For the first time, the E Center is hosting the rodeo which goes from July 20-25. Organizers say the cowboys needed a little extra elbow room that they weren’t getting downtown.

Voted consistently one of the country’s top rodeos by the PRCA, nationally ranked cowboys and cowgirls head to Utah to compete for more then $200,000 in prize money! 

These competitors will be up against Cotton Rosser’s Flying U legendary rodeo stock, also nationally ranked as one of the best.  Great stock makes for a great show with championship cowboys and cowgirls competing for the opportunity to compete in the next National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

This year’s entertainment features the return of “Whiplash” the Monkey, riding a sheep dog and herding sheep.  Whiplash is one of our Rodeo’s most requested specialty acts.  He will be appearing at each rodeo performance along with a new event – Chuck Wagon Racing!  This is a new event for the Rodeo and the E-Center.

Rodeo Fun Facts!

The Days of ‘47 Rodeo is one of Utah’s longest standing traditions.  Here are a few rodeo facts you may – or may not – know:

• The Days of ‘47 Rodeo is consistently listed as one of the nation’s top rodeos.
• World champion cowboys and cowgirls from around the world compete in this rodeo
• The rodeo was one of the first celebratory events held by the early pioneers.
• The Days of ‘47 Rodeo is over 160 years old!

Over 160 Years Of Rodeo History 

Rodeo has been a tradition in celebrating Utah’s heritage 160 years.  The pioneers arrived in the valley in 1847, and in July, 1849 they held their first celebration with a parade and a rodeo.

In the early days rodeo was a community event, organized by people who wanted to be part of the celebration – much like it still is today.  The event was called “Covered Wagon Days”. The Sons and Daughters of the Utah Pioneers eventually took over the organization and planning of the celebration, giving the parade and rodeo uniformity.  In 1943 the decision was made to rename the event “Days of ‘47″ and to incorporate that same year.

The Days of ‘47 Rodeo was held at the Utah State Fairpark from 1943 until 1970.  In 1970 it moved to the Salt Palace for 20 years and then to the Delta Center.  In 2009 the Days of ‘47 Rodeo relocated to the E-Center in West Valley City.

I hope you get a chance to enjoy this years Days of ‘47 Rodeo.

DoSLC

Celebrating its ninth year in 2009, The Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival will take place at Washington Square in beautiful downtown Salt Lake City.

The Festival begins at 5:00pm on Friday July 10th and 4:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

Don’t miss this world class jazz festival!

Event Schedule:

July 10: Tianjin Conservatory of Music Jazz Band. Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra featuring Tierney Sutton. The Great Basin Street Band. Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns.

July 11: Straitjacket John Henry David Holliday and Angela Bingham Salt Lake City Orchestra Premiering the jazz compositions of Patrick Williams. Spiro Gyra.

July 12: Tad Calcara Orchestra Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra in Concert. Emilee Floor Trio featuring Ira Nepus and Chuck Findley. The Big Band Jam Fat Soul Tower of Power

Tickets: $16/Per Day, $30/Three Day Pass, Free/Children under 12

For more information check their website.

Enjoy this years Jazz Festival and support the arts in SLC.

DoSLC

Did you know that in the recent Mens Fitness Magazines’ exclusive 11th annual “Fittest and Fattest Survey”  Salt Lake City was selected as the “Fittest City” in America for 2009?

For those of us that familiar with the area, Salt Lake City’s selection as the “Fittest City in America” might not be too much of a surprise.

Afterall, we are blessed to have an abundance of outdoor recreation available to us… being in surrounded by mountains. And after the hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake has developed kind of a reputation as a “fit and healthy” city.

For example, just last Saturday in downtown Salt Lake, over 18,000 runners showed up to the “Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure” ,  a fundraising and education event for breast cancer.

The Salt Lake City metro region ranked highest in the Mens Fitness  survey in participation in a number of activities, including beach volleyball, racquetball, aerobics, hiking, basketball, yoga, tai chi, swimming, cycling, running, and kickboxing.

“Outdoor recreation is simply a part of the lives of those who call Salt Lake City home,” says Mayor Ralph Becker. “We have immediate access to the Wasatch Mountains, which offer some of the finest year-round recreation anywhere.” The city’s high amount of park acreage per capita (fourth best overall) may have to do with residents’ lower TV viewing time, which is 23% less than average.

Some Highlights of Salt Lake City Taken From The “Mens Fitness Survey”

• Salt Lake City’s park acreage per capita is 115 percent higher than average and the 4th highest in our survey. Research has found a connection between access to parks and green space and reduced obesity rates.
• Salt Lake City residents participate in sports much more than average – 102 percent more than average, in fact.
• Health-food stores are plentiful in Salt Lake City: There’s one for every 2,867 residents, handily beating the national average of one store per 12,118.
• Utah is one of 28 states that participate in a CDC-sponsored program to reduce obesity and other chronic diseases.
• Salt Lake City gained points in our Motivation category for high participation rates in running, biking and walking despite climate extremes.
• Salt Lake City residents are more likely than average to actually use their gym or health-club memberships, according to our comparison of membership trends and club use, including machine use, exercising with weights, cardio classes, yoga and martial arts, among others.
• Golfers can choose from 6 city-owned courses. Relative to population, that’s more than almost anywhere else we surveyed.
• There are 75 percent more tennis courts per capita here than average among cities in our survey.
• Basketball courts are practically everywhere here, among the highest number per capita in our survey. There’s a court here for every 1,902 residents; the national average is one court per 6,909 people.
• Our survey has found 176 percent more sporting-goods stores in Salt Lake City than average, an indicator of an active populace.
• On a per capita basis, Salt Lake City has 101 percent more gyms and health clubs than average, the 3rd highest in our survey.
• 11 percent of Salt Lake City residents practice martial arts, the highest participation rate in our survey.
• A whopping 32.8 percent of Salt Lake City residents run or jog – highest in our survey.

Here Is The Overall Salt Lake City Report Card From “Mens Fitness Survey”

Fitness Centers & Sport Stores: A
Nutrition: B
Sports Participation: A
TV Viewing: A
Overweight/Sedentary: A
Junk Food: F+
Air Quality: C+
Geography: B
Commute: B
Parks & Open Space: A
City Rec Facilities: A
Access to Healthcare: C-
Motivation: A
Mayor & City Initiatives: C-
State Obesity Initiatives: C+

Even Mens Fitness was stunned when their “Fattest City” turned out to be 2,539 miles away from Salt Lake City, in Miami.

Yes, Miami. Home of South Beach, with its images of tight bodies and scantily attired denizens. Yet despite a wide availability of local running and biking trails, Miamians are 35% less likely than the national average to actually use them.

 Mens Fitness Top Ten  “Fittest and the Fattest” Cities 

Top Ten Fittest Cities

1. Salt Lake City, UT
2. Colorado Springs, CO
3. Minneapolis, MN
4. Denver, CO
5. Albuquerque, NM
6. Portland, OR
7. Honolulu, HI
8. Seattle, WA
                                                                       9. Omaha, NE
                                                                      10. Virginia Beach, VA

Top Top Ten Fattest Cities

1. Miami, FL
2. Oklahoma City, OK
3. San Antonio, TX
4. Las Vegas, NV
5. New York, NY
6. Houston, TX
7. El Paso, TX
8. Jacksonville, FL
                                                                       9. Charlotte, NC
                                                                      10. Louisville-Jefferson, KY

Congratulations Salt Lakers!  Keep on staying fit and see if we can  defend our title as “America’s Fittest City” in next years Mens Fitness “Fittest and Fattest Survey”.

DoSLC

While most clubs offer only the ubiquitous salty snacks like nuts, chips and hot wings, several boast full-on restaurants, with impeccably trained chefs, creative menus and impressive wine lists. With fees a thing of the past, owners and chefs are excited at the possibility of welcoming a new set of diners.

Utahns, according to bar owners, rarely purchased more than one or two memberships, limiting where they might spend their dining and drinking dollars.

In order to comply with the new law, clubs are required to purchase special equipment to scan the driver license of any patron who appears to be under 35. The recorded information will be retained on site for seven days.

Five clubs that no longer charge memberships fees. 

The Bayou » 645 S. State St., Salt Lake City; 801-961-8400. Try the garlic burger with caramelized onions, stout mustard and chipotle aioli. Thursday night is barbecue night alternating between ribs, chicken and other selections.

Fiddler’s Elbow » 1061 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City; 801-463-9393.The nachos smothered with pulled pork are afavorite. For dinner, try the seafood enchiladas filled with shrimp, scallops and crab.

The New Yorker » 60 W. Market St. (340 South), Salt Lake City; 801-363-0166. To encourage first-time diners, the restaurant is offering a two-course lunch for $14 and three-course dinner for $28. Lunch options include a steak sandwich with shoestring potatoes and chicken Marsala on fresh fettuccine. For dinner, try the filet mignon or pork loin chop Milanese.

Market Street Oyster Bars » Three locations in downtown, Cottonwood and South Jordan. A large seafood menu, which includes several varieties of fresh oysters and the signature New England clam chowder; also offered is a wide variety of steaks, prime rib, salad and pasta. Sunday brunch menu includes eggs Benedict with Market Street potatoes for $6.99.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What changes will I see at Squatters and other dining clubs beginning Wednesday? » It will be easier to get a drink while waiting for a table.  For example, Squatters pub area, which in the past could serve only 3.2 beer, can now serve liquor, wine and heavy beers.

Are bartenders still required to pass wine and cocktails to a server, then to the customer? » No. Dining clubs can serve all beverages over the bar, straight into the customer’s hand, ending a practice that befuddled out-of-state visitors for years.

Must dining clubs hide alcohol behind a wall or screen, similar to what new restaurants are required to do? » No. 

Will I be able to get a Bloody Mary at brunch? » Yes. Liquor, beer and wine will be available for guests when Squatters opens at 10:30 a.m. on weekends and 11 a.m. during the week. No more sipping coffee until noon.  

Will dining clubs be hiring bouncers to check IDs? » There won’t be bouncers, but eateries are required to check and verify the age of any guest purchasing an alcoholic beverage who appears to be less than 35 years of age. IDs are checked when you step up to the bar or at the table when you order alcohol.

So make sure to save June 17th in your calendar for tons of free fun and outdoor movies at the Utah State Capitol South front lawn!

Sunsets over the Great Salt Lake, warm dry evenings, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the gentle glow of the silver screen. The Utah State Capitol is thrilled to announce their outdoor film series:

 Movies Under the Stars!

The summer outdoor film series will run June through August. All feature films will be preceded by live music and a locally produced short film.

The 2009 schedule will be:

June 17th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: Caleb Banks, acoustic rock, and Goldbug
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: KUNG FU PANDA

June 24th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: The Little Big Band
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING

July 8th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: Caleb Banks, acoustic rock
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: SHREK THE 3RD

July 22nd
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: Nate Baldwin, Nicole Hansen Christensen
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: ANT BULLY

August 12th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: The Crescent Super Band
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: IRONMAN

August 29th
7:30 – 8:30 Live Music: The VooDoo Orchestra
8:30 – 9:00 Spy Hop Productions Film
9:00 – 10:30 Feature Film: BEDTIME STORIES

So bring your family and friends to the southwest corner of the Capitol lawn at 7:30PM and enjoy free popcorn, great music, and the magic of a movie under the stars!

And if that is enough Free Movies to take in this summer The Gallivan Center in Downtown Salt Lake is also providing a great venue of Free Movies every Monday night in July. 

Gallivan Center has quite the reputation for exciting, free events all summer long. This year we decided to help your entertainment dollar stretch further by adding Monday Night Movies. Enjoy the warm weather with family and friends at outdoor movies each Monday night. These free events will take place at Gallivan Center’s outdoor cinema.

Every Monday in July witness the classic murder mysteries and psychological thrillers that could only be brought to you by the man who embodies the suspense genre, Alfred Hitchcock. So bring your blankets, pillows, lawn chairs, family, friends, girlfriends and boyfriends to Gallivan’s Monday Night Movies this July.

Gallivan’s Monday Night Outdoor Movies

8pm-11pm
Free

Outdoor Cinema Schedule
July 6- REAR WINDOW
July 13- DIAL M FOR MURDER
July 20- VERTIGO
July 27- THE BIRDS

Take advantage of all of these Free Outdoor Movies this summer.

Enjoy,

DoSLC