Look What's Happening in Salem

Northern Lights Theater Pub

2011-04-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I'm not much of a movie goer. Okay, I'm not much of a movie watcher at all. To me, movies are an event. So when I do have time to see a movie I like the whole movie theater experience. Generally, I enjoy movies at Salem Cinema which is near my home, but last night I decided to go to Northern Lights with a friend. We really wanted to see The King's Speech and it was playing at Northern Lights. And at exactly the right time for our schedule!

I haven't been to Northern Lights in some time. I forget how much I like it. Its a local theater with second run movies for $3. I love that you can order food to be delivered during the movie. I like the happy, helpful staff members. I like the fact that I can get a beer or a glass of wine to drink during the movie.

Maybe its because I'm just not a movie buff, but I can't imagine spending $10 on a movie at the Regal theaters here in town. At Northern Lights I could get a movie, popcorn, AND a soda for that same $10. And I'd be supporting a local business in the process. Sounds like a win/win situation to me.

Oh, also, if you haven't seen The King's Speech, you should go see it right away. Amazing. That is all.

Tell the City of Salem How to Spend Money

2011-04-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

Doesn't that sound fun?

I was at my neighborhood association meeting last night (yes, I do go to these meetings and you'd be surprised all the interesting info you can find out!) and one of our city's fine City Councilor's, Chuck Bennett, was in attendance. He mentioned that the Salem is planning its budget for the next year. Budget Committee meetings don't sound like the most exciting things to me, but I do care that our city is spending money on things I think are important.

So, when Chuck mentioned that citizens are allowed to come speak at the meetings, AND that you can give your opinion at the beginning of the meeting instead of waiting for lots of boring budget talking first, I was very excited. I have lots of ~~random opinions~~ important ideas!

One thing Chuck mentioned was that the Budget Committee is always very impressed when a citizen takes the time to come speak at the meetings because not very many people take this opportunity. Since it is unusual, they really take the citizens opinions seriously.

I think this is a great way to get involved in your local government - without even having to make any long term commitments!

Let's just admit it. Salem is awesome!

****************************

Budget Committee Meetings

Wednesdays 6 PM

(for the next few weeks)

City Council chambers at City Hall

News Flash: Salem Has a University!

2011-04-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's not actually new information. Willamette University claims to be the oldest university west of the Mississippi or something. Its been around for....pretty much ever. Yet, it seems strangely detached from the city it lives in.

There is often consternation in people's voices when they talk about the lack of interaction between Willamette University students and downtown Salem. This detachment seems to be a mystery no one can figure out.

A couple of things happened recently which made me realize maybe there is a solution to this issue:

I visited a military town
I saw a conversation on Twitter about deals for college students

If you've ever been to a military town, and many college towns do the same, you'll notice that military/college deals are prominently advertised.

Why don't Salem businesses cater to the Willamette crowd with special nights, deals, percentages off, etc.

What do you think? Would this actually entice Willamette students to come downtown? What about state workers? Would the same things work for them?

Ethiopian Art at Willamette University

2011-04-07T00:51:00.000-07:00

A little bit of interesting history from the talk I attended at Hallie Ford Museum last week.

Salem Saturday Market is Back!

2011-04-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Don't forget that the Salem Saturday Market is back up and running in its usual location. It is in the parking lot bordered by Union St, Winter St, Summer St, and Marion St. It runs from 9 AM until 3 PM.

Last Saturday I decided to check out the first market of the year. I realized it would be a little sparse and it was. One thing that would be nice is if they moved things closer together when there are less vendors, but I suppose that would probably take a lot more organization and work on the part of the market managers.

Nevertheless, I wandered the market in search of some goodies. There were lots of plants, lots of crafts, and quite a few food booths. I bought a torta at one of the Mexican stands and then wandered until I found Persophone Farms. They had lots of root vegetables and some cabbage and kale. I bought turnips, parsnips, rutabega, potatoes, both orange and red beets, and shallots.

I ended up making a baked root vegetable dish. I washed and cut up the veggies, coated them in olive oil, added sea salt, a little pepper, and some sumac and baked the whole thing for about 30-40 minutes. Yummmmmm! One of my friends, who hails from Australia, said they call that Bubble and Squeak. What a quaint little name.

I really love that I was able to make a healthy, delicious, LOCAL dish even on the first day of the Saturday Market.

Check it out this weekend and see what you can make.

Budget Woes

2011-03-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, it's still happening. That "economic downturn" as they call it. What that means is that we still have to figure out how to tighten our belts a little. A little more.

Tonight, the Salem-Keizer School District will hold a budget meeting at McKay High School at 6 PM. There will be a chance for members of the community to give their input. You will need to sign up before the meeting if you plan to speak before the Budget Committee.

Do you have an opinion about how the Salem-Keizer School District spends its money? Here is your chance to share it with the people who can do something about it.

The La Capitale Bar

2011-03-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

Once in awhile you find a little spot that just makes you feel good about life. The bar at La Capitale is that way for me. It's one of those places where I walk in and, on any given night, I'm likely to run into a few people I know. The food is always good, the company is amusing, and the drinks are always scrump-diddly-umptious!

Twice, last week, I happened to be there. Okay, well, I planned to be there to meet friends, but it just so happened twice in one week, which is not my norm, but it was a nice treat. Both times I ran into multiple people I knew, not including the group I came with. People stopped by to say hello, chatted for a minute and then went on to their own meals and drinks.

Rob (@robdrinkenstein on Twitter) was behind the bar, mixing up his magic drinks. On one evening he even took time from his busy schedule to stop and give our little group of single ladies some advice on love. Love advice AND perfectly mixed martinis? If that's not the epitome of a good bartender, then I don't know what is.

Good drinks, good food, good friends and a place where everybody knows your name? Hmmm. Is this Cheers? If so, it is a little more upscale version with better decor, nicer people, and tastier food.

And you know what's even better? They have Happy Hour now from 4-6 PM! Yes! I love HH. See you at La Cap!

The Annual Weather Post

2011-03-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

Every year, about this time of year, I seem to post something about the weather. It's a tough time for most people in the Willamette Valley as far as weather goes. It's still pretty dark in the evenings and it seems to rain every day. The gray clouds cover the sky almost constantly, and it feels like spring and summer will never arrive.

Yes, this is the season of depression in the valley.

It is also the time I start planning a weekend getaway to somewhere warm and sunny. And I start fantasizing about a nice warm island with plenty of sun and sand and daily swims. In my fantasy there is a perfect little beach hut and a hammock and a never ending supply of fruity beverages and freshly grilled, delicious food.

I live on my little fantasy island quite a bit this time of year. It helps me get through.

Something like this

And it also helps me to remember the perfect Oregon summers, when I sit on the patio chatting with friends until late into the warm nights. Oh yeah, that's why I live here. Sometimes I forget.

A Mural For the Community

2011-02-16T09:18:00.000-08:00

A mural is taking shape in our community. For some time a group of mural activists have been looking for a spot to place a mural. They finally landed a spot on the side of the YMCA building on Cottage and Court Streets.

A few months ago Lynn Takata, an artist who works with community participatory art, started working to create a program that would eventually end in a mosaic mural on the side of the Y. There have already been lots of community workshops and there are more opportunities for everyone in the community to get involved.

Lynn was at our neighborhood meeting last night and showed us some of the rough drafts for the mural. It looks like its going to be very beautiful. So far it looks like it will include trees and a river with lots of detail worked into them so that it is interesting to look at close up as well as from the street.

Here is the website for the project if you would like to get involved.

They are also still looking for donations to help complete the project and will soon have a Paypal button on their site. Until then, you can make donations to the project through the YMCA. Just make sure your donation is designated for the peace mural.

Keizer on the Mind

2011-02-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know its not exactly Salem, but Keizer has been on my mind lately. I grew up there and my parents still live there, so I sort of get the scoop on Keizer periodically. Plus, I have great Twitter friends like @jugbo and @cljungling who keep me updated on life in the little city to our north.

So, here's my concern. Apparently, Keizer city council has approved a site near the I-5 exchange to be a "big box" store. Basically, a Wal-mart, although they won't admit to it. Residents have apparently checked with all the other big box stores who give an emphatic "No." Only Wal-mart gives a non-commital, "No comment."

The citizens apparently came out in force against this at the city council meeting and yet this proposal still passed the council. Not good.

I think the good citizens of Keizer need to rise up and make a loud noise about this. Egyptian style. Get mad. Write letters. Protest at city hall. Walk the streets with signs. Do whatever it takes.

You think this is a Keizer problem? Well, it is. But what happens in Keizer doesn't stay in Keizer. It spills over into Salem. And vice versa, of course. Which is why we need to look out for each other.

So, go Keizerites! Take back your city!

Football and Philosophy

2011-02-06T13:16:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make...I love watching football.

I know that doesn't sound all that crazy as a confession, especially on SuperBowl Sunday, but hey, I've been kind of in the closet about this for quite awhile. I don't come from a family of football lovers, my friends don't generally watch a lot of football, I don't get invited to big football parties, and I rarely go to games.

But, secretly, deep, deep down somewhere in my soul, watching football makes me happy.

I love the tension and the energy and the crowds and the excitement. I love it when a great team comes together and everything just seems to flow like magic. I love the sweat and the pain and the hot hotties wearing tight pants!

But most of all, I love the passion these men bring to the game. They throw themselves into the game so completely. Their bodies fly into a pileup, they jump to catch a pass, they wrestle their way into the end zone for a touchdown. It's like sometimes they forget they are mortal and push their bodies past what seems humanly possible.

I only wish I could throw myself into something as passionately as they play the game.

Okay, so that might sound a little bit deep for football. But there you go. It's Superblog Sunday in Salem, Oregon, and I thought it was the perfect time to come out of the closet as a football lover.

So, now you know. Don't tell anybody, though, okay?

Welcome to the Future, Salem!

2011-02-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

I went to a meeting with some folks from the city last week and heard a presentation from a group University of Oregon communications students. The presentation focused on how to keep neighborhood associations active and relevent in this modern era of technology. I thought it was good information with some good ideas.

Although it would have been nice if the people making the presentation had actually been to a neighborhood meeting, like, ever.

Anyway, the interesting point was that most of the people in the room are in what we'll call the "older generation" and pretty resistant to the ideas in many ways. And yet, we ended up spending the entire 1 1/2 hour meeting talking almost exclusively about this subject and how to make it work, concerns they had, some successes, and creating a smaller group to plan and discuss it. The city even sounds like they will get involved in figuring out how to use social media to communicate with citizens better.

As a blogger, a citizen, and a social media junkie I am very excited about the prospects! What do you think? How could neighborhood associations or the City of Salem use social media to get your attention?

City Politics

2011-01-19T10:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, even small little cities like Salem have city politics.

Of course they do. Every group of people gathered together to form any kind of organization finds that there are dynamics between people and groups that create what we consider "politics". Who's in charge of what? Who holds power in this or that area? Who is in the "in" crowd? Who has the ear of the decision makers? Heck, even families have political dynamics.

Well, there's a new mayor in Salem. Anna Peterson was sworn in as the mayor earlier this month. So that means its time for people to vie for her attention. We also have new city councilors, the other decision makers people like to try to influence. It will be interesting to see how everything turns out.

All I really want out of this whole thing is some twinkle lights downtown. Now I wonder who the decision maker is on that?

Salem Neighborhoods

2011-01-08T14:57:00.000-08:00

So, I had an interesting conversation with Nancy (one of the owners/managers?) at Super Pho in the new downtown location the other day. She mentioned that she has noticed what a close knit group the downtown people are.

Everyone seems to know each other, or at least know of each other, and people talk to each other a lot. The first time I went into the restaurant, for instance, I knew two of the other patrons. We talked about a third person who has an office down the street and had become a regular.

Personally, I love living downtown and it feels a lot like a small town in a lot of ways. I enjoy running into other people I know, chatting with people in downtown businesses, waving to acquaintances on the street. I'm sure its lack of anonymity isn't for everyone, but it makes it feel like home to me.

It's not something I think about a lot until someone mentions it, but it got me wondering. Are the other Salem neighborhoods like this? Is it unique to downtown? Do people from other Salem/Keizer neighborhoods feel the same about their little corner of the city? Tell me your thoughts on this.

Vote for Restaurant of the Year!

2011-01-06T08:47:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. You, as a Salemite get to vote for the best restaurant of the year on eatsalem.com. If you aren't a regular reader of EatSalem and you didn't nominate a restaurant, remember to bookmark the site and nominate next year.

For this year, you'll just have to vote for the restaurants already nomited. Oh, and I'd love to see Salem's only tapas restaurant, Andaluz, win this year (hint, hint)! If you haven't already checked out their little morsels of deliciousness, go visit with a friend, and then vote for it!

A Little Blogging Break

2011-01-05T09:02:00.000-08:00

Sorry folks, I've been on a bit of a holiday hiatus. Let me just explain what has been keeping me so busy.

The holidays!! Yeah, I know, they happen every year, but every time it seems to sneak up on me! This year I was even more surprised by my brother and his family showing up for the Christmas season from overseas. It was great fun to be able to spend some time with my nephews. Oh, and my brother and his wife, of course. :)

I also got a nasty cold and found out that my asthma is coming back. I haven't had an asthma episode since I was a teenager and suddenly it wants to come back and attack me every time I get sick. And that just completely drains me.

So, there you have it. For those of you who were wondering, yes, I'm still alive. And I'll get back to my regular blogging about Salem in no time I'm sure!

Venti's on Sunday Evening

2010-12-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

I seem to be on a theme lately. What is open and when in the downtown area of Salem?

Well, Venti's is open on Sundays. Yesssss! I get really excited about this sometimes because there are so few options on Sundays downtown. What I really hope is that the word is getting out and that people will come down and patronize this excellent establishment.

I met a friend there last night for a little bite to eat at about 7:00 PM. There were 4 tables of 2-4 people upstairs and 5 or 6 people in the basement bar. It was a nice relaxing time. I had a cider and my friend tried a couple of different beers. Since it wasn't busy the bartender on duty, Nick, had time for suggestions and tastings of the beers and cider on tap. We also ordered food which was delicious, as usual.

If you've ever been to Venti's and thought it was just a little too crowded in that cozy basement bar, you should really try it on a Sunday. They are open from 4-10 Sundays and it's just right for a nice, relaxed Sunday evening meal. And there's always PLENTY of parking downtown on Sunday evenings!

Downtown Late at Night? Hope You're Not Hungry.

2010-11-30T10:44:00.000-08:00

You know what's missing in downtown Salem? Well, okay, I know a lot of you will come up with a laundry list as soon as you read that question. But really. You know what is seriously missing? Late night food options. The only thing you can find downtown after about 10 PM is greasy bar food from the fryer.

Now, I have nothing against greasy bar food once in awhile, but sometimes I'd like some other options.

I was downtown with a friend last Friday night and we had a couple drinks and then decided we needed some food. We searched the streets and bars of Salem for someplace with a decent late night menu. Even a sandwich or nachos would have made us happy, but everywhere we went, they told us the kitchen was closed down except for the fryer.

Very frustrating indeed.

I know La Perla is sometimes open late, but by the time we thought of that it was just before closing. We also did not check The Brick, but perhaps someone knows if they have a decent late-night menu.

You know what we really need downtown? Late night food carts! I'd like a grilled cheese cart and a nacho cart, please. And perhaps a good BBQ cart would be nice as well.

How to Add a Picture

2010-11-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

Pedestrian Bridge

This was for a little demo I did. I'll try to add the video walkthrough sometime soon.

Nightmare Factory at the Oregon School for the Deaf

2010-11-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

Yep. I did it. Stood in line for an hour to scare myself silly at Salem's only haunted house. I couldn't actually believe how much longer the lines were this year than any previous year I've been.

Just in case you somehow missed the memo, Extreme Makeover Home Edition recently redid the Nightmare Factory and the boy's dorm at the Oregon School for the Deaf. They even brought Rob Zombie in to help make the place as scary as possible.

I must say that it's pretty impressive. What I can't say is that it is any scarier than before. In fact, I thought it might be a little less scary.

Two reasons I can see for the less-than-scary vibe I got this year: there was too much light throughout much of the haunted house and there was a lot of technology that looked creepy, but wasn't particularly scary. The scariest part, as usual were the students who work the haunted house every year and creep up on you, follow you down corridors, and generally scare your socks off!

There were a lot of really great props and scenes set up throughout the place, but unfortunately, they were so well done and interesting that I was so busy admiring them I forgot to get scared. Hmmm. Maybe that's just a personal problem.

I really wish they would have had a little dimmer lighting in some spots because I think it would have made the mechanical stuff feel a little more real. And a little scarier. Which is the point of a haunted house, right?

Now, don't get me wrong, I would definitely recommend the Nightmare Factory to anyone who wants a great haunted house experience. I got scared, I screamed, my heart beat a little faster, and I clung to my friend's arm for moral support. It's just now that I'm not in it anymore that I can analyze the fear factor involved.

You should definitely go. If for nothing more than to support the students at the Oregon School for the Deaf.

Wine Tasting in the West Hills

2010-10-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

Ah, wine, how I love thee!

For my sister's birthday last weekend she decided she'd like to go on a tour of our local wineries. We've both done some wine tours in Napa and Sonoma wine country down in California, but hadn't really done a nice winery tour around our own famed Willamette Valley wineries.

We did a little internet research ahead of time and found that the tasting rooms just west of Salem are MUCH more reasonably priced for tastings than the ones to the north towards Yamhill and Dundee. Most of the wine tastings we did were in the $5 range for a flight of 5-10 wines. The Yamhill county wineries tended to be somewhere around $10-$15 per flight.

We found about 5 tasting rooms we wanted to try out and mapped out our journey. We hired a friend to drive us and my sister packed a cooler of snacks, which turned out to be the most excellent idea EVER. We got pretty hungry along the way and there is no place to stop for a bite to eat once you are out there in wine country. There are, however, many vineyards and wineries that provide picnic tables, so it worked out well.

We ended up going to Orchard Heights, Cubanisimo, Redhawk, and Stangeland. We really wanted to try Bethel Heights as well because we had heard lots of great stuff about it, but we didn't make it there before they closed. Each winery we visited was unique, but they were all great and had delicious wines, so its difficult for me to pick a favorite. Orchard Heights had some great wines, Cubanisimo had a beautiful tasting room, Redhawk had amazing views from the tasting room counter, and Stangeland was a friendly little spot with a great Rose wine (which I normally don't like).

There were so many other wineries that we didn't make it to, that we all decided we'd have to do it again sometime. I figure by the time we get through all the wineries in the area, they'll have wines from a new year and we'll have to start over and try them all again. Oh well! I think I can handle that just fine.

Culture Shock!

2010-10-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

Have you seen zombies, goblins, and ghosts out and about in the streets of Salem lately? Well, don't worry. Salem hasn't been completely taken over by otherworldly creatures. It's just that some people are excited about Halloween. In fact, so excited that they have started a series of events called "The Thirteen Nights of Halloween."

Culture Shock is a local, grassroots organization that is behind things like Cherry City Derby Girls and Clockworks Cafe. And they are some of those people that get really excited about Halloween.

Personally, the event I'm looking forward to the most is the Friday night Ghost & Underground Tours at the Reed Opera House. Or should I say, UNDER the Reed Opera House. Oooooooohhh. Scary!

Culture Shock has been an integral part of the changes that are occurring the Salem lifestyle. They aren't the only ones looking to make Salem a cooler, more interesting place to live, but they have definitely made a huge contribution to a cooler culture in Salem.

The Torta Report - Part 3

2010-10-10T13:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, folks, I think I found it! The best torta in Salem, Oregon. It is so delicious that I want to go back for dinner. Every night. Seriously.
I ordered the pastor (pork) torta and the flavor in the meat was amazing! So delicious and spicy. Also, the bread was perfectly toasted to a golden brown color. I believe that the ability to get the toast perfectly toasted and crispy might be one of the main keys to making great tortas.
Thanks to VegansNightmare for telling be about this delicious cart. It's called Ricky's Taqueria although it's difficult to see the name even when you're standing at the cart. It's parked on State St. Behind Knecht's Auto Parts which is behind the Walgreen's on State and Lancaster. It's a shiny silver truck and it's pretty visible from the street.
They also have tacos and some pretty delicious looking burritos, but I'll be hard pressed to order anything other than the torta after this first sampling!

Salem Tweetup: Where all the cool kids in Salem are

2010-10-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

Yeah for tweetups!

For those of you who haven't attended a tweetup before, it is basically a meeting of local online folks that started on Twitter (hence, the name). All the coolest folks in Salem show up for these. You should be cool and come too!

Here's the info:
When - Thursday, October 7th at 7 PM (or 6:30 if you are extra hungry!)
Where - La Margarita Express on Chemeketa St, downtown (back room)
Who - All the cool online kids in Salem!

And when I say kids, that's metaphorical. The range of ages is quite impressive. I love the mixture of people who interact in the Salem online world.

For more info on the tweetup and to RSVP (so everyone knows that you, too, are cool!) visit @robmguire on his blog.

Oh, and that drink up there? I think its called a Cazuela. Or something like that. I can never remember exactly after I've had one of these fruity, delicious cocktails. I plan to have one...or two...or...yeah, anyway. See you on Thursday night!

Salem Beer and Cider Festival

2010-09-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

Mmm. Local beer and cider. What could be better on a balmy September evening? I hope this event is an annual one like they're planning.
The third floor of the Mission Mill Museum is a good spot for it, with the windows open to the breezes. It would be great to have it outdoor since its so warm, but at this time of year I understand the need to prepare for inclement weather. One way or the other, it's a fun event, where I have run into all kinds of friends and acquaintances.

Oh, Salem, you're growing up!

The f/stop Fitzgerald - A Gem in Salem

2010-09-23T12:59:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to write this post for the last week, but life got a little busy and time got away from me.

Salem's teeny, tiny, cozy little pub with the great patio had it's one year anniversary this month. Yay for f/stop Fitzgerald! It is a wonderful and welcome addition to Salem's beer and cider scene. They now have eight beer and cider taps and have a great selection of local brews. Plus, its where all the cool kids hang out.

If you've never been to f/stop, you should really make it a goal to get there and check out the laid back, cozy atmosphere with a friend, a group, or just by yourself. People are friendly and welcoming in this little establishment and on most evenings you will find a fire out in the firepit on the patio.

The f/stop is a little off the beaten path, but that's part of what makes it so neat. It is a neighborhood pub, north of downtown, smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood and an industrial area. It's in an old house, so it fits right in and its hardly noticeable unless there are a load of people drinking around the firepit outside.

It's a destination pub, if you don't happen to live in the neighborhood, but, in my oh-so-humble opinion, it hovers right up there at the top of the best places to hang out in Salem, Oregon.

So, check it out. Just don't steal my seat by the firepit!

f/stop hours: Wednesday through Sunday 4:00-Whenever people wander home (11 or 12ish or later if its busy)
Location: 335 Grove St NE Salem, OR 97301

Car Washes and Chocolate Surprises

2010-09-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

Ladies Night isn't just for drinks anymore. Now, at the Blue Elephant Car Wash in West Salem, you can get a car wash discount on Tuesdays, just for being a lady! (I don't know what requirements they actually have to be considered a "lady").

I had seen the advertisement for their Tuesday Ladies Special, so I waited patiently, letting my car get dirtier and dirtier. Then after work today I swung by to get my car washed and lo and behold, I got $2 off, PLUS a piece of dark chocolate with almonds. Seriously, I don't know why, but that little piece of chocolate totally made my day. It's the little things in life that bring me joy, I guess.

My Go-to Places

2010-08-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

What are your go-to places for dinner/drinks in Salem? When a friend asked for happy hour ideas the other day, the first three places I thought of were La Capitale, Venti's, and Boon's. Those are kind of my go-to places, I guess. I never really thought about it before, but I started to wonder what made those my go-to spots. All I really know is that I feel happy and comfortable in each of those places. Of course there are many other spots I love around town - f/stop Fitzgerald, Pete's Place, Sushi Kyo, La Margarita Express, Thai Beer, Vietnam Restaurant, etc, etc.

But when put on the spot, my first three spots were La Cap, Venti's, and Boon's. And I know I'm not the only one who loves these places. Tell me, friends and Salemites, why do I love them so much?

By the way, we ended up at Venti's, drinking Anthem's Cherry Cider. OMG. Just try it. That's all I can say.

Camping Trip to the San Juan Islands

2010-08-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

So you want an island vacation, but you don't want to buy plane tickets? Here's an idea. Drive up to the San Juan's off the coast of Washington and have yourself a perfect island vacation. Okay, so it isn't Hawaii or Fiji or anything tropical, but it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It actually reminded me a lot of Scandinavian landscape in countries like Norway and Finland.

I just happened to pick a weekend that had absolutely gorgeous weather! I'm pretty sure it was up in the high 80's most of the time we were there. Being so far north, and on the water, it doesn't always get that warm.

We camped at Odlin County Park on Lopez island which is right on the beach and was perfect for watching the sunset, the meteor showers, and just chilling. It is a primitive campsite with pit toilets and water, but the friendly little town of Lopez Village was only 3 miles away and supplied public showers in the park in town. It was so nice to be able to get clean after a day of hiking and exploring in the warm sun!

One of my favorite parts of the Lopez Village was a bakery called Holly B's. While we were waiting for the shower we'd head over for some coffee and a bakery item and sit on the porch with the other tourists and locals. We also checked out the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning and learned a little about the island and its inhabitants (lovely, quirky people).

Inter-island ferries were free to walk on, so we made a couple of trips to Friday Harbor to eat dinner and take in the sights. The marina there is beautiful and there are lots of restaurants and bars along the waterfront to have a beer or a bite to eat and watch the world go by.

I would definitely recommend a road trip up to the San Juan's. It takes about 5 hours to get to Anacortes, WA where you pick up the ferry and if you're lucky you won't have to wait 6 hours for the late ferry like we did! Be advised, ferries run on island time and are often full, late, or otherwise inconvenient to modern timetables. But totally worth it!

The Torta Report 2

2010-08-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

So far this Torta from Jr's Taqueria on Fairgrounds Rd has the tastiest tortas! I got the carne asada with everything on it. The "everything" includes tomato, lettuce, onion, avocado, and jalepenos. The bread was toasted but could have been toasted a bit more for a crispier texture, in my opinion. All in all I would eat a torta here again... except I have so many other places to try!
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Support Salem Cinema

2010-08-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

All right folks, by now many of you have heard that Salem Cinema (and theaters in general) are having a hard time staying in business. Personally, I love being able to see an array of films for a reasonable price right in my little ol' hometown of Salem. I would like to continue doing so. With that in mind, I'm organizing a little Support Salem Cinema event or two. The local Twitter gang has been chatting about times and dates that might work for the most people. Obviously, we can't fit everyone's schedule, but it looks like the most popular times are this Thursday, August 5th, and next Tuesday the 10th (this date has the most votes so far). Here is what I'd like to propose:

Two Salem Cinema support groups. One Thursday for anyone who is available on short notice, and one next Tuesday to give you a week to prepare. I know this is quite a radical suggestion, but I think it might work. :) You can come to one or both nights. Doesn't hurt to support them twice!

Details

Meet at Salem Cinema at 7 PM for snacks and socializing
Pick a movie (There are 3 that start at 7:45)
Watch your movie
Discuss with friends afterwards at Boon's if you wish (optional, but always fun!)

Leave a comment below to RSVP. Hope to see you all at one of these nights!

P.S. They have some deals going on. Check the website before you go so you don't miss out. Go to http://www.salemcinema.com/index.html or click on the image at the top.

The Torta Report

2010-07-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

I recently had one of the best sandwiches of my life in a little hole-in-the-wall in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico called Lupita's. Since I've come home I have decided to start a search for something as delightful as the one from Lupita's.

Here is the first installment of my torta search.

I'm not sure what the official name of this taco cart is, but it is located on Portland Rd in the parking lot of an old gas station/auto shop just across from the bingo hall. It is a silver truck that says Burritos Y Tacos across the top. It sits back off the road under some shade trees and usually has a barbeque smoking out front.
The torta was not the best in my life, but it wasn't bad. I like more fresh veggies like tomato, onion, and avocado on mine and this one was mainly pork and jalepenos. It was definitely spicy and flavorful, but I think I will continue my search.

Keep your eyes peeled for more torta reports soon!

I also had a yummy chicken taco which doesn't look like much, but had great flavor.

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How to Beat the Heat In and Around Salem

2010-07-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

For the most part, Summer in Salem, Oregon is just about perfect. Warm days, cool nights, little humidity, and a few bugs. But then every once in awhile we get a "heat wave", as Oregonians call days in the 90-100 degree range. The reason it really feels like a heat wave is because almost no one has air conditioning since its really more of a luxury than a necessity around here. Since I've been surviving Oregon "heat waves" for my entire life, I thought I'd share some of the local secrets to staying sane in the heat.

First of all, there's the window/door air-conditioning trick. Open all the windows and doors early in the morning with the fans blowing the cool air in, then close them up quickly when the temp outside starts to rise above the temp inside the house. My mother is an expert at this, standing in the middle of the doorway one arm held outside and the other inside to test the temperatures. :) Then make sure you keep all your windows closed and blinds and curtains closed until the temp drops in the evening again.
If you have a basement, move your mattress down there and sleep in it on the hottest days. My entire family and an assortment of friends would have slumber parties in our basement on the days that just wouldn't cool down.
Go to the beach or up to Detroit Lake. Both the mountains and the beaches can be 20-30 degrees cooler than the valley. So pack a cooler and head out for the day, just remember you won't be the only one, so expect traffic.
Go shopping. The one place that is always air conditioned is the mall.
Go to a movie. Pick a long one and make sure its about mid-afternoon so you miss the worst of the heat. (The hottest part of the day in these parts is usually between 4-6 pm).
Make friends with people who have pools (pretty uncommon around Salem) or join one of the community pool clubs. I know there are a couple in Keizer, one in West Salem, one out south and I'm sure lots of others. They can be pretty spendy, but non-members can sign up for lessons which are MUCH cheaper. You don't get full access, but you can stay cool for awhile.
Head over to one of the splash fountains around Salem. The largest fountains are at Riverfront Park and River Road Park. There are smaller splash fountains at Fairmont, Northgate, Wes Bennett, West Salem and Englewood neighborhood parks.
If all else fails, take a cool shower and then sit in front of a fan. Repeat as needed.

Have fun, enjoy summer, and be safe. And don't forget to hydrate!

Loving Salem

2010-07-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

It's not always easy to do, to love your hometown. When you know it inside and out and can see all its flaws its often easier to criticize and complain than it is to love. Last night, though, was one of those nights that reminded me of my great love for this quirky little place.

I met with two retired coworkers/mentors for happy hour at the Wild Pear. We sat outside, enjoying the fine weather, catching up on our summer escapades, and just enjoying each other's company. Then we wandered over to Venti's for a glass of local cider and two of us stayed and ended up spending hours sitting on the sidewalk, talking, meeting people that I'd seen around town but never talked to, people watching, and enjoying summer.

We split up around 9, but I still wasn't quite ready to go home because the weather was so perfect for walking around, so I ended up stopping by Clockworks for a little bit of the open mic night and heard some GREAT guitar music.

Then, as I wandered along the streets, I ran into some acquaintances sitting outside at Brown's Towne who asked me to sit down and quickly moved from acquaintances to friends.

I finally wandered home around 11:30 and fell into bed. Happy.

Lady Who Lunches - My Summer Persona

2010-07-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

During the school year, I rarely have to time to go out to lunch because I just have 30 minutes between classes in which to eat, go to the bathroom, etc. Ah, the life of a teacher. So, come summertime, I like to catch up on lunches with friends.

This summer I am really living it up, trying out different restaurants with other ladies who lunch. A true "Lady Who Lunches" meal consists of a long, leisurely summer lunch at an outdoor table with a cocktail in hand. But a picnic at the park with takeout from a deli works too. Or brunch with family members. Or a happy hour drink and snack with coworkers. Or a sampling of food from the farmer's market all by myself.

As you can see, I'm pretty easy. That's me, Lady Who Lunches.

Oregon Summer

2010-07-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

What I love about summer in Oregon is the perfect outdoor weather! I also love the fact that downtown Salem is getting more and more outdoor seating. I've noticed that some of the restaurants that used to have only 2 or 3 outside tables now have 4 or 5. I'm sure this is due, in part, to the fact that the City of Salem has lowered the price on licensing outside tables. I hope the other part is that business owners are noticing more patrons out and about downtown and want to cater to them.
This is a picture of my Basil Rum Runner at La Capitale. Yum!
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The World Beat Festival

2010-06-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

This is me dancing the Toshi Toshi at the World Beat. I have no idea how that is actually spelled, but the Toshi Toshi is a Bhutanese guest dance where everyone dances in a big circle. Its simple to learn and it was great fun to see how many people participated.

I must say I was really impressed with the number of performances throughout the day. And the quality! I had no idea we had so much international talent around here. One of my favorite groups was the dance troupe called Paradise of Samoa. They have found a great way to keep young people interested in their island heritage. The dancers ranged from little ones who were probably about kindergarten age, all the way to adults. Not only was it fun to watch them dance dances from around the pacific islands, but it also looked like they had a lot of fun doing it.

The music choices were also quite good and there were concerts in the amphitheater throughout the day and into the evening, including fire dancing at the end of the night. The amphitheater was a popular spot at the festival and I would say there were at least two to three thousand people in the amphitheater during the last couple of performances.

Now, this makes me wonder: why don't we have concerts at the Riverfront Amphitheater throughout the summer? Its a beautiful location for an outdoor amphitheater - on the river with views of the setting sun. Why aren't we, as Salemites, taking advantage of this? I think its about time to use that amphitheater for a summer concert series. What say you, people of Salem?

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Burlesque!

2010-06-21T15:12:00.000-07:00

I went to see the Can Cannibals at The Space the other night! Oh my goodness! Burlesque is so much fun. I think we should have more of it around here. Anyone want to make some costumes and start up a burlesque troop?? Maybe it was just that these ladies seemed to be having so much fun, everyone just wanted to join in.

I Discovered a New Spice!

2010-06-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, I didn't really discover it like Einstein discovered the theory of relativity. I discovered it more like Columbus discovered the new world; lots of people already know about it, but its the first time I've ever seen it.

Sumac is my new favorite spice. I picked it up at the new Downtown Market and Deli on Liberty. I noticed a giant bag of it and thought it must be really popular if it was sold in such large quantities. When I asked the proprietors about it, they enthusiastically explained that it was a spice that could be added to falafel, salads, meats and almost anything. So I decided to pick up a small bag of it and try it out. I got about a cup or so for $2.50 and took it home to try.

It's amazing! I'm serious. It has a fresh, lemony flavor without the sour citrus taste. I've added it to my chicken, sauteed onions with it, and yesterday I sprinkled it on zucchini and put it on the grill. My friends couldn't get enough of the zucchini!

It's actually a pretty mild flavor and just adds a fresh citrus taste to things. It is a pretty dark red/brown color and makes a nice garnish as well as adding flavor.

I'm in the Clear!

2010-05-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

I am very excited! I got internet at home yesterday. Thanks to Clear. I'm pretty happy with the experience so far, although I've only had it one day.

Here's how it happened. I've been thinking about getting Clear for awhile, because I don't have cable at home or a home phone anyway, and with Qwest and Comcast you have to wait for someone to come over and set you up with the service. So, I walked down to the Salem Center mall and talked to the lady at the Clear booth. She was easy to work with and answered all my questions. She checked to see what kind of signal I would get at my house and said it was better than the one she has in her booth. I looked over the packages and decided on the $30 per month deal, which is their cheapest package. I paid for my first month, she gave me the box and I walked home with it. This took all of about 20 minutes.

Later in the evening, I set up my new internet. It took all of about 10 minutes including opening the package and finding a plug in, which was probably the hardest part at my house. I was pretty happy with the ease of setup and the fact that I get a really strong signal. Those were the two things I was worried about going in.

So, if you need internet in the next 30 minutes or so, Clear is the way to go.

If you are thinking about going with Clear here are a few things to keep in mind:

They require a debit or credit card for billing and pull it directly out of your account.
The home system is a modem but is not wireless within your house unless you buy a wireless modem to go with it.
You can check the service at your address on their website before you sign up.
You can choose month-to-month or a 2 year contract (which waives the $35 activation fee).
If you move, you can take the service with you. If you don't get service where you move, you can get out of the contract, if you chose the contract route.

Andaluz - Tapas and Sangria in Salem

2010-05-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

We finally (almost) have a tapas place is Salem! It's been a long time coming in my opinion. Andaluz is located on high street between La Capitale and the Elsinore. It's the new baby of David Rosales, the chef and owner of La Cap. I was invited to a test night on Friday evening and I think it might have been one of the most delicious nights of my life. I can't wait until they are fully staffed and can open for real.

I was much too busy enjoying my food to take pictures, but fortunately Will Bragg was there to capture the moment. Here is a link to his artistic perception of the night.

Really Salem? Really?

2010-05-12T12:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I usually try to be pretty upbeat about Salem and all that is available here in our little city, but the last few days I've been feeling a little negative about life and people and everything.

So here goes.

Really? First y'all are scared of the pitfalls of backyard chickens and now you can't stand to have music after 10 pm? I listen to the cars and trucks (yes, the big semi trucks with their grating brakes and all!) every night, all night as they pass my house on the city street that just also happens to be a state highway. I listen to sirens, trains, my neighbors vacuuming at odd hours. I hear crazy people yelling at themselves, people yelling at each other, and people yelling into cell phones as they pass my window. I hear dump trucks and street sweepers. I hear cars in need of new mufflers and motorcycles that don't have mufflers. I hear it all. All hours of the day and the night. Why? Because I CHOOSE TO LIVE IN A CITY!

That's my choice. I could live in the quiet country. I could live out in the suburbs where all I would hear was dogs barking. I could live in a small village where everyone slept on the same schedule. But, I want to be close to things, have the convenience of being central, and be in walking distance of almost everything I need. You don't get lots of people in a small area AND no noise. Sorry.

I would dearly love to hear some loud music late at night instead of the trucks outside my house.

BINGO!

2010-05-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

Confession: I secretly love playing bingo.

So now that my secret is out, I guess I should explain my bingo love a little. It all started years ago when I was living in Dayton, Ohio. Now, I don't know if you've ever been to Ohio, but there isn't a lot to do there other than watch football, drink Miller Lite, and...you guessed it...play bingo! Okay, there were a couple other things to do, but not a lot. So, a friend invited me to bingo and I went. And I had fun. And then I invited my other friends, and before long we had a little ladies night at the bingo hall going on. We brought snacks, chatted, people watched, caught up on gossip, made up new gossip...and played bingo. Sometimes I miss those days, so I gather up my friends and neighbors and rally the troops for a little bingo therapy!

Saturday night was a bingo kind of night for me. So the friends I had convinced to play with me all met up over at the Boys and Girls Club Bingo on Portland Road. We went to the Hoot Owl session which doesn't start until 11:30 pm. That's right, we really lived it up! Late night bingo, YAY!

No, I didn't win anything. Everyone always asks. Its not about winning. Its about the rituals of bingo. The friends gathered round, the bingo callers silly jokes, daubing the numbers and the anticipation of ALMOST winning.

Don't worry, I'm not going to become a crazy bingo lady with lucky tokens and a personalized bingo bag or anything. Well, at least not until I'm an old lady. :) But it is a fun change of pace for a night out.

Anybody in Salem Love Asian Food?

2010-05-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

I do, I do! And because of this, I was recently featured in a local Salem blog that I admire very much, The Get Real Estate Blog. Here's the link to my list of great places to eat a diversity of Asian foods in Salem.

There's a Firepit at f/stop Fitzgerald

2010-05-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

I smell like a campfire. I spent Saturday evening at f/stop Fitzgerald on the corner of Liberty and Grove. If you've ever driven by there on a weekend night, you might notice what looks like a party in someone's yard. The f/stop is built in the living/dining/kitchen area of an old house. The rest of the house is used for other businesses. It is quaint and cozy with great decor and the best patio area EVER! They are open Thursday thru Sunday and pretty much every night they are open they have a fire going on the patio and friendly people sitting around drinking great beer. Oh yes, have you heard of the new brewery in town that's winning all kinds of awards? Gilgamesh? Well, f/stop has it on tap. So, I spent the evening with friends around the campfire and now I keep finding things that smell like it. My purse still smells, the jacket I tried to wear this morning will need to be washed, and once in awhile I still smell it in my hair. And I swear I wash my hair!

Beautiful Buildings in Salem, Oregon

2010-04-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

I was walking in downtown Salem last night, admiring the twilight sky and the spring green trees when I started to notice something. Little ol' Salem has some beautiful buildings if you take the time to look up at the rooflines. Down here on the ground, they can look just as ordinary as the brick building next to it. But look up...and see the real beauty of our town. We may not have skyscrapers, but we have quite a skyline anyway.

Here's one example:

The Elsinore Theater

From: http://salemphotodiary.blogspot.com/

In Honor of Earth Day

2010-04-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

I have decided to celebrate Earth Day 2010 by investing in outdoor solar lights for my container garden. When I say "invest," I mean picking up five solar lights from Target for $3 each and planting them in my containers with my other flowers. I feel like it is a very good investment and should last for years. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly they get recharged and how twinkly they are in the yard.

Dirt and Flower Day at Fred Meyer

2010-04-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

The Fred Meyer flower sale (where they fill up your pots with dirt for FREE!!) is happening on Saturday, so all you container gardeners, get out there and get your dirt! Maybe I'll see you there. My neighbor is making me get up and start gardening at 7 AM!

Spring Break, Part 2

2010-03-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

Spring Break was just all around a good week for me. I felt productive, but I also got in a lot of fun and socializing. I finished my taxes and dropped state taxes off at the Revenue office downtown, saving myself a stamp. I dropped off a huge bag of stuff at Goodwill, and sold some books at The Book Bin, resulting in a nice little credit for future book buying. I spent a lovely, rainy evening at f/stop Fitzgerald playing trivia and drinking Wandering Aengus cider with friends.

Then I took off to Seattle for a weekend getaway with some girlfriends. We stayed at the beautiful Alexis Hotel in downtown Seattle right down the street from Pike's Place Market. The weather gods blessed us with beautiful weather and we wandered the market, had lunch at Pike's Brewery, and generally enjoyed the sunny day. In the evening, the four of us girls decided it would be fun to have a few cocktails on the town, so we hailed a taxi and made our way to The Chapel on Capitol Hill for happy hour martinis. We had a great time and ended up at a little pizza joint in Belltown on 1st Ave. I can't for the life of me remember the name of the place (Hmmm. Perhaps one martini too many??), but it was delicious and made a great nightcap slice before we headed back to the hotel.

The First Half of my Salem Staycation

2010-03-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Since I just took a long weekend at the beginning of the month I decided to stay around Salem and vicinity for Spring Break.
My staycation so far: Pub crawl through downtown with friends old and new, Saturday morning walk with my nephew and a cup of coffee at the Beanery, a side trip to Portland for a manicure and dinner at Pambiche (awesome Cuban tapas!), lunch with friends at Sushi Kyo, a night at my personal hotel in Willamina with my good college friend, breakfast at the Casino and whale watching in Depoe Bay, Happy Hour at Boon's with friends, housecleaning which resulted in a giant bag of donations for Goodwill, and today I'm working on taxes.
Whew! I think I need a nap now.

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A Neighborhood Harvest in Salem

2010-03-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

I was contacted recently through the neighborhood association about a new project called Neighborhood Harvest of Salem. I think this sounds so cool!

Basically, people sign up their fruit trees or gardens if they have more than they can harvest, and then volunteers organize a harvest party to pick the fruit. Much of the harvest is donated to Marion-Polk Food Share and the rest is split among the volunteers.

What a great way to have fresh, local fruits and veggies at the food bank! Plus, all those extra cherries on that tree in your backyard can be split among people in the community. And you won't end up with a tummy ache. Win-win, I say.

Look What I Won!

2010-03-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to hear that I won this necklace on the salemites.com contest! I love Jessica's designs and I was excited to get one with our own gold man on it.

Boon's: My Local Bar

2010-03-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

Boon's Treasury on odd little corner of High and Liberty has a lot going for it. It's got the best patio in town, good happy hour, yummy microbrews, and a wood stove for cold evenings.

But there are some other things that make Boon's a great hangout too. I have discovered that they have free Wi-fi and on less busy days, like Monday nights, they are happy to let you sit and work on homework for hours while sipping a beer and munching on some Cajun tots. At the end of a long term, coffee shops can start to feel a little redundant and since Boon's is walking distance from my house, it has become a my new favorite alternative.

And, miracle of miracles, I actually finished my homework before the midnight deadline! I think the beer really helped.

New Decor at Love Love Teriyaki

2010-03-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

Love Love got a makeover! I stopped by the Love Love Teriyaki (near the Fred Meyer North) yesterday and saw that they have new booths. They still have mostly tables and chairs, but now they have added booths along the one wall. It looks really cozy and nice. They also had new menus on the wall behind the counter and a giant flat screen TV scrolling through pictures of their food items. It looks really nice and classy. AND...they still have the same great food. Mmm, I love love me some Love Love!

I would have taken pictures, but I locked my camera in my car along with my keys, so I was more worried about getting that taken care of than my photographic responsibilities. Sorry!

Is Salem Really "So Lame"?

2010-02-25T13:18:00.000-08:00

I took my students on a field trip around downtown Salem last week. It was a beautiful day and we got to walk around and through the streets and alleys, take some pictures, and see what was going on. Afterwards when the students wrote about their little jaunt around town, I noticed something very interesting. Those teens who had grown up in Salem had the "So lame" attitude, while the 4 or 5 students who had recently moved to Salem thought it was a really cool place with pretty buildings, lots to do, and cool shops.

So, where are the kids who live here getting this idea that Salem isn't fun or interesting? Is it just because they know it too well and have grown up around here and don't appreciate it? Or are they hearing it from their parents or older siblings?

Now, I grew up in Salem, and I'm well aware of its issues and shortcomings, but compared to the way it was when I was a teenager, Salem is downright cool. But that's another story and I'll have to save those musings for another post.

An Experiment

2010-02-23T17:26:00.001-08:00

I've decided to try posting something remotely from my BlackBerry by using the mobile technology Blogger offers. You may think this is because I am technologically savvy and am a member of a highly evolved species in the blogosphere. Well, maybe.

But mostly I just don't have internet at home currently and at work they actually want me to do my job ( I know, I know. What are they thinking, right?). I guess I could break down and get internet but that not only requires work, but money.

Just imagine. I would have to call Comcast and set up a time for them to come over. Then I'd have to be here to let them in. I'd have to get a wireless router (because some dimwit installed the outlet next to the front door. Who sits next to the door while surfing the net? Hackers who need a quick exit?). Then I'd have to remember to add the new bill onto my bill pay system AND I'd have to spend all my coffee money on the bill each month.

So there you have it. Mostly this experiment is done out of pure laziness. A little financial consideration, but mostly laziness. Hope it works, but if not I have my plan all lined out above. How handy.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Are YOU in the Know?

2010-02-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

Do you know what's going on around Salem this weekend? Here are a couple that I'm excited about.

Pub Crawl
Downtown Salem
Mardi Gras theme
More info: http://salemdowntown.net/

Rocky Horror Picture Show - Interactive
High Street Cinema (the old Salem Cinema)
Four showings throughout the weekend
More Info: http://www.salemcinema.com/highstreetcinema.html

I'm sure there are plenty of other things to fit all kinds of entertainment needs. Check out the Salem Pipeline site for some more ideas and then go out and have fun, Salem!

Community Events

2010-02-16T13:17:00.000-08:00

There are a couple of things coming up that have gotten a lot of interest from the community. I thought I would pass the information along on this blog in case people hadn't heard about either of these events.

Railroad Quiet Zone Meeting and Demo
The city has started meetings that will try to establish a quiet zone for trains within Salem. Some community members have been working for this for quite awhile, and this is a great step in that direction. There will also be a demonstration of a quieter style whistle for trains that could be a possible solution to a Quiet(er) Zone. If you are interested in a Railroad Quiet Zone for your property values, sleep patterns, etc, please feel free to attend either event. They are open to the public.

Meeting:
Thursday, February 18, 2010
6:30-8:30 PM
Center 50+ (on the corner of Silverton and Portland Rds)

Demo:
Saturday, February 20, 2010
10 AM
Railroad Crossing at D St. near North H.S.
Parking available at the school

Crime Prevention Meeting with Salem Police
This is an open community meeting which will give the public a chance to interact with the police and learn about an online crime statistics site for Salem. There will also be information about how businesses are granted liquor licenses. Unfortunately, this meeting is the same time as the Railroad Quiet Zone meeting.

Meeting:
Thursday, February 18, 2010
6:30 PM
Waldo Middle School (2805 Lansing Ave, off Silverton Rd)

For more info on the Crime Prevention Meeting go to http://www.flashalert.net/news.html?id=1095.

Newport, Yurts, and Beer

2010-02-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

I went over to Newport this weekend to stay in a yurt with my friend at South Beach State Park. The yurt was warm and cozy and I realized I've never actually been to Newport except for a quick visit in the dark a few years ago.

Sunday was beautifully sunny and we spent the day wandering around the old town and chatting with some talkative sea lions. We wandered down to Mo's where I had a crab sandwich special with chowder. I must admit that I don't love Mo's chowder. I did, however, love their crab sandwich. Mmmm.

We also headed up to the Rogue Brewery for a tour and some tastings. It was a really interesting free tour that they do every day at 3 PM. You really should check it out sometime when you're over at the coast.

My First Fondue

2010-02-01T12:52:00.000-08:00

I tried to make fondue this weekend for a party. Well, okay, I actually did make it, but it was quite an adventure. The chocolate fondue turned out great! The cheese fondue...well, it tasted good. Apparently, it's quite difficult to get the consistency right. It was difficult for me anyway.

The first part of my fondue adventure was finding the right cheese. I wanted to try making it from scratch. I tried the Fred Meyer in Keizer, but their cheese selection was sadly lacking, although they did have a fondue mix. Then I headed over to the Roth's in West Salem, and they had not only the correct cheeses for fondue, but they also have chocolate fondue mix in case you don't want to do it from scratch (chocolate was actually really easy though).

I think the problem with my cheese fondue was that it was electric and we lost power for a few minutes in the middle (old houses don't like microwaves!) so it wasn't a consistent heat. Oh well. The good thing is that I have good friends who enjoyed it anyway and we all had a fun time! And that's what really counts.

Wireless at Border's Alarmingly Slow

2010-01-29T09:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, I said it. The wireless at Border's Books on Lancaster is so slow that it would only let me watch about 5 seconds of video and then would buffer for about 2 minutes for the next 5 seconds. It took forever to log into anything other than basic pages and it kept shutting my pages down randomly while I was in the middle of things. This, as you can imagine, is very annoying.

If I were Verizon, I don't think I would be advertising that they were using my wireless service. It doesn't look real good for their service.

A Night at the Cinema

2010-01-27T11:08:00.000-08:00

There is just something really fun about Salem Cinema. I love the new building, although I really liked the quirky, old building on High Street as well. I love that the location is close to my home, and that brewer's yeast is an optional add on to your popcorn. Most of all though, I love the quirky movie selections.

I went to see Young Victoria this week. This is probably one of the least quirky movies I've seen at the Cinema. It was very well done though, and a great period piece which nicely portrayed the vulnerability and strength of a young queen. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to others. Especially if you get a chance to see it at Salem Cinema.

We went on a Monday evening. There were about 10 people in the theater, but it still felt cozy. My friend got some popcorn with the added brewer's yeast. I also picked up some Cinebucks, aka Salem Cinema gift certificates, as a birthday present for a friend while I was there. They only come in $5 increments, so I got two. I figured it would cover a movie and a small snack. Prices are definitely lower than at big business movies theaters, so you can actually afford to watch a movies AND eat a snack.

One thing I noticed about the previews was that they were absolutely unhelpful. I had read reviews on a couple of the movies previewed and I still couldn't figure out what the previews had to do with the story. The previews seemed to consist of random images from from movie without any real point. So, save yourself some energy and just check out the reviews on the website.

Sushi Kyo South Salem

2010-01-21T15:35:00.000-08:00

So I tried out the Sushi Kyo out in south Salem this last weekend with my group of sushi friends. We try to get together every few weeks for some sushi and some catching up. We usually meet at Sushi Kyo off Lancaster, although we've tried a couple others in town. There are usually four or five of us and sometimes it gets a little crowded at the booth. Not only that, but its hard to chat when you you're lined up along a conveyor belt, so we usually sit around and wait for a booth to open up.

I was pleasantly surprised to find many more booths at the south location, and not only that, but they are bigger booths, so you aren't crowded into them like ~~fillers in a sushi roll~~ sardines. Just be aware that Sushi Kyo is a popular place and there could definitely be a wait at either location.

Coming Home Safely

2010-01-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to be able to share this video about my friends who were in Haiti during the earthquake. There were a few pretty scary hours there. They are coming in sometime late tonight or early tomorrow morning to spend some time with family in the Dalles.

Advertising Me

2010-01-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

I put this together for a class and thought I'd share it with everyone because it made me laugh. It's a little silly, a little sarcastic, and pretty much me.

Information in this advertisement is not necessarily true

Heads Up, Oh Lovely Readers!

2010-01-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

As some of you are aware, I am working on my Master's Degree at Western Oregon University. I'm taking a class on blogging, so I'll probably be posting some things that are slightly off topic, but that I hope you find interesting. I'll also be posting some of it over here on another blog I use for school stuff. That is where you will find my post for today about social media.

A Year and a Half of Blogging in Salem

2010-01-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

I just realized that I started this, my very first blog, 1 1/2 years ago. A year and a half and 122 posts later I wonder what I have learned about blogging. How has it affected my life? What are my views on blogging now?

I started this blog to learn about blogging and that has definitely happened. I had no idea how blogging would change my life. Okay, I know that sounds corny. And it really hasn't changed all that much. My family is still my family, although now when they haven't seen me for awhile they can check my blog to see what's keeping me busy. My job is still the same although I now use blogging with my students on a daily basis to teach writing literacy skills. My friends are still the same, except for the great new group of blogging friends that I have happy hour with on a weekly basis. My home is still the same except now I don't have TV because I spend most of my allotted time for TV dramas online reading dramatic blogs. I'm still working on my Master's, but since I got interested in blogging I decided to do a degree in Information Technology.

Really, blogging has barely touched my life.

I thought blogging would be a fun little summer project that would give me the info I needed to teach it to my students. What I didn't realize is that blogging is a community like any other. You can either be actively involved in the community, or you can stand on the sidelines. Being involved means creating and regularly updating a blog that has meaning to you and others. It means creating content that will give your readers information, food for thought, or just plain entertain them. It means that you will have some influence, however minor, in the path that your blogging community takes as it morphs with time.

Standing on the sidelines might not sound important, but in blogging it means everything. No blogger wants to fling their words out into the world and just to have them sit there...unread. It's a fate worse than death. The point of blogging is communication. Every blogger wants readers. And ultimately, comments. Which is where the "sidelines" gets a little complicated. As a reader, you can comment and get involved in the blogging world, without ever having a blog of your own. It becomes a conversation among a group of people that care about the same things. And even in our digital, technologized (Yes, I just made that up. I'm a blogger. I can do that if I want!) world, what we all really want is to connect with other human beings.

Blogging is just another way to connect with people outside your normal environment. Blogging is like the Elks Club of the 21st century.

Salem Traffic

2010-01-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

So, apparently I am spoiled. I live and work downtown within about a three block area and so I usually walk to work. Once in awhile if I have to be somewhere for a meeting or appointment right after work, I drive to work and leave straight from there. That's what happened yesterday and it reminded me of how much I hate rush hour traffic.

I headed from downtown over to Lancaster at about 3:30, so traffic wasn't too bad. I made it in plenty of time even with a stop at Taco Time (which I hadn't been to in YEARS and forgot how totally unhealthy, but absolutely delicious their options were!). Oh, but the traffic at 5:15 when I finished my meeting?? Not good. Not fun. Not in any way.

I had to head to Keizer after the meeting and I think it took me a good half hour. I ended up taking some back roads through residential areas because the traffic was really backed up on the main streets. Good thing I've done a lot of walking and house-hunting in the back streets of Salem so I didn't get lost!

The moral of this story is that commuting sucks. I'm sorry for all of you who have to do it. I'm really happy that I don't usually. I definitely believe in living within walking distance of your workplace. Amen.

Sundays in Downtown Salem

2010-01-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

Sundays in Salem are pretty slow in the downtown core. Coffee shops are mostly open and a few shops open their doors, such as SLAB soap in the Reed Opera House and The Book Bin, but the rest of the town is pretty sadly closed up on Sundays. And it's really too bad because a lot of people end up downtown for coffee and a Sunday paper and I bet many, many of them would like to eat a nice meal for lunch, or do a little shopping.

The one restaurant that is open for sure is La Perla Tapatia on the mezzanine of the Reed Opera House. Now, I didn't really feel like tacos yesterday particularly, but since it was my only choice I went in and had a perfectly fine meal. And was it ever busy! It was more packed than I think I have ever seen it and I stop by quite often.

So restauranteurs in downtown Salem, just a heads up to you all. I would love some more dining options on Sundays. And it doesn't look like I'm the only one downtown who would. Open on Sundays and they will come!

...And More Lights

2009-12-25T09:30:00.001-08:00

These two are on Park between Market and D Streets. It looked like there might be a competition going on on this street. These two won for most decorated.

Yes, that's Santa on a motorcycle. Over to the side there was a snowman on a motorcycle as well.

I should have taken a picture of the side of this house too. The display continued on around the side yard with all kinds of lighted blow-up...things.

Lights...

2009-12-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more light displays to light up your Christmas Day! Merry Christmas!

This one is on a little street just off 17th between Center and State. There's even a story about how this extreme light show came to be on a plaque near the garage. Check it out.
A close up of the impressive display. There were not as many blow-up displays, but there were many, many little lighted...things...all over. Quite the collection.

Lights Galore in Salem, OR

2009-12-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

So here is the latest installment of Christmas lights gone wild:

This is on Commercial St. south, just south of where Liberty and Commercial reconverge. The lights on the law office in the middle of that "V" are pretty wild too. This one though...I mean, a bunny??

And here's another one. Thanks for all the tips on this D St. house. This thing deserves some kind of award!

Oh, and that's just the side yard...

Here's the front, although it was difficult to get it all because there is just so much.

And a little close up of some of the delights in this yard. Sorry I didn't get a close up of the defunct snow globe, but you can get a glimpse of it in the side yard picture.

The First Christmas Light Contestant Is...

2009-12-16T16:43:00.000-08:00

...dedicated to Stephanie. Sorry you won't be able to sleep for all the lights shining in your windows, but thanks for the tips on where to find some "Ah-mazing" displays!

On 24th St. in Salem. There are many other similar displays along this street as well.

Update: Christmas Lights and Other Salem Happenings

2009-12-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

I have begun the delightful journey of immortalizing the Christmas light extravaganzas throughout our fine city. I see that people are eager to help out and so I have some great tips. I already have some of the pictures, but I can't upload them until tonight, so you'll have to check back. Don't worry, it'll be worth it! :)

In other Christmasy news: I'm heading out to the White Christmas sing-along at the Grand Theater on High Street in downtown Salem tomorrow night. Yes!! I love musicals. I may even qualify as a musical geek. I don't know them all, I haven't seen nearly all the famous ones, but I just can't help loving them. I love the fact that people break into song and dance at the oddest moments and everyone acts like its normal. I wish more people in my life were like the audiences at musicals. When I break into song and dance people look at me funny and probably question my sanity. But I do it anyway. Because life should be more like the musicals! So there.

Christmas Light Explosion

2009-12-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, so here's the deal. I am going to take pictures of some of the craziest, most...uh...abundant Christmas light displays that I see around town and post them up here on my blog. I cannot believe some of the stuff I see out there. Let me know if there is an extreme Christmas light display somewhere around town that I just can't miss.

Now, I'm not going for the tasteful, well lit yard with a few decorations. I am looking for the most explosive of decor. The kind that looks like the Christmas decor aisle at Lowe's AND Home Depot exploded on the house or business, because yes, I've seen some doozies at businesses as well.

So keep your eye out for the pics as I post them this week!

The Holidays in Salem

2009-12-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year. Time for bundling up and getting in the Christmas spirit. I must admit. I haven't been doing very well at either one.

Usually I have a Christmas tree by now, but with master's classes, family emergencies, and the general busyness of life, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I did put a red bow with some bells on my front door handle yesterday, thanks to a friend who donated the decor that leftover from a project. That may be about as Christmasy as I get this year.

As for the bundling up...well, I think I finally got into the spirit of that. I mean, I had to right, or I would be an ice cube by now (insert in your mind a cartoon image of me completely surrounded by a block of ice)! I don't really love winter clothes so it always takes me a while to find things I'm comfortable with and get into the layering mode.

I actually really like this time of year. I like the festive decorations. I love it when the wreaths go up on the lightposts downtown. I like to see Christmas trees lit up in stores and in people's windows. I love that people get out and go to parties, go shopping, and get together with family. I like Christmas goodies like fudge and sugar cookies. I don't really understand when people talk about the holiday blues, or the stress of the season. I generally feel pretty good about the holidays, the weather, and the end of the year.

But just wait until January. Now there's a depressing month.

In the meantime, I'll try to keep you all posted on the exciting happenings around Salem during the holidays!

The Grand Old Theaters of Salem

2009-12-02T13:15:00.000-08:00

Salem is blessed with some very beautiful old theaters. In downtown Salem we have both the Grand Theater and the Elsinore Theatre. They are both wonderful places to spend a few hours immersed in the culture of Salem.

The Elsinore has a Classic Film Series which shows on Wednesdays for $5. If you haven't been to one of these films yet, I suggest you get right out and get in line for the next one. The films have been remastered and are shown on the big screen. They even have silent films with organ music in the background! They also have an array of other events on their schedule.

The Grand Theater is home to the Progressive Film Series as well as concerts and other events. Their newest addition to the schedule is a monthly musical film sing-along. I am super excited about this. I know that sounds a little corny, but I can't wait to sing along to my favorite musicals and not have people try to shush me! :)

So, if you're looking for a little culture, or maybe just a little entertainment, in downtown Salem, check out the website schedules for these two cool, old theaters and great events they have going on.

The Land of Sun and Snow

2009-12-01T08:37:00.000-08:00

I went over the mountain to Central Oregon for Thanksgiving. My family rented a place at Eagle Crest and enjoyed a little (or a lot) of turkey and stuffing while relaxing in the cold, sunny weather.

On Wednesday it was so warm and sunny that I was laying out sunbathing on the deck. I felt like a lizard soaking up rays of sun to get me through the cold times. Every morning we would wake up to frosty grass and snowy mountaintops peeking through the trees. Every day at lunchtime we would sit out on the deck enjoying the warm sun. And every night we curled up next to the fire or sat around the table playing board games. I loved knowing that the sun would be back the next day and that I could walk out into the bright sunlight every morning for my morning walk.

I think I'm going to have to make some more treks over the mountain this winter. I don't really mind the rain, but every once in awhile I just need to soak up some bright, snowy sunlight!

Downtown People Watching

2009-11-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite activities in the whole world is people watching. Airports are great places for this, but since there isn't one close by, I usually get my fix downtown. Sunday afternoon I spent a few hours eating lunch, chatting with friends, getting a coffee, browsing the Book Bin, and people watching. And let me tell you, there are people to be watched around here.

One of my favorite places to people watch is at La Perla Tapatia in the Reed Opera House. It is up above the sidewalk level so you get a great view of all the people walking by below, plus you get a view out over the four corners of Liberty and Court Streets. Another great spot is the small Starbucks on the corner of Liberty and Court or the Beanery on Liberty. They both have bar seating that faces the window so you can watch the world go by.

Here are some of the highlights of my people watching on a lazy Sunday afternoon in downtown Salem:

A woman walking two large dogs that looked like they had dreadlocks
A young man hitting on every woman who walked in even though they were clearly out of his league
Three different couples on what looked like first dates
A couple with a baby spending 15 minutes deciding which stroller to use to go to the mall (they ended up carrying the baby).
My old neighbor entering the Book Bin (is this considered stalking if it happens accidentally while people watching??)
A very manly looking man who was walking a teeny-tiny dog wearing a sweater.
An older couple going out to lunch. She was in a wheelchair and he was so sweet and caring I wanted to cry.

Location, location, location

2009-11-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

You know what they say about real estate? It's all about the location. And I guess if that's true then Salem, Oregon is about the best real estate you could buy. Just think about this location.

We are one hour from the Pacific Ocean, sand dunes, beach walking, surfing, storm-watching, whale-watching, clam chowder, fresh fish, and all the rest that goes with the rugged Northwest coastal experience.

We are one hour from the mountains - meaning skiing, snowboarding, snow-shoeing and cabins with fireplaces in the winter. And meaning hiking, camping, mushroom hunting, boating, and all the rest of the mountain activities in the summer.

We are one hour from Portland and Eugene which are both big enough cities to have all the amenities you might need, basically at your fingertips, but without the high cost of living and the traffic problems.

We have access to national forests and state parks. We have a valley overflowing in vineyards and wineries. We have local beer, wine, and cider makers. We have fresh, local produce available nearly year round.

Okay, so we have a little rain. But, that's a small price to pay for a good location. :)

Hello, High St.

2009-11-05T13:04:00.000-08:00

So, I went to DaVinci's for Happy Hour the other day with "the ladies" to whom you'll be introduced at a later date. It was delicious and fun and a great time, but what struck me was how cool that whole High St block is becoming. It used to be just DaVinci's and Fuji Ricetime with the Elsinore to back up their coolness. Now we've got La Capitale on the corner, Capitol Dog (which sells borscht and other delicious central European goodness!), Jonathan's which is looking pretty snazzy from my peeks in the window, Sushi Topia - the sushi train, and Pita Pit. I mean, my goodness, that's enough for dinner every night of the week plus an old time movie on Wednesday at the Elsinore. What a cool little block in an even cooler city. You rock, Salem Oregon!

Shopping for a Halloween Costume

2009-10-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

I hate to go out and buy off the rack (or out of a bag) Halloween costumes because I feel like its a waste of money if I'm never going to use it again. So, I ended up at the Salem Center Mall looking for something that would make me look like a 1920's mobster. I've already got the pin-striped suit look, I really just needed the accessories.

And I found just what I was looking for at JC Penney.

That place constantly amazes me with the deals I find. I always think of that store as an "old lady's" store, but it's got some pretty cool stuff. I found the perfect fedora for my costume and another member of the Salem Halloween Mafia (a.k.a. the friends I lured into my costume idea) found a pinstripe suit on clearance. My fedora may have been $20, but it is WAY cooler than the $10 fedoras at the costume store that I would never wear again. So, in cost-per-wear, I got a steal.

You can check out my costume at the Pub Crawl downtown this very night in Salem, Oregon! :)

Salem's Best Weekend Ever!

2009-10-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, maybe that's a little overstated, but seriously, I think there is something for everyone this weekend. I know that I have a full weekend of totally awesome things going on. And something strange is starting to happen...

My friends from Portland are starting to ask if they can come down and hang out with me in Salem! What?! This is definitely a new development. I know of at least two people who are coming in from Portland this weekend for the Pub Crawl, one for a Halloween party and lots more Salemites who have turned down invitations from Portland parties and events to hang out and be a part of the events happening in Salem this weekend.

Now that's what I'm talking about! Salem's getting cool.

Here are a few options of things to do this weekend:

Salem Creative Network Pub Crawl (starts Friday at 6 at Grand Vines)
Rocky Horror Picture Show at High Street Cinema (7 and 10 pm showings)
Trick-or-Treating all over town
Halloween Costume party at Venti's (and I'm sure at most other bars downtown)
Multiple pumpkin patches with activities -like EZ Orchards and Fordyce Farms
A pumpkin-smashing event at Fordyce Farms on Sunday
Plus all the other cool things Salem has to offer on a regular basis!

So get out and enjoy!

So Much Happening in Salem

2009-10-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

There is so much happening in Salem these days that I don't even have time to blog! That's how happening this place is becoming. So, let's go over my agenda items for the next couple of weeks:

A Pampered Chef party

A wedding reception

Two birthday celebrations

Master's classes and homework

Training for work

Biggest Loser

Pub Crawl (which is drawing people from Portland now!)

Halloween get-together where we will watch Young Frankenstein (I've never seen it!)

Day of the Dead celebration at the Capitol Mall

Meetings about Minto Brown Park replantings

Meeting with Neighborhood Association board

Meeting with Salem Creative Network

Oh, and I have to work my full-time job somewhere in there. Aaaaaahhhhh. So much to do, so little time.

Sick in Salem

2009-10-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

Well, folks! Looks like it's that time of year again. Time for sickness all around. I seem to get one bad cold about this time of year and then (hopefully) I stay well for most of the rest of winter. We'll see how it goes this year since they're promising a bad bout of the flu this season.

I got my yearly cold on Sunday. It came on strong Sunday night and had me down for a couple days. I decided, out of regard for my coworkers, to take off two days of work so I didn't infect them. Wasn't that nice of me?? :)

I went out Sunday afternoon as I felt the bug coming on and picked up some food from Vietnam Restaurant on Center Street. I got some chicken Pho, since I hear chicken soup is good for a cold, and I picked up my favorite dish, #14 Grilled Pork and Shrimp Bun salad just for good measure. I didn't really have much food at home and I knew I needed some good, comforting food. And it was good. And it was comforting.

The other thing I did while sick was run over to the Grocery Outlet for some avocados (surprisingly delicious!) and chips because of my current obsession with guacamole. It's like I have some kind of avocado deficiency which is causing a serious craving! While I was there, I picked up some frozen beef, marinated in tequila and lime and made a delicious crockpot meal with veggies and beef. Normally, I'm not that hungry when I'm sick, and even though I wasn't that hungry during this one, I really felt like cooking and eating comfort food.

It's a good thing I have so many good food options close by. There's nothing like some good comfort food when you're feeling low.

Lauren Sheehan Concert at The Grand Theater

2009-10-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

So, I don't know about you all, but I don't howl like a werewolf often enough, but I got a good start on my howling practice Friday night at The Grand Theater. The Grand is on High St. in downtown Salem. It is a really great old building across from the county courthouse with a beautiful, old theater on the street level.

The theater has great acoustics as Lauren pointed out more than once during the performance. Partly because of it's great acoustics which allowed her to hear the audience, and partly because of her laid-back style, the concert felt more like hanging out at a friend's house - a particularly musically talented friend that is. She interacted with the audience throughout the night, telling stories, asking us to sing along, whistle, and yes, even howl like werewolves (okay, so she sang a song about a werewolf, because I know you are all wondering exactly what kind of music includes howling).

Lauren and her musical partner, Greg Clark, made the stringed instruments they played just come alive. The music was a combination of blues, bluegrass, folk, country and maybe a little bit of gospel thrown in just to round it out. I think "American Roots" music covers it very well. It sounds like the kind of music that people used to play and sing-along to all across this country before radio and TV and MP3's took over. There is something really amazing about feeling like you've been taken back to another era - back to a toe-tapping, banjo-playing, dancing-in-the-kitchen kind of era.

Although this music seems to defy explanation, the one thing I can say is that it's the kind of music that just makes you smile. And sometimes...that's just what a body needs. :)

The School Calendar

2009-10-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

So, guess what happens when there's an inservice day at Salem-Keizer Public Schools? Teachers go out to lunch. Pretty much all of them. Inservice and grading days are the only days of the school year when there is enough time to get out of the building and enjoy lunch with colleagues. It feels almost like playing hooky.

So, guess what happens when about about 3000 school employees descend on the restaurants of Salem for lunch on an inservice day? Yeah...a lot of busy restauraunts. Which is good for the restaurants except that they often aren't ready for an influx of extra customers and don't have the staffing for it.

The smart restaurants, and the ones located near schools, usually get a hold of the school calendar and plan extra staffing for the lunch rush. You can tell which restaurants haven't figured it out yet by their harried and bewildered looks. :)

A word to Salem restaurants out there: get a school calendar. This year's is available here.

What's Happening On North Broadway

2009-10-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

So as I drove down North Broadway a couple days ago, I noticed a few things I thought I should share. Apparently, I haven't been down there in awhile. Lots of stuff was happening and it looked like quite the lively neighborhood. Here's the overview:

Christo's is now open on Mondays
Subway has their sign up, but I couldn't see if they were open.
The original Willamette Noodle was working on something. There was stuff all over the sidewalks and it looked like someone was cleaning inside. I don't know what the plan is for that spot, but something was starting to happen, that's for sure.
The Little Gypsy is all ready for Halloween, with their costumes hanging up outside for all to admire. Even the Can of Spam costume! Awesome!
Maynard's Bakery (who plans to have video poker! What???) looked like it had lots of furnishings and was ready to open. Have they opened? What are they waiting for?

So, that's what's happening on North Broadway (AKA NoBro) as far as I can tell. I obviously don't have lots of info about the ins and outs over there, so if anyone else has the scoop, please comment and let me know. Thanks!

Monmouth - Salem's Odd Little Neighbor

2009-10-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I don't want to offend any Monmouthonians (Monmouthites? Monmouthers?), but it is an odd town. And I don't mean that in a bad way. It's just quirky. Every town has it's little quirks and Monmouth is full of them.

I started my Master's program over at Western Oregon University this summer and started up again this week for fall term. I did my undergrad there as well, so it's really fun to be back and I really do love being in Monmouth. Like I said, it's odd. Well, I happen to like odd.

You've got this town that has been dry for forever and a day and only just recently started allowing beer and wine to be sold within the town limits. It's got a University in the town, but a very small one. It's got a few restaurants most of which are some type of asian cuisine or fast food. A good half of the town is made up of the campus and a large portion of the rest of it is rental homes for students. It's just a funny little place that you can't help but love. Main street is straight out of a movie. I drove through last night and even noticed that there was a farmer's market still going strong at 7:00 pm! We don't even have that in Salem!

The other thing I discovered was Miyoma Sushi restaurant. I was astounded! Not because I didn't expect Monmouth to have good sushi, after all, they have the best teriyaki in the valley. I was astounded because there were very few other people in the place! Where were they? This place has excellent sushi and some pretty decent prices. They even made me some seared salmon sashimi with the brand new blow-torch they had just gotten even though it wasn't on the menu.

I don't know why the place wasn't packed. Possibly because there are only a few people in this town and they can't all eat sushi every night. Well, Salem, take advantage of this and head out to Monmouth for a sushi dinner some night. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Fall is in the Air...The Oregon Edition

2009-09-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, looks like summer is officially over. There may be a nice day here or there, but you can feel the crispness in the air.

I really do love fall. I love the leaves falling off the trees and piling up on the sidewalk. I love the wind blowing and creating leaf gusts. I love the crisp mornings and the sunny afternoons. I love the fog and the rain - the sweater weather. I love that fall means cozying up with a blanket, pumpkin lattes, candles in the evenings, and Thanksgiving! I love all that stuff and more.

But, as so many Oregonians do, I realize that fall leads to winter and winter means rain and dark and no more Christmas lights and being constantly damp and not seeing the sun for weeks at a time and...and then I just feel depressed. Is this normal, I wonder? But then, I talk to a few people and realize it may not be normal, but it's common enough to warrant a name.

It is commonly known as SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. I'm not sure that I actually have that. I would refer to mine as pre-SAD. Like I'm not really depressed when winter actually arrives. It's the looking forward to months of it that makes me depressed. And all this happens when the weather is still at it's best!

I realize this may make me sound crazy and that's okay, because I know I'm not the only one out there that feels this way. You're not alone!! :)

Maybe this is actually just a mourning of the seasons as they pass. Sure. Let's go with that. Sounds more poetic...and less crazy.

A Pub Crawl, You Say? In Salem??

2009-09-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

You know how sometimes you wander around downtown Salem and the place looks like a ghost town? Well, guess what? Tomorrow is NOT going to be one of those days.

Tomorrow is going to be rockin'! Tomorrow night downtown is going to be full of revelers. People will be laughing, drinking, meeting new friends, ringing bells. Tomorrow night is the Pub Crawl. That's right, people moving from bar to bar, eating, drinking, and having a good time. And yes, that will be happening right here in Salem.

And get this!! For the first time ever, there will also be a wine crawl. I think this is a great addition to this event. The wine crawl will go slightly slower and have a few less venues, but I think it will be a great, relaxing evening.

So come on down Friday night. Meet at 6 pm at Cascade Baking company and get your free wristband that allows you to participate in all the specials. If you can't make it at 6, wristbands will be handed out at the Rivers Condominuims on Front St. until about 10 PM, I believe. Either that or you can just look for the band of happy people parading to the next venue and tag along.

Oh, and don't forget to dress for the Back to School Fantasy Theme!

For more info, click here.

I Love Guacamole!!

2009-09-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

Some days you just need guacamole. It's been one of those days for me for about 5 days now. I finally got some avocados on Sunday and made up a big ol' bowl of guac...which I have been eating for pretty much every meal ever since!

I had asked my local Twitter friends for some advice on where to buy avocados here in Salem and they mentioned Winco (which is where I eventually bought mine), Cash & Carry, and Safeway for good produce options. I also wondered if Morrow's on Silverton might have some, but I didn't get over that way to check.

Here's my guacamole recipe, which I have perfected after several trips to Mexico and watching my Mexican born friend make it for her family.

Caution: This makes a lot, but since it's pretty addicting that's usually a good thing. It'll be gone before you know it!

4 avocados
4 medium tomatoes (I used vine-ripened Roma's from my sister's plentiful garden)
1/2 an onion (I used red onion because that was what was in my fridge)
1 and a 1/2 fresh jalepenos (medium/hot spiciness, use more or less depending taste)
1/2 cup or so of fresh chopped cilantro
The juice of one lime

Chop it all up, mix it together, and then eat it all up! Yummmmmm. Happy tummies!

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest - Chicken Dance Anyone?

2009-09-17T18:58:00.001-07:00

I can't wait for the Oktoberfest this weekend in Mt. Angel. For one, I love Mt. Angel. For two, I love chicken dancing. :) And for three, I love to wander around looking at booths and drooling over delicious dining out of small trailer-like kitchens. It's just a wonderfully campy adventure to the music of accordians and the smells of sausage and kraut.

Oh, plus the drinking. That's fun too, if you're in the mood for a little partying beyong the standard chicken dance in the street by the gazebo pavilion. I think I might try the wine garden this year. I hear they have good music as well as good wine!

Oh, and the people watching at Oktoberfest is always superb. It was even better back in the day, before the ban on grocery stickers (which was really a good thing) when you could watch people coming out of the beer garden covered in the strangest places with stickers that said things like fresh meat or hot. They were banned to keep people from sticking them on building all over town as they left and leaving a mess for the locals. A few contraband stickers always get in anyway, but nothing like the grocery sticker heyday.

This year I am going to do the Oktoberfest 5K run/walk on Saturday morning that supports the local high school track and field team. It's my first one and I am really excited. I hope the rain holds off! Wish me luck. :)

Vietnamese Cuisine in Salem

2009-09-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of Vietnamese food. I just love the flavors and the textures and the smells...soooo pretty much everything about it I guess.

My long time favorite restaurant in the Salem area is Kim Huong's on Silverton Rd. They have great summer (fresh veggies in rice paper) rolls, delicious Bun salad, and the Lemon Chicken is to excellent.

More recently, I discovered Vietnam Restaurant, which is situated just between my home and work, for an easy stop-off for dinner on the go. Vietnam Restaurant is on Center St across from the Rite-Aid parking lot. I must confess I can't say a lot about the variety of food because I've only tried the Bun salad with grilled pork and shrimp. It is just that good. I order it every time! I CRAVE it. So, that is the only thing I order there, and I never regret it. The service here is usually really good. I say usually, because periodically the family's son (looks about 10 or so) has the day off from school or something and decides to take over the serving. Usually his dad doesn't let this go on for too long, but the boy is quite a character, and having him serve you will be an experience you will never forget. :)

Now, for the Super Pho! I have been hearing about it, but the last time I drove by it was still closed (apparently I don't get to Lancaster much). I tried it out the other night for the first time and I must say the pho was super. Super taste, super sized, super service. The one funny thing we noted was that the place was freezing when we walked in. When we said something about it they said we just needed some pho to warm us up. Oddly enough, as we ate it we felt perfectly comfortable, but then when we were done, sitting and chatting, we froze again. It was weird. Who knew hot soup could warm you up 20 degrees or so. So don't plan and hanging out here after the meal is done. It's not a lingering place - unless you bring a blanket.

The server at Super Pho did mention that they are starting their to-go menu and a drive through window soon, so you'll be able to get your pho to-go and enjoy it in whatever temperature you prefer!

Even though we don't have multitudes of places to choose from for Vietnamese food in Salem, we have a few quality spots...and they really hit the spot sometimes. :) Sorry, folks.

Camping In Oregon

2009-09-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I love about the Northwest is the abundance of camping options. I once upon a time lived in Ohio for a few years, and I remember trying to camp one year. Trying was the operative word. We finally found a KOA camp (nothing against the good people of the KOA, but it isn't exactly my idea of camping) on a small lake. And then came the thunder storms. You know those Midwest summer thunderstorms that are so great when you're cozy in your house? Yeah, not so cozy in a tent with the wind nearly blowing the tent over on top of you, dropping big branches dangerously close to your head, and the rain seeping in the seams of your brand new tent. Apparently I was spoiled by growing up in Oregon.

So this summer, as usual, I went camping with my family. We stayed one night at Detroit Lake, which is pretty and has flush toilets and showers. If living without your hair dryer sounds like too much of a sacrifice, then Detroit Lake is the camp for you. The downside of Detroit is that the lake is difficult to access in some places unless you have a boat and the camps are quite close together. It's only about an hour from Salem though, so that makes for a nice quick trip.

The next place we headed to was Suttle Lake. I really love Suttle Lake. It's about 20 miles west of Sisters which makes it about 2 hours from Salem. It's a beautiful little lake. Although motorized boats are allowed it is pretty quiet and peaceful. We stayed at the Link Creek camp on the west end of the lake. It does not have electricity, but it does have water spigots spread througout the sites and it has some pretty decent pit toilets. I mean, you can only expect so much when you're talking about a pit in the ground serving as a toilet, but this one actually had an air freshener, and almost no bugs. :) So I'd say that's pretty decent.

Sailboat on Suttle Lake

The best part about Suttle Lake is the big campsites and the easy lake access. It was great to be far enough away from your neighbors that it was possible to turn your chair towards the lake and forget they were there. The lake is accessible for swimming or rafting or whatever you want to do. It has a nice easy slope and the bottom is covered in small gravel (water shoes might be good for extended lake time as the gravel can be a little rough on the feet). The water is clean and cold, the views are classic central Oregon lake and tree views, and the people are friendly and far between. Just the way I like it! Oh, and the stars. The stars are amazing at night!

And after writing this, I realized I'm an anti-social camper. :) Sorry folks, I guess I go to get away from people.

Does anyone else have any great spots they like to camp? I'd like to try out some new places next year.

Blackberries Mmmmm!

2009-09-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

My apologies on my lack of blogging this summer. I'm going to try to catch up and keep up now that my life is back to it's normal schedule.

Every summer I pick blackberries at Willamette Mission State Park. Until this summer. Someone on Facebook kept saying how great the blackberries were at the new Keizer Rapids Park, so I decided, hey, why not try something new. Another way technology is changing my life.

So I headed off to Keizer Rapids with a friend. Now, I've never actually been to this park before. If you haven't been there, it is quite a hidden gem. And I do mean hidden. You kind of have to either know where you're going or be ready for a little adventure. Things aren't exactly well marked. Most of the park is more like wilderness. Which is exactly how I like my parks, but can take a little of an explorer's heart to navigate.

So navigate we did. We finally picked a spot near the end of the frisbee golf circuit and picked our way along the paths. It was really beautiful out there. We ran across a beautiful swamp. Yes, I did say "beautiful swamp." It was full of wildlife and the frogs made beautiful music to pick blackberries by. :)

I'm not sure the pickings were as good as Willamette Mission, but there is no parking charge (I'm referring to the $3 parking fee for state parks) and it is less of a drive. It is also much more like being out in the wilderness. And I got PLENTY of berries for a beautiful blackberry cobbler using my grandmother's recipe. Delicious!

My blackberry pickings

Berry Pudding Cake made with my grandmother's recipe
Yummy!

Going to the Movies

2009-08-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

So, I wanted to see a movie last weekend. This is actually quite an event for me. I might see two movies a year. I'm just not a big movie person. But, I had heard good reviews of the movie (500) Days of Summer.

Fandango.com said it was playing at Santiam 11 on Lancaster, so off we went to the movies. I must say, every time I go to a movie, I am shocked at how expensive it is. And then, the food prices!! Good lord, I can't pay that kind of money for popcorn! Fortunately, I wasn't hungry since we went to dinner beforehand at the Ram. (I love their patio and their Amber Ale Chicken Burger, but that's a whole different post!)

When we get inside the theater I am surprised to find that there is a whole row of pre-teen boys behind us. Uhhhh...this is a PG-13 movie, but it is a romantic comedy drama and not exactly meant for kids. Technically they stayed through the whole movie, except for the 18 billion times they got up to go get refills or something!! Now I remember why I rarely go to the movies and when I do, I prefer to go to the evening shows at Northern Lights that are over 21 only.

So, if you want to know about the movie, I'll give you my opinion. Remember it did get quite good reviews. I just didn't find it very satisfying. Slightly depressing, a little contrived, and overall a disappointment for me. I'm sure that many people will find it interesting. It is basically a romance gone wrong, but from the guy's point of view. It does make some interesting points, but altogether I just felt like I've seen too much of that kind of stuff in real life to make it an interesting movie for me. It mostly made me sad to see that kind of self-delusion portrayed as romantic. Okay, so now you know about my cynical side. :)

Salem Creative Pub Crawl = FUN

2009-08-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gone downtown Salem on a Friday night only to see empty streets and half-full bars and restaurants. Everyone who has been in Salem for some time has probably experienced that at some point. But this was not the case last night.

This is the second month that there has been a pub crawl downtown on the third Friday of the month. And let me tell you it has turned into a major event. It seemed like it was almost twice as big as last month, although it's hard to tell with all the people milling around and coming and going. Although there is a map and an order to the event, lots of people go off on their own and do the route their own way. It was so fun to catch up with some of the people from last month, have some drinks, some laughs, some food specials, and support our local businesses.

The group is a big mix of people, ages, styles, etc, so if you are inclined to come along next month, don't worry that you won't fit in. You can come for as many or as few of the pubs as you want and you can even choose to stay at one the entire night if you find that you really like it. You can come for the drinks or the friends or the food specials, or you can just come for the people watching.

Most of all, the pub crawl is about getting out and doing something quirky and fun in Salem. It's about meeting other people from Salem and building a community of people that support the downtown businesses.

Look What Happened at Summer in the City

2009-08-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

I am not going to review Summer in the City in downtown Salem since it has been done much better here and here and here, by other illustrious Salem bloggers. I will only say that I personally decided not to pay the rather exorbinant fee for what I consider a very new and quite unknown festival, but I did stop outside the fences for a bite to eat. As I stopped to listen to a few minutes of Curtis Salgado's performance on Sunday evening, I ran into this man enjoying the music.

Notice he's outside the fence, but he had PLENTY of room to dance! :)

The Roxxy's New Vibe

2009-08-16T14:19:00.001-07:00

Well, folks, there's a new dance club in town. I, for one, was very sad to hear that the new Roxxy would not continue with the great music that Lefty's did, but apparently it's hard to pack the house when you are booking bands, so they decided to try the dance club routine.

The great news? Comedy nights are still twice a month on Thursdays and the food is still pretty decent for a club/bar. They aren't packing the house yet, but I think that's because people don't know about them. Saturday there was an article about clubbing in Salem in the Statesman which should help get the word out.

Friday night I went out with some friends for some music and dancing and we decided to check it out. It had nice atmosphere, great music (some old, some new, mostly pop/hip-hop/R&B, and all quite loud!), and great service. It will be good to see if the service continues to be so good as they get busier, but for the most part, it seemed well-run. A lot of the same employees who used to run Moonbaker were part of the show, so they should know what they're doing.

I felt the prices were pretty low to average for drinks in Salem. We didn't order any food on Friday night because it was late and we had gone out to dinner earlier. I ordered wine, another friend ordered a beer, and another two friends had cocktails. Everyone was happy with their drinks, even me, and I know better than to order wine in a dance club. I actually asked the waitress only to bring me the wine if the bottle hadn't been open for days and she laughed and said they used small, one serving bottles. :)

There were only a few other people there throughout the night as well as some that came and went after short stays. It certainly wasn't packed, but it looked like the word might be getting out. I'm sure it will start filling up soon.

While we were there, they mentioned that they had a Happy Hour from 7-9 pm every night where everything in the house is half-price. Wow! I decided to try it out on Saturday night with a couple other friends. We showed up a little after 7 pm and asked if that was still the deal. Sure enough. So we ordered drinks and some Roxxy Fries with cheese and bacon topping. Mmmm. :)

The fries were a huge portion, the drinks were strong, but not overpowering (well-mixed) and the server was friendly and prompt. Our entire bill came up to $12 at the end of our snack. Happy Hour indeed! I did notice that this happy hour was not advertised. I do wonder if it is just temporary to get people introduced to the new place. At any rate, it was very good, the music wasn't too loud to talk (as it had been the night before after 10) and the atmosphere was fun. I would definitely go back to try their pizza.