I feel the pain of the person who complained about the spelling of Niagara. It's the Pike PLACE Market, folks. It's not on Pike Street (although Pike Street begins on the other side of First Avenue), and it's not Pike's Market (because no one named Pike owns it or has ever owned it). Our driver on the Duck tour, who was quite outspoken about everything, made it a point to educate her passengers on this subject.

And the point of your educating us on this is?

Well, gail, maybe you're one of those people who love to be wrong, or at least could care less. But I suspect the reason for Bobmrg's post was that he (she) assumed that SOME people DO like to be educated and to be correct.

Thanks for the comment Bobmrg. I wish someone had told me how to pronounce Willamette before we went to Portland!!

Thank you Bob - "Pike's Market" always makes me wince because (and I'm pretty sure this is why you're trying to educate people) that's not its name.

Oh dear, sorry, I can't resist this but, Neopolitan, it's 'couldn't care less'. 'Could care less' means that the person DOES care.

I can't believe I did that. I have often corrected other people on that exact same phrase.

Pike Place Market is where Mom sent me to buy horse meat and eggs spotted with chicken poop during WWII.

The main entrance (under the big sign) is at the FOOT of Pike Street. Pike Place is a continuation of Pike Street--it goes west for a short distance and then turns north for a couple blocks. Pike Pace is the historic heart of the market--it is where truck farmers first sold their goods in 1907.

LOL Neopolitan, Wilamette and also Oregon. Have they corrected you, or you knew how to say the state's name?

My pet peeve is when somebody wants to drive from SF to "monteRRey" and they don't mean Mexico!

Willamette
Puyallup
Sequim

we have all kinds of challenges here in the PNW
;-)

Suze--I was just thinking of those same towns, lol!

LOL --

Reminds me of the first time we drove through Washington. DD said that "Snoqualmie" and "Snohomish" sounded like Sesame Street charectars!

We used to live in Snohomish. Friends from CT thought it always sounded like someone had just sneezed, lol!

I don't care what you call it...I love it and wish I could go there everyday for THE best produce, fish, seafood! And the flowers...oh those flowers!

You're right, I always take a minute to appreciate how lucky I am (i work 2 blocks from The Market & am a regular shopper there)... we're in heaven w/ cherries, peaches, and raspberries and those $5 bouquets are wonderful!

LOL, Snohomish! Bless you

I am looking forward to visiting Seattle and Pike Place Market. Our son lived and worked there a few years ago and while he said it rained a bit too much, he really liked it there.
Now that I am in the neighborhood (well,sort of) I am planning a visit..

There's more than one way to pronounce Oregon? Surely no one would actually pronounce it the way it was in that silly old song 'where has Orie gone?"

uhhhhhhhhhh, Bobmrg, please get your facts straight (especially if you're here to correct others).

The intersection of "Pike Street" and "Pike Place" is right outside the most popular fish market, and not "across the street".

Most of those drivers on the duck tour are non-natives and merely trying to earn a buck. Observe also that the duck tour never goes down "Pike Place" but instead turns on "Pike Street" (across the street) from the market.

Maybe that is why they can't get it right?

Well, northwestmale, our duck driver made much of the fact that she is a native Seattlite and commercial fisherwoman who goes up to the Bering Sea each winter. And our tour went straight up First without turning at the intersection with Pike. I've only lived here 46 years and have visited the market numerous times....but I can't swear that the little stub of Pike Whatever is Street or Place. She said that Pike Place is west of First and Pike Street is east, and I'm not going to drive into town to check it out.

Pike Place runs parallel to First.

Pike Street extends west from First up to where it Ts into Pike Place. For example, Left Bank Books (next to the florist) is at 92 Pike Street (street number less than 100, i.e., First.)

And actually, Pike Street continues west on an imaginary line right into the Market. Both the fish market (the one where they throw the fish) and Place Pigalle, the restaurant behind there looking out on the water, have addresses on Pike Street (Place Pigalle is # 81).