steele

Is there any option of staying on Lake Union that would work for the 4th?

Yes, the Courtyard Marriott is accross the street from the lake on the south end.  Nice location to see or walk closer to the fireworks, also walking distance to the re-vitalized South lake union area with lots of good bars and restaurants.  You could also walk to 4 small boat rental areas (wooden boat center, 2 kayak places, and an electric boat place).  As mentioned above spending time in a small boat or kayak on Lake Union is a unique experience and highly recommended.

Oops, this assumes you mean on land, not on the boat.  I do not know of any on the water option in the lake for moorage, Blackjenner lives on the lake with an end of the dock berth, he might know better.

Keep in mind leaving the lake by boat after the show means going under 3 bridges and through the locks, at midnight, surrounded by 2000 of your closest drinking buddies (I am not sure if the locks are running at that time).

If you are on the boat you could try to get through the locks to lake union for the show, it is boating hell with gobs of drunk people floating around on powerboats shooting off fireworks, but to each his own.  I would stay at Bell Harbour or Shilshole and cab in to the area, but getting home after several hundred thousand try to leave at the end of the show is hard.  We usually park a mile or 2 a way and walk out.  

Does this count? Kind of cute in a way.

I like this one for the same reason I like the 1970's Ford Pinto in mint condition I see once in a while.  It is not a thing of beauty, but is cared for by someone who takes some pride in their machine.  

Mine is the liquid container version, but using plumbing anti-freeze, probably less messy and safer then mineral spirits and brake fluid.  Has worked for 20 yrs.

Yep, although my wife would not always agree (Look dear, we got some new self tailing winches in the mail!)