West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
Eric Shalit of Box Turtle Design shared that rather grabby shot of a “slackliner” he encountered today at Alki. So, we asked, how high off the ground was he, and what was the “slackline” tied to? In reply, Eric sent another photo; to see it, click here.
Saturday, as part of Neighbor Appreciation Day, Seattle fire stations are all open for tours 11 am-3 pm. This’ll be the last Neighbor Appreciation Day for Station 37, since its replacement is under construction a short distance away. A student journalist accepted our challenge to tell its story before it’s too late.
(A video tour inside West Seattle’s Fire Station 37)
Story and video by Nicholas Trost
University of Washington News Lab
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
When Fire Station 37 (map) shuts down later this year, it will be sorely missed. Those firefighters lucky enough to have worked at the station appreciate its unique appeal and residential feel.
“The station feels and looks like home,” said firefighter Jorge Bernal, who currently works there. “When you’re away for 24 hours at a time, it’s a comforting place to be.”
The station has the ambience of a residential home. Upstairs there’s a nook with a couch and television where firefighters can go and rest. The living room is also similar to one you would find in any home, with low lighting and comfortable-looking furniture.
“There are cool areas where you can go away and relax for a bit,” said Lt. Lori Bish, a firefighter also at the station. “Not all places have those areas.”
Sadly, Station 37 is no longer able to adequately serve the Seattle Fire Department. At only 4,148 square feet, the station is too small to accommodate firefighters of the 21st century and their equipment.
“We have to move,” said Bish.
Scores now, video and details to be added to this story later: In high-school varsity basketball at Chief Sealth High School tonight, both Sealth teams beat West Seattle High School – girls CSHS 40, WSHS 31; boys (just completed) CSHS 50, WSHS 39.
(Added 12:36 am Saturday, the details) GIRLS’ VARSITY: Chief Sealth’s Lady Seahawks combined a near perfect night of free throw shooting and a big defensive outing to beat West Seattle 40-31. The game was largely decided in the third quarter when Sealth managed to keep the Wildcats from moving the ball upcourt. Between effective rebounding and sharp passes, the Lady Wildcats found themselves spending most of their evening under Sealth’s basket. At times, both teams tried to shoot the ball from the perimeter, but neither had any success.
Three updates tonight on West Seattle help for Haiti post-earthquake relief: First, we’ve got word that The Community School of West Seattle preschoolers’ Bake Sale for Haiti today brought in $422! The kids, ages 3-5, helped manage the money themselves – above, just a few of the preschoolers involved when we stopped by during the sale – pretend cash register, but real cash! Meantime, Kristina just e-mailed this update from Alki Elementary School about a fundraiser happening there right now:
Alki Parent Jill Rose has organized a movie showing of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in the school cafeteria to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. It looks like we are going to be at capacity! 100% of the proceeds are going to the Red Cross to benefit the people of Haiti, and the families of Alki Elementary are out in force. The school did a penny drive for Haiti, as well, and tonight we’ll be announcing to the students that their small change added up to over $1200!
And the third update: While working on a project for WSB, reporter Mary Sheely learned this afternoon that all Matador locations, including West Seattle, plan to donate 100 percent of profits on Fat Tuesday — which is one and a half weeks away, February 16th — to Haiti relief.
Yes, the Super Bowl on Sunday is the main event – and if you haven’t seen our as-complete-as-possible-so-far West Seattle Super Bowl Watching Guide, check it out here – but there’s MORE! Tonight, for example, the first High Point Neighborhood Night – And Saturday is Neighborhood Appreciation Day, with events at all your local community centers, tours of all your local fire stations, plus a work party in the garden behind C & P Coffee – and neighborliness continues Sunday with a fundraising pancake breakfast at Hiawatha Community Center (you can go straight from there to Free Sunday Yoga at SoundYoga [WSB sponsor]). From tonight through Sunday night, more than 50 events/activities, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food – like the special Valentine brunch and dinner deals next weekend:Read More
(Sketch showing the “hill” and “valley” topography of the added future parkland)
It’s on the Events page and will be in the forthcoming West Seattle Weekend Lineup BUT since it’s a rare weekend public meeting, wanted to send out one more standalone reminder – the second public meeting about the West Seattle Reservoir/Westcrest Park expansion is TOMORROW (Saturday 2/6), 10 am-noon at Southwest Community Center. Here’s our story about what happened at the first meeting; it’s another chance to have a say about what’s done with the extra park space when the Highland Park reservoir cover is done.
Mentioned here on Thursday that the South Park Bridge closures had been rescheduled, and that nighttime work was planned on the West Seattle Bridge next week. New details are in on both plans – read on:Read More
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
As the saying goes, the ink is barely dry on the lease.
Lori and Tim McConnell just signed a deal for second-floor space in Charlestown Center, which has been home to just two businesses – Budget Cuts and Anytime Fitness – for the year-plus since it opened.
Their new business doesn’t have a name yet (in fact, they’re inviting you to offer suggestions, in case the one they’re checking on doesn’t pan out) – but they are very clear on what it will be: West Seattle’s one and only “specialty running” store.
“The closest sporting-good store is Big 5, and you can only get two flavors of GU there!” Tim points out.
If you know what he’s talking about, you’re going to love their store.
Announced this morning – a series of meetings at which Mayor Mike McGinn invites you to help him fulfill one of the promises made in his inaugural address, for a Youth/Families Initiative. One of the meetings is in West Seattle, March 15th at Denny International Middle School. Here’s the full announcement.
Longtime WSB sponsor Hotwire Online Coffeehouse usually offers seasonal beverages (right now a Valentine’s group is among the offerings) – and in the short run, there are two Super Bowl drinks, accompanying a prediction contest – just in from Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis:
Is it possible to predict the Super Bowl just by a coffee beverage? The customers of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse think so. Starting today customers will begin purchasing the coffee shop’s two Super Bowl beverages in an attempt to predict the outcome of this Sundays game between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. The staff will keep track of the beverages purchased and tally up the sales as each drink is sold.
Customers can also leave their name and e-mail address along with their vote. If they pick the winning team Hotwire will give them a free 12 oz Americano and a free hour of Internet surfing. Says Lora Lewis, owner of Hotwire Coffee, “We were able to predict the outcome of the Presidential election with our ‘Barackacanno’ and our ‘Average Joe Biden’ (vote was 65 to 11) why not the Super Bowl?”
The Super Bowl drinks will be available through the third quarter of the Super Bowl Sunday then will be removed for final tally. Winning Customers can pick up their free beverages starting Monday.
The Super Bowl drinks are the New Orleans Saints ‘who-dat?’ special (dark chocolate/cinnamon mocha) and Indianapolis Colts special (blueberry/white chocolate mocha). They’ll be available through the third quarter on Sunday. Hotwire’s at 4410 California, just north of the Junction post office. As for watching the game – no big screen at Hotwire but here’s our list of where you can see it on TV in West Seattle (with food and beverage specials listed as well as TV-screen sizes).
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Gatewood pilot Long Nguyen, who shared some spectacular aerial views last year. This new one, he says, was taken from 10,000 feet over Sea-Tac, on a descent to Boeing Field. (Click the image to see a larger version on his gallery site.)
You may have heard about the court ruling on Thursday ordering Seattle Public Schools to re-examine their use of a certain set of “reform math” books in local high schools (here’s the story from our partners at the Seattle Times). This morning, we’ve learned that retired math teacher Martha McLaren, one of the three people who took the case to court, is a West Seattle resident. She has a blog-format website with their reaction to the ruling – one of her co-plaintiffs is famous forecaster Cliff Mass – and previous updates, at seattlemathgroup.blogspot.com. The school district, which told the Times the ruling was “surprising,” is deciding whether to appeal.
Several more West Seattle-linked fundraisers for Haiti earthquake relief are in the works. First one is TODAY – thanks to Kristin for sharing the news of a bake sale today at the Community School of West Seattle – an idea hatched by CSWS preschoolers! Kristin writes:
It’s … from 11:45-12:30 in front of the school (22nd and Roxbury) [map] and all proceeds will go to Haiti relief efforts. The preschoolers came up with the idea during discussions of the Haiti earthquake (my daughter is in the class). It certainly isn’t a big event, but its cool for the kids to be able to do something…
And we have an update from local artist/businessperson Stephanie Hargrave (co-owner of smallclothes) about her big event next weekend – she says she has more than 30 artists signed up to contribute to the fundraising sale she’s organizing, many from West Seattle:
I’m hosting an Art Sale / Haiti Fundraiser on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14th from 11 am-6 pm at my studio located at 3234 California Avenue SW [map] in West Seattle. Anyone who would like to donate, simply give me a ring or e-mail, and by all means, forward this information along to anyone who would like to buy some art and help the earthquake victims in Haiti at the same time.
ALL proceeds will go directly to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health, or Mercy Corps – the art buyers will write checks to these organizations directly. My goal is to raise several thousand dollars to send off by the end of the weekend.
I’ll be selling encaustic paintings, some ceramics, and hand-made cards – other artists are donating oil and acrylic paintings, photographs, jewelry, and crafts. It should be a great selection! I’ve got painters Juan Alonso (www.juanalonso.info) and Diane Culhane on board, photographer Conrad Chavez of Brightbox Studio, and Smersh Design Jewelry!
Last but not least, we also have heard from Pepper Petersen, owner of The Pepper Boutique on Alki. She says there’s a silent auction, all proceeds to Haiti relief, as part of the art show she’s been having at Alki Starbucks this month:
“… my highest -end couture collection in the most vivid colors imaginable… It’s very beautiful… All the pieces are currently on the walls right now. But more importantly in efforts to contribute my talents in helping to fund raise money for Haiti, I worked unbelievably hard and late into the evenings to create a one of a kind couture dress in the Haitian flag colors of red and blue. It is a beautiful dress that is … hanging above the fireplace in the air from a lighting rail. You can’t miss it as you walk in the door.”
She says the retail value of the dress is $2,000 and the bids start at $500; the silent-auction card is at the store.
Got word of this from Erika Schreder at the Washington Toxics Coalition: On Thursday, Dr. Molly Jones Gray from West Seattle Natural Medicine spoke to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health, during its hearing “Current Science on Public Exposure to Toxic Chemicals.” Dr. Gray participated in the WTC’s biomonitoring study “Earliest Exposures,” and Erika says her testimony was about the toxins found in her body while she was pregnant with her now-7-month-old son Paxton. WTC says the subcommittee is working toward an update of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. Dr. Gray and others are asking for tougher laws to keep toxic substances out of products. You can read excerpts of her testimony and get a link to the video, by going to the WTC’s website.
Related to the ongoing coverage of Toyota safety concerns, our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times have published a story tonight about an incident a year ago in West Seattle: Their story says a man driving a 2007 Toyota Prius believed unintended acceleration caused it to go out of control and wind up hanging over a retaining wall in February 2009. The Times says federal regulators checked out this and other Prius cases, as well as the other Toyota concerns. We checked our archives and it doesn’t appear the car-on-wall incident was something we covered. (Thanks to Diane for quickly spotting and sharing the link.)
Several people asked if we would put together a list of where you can watch the Super Bowl in West Seattle this Sunday, so we found some research help (thanks, Jennifer!) and kicked off the search. Here’s version 1.0. (Looks like the “Jaeger Girls” will be making the rounds!) If you know of something we missed, please let us know so we can add it (there are a few we’re still checking with, but didn’t want to wait any longer with the bulk of the list). Thanks! (11:40 PM NOTE: We’ve added several to the list, so it’s now 1.1! P.S. Please see the comments for a great idea about the Bus Trip Planner, if you don’t have a designated driver – we’ll be adding addresses to the list) SATURDAY 1:28 PM: Added three more spots. It’s now version 1.2.
Super Bowl viewing in West Seattle (Kickoff 3:30 p.m. PT Sunday)
ADMIRAL PUB (206) 933-9500
Over 18 TVs various sizes (52 inches)
Drink/Food Specials:
Bottles – $3 Bud & Bud Light
Free Apps
Happy Hour Menu – Everything under $5
Jaeger Girls starting at 4:30 pm
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ALKI TAVERN (206) 932-9970
3 TVs – 52-inch, 42-inch, 32-inch
Drink/Food Specials:
Pints – $2 Rolling Rock
Potluck
Raffle – Backpack coolers, T-shirts, etc
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ANGELINA’S (206) 932-4550
4 TVs 50 inches
Drink/Food Specials
Pint – $2.75 Bud Light
Happy Hour pricing all day
Barbecuing in the front of restaurant including Italian sausage, hot dogs, wings, hamburgers, flat steak, fried pickles, stuffed jalapeños, potato salad, polenta cakes
1 pm – Man vs. Food 7-pound Lasagna Challenge
Raffle – t-shirts, hats, gift certificates, promo footballs, beer signs
Jaeger Girls 3pm-4pm
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BAMBOO BAR AND GRILL (206) 937-3023
8 HD Plasma TV’s
Happy Hour starts at 3pm
Food/drink specials:
$5.99 Burgers
½ Price Nachos
wing Specials
12 for $8.00
24 for $14.00
36 for $18.00
$2.00 Bud Light
$2.00 Coors
$3.00 ESB
$3.00 Alaskan White Ale
$2.00 on Selected Wines
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BRICKYARD BBQ (206) 933-3109
TV: 50 inches
Drink/Food Specials:
Happy Hour All Day
$4.99 Apps
$5 for 8 Wings
$8 for a Bud and a shot, you pick your shot
$2.25 Bottle Bud
$2.00 Bottle PBR
$2.00 Bottle Hamms
$4.00 Jose Cuervo Shots
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CELTIC SWELL (206) 932-7935
2 TVs, 50 inch, one wall projection
Drink/Food Specials:
50 cent Hot wings
$6 Brats
Shot specials at every score – Pricing to be determined
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CHELAN CAFE (206) 932-7383
4 TVs, 40 inch, 36 inches
Drink/Food Specials TBA
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CIRCA (206) 923-1102
2 TVs, 36 inches
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CORNER POCKET (206) 933-0320
8 TVs, 30 inches to 50 inches
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ELLIOTT BAY BREWING (206) 932-8695
5 TVs, from 30inches-50inches
Drink/Food Specials
Normal Happy Hour – 3 pm-6 pm, 10 pm-Close
$9 Beer pitchers
When you buy a pitcher, get complimentary E Elliott Bay Brewery & Pub glass (while supplies last)
$12.95 Wings
$11 Foot long Cuban sandwich
$11 Foot long club sandwich
$3 Double double burgers
$4 Banana split
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MATADOR (206) 932-9988
2 TVs, 40 inches
Drink/Food Specials:
Normal Happy Hour 4 pm-6 pm
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MISSION LATIN RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE (206) 937-8220
3 TVs, 40inches
Drink/Food Specials
Normal Happy Hour – 4pm to 6pm & 10pm to Midnight
$5 Dollar Food Menu and Drink Specials
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PUERTO VALLARTA (206) 937-7335
4 TVs, 42 inches
Drink/Food Specials
Happy hour prices domestic beers and well drinks
2 Tacos for $1
Half-price apps
Potluck
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REDLINE MUSIC AND SPORTS (206) 938-3598
9 TVs, 32 inch, 51 inch, 55 inch, 60 inch, etc.
Drink/Food Specials
1st half – $2 Touchdown Shot, $1 & $2 Jello Shots
2nd Half – $6 Jaeger Bombs, $3 Jaeger Tube Shots, $5 “Keep The Shot Glass” shots
BBQ Feast – Under $10 Pulled pork, wings, ribs, chipotle butter corn
Jaeger Girls starting around second half
Raffle – Secret Prizes
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ROCKSPORT BAR AND GRILL (206) 935-5838
24 TVs various 40 inches to 16 ft
Drink/Food Specials
Featuring discounts on Bud & Bud Light
Everyone who walks in the door will get a door prize
Raffle – Contest to win a bike
Jaeger Girls 6pm-7pm
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SALTY’S ON ALKI (206) 923-5456
(from comments) 5 TVs in the lounge
Happy hour 3-6 pm (details here)
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SHADOWLAND (206) 420-3817
2 TVs, 50inch
Drink/Food Specials
$5 Jaeger shot
$3 for two Jello shots
$1 off drafts
$6 Wings, bacon wrapped chilidogs, lamb sliders, Hawaiian sliders, pork sliders, mini hamburger sliders, clams
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SHIPWRECK TAVERN (206) 420-4718
2 TVs, 50 inches
Drink/Food Specials
Free Apps
Heartland Café (future restaurant next door) will be giving free sausage
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TALARICO’S PIZZERIA (206) 937-3463
3 TVs, one is a wall sized projector, 2 60-inch
Drink/Food Specials
Regular Happy Hour 3pm-6pm
Bloody Mary special all day until 6pm
Contest for a 46-inch TV sponsored by Bud Light
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TRIANGLE PUB (206) 763-0714
3 TVs, 40 inches, and 50 inches
Drink/Food Specials starting 1 pm
Pitcher Specials $7 – Bud, Budlight
Hurricane Cocktails
Jambalaya and cornbread for the Saints
Beer boiled brats for the Colts
Raffles for free stuff during game – Calendars, t-shirts, hats, key chains, etc
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TUG INN (206)768-8852
5 TVs up to 54 inches
Happy hour prices all day
$2.25 Miller Lite draft pints all day
Free pool all day
$3 touchdowns (usually a $7 drink) every time there’s a touchdown during the game
Free spaghetti & hamburgers & fried shrimp while they last
And of course a very energetic crowd of football fans! It won’t be the place to go if you want it quiet.
Prize giveaways during the game (t-shirts and a bunch of other misc. goodies)
And to top it off, Christopher Mychael karaoke that night!
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YEN WOR (206) 932-1455
4 TVs 40 inch-50 inches
Drink/Food Specials:
$2 Coors bottles
$1 off bar food and drink
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ZEEKS PIZZA (206) 285-8646
1 40-inch TV
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ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING
Beveridge Place Pub (from Facebook): “This Sunday afternoon BPP will host a SUPER potluck in the game room, so feel free to bring a BOWL [of food] to share. The TV will be on whatever station shows the best commercials starting at 3:30 or so. No TV in the front room this year, just fine conversation and ample choice of beverages.”
Skylark Cafe & Club (WSB sponsor) (206) 935-2111
No TVs – come here if you do NOT want to watch the Super Bowl! (And remember, open for brunch @ 9 am)
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CLOSED ON SUNDAY
Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – Closed for Employee Appreciation Day
Porterhouse – Closed for employee party
West 5
JaK’s Grill
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Like we said … we may have missed someone … not too late to add, the game is still three days away, let us know! Thanks!
Just in from the Department of Neighborhoods: The list of citywide winners for art commemorating Neighbor Appreciation Day this Saturday includes West Seattle High School ninth-grader Delaney Ballard and Madison Middle School sixth-graders Rahel Yohannes and Marie Ong. You can see their winning work here.
Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
There’s a parent-teacher conference going on at Madison Middle School, 3429 45th SW, and it’s being led by an eighth-grade girl.
Parents Lora and Michael Bunch and science teacher John Urdal sit at a table in the library with student Riley Bunch, who is flipping through her portfolio, a large binder of papers, tests, and assignments that she has completed so far this school year.
She points out original 3D computer renderings that she later turned into physical objects using a drill press and scroll saw. An essay inspired by “a traumatic experience at a water park” is described as “one of my best writing pieces.” She explains her goals for the remainder of the year, and even her plans all the way to college and beyond.
The presentation is a relatively new phenomenon at Madison Middle School (which has an open house tonight, 6 pm).
Two years ago, head counselor Lauren Divina pulled together a small group of sixth-grade students to test a new approach to traditional school conferences, Navigation 101.
From a big construction roundup just sent around by Delridge Neighborhoods District Coordinator Ron Angeles – these two notes of specific interest – including the rescheduling of the South Park Bridge closures called off last weekend:
– Crews will be working nights on the West Seattle Bridge Feb 8-11 in both directions.
– South Park Bridge to be closed Feb 10-13, 7am-7pm daily
The full roundup, including some previously announced SODO closures, is available online here.
… and other new additions to the Freebies, Deals, Sales section, which is FREE for businesses to post freebies/deals/sales (though you don’t have to be a business to post there – WSB Forums members share deals they spotted, or free items they’re offering, too). The free ski/snowboard hot-wax clinic is at WSB sponsor Mountain to Sound Outfitters, 3602 SW Alaska, 6:30 pm (plus they’re offering 20 percent off any one item in their ski/snowboard/racks/etc. store). You can check (or post to) the Freebies/Deals/Sales section any time by going here.
No guarantee they will show up this far south, but we would be remiss not to share the alert – Orca Network says a big pod of so-called “transients” (to separate them from the ones who live in Puget Sound year-round), maybe up to 25, was seen heading south as recently as a couple hours ago off North Kitsap shores. If you spot any, please let Orca Network know as well as sharing the news here – thanks! 3:20 PM UPDATE: They’re still north of here but Channel 7’s chopper is over them – live video feed here.
(From left, Leslie Hoots, Margot Massey, Sofia Wagner, Susan Munn, and Lisa Boeckh of the Threads Ministry)
This is the embodiment of “many hands make light work” – and also, many hands = more warmth, in a multitude of ways. Leslie Hoots shares this update on Warm Up America – including an invitation for you to come help celebrate, this Sunday:
Last August, the Threads Ministry at Peace Lutheran Church in West Seattle began our second annual Warm Up America project. The Seattle Yarn Gallery on California Ave SW partnered with us and became a collection point for the community. The West Seattle and White Center communities were invited to join with us by donating left over yarn, knitting or crocheting squares and sewing them into blankets, which will be donated to WestSide Baby, White Center Salvation Army Corp, and Riverton Place Men’s Rehab Facility.
The outpouring from the community overwhelmed us. We had a student contact us from Highline High School, whose teacher taught her to knit over the summer, and she made our project her Senior Project making three Warm Up America blankets and a Child’s quilt, and the West Seattle YMCA took up our cause and donated yarn to the project, as the “good deed of the month”, during the month of January. Many folks from the community called and donated or worked with us in making squares for our blankets. As of today, we have 28 completed blankets and enough squares to make another 30 blankets.
On Sunday, February 7th, we will have a blessing ceremony during our 10:30 AM church service and then distribute the blankets to agencies in the West Seattle and White Center communities. We want to extend an invitation to the community to see the results of their generosity and join us in celebrating the end of this wonderful project. A big thank you to the Seattle Yarn Gallery for their part in making this a successful event. Peace Lutheran Church is located at the corner of 39th SW and Thistle in West Seattle and our web address is www.peacelutheranseattle.org.
(Cameraphone photo added 12:39 pm)
ORIGINAL 12:29 PM REPORT: Police are rushing right now to the Super 24 in the 5400 block of Delridge – where there’s a report of an armed robbery involving a suspect described as a black female in her teens who said she had a knife. NEW DESCRIPTION: Wearing a light gray zipper hoodie sweatshirt, turquoise shirt underneath, red-and-white-striped scarf around her neck, black pants and white shoes, large earrings, carrying a green bag with a black strap. This store was held up earlier this week (Tuesday night) – as of last night, Lt. Norm James told us at the Southwest District Council meeting, no arrests (two male suspects in that one). This is the same store whose owner has been working with community volunteers to transform it into a “healthy corner store.” 2:20 PM UPDATE: Seattle Police media unit Det. Mark Jamieson confirms they have arrested a suspect, who he says is a 15-year-old girl.
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