Summer plans?

[Tony (admin)]

Pretty quiet time. Not much going on in Ute world. Anyone have anything cool planed for this summer? My family has been going back to our village in Greece, every summer for a few years and we will be again. Also had some great times last summer camping in Capitol Reef NP. Might try to hit there or Arches.

[UteBacker]

I’ve never so glad for “quiet time” with the Utes. It seems like we spend several weeks hoping we don’t lose players to the transfer portal… good times.

Man, Greece is definitely on our bucket list. We need to make that a priority. We’re headed to Maine in a couple of weeks. I’ve never been that far East, so I’m really looking forward to it. We’re going to catch a Red Sox game while we’re back there, so I’m able to squeeze something sporty in. Other than that, we schedule several e-bike trips during the summer (mostly to our favorite place, Bryce Canyon).

[GameForAnyFuss]

I’m actually heading to Greece on Friday. Never been before and I’m super excited. This week is crawling by…

[NarfUte]

My best advice for Greece is anytime you see Feta me meli or feta wrapped in phyllo dough with honey on a menu, order it. So good.

[Tony (admin)]

OH man! Do tell me where you are going. I’m happy to help you with food items you should get too.

[GameForAnyFuss]

I’ll be in Mykonos and Santorini. And yes, food suggestions would be appreciated. I know very little about Greek food, except that every American Greek dish I’ve ever tried has been phenomenal. I understand that real Greek food is likely very different than the americanized Greek food we get here, but my expectations are sky high.

[Tony (admin)]

You’re going the super duper duper touristy places, but they are still really cool. Village salads are incredible. “Horiatiki salata” is what you ask for. Another good one is “yemista” ye-me-sta – which is stuffed peppers or tomatoes. Then there’s “dolmathes” which are stuffed grape leaves. Beeftaki is a meat patty that’s usually 1/2 ground beef 1/2 ground lamb. Very tasty. Get Oregano Lays potato chips. Life changer. Loux sodas. For dessert you must try to get “Vissino” which is cherries and cherry sauce over usually yogurt. Greek honey is amazing. Get bottles and bring it home.

[GameForAnyFuss]

Thanks – I will definitely try all those things and report back.

Yeah, I’m going to the touristy places. But like my mom used to say, “if the tourist traps weren’t cool, the tourists wouldn’t go there and they wouldn’t be tourist traps.”

[Tony (admin)]

I forgot to mention my favorite thing: Tyropita, cheese pie. Tyro = cheese. Pita = bread. Comes in many forms from small triangles to a lasagna pan size. Cheese wrapped in filo, with lots of butter. Unreal. You can get them lots of places.

[Tony (admin)]

One other food item you must have is called Saganaki (fried cheese). Just thought of it. Unreal.

[GameForAnyFuss]

I got back last night. Greece was unreal. Great beaches, some incredible hiking, really nice people, and everything I ate was amazing. I found myself contemplating if I could move my business there and still be successful.

Already planning on going back next year!

[Tony (admin)]

Yeah I fantasize the same thing. My laptop and a starlink. That’s all I need.

[HeyyyUguyyys]

My plans consist of failing miserably yet again to get back the beach body of my 20s despite a valiant effort. I will put my swim suit on for the first time, look in the mirror and see my muffin top and B cup and say f#*% it while I toss my protein smoothies and kale salads for a cheeseburger and an IPA. Honestly can’t wait.

[The Miami Ute]

I’m going to Alaska for 10 days. First time I’ve been there in 35 years. We’re going to split our time between Anchorage and Fairbanks and do some touristy stuff like going to Denali National Park and a whale watching cruise. Later in the summer, I’ll also be going up to northwestern Montana for a couple of weeks to do some camping. This is something I do every year though.

[UteBacker]

Miami, if you get an opportunity, you should consider a halibut fishing excursion up there. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done (and I’m not a fisherman). My wife had an absolute blast too. If you like halibut, you can have it shipped home (for a nominal fee).

[The Miami Ute]

Hi UteBacker and thanks for the information. I’ll look into doing something like that during my next trip to Alaska, whenever that is. We’re already signed up for a full day of cruising on the water and I think my family would revolt if we were to do it again in a short time.

[DataUte]

I have a sabbatical for a month, so my wife and I are going up to Spokane/Palouse/Coeur d’Alene/Hiawatha Trail for a short week while kids are in camp, going to a family adoption heritage camp, then later going to Cancun for an inlaw family reunion (not looking forward to the temps in late June). Daughter is going to a 3-wk course in Utah then on a cruise with her grandparents and cousin as a graduation gift and boys have summer jobs, so should be relatively chill.

[UtesRdx]

My wife and I and some friends are doing our foodie tour of southern Idaho this weekend. We leave about 1:00ish on Friday and drive to Buhl, Idaho (west of Twin Falls). We go to Holesinsky winery in Buhl on Friday afternoon. It is right on the Snake River, and beautiful place. Their Cab has won some national awards. Cider Draw cider is a great hard cider place that is close as well. We stay in Buhl one night.

For breakfast in Buhl, we eat at a Mennonite restaurant, Old Home Cooking, for a fresh breakfast, then we go down the street to get ice cream at Cloverleaf Creamy. Try the coffee ice cream. A few years ago Esquire magazine had them listed as one of the top rural ice cream places in the country. Next we drive about 30 minutes up to Gooding to Ballard Farms to stock up on the best cheese in the west. Their Bread cheese and Gouda are fantastic. Call ahead to talk to Stacy the owner to make sure she is around.

I don’t work for any of these places or Idaho. They are just small local places that do a wonderful job. Please don’t go this weekend, because Holesinsky’s is having a bingo night and wine is the only way to make bingo tolerable, and I don’t want it to be crowded. There are a lot of places within 2.5 hrs. of Salt Lake that are great. Don’t get me started on Mel’s in Mona.

[Tony (admin)]

That sounds really good. I may have to check out those places.

[UTE98]

https://images.app.goo.gl/kfqzYYA4vjYHFFB36

You forgot to mention the scenery around Buhl and Gooding. There is also a restaurant which serves sturgeon over towards Hagerman. It was closed when I last went through there.

[SkinyUte]

A buddy and I are headed to Maryland Deathfest next Wednesday. It’s a 4-day extreme metal festival in downtown B-more’s Harbor District. They basically close off an entire street on Thursday through Sunday and have anywhere from 1-3 death metal bands playing at all times from 2pm until 2am each day. Me and around 6,000 of my closest friends will be having a fantastic mosh pit party. 🙂

I have been to lots of concerts (just under 500, by last count) but there’s been one band that is sitting squarely at the top of my bucket list that have always eluded me. Japanese weirdos Sigh have been my absolute favorite metal band for the last couple decades, but they very rarely come to the US. When they were announced as one of the MDF headliners, it was a no-brainer to go hit this years festival. Also getting the chance to see heavy hitters like Obituary, Cynic, Dark Funeral, Tryptikon, Incantation, and Dragged Into Sunlight are just icing on the cake.

Other than that, we’ll be taking the kids to St. George a couple times over the summer to see shows at Tuachan. I think we’re seeing Wizard of Oz, Little Mermaid, and Newsies, the latter of which is definitely the family favorite musical. Excited for that, as the few shows I’ve been to down there have always been fantastic. Saw Anastasia last year, and it was incredible.

[Tony (admin)]

I’m into djent, but instrumental. Anything heavy and progressive.

[TheNuschler]

My summer started a week ago with a trip to Chicago to see the Giants play the Cubs at Wrigley. Pretty sweet, spent 2 1/2 hours on an eBike up and down Lakeshore trail and through Grant Park before my pals showed up for the games. Twin Anchors BBQ and too many Old Styles. Was pretty wiped out when I had to work last Thursday but that’s what weekends are for, recovery.

I tend to do 3 to 4 day trips mixed in with Red Butte shows and other live concerts over the summer. Camping up in the Unitas, lots of hiking after work kind of stuff.

The highlights are planned so far. Torrey over Memorial Day (Capitol Reef lodge mostly for the hot tub), backpacking in the Wind Rivers over Pioneer Day, SF for the Giants home series versus the Cubs in August (one pal is from Chicago so it makes the home and away series a no-brainer). This will be the big fun one because we’ve booked a hotel across from AT&T, and seeing the Pixies in Berkeley one night.

Concerts for Red Butte: Trampled by Turtles (5/29), Ryan Bingham (6/8), Houndmouth (7/14), My Morning Jacket in August. VIP tickets for Wilco in Odgen (8/20). Those are the ones with tickets in hand, I’m sure I’ll find others.

Planting the garden this weekend so that’ll keep me busy over the summer too. I don’t do anything fancy, a variety of cherry tomatoes and Armenian cucumbers, both tend to do really well and end up being a staple for sides when they become ready.

San Rafael Swell starting in September (unless the football team looks really good, ;).

[Utehomer42]

Working 40 hours a week as a seasonal water worker for a city and 20 hours at Chipotle to pay for college! But my parents are inviting me to go to the Black Hills this summer so it should be fun.

[The Miami Ute]

I’ve been there a few times, and you should absolutely go, especially if you’ve never been there before. SW South Dakota is unlike the other parts of the state, and the landscape reminds me of Switzerland. I highly recommend visiting Spearfish Canyon and Deadwood if you do get up there.

[TheNuschler]

You all should post a pic or two if possible. I love seeing where people go on vacation, gives me new ideas for future plans.

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