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Monday, December 14, 2009

That's My World - Pikes Market


Ready to learn about more about the world we live in? That's My World is hosted each week by Klaus and the That's My World Team, Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and myself. Click on the icon, sign up and share your world and read/see others as well! Please! do read the instructions and follow them when you sign up!

I've written a lot about one of my favorite places in Seattle -- Pikes Market, but I thought today I'd devote a "My World" post just to it. I've included some information about it here, but there is even more fascinating history to be found on Wikipedia and it's worth taking a look at.



Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, United States. The Market opened August 17, 1907, and is one of the oldest continually operated public farmers' markets in the United States. It is a place of business for many small farmers, craftspeople and merchants. Named after the central street, Pike Place runs northwest from Pike Street to Virginia Street, and remains one of Seattle's most popular tourist destinations.

There's free entertainment throughout the market!



The Market is built on the edge of a steep hill, and consists of several lower levels located below the main level. Each features a variety of unique shops. Antique dealers, comic book sellers, small family-owned restaurants, while the area contains one of the few remaining head shops left in Seattle. The upper street level contains fishmongers, fresh produce stands and craft stalls operating in the covered arcades. Local farmers and craftspeople sell year-round in the arcades from tables they rent from the Market on a daily basis, in accordance with the Market's mission and founding goal: allowing consumers to "Meet the Producer."



Pike Place Market is home to nearly 500 low income residents who live in 8 different buildings throughout the Market. The Market is run by the quasi-government Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA). The Pike Place Market sees 10 million visitors annually.



Except for the first shot of the market at night, all the photos are mine that I've taken on my visits. You can't take a bad photo with all the beautifully displayed food, flowers etc.





From flowers ....



To fresh fish ...



Beautiful, colorful displays ...



Again, I urge you check out the fascinating history about Pike's Market on Wikipedia.

48 comments:

bobbie said...

Sounds, and looks, like a great place. I would love to visit a market like this. Your photos are beautiful!

robin andrea said...

One of the best parts of visiting Seattle. A really great market.

clairz said...

Beautiful photos, Sylvia! This was a nostalgic trip through the market for me. We used to visit there when we lived down in Puyallup and enjoyed it so much, from the fish guys tossing salmon to each other to the wonderful street musician, Baby Gramps. I wonder if he is still around.

I didn't know that the market was home to low income residents. Thanks for teaching me something new today.

Rajesh said...

This is a great place with everything available in one place on the edge of hill. Nice to know about the entertain in the market.

Anonymous said...

We had a video during a training session at work about Pikes Market. When I get up there that's one place I want to go. :) Thanks for sharing this and giving more information :)

Janie said...

Looks like a fantastic place to shop for fresh produce.
Great photos that bring the market to life.

Carver said...

This looks like a wonderful market Sylvia. I love the colorful shots you took. Great my world post.

Roshni said...

wow! Its enough to make you buy buy buy!!

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Your photos are beautiful, Sylvia, and the displays are wonderful. It's great to 'meet the producer' and know where your food comes from. Those coloured pepper and garlic displays look good enough for Christmas decorations!
Janice.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Sylvia: Certainly a neat a beautiful place, been there. It is quite cool.

Unknown said...

Neat post, Sylvia! The market sounds a lot like one in Toronto called Lawrence Market. Wonderful places to shop!

Brig said...

One of my favorite Market places, thanks for the pics. Best fish'n chips & beer around!

marcia@joyismygoal said...

Oh i adore FM"S for all those reasons what fun you had I wish I was shopping w/ you:)

Photo Cache said...

when i go to seattle (which i hope is soon) this would be my first stop.

My name is Riet said...

That looks like a real market, Great pictures. And thank you for visiting and your lovely compliment.

Barb said...

Hi Sylvia,
What a fascinating post - I've never been to Seattle but love when you show us around. Those colorful market shots are awesome. I really like the peppers!

Elizabeth Bradley said...

I was born in Seattle, so in a way my heart is always there. I adore Pike's Market. The flowers, the mushrooms, the fish, the chocolate covered cherries. I like to get a latte and take my time. Great pictures, makes me homesick.

Linda Reeder said...

A wonderful posting on The Market, Sylvia. What a photographer's paradise it is, and great entertainment as well. All that and shopping too!

Susie of Arabia said...

I love going there - the little shops are so interesting and different. And the produce is amazing. Great post, Sylvia.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful asset to have in your city! Certainly is something special of your world to share!

penny said...

Wow that's quite a huge market, Sylvia. We don't have anything that even close to compares to market that size. I sound like it dose have a wonderful and long history in Seattle.

D said...

Sylvia, I love that market. We were in Seattle last year and spent a wonderful afternoon there.

Inday said...

Ma'am Sylvia, if I live there, I would be the healthiest person on earth alive with all those cheap prices on offer with those fresh vegetables, fruits and fish on display! And flowers can cheer me no end!

One of my lasting impression of America is how cheap your commodities can be compared to ours here! But then again, I have to think of currency exchange!

I was born 43 years later this market opened on the exact date as per info.

Thank you for this interesting My World post.

Indrani said...

Terrific shots!
I like market activities a lot. Great view of the place.

Anonymous said...

This must be a wonderful place. Love the fresh veggies and beautiful flowers.

Samson said...

you've caputed the essense of this place very well... love the colorful photo's sylvia

SandyCarlson said...

What a gorgeous market. The colors, the abundance, the variety. Just gorgeous.

Lantaw said...

the place looks like our own "Market Market" here in the Philippines. I like to cook so I love going to places like that :)

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Great shots of a wonderful place. However, YOU may not be able to take a bad picture of it but I can ;>). Seriously, it was hard for me to get a good picture through the crowds the last time we were there. Still worth going there though of course. Was there a picture of the flying fish? I'll go back and look.

Unknown said...

Fantastic photos to give a sense of the place. I love markets, and will not miss this if (when) I visit!

VioletSky said...

I've heard of this market. it looks like a fun place to shop.
great photos.

Martha Z said...

I once had an hour to explore Pikes Place, that was several days too little time. Perhaps some day I'll get back.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

My one trip to Seattle included a stop to Pike's Market. In fact. tomorrow's ABC post will include a photo from there! This is a lovely series from there-fabulous!

magiceye said...

impressive, interestingly informative. thank you.

Marvin said...

Pike Place Market looks like a fantastic place. Living rural means we are closer to our food in some ways -- like walking out to our garden -- but don't have access to the variety offered at huge markets in the cities.

Lew said...

Beautiful shots of the market! You certainly would not go away hungry after shopping there.

dianasfaria.com said...

this looks like a great place to visit. I would love to hang out here for a day!
& The produce looks amazing.

Carolyn Ford said...

I visited Pike's Market some years ago. We had a great time there and I would definitely return! Thank you for bringing back the memories! Great shots and post.

Kay said...

When our Seattle friends told us they were going to take us to see flying fish, it was hilarious to discover the men throwing fish at each other.

Anonymous said...

I could spend days in such a wonderful market!

Do those fish sellers still throw fish to each other and entertain the crowds?

Marites said...

I've read about Pikes years ago but there was no picture that went along with the article. I now have the idea how it looks and it's definitely a place to visit:) I wonder if ladyfi's question is true? Fishthrowing moments? That would be an interesting sight to see:)

Bradley Hsi said...

When we were in France, this type of open markets are what we shopped every weekend. We do not see them in the US easily. You are so lucky to have this fantastic place so near to you.

Gattina said...

Looks like a beautiful market ! so colorful !

nsiyer said...

Fantastic photos Sylvia. I enjoyed the market journey and will visit Wiki pedia

Joe Todd said...

Pikes Market is one place I plan to see in person and spend some time.I've spent a lot of time exploring on-line and follow pikes market on Facebook. Thank you so much for the post.I did order a gift basket from Chukar Cherries once. They have a stall in the market. lovely post

Dirkjogt said...

Interesting post and great pictures too!

Della said...

I love your posts - they are so interesting.

kRiZcPEc said...

Would like to walk around this market some day. ;)

What Can I Say?

What Can I Say?
I'm interested in almost everything. Use to like to travel, but it's too expensive now. I take Tai Chi classes, swim, volunteer in a Jump-start program for pre-schoolers. I'm an avid reader and like nearly everyone these days I follow politics avidly. I'm a former teacher and Special Projects Coordinator for a Telecommunications company, Assistant to the President of a Japanese silicon wafer manufacturing company. Am now enjoying retirement -- most of the time. I have two daughters, one son-in-law and two sons scattered all over the country. No grandchildren.

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