Ali Vallarta

2023, the year I said the people of Magna are “down to clown” in the Salt Lake Tribune. Here’s to keeping a New Year’s resolution for the first time in my life. In 2024 I’m visiting every park in Salt Lake County. Will let you know where I find good jungle gyms and public restrooms @everyparkslc

We took parks week to the Salt Lake City Public Library (@slcpl ) so host Ali Vallarta (@whyitsali ) could live out her lifelong dream of turning the page of the rare 1860 “Bien Edition” of John James Audubon’s “The Birds of America.” You can find the book on display on the 4th floor of the Main Library.

IT’S PARKS WEEK, SALT LAKE! Over the past two years, host @whyitsali visited every park (yes, all 511) in Salt Lake County. The result of her effort is a brand new map resource that catalogs every park in the county and its amenities with the ability to filter and find the exact kind of park you’re looking for — and now its yours! Find the map at the link in our bio, and stay tuned for more about our parks this week!

Did you know Salt Lake City wanted to put a porpoise pond at Gallivan?! The @slcpl took us on a “behind the books” tour to check out all the parts of the library you’ve never been to. Stop #3: Host @whyitsali takes a peek at the archives, the automatic book sorter, and the museum of lost bookmarks.

Did you know there’s tunnels underneath the library?! The @slcpl took us on a “behind the books” tour to check out all the parts of the library you’ve never been to. Stop #2: Host @whyitsali takes a stroll through the underground tunnels beneath the library. Keep watching to see where she ends up 👀🕰️

Did you know the library has bees?! The @slcpl took us on a “behind the books” tour to check out all the parts of the library you’ve never been to. Stop #1: Host @whyitsali lives out her dream of putting on a beekeeper suit and getting up close and personal with the library’s honey bees 🐝

Salt Lakers are protesting ICE after a federal agent killed Renee Good in Minneapolis. So, we asked the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office and City Council what, specifically, the city will do to protect residents from ICE and push back against its agenda. Our podcast host, Ali Vallarta, dissects their statements. What do you think?

Today alone, across Salt Lake City and West Valley City, we distributed over 280+ ICE-Free Zone signs and Know Your Rights materials to small businesses throughout the valley. We had conversations with business owners and workers about their rights and how to protect our communities. Actions like this are how we build community power — this is what community looks like ✊🏽 Shoutout to everyone who came out, supported, donated and organized these very important initiatives! — Hoy solamente, en Salt Lake City y West Valley City, distribuimos más de 280 letreros de Zonas Libres de ICE y materiales de Conoce Tus Derechos a pequeños negocios en todo el valle. Tuvimos conversaciones con dueñxs de negocios y trabajadorxs sobre sus derechos y cómo proteger a nuestras comunidades. Acciones como estas son las que construyen poder comunitario — esto es como ve comunidad. ✊🏽 Reconocimiento a todas las personas que salieron a apoyar, donaron y organizaron estas iniciativas tan importantes. ✨

You know we had to stop by this iconic SLC spot with @citycastslc host @whyitsali for our latest Community Spotlight Release — “I love Salt Lake City infinitely, but the rent is too damn high! If we want to make life more affordable here, we need to be in the loop on big decisions our city makes. The goal of our podcast and newsletter is to make that easier. And to celebrate the wins! Whether it’s a new park playground or the spicy marg at Water Witch. I’m also secretly seeding cool ideas for the city. Because I know some of our elected officials are regular listeners 😏” — Black Cat Jordan 4s Release details soon..

We tried. Anyway, DETAILS 👇👇👇 ‘tis the season of giving so we wanted to share five spots that are always in need of volunteers! 1. @theroadhomeut | Volunteers are needed 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal service. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and minors must be accompanied by an adult. If you’re interested in youth-oriented opportunities you can sign up for 2-5 age group where you’ll help coordinate crafts, playtime, singing and more! Prefer the older crowd? You can coordinate and lead weekday activities for their senior citizen group as well! 2. @wasatchcommunitygardens | Though their opportunities fluctuate seasonally two things they need help with right now is sign ups for event promotions (hello winter market Dec 6th) and campus garden winterization clean up! 3. @treeutah | Another green thumb opportunity for bettering the planet and our environment here in Utah! They have tons of events where you can sign up to help mass plant trees and shrubs. 4. @ircsaltlakecity | Transit navigation volunteers will be responsible for teaching clients how to navigate the mass transit systems that exist in Salt Lake City under the supervision of the casework and health teams. Newly arrived retugee adults must learn to navigate their community to positively integrate, including how to get to/from the IRC, grocery stores, health clinics, work and more. Atter thorough training on the role, volunteers will brief clients on how the transit system works in Salt Lake City and then will actually navigate the system alongside clients to ensure they know key routes to work, school, medical facilities, etc. 5. @bfas_slc | volunteers can provide kittens, puppies, cats, and dogs with enrichment via play or walking, help clean the kennels, and for those aged 6-15 (with an accompanying parent or guardian) can take part in the reading program where Reading to pets can improve kids’ reading skills and help the animals relax and destress, which can help them find homes. Win win! For the best recs, updates on politics.. and volunteer opportunities like this give @citycastslc a listen on their daily weekday show or subscribe to the newsletter!!

Host (and Salt Lake County bar expert) Ali Vallarta took us along as she judged this year’s @slmag Farm-to-Glass Cocktail Contest, trying expertly crafted cocktails from 23 of Utah’s best bars. And the winners are … Judge’s Choice: 🥇Sticks and Stones by Benjamin Arcia (@rouserslc ) 🥈Sporeplay by Karissa Kermode (@currentfishandoyster ) Reader’s Choice: 🥇Sack Lunch by Dawson Jenkins (@waterwitchslc ) 🥈 Smoked Orchid by Mariano Agustin Forza (@palominoparkcity )

Wholesome things, if you dare