READER REPORT: Looking for hit-run witnesses

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| Crime | West Seattle news

From Jacquelyn, looking for anyone who saw this hit-run around 6:20 pm last night (Wednesday, Christmas Day):

We got sideswiped hard on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge, where people tend to slide off the road at that curve. They drove off, of course. No lights on, I’m guessing they were drinking. It happened so fast, the car took off before we realized what happened, and all I remember was that it was a boxy older car like a Dodge or a Saturn. Silver, I think. Definitely a light color. They’ll have damage on the passenger side. The report number is 24-361252.

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What’s up (and not) on your West Seattle Thursday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Winter berries, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, some closures along with a few happenings:

FAUNTLEROY FESTIVAL OF TREES: Through January 2, the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW) is open 9 am-noon Mondays-Thursdays so you can see the trees and “vote” for your favorite by leaving non-perishable food donation beneath it.

LIBRARIES OPEN: Seattle Public Library branches are open.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>10:30 am at West Seattle Library (2306 42nd SW).

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where (and if!) they’re playing today.

STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: Not this week, as the class at the Center for Active Living is closed until next week.

HIGHLAND PARK CORNER STORE: Closed, so no Thursday food truck, run, or wine tasting this week.

VISCON CELLARS: Closed, reopening Friday.

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Canceled again tonight, back next week.

SECOND NIGHT OF HANUKKAH: No public events scheduled in West Seattle today/tonight.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: The 6 pm weekly run is departing from Future Primitive on Alki (2536 Alki SW).

TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).

DJ NIGHT: The weekend starts early at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Supreme La Rock starting at 8 pm.

Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: First power outage

December 26, 2024 8:01 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

8:01 AM: Thanks for the tip. 100+ homes are out in south Arbor Heights/Seola Beach, after a loud explosion-type sound around 7:20. As noted in the traffic/weather roundup, the wind alert is now extended to 1 pm.

11:54 AM: Still out.

1:05 PM: The SCL map now attributes the outage to “tree/vegetation.” Still the only outage of note in West Seattle, and the number of people affected by outages today throughout SCL’s entire service area has remained in triple digits.

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TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Post-holiday Thursday info

December 26, 2024 6:01 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Thursday, December 26th.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

A Wind Advisory alert from the National Weather Service remains in effect until 1 this afternoon. Otherwise, the forecast calls for periods of rain, ongoing south-southwest wind, high in the low 50s. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 7:56 am (just one minute short of the latest sunrise of the season) and 4:23 pm.

TRANSIT, INCLUDING HOLIDAY-SCHEDULE PREVIEW

Water Taxi – Regular service today.

Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Issaquah and M/V Cathlamet, plus M/V Sealth as the “ghost boat.” Check here for last-minute changes.

Metro buses today – Regular schedule today.

3 ROAD-WORK UPDATES

*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project has paused work this week; next Tuesday (December 31), the traffic flow is scheduled to shift again.

*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project has largely wrapped up, and the bridge is now open again.

*Beach Drive gas-pipeline work continues into January, PSE tells us – here’s our update.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

See trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Seeing stars

December 25, 2024 10:06 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

One last Christmas-lights photo to spotlight, received tonight from roving photographer Theresa Arbow-O’Connor, a sighting in North Admiral. It joins our other spotlights in this WSB archive (where you can scroll through previous years’ lights too). Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

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WEST SEATTLE GIVING SPIRIT: 15 tireless nonprofits featured, and more ahead

December 25, 2024 6:30 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

If you’ve missed any of the stories in our West Seattle Giving Spirit series – 15 spotlighted since November 20 – we thought Christmas Day might be a chance to catch up. WSGS is a pilot project of the Learning Communities Foundation in partnership with WSB, offering local nonprofits the chance to reintroduce themselves, explaining what they do and how to support their work. via volunteering and/or monetary gifts. If you’re looking for something to read on this so-far-quiet holiday, here again are the links to the nonprofit spotlights published here on WSB so far – a chance to find out who they are and what they do, even if you aren’t able to do anything right now to support them:

November 20 – Learning Communities Foundation for Educare Seattle

November 22 – West Seattle Food Bank

November 25 – Hazelwood Preschool

November 27 – Southwest Seattle Historical Society

November 29 – Westside Neighbors Shelter

December 2 – WestSide Baby

December 4 – White Center Pride Committee

December 6 – The Whale Trail

December 9 – West Seattle Tool Library

December 11 – Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association

December 13 – White Center Food Bank

December 16 – West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA

December 18 – West Seattle Community Orchestras

December 20 – Westside Interfaith Network

December 23 – Highland Park Improvement Club

This Friday (December 27), watch for ArtsWest‘s story, and WSGS will conclude on Monday (December 30) with SMASH. Thanks to everyone who participated, either by telling their nonprofit’s story, or hy reading/donating.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen green Subaru Legacy wagon (update: found)

December 25, 2024 4:33 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

The report is from Stephanie:

My father’s green 1996 Subaru Legacy wagon was taken from in front of my house in the 9000 block of 36th Ave SW sometime after 11 pm last night. Plate: Oregon 611EBN. There’s a Powell Butte Middle School sticker on the driver’s-side rear window and chipped paint on the front bumper. Police report # 24-361121.

If you find it, call 911.

THURSDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Found east of Westwood Village, Stephanie reports.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: ‘Wind advisory’ alert, with strong gusts likely overnight

December 25, 2024 2:49 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Tan color means “wind advisory”; see the legend for the rest here)

The National Weather Service has expanded its Wind Advisory alert to include our area, but the expected burst of strong wind is not likely to interfere with Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations tonight unless yours is planned to happen VERY late. The advisory will be in effect 11 pm to 10 am, and the NWS says, “A brief period of gusty southwest winds (is) expected Thursday morning. There will likely be a range of peak wind gusts between 30 to 50 MPH. Localized gusts up to 55 MPH are possible.” Otherwise, the sustained winds are expected to be out of the southwest, 15 to 25 mph. If you experience or see wind-related trouble – outages, downed trees, etc. – once you’ve reported to authorities (206-684-3000 for City Light, 206-386-1218 for SDOT if streets/sidewalks/paths are blocked), please text us at 206-293-6302 if you can do so safely; thank you!

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Christmas Day 2024 in West Seattle, and first night of Hanukkah: Here’s who’s open and what else you should know

December 25, 2024 6:03 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

(Photos from texter who says, “Westwood mystery artist has been spreading holiday cheer”)

Merry Christmas today, Happy Hanukkah tonight! Here’s info we hope will be useful on this holiday:

BUSES: Metro‘s running on the Sunday schedule.

WATER TAXI: Not sailing today.

STATE FERRIES: Weekend timetable today – check the alerts page for status/changes.

MORE TRANSPORTATION NOTES: No charge for street parking in areas of the city with pay stations … West Seattle-relevant traffic cameras are here; see all cameras citywide via this map.

COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: We found eight – here’s our list. (Plans can change after our research, so if you encounter a change, please text or call us – 206-293-6302 – thank you.)

RESTAURANTS AND BARS OPEN TODAY: Fifteen are on our list – see it here. (And please let us know of any changes!)

GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: Again this year, as noted in our Holiday Guide, only the three Safeways (Roxbury, Admiral, Jefferson Square) are open (8 am-5 pm) – all other West Seattle grocery stores are closed until tomorrow.

CHURCH SERVICES TODAY: Four of the churches on the list in our Holiday Guide have Christmas Day services.

OTHER NOTES: Trash/recycling pickup is delayed one day for the rest of the week (next week too) … Seattle Parks closure info is here … Libraries (city and county) are closed.

SEE A MOVIE: The Admiral Theater (2343 California SW) is open this afternoon/evening – first screening of the day, 3 pm.

ASTRA LUMINA: Celestially inspired light show continues tonight on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, opening at 5 pm. Timed tickets and info here.

OTHER LIGHTS TO SEE: Scroll through our archive to see the local homes we’ve shown all month!

If you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we appreciate your tips and collaboration every hour of every day and night!

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HOLIDAY HUMOR: Bob Rivers video for ‘Decorations,’ featuring a house you’ll recognize

December 24, 2024 8:55 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

A texter identifying themselves as veteran radio personality Bob Rivers‘s longtime agent sent that link – a new video featuring one of his popular holiday spoof songs, taking on Christmas lights and starring West Seattle’s best-known well-lit house. So if you’ve wearied of singing along with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and/or “Joy to the World” after the 20th time, check this out. (And explore Rivers’s “Twisted Christmas” discography.)

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: ‘Sense of stillness’

December 24, 2024 5:08 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

On this Christmas Eve, a decoration display that evokes the Christmas wish for “peace on Earth”:

This winter scene at the “Candy Cane Pole” will breathe a sense of stillness into your soul. With its crisp white forest and Deer a-grazing, you will be taken back to a simpler time. Can you spy Santa peeking out the window?

Stop and pause awhile at 6303 45th Ave SW
Mr and Mrs Winter Merriment

To see what we’ve shown previously, scroll through this WSB archive!

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From the police files: Bullets found near school

December 24, 2024 4:04 pm

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| Pigeon Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle schools

We asked SPD about an incident logged just after noon Monday because its classification on the call map suggested it might have been a shots-fired incident, and the address was near Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point. The police report says someone called in to report finding two bullets on the ground on the trails just outside the campus, “on the path that comes from 20th Avenue SW leading south to the school through the woods.” This was further described as a trail “outside the large fenced property to the west of Pathfinder School.” Police arrived and took the two unspent 9mm bullets; the person who found them said they hadn’t seen anyone around or near the bullets.

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FOUND: Stolen and opened Christmas gift with 2 framed kids’ photos, other pics

December 24, 2024 2:55 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

One more mystery to solve on this Christmas Eve, a little too urgent for our regular lost/found board. From the WSB inbox:

Stolen/opened Christmas gift with two framed kids’ photos and more. Found yesterday above the ferry dock near Fauntleroy Creek overlook. Damp then, now dried out and in good condition. Do you recognize these youngsters or the pottery studio photos?

We can connect you if these are yours – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you.

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WHALES: Southern Residents return to this area

December 24, 2024 1:26 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

1:26 PM: The last few times orcas have passed West Seattle, the weather’s been drippy. Not today. Kersti Muul says they’re southbound near the north edge of Elliott Bay at last report, so if you have time, get out those binoculars and head be ready to head out if they don’t turn around.

2:57 PM: See comments for updates!

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DEVELOPMENT: 28 townhouses, houses planned on southeast edge of The Junction

December 24, 2024 12:02 pm

| 28 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

Checking the city’s online files for notable development proposals hasn’t yielded much lately, but we keep checking anyway, and found one this week: An early-stage proposal that has four old brick duplexes on the east edge of The Junction, west side of the 5000 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, slated for demolition, to be replaced on the 31,785-sf site by 28 new residential units – 20 townhouse duplexes and eight standalone houses. Off-street parking would be along the alley to the west. The stretch of Fauntleroy Way between The Junction and Morgan Junction has been slowly redeveloping for years, primarily into townhouses, but mostly a few units at a time; the size and scale of this makes it noteworthy. County Assessor files do not yet show a record of sale for the parcels, whose addresses range from 5029 Fauntleroy to 5045 Fauntleroy [vicinity map], but the developer is listed on the site plan as IS Property Investments and the architect is listed as David Cone. Again, this is an early-stage proposal, so it’s not in any official review phase yet.

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What you need to know for your West Seattle Christmas Eve 2024

December 24, 2024 10:04 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Thanks to Clay for the photo from Gatewood)

Our daily “what’s happening” list is in part a list OF lists today, with info we’ve been compiling as Christmas Eve/Day approached. So that’s where we begin:

GROCERY-STORE CLOSING TIMES: Most supermarkets close early tonight. This list is in the Christmas Eve/Day info atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide.

RESTAURANT LIST: Our list of restaurants open Christmas Day includes some info on Christmas Eve.

COFFEE-SHOP LIST: Same goes for the coffee list.

LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING: We invited businesses to let us know if they’re open Christmas Eve. We have a few in the Guide. (Not too late to add – post a comment)

CHRISTMAS EVE CHURCH SERVICES: We’ve heard from a dozen churches with services tonight (and beyond), also listed in the Guide.

Here’s what else we have – some are regular listings, so, apologies if there are Christmas Eve changes we weren’t notified about – let us know!

LIBRARIES CLOSED: Seattle Public Library has a systemwide closure today and tomorrow.

FAUNTLEROY CHURCH FESTIVAL OF TREES: On this Christmas Eve morning, you can go see the decorated trees in the Fellowship Hall at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), until noon, and “vote” for your favorite(s) with nonperishable food donations.

POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY: Long-distance advocacy via handwritten postcards sent to voters in other states – the work continues post-election – drop in 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all welcome.

HOLIDAY MUSIC AT THRIFTWAY: 11 am-2 pm, Alex Baird serenades shoppers at West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor)

WEST SEATTLE RUNNER TRACK RUN: Canceled tonight – shop’s closed today and tomorrow.

BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Canceled tonight – venue’s closed.

TRIVIA X 5: Five regular trivia options for Tuesday night – see the calendar and let us know of any cancellations.

Hosting an event, seasonal or otherwise? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar and/or Holiday Guide – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Can you help Nick’s Christmas cards find their way home? (update: resolved)

December 24, 2024 9:13 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

9:13 AM: From the WSB inbox this morning:

Our Christmas cards were delivered to the wrong address yesterday and we’re wondering if the blog could help? They are labeled correctly, but a certain delivery company dropped them at the wrong house! (Photo attached – this isn’t our front porch!)

We’ve driven the few streets surrounding our house to check similar house numbers, but no matching house exists… is there a chance that the blog could help crowd-source finding our missing cards?

If you got them by mistake – contact us (westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302) and we’ll connect you!

2:39 PM: Nick says “the house has been located.”

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TRAFFIC CAMS, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Christmas Eve Tuesday notes

December 24, 2024 6:01 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24th.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The rain is expected to take a break during much of the day, but it’ll be breezy, high in the low 50s. Today’s sunrise/sunset – 7:56 am (just one minute short of the latest sunrise of the season) and 4:22 pm.

(One more look at winter’s first sunset – Saturday photo by Chris Frankovich)

NO SCHOOL

One more mention that school’s out this week and next.

TRANSIT, INCLUDING HOLIDAY-SCHEDULE PREVIEW

Water Taxi – Regular service today, no service tomorrow.

Metro buses today – Regular schedule today, Sunday schedule tomorrow.

3 ROAD-WORK UPDATES

*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project has paused work this week; one week from today, on December 31, the traffic flow is scheduled to shift again.

*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project has largely wrapped up, and the bridge is now open again.

*Beach Drive gas-pipeline work continues into January, PSE tells us – here’s our update.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

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GIVING: Arrowhead Gardens residents ‘warm up a lot of feet’ – and hearts

December 23, 2024 9:12 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photos)

Over the past decade-plus, hundreds of residents of the Arrowhead Gardens senior-living complex in southeastern West Seattle have “warmed up a lot of feet,” as resident council president Diane Radischat describes it, donating more than 12,000 socks to people in our area. At a party tonight, they hosted this year’s recipients:

25 members of the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps came to Arrowhead Gardens to enjoy pizza, cookies, cocoa, and cider, and to choose presents for their families – not just some of those socks, but also hand-knit blankets, handmade jewelry, and other items geared for all ages so they could find something for everyone in their families.

The gift items for the youth to choose from were all donated by residents – including almost 1,000 socks – donated at a recent Christmas brunch, Radischat explained (she’s second from right below, with, from left, some of the other organizers, L-R, Joe, Diana, and Marty):

Over the years, the Arrowhead Gardens residents’ donations have gone to shelters, tiny-house villages, and the West Seattle Food Bank‘s Clothesline. This year’s recipients, the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, are deeply involved in their community too, with the program including outdoor work from tree planting to raingarden construction.

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TONIGHT’S LIGHTS: Familiar faces out front

December 23, 2024 7:36 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Thanks to Jeff for the Christmas Eve-Eve lights spotlight photo! He emailed to say: “For the young and young at heart. Merry Christmas, Mom!” This display is at 5420 40th SW and if you zoom in on the photo, you’ll see many familiar Christmas-character faces … Santa, Rudolph, “Bumble,” Frosty, Grinch, Snoopy, among others. We still have a few more in queue, so check in on Christmas Eve, Day, maybe beyond … and scroll through this archive to see what we’ve already shown!

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BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Indofusion Kitchen and Bar close to opening in West Seattle Junction

December 23, 2024 6:09 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks to Ian for the photo and tip that signage is up at 4719 California SW, where Taqueria Guaymas closed three years ago, with the building’s then-new owners announcing they wanted to open their own restaurant there. Now, after a few pre-opening name changes, signage has just gone up and the restaurant is close to opening. Signage on both sides of the building carries the name Indofusion Kitchen and Bar.

The owners, of both the building and the future venue according to online documents, are the Virk family, who also operate Maharaja in The Junction. Work at Indofusion is continuing; we asked on site tonight about estimated opening date, and were told that they’re hoping to be open by New Year’s.

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BIZNOTE: Pecos Pit shuts down (updated with court cases, City Light response)

December 23, 2024 5:04 pm

| 45 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

MONDAY: We got questions over the weekend about this year’s second wave of social-media rumors that Pecos Pit was closing. This time, they were true – a reader tells us last night was the finale, and tonight this sign is posted at the 35th/Fauntleroy location:

It’s been almost 10 years since we first reported that the barbecue restaurant was moving into the Seattle City Light-owned location previously occupied by teriyaki restaurants (Beni Hoshi, preceded by Yasuko’s). The site is now in the path of West Seattle light rail’s planned Avalon station.

ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: With the Alki Café eviction, this is the second West Seattle restaurant closure in less than two weeks. Meantime, a check of court files shows cases against Pecos Pit involving their Kent location – described online as the company HQ – and Federal Way. The Kent case was filed as an eviction (“unlawful detainer”) action in September, and as of October alleged that the company owed more than $72,000; earlier this month, a motion for garnishment was filed, alleging no payments had been made. The Federal Way case alleges breach of lease.

TUESDAY UPDATE: We asked the property owner, City Light, about their plan for the site post-Pecos Pit closure, and whether they had been current in their rent. Here’s the response we received from SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang:

As a public utility, we have the responsibility on behalf of our ratepayers to ensure the timely, in-full payment of any lease agreements for City Light property. We have worked with the restaurant ownership to accommodate their needs over several years, but in recent months have needed to enforce the lease terms through the proper legal process. We will focus on the removal of the business’s possessions from the location prior to making any decisions about its future use.

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From White Center Now: Rat City Tree Lighting rallies around mousy tree

December 23, 2024 3:51 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Holidays | West Seattle news | White Center

Nate Little from Lariat Bar does the honors at Rat City Tree Lighting

The last tree lighting of the season happened Sunday night in downtown White Center, and the tiny tree brought a lot of big smiles. Check out the story on our partner site White Center Now!

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