How to make friends as an adult

BYU Honor Code

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has changed Brigham Young University’s honor code to require “abstaining from same-sex romantic behavior.” The update comes as a surprise because it  was previously removed — quietly — in 2020. Many LGBTQ+ students expressed feeling hurt and ostracized by the policy. [KUER]

Utah’s Dark Sky Glamping Site

A glamping site in southern Utah has been named the first Dark Sky-Certified Resort. DarkSky International was founded in 1988 to combat light pollution. They’ve certified over 200 places, 20 of which are in Utah. The criteria includes the ability to see the Milky Way. [ABC 4

• Did you know? You can check out a telescope at the library. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

The Art of Tatau

There’s a new exhibit at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts called Tatau: Marks of Polynesia. It explores the thousands-of-years-old tradition of Samoan tattooing. Salt Lakers are generally pretty tatted up, but how is tatau different? On today’s episode of City Cast Salt Lake, we explore the art of tatau. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

Making friends as an adult isn’t easy. I mean, outside of work or school (or maybe a bar), where do you even meet people? I put a call out in the newsletter, and here’s what Hey Salt Lake readers suggested for how to make friends in your 30s.

🤝 On Making Friends As An Adult

“When I was in my 30’s, I moved away from meeting people at parties, bars, or clubs, and started meeting people through group outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. I also met a lot of people through volunteerism. I also went back to school for a Master’s degree and met a lot of people through school. Now, I meet people through work events and craft type activities. I am less interested in meeting lots of people in my late 40’s.” — B. Thomas

“This is something I've been very interested in lately. The main thing I've come up with is looking for community events for things that I'm interested in and trying to be social there. Some things I've attended: trail/outdoor cleanups, environmental informational events, pride/lgbtq+ advocacy events, local music events, and other organized volunteer opportunities. The Gateway mall gets a bad rap, but it has a ton of things going on! Dance classes, cultural events, yoga, movie nights, music events.” — Brandon M.

“As a recent returnee to Utah (I grew up here and left when I was 18, only to come back when I was 35), it’s been tough making new friends. Well, and it’s also just hard to make new friends as an adult! However, I’ve made great friends though volunteering for causes I care about, joining sports teams like Beehive and Stonewall, and even made a friend through Bumble! I’ve also made friends in my neighborhood, and have been proactive about hosting wine and cheese at my house and inviting people over. I do wish there were more spaces/events for people in their 30-40s to connect, hang out, and be home in bed by 9! I also wish there were more spaces for people of color in this age group to intentionally connect too.” — Erika C.

“I saw your newsletter about ways we meet new people in adulthood! I know this story very well. I grew up in the Boston suburbs and have always had my friends there especially post-college moving in with some of my best friends from high school. Then, when I moved to SLC I was really missing a community. That is why I became the director of the Women's Social Club Salt Lake City Chapter! We are a group of women who want to be part of a community especially when you've just moved to a new city.”  — Margot V.

How do you make adult friends?

Phantogram  🎶 Thursday | 5 p.m.

See Phantogram perform at Ogden Twilight. Since you’ll be there anyway, make a day out of it. [$15, Ogden]

• Car free? Take the train. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

Hires Big H x Tagge’s Famous Fruit 🍑 All September

Tagge’s Famous Fruit is collaborating with Hires Big H to bring you fresh peach sundaes all September. [Various Locations]

• Related: How Tagge’s Famous Fruit saves water while growing delicious produce. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

The Neptunes Party  🌌 Sunday | 2-9 p.m.

The Pearl is hosting a party, and they’ll be playing music by The Neptunes. 21+ only. [Free entry, Central Ninth]

When a Tattoo Is More Than Body Art

Earlier this month, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts opened the Tatau: Marks of Polynesia exhibit, which explores the art, tradition, and history of tatau (Samoan tattooing). Lead producer Emily Means talks with Verona Mauga, cofounder of the Pacific Islander advocacy organization Le Malu, about this tradition and its revival, as well as her own tatau experience.