Pike Place Market

Now nothing more than a tourist trap. With the exception of an over-priced butcher shop, there is nothing of interest here for people that actually LIVE in Seattle. Overpriced but un-notable restaurants and coffee bars, a "farmers" market where most of the produce is about as close (or far) from the actual farmer as at Safeway... And public bathrooms filled with junkies. Tourists and aggressive bums is what Pike Place is known for these days - Pike and Pine around 2nd. Ave is possibly the worst part of Seattle downtown except Pioneer Square. Avoid.

A lot of cities seem to do this. Jack London Square in Oakland, Pier 51 in San Francisco, Underground Atlanta, Les Halles, is Paris, etc. And Google any of them and you get an endless series of articles about "reviving them" and how some scam-artist of a developer will return vitality and vibrancy to the city with the investment a few tens of millions of dollars in his schemes. Don't get me started.

I grew up in Portland in the 70's, most parts of the city (except NE, where MLK Blvd is) were safe at any hour, with a very healthy community. Baaaah, now I sound like an old man... GET OFF MY LAWN.