The Toyota Challenge includes competitions in BMX (park, vert and dirt) and skateboard (park and vert), along with a freestyle motocross jam session. You can catch all the action as NBC broadcasts the events on Saturday, September 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST and Sunday, September 20 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST.

In addition to all the competitions, breakout Hip-Hop artist, Asher Roth, will headline the Verizon Wireless music stage on Friday, September 18th at 9:00 p.m.

The athlete roster includes the who’s who in action sports, highlighted by skateboard superstars Paul Rodriguez and Chaz Ortiz, BMX veterans Dave Mirra and Jamie Bestwick and freestyle motocross daredevils Robbie Maddison and Nate Adams.

Aside from all the amazing pros, this year the Toyota Challenge also hosts the Dew Tour’s official amateur series, the Gatorade Free Flow Tour (GFFT). Over 70 of the country’s best amateur skateboarders and BMX riders will be in Salt Lake City vying for a chance to compete against the pros in Orlando.

Don’t miss the chance to catch the best in action sports live in Salt Lake City. Tickets for the Dew Tour’s Toyota Challenge are just $15 for adults and $5 for kids, on sale at Ticketmaster, Ticketmaster.com and select Ticketmaster retail outlets or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Check it out. These atheletes are amazing. The schedule of events over the next four days is listed below.

DoSLC

The complete schedule of events for the Toyota Challenge is as follows:

Thursday, September 17th – Gates Open at 3:00PM
3:00PM – 4:30PM SKB Vert Prelims
3:30PM – 5:00PM BMX Dirt Prelims
5:00PM – 7:00PM SKB Park Prelims
7:30PM – 9:00PM BMX Vert Prelims

Friday, September 18th – Gates Open at 2:00PM
2:00PM – 4:30PM BMX Park Prelims
5:00PM – 6:00PM SKB Vert Final
6:45PM – 7:45PM GFFT SKB Vert Final
8:00PM – 9:30PM BMX Dirt Final
9:30PM – 11:00PM Concert – Asher Roth

Saturday, September 19th – Gates Open at NOON
1:30PM – 3:00PM BMX Park Final
2:30PM – 3:30PM GFFT SKB Park Final – Round 1
3:45PM – 5:15PM GFFT BMX Park Final
5:30PM – 6:30PM GFFT SKB Park Final – Round 2
7:30PM – 9:00PM SKB Park Final
9:30PM – 10:00PM SKB Best Trick Contest

Sunday, September 20th – Gates Open at 11:00AM
1:00PM – 1:30PM GFFT BMX Vert Final
2:15PM – 3:45PM BMX Vert Final
4:15PM – 5:00PM FMX Jam Session

The Living Planet Aquarium has now hosted more than 1 million visitors since opening its doors in 2004. 

The Living Planet Aquarium had a terrific March and April after unveiling the Journey to South America Exhibit with over 84,000 people coming to visit, which is more than 72 percent higher than last year,” said Angie Hyde, director of public relations and marketing. “We broke our prior one-month summertime record of 31,085 last year with 46,292 visitors this April.”

On April 19, it reached its one-millionth visitor since opening the preview exhibit at The Gateway in 2004. General admission attendance includes school visits, birthday parties and special event rentals. The aquarium anticipates adding South American penguins to the Journey to South America exhibit.

The Living Planet Aquarium was founded by marine biologist Brent Andersen in 1997 and continues to grow through the addition and enhancements of new exhibits and programs.  Their outreach education programs have been operating since January 1999 and have reached ~ 360,000 Utah students.  In June of 2004, a Preview Exhibit of The Living Planet Aquarium at the Gateway Mall was opened. 

This 10,000 square foot public exhibit displayed local freshwater animals and marine life from around the world, and offered an exclusive experience never before available in Utah, and attendance far exceeded projections with over 150,000 visitors per year.  Due to this overwhelming demand, the Preview Exhibit, was relocated to much larger (43,000 sq ft) building in Sandy in the summer of 2006. 

Currently, exhibits feature sharks, rays, seahorses, jellyfish as well as octopus, eels, starfish, amphibians, trout and other freshwater species, providing a unique opportunity for the many landlocked Utahns, particularly children, who have not previously had the chance to interact with such creatures.  

Since re-opening in June 2006, the Aquarium has added 5 major new exhibits, and attendance has risen to over 250,000 per year (and growing).  The Living Planet most recently opened a 7,000 sq ft exhibit hall to take visitors on an aquatic Journey to South America.

Stop by and check it out.  They even have a program where you can adopt one of their animals, and become an Aquarium parent.

Visit the Living Planet Aquarium Website for more information and hours of operation.

Enjoy,

DoSLC

The Living Planet Aquarium
725 E. 10600 S. Sandy, UT 84094
801-355-Fish (3474)
info@thelivingplanet.com

Trolley Square is a historic mission-style collection of vintage trolley-car barns that were remodeled into a marketplace filled with about 80 retailers. The four red-brick trolley-barns, which housed a turn-of-the-century trolley system, were built in 1908 by railroad magnate E.H. Harriman.

Trolley Square is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Antique lighting fixtures from the old downtown streets illuminate the square. Architectural features from nearby historic mansions highlight the square’s interior design. Free historic walking tours are available

Trolley Square has been part of Utah’s heritage since 1847, when Mormon leader Brigham Young designated the area as the Tenth Ward. The ten-acre block later served as fairgrounds, until Union Pacific magnate E. H. Harriman chose the site for his state-of-the-art trolley car system. He invested $3.5 million to construct the unusual mission-style carbarn complex in 1908. Within six years, more than 144 trolleys served the valley from the site until the transit line was discontinued in 1945.

The old and decaying carbarns were saved from demolition in 1972 when they were transformed into Utah’s only festival marketplace. Relics from the turn-of-the-century were rescued and used in constructing its unique stores. Trolley Square was registered as a historic site by the state of Utah in 1973. 

Trolley Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The Square quickly became and remains one of the state’s most popular attractions, offering unique shopping, dining and entertainment in a charming, historic atmosphere. 

Trolley Square offers the convenience of a mall, but with the atmosphere of a specialty boutique. Wander through the maze of cobblestone and enjoy your shopping experience.

Click for more information about the stores, restaurants, bars, and specialty boutiques in Trolley Square

Trolley Square is celebrating its 100 year anniversary!

Check it out, I hope you enjoy yourself.

DoSLC

Nestled in a square area surrounded by some of Salt Lake’s tallest buildings, this outdoor center offers an ongoing variety of events that change with the seasons and provide activities for visitors of all ages. Artwork in bronze relief, frequent concerts, and an evolving glass-block bridge please those who like to watch their entertainment, while a giant chess board, a winter season ice-rink, and numerous festivals entice those who prefer to participate.

The Gallivan Center is one of those important downtown spots that keep Salt Lake’s downtown area active. Since its completion in 1993, the center has hosted loads of free concerts, Monday-night movie screenings, food festivals, ice skating and more.

The Gallivan Center provides a focal point for the downtown crowd to gather for lunch or a short reprieve from the day’s hectic work schedule. Special events such as exhibits, fairs, performances, parades, festivals and holiday celebrations make the Gallivan Center a lively and exciting gathering place year-round for Salt Lakers. 

The amphitheater at the Gallivan Center plays host to a variety of concerts throughout the year, including the popular Twilight Series offered Thursday evenings mid-July through mid-August.

During the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the Gallivan Center was one of the busiest hotspots in downtown. The Gallivan Center continues to be the year-round urban gathering spot for residents and visitors.

239 South Main Street.
Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-5522Phone:
801-535-6167

Click to find out what is currently going on at the Gallivan Center 

Enjoy.  DoSLC

The Hogle Zoo is a zoo located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the state’s largest zoo, containing a variety of animals from different ecosystems. The zoo lies at the mouth of Emigration Canyon across from “This Is The Place” Heritage Park. 

Hogle Zoo originally started out in Liberty Park, which is located between 500 and 700 East, and 900 and 1300 South in Salt Lake City. The original exhibits consisted of deer, monkeys, an elephant, and various North American birds and mammals.

It officially became the Hogle Zoo in the mouth of Emigration Canyon on August 1, 1931 after Mr. and Mrs. James A. Hogle donated a sizeable amount of land. The Hogle Zoo is currently owned by the city of Salt Lake City. It is supported through tax dollars and private donations raised by The Utah Zoological Association.

With an excellent staff and educational programs, this mid size zoo remains a favorite with kids. The Hogle Zoo plays home to over 200 species.                   

In 2007 the zoo brought in a new exhibit at Hogle Zoo called the “Ghost of the Bayou”.  It has attracted large crowds and features a very rare white alligator.

Outstanding exhibits include Elephant Encounter exhibit, the Primate Forest and The African Savannah.

On June 14th, of this year HyDari, the oldest Elephant in the zoo will turn 49.

 You can watch a short video of her 48th Birthday celebration in the video below.

The zoo remains open all year. Children two years and under are admitted free.

Roaring Tiger at Hogle Zoo