Heeea' Fishy Fishy Fishy Fishy
December 9th, 2009 by Braddah LanceOn Day 2 of our Seattle travelog, we ventured out to the world famous Pike Place Market!
If you're ever going to be traveling to Seattle, this place is probably da "Waikiki" of da city da only difference is dat Seattleites frequent da area just as much as visitors. It's got your arts and crafts, your street performers - and "non-street performers" asking for handouts -, store vendors, farmers markets with eyecatching setups and of course da infamous fishmongers who throw your seafood order from da front of da store to da back to be weighed and packaged whether it be a small or large fish, a boxed set - even crab!
Pike's - as da "locals" would call it - isn't as big as we thought but it's a maze that you have to navigate if you don't want to miss out on anything. It was like Willy Wonka wea we went sideways, slantways, longways and backways and we seen most every shop.... dat we could find.
Downtown Seattle is a very walkable city and in fact, we walked from our hotel to Pike's. Yes, in da frigid cold but it was a good way for us to burn off some extra calories. 
Pike's is no different. The area is very easy to walk and because it's shared with locals, it has a hustle and bustle type of atmosphere. It's actually kine of fun watching and hearing da vendors chatter with one anoddah and saying 'Wassap' to frequent patrons while trying to "entertain" visitors.
Again, pictures doesn't do it justice but I tried.............
Can you believe dat it was only starting to get lit up around 9am?!
First stop was breakfast at a Russian bakery called Piroshky, Piroshky
If I could have tried 'em all, I certainly would have! We got the smoked salmon pate Piroshky and the beef something pate Piroshky
Can you spot Da Wife? 
And jus' for you Uncle Rodney.....
And I thought da hills in San Fran was tough!
I always crack up on mainland signs... you mean south of da pole? Wat if you dunno wea south is?
Yummmm! I have no idea wat a pate is but it was ono especially hot/warm on a crisp morning.
Downtown Seattle from the West end (I tink - judging from da sun) of Pike's
You lookin' at me? I know you ain't lookin' at me. I'll peck your eyes out - now give me dat Piroshky!
Two 50ft totem poles
Da market area
I thought dis was ODD. Out of da literally ukumillion tiles dat line da entire market place.... my eye catches a familiar last name.... any relation Cat?
Fruit logs.... have you tried one before?
Pasta... can you say carb overload?
Tons of fresh vegetables and can you see da two workahs all bundled up?
So wat kine sauce you use wit dis? Strawberry jam?
Fresh fruits galore! Even had da kine we no have in da 808.
Seafood seafood seafood. Those king crab legs in da back were hugemangeous!
You like da left or da right?
Now those are fancy and those are JUMBO
I not only petted Rachel... I "fed" her. 
"Main Street"
Got Salmon?
A giant squid sculpture... and I mean GIANT!
Bet you can't say dat five times fast
If any fish needs it's mouth to be kept open by a wood plank....
Da fishmongers would entertain themselves by scaring people looking closely at dis fish. They had a rope tied to da tail and buried undah da ice so wen you got close, they'd yank it up and scare da crap out of you.... I nevah flinch but da wahine next to me 
I thought dis was pretty interesting. Dis little shop had collectibles of government office candidates from bobble heads to pins to key fobs
Ahhh, da sun
Chili's chili's chili's - muy caliente
I was cracking up cause jus' seconds ago I took a pic of da fire hydrant (behind da pole) and thought it was ODD to see snow/ice in front of it and then da neighborhood dog comes strolling along and poops on it. I tink da vendors throw ice there for da dog on purpose cause they kept yelling, "yellow snow! Yellow snow! Good girl."
Live alligator meat and we not even in Chinatown???
Jus' joke... it was jus' a toy
There's something for everyone at Pike's
Dis alley reminded me of Harry Potter and da train station platform 9 3/4 even though da sign says 91 1/2
Dat clock is supposedly da oldest neon clock in da west and right below it is da Pike Place Fish Market and da fishmongers
If you look real closely, da "receiver" is just about to catch a crab da fishmonger threw ovah
READY?
Here fishy fishy fishy fishy! Fly! Fly! Fly!
Ok, so it's not like dat. They call out da order several times and put on a show and bam! Flying seafood. There weren't many orders while we were there so da only two I could take pics of was kinda late.
Dis fishmonger was da funniest! He even knows da shaka.... and quite a bit of Hawaiian words too.
Well dat was Pike Market Place in a crabshell. Got some more pics if you like check 'em out by clicking hea'.
Shoots!
k-den
Tags: Braddah Lance Kwon, Pike Fish Market, Pike Market Place, Seattle, Travelog, Wassap Wit Dat!, WWD!
December 9th, 2009 at 3:05 am
Oooooohhhhhh.....sounds like you and wife are having fun
Just imagine if you were in Alaska....it still would have been dark 
December 9th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Great pics! Looks like a fun place. That monk fish is nasty looking! Those chile strands were really beautiful. Thanks for letting us along on your trip! One question.... what kind of pants are you wearing? You going clam digging later? I kid I kid. nuttin but luv. :>)
December 9th, 2009 at 5:53 am
Yeah no kidding, I hear clam digging is great in Seattle. What no WWD moment at Pike's? ...sounds like everything going great...have a good time!
Starbucks everywhere, yeah? My Seattle son always makes fun of the way I pronounce Starbucks, Starbox...real pidgin.
December 9th, 2009 at 6:17 am
Yeah BL stay wea da kine High Watah Pants. He no can decide if he like wea long pants cause cold or his traditional Shorts.
Ho man, I like eat seafood now. Main ting no mo da kine Rats flying through da air at night *shiver*
Eh fo realz dey gotta back up into the stalls?
Thanks eh for the ride. BTW I wen spock Da Wife
December 9th, 2009 at 6:17 am
My MIL use to live in Bremerton and we'd go out in her 'backyard' (I think it was called Oyster Bay??) and go clamming. We would put dozens of them in a cooler and take it home with us on the plane.
December 9th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Good morning BL!
I can tell you and your wife are having a GREAT time!
I never been to Seattle, one day...
Great pictures! can't wait to see more. It's like we are there with you.
December 9th, 2009 at 6:29 am
Thanks for sharing your vacation BL! I was supposed to be there last year when my gang took an Alaska Cruise but I couldn't go. : (
Your pics bring back memories of their stories and pics and vids. : ) !!!
hemajang: crack me up "Starbox". I can imagine your voice. Low and deep "Starbox". hahaha! Like "We go Starbox, l'dat".
December 9th, 2009 at 6:32 am
Hey BL,
I heard a rumor that at the Pike Place Fish Market they use the same fish to throw around over and over again until it gets worn out; just to entertain the tourists.
BTW – in that last photo it looks like da braddah was ready to pick you up and throw you over the counter.
December 9th, 2009 at 6:42 am
Great post! Sounds like you folks are having a good time. Did you get to eat any of that seafood?
I was wondering if you would bust out da short pants! Surprised you didn't wear them to the game.
Mahalo for keeping us updated.
Alan from Makiki
December 9th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Nice pix, BL! That monkfish is uuuuuuuuugly! And I can't believe you're WEARING SHORTS. Holy cats!
The owners of that stand where they throw the fish are Japanese. At least one of da guys who works (or worked) there is from Hawai`i. And KK, they throw the actual fish you pick - I've bought stuff from there myself. It's funny to watch them throw a bag of clams.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_Place_Fish_Market
December 9th, 2009 at 6:52 am
PS - I'm so glad you went to Piroshky Piroshky! I lurve that place! I got lunch from there just yesterday.
December 9th, 2009 at 7:02 am
BL, if you don't know what pate is...never mind...just enjoy it.
those halibut cheeks are unreal. sooo ono. almost like scallops, or a cross between halibut and scallops.
December 9th, 2009 at 7:09 am
matt: thanks, I was wondering what "cheeks" were. You sure teach me a lot. Cheeks, Crunchy...
BL: You're making me miss my Seattle sistas
*sniff sniff*
December 9th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Nice pics. We were there last summer after our Alaska cruise. The sun was out that day too, and that place was so crowded. It was alright, but I wasn't too hot on Seattle overall.
December 9th, 2009 at 7:44 am
It's so fun to read your posts and see all the pictures! It's almost like I'm there, but not shivering in the cold. Boy, I'm amazed you can wear those shorts, local boy in the cold...
December 9th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Eh BL......"pate" is like blended liver along with other "innards".
Looked at the pics of all the fruit and thought of the Chinatown (Honolulu) video.
Keep um coming BL and ENJOY!
OL
December 9th, 2009 at 8:26 am
yay rachel! were the flower vendors out? i always thought it was amazing you could get a huge bouquet of flowers for $15!
December 9th, 2009 at 8:26 am
BL - Another fun day! Wife and I love walking around Seattle too. But you and those shorts!! If you going make OL one uncle, you gotta keep those buggahs warm.
Enjoy the rest of your trip and look forward to more stories and pics!
December 9th, 2009 at 8:26 am
BL, did you find the meat vendor that had the bull fries in the display case ("Nuts to You"). Heh heh, plump looking things....
The vegi and fruit displays were always beautifully laid out.
December 9th, 2009 at 8:37 am
… hey Braddah Lance … again … some mo F-N DAMN AWESOME PICS … I still drooling over da football stuff yesterday … but today’s pics just as good …
… I mean, just like I can reach out and grab um … da fruit logs are interesting … but I like try all da seafood … so wat, is it way mo cheapah than down here??? … I like king crab … I like lobster tail … I going faint pretty soon!!! … or cry ...
… and just how cold was it??? … I bet da ice no melt … and all da fresh vegetables must stay fresh long long time eh??? …
… and Ynaku … da Rats over dea not stoopid … it’s too fricken cold … they all came for vacation in Chinatown over hea!!!
… btw, BL … dat “CAN CAN” place neva make me tink cabaret … made me tink local style …. “NO CAN NO CAN” …
… HAVE A GOOD ONE EVERYONE!!! …
December 9th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Ohhh I wanna visit Seattle, but this is the next best thing! Almost like I'm there, hahha.
BL: So funny how you picked out the Toth tile! The fruit logs look interesting, the cheeks look like chicken, and kinda gross to be out like that, the gator and the DOG cracked me up!!
Uhmm I do have to say after the Chinatown video, looking at this open market makes me nervous for the people buying food now, even though I'm sure its fine!
December 9th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Great pics!
Glad you are enjoying your trip. Love those long shorts.
I was just there a few months ago. It was sooooo crowded, it was not enjoyable. I kept telling my niece to get the camera ready, they going throw the fish... and she missed it. It was funny.
Starbucks was too crowded to even get inside.
Then, here is the kicker.... my brother wants to get lunch at that manapua place near Starbucks. All the way to Seattle to eat manapua. haha
December 9th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Thought you was pointing something else out in da "Toth" picture. Maybe its jus my computer but try look at the piece right above the "toth" one da buggah look like something else. No like get moderated but if you go back and look I think pretty easy fo figure out.
December 9th, 2009 at 10:27 am
@Kage - Those not long shorts, they just look that way on a short guy.
Notice the Starbucks logo at the store - it's the original logo. The naughty one.
I was told that although that's the first Starbucks, it's not the original location.
December 9th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Awesome pics once again. Looks like the two of you had a better day there. Have you checked out the night life, I heard there's some good music and food?
December 9th, 2009 at 10:46 am
@HiloBoy - you get good eyes. I neva see that the first time I looked. How dat slipped pass the group?
@Rodney - I neva like say dat. I used the inside voice for that thought. hehe.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Sweet pics! Looks like you two are having a nice time, BL!
Oooh, me likee Piroshky!
I'm surprised no one has "imported" that here. Seems like something locals would like. Maybe that can be a potential business venture for BL. Tell everyone it's a deep fried manapua, or a malasada with meat inside. 
I never noticed that giant squid sculpture before. Or that giant nut.
Looking forward to more pictures!
December 9th, 2009 at 11:15 am
@HiloBoy - That's pretty funny. I didn't notice that until you pointed it out.
Reminds me of that movie a few years ago, about the horse:
FLICKA
If the designers used just the right font on the movie poster, it sure would have turned some heads.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Wifey and I hope to make it up there soon, especially since my two sisters live in Seattle... Thanks for the cool pics BL!
December 9th, 2009 at 11:18 am
@BF - Used to have a shop on Fort Street Mall that sold piroshky. It has been years since I bought any, I dunno if they are still there or not. I know, you not on this island....
December 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Great pics and commentary! Looking forward to your next one!
December 9th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
@Kage: Rada's Piroshky. When I used to work @ Downtown LH, I'd stop by there on the way home to p/u piroshky for dinner for my folks and me.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
@Lance....welcome to Seattle! Brave man walking around frigid Seattle in shorts..especially on the waterfront!
December 9th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
KAN - That's the one. They had the fried squid legs too.
December 9th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
eh you buggahs!......no make fun of BL's capri pants!
wow! lucky! look like you folks getting some good weather! only shmall kine cold yeah?
ahh....Pike's.....i remembah dea! all kine shops/shtuffs......and da seafuud and da flying fish!
ho....da scallops look ginormous too!
you folks going to da Pacific Science Center at Seattle Center? get some interesting stuff dea.
and no forget da Underground Tour!
keep dem pikchas/updates coming!
December 9th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
oh yeah, if get time and if you into rock n' roll, then go to EMP (Experience Music Project) right by Seattle Space Needle. Get one special Jimi Hendrix exhibit now. When I went a few years ago, had a pretty awesome exhibit on Reggae and ska. Museum covers everything from the origins of rock and guitar to present. I dunno maybe more for Rodney.
December 9th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
looks like you and wifey having a great time, BL! you both deserve to have a wonderful vacation (especially after your pre-flight escapades! aigoo! hee hee... )! i love seattle... and need to go back, especially since i have a few friends living in the area!
opso - why? did you loan BL your capri pants?
December 9th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
All day at work I was thinking that I was gonna mention the Hendrix exhibit. My friends went there when they went up for the Boomer Blast this past summer.
*so jealous*
December 9th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
My other friends that stopped in Seattle on their way to Alaska... one gal was so sweet, she brought me back a Space Needle souvenier. I told her that my mom never ever left Oahu in her life, except for one trip up there. She brought back all kinds of trinkets. I still have most of them but cannot find the Space Needle one. This is so special to me.
December 9th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
That same gang of friends took a pic at one of those fish throwing places, one guy is the producer for Hawaii Goes Fishing and had a little sign on the counter. He took his vid camera and got some nice movies.
btw... any of you that go fishing, if you wanna be on TV he's always looking for Everyday Fisherpeeps for the show. He likes focusing on normal peeps as opposed to celebrities. Lemme know if you wanna be a movie stah for a day!
*shameless plug* Thanks BL
December 9th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Sally,
if your friend wants to do a show up here in California (bay area), I fish with a couple of local guys (hawaii guys) who I'm sure would love to help him out. there's some interesting techniques and styles up here that we don't do at home.
December 9th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
@matt: I shot him an email, will let you know. Thanks!
December 9th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I was talking to some locals and they said during certain times of da year it doesn't even get dark till like 9pm!
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I thought so too. Da vendor said to hang them li'dat and let 'em dry.... then going last for years he said.
No! I saved money by buying junior pants and it turns out dat I could wear 'em as shorts.
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Funny... and no, WWD! free day.
Kinda no phase me.... it's da same at home too. Now if I saw 'em like ABC Stores then I'd REALLY freak.
And I thought it was Stahbox? 
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I nevah even tink about dat!
Only at dat one diner we went to but I nevah notice dat kine parking anywea else yet.
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Really? I've nevah been. You only can go during low tide eh?
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Come during da summah if you no can handle da cold.
Glad I could help.
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Sorry.
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I not too surah about dat but da two I seen were purchases.
Da braddah was kinda huge.
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Nope. We weren't in da mood for any seafood hea.... must be too cold.
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Da fishmonger I took a pic with "introduced" me to a homeless guy.... from Hawai'i!
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Ok.... now dat's scary.
So it's halibut? I had no idea wat it was.
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I tink da weather plus da economy made Pike's pretty empty... plus we went on a weekday so dat might have made a difference.
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I love cold weather although I'm not looking forward to da snow at da end of da week.
December 9th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Ok.... I definitely nevah need fo' know dat.
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Hmmm, no flower vendors dat I seen but wen you first mentioned Rachel, I was looking for a 'real' pig!
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Bull fries?
Das wat I really liked about it!
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… but I like try all da seafood … so wat, is it way mo cheapah than down here??? I don't tink so but they certainly have waaaay mo' variety to choose from!
No melt. I had iced coffee I left in da car for ovah eight hours... nevah even changed shape!
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Free trip then eh?
It was like da fifth name I saw cause I thought it was neat dat da tiles had names and of all da names to see dat one jus' popped out!
Now those two made my day.
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Wen isn't it?
WWD!
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Yeah!
It was close by though. I thought I read somewea dat it only moved a couple doors down or something li'dat.
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In dis weather? To tell you da truth, Da Wife and I are not too much into da night scene.
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Cause we not like da ODDahs.
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Giant nut? Da squid stay past da fishmongers slight downstairs.
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Well at least you have a place to stay.
And da airfare has been pretty good da past couple months except for recently cause of Xmas and school is out.
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Will try and keep up. I don't Da Hui even knows dat I've been kinda going on two to three hours sleep posting these buggahs. On Monday I wen sleep like at 4am and then yesterday at 4:30am putting da blogs together. Right now stay 12:30am and I gotta catch up sleep now.
December 10th, 2009 at 2:32 am
Opso and his comment on your capri pants in O&E
December 10th, 2009 at 2:32 am
It's TOPLESS weather in Seattle...just have you heater on
December 10th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
BL:
Yep, you could only go out there during low tide. It's like clamming back in the late 60's in Kaneohe Bay.