Frequently posted things:

My fav sign at the protest today!

Preliminary estimates suggest over 1,500 people participated in today’s rally. You guys who turned out at the rally today were phenomenal. Lots of energy, great messaging, and excellent signage! So thank you to everyone who made it. And thank you to the folks at 50501 who helped make it happen!

Hello Salem community,

My name is Azi, and I’m an East African—originally from Ethiopia—who has proudly called Salem home for the past few years. Alongside my wife, an incredibly talented cook with deep roots in traditional Ethiopian cuisine, we’re in the early stages of bringing a dream to life: opening Salem’s first full-service Ethiopian restaurant.

We’ve been thinking about this for a long time, but before taking the final leap, I wanted to reach out and ask you — the community we love — for your honest input:

• Would you be excited to try authentic Ethiopian food right here in Salem? • What kinds of dishes or experiences would you want to see on the menu? • Have you ever tried Ethiopian food before? What did you love (or not love)? • Would cultural experiences like Ethiopian coffee ceremonies interest you?

Our goal is more than just serving food. It’s about sharing our heritage, building bridges through flavor, and creating a warm, inclusive space for everyone to connect.

Your feedback will mean everything to us — whether it’s encouragement, suggestions, or honest thoughts. We want this restaurant to be something that reflects the people it will serve.

Thank you so much for your support, Azi & Mimi (Future owners of Taste of Ethiopia – Salem)

My son and I showed up in downtown Salem, Oregon to show our support. We are indigenous and felt it was our duty to support our community. The rally was held in the park along center st. In front of the capitol building and Gold Man. The weather was perfect. The crowd was filled with so much love and positivity. I truly enjoyed my time and am proud to have been apart of this historic show of solidarity. Free Luigi. Black Lives Matter and #Landback

Does anyone know of any good spots to go stargazing near salem? Within 30 min or so? The eta Aquarius and the lyrids will be peaking near Easter Sunday and im looking for a spot to lay out a blanket and watch the show, assuming the weather cooperates.

Looking for a place that's away from city lights and preferably free with lots of space to get a away from other people that might show up.

I'm new-ish to the area and pregnant and feeling kinda trapped/ restless/ tired/ low motivation, but I know going out and doing stuff will help my mental state, so I'm looking for things to do. I am familiar with Salem as far as shopping/ errands go, but not as much for hang out spots or areas to chill. it's such a spread out city, there's probably pockets I'm missing as well.

thanks!

Hello friends, 32 m, looking for some good fishing buddies to go trout fishing with in the area and surroundings. I'm not super experienced but I love it when I can go, and i love to do a fish fry. Born and raised in Texas and grew up fishing for trout in the fall and winter(only times we could fish for trout). Would love to meet like minded down to earth and chill friends with a passion for nature and fishing (and possibly hunting), to hang with and form good connections too. Bit of an introvert so this is uncharted territory, ama. Thanks for taking the time to read/respond.

Had to spend the beautiful day yesterday cooped up inside all day at work, what is everyone heading out to do today? Perhaps just some ideas or to hear some positivity from the community on this nice day before the rain returns. I hope you all are having a great weekend so far!

It's nice that Salem finally gets some tech. We were supposed to get a robot factory https://www.salemreporter.com/2024/09/03/salem-factory-will-start-mass-producing-humanoid-robots-by-the-end-of-the-year/

Anyone know someone who works there? Did they actually open/start up yet?

I’m a nail tech that is just getting started here in Salem. You can find me on instagram and the QR code takes you to my booking site. I specialize in Gel-X and intricate nail designs. I also do basic manicures, and gel overlays.

Please, for the love of god, stop setting off mortars in South Salem. It’s killing me.

Is Minto Brown flooded right now, or is it traversable? I feel like I make the same mistake every year where I get super excited to go for the first bike ride of the year, head out to MB, and then get disappointed because half the trails are still covered in a foot deep of muck and grime.

So, other experienced cyclists; is Minto worth the trek yet? Or should I let it burn off a bit?

Bush’s Pasture Park is alive with color! The camas are almost at peak bloom, and the fawn-lily are just starting to fade. If you have not been to the park recently, this weekend would be a good time to visit and see the flower show.

My partner and I are having a baby in October and are currently living in a small studio. We would like to rent at least a one bedroom and would love to continue to rent from a private landlord. We have cats. We're happy to do month to month or have a yearly lease.

Let us know if you're moving out of a good spot or if you know any landlords who are looking to fill a space!

Thanks!

Hello, I’ll be going on a trip in May, and I’ll be gone for about 5/6 ish days, and need to find a place for my sweet darling girl, but I’ve always been iffy about them due to the horror stories I hear about them, so I’m hoping to see if anyone knows an affordable and trustworthy place where I can leave her until I get back from my trip. Thank you in advance

Learn what a zippermerge is. My goal isn't to JUST get ahead of you, I'm following the flow of traffic as the car in front of me went ahead of the car in front of you, so it's my turn. I can't believe I had to honk at you just for you to let me in.

What is that noise? It went off 3 times in the last 2 minutes.

Just found this funny, in a sad kind of way.

Hello, my fellow Salem residents. My name is Adam, and I am the secretary for the Japanese Studies Student Leaders club (JSSL) at Willamette University. I am making this post to inform you about a fun event the club holds every year at Willamette that is open for anyone to attend.

Every year, Willamette and JSSL host an event called "Sakura Matsuri" or Cherry Blossom festival. It is held to celebrate Japanese culture in Oregon by hosting musical and dance performances by Japanese bands and groups. In addition, there will be several booths where you can play games such as trying to pick up as many beans with chopsticks as possible within a certain amount of time, or create your very own onigiri, or rice ball.

The event is open for anyone to attend, and is free-to-enter, we would really appreciate if you were able to come with family or friends! Sakura Matsuri will be TOMORROW from 2-5pm. Feel free to show up and leave whenever you'd like. Thank you very much and we hope to see you then!

hearing a lot of yelling and screaming on the intersection of commercial se and state and seeing some guys jumping and dancing around cars lol

Gas today at Freddy’s on Commercial was $3.69-9/10. Last week it was $3.19-9/10. Up 50¢ since Wednesday.

These are half-free morels (Morchella populiphila).

We also get Morchella importuna that grow in freshly laid woodchips in flowerbeds and chipped trails. They're lovingly referred to as landscaping morels.

Yellow morels (Morchella americana) grow in habitats similar to half-free morels.

Morchella norvegiensis can be found around a variety of conifer trees but I've always had to travel a little outside Salem.

Head east into the Western Cascades and poke around the Santiam River for black morels 👍 You can chase them up into higher elevations through May and June.