"Beyond the Bubble": Explore Salem

During the first few weeks spent at Willamette University, I heard several stories of an underground tunnel that runs underneath Salem’s Capitol Building.  Of course, such stories piqued my interest; I have never walked through an underground tunnel– let alone one that runs under a building as impressive as the Capitol Building.  After some research, I discovered that the underground tunnel, amongst several other additions, was not added until 1977, 38 years after the Capitol’s construction.  Upon even further research, I found out that the tunnel and an underground parking lot are geared towards the preservation of nature, as well as a lot of history not immediately apparent.  I made up my mind:  I would visit this tunnel for my excursion and see it once and for all and discover as much as possible regarding its functionality.

After opening the doors to reveal the greatly anticipated underground tunnel, I found myself staring at a bland corridor.  Stark white walls and a ceiling lined with rows of overbearing fluorescent lights stretched out before me.  Regardless of my immediate disappointment, I wanted to give the “tunnel” a chance and continued on my walk-through.  After walking several paces into the tunnel, paintings appeared and offered a wonderful change because they added some atmosphere to the otherwise jail-like hallway.

The lack of atmosphere in the tunnel brought me to question its functionality:  what purposes does it serve?  The tunnel clearly functions as a path to the underground parking lot as well as several buildings up to a few blocks away from the Capitol.  Lots of people work at the Capitol, and the large parking lot provides adequate parking space for them.   Now, why is the parking lot underground?  The beautiful State Capitol State Park lies above the parking lot.  The park greatly adds to the beauty of the Capitol’s property, and if the large parking lot were above ground there would be no room for such a beautiful addition.  From my early observations of Salem, nature is greatly valued– with tree-lined streets and sprawling parks dotting the city.  Furthermore, the Salem Capitol itself is geared towards “green-friendly” options and contains the first solar panels on any Capitol Building in the United States.  The Capitol Building also reflects this value of natural beauty by having a park rather than an industrial parking lot in front of the building.The tunnel and other related additions reflect a 1970’s style, in which functionality and modernism is valued over classic grandeur (thenewstribune).  I can speculate that the tunnel reflects this style, which explains the lack of atmosphere.  A lot of history of the Capitol Building conceals itself and a deeper discovery requires more than what strikes visitors at first glance.

Works cited:
Donald, Doug. “Greek Architecture on Modern Buildings in the U.S.” EHow. Demand Media, 01 Apr. 2011. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

Ponnekanti, Rosemary. “Brutalist Architecture: Cold, Hard and – Well – Simply Brutal.” Tacoma News Tribune. The News Tribune, 24 Nov. 2009. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

“Capitol Tour – Oregon’s State Capitol.” Capitol Tour – Oregon’s State Capitol. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.

By Carson Foreman, 10/20/12

Near the corner of High and State Streets, there is a magical place called Twinsies, a combination cupcake bakery and coffee shop.  Only open since March of this year, the new business joins the national cupcake craze as one of many new cupcake bakeries opening all across the country.  However, this bakery stands out from the crowd with its exceptional cupcakes.  The store is open Monday-Friday from nine in the morning until seven at night, and Saturdays from ten thirty until seven.  Cupcakes are available in boxes of one, two, four, six, or a full dozen.  In my humble opinion, the cupcakes at this store are absolutely delicious.

The shop is run by two lovely ladies named Becky and Condessa.  Condessa is Becky’s mother in law, but they seem to get along well as business partners.  The banter and conversations between the two are quick, witty, and entertaining, with Condessa always touting the new flavors they have prepared for that day.  The fun character of the store reflects their larger than life personalities and interactions.  Like the friendly owners, the store’s atmosphere emanates warmth and friendliness, from the hand painted signs to the old school soda fountain tables.

Twinsies usually offers about eight different flavors, all composed of a magical stack of quality cake, frosting, and sometimes filling.  The classic chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet are normally in stock; however the display case is also full of unusual and delicious flavors, everything from Oreo to virgin margarita to maple bar cupcakes.  Becky and Condessa like to boast that their cupcakes have about twice the normal filling than other cupcake bakeries, and also brag about the dense and moist texture of their cupcakes.  Both claims are absolutely true.  For example, let me describe my favorite flavor: the lemonade cupcake.  From the first bite of this cupcake, the scent of lemon zest emanates from every delicious part, coming from both the sweet and buttery frosting and the moist, tender cake.  By the second bite, an explosion of fresh lemon curd enters the scene, mingling and strengthening the lemon taste, and adding an element of smooth, creamy texture.  To shorten this description to two words: simply delicious.

Works cited:
“Twinsies Coffee and Cupcakes.” Twinsies Coffee and Cupcakes. Twinsies Coffee and Cupcakes, Mar. 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.

By Brenna Smelt, 10/20/12

The Elsinore Theatre is one of the main attractions of Salem, Oregon. It entertains not only the residents of Salem, but also the residents of the entire state. People from all over Oregon come to watch comedy shows, plays, and classic and silent films at Elsinore. When Elsinore first opened in May 1926, it attracted everyone to come watch films because most families didn’t have televisions. After going through many changes in ownership, no one paid much attention to it anymore. In the 1970s, the Elsinore Theatre risked closure, but a group of citizens created the “Save the Elsinore Committee.” Consultants said the only way the Elsinore Theatre would be restored, would be if the Salem community made it grandeur like it used to be. Finally, in 1986, on Elsinore’s 60^th birthday, the Save the Elsinore Committee was given $130,000 to restore the theatre. After the addition of many amenities to the theatre, it still stands to this day and is as successful as it was in the 1920s.

When I visited the Elsinore Theatre, I was intrigued by everything outside and inside the building. The first thing I noticed as I walked up to the theater was the window of the administrative office, which was plastered with posters for many upcoming events. It was exciting to see that so many shows, musicals and other performances would be coming to Salem. Amongst those posters was a notice that said the Elsinore Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 17^th, 1994.  No wonder, the architecture inside the theatre was extremely detailed. It reminded me of the castle in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The lighting was dim and ascended to the balcony seats on the left and right hand side of the theatre. Old Shakespearean-themed paintings covered the swalls and beautiful glass paintings illuminated the main entrance. Inside the theatre hall, gargantuan arches look as if they were made out of marble (its plaster!) reveal detailed carving. Most importantly, the screen was enormous! The theatre seats 1,200 people and always has some hundred people come to every show and sometimes has a full house. This made me realize that Salem’s community and other citizens of Oregon are really keeping the theater alive!

Watching a movie at Elsinore is surely a great experience since it’s not your average movie theatre. I watched a movie called Warren Miller’s: Flow State, a movie for ski-lovers. Even though I am not an avid skier, I was curious to see what kind of crowd would be there. The crowd was full of people of different ages. There were excited children, teenagers, young adults, and some seniors as well. As it turns out, it wasn’t just a movie. A speaker came out on stage and talked about Warren Miller and what we would be seeing in the short film. During the intermission, there was a raffle that the audience could participate in to win prizes. People were cheering and getting involved with the speaker. I felt comfortable in the exciting environment. Although our generation is more interested in watching mainstream movies, Elsinore attracts crowds of all ages by playing classic films, putting on musicals, and different types of entertaining shows.

Elsinore also offers Willamette students an opportunity to be a part of the community. The administrative office has a bookshelf full of applications, pamphlets, and advertisements for upcoming shows. There is a volunteer application, which is a great opportunity for Willamette students to help out the Elsinore Theatre. Volunteers are required to clean up, monitor the theatre, be an office assistant, distribute posters, usher people, and collect tickets.

Works cited:
“Historic Elsinore Theatre.” Historic Elsinore Theatre. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2012.

By Taneesh Sra, 10/20/12

As a child in Hawai’i, my dad and I would go to fish markets weekly. This frequency made me rather knowledgeable about fish. In search of a fish market in Salem, I was recommended to Fitts’ Seafood, located on 1555 12th Street SE, a mile south of Willamette University. I walked there from campus and when I entered, the smell of salt water and fish greeted me. To my inner child, I was back home in O’ahu. Inside, a “fishmonger”, or skilled fish butcher, helped me immediately. I told him that I was at the market as an assignment for my class; I received a grand tour and permission to ask the staff to move if they obstructed my view for photographs. This gesture of courtesy showed me that the folks at Fitts’ weren’t concerned about money, but making sure that each customer had a great experience.

It is clear to see that Fitts’ and my favorite fish market back home have two important things in common: customer service, and freshness of product. Back home, my dad and I knew a fishmonger, whom I knew as “Aunty”. Once, I pointed to each fish being sold and she told me all the information about each fish. The fishmonger at Fitts’ did the same thing for me. He guided me to a cheap, high quality cut of fish, which saved me around ten dollars; I thought to myself, “What great service!” Fitts’ will now be my main fish market that I go to while at Willamette. These fishmongers at Fitts’ are now family to me.

I know that if Salem didn’t have Fitts’, Salem would lose a very vital part of its rich history. Old places such as Fitts’ Seafood add a cultural significance to Salem. Since opening in 1901, there have been multiple generations of fishmongers helping many customers in the exact way that I was helped. They add a standard of excellence to the community of Salem with outstanding products and the way they take care of everyone. This dedication makes us feel like family, not customers. Owner Rod Purdy said that, “I’ve been waiting on the same people for generations” (Hobbs). Much like “Aunty”, Rod has served generations of families, making him a very vital part of Fitts’ Seafood and the community of Salem.

Works Cited:
Hobbs, Evan. “Seafood Store Spawns into South Salem.” WillametteLive.Com. Willamette Media. Web. 17 Nov 2012.

By Melvin Miyashiro, 10/20/12

I found a place in Salem where I can regularly get my hair cut for a reasonable price of fifteen dollars and meet some of the local Salem community along the way. Wayne’s King’s Men is a barbershop located on 13th street in Salem just a few blocks from campus. When I first entered Wayne’s King’s Men, a man I later found out was Wayne told me haircuts are by appointment only, so I signed up for a Thursday morning and returned later. I discovered Wayne’s feels like a classic barbershop that could be seen in a movie, but with less atmosphere than most because it is by appointment only.

In the end a haircut is the same no matter where you get it, but when you go to a real barbershop you pay for the haircut and the experience. A few days before I came to Willamette I talked with my barber back home. He said, “Find the place that offers the best haircut for your money. Nobody will know where you got your haircut, but they will know if it looks good or not.” Beyond getting a haircut, a barbershop is a place for men to talk about whatever they want with no filter. Only men go there resulting in a very casual place where one can shoot the bull. In a barbershop one can hear many different opinions on topics that range from sports, pop culture, women or politics. A barbershop provides an enlightening experience through convergence of so many people of different ages and backgrounds. Here men do tend to “open up” more to “the guys” because of the casual environment and truly customers at barbershops do become “the guys” because they likely see each other every time they get a haircut.

Wayne’s King’s Men is a classic barbershop in Salem and seems to have loyal customers who come back time after time to get a haircut. When I sat down for my haircut I came to the realization I was the only customer in the shop. Even though nobody was there I could tell he had many customers because his appointment sheet was completely full. As I talked with Wayne Jr., I found out the television sitting on a chair was two weeks old and the only “new” thing in the shop. At Wayne’s a customer makes an appointment, sits for a haircut, and walks out the door in less than half an hour. This takes away from the atmosphere of the barbershop because, instead of four or five guys sitting around watching ESPN and talking about sports, it is just you and the barber cutting your hair. Wayne’s King’s Men is the closest, easiest and cheapest place for me to get a haircut. It caters college students because it is quick and easy, but doesn’t quite have the barbershop atmosphere I am used to. Maybe the new television will change things at Wayne’s King’s Men.

By Jackson Watt, 10/4/2012