If it were up to us, there would be fireworks like these in Ogden’s sky tonight.

It is kind of backwards that fireworks are legal during the driest month of the year, but illegal right now when it is very unlikely that they would start anything on fire. We will just have to pretend. 

It has been a good year. Special thanks to our base of loyal customers. Thanks for helping us spread the word about Sonora Grill.

Alex Doman, CEO and Founder of Advanced Brain Technologies in Ogden, Utah announces the first Ogden Tweetup:

Wednesday, April 1

6:00 PM

at Sonora Grill

What’s a Tweetup? According to the urban dictionary it is a group of friends on twitter (social network) that are planning to meet up. Tweetups are fun, productive, and great to share, connect, and develop meaningful contacts in your local community. They occur worldwide as social media supporters on www.twitter.com gather.

“We are trying to create a presence for social media in Northern Utah as has been done recently in Salt Lake. In January,” explained Doman, “the first Utah chapter of the worldwide organization, Social Media Club, was formed in Salt Lake City. Given the exponential growth of social media networks it’s time to launch Ogden Tweetup to serve those who proudly call Northern Utah home.”

Twitter, the social messaging utility has a strong following in Utah, which has increased in popularity due to short messaging (140 characters or less) and the easy of connecting to other people. According to many reports, social media is gaining ground while traditional media across the country is floundering. Not true in Northern Utah, where the local newspaper the Standard Examiner is an active participant in social media, with a Facebook page and news tweets throughout the day on twitter.

“Those of us who share a love of Northern Utah and who have embraced social media would like to invite others of like mind to join us,” said Doman. “As Ogden started from humble beginnings and grew to become the ‘Crossroads of the West’, so will social media in Ogden.”

For more information or to reserve your spot at the first Ogden Tweetup, logon to Facebook www.facebook.com and join the Group Ogden TweetUp. Look under events and RSVP. Or call the Ogden Tweetup Founders; Alex Doman at 801-622-5676, Roxy Cross at 801-505-8772. Find Alex and Roxy on twitter @AlexDoman, @roxycross.

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is holding meetings to identify ways to improve transit service in a 5-mile corridor between downtown Ogden and Weber State University. They want to hear our ideas.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

4-7 PM

Ogden Eccles Conference Center

(ground floor-small ballroom)

2415 Washington Boulevard

Thursday, March 26, 2009

11 AM – 1 PM

Weber State University Student Union Building

(second level-main auditorium)

1217 University Circle

What we think: Rebuild the Trolley District and run the Streetcar from 23rd and Wall to Washington to 26th to Harrison to WSU-McKay Dee. 

Why: 125 million dollars federal funding available for the project. 

Proven economic development and increased property values. 

Promotes redevelopment of old Gold’s Gym site, RiteAid block, and infill. 

Pedestrian and bike friendly. 

Connects community services including the Library, Oasis Community Garden,

Golden Hours Senior Center, Academy Square, and Ogden High School. 

Promotes the livability of the Trolley District by connecting people to downtown and the foothills. 

It finally happened. I have seen the light thanks to a life-altering experience I had this weekend. A little place on the corner of University and Mesa Dr. …..looked like any other taco stand I’d ever seen. but it wasn’t–it was actually a Mexican hot dog stand. I will never be the same. It was exactly as you described it.

The care and finesse of the hot dog stand proprietor was unlike any I’d ever seen. First of all, the hot dog was completely wrapped in a layer of bacon. Then grilled onions along with a toasted bun with a thin layer of mayonesa, then came the very finely diced tomatoes, then another layer of mayonesa. Next comes the finely diced onions, that’s one layer of grilled onions and one layer of freshly chopped onions–two layers of the same vegetable but oh so different in the overall contribution of flavor. Next, of course, we have the homemade sweet relish with Mexican mustard (1 part American mustard and 1 part water=Mexican mustard). Then with the conviction of an 18th century sculptor, she made 3 passes with the ketchup, guacamole, and a mystery ingredient. It ended up looking like the flag of the Republic of South Africa. Served with a side of 1 grilled jalapeno, my life was changed forever.

I’ve heard people can get addicted to meth by one hit. Well it’s not meth, but I’m a junky for Mexican hot dogs. I find it hard to focus on work and I squint at sunlight until I get my fix. I’m going again tonight. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Bethany, who said: Whoo hoo! Free meals are always good. Especially when they come from Sonora Grill.

Is that you, Bethany Knighton? Or is it someone else?

This little blog is having a BIG giveaway. In fact, we’d like to refer to it as The Ultimate Blog Giveaway. 

One lucky reader will enjoy a private dinner for SIX PEOPLE at Sonora Grill, including appetizers, entrees, and desserts. 

But you don’t have to rely entirely on chance to score this delicious feast. Although the winner will be randomly selected, you can earn up to seven entries into the contest. Here are the rules:

Leave a comment on this blog and you will be entered into the giveaway ONE TIME.

Write a post on YOUR blog about this giveaway (with a link) and you will be entered THREE TIMES. 

Add this blog to YOUR blog list and you will be entered an additional THREE TIMES.

Be sure to indicate in your comment if you added things to your blog so we can award you the proper number of entries. You are welcome to use photos from our website on your blog.

The contest will conclude Monday, March 16 at 9:00 P.M. 

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out the XTERRA Winter World Championship at Snowbasin. This unique multisport race combines the four disciplines of ski mountaineering (8K), mountain biking (10K), running (5K) and snowshoeing (5K). Talk about hard core. 

Other featured events include showshoe races, a radical snowboard downhill dash-for-cash, ski mountaineering races, skate ski race, and XTERRA Kids Zone activities.

Click here for more information and a schedule of events. 

Can’t get enough of our salsa?

Good news. We bottled it.

Smoky Morita Salsa

10-ounce jar, $2.99

FOURSITE FILM FESTIVAL

DATES: Wednesday, March 4 – Saturday, March 7

FOUR OGDEN VENUES: Peery’s Egyptian Theater, Shepherd Union Building’s Wildcat Theater (Weber State), Treehouse Museum, and Megaplex 13.

TICKETS: $10/day, Thursday-Saturday. $10/opening-night film; $15/opening-night reception. At the door, or through www.foursitefilmfest.com.

Their films are diverse. (Including some great films for kids.) Their mission is simple: To keep it all in good taste.