What's Happening in Provo and Orem | Jan. 29, 2025

What’s Up Provo!

Happy Korean and Chinese New Year! 🐉🎆 

According to what we’ve read, more fireworks are set off around the world on Chinese New Year than on any other day of the year!*

A few highlights of today’s newsletter:

• 🎆 Lunar New Year Celebration & Fireworks, Yoga at the MOA, An Evening of Concertos, Art after Dark

• 🥥 Bowls Superfoods in Provo

• ✡️ Jake Retzlaff’s Jewish Comedy Night

*Everything to Know About the Chinese New Year, 21 Things You Didn’t Know About Chinese New Year

Local Business
Bowls Superfoods 🥥 

When it comes to açaí bowls, this one’s our personal favorite.

The story behind Bowls Superfoods starts with Josh, the founder, who moved to Utah from Orange County in 2010 to attend BYU. After learning to love the adventurous lifestyle here he decided to bring California's açaí culture to Utah, and in 2020 he started Bowls Superfoods!

Here’s what they put in one of their most popular bowls, The Sunset Bowl:

🥥 Bases: Acai, Coconut, Blue-Cinna Chia Pudding
🍯🍓🍌 Toppings: Honey Almond Granola, Maple Granola, Strawberries, Blueberries, Bananas, Coconut Peanut Butter, Sweetened Coconut Flakes, Sliced Almonds, Goji Berries, Cacao Nibs, Hemp Seeds, Honey, Salt

They also sell 🥛shakes (their Rincon shake is made of a cacao and coconut Base, banana, cashews, almonds, coconut milk, PB2 protein powder, and peanut putter), 🟤protein balls, and even 🥜butters (like their Chocolate Hazelnut Butter)!

1161 N Canyon Rd, Provo
Monday - Sunday 9am - 9pm
Bowls Superfoods | Menu

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

The Bulletin 📌 

Utah Snowpack ❄️ 

The percentages are a little lower recently, despite the recent snow storm. However, Northern Utah is still in the 70% and above range. KSL

Jake Retzlaff’s Jewish Comedy Night ✡️ 

Deseret News — “Saturday night in Lehi, Utah, Jake Retzlaff gave probably the most unique interview of his BYU career.

Instead of facing a horde of reporters in a post-game press conference, the BYU quarterback was sitting across from a Jewish comedian participating in a Q&A at a Jewish comedy event hosted by the Chabad of Utah County.

The audience of more than 100 Jews, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and BYU football fans got to see a looser, almost unfiltered side of Retzlaff, who sounded like a comedian sometimes.” Full Article

Firefighters return home from California 🧑‍🚒 

KSL News—“More than 60 Utah firefighters returned home Sunday after a 17-day deployment to California, where they assisted in battling the devastating wildfires that have plagued the Los Angeles area.” Article

BYU beats Baylor in Overtime 🏀 

Big win for BYU! Kevin Young’s team lead most of the way and finally finished off Baylor in OT, 93-89. Kanon was on fire and made 23 points, and Richie did his thing as always and ended with 17 points before fouling out. Also, Connor McGregor was there, and led the ROC in a B-Y-U chant. (Rumor is he was in town because he’s working with Bucked Up.) Recap

Today
38° | ☀️ | 5%

Lunar New Year Celebration & Fireworks 🎆 

If you need to dispel some evil spirits, then today’s your day!

The Lunar New Year is being celebrated at the University Mall with a parade and fireworks. The parade will be a “Lion Dance” parade.

Different types of Lion Dances are performed throughout Asia (it might have originated in India since there aren’t any lions in China). In some areas, the dance was performed every night of the first fifteen nights of the Lunar New Year. Each night, troupes of lion dances would visit every house in the village selling pest control scaring off evil spirits.

So spend some time at the mall tonight, enjoy the parade and fireworks and help usher in the year of the snake!

University Place | 6pm | More info

🎉 2025 State of the City Address
“Mayor Kaufusi will deliver her annual "report card," spotlighting the year’s achievements and unveiling an inspiring vision for the future.” There will also be performances and special guests, such as Olympian Noelle Pikus-Pace, Brandon Fugal, and BYU Young Ambassadors! This is a free event and everyone’s invited!
Covey Center | 6pm – 8pm | More info

🎻 An Evening of Concertos
“One of the most anticipated concerts each year, the Evening of Concertos features the top instrumentalists and singers in the School of Music in this annual showcase.” Tickets cost $10-$16.
BYU Concert Hall in the Music Building | 7:30pm | More info

Also:
👉 Hot Cocoa & Diamond Donuts at the Springville Library at 7pm
👉️ BYU women’s basketball vs Colorado at 7pm MST (home)

Thursday
39° | ☀️ | 5%

Yoga at the MOA 🧘

"Yoga is the art work of awareness on the canvas of body, mind, and soul." – Amit Ray

So take a deep breath and bring your mats to the BYU Museum of Art for a free yoga session. Stretch body and mind among incredible art pieces during the hour long class by Troy Cox.

It’s free event, but registration is required. (The event usually fills up, but they will offer a waitlist option.)

BYU MOA | 7pm | More info

🎸 Steve Schuffert @ Black Rock Mountain Resort
Steve Schuffert aka “Classic Steve”, guitar player, multi-instrumentalist, and accomplished Nashville songwriter, will be performing at the Black Rock Mountain Resort tomorrow as part of their Live Music at On The Rocks series.
Black Rock Mountain Resort (909 West Peace Tree Trail, Heber) | 5pm -7pm | More info

🍰 Cake Deal for Community Heroes
Nothing Bundt Cakes in Spanish Fork is celebrating health care workers, first responders, military members, city employees, and school staff tomorrow. So If you are one of these community heroes then go to Nothing Bundt Cakes and enjoy a buy-one-get-one-free bundlet deal!
Spanish Fork | All day Jan. 30 | More info

🎸 Groove Axis
Get ready to vibe to jazz and contemporary sound with the talented BYU music faculty at this free concert. (Let’s go Dr. Ammons!)
BYU Recital Hall | 7:30pm | More info

Also:
👉 Tween Night Glow in the Dark Dance Party at Springville Library
👉️ Stop Motion Film Making for ages 5-8 at the Provo Library @ 4:15pm
👉️ Dog Man Day for ages 9-12 at the Provo Library @ 4:15pm

Friday
45° | ⛅️ | 5%

Art After Dark 🧑‍🎨 

Friday’s edition of Art After Dark features John Allred! John is a singer-songwriter from Hartford Connecticut, with 12 albums and 12 EP’s under his name.

So come and enjoy the music, the art, and some BYU ice cream! They will be making candles and friendship bracelets as well, and the fire pits will be lit in the MOA courtyard.

BYU MOA | 7pm - 10pm | More info

Robert Burns Supper 🎻

"O, my luve is like a red, red rose that's newly sprung in June." – Robert Burns

Celebrate Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, with a night of poetry, music, and a traditional dinner (haggis included) at the BYU Wilk!

If you’re wondering “what is haggis?”, well, it’s a savory pudding made from a sheep's offal, oatmeal, onion, and spices.

If you’re wondering “what’s sheep’s offals?”, well… just don’t worry about it.

Despite your feelings about offals of sheep, it should be a fun and unique event!

BYU Wilkinson Center | 6:30pm | More info

🧗 Climb and Crank It!
Join the Crank It Bouldering Competition at The Quarry! This one is open to everyone, and will run from 5pm to 11pm with climbing, prizes, and fun for all skill levels.
The Quarry | 5pm - 11pm | More info

🐦️🦜 🦆 The Birds!
“…a flock of gulls nearly capsized one of my boats. Practically tore the skipper's arm off.” This is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most iconic films. It was originally premiered in 1963, and it was inspired by a short story by Daphne du Maurier.
Orem Library | 6:30pm-8:30pm | More info

Also:
👉 Rock-n-Roll Train at Heber Valley Railroad
👉 The Peking Acrobats at Noorda
👉 Swan Lake Presented by the Grand Kyiv Ballet at Covey Center @ 7pm
👉️ BYU Gymnastics at home at 7pm (UC Davis and SUU)
👉️ BYU men’s volleyball vs Hawaii at 7pm

Live Music 🎸

@ The Velour
TODAY - Open Mic
Friday - SONIKA9, Adam & The Cracker Jacks, Awakening Autumn, JAKDEL
Saturday - The Grizzly Goat, The Last Wild Buffalo, Jonah Feigleson & The Sharpshooters

@ The Boardwalk
Saturday - Riff Wood, Ivy Avenue, Always Her

@ The Rise
Friday - Spencer Sanders, the Penny Candies, Sasha Haydn

Wellness Wednesday: Service Opportunities 💝 

🚀 Edgemont Elementary STEM Fair 2025 Volunteers needed
“K-3 will be on Friday, January 24 from 8:30-10:30 am. 4-6 will be on Friday, January 31 from 8:30-10:30am. Each judge will receive a 30min training and then will judge at least 3 projects. There will be light refreshments provided.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Brock Berger (5th grade teacher/STEM Fair Coordinator) at: [email protected]”
More info

🥫 Provo Community Concert of Faith Food Donations - Feb 8th
“The concert is free, though a volunteer donation of a can of food would be appreciated to go to the Community Action Services and Food Bank. The time for the concert has changed to 7:30-8:30 pm.
Volunteers who sign up are being asked to find an appropriate sized box, decorate it respectfully using the Community Action Services and Food Bank logo and bring with them when the doors open at 7:00 pm. The boxes will be delivered to CASFB after the program. Leave box at the front entrance. Check in with Kimberly Money and then help with the acceptance of donations at the door, or wherever Kimberly assigns you.” More info

👩‍👦‍👦 Sponsor Refugees coming to Utah
“Groups of 5 individuals form a Private Sponsor Group (PSG) can support an individual or family of refugee background to be resettled in Utah. They will be supported by Utah Valley Refugees, a Private Sponsor Organization (PSO) in Utah County. PSGs commit to providing resettlement services for the refugee individual or family for a 90 day period once they arrive in Utah. These services include application of public benefits, housing placement, job placement, enrollment in school if applicable, medical screening and set up with a primary care provider, and social and cultural orientation. The sponsor group must meet certain fundraising requirements and provide proof of income as part of the application. More information can be found here: https://welcomecorps.org/”
More info

Thanks!

Thanks for reading everyone! 😉 

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie

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