Perhaps the best part about hosting the Freedom Festival in Provo is taking time out to honor family traditions.

One of our favorite traditions--the Family Gala--was started after being disappointed that the Freedom Festival Awards Gala had discontinued dancing at the event. And the Clarks take dancing very seriously.

We do it our way, and it is unforgettable.

Read about our event here.

Frosting.

When my little sister Stephanie saw Megan Brown's cupcakes at the Sweet Tooth Fairy bakery she knew had made a kinship connection. Anyone who is gratuitous with frosting is a ready- made friend of my sister. Frosting so high, so swirly and steep that one bite you must retreat to the arms of Queen Frostine from that lovely place in Candyland.

(Did I take that last sentence too far?)

The relationship between Megan and my sister is so good in fact that Megan renamed her Vanilla Squared cupcake to VaNiella, and in turn my sister can't go a few days without devouring one. For Stephanie's birthday tomorrow, Megan is inviting everyone down to the shop for VaNiella cupcakes with proceeds going to help both my sister and the Arizona Burn Center (where her life was saved).

Here is your official invite:

I can't say that I have much to brag about when it comes to my Alma mater Provo High School on University Avenue. There were good times, bad times and a d-wing where the cowboys hung out and spit tobaccee.

One thing for certain was that we had the most vamped stomps. They always started with some violent ACDC song like TNT or Highway to Hell which begged us all on the dance floor. The playlist continued with a fusion of hip hop and grunge, peppered with slow songs for those who followed their hormones. By-the-way, there was none of this holding hands in waltz fashion while we slow danced, nooo my friend, we were hugging and circling. Hugging and circling. I can smell the overuse of cologne right now.

Then Stairway to Heaven would play and no one knew what to do with that song (slow at the beginning, with beats at the end?) but it made us all feel mysterious and a little wicked listening to it.

Man, did I live for the PHS stomps. I danced every wild song with my friends and retreated to a corner when the slow song moved in motion. It was there that I set my heart on wanting a certain boy to come and ask me to dance. But I'd be equally happy when the priest from my ward asked me instead. I mean, just to save me from the garden of the wall flowers.

Perhaps you are like me, one who savored your stomps. And if you are like me, you will be happy to know that this Friday the class of '94 is sponsoring an old fashioned PHS stomp in the Commons. Just like the old ones--held right after the PHS football team would lose to another unworthy opponent and we danced like it didn't matter.

Via Katy Knight (1994 Student Body President) here is whats going down:

The PHS class of '94 is having a stomp this friday (June 27) at Provo High -- just like any old Friday circa 1990 - 1994.

It's been 15 years, and since the opportunity to dance to Ace of Base has pretty much dried up we want to be a very inclusive class and extend an invite to all friends regardless of age, high school alum, or musical taste.

Tickets are $10 at the door,
or $8 online: http://phsclassof94.blogspot.com/

I love dancing to Ace of Base . . . who doesn't pull out Lucky Love every now and again?

Conrad Nebeker is someone you're going to want to know if your interested in vitality of Provo's Downtown district. Not only is he a talented painter hanging out in our growing artist community, he also is the Art Director for Historic Downtown Provo. I met him a couple weeks ago at lunch while discussing the upcoming Farmers Market with Raquel (also someone you want to know) and Azucar (whom you already know, I'm sure).

If you don't know Conrad, you can get a chance to meet him tomorrow during the Downtown Provo Cleaning Blitz to take place tomorrow from. 8am to 11am. This is in preparation for the world to descend upon our happy downtown and sit in our sun spots and feel patriotic. It is also for mothers who need to wax their children's summer-set boredom.

Here is the official information from the Blitz's facebook page:

Come participate in our Cleaning Blitz! The Downtown Alliance will be teaming up with Provo City on Thursday, June 25th from 8:00am to 11:00am at the City Center patio at the City Offices (350 W. Center Street). Invite your friends, family, church members, youth groups, or anyone else you would like. Meet us in the morning and stay for as long as you can, this is a perfect opportunity to get out in the great weather and volunteer! We will be having a drawing for downtown volunteers to be able to win gift certificates to downtown businesses! Contact our office with any questions or concerns. Thanks and have a great week!

Downtown Alliance
250 West Center Street, Suite #109
Provo, UT 84601
(801) 377.5700 (office)


Afterward choose from the plethora of downtown delis for lunch.
Perhaps Conrad will join you . . .

I told Chup I was falling in love with another man after I met Justin Hackworth. How could I not like a man who made me (you know. . . in a humble way . . . sort of . . .) nice looking? In a photograph?

But Chup who has heard this sort of thing before (I also fell in love with our acupuncturist--I've got a thing for men who make me feel good, I guess) chose not to worry. Instead Chup took one of the photos Justin took of me, framed it, and carried it to work. It was an 8 x 11 picture in a very heavy frame. I think the whole thing probably weighed fifty pounds. It was such a heroic act of romanticism that I fell in love with him too. It felt so familiar . . .

Anyway, the whole point of me professing my love is to tell you I join a growing number of mothers and daughters who also fell in love with Justin during his 30 Strangers Project, but most importantly now you can too.

The 30 Strangers Project is going into exhibition for the public to see, and there is a fantastic incentive for attending. Here is the drop from Mr. Hackworth's down town Provo studio:

Our exhibition for the 30 Strangers 2009 project will be held on July 2, 2009 in Provo Utah from 6-9pm. The address is:
1 East Center Street, Suite 215.

On this evening only, at the opening reception, we'll be doing another special fundraiser for the Center for Women & Children in Crisis. For a $25 donation to the Center, folks will receive a mother-daughter portrait session.

What about those that would like their whole family photographed? For a $75 donation we'll give them a free family portrait session. The Center does such critical work. We're thrilled to be raising awareness and money for them.

The reception on Thursday night is the party. We'd love to have you attend this evening.

If you just can't make it on Thursday, the gallery will also be open on Friday night from 5-9 pm. Minus the party and opening night sizzle, you'll still get to enjoy a great exhibit.

Everyone is invited. Don't be a stranger. Come say hello.

I will be in my party dress on Thursday night. With my mom.

Hope to see you there!

Useful Links:

Justin explains 30 Strangers

Justin is a wedding photographer in Provo, Utah. Check out his work here.

Some of my blogger-called-friends (and their mothers/daughters) were also part of the project:

Megan

Nat

a cute girl who goes by M

and the notorious:
Kacy


If you are curious to see a photo of Justin Hackworth go here.

Spotted southbound on ninth east.

And as we follow, I am pondering, "How do you tap that fertility?"

This is my love letter to Provo.

A virtual notebook of delights from the farmers of the west side to the students in the east. These are my restaurant reviews, town hall announcements, gossips and secrets of Happy Valley living.

This is a spot for my words, Chup's photos (and sometimes, mine) to be published for like-minded Provonians, or for those inhabitants who once lived here, or will live here.

Or anyone else.

Because the older I get, the more I fall in love with the purple mountains in the north to the marshlands in the south. And a revitalizing down town. And the thrill of going over the westbound viaduct. And the veggie burrito at El Azteca. And my neighbors who live among me and my clan.

Will you join me?