Today I would like to discuss something that I feel is important. I would like to discuss crime and punishment.
Senator Debbie Regala, Democrat-Tacoma, is sponsoring a bill that will abolish the death penalty in Washington State. Ms. Regala and her supporters claim that abolishing the death penalty will save the state millions of tax dollars -- millions of tax dollars that can be spent on other things. I have mixed feelings about the death penalty.
When I was a girl, my parents were devout Republicans. My father firmly believed that it was acceptable for the state to execute convicted murderers. He said that, when a person intentionally kills another, the killer forfeits his own life. As a teenager and as a young adult, I agreed with my father about the death penalty.
My feelings about executing criminals began to change when I worked at the California Rehabilitation Center in the early 1990's. CRC is a minimum security prison in Norco, California. California's courts often sentenced drugs addicts to civil commitment at CRC. This prison was also known as "Hotel California" because Don Henley of the Eagles was incarcerated there for nine months in 1969 for heroin addiction. Henley wrote many of the songs on the Eagles' "Hotel California" album while he was confined at CRC. The artwork on the album cover is a sketch of CRC as Henley remembered the prison.
I worked as a radiology technologist in the prison infirmary. I supervised two inmate radiology techs who were allowed to position other inmates for xray procedures, but were not allowed to operate the xray equipment. Both of these inmate radiology techs were convicted murderers who had studied radiology technology in prison. One was Afro-American. The other was Basque. Both of them had committed a gang-related murder when they were about 18 and had been in prison for about 20 years. Inappropriate behavior of any kind would have added a few more years to their sentences. Neither was willing to do anything that might jeopardize his chance to be released.
Both of these men were polite and courteous to me, but I forged a friendship with the Afro-American. He was from south central Los Angeles. He said his mother was only thirteen years old when he was born. He never really had a parent because his mother was a child herself. He had been in prison for years, but he was well-educated because he liked to read. He read at least two books per week. He especially liked to read books about Malcolm X and black history. Instead of arming himself with guns, he armed himself with knowledge.
Sometimes he would leave hand-written notes about his life on my desk. I encouraged him to write because I felt that he might be able to discourage minors from joining gangs and making the same mistakes he had made. In one note, he said that when he was a little boy, a neighbor had taken him to a Christian church and had him baptized. This was done without his mother's knowledge or permission. When his mother found out, she was livid. She hadn't wanted him to be baptized because she did not believe in God. From this experience, the little boy learned to hate God. I felt that it also placed him on a path going the wrong direction.
Working with two convicted murderers changed my opinion about the death penalty to a point. I didn't see them as "killers" or as "hardened criminals." I saw them as human beings who had made terrible mistakes. They were no longer teenage gangbangers who wanted to control and dominate their neighborhoods. They were mature men. I felt they could become productive members of our society.
At the same time, the prison's staff warned me that the men I supervised were inmates who were thoroughly "institutionalized." We could not predict how they would behave outside of prison. The staff said prisons have "revolving doors." After their release, many inmates resume their old tricks and are sent back to prison. For example, some drug addicts civilly committed to CRC couldn't make it out of the prison's parking lot before the guards caught them with needles in their arms again.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Washington's Winter Blast
On January 18, 2012, the Pacific Northwest experienced the first snow of the season and the worst snowstorm since 1954.
These photos show storm clouds rolling in from the Puget Sound. Unlike the Eastern Seaboard, Washington rarely experiences major snowstorms. Because we are located so close to the Puget Sound, snow rarely lasts here more than a couple of days. January's storm began with snow flurries over the weekend and gradually grew more intense. Winds as high as 110 miles per hour blasted the Oregon coast. On Wednesday and Thursday, record amounts of snow fell in western Washington. The storm hit our capitol city, Olympia, harder than Seattle.
Seven hundred and thirty-six traffic accidents were reported in Washington during the heaviest snowfall. One hundred and twenty of these accidents occurred south of Seattle in the Olympia area. Because Seattle has reversed its no salt on the roads policy, the city fared much better under Mayor Mike McGinn's direction than it did in 2008 when Greg Nickels was mayor. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's transportation department spent approximately 1.35 million dollars on the emergency storm response for liquid brine, rock salt, labor hours, etc.
With one exception, all the school districts in western Washington were closed. Most state and federal agencies were closed. The zoo was closed. State Route 18 was closed. Interstate 5 was clogged and congested. Airlines cancelled flights. Many commuters called it a snow day and stayed home. This gave children and families plenty of opportunities to sled, have snowball fights and build snowmen.
The snow and ice caused a lot of damage. Icicles hanging on the evergreens caused tree branches to snap and sometimes completely uprooted trees. If we have too many snowstorms, we won't be able to call Washington "the Evergeen State" any more. Power outages affected approximately 400,000 people. Puget Sound Energy is offering a $50 discount to residents who were without electricity for five days.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
A Mormon Baptism
On January 14, 2012, my nine year old granddaughter, Alyson, was baptized. She is my first grandchild to become a Mormon. Now four generations of my family have belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Some of you may not have attended a Mormon baptism before. I've decided to post some photos so that you can see the ceremony. The photo below shows our family waiting in the church's lobby for the ceremony to begin.
Before her baptism, Alyson took lessons about the church from two LDS missionaries, Elder Lopez and Elder Bailey. Mormons believe that children should be at least eight years old to be baptized. That way, the child is old enough to decide for himself/herself if he/she wants to follow Jesus Christ.
My parents and I joined the LDS church circa 1975. Typically, Mormon men baptize their own children. Since my father was baptized the same day I was, my family was baptized by LDS missionaries. I was a single mother when my daughters, Kristina and Kandice, were eight years old. Since I did not have a husband to baptize my little girls, they were baptized by LDS missionaries. Alyson's mother, Kristina, is also a single mother. We decided to keep the family tradition and have Alyson baptized by a missionary. Alyson was baptized by Elder Avery Bailey of Castle Rock, Colorado.
Mormons believe in baptism by immersion. The entire body must be immersed in the water. The missionary gently guides the new member backward into the water until the new member's body is submerged. During my baptism many years ago, my foot rose until my toes peaked out of the water. Church officials said I had to be re-baptized, so the missionary guided me back into the water. My foot rose to the surface again. I had to be baptized three times before my body was completely immersed. I've always thought that this happened because I have a rebellious spirit. LOL.
Fortunately, this did not happen with Alyson. She only had to be immersed once because her spirit is so sweet. She said the water in the baptismal font was warm. After her baptism, Alyson's spirit was the cleanest she will ever be.
When a person joins the LDS Church, he or she wears a white jumpsuit for the baptism ceremony. The man baptizing the new member also wears a white jumpsuit. White symbolizes purity; the jumpsuit encourages modesty. Only men can baptize new members because men hold the priesthood. Women do not. Men and women have different roles in the LDS Church.
After Alyson's baptism, several church members joined our family for a small celebration. We prayed and sang hymns.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Washington Grieves for Flip the Circus Boy
On January 10, 2012, a tragedy occurred in Sudden Valley, Washington. A ten year old boy named Caleb Kors accidentally hung himself in his bedroom. He was rushed to a Bellingham hospital and then flown to Harborview Medical Center in downtown Seattle. He was put on life support for 24 hours, but he died the following day of brain damage caused by lack of oxygen.
Caleb Kors was not an ordinary child. At the age of eight, he saw the Bellingham Circus Guild perform at a concert in a park. He was so impressed that he enrolled in a guild member's workshop for young circus performers. Caleb became a talented street performer who was also known as "Flip the Circus Boy." Flip performed with the guild. He also performed juggling, magic tricks and acrobatics at the public market in Bellingham, WA.
It's always sad when a child dies. Always. I believe that the death of a child is a parent's worst nightmare.
I don't know the Kors family. I'm not affiliated with the fund for the Kors family in any way. I'm merely posting the following information for those who might want to make a donation to help pay for Caleb's funeral expenses. Please bear in mind that Caleb was a 10 year old boy whose death was completely unexpected. His family needs our prayers now.
Caleb Kors was not an ordinary child. At the age of eight, he saw the Bellingham Circus Guild perform at a concert in a park. He was so impressed that he enrolled in a guild member's workshop for young circus performers. Caleb became a talented street performer who was also known as "Flip the Circus Boy." Flip performed with the guild. He also performed juggling, magic tricks and acrobatics at the public market in Bellingham, WA.
It's always sad when a child dies. Always. I believe that the death of a child is a parent's worst nightmare.
I don't know the Kors family. I'm not affiliated with the fund for the Kors family in any way. I'm merely posting the following information for those who might want to make a donation to help pay for Caleb's funeral expenses. Please bear in mind that Caleb was a 10 year old boy whose death was completely unexpected. His family needs our prayers now.
Justice Department Won't Prosecute Ian Birk
On January 13, 2012, the Justice Department announced that it will not file federal charges against former Seattle police officer Ian Birk related to the death of Native American woodcarver, Jon T. Williams.
A team of federal prosecutors and FBI agents determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a federal criminal civil rights violation against Birk.
Almost a year ago, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg announced that he would not file criminal charges against Birk because Washington state law protects police officers from prosecution when they act in good faith.
In January 2011, a non-binding inquest was split over whether Birk perceived a threat when he killed the woodcarver. Only one of the eight inquest jurors stated that Williams posed a threat to the officer who killed him. Birk voluntarily resigned from the Seattle Police Department shortly after the inquest findings were announced.
Birk shot and killed Jon T. Williams in Seattle on August 30, 2010. The altercation took place after the police officer saw Williams crossing Boren Avenue at Howell Street in broad daylight. The woodcarver was carrying a piece of wood and his carving knife. Birk has stated that he thought Williams was inebriated. The police officer parked his car. Approaching Williams, Birk ordered him to drop his knife three times before he shot him four times from a close distance.
Initial reports indicated that Williams advanced toward the police officer. Two witnesses testified during the inquest that this was not true. Both testified that Williams did not threaten or attack Birk before he was shot. Physical evidence also showed that Williams was shot in his side. Photos show that Williams' carving knife was in a closed position when he was shot.
During the inquest, the online edition of the Seattle Times featured a video recording taken from a camera attached to Birk's police car. The video did not the shooting, but showed Birk parking his car and walking toward Williams. Shortly thereafter, gun shots were heard.
I've watched the video half a dozen times. Based upon what I saw and heard in the video, I felt that Birk was the aggressor in the altercation. I also felt that Birk did not allow the woodcarver sufficient time to drop his knife. After all, Jon T. Williams was in his early fifties, was hard of hearing and had been drinking alcohol. All of these factors would have slowed his response. Williams deserved more than four seconds to death.
I understand that, at the time that Williams was killed, law enforcement was still stirred up because Mark Clemmons' murdered four Lakewood police officers on November 29, 2009. But there is no excuse for police brutality.
It's unfortunate that the Williams family cannot get justice for their slain brother. I've been a strong supporter of the Williams family and the First Nations tribe since I first read about this tragedy. If I could speak with those who work for the Justice Department, I would tell them that whether or not Jon T. Williams was an alcoholic should not matter. Whether Williams was homeless or poor should not matter. His skin color should not matter either. Jon T. Williams was a human being. Officer Birk did not have the right to murder him. This is Washington, not Texas. Washingtonians do not approve of law enforcement persecuting minority groups.
A team of federal prosecutors and FBI agents determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish a federal criminal civil rights violation against Birk.
Almost a year ago, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg announced that he would not file criminal charges against Birk because Washington state law protects police officers from prosecution when they act in good faith.
In January 2011, a non-binding inquest was split over whether Birk perceived a threat when he killed the woodcarver. Only one of the eight inquest jurors stated that Williams posed a threat to the officer who killed him. Birk voluntarily resigned from the Seattle Police Department shortly after the inquest findings were announced.
Birk shot and killed Jon T. Williams in Seattle on August 30, 2010. The altercation took place after the police officer saw Williams crossing Boren Avenue at Howell Street in broad daylight. The woodcarver was carrying a piece of wood and his carving knife. Birk has stated that he thought Williams was inebriated. The police officer parked his car. Approaching Williams, Birk ordered him to drop his knife three times before he shot him four times from a close distance.
Initial reports indicated that Williams advanced toward the police officer. Two witnesses testified during the inquest that this was not true. Both testified that Williams did not threaten or attack Birk before he was shot. Physical evidence also showed that Williams was shot in his side. Photos show that Williams' carving knife was in a closed position when he was shot.
During the inquest, the online edition of the Seattle Times featured a video recording taken from a camera attached to Birk's police car. The video did not the shooting, but showed Birk parking his car and walking toward Williams. Shortly thereafter, gun shots were heard.
I've watched the video half a dozen times. Based upon what I saw and heard in the video, I felt that Birk was the aggressor in the altercation. I also felt that Birk did not allow the woodcarver sufficient time to drop his knife. After all, Jon T. Williams was in his early fifties, was hard of hearing and had been drinking alcohol. All of these factors would have slowed his response. Williams deserved more than four seconds to death.
I understand that, at the time that Williams was killed, law enforcement was still stirred up because Mark Clemmons' murdered four Lakewood police officers on November 29, 2009. But there is no excuse for police brutality.
It's unfortunate that the Williams family cannot get justice for their slain brother. I've been a strong supporter of the Williams family and the First Nations tribe since I first read about this tragedy. If I could speak with those who work for the Justice Department, I would tell them that whether or not Jon T. Williams was an alcoholic should not matter. Whether Williams was homeless or poor should not matter. His skin color should not matter either. Jon T. Williams was a human being. Officer Birk did not have the right to murder him. This is Washington, not Texas. Washingtonians do not approve of law enforcement persecuting minority groups.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
On a More Personal Note
I'm not a vain person. I don't like to have my photo taken because it's so hard to grow old gracefully. Oh, well! None of us can be 26 or weigh 106 lbs. forever.
I went shopping at Macy's on New Year's Day. I bought a mother of the bride gown to wear to my daughter's wedding in Hawaii next June. My new gown is sapphire blue. The bride's maids will be wearing malibu blue (turquoise.)I think the colors will compliment each other.
Congratulations and best wishes to Kandice and Jeremy! Love, Mom
I went shopping at Macy's on New Year's Day. I bought a mother of the bride gown to wear to my daughter's wedding in Hawaii next June. My new gown is sapphire blue. The bride's maids will be wearing malibu blue (turquoise.)I think the colors will compliment each other.
Congratulations and best wishes to Kandice and Jeremy! Love, Mom
Monday, January 9, 2012
A Stormy Night Atop the Space Needle
Kristina, Kandice, Jeremy and I concluded our day by ascending to the top of the Space Needle. Built in 1962 for the World's Fair, the Space Needle has been a symbol of Seattle and a major landmark for the Pacific Northwest for 50 years. (The tiny white circles in this photo aren't stars. They're raindrops!)
We ascended the Space Needle via a glass elevator that provided a panoramic view of the city. At the top of the Space Needle is a 360-degree observation deck. In the day time, visitors can see snow-capped Mount Ranier in the south. The Cascade Mountains can be seen in the east and the Olympic Mountains in the west. Visitors may use the Swarovski telescopes to get a closer view of the bustling city below.
When the Space Needle was built in 1962, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. It is now the seventh tallest building in the city of Seattle. It is surprising that no one was killed during the construction of the tower. In 1999, the Space Needle was named a historic landmark by Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board.
Also at the top of the Space Needle is the Skycity Restaurant, which serves brunch on weekends, lunch during the week and dinner nightly. There's also a snack bar that features Starbucks coffee and Seattle dogs. A Seattle dog is a hot dog served with cream cheese, grilled onions and bacon.
The Puget Sound and Elliot Bay can be seen from the observation deck. In this photo, you can see a ferry crossing Elliot Bay in the distance.
The Space Needle was built to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour and earthquakes of up to 9.1 magnitude. There are 25 lightning rods on the roof to prevent lightning damage. On the night that we were there, Seattle was experiencing a rainstorm. It was so windy and cold that we couldn't go on one side of the observation deck because we were afraid we would get blown away.
The Space Needle is located near Seattle Center at 400 Broad Street, Seattle, WA. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the week and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. General admission tickets to the observation deck are $19.00 per person. Tickets for children 4 to 12 years old cost $12.00 per child. Tickets for seniors 65 years and older are $17.00 per person.
This is a photo of my daughter, Kandice, and her fiance, Jeremy, standing beneath the Space Needle. They plan to be married on June 1, 2012 in Hawaii. Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple!
We ascended the Space Needle via a glass elevator that provided a panoramic view of the city. At the top of the Space Needle is a 360-degree observation deck. In the day time, visitors can see snow-capped Mount Ranier in the south. The Cascade Mountains can be seen in the east and the Olympic Mountains in the west. Visitors may use the Swarovski telescopes to get a closer view of the bustling city below.
When the Space Needle was built in 1962, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. It is now the seventh tallest building in the city of Seattle. It is surprising that no one was killed during the construction of the tower. In 1999, the Space Needle was named a historic landmark by Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board.
Also at the top of the Space Needle is the Skycity Restaurant, which serves brunch on weekends, lunch during the week and dinner nightly. There's also a snack bar that features Starbucks coffee and Seattle dogs. A Seattle dog is a hot dog served with cream cheese, grilled onions and bacon.
The Puget Sound and Elliot Bay can be seen from the observation deck. In this photo, you can see a ferry crossing Elliot Bay in the distance.
The Space Needle was built to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour and earthquakes of up to 9.1 magnitude. There are 25 lightning rods on the roof to prevent lightning damage. On the night that we were there, Seattle was experiencing a rainstorm. It was so windy and cold that we couldn't go on one side of the observation deck because we were afraid we would get blown away.
The Space Needle is located near Seattle Center at 400 Broad Street, Seattle, WA. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the week and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. General admission tickets to the observation deck are $19.00 per person. Tickets for children 4 to 12 years old cost $12.00 per child. Tickets for seniors 65 years and older are $17.00 per person.
This is a photo of my daughter, Kandice, and her fiance, Jeremy, standing beneath the Space Needle. They plan to be married on June 1, 2012 in Hawaii. Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
A Trip to the Oyster House
After Kristina, Kandice, Jeremy and I went to Pike Place Market, we went to the Brooklyn Seafood, Steak and Oyster House in downtown Seattle for dinner.
Kandice and Jeremy are foodies. That means they like to eat gourmet food. My daughter says that she developed a taste for oysters in a half shell while working in Boston, Massachusetts. Since they normally eat oysters from the Atlantic Ocean, she and Jeremy wanted to try oysters from the Pacific Ocean. They chose to dine at the Brooklyn because the Brooklyn offers the largest rotating selection of fresh oysters in Seattle.
Now I would lying to you if I said I liked to eat oysters. The truth is I have rarely eaten oysters in my life. I think they're slimy. I did try one at the Brooklyn, and it wasn't half-bad. All right. I'll be generous. It was good. But I would have preferred to leave the oyster at the seashore so that it could produce pearls.
But Kandice, Jeremy and Kristina really did enjoy sampling the oysters. They ordered a baker's dozen. They were so pleased with the first that they ordered a second baker's dozen.
Meanwhile, I happily munched on a delicious salad.
I learned that oysters from one part of the seashore taste different than oysters from other areas. I also learned a few new terms to describe this new delicacy. For example, "briny" means it tastes like fish. In contrast, other oysters taste "fruity."
In addition to oysters, the Brooklyn offers fresh seafood delivered daily, beef aged for 28 days and leg of lamb.
The Brooklyn Seafood, Steak and Oyster House is located at 1212 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101. The restaurant is located across the street from the Seattle Art Museum. It's just a short walk from Pike Place Market or the Seattle waterfront.
Hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week. On Saturday the restaurant is open from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. On Sunday it is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. You can make reservations online or by telephoning (206) 224-7000.
Happy New Year to all!
Kandice and Jeremy are foodies. That means they like to eat gourmet food. My daughter says that she developed a taste for oysters in a half shell while working in Boston, Massachusetts. Since they normally eat oysters from the Atlantic Ocean, she and Jeremy wanted to try oysters from the Pacific Ocean. They chose to dine at the Brooklyn because the Brooklyn offers the largest rotating selection of fresh oysters in Seattle.
Now I would lying to you if I said I liked to eat oysters. The truth is I have rarely eaten oysters in my life. I think they're slimy. I did try one at the Brooklyn, and it wasn't half-bad. All right. I'll be generous. It was good. But I would have preferred to leave the oyster at the seashore so that it could produce pearls.
But Kandice, Jeremy and Kristina really did enjoy sampling the oysters. They ordered a baker's dozen. They were so pleased with the first that they ordered a second baker's dozen.
Meanwhile, I happily munched on a delicious salad.
I learned that oysters from one part of the seashore taste different than oysters from other areas. I also learned a few new terms to describe this new delicacy. For example, "briny" means it tastes like fish. In contrast, other oysters taste "fruity."
In addition to oysters, the Brooklyn offers fresh seafood delivered daily, beef aged for 28 days and leg of lamb.
The Brooklyn Seafood, Steak and Oyster House is located at 1212 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98101. The restaurant is located across the street from the Seattle Art Museum. It's just a short walk from Pike Place Market or the Seattle waterfront.
Hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week. On Saturday the restaurant is open from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. On Sunday it is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. You can make reservations online or by telephoning (206) 224-7000.
Happy New Year to all!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Shop Til You Drop at Pike Place Market
This Christmas was special because my daughter, Kandice, and her fiance, Jeremy, flew from Texas to spend the holidays with us. As a treat, my eldest daughter, Kristina, and I took them to our favorite city in Washington -- Seattle.
One of the most exciting places in Seattle is the Pike Place Market. Overlooking Elliot Bay, the public market was established in 1907. Over the years it has grown to include three stories of unique shops, eateries, arcades, crafts vendors and a world famous fish company. Not long ago, Kandice and I went on a vacation to Boston, Massachusetts. Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace was a disappointment to me because I expected it to be like Seattle's public market. Kandice has traveled all over Europe, and she says that none of the European markets compare to it. The Pike Place Market truly is one of a kind.
Across the street from the public market is the Beecher's Handmade Cheese store, where you can watch Beecher's employees produce cheese in metal tubs. Beecher's sell fine cheese, cheese curds and whey.
Beecher's is famous for selling "the best macaroni and cheese in the world." You can buy it in their deli or purchase a kit to make it at home. Kristina and Kandice tried it. They said that it puts Kraft's to shame. After you've tasted Beecher's, you won't want to eat mac and cheese from a box ever again.
Also across the street from the market is the Sotto Voce shop, where you can sample and purchase flavored olive oils, balsamic vinegars and wine vinegars. These gourmet oils and vinegars are produced locally in Spanaway, Washington. We especially liked their spicy Aceto Balsamico and Olio ai Funghi, their mushroom-flavored olive oil. To create a mouth-watering appetizer, combine equal parts of balsamic vinegar and your favorite olive oil on a small plate or bowl. Then dip slices of fresh French bread into the mix. To order Sotto Voce products, call 1-800-487-0730. Their web site is www.SottoVoce.com.
The original Starbucks coffee shop is located across the street from the public market at 1912 Pike Place, Seattle, Washington. Starbucks likes to boast, "This is where it all began in 1971." Their Pike Place Roast was named after the company's birth place. Their first store is always busy. On the afternoon that we visited the market, there were at least fifty people waiting in line to buy Starbucks coffee. It was so crowded that we decided to pass on lattes.
Located on the corner of Pike Place and Pike Street, the Pike Place Fish Market is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Seattle. Thousands of people visit this open air fish market every day in the summer. The fish company was founded in 1930. In 1965, John Yokoyama purchased it. In 1986, the little-known fish market was approaching bankruptcy. Mr. Yokoyama and his staff decided to save the business by introducing fishmongers who would throw fish and play games with customers. The staff thought that if they showed the public that they always enjoyed their work, their customers would enjoy it too.
When the Goodwill Games were held in Seattle in 1990, news crews discovered the fishmongers' performances. The fish market was featured on Good Morning America and in magazines. In 1991, CNN named the Pike Place Fish Market as one of the three most fun places to work in America.
The fish company offers fresh or smoked salmon, dungeness crab, talapia and a variety of specialty fish products. For a fee, the fish market will ship its seafood overnight anywhere in the continental United States. To order, call 1 (800) 542-7732.
Visitors can purchase a wide variety of products at Pike Place Market. Vendors sell homemade candles and soaps, jewelry, and crafts. Fresh fruits, vegetables and floral bouquets are available in the farmers' market. Art galleries, antiques dealers and clothing boutiques are also located in the public market.
One of Seattle's most popular attractions is Rachel, the Pike Place Market piggy bank. The 550-pound bronze sculpture has stood in front of the market for 25 years. The piggy bank was created by artist Georgia Gerber in 1986 to raise money to help downtown Seattle's low income and elderly residents. Rachel was designed to resemble a real pig named Rachel who lived on Whidbey Island. The piggy bank stands where the first farmers' market was held more than 100 years ago. Over the years, Rachel has raised almost $200,000 for Seattle's social services.
In February 2011, Rachel was struck and damaged by a taxi that had been rear-ended. She sustained a large crack behind her left ear, a dent on her left side and numerous abrasions. She was brought back to Whidbey Island so that Georgia Gerber's team could make repairs. In March 2011, Rachel went on tour of Seattle before she returned to Pike Place Market.
Seattle's beloved Tuba Man was murdered in 2008, but Pike Place Market would not be the same without street musicians.
Pike Place Market is located at 1st & Pike in Seattle. The market is open 362 days per year. Fish and produce markets open at 7 a.m. Merchant hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but hours vary by business and season. Last call in restaurants and bars is 1:30 a.m.
Happy New Year to all!
Information about the history of the market and Rachel the piggy bank was from Wikipedia, Seattle Post Intelligencer and Komo News.
One of the most exciting places in Seattle is the Pike Place Market. Overlooking Elliot Bay, the public market was established in 1907. Over the years it has grown to include three stories of unique shops, eateries, arcades, crafts vendors and a world famous fish company. Not long ago, Kandice and I went on a vacation to Boston, Massachusetts. Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace was a disappointment to me because I expected it to be like Seattle's public market. Kandice has traveled all over Europe, and she says that none of the European markets compare to it. The Pike Place Market truly is one of a kind.
Across the street from the public market is the Beecher's Handmade Cheese store, where you can watch Beecher's employees produce cheese in metal tubs. Beecher's sell fine cheese, cheese curds and whey.
Beecher's is famous for selling "the best macaroni and cheese in the world." You can buy it in their deli or purchase a kit to make it at home. Kristina and Kandice tried it. They said that it puts Kraft's to shame. After you've tasted Beecher's, you won't want to eat mac and cheese from a box ever again.
Also across the street from the market is the Sotto Voce shop, where you can sample and purchase flavored olive oils, balsamic vinegars and wine vinegars. These gourmet oils and vinegars are produced locally in Spanaway, Washington. We especially liked their spicy Aceto Balsamico and Olio ai Funghi, their mushroom-flavored olive oil. To create a mouth-watering appetizer, combine equal parts of balsamic vinegar and your favorite olive oil on a small plate or bowl. Then dip slices of fresh French bread into the mix. To order Sotto Voce products, call 1-800-487-0730. Their web site is www.SottoVoce.com.
The original Starbucks coffee shop is located across the street from the public market at 1912 Pike Place, Seattle, Washington. Starbucks likes to boast, "This is where it all began in 1971." Their Pike Place Roast was named after the company's birth place. Their first store is always busy. On the afternoon that we visited the market, there were at least fifty people waiting in line to buy Starbucks coffee. It was so crowded that we decided to pass on lattes.
Located on the corner of Pike Place and Pike Street, the Pike Place Fish Market is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Seattle. Thousands of people visit this open air fish market every day in the summer. The fish company was founded in 1930. In 1965, John Yokoyama purchased it. In 1986, the little-known fish market was approaching bankruptcy. Mr. Yokoyama and his staff decided to save the business by introducing fishmongers who would throw fish and play games with customers. The staff thought that if they showed the public that they always enjoyed their work, their customers would enjoy it too.
When the Goodwill Games were held in Seattle in 1990, news crews discovered the fishmongers' performances. The fish market was featured on Good Morning America and in magazines. In 1991, CNN named the Pike Place Fish Market as one of the three most fun places to work in America.
The fish company offers fresh or smoked salmon, dungeness crab, talapia and a variety of specialty fish products. For a fee, the fish market will ship its seafood overnight anywhere in the continental United States. To order, call 1 (800) 542-7732.
Visitors can purchase a wide variety of products at Pike Place Market. Vendors sell homemade candles and soaps, jewelry, and crafts. Fresh fruits, vegetables and floral bouquets are available in the farmers' market. Art galleries, antiques dealers and clothing boutiques are also located in the public market.
One of Seattle's most popular attractions is Rachel, the Pike Place Market piggy bank. The 550-pound bronze sculpture has stood in front of the market for 25 years. The piggy bank was created by artist Georgia Gerber in 1986 to raise money to help downtown Seattle's low income and elderly residents. Rachel was designed to resemble a real pig named Rachel who lived on Whidbey Island. The piggy bank stands where the first farmers' market was held more than 100 years ago. Over the years, Rachel has raised almost $200,000 for Seattle's social services.
In February 2011, Rachel was struck and damaged by a taxi that had been rear-ended. She sustained a large crack behind her left ear, a dent on her left side and numerous abrasions. She was brought back to Whidbey Island so that Georgia Gerber's team could make repairs. In March 2011, Rachel went on tour of Seattle before she returned to Pike Place Market.
Seattle's beloved Tuba Man was murdered in 2008, but Pike Place Market would not be the same without street musicians.
Pike Place Market is located at 1st & Pike in Seattle. The market is open 362 days per year. Fish and produce markets open at 7 a.m. Merchant hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but hours vary by business and season. Last call in restaurants and bars is 1:30 a.m.
Happy New Year to all!
Information about the history of the market and Rachel the piggy bank was from Wikipedia, Seattle Post Intelligencer and Komo News.
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