March 2023

Dan Wiseman Day will honor community leader April 2
WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER DECLARES APRIL 2ND, 2023 DAN WISEMAN DAY SUMMER FEST MURAL SPONSORED BY DAN WILL BE PAINTED THIS SUMMER

Information from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce

Past West Seattle Chamber President, Daniel Wiseman, passed away on February 17, 2023 and the West Seattle Chamber is declaring April 2nd, 2023 (what would have been Dan’s 70th Birthday) “Dan Wiseman Day” to recognize his contribution to our community.

Stacy Sterling
West Seattle artist Stacey Sterling with a sea life mural that will be placed in the Mural Alley in the West Seattle Junction.

 

For the past several years the West Seattle community has come together during Summer Fest to paint a mural of sea life. Local artist Stacey Sterling directs the community project, and the murals hang in Mural Alley in the Junction.

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Beloved West Seattle Luna Park Cafe set to reopen Friday

 

The kitschy, cute, and much loved Luna Park Cafe is set to reopen on Friday morning after a months long remodeling closure. The restaurant at 2918 Avalon Way has been a popular spot for breakfast and lunch for more than 33 years, but as regulars know, it needed some upgrades. The staff went through a couple of friends and family events to get systems tuned up.

Converted years ago from the former Pat & Ron's Tavern by John Bennett it took on the character of a 1950's diner with vintage lunchboxes hanging from the ceiling, a jukebox stuffed with classic songs (and remote play selectors at some tables) and signs from all around the Seattle area from years gone by. 

Learn more about their history here.

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How is the West Seattle Food bank faring after SNAP benefits cut?

It's easy to forget that hunger persists, even in a city as affluent as Seattle.

Agencies like the West Seattle Food bank (WSFB) work daily to meet that need often against a rising number of people seeking assistance. That job got tougher at the end of February when the emergency allotments, due to the pandemic, through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) emergency allotments (EAs) were cut.  The allotments were temporary benefit increases that Congress enacted to address rising food insecurity and provide economic stimulus.

This benefit cut for every SNAP household meant they would receive $95 a month less. Some households, who under regular SNAP rules receive low benefits because they have somewhat higher, but still modest incomes, saw reductions of $250 a month or more. 

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Australian band The Church will be live at Easy Street Records March 18

Australian band, The Church will be appearing live for an in-store performance at Easy Street Records on March 18 at 6pm. The band is celebrating 43 years since their formation, and are embarking on an extensive world tour performing new music and songs from their 26 album career. 

Entry to the event is by visiting EasyStreetonline.com and ordering a copy of their newest album "Hypnogogue" on CD or vinyl. That gets you a wristband to guarantee entry.

Easy Street noted that The Church has been a favorite from the early days of the store and Northwest radio stations KCMU, KEXP, KJET and KNDD have all played and supported the band.

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Record stores in the greater Puget Sound area

As with vinyl itself, those rumors you hear surrounding the so-called death of the record store have proven themselves to be greatly exaggerated, In fact, retail record stores seem to be springing up like weeds just about everywhere you look these past few years. From the bigger indie retail players like Easy Street and Silver Platters, to the more remote hole-in-the-wall places like Stargazer Records, music retail is indeed still alive and well in the Northwest. 

 

Vinyl Revival: The unlikely resurgence of records  

by Glen Boyd

Roll Over Compact Discs, and tell MP3 the news: Vinyl is back. 

You heard that right. The same format that ruled the music industry during the glory years of the Rock and Roll 1960s and 1970s -- only to be written off and declared all but obsolete with the advent of compact discs by the late 1980s -- is enjoying something of a moment right now. 

turntable
 Victrola Retro Console model record Player/Turntable set-up

 

In fact, according to 2022 sales figures just released by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); Vinyl Records this past year just outsold Compact Discs for the first time since 1987. 

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DIY…or Die? The breeding ground of sound is losing places to play
Your chance to support new music is coming soon with three day event RX Fest in mid April

Known for our subterranean music scene, Seattle’s influential underground is a living entity that provides a space to be yourself and be heard. Currently, it's suffering. 

By Ruby Tuesday Romero

Last month, a critical part of the Northwest punk scene shut its doors. The Kraken , an iconic U DIstrict bar is the latest to close in a disturbingly long list of foundational venues-gone-past. Several others have closed due to plans to redevelop and others were unable to pull through the pressures of the pandemic.

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Two suspects rob Gamestop in Westwood Village

Information from Seattle Police Blotter

by Officer Shawn Weismiller on March 12, 2023 2:39 pm

Seattle Police responded the Gamestop that was robbed at gunpoint at Westwood Village Sunday afternoon. 

When police arrived at 12:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of Southwest Barton Street, an employee reported two males had robbed the business by gunpoint. At least one handgun was seen by the 21-year-old male employee. 

The two male suspects stole cash from the store and a wallet from a 40-year-old customer. They were last seen running southbound through the parking lot. Both suspects were described as black males in their early 20’s wearing black clothing, white shoes, and light-colored masks. 

Robbery Detectives will continue to investigate this case. 

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