Provo, UT

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal is open to the public, and held Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The rehearsal is normally held at the tabernacle in Temple Square, but during the month of December it’s held at the LDS Conference Center to accommodate larger crowds.

If you’re wondering what to do with your kids on a rainy or snowy or too hot (or any) Saturday afternoon, check out Kid Time at the Covey Center for the Arts in downtown Provo–it’s a perfect outlet for pent-up energy and creativity. Each week, the Covey Center offers a different themed art event for kids ages 3-10 (all ages are welcome, but projects are geared toward that general age range). Kids will have an opportunity to make art projects, play games, and then wind down with story time.

It’s not every day that one has an opportunity to tour an LDS temple. In fact, there are only 129 of them in the world, and once they are dedicated they are closed to the general public. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, temples are sacred houses of the Lord and only the holiest members of the Church are admitted once the temple has been consecrated. While LDS temples can be found all over the globe, it is rare that we have an opportunity to see inside them–but here in Utah, the Draper Temple is offering public open house tours through March 14, 2009. The temple is scheduled to be dedicated March 20-22, 2009.

On a routine shopping trip to The Riverwoods on Saturday, we stumbled upon a fun event: a Chinese New Year celebration. This family-friendly celebration was totally free and open to the public. We showed up about 4 p.m. and had missed story time at Borders Books, but had plenty of time to enjoy free craft activities (masks and dragons) and a fantastic performance by Chinese Dragon Dancers from a local Kung Fu studio.

Sure, we all know Sundance is about the films—but let’s be honest, it’s just as much about the celebrity sightings, and who can blame us? It’s fun! Tip: be courteous, patient, and alert–and dress warmly.

To get wait list tickets, they give out numbers 2 hours prior to movie time. So, for example, for a 3 p.m. film you need to be in line no later than 1 p.m. After you get your wait list number you have to come back no later than 30 minutes before the film starts, and get in line in numerical order. You must be in line 30 minutes prior because they cut the line off, and if you’re not in line by then it doesn’t matter what number you have, you have to go to the back of the line. If seats are available, you exchange your wait list number for a movie ticket. Tickets cost $15, cash only.

Ogden City’s Christmas Village is located on historic 25th Street and Washington Blvd. There are at least 50 cottages (including a replica of Union Station), sponsored by local businesses. The Christmas Village cottages are lit each night from 5 p.m. to midnight until January 1, 2009. Admission is free. This winter or next, definitely put this on your Christmas list of things to do!

This Nutcracker performance is “pure ballet”–no over-the-top special effects, just beautiful, lyrical dancing from a ballet company we are lucky to have right here in Utah.

A visit to see the elves at Gardner Village is a great way to get into the holiday spirit (as if kids don’t have enough on their own!).

A visit to see the elves at Gardner Village is a great way to get into the holiday spirit (as if kids don’t have enough on their own!).