I have lived in Salt Lake City for the majority of my life. I have witnessed change..some good, some not so good. Never have I been so excited about downtown as I am this year. City Creek Center in Salt Lake is opening in March!

CITY CREEK CENTER TO HOST “SNEAK PEEK” GALA BENEFITTING 4 LOCAL CHARITIES

City Creek Center in Salt Lake. City Creek Center will hold a Charity/Preview Gala on Wednesday, March 21, the day before City Creek Center opens, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Adult tickets are $50, but each person will receive a $20 VISA card for ticket purchases. Each ticket purchaser will also receive deals at the shops, along with being one of the first to shop at City Creek Center before it even opens.

The night will include complimentary parking, continuous entertainment, food and refreshments throughout the center, and shopping throughout the evening.

Best of all, City Creek Center Charity Gala will 100% benefit local charities, including The Road Home, Ballet West, Junior League of Salt Lake City, and Utah’s Hogle Zoo.

Information about this event, as well as how to purchase tickets can be found at City Creek Center’s website http://www.shopcitycreekcenter.com/charityevent.asp.

Wanna know why I’m excited? City Creek Center, the new shopping and dining destination rising in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City is an approximately 700,000-square-foot shopping center, with nearly 80 stores and restaurants! …And there’s a Tiffany & Co. coming!

“The gala is an exciting opportunity to experience City Creek Center for the first time and also support local charities that are important to the community,” said Linda Wardell, City Creek Center general manager. “One hundred percent of the ticket price will go to these deserving charities to help accomplish their missions.”

I hope to see you there!

Tickets can be purchased for $50 directly from the benefitting charities, which include the following:

Ballet West

Ballet West ranks among the top professional ballet companies in America, with 36 company members, 10-second company members and a thriving Academy that trains dancers of all ages. Each year Ballet West’s extensive community outreach and education programs serve over 100,000 Utah students, teachers, and special needs individuals, free of charge, as a part of its commitment to the people of Utah. These efforts are supported, to a large degree, by the generous contributions of individuals. Established in Salt Lake City in 1963, Ballet West boasts a rich and varied repertoire with elegant and versatile artists and has become an American pioneer in the world of dance. Visit www.balletwest.org.

The Road Home

The Road Home is a private non-profit social service agency whose mission is to help people step out of homelessness and back into our community. On any given day in Salt Lake County, Utah, The Road Home provides emergency shelter for 700 people, gives emergency assistance to 150 people, and case manages nearly 500 households in housing throughout the community. The Road Home administers more than $400,000 in tenant-based rental assistance annually, manages 26 transitional housing units, and operates Palmer Court, 201 units of permanent supportive housing for families and individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Visit www.theroadhome.org.

Utah’s Hogle Zoo

Established in 1931 and located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, Utah’s Hogle Zoo is open all year and is one of the most visited attractions in Utah. With natural terrain that covers 42 acres of tree-lined pathways, visitors can view more than 800 animals. New in 2012 is Rocky Shores. Reflecting the look and feel of historic Cannery Row on the northern California coast, Rocky Shores features expansive new homes including an underwater viewing for bears, sea lions and harbor seals. Other animals include river otters and bald eagles. Also visit Asian Highlands, a re-creation of a Himalayan village featuring five endangered Asian cat species, and Elephant Encounter which spotlights African elephants and white rhinoceros. Hogle Zoo’s mission is to nurture respect and appreciation for the natural world by providing diverse educational, recreational, and conservation opportunities. This is accomplished through imaginative exhibits and programs, professional animal care, and a commitment to excellence. For more information, visit www.hoglezoo.org.

The Junior League of Salt Lake City

Serving the Salt Lake community since 1931, the Junior League of Salt Lake City is a charitable organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community. Since 1990, the League has been involved in critical issues facing the environment, women and substance abuse, mentally ill adults, and health care issues. The League is comprised of more than 550 women, including career women, working mothers, stay-at-home moms, and full-time and part-time volunteers. Visit www.jlslc.org.

About City Creek Center

City Creek Center opens on March 22, 2012, at 10 a.m. Bordered by South Temple, 100 South, West Temple and State Street, the center is located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, just blocks from I-15 and I-80, and a 10-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport. The centerpiece of a sustainably designed urban community, City Creek Center features a unique shopping environment with a retractable roof, a creek winding through the property, a pedestrian sky bridge and more. Anchored by Macy’s and Nordstrom, this world-class fashion and dining destination will offer approximately 80 stores and restaurants in a casual, walkable environment. Visit www.ShopCityCreekCenter.com.

 *I will receive complimentary passes to this event in exchange for this post. All opinions, where expressed, are my own and were in no way influenced by the sponsor. Others’ experiences may vary.