Missing The Boat On `Free Willy'

Free Willy's ship still hasn't come in. The Warner Bros. crew that has been filming on Lopez Island in the San Juans has been having trouble locating a vessel to use in making the sequel to "Free Willy."

Where to find one? The word on the waterfront is that oil companies are reluctant to allow their vessels to appear in a film that mentions the words "oil spill." (The film's scenario has Willy, the killer whale, somehow involved in a marine disaster that leads to an oil spill.)

Several oil companies reportedly have been approached about leasing a vessel and have said no.

Most recently, the Washington state Department of Transportation heard from the moviemakers. Would the DOT, which has helped filmmakers in the past ("An Officer and a Gentleman"), charter a ferry? Maybe and maybe not.

At first, it looked as if the 100-car Tillikum, which is undergoing repair, might have a window of availability. But, according to ferry spokeswoman Susan Harris, a recent fire delayed repairs. That vessel won't be out of the yard until May 27. By that time, it will be needed on the Fauntleroy-Vashon Island run.

Harris says, "The only vessel available at this time is the Hiyu, a 40-car ferry that's used in the San Juans. I'm not sure they want a boat that small."

Time's a-wasting and the film crew needs a ship in the next few weeks. Anyone know the whereabouts of the Exxon Valdez, now that we need it?

Breakfast club: Last week's breakfast for King County Judge Faith Enyeart Ireland, who is running for the state Supreme Court, drew more than 500 supporters to the Westin ballroom.

"The turnout was unusual for a judicial race," said Judge Carmen Otero. "Usually it's a wine-and-cheese party, very staid and boring." The diverse crowd included judges, prosecutors and attorneys, as well as community activists and business folk.

Campaign chairwoman Dorothy Bullitt reports the campaign should net around $16,000.

Built for two: The Dog House, the blue-collar Regrade restaurant that closed in January, may be gone, but its spirit lives on at Ruby Montana's Pinto Pony in Pioneer Square. On display is a Doghouse booth, complete with wood-grained plastic table top and tooled Naugahyde upholstery.

"It's a sweet thing, a two-seater," says Montana. She's priced it at $795 but doesn't expect to sell it. "I love having it here. One couple comes in every morning to sit and drink their coffee there."

Making marry: Hats off to Burning Bush, the off-beat design firm that produced a jazzy logo for Bumbershoot, the city's Labor Day arts festival. The designers splashed the Bumbershoot name across a guitar with a Cyclops-like eyeball. The guitar's companion is a slug labeled "Seattle Arts Festival."

The magenta-and-lime logo appears on a Bumbershoot news release announcing the booking of Father Guido Sarducci of "Saturday Night Live" fame. Sarducci is coming to Bumbershoot for three days of the festival's four-day run to marry three couples a day (nine total) on the Biringer Farm wedding stage.

Couples who want Sarducci to marry them should submit a written statement explaining why to Bumbershoot, Box 9750, Seattle, WA 98109 by June 15.

Vanity vanity: The black BMW spotted this week had a not-so-subtle vanity plate: TRYME1X.

Jean Godden's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Local News section of The Times. Her phone is 464-8300.