Flying fish, fishmongers that sing, take pictures with the tourists, and scare some squeamish people (with their comical antics) and a place that sells seafood, books, clothes, and souvenirs is the best way I can describe the Pike Place Fish Market.

If you have a time restriction or don’t want to venture through all of Pike Place Market, stop here for not only your seafood purchase but also your entertaining needs. You will not be disappointed.

For the duller commentary, this place sells seafood and other merchandise. It sells fresh salmon, white fish, Dungeness crab, and cooked shellfish, smoked salmon, their own spices and sauces, specialty fish, books, T-shirts, sweatshirts (hooded and crewneck), fish aprons, caps, world-famous Pike Place Fish Beanies, Pike Place Fish tote bags, Pike Place Fish gift certificates, and a Fishmonger poster. While we were there, we saw a lot of King salmon being bought by tourists.

Concerning the prices of seafood, it depends on what you purchase and, in some cases, how it is prepared. For instance, fish can be left whole, cut in steaks, filled or smoked. This place can ship your seafood purchases to you if you are not a local resident. Pike Place Fish has a website in which you can do this too. Their website is pikeplacefish@pikeplacefish.com.

Now, the more interesting commentary is that this place is entertaining. These workers are "crazy" in a comical sense. They throw King Salmon in the air to each other like it weighs nothing, when the average King Salmon is 15 lbs. And be careful here, because you may accidentally be knocked on the noggin with a flying fish or you could experience what my partner did. She almost locked lips with one. Sharon was going to take a picture when one was thrown, and it landed in front of her face when quickly a fishmonger grabbed it. In addition, these workers sing and take pictures with the tourists. Also, when we were there, we saw a young woman who wanted to catch a flying fish, so the fishmongers let her go behind the counter to catch one. Lastly, be aware of the workers trying to scare a passing by tourist. These fishmongers have a string on a really ugly fish (I was told it’s a monkfish), and they pull on it, and it lunges out at this person. I was told by a local that these workers pull this stunt usually on teenage girls or other children.

Pike Place Fish Market is located at Pike Place Market at 86 Pike Place, Seattle, WA 98101. The local number is 206/682-7181 and the 800 number is 800/542-7732 and the fax here is 206/682-4629. It is open Monday-Saturday 6:30am–6pm and Sunday 7am-5pm PST time.

Pike Place Market is a great place to spend a few hours. This historic area is filled with great shopping, art, and crafts. Opening nearly 100 years ago as a Farmers'' Market, Pike Place Market offers a look at Seattle’s past and present.

The market’s main attraction is the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market. Watch out for the "Low Flying Fish." It was quite a sight, seeing a 15-pound salmon flying through the air. The fish market is set up with large, ice-filled counters containing the fresh seafood. When you make your selection, the outside clerk gives it the heave-ho and tosses it over the counter to the clerk in the back. It is caught, wrapped, and packed in a matter of minutes. They had the largest Alaskan king crab legs that I have ever seen. They were the size of a baseball bat. We watched salmon, halibut, and dungeness crabs fly. It is quite entertaining watching all the excitement.

I bought a salmon, some monkfish and dungeness crabs. Pike Market Fish packaged them for travel and delivered them to my hotel before I left. I have made several online orders since.

Seattle is the "Caffeine Capital of the USA." It seems there are coffee shops on just about every corner. And that includes Starbucks. Seattle is Starbucks'' home, and Pike Street Market hosts the original Starbucks. Since I do enjoy Starbucks, this was a definite stop. When you walk into the front door, there is a brass pedestal and plaque letting you know that you are visiting the original Starbucks. I enjoyed a grande, white chocolate mocha. Nonfat, of course.

I do a lot of cooking, and I have been looking for a 12" meat-slicing knife for several months. At a cutlery shop near home, I found one for $175.00. Pike Place Market is home to a very fine cutlery shop. I can’t remember the name, but it is located just a couple doors down from Starbucks. I found and bought my knife there for only $49.00.

There are several art galleries and antique shops located "down under" the market. There are stairs behind the Pike Place Fish Market. Go down the stairs to the lower levels and you will find the art and antiques, as well as many other specialty shops.

I highly recommend spending an few hours at Pike Place Market. Just remember to watch out for the "Low Flying Fish."