West Seattle, Washington
21 Monday
(Video courtesy Ralph Lane Productions)
That video is from yesterday, when the West Seattle Big Band played to a big crowd at the Ballard Locks – and tomorrow night, you can see them right here at home, during their 24th annual Concert in the Park. Free! Just BYO chair/blanket to the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, along Walnut south of Lander – the music starts at 7 pm Tuesday (July 16th).
(WSB photo from WSBB Concert in the Park 2018)
The WSBB is directed by Jim Edwards, also a coordinator of the West Seattle Grand Parade, and the concert has another connection to Saturday’s parade – presentation of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community. As reported here last week, this year’s honoree is philanthropist Adah Rhodes Cruzen, and you can applaud her at tomorrow night’s concert. Side note – its past winners include WSBB director Jim and wife Barbara Edwards, who as the video clip above shows, just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary!
P.S. Don’t let today’s rain worry you … tomorrow’s forecast looks dry. All ages are welcome to come enjoy the WSBB’s outstanding music. You can even get up and dance if you feel like it.
Bryan sent that photo Saturday night but we had just missed police by the time we got there, so we pursued followup information today: SPD confirms gunfire on 16th SW near SW Holden around 8 pm Saturday. Multiple calls came in to 911 from people who heard it; one witness reported seeing someone in a vehicle firing a gun “into the air.” No one was hit/injured and no property damage was found, but officers did find shell casings. One area resident told us police were also canvassing the neighborhood to see if anyone had security video of the incident.
(Fauntleroy Park woods, photographed last week by Mark)
Before we get much further into Monday, highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FUN ANIMAL HATS: At Delridge Library, 1:30 pm:
Create your own 3-D animal hat! Join Guatemalan artist Jose Orantes to learn animal facts and make your own 3-D animal hat to take home with you. For ages 7-8.
Free. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2 pm at Southwest Library. This month’s book is “Claire of the Sea Light” by Edwidge Danticat. (9010 35th SW)
WEST SEATTLE QUILTERS: The group behind the cool raffle quilt you might have seen – and/or bought a ticket for! – at West Seattle Summer Fest has its next regular meeting tonight. All welcome. 7 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. (4217 SW Oregon)
MUSIC UNDER THE STARS: At the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus: This is the 3rd of 4 Monday nights with free mini-recitals before, and at intermission of, a live broadcast from the Seattle Chamber Music Society Benaroya Hall concert. 7:30 pm. All welcome, bring a chair or blanket to sit on the grass. (6000 16th SW)
9:25 AM: Emergency responders are on westbound Admiral Way near 57th. We’re told a pedestrian was hit by a person driving a pickup truck. Seattle Police Traffic Collision Investigation detectives will be investigating. More shortly.
9:30 AM: Don Brubeck, who lives nearby, tells us the pedestrian is a man in his 80s who “was crossing the street to catch the bus to go to his gym.” He was conscious as medics were treating him, Don says. The driver, who was in the black pickup shown in our photo, is talking with police.
10:18 AM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says the pedestrian is “approximately 70 years old” and was in serious condition when taken to the hospital. Meantime, TCI is on scene, and the westbound side is blocked – they’re expected to be there until noon or so:
While this stretch of the street was part of the Admiral Way Safety Project, the 57th SW intersection is one where “left turn access” was kept, the SDOT map on the project page (which also shows the bus stop) notes.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning.
FERRY ALERT: The Kittitas is still out of the mix on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route, so that’s meant more cancellations – updates are here.
7:35 AM: Kittitas has returned to service.
8 AM: Stalled bus on NB 99 exit pre-tunnel.
Trouble again for the ferry Kittitas. It had trouble getting from Fauntleroy to Vashon, as Heidi tweeted, and once there, it was taken out of service; steering issues again, says WSF, which as a result canceled four trips and further delaying Southworth-bound passengers, who had to disembark at Vashon instead.
Keep your energy up! More big events ahead … including these three next Saturday (July 20):
FLOAT DODGER 5K: We photographed West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) co-proprietor Tim McConnell this weekend at Summer Fest, modeling custom sunglasses available to registrants while they last. The Float Dodger 5K takes you from Hiawatha down the West Seattle Grand Parade route on California to The Junction and back on Saturday morning, starting at 9:30 (after a costume contest!). WSR presents the Float Dodger 5K, with proceeds benefiting West Seattle Helpline. You can register online through Thursday. or in person through Friday at WSR (2743 California SW) to save fees. Packet pickup is 3-7 pm Friday (July 19th) at the store, where participants can also take advantage of a 10 percent in-store discount on merchandise.
2ND ANNUAL PAWRADE: In The Junction right before the Grand Parade, you and your dog(s) are invited to be part of the second annual PAWrade. No entry fee – but registration is required; you can do it online here (scroll down the page) or starting at 10 am on parade morning at California/Genesee. The PAWrade starts there at 11 am and travels a short route in The Junction, right as the Grand Parade begins in Admiral.
WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Motorcycles! Bands! Pirates! Floats! Dancers! Community groups! The parade-presenting West Seattle Rotary Foundation says 80+ entries are expected this year as the West Seattle Grand Parade heads down California SW from Lander to Edmunds starting at 11 am Saturday (be in place by 10:30 am as the motorcycle drill teams often start sooner). Cheer for the special honorees (here’s our preview about them)! If you’re in The Junction, you’ll hear parade announcers Brian Callanan and Christa Callanan. We’ll roll out more previews as this week goes on.
6:29 PM: Part of uphill Admiral Way north of the bridge is closed (map) for a rescue response. We are headed there to find out more.
6:38 PM: SFD describes the incident as “a person that fell down a hillside.” Per scanner, they have reached him and are bringing him up. Some of the responding units are being dismissed. We’ve passed the response on Admiral; traffic is still getting by both ways.
(FESTIVAL INFO LINKS HERE * METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE * 1ST FRIDAY REPORT HERE, 2ND HERE, 3RD HERE * 1ST SATURDAY REPORT HERE * 2ND HERE * 3RD HERE * 1ST SUNDAY REPORT HERE)
2:56 PM: What’s more summery than a bright floral backdrop? Victoria is modeling the selfie backdrop outside VAIN (WSB sponsor) on the west side of California south of Oregon – which awaits you before West Seattle Summer Fest wraps up at 5 pm. Also in the floral vein, a fleeting sighting:
It was on the corner of California/Alaska by the Fitness Together (WSB sponsor) booth … and then suddenly it was gone. Meantime, Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) has had visiting goats since about 1, scheduled to depart shortly:
But some festival features continue until the festival ends at 5 … like mural painting, either in Junction Plaza Park with West Seattle Art Nest or in the game zone north of Oregon with Stacey Sterling:
The finished creations will eventually be on display in The Junction.
3:28 PM: Three stages AND the open space here at Walk All Ways, if you’re looking for festival happenings:
Irish dancing now in Walk All Ways. 2 hours left for West Seattle Summer Fest! pic.twitter.com/ueJLyv8wN7
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 14, 2019
The Community Stage just hosted the kids’ pie-eating contest – here are the contenders beforehand:
Speaking of kids and food – simplifying family mealtime is the mission of Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor):
They’re here at Summer Fest to talk with you – but year-round you’ll find them on the lower east side of Jefferson Square. As we’ve been spotlighting, the Summer Fest shopping scene is a massive mix of year-round businesses with special sales, West Seattle businesses from elsewhere on the peninsula visiting (like Dream Dinners), and visiting vendors like this one:
Up at the California (main) Stage, we dropped in during the Fix performance a bit earlier:
music until 5 at Summer Fest pic.twitter.com/fGGwc4nCMI
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 14, 2019
The Boss Martians at 4 pm wrap up the main-stage schedule. More to come.
4:17 PM: Final hour. So we wandered up to the main stage:
The Boss Martians, last main-stage performance for West Seattle Summer Fest 2019 pic.twitter.com/IcYdhzCcAV
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 14, 2019
Here at California/Alaska, we have a balloon artist on the Easy Street Records corner and buskers playing at two other corners. The QFC booth across from us is selling everything for $2 (except the $1 water). Starting to fold up their orange umbrellas, too.
4:45 PM: That reminded us of Oranj, the company that declares it has the coolest T-shirts – local themes like these:
If you haven’t been there yet, they’re midblock on the east side of California between Alaska and Edmunds. Not far from the Wooden Instrument Stage, where Joe Ross was closing things out for an audience enjoying the shade:
Last performance at the Wooden Instrument Stage pic.twitter.com/9ol7MHNbFb
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 14, 2019
Overall, the weather has been outstanding all weekend – not hot, not cold. A little overcast here and there, but ultimately sunshine all three days. … Though breakdown is starting now, it’ll be hours before the Junction streets are fully cleared, so detours and reroutes (linked above) will continue until then.
Texted photo
2:40 PM: Sorry to have missed this unfolding during the hour we were mostly offline for the candidates’ forum, but reader texts and tweets tell much of the story: Police took into custody a man who had been in the water at Alki, holding what appeared to be a knife. One tweeted clip from just after noon shows officers standing on the beach facing the man; a texter just after 1 pm reported that police had the man in custody. We will be following up with police and will add anything more we find out.
3:38 PM: We found an officer here at Summer Fest who was familiar with the situation; it was a case of “person in crisis,” they tell us.
ADDED MONDAY MORNING: We followed up with SPD for details today. Det. Mark Jamieson tells us it indeed started as a “person in crisis” call around 11 am:
Officers arrived on scene and observed the subject 30 feet from shore and in waist deep water. The suspect was in possession of a knife and was displaying it to arriving officer. The subject made threats to harm self and officers. One officer was designated for CIT [Crisis Intervention] engagement with the subject. Negotiators and Harbor were notified and responded to the scene. Negotiators were able to build a rapport with the subject and he voluntarily released the knife. The subject then walked out of the water and surrendered peacefully. The subject was medically evaluated by SFD at the scene for hypothermia after being in the water for over two hours. The subject was then transported to the hospital for a mental evaluation.
(FESTIVAL INFO LINKS HERE * METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE * 1ST FRIDAY REPORT HERE, 2ND HERE, 3RD HERE * 1ST SATURDAY REPORT HERE * 2ND HERE * 3RD HERE)
10:57 AM: That’s the Community Stage in Junction Plaza Park, where our District 1 City Council candidates’ forum kicks off the programming for this final day of West Seattle Summer Fest, at noon, about an hour from now. We’re already almost an hour into the festival finale, and the big question here at the Information Booth (California/Alaska) is “where’s the Farmers’ Market?” Answer:
Right behind the KeyBank building, directly south of the kids’ area. Meantime, if you’ve wondered, no major incidents of note reported so far this weekend – SPD always has a sizable presence; this photo shows two groups of patrol officers gathered just before the festival opened at 10:
As we type, officers are looking for a lost child; we have dealt with about half a dozen lost/found children so far, usually resolved quickly, but if you need help with a situation and don’t find an officer fast, come to the Info Booth. It’s also where you’ll find community groups, festival T-shirts ($27 cash, while they last). And these free neighborhood-pride buttons (east side of the booth):
More coverage to come!
11:43 AM: Also in Junction Plaza Park starting at noon, the third and final day of mural-making with West Seattle Art Nest:
The other community mural in progress is up at the giant-games (free to play!) area north of Oregon on California. And just east of the festival-food zone on SW Alaska, there’s a Seattle Fire crew with an amazing festival view:
We’re headed that way to get ready for the candidate forum, which will go until at least 1 pm. See you after that! (Lots of other cool folks holding down the Info Booth in the meantime.)
1:12 PM: Back in the booth! Thanks to everyone who came to see and hear the candidates – our forum lasted about an hour and included many of the questions asked by readers. We took this pic just before starting:
We’ll have coverage with video on WSB tonight or tomorrow. Meanwhile, just under four more hours to enjoy Summer Fest! The Community Stage will feature:
2:30 pm – Lavender Lucy
3 pm – Kids’ Pie-Eating Contest
3:15 pm – Sue Quigley
4;15 pm – Big Tooth
On the California Stage:
now – Projections on a Wall
2 pm – Fix
3 pm – Frond
4 pm – Boss Martians
And the Wooden Instrument Stage has acoustic music going until at least 4:30, too.
Congratulations to the West Seattle Little League U12 All-Stars for making it to the district championship game! Barry J. White shares the report and photos:
The U12 All-Stars from the West Seattle Little League saw their run through the District 7 tournament come to an end with a tough 4-3 loss in the championship game to Rainier District Little League on S morning at Bar-S field. After dropping a game to Rainier on Tuesday and moving to the elimination bracket, manager Otis Moore‘s WSLL side stayed alive with wins against Seattle Central and a 10-3 win vs. Rainier last night to force the deciding game.
Workhorse pitcher Caden Ross went to the maximum pitch count of 85 in four innings, giving up four runs but staying away from the big inning. Ross helped his cause with a long solo home run in the fifth to cut the lead to 4-3.
A crisp double play from shortstop Joe Sherick and second basemen Jesse LaBella got the team out of a bases-loaded jam in the first.
Sherick knocked in pinch runner Dex Pudduck for the team’s first run in the top of the third.
Reece Holmes followed with a sharp RBI single to tie the score at 2-2, but Rainier quickly retook the lead with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
Jones Kasperson came on relief to pitch a shutout inning in the fifth to keep the deficit at one, but the team could not get a baserunner in their final at-bat.
The U12s were attempting back-to-back District 7 championships following last year’s memorable run to the state title. WSLL’s U11 and U10 teams both won their district tournaments this season and are currently playing in their respective state tournaments.
Final day of West Seattle Summer Fest, including the relocated-for-the-day Farmers’ Market and a City Council candidates’ forum in the park. So that’s how we start:
(“Live” SDOT cam)
SUMMER FEST FINALE: The festival’s official hours today are 10 am-5 pm. We’re in the Information Booth as usual for as-it-happens coverage. Festival info links:
Shopping: 10 am-5 pm – here’s the list of both year-round merchants with sales and visiting vendors with booths
Kids’ area: 10 am-5 pm – here’s info and prices for the inflatables; other activities can be found throughout the festival grounds
Giant games: Play them for free on California north of Oregon
Food: Year-round food/beverage purveyors are offering “extended service,” which for many means outdoor cafés – here’s the list of those businesses plus visiting vendors
Music/entertainment/events: Three stages – California (main) Stage on California north of Oregon (schedule here), Community Stage in Junction Plaza Park at 42nd/Alaska, Wooden Instrument (unamplified) Stage on the west side of California just before Edmunds (schedules for all three stages are here – note one change – pie-eating contest at 3, not 2)
Beer garden: Next to the California Stage, north of Oregon
Community groups: In the Info Booth and a second “community gathering tent” a bit north on the east side of California – find the list of who’s where and when here
Pet Area: By Next to Nature, on west side of California north of Alaska – see the vendor list here
Art – You can make it at Summer Fest! Community murals in the game area and Junction Plaza Park
Mothers’ Room – Hosted by Nurturing Expressions (4727 44th SW, WSB sponsor) – a place for changing/feeding babies, etc.
ROAD CLOSURES/BUS REROUTES: All linked here – these will be in effect until festival breakdown is fully complete late tonight
Also:
MINI-STP RIDE, ADMIRAL TO GATEWOOD TO SUMMER FEST: Meet at 9:15 am, as previewed here, for this annual bike ride. All ages welcome! (California/Seattle)
WHERE TO FIND THE WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm as usual, but because of Summer Fest, today only, it’s in the parking lot behind KeyBank/Bin 41/Pharmaca, its old home. (44th/Alaska)
CANDIDATES’ FORUM IN THE PARK: Haven’t been able to check out the evening forums? Drop by Junction Plaza Park between noon and 1:30 (or so – it might wrap up sooner, depending on how it goes) to see us question City Council District 1 candidates Phil Tavel, Brendan Kolding, and Lisa Herbold one more time. (42nd/Alaska)
A few non-festival highlights:
REGULAR ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1-4 pm, the historic lighthouse on Alki Point is open for tours with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. Be there by 3:45 pm. (3201 Alki SW)
SPECIAL ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE WOMEN’S HISTORY TOUR: Special tour – also free – after today’s regular tours end, explained here. Be there at 3:45 pm. (3201 Alki SW)
3 PLAY RICOCHET: 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), “Americana – traditional and modern acoustic music (bluegrass, ragtime, old-time, blues, country, jazz,…) with humor, taste and passion!” All ages. No cover. (5612 California SW)
ALL-AGES MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 5, music at 6, $5 cover. Pom Pom, King Sheim, Hoity Toity, Mr. Dinkles perform. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
THERE’S MORE … on our complete calendar!
A spectacular Saturday at West Seattle Summer Fest closed out with the Blondie tribute band Blackie on the main stage, introduced by Troy Nelson and Brent Amaker:
Lead singer is Dejha Colantuono:
On keyboards, Erin Rubin, proprietor of West Seattle’s own Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor), part of a big Mode representation/influence at this year’s festival:
One more big day of music-and-more at Summer Fest on Sunday – see the schedule for all three stages here.
Just checked out a “marine service response” call that dispatched multiple fireboats to Alki and this is what we found: They’re assisting with a stuck sailboat off 57th/Alki. No medical component to the call, so no injuries so far as we know.
(FESTIVAL INFO LINKS HERE * METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE * 1ST FRIDAY REPORT HERE, 2ND HERE, 3RD HERE * 1ST SATURDAY REPORT HERE)
6:06 PM: Art is part of this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest, more than ever. Above, Blue Geisha Tattoo is working on a Hedy Lamarr mural up by the California (main) Stage. That’s where Jeremy Enigk is playing right now:
Jeremy Enigk @ West Seattle Summer Fest pic.twitter.com/81r2wv19pB
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 14, 2019
Back in the booth zone, we found Phoebe from Spa Phoebe (new at Fauntleroy/Edmunds) with her pal Franklin:
We’ve even seen a cat at the festival:
6:25 PM: It’s not too soon to start reminding you that the West Seattle Farmers’ Market IS happening tomorrow – but it’ll be in the KeyBank lot (its old home) since the festival’s at the street. And since the market starts at 10 am, the festival does too (in past years, the official start time on Sunday has been 11 am, but we’ve noticed the wandering starts earlier, so this year the festival does too). Back to the entertainment – Balorico is leading salsa lessons on the Community Stage in Junction Plaza Park right now:
Balorico leading salsa lessons at the Community Stage (Junction Plaza Park) pic.twitter.com/VvJjj82LQs
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 14, 2019
The Community Stage has one more scheduled act tonight – 7 pm, The Spider Ferns. Then tomorrow at noon, we are moderating a Summer Fest candidates’ forum with the City Council District 1 trio, Lisa Herbold, Brendan Kolding, and Phil Tavel. Ballots will be mailed next Wednesday so it’s almost time to start voting! Join us in the park on Sunday. Also tomorrow, note that the pie-eating contest has moved to 3 pm.
7:16 PM: We’re folding up the Info Booth for the night. Here’s a pan from inside earlier today:
Things are a little quieter now, but not by much! #1 question is “where’s the California Stage?” Answer: Up by the post office. It’s where you’ll find Night Beats (7:30), Jenn Champion (8:30), and Blackie (10 pm).
P.S. Thanks to the many people who have stopped to say hi. We’ve heard Summer Fest called the “West Seattle Reunion,” with so many people seeing neighbors and friends old and new, and that happens for us every year too.
5:41 PM: We got a question via Twitter about why a major law-enforcement contingent, reportedly including King County Sheriff’s Office SWAT, was headed for the Fauntleroy ferry. Also via Twitter, the answer: The man who was found dead after an incident at an immigration-detention center in Tacoma this morning was from Vashon. The Tacoma News-Tribune’s coverage is here.
10:31 PM: The Vashon Beachcomber has published this report mentioning the large law-enforcement response on the island.
Thanks to Judy Waring for the photo! That’s from last night’s “Backyard Bard” edition of condensed Shakespeare at High Point Commons Park, courtesy of GreenStage. After “Merry Wives of Windsor” last night, tonight it’s an hourlong edition of “Measure for Measure,” also at High Point Commons Park (right behind Neighborhood House at 6400 SW Sylvan Way), 7 pm, free. Judy advises, “Easy parking nearby, not crowded, bring cushion for sitting on a rock or a lawn chair for tonight’s play.” GreenStage has other performances – both “Backyard Bard” and full length – coming up this month and next at other West Seattle parks; we have them all in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and you can check out the GreenStage website too.
(FESTIVAL INFO QUICK LINKS HERE … METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE … 1ST FRIDAY REPORT HERE, 2ND HERE, 3RD HERE)
11:02 AM: More to explore as day 2 of West Seattle Summer Fest gets going in the heart of The Junction! Above, Rob Duisberg of the West Seattle Community Orchestras is inside ArtsWest (west side of California, south of Alaska) with the WSCO Instrument Petting Zoo until 2 pm – thanks to Gina for the tip! Here at the Info Booth, you’ll find various organizations and community groups all day, too (as well as us on the north side and Junction Association volunteers on the east side). Right now on the west side of the booth, lots of crime-prevention and safety info from Seattle Police:
Side note: They have candy. Tons of families here already. On our way in just before 10, we spotted State Sen. Joe Nguyen and his family:
Three stages of entertainment, starting up soon – 11:30 am Rockaroke on the main stage on California at Oregon, noon on the community stage (in Junction Plaza Park at 42nd/Alaska and the wooden-instrument stage on the west side of California just before Edmunds). And here in Walk-All-Ways, a martial-arts demo is drawing a crowd.
Counterforce Tae-Kwon-Do demo at Summer Fest! pic.twitter.com/J4glRhR9xw
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 13, 2019
Get here and see what’s up! Also lots of chances to support the people and places that make West Seattle great – here’s one:
That’s the West Seattle Quilters‘ annual fundraising quilt for the Senior Center – buy a ticket for the raffle at the table outside Stop ‘n’ Shop on the east side of California just south of Oregon. Meantime, Summer Fest is also a major freebie zone today – HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) is across from us at California/Alaska and they have free sunglasses, tote bags, pens.
Whole Foods is here today (by the Kids Zone on the west side of Alaska) with free popsicles. In recent years, the business mix here has gotten ever more local – both the year-round merchants with sidewalk sales and the businesses with booths (some “visiting” from other parts of West Seattle), so it’s an excellent place to find out more about the community all in a 2+-block area. Our coverage continues all day and into the night – official festival end time is 8 pm, music continues tonight until about 11.
12:32 PM: All three stages are going now:
Selfdoubt, first act on Wooden Instrument Stage. South end of Summer Fest, California before Edmunds pic.twitter.com/toW7bGwJpb
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 13, 2019
Just south of the main stage, it’s the game zone – free to play, all ages! Caitlin from Outer Space Seattle (the playspace opening soon at 2820 Alki SW) sent this photo of astronauts playing Connect 4:
Also up at the game zone on California north of Oregon, Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor, based in North Delridge). On California south of Oregon, another of our sponsors, Verity Credit Union, has fun stuff in their open storefront all weekend long:
We just confirmed they’ll have GOATS there 1-3 pm Sunday. … Since it’s lunch time, we strolled through the festival food zone (remember that 20+ year-round restaurants have sidewalk cafés and/or outdoor stands to serve you too) and you’ll find more variety than ever, from elotes (roasted corn) to elephant ears, Pho Burritos, squash-blossom pupusas, cotton candy, potato “tornadoes,” barbecue (with the truck from WSB sponsor Pecos Pit) Afghan, Kenyan, Mexican, Salvadorean, Thai food. And if you want to sit down after buying something at a booth, check out the tables at Junction Plaza Park!
1:22 PM: If you need someplace to take refuge with your infant or toddler, wander a block west to Nurturing Expressions (4727 44th SW; WSB sponsor), as this handy sign reminds you:
Back along the rows of booths – GoodMed Direct Primary Care (WSB sponsor) is here for the weekend (they’re headquartered in Morgan Junction):
Dr. Ryan Campbell would love to talk with you about their unique, affordable flat-rate health care. … More coverage to come!
3 PM: Warmer than yesterday. If you bring your pup(s) and s/he/they need a break, the Pet Zone is on the west side of California just north of Alaska:
Gabe Cadwell sent that pic of Lilly enjoying the doggie pool. … Another Junction business (based in Jefferson Square) that’s here, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Northwest (WSB sponsor):
In the BHHSBW booth when we stopped by, Debbie Kerns, Alice Kuder, and Nadine Bivins. … UPDATE: Whole Foods is out of free popsicles. Lots of treats here but those have run out. … Here in the Info Booth (heart of Walk All Ways, look for the big INFORMATION banner), new groups at the community tables on the west and south side, including Seal Sitters:
They’re on the south side; on the west side, YearUp and SR3:
As you might notice in our photos, both Seal Sitters and SR3 have show-and-tell items – all ages can touch and explore. The Whale Trail is here too, a few booths north of Walk All Ways. … We’re getting closer to the heart of the music lineup -here’s who’s on the main stage tonight:
4:30 – DYED
5:30 – Jeremy Enigk
6:30 – Spirit Award
7:30 – Night Beats
8:30 – Jenn Champion
9:30 – DJ Mister Moon
10 pm – Blackie (Blondie tribute)
The main stage is on California between Oregon and Genesee; the beer garden is immediately south of it. ….Our coverage continues right after 5 pm with the early-evening report, but first some other stories.
P.S. If you lost your wallet – we just had one turned in at the Info Booth.
The second day of West Seattle Summer Fest tops our highlight list:
(“Live” SDOT cam)
WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST DAY 2: The festival’s official hours today are 10 am-8 pm (music runs later). We’re in the Information Booth as usual for as-it-happens coverage starting later this morning (also watch our Twitter feed for festival scenes), but here are the links:
Shopping: 10 am-8 pm – here’s the list of both year-round merchants with sales and visiting vendors with booths
Kids’ area: 10 am-8 pm – here’s info and prices; go here to find out about the Kids’ Pirate Treasure Hunt (TODAY ONLY)
Food: Year-round food/beverage purveyors are offering “extended service,” which for many means outdoor cafés – here’s the list of those businesses plus visiting vendors
Music/entertainment/events: Three stages – main stage on California north of Oregon (schedule here), community stage in Junction Plaza Park at 42nd/Alaska, south (wooden instruments and more) stage on California just before Edmunds (schedules for all three stages are here)
Beer garden: Next to the main stage, open late
Community groups: In the Info Booth and a second “community gathering tent” a bit north on the east side of California – find the list of who’s where and when here
Pet Junction: By Next to Nature, on west side of California north of Alaska – see the vendor list here
Art – You can make it at Summer Fest!
Mothers’ Room – Hosted by Nurturing Expressions (4727 44th SW, WSB sponsor) – a place for changing/feeding babies, etc.
ROAD CLOSURES/BUS REROUTES: All linked here.
Also today/tonight:
COLMAN POOL CLOSED AGAIN Another day without public access to the outdoor pool at Lincoln Park, because of a swim meet.
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: 8 am from West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), start your weekend on the move! (2743 California SW)
FAMILY ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR: 1-4 pm at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. Creative activities for all ages! (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
ICE CREAM SOCIAL & BAKE SALE: At The Kenney (WSB sponsor)’s Ballymena community, 1:30-4:30 pm:
Come join us for our Husky Deli ice cream sundaes and root beer floats (including sugar-free sundaes) put on by Ballymena residents. Homemade baked goods will also be available for purchase.
(7124 47th SW)
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: Second night for GreenStage‘s condensed Backyard Bard at High Point Commons Park – 7 pm, “Measure for Measure.” Free! (6400 SW Sylvan Way)
SABERTOOTH: 8 pm at The Skylark. $8 cover, 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
LOCAL ROCK: See KLED, Duwamish Head, Dynamite Nugget. 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(Photo by Paul Weatherman)
The West Seattle Summer Fest excitement rolled north to the main stage and beer garden as night arrived. Paul Weatherman‘s aerial view shows the crowd during Common Market‘s performance; then came the final band of the night, Polyrhythmics:
(WSB photos/video from here down)
A bit of video:
Tomorrow’s main-stage music is scheduled to run 12 full hours, all the way through Blackie’s 10 pm performance, with other highlights including Jeremy Enigk at 5:30 pm and Jenn Champion at 8:30.
Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo from Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, one of more than 100 places around the nation and world where people gathered tonight “to protest the inhumane conditions faced by migrants,” particularly detention and separation at the U.S. border. The movement is called Lights for Liberty, and the West Seattle vigil was one of at least half a dozen planned in the city tonight.
(FESTIVAL INFO QUICK LINKS HERE … METRO REROUTE LINKS HERE … FIRST FRIDAY REPORT HERE)
You can kick back at West Seattle Summer Fest. That’s John Smersh, co-proprietor of Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor), demo’ing an air chair they’re featuring. Click! has a “garage-sale”-style sidewalk sale too, plus they’re selling cool local baby onesies (whose creator isn’t vending separately this year). So don’t miss your year-round merchants along the sidewalk. We’d have to say “discover and explore” is a big theme this year. Look around every corner – you might find something special, like this:
That’s the community mural that West Seattle Art Nest is leading in Junction Plaza Park– – by the wind sculpture, near the community stage – until 7. They explain that it – and the two they’ll be leading the next two days – are inspired by features in West Seattle parks. That’s the Schmitz Park crocodile; the next two will be the Whale Tail Park whale and the Lincoln Park griffin. Meanwhile, back on the main stage:
Sweet Jesus, second main-stage band at West Seattle Summer Fest pic.twitter.com/FoDvtZYjoq
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 13, 2019
All three stages’ programming schedules are here. More coverage to come!
6:07 PM: Festival sights. From Tatooine to West Seattle:
And we’ve gotten enough questions about this poster, we have to say, according to festival organizers – IT’S NOT REAL:
We’ve heard from more than a few Gary Busey fans at the Info Booth who are disappointed to hear that. So who IS here? Still to come tonight on the main stage (California north of Oregon):
6:30 pm – West Seattle Soul
7:30 pm – The Grizzled Mighty
8:30 pm – Common Market
9:30 pm – DJ Kurt Bloch
10 pm – Polyrhythmics
The last community stage act of the day, Tekla Waterfield, is on now; on the Wooden Instrument Stage (west side of California just north of Edmunds), it’s Annie O’Neill now, Cami & Co. at 7.
6:33 PM: First lost/found child of the day, quickly reunited. That’s part of what happens at the Info Booth – if there’s a problem, we summon help. The Info Booth winds down around 7 pm – if you need help after that, look for a festival staffer. … Even more music happening now – Kyle Craft in-store at Easy Street Records (as featured in our daily preview today).
7:06 PM: Though shopping/vending time is winding down, music keeps heating up:
West Seattle Soul on the Summer Fest main stage right now pic.twitter.com/cKgYjURzPt
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 13, 2019
Dinnertime for many festivalgoers:
Common question at the Info Booth is whether the east side of SW Alaska is “all the food.” Remember that many of the year-round restaurants offer something special for Summer Fest too – outdoor cafes, and/or street food, like Husky Deli’s stand:
We’re heading out but will be back later tonight for more music!
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