New Administrative Associate

Introducing Haylee Deardeuff...
Haylee is already hard at work on projects such as the website, the new weekly Downtown Lowdown, the monthly newsletter, and much more. If you have any questions/concerns/ideas or would like to set up an appointment with Joel or Raquel please call Haylee at (801) 377-5700.

Freedom Village

At the Tabernacle Park every 4th of July we have free events including rock climbing, jump houses, an Art Yard, Scales and Tails Reptile shows, and booths from community groups.

Art YardWaiting in line for face painting at the Covey Center for the Arts booth.
Scales and Tails doing their reptile show.
Ryan and Rebecca Neely at the Downtown Provo Gallery Stroll booth.
Earth Plastering at the Utah Valley Commons booth.
"Riding" a turtle! (psst...no turtles were harmed at the Freedom Village.)
Jump houses and more earth plastering.

Much appreciation goes to all of the organizations who are a part of this event each year! Namely, Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, Utah Valley Commons, Perennial Dreams Publications, Air Force ROTC, Glass Images and Creations, Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, Utah Veterans, Covey Center for the Arts, Downtown Provo Gallery Stroll, MRAU, Utah Fire and Rescue Academy, Amy's Martial Arts, Rise Services, and more! They give us their holiday time to put on this great event for our community. Thank you!

Lighting Up the Night

The fire pits are lit every first Friday in conjunction with the Downtown Provo Gallery Stroll.
You can find them in front of the Sego Art Center, Mode Boutique, Maestro's Gelato, and Gallery One Ten. Marshmallows and skewers are provided at each venue.

See you next first Friday!

Art Chase Report

The 2nd annual Art Chase was held on April 4th and venues reported more than 500 attendees. The public picked up an Art Chase card at any of the galleries; found the pictured art; and got their cards stamped at each gallery; becoming eligible to win prizes. Strollers enjoyed an 1.2 mile walk through the heart of downtown. En route there were street performers, musicians, a caricature artist, marshmallow roasting at several fire pits, and much more.

Prizes included: a dinner at Ottavios, stay at the Hines Mansion, framed artwork from local galleries, a dinner at Guru's, stay at the Marriott, gelato, hair cuts, gift certificates, and more!

Photo credit: Andi Pitcher
To see more photos of the event please call the Downtown Alliance office.

An Insider's Look...at the Ballet

Pictures courtesy of Shari Weber

We all know that Utah dancers are the cream of the crop, right? Utahns regularly compete on popular TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and So you Think you can Dance. There are probably many reasons to be proud of our local dancing talent but I've been mostly dance world illiterate.

Until now.
My eyes are opening because of the Covey Center for the Arts in downtown Provo.

On Saturday night I attended the Legend of Timpanogos Ballet. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Wasatch Front, Utah County sits at the base of majestic Mount Timpanogos. Certainly many of the native Ute stories have been forever lost. But thanks to a very few people the Timpanogos legend, as told by Chief Walker, lives on in this glorious ballet.

Don't miss it.

Beyond being triumphantly gorgeous to watch, this ballet will inform our connection to where we live. Every Utah Valley citizen should see it.
The audience isn't allowed to film or photograph the ballet (for several reasons) which was KILLING me since I wanted documented proof that some people really can leap that high and extend that far. I've never seen such effortless lifts. Even from my seat in the balcony the willowy dancers looked six feet tall and as light as the Chieftain's feathers. (I was able to get these pictures thanks to Shari Weber who got permission for me to go back stage after the program was over.)

The set was really well done. My favorite scene is at the very end when spectacular things happen with the principal dancers and the set. (You have to see it!)

Tickets are available April 4th and 5th at 7:30 p.m. Call the Covey Center for the Arts box office at (801) 852-7007.

Me with the principal dancers Lindsay Duerfeldt and Christopher Young. Julius Chavez is the Chieftain.Jacqueline Colledge is the choreographer of Legend of Timpanogos and the founder of the Utah Regional Ballet. She is an incredible contributor to our community!

Signing out as a new ballet fan,

Raquel Smith Callis

Easter Shop Hop

Easter may have come early this year but the shop hoppers were out in force!
Much appreciation goes to Boy Scout Troop 999 and the Provo LDS missionaries for running the carnival games!Many thanks to the businesses who gave out treats and sponsored fun activities such as the Heindselman's magic show and Wilhemina Urban's face painting.And Wilhemina Urban, you're a modeling agency, did you notice how absolutely adorable our shop hoppers are?
Photo credits: Andi Pitcher Davis