Ragnar, MS, and Cake

Team LOCO LACO (We so crazy!)

So I have had a busy few weeks. Two weeks ago I ran with my work, LACO Technologies, in the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay.  Yes, Ragnar is a funny word...read About Ragnar.

It was my first time running in this race and it was an awesome experience. The low down on how this race works. Your team of 12 runners run from Logan to Park City (190 miles total). You run all day and all night until your team finishes. Each runner will run 3 different legs. You have 2 vans, each with 6 runners. The each runners run then hands off the race baton (a slap bracelet) from one runner to the next.  The last runner finishing by handing off the baton to the first runner of van 2. While van 2 runs van 1 gets to rest, sleep, refuel and prepare for their next round of running. This continues until you all run across the finishline.  I was runner #5.  My runs included a 7.4 mile run uphills on a dirt road through the mountains (super hard, but super gorgeous), a 4.2 mile run through a little town I don't remember and a 3 mile run through Heber.

FYI - Sleeping on church lawns in sleeping bags made me feel right at camping home.

I designed the shirts (first time)...I'm so proud.

The LOCO LACO runners finished with a time of 31:34:43.8.  The best time of 18:26:56.6 was captured by the 'NordicTrack Elite Men' (all men team).

After a long day of racing, what better to do then rock out to some CAKE.  Cake was in town as part of the Utah Arts Festival (yes they came a week early).  The concert was at Library Square (basically the lawn just east of the SL Library).  There was great tunes, great friends and great hippie dancing (on my part).  They played all my favorites and some old stuff I had never heard.  The highlight of the show was when they gave away a tree to the person in the crowd who could guess what type of tree it was (it was an apple tree).  The tree is to be planted and a picture sent every year of its life.  Check out the Tree Gallery

Cake!

Last week I organized a hike to Dog Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon followed by a bonfire.  It was really fun and we had a great turn out.  I was surprised how fast everyone hiked.  I must be a really slow hiker. 

Scouting out the hike

Thursday night I went with a few friends to the Utah Arts Festival.  There seemed to be fewer food vendors then in years past which I thought was regrettable.  But I did buy some art, jewelry art.  I had seen Route Thirteen on Etsy and loved her stuff.  I was so happy to see her at the festival.  It took me a long time to decide between my favorites, but finally made my purchase.  Check out her stuff.  Route Thirteen

To finish out the week I got together with my old co-worker at Orbit Irrigation to ride in the MS - Harmon's Best Dam Bike Ride in Logan.  To get the full effect of this event here is a little history of me and the MS ride.  This was 5th year riding in the MS tour. 

Team Orbit Irrigation
• Year 1 went something like - Attempted 75 miles (no training), rode 50 miles and was picked up in a truck and driven to the end because my butt hurt so bad...there were Tears. 
• Year 2 - I was smarter and I opted to ride only 40 miles due to lack of training...No Tears, but I was told I was so slow that people couldn't ride that slow to ride with me. 
• Year 3 - I trained so I choose to do the 75 mile ride, we got lost and actually rode 87 miles instead, I didn't eat much and was out of fuel by the end...there were Tears. 
• Year 4 - Rode 100 miles because I trained. I may or may not have fallen and gotten a gigantic bruise on my buttock, but No Tears. 
• Year 5 - Based on my pattern there were going to be tears, but No Tears.  I broke the cycle.  I didn't train this year so just decided to ride 40 miles.  I ate enough and was well hydrated.  Besides pain in my knee I felt strong.  I was super happy to be speeding pass people when usually everyone is speeding pass me. No slow Annie anymore.  It was a nice change.

My name was listed as a 5 year veteran

It was really nice to see all my old co-workers and my old boss, Ben.  Ben rode the 100 last year with me and I wish I could have gone with him this year, but we did get to ride the first 20 miles together.  The race photographers got a great one of us giving each other a high five.  It was awesome.  I'll have to post it when they get the photos out.

I think this is a start of a great tradition. 

Race Ragnar with LACO and MS with Orbit. 

Tuesday Concerts in the Park

 Tuesday

• Concerts in the Park

Reminder!  FREE music on both Tuesday and Friday.  Since Tuesday are usually a slower night for activities I'd say hit up the concerts on Tuesday and save Friday for other fun with your peeps.

Listening to music with the backdrop of the Salt Lake mountains what could be better. The LDS church hosts concerts are every Tuesday and Friday during June - Aug at the Brigham Young Historic Park.  June and July concerts begin at 8:00 PM August concerts begin at 7:30 PM.  There are some chairs set up, but bring a blanket and seat on the lawn.  Very family friendly activity.  The park is located at the southeast corner of State Street and North Temple (Second Avenue).

Brigham Young Park Concert Schedule

Mondays in the SLC

 Monday

• Monday Movies

Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City hosts Monday Movies the month of July. This year's theme is Cary Grant. Starting next Monday every Monday in July they will show a different Cary Grant movie. Take a blanket or low backed lawn chair and some treats to enjoy movies under the SLC skies.  Note: Not sure what they are doing about the construction going on at the Gallivan Center and how this will effect the show. 

Monday Movie Schedule

Friday & Saturday Salt Lake Happenings

Friday

• Concerts in the Park

Photo courtesy www.lds.org

FREE music. Listening to music on a backdrop of the majestic Salt Lake mountains, what could be better. The LDS church hosts concerts are every Tuesday and Friday during June - Aug at the Brigham Young Historic Park. June and July concerts begin at 8:00 PM August concerts begin at 7:30 PM. There are some chairs set up, but bring a blanket and seat on the lawn. Very family friendly activity. The park is located at the southeast corner of State Street and North Temple (Second Avenue).

Brigham Young Park Concert Schedule

• Sugar House Farmer's Market

New this year, the Sugar House Farmers Market is sure to be a fantastic Friday night activity.  The word has already spread and all 24 booth spaces have been filled.  The market will be held on the side street on the south side of 2100 S at 1100 E.  Starting July 9 and running until Oct 15, every Friday from 3 PM to dusk. 

Sugar House Farmers Market Website

• Broadway Summer Stroll

Also new this year SLC presents the Broadway Summer Stroll (summer's version of the Gallery Stroll). This is only every 3rd Friday of the month from June to Aug.

Broadway Summer Stroll Info

Gallery Stroll Info

 Saturday

• Downtown Farmers Market

Have a full weekend of markets.  Hit up the Sugar House market Friday then jump over to the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday.  The Salt Lake Farmers Market is held every Saturday June 12 to Oct 16 at Pioneer Park (same location as this year's Twilight Concert Series).  Full of arts, crafts, food and produce the farmers market is a favorite Saturday activity.  Bring cash and your reusable bag (every good farmer's marketer should have one) and load up on fresh fruits and veggies locally grown.  I usually go for the jewelry. FYI - The vendors on the sidewalk of 400S are technically not part of the farmers market.  They have permits from the city to set up booths in that area, but really who cares if they are "officially" part of the farmers market, it is still great stuff.

Downtown Salt Lake Farmers Market

Get Your Art On - Utah Arts Festival

 Event Notice
Utah Arts Festival - Starts Tonight
Dates: Thursday, June 24 - Sunday, June 27
Time: Noon to 11PM daily


Oh Joy!  I love the Utah Arts Festival.  The first year I really remember hearing about the arts festival (I mean really remember it) was 7 years ago.  My brother-in-law was part of the "Brew Crew" (Yes, that is the beer guys) and my sister was talking about getting tickets for free.  Sadly, it took me a few more years to attend.

My first festival experience:
A few years back a friend of mine had worked on a film that was participating in the short film contest held at the arts festival.  We ate great ethnic food, we watched creative short films and we strolled the booths.  It was such a great evening it was hard to not come back every night.  A year later I attended to see a free concert. 

The Utah Arts Festival has something for everyone (unless you are one of those people who is never happy with anything).  There is great music, films, food, art and crafts.  You can really make the UAF whatever you would like.  Usually, I attend for the food, it is my favorite part.  I love eating ethnic food.  There are rows of food vendors there with every variety of food you could imagine.  I recommend going with a group and each sampling something different.

Located at Library Square, the festival covers the area from 300 East to the City & County Bldg and from 400 South to 500 South.
Not Free!  Check out link below to see ticket prices.  But don't forget to look around discounts.  You can get $2 off for riding your bike.  This year the UAF held a concert the week before (CAKE! was incredible) and gave out 2 for 1 vouchers.

Art courtesy UAF website (Leia Bell)

Every year the UAF picks an artist to design the art for the festival.  This years artwork was provided by Leia Bell.  Along with her art for the UAF she does most of the concert posters for Kilby Court.  I love what she did for the arts festival, each image is a different landscape of Utah.  Check out Leia Bell's work.

More details of the Utah Arts Festival complete with booth and concert info -  http://www.uaf.org/

Thursday Nights in SLC

Thursday nights are hopping around SLC.  Below is a list of a few FREE things to do on Thursday night in Salt Lake City. 

 Thursday

• Twilight Concert Series

Photo courtesy www.visitsaltlake.com

Usually held at the Gallivan Center, concerts this summer will be held at Pioneer Park.  The park has been cleaned up a lot in the last few years and is actually very nice although still not used much due to its proximity to the homeless shelter.   I will be interested to see where they build the stage and how everyone fits in the park.

The Twilight concert series has grown in popularity get there early and be prepared to be smash up against your friends and random strangers.  Concerts are free and happen every Thursday starting July 8, running thru Aug 26.

2010 Twilight Concert Schedule

• Jazz on the Plaza

Photo courtesy www.directoryofsaltlakecity.com

No, this is not the Utah Jazz.  We are talking Jazz music.  Head over to the Plaza (Plaza is on the North end, by the fountain & Barnes & Noble) at the Gateway Mall in downtown SLC for some good tunes.  Free!  Thursdays in June & July from 6:30-8:30 PM.

Gateway Jazz Schedule

• Movies Under The Stars

Photos courtesy of Movies Under the Stars Facebook Group

Movies under the stars at the Utah State Capitol is a great family friendly activity.  Films are shown at dusk on the southwest corner lawn.  Admission is FREE. Although I have never experienced the same romance as displayed in the movie "The Wedding Planner," it could bring luck to you.  Bring picnics, blankets, and friends.  Go early for some live local music. 

FYI the trees around the capitol are great for slacklining.

Movies Under The Stars Movie Schedule

What to do in Salt Lake City?

Recently, I feel like I have had a lot of people ask me for suggestion of things to do in Salt Lake City. I have been living in Salt Lake over the last 5 years (with the occasional return to my parent's) and I absolutely love living here. It's a decent sized city with lots of things going on and it is constantly changing.  SLC is very accessible (transportation/parking as well as the people) and of course I love the easy access to the mountains. One of the best parts is there is always something new I haven't seen, a restaurant I haven't tried or an event I haven't been to.
Out of this love for the SLC and the recent inquiries I thought I would share a list of fun summer activities to do around Salt Lake City.  So each day over the next week I will be posting a list of weekly reoccurring summer events that will be going on around downtown SL and surrounding areas.  Wed on Wed, Thurs on Thurs, Fri & Sat on Fri (because seriously I won't be on my computer over the weekend), Sun - nothing (you should all be in church), Mon on Mon and Tues on Tues.  So here we go...

 Wednesday

Sadly, I decided to start this on Wednesday.  I'm sorry I got nothing.  Salt Lake City is seriously lacking in a good Wednesday night activity since the Movies at the Capitol got moved to Thursdays.  Returning in 2011 Rock Concerts at the Gallivan Center will be held on Wed, but 2010 is "make your own plans" Wednesday.
If you know of anything going on in SLC Wednesdays afternoons or evening on a regular basis leave a comment and I will update.

#3

#3 Develop a relationship with the library

My first visit to the library

Moving Bees

Last week my office moved.  LACO purchased a new building and after months of remodeling we are finally moving in.  It is totally an upgrade.  We went from 14,000 to 25,000 sq ft, got all new office furniture and get to large new break room.  BUT one downgrade, I went from an office to a cubical.  The cubical is nice and new and super large, but now I am out in the thick of things.  I find myself missing the solitary confinement that was my office.

The Peeps

Lindsey and Me...love that face

After a full Friday and Saturday of moving I relaxed with a group of friends at the SL Bees game.  We sat on the grass behind right field.  Although the Bees lost, my friends were plenty of entertainment.  Fireworks after the game and a trip to Village Inn made for a really great night. 

Rachel and Ian enjoying the great summer weather

Can't help myself, she is so funny and we love her

Just before sunset I got artsy

Slushy goodness (Right Linds?!)

FIREWORKS

I didn't plan anything...what!?

CAKE!

It is so not like me to have no plans for the weekend, especially not a holiday weekend.  But with planning our ward Moab trip and having my knees all banged up, I didn't/couldn't plan anything for Memorial Day weekend.  And oh what a great thing it was. 
I love people.  I love being around people.  I think I would hate living alone.  I love being busy.  I love planning lots of things to do.  So it was weird not to have the entire weekend planned out.  The good news is that I have great friends who are also planners and who saved me from a weekend without people.
Friday night I hung out at home and fell asleep on the couch reading.  Fourteen hours later I was ready for a weekend I didn't have to plan.
Saturday:

• Delicious egg tomato breakfast bagel (yes I made it)
• Clean my room
• Finished reading "Believing Christ"
• IKEA with the sis
• SL Real soccer game (Real Won! And I won a Whopper!)

Rio Tinto Stadium

New soccer friends

Sunday:

• Sleep in
• Church (It was great!)
• Drive in the canyon
• Dinner at Jessica (It was delicious!)

Monday: - YEAH! for holidays and no work

• Woke up at 4AM to watch sunrise at Silver Lake
• Eggs Benedict at Blue Plate Diner (my fav)
• Make a cake
• Nap
• Frost a cake
• Bacon BBQ
• Eat cake
• Finish cleaning/organizing room
• Drive-in double header - Iron Man 2 & Date Night

snow = foot rest

We cuddle to stay warm

So what do you think?  Not too bad for not planning anything.  Thanks to Heidi, Jessica, Ashley and Erika for planning cool stuff to do.

Sunrise friends