On February 27, members of the Leschi Community Council met with Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) staff, neighboring condominium residents, and local Life Scouts to discuss plans for improving the Dearborn Street End. Omar Akkari, SDOT’s Shoreline Street Ends Program Coordinator, shared a draft concept plan for the site. The proposal focuses on replacing the existing lawn with native plantings and a defined pathway while also refreshing the two existing benches. Th

At first glance, the scene can be surprising: people in swimsuits emerging from a steaming cedar sauna and heading toward the cold waters of Lake Washington. Heat up. Cool down. Repeat. That’s the simple rhythm behind Bywater Sauna’s newest location at Leschi Marina, and for many participants, the appeal becomes obvious after the first session. Barrel Sauna exterior. “I feel more connected to nature, more part of the Seattle ecosystem,” says Natalie G. “It’s magical to be swi

At the start of 2026, the Leschi Community Council formed a Traffic Safety Committee. Its purpose is to push projects forward that will make Leschi a safer and more pleasant place to walk, run, bike, drive, visit and, of course, live. The committee is open to any Leschi neighbor who is interested and is led by Jim Davidson. With funding for traffic calming on Lakeside Ave earmarked in the recently approved transportation levy, we have a specific opportunity to slow down traff

The Leschi Elementary School community is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Mrs. Henrietta Swan-Price, known to many of us simply as Mrs. Price, and to many others as Precious. Her obituary from the Seattle Medium  is reprinted below. Henrietta Swan-Price, a beloved community figure known for her flair, faith, and dedication to service, died recently in Seattle at the age of 87. She was born June 11, 1938, in Houston to the late Henry Coy Swan and Hilda Darby-Swan. Hen

On Wednesday, March 4, Leschi residents gathered to hear updates and discuss current and future projects along the neighborhood’s shoreline. Leschi’s access to Lake Washington is one of the features that makes the neighborhood so special, and the evening offered neighbors a chance to learn about restoration efforts, upcoming improvements, and ongoing stewardship of these shared spaces. Nikola Davidson opened the discussion with an update on a series of habitat plantings along

Despite pouring rain, about 15 dedicated volunteers showed up on Saturday, February 7 for a remarkably productive work party—proof once again that Leschi stewardship doesn’t stop for the weather. Volunteers removed invasive bindweed roots and buttercup in the first overlook area, cleared weeds and dead shrubs near the second overlook, and spread generous amounts of mulch both in newly cleared areas and in places where invasives had been removed previously. The mulch will help

Esther Ervin was born in a small town in New Jersey, but moved to California at the age of 16. Her house was near the Irvine Ranch where she actually saw cowboys herding cattle. Now the Ranch has been developed into housing. She went to Palestine and Israel as an undergraduate. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and went into the Peace Corps for three years from 1977 to 1980. She was assigned to Columbia where she worked with boys living on the street. She gave

As I sat in his comfortable living room, Al Doggett described his early years and then the details of his move to Seattle. Born in Brooklyn, he first showed an interest in art when he was in the second grade and he became the class artist in the fifth grade. He loved drawing and telling stories. He was fortunate to gain entry to the School of Art and Design in Manhattan where he learned how to illustrate professionally. He then went to the Fashion Institute of Technology and

Christina Wood opened the doors of Temple Pastry on South Jackson Street in 2020 and since then, it’s become a popular community gathering spot that now serves sandwiches, ice cream, pizza at night, and has a bottle shop. Last fall, Wood released her first cookbook and most recently learned she is nominated for the distinguished 2026 James Beard’s Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker award. Christina Wood I sat down with Wood to ask about her baking inspirations, her new cookbook

More than 75 neighbors filled the room at the February Leschi Community Council meeting to hear from Stephanie Johnson-Tolliver, President of the Black Heritage Society of Washington State (BHS), for a powerful and informative lecture on preserving Black history in Seattle’s Central District—a history she emphasized includes Leschi. Johnson-Tolliver introduced herself as a fourth-generation Seattleite, noting that her family moved to the area in 1903. She grounded her talk in

The Leschi Community Council recently submitted a grant proposal to the Seattle Garden Club to support a new interpretive kiosk at Peppi’s Playground—a project intended to highlight and support Peppi’s Woods, the community-stewarded natural area adjacent to the playground and Leschi Elementary. This proposal grew from a suggestion by one of Peppi’s Woods volunteer Forest Stewards and reflects early concept development. If funded, the project would intentionally move into a br

Dear BFF, New Year’s resolutions are hard! How can I make mine stick? Signed, Unresolved Dear Unresolved, January is almost over. But before we throw in the towel on our new year’s resolutions, let’s take a look at how to make them stick. You can start with how you make them–the acronym S.M.A.R.T. shows you how. S.M.A.R.T. goals are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and time-bound. Let’s take a closer look! We can get a better idea what specific means by comparing v