Exciting news hit my desk this week from the folks at FamilySearch. In an effort to encourage innovation and technology in the pursuit of family history research they are launching the first annual RootsTech conference in Salt Lake City, February 10-12, 2011.
It makes perfect sense that this exciting new event should be held in Salt Lake, the home of the Family History Library. I have no doubt that genealogists from around the country, and perhaps the world, will flock to RootsTech to learn the latest technologies, as well as find a creative sandbox to play in.
Genealogy has benefited immensely by technology, and specifically the Internet. It’s been an adventure for me personally to be sharing genealogical expertise and inspiration with genealogists around the world with the Genealogy Gems Podcast, which has only become possible in the last 5 years due to the invention of podcasting. Since then, I’ve launched the free Genealogy Gems Toolbar which allows listeners to tune in no matter where they are surfing on the Web and have one click access to the best online resources. And in addition to the new Genealogy Gems iPhone App which we launched earlier this year, the show has just been added to the brand new BlackBerry Podcast Directory. Things are moving at lightening speed – and I love it!
Mark your calendars for February 10 – 12, 2011, and then read on for all the exciting details… continue reading…
TCBY, which has its roots in Utah, is officially back in town! I remember making frozen-yogurt runs (these days they’re probably called “froyo” runs) to the University Mall TCBY back in my college days. Now I have a TCBY in my own backyard—it’s like the Freshman 15 all over again, but only tastier with more options! continue reading…
The Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts is a delightful museum situated in the middle of a lovely park, Liberty Park, located at about 500 East and 900 South in Salt Lake.
The Chase Home Museum features contemporary folk art in four galleries: the Native Gallery which houses art from the American Indian populations of Utah; the Ethnic Gallery, home to the traditional art of the ethnic, racial and immigrant communities of Utah; the Occupational Gallery, which is filled with items used for work but also considered as art; and the Rural Gallery, which features hand made crafts of rural Utah populations. continue reading…
A love of the outdoors is one of the best gifts parents can give their children, and here in Salt Lake we have amazing opportunities for outdoor family recreation. Late summer is a great time for children, parents and grandparents to escape the summer heat and get into Utah’s mountains for some hiking. continue reading…
Have I mentioned that I love living in Salt Lake? Since moving here permanently in July, I’ve been having one great outdoor experience after another. I’m like a kid in a candy store down here . . . except instead of candy I’m gorging myself on cycling, mountain biking, hiking, bouldering, rock climbing, canyoneering and trail running. Whoever said “Too much of a good thing is a bad thing,” obviously never got the chance to live in SLC.
After spending this past winter climbing at Momentum Climbing Gym and the early part of this summer bouldering in Little Cottonwood Canyon, I finally got the chance to head to Big Cottonwood Canyon for some real rock climbing. For those of you who don’t know, Big Cottonwood Canyon is a great place to climb, offering routes for beginners (such as myself) to challenging routes for the seasoned climber (such as Nick, my patient teacher). continue reading…
As I have been preparing to write this post, I tried to remember the very first time I ate at The Lion House Pantry Restaurant. Honestly, I couldn’t remember. Our family has been going all my life: we LOVE The Lion House Pantry! The food tastes just as good as home-cooking (most likely because they make everything on site, including their yummy baked goods).
The Lion House Pantry Restaurant is located in the basement of Brigham Young’s actual home. It’s located on 63 East South Temple in downtown Salt Lake. We typically eat at The Lion House Pantry whenever we’re doing something around Temple Square, including attending concerts at The Conference Center. continue reading…
Our family grabbed our Visit Salt Lake Connect Passes and on the way up to Salt Lake let our two daughters pick out where they wanted to go. Of course the first thing out of their mouths were, “The Children’s Museum!” which is what they call Discovery Gateway. I know that they could spend the whole day in that wonderland if we had the time. It is after all over 60,000 square feet of just complete interactive fun.
My girls love the Kid’s Eye View section where they play in the construction zone, kid sized house, market, farm, birds nest, etc. continue reading…
If you’re as big a fan of the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” then you’ve probably heard of—and if you’re a real fan, already tried—The Blue Plate Diner in the Sugarhouse neighborhood of Salt Lake.
Guy Fieri and his vintage red Camaro visited the diner back in May of 2008 and was treated to their homemade hash, smoked salmon club sandwich, vegan burger and famous pork chile verde:
(To read about his visit and watch more videos from the segment, check out The Blue Plate Diner’s media page.) continue reading…
Cupcakes and coffee on their own sound great. Diva’s doesn’t stop there. Add an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, an incredible variety of atmospheres, wine, and a focus on alternative baking (vegan, gluten-free, dairy free options). That is Diva’s Cupcakes and Coffee in a nutshell, and they do each of these things very well.
Upon entry, you can smell the freshly made coffee and baked goods, see a case full of beautifully appetizing cupcakes, and get a glimpse of the main dining area. Then you find that they have a great selection of quiches, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and salads to satisfy your breakfast and lunch needs. Order any of their dishes, and you quickly see that these are not foodservice frozen meals simply being scooped on a plate, there is a delicate care and preparation to each dish, providing you with a fresh and satisfying experience. There are many items that remain on the menu regularly, and they also provide additional options daily so you can never get bored.
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When it comes to discovering your family history, there is no better place to start than the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It is the gateway to a treasure trove of resources that will help you climb your family tree and answer the popular question these days: who do you think you are?
At the 142,000 square foot library you will have access to:
- Over 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records
- Free access to many subscription online genealogical websites and databases
- 727,000 microfiche
- 356,000 books and periodicals
- 3725 electronic resources
- 475 computers
- 408 microfilm readers
- 36 microfiche readers
- 24 digital microfilm and microfiche copiers
- 14 book copiers
If that sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t worry, there are folks who can help. In fact the library has100 full-time and part-time professional staff and 700 trained volunteers poised to answer your questions. continue reading…
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