
MACHINE LEARNING DANCE NIGHT: 9 pm-2 am at The Lumber Yard (9630 16th SW) in White Center.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Saturday night singing, 10 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Got a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
West Seattle High School‘s softball team is headed to the district tournament after finishing the Metro League tournament in sixth place. That’s where the Wildcats wound up after a win and a loss at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex on Friday, beating Seattle Prep 14-7 in the afternoon, then losing 6-5 to Holy Names in the evening. Their first district game will also be at NCSWAC (2801 SW Thistle), 4 pm Monday (May 12). … Also Friday night at NCSWAC, WSHS baseball scored a win, 1-0 over Bishop Blanchet. Their next Metro tournament game is 4 pm Monday at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (1321 SW 102nd), vs. Eastside Catholic. … And Steve Cox is where the Chief Sealth International High School baseball team plays Sultan at 10 am today in the 2A district semifinals.
You might find a true treasure at a tiny sale on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day tomorrow (Saturday, May 10, 9 am-3 pm, map here, printable list here). But just in case your shopping time is short – here are most of the big sales (you’ll also find some “block sales” in the guide, in addition to the following):
#1 – White Center Eagles
#27 – annual lung-cancer-fighting plant sale
#44 – EOS Apartments
#61 – C & P Coffee Craft Fair
#70 – The Kenney
#82 – another annual tradition, Delta Kappa Gamma
#86 – Hazelwood Preschool
#96 – Fauntleroy Schoolhouse/Children’s Center
#115 – Maarten Park
#170 – Our Lady of Guadalupe (which sent the pic above with some of what’ll be in the gym)
#180 – Cub Scout Pack 799 at VFW Hall
#253 – Brownie Troop 41268 with 19 families participating
#302 – annual Art Glass sale
#314 – Admiral Church
#333 – Tilden School north of The Junction, offering a “rest stop” for shoppers who need a break
#355 – Hotwire Coffeehouse courtyard
#514 – Wanderlust Nursery
#530 – Community School of West Seattle
#545 – Combat Arts Academy (also offering face-painting and an obstacle course for kids)
Find the location and description of any of those sales (or any others) by clicking on their line on the list at the right side of the map page. You can also click on any map marker to open its infobubble with address and description. We’ll of course be publishing as-it-happens coverage starting right at 9 am. Before you start the day – whether selling or shopping – check the map page for updates such as the list of last-minute cancellations and links to all the lists we’ve published. And let us know if you encounter any great discoveries! westseattleblog@gmail.com (be sure to include the sale #) or text 206-293=6302. We wish everyone successful selling and shopping!
Thanks to Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio for the report and photo:
Congratulations to the Chief Sealth 2025 Washington Athletic Club /101 Club award winners:
Winners were Micah Policarpio, Jay Johnson, and Xavier Nguyen; Riley Yup, Hannah Mueller, and Allison Ohta
The WAC & 101 Club Awards honor 3 boys and 3 girls from each school who have athletic & academic achievements.
Earlier, Kersti Muul told us, a humpback whale was hanging out off Pier 70 on the north downtown waterfront. Now “a baleen whale” – possibly that humpback – is reported off Anchor/Luna Park in West Seattle. Let us know if you see it!
Police are just now being dispatched to a crash scene in the 6700 block of West Marginal, though it happened more than an hour ago. A driver hit and knocked down a tree, according to dispatch and a tip we received. Dispatch tells officers that the driver’s parent picked them up and took them to an emergency room; the car is still there, though police are now calling for a tow.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In a White Center warehouse full of baby and kid gear from diapers to car seats, two elected officials and others gathered this morning to decry the president’s tariffs as “Trump’s Baby Tax.”
WestSide Baby‘s warehouse hub was the setting for U.S. Senator Patty Murray and King County Executive Shannon Braddock (a former WS Baby board member) to warn about the bite tariffs will take out of young families’ budgets, among others.
“The baby tax is not just expensive, it’s dangerous,” warned Sen. Murray, first elected 33 years ago as a “mom in tennis shoes” (and sporting that type of footwear for the occasion, as was Braddock).
She urged anyone and everyone concerned to urge Congress to take back its power over tariffs, which she said are not supposed to be something presidentially decreed.
Braddock noted the recent presidential comment that tariff costs might just mean a kid gets “2 dolls instead of 30,” and observed that many families can’t afford any gifts. “Working families should not be collateral damage in a trade war … we need a federal government that works for us, not against us.” Here’s the entirety of how she and Sen. Murray opened the briefing:
Allie Lindsay Johnson, starting her second year as WS Baby’s executive director, said the nonprofit that assists tens of thousands of families has already noticed many baby-item brands raising their prices. But “car seats, strollers, cribs are not luxuries, they are absolute necessities.”
But, Sen. Murray observed in her opening remarks, most of them are made in China, currently facing a 145% tariff as ordered by the president. Lindsay Johnson suggested at least “tariff exemptions” should be considered for items like these.
Speakers also included a Ballard store owner who said her suppliers were trying to hold off major prices as long as they could but can’t hold off much longer, and a mom of four, ages 1 through 14, holding her youngest, saying she wanted to speak out “because if not me, who?”
In Q&A, we asked Lindsay Johnson for more specifics on what WestSide Baby has noticed so far. She named several manufacturers/suppliers. We and another reporter also asked Sen. Murray for specifics on what Congress could do and what people could do to express their opinions:
Afterward, we also asked Lindsay Johnson about any other financial hardships they had faced or expected to face as a result of changes in D.C. She said that half of WS Baby’s bulk diaper purchases are federally funded and the grant covering that for a few more months is not likely to be renewed.
Meantime, this is the bipartisan bill to which Sen. Murray referred, co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
Looking for plants? West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (tomorrow – Saturday, May 10, 9 am-3 pm) has sales for you!
That’s the photo sent to us by Sale 386, one of 28 sales mentioning plants, along with 15, 27, 43, 51, 62, 72, 76, 87, 101, 120, 186, 213, 369, 384, 387, 406, 407, 408, 464, 500, 514, 527, 538, 552, 566, 571, 572. Or if you need something for your plant(s) to grow in …
Those cedar planters are part of a woodworker’s sale, #144. Two other sales promise planters – 256 and 572. Whatever you’re seeking, somebody probably is selling it – amid the stuff (24 sale descriptions use that word), knickknacks (10 sales), tchotchkes (2 sales), bric-a-brac (1 sale), or “junk” (6 sales). Explore the map here (where you’ll also find the link to the printable list/guide).
One more note – if you’re selling kid/baby stuff (dozens are!) and have any leftovers, WestSide Baby tells us today they’ll have donation bins outside for dropoffs – their HQ is a big warehouse-type property at 10002 14th SW in nearby White Center. (Any other nonprofits interested in donations of unsold items, let us know so we can mention that!)
Still more previewing to do – and you can scroll through our past previews and other pre-sale coverage by going here. WSCGSD has been a tradition on the second Saturday in May since 2005 – coordinated by WSB since 2008.
(WSB photo, April 23)
When we covered SDOT‘s South Delridge/Westwood walking tour last month, looking at routes where the Transportation Levy might fund new sidewalks/walkways, a plan was mentioned for a May 21 walking tour in Highland Park. Now SDOT has asked us to share the official announcement:
Building Sidewalk and Walkway Connections
Want to see new safe places to walk in the Highland Park neighborhood? Thanks to the Seattle Transportation Levy we can build at least 10 blocks of new sidewalk or walkway in Highland Park. Please join us for a neighborhood walk and share with us where you would like to see new walkways and/or sidewalks.
Date: Wednesday May 21st, 2025
Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
Location: Gather at Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton St) in the covered area of the playground, and then walk the neighborhood with us!
Kids are welcome!
Rain or Shine
Here’s the announcement flyer.
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