Days of ’47 royalty seeks to connect pioneer heritage with modern life
How do you make Utah’s pioneer heritage relevant to people in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world? This year’s Days of ’47 Royalty has blazed its own trail in the social media scene and through service to connect Utahns old and young with their rich pioneer legacy and one another. The Days of ’47 Pageant is part […]
Sundance documentary highlights Imagine Dragons singer’s mission to protect LDS LGBTQ teens
How do you stop rising suicide rates among Latter-day Saint lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth? For Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, the answers are love and listening. Reynolds’ crusade is the focus of “Believer,” a Live Nation Productions documentary released at Sundance Film Festival this week. “Believer” follows Reynolds as he wrestles […]
Scoop’s up: Rockwell Ice Cream Co. dishes about ice cream creativity
What does it take to make the perfect ice cream? Fresh ingredients, heavy cream—and a dash of creativity have been the recipe for success at Rockwell Ice Cream Co. in Provo. Justin Williams opened Rockwell in November 2015 after two years of perfecting his craft after work. The scoop shop has skyrocketed to local staple […]
Exploring the hidden LDS Church history sites
Latter-day Saint history is scattered throughout the United States, from Southern California to New England. The most prominent may follow the trail of the Mormon Migration, but here’s a look at several sites that get into a deeper dive of Latter-day Saint history that could be overlooked. Sailing Saints and more in San Francisco While […]
Migrating with the Mormons: A guide to visiting Kirtland, Nauvoo, and Winter Quarters
The heartwarming aroma of freshly baked bread. The clanging of hot metal against an anvil. The clip-clop of horse hooves pulling a loaded wagon. Visiting Nauvoo, Illinois and Kirtland, Ohio transports you to life in the 1830s and 1840s, with historical sites large and small preserved in a beautiful, hands-on way. Step back in time […]
Retracing the Restoration: A guide to visiting Restoration sites
Ever dreamed of meeting Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and other early Latter-day Saints? Although they passed away 100-plus years ago, their spirits are still alive and well at the historical sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Senior and sister missionaries bring history alive throughout the Northeast and Midwest, sharing the stories […]
Shape the Point of the Mountain Region’s future at public workshop tonight
[pullquote]IF YOU GO Where: Ashton Gardens Visitor Center at Thanksgiving Point, 3900 N. Garden Dr., Lehi, UT When: 6–7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 Cost: FREE More Information: EnvisionUtah.org[/pullquote] If you could determine the future of the Point of the Mountain region, what would you choose? That is the question before all citizens of Utah and Salt […]
Sundance Film Festival volunteers find sense of community with their service
All it took was one film screening for Trish Hopkinson to fall in love. Back in 2007, friend JoAnn Jarrett invited Hopkinson, a Provo native and local poet, to a Sundance Film Festival screening of indie comedy-drama “Delirious” in Salt Lake City. For a film lover like Hopkinson, the invite was a no-brainer — but […]
NYC audiences catch vision of UVU stained glass installation
Depicting the entire scope of human knowledge in stained glass may sound like an impossible feat, but a small army of Utah Valley artisans and academics tackled the task and captured the attention of New York City artists this week. Utah Valley University President Matt Holland, glass artist Tom Holdman of Holdman Studios and UVU […]
Top 10 spots to explore in Yellowstone National Park
The National Park Service turns 100 today (Aug. 25) — and to celebrate, all of the national parks will be free this weekend. If you’re looking for a park to visit, consider Yellowstone National Park — after all, it’s the world’s first national park! As you plan your Yellowstone adventures, here are 10 must-see spots to […]
The Aquabats storm Provo Rooftop with ska reunion show
[pullquote] If you go… When: 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5 Where: 100 West and Center Street, Provo Cost: Free Site: Facebook event [/pullquote] It’s a Friday night in downtown Provo, and a bucking brigade of masked men in rubber helmets and spandex are taking over Center Street. Is it a new cosplay game? […]
Here Provo builds community with new store in downtown Provo
[pullquote] If you go… When: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday beginning Thursday, June 30 Where: Here Provo, 26 W. Center St., Provo Cost: FREE Website: Instagram.com/here_provo Vendor Application: hereprovo.com [/pullquote] Downtown Provo has come back to life in recent years as the heart and center of Utah Valley. With new restaurants and […]
Experience Utah’s natural wonders during the National Parks Centennial
Happy birthday, National Parks Service! The federal bureau dedicated to protecting America’s national parks and monuments will mark its 100-year anniversary on Aug. 25. Utah is home to five national parks — more than any state except California and Alaska — with outdoor wonderlands showcasing hoodoos, hanging gardens and other geological marvels. If you’ve never […]
Sundance screenings give students a glimpse of cinema careers
[pullquote] Free Film Day for Locals Utah locals can see the audience favorites from this year’s Sundance Film Festival through free Best of Fest screenings Monday, Feb. 1. Filmgoers need to prove Utah residency via driver’s license or state ID card. For showtimes, locations, and details on getting waitlist tickets, visit sundance.org. [/pullquote] For many […]
How to capitalize on the Sundance Film Festival as a local
Lights, cameras and action — Utah has all these and more as Sundance Film Festival takes over Park City and select venues in Provo Canyon, Salt Lake City and Ogden now through Sunday, Jan. 31. Looking for a way to get in on the action? There are plenty of ways for Utah locals to watch […]
10 ways to defend the family from the World Congress of Families IX
Family advocates from around the globe convened in Salt Lake City this week for the first World Congress of Families held on American soil. Throughout the week, speakers and sessions of the World Congress of Families IX focused on a slew of family-focused topics, from abortion to economics and delayed marriage trends to religious decline. […]
Prominent artist gives Utahns a TASK to create and connect
[pullquote] If you go… When: Saturday, Oct. 24 from 5–8 p.m. Where: Mapleton Memorial Recreation Center Cost: FREE Site: Facebook event [/pullquote] Armed with aluminum foil, tape, string and raw creativity, more than 50 students at Mountain View High School created a masterpiece Wednesday — one of interpersonal connection and transformation more than a tangible […]
8 Southern California vacation activities besides Disneyland
Summer is here again — which means Utah Valley residents will flock to Southern California in droves to visit Disneyland. Wondering what else there is to do in the area? Here are eight favorite destinations to add to your next California trip: Hit the waves at Huntington City Beach There’s a reason Huntington Beach’s nickname is Surf […]
11 unique Mother’s Day gifts you’ll find at Beehive Bazaar
[pullquote] If you go: When: April 30–May 2 and May 7–9 Thursday: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Where: The Startup Building, 560 S. 100 West in Provo Cost: FREE Site: beehivebazaar.com [/pullquote]Mother’s Day is around the corner. Puzzled by what to give the woman who has it all? Beehive Bazaar, a biannual art […]
8 exact locations of movies filmed in Utah Valley
With its diverse geography, range of rural and urban settings, and proximity to Hollywood, Utah has long been a favorite filming location. Although Southern Utah and Salt Lake City get the most screen time, Utah Valley has seen its fair share of productions. From big-budget classics to small independents, here are 10 movies set everywhere from Boulder […]
Peculiar, indeed: Being Mormon at the Sundance Film Festival
“You’re Mormon? You don’t look Mormon. How Mormon are you?” The Sundance volunteer’s question caught me off guard. As a native Los Angelena, I’m most comfortable being the rare Latter-day Saint among “Gentiles,” and I’m never one to hide my beliefs under a proverbial bushel. Even if my style helped me blend into the crowd […]
Sundance film ‘Don Verdean’ pokes fun at faith and fraud
BYU alumni Jared and Jerusha Hess returned to Sundance Film Festival’s center stage Wednesday with the premiere of “Don Verdean,” a film that’s every bit as outrageous as one would expect from the husband-and-wife creative team whose debut film, “Napoleon Dynamite,” stole the show at Sundance in 2004. “Don Verdean” takes a humorous look at […]
Provo Christmas album packages multiple goals into one successful product
Christmas is a season of giving, and this year, Provo City is sharing the gift of its vibrant music scene and charity with the world. What started as a handful of music videos to promote local musicians and the Christmas spirit blossomed into an effort to raise $30,000 for the United Way of Utah County’s […]
Successful silver screen stylist puts family ahead of Hollywood
Midway resident Charlene Johnson has built an impressive, five-decade career as an in-demand Hollywood hairdresser, styling the likes of Elvis Presley and Doris Day to Mel Gibson, John Travolta, and, most recently, James Lafferty and Danny Glover. But despite her illustrious resume, Charlene said her favorite roles are those of wife and mother. Balancing career and family required […]
‘The Last Straw’ spins story of service, family and forgiveness
Can acts of kindness bring in much-needed Christmas cheer, even when you feel like you’re down to your last straw? That’s the question asked in “The Last Straw,” a heartwarming holiday film starring Corbin Bernsen, Adam Johnson and Britani Bateman. It opens in local theaters Friday, Nov. 7. In the film, which is based on a […]
’16 Stones’ takes viewers on journey of faith
Action, adventure … and an examination of faith? The upcoming film “16 Stones,” which opens locally today, has all this and more. “16 Stones” tells the tale of three friends in 1830s Missouri who, in the face of severe religious persecution, go in search of tangible evidence to back up the Book of Mormon’s validity: […]
8 tips to getting the most out of your BYU years
Dear incoming freshman for the fall of 2014, Congratulations! Welcome to adulthood and to college. The years immediately ahead will be among the best of your life. Never again will you have so many opportunities open to you. It’s limitless! You get to choose a profession and possibly a spouse, and, most importantly, you get […]
Broadway star Sutton Foster to shine in BYU concert
For a singer who’s performed in Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center, BYU’s de Jong Concert Hall might seem like small potatoes — but for Broadway star Sutton Foster, college campuses provide a breath of fresh air. “It’s one of my favorite things to do,” Foster said. “I love being on campus — there’s a […]
Local musicians hold fundraiser concert for inspirational European tour
This summer, a dozen local musicians will tour Europe to share a message of hope — and a fundraiser concert Saturday will help their tour dreams come true. The Rise Above and Influence Europe benefit concert and silent auction, which will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Startup Building in Provo, will help raise […]
Sing it from the Rooftop: Provo concert series celebrates fifth anniversary season
As the setting sun bathes the backdrop of the Wasatch Front in a rosy glow, a capacity crowd tightly packs into an outdoor concert, eagerly awaiting music from the cream of Provo’s musical crop beneath a zigzag of white Chinese lanterns. But the wall-to-wall masses aren’t seated on a grassy knoll or stone amphitheater. They’re […]