A Fair to Remember

by Tony Hobday in Gay Agenda | 0 comments

Between the Cyndi Lauper concert in Wendover a couple of weeks ago, a trip to Lava Hot Springs the weekend before that and Q Lagoon Day the Sunday before that, I am spent like a two-dollar whore. Not that that’s much different than any other weekend when I’m a three-dollar whore … but I digress. So I’ve decided to say: “Screw you, Labor Day weekend! I need a break from the 90 hours of labor I was in last month.” I think I have post-August depression, so I’m going to just chill at home with a good book. But you wonderful peeps, please get your kitty scratched for me this Labor Day weekend. Mwah!

2thursday — Flash-fiction, micro-fiction, postcard fiction, haibun, nanofiction, vignette … can you tell a story using less than 1000 words? Less than 500? Less than 100? The Community Writing Center is offering Shorter than Short: Writing Micro-fiction, a two-session workshop to help writers present a large idea in a small amount of space. Explore character, conflict, setting and dialogue while finding ways to condense and strengthen your words.
6–8pm, tonight & Sep. 9, SLCC Community Writing Center, Library Square Plaza, 210 E. 400 South. Cost $30, 801-957-4992 or slcc.edu/cwc

4saturday — The 38th annual Oktoberfest is in full swing with the taste of Bavaria, Dale the Yo-Yo-Man, inflatable rides, craft booths, local musicians, yodelers, a mechanical bull, a climbing wall and more. Visitors can also catch the Alp Horns on Hidden Peak. So enjoy the cool mountain air, music, food and steins of beer available every weekend through the second weekend in October.
Noon–6pm, Sat. & Sun.(including Labor Day, Sept. 6), through Oct. 10, Snowbird Resort, Little Cottonwood Canyon. Admission is free, but nearly everything else isn’t, snowbird.com.

9thursday — I have witnessed many things, and have learned some things too, at the Utah State Fair; like, did you know that pornology is the “study or science of growing fruit? It’s like everything in the world makes sense now! Anyhoo, entertainment includes Boyz II Men, America, pig racing and, things that all gay men love (especially the Republican ones), a truck pull and demolition derby. And of course there will be stinky animals, cook-offs and art exhibits.
10am–10pm, through Sept. 19, Utah State Fairpark, 155 N. 1000 West. Entrance $7–9, all-day ride passes $25, utah-state-fair.com.

More than 20 of Utah’s finest restaurants, caterers and breweries will serve up delicious food at the wildest party in town, the annual Zoo Rendezvous. There will be a silent auction, featuring one-of-a-kind zoo items, plus live music. All proceeds from the event are dedicated to animal care and exhibit.
6–11pm, Hogle Zoo, 2600 E. Sunnyside Avenue, Tickets $150, must be 21 or older, 801-584-4546 or zoorendezvous.com.

10friday —  Opening the 2010-2011 Utah Symphony season is Beethoven & Brahms (not the actual composers, that would be creepy). Conductor Hannu Lintu will open with Beethoven’s symphony “recollections of country life.” Then, he leads the orchestra in Brahms’ dramatic Piano Concerto No. 2 with renowned pianist Louis Lortie.
8pm, through Saturday, Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple. Tickets $20–85, 801-355-ARTS or arttix.org.

The Temple Squares — a queer square dancing group — encourages first-timers at hoeing to join them for their Beginning Mainstream Square Dance class. The Friday night classes introduce dancers to square dance, hay, 10-gallon hats and sparkly belt buckles the size of a Flybo XFD. People of all orientations and gender identities are invited to attend. Casual attire is encouraged, and singles and couples are welcome.
7–9pm, Fridays, Columbus Community Center, 2498 S. 500 East. Free, 801-309-6720 or slcsquaredancing.org.

11saturday — The Lambda Hiking Club is taking a 3.5-mile intermediate hike up Gobblers Knob … unfortunately, like most lesbians, I’ve never been, but it sure sounds fun! Anyhoo, it sits between Big Cottonwood and Mill Creek Canyons so there are a lot of access trails. Just another 900 feet from the Knob is Mount Raymond … that sounds fun too! I wonder why I equate sex with hiking … oh yeah, my first time!
9am, meet at Park N Ride at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Free, for more info, contact Mark at 801-485-5654.

The 12th annual Cow Ballet features, once again, live music by Muddpuddle, and other local artists. There will be a lot of fun games for kids and adults including the infamous cow pie long jump and cow pie bingo, great food and libations, the graceful Cow Ballet choreographed by the great Randy Barton, opportunity drawings, a dunk tank and many more festivities.
2–8pm, Woodenshoe Park, 4900 Wooden Shoe Ln., Peoa. Tickets $10, mountaintownmusic.org.

Sponsored by the Greater Avenues Community Council, the annual ­Avenues Street Fair is a great event that supports local artists of the historic Avenues, which, for eight years, was my ’hood. But now I actually do live in the ’hood — What up, dog? Oh lord, it even sounds gay in my head!
9am–6pm, 7th Avenue between ‘I’ and ‘N’ Streets. Free, slc-avenues.org.

12sunday — We all love those sinewy bods and bikini-waxed babes of the Queer Utah Aquatic Club, so why not check them out in all their glory at the annual Aqua Aid fund raiser — and yes, they do swim and frolic like dolphins. Proceeds benefit the Utah AIDS Foundation.
3–6pm, 3693 Oakview Dr. Suggested donation $50, 801-487-2323 or utahaids.org.

In 2008 five friends put together a crafts holiday show called Craft Sabbath. Since then it has grown into a monthly “handmade” boutique. It showcases 23 different artists, who make everything from jewelry, to embroidered items, to upcycled vintage crafts and baby gifts. The show embraces “rebel” craft and includes everything from handcrafted bacon (huh?) to irreverent zombies (aaah!), as well as more traditional knit and felt items.
1–5pm, first Sunday of each month, Library Square, 210 E. 400 S. Free, craftsabbath.com.

15wednesday — In commemoration of National Community Center Awareness Day, the Utah Pride Center is holding a Drive, Fair & Chili Cookout. The Center will be collecting sporting equipment for the neighborhood West Capitol Boys & Girls Club in the morning hours. Then, in the afternoon, the Center will host an open house and a fair to introduce many of its programs to the public. It will also hold its second annual chili cookout, a friendly culinary competition between a number of local gay and transgender rights groups and community organizations.
4–8pm, Utah Pride Center, 361 N. 300 West. Free, 801-539-8800 or utahpridecenter.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS
SEP 25    Wanda Sykes, Wendover, Nev.
OCT 16    Spencer Day, Rose Wagner
NOV 26-29    The Rockettes, Maverick Ctr
APR 11    Lily Tomlin, Kingsbury Hall