Pike Place Market; You Could Call it the Heart of Seattle

Pike Place Market is perhaps the very most beloved and widely known of Seattle landmarks.  I find it wonderful in that

way, since it really represents something that is close to Seattle’s heart, the workingman taking his fate into his own hands.  Since becoming part of this urban community I have been busy scoping it out and trying to find hints of what the “heart of Seattle” is.  It does have to do with a kind of take-it-for-granted-that-people-do-the-right-thing way of interacting with life, and this means, I find, that Seattle is Green, Seattle is Polite, Seattle is Quirky, Individualistic, and Caring without getting in your face.  And yes, rule based to the degree that if a Satelleite goes against the flow, they are likely to do so while innocently looking the other way and whistling.  Who, me? Well, back to the Market…it grew out of the desire of local farmers to cut out the middleman stores and bring their fresh produce directly to the public.  Many Seattleites these days go down to the Market weekly to bring home their produce and special goodies such as the wonderful fresh-caught fish, flowers, natural meats, handmade cheese, fresh roasted coffee, and now all the other shops and stalls open here such as farm raised honey or jams from local fruits and berries, smoked salmon, fresh made sausage, you name it, it is probably available.  What is so special in my view is that when Seattle loves something, it is this personal, high quality, direct, entrepreneurial, people-sourced way of interacting and purchasing the basics.  From the hand of the farmer to the hand of the householder, forget the diesel trucks, price tags and factory made everything.  I love that Seattle loves this icon.