I have to make a confession. I was a bit disturbed when it was reported that then Governor-elect John Kitzhaber would be living in Portland, implying that Salem was a nothing to do in Salem. I understand not wanting to be far from his son and granted we don’t have the same bright lights as Portland, but we aren’t without things to do.
While we don’t have the Portland Art Museum, we do have the Hallie Ford Museum of Art. Possibly one of Salem’s best kept secret treasures; John Olbrantz and his staff do a wonderful job bringing thoughtful changing exhibits to the museum while maintaining a permanent collection that celebrates the works of many of Oregon’s most noted artists and the Native Americans who originally settled this area. If you haven’t been you really should make a date to go (it’s even free on Tuesdays). We also have one of Oregon’s National Treasures at Mission Mill Museum and a top rated Children’s Museum at A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village.
While we don’t have the same number of concerts, we do have the Oregon Symphony, yes THE Oregon Symphony performing the same repertoire they do in Portland for this nine concert series, at about half the price. Not to mention we have the Salem Chamber Orchestra, Willamette Master Chorus, Festival Chorale Oregon and a number of other wonderful performing arts groups that cannot be found in the city to our north.
But then I remembered that Salem has changed a lot since Dr. Kitzhaber’s last term of office; the carousel had just opened (he cut the ribbon), the Elsinore had yet to be restored and the World Beat Festival was in its infancy, and while he is resigned to maintaining his residence in Portland, and I respect his commitment to being close to his son, I hope you and he will find the time to visit a few of our gems over the next four years. For more information about these and other events, visit www.artsmartsalem.org, and remember, “There’s Something to do in Salem.”
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