August 17, 2010 - Duck Dodge Time

The weekly “Lake Union Duck Dodge” as viewed from a portion of Charles Greening’s “Sundial” at Gas Works Park. The viewer becomes the vertical element to the sundial – the gnomon – by standing in the middle. “Sundial” stands atop a large manmade hill made of thousands of cubic yards of crushed building foundation and top soil on the north shore of Lake Union.

Gas Works Parks stands on the grounds of the former Seattle Gas Light gasification plant that operated from 1906 to 1956. The park opened in 1975 and as it was a former industrial site has undergone significant bio-phyto-remediation.

The Tuesday evening Duck Dodge is a summer tradition on Lake Union that began in the mid 70s. Dozens of boats “race” on a course for two hours, then proceed to converge for a themed party. The rules are pretty simple: Don’t make a duck change its course and don’t run into other boats. The winners get a duck decal for their mast.

The original handbill from that first summer in 1974, when the race was called the “Lake Union Beer Can Regatta or Tenas Chuck Duck Dodge”, proclaims that any skipper, any sailboat, any crew can participate and that same fun spirit survives. Every race has a theme – prom, Mardi Gras, pirates, pajamas – and every week there is a different host Committee Boat.

August 16, 2010 - One Long, One Short

A small sailboat motors through the Fremont Bridge at sunset. The double bascule bridge has only a 30' clearance for vessels which necessitates its opening over 700 times a month. Federal law requires that marine traffic has the right-of-way over vehicular traffic. The Coast Guard has granted the City of Seattle an exception during rush hour. The 3 million pound leafs are raised with a 100 horse-power electric motor. Vessel operators request an opening with a whistle signal - one long, one short.

The Fremont Bridge is the lowest of the four similar bridges that cross the Lake Washington Ship Canal and connect Lake Washington to Puget Sound. Two of the bridges, the Fremont and Ballard Bridges, and the canal were opened in the summer of 1917.

The bridge's name and the year 1916 are visible in the stone foundation below the tower. The George Washington Memorial Bridge, with a vessel clearance of well over 150 feet, can be seen through the rising span.

The blue and orange paint scheme was a result of a community vote. The votes were originally for a blue bridge, but community activists favored an orange bridge. What was worked out was a Seattle compromise. The neon in the near tower of the top photo is just art. This is Fremont after all!

August 10, 2010 - (Almost) Last Call

Catch it while you can! The Buckaroo Tavern, established in 1938, will be closing their doors and turning off the quaint neon sign on September 17th.


The neighborhood bar is located on the northern edges of Fremont, a Seattle neighborhood that claims to be "The Center of the Known Universe". The eclectic neighborhood is home to the world headquarters of Getty Images, a statue of Lenin, a Volkswagon crushing troll, nude bicyclists and was where Nirvana's "Bleach" was recorded.