The Playlist — Things to do Mar 6-9, 2025

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A Note from the Instigator....

Happy (almost) Spring! I know, I know, we still have a couple weeks before it's official, but I mark times by editions and guess what...The Spring edition of Press Play Salem has arrived! Print will be landing soon, but until then, you can check out the digital edition here (and I'm getting all the things added to the website, too, so watch that space for more goodies!) This edition takes us on a road trip into Salem's foodie side. Enjoy it...and all these wonderful things to do this weekend!

 — Carlee, The Instigator

Press Play Salem issue 23 | Spring 2025

Featuring cover art by Melissa Rivers

Thursday Highlights

There will be a free public conversation between Photographer Nancy Floyd and Curator Julia Dolan, discussing the photographer’s art, life, and career, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in Roger Hull Lecture Hall at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art

Relief Printing for Beginners: Carve and Print a Daffodil — Join Wizard Kelu for a hands-on introduction to relief printing! In this beginner-friendly class, you’ll learn the entire process of creating your own daffodil print. From drawing and transferring your design, to carving, inking, and printing. All materials will be provided, including extra Speedy carve for practice. No experience needed - just bring your creativity! 6 p.m. March 6 at Creativitee & rofe designs, 110 Commercial St NE. Click here to register.

Fusion Art Show features 50 poets, photographers, and painters. It is free and open to the public. Poets will read their poems, and photographers and painters will explain how they interpreted them. There is also a gallery display featuring their work which will be on display through April. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6 at Psalm Performing Art Center at Corban University, 5000 Deer Park Dr SE

Celebrate Women

A Celebration of Women in Wine! — Celebrate and support women-owned businesses with a vibrant Women’s Market, featuring incredible local treasures and live music by Lisa James (1 to 4 p.m.). Plus, a special screening of the feature-length documentary ‘Women of Pinot’, which shares the stories of 21 women winemakers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley (5 to 7 p.m.). The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the Director Bruce M. Jaqua. 1 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Cória Estates, 8252 Redstone Ave SE. exploretock.com/coriaestates

Fetes des Femmes is a tribute to International Women’s Day that brings together an extraordinary array of performances from around the globe and through the decades, all in celebration of countless contributions women have made to the world of music. Join in celebrating the timeless voices and talents that have paved the way for centuries of female musicians and artists. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, in Hudson Hall at Willamette University. Click here for tickets.

This weekly newsletter is free...because we want you to get out and play!

Coffee helps keep us going... ☕ and every sip is appreciated! ❤️ 

Explore

The First Friday Art Walk is happening from 5 to 8 p.m. March 7 in downtown Salem. Wander the city to enjoy local art, pop-up events, live music, and more. 

Dance

Swing night returns! Featuring a Doubletime Swing and Collegiate Shag Lesson with Mz. Jitterbug, followed by Live music from Whole Lotta Louis, showcasing the best of Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, and Louis Prima. Don't have a partner?  No problem — they will match you up with one. Don't want to dance? No problem — you are welcome to just go enjoy the live music. Doors: 6:30 p.m. Swing Lesson: 7 p.m. Live music: 8 p.m. March 7 at The Bad Space. Click here for tickets.

Learn

Salem Art Association presents two free lectures by local Art History teacher Philip Nickel. Philip has been teaching Art History for the last 22 years at Sprague High School. He describes his experience with developing an art history program at Sprague as a unique opportunity that’s been incredibly rewarding, adding that, “Having been dragged to museums from the time I could walk, I discovered that art history was a natural outgrowth of my political, literary, and cultural interests.” Session 1: Identity Politics – Power and Authority, takes place 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 7 at Bush Barn Art Center. Free but registration requested. Learn more and register here. (PS: Session 2, on Resistance and Rebellion, takes place March 14)

Skate

Traveling Wheelz hosts Open Skate starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 7 (and March 14, 21 and 28, too!) at The Mad House. Learn more here.

Paint…and Sing

Xicha Brewing hosts Cantarito Paint Night, followed by a Karaoke to Remember Paquita la del Barrio, hosted by DJ SHOTZ, 8 p.m. Saturday, March 8 at 2195 Hyacinth St NE #162. Click here to register for this 18 and older event.

Laugh

Stand Up Comedy with Susan Rice and Cory Michaelis — Susan Rice, voted "Portland’s Funniest Person" by Willamette Weekly, brings decades of experience from comedy clubs and corporate events nationwide. Known for her wit and charm, she’s guaranteed to keep the laughs rolling.

Joining her is Cory Michaelis, a former high school teacher turned comedian, whose Dry Bar Comedy Special, "Bad Teacher," racked up over 60 million views. Cory’s act is sharp, irreverent, and definitely not classroom-friendly! 8 p.m. March 8 at Salem's Historic Grand Theatre. Click here for tickets.

Laugh some More

Get your laugh on with comedian Mike Glazer who smoked with Snoop, cooked with Gordon Ramsay, and won a gold medal as a roller hockey goalie for Team USA. Two chances to see the show: March 7 — 7 p.m. (All Ages) and 9:30 p.m. (21 and older) at Infinity Room. $15 in advance/$20 at the doors. Click here for tickets.

Shop Local

Salem Saturday Market featuring a rotating line-up of 150 vendors selling local produce, hand-made products and more, is now open for the season. Shop 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through October in the parking lot at 865 Marion St NE. salemcommunitymarkets.com

Feast

The Winemaker’s Dinner is a recurring experience on the second Thursday of the month, take in a six-course meal thoughtfully paired with wines from a local maker. Each month features a different winery and this month its Zenith Vineyard, Mar 13 — 5 to 9 p.m. at The Cozy Taberna, 249 Liberty St NE #140. thecozytaberna.com

Listen

From Chicken to Eagle: Seven women paddling whitewater and navigating life — With matching power strokes, the bow of their yellow canoe knifed into the crest of the standing wave. Behind them, one at a time, three other boats entered the Class 4 Canyon Rapids, listed as unrunnable in open canoes.

From Chicken to Eagle is a story of seven courageous women who took a wilderness adventure at a time—1979—when women were testing their mettle in society and the outdoors. They accomplished things that were beyond their imaginations and comfort levels, on the river and across the next forty years. This hour-long presentation features a brief slideshow, three authors readings from their chapters, and time for questions. 11 a.m. March 8 in the Anderson Room at Salem Public Library, 585 Liberty St SE

Do Yoga

Join Yoga Escape for St. Paddy’s Yoga, where you will invoke luck & blessings with this special practice that includes a gentle flow class taught by Catherine Albertini, a St. Paddy’s ‘Swerte’ yoga tank or t-shirt (you may also upgrade to sweatshirt) — created by Roanna specifically for this class only — and a private shopping experience after class that includes drinks and treats. 6 to 8:30 p.m. March 8 at Creativitee & rofe designs, 110 Commercial St NE. Click here to register. 

This weekend at Salem Cinema...

MUSIC

The Black Jacket Symphony presents The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” —note for note, sound for sound—plus a full set of The Beatles’ greatest hits. Over the past ten years, the Black Jacket Symphony has performed over 40 classic rock albums, bringing an incredible night of entertainment to over a million music lovers across the US. The group of hand-picked musicians changes based upon the album being performed—and no sonic detail is overlooked, with the musicians doing whatever it takes to reproduce the album. It’s a full night of rock and roll magic—plus a visual experience unlike any other. 8 p.m. Friday, March 7 at Elsinore Theatre. Tickets start at $25 (and there is a BOGO discount available while supplies last!)  Click here for tickets.

Copland & Sibelius: Sounds of Spring — The first warm, fragrant breezes of spring waft through the pages of two beloved works: Copland's Appalachian Spring, a tender portrayal of rural American life, and Sibelius's Fifth Symphony, with its heart-stopping vision of swans soaring across an April sky. Plus, Stephen Waarts makes his debut with your Oregon Symphony to perform Samuel Barber's stunning violin concerto. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 7 in Smith Auditorium, Willamette University. Tickets starting at $37. Click here for tickets.

Live Band Karaoke at The Grand — Your band awaits! Take in a night of music featuring YOU, 8 p.m. March 7 at Salem's Historic Grand Theatre. All ages - $5 cover. Click here for tickets. 

Eagle Eyes – Eagles tribute is ‘THE’ tribute to the legendary California country rock band. Audiences are mesmerized by this group of Vancouver, B.C. musicians’ precise vocal harmonies and service to the smallest of details in performing songs spanning the extensive Eagles’ Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame Career (including a few Joe Walsh selections). 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Mar 8, at Elsinore Theatre. Click here for tickets.

Willamette Master Chorus presents Music from Latin America with instrumental Mariachi and invited high school choir student collaborators from Salem/Keizer, Woodburn, Stayton, Silverton, plus professional Caribbean Style Ensemble with guest conductor Wallace Long. 3 p.m. March 9 in Hudson Hall at Willamette University. $27. Click here for tickets.

Camerata Musica presents a free concert with Salem String Quartet, 2:30 p.m. March 9 at The Unitarian Universalist Church. Click here for more info.

March Movie Madness — The Salem Pops and Western Oregon Orchestra invite you to a celebration of movie music magic featuring selections from “Wicked”, “The Lion King”, “Jurassic Park”, and many more! 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9 at the East Salem Community Center. Click here for tickets.

Falling Doves with Special Guest Cantua — Dig up that leather jacket and put on your finest rock threads. Get ready to be electrified by rock’s most fashionably dangerous band. The Falling Doves may very well save rock ‘n’ roll… in style. And Pablo Cantua is a Latin guitarist based in San Diego, blending influences from Latin, rock, jazz, and flamenco. 6 p.m. March 9, at Salem's Historic Grand Theatre. Click here for tickets.

On Stage

Corban Theatre presents Spring Play: Good Wives — Marriages, career choices, engagements, health problems, travels, friendships, and family—these are only a few of the situations the March family encounter in the popular classic tale Good Wives, written by the famous Louisa May Alcott as a sequel to Little Women. Join Corban University’s Theatre Group as they stage Peter Clapham’s stage adaptation of Alcott’s novel. Directed by Tamara McGinnis. 7:30 p.m. March 7-8, 14-15, and 2 p.m. March 16 at Psalm Performing Arts Center at Corban University, 5000 Deer Park Dr SE. corban.edu/arts/theatre-arts/events/

Plus Explore Art

Level 2 Gallery

Such as...

  • Nationally recognized mixed-media artist Brenda Mallory: The North Star Changes at Hallie Ford Museum of Art, 700 State St | 503-370-6855, willamette.edu/arts/hfma
  • Nancy Floyd: For the Love of Trees at Hallie Ford Museum of Art, 700 State St | 503-370-6855, willamette.edu/arts/hfma
  • New Energy: New Work by M. Shoki Tanabe and Adam Zeek at Level 2 Gallery on the Second Floor at Salem Convention Center | 503-589-1700, oregonartistsseries.com (Plus see an extension of this exhibit in the Art Hall at Salem Public Library)
  • Featured artist April Waters’ “Sheroes” plus guess artist Cedar Lee at Salem on the Edge, 156 Liberty St NE | salemontheedge.com 
  • Special feature of the work of co-op member Michelle Myers, watercolor, at the AiA Gallery, 444 Ferry St SE | AiAArtGallery.org 

Click here for a full list of what's on exhibit this March.

Got an event? Submit it here.