Community Corner
🌱 UTA's Feb. Numbers Are In And Wow! + 9th & 9th To Unveil A...Whale?
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Salt Lake City.
Get on up, Salt Lake City! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. Here's everything worth knowing around town today.
First, today's weather:
Sunshine and warmer. High: 76 Low: 51.
Here are the top three stories in Salt Lake City today:
- If the very thing you thought Salt Lake City was missing was a life-sized whale sculpture as a focal point of a traffic intersection, then you're in for some good news. Monday will see the unveiling and ribbon-cutting of a much-buzzed about public art installment titled "Out of the Blue," by local artist Stephen Kesler. The sculpture, a breaching humpback, will live in the center of the roundabout in the 9th and 9th neighborhood. (FOX 13 News Utah)
- It took a few weeks to crunch the numbers and analyze the data, but with the final report released this week it's now officially known: Free Fare February was officially UTA's busiest month in 2 years. In reaction, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, chimed in on Twitter saying "the numbers show what we've long believed: far more people will take transit when cost is not a barrier." As it turned out, the biggest effect was on weekend travel. (KSL.com)
- Students at downtown SLC's West High School staged a walkout during one of their school periods this week to protest House Bill 11 that banned transgender althletes from participating in school sports, a bill Utah Governor Spencer Cox vetoed before the legislature reconvened to override it, which it successfully did. That override, making the bill a law, is what the students were protesting with shouts of "trans youth are valid" as they walked out of school and gathered in solidarity against the legislation. (KJZZ 14)
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Today in Salt Lake City:
- See stirring, barren landscape photographs by photographer Kara Hetrick on display at the City Library's Anderson-Foothill branch in the exhibition titled Nowhere, Nevada. (All Day)
- SLCC Theatre presents Assassins! A Tony Award winning musical recounting the assassinations – and assassination attempts – of American presidents throughout history. Contains adult language and themes. Tonight at the Black Box Theatre at the college's South City Campus. (7:00 PM)
- Plan-B Theatre Company presents AFTERSHOCK, a dramatic response to the earthquake that shook Salt Lake City within a week of the pandemic shutdown. By Iris Salazar. Playing tonight at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. (8:00 PM)
From my notebook:
- Downtown SLC Farmers Market is pleased to announce it will be assuming operations of the Liberty Park Farmers Market."For the Liberty neighborhood and wider community, this is a treasured event," said Alison Einerson, Director of the Farmers Market. "We were excited when Liberty Wells Community Council asked if our organization would be interested in taking the helm of this excellent neighborhood asset." The Liberty Market will continue in the same part of the park, (east side by 700 East) but will move to Thursday evenings from 4pm to dusk. The Market will begin June 16. Vendors can apply now through April 19! (Downtown SLC)
- Repertory Dance Theatre stages SIX SONGS FROM ELLIS, April 21-23 and it sounds super interesting... Inspiring, cautionary, and human, the stories are anchored on the sea of stories held at Ellis Island. RDT dancers and six actors offer reflections on freedom and American identity from those who took drastic steps to improve their lives. Making the immigrant experience human and individual is at the heart of this work. Conceived and choreographed by Marsha Fay Knight, professor/ researcher from the University of Wyoming. (The Blocks SLC)
- Catch world-class performance art with the 9th Annual Salt Lake City Performance Art Festival. You'll experience unscripted, unrehearsed, thought-provoking work from local and national artists. The Festival will be live-streamed Friday–Saturday, April 8-9. To watch the live stream, visit slcpl.org/paf. The Festival is free and suitable for all ages and interests. (The City Library)
- Hurry! If you want to check out the blooming Magnolias at the Vietnam Garden in the International Peace Gardens, you'll need to go soon. These flowers don't last long, and the weather this week could make them gone by the weekend. (Salt Lake City Public Lands)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next update!
— Joseph Peterson
About me: Joseph is a writer and marketing communications strategist with a degree in Mass Communication and Public Relations from the University of Utah. He's keen on city life, public libraries, national parks, and promoting events that build community.