Best Weekend Ever

I know I have been slacking lately about posting, but this weekend is inspiring me. First off tomorrow is the first day of Autumn! Best season ever. But there is also a ton of awesomeness going on in the city.

Greek Food Festival

GREEK FOOD! What more can I say. Stuff yourself with gyros, souvlaki, baklava, and more deliciousness. Check it at all day Friday and Saturday at the Greek Community Center. 674 42nd St. View the menu here.

The Front Climbing  Gym

On Saturday from 10am-4pm, the Front will be offering free rock climbing + free equipment rental and basic safety instructions. Find more info here.

Harvest Moon Festival

It’s the tenth annual celebration complete with kids’ activities, live music, beer and more. Mosey on down all day Saturday on Historic 25th St. Visit the website here.

5k Foam Fest

Check out this sudsy race at Fort Buenaventura Park on Friday and Saturday. Run 3.1 miles in a sea of foam through watery obstacles, like slip n slides. Registration is $40. Click here for more details.

Kangaroo Zoo

Kangaroo Zoo is the latest addition to Ogden’s wonderful assortment of kids’ activity places. If you haven’t tried it out yet, it is a super fun bounce house arena with 12 inflatable attractions for kids ages 1 and up. Admission is only $7.99/child 3 & up and $5/ child 2 & under. Friday, Saturday, and holiday admission is $8.99/ child 3 & up. Parents are free to watch, but don’t forget socks for the kids (they are required for play). Check them out for play dates, special occasions, birthdays, and daily play. Like them on Facebook to hear about coupons, promotions and giveaways.

Kangaroo Zoo

184 29th St.

801-622-1000

Art House Cinema 502

A few years ago when The Darjeeling Limited came out, I was so excited to see my favorite director’s new film that I was actually going to pay to see it in the theater (I never do that.) Well, to my dismay it was only playing at the Broadway Theater in SLC. That’s when I thought, “Hey, why isn’t there any place to see indie movies in Ogden?” I was hoping that the Egyptian Theater might take the initiative to play indie movies after the Sundance Film Festival. That has yet to happen, but luckily we now have the Art House Cinema 502.

The Art House Cinema is a tiny theater located right on 25th St. It seats a whopping 28 people in cozy, intimate setting with vintage theater seats and exposed brick walls. I went there for the first time this Saturday to see Queen of the Sun: What are the bees telling us?. This amazing documentary was a visually-stunning and unbelievably relevant look at the diminishing bee population. I am so glad I got to see it now, rather than in 2015 when Netflix might add it to their instant queue.

Ogden’s newest little theater will be showing primarily independent, foreign and documentary films. Starting in September, they will be showing new films every week. Check out their calendar to see what’s playing this month. Tickets are only $8 and you are (I’d argue) almost guaranteed to see a better movie than you would at the Megaplex or any other local theater. Check them out soon at 158 25th St. 801-917-4502.

P.S. They are trying to raise $700 more to create a server to auto play rotations. Pledges are being accepted at Kickstarter.com. Donate just $15 and if the project is funded, you will get two movie passes and two concession items. Donate $500 and you will two VIP passes which includes unlimited screenings for a whole year and more. They only have 3 more days left to raise funds, so donate now if you can.

This Week in Ogden

Wow! Summer is dwindling down to nothing and school will be starting in two weeks. Sorry for the reminder, but that means you only have two more weeks to enjoy the many awesome summer activities. Don’t miss out!

Monday, August 8

7pm- If you haven’t gone to one of the free movies at the Ogden Amphitheater you should really check it out tonight. Tonight they will be showing Furry Vengeance.

The Main Library will be hosting a Family Fun Night complete with stories and crafts at 7pm, as well.

Wednesday, August 10

The Weber County Fair starts today and goes until Saturday, August 13. Don’t miss out on funnel cake, farm animals, demolition derby and more. Tickets are only $6/adult, 5$/student (13-17) or senior (62+), $2/children (6-12) and kids 5 and under are free. On Wednesday, kids under 12 are free. On Thursday, bring a can of food for the Utah Food Bank and get in for only $1. See the website for more details and a schedule of events.

Saturday, August 13

The harvest season is beginning and you should see a lot of berries at the Farmer’s market this weekend. Don’t miss out. Check out this awesome blog to find out what’s in season this month in Utah.

R.A.M.P. free admission today includes:

Hill Aerospace Museum

Fort Buenaventura

Ogden Nature Center

Roy Recreation Complex

Lorin Farr Pool

WSU Pool

Free Summer Activities

Pioneer Days conclude today, so I hope everyone has had the chance to celebrate and go to the rodeo.

Monday, July 25

6:30pm- Summer Scrabble and Board Games @Pleasant Valley Library

7:00pm- Invictus @ Ogden Amphitheater

Tuesday, July 26

11:30am- Discovery Time @ Main Library Branch

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

6:00pm- Geocaching: Teen Summer Reading Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

Wednesday, July 27

10:30am- Final Party! Children’s Summer Reading Program @ North and Pleasant Valley Libraries.

12:00pm- One Man Band @ Ogden Municipal Park

2:00pm- After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library

2:00pm- Where in the World is Sarah Diego? Teen Summer Reading Program @ North Library Branch

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library

6:00pm- Geocaching: Teen Summer Reading Program @ Main Library Branch

7:30pm- Eugene Mursky @ Ogden Amphitheater

Thursday, July 28

10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library Branch

6:00pm- Bilingual Story time @ Main Library Branch

Saturday, July 30

RAMP Free Admission to:

Hill Aerospace Museum

Ogden Nature Center

North Ogden Pool

Ice Sheet

Peery’s Egyptian theater- Gnomeo and Juliet

Roy Recreation Complex

8:00am- Farmer’s Market on 25th St.

3:00pm- Family Favorites Film Series: Alice in Wonderland @ Pleasant Valley Library

Don’t forget to check my calendar for more details and info on other fun, inexpensive activities.

Ogden Rock N Romp

It’s Wednesday and there’s plenty of things going on today, so make sure you check my calendar to see what’s going on. I think I am going to check out the farmer’s  market at Oasis Community Garden on 24th and Monroe Blvd.

I wanted to say a few words today about the Ogden Rock N Romp that is scheduled for next month. If you haven’t heard about it yet, it is an awesome event that provides parents with the opportunity to listen to awesome local music with their kids. The environment is family-friendly and the music is set at a low decibel (so your kids won’t go deaf), but the music is still good (way better than that radio stuff). If that’s not enough to entice you, there are three main reasons I think you should come to the Rock N Romp:

1. It’s a great way to introduce your kids to community, local music and/or downtown Ogden.

2. It’s always a good idea to support new events in Ogden, because that supports growth, community and culture in our city.

3. Last, but not least… It is going to be sooo much fun. The kids are going to have a blast dancing and hanging out with a bunch of other kids. The adults are going to love listening to good music and watching their kids have fun.

Next month’s Rock N Romp will feature music from The House Cats, DJ Rubicon and Rick Gerber. Tickets are $5/adult or $8/couple and kids are FREE. You must be accompanied by a kid to come. All proceeds will benefit local non-profit, Nurture the Creative Mind.

So find Ogden Rock N Romp on Facebook, like our page, RSVP to the event and mark your calendars, because you really can’t miss out on this super cool event. Oh, and don’t forget to tell your friends!

Free Summer Activities

There are a lot of new, fun things going on this week. Don’t forget to check out the Pioneer Days events!

Monday, July 18

6:30pm- Summer Scrabble and Board Games @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

7:00pm- Feathered Friends from the Ogden Nature Center @ North Library Branch

7:00pm- Horse & Hitch Parade on Washington Blvd.

7:00pm- Summer Sizzle Arts & Entertainment with Mysterious Mr. Dayley’s Magic Show @ Main Library Branch

8:00pm- Family Night to Remember @ Ogden Amphitheater

Tuesday, July 19

11:30am- Discovery Time @ Main Library

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library

Wednesday, July 20

10:30am- Global Citizens: Children’s Summer Reading Program @ North and Pleasant Valley Libraries

12pm- Tunes at Noon with Stampede @ Ogden Municipal Park

2:00pm- After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library

7:30- Dan Weldon performing @ Ogden Amphitheater

Thursday, July 21

10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library

6:00pm- Bilingual Story time @ Main Library

7:00pm- Summer Sizzle Arts and Entertainment with Rootbeer Reunion @ Pleasant Valley Library

Friday, July 22

Check out the Visual Art Exhibit @ Eccles Community Art Center all day.

Saturday, July 23

8:00am- Farmer’s Market on 25th St.

3:00pm- Family Favorites Film Series- Megamind @ Pleasant Valley Libray

RAMP Free Admission to:

Hill Aerospace Museum

Lorin Farr Pool

Ogden Nature Center

Ott Planetarium

Fort Buenaventura

Roy Recreation Complex

National Ice Cream Day

So this Sunday, July 17, marks the 27th annual National Ice Cream Day! So, I thought I’d share some of my favorite local spots for ice cream.

Farr Better Ice Cream 286 21st St. Ogden

Photo from http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/17750972.jpg

This place is an Ogden classic that first opened in 1929. It’s kept its vintage charm and has expanded its menu from only 3 flavors to dozens of flavors, as well as, fudge, banana splits, shakes and more.

Burch Creek Mercantile 3920 Washington Blvd. South Ogden

Photo from http://www.utahfindit.com/marketplace/businesses/burch-creek-mercantile/

This place has got to have one of the cutest store fronts in all of Ogden. They, also, serve Farr Better Ice Cream and have a 1910 vintage soda fountain, homemade fudge and all the ice cream classic desserts you can think of. They serve lunch foods and have a small gift shop, too. This place is way bigger than Farr Better, so it can accommodate large groups.

Trudy’s Poppin’ Johnny Ice Cream 2501 Washington Blvd. Ogden

Photo from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GNenPBnW7q4/TgSQRBcYE0I/AAAAAAAABMk/KUshWm9ZUNI/s1600/june+042.JPG

In addition to serving lunch, Trudy’s serves homemade ice cream made right on site by their very own TRACTOR. I’ve been down there a few times while they have been churning it and the kids love it. You can get an Iddy Biddy Baby Cone for just a $1 and then enjoy the Municipal Gardens and the park directly west from the Amphitheater.

What’s just as fun as going out for ice cream? Making your own ice cream!

You can find a ton of delicious ice cream recipes here, including my favorite Apple Pie Ice Cream! All Recipes

Latose intolerant or vegan? It hasn’t been updated in a while, but this blog is THE best resource for non-dairy ice cream recipes. Beyond delicious. A Vegan Ice Cream Paradise

Don’t have a machine? Here’s how to make ice cream without one. Serious Eats- Vanilla Ice Cream without the Machine

What’s your favorite ice cream shop?

Free Summer Activities

Here I am once again, updating all the free activities going on this week. There are always a lot of fun activities going on at your local library. If you haven’t checked them out, you really should. Also, Ogden Pioneer Days is kicking off an early start with lots of free activities going on, too. I am really excited about the children’s parade on Saturday. It’s a lot of fun for kids and anyone can be in it.

Monday, July 11

All Day- Free Slurpee Day @ 7/11!

6:30pm- Summer Scrabble & Board Games @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

7:00pm- True Grit @ Ogden Amphitheater

7:00pm- Movie Monday @ North Library Branch

7:00pm- Ogden Raptors vs. Casper Ghosts. Pick up free general admission tickets at Westland Ford on 33rd and Wall Ave.

Tuesday, July 12

10:30am- Discovery Time @ Main Library Branch

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

5:00pm- Special Kids Rodeo @ Lorin Farr Park

6:00pm- Destination: Japan- Teen Summer Reading Program Event

Wednesday, July 13

2:00pm- Ultimutt Readathon @ Main Library Branch

2:00pm- After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

2:00pm- Global Dance: Teen Summer Reading Program

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library Branch

6:00pm- Sand Painting: Teen Summer Reading Program

Thursday, July 14

10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library Branch

6:00pm- Bilingual Storytime @ Main Library Branch

Friday, July 15

Time TBD- Aggie Car Show on 25th St.

Saturday, July 16

8:00am- Farmer’s Market @ Municipal Gardens and 25th St.

9:30am- Pioneer Days Children’s Parade on Washington Blvd.

3:00pm- Family Favorites Film Series- Megamind @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

All Day- RAMP Free Admission to :

Hill Aerospace Museum

BSA Ropes Challenge Course

Ogden Nature Center

Roy Recreation Complex

Dinosaur Park

Union Station Museums

You can find more details for all these events on my calendar!

Free Summer Activities

I hope everyone had a great time celebrating Independence Day. If you’re not too worn out, there’s lots of stuff going on this weekend.

Wednesday, July 6

11am- South Ogden’s 75th Anniversary @ 39th St. and Adams Ave.

2pm- Ultimutt Readathon @ Main Library Branch

2pm- After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library Branch

Thursday, July 7

10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library Branch

10:30am- Motoko and Eshu: Children’s Summer Reading Program @ Main Library Branch

6:00pm- Bilingual Story Time

7:00pm- Summer Sizzle Arts and Entertainment featuring the Rob Bennion Jazz Band @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

Friday, July 8

7:00pm- Film Premiere: Rocket Man @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

8:00pm- Movie at the Fort @ Fort Buenaventura

Saturday, July 9

10:30am- Intro to the Interent for Parents and Children @ Pleasant Valley Library

10:30am- Motoko and Eshu: Children’s summer Reading Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

2:00pm- Cinema Saturday @ Main Library Branch

3:00pm- Family Favorites Film Series-Tangled @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

RAMP Free Admission to:

Hill Aerospace Museum

Lorin Farr Pool

Ogden Nature Center

Ott Planetarium

Roy Recreation Complex

Treehouse Museum

Ice Sheet

WSU Pool

July 4th Weekend

July, the pinnacle month of summer, is here and wouldn’t be complete without fireworks, celebrations and sweltering heat. Start the month out right by going to one of the many city festivals starting this weekend.

Ogden’s Hot Rockin’ Fourth @ Lorin Farr Park- This celebration features a demolition derby, family entertainment, including magicians and face painters, carnival games and other attractions. Visit the website for more details.

Huntsville @ 2750 N. 600 E.- Get there early for breakfast in the park and stay all day for a parade, games and crafts, a hypnotist and more. Find more info here.

Farr West Freedom Festival @ 1500 N. 1700 W.- Festivities start Saturday with a golf tournament and finish on Monday with breakfast in the park, parade, children’s races and other events. More details can be found here.

North Ogden Cherry Days @ 2641 N. 400 E.- Check out the flag ceremony, children’s parade, sports tournaments and more. Get more info on this website.

Plain City @ 4160 W. 2200 N.- Go on Saturday to enjoy a car show, dog show and live entertainment in the park. Monday will feature games, kid’s parade and other entertainment. View the schedule here.

Riverdale Old Glory Days- Parades, games, entertainment and more. Visit the website for more info.

Of course, all of these celebrations conclude with fireworks. Be sure to check out at least one firework show.

Pioneer Days also kicks off today with a western-themed, "Traces of the West," First Friday Art Stroll, Trail to Pioneer Days horse display on 25th St. and Fire on the Mountain Concert @ the Union Station

Enjoy and be safe.

Ogden Raptors and Summer Sports

Last week kicked off the Ogden Raptor's minor league baseball season and I missed it, because I didn't have a computer! There is only away games this week, but get ready for seven home games in a row starting next week. Reserved tickets range from $5-$12, but you can get free general admission tickets every game. Check out the Raptor's website and click on the asterik located on each home game date for more info.

Here's a schedule of next week's free ticket pickups:

Tuesday, July 5 @ South Weber Recreation Office
Wednesday, July 6 @ Warren's or Dylan's locations
Thursday, July 7 @ Ogden Eccles Dinosaur Park
Saturday, July 9 @ any Bank of Utah locations

I am not a huge sports fan, but I am going to start keeping updated on Ogden sports. Ogden has a lot of local sports teams, including WSU teams, and sports events are great, inexpensive family activities.

I'll post more later, but check out some of Ogden's summer sports teams. Click the team to go to their website and find out about upcoming events.

Ogden City Oylers Softball Team

O-Town Derby Dames Roller Derby Team

Junction City Roller Dolls Roller Derby Team

Ogden Outlaws Soccer Team

Weber State University Wildcats

Free Summer Activities

Monday, June 27

10:30am- Discovery Time @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

11:30am- Science in the Parks @ Monroe Park

11:30am- Art in the Parks @ West Ogden Park

7:00pm- Despicable Me @ Ogden Amphitheater

Tuesday, June 28

10:30am- Discovery Time @ Main Library Branch

11:30am- Science in the Parks @ Monroe Park

11:30am- Art in the Parks @ West Ogden Park

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

6:00pm- The Americas: Teen Summer Reading Program @ Pleasant Valley Branch

Wednesday, June 29

11:30am- Science in the Parks @ Monroe Park

11:30am- Art in the Parks @ West Ogden Park

12:00pm- Tunes at Noon featuring Jane Bruce @ Municipal Building

2:00pm- Ultimutt Readathon @ Main Library Branch

2:00pm- After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

2:00pm- Taste Eurasia: Teen Summer Reading Program @ North Library Branch

4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library Branch

6:00pm- Haiku and Origami: Teen Summer Reading Program @ Main Library Branch

7:30pm- Talent in the Park @ Ogden Amphitheater

Thursday, June 30

10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library Branch

11:30am- Science in the Parks @ Monroe Park

11:30am- Art in the Parks @ West Ogden Park

6:00pm- Bilingual Story time @ Main Library Branch

Friday, July 1

11:30am- Science in the Parks @ Monroe Park

11:30am- Art in the Parks @ West Ogden Park

6:00pm- Friday Night Art Stroll on 25th St.

Saturday, July 2

R.A.M.P Free Admission

Ogden Nature Center

Hill Aerospace Museum

Roy Recreation Complex

Free Summer Activities,pt 4

Yay for free summer activities! I have had so much fun attending many of the activities so far. I actually have a hard time keeping up with all of them.

Monday, June 20
10:30am- Away We Go: Children's Summer Reading Program @ Main Library Branch
11:30am- Science in the Parks @ Liberty Park
11:30am- Art in the Parks @ Monroe Park
7:00pm- How to Train a Dragon @ Ogden Amphitheater
7:00pm- Summer Sizzle Entertainment, Ogden Nature Center @ Main Library Branch

Tuesday, June 21
11:30am- Science in the Parks @ Liberty Park
11:30am- Art in the Parks @ Monroe Park
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

Wednesday, June 23
10:30am- Away We Go: Children's Summer Reading Program @ North and Pleasant Valley Library Branches.
11:30am- Science at the Parks @ Liberty Park
11:30am- Art at the Parks @ Monroe Park
12:00pm- Tunes at Noon @ Municipal Building
2:00pm- Ultimutt Readathon @ Main Library Branch
2:00pm- After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library Branch

Thursday, June 24
11:30am- Science in the Parks @ Liberty Park
11:30am- Art in the Parks @ Monroe Park
6:00pm- Bilingual Storytime @ Main Library Branch
7:00pm- Summer Sizzle Concert, Galloway Highlander Pipes and Drums @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

Friday, June 25
11:30am- Science in the Parks @ Liberty Park
11:30am- Art in the Parks @ Monroe Park

Saturday, June 26
R.A.M.P. Free Admission to:
Hill Aerospace Museum
Lorin Farr Park
Ogden Nature Center
Roy Recreation Complex
Ice Sheet
Ott Planetarium- This is the Science Saturdays program
Fort Buenaventura
Peery's Egyptian Theater- Free Movies at 11am and 2pm.


Check my calendar for more details!

Father's Day Weekend

It's time to celebrate those special men in our lives, DADS! Of course, BBQ's are a go-to way to spend Father's Day, but there are a ton of awesome events going on in Ogden this weekend that dads and grandpas will love.

Here we go:

Friday, June 17
The Ogden Nature Center will be having a special Daddy and Me Nature Quest where you get to go on a scavenger hunt and build a bird house together. Spots are limited and you have to RSVP by TODAY, June 16. Cost is $10 Father/child pair for members or $12 Father/child pair for non-members. Call Stefanie Miller at 801.621.7595 for more info.

Saturday, June 18
There will be a free car show sponsered by a local church at Jefferson Park on 3333 Grant Ave. They will also have hot dogs, drinks and a bounce house for kids. The event starts at 12pm, but be there by 11:30 if you want to enter your car in the show.

The Treehouse will offer free admission for all dads all day long. Haven't been to the Treehouse? Learn more here.

Sunday, June 19
Dinosaur Park will offer free admission for dads all day.

Don't miss Ogden's Juneteenth celebration on Saturday and Sunday. Juneteenth is the oldest celebration in commemoration of slavery abolition. The celebration at Ogden Amphitheater will feature ethnic food, live music, a kids zone and local community organizations.

You can find more info on my calendar. Have fun and celebrate Dad this weekend!

Ogden Amphitheater

Have you been to Ogden's downtown amphitheater? If not, try to attend one of the many awesome events going on there this summer. The amphitheater is located at the Municipal Gardens on 25th and Washington Blvd. It's right next to the Municipal Building, which I listed as one of Ogden's Top Ten Landmarks, and is a perfect place to spend a summer afternoon. There is a nice park area, the gardens, statues, tacos stands and yummy treats at Trudy's Poppin' Johnny's Ice Cream.

Last night, I went to this summer's first Monday Night at the Movies and watch Shrek Forever After. It was better than the drive-in! The screen wasn't as big, but the sound was much better and it was free. We brought our own snacks and our daughter met some friends to play with.

Here is a list of events at Ogden Amphitheater:

Mondays
As I said earlier, Monday is movie night. Every week they will show a different family movie. The event starts at 7pm with live music and the movie starts at dusk.
June 20- How to Train Your Dragon
June 27- Despicable Me
July 11- True Grit (1969)
July 18- Megamind
July 25- Invictus
August 1- Home Alone, Christmas Village 50th Anniversary party
August 8- Furry Vengeance
August 15- Tangled

Wednesdays
Wednesday is all about music. Tomorrow kicks off both Tunes at Noon and Talent in the Park. Tunes at Noon will be a great event to bring a picnic and enjoy the sunshine with live music from a different artist each week. Talent in the Park showcases a different local band/musician each Wednesday night.
June 15-
12pm- Dan Weldon
7:30pm- Abraxas
June 22-
12pm- Gary Stoddard
7:30pm- Kap Brothers
June 29-
12pm- Jane Bruce
7:30pm- Unusual Suspects
July 6-
12pm- Amy Lamar
7:30pm- Greg Simpson
July 13-
12pm- Christie Divries
7:30pm- Kevin Wade Forebush
July 20-
12pm- Stampede
7:30pm- Dan Weldon
July 27-
12pm- One Man Band
7:30pm- Eugene Mursky
August 3-
12pm- McCall Erickson
7:30pm- Fusion
August 10-
12pm- Kevin Wade Forebush
7:30pm- Outrageous
August 17-
12pm- One Man Band
7:30pm- Monkey Shine

Other events include:

Saturday, June 25th- Little Texas live in concert. Show starts at 7pm. Purchase tickets in advance for $15 general admission or $20 reserved seating. Tickets are $5 extra if purchased day of concert. Buy tickets online here.

Friday, July 1- Ultimate Louisiana Style Party. Enjoy you're catfish and cornbread with live folk and reggae music at this unique event. Tickets are $25/person. Get more info here.

Saturday, July 16- Reggae Music festival from 12-10pm.

Sunday, July 31- Celtic Music festival from 12-10pm.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the Farmer's Market. It starts July 9th and will also feature live music at the amphitheater.

Free Summer Activites, pt. 3

I am posting this a couple of days early, because I must surrender my computer to PC Laptops before the old thing crashes. It's 7 years old and literally has no space left on its main hard drive. Accident waiting to happen!

Anyway, there is a ton of stuff to check out this week for absolutely no cost.

Monday, June 13
10:30am- Discovery Time @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park
5:00pm- Ogden City Cemetery Walking History Tour @ 20th St. and Madison Ave.
7:00pm- Movie Monday @ North Library Branch
7:00pm- Movie: Shrek Forever After @ Ogden Amphitheater

Tuesday, June 14
10:30am- Discovery Time @ Main Library Branch
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
6:00pm- Destination: Africa: Teen Summer Reading Program Event @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

Wednesday, June 15
9:00am- Wildflower Hike with Weber Pathways. Find out about more hikes here.
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park
12:00pm- Tunes at Noon, Dan Weldon performs @ Ogden City Municipal Park
2:00pm- Ultimutt Readathon @ Main Library Branch
2:00pm- After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
2:00pm- Zentangles: Teen Summer Reading Program Event @ North Library Branch
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library Branch
6:00pm- World of Chocolate: Teen Summer Reading Program Event @ Main Library Branch

Thursday, June 16
10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library Branch
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park
6:00pm- Bilingual Storytime @ Main Library Branch

Friday, June 17
11:30am- Science in the Park @ Lorin Farr Park
11:30am- Art in the Park @ Liberty Park

Saturday, June 18
All Day- Juneteenth Cultural Arts Festival @ Ogden Amphitheater
All Day- Free Admission to the Treehouse for all dads. Read about the museum here.
10:30am- Introduction to the Internet for Parents and Children @ Main and Pleasant Valley Library Branches
12:00pm- Father's Day Car Show @ Jefferson Park
1:00pm- Jr. Master Gardener program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
3:00pm- Disney Adventures Film Series - The Chronilcles of Narnia: Prince Caspian @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
7:00pm- Mysterious Mr. Daley's Magic Show @ Main Library Branch
R.A.M.P. Free Admission
Hill Aerospace Museum- Learn about the museum here.
BSA Ropes Challenge Course @ 1200 E 5400 S, South Ogden
Ogden Nature Center- Read my post about the center here.
Roy Recreation Complex @ 2150 W 4700 S, Roy

Sunday, June 19
All Day- Juneteenth Cultural Arts Festival @ Ogden Amphitheater

Don't forget about free school lunch all week long. Find participating schools and parks here.

There it is! Find all the details for the events listed above on my calendar. Have fun and let me know if I've forgotten anything.

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Great American Backyard Campout

Coleman Montana 4-person tent

On June 25th, the National Wildlife Federation supports the annual Great American Backyard Campout to get families outside and raise money for its great cause. The 75-year-old federation is America's largest conservation organization. They advocate and support clean water, endangered species, reducing pollution and getting kids outdoors. Find out more on their website.

By hosting the Great American Backyard Campout, the NWF encourages families to get out in the comfort of their own backyards and sleep under the stars. Whether you're an experienced or inexperienced camper, this is an easy and cheap way to enjoy a little impromptu staycation with your family.

I wasn't going to post about this until a few days before the event, but there are so many fun things involved that I figured it needed a little advanced planning.
On http://goexplorenature.blogspot.com, this mom planned an awesome backyard group campout by inviting friends to share in the fun.

You can turn this fun event into a fund-raising opportunity by registering your campout on the GABC website. Here you can get a webpage, set a goal and have other campers, friends and family donate under your group name to the NWF.

Coincidentally enough, Family Fun Magazine (my favorite magazine ever!) is celebrating their 20th anniversary by sponsoring a Badges of Fun Challenge. Each month (for 10 months) the magazine will offer a new badge that your family can earn together by completing one of three listed activities. June's Backyard Fun badge can be earned by...having a backyard campout! You can share your experiences online and enter to win the grand prize of a family tent and four sleeping bags from R.E.I. Check the website for more details.

The big day is June 25th, but you can have a backyard campout any night that is convenient for your family. Visit the GABC website for tips on planning and getting ready for the event. Whether with just your family or with the entire neighborhood, plan a backyard yard campout this month and:

1. Start a family tradition
2. Raise money for a good cause
3. Earn a family badge

You don't even need a tent to have a backyard campout. Just grab your family, friends, sleeping bags and don't forget to make s'mores! Have fun!

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Movie Theater Summer

Looking for some more inexpensive days out with the kids. Wanna go to the movie theater, but Friday night is to busy and pricey? Check out the summer deals at local movie theaters.

Cine Point Theater
151 E. 12th St. Ogden
This is a discount theater that plays movies a couple of months after they have been released. Tickets are normally $3/person but, they offer weekday specials like Monday "Family Night" where you can get admission for up to 6 people for only $10. This summer, they also offer the Summer Kids Movie Club. Here you can watch older movies, like Matilda or How to Train Your Dragon, for only $1/person. Showtimes are at 10am and 12pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Get free popcorn when you sign up for their newsletter. Check the website for movie selections and other discounts, including Tuesday Date Night.

Megaplex at the Junction
2351 Kiesel Ave., Ogden
This is Ogden's newest, biggest and best theater. Here, you've got 3D screens, motion seats and restaurant food you can eat inside the theater. Their best deal is on Tuesday when you get matinee pricing, $6.25/person, all day long. They also offer food specials, like $2 off a Megaone Combo.


Cinemark Tinseltown Theater
3651 Wall Ave., Newgate Mall
This theater also offers a summer movie club that plays older children's movies, like Ramona and Beezus. Showtimes are at 10am every Tuesday and Wednesdays. Shows are $1/person or you can buy a ten movie punch pass for only $5. Click here for a schedule.

You can enjoy a lot of kids movies for free this summer, too. The Weber County Library shows kids movies every Saturday. Next week, Ogden will start it's free movie night at the Ogden Amphitheater every Monday. Check my calendar for more details.

Don't forget to plan a Drive-in Movie Night this summer. Read my post for more details.

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Science Saturdays

Did you know that Ogden has a planetarium? I didn't until about a year ago, but I had no idea how I could visit it. Apparently, you can make reservations for a small fee or you can attend an upcoming special event. Check the website for more details.

The best way to visit is on Science Saturdays. Science Saturdays is an awesome, free program offered by the Science Department at Weber State University. It is usually held once a month year-round, but, thanks to R.A.M.P., will be held every other week through the summer. The fun starts at noon and goes until 5pm. The activities are held in the Lind Lecture Hall, which is the home of Ott Planetarium and the Museum of Natural Science.

I had the chance to take my daughter last week and loved it. We started out with a show on Spring Constellations in the planetarium. Then, we walked through the Museum of Natural Science. It is very small, but it has a replica of the Allosaurus (my daughter's favorite), stuffed native animals and rocks and minerals.

Lastly, we checked out the hands-on science activities. There were four available. In the first one, we made an atom with beads and a balloon. Eleanor didn't quite care that it was an atom, she just liked the balloon. Then, we made 3D tectonic plates and learned about earthquakes, used geometric shapes to create buildings and watched kids try to make boats made out of aluminum foil float.

The program is really great for kids of all ages. My toddler enjoyed the museum and planetarium show. But, the activities are definitely more appropriate for school-aged kids. All in all it's fun, educational and free! So, check it out this Saturday, June 11.

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Wacky Foundation

I just wanted to share a few words today about my cousin, Nicholas William Raitt, who passed away last Thursday, June 2. After a 4-year-long battle with a rare cancer and three chemotherapy treatments, he lost his life at the young age of 22-years-old. Although his illness caused him to give up my of his dreams, he never lost hope and always turned his determination to new goals. While still battle cancer and being in and out of the hospital, he started a foundation called WACKY. It stands for Warriors Against Cancer in Kids and Young Adults. You can read more of his story on his blog, My War With Cancer.


WACKY uses athletics events, like marathons and sports tournaments, to raise awareness of and money for young people battle cancer by being, well, wacky. 100% of every dollar donated goes in equal parts to two organizations.

The first is called First Descents. This is a wonderful program my cousin was first a participant in and then a volunteer with. The program gives young adults battle cancer the chance to explore the outdoors through kayaking, rock climbing and more.

The second organization is Cure Search. This organization raises money to directly benefit childhood cancer research by the Children's Oncology Group.

WACKY is my cousin's legacy and if you are looking for a local charity to support check out their website, http://www.wackywarriors.org/, where you can find out about upcoming events and donate money.

Nick, you will always be remembered for sharing your strength and experiences with family, friends and peers. We love you!

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Free School Lunch

Photo from: http://jonathanturley.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/lunch_tray.jpg

Free school lunch at local schools and parks started today. Lunch is available at no cost for all children under the age of 18. Lunch for adults cost $2.00.

Lunch will be offered in Ogden School District from 11:30am to 12:15pm.
Schools with an asterisk also offer breakfast on operating days from 7:45-8am.

These locations offer lunch Monday through Friday until July 29:
Bonneville Elementary, 490 Gramercy Ave.
Heritage Elementary, 373 S. 150 W.
*Lincoln Elementary, 1235 N. Canfield Dr.
*Odyssey Elementary, 375 Goddard St.
Jaycee Park, 25th St. and Fillmore Ave.
Liberty Park, 21 St. and Monroe Blvd.
Lorin Farr Park, 17th St. and Gramercy Ave.
*Marshall White Center, 222 28th St.
Monroe Park, 30th and Monroe Blvd.
Mount Ogden Park, 32nd and Taylor Ave.
West Ogden Park, 24th St. and E Ave.

These locations offer lunch Monday through Thursday until July 21:
*Ben Lomond High, 1080 9th St.
*Dee Elementary, 550 22nd St.
*Madison Elementary, 2563 Monroe Blvd.

For more info, call Ogden School District @ 801-737-7700.

Other school districts offer free school lunch, too. Call for more info.

Weber School District @ 801-476-7838
Davis School District @ 801-402-5261
Box Elder School District @ 435-734-4800

Free Summer Activites, part deux

There is sooooo much going on this week, I'll keep my intro short and sweet. I hope everyone has the chance to get out and have some free family fun. Don't forget to register your kids for the summer reading programs at the library. They have an awesome program planned out.

Monday, June 6
10:30am- Discovery Time @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
Stories We Tell: Children’s Summer Reading Event @ Main Library Branch

Tuesday, June 7
10:30 am- Discovery Time @ Main Library Branch
1:00pm- It's only 25 cents to swim at Marshall White Center on Tuesdays. Thanks Finding Life in O-Town for the tip.
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
7:00 pm- Magic Show @ North Library Branch

Wednesday, June 8
9am- Weber Pathway’s guided Wildflower Hike in Ogden Valley.
10:30am- Stories We Tell: Children’s Summer Reading Event @ North and Pleasant Valley Library Branches
2pm- Ultimutt Readathon @ Main Library Branch
After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library Branch
7:00pm- Jazz at the Station @ Union Station

Thursday, June 9
10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library Branch
6:00pm- Bilingual Storytime @ Main Library Branch
7:00pm- Family Fun Night @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

Friday, June 10
8:00pm- Movie at the Fort (note: Last time I checked Fort Buenaventura was flooded, so I have to make sure this event is still going on. I'll give you an update asap.)

Saturday, June 11
All Day- Foursite Film festival and Ogden Arts Festival
2:00pm- Cinema Saturday @ Main Branch
3:00pm- Disney Adventures Film Series - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe @ Pleasant Valley Branch
12:00pm- Ogden Nature Botany Club @ Ogden Nature Center
12:00pm- Science Saturdays @ Ott Planetarium, WSU
R.A.M.P. Free admission all day

• Hill Aerospace Museum- Click here to read my post on this museum.
• Lorin Farr Pool
• Ogden Nature Center- Click here to read my post on ONC.
• Roy Recreation Complex
• Treehouse Museum- Click here to read my post about this museum.
• Union Station Museums

Also, Treehouse Museum is offering free admission everyday to all active duty military families now through Labor Day.

You can get additional information for all of these events on my calendar.

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National Drive-In Movie Day

Photo from: 1950 Chevrolet Blog.

On June 6, 1933, the first-ever drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey. Thus Monday, June 6 is National Drive-in Movie Theater Day. The theaters rose to their greatest popularity in the 1950s and they also gained a disreputable image, because of all that teenage making-out going on. I know this, because I've seen Grease, of course.

According to a CNN article, during their peak popularity there were thousands of drive-in theaters across the country. Today, an estimate is there's only around 400 left. Amazingly, 6 of these endangered venues are in Utah. Of course, we have our own Motor Vu Drive-in in Riverdale.

Motor Vu opened in 1947 and today has 4 screens. Like many other drive-ins, the location now has swap meets on the weekends to make ends meet. This weekend, you can go see:

• The Hangover, Part II and Bridesmaids
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Tangled
  
• X Men: First Class and Fast Five


• Kung Fu Panda 2 and Thor

Hours: Friday - Saturday Box Office: 7:15 PM Show: 9:20 PM Sunday-Thursday Box Office: 8:15 PM Show: 9:20 PM Prices: Adults (ages 12 yrs. & older): $7.00, Children (ages 5-11 yrs.): $3.00, Ages 4 yrs & under: FREE.

Take your family out to a drive-in theater this weekend, we may be the last generation to enjoy this piece of Americana.

Ogden Nature Center

The Ogden Nature Center is one of our favorite places to visit. We like to go every few weeks just to enjoy the scenery, but love to attend the weekly educational classes.

The center has two main goals; the first is preservation. ONC sits on 152-acres of land that serve as a habitat for wild and rescued animals. With 1.5 miles of walking trails, you can spend a good day visiting the animals, the treehouse and the look-out point.

The second ONC goal is education. Their awesome staff teaches weekly classes, from yoga to scouting and hold summer camps for kids ages 2-12. See my post on summer camps for more info on these camps and more. Wild Wednesdays is a popular class for kids and adults that focuses on a different theme each week. Next week’s theme is Mamma Mia! where you will learn about mammals that live in Utah. The class starts with a hands-on lecture and ends with a guided nature walk.

Our last visit to the Nature Center was a blast, as always. Unfortunately, the trails were still flooded, but we had a picnic and Eleanor got to attempt her life-long dream of climbing a tree.

A great way to enjoy ONC year-round is by purchasing a membership. There are a variety of memberships to choose from, but the family pass is only $45. The family membership gives everyone in your household free admission every day, discounts on camps and special events and a 10% discount on your gift shop purchases. It doesn’t end there. As a bonus, you get free admission to Dinosaur Park and the Union Station museums during the weekdays, Tracy Aviary in SLC every first Thursday of the month and over 100 nature centers across the country.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit ONC, this summer is the perfect opportunity. Thanks to R.A.M.P. grants, the center is offering free admission every Saturday all summer long. The center will also host two outdoor summer concerts on June 30 and August 4 featuring popular bluegrass bands. You can find more information on my calendar and buy tickets on the ONC website.

Put on your walking shoes, pack a picnic and visit the Ogden Nature Center today!

Ogden Nature Center
966 W. 12th St.
Ogden, UT 84404
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday 9 am – 4 pm
Cost:
Members enjoy free admission
Adults 12 and older: $4.00
Seniors 55+: $3.00
Children 2-11: $2.00
Children under 2: Free

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National Rivers Month

Oh, the irony. Today marks the first day of National Rivers Month and our rivers are too dangerous to visit. But never fear, we still have 29 days left to celebrate our beautiful rivers.

Plan a day this month to enjoy one of Utah's many rivers.

• Take your family fishing. You can catch brown, rainbow and brook trout, as well as, whitefish at the Ogden River. Check out this website for more information on fishing in Ogden.
• Try a family rafting adventure at Weber River and other locations. Visit this website for more info.
• Organize a family or community river clean-up day. Visit americanrivers.org for more details.
• Last, but not least, spend a day at Ogden's beautiful river parkway. It's a great place to walk or bike along the river and stop for a picnic. You can play at the Big Dee park or visit the Dinosaur Park. Stop by Ogden's skate park or enjoy the MTC gardens.

Do you know of any other ways to celebrate rivers this month? Share by leaving a comment.

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Ogden City Summer Recreation Program

Buy boondoggle on etsy.com.

Have you heard about Ogden City’s Summer Recreation Program?

The program is all about giving kids who have completed kindergarten, but not started the 6th grade something to do on the weekdays during the summer.
When I was a kid, it introduced me to a lot of new friends and kept me busy. Granted this was over 15 years ago, but recreation went a little something like this: In the mornings, we usually played board games. Then, we would walk to the nearest school for free lunch. After lunch, we would head back to the park for a sports game, like kickball or flag football. We had fieldtrips every so often to places like Lorin Farr swimming pool or Wheeler Creek trail. And we made tie-dye shirts, boondoggle keychains and all sorts of other crafts.

This year, the program will be offered at 5 different parks:

• Bonneville Park, 2nd and Monroe Blvd.
• 4th St./Romrell Park, 4th St and Childs Ave.
• Grandview Park,3815 Jackson Ave.
• Jaycee Park, 25th and Fillmore Ave.
• Rolling Hills Park, 1500 E. 12th St.

It runs Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:p.m., June 13th through July 22nd. And the most awesome part is…It’s only $15 for Ogden residents and $20 for non-residents. You can get the registration form here, but you have to register in person at the Ogden City Recreation Office at 1875 Monroe Blvd.

If you know someone who would be interested in this program, pass it along. Tell a friend or share this post on Facebook or Twitter.

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Free Summer Activites

This summer in Ogden is going to be awesome! Thanks to R.A.M.P., WSU, Ogden City, Weber County Library and many more, there is going to be a ton of free activities every week for kids and families. Check back every Monday for a list of the week’s free activities. Don’t forget to like O-Town Mama on Facebook or follow on Twitter to keep updated on Ogden events.

Here is the schedule of free activities for May 30-June 4:

May 30-
Treehouse Museum, 347 22nd St., Ogden is offering free admission for all military families with a current military ID. Hours are 10am-5pm. Read my post on the Treehouse for more info about the museum.
Dinosaur Park, 1544 Park Blvd., Ogden is having free showings of T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. You still have to pay admission to the park and the movie is a bonus.

May 31-
Main Branch, Weber County Library, 2464 Jefferson Ave., Ogden has Discovery Time at 10:30am and 11:30am. Discovery Time is a fun program that integrates songs, nursery rhymes, story time and crafts in a weekly hour-long program to help encourage literacy in children ages 0-5. Don’t forget to register your kids and teens in their summer reading programs while you are there.
Pleasant Valley Branch, Weber County Library, 5568 S Adams Ave.,South Ogden will hold its weekly Youth Chess Club from 4-5pm for kids 18 years and younger.

June 1-
Join Weber Pathways on a guided hike to find wildflowers in the Ogden Valley. Hikes begin at 9am. Call Helene for specific trail-head and more info 801-745-1799. Check out my post on Hiking in Ogden for info about other Weber Pathway hikes.

June 2-
North Branch, Weber County Library, 475 E 2600 N., North Ogden offers Discovery Time at 10:30am and 11:30am.

June 3-
It’s First Friday Night Art Stroll on 25th Street. It’s fun to bring your kids downtown to enjoy live music and local art at places like Ogden Blue Print and Eccles Community Art Center. There’s, also, lots of shopping and good vibes.

June 4-
Saturday is chock full of fun with free admission to Weber County attractions thanks to grants from R.A.M.P.
Choose from:
Hill Aerospace Museum, 7961 Wardley Rd., HAFB (Roy exit)- Read my post for more info on this museum.
Ogden Nature Center, 966 W. 12th St., Ogden- Walk the trails, have a picnic and visit the center’s animals, from the creepy crawly tarantulas to the feathery owls and turkeys.
Roy Aquatic Center, 2977 W. 5200 S., Roy- Enjoy the pool, splash pad and slides at this outdoor pool from 11am-6pm.
Weber State University Pool, WSU Stromberg/Swenson Gym, on the south east side of campus- Do some indoor swimming on campus from 12-4pm and visit the duck pond afterwards.
Ott Planetarium, Lind Lecture Hall, 1551 Edvalson St.,WSU is hosting its Science Saturdays from 12-5pm. Activities include admission to the Museum of Natural Science, hands-On activities, science presentations and planetarium shows.This event only happens once a month, so don’t miss out.

Don’t worry about trying to fit all this fun into one day. All these attractions will have free admission multiple times throughout the summer. Ogden Nature Center will offer free summer Saturdays every week through August 20th and Hill Aerospace Museum is always free, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Wow! So many things to do! What activity are you looking forward to most? After all that family fun, you and your spouse deserve a date. Check out my post,Date Night, for fun and inexpensive date ideas.

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Date Night!

Date Night! It is becoming quite the buzz word as parents worldwide finally start to realize...WE NEED A BREAK! It's kind of an odd transition going from spouses to parents. Before kids, the world just seems to revolve around your relationship and every night is date night. Then a kid comes along and two years later, you start to wonder why your husband calls you mom. It's a sign, you need some time together away from the kids.

I know that my husband and I are in dire need of a date, but as I search for a job post-graduation, funds are pretty low. But, date night really can't wait. So, I realized I needed to start looking for creative and inexpensive ways to spend time together. As I started shifting through my options (yep, you guessed it), Ogden is the place to be. With a little advanced planning, there are a lot of fun events going on that are totally FREE or pretty cheap (yep, I'm a cheap date). Lucky for you, I have done all the advanced planning, so you can have a worry-free night on the town with your honey.

June 3-For the Artsy
There is such a great vibe downtown during the First Friday Night Art Stroll. Art and culture are just flowing through the street. There's live music, art galleries and shopping all in one great, big package. The festivities are free and last from 6pm-9pm. It's a great way to stroll the town and enjoy the night with your date.

June 10-Movie Buffs and Foodies
Generally, dinner/movie dates are pretty dull and can end up being pretty pricey. What with the cost of theater popcorn these days! But Ogden has gone ahead and turned this dull night into something way better. The Taste of Downtown event is the perfect night out.
As part of the Ogden Arts Festival kickoff, Taste Downtown will feature the culinary creations from restaurants on Historic 25th Street. Sample City Club's spicy sweet wings, Roosters chicken salad canape's, Tona's sushi, Crowley Cafe's caesar salad, Brewski's mini meatball sub's, and Union Grill's mini caramel bread pudding. All for only $8 per person. Preview the High School Art exhibit before you "Taste" then finish the evening with a film brought to you by Foursite Film Institute, "One Revolution", $5 at the door. Food will be served from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Movie starts at 8pm. Event info provided by Ogden City.
So, pretty much you've got dinner from 6 different restaurants, an art exhibit and a movie at historic Union Station all for just $13/person. Love it!

June 15-Summer Lovin'
Not all dates have to be on weekend nights. Check out this summer's first Tunes at Noon at the Ogden Amphitheater. Dan Weldon will be performing live music from noon-1pm. Bring a picnic or grab a bite from a taco stand and enjoy the sunshine!

June 23-For the Philanthropists
Why not spend your night out supporting a good cause? SLam Jam is open mic night at Mojo's from 8pm-7pm. This night's open mic will support the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation.
ALL musicians, poets, singers, MCs, etc. are welcomed and wanted. There will be no featured artist this month, instead we are just having a completely OPEN mic. FREE FREE FREE. Info for this event provided by indie.ogden.

Well, there it is: A whole month worth of date nights. I hope everyone gets the chance to attend at least one of these events. Let me know what you think, cause I'd love to do this every month if there is positive response.

Enjoy your Memorial weekend and I'll be back on Monday!

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Hiking in Ogden

There is no better way to wear out a toddler than a beautiful hike up Taylor's Canyon. We made sure to snatch up the opportunity to actually enjoy the outdoors yesterday. It is so beautiful up there right now. It's really, really green and the creek is overflowing. Eleanor loved hearing the birds sing and looking at the wildflowers and butterflies. We parked at 29th St and took the Bonneville Shoreline Trail until we reached the Taylor's Canyon Trail. I am thinking we went about a mile each way.

There are so many trails in the Ogden area perfect for hiking, running or biking. I love the east bench trails, because they are so close to my house and you have a lot of options once you get up there. There's Waterfall Canyon, Taylor's Canyon and Indian Trail to name a few. I, also, like going up the canyon to hike Wheeler Creek, because the first section is wide and not too difficult for young children.

If you want to go hiking in Ogden, you should check out Weber Pathways. Weber Pathways is a great organization dedicated to promoting and taking care of trails in the area. On their website, you can search trails by length or difficulty and print off maps. If you are new to the area or unfamiliar with our trails, you can join Weber Pathways on guided hikes throughout the area.

Here is a list of this summer's guided hikes:

For All Ages:

Geo-Hikes
Geology students from Weber State University will be leading hikes and conducting geology discussions of local the terrain and surrounding Earth materials. Topics that will be discussed are geomorphology (how the land was formed) and lithology (what the land is made of). These hikes are for everyone (kid and dog friendly) that want to know more about our mountains. Hikes start at 9:00am
May 28- Birdsong Trail, led by Amanda Gentry and Sara Yearsley. For more info, please call Sara at 801-682-5545 June 11 Waterfall Canyon, led by Amanda Gentry and Sara Yearsley. For more info, please call Sara at 801-682-5545.
August 16- Indian Trail, meet at the Smokey the Bear Trailhead in Ogden Canyon. Led by Kristina Bishop and Sara Yearsley. For more info, please call Sara at 801-682-5545.
August 27- Beus Canyon, led by Josh Poulsen. For more info, please call Josh at 801-231-5850.

Family Hikes
These hikes are intended for families with children. We most likely will not be hiking the entire duration, but only to where the children feel comfortable. These hikes are to get parents and children outside and exploring together in our mountains. We will be looking for bugs, animals, and plants. Bring a bag or jar so the children can collect little treasures. There will lots of stops along the way and it will be slow hiking. Anyone welcome (with or without kids), dogs welcome. Outings start at 9:00am.
June 8- Burch Creek
August 18- Wheeler Creek
For more information, please call Sara at (801) 682-5545.

For Adults and Older Kids:

Up N’ Over!
May 28th
Please be physically prepared...these hikes are tough! We will meet at the designated trail-head, leave 1/2 of our vehicles, then carpool to corresponding trail-head to hike. Hikes start at 7:00am. May 28th. We will be hiking the Indian Trail. Meet at the 22nd St trail-head for this 4.3 mile hike “up-and-over” to Ogden Canyon. July 9th. Meet at the North Ogden Divide trail-head, hikeing the South Skyline Trail. Expect to be hiking for at least 5 hours. Bring a lunch! September 10th. Meet at the North Ogden Divide trail-head. Expect to be hiking for at least 5 hours. Bring a lunch! We may summit Ben Lomond Peak! Call Casey for more information 801-540-5698.

Moonlight Hikes!
Join us on these beautiful FULL MOON hikes all summer long! All outings start at 9:00pm, meet at the 29th Street Trailhead.
June 15
August 13
September 12
October 12
For more information, call Anika at (801) 792-3398.

Wild Edibles of Northern Utah
Dozens of wild, edible plants grow in the region of Northern Utah. Several almost certainly live in your own backyard! Join us for a walk to learn what edibles grow in our area and how to use them. This is an informational hike only, not an actual foraging excursion, so please bring your own snacks and drinks. Children ages 10+ and well-behaived dogs are welcome. Recommended texts: “Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West” by Gregory L. Tilford or “Plants of the Rocky Mountains “by Kershaw, Mackinnon, and Pojar. All hikes start at 9:00am on Saturdays.
May 28
June 25
July 30
August 27
September 24
Please contact James Magruder at (801) 755-9274 for trailhead info, or check Weber Pathways’ Facebook page!

Wild Flower Hikes
We’ll hike for about 3 hours with frequent stops to look at/look up wild flowers. Hikes will be at various locations in and around Ogden Valley. Bring flower guide book if you have one. Outings are weekly on Wednesday’s at 9am.
June 1
June 8
June 15
Call Helene for specific trail-head and more info 801-745-1799.

Peak Bagging
We will be hiking various peaks in and around Weber County, including Lewis Peak, Ben Lomond, Mt. Ogden, James Peak, and others. Bring lunch. These hikes are strenuous! Please be in adequate physical condition. Outings are on Fridays at 7:30am.
June 17
July 1
July 15
July 29
For trailhead info, please call Helene at (801) 745-1799.

Wasatch Hikers Wednesday Evening Hiking Group
Wasatch Hikers can be found every Wednesday night at 6:30 PM hiking a different trail in the Ogden area. Our creed is exercise is good for the body, mind and soul! The trails in the area are better than the gym. So if you want a group to hang with, or just have time for just one hike , we look forward to meeting a new friend. For information on our next outing visit: http://www.meetup.com/webercountyoutdoors/ and check the calendar under the meetups tab.

For Adults Only:

Singles Mingles 45 and older Hikes
If you’re 45 years old or older, single, and want to mingle…come join Polly on a wonderful series of trail outings! These outings are on MOST Thursdays at 6:00pm and won’t last longer than 2 hours. Outings will run from April 7th to September 29th. This is a great way to meet other singles in the area and enjoy nature together. To register and for location, please call Polly at 801-645-3236.

Hiking in Ogden is such a great way to appreciate your surroundings and enjoy a beautiful and free outing with your family. I encourage you to get out on the trails as soon as possible!

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Guest Bloggers

Click here to getImages &
Hopscotch Pictures - Pictures

It's almost summertime and I am hoping the sun is finally going to decide to stick around. I hope to make the best of this summer, since we've been waiting so patiently for it. There is going to be a tons of things to do in Ogden this summer and I will keep you posted on all the fun. Because I'm an O-Town Mama, I keep my scope limited to Ogden City and on some occasions the rest of Weber County. Plus, I only have a toddler and that further limits the activities I attend. I would love to hear from other O-Town mamas about things they like to do with their kids of all ages. I know that there are Clearfield mamas, Brigham City mamas, Salt Lake City mamas and mamas from all over the state that know about all the fun things going on in their towns. I would love to hear about your fun, summer games or crafts that can be done anywhere and special spots anywhere in Utah that your family loves to visit in the summer. I hope to take a lot of field trips and staycations this year and I (and my readers, I think) would love to hear about other family-friendly places. You can write a little blurb about your ideas, send a few pics or both would be great. I would like to highlight a guest mama or daddy blogger each week, if possible. If you would like to share your family fun on O-Town Mama, please email me at otownmama01@gmail.com or write me a comment on Facebook or Twitter.
Thanks for reading!

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LeVeque Photography

For Eleanor's birthday a couple of months ago, I started looking for a local photographer to take her pictures. Most of the photographers I found were waaaay out of my price range or didn't appeal to me. Some never returned my inquires, so I was lucky when my friend, Brooke, introduced me to LeVeque Photography. I booked a mini session, which is super affordable, and met owner and photographer, Chelsey Westbroek.

Chelsy has been doing photography for a while now, but just opened her own studio downtown at the Borrowed Earth Emporium. It's a super cute space that totally caters to kids and has the surrounding building, with all of its character-rich brick walls, for use. She offers many services, from individual portraits to large-group family photos, and takes pics in-studio and on-site.

The hardest part about taking a toddler's picture is that they CANNOT sit still for one second. Chelsy was great about not making Elle pose too much and she snapped a great shot as soon as she had the opportunity. I think she captured Eleanor's bursting personality in each shot. I am sharing my favs from the session.

If you are looking for a new photographer, I recommend LeVeque Photography for its great prices and service. She's got a great special going on for Father's Day: Get 25% off your on-site or off-site photo session. You can check LeVeque Photography out online on her website or on Facebook. If you like her on Facebook, you will find out about even more great specials.

LeVeque Photography
801-209-4881
2242 Washington Blvd.
Ogden, UT 84403

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