CATALYST Calendar: August 2011

By Pax Rasmussen

Feature calendar picks from the print version. Make sure to check our full online listings for continual updates (click Events Calendar along the top menu bar).

Festivals & fundraisers

Great Salt Lake Yoga Fest

You don’t have to travel to Spanish Fork to get your fix of the Utah Krishnas next month. The organization recently acquired a temple in Salt Lake City—and they’re using it to bring all things yoga to SLC on Labor Day weekend. Festival offers instruction and workshops on yoga of devotion, posture and breathing yoga, food yoga, healing yoga, yoga of laughter, yoga of kirtan and yoga of dance for both beginners and more advanced practicioners. Besides yoga, the festival will also include music (featuring Abraxas, Hanuman & Sadie, Sugar Mountain Revival and Jai Krishna Das & the Kirtaniyas), food and “spiritual stand-up” comedy.

GSL Yoga Fest, Sept. 3-4, 12-9p, Sept. 5, 12-4p. 965 E 3370 S. $10 single entry, $25 3-day pass. utahkrishnas.org

Raise the Roof for Tanzania

Project Wezesha is a local nonprofit promoting education in rural Tanzania. All proceeds from this night of music and a silent auction go to support Project Wezesha’s summer goal to put roofs on the classrooms of Amahoro Secondary School in Mgaraganza, Tanzania. They’ve got a line-up of local music including Better Off with the Blues, Koko and Camaro, The Last Look, Cambriah Heaton, Kaleb Hanly, Sara Baldwin and Eric O’Keefe. Silent auction will include yoga classes, spa days, local art, pottery and jewelry.

Raise the Roof, Aug. 5, 8:30p-1a. The Woodshed, 60 E 800 S. $15. projectwezesha.org

Dance performance extravaganza

The Center for Women and Children in Crisis presents “Break the Silence.” Jenny Jordan Frogley will share the stage with eight of Utah’s most accomplished dance companies as they support survivors of domestic violence. Performances by Odyssey Dance Theatre, Kalamity Dance, inFluxdance, Easton and Haley Smith (courtesy of Ballet West) and many others will provide an evening of music, song and dance. All proceeds will help fund the installation of an updated security system at a local domestic violence shelter.

Break the Silence, Aug. 12, 7p. Jeanne Wagner Theatre, 138 W 300 S. $15, recommended ages 8 and up, no babes in arms. breakthesilencedance.org

Craft Lake City

Join hundreds of local artists as they vend their innovative wares to the public at the third annual Craft Lake City event at the Gallivan Center. SLUG Magazine’s “D.I.Y Arts and Crafts Festival” features tons of entertainment throughout the day, great food choices and a showcase of progressive artists from Utah and around the region.

Craft Lake City, Aug. 13, 2-10p. The Gallivan Center, 239 Main St. craftlakecity.com

Helper Arts and Music Festival

This four-day festival boasts one of the longest running plein air competitions in Utah. Festival includes art demonstrations, gallery exhibits and shops; playwright, sculpture and art salon competitions; a children’s art yard, car show and a free concert series all weekend with live performances by many regional musicians.

Helper Arts and Music Festival, Aug. 18-21. Downtown Helper, Utah. helperartsandmusicfestival.com

International Peace Gardens Festival

Salt Lake City’s International Peace Gardens features replicas of famous international sites, such as Stonehenge, the Eiffel Tower and the Matterhorn. This annual festival showcases music, dance and food from a variety of cultures. Opening remarks by Mayor Ralph Becker and Mayor Peter Corroon will be followed by an afternoon of performances and demonstrations.

International Peace Gardens Festival, Aug. 20, 12-5p. internationalpeacegardens.org

Farm tours

The Downtown Farmers Market and Edible Wasatch present a series of farm tours in August, September and October that focus on different aspects of local food production. This is the first year for the tours—influenced by the Market’s commitment to “farm to fork” education and buying local. This month’s tour is “Fruit and Honey.” Themes, times and prices for each tour vary—keep an eye on the Downtown Farmers Market website and CATALYST calendar for details.

Fruit & Honey Farm tour, Aug. 17. downtownslc.org/downtown-farmers-market/farm-tours

Get schooled

Getting the Word Out: Exploring New Genres of Public Writing

Do you have something to say about community issues, but you want to do something more than write a letter or send an email? This interactive workshop on public writing explores lesser-known genres of writing such as fliers, brochures and pamphlets.

Getting the Word Out, Aug. 9 & 16, 6-8p. SLCC Community Writing Center, 210 E 400 S. $20, registration required. slcc.edu/cwc

Gathering Wild Mushrooms

Delicate, yet hearty and palette pleasing, mushrooms add texture and flavor to a variety of cuisines and dishes. But which of the thousands of species of mushrooms are edible—and which (very few!) will kill you? Begin to learn this important distinction and discuss the basics of mushroom hunting, which mushrooms in Utah and surrounding states are edible, and of course, cooking with mushrooms. Carpool field trip will be in the Uinta Mountains, hunting for boletus edulis (porcini), chanterelle, agaricus campestris (button) and morels. Taught by Tatyana Golub.

Gathering Wild Mushrooms, Aug. 10, 7-9p at the U of U Continuing Education Annex and Aug. 13, 9a-5p in the Uinta Mountains. $111, registration required. lifelong.utah.edu

The Basics of Bike Fit

Why do seat height and stem length matter for comfort and maximum efficiency on a bike? Find the answer to all of your bike fit questions and more at the Basics of Bike Fit class. Participants will find out what bike size is appropriate for their height, how to set the saddle to the correct height and angle and what stem lengths work best for each person. Open to all abilities and ages.

Basics of Bike Fit, Aug. 17, 6-7p. Wasatch Touring, 702 E 100 S. Free. wasatchtouring.com

Making Herbal First Aid Kits

For millennia, herbs have been invaluable for cuts, bruises, scrapes and aches. Learn how to make an herbal first aid kit for home and traveling. We will also interact with all the medicinal herbs currently growing in Traces Herbal Learning Garden and learn which are ready to be harvested now and in the fall to make oils, salves, teas and tinctures. Taught by Wendy Parker.

Making Herbal First Aid Kits, Aug. 17, 6:30-8:30p. Traces Garden, 1432 S 1100 E. $20. tracesgarden.com

Redesign your problematic park strip

Park strips are often narrow, hot and dry—making them difficult to landscape. Learn how to design park strips that take less water and look beautiful. Taught by Kathlyn Collins of The Gardening Coach.

Easy Designs for Problematic Park Strips, Aug. 20, 9-11a. Conservation Garden Park, 8215 S 1300 W. Free, but registration required. conservationgardenpark.org

Go Indian at the Shiva Center

Check out the Shiva Center’s August classes—learn about Indian cuisine, medicine, religion and cultural practices.Bhagavad Gita: An in-depth discussion of a classical text, Aug. 3, 7-8.30p; Ayurvedic cooking class, Aug. 3, 12-3p; Svara Yoga: Ancient Science of the Breath, Aug 10, 7-8p; Homa: Fire Offering with mantras for relationships, Aug. 12, 7-8.30p; Yoga Beyond Asanas: Yoga as a Way of Life, Aug. 21, 12-3p; Yogic Diet, Aug. 17, 7-9p; Stress and Anxiety: The Yogic Perspective, Aug. 24, 7-9p; Discover Mudras, Aug. 31, 7-9p.

Shiva Center, 2065 E 2100 S. Prices vary. shivacenterslc.com

Go native!

The best natives for your yard

Utah is full of plants that are beautiful, adapted to the climate and grow naturally. This class will help you find the Utah-native plants that work best for your yard.

Utah’s Best Native Plants, Aug. 20, 10:30a-12p. Conservation Garden Park, 8215 S 1300 W. Free, registration required. conservationgardenpark.org

Native Seed Collecting

The cheapest way to go native in your garden is to collect the seeds from the wild! Learn to collect a variety of native seeds, as well as when to harvest, how to handle seeds after collection and where and how to plant them for best germination results. A list of plants and envelopes for seed collection will be provided, but bring hand pruners.

Native Seed Collecting, Aug. 27, 9a-12p. Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way. $20/$16 members. redbuttegarden.org

Go Native!

Now that you know the best native plants for your yard and have collected and germinated your seeds, learn how to actually design your native garden at this basics of native landscaping class.

Go Native!, Sept. 3, 9-10:15a. Conservation Garden Park, 8215 S 1300 W. Free, but registration required. conservationgardenpark.org

Film and Art

Atomic Mom

Atomic Mom lifts the veil on a part of US history that not many know—and that those who do don’t want to remember. Pauline Silvia, a Navy biologist in the 1950s, conducted experiments for the US Atomic Testing Program at the Nevada Test Site. After 50 years, Pauline breaks her silence to talk to her daughter, filmmaker M.T. Silvia, about these experiments and why they haunt her still today.

Atomic Mom, Aug. 9, 7p. Main Library, 210 E 400 S. Free. slcfilmcenter.org

Troubadours

Framed by the illustrious careers of James Taylor and Carole King, Troubadors delves into the explosive singer-songwriter movement in Los Angeles during the early 1970s. Morgan Neville creates a riveting chronicle of the time featuring icons Elton John, Steve Martin, and Bonnie Raitt. Presented by the Sundance Institute.

Troubadours, Aug. 10, 9-11p. Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way. Free. sundance.org/utah

The Industrial Sublime

Edward Burtynsky’s large-format color photographs explore the intersection of nature and industy. They are seductively beautiful and unnerving at the same time. Thirty-one photographs of oilfields, mines, quarries, recycling yards and other sites will be on display. Burtynsky’s work can be found in the collections of many major museums, including Bibliotèque Nationale in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He is perhaps best known for his film, Manufactured Lanscapes.The Industrial Sublime, Aug. 15-Nov. 22. Shaw Gallery, Weber State University, 2001 University Circle, Ogden. 

departments.weber.edu/dova, edwardburtynsky.com

“A Doll House” reading

Check out this free staged reading of “A Doll House,” the first truly feminist play, by Henrik Ibsen (translated by Eric Samuelsen), part of Plan B Theatre’s Script-in-Hand series. Last year’s effort from this series was some of the best theatre we’ve seen in Salt Lake City.

“A Doll House” reading, Aug. 28, 4p. Jeanne Wagner Theatre, 138 W Broadway. Free, but tickets are required. planbtheatre.org

Spirituality

Dances of Universal Peace

These dances are a joyous, multicultural way to touch the spiritual essence within others and with ourselves. They use sacred phrases, chants, music and movement from the many traditions of the earth to promote peace and integration within individuals and groups. There are no performances or audience: New arrivals and older “hands” form the circle and learn together. No partner or previous dance experience is necessary.

Dances of Universal Peace, Aug. 13 (and every 2nd Saturday). Inner Light Center, 4408 S 500 E. innerlightcenter.net

Hot August Night

Join the Inner Light Center for an evening of laughter, food and fun; with live music by Auld’sKool.

Hot August Night, Aug. 20, 6-9:30p. Inner Light Center, 4408 S 500 E. innerlightcenter.net

Market

Tuesday Farmers Market

Like to buy fresh produce from the downtown farmers market, but want to avoid the crowds? Looking for food only—no need for arts and crafts? Hate getting up early on a Saturday morning? Come to the produce-only Tuesday Harvest Market—every Tuesday evening from August 2-October 12, 4 p.m.-dusk. The market features over 25 vendors selling berries, cucumbers, eggplant, peaches, heirloom tomatoes, melons, peppers, sweet corn, squash, pumpkin, cabbage, onions, green beans, potatoes, meat and more.

Harvest Market, Aug. 2-Oct. 12, 4p-dusk. Pioneer Park, 300 S 300 W. downtownslc.org/farmers-market

Urban Flea Market

Something different for downtown on a summer Sunday: a monthly flea market by the City/County Building, where you can find  eclectic vintage, used and new clothing, records, artwork, furniture, tools, knick-knacks and more. There may still be some vendor spaces available—so if you’re looking to sell some swag, here’s where to do it.

Urban Flea Market, Aug. 14, 9a-3p. Washington Square, 200 E 500 S. fleamarketslc.com

Unitarian triple-r swap

Here’s an easy and free way to get rid of what you don’t need and maybe find some stuff you do: the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Swap at the Unitarian Church. Bring what you don’t need (working items only)—such as clothing, jewelry, books, music, videos, school supplies, kitchen and household items, toys and games—and take something you do. What isn’t taken will be donated to the International Rescue Committee and others in need. No money is exchanged.

Triple-r swap, Aug. 27, 10a-2p. First Unitarian Church, 569 S 1300 E. slcuu.org

This article was originally published on July 29, 2011.