Tracy Torres“I hope she will be a fool — that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
— Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Katy Ogdahl is one of the sassiest dames in this here city. She will get you spiffed up in a dapper or flapper get up in Salem’s newest boutique, Gatsby. A third-generation Salemite, her last name may be familiar; the Willamette University football field — Ogdahl Field — is named in honor of her grandfather who was a long-time coach at the school. Although Katy left Salem for a bit, she returned to get her Masters in Education through Willamette University then went on to work for the Salem-Keizer School District. She spent 18 years as a teacher, instructional coach, behavior specialist and even a principal before deciding to move on to try her hand at something new.
In August, Katy opened a boutique in downtown Salem called Gatsby. Working hard to find different items, she lives the motto “life is a party” and believes you should always dress accordingly.
In addition to being a business owner, former educator and long-time Salem resident, Katy is a single mother of a 12-year-old son and a fierce competitor with Cherry City Roller Derby, with which she has been skating under the name Khaos for the past five years.
A gal with class and sass, Katy’s just the bee’s knees all around, so stop and let’s find out if this swanky doll knows her onions!
Favorite thing about Salem? My favorite thing about Salem is the small-town feel. Whether going to events in downtown or out to dinner at a restaurant on the outskirts, you see people who you know. My friends from our bigger neighboring city think I must be some sort of celebrity as we travel in and out of restaurants and bars here in Salem, and at each one we stop to catch up with the patrons, bartenders and servers. It’s like we are one big extended family here in Salem.
Favorite thing to do in Salem? I am so thankful for that big beautiful river traveling right through the heart of this city. Getting out on the Willamette to kayak or just float around is one of my favorite things to do. I’ve convinced friends to join me out on the jetty between the Willamette Queen and the Wallace Marine boat dock enough that they call it Khaos Island in honor of my roller derby alter ego. Teacher Katy, though, is always quick to tell them that it’s actually a peninsula and not an island.
Where would you go in a time machine? Right back to where I’m meant to be. I’d have that time machine drop me right off in the middle of the Jazz Age, maybe somewhere in New York where I could dress fancy, drink illegal booze and rub elbows with Zelda and F. Scott. Maybe I’d try to find the real Gatsby…I think I must have spent a past life there anyway. I even have my Facebook birth year set as 1908. People are quick to note that I’m not actually 111 but little do they know that I’m just dreaming of myself in a different era.
What is the title of the current chapter of your life? “Trusting My Instincts.” Leaving an 18-year career in education to go into business for myself is a great way to get other people’s opinions on logic and good life choices. Playing things safe and logical is one approach to life, but I’m choosing to take a risk, follow my heart and trust my instincts.
What topic could you spend hours talking about? My friends always make me tell the same stories over and over again about all of the bloopers in my life. I seem to just beg for strange and unusual things to happen to me, many of which involve embarrassing situations. I would go into more detail, but those stories are better in person over a shared beverage of sorts. If you see me out in public and have some time, remind me to tell you some of the tales.
What outdated slang do you use on a regular basis? Mostly the adjectives of my nineties upbringing: “Rad,” “Sweet,” ”Killer,” “Epic”…and so on.
What musical artist do you consider your guilty pleasure? I grew up not being able to decide if I was more into punk rock or hippie music. I recently went to the NOFX show “Punk in Drublic” and have plans to hit up the “Steal Your Mountain,” a Grateful Dead tribute show up at Timberline.
Where are you happiest? I really make an effort to love every moment, for what it’s worth. It’s ok to be happy for all experiences even when they are hard. Lately, though, my escapes to our beach house in Neskowin have made me feel very grateful and peaceful.
Beer or wine? Oh, wine by far. Specifically a big bold red. Some of my favorite local vineyards are Van Duzer, Left Coast Cellars, Mystic and Arcane (You can actually kayak to them.)
Chris Hemsworth or Chris Evans? Who?
Concert or play? Another easy one for me. Concert all day, every day. Although I really prefer concerts where I can enjoy them from stage, front and center. Music is the language of emotion and there’s nothing like experiencing the musician’s passion by being on the front line.
This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 9 (Oct/Nov 2019).
The Instigator
