Salt Lake 200
Dinner and a movie - the classic date. But what if you could do both *simultaneously*? Of course you can, and on Monday nights, you can even get a movie for free, at Salt Lake’s Brewvies Cinema Pub.
Elves Arriving at Gardner Village!
This weekend is the ideal time to visit Gardner Village to boost your seasonal spirits and start your holiday shopping. Tomorrow, Nov. 19, Santa’s Elves arrive at Gardner Village and will stay until Dec. 24. As a celebratory event, your kids can enjoy the challenge of the annual Gardner Village Elf Hunt. Additionally, this Saturday is Moonlight Madness. Which means incredible discounts, coupons, and prizes from 6:00 PM to midnight.
I first visited Gardner Village this summer. I have lived in Salt Lake for more than six years and was disappointed in all my friends who knew about it and hadn’t told me sooner. It’s got everything, especially for somebody with kids. I can dine, shop, and enjoy some interesting Utah history all in one spot. It’s one-stop family happiness. If you’ve never been, consider this the most ideal time to visit. Click HERE for a Google map and get yourself down to Gardner Village soon!
A Barenaked Christmas!
Three days ago, Barenaked Ladies (the Canadian rock band) announced that, in partnership with 99.5, they would be throwing a Christmas party right here in Salt Lake City! The 99.5 Barenaked Christmas Party will take place on December 14, at 7:30 PM in my favorite venue: The Depot. Tickets can be bought HERE. Tickets are only $15! And if that isn’t good enough, they’ll be joined by special guests, Better Than Ezra.
The first time I ever saw Barenaked Ladies was during the 2002 Winter Olympics hosted here in Salt Lake. Not only does Barenaked Ladies know how to lay down the jams, they’re also know humor. I remember feeling like I was at a comedy night between every song. With BNL’s excellent performance skills, 99.5 in charge of the party and surprises throughout the night, and The Depot’s over-21 bar venue, it will definitely be a holly jolly Christmas.
Mark your calendars and buy your tickets asap, I’m sure it will sell out soon.
Free Ice Skating, Anyone?
Every year I get excited for another winter season in Salt Lake for several reasons: snow and skiing, holidays and happiness, even the cold and its freezing effects bring something wonderful. A good example of that is ice skating at the Gallivan Center.
The Gallivan Center in the downtown district is opening its famous rink for the winter season tomorrow night: FRIDAY, NOV. 13! To celebrate the event, the Gallivan Center is offering FREE ICE SKATING to everyone from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. I’m thinking of going with my girlfriend who doesn’t much like the cold in the dead of winter. This will be perfect for both of us because she’s a cold hater and I’m cheap.
Visit the Gallivan Center site for more information on the ice rink and other events in the Gallivan Center this holiday season.
Salt Lake 200
Part V of an ongoing series…
Last week, I received an email from the Salt Lake Film Center telling me about the free screening of Green River: Divided Waters, that they were co-sponsoring at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. I went and watched the film (which was really interesting), and on the way out, noticed the museum advertising an exhibit on African art.
Bobsled & Skeleton World Cup This Weekend
Isn’t it nice to have so many different options in or near Salt Lake City for entertainment and adventure? Salt Lake’s rich culture and ideal mountain setting makes it a perfect destination for some of the most important outdoor events in the world. This week, for example, nearby Park City is hosting the 2009 FIBT World Cup Bobsled and Skeleton Races. This is an exciting opportunity for visitors or residents to see some of the most amazing athletes in the world in a very intimate setting. And bobsled and skeleton are an adrenaline junkie’s ideal spectator sports. Nice to know that the venue is ideal for viewing and parties of all diversities since it was built to Olympic standards.
I’ll let the Utah Athletic Foundation website tell you the details, but don’t say you weren’t told of something great happening this weekend. In fact, I don’t think that’s possible here.
Salt Lake 200
Part IV of an ongoing series…
Sunny fall days just keep on going and going here, it seems - last week’s weather made obligatory to be outside, so a friend and I headed to Gilgal Garden on our bikes. On the way, we decided to stop off at a local eatery for a quick lunch.
Marriott Library
Perusing the periodicals, shuffling through the shelves. Research projects. Shortcut through campus. Hot chocolate. Internet. Hours upon endless hours studying. A few naps. Meeting place for group projects. Reading. More reading. If you are or ever were a student at the University of Utah, you’ve been where I’m talking about. On October 26th, 2009, the Marriott Library at the University of Utah was rededicated. Former librarian and First Lady Laura W. Bush was the keynote speaker. After four years and $79-million of renovation, the 5-level building (housing a collection of 3 million volumes) can now withstand a 7.2 earthquake.
The fancy new library has a retrieval center where four 50-foot robots can find what you’re looking for among a million items in a matter of minutes. Other additions include: Advanced Technology Studio, The Garden Terrace, the Grand Reading Room, Special Collections Reading Room, Knowledge Commons, and the 5th floor University Press.
The new “Mom’s” cyber café is a great place to crack open your laptop and grab a snack! Plan a meeting or pick up a good book and head to campus.
Local Italy
A few years ago, I lived in Paris for a semester of school abroad. While in Europe, I was surrounded by deep history and famous architectural and artistic masterpieces. When I came home, a friend of mine showed me this little piece of Rome found right here in Salt Lake. I was excited to know I could see something I had studied in art history class within minutes of my own house! The Christ United Methodist Church on 2375 East and 3300 South quietly houses a replica of one of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s most famous sculptures, the Pieta.
The original is in the Vatican in Rome, in St. Peter’s Basilica. Michelangelo completed it when he was 24 years old. This replica is made of the same marble as the original, and weighs 6400 pounds. It was made in Italy by a famous Italian sculptor and is one of only two known replicas in the U.S.
Viewing hours are 9am-4pm on weekdays, and Sundays between services. You can just walk in and take a look. If you want, you can call 801.486.5473 and ask for a docent to tell you more about it while you’re there.
Salt Lake 200
Part III of an ongoing series…
My next stop on the quest to have as much fun as possible on $200 was a seat at Saturday’s Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer playoff game, versus Columbus, here at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy. Pro soccer might just be my new favorite spectator sport, and the Real Salt Lake fans are really, really fun.
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