Pike Place Market

Seattle's Heart and Soul!

We love our market!

Although Pike Place Market Seattle attracts millions of tourists every year, a lot of locals hang out here as well.

Bring your camera and your appetite, and allow plenty of time to wander through this playground of sights, smells, and tastes. You will not be disappointed!

Perched on a hill overlooking Seattle's waterfront, Pike Place Market is a colorful blend of shops and stalls, people and produce.

Made up of 200 shops, 190 craftspeople, 120 farmers, and 240 street performers and musicians, the Market has something for everyone.

A good way to get an overview of the area and where things are located, is to stop at the Information Booth and pick up a map of Pike Place Market. They also have a variety of pamphlets and newsletters available.

Don't miss these:

Public Market Sign

At the corner of Pike Place, this big neon sign is probably the most photographed spot in the Market. The neon clock has been marking time since 1930.

Rachel

Under the "Public Market Center" sign resides Rachel, the unofficial Pike Place Market mascot. Rachel is a 550-pound bronze piggybank that collects almost $10,000 a year for the Market Foundation. Kids love to climb up and sit on her for a photo!

Pike Place Fish Market

Just in front of Rachel is Pike Place Fish. This is the home of the famous "flying fish" that you may have seen on numerous TV shows such as Frasier and televised Seahawks games. A couple of employees stand in front of the ice-covered fish counter to mingle, answer questions, and generally have fun with the crowd. When a customer chooses a fish, the employee picks it up and sends it sailing through the air over the counter and into the hands of another employee who wraps it up for sale.

The Original Starbuck's Coffee Shop

Okay, you can go to a Starbuck's Coffee shop in just about every city in the world. But only in Pike Place Market in Seattle can you sip a latte at the original Starbuck's where it all started in 1971! This shop still features a sign with the original logo of a bare-breasted siren inspired by a 15th century Norse woodcut.

The Gum Wall

That's right, a gum wall. It all began when theater patrons began sticking their chewing gum to the brick wall while they were waiting in line for tickets at the Market Theater in Post Alley. The Theater has long since given up cleaning the gum off, and it has grown to mural-size proportions. Over the years it has morphed into an ever-changing (and ever-growing!) public "art" installation. I use the term "art" loosely here! The complexity of the "contributions" has evolved as well, with people now spelling out their names, writing messages, fashioning faces, and pictures - all in the versatile medium of chewing gum!

Come Hungry!

The variety of food at Pike Place Market is amazing. Every time I go, the hardest decision I have to make all day is where to eat! There are fine-dining restaurants with waiters and a wine list, casual outdoor cafes, bars where you can pull up a stool at Athenian Inn and eat like Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle. Mexican, Bolivian, German - whatever kind of food you can think of, you can probably find it here at Pike Place. I love the gourmet sandwiches offered at several places in the Sanitary Market! The building got its name in 1910 when horses and livestock were barred from the premises! Many vendors will let you sample their produce as you wander down the aisles of fruit and vegetables. If you want a guided tour through some of the tasty places you might otherwise miss, www.tastepikeplace.com offers walking food tours of the Market.

Shop!

The most fun shopping in Seattle is right here at Pike Place Market. Merchandise from the world over can be found here - carvings, tiles, tapestries, baskets from Africa, antiques, paintings, art, clothing, and even the usual tourist fare such as t-shirts and mugs. In addition to the shops, there are stalls and tables where craftspeople rent space by the day to sell their own handmade wares.

Some of my favorite shops...

Market Spice Tea

If you're a tea lover like me, this is the place for you. Everything you might need to support your tea habit can be found in this little shop. Teas, spices, and colored sugar are stored in glass jars lined up in rows along the wall. I could linger there all afternoon enjoying the spicy aromas and sipping samples of freshly brewed Market Spice Tea.

Studio-Solstone - Watercolors Fresh Daily

A shop featuring local watercolor artist Sarah Clementson. Sarah's work depicts the beauty of the Puget Sound area and everyday life in Seattle. I buy a calendar every year so I can enjoy her colorful art year round.

Pike Place Flowers

Oh, the flowers! The rows of flowers and bouquets is a delight for the eyes and nose! I love to photograph them!

Other stuff you'll want to check into:

Do you like ghosts and ghost stories? Check out the Market Ghost Tours at www.seattleghost.com. You'll learn some of the history of the market while investigating the Market's ghosts and hauntings.

Read up on current events at Pike Place Market News on the web at www.pikeplacemarketnews.com and discover insider goodies such as "6 Semi-Secret Spots in the Market".

A Little Pike Place Market History...

At just over 100 years old, Pike Place Market Seattle is the nation's oldest continually operating farmer's market. It was started by the city on August 17, 1907, as a way to bring consumers face to face with the producers and cut out the middleman. It was a huge success - several thousand shoppers showed up that first day to buy from less than ten farmers! Today Pike Place Market covers nine acres of buildings, alleys, streets, and walkways, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Find out more by visiting the Heritage Center, a mini-museum celebrating the history of the Market on Western Avenue.

Flowers at the Market