Final Osral Allred Art Show, other Union Station stuff

-- You really need to get to Gallary at the Station's show for July and August. It features paintings by Osral B. Allred and sculpture by Nancy Whipple.

This is a critical show because the works by Allred (click)  may never be seen in a public showing again. Union Station Foundation Director Roberta Beverly tells me that Allred is not well and after this his family is not going to show his work or have it for sale any more.

So, last chance to see a great display of work by a great Utah artist.

-- A lot of people have asked when the gift shop at Union Station will reopen. It was closed to make room for the new cowboy museum.

The shop will open in later August or, as the sign says, perhaps September? That's the plan anyway. It is located in the hallway to Union Grill where Warren's Train Shop used to be.

Meanwhile, the ticket booth for Union Station's museums has moved into a small cubby formerly occupied by a news stand. It has a small supply of station-related souvenir and gift items for sale, including Thomas Tank Engine Pez dispensers and one of the cutest piggy banks I've ever seen.

-- Speaking of Union Grill, I noticed a row of tables and stacks of very photogenically weathered chairs out front of Union Station this morning.

Those tables and chairs are part of Union Grill's new outdoor luncheon and dinner service. The restaurant will serve meals on the patio as long as weather allows. Kym Buttschardt, one of the owners, said they tried last weekend but were rained out, and tonight's not looking so good either.

Those chairs all look nicely weathered and old, but they're actually new. Kym said they're also working on getting some umbrellas.

The only thing now is to clear up whether you can order beer with your dinner out there. Kym said that's still in the works.