We're here to help you plan your weekend, with best picks from our entertainment reporters, critics and bloggers.
OUT AND ABOUT
Eighth Annual Ogden Arts Festival • Friday and Saturday, Union Station, 2501 Wall Ave., Ogden. 6 p.m. Friday "Taste of Downtown," 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday festival hours. For more information, www.ogdenartsfestival.com.
Great Salt Lake Sailfest • Saturday, Great Salt Lake Marina. 8:30 a.m. outrigger canoes, 9:30 a.m. long-distance swimmers start an eight-mile race, 10:30 a.m. cardboard-boat races, noon swimmers begin a one-mile race.
Smoke on the River BBQ Championship • Friday through Sunday, Rivers Edge Resort and Campground, 7000 North Old Highway 40, Heber. 9 p.m. Friday Justin McBride concert, dusk Saturday release of a rehabilitated barn owl into the wild. Admission: adults $10, ages 8-17 $5. For more information, www.riversedgeatdeerpark.com/ or 435-654-4049.
34th Annual Asian Festival • 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, South Towne Expo Center, 9575 S. State St., Sandy. Admission free. For more information, www.utahasianfestival.com or 801-310-3893.
WW Clyde Balloon Fest • 6:30 a.m. launches Friday and Saturday, Springville Junior High, 165 S. 700 East, Springville. Admission free. For more information, www.springville.org or 801-491-7811.
Orem Summer Fest • Friday and Saturday, City Center Park, 300 E. Center St., Orem. Family fun in the summer with a parade, children's crafts, apache helicopter, fireworks and more. For more information, summerfest.orem.org/ or 801-229-7506.
Saratoga Splash • Saturday, Saratoga Springs. 7:30 5K starting at Westlake High School, 8 a.m. police breakfast at Sunrise Meadows Park, 10 a.m. grand parade, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. family festival at Harvest Hills Park. For more information, www.saratogaspringscity.com.
Art City Days • 6-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, Springville Arts Park, 700 S. 1300 East, Springville. Food booths, rides, games, crafts boutique. 10 a.m. Saturday grand parade. For more information, www.springville.org or 801-489-2730.
Thanksgiving Point Scottish Days • 5-10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Thanksgiving Point Electric Park, 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi. Scottish dancing, Highland athletics, bagpipes, games, and more. Admission $15, children 11 and under free. For more information, thanksgivingpoint.com or 801-768-4900.
Quilt Walk Festival • 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Panguitch High School, 390 E. 100 South, Panguitch. For more information, www.quiltwalk.com.
SPORTS
Salt Lake Bees vs. Fresno • 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Spring Mobile Ballpark, 77 W. 1300 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets, smithstix.com/events/sports/baseball.
LIVE
Maria Taylor • Headliners Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit are reason enough to see this show. The former Drive-By Trucker received widespread acclaim for his latest album, "Here We Rest." But Maria Taylor is a reason to arrive early. Taylor will perform tracks from her upcoming album "Overlook," due in August. . Be sure to check out her guitar: It only has five strings. Her high-E string snapped during a performance and she realized she liked not hearing the "ping" sound on her strums.
When • Tonight at 8
Where • The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tckets • $17 day of, $20 night of, at thestateroomslc.com
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy • In the mood for retro? The Sandy Amphitheater is graced by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the horn-heavy big band featured in the 1996 film "Swingers," which has continued to keep the swing-dancing flame alive.
When • Tonight at 8
Where • Sandy Amphitheater, 9400 S. 1300 East, Sandy
Tickets • $15 to $25 at SmithsTix
Manchester Orchestra • This Georgia-based indie-rock band released its new album, "Simple Math," in May. In my experience, that title is a misnomer, as there's no such thing as simple math. Only really, really difficult math.
When • Saturday, June 11, at 8 p.m.
Where • In The Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $16.50 in advance, $19 day of, at SmithsTix and 24Tix
Sketchophrenia • This comedy show features comedians Andrew Jensen, Troy Taylor and Christopher Stephenson, and combines sketch comedy with costumes, sets and musical numbers with digital short films.
When • Saturday, June 11, at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
Where • Post Theater, 245 S. Fort Douglas Blvd., University of Utah campus, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $10 in advance at brownpapertickets.com, $15 at door
Lynnette Thredgold • South Davis Community Hospital presents a benefit concert featuring violinist Lynnette Thredgold. The evening will include classical, pop, blues and Broadway-style performances, with guest artists Jed Moss, Tyler Oliphant and Ballet West dancers Michael Bearden, Arolyn Williams, Alison DeBona and Aidan DeYoung, and choreography by Tom Mattingly. All proceeds will benefit the hospital's nonprofit Specialty Care.
When • Saturday, June 11, at 7 p.m.
Where • Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $25 to $125 at ArtTix
Crunk Summer Kick-Off Party with Ying Yang Twins • The Atlanta-based crunk-rap duo of Kaine and D-Roc debuted in 2000 and then went on in 2003 to collaborate with Lil Jon on his hit single "Get Low." In 2004 and 2005, the Ying Yang Twins had popular hits with "Salt Shaker," "What's Happenin'," "Shake" and "Badd." Their song "Halftime (Stand Up and Get Crunk)" is played at many NFL football stadiums, of which Utah has none.
When • Saturday, June 11, at 7 p.m.
Where • In The Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $20 in advance, $25 day of, at SmithsTix
Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Toots & The Maytals • Will this be the first Red Butte Garden show of the season to take place at the weather-plagued Red Butte Garden? (That's after the Memorial Day opening weekend Moody Blues opening show was moved to EnergySolutions Arena.) Big Head Todd & The Monsters have become an Intermountain West favorite since forming in Colorado in 1986, while Toots & The Maytals are a Jamaican ska and reggae group that starts parties envied by Pink and Black-Eyed Peas.
When • Sunday, June 12, at 7 p.m.
Where • Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $32 for garden members, $37 for public, $25 for children at redbuttegarden.org or 801-585-0556
— David Burger
MOVIES
One of the summer's most-anticipated movies turns out to be one of the year's best.
J.J. Abrams' "Super 8" is an exciting and emotional thriller that serves up a rousing adventure in the mold of early Spielberg films (like "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"). A group of middle-schoolers in an Ohio steel town, circa 1979, are filming a homemade zombie movie — when a horrific train derailment happens in town, and the kids' camera captures something mysterious. Abrams delivers astounding action, and gathers an ensemble of young actors who are quite engaging. (One of the kids, Riley Griffiths is a former Cedar City resident.
The week's other really good movie is "Midnight in Paris," proof that Woody Allen can still bring the goods once in a while. Owen Wilson plays the Woody-esque character — a successful screenwriter who wants to be a novelist, and stumbles onto a portal into 1920s Paris — but makes it his own. Meanwhile, Allen's depiction of '20s literary lions — from a brusque Hemingway (Corey Stoll) to an earth-mother Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates) — is charming and funny.
The week's other studio film is "Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer," a manic train-wreck of a kiddie comedy based on Megan McDonald's books. The story centers on a third-grader (Jordana Beatty) obsessed with creating the perfect summer, and freaking out when things don't go according to plan. Parents who love their children should shield them from this shrill and annoying movie.
The art-house slate serves up some middling selections.
"Bill Cunningham New York" is a documentary profile of the street-savvy New York Times fashion and society photographer. It's great at touting Cunningham's impact on New York's scene (with interviews ranging from Tom Wolfe to Anna Wintour), but director Richard Press fails to get Cunningham to open up about his private life.
"The First Grader" is an earnest but tepid drama, based on a true story about an 84-year-old former Mau Mau fighter (Oliver Litondo) who tries to enroll in elementary school in Kenya. The movie works better as sociology than as drama.
And "The Princess of Montpensier," about a noblewoman (Melanié Thierry) caught in palace intrigue in 16th century France, aims to be a bodice-ripper with historical overtones. But it ends up being a dull drama, where you need a scorecard to tell the players apart.
— Sean P. Means
TV
Only occasionally over the past 64 years have The Tony Awards (Sunday, 7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) made news here in Utah.
This year is an exception, however. Given that "The Book of Mormon" musical leads all entries with 14 nominations; given that it's the odds-on favorite to win best musical; given that it's, well, "The Book of Mormon" musical, folks here in Utah will be interested in the outcome.
The Tonys are somewhat opaque to those of us who don't travel to New York to see all the shows. But we, too, can get a taste of Broadway because the CBS telecast will feature performances from "Anything Goes," "Catch Me If You Can," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "Sister Act," "The Scottsboro Boys" and, yes, "The Book of Mormon."
And Neil Patrick Harris will be hosting, so that alone will make the show worth watching. (The telecast will, however, be seen on a one-hour tape-delay in this time zone.)
Elsewhere on Friday •
Stanley Cup Finals (6 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Game 5 — Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks
Flashpoint (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): A crime boss escapes with his girlfriend — and she's a police informant.
Guys Choice Awards (7 p.m., Spike): I don't really have to tell you that this awards is not meant to be taken seriously, do I? Categories include Biggest Ass Kicker, Most Dangerous Man, Holy Grail of Hot, Unstoppable Jock, Our New Girlfriend, Top Fantasy Leaguer, Hot and Funny and Best Girl-On-Girl Scene.
Whale Wars (7 and 9 p.m., Animal Planet): Paul decides to go in search of the factory ship.
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution (8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Jamie finds out how his film permits were revoked.
PDL soccer (8 p.m., BYUTV): Orange County at BYU
Camelot (11 p.m., Starz): Mercenaries attack Arthur and his men.
Elsewhere on Saturday •
Golf (1 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Third round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic
Horse racing (3 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): The 143rd Belmont Stakes. (Post time is 4:30 p.m.)
MLS (5:30 p.m., Ch. 2.2): Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia Union
Gold Cup soccer (5:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel): USA vs. Panama
CHAOS (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): The team searches for a terrorist in Paris.
Doctor Who (7 and 10 p.m., BBC America): The Doctor amasses an army for the Battle of Demons Run.
Battlestar Galactica (8 and 11 p.m., BBC America): This outstanding Syfy series begins repeating on BBC America.
PDL soccer (8 p.m., BYUTV): Southern California at BYU
Shrek Forever After (9 p.m., HBO): This utterly unnecessary 2010 sequel is devoid of the charm that made the first couple of "Shrek" movies so much fun. (Rated PG)
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (10 p.m., Starz): Nicholas Cage and Jay Baruchel star in this 2010 live-action movie. (Rated PG)
Elsewhere on Sunday •
Golf (1 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Third round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic
NBA Finals (6 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Game 6 — Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat
Army Wives (7 and 10 p.m., Lifetime): Denise tries to help Tanya move on.
Finding Sarah: From Royalty to the Real World (7 and 9 p.m., OWN): Sarah Ferguson, the duchess of York — a k a Fergie — tries to fix her life in this very Oprah-like show. I really like Fergie; the show, not so much.
The Killing (8, 9:02 and 11 p.m., AMC): In the second-to-last episode of the season, the police discover Rosie on a suspicious website; Rosie's mother learns secrets she never suspected about her daughter.
Game of Thrones (10 p.m., HBO): Ned makes a decision; Robb captures a prized prisoner; Daenerys finds her reign in jeopardy.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (10 p.m., USA): A philanthropist disappears.
The Glades (11 p.m., A&E): Jim teams up with a Chicago detective to track down a serial killer.
Treme (11 p.m., HBO): Delmond pitches his project to Dr. John; Toni hires a private investigator; Davis debuts his band.
In Plain Sight (11 p.m., USA): A witness tries to adapt after leaving the Amish community.
— Scott D. Pierce
