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.
No comments:
Post a Comment