Concert Time O Year

It is that time again, where some how I end up going to a lot of concerts.  I love concerts and I usually hit one a month, but with school I haven't been to as many. 
This time I hit 2 bands I was only slightly familiar with and one of my all time favs.  Two weeks ago I went with some friends to The Weepies concert at the State Room.  I love the State Room.  Never disappointed in the shows they have.  The Weepies were no exception.  I knew their stuff and liked it, but couldn't say I was big fan.  The show was great and may have changed the lives of some of my fellow concert goers (ahem you know who you are).  Instead of doing my week before music saturation where I listen to everything I can get my hands on, I have been doing more of a post concert saturation.  Since the concert I have been listening to The Weepies intensely.  The more I listen the more I like.  I think The Weepies is a band that grows on you.  It grew on me.  And the concert sparked my interest more (this is why I go to shows for bands I don't know).

Can't get enough of this song

Ingrid Michaelson.  That is all that needs to be said, but for the sake of this post I will expound.  I wish I were as cool as Ingrid.  She is always amazing.  We went to her show last year and I am still talking about it. Maybe it is just her SLC shows, but she is so funny and so easy to talk with.  Not that I talked to her.  It is just the way she talks to the audience from the stage, makes you feel like you could hang out and talk for hours (not in that way...friends).  She played some of my favorites and a few of new stuff.  Check out her parachute song (acoustic is awesome).

Simply wonderful

Lastly, I went to the Sufjan Stevens show on Monday at Kingsbury Hall.  What an interesting venue for a concert like this.  It was a little awkward when you wanted to get up and dance, but people are seating behind you.  The show was complete with awesome choreography and Halloween costumes. 
I like Sufjan's music.  His older stuff is more my speed than his new stuff, but I still like it.  But I am not hipster enough for a Sufjan concert.  It was a sea of skinny jeans, old sweaters and ballet flats (not that these are exclusively bad or hipster, but you know the hipster look I am talking about).

If you are a huge Sufjan fan stop reading here if you want to be friends. You may not like me for what I am about to say.

This was one show I could have missed.   My take on the show.  Introduce Sufjan Stevens, great musical artist who thinks very highly of himself and hipster religious leader.  Sufjan talked about the cosmos, shared a long story of some crazy dude who inspired his new music and generally talked like he was on some higher spiritual level.  Whoa buddy.  We just meet.  This is awkward.  But the hipsters seemed to eat it up, maybe it is in the skinny jeans (which I can't joke about too  much, I have skinny jeans). 

I will continue to listen to his music.  The concert actually helped me like his new stuff more than I would have if I had only listened to it.  But as far as drinking his kool-aid, I'll stick to my sticker covered Nalgene water bottle (my type of crunchy).

Give me my classic Sufjan Stevens

The Short List of 4th of July Weekend Fun

A co-worker asked me the other day for some ideas of fun things to do over the 4th of July weekend.  Here is the list I gave her plus a few other ideas that I have heard of since.

• Friday
• Concert in Brigham Young Park - Mama’s Boys. Shumway family band performing foot-stomping fiddling, along with western and bluegrass selections.
• Utah Symphony Patriotic Celebration at Sundance
  Join the Utah Symphony for its annual celebration of all things American. Bring a blanket to sit on and your patriotic spirit as the orchestra performs all of your red, white, and blue favorites from Sousa Marches to Film music. (Note: A second show is on Saturday at Deer Valley and a third July 6 in West Valley)   Utah Symphony Schedule
• SL Real rock the soccer field and the skies with fireworks after the game.  Ticket Info
• Saturday
•  Start the morning with a 5K run that ends at the Utah State Capitol. Freedom 5K Details
• Continue your morning at the SL Farmers Market and get some post race breakfast.
• Or skip the 5K and head to Brighton for the Independence Day Breakfast.  Brighton Breakfast Event Details.  Haha!  They even have a blog SLC Brighton Breakfast Blog
• Thanks to a few local companies, Whole Foods and Noodles & Co. the Sugar House fireworks have been saved (yes they were in jeopardy of being shout down).  Get to the park early because it will fill up fast.  Sugar House Event Details
• Spend the entire day at Jordan Park and get a FREE pancake breakfast, watch the Kid's Parade, shop the People's Market and enjoy fireworks. SLC 4th of July Celebration
• Sunday
• SL Bees Vs Tacoma Rainiers - Fireworks after game.  Buy the lawn tickets (GA) and after the game you can movie down into the outfield and watch the fireworks there for a great view.
• One Republic at Deer Valley.  Great outdoor venue.  Not sure if there will be fireworks after, but I can't see why not. Concert Details
• Monday
• SL Bees Vs Tacoma Rainier (No fireworks but still fun)
• Monday starts the Gallivan Monday Movies.  Cuddle up and watch "An Affair to Remember" Monday Movies Schedule
• Random Idea
• You could do a hike over SL to watch fireworks from the mountains. Check out the Bonneville shoreline trail…runs all along the Aves and University area. You will be able to see several firework shows going off throughout the valley.

Have a great weekend and INDEPENDENCE DAY!

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.