Salem's Saturday Market

One of my most repeated Saturday activities in Salem is the Saturday Market. It runs from April through October in the heart of downtown. It's pretty much your typical Saturday Market - lots of local produce (especially this time of the year), huge flower bouquets for a cheap price, various artisans and their crafts, a food court, etc. 

The Market is open 9am - 3pm and I recommend going earlier than later. The later you go, the more likely it is that the produce is sold out or that only the scraggly looking veggies are left. We went around 12pm, and there still seemed to be a good selection of everything.

Side note - I decided that it would be the perfect day to wear my "Fallon/Timberlake 2016" shirt given that the conventions were held recently. It was a hit, as expected :)

We left my apartment building with my reusable bag on my arm and walked about 10 minutes to the market. It was a beautiful day out and not as hot as it was the day before (which was a scorcher), so it was a nice walk. Plus, I like the vibe of walking down some of the non-main-drag streets of downtown Salem on a Saturday because they are fairly peaceful. 

At the market, I did my usual "check it all out before you decide" methodology and started by walking all around the market before I chose what to buy. Usually the produce prices are similar from stand to stand, but sometimes there is enough of a discrepancy that it's worth scoping them all out first (especially watch for the tiny berry baskets that sell for $3 at one stand and a bigger basket for $3 at another). I also like to check things out first because I have a bad tendency of getting too excited about all the cool produce and buying more than I'm actually able to eat before it goes bad. Lately I've been trying to be more mindful and realistic about what I buy, so seeing all my options first is helpful to make the decision of what will make the cut.

The produce stands were brimming with brightly colored fruits and veggies. Almost all of the pictures I took were centered around them. And, it seems like the main point of the Saturday Market, at least for me, is to be able to buy local produce straight from the farmer. 

Besides the produce, there are other interesting (but mostly unpictured, sorry) things to look at. We talked to a knife sharpening guy who warned us of the perils of very sharp knives (and we considered if it would be awkward to walk to the market holding the knives you wanted him to sharpen...). There are usually a few stands selling local meat (we saw pig and lamb this time), which I've never actually stopped to talk to but I assume you order it and pick it up at a later time. I didn't see it this time, but one of the most interesting vendors sells composting worms. That's how you really know you're in Oregon :). One time about a year ago I saw a guy selling drinking glasses that he had made out of old glass bottles. I thought they were super cool but didn't buy any (which I later regretted) and of course never saw him there again. There's also local honey, sewn items (like blankets), local alcohol (I saw a cidery there and have seen distilleries in the past), and much more.

While at the market, I tend to appreciate the vibe of the Saturday Market. There are usually a bunch of people there, but it's not stressful or overwhelming or too loud or any of that. The vendors are nice, there's enough room in the wide aisles for people to roam, and it all just feels pretty relaxed.

While we were wandering I stopped for some samples of Bliss Nut-Butters. I had never tried them before and they were so good! I was debating between sunflower seed and hazelnut, and went for the hazelnut. So tasty!

We wandered over to the food court where some of the stuff wasn't so impressive, but the paella in a huuuuge cooking dish definitely was! I heard the guy at the booth say that it would be done in about 10 to 15 minutes. It kind of felt like it was a big communal meal :).  We didn't buy any (way too much meat in the variety he was making and he was out of the vegetarian one) but it looked pretty good!

With all the produce stands visited, I had a better idea of what I wanted to buy. First I stopped and got a pint of pesticide-free blueberries, and grabbed one of their convenient recipe cards too.

Then we headed back towards a stand right at the corner of the main entrance. I always seem to go back to that one. On our way, we passed by these two guys playing some music. There are always various musicians standing around filling the air, as well as a more formal music experience at a little stage in the food court. I kind of like the informal jam sessions better because they are more of a markety vibe.

Then I picked up some baby eggplants (no idea what to do with them, but they seemed interesting and I like to experiment with somewhat unusual market stuff sometimes), a red bell pepper, and a cucumber. I forgot to take a pic in the market setting, but here they are on my table back home.

After walking back to my apartment, I put the fresh produce to good use. I sliced up some of the cucumber to make a cucumber-cream cheese sandwich for lunch, with a little bowl of blueberries for dessert.

I highly recommend the Saturday Market as a great way to support the local economy, try out new things, and embrace Salem.

Urban Sunday at The Kitchen

After church on Sunday, a friend and I decided we should hit up a downtown locale for lunch. Picking a place to go out to eat is rough, right?? (I have a literal list in my phone to pull up if I'm in a pinch and don't know what to decide because I hate the agony of indecision.) I used one of my favorite methods when I think a standstill is coming:  one person provides a few options and the other picks from the choices provided. So I gave her three restaurant choices, but then paused (somewhat dramatically) and added, ".....or we could go to The Kitchen."  I'm pretty sure she looked at me in a surprised way because she was fully aware that I was on a Kitchen boycott after I received some really rude service there. But, I decided I was willing to give them another shot. She picked The Kitchen, and we were off.

We headed downtown (so I guess I didn't technically walk there...but I did walk home so that counts as blogworthy :)) and headed to The Kitchen.  The Kitchen is a fairly new restaurant...I think less than 2 years old. It has what appears to be an intentionally community vibe about it. The seating is pretty close together and in long rows, so you end up kind of feeling like you're eating with the people next to you. The kitchen part of the restaurant is open, which also makes it feel more homey. It's open 24/7, which is a real rarity in Salem.

We got seated quickly (amazingly enough, because that can be a real problem there). They served us our own water carafe with jars to drink out of, which is one of my favorite parts of eating there.

After perusing the menu, we ordered and waited. It was nice to sit near the windows with lots of natural light. I'm not really a fan of the overall ambiance though. Some people really love The Kitchen and some people don't. I myself find it...ok, but not my favorite. It's usually a little chaotic for me. It was kind of loud at times, it seemed like other people had to wait to be seated, some people got moved and their food got delivered to the wrong people, and I think every time I've been there, we've had to wait quite awhile for our food.  The service was a little slow this time, but it wasn't so bad because it gave us time to talk.

My food arrived - Chorizo tacos - and it was pretty much what I expected. I almost always get tacos there (unless I get breakfast :)). The food generally is fine, not bad (and I've never been sick from their gluten free options which is a major plus) but it's just kind of normal so not my favorite. The beans (or rice? I couldn't tell) were a little spicy for my taste. I've always wanted to try the chicken tacos, but they only come super spicy so I've never had the guts (pun intended) to do so.

The waitress brought our check in a timely fashion. So overall, really, it wasn't a bad experience. I don't think I need to keep boycotting them. But, it's still not going to ever be my first choice. Don't let that stop you from checking it out though because you might be one of the people who end up liking it. If you get overstimulated easily like me, you might try their outdoor seating area. I've eaten out there once and enjoyed it.

After The Kitchen, we stopped a few doors down at The Book Bin so my friend could pick up a book. It's a cute, medium sized bookstore. They used to have another, larger secondary location for awhile, but now this downtown one is it. The staff is pleasant and helpful and they have a wide enough variety of books to make it interesting. I like that they have a resident cat and a sign on the door asking the patrons to please not let it out. That is pretty quintessential bookstore in my opinion.

Then we walked around the block to my favorite place in all of Salem:  Archive. I can't even write about it right now, because it is too important to me to only have it be a footnote on a blog. It deserves so much more. For now, suffice it to say that I wasn't in a caffeine mood and so I got some tea called "feel better" and it was tasty.

It was then just a short walk under the summery sun, a buzzing of my building door as I entered, and a ladder climb up to my lofted bedroom for an urban Sunday nap.

Friday Nights at Gov Cup

Even before I moved downtown, one of my favorite things to do on a Friday night was to hit up Gov Cup for live music. The Governor's Cup is a cute little coffee shop housed in a long narrow unit of a downtown building. It has brick walls, booths and tables, unique art and bikes (!) hanging up, and an upstairs balcony that overlooks the place. It feels pretty cozy and Oregonian.

Their coffee isn't my favorite (it's a step below The Beanery) and I don't normally choose it as my hang out coffee shop, but Fridays are something different. Almost every Friday night, Gov Cup turns from a coffee shop into a bar and hosts a live musician or band, usually of the local variety. They have all types of music and it can vary greatly from week to week. I've seen a too-loud rock band (which is kind of an exception rather than their rule), but I've also seen quieter one man shows. My favorite musician that they have back over and over again is a guy named Tim Snider who does some amazing sounds with violin and guitar. Friday nights are usually a fairly mellow/casual vibe, and there's no cover charge. I think they have a full bar, but I'm not sure because I always order off of their unique drink menu that creatively mixes coffee (or other warm drinks) with alcohol. One of my favorite things is when someone orders a Spanish coffee, because it involves the bartender doing some fancy bartending work and lighting the drink on fire.

This past Friday, I pulled up Gov Cup's facebook page and saw that the band scheduled to perform was called "Bustin Jieber." I was skeptical, to say the least. But, they were described as "funk/jazz/rock," and there was a saxophonist on their ad, so that sounded a little promising. I previewed a little of their music online and wasn't quite sure about it, but I decided to give it a shot.

The music always starts at 9pm, but it goes for hours so there's no need to show up right on time. We walked over probably close to 10pm and the band was playing in full force. Warning - It's always a little awkward to enter because the door is right by the stage, so the whole crowd is looking at you as you weave through people and decide where to go. We made our way to the bar and I looked over their menu which includes drinks named after past Governors of Oregon (which I think is pretty cool). The staff was super nice, like normal, and I ordered "The Hatfield," which is one of my favorites.

After getting my drink, sometimes I like to go sit in the balcony and attempt to talk if it's not too incredibly loud, but this time we stayed downstairs and stood to watch the band. It was crowded enough that there were no seats. I observed the crowd and it was the usual mix that these nights in this place bring out. There is always a fair amount of older, near-retirement people along with the younger crowd, which is something I haven't experienced in other night life places in Salem. It's kind of nice!

As we settled in and listened to the band, I was very pleasantly surprised. They were awesome! I have no idea why they picked such a wacky name, but their music was much better and more legit than their name implied. They had a girl drummer, and I am always a fan of girl drummers. (Cue Sarah wishing she was a girl drummer.) The saxophonist was great, and it made their sound so unique. The third and final member of the band was a bass guitarist and we loved him. He really knew how to get into the music. They were crowd pleasers for sure. We didn't stay a super long time, but the part of the set we watched had a couple songs with lyrics, and a couple without that had more of a freestyle jazz vibe. I don't really know how to review music especially on the fly, so I'll leave it at that and say that they are worth hearing if you have a chance.

I sipped my Hatfield (it was delicious like normal) and enjoyed the music until the band's break rolled around, when we slipped through the crowd and walked the short one block walk back to my apartment. Gov Cup, as usual, did not disappoint. Check it out sometime!

Movies in the Park

Every summer Salem pulls out a giant screen, sets it up in Riverfront Park's grassy amphitheater, and the city's citizens gather under the setting sun for a shared movie experience. This free downtown Salem activity takes place on warm Saturday nights and has apparently been around since 2008 (?!) but somehow my first time to attend was just last year.

I was determined to go again this year, and Saturday that dream came true. The movie, The Muppets, was set to start at about 9:00 (they adjust the start time each week to adjust for the sunset time). We left my apartment early, a little after 8:30. From my experience last year, I knew it was beneficial to arrive early or we'd be stuck in the waaaay back where the sound is less than desirable.

I love that my apartment is just a couple blocks from the park. Super convenient to walk over.

We made our way to the amphitheater and found a great spot close to the screen. As the sunset lit up the clouds, we laid a blanket on the grass and waited for the show to start. People lined up at the food cart that was on site or took pictures with some photogenic characters.

When the sun was low enough in the sky, they warmed the crowd up with some funny Muppet short films like Bohemian Rhapsody.

Then as the stars came out and the moon was shining bright, they started the feature film. We pulled out the cozy quilt I had brought since the night turned chilly. I'd seen the movie once before (I <3 the Muppets) but for some reason, I liked it better this time. Maybe it was the setting. It was so peaceful to be outside, with a cool breeze blowing every so often, stars overhead, and the hushed sound of voices speaking quietly. Patchy clouds rolled in and the moon illuminated them. It reminded me of the peacefulness I feel when sitting around a campfire.

The movie went off without a hitch (only one tiny paused moment while it played). Then we folded up our blankets and walked through the streets of downtown back to my apartment. What a nice way to spend a summer night.

If you'd like to check out a movie in the park, there's still three more available this summer:  The Lorax, Inside Out, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I recommend it :)

Urban Culture: The Salem Art Fair

One July weekend every year, Salem hosts the annual Art Fair in Bush Pasture Park. If my memory as a long time Salem dweller serves me correctly, the Art Fair has evolved over the years. The basics are still the same:  artists of all different mediums come and set up shop to display and sell their unique works, and a special kids' area lets the younger generation try their hand at some artsy endeavors. Things that have changed over time though include the admission price, which is only $5 now but used to be free or by donation back in the day, the fact that the kids have to buy pretty spendy tickets to partake in the children's activities (didn't that used to be free to??), and the extensive music stage which I don't think has always been around, but has definitely grown over time. The Art Fair is a common annual tradition for Salemites and gives us all a way to feel a little bit cultured.  It's fun to wander around and observe the art and even talk to the artists about their methods if you'd like.

 I'm normally one of those people who likes to keep this Salem tradition alive, so Saturday afternoon found me setting off for the Art Fair. Bush Park isn't technically in downtown, but it's within walking distance of my apartment (about a mile), so it fit my guidelines for being an urban activity.

Before I set off, I walked across the street to The Beanery to caffeinate myself. While their coffee isn't my favorite (it's a step below Ike Box, so it's pretty much middle of the road coffee), I do like the ambiance of the place. It's pretty bright and has booths and tables, and it's appealing if you have something you want to go to coffee shop to work on.  They also have a pretty wide variety of food options, though I can't partake in most of them since most aren't gluten free.  I grabbed a 16 oz iced latte (I'm always slightly annoyed that they don't offer a 12 oz since that's my opinion of the best coffee to milk ratio) and soon was off on my walk.

Part of the fun of walking places around Salem is the fact that it isn't a total concrete jungle and there is still nature to commune with. I found some nice blueish purple flowers to observe on my way.

When I got to the park, I first met up with my friend and his two kids. We took a minute to appreciate the park's famous "watch out for attack owls" sign. Yes, there really is an attack owl in the park. (A local brewery even has an Attack Owl IPA because of it.)

Then we meandered our way through the vendors and one of the food areas (stopping at a few of each), then ended up in kid central where there was a bouncy house, children dance performances, and a variety of craft projects to try out. My favorite art option they had was spin painting. It looked fun!

After another friend joined us, we made another food court stop at the one we hadn't checked out yet. They opted for a burrito and beignets I got some Kettle Chips, which, fun fact, are made right here in Salem, Oregon!

Then we met up with yet another friend and set off to look at each of the artist's booths. There were painters, photographers, glass blowers, wood workers, potters, pastel drawers, even shoe and bag makers, and a lot of others that I'm probably forgetting.  I like wandering through all the booths systematically to make sure I see them all.

I was happy when I ran across an artist whose work I had seen last year which seemed perfect for my urban downtown apartment. I had decided not to buy the piece last year, but had thought about it for a year and was now ready to buy.

I love this piece for a few reasons.  First, it's super Oregonian.  Oregon is all about being green and using a bike, and it has Portland's St. John's bridge in the background.  Second, I like the different layers of it and how it builds on each other.  Third, it seems urban :).  I talked to the artist briefly and she told me that the map she used on the glass is an old (I think she said 1930s) map of Portland.  That makes it even more cool in my eyes.  I was really happy to bring this guy home.  I still need to hang him up though.

After seeing all the vendors, we headed out and I started on my walk home. I went a somewhat different way home (at least for one street) and was rewarded by getting to see some pretty urban flowers.

It was a fun and cultured way to spend an afternoon in Salem. It's open till 5:00 tonight (Sunday) so there's still time to join in the fun! As an added bonus, admission is free on Sunday from 3-5pm!

Morning Coffee Stop: Ike Box

One thing I love about living downtown is the fact that my apartment is pretty quiet, but when I walk out of my building I'm plopped straight into the city. That means that my daily walk to work can include fun side trips, like stopping for coffee.

I love that Oregon is coffee central for the US (ok maybe Washington actually is, but we are definitely in the running) and that everyone is so darn snobby about it, me included. When I drink coffee, I want quality. I don't want syrups and sugar to mask the flavor, I want it to be good in its unadulterated form. And If there's no classy foam art, I legitimately feel let down. This morning I was tired and had a slight headache, so a coffee pit stop was definitely in the stars for me.

My walk takes me right by Ike Box, so if I make a morning stop, it's usually there. Ike Box is large but in a quaint way. It's in what appears to perhaps have been a big old house*, with the first floor housing the coffee shop and an expansive open seating area with comfy cozy couches as well as regular tables and chairs. The rest of the building is meeting rooms and stuff like that. It's definitely not fancy (they don't do foam art as far as I know) and the vibe can feel a little off (a little run down, doesn't get much natural light inside, and just one biiiig room that everyone sits in) but it gets the job done. They recently remodeled their coffee bar area and it really improved the overall look. An added bonus is the fact that they sell various food items like bagel sandwiches and pre-made salads and other treats

Today, the line wasn't long. But when the legislature is in session, watch out! The Capitol is only about a block or two away and all the extra people in town flock there in droves. Even though I was running a little late, I decided I was in a latte mood and would wait for it to be made instead of opting for drip coffee. As I waited, someone grabbed a coffee that wasn't theirs, and it threw the orders off in a way that the barista didn't account for, so mine got missed. After I informed them, they rectified the problem and made my drink, but it was a fairly long wait overall and a little annoying. I couldn't help but think that it would be beneficial for them to switch to the "write the name on the cup" method at least during the morning rush, especially since they are a busy place. Usually the service is fine and pretty quick, so today was a little disappointing.

These fresh hydrangeas caught my eye while I was waiting. I thought they were a nice touch (even if there were a little on the dying side). Plus being in a glass jar made them even better. I think I may have even spied the bush from outside that they were cut from. Speaking of outside, I normally really like walking past Ike Box on my way home because it's a shady area with trees and plants and tables outside and I just like the feel of it. But, they just recently installed approximately a few metric tons (I may be exaggerating) of barkdust and it really brings that calm outdoorsy feeling down a few notches for some reason.  Now it just seems suburban or something. I didn't snap a pic of that, so you'll have to trust me on this one.

Despite the hiccup in my order, the coffee was tasty as usual and a nice addition to my morning. I think they use Sisters Coffee*, and even though I love a few other brands a tad bit more, their coffee is right up there. I'm thankful that this place is so conveniently located to fulfill my need for quality coffee :)

I also bought a LivBar for a snack because, you know, eat local! That seems like the urban living thing to do. Plus, fun fact, those bars are made in the same building my apartment is in. It was a tasty urban addition to my morning.

*Please note - this blog does not pretend to be based on facts. I'm too lazy to research things so don't take any of what I say as the gospel truth :)

Urban Living

I've lived in downtown Salem, Oregon for almost a year now, a fact that recently made me stop and think. For years it was my dream to live downtown. The thought of living in a hip urban space, above some businesses, in the heart of the city really appealed to me. But when that dream first arose, I was in my 20s and I had no means to accomplish it. So the dream sat as a seed that slowly grew until the time was right. In September of last year I packed up my little apartment on the outskirts of downtown and happily started my life as an urban dweller. My apartment is above a bar, next to a hair salon and a pizza place, and in the same building as a cider house, a spa, and a salon. I can walk about a block or two and hit four or five coffee shops, lots of dinner or lunch options, froyo, and tons more. I have a rooftop patio, my bedroom is a loft that I enter via a ladder, my bathroom is in an old elevator shaft, my ceilings are about 20 feet high, and my windows sit surrounded by an old brick wall. Oh, and I can buzz people into the building. You could pretty much say that my dreams came true :).

And while I've felt that I have embraced living downtown and my urban lifestyle to some degree, I paused to consider that I perhaps have not been fully embracing it. I've stopped by coffee shops, watched the sunset on the roof a few times, picked up dinner around the corner, randomly met up with friends downtown, walked lots of places, hosted parties, stuff like that, but I still feel like I should consider the options that are available to me to experience this period of urban living. I've renewed my lease for one more year and I want to make this one count.

And now, the blog.  Every good project has some guidelines and vision, right?  So here are some of mine.

Vision for the blog:  This blog will chronicle the things I do and ways that I embrace urban living in downtown Salem. This will encourage me to embrace Salem and give me a creative writing outlet, but I also hope it will encourage others to go out and do something fun in the city or to provide ideas for things to try out.

Rules: Anything I put on this blog has to be within walking distance for me from my apartment so that I truly embrace the urban downtown part of my current life. Plus, I love the fact that I rarely have to drive anywhere!  *Caveat:  If I do something really super cool within the Salem area and had to drive to get there, I might make a special exception.

Ready. Set. Embrace Salem.