#Pike&039;s Market

[skipjohnston]

Seattle Sketches

I first visited Seattle when my parents took the fam to the 1962 World’s Fair. Been one of my favorite cities ever since. You gotta love water and boats and rain, though.

I do.

The Carlisle II is the oldest (built 1917) foot ferry boat still operating around Puget Sound. The $2 ride takes you from Port Orchard to Bremerton. Or back. People still use it as part of their regular commute.

As a kid,…

[allymalinenko]

“I used to hate playing Seattle shows.” – Chris Cornell

This was the first thing I saw as the captain told us we were beginning our descent to SeaTac International Airport.

It had been a harrowing flight. Long. Hot (especially in that lymphodema sleeve). And full of turbulence. I hate turbulence on any flight but each bump on this plane called back the man in line behind me at the Delta counter in JFK, just hours before, that collapsed and had a massive seizure. There’s really no way for me to properly talk about the effect this had on me or the reactions of people nearby or the experience for this man so I’m just going to leave it at that.

When we finally landed in Seattle and existed the airport, there was Mt. Rainer, and the moon, just cutting up the sky together. During our duration, it never looked nearly as clear or as majestic. I grew up in Hudson Valley. I thought we had mountains. We did not have mountains. Not like this.

It was late and as New Yorkers felt even later by the time we were able to grab some noodles and collapse into bed.

We had breakfast the next morning at the Five Points Cafe

Originally opened in 1929 it is the oldest bar in Belltown and the longest running family owned eatery in Seattle. It also serves a plate of hash browns bigger than my head. It was fantastic. (Except on the second visit at the end of the trip when my waiter who is clearly a MONSTER served me English Breakfast when I clearly asked for Earl Grey because as we all know, English Breakfast tastes like it was run through my grandmothers socks. I will never forgive nor forget this monster.)

One of the most touristy but still genuinely awesome places in Seattle is Pike’s Market.

If you’re wondering why this sounds familiar it’s because this is where they throw the fish around. You’ve seen the videos. Yes, I watched them throw the fish. I don’t have any photos because there were a million and people and it was hard to catch (Ha!) but also because ew, fish.

Ew.

They also sell these huge bouquets of flowers crazy cheap. I’m talking $10 cheap. If I lived there I would Mrs. Dalloway that shit every single day. I mean look at these:

Pike Market was sneakily much bigger than I expected. There are LEVELS within LEVELS. They have a magic shop in this place. I’m not kidding. I haven’t seen trick gum for sale anywhere in decades.

Behind Pike Market is the gum wall. But Ally, you ask, what’s a gum wall?

THIS IS A GUM WALL:

and to Gum Wall’s defense it should actually be called a Gum Alleyway because it just keeps on going

Then, being that we were in Seattle we did exactly what you think we’d do. We went to find the apartment building from Singles and Kurt Cobain’s house.

Don’t judge me!

The building from Singles is located in a super adorable area called Capital Hill. While adorable this is a misnomer. It should be called “Capital Mountain” or “Capital You Need A Tow Rope To Get Up This Bitch” or maybe “Capital You’re Dead Now”

Because this was seriously steep shit. I’m talking 18% grade steep. Some of them just turn INTO STEPS. Like, screw your car, it’s mountain climbing time!

For instance let’s look at this image I found online. This is Denny Way which we talked. Do you see the parts where it levels off and then it’s all mountain again? It’s like a giants staircase!

I walked UP that. And it was really hot too. Figures I wind up in Seattle when they’re in the 90’s.

Anyway, we found the Singles apartment. Being a 90’s girl this movie was on a constant rotation with Reality Bites. I could probably act it out.

The apartments are located at 1820 E. Thomas Street and yes (minus the fountain which they added) it looks exactly the same.

“I was just no where NEAR your neighborhood”

Then we headed back down to Lake Washington to find where Cobain lived…and well, died. It felt strange. I’m not going to lie. I’ve found lots of artists homes and graves and what not over my traveling years but I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place that was so tragic and so important in my own life.

The walk out there is gorgeous. The lake is gorgeous. To get to Kurt’s road you go down little winding wooden steps.

You wouldn’t even know you were only a few miles from where Pearl Jam used to rehearse back in Belltown

And I couldn’t help but wonder as we crested the hill that was Viretta Park that is right along the property if maybe that was part of the problem. All I know is that the Denny-Blaine neighborhood looked alot different than Belltown or Capital Hill.

In Viretta Park is a makeshift memorial – a bench that has been graffittied. When we were there someone had left flowers.

From there you can see just the top of the house. It was sad and solemn and I felt a bit like maybe I shouldn’t have come.

To offset that feeling, we headed up to Fremont (via bus cause you can’t walk and also because at this point I COULDN’T walk. Damn hills. I’m so old).

Fremont is a very cool neighborhood full of record stores and cool restaurants but more so it’s got this:

This is the Fremont Troll and in case you couldn’t tell, he lives under the bridge. He’s big.

Like climb on him big

(Dear god, we have sunburns in September in Seattle because of global warming.)

Down the road is a giant statue of Lenin with a red hand. Interpret that as you will

But as I was saying we came over to Fremont for something else too. Something Kurt.

This is Reciprocal Recording Studios. 

This little tiny shack has quite a history. A band called Ted Ed Fred wanted to record here because Soundgarden recorded Screaming Life. Ted Ed Fred would soon change their name to Nirvana. In this little space they recorded their first demo on January 23, 1988. They had no drummer at the time, just Cobain and Novoselic so they borrowed the drummer from the Melvins. Jack Endino recorded and mixed ten songs. Two would go on to be on Bleach. Endino kept a copy which he brought to SubPop which landed Nirvana their first record deal.

I stood in front of the door thinking how excited they must have been when it was all starting out. I tried to make that memory burn brighter than that bench or that dusty park or that peaked roof of that mansion.

Just down the road from Fremont is the Gas Works Park

It’s really cool with an incredible view:

And we stopped into Linda’s a couple of times and had some pints of cider. This was the last place Kurt was seen alive.

And yes of COURSE we did the Space Needle. Which I should get a few snaps for because this girl is afraid of heights. You should have seen me walking across the George Washington Bridge one time. I nearly made my peace with having to live in Jersey forever.

It’s so tall

But I was cool about it.

My hands down favorite thing we did in Seattle was easily the Museum of Pop Culture

This place was incredible. First off every exhibit was cool. Every. Single. One.

There was a fantasy one that had…..

Dorothy’s dress

Yeah that’s the witch’s hat

Oh just Princess Buttercup and Westley and Indigo’s gear No biggie.

What’s that you say? Oh yes that IS all the weapons from Lord of the Rings.

Susan Pevensie’s bow and arrow. I’m screaming!

The White Witch’s ice crown

And then there was the Bowie by Mick Rock exhibit

Mick was Bowies photographer from 1972-1973 and he captured some of the most iconic images from the Ziggy Stardust years. He told his manager that Mick seems him as he sees himself.

Mick also took these:

Hang on cause we’re JUST getting started with this museum.

Then they had the Jim Henson Experience. I had recently been to the Museum of Moving Image and seen their now permanent Henson exhibit which I loved but I was delighted to learn that many of my favorites were currently at MoPOP.

They even let you make a little video of you working as a puppeteer. I forgot to make my dude turn to the other camera so that’s why there are blank spaces! All the same, if this librarianship thing doesn’t work out I think I might have some options.

<p><a href=”https://vimeo.com/235594692″>seattle 068</a> from <a href=”https://vimeo.com/user50279965″>ally malinenko</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

Okay I just re-watched that and it was pretty terrible. I take it back. I have no future in puppeteer.

And some from his movies too!

And Jareth’s outfit and Sarah’s dress from the ballroom scene in Labyrinth

Then, because we’re still not done with MoPOP they had a Star Trek exhibit!

and a science fiction one, which according to the website had Doctor Who props. So I go in figuring they’ll be small stuff, like maybe K9 but no. There was this:

CYBERMAN!

And this:

Yes they had an actual Dalek and I just about lost my mind.

They also had Mork’s outfit, a jawa, the ghostbuster’s pack and hoverboards from Back to the Future!

We also went down to the International District which is home to the Uwajimaya Market which served the best Udon chicken soup of my life. I burned every layer off my tongue and it was worth it. The whole area is really pretty.

There was also a lot of information about Japanese Seattle residents and the internment camps in 1942. 127,00 people were imprisoned, more than half of whom were American born citizens.

And just like that the week was up and we were heading home, home, home.

Thanks for a lovely time, Seattle. I’m sure I’ll be back.

Peace, Love and Starbursts,

Ally

Seattle: The Emerald City "I used to hate playing Seattle shows." - Chris Cornell This was the first thing I saw as the captain told us we were beginning our descent to SeaTac International Airport.

[globetrottingwino]

My Spectacular Vino con Vista Weekend at the Seattle Washington Waterfront

On my recent trip to Seattle Washington I used my Marriott Rewards to snag a room with a Vino con Vista view at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront on Alaskan Way across the street from Anthony’s at Pier 66. Situated on Elliott Bay you can take the elevator from the hotel to Pike Place Market then a leisurely uphill stroll will bring you to the entrance of the world-famous Pike Place Market.   View…

[unclesamsmisguidedclub]

Pike Place Shooting, Multiple Suspects At Large

Pike Place Shooting, Multiple Suspects At Large

Downtown Seattle – Pike Place Market was a chaotic scene on Wednesday, after an argument escalated between suspects at around 5 p.m.. One person is dead, 7 others injured. Suspects are still at large, and surveillance tape is being reviewed.

“This was not a random incident. There were multiple people involved. There was a dispute that happened in front of the McDonald’s. People pulled out guns…

[desiredtastes]

It was our second day in Seattle and the weather was gorgeous!

We walked along the pier towards the market.

You can’t visit Seattle without checking out Pike Place Market. Established in 1907, Seattle’s original farmer’s market was a way to connect producers directly with the public. It’s a a popular spot for tourists and locals alike with fresh produce stalls and stands filled with local fruits and vegetables year-round.

The market is also home to fish markets, butchers, flower shops, bakeries, specialty vendors, and restaurants.

My first stop was Market Grill for their Blackened Salmon Sandwich. So simple, but so good. I saw the sandwich on Delicious Destinations. A great breakfast indeed.

My sister met me as I was finishing up and we walked over to Pike Place Chowder. The award-winning seafood institution serves traditional and specialty chowders. There was a line, so we looked over the menu while we waited.

After a bit, we were at the counter and ready to order.

My sister went with the vegan Lime & Coconut Chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. I decided to get the sampler of four 5 oz. chowders.

I tried the New England Clam Chowder, Seared Scallop Chowder, Smoked Salmon, Chowder, and the Crab & Oyster Chowder. Creamy, hearty, and flavorful. They were all delicious! The seared scallop may have been my favorite though.

We continued to wander around the market. There’s a lot to see and sample.

We stopped my Pike Place Fish Market and chatted with the friendly staff. This is where you’ll see the awesome fishmongers flinging fish through the air. Do not miss the flying fish!

Outside on Pike Place, you’ll see a street lined with more food vendors. It’s also the location of the the very first Starbucks.

I stopped by Piroshky Piroshky for a…you guessed it…piroshky! The small Russian bakery cranks out a variety of them, both savory and sweet.

What is a piroshky? They’re basically hand held pies with fillings. Each one is made from scratch and hand-molded into a unique shape.

I ended up getting a Ham, Cheese & Spinach piroshsky. It was incredible! The golden brown, flakey pastry was soft and buttery. The filling was hot and delicious. Piroshsky Piroshky is a must-try at the market.

After spending the majority of the afternoon exploring the market, we walked by a couple stores. Open since 1899, the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on the waterfront of Pier 54 has a collection of weird, cool, and unusual items. Shrunken heads, real mummies, gag gifts, Native American art? Come on down!

As if we didn’t eat enough, I stopped by the takeout counter of Ivar’s Fish Bar on Pier 54 to try their classic Clams n’ Chips.

The wild caught hand-breaded Atlantic surf clams are served with Ivar’s signature tartar or cocktail sauces and French fries. You can take a seat at one of the outdoor tables among the seagulls and even share a few of your fries with them if you’d like.

It was a great afternoon of foodie fun. We relaxed at the apartment for a while before going back out.

Pike Place Market 1st Ave and Pike Street Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 682-7453 Website

Ye Olde Curiosity Shop Pier 54, 1001 Alaskan Way Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 682-5844 Website

Ivar’s Fish Bar 1001 Alaskan Way Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 624-6852 Website

Pike Place Market and Ivar’s Fish Bar It was our second day in Seattle and the weather was gorgeous! We walked along the pier towards the market.

[kkoehn17]

It's Always Sunny in Seattle & Canada (At Least When We're There): Spring Break Day 1

It’s Always Sunny in Seattle & Canada (At Least When We’re There): Spring Break Day 1

Similar to our last trip to Seattle, this one started early. After waking up to a 3:50 a.m. alarm, my sister and I made our way through the doors at LAX by 5:15. Lucky for us, the Virgin America check-in desk was there to welcome us with the soothing alarmingly loud sounds of Beyoncé and Sean Paul. I tried to be mad, but I couldn’t. In fact, I’m pretty sure I tapped my foot at one point, bringing…

[arcisfoodblog]

Seattle – Day 1 and 2: Exploring the city on foot

Pike Market Place and Gum Wall As we arrived early from the airport, our room at the Kimpton Vintage Hotel (1100 5th Ave) wasn’t ready. We stored our luggage and headed over to Pike Market Place. For a Thursday afternoon, it was insanely busy. We were pretty much inching forward through the main entrance, hardly being able to have a good look at the produce. We decided to return the next morning and explore some more after having breakfast at Le Panier (1902 Pike Place). Their bread and pastries were so good that for the remainder of our stay in Seattle, it became my morning walk to fetch breakfast.

Also the lines for the next-door Starbucks (apparently one of their first outlets), Piroshky Piroshky (great filled sweet and savoury pastries) and Beecher’s Handmade Cheese (with an open window into their cheese factory) were legendary, especially in the weekend. Beecher’s 15-month old Flagship cheese was really good. Too bad that their renowned Mac ‘n Cheese set was too unpractical to lug around for 3 more weeks, but they also have a café on concourse C of SeaTac Airport if you decide to skip airline food altogether…

Speaking of legendary: adjacent to the Pike Street entrance, you will find Post Alley and its Gum Wall by the box office for the Market Theater. Gum Walls is actually a better name as a good stretch of the start of the alley is covered on both sides with gum and items like coins, admission tickets and other stuff…

They scraped off the original layer that have been expanding for 20-odd years in 2015 to prevent further erosion of the bricks on the walls from the sugar in the gum and over 1,100 kilo of gum was removed. Of course we had to add our own pieces of gum to this germ-fest.

Smith Tower Instead of opting for the long lines for the Space Needle for panoramic views of the city we went to Smith Tower on Pioneer Square. This 38-story (484 ft /148m) skyscraper dating back to 1914 and was the tallest in the city until was dethroned by the Space Needle in 1962. The grandeur of the Smith Tower is still there with marble from floor to ceiling, loads of shiny brass and operated elevators. The self-guide tour – in Roaring 20s style – was pretty amusing for the kids too.

Its observatory provides a great views in all directions, including on the Space Needle and Columbia Centre, the currently tallest building of Seattle, almost twice as high as Smith Tower. At an admission of $19.14 relatively cheap too and no lines either!

Seattle Pinball Museum The next stop on our walk was the Pinball museum in Seattle’s International District (508 Maynard Ave) and lunch of delicious sweet and savoury crèpes at next door’s Eastern Café.

With a collection of over 50 tables from the 1930s until now and for the $15 admission you can play them all and an additional $5 will get you a multi-entry pass. My kind of museum (and for many others as well as there was a small line waiting it to open at noon) and it was fun to experience that the speed of the games has pretty much tripled over time. I imagine that an afternoon in there will drive you slightly mad due to the cacophony of the pinball machines being played at the same time. In the meantime, Chantal managed to create a perpetuum mobile and we had to tilt the table to get it unstuck…

Seattle Public Library Right across our hotel was the futuristic Seattle Public Library (4th Avenue and Madison), which was designed by the Dutch design studio OMA, lead by architect Rem Koolhaas. You can just enter and wander around the 11 floors and marvel at its angular design and patterns creating an astonishing play of shadows and views of the city.

Seattle Mariners We tried to combat our jetlag that night by attending a Mariners ball game at Safeco Field; the first of 3 home games against the New York Mets.

We had bought tickets for Hit it Here Café, which included a table for 4 and $18 credit for food and drinks (which of course were ginormous…). The view was pretty good, between second and third bases, we enjoyed the Nirvana and Soundgarden snippets in-between the innings and could also witness the sunset on this very nice summer evening. The Mariners lost 7 to 5, but at least it was an action packed game.

Around the World – Seattle, USA (part 1) Seattle - Day 1 and 2: Exploring the city on foot

[thelandslidephotography]

Downtown Seattle

Ooh, Shiny!

Diversions, distractions, and delightful detours.

Pike Place Market – Seattle, Washington

(To purchase this or any image on this site ,for business or personal use, use the contact form on the “About” page or comment below)

[stinied]

Off to Sight Seattle

Todd (my boyfriend for all you strangers out there) travels for work occasionally and every chance that I can, I tag along. When he mentioned his travel plans a few months ago, Seattle was in the mix. I immediately began daydreaming of the visit; walking around in low hanging clouds, drinking so much coffee that strangers silently judge my caffeine-induced tremor, frowning at the suckers who use…

[morningtempest]

When You Are Ready For Dinner In Seattle Don't Miss This Place

When You Are Ready For Dinner In Seattle Don’t Miss This Place

After a trip to Pike Place Market, some shopping and exploring, finding dinner in Seattle with local flavors, unique style, and the freshest seafood is a must. Etta’s Seafood is just what you are looking for. I love Etta’s, not just for their smooth coconut cream pie and locally sourced seafood.  I think it has a simple menu, great staff, and the plates are a decent portion without fluff.…

[marcellathecheesemonger]

Cheese of the Day: March 6 - Beecher's Handmade Flagship and Flagsheep

Cheese of the Day: March 6 – Beecher’s Handmade Flagship and Flagsheep

Mondays in the Facebook Cheese Study Group, I will present cheeses from two styles: Cheddar and Bloomy Rinds. Today I am starting with two of my favorite American Artisan Cheeses that are “Kissing Cousins”: Beecher’s Handmade Flagship and Flagsheep.

(For those taking the ACS CCP Exam®, there are at least three terms or pieces of information that might be on the exam… just sayin’)

In 2008, when my…

[seattlescubachick-blog]

Pike’s Place Market, Seattle, Washington For more information about the famous farmer's market, please click here.