...And More Lights

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...

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

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...

...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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

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

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.