NWWanderer

Kath, I know you had posted about your concerns previously and I really don't think this changes anything that was said in that thread. You will need to exercise caution and common sense as you would in any major city, and it's probably best to avoid that particular stretch of Pike, but as someone who walks that stretch fairly frequently, I still think it's more of a *discomfort* issue than a *danger* issue.

Gardyloo

Now I really don't want to start a fight here, but seriously... The Pike Market is in the middle of a downtown neighborhood, surrounded by hotels, bars, retail shops, offices, and all that goes with a big American city center. The fact that the market's own heritage is one of affordable food and service provision, including services to elderly, homeless, or disabled folks, helps set it apart from various Whole Foods and Restoration Hardware places that one can visit "safely" in hundreds of suburbs all over the country.

If the market and its surrounding districts are not as sanitized and purged of street life as some tourists (or residents) might prefer, well, the buses are cheap and the parking at Bellevue Square or University Village is free.

There are evil people and unsafe alleys and places to avoid all over the land. This week, at least, the Pike market area is a helluva lot safer than a shopping mall in downtown Salt Lake City, not known as a hotbed of urban decay.

We have a pretty effective police force here in Seattle and while they can't catch every crime before it's committed, they do a pretty okay job (IMO) of protecting the public, consistent with letting life in all its diversity carry on as unimpeded as possible. Every town has anecdotal evidence of rape, drug dealing, robbery, murder, and as a visitor one is obliged (again IMO) to watch out for oneself, one's companions, and one's fellow humans. Not to do so is silly; but perspective must be maintained.

enzian

Well said, Gardyloo, Thank you.

PamSF

Kath~You are staying at a great hotel! You will be right by the market and within walking distance of all sorts of great things including the Seattle Art Museum. If you have any concerns about your safety in various areas, ask the hotel staff.

We go to Seattle often as my sster lives on the East side. I say exercise caution but do not limit your options out of fear alone.

For a bit of perspective: there was an armed robbery on my three block street last night. I probably exercise more caution coming home late at night than I ever have in Seattle,NYC,Paris or Rome.

bennyb

The OP says there are a lot of drugs going on. Is that true? From experience, places with a lot of drug activity do tend to be less safe simply because people on drugs do not always act rationally, and they may be desperate for money - and willing to do anything - to buy more drugs.

Not every place in a city is exactly as safe as every other place. In my home town, I know which areas are less safe at night, which ones I don't want my wife walking around in alone.

It's all well and good to say we must exercise caution no matter where we are. That's true. But in defending Seattle's reputation, please don't slam posters just because they feel some areas are not as safe as others. Those are probably legitimate feelings that lenlu had.

suze

Dukey, No it is not someone who works in our building. One attempt (taking my wallet) I saw and confronted the person and got it back. For the laptop theft, I don't know why someone with key card access would bother to break thru safety louvers in the garage, pry open a metal gate, then use a crowbar on the back door, seems a bit excessive to cover an inhouse crime.

Kath, I would not be fearful as a tourist in downtown Seattle. Part of the point I was attempting to make, is these incidents are often between people who know each other or to get money, not inflict personal harm on strangers.

suze

bennyb- yes, unfortunately, I am 99% pertain the person attempting to lift my wallet was in need of money for drugs.

SharonG

Well enough with the worry about safety in Seattle. I will be staying at The Paramount Hotel in May for business and what I really want to know is: WHERE'S THE GOOD SHOPPING?? I have my priorities.

enzian

SharonG---the good shopping is just 2 or 3 blocks away from the Paramount. Head down Pine St., and in 2 blocks you will come to Pacific Place, which has BCBG/Max Mara and lots of other shops; exit there on 6th Ave. and you'll find Nodstroms and Sway & Cake; turn left and head south on 5th Ave. to Barney's, . . . I don't know what your taste is, but there are lots of stores within a 3 or 4-block radius of your hotel.

And the restaurant in your hotel, Dragonfish, has one of the best happy hours around, if you're interested.

SharonG

Wonderful. Thanks so much for the info. I've never been there before so I'm really looking forward to throwing a fish around!

enzian

And while you're not throwing fish. . . if you like Sway & Cake, their "outlet" is on 2d in the same block as the Nordstrom Rack. It's called TBC and they have great deals.

suze

For SharonG- There's also lots of small independent boutique clothing stores scattered around. Especially along 1st heading north into Belltown area, just outside the Pike Place Market (Opus, J Gilbert, Maggie Shoes, Ottica Eyewear, etc.)

enzian

And Ian. Ladies' wear is upstairs.

SharonG

Thanks so much for all the shopping info. Of course, it all depends on how much money I have left after I return from Europe in March.

tennislvr1

Maybe you missed Lenlu's first sentence, it said "I thought I'd put this out there..." in other words, she was just passing along information as a courtesy.

I traveled to Pike street recently and felt totally safe, but had I read this post before, i would have said "THANKS" to Lenlu, because my teenage son walked around alone and I shutter to think something could have happened to him.

And I hope you all realize that crime spells "lost tourism" in many cities, so they keep it out of the news as much as possible. Its common knowledge that Disneyland goes to great trouble not to report crime in their "Happiest Place on Earth."

I'm glad Lenlu took the time and effort to pass along information to tourist like me who would have never known otherwise.

Nevisian

I'm having fun reading all the supposed facts of danger around the Pikes Market in Seattle. They are overblown and outdated and, to use a phrase I learned in Chicago: "Urban Legend". Heck, Grandma warned me in 1980 that people carried violin cases in Chicago and she was serious. Of course my other Grandma told us that we couldn't go to the Iowa State Fair because the "Gypsys" stole children.

The Green Tortoise, by the way, was torn down and is being replaced by the 1521 SecondAve., a luxury highrise condo building in which they units sell for $1,500,000.00 and up. The Seattle Art Musem has just opened on 2nd and the new Four Season's hotel and residence tower is going up across the street. As for "boxer" who clains he/she hasn't been back to Seattle since he/she smelled urine on the street 15 years ago... That report is an antique. People should use some common sense when they write something on the internet. We love Seattle and spend many four day weekends there. Pikes Market is a centerpiece to our visits. The great thing about big cities is that there are all kinds of people rubbing shoulders on the street. If big cities scare you, vacation in Dyersville, Iowa.

To Kalie, who is thinking of staying at the Moore. I hope that this classic hotel, as well as the marvelous theater it is built around, is in line for restoration. Right now, however... The Red Lion, the Madison Rennaissance, the Hyatt, Hilton - all cost over $200. a night. Why do you suppose the Moore is $90.00 per night?

Kailee13

I took a change on hotwire and got a good deal at the Westin. Thanks for the advice.

suze

Glad to hear about the Westin, Kailee. That's great.

Question for Nevisian- Do you know something specifically bad about the Moore Hotel? I know several people who like it and stay there often.

321go

"As for "boxer" who clains he/she hasn't been back to Seattle since he/she smelled urine on the street 15 years ago... That report is an antique. People should use some common sense when they write something on the internet. We love Seattle and spend many four day weekends there. Pikes Market is a centerpiece to our visits. The great thing about big cities is that there are all kinds of people rubbing shoulders on the street. If big cities scare you, vacation in Dyersville, Iowa."

That last sentence is uncalled for. Posters on this forum are allowed to express their opinons on the places they've visited. Boxer expressed her opinion - that she had been to Seattle, disliked certain aspects of it and hadn't been back. I love Seattle, but I realize that not everyone who visits it is going to feel the same. But then, perhaps I should have been a member of Emmett Watson's Lesser Seattle. ;-)

BTW, it's not "Pikes Market."

Nevisian

Suze - the Moore is tired, very tired. The nightly costs that you quote of $55 - $90 are extremely inexpensive because the hotel doesn't warrent higher prices. You get what you pay for. It was a very classy place decades ago. In my opinion it's seedy. If the Moore is what you can afford then stay there - just don't miss Seattle. It's a wonderful city. You won't spend much time in your hotel room with so much to do within walking distance. You can get around in the downtown area on foot or on the bus which are free within the downtown area. The majority of busses you will take are on 2nd Ave. within a couple of blocks of the Moore. I just put a deposit on a condo on 2nd Ave. two blocks away from the Moore and have no fear of the area. My only disappointment is that it will take two years to my move-in date.

321go - My opinion is that people should not vacation where they are uncomfortable. Dyersville is a great place to visit : my family is from there. I also lived in Chicago 22 years and there are some areas of that city that I stayed out of. That's just street smarts. And that is my posted opinion.

If we're going to read "boxer's" 15 year old experience of smelling the streets around Pike Place Market, aka Pike's Market, I maintain that a 15 year old experience is irrelevant today. I could tell you of last months visit to Market Street in San Francisco where the urine smell was so strong it made my eyes water. That is a more recent and relevant posting. But urine smells won't keep me from going to S.F. for 15 years! It might rain between now an my next visit. For what it's worth, I smelled urine around the market area 15 years ago too but didn't smell any during last months's visit. Then again, I wasn't walking in any alleys.