West Seattle, Washington
20 Friday
Thanks to everyone who has checked out White Center Now, the blog about White Center, since its launch was announced here earlier this week. The site’s already abuzz with robust discussions about topics including potential annexation — check out the comments (28 so far). Recent posts also include a teen-authored article about White Center students becoming park stewards (read it here), a White Center Now review of Big Al‘s beer, and In Search of the Great Burrito. Lots more to come (including original coverage of a couple events happening later today).
We first told you two weeks ago about some Junction businesses’ petition campaign against Conner Homes‘ request for the city to “vacate” that stretch of the alley between 42nd and California, south of Alaska, so that land under the alley can be included in the underground parking garage for its two-building development. (Read our original report here; read developer Charlie Conner‘s next-day “letter to the community” here.) Opponents including Elliott Bay Brewery and Liberty Bell Printing have continued to gather petition signatures, and the Junction Neighborhood Organization has posted the petition as well; now there’s word that the city’s deadline for comments on the request has now been extended to September 15. That of course means comments in support of it as well as against it; you can comment directly to Moira Gray at SDOT, which is reviewing the request, at moira.gray@seattle.gov. The project itself, meantime, is still in the design-review process. Here’s our coverage of the most recent meeting, in late May; the city has not yet posted a date for the next one.
That’s video of the West Seattle Big Band playing in last month’s Hi-Yu Concert in the Park – and tonight, they’re outdoors again, for the same admission price (FREE!), as Providence Mount St. Vincent‘s (WSB sponsor) outdoor concert series continues. Jim Edwards with WSBB tells us that Elizabeth Hott from the Kings of Swing will be the guest singer with them at The Mount tonight. As we showed you last week (here) and the week before (here), these concerts are drawing fun all-ages crowds; dinner and beer/wine are offered for sale starting at 5 pm, music starts at 6. Lots of other fun tonight too, with more music — including Alma Villegas at Cafe Rozella — and then just wait till we start talking about Saturday, with Picnic at the Precinct, “Ghostbusters” at Movies on the Wall … anyway, all that will be in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup, here before noon.
These events aren’t happening IN West Seattle, but they involve West Seattleites who have lent WSB a major helping hand at times when we needed it – plus, they’re interesting events in their own right – so we’re helping spread the word:
PHOTOGRAPHERS’ CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS: West Seattle lawyer Venkat Balasubramani is on a panel tackling this topic; WSB has been blessed with so many great photography contributions, we thought a few of you might be interested. Here’s more info including how to RSVP for the event.
GNOMEDEX 8.0: West Seattleite Stuart Maxwell, who provided us with technical consulting last year (including installation of software for the WSB Forums, the busiest neighborhood-news-site forums in the city), is helping coordinate Gnomedex, a tech conference next week at Bell Harbor on the downtown waterfront (a short distance away). Among the online-world luminaries who’ll be speaking, the guy behind the insanely popular ICanHasCheezburger.com. Check out the conference slate and registration information here.
Michele at West Seattle Thriftway sends word that their “Dog Days of Summer” 
promotion is under way – and as part of it, CityDog Magazine – founded by West Seattleite Brandi Ahlgren – will have a professional photographer at the store 11 am-2 pm Sunday to take pix for the magazine’s Cover Dog Search. (Read more about the search here.) Also this weekend: a barbecue 11 am-4 pm Saturday ($7 for burgers/chips/soda) to benefit the Seattle Humane Society and Doney Clinic, and the SHS MaxMobile returns 11 am-3 pm Sunday with adoptable pets. (Photo above: A pooch we spotted on the beach south of Alki Point Thursday.)
Thanks to JayDee for that sunset shot. After we originally published this post half an hour ago, this view came in from David Hutchinson:
There are still sights to be seen tonight; check out the nearly full moon if you haven’t already (nice picture on Creighton‘s blog, by the way). Latest forecast: Sunny and 90s tomorrow AND Saturday. Here’s a cooling view, from Lincoln Park:
Luckie actually took that one yesterday, by Colman Pool. Not far away, in Fauntleroy tonight, great night for a barbecue:
That video shows an overview of the big crowd on the northwest lawn of The Kenney during tonight’s annual barbecue. The Kenney, by the way, is just about to file applications with the city to initiate its major redevelopment project; we spoke with its CEO a few hours before tonight’s event and plan to publish our report tomorrow.
Full report to come, but here’s the headline version: The two meetings (“early design guidance” for 35th/Graham High Point mixed-use project, “recommendations” for revised Fauntleroy Place) together lasted 3 1/2 hours. Results: High Point project (see the presentation) needs work, must come back for second round of “early design guidance”; FP (see the presentation) can advance to permit stage but with some tweaks. Details later.
Can’t you just imagine sometimes, that’s the REAL life of some of the more cantankerous seagulls? This imagining is from Brandon M. Baker’s exhibition at Ginomai, one of our stops during tonight’s West Seattle Second Thursday Art Walk. We also dropped by Twilight in The Junction, where we found this blender by Todd Karam:
Many of the works shown on tonight’s 30-plus stops will be up throughout the month, so keep an eye out when you’re visiting these local businesses (here’s the map of participants – they’re in Admiral, Delridge, and elsewhere along with The Junction); next art walk will be September 11th. P.S. Lots of folks out in The Junction tonight, including what looked like a big crowd en route to the second night of Pippin @ ArtsWest.
For months, we’ve seen an ad about a West Seattle restaurant for sale, in business 20 years; it was speculated that the business in question was Angelina’s Trattoria in the Admiral District. However, the ads never included the name — till now; this one turned up on CL this afternoon (hat tip to Lora Lewis from WSB sponsor Hotwire Coffee), and it not only identifies Angelina’s as the restaurant for sale, but also includes a photo. Price: $290,000.
The final record-setting tally for registered Night Out block-party events in West Seattle last week (WSB coverage here and here): 217. That’s just part of what’s in Southwest Precinct crime prevention coordinator Benjamin Kinlow‘s latest public-safety newsletter, along with more details on what you’ll see at this Saturday’s Picnic at the Precinct (1-4 pm, be there!), and an item of interest for people with home alarm systems. Read the newsletter here.
We’re into the 80s and likely headed into the 90s – we can report there’s still room at Alki for you as of our reconnaissance mission a short time ago – surreys like the one above (Space Needle WHICH way?) are out in force, and the snow-cone stand in the background looked to be doing brisk business. Around Alki Point, the shoreline’s also fairly uncrowded, though geese are patroling the water in sizable numbers:
By the way, we thought this might be the right time to remind you about the ice-cream map we posted here earlier this summer. Find it here (along with additional reader comments about cool treats). Speaking of maps, click right here to get one for the West Seattle Second Thursday Art Walk, with more than 30 venues participating all around West Seattle, from The Junction to Admiral to Delridge – 6-9 pm, a great excuse to get out of the house during the hottest time of the evening (especially if your home is like ours and holds the heat well!).
This one’s from South Park, but that area is handled by West Seattle-based police from the Southwest Precinct, so we thought you might be interested: Read More
Top to bottom, those are the views of Fauntleroy Place‘s proposed new design – its east side facing 39th SW, west side and southwest corner along 40th SW, and its south side along SW Alaska. Site work has been under way for weeks now but the project’s back in Design Review because of changes; tonight’s Southwest Design Review Board meeting is at 8 pm at High Point Community Center (here’s a map), and the PDF of the presentation is on the city website now (see it here). It’s preceded by the 6:30 “early design guidance” meeting for the mixed-use building proposed in High Point at 35th/Graham; the presentation for that project is not online as of this writing .
Today through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service, daytime highs could get into the 90s, and an “air stagnation advisory” is now in effect through 10 pm Saturday night, plus the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has just called a Smog Watch. (Air aside, the Saturday forecast is an upgrade from how it looked last night, when cloudiness was predicted; in the “cup half full” department, may finally be a truly warm night for Movies on the Wall, on the heels of last week’s rainout; “Finding Nemo” is rescheduled to 8/21 but this week, it’s “Ghostbusters.”) As for staying cool today – all West Seattle wading pools are open: Delridge, Hiawatha, Highland Park, Hughes, Lincoln Park, as is Colman Pool on the L-Park waterfront. (Click the pools’ names to see locations and schedules.)
Many people have posted tributes to Gregory Hampel among the comments below our Monday night report that he did not survive the 35th/Dawson accident in which a car hit him as he ran into the street to try to catch his dog. The 39-year-old West Seattleite is survived by his partner Ed Swaya and their daughter Vivian; late last night, we received word of two funds being set up for donations in his memory, including one at the school where he taught:
Donations in honor of Gregory Hampel can be made to The Seabury School, where they are setting up a scholarship in his name.
Or, given the family’s commitment to the education of their daughter, donations are being accepted at any US Bank for the education fund for Vivian Swaya.
DONATIONS BY MAIL:
Deposit into “Vivian Swaya’s Account” (educational fund)
US Bank
1436 S. 312th St
Federal Way, WA 98003DONATIONS IN PERSON:
Go into any branch of US Bank.
No account number needed; simply use Vivian Swaya’s name.Sorry, no online donation available
The US Bank branch in West Seattle is at the northwest corner of 42nd/Edmunds (map). 10:09 AM UPDATE: A comment on our previous report includes this information on a service for Mr. Hampel today:
Gregory’s Memorial Service:
Thursday August 14
University Lutheran Church
1604 NE 50thviewing 10-noon
service following
This morning we welcome the newest WSB sponsor, Alki Kid’s Place, which is getting ready for its first season offering after-school activities in West Seattle, and is already up and running with summer programs that started in late June. Director Cheryl Snyder says Alki Kid’s Place is for children ages 4-14: “We offer a safe, nurturing environment along with a dedicated, caring staff. Our program was created to meet the growing needs within the community for quality, affordable after-school care for children. We offer a variety of activities including arts & crafts, movies, games, music, exercise, tae kwon do, along with quiet time for homework, reading, and relaxing as well as tutoring.” After-school programs start on September 3rd, and will be available 2:30 pm-6:30 pm. Cheryl says openings are now available — registrations are being accepted for fall — and they have daily rates as well as weekly rates, $15/day or $70/week. Alki Kid’s Place is at 6115 SW Hinds (map). To register or get more information, call 206-938-0145. Welcome to Alki Kid’s Place; all our current sponsors are listed on the updated WSB Advertise page, which also is the starting point for anyone interested in joining them (every WSB ad is seen more than 16,000 times a day, with an exceptionally low price per view!).
(photo by Dina Johnson)
If you still think the primary election – next Tuesday, or maybe you’ve voted by mail already – is a snoozer, last night’s 34th District Democrats 
meeting would have cured you of that notion. With sometimes-raucous debate and questioning, our area’s largest political organization settled on some endorsements and budgeting decisions, looking ahead to both the primary and general elections. Five of West Seattle’s own elected officials were there, along with one of the most controversial statewide politicians running for re-election, and a city leader – read on to say what was said, decided, and revealed, including their recommendation on the primary’s most convoluted ballot measure:Read More
Inspired by beach volleyball competition at the Olympics? Envious of what you see on the sand at Alki (and by the way, the EVP Pro Tour will be there Saturday)? The wildly popular Seattle Free School has just announced a free “beach volleyball for beginners” class, 6 pm August 22nd on Alki. But you have to sign up – here – ASAP.
We’re still in the “no spoilers on the home page” mode for those who recorded the show but haven’t watched it yet, so click ahead to see how Blayne did tonight, and what his Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) boss has to say about it:Read More
If you look at the link dates on the WSB Crime Watch page, things were quiet for a long stretch – now that’s changed, at least temporarily. Two more reader reports ahead, along with a reminder about two ways to become a better neighborhood crimefighter:Read More
This past winter, we reported twice on a bill in the State Legislature to allow beer and wine tastings in grocery stores — first report here, second report here. 
The bill eventually passed, and tonight, the state has announced the first 15 grocery stores “randomly selected” to participate in a pilot version of the program starting this October, and the only Seattle store in the first 15 (see the list here) is West Seattle Thriftway in Morgan Junction. 15 more stores statewide will be announced soon – they’ll be chosen from chains; Thriftway and the other 14 are all independents. (Hat tip to The Big Blog.) Here’s how the state says the program will work:Read More
Coming in from downtown on the Elliott Bay Water Taxi less than an hour ago, not only did we see fish jumping in the bay – we saw this lively crowd angling for them from the dock at Seacrest. Didn’t get a photo, but as we walked away from the dock, we saw one man who’d made quite the catch, cleaning a 2-foot salmon over in the Seacrest sink. (If you want a different view of the salmon now running in local waters, looks like it’s a great time to visit the Ballard Locks fish ladder viewing area, according to our friends at MyBallard.com.)
Two updates today: First, we reported earlier this week about West Seattle-based activist Chris Jackins‘ appeal of the Sealth site “determination of nonsignificance,” and a controversy over tree-cutting that had been done before a hearing on that appeal. We have new information on the appeal (and why there was no public notice of the hearing) – also, we have a report from last night’s Westwood Neighborhood Council meeting, where both city Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher and West Seattle’s school-board rep Steve Sundquist were on hand for some honest and open discussion about the future of the Denny site, once the old school’s demolished (shown above, the WNC “vision” for what the site could become – click image for a larger view):Read More
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