Buzz Blog

Hello to all you jello-molding, wagon-painting, float-decorating, rodeo-watching, old-timey-dressing, haritage-faking, Pioneer Day enthusiasts! While the majority of you will be celebrating the date the valley was settled, I'll most likely be eating some kind of pie (hopefully pizza) and drinking a beer (hopefully three) and watching whatever leftover fireworks someone purchased two weeks ago and didn't blow up. Because I'll be honest with ya folks, I care not for the rodeo and the fake sense of heritage put on display every time this year, and the only way to get through it is with good food, good company and cheap beer. Oh, and as far as that parade is concerned... you'll never be as good as Pride! Before we get to events, here's the latest look at the 337 Memorial Wall.

Getting into events for the next couple weeks, first up is one happening today! The Summer Flea. This is a little different than the Urban Flea Market (which happens tomorrow), this market is a straight up market where cash plays a very minor role (beyond admission). Straight up trading for most of it, only a few items for sale at cash value. If you're looking to haggle, this may be the event for you.

The majority of the week is concerts with a few local theatre openings (but they're mostly plays you've already heard of and seen a dozen times). The real fun picks up on Friday with a pair of events, the first at Totem's with the third annual Va Va Voom! An evening of live burlesque and music, featuring dancers of the aerial and pole variety along with performers from Nobody's Baby Burlesque. If it holds par with previous events, this should be a hell of an evening, at a venue with much more room for them to play around in.

If the burlesque isn't quite your thing, perhaps more artistic posing would be up your alley as Sketch Cabaret will take over Club Mixx that same night. Performers will model for you as you can bring in your sketching tools to draw them up. The door is a tad pricey at $15, but if you're an artist looking for something beyond a bowl of fruit, this may be a great option.

On Saturday, July 19, another pair of events take place, first down here in SLC with the Urban Arts Festival. The annual event will once again take over The Gateway, featuring hundreds of artistic creators, performances from musicians, skateboard competitions, dance-off exhibitions and more, all completely free to attend as you move up and down Rio Grande Street. Go check it out!

Once you're there, book-it up to Ogden for the latest Junction City Roller Derby bout. This one will feature the Trainwrecks vs. the Durango Derailers, which let's be honest, that's a fight worth watching on name alone. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and a special offer to anyone in the military!

A lot of next week is concerts, just straight up shows, many of which you can see in our newly spruced up calendar. (Speaking of, how about the new website? You like it? Say something below in the comments section, which also works better than before!) The last event we'll chat about here is Gay Rocks on July 26. This is a yearly concert to promote LGBT issues and raise money for non-profit organizations. And considering all the turmoil Utah is in right now, those LGBT groups could use your help. This year the show will be held at the Shred Shed for $6, with all proceeds going to Restore Our Humanity. The lineup includes Sparks Fire, September Say Goodbye, Change To Fire, Amahlia and  Shasta & The Second Strings. Should be an awesome show!

As for the blog... I'll be honest, it's all up in the air at the moment. There's gonna be some distillery talk, Gallery Stroll and maybe a concert, but the rest is pretty unpredictable at this point. And you know what, that's awesome, because you don't know what to expect! So keep checking back every other day, and as always, we'll see what happens.