New Website Should Be Up and Working

For more info go to

www.markandashleywedding.com

Should be up and running by 7/13/06.

What to do in SLC

For a quick primer, read http://wikitravel.org/en/Utah

In late August, the leaves in the mountains will just begin to turn. There are many canyons with day-hiking trails that can be found just off road. Among our favorites are Millcreek Canyon (pay by the car, many maintained trails), see http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/wcnf/unit/slrd/recreation/picnicking/mill_creek_picnic.shtml, and the Red Butte Gardens (pay per person, lots of well-maintained trails). If you'd like to try your hand at mountain biking, Deer Valley Resort in Park City has chair lifts that will take you and your bike to some of the more fun trails.

There are a handful of architectural sites. Check out the City Library on 200 East and 400 South. You will also see many of my clients hanging out there to get out of the heat. The spiral jetty on the north end of the Great Salt Lake is a famous, world architectural wonder. And, Temple Square (South Temple and State St) is something to experience if coming from out-of-state.

If shopping is your bag, there a couple of shopping centers. The Gateway, an outdoor shopping mall, is located just west of downtown at 400 West 200 South. Trolley Square, an old trolley car garage, is located on the eastern part of downtown at 700 East and 500 South. If you just have to go to a mall, on the south end of the valley you can find Fashion Place Mall (approximately 5600 South State St.)

Favorite Watering Holes and restaurants. Please familiarize yourself with Utah's unique liquor laws. Contrary to popular opinion, it is possible to get a drink in Utah. Read the section regarding liquor laws in http://wikitravel.org/en/Utah

Want to catch a movie, a beer, and a pizza? Go to Brewvies (see www.brewvies.com). This theatre tends to play second run blockbusters and art-house flicks. The beer is the 3.2% variety, and the pizzas are very tasty. Other standard movie theatres include the Broadway cinemas (arthouse/indie) on 300 South State St., Regency Theatres (arthouse/indie) at Trolley Square, the Tower Theater (indie) at 900 South 900 East, and Megaplex at the Gateway (current, popular movies).

At a place called a private club, you may be asked if you are a "member." No worries. You can buy a temporary membership for a few bucks. Think of it as a cover charge. However, this cover charge of a few bucks will get you and your party in the door and drinking in no time. Favorite private club? The Bayou (State Street and 650 South). Other decent private clubs include Red Door (200 South Main St.), Circle Lounge (350 South State St.), Green Street (at Trolley Square), the Republican (Irish bar) at 900 South State St., and Piper Down (1600 South State St.).

There are plenty of great dining options. Our favorite is Trio, located on 900 East and 700 South. Great sushi can be had at Happy Sumo, located within the Gateway Mall. Mazza serves fantastic middle eastern cuisine in a great neighborhood atmosphere at 1500 South 1500 East. Across the street from Mazza is the Paris Bistro, a spendy French restaurant. Canelas, on 200 East and 500 South is a great, local Italian eatery, as is it's neighbor, Urban Bistro. Squatter's Brew Pub has a great all-around menu and serves brunch on Sundays. They are located at 150 West 300 South. Bambara at Hotel Monaco is fantastic (200 South Main Street). Stoneground Pizzeria serves moderate to expensive Italian/American fare, located on 400 South and 230 East. Market Street Grill and the Oyster Bar (private club) are SLC institutions, serving steak and seafood.

If protesting is your bag, you could join SLC's mayor in protesting G.W. Bush's visit to SLC. Should happen on either Sunday or Monday. I'll try to make it.

You like hippies and outdoor markets? The hippies and yuppies take over Pioneer Park on Saturday mornings (400 South and 300 West) for the weekly Farmers' Market. You like drum circles? Go to Liberty Park on 700 East and 900 South on Sunday afternoon. Bring your own bongos.

I'll update this list as I think of more things.

The Basics for the Wedding

Date: August 26, 2006
Place: Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Reception Venue: The Orangerie at Red Butte Gardens
Reception Time: Immediately after wedding ceremony

Red Butte Garden is located next to the University of Utah. Red Butte is located a few miles north from I-80 (Foothill Blvd. exit). Check the following website for a more detailed map: http://www.redbuttegarden.org/About_Us/?c=Hours_Admission_Map.inc

Additional info about the venue can be found at redbuttegarden.org.

If driving, there should be plenty of parking in a lot located west of the entrance to the Garden. Public transportation stops are pretty far away from the Garden, and if not driving, it would be better to taxi it to the site.

The wedding will be held outdoors in Red Butte's Fragrance Garden, weather permitting. Temperatures in Utah in late August can reach the 90s during the daytime, but by early evening should be comfortable. When the sun goes down, the temperatures can drop to the high 50s & low 60s.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the wedding reception site a few hundred yards away.

DINNER:

We are serving an Asian themed dinner, buffet style, for our dinner. Spring rolls and peanut chicken wontons are the appetizers. Dinner will consist of a terryaki beef and green tea poached salmon. Honey gingered asian long beans, buckwheat noodles, and a salad will also be available. We plan on having a wine and beer bar on premises. We would ask that your RSVP as soon as possible so that we can provide an accurate head count to our caterer and to our event coordinator for our table set-up (we will have assigned tables and seating).

LODGING DETAILS:

Unfortunately, many of the big hotel chains were not willing to allow us to block out rooms at reasonable rates due to the American Legion convention that is being held the weekend of our wedding ($200/night for standard hotel accomodations seemed a bit too steep). You might be lucky finding invididual rooms at these chains.

For a hotel in close proximity to Red Butte, try the University Park Marriott at (801) 581-1000.

There are quite a few nice downtown hotels, however anything downtown risks (1) being completely booked due to the convention, or (2) having a pretty exorbitant rate.

Downtown SLC is bounded on the North by South Temple Street. The South is bounded by 600 South. The East would be bounded by 300 East. The West would be bounded by 400 to 500 West. SLC runs on a grid system, with ground zero being at South Temple and State Street. Anything east of State Street counts up going East (Main Street, 200 East, 300 East). Anything west of State street counts up going west (West Temple, 200 West, 300 West, etc.). South Temple is about as far north as you'd like to go if staying in SLC. Anything South counts up going South (100 South, 200 South, etc.).

There are two Marriotts, a Hotel Monaco, a Hilton, a Red Lion, a Shilo Inn, and a few others.

There are a few traveler style hotels in the area, like the Courtyard Marriotts or Crystal Inns. If looking for a hotel with a reasonable rate, finding anything outside of the downtown area might yield a better rate. You may also find decent priced accomodations at a variety of Bed & Breakfasts in town. I've also had luck, in the past, at finding good rates on websites like travelocity.com or hotels.com.