On a rare weekend actually spent at home in Seattle, we managed to watch three live hockey games over four days. Two were Seattle Kraken NHL games, and the third was an infrequent return to Seattle by the Thunderbirds Junior A team for the “Battle of the Sound” against the Portland Winterhaks. We often attended Thunderbirds games when their home arena was at Seattle Center Ice Arena, but in 2009 they moved to Kent, 20 miles (32km) to the south.

We also joined another pub crawl organized by our apartment comples, Insignia, and took advantage of the beautiful spring weather to walk out to Lake Union for lunch. There we had a particularly delicious lunch on the deck at Duke’s Seafood, with a lake view. We checked out several public artworks on the way there, and walked back along the lake shore, taking in spring blossoms including cherry trees and daffodils.

Below are highlights from March 14 through 17th. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a map with our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

3/14/2024

Eberle at 1,000 Position: 47°37.33’N, -122°21.24’W A pre-game celebration for Seattle Kraken winger Jordan Eberle reaching 1,000 NHL games played. In a close and exciting match, the score was tied 1-1 in the third period. But the Washington Capitals scored an unanswered goal with 8:24 left in the final period, and we ended up losing 2-1.

3/16/2024

Insignia Pub Crawl Position: 47°36.94’N, -122°21.04’W Our apartment complex does periodic pub crawls which attract a super-interesting group of people that we enjoy spending time with. And we always end up discovering a few more interesting venues in the immediate area in which we live. Here we are at the third stop of four for the evening, Seattle Social.

Magnolia Tree Position: 47°37.00’N, -122°21.11’W The spectacular flowers of a Magnolia tree along 1st Ave in Seattle.

Fuego Position: 47°37.32’N, -122°21.24’W Jennifer with Fuego, the mascot for the Seattle’s Kraken’s farm team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. It’s “Mascot Madness” night at the Kraken hockey game, with NHL mascots Gnash (Nashville), Bailey (L.A. Kings), and Stormy (Carolina) joining Fuego and our mascot, Buoy, along with local mascots Mariner Moose of the Seattle Mariners baseball team and Husky from the University of Washington.

3/17/2024

Dreamer Position: 47°37.40’N, -122°20.28’W The sculpture Dreamer, by Seattle artist and 2020 Smithsonian Visionary Award winner Patti Warashina, was installed in South Lake Union in 2022. We’re out for a walk to enjoy some unseasonably sunny and warm Seattle weather.

Beacon Position: 47°37.40’N, -122°20.25’W The 12-foot-high (3.7m) Beacon, created by University of Washington professor Jamie Walker. It is one of a three-part sculpture, Beacon, Cloud, Toto, all made of clusters of spheres, installed on Terry Avenue between Mercer and Republican streets.

Yaadachoon Position: 47°37.59’N, -122°20.13’W The striking aluminum sculpture Yaadachoon by Tinglit artist Robert Mills of Alaska, at the Lake Union Piers.

Lake Union Piers Position: 47°37.64’N, -122°20.05’W Boats moored at Lake Union Piers (formerly Chandler’s Cove).

The White Swan Position: 47°37.75’N, -122°19.91’W We were considering stopping for lunch on the terrace at The White Swan, but it was fully occupied on this sunny and warm Sunday afternoon.

Duke’s, Lake Union Position: 47°37.80’N, -122°19.83’W A particularly delicious lunch on the deck at Duke’s Seafood Restaurant, with a view to Lake Union. We take every opportunity to have meals outside and really enjoyed this one.

MV Malibu Position: 47°37.80’N, -122°19.83’W From our lunch table at Duke’s, we noticed the MV Malibu docked nearby. Built in 1926, the ship’s third owner was Thomas F. Hamilton, who built the Malibu Camp in at Princess Louisa Inlet British Columbia. The camp and adjacent Malibu Rapids are named after the vessel.

Cherry Blossoms, South Lake Union Position: 47°37.77’N, -122°19.86’W Cherry blossoms are in bloom all over Seattle.

Daffodils, South Lake Union Position: 47°37.62’N, -122°20.24’W Vibrant yellow daffodils outside the Museum of History and Industry at South Lake Union.

Battle of the Sound Position: 47°37.32’N, -122°21.24’W We ended the day back at Climate Pledge Arena for the third time in four days, this time to attend the “Battle of the Sound” between the Seattle Thunderbirds and Portland Winterhaks Junior A teams. We often attended Thunderbirds games when their home arena was at Seattle Center Ice Arena, but in 2009 they moved to Kent, 20 miles (32km) to the south. The Thunderbirds won 5-4 in a super-exciting game that ended in overtime. Goalie Spencer Michnik did an amazing job, fending off 52 of an astounding 56 shots on goal.

Space Needle Position: 47°37.22’N, -122°21.08’W The Space Needle against a deep blue clear sky as we head home from the Thunderbirds game at Climate Pledge Arena.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map. And a map of our most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.