May 19, 2018 - Hipster Sweeper

A fedora wearing stand up surfboarder paddles across Seattle's bustling Lake Union.

September 11, 2016 - In Other Words

A DeHavilland Otter of Kenmore Air's fleet appears to make an approach to the moon  as it descends for a landing on Lake Union.

The jazz standard "Fly Me to the Moon" was written by Bart Howard in 1954 and originally titled "In Other Words" and first released as the flipside of an album.  In 1963 Howard changed the name to what we now know it.  By the time Frank Sinatra's version, produced by Quincy Jones, was released in 1954 a hundred other versions had been released.  The song became closely associated with the Apollo missions and was the first music heard by an astronaut on the moon when Buzz Aldrin listened to it on Apollo 11 on a portable tape player.

July 1, 2016 - Sculler School

A single sculler from a Lake Union Crew class on Lake Union with Gasworks Park in the background.  While a pair in a scull are tailed by a paddling class of a different sort.

Lake Union Crew has rowing classes for individuals of all abilities.  The organization is dedicated to "rowing, racing, and giving back to the community" and boast a world class facility on the shores of Seattle's Lake Union.

Oars, Empacher eights and all sizes of sculls line the walls.

The 164 foot motor yacht Eileen heads west towards the Ballard Locks, Puget Sound and destinations unknown.  The yacht was originally launched in 2000 by the Italian shipyard Codecasa Yachts.  Fourteen guests can "comfortably be accommodated" on this vessel, which is available for charter.  There is a spacious master cabin, three double guest cabins, two twin cabins and two pullmans.

October 3, 2015 - View From Gasworks

A pair of cyclists pause from their ride on the Burke-Gilman Trail to take in the view at Gasworks Park on the shores of Lake Union.  The 19 acre park on the north shore of Lake Union was opened to the public in 1975.  The park was created from polluted grounds of the last coal gasification plants in the US.  Many parts of the original plant remain on the ground.  The park was originally to be named after the Seattle Council person Myrtle Edwards who spearheaded the city's acquisition of the property.  Her family asked that her name be removed from the park after the decision to leave parts of the plant on the park.  A park on Elliott Bay has since been named in her honor.

July 2, 2013 - Duck Dodge: Red, White and Blue Night

What a difference a week makes!  Last Tuesday's Duck Dodge was 'damp'; over an inch of rain damp!  There wasn't cloud in the sky for this Tuesday night's sailboat race - themed red, white and blue.  On this night you could actually see the background to the race - the I-5 bridge over the ship canal, Gas Works park, the floating homes and Saint Mark's Cathedral.  All manner of vessels were on Seattle's Lake Union tonight: sailboats, tour boats, paddle boards, paddle boats, float planes, yachts and even Hot Tub Boats.  Hot Tub Boats?  Yes.  They are hot tubs.  Yes.  They are boats.  Yes.  They float.  Yes. They are for rent.

From the "August 17, 2010 - Duck Dodge Time" post
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.

July 2, 2013 - Focal Standard

The flag that flies atop Seattle's Two Union Square can be seen from many parts of the city, including from the newly renovated home of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) on the south shores of Lake Union.  At 56 stories, Two Union is the third tallest in Seattle.  The 20 foot by 30 foot flag flies 300 feet higher than the Space Needle on a 90 foot pole.  Even in the background, Old Glory can be the focal point; especially on the eve of Independence Day!

June 25, 2013 - Damp Duck Dodge

On an evening so wet that even the ducks stayed out of the water, the nautical Seattle summer tradition of  Tuesday evening sailboat racing on Lake Union went on. Tonight's theme: Pirates!

From the August 17, 2010 post: "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."

December 5, 2012 - A Room With a (Water) View

 

The cozy living room and dining room of this floating home on the eastern shores of Lake Union has a view of the Seattle skyline and all manner of vessels and wildlife.  In addition to the great view, this one has its very own totem pole and a dragonfly door. 

Living on the shores of Lake Union, Portage Bay or other nearby waterways has been commonplace since before 1900.  However, restrictions to shoreline living has limited the number of floating homes to just under 500.  Floating homes are permanently tied to utilities and have no means of propulsion.  Houseboats are navigable vessels.

August 28, 2012 - Duck Dodge II

Another Tuesday on Lake Union.  If its summer there must be another Duck Dodge.

From the August 17, 2010 blog post:
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.

July 24, 2012 - Bird's Eye Duck Dodge

As viewed from Queen Anne Hill, the boats participating in tonight's Duck Dodge on Lake Union look like toys.  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. Tonight's theme: Toga!

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.

May 6, 2010 - A Troll's Eye View

Gasworks Park and Lake Union as seen looking East through the railing of The George Washington Memorial Bridge. The 2,945 foot long, 70 foot wide steel cantilever bridge is more commonly known as the Aurora Bridge. The bridge is about 160 feet high. Prior to its completion in 1932 several tall masted ships had to move from their anchorage in Lake Union, as the clearance above the shipping lane, 150 feet, wouldn't have been enough for some of them to clear. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Over 230 people have committed suicide by jumping from the bridge, second in the US only to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. This view will soon be gone as a suicide prevention fence nearly 9 feet high will be completed later this year.
(Note: The suicide prevention fence was completed in February of 2011.)

Underneath the north end of the Aurora Bridge, an 18 foot high, one-eyed concrete troll keeps vigil. Here's a view from over his left shoulder.  The Fremont Troll was commissioned by the Fremont Arts Council and sculpted in 1990 by four Seattle artists -- Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead.