Utah Business Spotlight: Confection Heaven

Confection Heaven is the first Cupcakery to open in Grantsville, Utah.  Confection Heaven was established in January 2012. They are part of a growing industry, the Cottage Industry. The Cottage Industry is comprised of home-based businesses which are inspected by the Department of Agriculture, that produce shelf-stable, non-refrigerated, consumable food products. 

"No Strings Attached" Puppet Festival

The City Library Presents Tenth Annual “No Strings Attached” Puppetry Festival
Two days of performances and activities celebrate puppetry in Salt Lake City
 

February 28, 2012, SALT LAKE CITY -- The City Library is proud to present the tenth annual “No Strings Attached” puppetry festival March 10 and 11 at the Main Library. The award-winning Maritime Marionettes from Nova Scotia will headline the festival with their production of Igor Stravinksy’s Petrouchka.  

Birdhouse Contest

CALL FOR ENTRIES -- OGDEN NATURE CENTER 2012 BIRDHOUSE CONTEST Ogden, UT -- Get out your tools and thinking caps and build a birdhouse for the Ogden Nature Center's 19th Annual Birdhouse Competition and Exhibit. Birdhouses are due between March 26 and March 31 at the Ogden Nature Center.  There is no fee to enter.  The annual Birdhouse Competition encourages all ages to create unique, backyard habitats for birds.  

The Nuthouse Birdhouse

All types of birdhouses are welcome: whimsical, beautiful, practical, functional, artistic or magical - but they need to be sturdy! The Nature Center encourages the use of natural, reclaimed and recycled materials.  Please consider the environment when choosing your materials and finishes. Working as a family or as a team, i.e., grandfather/grandson etc., is acceptable and encouraged! Several cash prizes will be awarded for various categories.  

Easter Events In Utah 2012

This year, Easter falls on Sunday April 8th 2012. Below are fun activities leading up to and for Easter this year. As always, if you know of an event we haven't listed, please email us at contact@enjoyutah.org so that we can add it to the list!

Check back often, as this list will grow as we find out about more events. (A big thanks to About Salt Lake City. Many of the events listed below in Salt Lake County were found on her page. Coupons 4 Utah also had a great list that many of the events in all counties came from.)



Crafts and Fun Things To Do:

• Coloring Pages
• Catch The Easter Bunny On Camera!!!!

Unique Egg Hunts

A list of egg hunts for those with unique circumstances, like food allergies, and more. 

List Of Events By County:
Salt Lake County

• Easter Bunny Mall Appearances 
• Munchkin Radio Easter Bunny Welcoming Party - South Town Mall March 16th
• Breakfast With The Bunny and Egg Hunt - Clark Planetarium March 31st
• Easter Egg Hunt at Sweet Afton's in Gardner Village - April 1st through 7th
• Cottonwood Heights FREE Teen Egg Hunt And Ice Skating - April 6th
• West Valley City Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt (ages 13-16), 9 p.m., Centennial Park softball fields, 5415 W. 3100 S. - April 6th
• Riverton City Teen Flashlight Hunt - April 6th
• Jewish Festival of Freedom - April 6th through 14th
• Eggs For Autism Hunt - April 7th
• Food Allergy Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Wheeler Farm Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Cottonwood Heights Kids' Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Breakfast With The Bunny - Hogle Zoo April 7th
• Lunch With The Bunny - Hogle Zoo April 7th
• Draper Easter Egg Scramble - April 7th
• Herriman Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Kearns Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th
• South Jordan Egg Hunt - April 7th
• West Valley Outdoor Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th
• West Valley Breakfast With The Bunny - April 7th
• West Valley Edutainment Egg Hunt - April 7th
• West Valley Easter Egg Plunge - April 7th
• Dimple Dell Easter Egg Dive - April 7th
• Afternoon Tea With The Bunny - Grand America - April 7th
• Murray City Easter Egg Splash - April 7th
• Easter Brunch Buffet at Gardner Village - April 8th
• Grand Easter Brunch - Grand America - April 8th
• Easter Brunch at Little America - April 8th
• Easter Sunrise Service - Snowbird - April 8th
• Snowbird Easter Egg Hunt - April 8th
• Easter Brunch At Snowbird - April 8th
• More restaurants for Easter Brunch - April 8th

Utah County

• Pleasant Grove Easter Cooking and Egg Hunt - Pleasant Grove Cmmty Ctr March 31st
• Passover Seder at BYU - March 23rd to April 20th
• Easter On Main Street Parade - Lehi - April 6th
• Cedar Hills Golden Egg Treasure Hunt - April 6th
• Heritage Park Teen Easter Egg Hunt - April 6th
• Shops At Riverwoods Pancake Breakfast and Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Easter Eggstreme - Thanksgiving Point April 7th
• Provo City Egg Hunt - Pioneer Park April 7th
• Orem Easter Egg Hunt - Mtn View High School April 7th
• Spanish Fork Easter Egg Hunt - Spanish Fork Sports Complex April 7th
• Payson City Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Eagle Mountain Egg Hunt - Nolan Park April 7th
• Orem Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th

Weber County

• Indie Ogden's Guide To Easter Fun
• Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Fort Buenaventura Easter Rendezvous - April 7th
• Riverdale Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Washington Terrace Egg Hunt - 12 and under - Rhomer Park - April 7th 9am

Davis County

• Antelope Island Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Clearfield City Easter Egg Hunt and Dive - April 7th
• Farmington Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th
• Kaysville City Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th

Tooele County

• Bunny Crafts At The Library - April 6th
• Deseret Peak Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th

Summit/Wasatch County

• Park City Mountain Resort Easter Celebration - April 8th

Millard County

• Delta City will have their egg hunt for the children at the old football field (current soccer field) which is just north of the city library, located between 100 and 200 West where 50 N street would be.  Saturday morning, 4/7 @ 9:30.
• Hinckley Town (a small community 5 miles west of Delta) also hosts one the morning of April 7th, unsure of the time.

Grand County

• Passover Retreat in Moab - April 7th

Washington County

• St George Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th

Cache County

• Wellsville Easter Egg Hunt - April 7th

St Patrick's Day Events In Utah 2012

March is the month for the wearin' o' the green and the luck of the Irish. Below are resources and events surrounding St Patrick's Day in Utah this year. If you know of one we may have missed, email us at contact@enjoyutah.org so that we can add it to the list. Thanks!


Check back often, as this list is updated as we find out about more events!


Crafts and Fun Things To Do:

• Easy leprechaun craft using toilet paper roll
• Leprechaun traps
• Lucky Charm Tree
• Printable Shamrock Garland
• Printable Coloring Pages
• SMMART Science For St Patricks Day

List of Events By County:


Salt Lake County

• St Patty's Day Cooking Class - March 16th at Taste at Gardner Village
• FREE Bagpipe Lesson - March 16th at The Gallivan Center
• St Patrick's Day Parade and Siamsa - March 17th at The Gateway
• St Patty's Day 5K Gold Rush - March 17th in South Jordan
• St Patrick's Day ft Swagger - March 17th at The Depot
• Shamrock Shenanigans - March 17th at the Draper Library
• Murphy's Bar and Grill - an Irish pub in Salt Lake City

Utah County

• St Patrick's Day Celebration at Orem Library - March 13th

Weber County

• Celtic Celebration - March 17th at Peery's Egyptian Theater
• Indie Ogden has your complete listing of St Patrick's Day events in Ogden

Davis County

• Coming soon! If you know of any events, email us at contact@enjoyutah.org so that we can put it on the list!

Tooele County

• Coming soon! If you know of any events, email us at contact@enjoyutah.org so that we can put it on the list!

Leprechaun Traps

Every year, we set up traps to catch the leprechaun. The kids found a shoe box, painted it and set it up. I love how they can each come up with their own ideas! 

Letting your kids be creative and come up with their own traps is a great way to highlight their creativity! 

Hopefully we catch him this year! We set a trap up every year, and somehow he outsmarts us! If we DO catch him, we get all of his gold, and all the wishes in the world! If we don't catch him, he gets mad that we set a trap for him, and causes all kinds of chaos in our house: he turns our milk green, turns our toilet water green (even after we flush, it keeps coming back green!), hangs green streamers all over the house, spreads green surprises all over, and one year he even got into our green paint and left little footprints all over the kitchen!

Whew, I hope we catch him this year, because I am not up for cleaning up his mess again!

Mess From Last Year:

WOW, you should see the mess we woke up to this morning! That crazy leprechaun!

We better catch him next year, because I am not up for cleaning up his messes! :)

Gold coins
in the hallway





"Look mom! Leprechaun footprints!!!"



Napkins taped
to doors and walls

March Events at The Ogden Nature Center

MARCH  2012 ACTIVITIES AT THE OGDEN NATURE CENTER

Wild Wednesday/Oh  Deer!Wednesday, March 7 at 3:30 pmFree for ONC members$2  children / $3 seniors / $4 adultsAll ages welcome!Large ears that  never stop moving!  Antlers that grow back every year!  The ability  to run at speeds over 45 miles per hour!  What it is?  Mule Deer!   Join us for a special Wild Wednesday program all about one our favorite  and most fascinating mammals that call Utah and the Ogden Nature Center home.   Sing along to deer songs, search for live deer, and play a fun and  educational game all about this antlered animal.  Meet in the Visitor  Center. Who's Afraid of the Dark? Thursday, March 8  from 6 - 8 pmCost: $4 members / $5 non-membersAll ages welcome!A  full moon program & night walk! Join an Ogden Nature Center naturalist to  discuss moon phases and lore, fear about the dark and how people, animals and  plants adapt to the world of low light. We'll go on a night walk without  flashlights, listen and look for animal activity, then return to the Visitor  Center to make a star wheel to take home.  

Gourd Birdhouses  Saturday, March 10, 11 am - 12:30 pmCost: $16 members / $20  non-membersAges: 10+When is a fruit not a fruit? When it's a  birdhouse! Just in time for our annual Birdhouse Competition, Tess Woods,  Ogden's own "Gourd Lady" and local educator, will teach you how to make your  very own one-of-a-kind birdhouse from a gourd. All materials and tools will be  provided and you will walk away with a completed birdhouse to hang in your  yard - or enter in the Nature Center's competition! Space is limited. Call and  pre-register by calling 801-621-7595 by Friday, March 9 at 2  pm. Wild Wednesday/Going Green: A Special St. Patrick's Day  ProgramWednesday, March 14 at 3:30 pmFree for ONC members$2  children / $3 seniors / $4 adultsAll ages welcome!Green is the theme  for our St. Patrick's Day program.  Once again it's time to get your  green on and discover why so many things in nature are green.  Go on a  scavenger hunt around the Nature Center searching for all things green.   You'll be amazed at what you can find! Meet in the Visitor  Center. Preschool Discovery Days -- Floats & Fins &  Things That Swim Choose a date and time:Thursday, March 15 or  Friday, March 169:30 am, 11:00 am or 1 pmCost - $5 child/adult pair -  non members, $4 child/adult pair for members General admission fees  apply to additional family members. A non-refundable deposit of 50% must be  paid in advance for groups of 5 children or more. Pre-registration is  required. Ages: 3-5  Try finding a frog or spotting a turtle as  we explore the world of creatures that swim. Time will be spent inside as well  as outside, enjoying fishy stories and making a fish magnet to take home.   Outside exploration of pond life will be  included.   Scout SaturdaysSaturday, March  17 9 am - Native vs. Invasive10 am - Conservation11 am - Venomous  ReptilesCost $5 per scoutThe Ogden Nature Center provides the perfect  outdoor classroom for scout activities. Have our teacher/naturalists help your  scout pass off badge requirements during these 45-minute classes. Reservations  and a non-refundable deposit are required. For more information on the  requirements for each badge please refer to the website:  www.ogdennaturecenter.org/education/scouting-programs. Wild  Wednesday/The Wild Truth: A Pre-April Fools Day Event Wednesday, March  21 at 3:30 pmFree for ONC members$2 children / $3 seniors / $4  adultsAll ages welcome!Nature can weave some pretty tall tales, but  that doesn't mean they're not true. Prior to April Fools Day spend some time  listening to true stories from our wild world. Discover how weather has  changed history and examine some of the most unbelievable animals and plants  on the planet.  Meet in the Visitor Center. Growing up  Wild Teacher WorkshopWednesday, March 21 from  4 - 8 pmCost:  $ 40 -- includes 2 resource guidesProject Learning Tree (PLT) and Project  WILD's Early Childhood workshops help teachers integrate nature-based  exploration, art, literature, math, music and movement, and outdoor play into  early childhood education programs. The guides contain activities which  encourage young children to explore the senses, the seasons and neighborhood  trees. The activities highlight the importance of kinetic learning and  engagement by incorporating music and movement using an accompanying music CD.  Participating teachers are eligible for four re-licensure points. Please  contact Charice Bourdeaux by email at charice@usee.org or call 801-328-1549 to  register.  USEE members recieve $5 off - call 801-328-1549 for info.  when registering. 

Wild Wednesday/Shorebirds  101Wednesday, March 28 at 3:30 pmFree for ONC members$2  children / $3 seniors / $4 adultsAll ages welcome!Get up close and  personal with Einstein the American White Pelican whose beak can hold more  than his belly can.  Learn about the special adaptations that shorebirds  have.  Discuss the importance of the Great Salt Lake and learn about  different shorebirds that call Utah home. Meet in the Visitor  Center. Call for Birdhouse Entries. Entry deadline:  Saturday, March 31. Awards presentation: April 11 at 5:30 pm. Exhibit  showing April 12 - August 31Time to get building! Enter your hand-crafted  birdhouses in the 19th Annual Birdhouse Competition and Exhibit.  All  ages may enter up to two works, and there is no entry fee. For complete  guidelines and an entry form visit www.ogdennaturecenter.org.  Special  thanks to the main sponsor of this annual event: The Utah Arts Council and the  National Endowment for the Arts. Egg-cellent Adventure: --  Birds not Bunnies Egg HuntSaturday, March 31 from 10 am - 12  noonCost: $3 members / $5 non-membersAges:  All children and the  young at heartAre you ready for a unique Easter egg hunt? Join the Ogden  Nature Center's teacher/naturalists on a true egg hunt challenge. Spring is  the season for new birth. In this activity participants will learn about  nesting birds found around the Nature Center and then try their hand at bird  identification. Several nests with painted wooden eggs will be the object of  the hunt as you make your way along Nature Center trails. Locate and record  your finds from each nest to win a prize. Make and take crafts and bird stuff  to explore. Please RSVP by 5 pm on Friday, March 30. Please  note:Class sizes are limited to ensure a quality experience.  Call in  reservations over the phone and pay with a credit card or come in person to  pay with cash or checks.  The Ogden Nature Center reserves the right to  change instructors or cancel classes due to circumstances beyond our control  including, illness, inclement weather or low attendance.  The Ogden  Nature Center is located at 966 W. 12th Street in Ogden, Utah. For more  information, please visit www.ogdennaturecenter.org or call 801-621-7595.

Tumbleweeds Film Festival For Children and Youth

The Trifecta of Shred

Top Boarders Set to Compete at The Trifecta of Shred, March 1-3 Ogden, Utah - The best boarders will descend on Flowrider Utah, Crossroads Skate Park and Wolf Mountain to battle it out for the ultimate title of Chairman of the Boards during the fourth annual Trifecta of Shred. Top local and national competitors will skate, surf and snowboard their way to the top during the shredding competition, March 1-3.  Competitors will boast their skills in various board sports on the mountain, in the park and on the wave during Utah’s largest spring freestyle boarding event. The shredfest is hosted with the goal to compete in all three events to illustrate the crossover between similar board sports. The Chairman/woman of the Boards and the Mini Shredder for each event will be presented immediately following the snowboard jam session.   Skate session will take place Thursday, March 1 at Crossroads Skate Park and Shop (95 North Harrisville Road). The competition will begin at 5 p.m. with an open skate session from 3 to 5 p.m. The Flowrider surf session (at Salomon Center) will take place Friday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. with a practice session from 6 to 7 p.m. Flowrider Utah will also offer their midnight Jam Session that evening for the public for $5 per person.  The three-day festivities will culminate the following day, March 3 at Wolf Mountain Terrain Park on March 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A practice session will take place from 8 to 10 a.m.  During the snowboarding competition Kahuna Creations will host a Big Stick Best Trick competition.  Divisions include grom’s (children) 5-11 years old, junior’s 12-17 years old, men’s 18 + and women’s open and masters 35 +. Divisions will depend on entrants. Entry fee is $45 per person and includes skate, flowboard and terrain park as well as a day lift ticket to Wolf Mountain for Saturday March 3, 2012.  Sponsors of the fourth annual Trifecta of Shred include XBalm, Rockwell Time, Kahuna Creations, iFLY Utah, Skull Candy and Salomon.  For additional information email manager@iflyutah.com  Event scheduleThursday, March 1, 2012 3 to 5 p.m.                   Practice Skate Session5 p.m.                          Crossroads Skate Competition Friday, March 2, 2012 6 to 7 p.m.                   Flowrider Practice Session7:30 to 9 p.m.              Flowrider Utah Surf Session Midnight                     Jam Session (open to the public $5 per person) Saturday, March 3, 2012  8 to 10 a.m.                 Practice Session10 a.m. to 3 p.m.         Wolf Mountain Snowboard Session

SNEAK PEEK: The NEW City Creek Center Shopping Mall

The skybridge connecting the West wing and the East wing

Ads for the center are
scattered all over
buildings downtown

Salt Lake City, Utah, and the entire country, is all a buzz about the new City Creek Center shopping mall. Because it is the only shopping center opening in the entire country for 2012, it is getting attention from as far as China, and we are lucky to be a part of the excitement! You may have seen the building sized ads strewn around downtown.

Thanks to Emily with Intrepid Agency, I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek of the almost-finished mall to share with you.

After taking the tour, I am predicting that this is going to be the new "go to" place for meeting friends, hanging out and shopping. Not only does it have two levels of retails, but also two levels of residential living.

The Design:

City Creek Center was designed using recycled materials whenever possible, and many of these materials were saved when the old Cross Roads Mall was deconstructed. The plants you see around the Center were pulled from the real City Creek. Because such care was taken when constructing City Creek Center, they received Silver Lead Certification for being environmentally friendly, and is the first ever shopping center to receive such an honor.

The court outside of Nordstrom will have a fountain that shoots over thirty feet high, and is choreographed to music. It was designed by the same people that designed the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas. This is the only part of the mall that will stay open 24/7, and will serve as a thorough way between South Temple and First South.

Ninety percent of the time, City Creek Center will be an open air, outdoor mall. We all know how Utah weather is, so the mall was designed using operable end walls and a retractable roof. On days when it is rainy or snowy, the walls will come down and the ceiling will cover the mall, all within four and a half minutes, and at the push of a button.

The entire mall will be scattered with interesting art pieces. Even the skybridge connecting the East wing and the West wing has art included on the underside. On the underside of the skybridge, you will notice little ripples that look like water. This is to represent City Creek flowing from one side to the next.

The Customer Service Center:

The Customer Service center
is surrounded by a trout pond

The Customer Service center is designed as the go-to place for information on anything and everything. Waiting for a flight? No need to wait at the airport; there will be a flight board with up to the minute information on flight delays, arrivals, and departures. Planning a trip to the ski resort? There will also be a weather board full of information on all the local ski resorts. Did you bring a friend from fifty or more miles from Salt Lake City? Stop at the Customer Service center and pick up an "It Guide" for you and your friend. The Customer Service center is surrounded by a beautiful pond full of local trout.

Fun For Families and Meeting Friends:

The Center is scattered
with tracks of
local Utah animals 

As you walk around the mall, don't forget to look down. You will find many sets of animal tracks scattered throughout the mall. Try to guess which native Utah animal made those tracks, then follow them to the end to read all about that animal and see if you were right. This will be a great family activity to learn about native Utah animals.

The entire food court has been redesigned and fully refurbished to seat more people than ever before. Large outdoor dining areas are also found around the mall. The food court will attract families with their exclusively designed dinosaur theme play area. Just outside the food court you will find a large outdoor fire pit. Meeting friends at City Creek Center will be easy and convenient, and "Meet me at the fire pit" will be a phrase heard all around Salt Lake City for generations to come. This part of City Creek Center is easily accessed from South Temple just across from Temple Square.



Parking:

Parking downtown can sometimes be tricky, but City Creek Center has you covered. Not only is there a large underground parking area with eight different entrances, but valet parking is also available for a small fee. If you are visiting a specific store, go to the City Creek Center stores listing, and find the store you are visiting. The website will tell you which area to park in to access your favorite store.

Grand Opening Events:

To celebrate its grand opening, City Creek Center is holding a Charity Gala on March 21st. Tickets are only $50 a person, and all of the proceeds go to charity. When you purchase your ticket, you will also receive a $20 gift certificate to use at City Creek Center. There will only be two thousand tickets available for this Gala, so make sure you get your tickets as soon as possible. They are already going fast! Tickets can be purchased directly from the following charities: Ballet West, The Road Home, Junior League of Salt Lake City, and Utah's Hogle Zoo. You can read more about this Charity Gala on the City Creek Center website.

Richard Court, also known as Nordsrom Court,
will stay open 24/7 and include a
beautiful fountain

Grand opening of City Creek Center will be on Thursday March 22nd 2012. Hours will be 10am to 9pm Monday through Thursday, and 10am to 10pm Friday and Saturday. The Center is closed on Sundays. These hours will run from March 22nd through April 11th. Beginning April 12th, the permanent hours will be Monday through Saturday 10am to 9pm. Memorial weekend the Center will stay open until 10pm.

The stores that have been announced as residing at City Creek Center are on their website, and include Nordstrom, Macey's, Tiffany & Co., and Porsche Design. Stay tuned to the City Creek Center website for more announcements and special surprises.

Nordstrom at City Creek Center has pre-opening events scheduled, and some are even going on right now! The complete schedule can be found on the City Creek Nordstrom website.

What are you most excited for at the new City Creek Center? Leave a comment below, and let's get excited!

(All photos in the post are courtesy of and belong to Michelle Powell.)