West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories


  • Whales

    WHALE-WATCHING: Southern Residents at dusk

  • Fire

    CAMP LONG: Help rebuild the history

  • Holiday Guide

    WS HOLIDAY GUIDE: See what’s in it!

Today/tonight: Blue Angels leave; Night Out; High Point garden
August 4, 2009 6:30 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Blue Angels | High Point | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

(iPhone photo taken during final Blue Angels flyby Sunday, north of Boeing Field control tower)
BLUE ANGELS’ DEPARTURE: Finally found some ballpark time info, for anyone else interested in seeing them leave: Len Anderson IV — aka @lead_solo on Twitter, a former Blue Angels pilot traveling with the group and providing behind-the-scenes info, came through again: He says Blues 1-7 are scheduled to leave Boeing Field around noon today; check his Twitter page for the latest. Their next stop: The California International Airshow in Salinas (near Monterey/Carmel).

NIGHT OUT: Neighborhoods all around West Seattle will close their streets and get together for block parties during tonight’s annual Night Out celebration, in the name of building bonds and fighting crime. We’ll be reporting “live” as it happens, thanks to the dozens of WSB’ers who answered our second annual call for locations we can visit. If you’re not participating – since arterials aren’t eligible for block-party shutdowns, you shouldn’t find any major traffic effects, though your favorite side-street route might be off-limits for a few hours.

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN: Lots of rave reviews since this once-a-week produce stand opened last month. 4:30-7 pm today, 32nd/Juneau (map), fresh and reasonably priced produce grown in the gorgeous “market garden” right by the stand.

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Applaud the kids: “Frog and Toad” at ArtsWest starting tomorrow
August 4, 2009 4:33 am
|    Comments Off on Applaud the kids: “Frog and Toad” at ArtsWest starting tomorrow
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Not everyone is taking August off. For example – consider the two troupes of ArtsWest Summer Musical Adventure Theater Campers who are getting ready to put on a show for you: Young performers 8-12 years old, staging “A Year with Frog and Toad, Kids” tomorrow through Sunday. There are two groups – “FROG Group” will perform at 7:30 Wednesday and Friday and 3 pm Saturday; “TOAD Group” puts on the show at 7:30 Thursday and Saturday and 3 pm Sunday. Read about the show on ArtsWest’s website; you can buy tickets online.

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Admiral Theater show this Friday: “Bombay rockers” Manooghi Hi
August 4, 2009 2:32 am
|    Comments Off on Admiral Theater show this Friday: “Bombay rockers” Manooghi Hi
 |   Announcements

Here’s what’s up this Friday night at The Admiral:

If Gandhi met Madonna for tea and had afternoon schnapps with Led Zeppelin, THAT would be Manooghi Hi.

Seattle’s Bombay-rock band Manooghi Hi, featuring Mumbai native Mehnaz, puts forth music of “a different color.” On Friday, August 7th at 8:00 p.m. at West Seattle’s, ADMIRAL THEATER, come see the group that “brings their mix of ‘Bombay-Rock’ mixing classical, pop, and spiritualism with shades blending East and West influences which Seattle Times reviewer Jonathan Zwickel calls “a new genre of cross-pollination that’s “dizzying”.”

The group is fronted by Mehnaz who sings in several languages using her unique training and ability rhythmic style called Tabla Boli. Coupled with each band member’s range of experience, the music lends itself effortlessly to many varied tastes without boundaries. Read a recent Seattle Times article on this amazing group here.

Following the group’s performance at 9:00 p.m. the theater will screen the award-winning dramedy “Rock On.”

It’s the story of 4 boys who put together the greatest band their country had ever seen, but never quite made it. Ten years pass and fate conspires to bring them together again and set them on a journey back to where they left off… a soul-searching pilgrimage into their past. The series of live concerts took place in Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata.

The film won 8 awards and scored four nominations for Best Male newcomer Farhan Akhtar and best supporting actor, Arjun Rampal. It was also nominated for best actress, best cinematography and best film.

It’s rated PG-13. Tickets are $10.00 for the concert only, 8.00 for the
film only and a discounted $15.00 for both. Tickets are pre-sold through
Brown Paper Tickets. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/73144 and at the door on August 7th.

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West Seattle food: Meet Mashiko’s proprietor, sushi trailblazer
August 3, 2009 11:17 pm
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | West Seattle video

West Seattle’s Mashiko is drawing regional attention and accolades for the recent revelation it’s about to focus on “sustainable sushi.” WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli had previously interviewed Mashiko proprietor Hajime Sato for this closeup look we’re sharing now:

Story, photos and video by Christopher Boffoli
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

About one in four restaurants will close or change ownership within their first year of business, according to a study cited in a 2007 issue of BusinessWeek. Over three years, that number rises to three in five. Even in the best economic times, opening a restaurant can be a risky venture.

But while the recession has taken its toll on West Seattle restaurants, cited in closures such as Ama Ama and Beato, many others continue to thrive.

This September, Mashiko will celebrate its 15th anniversary in The Junction. But ask Chef/owner Hajime Sato the secret to his success in the restaurant business, and he’s likely just to shrug his shoulders and smile. “I wish I knew the secret,” he told me recently. “Sometimes I wish I had a retail shop selling clothing. It keeps longer than sushi items.”

Watch and listen to Sato tell part of his story:

When Sato opened Mashiko in the heart of the Junction on September 1, 1994, he chose the location not as part of some artful business plan, but rather:

Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 1 break-in, 1 set of people “casing”
August 3, 2009 8:14 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two reports to share tonight – one about a break-in whose victims are “baffled,” another about people casing cars in a local alley – read on:Read More

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West Seattle outdoor concerts: 2 coming up this week!
August 3, 2009 5:40 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle outdoor concerts: 2 coming up this week!
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

From a Mercer Island gig last fall, that’s Swamp Soul, the Cajun/Zydeco band that’s on a double bill with Neil Young tribute band Ragged Glory at this Thursday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show. Third one so far and both have drawn hundreds – it’s a big lawn, though, so plenty of room, even if you can’t get there till the last minute. 6:30 pm, east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center. Then on Friday night, Providence Mount St. Vincent starts its four-week Summer Concerts at The Mount series, and has rejoined WSB as a sponsor to promote the shows, which also are free. First up, this Friday, it’s the Duwamish Dixieland Jazz Band, seen here in a June performance:

The DDJB opened last year’s Summer Concerts at The Mount, too. Food goes on sale (as does beer/wine) at 5 pm, music at 6; special activities will be available for kids, too. Go here for the full schedule of the four-week series at The Mount, and here for the full schedule of the remaining four weeks of the six-week series at Hiawatha. (Bring your own chair/blanket for both.)

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Reservoir-waterproofing re-do update: Myrtle work this week
August 3, 2009 4:25 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

We didn’t see them on the job yet when we took that photo earlier this afternoon, but crews are expected back at Myrtle Reservoir (map) this week to resume pressure-washing to remove the leaky waterproofing “membrane” material (a problem first reported in this in-depth WSB report three weeks ago). A new update from Seattle Public Utilities says this will be done by Wednesday. The update also says the membrane removal is complete at Beacon Hill Reservoir, the other site with the leaky-waterproofing problem, and that the contractor will start “installing the new waterproofing system on the east half of the reservoir”; that work will be followed, according to SPU, by the waterproofing of Myrtle – which is much smaller than Beacon – and then the west half of Beacon. As SPU told us last month, the waterproofing they’ll use is a “hot asphalt” process. Once it’s done, it’ll be tested, then drain pipe and drain rock will be replaced, followed by topsoil and hydroseeding. SPU adds:

During the course of this work, either Myrtle or Beacon Reservoir may be taken out of service. Water service will not be impacted. Until the work is completed, the two reservoirs will remain fenced off.

The work is expected to be completed at the end of November. Myrtle Reservoir and the area over the Beacon Reservoir will be ready to be turned over to the Parks Department at that time. Construction of the Jefferson Park Expansion Project by Parks Department has already begun on the north end of the Beacon site.

As reported here July 24, the waterproofing re-do is expected to cost more than $4 million; the city has said it expects that ratepayers ultimately will not pick up the tab – though it hasn’t yet been determined who’s to blame for the leaks – and also has pointed out that the $150 million reservoir-covering program citywide is overall $15 million under budget. Meantime, the design for the future Myrtle Reservoir park can be seen here.

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Photos: Hundreds gather to remember teacher Lynn Barnicle
August 3, 2009 3:00 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Arbor Heights Elementary teacher Mark Ahlness for sharing photos from Sunday’s Camp Long memorial in honor of his fellow AH teacher Lynn Barnicle. As reported here last week, leukemia took Ms. Barnicle’s life a week earlier; she was just 50 years old. Friends, family and colleagues were invited to the park to share memories as well as music:

Mark shares:

Many spoke about her caring and loving life, filled with passion for exploring, learning, teaching, and creating. It was truly moving to see and speak with so many who were touched by her life, and every person there felt blessed to have had that experience. Her brother spoke about one of her favorite poems, which she would be very happy to know that people were reading, “The Peace of Wild Things” by Wendell Berry.

You can see Mark’s Flickr set with other photos here; some have been added to this website where she and others had written during her leukemia battle. It’s expected that a memorial will be held at the school in the fall as well, so that students can pay tribute to the beloved fifth-grade teacher.

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Seattle Police point out this is “Stop on Red Week”
August 3, 2009 2:17 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(February 2009 WSB photo)
West Seattle has two of the city’s two-dozen-plus red-light cameras (35th/Thistle and 35th/Avalon), and Seattle Police have just issued a news release pointing out — as part of “Stop on Red Week” — that those are two of many reasons why NOT to run a red light – read on:Read More

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Join a group garage sale, while helping the Duwamish Tribe’s fight
August 3, 2009 12:33 pm
|    Comments Off on Join a group garage sale, while helping the Duwamish Tribe’s fight
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

Thinking of a garage/yard sale, but no room at your house, not sure you want to advertise your address, etc.? Here’s an option: Jolene Williams sends word that the 1st annual Duwamish Community Garage Sale is set for Saturday, August 15th, and you’re invited to come “sell your stuff and make some extra money!” Spaces are free, first come/first serve; 10 percent of sales will go to the Duwamish Tribe Legal Fund (they’re fighting for federal recognition in Congress and in court). On sale day, tribal chair Cecile Hansen‘s famous fry bread will be available, as will the tribe’s legendary salmon lunch. 9 am-6 pm August 15th, Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle (4705 West Marginal Way SW; map); questions? Call 206-431-1582.

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Skillet confirms that West Seattle’s off its schedule TFN
August 3, 2009 11:43 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

We mentioned this briefly as a side note in yesterday’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market update, after WSB’er John reported what he’d found out – but now we have confirmation directly from Skillet Street Food‘s Josh Henderson that West Seattle is off their schedule “for the foreseeable future”:

We are pretty swamped with private events, and Aug and Sept are just crazy…so we are leaving Sundays open for the foreseeable future…could change..but for now that is what we have to do… but thanks so much for checking in, we love the West Seattle folks and hopefully they can track us down in other parts of the city.

Elsewhere on the street-food beat, Marination Mobile is in its second month of Saturday 11 am-2 pm visits to High Point (35th/Graham; map). P.S. Since food is perennially one of the hottest topics in the WSB Forums, it now has its own section – West Seattle Food. It’ll take a while to recategorize all the archived discussions that belong there (previously they were part of Open Discussion) but from hereon out, if that’s what you want to talk about – and reviews are welcome as long as they are labeled as such – go here. (And to find archived coverage of West Seattle restaurants on WSB – go here.)

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More West Seattle development news: Junction, Alki updates
August 3, 2009 10:26 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Two more notes from the city permit files this morning: The land-use permit has just been issued for the project shown above, 4502 42nd SW (corner of SW Oregon; map), which is planned as a 7-story building with 89 residential units over 20,000+ square feet of ground-level retail and office space, with parking for 121 vehicles. Four houses on the site will be demolished when construction begins; next steps include building and demolition permits. Meantime, the city has just published approvals for “shoreline substantial development” and administrative Design Review for the 2-years-in-the-works 2-story proposal (two residential units over retail) at the old Pegasus Pizza site (2758 Alki); the official decision notice explains how to appeal.

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Lien Animal Clinic: In with the new, down with the old
August 3, 2009 9:58 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to John at Mary North Travel for the tip that demolition work is under way at one of their neighboring businesses in The Triangle, Lien Animal Clinic (3710 SW Alaska; map). Their old building is coming down, just one week after they opened their new 2-story building on the north side of the site. And as is sometimes the case with demolition sites, firefighters are doing some training on the section of the old building that isn’t down yet:

Once demolition is done, the area where the old building stood will become parking for the bigger new one. By the way, if you wonder what’s up with the nearby site where Harbor Properties plans to build Link – there’s been some partial site clearing as West Seattle Montessori School (WSB sponsor) moves to its new location, but Harbor tells us its work on Link isn’t scheduled to start till later in the year.

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Today/tonight: Night Out signups; Duwamish kayaking; book talk
August 3, 2009 6:34 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | WS culture/arts

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP FOR NIGHT OUT: Tomorrow night, you can close your (non-arterial) street and have a neighborhood block party to celebrate Night Out – provided you sign up by 9 am today (extended from last Friday). Here’s where to do it online. (And if you wouldn’t mind us dropping in for a photo or two, e-mail us your Night Out party location – editor@westseattleblog.com.)

DUWAMISH KAYAK TOURS: Tonight’s the next in a series of twice-monthly summertime kayak tours of the Duwamish River, presented by the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, Alki Kayak Tours and the Seattle Aquarium Society. 6-8:30 pm, leaving from South Park, find out how to sign up here.

BOOK GROUP: Been thinking about that classic summer pastime, reading? Southwest Library‘s Evening Book Group meets tonight, 6:45, to take a look at this month’s book, “Behind the Scenes at the Museum” by Kate Atkinson – more info here.

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West Seattle wildlife: 3 bird tales
August 2, 2009 11:58 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

crows1.jpgFirst an update on “Leucy,” the leucistic (light-colored) crow that died in the recordsetting Wednesday heat, after living for several years along the Gatewood/Upper Fauntleroy border. Our neighbor Jane, who told us about the well-known crow’s death on Friday, posted an update today, saying that after freezing the crow’s remains, she turned them over to the local bird-expert author who had studied it before, Lyanda Lynn Haupt, who Jane said planned to take it for study at UW. (Added Monday morning: As Lyanda notes in the comment section, she has now written about “Leucy” at her website, The Tangled Nest.)

Speaking of crows:

Jodie shares that photo of a local bald eagle under siege by a crow while perched atop a tree nera 45th and Genesee, west side of The Junction – a scene we’ve probably all seen before, and yet always riveting. A different bird-in-tree scene is shared by Gary Jones – two ospreys squabbling over supremacy in an Alki Point tree:

Want to know more about our local birds and why they behave the way they do? Seattle Audubon‘s BirdWeb site is a great place to start.

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So long, Seafair Sunday 2009; till next year, Blue Angels
August 2, 2009 9:08 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Blue Angels | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway

(iPhone photo that doesn’t do justice to tonight’s sunset – send a photo if you have one that does!)
As the sun sets on another Seafair Sunday, we have one last look at those six blue-and-yellow U.S. Navy jets that have either mesmerized or maddened you for the past four days – there don’t seem to be many people whose opinions fall inbetween. Thanks to everyone who shared their views of the high-flying Blue Angels – this one from Jim Clark:

And there’s the seventh Blue Angels crowd fave – this view of Fat Albert is from David Rosen of SlickPix Photography, who was out along I-90 today:

David also shares this view of two Blues:

Our lingering memory is always the sound of the cockpit covers closing, and the jets’ engines firing up at the Museum of Flight – this clip from the M-o-F fence today is more about that sound than the visuals:

And we never leave without a snapshot of the ever-cool crew:

Last update we got, the Angels were scheduled to leave Seattle on Tuesday. If we get any more specific information than that, we’ll let you know. Meantime, lots of video of today’s events, including other airshow acts and the hydro races, can be found at kirotv.com – their TV station has the Seafair television contract, so they have the most “behind-the-scenes” stuff to share.

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Your chance to see “Greenspoke” (filmed at ex-Chuck and Sally’s)
August 2, 2009 5:54 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(December 2008 photo)
Last December, a movie crew took over the long-defunct Morgan Junction tavern Chuck and Sally’s to film part of “Greenspoke.” This weekend, we got an update from writer/producer/director Tom McIntire – including an offer to see the finished product next week, at a discount:

The film was completed in March. Shot in West Seattle, Ballard and Magnolia, Greenspoke features local talent and crew. We recently won The Accolade Award of Merit: short film and were nominated for the Best International Film under 50 Minutes at the International Film Festival Ireland. A beautiful Japanese translator and a world weary vehicle emissions technician awaken profoundly changed by the efforts of a brilliant scientist trying to control climate change.

Greenspoke will have a sneak preview locally on Tuesday Aug 4 at 9:30 pm at the strong>Central Cinema, part of a fundraising effort for nonprofit Smiling Z Studios that includes another award-winning short film (two julias) and live music after the screening from Seattle band The Daguerreotypes (featured in both films). (Tickets available online: Enter the promo code blog to get the cast and crew price of $12. Includes hors d’oeurves. No-host bar. No one under 21 admitted.)

Greenspoke will also be playing at 1 Reel Bumbershoot on Monday Sept 7 at 8 pm and at the Tacoma Film Festival in October.

The film has a Facebook page, by the way. Meanwhile – since someone’s bound to ask, “Speaking of Chuck and Sally’s, what’s up with that property?” all we can say is, no recent action in terms of permits or complaints.

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On a quiet August afternoon, thanking you for a great July
August 2, 2009 3:25 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle online

computer.jpgWe haven’t written an item like this in a while. More than a few people, however, have suggested we shouldn’t be so shy about sharing good news regarding this trailblazing business of making a living as an independent, journalist-run, community-collaborative, online-only news service. So here’s a little bit about WSB’s July. According to Google Analytics – the gold standard in traffic measurement – WSB pageviews totaled 706,143 for the month of July. 23,000 homes/businesses (unique users) visited at least once a week; more than a third of them visited at least once a day. This is the biggest month we’ve had so far this year, second-biggest to snowbound December 2008, and through the end of July, our pageviews for this year total more than 4.6 million. We thank you SO MUCH for finding value in being part of WSB. But even more than the numbers, we are proud of more big stories this month. The biggest: Myrtle Reservoir neighbors e-mailed WSB, wondering why the reservoir-covering project was being dug up again; we uncovered the fact that the waterproofing material used at Myrtle and Beacon reservoirs had hundreds of leaks and needed to be replaced, in a $4 million “change order”; the story was picked up by almost every major news outlet in the region, with credit to WSB in print and on the airwaves. Speaking of airwaves, we guested on KUOW’s “The Conversation” twice this month to talk about neighborhood news. The WSB Pets page helped reunite more than a dozen lost/found pets with their owners; the WSB Forums’ West Seattle Jobs Offered section helped match jobs and jobseekers (see this recent “thank you” from a recruiter) – employers can post job listings there for free. And last week, for the second consecutive year, Seattle Weekly announced that readers voted WSB the best website of its kind in the city – and this year the competition was tougher than ever, with more great independent news sites appearing almost weekly. Though we don’t all run our operations exactly the same way, there is one guiding principle we all share: Community collaboration. So much of what you see here begins with your e-mails, phone calls, WSB Forum posts, tweets, Facebook posts, and in-person conversations (all contact info here) – we were pleased to meet so many people this spring/summer while tabling at festivals from Gathering of Neighbors to Delridge Day to the Morgan Junction Community Festival to West Seattle Summer Fest. Thanks again for being part of an incredible community, and thanks to everyone who is part of WSB by collaborating with helpfulness and respect for your fellow neighbor. Though some days bring bad news, and it’s part of our job to report that too, together our future as a community is nothing but bright.

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Election 2009: See the candidates in the Video Voters’ Guide
August 2, 2009 12:01 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgPlanning to vote early, now that ballots are arriving for the biggest election King County’s ever conducted entirely by mail (which is how they’ll all be done from now on)? If you’d like to see and hear the candidates in key races, the county-produced Video Voters’ Guide has King County Executive candidates here ; and Seattle city races (plus bag-fee Referendum 1) here.

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West Seattle Farmers’ Market today, plus a Skillet note
August 2, 2009 7:48 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Farmers’ Market today, plus a Skillet note
 |   West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

10 am-2 pm, 44th and Alaska, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market rolls into August; peppers and potatoes are on the “what’s new” list within the Ripe and Ready rundown (see it here). Via Twitter, we also learn that Loki Fish Company plans to bring newly arrived whole fish; there are often other sightings, close to market time, tweeted by Farmers’ Market management at @NFMASeattle. Meantime – for anyone planning on checking out the Skillet street-food trailer while visiting the Farmers’ Market – not only won’t it be there today, as noted on its website, but Skillet may not be back in West Seattle any time soon, at least not according to an e-mail exchange shared by John L, in which Skillet proprietor Josh Henderson told him they were going to concentrate on their weekend catering business for now; we have sent Henderson a note asking for confirmation, no reply yet.

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Blue Angels “behind the scenes”: Boeing Field, and more
August 2, 2009 6:54 am
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Blue Angels | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway

Those are the Seafair-provided Corvette convertibles that Blue Angels pilots and entourage use to get around while they’re in Seattle each summer, leaving downtown – with police escort – Saturday morning. The video is from former Blue Angels pilot Len Anderson, who traveled to Seattle with the team on Thursday and has been sharing behind-the-scenes photos, video and observations via his Twitter account (@lead_solo) all along the way (here’s a link to his photo of the pilots in the parking garage, pre-Corvettes, and a photo of the SPD motorcycles awaiting them). But you don’t have to be an ex-pilot to get “behind the scenes” to some degree; that’s the feeling we always get when watching the Blue Angels’ arrivals, takeoffs and landings at the Museum of Flight, including the crew preps before the pilots show up:

To get any closer, you’d practically have to be flying yourself, which might provide a view like this one that David Hutchinson shared, after taking photos from Ruby Chow Park on the north end of Boeing Field:

For the timeline of this year’s Boeing Field/Museum of Flight viewing (from our experience so far), and more photos, read on:Read More

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West Seattle weekend scenes: “Ivy Out Day”; floating fog
August 2, 2009 1:08 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle religion | West Seattle weather

Saturday morning, members and neighbors of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church got to work clearing an area south of the church, along SW Hanford (map), that they’re hoping will become a “park-like space” for the neighborhood. Among the helpers, Charlie the Bichon Frise:

“He’s the boss!” one of the volunteers told our photojournalist. For the human volunteers, next step is planting drought-resistant native plants later this summer. Not a bad idea, given our dry weather, which took a turn for the foggy this morning:

Greg Wright shared that look at the downtown skyline seemingly floating over the fog. The forecast does not mention a rerun for this morning; another weather note, famous forecaster Cliff Maas says the stats show that last Wednesday wasn’t the only recordsetter – the entire month of July goes on record as Seattle’s hottest July ever.

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Crowd gets “Footloose” at tonight’s Movies on the Wall event
August 1, 2009 11:56 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

We’ll add video later, but in the short run, that photo should give you an idea of the exuberant preshow fun at tonight’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies on the Wall event, before the crowd hooted and hollered their way through the ’80s classic “Footloose.” In the back of the photo, by the speaker, that’s Jackie Helton from Fusion Studio (WSB sponsor), and her fellow “go-go dancers” — boots and all! — were the crew from one of tonight’s sponsors, The Body Bar in The Junction (which also offered chair massages before the movie, while another sponsor, Stella Ruffington’s, handed out dog treats). [Here’s our video, added Sunday morning – note the young moviegoers joining in, about a minute into the clip]

As with “Princess Bride” two weeks ago (last week was an anomaly, with a last-minute movie change, and a sudden shower forcing moviegoers to the nearby indoor backup at West Seattle Christian), the courtyard was jampacked. Next week, it’s a big-screen journey back into the ’70s, for “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”:

Every series co-sponsor got to pick a particular movie to attach themselves to, and this one is “ours” – preshow activities include tinfoil-hat-making and a crowd singalong to the famous five-note theme. Doors open 7 pm – b/y/o chair and/or blanket – the preshow fun will start at or shortly before 8:30, with the movie at dusk.

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