Utah State Capitol

I have lived in Utah my whole life and have only been to the State Capitol on a field trip in elementary school. Having a friend in town this past weekend and I thought it would be cool to take an hour and go walk around the capitol and then up behind it to look out over the city.

This was a fun quick activity. We walked through the building and looked at some of the history behind the state as well as the simple and easy on the eyes lay out of the building. 

We also walked around and admired the structure and beautiful flowers and trees surrounding the building. Standing on the steps of the Capitol you can look onto downtown Salt Lake City as well as a fabulous view of the Wasatch Mountain Range.

After walking around the grounds of the State Capitol we drove up to the top of the Avenues and took a small hike to overlook the city. For someone who had never been hiking before, my friend felt as though it was a struggle to get up the hill, but thought it was worth it once at the top. There was a light breeze, and a stunning view.

 

Although this only took about an hour and a half, we both thought it to be worth it. I was able to learn more about my own state, and history and my friend got to see Salt Lake from a different view. 

Red Butte Gardens

Sunday June 5, 2011 my family and I celebrated my grandmas 80’s birthday at Red Butte Gardens. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer day to be out doors and at such a beautiful place. Growing up here in SLC I have been to Red Butte Gardens many times before; from taking the student’s in my recent class, to going to concerts in the summer. Recently I have come to find that some of my friends, who were also born and raised here in the wonderful city of Salt Lake, had NEVER BEEN! I was shocked to find they didn’t even know what it was. This very moment I decided that I had to write about Red Butte Gardens.

Red Butte Gardens has many fun activities you can do while you’re there. There are tons of grassy fields to put down a blanket and bring a picnic or shaded areas with tables and chairs that are off the path.

You can also walk around to different types of gardens. They have a beautiful herb garden that has multiple paths through it and you can calmly walk around or sit on swing benches. What a perfect place to bring a book and read. 

As you make your way around the Gardens, you will pass a medicine garden, a fragrance garden and even a rose garden. There are also multiple water falls, rivers, and ponds with koi fish and ducks. If you are big on hiking there are a few paths that begin at the gardens and take you up and through the hillside.

Even if you don’t have children, the Children Garden is fun to venture through. So many garden activities to keep the kids entertained, you can even take classes or arrange birthday parties. There’s a fun water fall you can walk under, as well as a huge vine snake you can walk though (if you’re smaller than 5 ft.) Even a huge pot with a tree coming out of it and a pole the kids can slide down.

Red Butte even has an Amphitheater where they do summer concerts, where you can bring a blanket and go and watch some of your favorite artist. These concerts tend to be an all day event, specifically if you want good seats.

Over all, a few hours or a whole day spent at Red Butte Gardens would not be a wasted day. Especially if you have never been before. Red Butte Gardens is free for University of Utah students, and $8 for adults. If you want more information about the Gardens check out their website; www.redbuttegarden.org

Cirque De So Gay

Thursday May 29 in downtown Salt Lake City IN THIS WEEK MAGAZINE hosted CIRQUE DE SO GAY. This first annual “Take Your Gay to the Stage” Pride Talent Show had a ton of fun and amazing talent.

This being the first time i have been to Club Metro I was very impressed. The bar was clean and the atmosphere was welcoming. The DJ played top 40’s music during the breaks in the talent show while the crowed danced all their worries away. Between the Bboy Federation and Blow-Up Kings holding it down in the cyphers there was always something fun to watch.

The talents ranged from singing, individual dances and group performances; all of which were different and fun to watch. The crowed was hype and very supportive to all the contestants. I would suspect the judges decision to be quite difficult but they somehow narrowed it down to top 3 acts.

 Taking 3^rd place was the Bboy Federation, who had 6 individual different style urban dancers perform. In 2^nd place with a group performance and freestyle was The Blow-Up Kings. And lastly in 1^st place for the win was an artist by the name of Jersey who performed a dance in various costume pieces that slowly came off throughout his number. Jersey was by far my personal favorite and I was very pleased when they called him to win!! 

Overall my experience was fun, and I left feeling the overall excitement from the night. I am excited and can't wait until next year to attend again. 

Urban Arts Festival

This Past Saturday, May 21^st I was lucky enough to attend the first Urban Art Festival. This street fair had tons of fun attractions at it. There was a section where kids could to learn to ride skate boards, paint, and make necklaces or bracelets. They had tons of art there and all sorts of different booths. For example one was a clothing company, Ensoul who had DJs and a few performers. Another, Uprok Records had a wall where Graffiti artist could do what they do best.

 Some of my friends even held down the SLUG booth all day, informing people about their alternative magazine.

 Now no matter what end of the fair you were at there was music, from live bands to DJs and even a group who played on tubs and cans. Four performers with their drum sticks in perfect synchronization banged away on different sized plastic tubs and other cool noise makers.

 

Now I might be a bit bias, but the Bboy Federation all style qualifier was a huge success. When the DJ Big Mike played and the dancers gave it their all, the area was surrounded by people watching and cheering for the dancers they liked. The all style battle that was held was a qualifier for an event ALL OUT in June. The winner De’Von McCullough who has a very diverse dancing style and was able to change styles due to the music that was being played, will not have to battle in the prelims at the All Out event as a prize for winning the qualifier.

                                                                               DJ Big Mike

The Future of the Bboy Federation 

Muchacho (AOD) in the Finals

De'Von taking in home, for the win

Over all this event was fun and it could have been a more perfect day for it! I cant wait to go again next year.