When October shows up on the calendar, we often think about what scares us. 👻 Sometimes those are fun things like clattering skulls and vampire bats, but other times they are those all too familiar anxiety-inducing moments, like meeting new people. 🫣

So what if a local event could help you break the ice? That’s what Molly Bitton of "Have You Met? Events" does for local singles. In today’s newsletter, we interview Bitton and share discount codes for upcoming events. ⬇️

In today's newsletter:

🏗️ A former prison site is getting a new life. Construction is underway on a $50 million innovation hub with classrooms, coworking spaces, university offices and student housing. Find out when it's expected to open. 

🏒 The Utah Mammoth opened with a statement: They crushed the Chicago Blackhawks 6-0, with Dylan Guenther scoring twice and Karel Vejmelka earning the first home shutout in franchise history. How did the new guys do?

🗳️ Election Day is 33 days away: Utahns have until Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. to register before the general election, though same-day registration is available. Check out our Utah voter hub for key dates, voting info and more.

Single and ready to mingle? Check out "Have You Met? Events." (Courtesy of Have You Met? Events)

As our social lives become more and more digitized, Utah’s singles need in-person connection now more than ever.

Opportunities to get out and meet new people remain plentiful, but Molly Bitton of "Have you Met? Events" is taking an interesting new direction with her singles meetups. “It’s not about ‘I’m here to meet my person,’ but more like ‘I’m here to meet my people,’” Bitton said. 

An extrovert herself, Bitton organized Have You Met? Events to help get out of the post-2020 social slump that gripped the nation. “Humans are meant to be social and now people are realizing how important it is to have that in-person energy in their lives,” she said. 

To that end, Bitton organizes casual meet-ups like group hikes and excursions to check out a Utah Jazz game. And for those nervous about attending an event with new people, Bitton has made sure to include plenty of icebreakers. “To alleviate that fear, I gamify the whole experience,” she said.

This spring, Bitton has organized a Have We Met? live experience with thousands of singles in Las Vegas—and Utah Junction readers can use the code JUNCTION to get $25 off their registration. You can also use the code JUNCTIONHYME to get 25% off upcoming local events.

Just for newsletter subscribers: What Alex is eating—and loving—this week.

Behold the Cider Cyclone from the Cornbelly’s Creamery and Brownie Bin. (Alex Springer/Utah Junction)

My biggest problem with going to an autumnal attraction like Cornbelly’s is that I can never eat as much as I’d really like to. While sometimes the food at places like these is a bit of a deep-fried tragedy, Cornbelly’s dining options are pretty solid. 

I typically kick things off with an obligatory corn dog with mustard, and Kernel’s Corndogs are very middle-of-the-road, but I’m pretty easy to please when it comes to a corn dog. The breakout hit of the evening was the Triple Grilled Cheese from Granny’s Grilled Cheese. Its gooey cheese center was stuffed with pulled pork and scoops of mac and cheese, so yeah—hard to find fault here.

I was trying to stick to a theme of utter ridiculousness with my dining selections, so I wrapped up my meal with the Cider Cyclone from the Cornbelly’s Creamery and Brownie Bin. This monster is a cider slushie mixed with vanilla soft serve, topped with a warm apple cider doughnut. The combo of a warm doughnut and a cool slushie was a great way to wrap up the evening.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Alex Springer. It was edited by Crystal Niforos and Paula Solis.

Utah Junction is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.