The 4th Annual Care for the Market luncheon, held yesterday at The Paramount Theatre, was a wake-up call for us. When we think of Pike Place Market, we picture ourselves gorging on Beecher's macaroni and cheese. We envision ourselves carrying bundles of ginormous dahlias, sampling oh-my-god-these-are-good peaches, and listening to the funky sounds of street musicians. We don't necessarily think of meals and housing for low-income senior citizens, childcare for those who can't otherwise afford it, and a food bank that gives a quarter of a million bags of groceries to neighbors in need each year. But yesterday, were asked to think of the historical and social importance of the market.

Most of Seattle's residents seem to have moved here within the past decade, so it's easy for us to overlook the fact that a mere thirty years ago, our beloved market, with all its diversity, culture and myriad of social services, was on the brink of extinction. Good prevailed, and the country's oldest continuously operated farmer's market was spared, but the public market's buildings have received no TLC at all in the intervening years. Renovation is needed, and soon.

There are many emotions and livelihoods entwined with the market. So it's no surprise, that in typical Seattle fashion, vigorous debate has ensued over the planned changes. Most of the proposed work, however, is being described as "bare-bones" updates of the seismic, electric and structural variety.

The luncheon's key-note speaker, Tom Douglas--a much more relevant voice than the originally scheduled but apparently unreliable Martha Stewart--shared personal stories of his experiences at the market. Perhaps because he met his wife at a wine shop in the market, he pledged to give $10,000 and convinced us to shell out, frankly, more than we expected to give. We suspect that having contributed to this noble cause, our next visit to the market will feel even better as a result. But the mac and cheese? That can't get any better.

To learn more about the market's impending $80 million makeover, visit pikeplacemarket.org and click on "Proposed Renovation Plans." And perhaps, while you're there, consider a donation to the Market Foundation, because 90% of their funding comes from piroshki-eating, fresh-local-produce-loving citizens like us.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user ~wesa~