Adventures in B-Town: The Junction

Well, it was a beautiful warm Sunday, so Roger took off to play golf. I decided to go up to West Seattle and visit the Farmers Market. I love the West Seattle area. It is where all of us Hipsters hang out. It is also the original downtown area, before Seattle moved across Elliot Bay. Settlers landed on the shores of West Seattle in 1851 making it the oldest neighborhood in Seattle (it is also the largest). West Seattle celebrates this heritage with a weeklong Seafair summer celebration that includes a reenactment of the original landing of the Denny party of explorers in 1851 on Alki Point. West Seattle’s downtown and bustling center of activity, excitement and culture, is The Junction.

Alki Point, West Seattle

The Junction got its name from two streetcar lines which crossed at the junction of California and Alaska streets in 1907, and Downtown West Seattle was born. In just a couple of years, The Junction grew into a destination-worthy business district—with a small town friendliness and neighborhood charm that’s still alive and thriving in it’s 275 area businesses today.

And though the streetcar made its last stop in 1940, The Junction pushed full steam ahead to remain West Seattle’s town center. Buses have taken the place of streetcars and the “walk all ways” foot-friendly pedestrian crossing system was established in 1952—becoming a Junction icon where people from all walks of life can walk all ways, together as neighbors. The Junction is also home to the West Seattle Farmers Market. One of the only year round neighborhood farmers markets.

Operating since 1999, the West Seattle Farmers Market features over 35 Washington State farmers and small food processors. This popular market is “home” to countless enthusiastic shoppers who revel in the freshness, variety, and value available from local farms. Fresh fruit from both sides of the state include berries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apples, and melons.

Awesome Tomatoes

Market tables are also loaded with local organic produce, all kinds of seasonal vegetables, fresh farm cheeses, herbs, mushrooms, free-range chicken and eggs, seafood, pastured organic beef, ciders, honey, preserves, fresh baked bread and pastries, cut flowers, and plant starts.

The flower stalls have the most incredible blooms. These bouquets are only five to ten dollars, and they are huge. A sea of color. There is also live music at the market each week. This week was a reggae musician.

All in all, a great way to spend a few hours on a Sunday. I picked up some smoked salmon, farm cheeses, strawberries, pears, pickles, asparagus, and some yummy apricot jam! Oh, and a big bunch of fresh flowers.