Hey Salem,

Last week we asked if you thought we should host an online debate between Vanessa Nordyke and Julie Hoy. 90% of you said yes, so we are working on making it happen.

So far we have verbal commitments from both sides. Will work to keep you updated!

I was talking with my friend Brandon today, and he told me the story of Leavenworth, Washington.

In the 1960s, Leavenworth was a ghost town in the making. The railroad had pulled out, the timber industry had collapsed, and the town quite literally had no reason to exist.

Instead of waiting for a miracle, the community did something radical: they manufactured an identity. Business owners convinced one another to remodel their entire downtown into a Bavarian alpine village, peaked roofs, flower boxes, and all. They didn’t just change the architecture. They changed their future.

Today, that tiny town draws over 2 million visitors a year.

The lesson? Leavenworth didn't wait to be saved. They chose who they wanted to be, committed to it together, and made themselves impossible to ignore.

So…why can’t Salem do something this bold?

Unlike 1960s Leavenworth, we aren't starting from scratch. We are a state capital of 175,000 people with established businesses and a deep history. We have the engine, but who is steering?.

What if we became the Live Music Capital of the Pacific Northwest?

Imagine if Salem wasn't just known for "Make Music Day" once a year, but was recognized everywhere as a year-round performance hub. Imagine walking downtown on any given weekend and hearing live music everywhere.

Every shop shop, bar, and hotel would be packed.

Our local economy would thrive, and we could finally retire the phrase "Salem is boring".

Is this a massive undertaking? Yes. Is it possible? Absolutely.

We don't need permission to change our city. We just need to realize that Salem will go exactly where we decide to take it.

Wheels up, Salem. This will become the most fun part of .

Jacob

What’s Happening Salem is 100% free to read, independently owned, and locally operated (heck, it’s just me, Ernie and Em!). Our goal is to keep this space focused on building our community and making Salem more fun, not cluttering your inbox with ads.

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What started as a scheduling mix up for McKay High School sophomore Jose Caballero has turned into a growing passion. Assigned to Música de Mexico instead of an automotive class, Caballero picked up a guitar for the first time this fall and performed in his first mariachi concert just months later. Stories like his are common in McKay’s expanding mariachi program, led by first year teacher Cindy Flores, who now teaches about 100 high school students and another 40 middle schoolers across northeast Salem.

Flores is the Salem Keizer School District’s first full time mariachi music teacher and is already thinking big. On Saturday, Feb. 7, McKay will host a statewide mariachi festival running from 8:30AM to 7PM, bringing together every school mariachi program in Oregon, from elementary students to Portland State University musicians. Students will perform throughout the day and receive feedback from visiting professional musicians. Flores, a McKay alum herself, is building a long term program focused on progression, performance, and community connection, with the goal of keeping students engaged in music through graduation. (Salem Reporter)

🍷 Mo's Seafood & Wine Festival @Willamette Valley Vineyards • 12:00PM – 5:00PM
🏀 College Women’s Basketball: Willamette Bearcats vs Lewis & Clark @Willamette University, Sparks Center • 5:30PM
🪩 Darkwave Disco @Southside Speakeasy • 7:00PM
🛼 Open Roller Skating: Neon Glow @Cherry City MAD House • 7:30PM – 10:00PM
🏀 College Men’s Basketball: Willamette Bearcats vs Lewis & Clark @Willamette University, Sparks Center • 7:30PM

🧘 Yoga + Beer @Ratchet Brewery, 2475 25th St SE • 11:45AM – 12:45PM
🍷 Mo's Seafood & Wine Festival @Willamette Valley Vineyards • 12:00PM – 5:00PM
🎲 Adult Board Game Day @Salem Public Library • 2:00PM – 4:00PM
🛼 Roller Derby: Renegades vs Rose City Wreckers @Cherry City Roller Derby, 1335 Madison St NE • 6:00PM – 8:30PM
🎱 BINGO LOCO Early Show @Historic Grand Theatre • 6:00PM – 8:30PM
🎶 Make Music Salem FREE Countdown Event @f/stop Fitzgerald's Public House, 335 Grove St NE • 7:30PM • 21+
Live Music: Gabriel Cox Band @South Liberty Bar & Grill • 8:00PM • Submitted on our Event Submission Form! 🎉
🎱 BINGO LOCO Late Show @Historic Grand Theatre • 10:00PM – 12:30AM
🎧 4THECLUB: House, Reggaeton, and Party Anthems All Night! @The Side Hustle Bar • 10:00PM – 2:00AM

🍷 Mo's Seafood & Wine Festival @Willamette Valley Vineyards • 12:00PM – 5:00PM
💃 Salsa Night @VFW, 630 Hood St NE • 6:30PM – 10:00PM

🍷 Yoga + Wine @Chemeketa Cellars, 215 Doaks Ferry Rd NW • 6:00PM – 7:00PM

🧘 Free Intro to Zen Meditation @Salem Zen Center, 1485 Mill St SE • 7:30PM – 10:00PM

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Thanks for keeping up with Salem this week!

Spotted something interesting in town? Drop us a note at [email protected] We love hearing from you.

See you next Thursday,

Ernie