Photo recap: Movie Under the Stars Night 2

Our second Movie Under the Stars, held on July 26, was another great success! The crowd topped 1500 guests, and people visited from as far as Canada and Mexico. 

Crowds arrived as early as 6 p.m. to set up for the evening’s activities of music, games, prizes, and outdoor screening of Wreck-it Ralph.

Many families came early to picnic and play games with their loved ones before the festivities began. We had more than 7 guests celebrating their birthday with us that night! The Salt Lake Community College also provides a concession stand where hamburgers, fruit, cookies, bratwursts, and a variety of candy can be purchased. 

Local music duo Chad & Kristo  gave an outstanding performance for an hour before the movie began. Check out this clip of their performance!

Thanks to all of those who came out, and we hope to see you on August 9.

Photo recap: Movie Under the Stars, Night 1

Last Friday marked the beginning of Utah State Capitol’s 2013 Movie Under the Stars series. Although the evening’s activities weren't scheduled to start until 7:30 p.m., families began arriving as early as 4:30 to lay out their blankets and chairs in preparation for the evening’s events of music, games, prizes, and an outdoor movie.

Missed the event? Here are a few of our favorite photos from the evening.

Date night at Movie Under the Stars.  The best part about this date idea is that it’s FREE!

Movie Under the Stars is great for all ages. Children, teenagers, and adults love it!

The band LoveCapades started the evening off with a rockin’ performance. Listen to their music and learn more about the band.

Marshall Moore, director of the Utah Film Commission, hosted trivia games about movies filmed in Utah.  The audience members on stage were competing for tickets to the 20th anniversary special screenings of The Sandlot, taking place July 19-20.

Doing a voice impersonation of “plaaaaaay ball” from The Sandlot.

The Amazing Spider-man begins. Our event features two screens, all the better to accommodate more than 2,500 audience members.

Our next Movie Under the Stars night will be held on July 26. Stay tuned for our next blog post, and see you there!

State Capitol Visitors Center Unveils New Exhibit

Photo courtesy of the Utah State Historical Society

SALT LAKE CITY—One hundred years ago, a lumbering steam shovel bit into winter-cold soil on a hill just north of Salt Lake City. It was December 26, 1912, and Utah’s state capitol was finally being built—65 years after the arrival of the first pioneers and 16 years after Utah attained statehood. 

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Utah State Capitol, the Capitol Preservation Board is pleased to present a new Visitors Center exhibit, Step Back in Time: A Centennial Celebration of the Capitol Construction. Using a collection of striking historic photographs, this new exhibit breathes life into the fascinating stories behind the planning and construction of the Capitol.

“We are thrilled to provide a unique and educational opportunity for all Capitol visitors to experience the vibrant history of this wonderful building,” said Allyson Gamble, executive director of the Capitol Preservation Board.

The exhibit opens on January 24, and will be on view weekdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. On January 24, at 10:30 a.m., a special presentation will formally welcome the public to the exhibit.

Admission to Step Back in Time is free. Digital images used in the reproduction of the exhibit’s historical photographs were provided courtesy of the University of Utah J. Willard Marriott Library, the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the Utah State Historical Society, and the Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum.

For more information, please contact 801-538-1800 or showard [at] utah [dot] gov.

In the Capitol Gallery: Threads of the Silk Road

The history of the Silk Road is filled with legendary explorers, wandering armies, pilgrims, spies, merchants, and mercenaries. Its vast 7000-mile network of trade routes from China to the Mediterranean existed for almost 2000 years, connecting the Far East to Europe. This collection of evocative photographs by Edgar Gomez-Palmieri, along with a selection of hats and headdresses, depicts surviving remnants of this great ancient highway and descendants of the historic peoples along its route.

About the Artist

Edgar Gomez-Palmieri worked in Asia as the director of international outreach for the Utah-based Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation. During his travels, he took thousands of photographs along the ancient caravan paths known as the Silk Road, from China through the Near East to Europe.

This exhibit is supported in part by Zions First National Bank, a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. Now through December 20, 2012, on the fourth floor of the Capitol. Admission is free. Visit our website or call 801-538-1800 for more details.

See Utah landscapes all year with a 2013 calendar

The days in Utah are getting chilly and, believe it or not, 2012 is reaching its end. Even though digital calendars make the transition to a new year seamless, I still love printed calendars. Brilliant calendar photography can brighten up any home or office wall, and flipping the page each month (to a new, gorgeous photo) feels like a fresh start.

The 2013 edition of the Utah Life Elevated® Scenic Calendar is no exception. A colorful photo of Thor’s Hammer at Bryce Canyon National Park, taken by photographer Ed Riche, graces the cover. Nearly 80 images appear throughout the calendar, including all five national parks, national forests and recreation areas, many of Utah’s state parks, ski resorts, metropolitan attractions, annual events, and various outdoor activities.

Both professional and amateur photographers contributed to the calendar, and most of the production work was done "in-house" by the Utah Office of Tourism. 

Now in its 41st year, the Utah Scenic Calendar is recognized annually for design and photography by the National and World Calendar Awards competition. The 2012 and 2011 editions were honored with 13 awards in the competition, including a Gold Award for Best Graphic Design.

The gorgeous calendar is a great gift for clients, family, and friends - or a simple treat for yourself! Calendars are sold at Council Hall, and online at www.uotstore.com. 

If you have questions, please contact the Utah Office of Tourism at (801) 538-1900 or visit www.visitutah.com.