West Seattle, Washington
28 Monday
We’ve received some requests to add an “e-mail this” type link; after some weekend experimenting, we’ve settled on a feature called “Share This.” You’ll see the link at the bottom of every post. When you click on it, you’ll get a page giving you the opportunity not only to e-mail the post to someone, but also to save/share it via various “social web”/bookmarking sites, including del.icio.us, Digg, and Technorati. Let us know what you think. Thanks!
Some general exterior and interior sprucing-up is going on at Morgan Junction’s big beige public-housing building, Cal-Mor Circle, and this weekend it looks rather Christo-like:
As the Cali paving work enters a new phase (the blacktop’s all done up to just north of Charlestown; now the focus is on the stretch up to Admiral), we’ve received a reader’s troubling tale of late-night hijinks that could threaten safety. We’re passing along because at the very least, if you live in that area, you can help watch for this; if you drive in that area, be very careful. Full e-mail after the click:Read More
Along the walkway to the Water Taxi dock, at/below the waterline of the pilings beneath the Seacrest Boathouse pier, here’s the kaleidoscope from almost-mega-low-tide time this afternoon (tomorrow will be still good but not as low):
Yes, price-drop fever seems to be breaking out almost all over. As a comment on last night’s post pointed out, Admiral/Cali Chevron (left) has dropped too (so the highest gas price in WS, Admiral/Cali’s price for premium, is now down to $3.79); and while driving along Delridge, we noticed the Arco near Home Depot has reclaimed the title of lowest posted gas price in WS — now $3.31/regular.
Courtesy of Cathy Woo, who tells us she took this picture just before 9 this morning at 59th & Alki. (Sure looks like the work of NTG.) 10:35 PM UPDATE: Went down to check it out. This is visible from the beach side of the walkway just east of the bathhouse. We also saw another one — unfortunately peeling badly — a bit further east along the beach walkway, and yet another one on the retaining wall along the bottom of California Way where it meets Harbor Ave near Seacrest.)
Reminder that Skylark is closed for brunch today, opening at 3 pm, after services for gone-too-soon waiter John Hartley. An e-mail newsletter from Skylark invites patrons to one last “disco brunch,” in John’s honor, tomorrow.
Love the townhouse boom or hate it, you have to agree a lot of these projects seem cookie-cutter. 
Here’s one example that made us laugh: A Craigslist ad for “luxurious townhomes in West Seattle” with no address, just a rendering (left) that could be any one of at least half a dozen we’ve seen. Which reminds us that a reader pointed out a reassuring note in a recent city memo, about a “Townhouse Design Workshop” in the works. Whew. What a relief.
For the first time since we started keeping a close eye on WS prices almost 4 weeks ago, THERE’S A PRICE CUT! After holding at $3.49/regular for 2 weeks, the 35th/Holden Chevron is down tonight to $3.45. (Sorry, no photo, too dark; tomorrow!)
Elsewhere online, blurbs just popped up announcing a Robin Williams show at the Showbox next Tuesday, saying the proceeds will benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. Nothing about it on the WSFB site (and the mention on the Showbox site doesn’t mention the benefit aspect); but we did find a mention in the WSFB newsletter archives of a big “surprise donation” from Williams and his wife three years ago, after Showbox performances. Any insiders who can clue us to the Williams/WSFB connection, we’d love to hear the story. Meantime, you can buy tickets for this show online starting @ 10 am Monday morning (here’s the direct link).
As we discuss and debate development here amid the pixels of WSB, it’s been mentioned that the city has Neighborhood Plans that were drawn up years ago, paving the way for what’s happening now. Here’s a rare chance to tell the city what you think about how those plans are working, or not working. Click here to take the survey (deadline May 28). If you want to review your Neighborhood Plan first, find it on the dropdown list here.
Just saw this on tv and couldn’t resist sharing the link – provided you see this in the early afternoon (and provided the cam stays pointed toward Alki): This afternoon’s mega-low tide, from a webcam across the bay.
From backyard chicken-raising, to salmon-cooking, a plant sale to raise $ for pets, and way beyond, we bring you dozens of choices for the last weekend before Summer Fun officially kicks in — call it Spring Fun, The Finale (plus a few noteworthy non-entertainment events), all a click away:Read More
True, Mt. St. Helens (live webcam) blew up on this date in history. But Beach Drive Blog brings us a different hunka-hunka-burnin’ something: a Kingly memory of May 18.
Thanks to the reader who e-mailed us this article we missed — featuring a WS guy who’ll spend his Saturday doing something tremendous. Quiet heroism, happening all around us.
That phrase apparently applies to the Westwood Village vicinity for a non-shopping reason.
First, we were called “quirky” and “crazy.” Then we got a marquee moment. Now — Seattlest is charitable enough to label WSB “increasingly kick-ass.” (Wouldn’t be without your tips; keep ’em coming!)
Just after Christmas, we posted about the city’s plan for a crackdown on unlicensed pets. Tonight the P-I checks in on how it’s going; apparently dog owners are obeying, cat owners generally aren’t.
Our fellow low-tide fans will want to know that a 3.6-foot “minus tide” is on the way just after noon tomorrow, and the afternoon low tide on Saturday is almost that low too. (Check the tide chart here.) If you’d like to explore Saturday’s low tide with an expert guide, West Seattle-based naturalist Stewart Wechsler is promoting an all-ages “Beach Safari” across from Me-Kwa-Mooks, 12:30-2:30 pm — it’s a Seattle Parks program so you need to preregister through Camp Long (by phone @ 206-684-7434).
More details are up at the Sidewalk Cinema site regarding this summer’s slate of outdoor movies in The Junction, including two of the planned movies (hint: dogs and Depp) and some of the sponsors (still looking for more). Those movie nights bring some of our favorite WS summer fun, along with the Seafair Pirates’ landing @ Alki (July 7), Summer Fest (July 13-15), and the Hi-Yu Parade (July 21). Looks like Seattle Music Fest is expecting to be back on the beach this summer too (Aug. 10-12), after a year off.
In Morgan Junction, exterior work on the ex-Video Vault building, future new home of Beveridge Place Pub, has accelerated lately, so we e-mailed the pub owners to ask what’s going on inside and when they’re planning to open. Here’s their reply, as well as photos we snapped on a sunnier day earlier this week:
Well, like most renovation projects, the more you get into it, the more problems you find. Right now we’re doing our best to make sure the building remains standing: replacing dry rot, new roof, shoring up a retaining wall, etc. The interior is nothing but stud walls. The false wall out front is there so we can start to replace all the windows and doors. Next we’ll build an addition on the north side to cover the stairwell and provide access to the 400 sq ft patio! We hope to be moved in while the weather’s still warm enough to use the patio this year, but no definitive date at this time.
Looks like the impending Shoofly Pie Company in The Junction will be an addition to the list of WS coffee spots as well as bakeries, per this help-wanted ad. (Pie, coffee … can Agent Cooper be far behind?)
In the latest edition of the West 5 e-mail newsletter (available online here if you’re not on the list), you’re asked to send in your answer to this question: Why do you go to The Junction? (Our answer for starters — ’cause it’s the heart of WS.)
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