Gateway Jazz

Every summer, "Jazz on the Plaza" is held Thursday evenings. It is a free concert at the Gateway's Olympic Plaza.

We love to meet our friends there, sitting on the grass, listening to the music and visiting. Benjamin has grown very fond of this time as he will clap and dance along to the beat.

The bands featured are always really great. The week before I was so impressed with the singer, Nicole Madison, that I bought her album...she even autographed it for me.

Every seat is a good one, you can bring your own folding chair, sit on the steps, the benches, the decorative rocks, or get comfortable on a blanket.

Benjamin and I waited for mom to catch up with us. Benjamin was so thrilled when she arrived. After some hugs and kisses, he wanted water. Once he was hydrated, it was time to play.

He was running across the brick path to the stairs and back to the grass. When he would sit down, he would start clapping with the music. That was followed with dancing around and then running back to the grass.

The brick path has engraved bricks of names of people or organizations that donated money for the construction of the Olympic Plaza. This was built just before the 2002 Winter Olympics that was held in Salt Lake City. I remember going to the festivities most every night, it was an incredible, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The walkway goes all over the place. I don't know how you could possibly find your name unless someone told you where it was planted.

In the center of the walkway is the large 2002 Olympic Logo. There are water jets that will shoot water straight up that is timed with the music. A lot of parents will bring their children down to this plaza during the summer to play in the water. Fog will also shoot out and the kids love to squat down in it...it's like being in the clouds.

This is what it looks like from above. I imagine that we'll bring Benjamin down here to play in the water very shortly.

There is also a waterfall and stream that meanders around the plaza with large inviting rocks that kids love to climb on.

This is one of the most affordable places to go for us. The concert is free, we usually take something to snack on, especially for Benjamin. The best part is visiting with our friends while listening to awesome music.