Carlee WrightNOTE: This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 10 (Dec 2019/Jan 2020) — some information may be out of date due to COVID-19.
Seasonal celebrations have gift-giving on our mind, but where to start? A little research and we found gift ideas for everyone. No matter who is on your list, we’ve got an idea (or five) for them. Check out our curated list featuring some of our favorite spots to shop in Salem.
The Salemite
For the person who oozes love of our city, why not support their enthusiasm with Salem swag? Here are a few of our top picks. The Moxie Initiative is a local nonprofit that hosts community-building events and has created a line of pro-Salem shirts and stickers to help support its activities — moxieinitiative.org. CauseWagon creates shirts and stickers that celebrate the Pacific Northwest and a portion of their funds support various causes — causewagon.com. This is Salem crafts area-specific swag: NorSal, SoSal, WestSide — thisissalem.com. Proud Salemander is the community celebrating the creative side of graphic/web designer Brooke Schelar — proudsalemander.etsy.com. Stickers are a great grab and go and you can find some cool ones at Top Drawer, 198 Liberty St. NE — instagram.com/topdrawersalem
The Chef
Got gadgets? Willamette Valley Kitchen Co., 333 Chemeketa St. NE, is a must-visit whether looking for something for a kitchen connoisseur, a budding baker or a gadget geek. From reusable snack sacks to cookie cutters for every occasion (even some of those adult ones — they keep them behind the counter), this store is bursting with tools of all types and for all levels of interest and experience — willamettevalleykitchenco.com
The Adventurer
For the outdoor enthusiast, the adventurer, the avid traveler…The people at Salem Summit Co., 240 Commercial St. NE, have a passion for playing outdoors. And this locally-owned gear and apparel outfitter wants to help you prepare for your next adventure (or in this case, can recommend what’s hot this season) — salemsummitco.com
Bike Peddler, 174 Commercial St. NE, is a full-service bike shop offering sales, repair, parts and fitting. Yep, there’s such a thing as fitting for a bike so you can be sure to get just what you want and need. They also offer rentals, because “sometimes it’s nice to borrow and not own.” — bikepeddler.com
Climb your way into their heart with a gift from The Rock Boxx Climbing Gym, 3895 Cascadia Canyon Ave. SE, an indoor bouldering gym with 5,400 square feet of professionally designed and built climbing walls for all levels of experience — therockboxx.com
The Kid
These shops offer some fun kid-friendly ideas, you may even find something for family or friends, too.
The Freckled Bee, 105 Liberty St. NE, is a newer addition to downtown Salem offering some fun kids items (and goodies for mom and dad, too) from capes and costumes for imagination play to custom laser engraved keepsakes — facebook.com/thefreckledbeeco
Mint Baby • Body • Decor, 519 Chemeketa St. NE, specializes in local, handmade baby accessories and organic body products along with unique nursery decor and gifts — facebook.com/MintBabyDecor
Salem’s Riverfront Carousel, 101 Front St. NE, provides a memorable experience (for all ages) with rides starting at $1.50 per person and seasonal events that are sure to please the kids. Plus, the Carousel Gift Gallery is filled with toys, apparel, books and more — salemcarousel.org
The Creative
Draw. Cut. Wear. At CreativiTEE, 110 Commercial St. NE, you can design and create a one of a kind gift (or shop from their artfully curated boutique). Make a t-shirt, a trucker hat or more, or get a gift card so your recipient can create their own. They also host events and starting in January will have Creative Nights for those 21 and older for $30/night or $75 for a 3-month subscription — creativiteespace.com
Break out your creativity and paint your own pottery at Create-A-Memory, 270 Commercial St. NE. In addition to a variety of precast items ranging from bowls and platters to mugs and home decor, they offer an opportunity to create with fused glass. If you aren’t the crafty one, snag a gift card — createamemory.org
From paper to paint to pens, galore, whatever your crafty interest, you can find a fun variety to create with at Art Department, Inc., 254 Commercial St. NE — artdepartmentsupply.com; Runaway Art & Craft Studio, 311 Commercial St. NE — runawayart.com; and Cooke Stationery Co., 370 State St. — cookestationery.com
The Collector
Ranch Records, 237 High St. NE, has a glorious selection of vinyl, plus concert memorabilia and highly knowledgable staff — facebook.com/ranchrecordssalem
The Introvert
Got an introvert on your list? Give them some time to themself with a float, a tank filled with water, saturated in Epsom salts that creates an environment more buoyant than the Dead Sea, which reduces sensory input giving your mind restorative rest while also relieving pressure on muscles and joints. A 90-minute float is $65. We’ve got two float options in Salem. Soak Float Center — 971-599-5241, soakfloatcenter.com and Rejuven8 Massage & Float Therapy — 971-273-7675, rejuven8therapy.com
Let them bunker down with a book. Stock up on supplies at The Book Bin, 450 Court St. NE — bookbin.com; and Reader’s Guide, 735 Edgewater St NW — readersusedbooks.com
The Fashionista
Salem is home to some fun and unique boutiques highlighting apparel and accessories. That friend who loves the vintage and unusual is sure to be pleased by something from one of Salem’s retro shops. Scope out the stock of unique finds at Blast Off! Vintage, 860 High St. NE, and Ring-a-Ding Retro Fashion Emporium, 230 Liberty St. NE.
Gatsby, 379 State St., is a feast for the eyes. This boutique truly embodies its slogan: “Life is a party, dress like it.” From candles to jewelry, casual clothing to elegant attire, and even some stuffed animals for the kids (or the kid in you), it’s a place you need to see for yourself — gatsbysalem.com
The Learner
Learn a little or a lot. There are a handful of cool opportunities in Salem to expand your knowledge including cooking, clay and music.
Take a cooking class at Willamette Valley Kitchen Co. — willamettevalleykitchenco.com
Get creative with clay. Willamette Art Center offers clay classes for all skill levels from handbuilding to wheel throwing to garden art. The winter schedule begins in January — willametteartcenter.com
RiverCity Rock Star Academy is a performance-based music education program that combines band rehearsals, private music lessons and live performances. The school offers classes and programs for kids, teens and adults — rcrockstaracademy.com
The Group
Go for something interactive. An escape room is a game that aims to challenge the mind, encourage teamwork and help develop critical thinking skills through finding clues and solving puzzles to escape…and Salem is home to three, each providing a unique setting to experience the thrill of escaping to win. Check out Exitus Escape Rooms — exitussalem.com; Escape Tech — escapetechsalem.com; and Escape Quest — escapequestexitgames.com.
The I-Don’t-Know
How about a gift that keeps on giving? Little Lantern Floral offers a floral subscription program where your recipient can receive a custom-designed arrangement of fresh flowers on a regular basis. Subscriptions start at $30 per order — littlelanternfloral.com
Can’t go wrong…
Short or time? Unsure of size? Tickets to an event (or a gift card) are the last-minute, one-size-fits-all opportunity that can meet most needs — from live local theater to national touring shows — and also most interests.
- Elsinore Theatre — elisnoretheatre.com
- Enlightened Theatrics — enlightenedtheatrics.org
- Pentacle Theatre — pentacletheatre.org
- The Verona Studio — theveronastudio.com
- Salem Cinema — salemcinema.com
And if that doesn’t cut it, remember, almost everyone likes dessert. Grab something delicious at a local bakery. Try Sweetsmith, in the alley at 135 Liberty St. SE; Pure Decadence Pastries, 4740 Liberty Road S; Sugar.Sugar, 335 State St.; The Little Cannoli Bakery, 189 Liberty St. NE, Suite 102; Brandy’s All City Sweets, 189 Liberty St. NE, Suite 105. Or stock up on sweets with a shelf life at Ricky’s Bubbles & Sweets Shoppe, 102 Liberty St NE Suite 130, and they have other fun, quirky gift items, too.
This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 10 (Dec 2019/Jan 2020)
The Instigator
