Special Events:
- Memorial Day Weekend Wine Tastings and Events
- Deepwood Wine and Jazz Fest, June 3
- 5 course Johnnie Walker Dinner at Jonathan's June 13
- The Mid-Valley Pairing Event @The Mill, June 24
- Family visiting? Check out "best places to eat" for ideas on where to take them or "movie times" to see the latest releases
- Who doesn't like a good coupon?
- Brunch? Eola Hills Winery, Ragin River Steak House and Orchard Heights Winery are good choices.
- Salem has 4 wine bars with regularly scheduled tastings/events: Santiam Wine Co., Grand Vines & Papa di vinos, Westside Wine Store, plus Wandering Aengus cider tasting house and Willamette Valley Cheese tasting room
- Salem Public Market is open EVERY Saturday, 8:30 am - 2pm
- Ready for something different? Check out "Dinner at the Rafns'". Cooking classes soon!
- Willamette Queen Sternwheeler has a regular schedule and special events
- Cooking classes: Lullu's tutto cucina, La Margarita, Kelly's Home Center, Happy Curry Foods, Carl's Cuisine-503 363-1612
- And of course check out Travel Salem and our many mid-valley wineries to explore
- Take a walk--check out the walking tours on this local blog.
- Looking for live music? Check out Gilgamesh, Roxxy NW, Christo's Lounge, Venti's, Boon's Treasury, IKE Box, Governor's Cup, Half Penny, Fireside Lounge @Oregon Garden Resort
- There's always something going on at Clockworks Cafe & Brown's Towne Lounge
- In the mood for some improv? Capitol City Theater
- Click on the following links for each theatre's calendar: The Elsinore, Historic Grand Theatre's, Pentacle Theatre
- Salem has 2 independent movie theaters: Northern Lights Theater Pub, Salem Cinema
- A list of Salem's numerous, must see art galleries.
- Want to know where to find Salem's parks, children's museum, pools or other places of interest? Click here to see the city's map.
- If it's a bike route map you need, click here or a link for area runs.
This is a little off-topic, since it's in Dallas, but there's a terrific new Sushi place in the old Capone's location at 957 Main ST. Tiga Sushi Bar & Japanese Resturant. SWMBO and I agree it's as good as we've had in the mid-valley. Check it out. It's a little pricy but, we thought, satisfied a yen that was worth every yen. Meshiagare!
ReplyDeleteTime for the S-J's "Best of the Mid-Valley" poll (again). 2012 nominations start today and run through 3/12 with voting to follow.
ReplyDeleteWe can't complain if we don't nominate and vote!! Make your thoughts known---go to: http://community.statesmanjournal.com/bestof2012/index.php
3-D
The REALLY cool thing about the SJ Best of votes is that you can vote over and over. Just a few little tricks to defeat the cookies/ip tracking and bingo. Especially if you are on your cell phone (IP randomness). Totally bogus results. So if you want a particular place to win you can vote 500 times (or more) a day.
ReplyDeleteI love it when the restaurant at the red lion motor lodge wins best steakhouse or best martini or best place to take a first date....Now that's really funny.
I totally agree that the process is horrible, but last year I vowed to at least do my part on the restaurant section to avoid the scenario you described.(Actually the steakhouse at the Red Lion is pretty decent :-)
ReplyDeleteThose who have been on this blog for a while have heard me rant about the year that Orchard Heights Winery was nominated in 18 (!!) categories including many for which they shouldn't have "qualified."
Salem has been the butt of many Portlanders' jokes---they metaphorically roll their eyes at what they consider our culinary wasteland.
Only my personal take, but I want to make sure my faves at least make the ballot.
DDD
I'm going to vote 500 times for olive garden as best I-talian
ReplyDeleteI'll jump the tracks again. These are both in Independence, but thought folks might want to know about them:
ReplyDeleteRestaurante El Mega Burrito
226 S Main ST
(Limited but authentic menu. My Carnitas Quesadilla was wonderful)
Moothart's Market
94 S Main ST
(Now has a Mexican grill and two sit-down booths. Typically good bodega grill food.)
I heard a rumor that the Smokehouse in Stayton is under new ownership and is BBQing a whole Pig, for their kick-off, this weekend. I tried their old phone number which is disconnected. THIS INFORMATION IS UNVERIFIED! (Caps for emphasis only) So if you drive out there and it's bogus, please don't shoot me. Will post as I learn more.
ReplyDeleteWe drove out to Stayton this morning and here's the scoop. They are closed today, but a young woman working there said they did BBQ a whole pig last night for their opening tomorrow (4/1/12) I hope it's not an April fool’s joke. She refused to give me the telephone number, which I thought was more than a little bizarre. A business with an unlisted number is a new one on me. She did not leave me with a positive first impression. I guess I'll take the bait and try again tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteNew food cart in Silvertion and it's worth the drive no matter where you coming from!! You have to try The Old Oak Oven! Amazing wood fired pizza in a cute little cart located on Jersey & Water St. The owner's (Katie & Daniel) are awesome and so is their pizza! We highly recommend the supreme... plenty of meat and really yummy sweet & spicy peppers. By the slice or whole pie! Open weds-sat 11am-4pm. For pics find them on twitter at "locogrinds". You won't be sorry! Delicious!
ReplyDeleteAfter three tries and 90 $4 per gallon miles, I finally got to sample Kev's Smoke House today........kind of. I see great potential here. The guy's minister made an announcement to the whole congregation this morning and they were just overwhelmed by the onslaught. I took me over an hour to get a Pulled Pork Sandwich and side of Beans to go. This contradicts my usual my-time-is-as-valuable-as-anybody's rule. But the guy was so genuinely apologetic and his situation was so obvious that I sloughed it today. The food was good and would probably have been great had I been able to enjoy it hot from the kitchen. I think we may have another superior Que joint in the making.
ReplyDeleteThe "American Kobe Beef" nonsense has troubled me for some time. Here, finally is a credible source exposing this scam which is being perpetrated (unwittingly or not) by some otherwise good eateries.
ReplyDeleteCheck this out:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/04/12/foods-biggest-scam-the-great-kobe-beef-lie/
Chuck, I think Kev's Smoke House is seeing how hungry we are in this area for good BBQ. Can't wait to try it. And I'm late to the party, but great point on that post. I'm glad to see that truth finally getting some wider press.
ReplyDeleteHad lunch at the new Jimmy John's. Their J. J. Gargantuan is quite a sandwich. I'd rate them above the other chain Sub/Hero/Po'Boy/Grinder shops around town but still no match for the locally owned Submarine Shop in Keizer which still rules the roost.
ReplyDeleteAnybody got the scoop on Panera Bread Company coming to Keizer? When, where, etc.?
ReplyDeletePanera? That's bad juju as my Irish relatives would say.
ReplyDeleteSupport local vendors to support the health of your local community!!!