What's Happening in Provo and Orem | Jan 17, 2025

What’s Up Provo!

Happy Benjamin Franklin Day! 🪁 

So when you get a chance today, pull out a $100 bill and give a nod to one of America’s greatest founding fathers. 🇺🇸 

(He was also an inventor, diplomat, owner and publisher of The Pennsylvania Gazette, oldest signer of both the Declaration and the Constitution, postmaster general, scientist, author, and a military commander.)

A few highlights of today’s newsletter:

• 🧊🏰 Ice Castles in Midway, Mapleton Burn Bright, Mountain Camp Day Lodge Grand Opening, Denim and Diamonds, Cupcake Wars

• 🚌 UTA’s plans for expanding service in Provo

• 🍨 Vinci Gelato’s in Provo

Local Business
Vinci Gelato 🍨 

Many of you know Vinci Gelato already. They’ve only been open since May, but they’ve quickly become a Provo favorite!

McKell and Jesse are the husband and wife duo behind the business. If you ask them why they’ve seen success, they’d tell you it’s simple… it’s the gelato!

If you’ve had their gelato then we think you’d agree. Here are just a few things that make their gelato the best in Utah: they make it from scratch, they are one of the only gelato shops in the country that doesn’t use artificial thickener, and all their ingredients are top notch. (For example, the pistachios they use are imported from Sicily. They don’t advertise this by the way, they do it just to get the flavor right.👌)

Speaking of Sicily, their gelato of the month, Setteveli, is a Sicilian special made of seven layers:

⚫️🍫 Dark Chocolate
⚪️🍫 White Chocolate
🥜🍫 Nutella
🌳 Nocciola (Hazelnut)
🥛 Fior di Latte (Sweet Cream)
🍫🌳 Gianduja (Chocolate Hazelnut)
🥛🍫 and it’s topped with Milk Chocolate Ganache

Fantastico!

490 N Freedom Blvd, Provo (kitty-corner to the Provo Rec Center)
Mon-Thurs: 12:00-9:30 | Fri & Sat: 12:00-11:00
Vinci Gelato | Check out their Instagram for more pictures

Gelato facts
Did you know that Gelato has less fat compared to ice cream? (Usually 4% or 5% in gelato vs. 10% to 25% in ice cream.)

It is also churned more slowly which means it is made of less air. Gelato is about 10% - 20% air, while some ice cream is 50% air.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. We’ll always let you know if something is sponsored.

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The Bulletin 📌 

UTA expanding service in Provo 🚌 

“Utah Transit Authority says they will be bringing more service…That includes expanding UTA On Demand microtransit service to west Provo, including the Provo Airport in April.”

“A new Utah Valley Express will be added to BYU's campus in the late fall.” Fox13 Article

BYU Devotional Recap 💬 

President and Sister Reese spoke this Tuesday. If you missed their talks, here are the links: God Loves Underdogs by Shane Reese, Connections by Wendy Reese

New Chair and Vice-chair of the Provo City Council + Provo Council Recap ⚖️ 

“Councilor Gary Garrett was elected by fellow members as Chair of the Provo City Municipal Council, and Councilor Rachel Whipple was elected to continue as Vice-chair.” More info

Jan 14, 2025 Council Meeting notes: Zone Map Amendment to build townhome units (5568 North Canyon Road), increase of water impact fees, and more. Recap

Today
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Mapleton Burn Bright🎄🔥 

Where there’s smoke there’s fire. (And sometimes a DJ. And treats. And groups of people writing new years resolutions!)

This great tradition is all about burning away old habits and looking towards the future with more hope and intentionality. So if you have some old habits you would like to see burn in a fiery inferno, or if you and your family just want to watch 100+ Christmas trees catch fire, then Mapleton’s your place tonight!

As mentioned, there’s going to be live music and treats as well!

Mapleton City Building (125 W 400 N, Mapleton) | 5pm - 7pm | More info

🧊🏰 Ice Castles in Midway

The Ice Castles at Soldier Hollow Midway are finally open! They officially opened on Wednesday, but they open to the general public TODAY!

This stunning attraction, (which Oprah loves by the way), features ice slides, crawl tunnels, ice caverns illuminated with color-changing lights, and much more!

Explore/slide around the castles, discover hidden ice sculptures in this frozen wonderland, stick around for the nightly fire shows 🔥 (new this year), or enhance your visit with a sleigh ride!

Peak Pricing $17 to $26 | Off-Peak Pricing $12 to $20 | Sleigh Ride tickets sold separately | Free Parking

Soldier Hollow* | Jan 17th to Feb 8th (they might stay open past Feb 8th if weather permits) | More info | Book a time 

*Just a heads up, some have said that google/apple maps isn’t the best at giving directions to the location, but you can follow their directions instead.

🎉 Mountain Camp Day Lodge Grand Opening Celebration
It’s not every day decade, that Sundance opens up a new lodge! So come celebrate at the Mountain Camp Day Lodge from 3pm to 7pm, and enjoy complimentary treats and drinks, live music, and some Rail Jam!
Sundance | Today from 3pm – 7pm & Tomorrow @ 8am | More info

🧁⚔️ Cupcake Wars
It’s a cupcake war and video game tournament tonight at the Springville Library! Send your teen in their PJs and let them compete, enjoy hot cocoa, and hopefully win some prizes!
Springville Library | 6:30 – 8:30 pm | More info

Also:
👉 Noteworthy at BYU’s The Mainstage Theatre
👉️ LA FIESTA MARIACHI at the Scera at 7pm (and Saturday @ 7pm)
👉 Faculty Recital: Scott Lesser at BYU Recital Hall
👉 Movie Night: Vertigo at Orem Library
👉 Gatsby – Provo at Experience Event Center, 8:30 pm
👉️ BYU men’s tennis vs Weber State at 5pm (Home Opener!🎉)
👉️ BYU men’s volleyball vs Ball State (away) at 5pm MST

Saturday
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Denim and Diamonds 👖💎 

Beadology is turning 2 🎂, and you’re invited to the party! Dress in your best denim outfit and get ready for an evening of crafting, lip gloss, keychains, purse charms, and jewelry.

The first 20 guests will receive a “goody bag”, and everyone that RSVP’s gets a free lip gloss. Also, don’t miss the giveaway at 7:30! So join the fun and celebrate in sparkling style!

Beadology Provo | Jan 18, 6pm to 9pm | More info

🥁 Third Coast Percussion at BYU
Third Coast Percussion is a GRAMMY® Award-winning percussion quartet (the first percussion ensemble to ever get a GRAMMY®), and they are performing at BYU tomorrow! (If you want to get a feel for their music here’s a video: Third Coast Percussion @ DePaul.) Tickets start at $12.
BYU Concert Hall | Jan 18, 7:30–9:30 pm | More info

🎉 Mountain Camp Day Lodge Grand Opening Celebration
The party continues! Come early for the ribbon cutting and you might get a free breakfast burrito! They are also giving away hot chocolate all morning (until noon) if you drop by later to check it out.
Sundance | Ribbon Cutting @ 8 am | More info

📖 Jane-uary: Pride, Prejudice, and a Perfectly Cozy Evening
“Love history? Love literature? Love tea time? Love Jane Austen? Join us for Jane-uary, a celebration of all things Austen, from her novels in first edition to cucumber sandwiches. The first half of the evening will be a show-and-tell of rare Austen editions by our curator, with the second half comprising a spot of tea and parlor games in the gallery.”
Artifacts Bookstore | 6:50pm-9pm | More info

🏈 Jake Retzlaff at Smith’s
Great opportunity to meet the face of Manischewitz, Jake Retzlaff! (Also he’s BYU’s quarterback.) Get your merch signed, and pick up a FREE Vita Coco drink!
Smith’s on Freedom in Provo | 11am - 12 noon | More info (this link may not work for everyone)

Also:
👉️ Leather Book Binding Class at 10am
👉️ UVU men’s basketball vs Utah Tech (the Old Hammer Rivalry) at UCCU Center in Orem at 2pm MST
👉️ BYU men’s basketball takes on the U in SLC. Let’s go cougars! 6pm MST
👉️ BYU women’s basketball vs Texas Tech (away) at 6pm MST

Live Music 🎸

@ The Velour
Friday - The Bush Boys, If and When, Back Patio

@ The Boardwalk
Friday - Loafa, Door City, Staycation
Saturday - Parade the Bug, Daniel’s Park, Sour Milk

@ The Rise
Saturday - The Hit (formerly known as New American Gothic), Teddy P, Alley Greer

Kinda Useful Trivia 🤓 

We’re celebrating Benjamin Franklin Day today by including a Benjamin Franklin-related trivia question. So here it is.

Background info: As you may know, Benjamin Franklin was the author the the famous Poor Richard’s Almanack.

If you didn’t know that, you might be familiar with some of the quotes found in the book: “A penny saved is a penny earned” and “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,”. Anyway, even though Benjamin Franklin was the author, he published it under a pseudonym.

Question: Under what pseudonym did Benjamin Franklin publish Poor Richard’s Almanack?

Hint: Think BYU Basketball. (Also, the answer is not “Poor Richard”)

Thanks!

Thanks for reading! Make it a great day today Provo! 😉 

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie

p.s. If someone forwarded this to you, and you aren’t part of the group yet, then sign up here! 👈️

Trivia Answer ✏️ 

Question: Under what pseudonym did Benjamin Franklin publish Poor Richard’s Almanack?

Answer: Richard Saunders

If the BYU Basketball hint confused you: