Today, Friday, Oct. 9 is Leif Erikson Day and the Leif Erikson Lodge is planning a special dinner in celebration.

Olaf Kvamme will describe the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Viking boat, and Jay Haavik who designed the base and tribute display at Leif Erikson Plaza at Shilshole Bay Marina will show slides of the inside workings of Oslos Viking Ship Museum. 6 p.m. social, 7 p.m. dinner.

Details:

$25, Leif Erikson Lodge, 2245 N.W. 57th St., Seattle, 98107. RSVP by Oct. 6: 206-783-1274 or e-mail Leif@leiferikson.org.

This is also the 80th anniversary for Leif Erikson Day in Wisconsin set in 1929 -- apparently this was the first state to officially recognize the event. Washington state didn't do this until 1941.