Adrenaline junkies, listen up. The ‘Dew Tour‘ is invading SLC this month, ft. pro skate and bmx athletes competing for top honors. Rock on. Dew Tour fans prob. bought their tix moooonths ago when they went on sale…and the rest of you are probably just scratching your heads, wondering what neon green soda has to do with action sports. It’s okay, we’re here to help.
Wait…what is it?
So the tour is basically a five month competition, spanning June to Oct. ft. skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross. Athletes (all 150+ of them) score cumulative points at each stop and are ranked at the conclusion of each event. Winners split up $2.5 million in prize money, along w/ a $1 mil. bonus pool based upon year-standings (Umm…I’m so in the wrong profession).
Along w/ watching the pro-action sports go down, The Dew Tour’s got a concert, BMX/skate interactive courses, video gaming and meet-and-greets with the athletes. Toyota is hosting ‘Adrenaland’ in the Festival Village. Check out ‘Eye Boogie Corolla” or the “Ollie Meter” to see how high you can get it to go. Plus, Neon Trees and Paper Tongues will rock out after the challenge on Sept. 17.
The Tour makes its last stop in SLC before it takes Vegas for the championship. The action-packed awesomeness takes place at the Energy Solutions Arena Sept. 16–19 and tix run anywhere from $15–$100.
Get tix and more info
Labor Day weekend is AMAZING in the Beehive. Take the whole fam to the last night of H.M.S. Pinafore at the Off-Broadway or check out big sales at Tanger Outlet on your day off Monday. Events also span the whole weekend like the Midway Swiss Days and the Soldier Hollow Sheepdog Championships.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
H.M.S. Pinafore – Last Chance
Off-Broadway ends its run of H.M.S. Pinafore this weekend with the last show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. SLmag saw the show at the beginning of it’s run and gave it a favorable review, but we’re really anxiously awaiting the theatre’s Twilight parody Y-Light on Sept. 24. H.M.S. Pinafore play follows a hysterical love triangle on an old British naval ship.
Off Broadway Theatre, 272 South Main Street, SLC
Click here for tix ($16 for adults, $12 for students and $8 for kids under 12)
Option B: See the return of My Big Fat Utah Wedding at the Desert Star. Click here for more info.
ALL WEEKEND
Midway Swiss Days
Everything Swiss happens this weekend in Midway: yodelers, Alpine bands, live entertainment, barbecues with Swiss Food and a Swiss parade. All events take place in Midway’s historic town square.
The world’s biggest sheepdog contest makes it’s way back to Soldier Hollow. Tons of kid activities too, including the Bow Wow Luau acrobatic dog show, appearances by Mally Lewis and Lamb Chop, pottery, face painting and more.
Soldier Hollow, Midway
Cost: Adults $12; Seniors $11 ($8 on Fri); Children (6-15) $7, (5 & under) free; Family pass (2 adults & up to 5 kids) $35 Click here for more info
LABOR DAY
Go Shopping
Tanger Outlet has some of the best Labor Day sales on the Wasatch Back. For starters, take the family to hit the Adidas shop for slides starting at $20, shoes starting at $40. Then make your way to Banana Republic for 40 percent off all denim. It’s also $5 days at The Children’s Place and an extra 20% off your entire purchase at OshKosh B’Gosh.
A lot of studies have come out lately on the female opinion of guys with facial hair. According to one, women prefer sexy men with stubble. Another says most just like geeky guys who don’t shave, which I know from experience isn’t true. And the latest just reports 60 percent of women just want a man with well-groomed facial hair, which is perfect since about 60 percent of men worldwide sport hair on their face.
It’s also important to mention these figures come from national and international studies. I’m sure the percentage in Utah is drastically different— given Utah men usually have a hard time growing any facial even without shaving for a month, and they’d probably get kicked out of the BYU cafeteria for trying.
The real truth, for some guys it works and for others it never will.
Works:
Never will:
Chops, beard, goatee, mustache or soul patch-wearers— keep it in shape. The WAHL ‘Let it Grow’ tour and 30-foot barbershop at the Utah State Fair from Sept. 10 to 12 can help. A dollar will be donated to Prostate Cancer Research for every guy who gets his facial hair trimmed at the fair.
Don’t shave from now until the fair, and then make your way to the WAHL’s set up for a trim. They’ll talk sports and cars like the typical barber, but also give tips on how to keep your facial hair groomed. If you’re not sure how to get started, watch this vid.
And remember, it is possible to over-groom:
Men who participate in the trim are automatically entered to win the WAHL Man of the Year photo contest— a national search for the man with the best beard, mustache and goatee in the country. Winners in each category get a 42-inch flat panel HDTV. Click here to register or vote.
The Utah State Fair is Sept. 9 to 19 at the Utah State Fairpark, 155 N. 1000 West.
Give deserving kids bikes, and rub elbows with Valter Nassi…and maybe Lady Gaga.
Non-prof, Bikes for Kids Utah, puts two tix to the Grammy’s (including the after party) on auction at their charity dinner at the end of the month. Music’s biggest night happens Feb. 13, so you’ll have plenty of time to save up for the trip to L.A.
Rumors is Rihanna will perform live at the show and winners are being predicted.
The organization plans to give away 1,000 bikes in 2011 to underprivileged kids in the Salt Lake valley, and the dinner generates momentum for the effort. “Our dinner’s new location, Tuscan ambiance and high-caliber auction items will make this event a really exciting,” says Bikes for Kids executive director Debbie Reid.
Other items for auction include two tix to Dancing with the Stars, including a meeting with the cast; week-long sty at a villa in Tuscany, Italy; Trip for four to the Virgin Islands; Amazon Cruise for two through Peru; Group vacation to Spice Island, Grenada and dozens of holiday gift baskets.
Last year, the dinner and auction raised nearly $17,000, and this year they are hoping to beat it. They just might, if I’m able to save enough in time to enter the Grammy auction. Bid high, eliminate the competition early.
Billed as the “wildest party in town”, the Utah Hogle Zoo’s ‘Zoo Rendezvous’ is sure to be a swingin’ good time. The 13th annual party is set for Sept. 9, 6:00 p.m. Food and fun is on deck for the event, complete with a silent-auction and exciting animal encounters.
The 2010 Zoo Rendezvous will feature gourmet cuisine from 25 of Utah most well-known restaurants, including Ichiban, Wild Grape Bistro, Cafe Madrid, and Dolcetti Gelato.
Of course, a silent auction at the zoo is not so quiet. Guests may or may not be required to act like animals (yep, that monkey impression finally came in handy) to get prizes, one-of-a-kind items, and special trips. Other auction items include artwork from around the world, dining gift certificates, sports tix and even a week stay in Manzanillo, Mexico, complete with a housekeeper, chef and the sun you can soak up in a week.
Entertainment also fts. magicians, psychics, tarot card readers, music from The Sensations and an adrenaline inducing croc-feeding.
Proceeds from the festivities will go directly toward animal care and exhibit improvements. Tix are $150 per person ($175 the night of the event) and include unlimited food and drink. Guests must be 21 and older.
Bonus Dealio: Extend the party all weekend with a deal from the near-by Marriott University Park Hotel. Stay the night for $69, including breakfast for two and transportation to-and-from the Zoo.
Apparently it’s time get out of Salt Lake and hit the coast. Although it was just recently named one of the up-and-coming places to live for the next decade by Kiplinger, Sunset disagrees. According to Sunset Mag, which covers the 13 western states, SLC doesn’t even rank in the top 20 list of ‘Best Places to Live in the 2010 Decade’. The list highlighted cities with a commitment to experimentation, creativity, energy efficieny, and good local food sources.
Wait…so why was SLC shut out? We’ve obviously got all these factors covered to the max:
Commitment to Experimentation
Thanks to the whole Pac-10 Utes/BYU saga, the BYU Cougs’ have ‘committed to experimenting’ with their future. Why settle for the MWC when you can blaze your own trails and go independent? Nothing says “we don’t follow the road well-traveled, we pave our own paths!” like pushing all potential options aside and going at it by yourself.
Creativity
Utahn’s are by all means creative. For example: the studious young man from Orem who couldn’t afford to pay his tuition for the police academy. Why take out a loan or borrow some $$ from your supporting loved ones when you can use your own creativity to generate the funds? This spry, creative young man chose to scrap the over-used idea of employment in favor of selling marijuana in efforts to pay for the police academy. How’s that for creativity, Sunset?
Energy Efficiency
Kudos to the state for their new ‘energy efficient’ plans. Between the Clean Air Challenge‘s attempts to reduce air pollution through carpooling and the newest addition of Solar Panels to the Salt Palace, the state is steering their citizens in the right direction. And talk about efficiency with our ability to store nuclear waste. We area efficiently keeping all that ‘energy’ safe, aren’t we?
Good Local Food Sources
At least we’ve got this going for us. And if all else fails we can all live off Brigham City Peaches and Bear Lake Raspberries, right?
1. Palo Alto, CA
2. Golden Hill, San Diego
3. Eugene, OR
4. Corvallis, OR
5. Lamar, CO
6. Phoenix, AZ
7. Pasadena, CA
8. Denver, CO
9. Tucson, AZ
10. Oakland, CA
11. San Luis Obispo, CA
12. Portland, OR
13. Fairbanks, AK
14. Olympia, WA
15. San Clemente, CA
16. Bellevue, WA
17. Novato, CA
18. Boulder, CO
19. Las Cruces, NM
20. Boise, ID
(Note: Our Web Editor, Andrew, has lived in 6 of these phenomenal cities and visited almost all of them. He, too, is baffled as to why Salt Lake City is NOT on this list.)
Oasis Cafe is a great place for all-natural, organic eats with a conscience.
The restaurant (and its counter-part Golden Braid Book Store) support an orphanage, school and hospital for kids through Reach The Children, which assists African women and children to live sustaining lives.
Every meal you eat helps feed the children, every book you buy supports their education and on Tuesday, Aug. 31 the community is invited to help even more directly.
Buy hand-made crafts and jewelry made by women from Kampala, Uganda at Golden Braid/Oasis Cafe. Proceeds will go to Reach the Children. Light refreshments will also be served.
Gaze at the stars with binocs or provided telescopes this weekend — just as long as you’re away from the city lights. But use your judgment; it could get stormy. If you’d rather stay in a less remote space, take the fam to sit under the stars for a movie on a giant inflatable screen in Millcreek.
Jupiter will be just to the right of the moon on Friday, and Venus, Spica and Mars will make a triangle in the Southwestern sky this weekend…Yeah, I aced my gen. ed astronomy class.
THURSDAY
Millcreek Movie Night: The Incredibles (PG), dusk
SLC’s Friday Night Flicks (a new movie in the park every week) ended in July, but Millcreek has been showing free movies all summer, too. They’re showing my favorite Pixar movie The Incredibles this Thursday. Pack snacks, and bring blankets to get cozy under the stars.
When I think Wheeler Farm, my first thoughts are the Haunted Woods for Halloween or just going to pet a pig. This weekend the Salt Lake Astronomical Society will be there though. Telescopes are provided, and they’ll meet you and your family on the grass south of the south parking lot.
You’ll have to pay $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 12 to used Snowbird’s telescopes, but we’re willing to bet it’s a much better view on Hidden Peak. Local astronomers will be there to point out the best parts of the end-of-summer sky with high-powered telescopes. Dress warmly. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Songs, Skits, Stars, and S’mores Overnight, 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.
A family of four can spend the night on guided hiking tours, camp fire songs, making s’mores and sleeping under the stars for $50 Friday night about 40 minutes north. Bring your own tent, dinner and breakfast are provided. $5 for each additional family member.
Buy a Flex Pass ($20 for adults, $16 for kids) and get the fam into all three sections of Thanksgiving Point’s Nasa Blast: the Light Exhibit, Space garden and Solar System Walk.
August can’t be over soon enough as far as I’m concerned. I look forward to fall like most kids look forward to Christmas. Fall boasts the best smells (crisp autumn leaves, pumpkin spice), food (squash, pies, and pumpkin beer), and activities (football, hiking the mountains through changing leaves). We say so-long to sweltering heat and set in to shorter days, structured routines, and anticipate the bset (in my opinion) holiday ever : Halloween. With just a few days left til my official fall kick off, September 1, here’s a list of fall’s finest fun to get you prepped for an awesome autumn. (Okay, no more alliterations, promise)
Utah State Fair (September 9-19)
Pig Races and Boys II Men, need I say more? I must admit, I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, yet I’ve never stepped foot into the Utah State Fair. This year is the year I vow to initiate myself and take part in all the fried-up fun. Plus, there’s a Fat Boy Ice Cream sandwich eating contest, which I’ve been training for all summer long. And the entertainment? Boys II Men. Yes, please. They may have been popular when I was like…3, but ‘I Swear’ the boy band phase is making an epic come-back.
Side Note: Can anyone confirm whether or not there was actually a cow sculpture made from butter at a past state fair?
Pumpkin Spiced Everything
Lattes, candles, cookies. I’m a sucker for pumpkin anything. Sept. 1 is the big day for the pumpkin preview in most places, including sl-fav coffee shops frothing up my java w/ a little fall spice served alongside a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie. Talk about a healthy way to start your day.
And for an even healthy way to end the day? Uinta’s Four+ Punk’n Beer. As a self-proclaimed pumpkin beer connoisseur, I have taken it upon myself to seek out the very finest of holiday pie-spiced ale. So far, the local beer has taken top honors in my book, although I’m certainly open to suggestions to challenge my decision.
Fall Football Season
I look better in blue, but I bleed red. I can’t say I’m a football junkie or know much about the pigskin, but I do love me some Utah football. The Ute’s kick-off the season Sept. 2 at home vs. Pittsburgh at 6:30 p.m., although I’ll be tailgating, one of the best parts, will begin well before then. The season, with 6 games at home, is bound to be exciting with face-offs including UNLV, New Mexico, TCU, Air-Force and the highly anticipated ‘Holy War’ with BYU.
The Dirty Dash
And you thought The Utah County Fair was the only place you could see pig races this month. The highlight of my month takes place at Soldier Hollow, Sept. 25. I’ll be running, along with 9 other SL-maggers, a 10k obstacle course….in mud.
The first time event, which sold out in a mili-second, is hosting 4,000 dashers who are lookin’ to get down and dirty for a good cause. Come watch (and pelt water balloons at) us run, slip, slide and splash our way to the finish line. The mud trudge will benefit the Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Yep, this is what we’re runnin’….
The Salt Lake Greek Festival
Opa! My blonde hair/green eyes/pale skin complex is certainly not that of a Greek goddess, but anyone who knows me is well aware that I have a deep desire to a) marry a Greek or b) become an honorary Greek. I have an overwhelming fascination with the culture, food, customs and fun associated with the ethnicity. The annual Greek Festival is the one time of year I can actually pretend I’m from Athens, fantasize about smashing plates and drown my Polish misfortune in Baklava. The festivities take place Sept. 9-12 in the side lot of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, located on 279 South 300 West.
…and that’s just a starter list.
Now its your turn, tell us what you are most excited for this fall in the comments section below.
SLC’s Grand America is vying for America’s Best Restroom — or as we like to call it, the crown of the throne.
Genius PR lackeys at Cintas corp. (supplier of all things public restroom) have (allegedly) toured every concert hall, library, truck stop and no-tel motel to bring you their top-10 finalists who’ve established “new standards for restroom quality, with washrooms reflecting their proprietors’ sense of taste, flare and attention to detail, featuring some of the world’s finest materials, customer comforts and a few surprises.”
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