Blackberries Mmmmm!

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

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

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

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

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.

Late Night Dessert in Salem??

I was talking to a friend this evening who was going to take her little sister, who is turning 19, out for coffee and dessert later tonight. They were looking for a place to get dessert and it was getting close to 8:30. We had some serious trouble coming up with places that had dessert that were not bars or chain restaurants. We thought of La Capitale, but the bar is the only part open late. Word of Mouth closes at 9 and I'm not even sure they do desserts. Little Cannoli and Queen of Tarts close around 5. The one place I did come up with was Napolean's but apparently her little sister had been there for dinner and didn't want to go back. So, we finally came up with Bentley's which is open until 10 and has Konditerei cheesecake. So that's where they ended up going.

Does anyone know of any other good, late-night, dessert places that I missed on this list? The other problem in this situation was the fact that she is underage, so bars were out for them. I was struggling to come up with anything other than Applebee's and Red Robin. Surely, we can do better than that around here!

More Sushi in Salem

I'm very excited about the news of a new sushi restaurant coming to downtown Salem. It's called Sushi Mania and it should be located near La Capitale on High St. I'm not sure when it's opening, but I can't wait to try it out.

Of course, I still love Fuji Ricetime and Sushi Kyo, but I just think that Salem has been lacking in options for sushi. Sometimes those places are busy, or out of the way, or whatever and it will be nice to have another sushi option in downtown Salem. I certainly don't think that it is going to hurt the business of the other restaurants although it is very close to Fuji Ricetime. I have heard it is going to be a conveyor belt style restaurant, more similar to the Sushi Kyo out off Lancaster. That's a totally different atmosphere than Ricetime, so I can't see it being any real competition. Maybe Salem could actually start a Sushi District and have tons of sushi options in close range!
Hey, if it works for flower districts and fashion disctricts, why not sushi?

Anyway, I think we are long overdue for more sushi options around here, and sushi isn't getting less popular. At least according to my unscientific polls using the highly technical skill of counting how long the waits are for a table in a sushi restaurant.

If anyone know any more info about this place and it's opening date, please let me know.

Summer In the City 2009

After heading out to The Bite this weekend, I started thinking about festivals in Salem. Summer in the City is just around the corner! I remember Summer in the City being all about the sidewalk sales when I was a kid. I don't even know if there was music or drinks, probably because I was too young to enjoy such things. I just remember making a day of the shopping with my mom and my sisters where we would buy all our back-to-school clothes.

But what I do know, is that last year Summer in the City was rejuvinated, and it was a hit! I love that fact that they close the streets down for this event and bring out the music and booze. :) This year there will be a cover charge to get into some areas of the event, but I think if you make a day of it, it would be well worth the cost.

Last year, the highlights for me were the Casey's Cafe grilling delicious burgers in their outdoor kitchen, the wine-tasting, the music, and running into old friends. I'm excited to see what this year holds!

A New Portland Spot

So, I ended up driving up to Portland last week. That seems to happen a couple times a month. Between friends, the airport, and events happening in Portland, I seem to make plenty of trips to the northland.

After wandering around the Pearl District for awhile, I realized that it was beautiful and classy, but mostly out of my price range. So I decided to head over to Alberta Street and check out the restaurants over there.

We ended up choosing a place called The Hilt on Alberta and 29th. It looked cool and inviting so we decided to check out their menu. Oh. My. God. It was so good. The menu prices were something you would expect from a pub. Burgers were $7-10 and entrees were $8-12. But here's the thing: the food was all expertly prepared by a Greek chef who made everything himself except the kalamata olives and the tomato paste. He told us so himself when he came out to make sure our spanakopita appetizer and fettucine with mushroom and rosemary cream sauce entree were to our liking. Hell, yeah, they were! :) Then he told us that they had only opened the day before. Well, if they were making food this good on the second day, I'm definitely going back.

Seriously, this place has really good food. At least the two items we tried. I also ordered a glass of wine and our whole meal (shared, but plenty for a light meal for two) came up to $18. For the same types of food that you would expect to pay $25 or more for in a restaurant in downtown Portland.

So, if you find yourself up the freeway, looking for a delicious bite to eat, head on over to Alberta St. (Take the Killingsworth Exit off I-5) and enjoy a delightful meal at the Hilt.

295 Church Street Condominiums

I have so many things to catch up on writing about since I've been away. Let's start with the Church Street condos. I seem to have a little theme going here with the condo thing, so why stop now?

Let me just start by saying that I went to 295 Church Street immediately after seeing the Meridian, so I can't really help comparing them. The Church St. building is a completely different style. It is light and bright and has big windows that make it feel like you are really a part of the city. The condos on the south side looks out onto the park areas along Trade St. while the condos on the north side look over the downtown area. Both views are very pleasant.

The condos have an open feel, with bright light from the windows. They are well laid out, with nice storage spaces and good sized bedrooms. I especially liked the fact that each unit had a deck and the decks were decent sized. The kitchens were nice and open, although in some of the units they were a little dark because they were on the hall side of the condo and therefore didn't have windows.

On the positive side the location is excellent, the floor plans use the space well, and they have lots of light and windows. Some of the negative things I noticed were a lack of storage units or garages, and that there is only one parking slot per unit.

Again, I think the prices are pretty high for Salem. I went and looked at units in the Pearl District in Portland, and they were running about the same prices for similar sized units. I think that is quite strange, since normal housing in Portland runs quite a bit more than in Salem. I think that the prices are going to have to come down a bit in order to make this work.

The Meridian Condominiums in Salem

After the last foray into the townhouses being built behind Salem Cinema on Broadway, I was duly impressed with their style and space. We decided to check out some of the other condos being built around town as a comparison.

First we went to The Rivers, but although their office was open, no one was there. We waited a few minutes and then decided to head over to The Meridian for a tour. The outside of the building was beautiful as anyone who has driven by can clearly see. I have been admiring in for months myself and was anxious to see the inside.

I was quite disappointed. Not that it wasn't beautiful. It's just that it felt dark and sort of like an over-priced hotel. It's the kind of place that is supposed to feel rich and luxurious, and to some it might be just perfect. For me, it felt like a little too much. The condos aren't all finished, but the ones we saw seemed like they lacked windows(probably because only one side is open to the outside unless you have a corner unit), and were poorly laid out. In one the entryway probably took a good 100-200 square feet out of the 1000 or so sq. ft. allotted. It just seemed like a waste of space.

Okay, here are the good points, even though it wasn't to my liking. There was lots of storage space throughout and each unit has a storage unit deeded to it as well. The floors are not solid wood, but have a veneer that can be sanded and refinished. All the walls are moveable, so you could remodel your unit or have it laid out differently if you get there before they finish the units. It is very well inusulated from road noise even though it is on a busy street. Also, it is a secure unit with locking elevators.

As I said, it wasn't quite my style, and I felt a little hemmed in when I was inside The Meridian, but you should check it out for yourself, if you are interested. At least 13 of the units have sold, so apparently they are perfect for some people. Personally, I'd rather spend my $230,000 to $1.5 million somewhere else. HA. :)

Slow Days in Blogland

Sorry, I'm going to be a little out of commission the next week or so. Hopefully, not completely, but I'm busy taking an intensive Master's course out at Western Oregon University so things are pretty crazy.

If you miss me, I'll be posting things over here that we're discussing in class. All kinds of fun and interesting things to do with Media Literacy, which is a subject we all need to be aware of in this day and age.

The Lancaster Dancing Lady

Do you know this woman? She stands on the corner of Lancaster and Silverton with a sign for a shoe sale almost every day.

Let me rephrase that: she dances on the corner of Lancaster and Silverton. I can't believe how much energy this woman has. She's all smiles and waves and fun little dance moves. Pure entertainment.

I have noticed a steep increase in the number of sign-wavers advertising businesses lately. Is it the economy perhaps? It's pretty good advertisement for a local business. Perhaps it's cheaper than radio or newspaper spots.

Whatever it is, it has given this dear, dancing lady a job and she sure looks like she's happy in it.

Down Home Fourth of July

I must admit I've been slightly jealous of my friend who lives in Willamina. Over in smalltownville they have these great holiday traditions. It's like a little slice of Americana. There's the mud drag races to raise money for the fireworks, then the town barbecue put on by a local restuarant, the annual parade, the bingo down on main street, the fireworks and the traditional family get-togethers after the town events. Everyone is involved, and everyone has a grand ol' time.

I almost made me want to move to Willamina. Instead, I decided to make the most of my own hometown. And I must say it was pretty all-American.

I ran some errands in the morning, then headed down to the farmer's market for a some veggies. Once there, I had to stop by the baked goods section and ended up with some snickerdoodle cookies and a loaf of zucchini bread. MMmmm.

Then I met a friend and a neighbor and we went to dinner at the Best Little Roadhouse, which was surprising unpacked at dinner time since everyone seems to be out of town this weekend. Or possibly everyone was stuck on Hwy 22. Either way, we got seated immediately and had a great dinner.

On the way to the fireworks show we stopped to pick some cherries from a friend's backyard tree. What's more American than a fresh cherry snack while watching fireworks, huh?

We decided to skip the Union Street Bridge and head to the top of the Chemeketa Parkade. We got a prime spot and set up our chairs. I had run into a neighbor watering flowers in the yard earlier in the day and so they showed up as well.

So there I was, enjoying freshly picked, delicious Bing cherries, watching fireworks with my neighbors on a beautiful summer night. My own little slice of Americana.

And suddenly I wasn't so jealous of smalltownville anymore. Salem is exactly what you make it.

Salem's Strange Reaction to Hippies in Eugene

So the burlesque show Pretty Things at the Roxxy Thursday night was an absolute blast. It was fun and glamourous and full of pretty things. But that's not really what I want to talk about...

Something strange happened and I still don't know quite what to think of it. The MC was making jokes and trying to get the crowd riled up and as MC's do he yelled out questions about whether we wanted to have fun and then would get a yell.

"Are you getting drunk tonight?" and the crowd yells.
"What? I can't hear you!" and the crowd yells louder!
and then he says...
"The hippies in Eugene were louder than that last night!"

Dead silence.

Seriously, not a single yell, boo, or clap. Just utter silence. Like he hadn't said a word. It was so weird. Just...silence.

So, apparently thinking he had hit on something with the hippies, a little later he tried some hippie jokes. People laughed a little, even though he wasn't a spectacular comic. I don't think he could quite figure out the crowd. And truth be told, I couldn't quite figure it out either. I reacted pretty much just like the rest of the crowd, but I don't know why.

Does Salem hate hippies? Do we hate Eugene? But there wasn't even any energy put into booing.

Maybe it was that we don't like being compared?

Is that it? We feel like we're just ourselves. We're from Salem. We don't care to be like any other city. And if you try to make us compete, we'll just stare you down. Is that what the silent treatment meant?

I'm not sure exactly what it meant. What do you think it meant?