A mid-year update on our 2023 predictions

August Change Day

The Utah Transit Authority reviews and updates service three times a year (in April, August, and December) to better accommodate the needs of the community. Starting on August 20, they’ll offer full service on the Ogden Express and Saturday service on the TRAX and S-Line in SLC will quicken to 15-minute frequency. [Ride UTA]

More Tech Layoffs

In December, Pluralsight, a big Utah tech company, laid off 400 people. Now we know there were additional layoffs in April and July, but the company has been more hush-hush with the numbers. The learning software company said they would be moving some of the jobs to India. [Salt Lake Tribune]

SLC vs. Denver

We at City Cast Salt Lake have declared Denver, Colorado as our rival city. And *gasp* they seem to think we’re unworthy opponents. Today, we’re talking to our arch-frenemies at City Cast Denver to discuss the matter of SLC vs. Denver and which one of us rules the mountain west. Tell me what you think, do we have a rival city and is it Denver? [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

At the end of last year, the City Cast Salt Lake team laid out their 2023 predictions for our city. Well, we’re halfway through the year! So how are they faring?

💧 On the Great Salt Lake

Emily’s prediction: We’ll pray so hard for rain that Lake Bonneville is restored

"Lake Bonneville wasn’t restored but, damn, was I close. We had record snowfall and states of emergency around flooding as the weather warmed up during spring. The Great Salt Lake rose five-and-a-half feet as a result of this record snow fall and flood mitigation, while water conservancy districts decided to offload extra water into the lake. So that's at least half a dub."

Ali’s prediction: Some federal bigwig like Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the Great Salt Lake in a Veep-style trip and maybe fall in

“Every time a federal official visits anything, I feel like they do or say something silly or one of their aides is spun into crisis. But as it turns out, nobody gives a **** about the lake at the federal level.”

🍸 On Food & Drink

Ali’s prediction: Salt Lake will get three new rooftop bars

“We got two rooftop bars and we're only halfway through the year, so this is a dub for me. We got the Van Ryder on top of Le Meridien hotel down by the Delta Center. And we are getting a Sunday's Best at the Post District on 600 S.”

Emily’s prediction: Cookies are out and cinnamon rolls are in

“I have to admit something terrible, I visited Crumbl recently. It just wasn't worth it. So while Crumbl continues to succeed even getting my own money, I will say that I've seen more cinnamon roll joints popping up. Tulie Bakery has a new cinnamon roll. Dough Lady SLC, she's new to me, she sells at the farmers market. The last time I went to the farmers market I saw a lot of cinnamon rolls. So I think that's a pretty good indication.”

🏀 On Sports

Emily’s prediction: The Utah Jazz will win the championships

“Listen, we were so good in the first half of the season and we exceeded everyone's very low expectations for us. In the end, we did not win. In fact, our rival city's team, the Denver Nuggets won the championship. So salt in an open wound.”

Ali’s prediction: Salt Lake will get the Olympics

“Salt Lake City is finalizing its bid and submitting it at the end of this year. The International Olympic Committee is trying to figure out how to deal with climate change and one of the strategies that they've come up with is to pick a handful of cities that are well-poised to ride out climate change. Salt Lake City could be one of them.”

Movies in the Park  🎞 Friday | 7:30 p.m.

Watch “Princess and the Frog” at Amphitheater Park. There will be food trucks and snow cones. [Free, Sandy]

Concerts at the Commons  🎶 Friday | 8 p.m.

The Holladay Arts Council’s summer concert series is held every Friday on the Commons behind the Holladay City offices. [Free, Holladay]

Mega Peruvian Festival  🇵🇪 Friday-Saturday | Various Times

Celebrate Peruvian culture with dance, art, music, and food. [Free, Downtown SLC]

Can We Convince Denver That SLC Is Its Rival?

We picked a fight with City Cast Denver and we’re finally hashing it out. Can “mile-high” Denver really eschew us when our mountains are closer? And if we are better, then why did we get more Crumbl Cookies and not a Union Station? Host Ali Vallarta is joined by lead producer Emily Means plus a couple of special guests — City Cast Denver’s host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi — to determine once and for all whether we’re really rival cities or just regional siblings who like to argue.