The ice is melting off Salem streets, and this weekend has plenty of fun remedies in store to relieve your cabin fever.
From a recap of this year’s best books to a psychic comedy show, this is your guide to Salem events from Friday, Jan. 19, to Sunday, Jan. 21.
Catch a play
The Pentacle Theatre will begin its 70th season on Thursday with opening night of Brighton Beach Memoirs.
Written by Neil Simon, the play is an autobiographical and comedic look at his life as a teenager in Brooklyn in 1937. The narrator, Eugene Morris Jerome, is Jewish and the son of Polish immigrants, and the family feels the pressure of tough economic times and the looming threat of war. The play is the first in a trilogy by Simon, with later installments showing his time in World War II.
Performances this week are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, then 2 p.m. Sunday. The show is set to run through Saturday, Feb. 3.
You can buy tickets online or by calling the box office at 503-485-4300. Prices range from $22 to $48. Students and Oregon Trail Card holders are eligible for half-off prices in select seating areas. Tickets can also be bought at the downtown Salem box office the day of performances at 197 Liberty St. S.E. Read our story about the play here.
Legislative session preview
Hear from Oregon lawmakers about what could be in store for the upcoming legislative session at a Salem City Club meeting this Friday.
The meeting is titled “Big Decisions: Preview of the 2024 Oregon Legislative Session.” House Speaker Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis) and House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich (Hood River) will share “their expectations and hopes for the upcoming session as well as their understanding of what appears on the formal agenda at this point,” according to an event listing.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the event runs from noon to 1 p.m. in the Spinning Room at the Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St. S.E. Admission is free for City Club members and $10 for non-members. Registration can be done online.
Planetarium show
The winter show at Chemeketa Community College’s planetarium opens at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19. “Eclipse: The Sun Revealed” will be presented by Chris Claysmith, who manages the planetarium on Chemeketa’s Salem campus, 4000 Lancaster Dr. N.E., in Building 2, Room 171. Read our story about Claysmith here.
The event is timely, as a total solar eclipse will be visible in North America April 8. “Join us as we journey through the historical and cultural view of eclipses, the geometry that permits them to occur, and safety hints on how to see this rare event. All shows include a brief introduction that explores the night time sky over Salem during this season of the year,” an event listing said.
Subsequent shows are on Jan. 26; Feb. 2, 9, 16, and 23; and March 1, 8 and 15. Seating is first-come, first-served with a cap of 60 people. Tickets are $5, or $4 for children and Chemeketa students. Admission is cash only. Learn more about the shows on the planetarium website.
Prep for retirement
Center 50+, 2615 Portland Rd. N.E., is hosting a free Retirement Retreat on Saturday, Jan. 20. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a continental breakfast and lunch, two keynote speakers and 15 breakout sessions to choose from.
Topics will include Medicaid 101, financial planning, estate planning, senior living options, fall prevention, improving your hip and knee Health, HomeShare Oregon, Reverse Mortgages, brain health, travel and having difficult conversations with family, according to an event listing.
Those who attend can also have a glass of wine and hors d’oeuvres at the happy hour reception and vendor fair. Register in advance by calling 503-588-6303
Top reads
Looking to add to your reading list? Librarians at the Salem Public Library will share the best books of 2023 on Saturday at 2 p.m. The picks were voted on by library staff, library patrons and critics.
The free event will be in the Anderson rooms at the library, 585 Liberty St. S.E. Seating is first-come, first-served, and ASL interpretation will be provided.
Free health screenings at Kroc Center
The annual Kroc Health Fair on Saturday will be a free event focused on nutrition, health and wellness. It’s scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kroc Center, 1865 Bill Frey Dr.
Those who attend the fair will get a free family day pass to swim and can sign up for a Kroc membership without the standard $75 registration fee.
The event will feature dozens of vendors with health-related products, according to organizers. Providers will include Acorn Pediatric Dentistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Salem Health, Cherry City Chiropractic, Medical Teams International, The Oral Cancer Foundation, Salem Free clinics, Sensible Rehab and Portland State University.
Free screenings and services at the fair will include a computerized nerve scan posture analysis, percentage body fat test, dental screenings, youth sports physical and screenings related to skin cancer, oral cancer, blood pressure, blood sugar, mental health and speech.
Find more information online.
Dancing
Later that evening, the Kroc Center will host beginner-level Latin dance classes that will include salsa, merengue, bachata.
The event will take place Saturday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Admission is free for Kroc members and $10 for non-members.
The first hour will be instruction, then an hour of open dance to practice what was taught. “Come in couples or by yourself,” an event listing said. Everyone who attends will exchange dance partners.
Registration can be done online.
You can also dance for a good cause on Saturday at the Gen-X Video Dance Party, hosted by the Willamette Heritage Center. You can dance to 80s and 90s favorites, with music and videos by DJ42 from 105.5 FM The Moon.
The all-ages event will raise money for Make Music Day, a June 21 event holiday when dozens of local artists will be stationed throughout the city all day to perform live music.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and music starts at 7 p.m. in the Heritage Center’s Spinning Room, 1313 Mill St. S.E. Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the door. Cocktails will be provided by Taproot Old Mill Cafe.
Roller skating
Traveling Wheelz is hosting two open skate events on Saturday for all ages.
Those who attend are encouraged to dress as their favorite character. People can bring their own skates or rent them for $5. Traveling Wheelz has quad skates, inlines, pads and helmets for rent.
Tickets are $10, or $100 for eight skaters including skate rentals. Register online for the first session, 3-5 p.m., or the second session, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
They will be held at the Madhouse, 1335 Madison St. N.E. Find more information online.
Psychic comedy
Peter Antoniou will combine mind-reading and comedy for a live show on Saturday at Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre.
Antoniou has performed on America’s Got Talent, headlined in Las Vegas and sold out shows in London’s West End. “Combining razor-sharp British wit with a stunning ability to know exactly what you are thinking, Peter’s shows are interactive and unforgettable,” an event listing said.
The show runs from 8-9:30 p.m. Tickets can be bought online for $20.
Yoga, art and drinks
Xicha Brewing North, 2195 Hyacinth St. N.E. #162, hosts a monthly all-levels yoga class in its taproom before it opens to the public. Participate in the class from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, then stay for a beer and food.
The venue suggests a $5-$10 donation per practice. “Our donation-based model for Salem-area classes is made possible because our hosts donate their space for our practice. All yogis in attendance are expected to support our host in some way – via the purchase of wine, gift card, merch, or other form of support,” an event listing said. Advance registration is recommended, as classes are expected to fill up.
Traveling art company We Make Art is also hosting a step-by-step paint class “loaded with fun and laughter,” a listing said. The event is Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at Ratchet Brewery, 2475 25th St. S.E.
No experience is needed. Acrylic paints will be used on a 11×14 canvas, and beverages can be bought during the class.
Admission is $35 per person. No walk-ins are allowed, and organizers recommend that groups of two or more who want to sit together arrive early to reserve seats. Email them at [email protected] or check the website for more information.
Ceramics
Join Family Clay Sunday three times a month at the WIllamette Art Center, 1820 Silverton Rd. N.E.
This Sunday’s theme is ceramic glazing and techniques. “Bring the whole family for some quality together time and learn simple hand-built projects that are fun for everyone,” an event listing said.
Drop in anytime between 12PM and 3PM. Admission is $5 per person.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
