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the MAGAZINE
TECH SUCCESS FROM SALT LAKE’S EPICENTER
INSIDE
ECCLES THEATRE/ 111 MAIN
THREE PROJECTS THAT REDEFINE HISTORIC BLOCK 70
DINE O' ROUND
A DINING GUIDE FOR SOME OF DOWNTOWN'S BEST FLAVORS
HOLIDAY PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY GUIDE TO GIFTS, PARTIES AND EVENTS
FALL/WINTER 2016
The backstage buzz on Regent Street The revitalization of Regent Street—at 100 South between State and Main—will bring excitement back to the once bustling side street, with a fun and excitingly reinvigorated retail and café district—sitting confidently at Salt Lake City’s intersection of discovery, connection, culture and convenience. Curtain up—fall 2016. Now Leasing On Regent Café & Retail Shops from 800 sq. ft. to 5,000 sq. ft.
ON REGENT—A REBORN RETAIL, THEATER & ARTS DISTRICT For On Regent retail leasing information, please contact: Bruce Lyman • 801.240.7782 • lymanbj@citycreekslc.com
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the MAGAZINE
downtownslc.org
CONTENTS
36 9 14 18 20 14 22 30 41 44 47 30 59 DOWNTOWN
Cover Story: Neumont University Meet downtown's urban campus, developing tomorrow's workforce of software and computer engineers
Navigator Your personal guide to navigating and discovering the best of downtown
Almuerzo Feliz con Tacos Taco time is the best time
Services Map Salons, grocery stores, dry cleaners and more
Temple Square The Christmas lights attract thousands of visitors
Holiday Guide The Nutcracker, gift and party guide, and calendar
Culture + Commerce Combine in a Downtown that continues to rise
Code Lake City Downtown playing a key role in a growing tech scene
Winter Market Turns Five Fresh local goods all year round
It Takes a Team Coming together to solve homelessness
What’s on the Menu? Annual restaurant and dining guide
ALLIANCE
175 E 400 South, Ste. 600 | Salt Lake City, UT 84111 | 801-359-5118 | downtownslc.org Lane Beattie, President and CEO | Jason Mathis, Executive Director Cameron Arellano, GREENbike Operations and Customer Service Coordinator | Kristin Beck, Director of Urban Activation Will Becker, GREENbike Program Manager | Ben Bolte, GREENbike Director | Carson Chambers, Programs Manager Nick Como, Senior Director of Communication and Marketing | Jesse Dean, Director of Urban Development | Alison Einerson, Market Manager Julie Janke, Grant Writer | Nancy Le, Operations Coordinator | Ryan Mack, Community Engagement Coordinator Jon Williams, GREENbike Fleet Manager | Camille Winnie, Community Services Director | Greg Yerkes, Business Outreach Coordinator Photographers: Austen Diamond, David Newkirk, Joey Jonatis
4770 S 5600 West | West Valley City, UT 84170 | 801-204-6500 | utahmediagroup.com Brent Low, President & CEO | Jed Call, Vice President of Marketing and Development Megan Donio, Project Manager | Tyler Pratt, Design Manager DOWNTOWN the Magazine is the official publication of the Downtown Alliance. Š2016 by the Salt Lake Downtown Alliance. 4
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fall / winter 2016
THE GMT-MASTER II Designed for airline pilots in 1955 to read the time in two time zones simultaneously, perfect for navigating a connected world in style. It doesn’t just tell time. It tells history.
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CONTRIBUTORS
A Tale of Two Downtowns
O JASON MATHIS
Executive Director, Downtown Alliance
AUSTEN DIAMOND Despite Austen Diamond’s extensive experience working as a journalist, an editor and a marketing copywriter, he’s notoriously horrible at Scrabble—even worse at Bananagrams. As a photographer, he specializes in photojournalism, commercial work, creative portraiture and even documentary-style weddings.
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ne downtown is booming in ways our community has not seen for decades. Next month the new Eccles Theater on Main Street and the adjacent 111 South Main office tower will open. The buildings represent a feat of engineering and design. Built simultaneously, just inches apart, each building has a different architect, construction company and purpose. They represent leadingedge design along with significant public and private investment. They also represent the best of our downtown, building on the momentum created by City Creek Center and a bustling Main Street that saw record retail sales, office lease rates and residential construction last year. A booming restaurant scene is complemented by the Downtown Dine O’ Round (Sept. 9-25). Tech companies are abandoning suburbia for new downtown digs, driven by talented young workers who demand the diversity and dynamic experience only an urban center can provide. This is part of a larger national trend of savvy business owners who are relocating their companies to take advantage of the alchemy of urban life. Urban computer science schools are training the next wave of Utah’s
workforce, helping to cement downtown’s role as a Utah’s new tech powerhouse. The other downtown is just a few blocks away, but it seems a world apart. For decades, dedicated homeless service organizations have helped to care for some of Utah’s most vulnerable citizens near Pioneer Park. Over the past few years, the neighborhood has become overwhelmed with ever increasing needs. Now, the business community, political leaders and providers are united in an effort to find new solutions, including new facilities and additional services outside of the immediate neighborhood. Help is on the way. In this issue of DOWNTOWN the Magazine, Mayor Ben McAdams and Mayor Jackie Biskupski share thoughts on short and long-term strategies for addressing this crisis in our community. As downtown continues to evolve, thoughtful public policies, new investment and commitment from the people who live, work and play in our city center are helping to take us to the next level. Whether we are celebrating new successes or finding new solutions to serious challenges, our new downtown is built on the hard work and good thinking of the people who love our city. I
ISAAC RIDDLE
RYAN MACK
JULIE PARTAIN
SABRENA SUITE-MANGUM
Isaac Riddle grew up just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. He has a BA in English literature from the University of Utah and a Masters of Journalism from Temple University. Isaac has written for Next City, The Philadelphia Public School Notebook and Salt Lake City Weekly. Before embarking on a career in journalism, Isaac taught high school English in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Isaac is the founder of Building Salt Lake and can be reached at isaac@buildingsaltlake.com.
A native of Salt Lake City, Ryan has his eyes and ears on the streets of downtown, serving as the community engagement coordinator for the Downtown Alliance. When he’s not skiing or mountain biking in the Wasatch, you’ll find him taking advantage of all of the amazing amenities that downtown has to offer.
Julia Partain, a Salt Lake City native, is a freelance writer and editor for local and regional publications. When she isn’t writing about social issues in her hometown, you can find her running, skiing and hiking in the Wasatch with her family.
Sabrena’s love-affair with downtown Salt Lake began nearly two decades ago when she landed her dream job (i.e. travel writer) and a recurring column in SkyWest Magazine—an in-flight publication. "SuiteSpots” highlighted fabulous, and often esoteric, haunts in the 801. Since then, she’s freelanced for numerous publications and held various positions in marketing and public relations. She lives in Salt Lake with her husband and two spirited children. fall / winter 2016
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{ MOVE, DISCOVER, DRINK, DINE, REFRESH, SEE, VISIT, WORSHIP, LIVE AND LOVE DOWNTOWN }
DAVID NEWKIRK
Downtown Seasons Life is a series of cycles; and downtown is no different. The Farmers Market is the first sign of summer for many, bookended by the Twilight Concert Series that signals fall is just around the corner. This issue launches Downtown Dine O' Round, another sign of autumn's cooler temperatures. And what better excuse is there than nearly 50 restaurants offering special menus to put on a few “winter pounds?” Soon the falling leaves will be replaced with thousands of lights as the holiday season takes hold for several weeks until the MirrorBall at EVE WinterFest drops in front of 40,000 cheering Utahns. The Winter Market at Rio Grande will continue to brighten a winter Saturday, plus a few Jazz games later, and before you know it, spring will be in the air again. Enjoy the ride in YOUR city!
— Nick Como, DOWNTOWN the Magazine, Editor fall / winter 2016
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Get Around
Rain, snow, wind or sunsh and dry way to get around
VIVINT SMART HOME
Enterprise Car Share
TRAX rideuta.com GREENbike greenbikeslc.org Open year-round for the first time, GREENbike makes getting around fun. Plus, it is an easy way to stay warm by pedaling up to your next meeting or lunch spot. Now in its fourth season, launched with 10 stations and fewer than 100 bikes, GREENbike has quadrupled in size. Daily or annual passes allow unlimited user rides for 30 or 60 minutes, and remove the typical cycling barriers, such as specific clothing and security. No special attire is required. When bikes are not in use, they are securely docked at a nearby station awaiting the next user.
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Red, blue or green? Downtown is the hub for all three rail lines, and TRAX is free in the Central Business District. All major downtown landmarks and destinations are located within this FREE FARE ZONE, providing an accessible option to travel around downtown. Park once and hit all your favorite downtown spots via a warm train car. UTA’s network connects the University of Utah, SLC International Airport and SL Central Station, which accesses bus and FrontRunner lines, through downtown.
fall / winter 2016
hine, there is always an easy, warm d downtown.
navigator: move
JINGLE BUS downtown.org/jingle All aboard the Downtown Jingle Bus! Beginning Friday, November 27 through December 28, downtown holiday season visitors can hop on and off the holiday-themed ride circulating between The Gateway, Temple Square, City Creek Center, Gallivan Plaza and Capitol Theatre. Shoppers will find the free service especially useful connecting the two malls downtown, and sightseers will enjoy the abundant holiday lights and storefront decorations. Those looking to learn fun downtown facts will enjoy the narration provided by volunteer hosts.
RIDE SHARING Utilizing smart phone apps, services such as Lyft and Uber provide on-demand rides. Users can call a car directly to their location and be on their way in mere minutes, 24 hours a day. You can of course go old school, and call or hail a cab. uber.com | lyft.com
ENTERPRISE CAR SHARE downtown.org/jingle This membership service allows users access to car (there are several downtown and throughout the valley) for errands and short trips around the city without having to own one. Simply pick a car (parked in a reserved space) and a time, and you’ve got wheels! With pricing by the hour, this flexible option allows users to only pay when they use the service. Choose from three downtown locations: 325 W North Temple, 225 S Main & 395 S 300 East.
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STORY BY NICK COMO. PHOTO BY RYAN MACK
GREENbike Corporate Citizens and Nonprofit Join Forces For Community Impact
G
REENbike, Salt Lake City’s nonprofit bike sharing system has been on the streets since 2013, and has grown at a rapid pace. The system, which began with 10 stations has grown to more than 30 today, has also tripled in the number of bikes in use. Same goes for ridership: with each new station or shiny new set of wheels on the street, eager riders have grown alongside the growing system. Built for community benefit, GREENbike relies primarily on sponsorship dollars to function. Title sponsor SelectHealth was one of the first companies on board when GREENbike was still just an idea, and their name is proudly adorned on each bicycle. As with all forms of public transportation (think buses and light rail) ridership revenues cover only a small fraction of operational costs. This is because public transportation lowers the prices to encourage people to get out of their cars. Additional public and private dollars are necessary to sustain these important alternative forms of transportation. For GREENbike, dozens of companies have generously stepped up to support this growing alternative form of travel. Taking a ride around downtown you can see Squatters Pub Brewery, Harmons, backcountry.com, Phillips Edison & Company, and many others have all
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sponsored a GREENbike station. There is an obvious correlation of why a brewery, grocery store and online outdoor retailer would want to be involved. Bikes and those that travel by bike are key customers for them. What is compelling are larger, national organizations like Phillips Edison & Company (PECO)—one of the premier grocery store real estate firms with headquarters in the Midwest and a regional office in Salt Lake, managing hundreds of properties from coast to coast—has chosen to invest in supporting GREENbike in Salt Lake City.
This example, where a corporate citizen collaborates with a nonprofit like GREENbike, positively impacts the communities they both work in, where businesses like PECO, that have made community involvement and green initiatives as important as the bottom line, can also help nonprofits achieve their goals. Here’s how these missions align: GREENbike’s goals include removing cars from the road (air quality), extending the reach of public transportation (alternative transportation options), connecting people to businesses (economic development) and improving community health. One of Phillips Edison & Companies community goals is to eliminate food deserts. The UDSA defines a food desert “as an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food.” GREENbike connects downtown office workers and residents to multiple venues to buy fresh food, including the Downtown Farmers Market, Harmons and Whole Foods. Downtown resident Joshua Rodgers says “GREENbiking makes grocery shopping convenient, quick and possible. I am able to hop on a GREENbike right outside of my apartment building, ride to the store and fit up to a week’s worth of groceries on one bike.” Another downtown professional, Lezlee Gorey agrees: “We love the flexibility of hopping on a GREENbike to go to the library, gym, malls, restaurants, bars and really anywhere we need to go. There seems to be a conveniently located GREENbike station where we need one. We even GREENbike to Dick and Dixie’s to grab the bus to Real Games. We love the freedom and convenience this service provides.” The GREENbike and PECO partnership is laying the groundwork and building momentum towards community impacts for years to come. I
Rudy Florez
/ Hive Pass Rider since 2014
fall / winter 2016
1 in 3 people will struggle with mental illness in their lifetime. To heal mental illness, the other 2 in 3 people need to help talk about it. For resource materials and ideas that will help you #sharethestruggle, visit ldshospital.org/share.
WARNING SIGNS OF ANXIETY & DEPRESSION • Social withdrawal • Difficulty at school and/or work
HOW TO START THE CONVERSATION Be up front and let the person know you are concerned: • “I’m worried about you. Can we talk about what you are going through?” • “Can we talk about what you are experiencing right now?” • “I care about you and want to help you.” • “What can I do to help you right now?”
• Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits • Mood changes • Drug abuse • Talk of suicide
ldshospital.org/share
navigator: dine
STORY AND PHOTOS BY AUSTEN DIAMOND
Taco Time is the Best Time. Up Your Lunch Game.
T
hey’re like a blank canvas—warm corn or flour tortillas. Inside these circular edible envelopes you’ll find whatever inspires Chez Chef. From spicy al Pastor and mind-melting cabeza, to succulent citrus shrimp and sizzling chicken, you have plenty of options. And the fixins are just as diverse as the proteins. Salt Lake City has been gifted with tons of tenacious taquerias so you can up your lunch game. Whether you are on the go and need a utensil-less snack or you want to pair your meal with a salt-rimmed margarita, options abound downtown. Fresh fish taco of the day from T27 with slaw, cilantro lime crema and fresh lime.
Alamexo Tacos never seemed so swanky as they do at the upscale Mexican-themed Alamexo. After you begin your meal with a serving of guacamole assembled tableside, you’ll be dying to dig into the tacos. Generous servings of chicken, pork or beef arrive at your table in hot iron skillets. The construction is your creation, and however you roll, you surely won’t be disappointed. Don’t miss $1 tacos on “Taco Thursday’s,” served in the Alamexo bar weekly. 268 S State, 801-779-4747, alamexo.com
Taqueria 27 There’s a ton of buzz about “T27” (as many simply call it) and for good reason. Choose from the culinarily creative taco and guacamole of the day, sample an extensive list of 100-percent agave tequilas, and get loco with mole platters. But if you must prioritize, don’t miss the bevy of bodacious tacos, because that’s what put T27—now with three locations—on the map.
Tacos De Pollo at Alamexo: Adobo marinated chicken breast, queso Chihuahua, pico de gallo & salsa de cascabel.
149 E 200 South, 385-259-0940, taqueria27.com 14
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Taste of Red Iguana's Famous Halibut Tacos, with cumincrusted halibut.
navigator: dine
Taco Taco The owners of Taco Taco love tacos so much, they used the word twice to name this downtown taqueria. According to the restaurant, it is “celebrating the tradition of millenary cuisine symbolic to the boldness of the Lucha libre gladiators.” It’s hard to dispute that, honestly. With its simple ingredients of the highest quality that make for epic tacos, you’ll find yourself at Taco Taco ordering double of everything. Vegetarians can nosh on squash blossoms, while carnivores can bite into chicken mole negro, carne asada and more. 208 E 500 South, 801-428-2704, tacotacoslc.com
Taste of Red Iguana Red Iguana, the staple serving up “killer Mexican food,” is more synonymous with Salt Lake City to some outsiders than, say, Temple Square or the Greatest Snow on Earth™. Yes, this award-winning restaurant’s grub has people talking. They’ve become so popular, they opened up several locations, including the cafeteria-style eatery in City Creek Center. Get hot, fresh and fast tacos slathered in the restaurant’s signature mole while you’re on the go—less waiting, more tacos.
Zucchini Blossom tacos from Taco Taco in Salt Lake.
City Creek Center, 28 S State, 801-214-6350, rediguana.com/taste-of-red-iguana
Chicken and pork tacos from the Tacos de Brazil cart in front of the DWS building.
Tacos Hidalgo Whether you work on the west side or you find yourself on a shopping spree at The Gateway during the lunch hour, Taco Hidalgo is your must-stop spot for tacos. Known for its scrumptious asada, this cart also serves up heaping breakfast burritos, if that’s more your thing. Find a shady perch and wash it all down with a Mexican Coca-Cola. 35-39 N 400 West, in front of The Depot on the corner, 801-903-9868
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Beef tacos topped with green salsa, cabbage and sour cream from Taco Hidalgo.
Tacos de Brazil While the taco is traditionally a Mexican dish, this amazing little street cart gives tacos loads of Brazilian flare. For starters, the turmeric in the rice is a nice touch, and the Brazilian-spiced al pastor is a must-try, especially for the price of $1 per taco. There’s some tasty fish tacos, and with black or pinto beans and kale, even vegetarians can walk away satisfied. 160 E 300 South, in front of the DWS building downtown the magazine
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Cotopaxi Swag for Urbanites on the Go
COBÁN 20L BACKPACK $55.95
New Face in Town: Cotopaxi A conversation with Anders Piiparinen, Social Media & Brand Manager at Cotopaxi Who is Cotopaxi? Cotopaxi is an outdoor gear brand with a social mission. We create innovative outdoor products and experiences that fund sustainable poverty relief, move people to do good and inspire adventure. Anders Piiparinen, Social Media & Brand Manager at Cotopaxi, studied at Brigham Young University in communication public relations.
What makes Cotopaxi's products different and unique? We have an amazing team of innovators and designers that craft premium outdoor gear and apparel. From unique llama fleece insulation in our Kusa line, to oneof-a-kind color ways chosen by our sewers in our Del Día products, we are always working on new ways to innovate and create gear that consumers will love. Talk a little bit about the mission of the company and brand? Cotopaxi funds solutions that address the most persistent needs of those living in extreme poverty. Giving is core to our model. As a Benefit Corporation and certified B-Corp, Cotopaxi has made a commitment to creating positive social impact. We focus our efforts on global
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poverty alleviation and give targeted grants to advance health, education and livelihoods initiatives around the world. Why did you decide to move into the heart of downtown? While we love our space south of Salt Lake City, we knew that our next step would be to open a retail store in an optimal location. Downtown Salt Lake City was and is a perfect location for it. We can't wait to be more involved in downtown events, the Downtown Alliance and work to benefit the downtown community. Why should people come visit the store - what will folks find? The Cotopaxi store will be as much of an experience as it is a store. Cotopaxi HQ is located upstairs, we'll have an assortment of gear, including our one-ofa-kind Del Día products, and an ongoing calendar of events. We also have a virtual reality experience that will take customers into our Philippines factory showing how our Luzon Del Día backpack is made. We're really anxious to share our stories with Cotopaxi visitors. I
KPONG SHOULDER BAG $89.95
TIKAL ACTIVE SHELL (MEN) $97.95
KUSA (UNISEX) $99.95
fall / winter 2016
Film fuels dreams, ignites conscience, and sparks community.
TOWER THEATRE 876 East 900 South
SUPPORT INDEPENDENT FILM INVEST IN SLFS
Support your home for independent film at SLFS.org
BROADWAY CENTRE CINEMAS 111 East 300 South
SERVICES
Maverick
206 W Nor
navigator: live
Barber Shops Salons Grocery Stores
Sanctuary Day Spa Estilo Salon 18380 N Rio Grande St W 200 South
Automotive Dry Cleaners Health Services Clothing Tailors Studio H20 Salon & Nail 167 S Rio Grande
Estilo Salon 380 W 200 South
Gateway Dental Arts 440 W 200 South Jade Market
Ardeo Salon 353 W 200 South
353 W 200 South
Barbiere 341 W Pierpoint Ave
Tony Caputo’s Market & D 314 W 300 South
Phillips 66 300 W 400 South
New Pathways Recovery and Wellness 435 W 400 South
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k
rth Temple
275 E South Temple
VRx Pharmacy
Top Alterations
50 E S Temple #145
36 S State
navigator: live
Deli
Swinton Counseling Big O Tires 178 E South Temple
Monarch Dental 370 E South Temple
Nordstrom 55 S West Temple
Rite Aid Pharmacy
Deseret Barber Shop
250 S 200 East
135 E Social Hall Ave
Harmons City Creek 135 E 100 South
Lunatic Fringe City Creek 51 S Main
Beckett & Robb 150 S Main
Maverick Headquarters 185 S State
City Creek Dental 175 S West Temple
Ray’s Barber Shop 154 S Main
Image Eyes Optical
Salon NV
222 S Main
250 S 200 East
Nick James Hair Salon
Happy Nails
241 E 300 South
Market on Main St.
235 S Broadway
268 S Main
D’Antii LLC
1
Henrie’s Dry Cleaners
204 E Broadway
223 E 300 South
Mid City Salon
247 E Broadway
Firestone
46 W 300 South
Broadway Eye Clinic Naga Studio 350 S 200 East
250 E 300 South
City Barbers 241 E 300 South
Perry’s Barber Shop 376 S State
Array Salon 375 S Main
Capstone Counseling Center 357 S 200 East
Know about a service we should include on our map? Send it to greg@downtownslc.org, and we'll add it on for the next edition. fall / winter 2016
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Temple Square Temple Square boasts one of the largest holiday lighting displays in the country November 25 to New Year's Day
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T
he centerpiece is the magnificent Salt Lake Temple, a six-spired granite edifice, which took Mormon pioneers 40 years to complete. The unique domed Tabernacle, built in 1867, is home to the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Organ recitals are presented daily, and the public is invited to choir rehearsals on Thursday and Sunday morning broadcasts of Music and the Spoken Word, which is the longestrunning continuous network radio broadcast in the world. Complimentary tours of Temple Square are offered in more than 40 languages. Temple Square includes two visitor centers where people can learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through art galleries and interactive exhibits. The North Visitors’ Center features an 11-foot replica of
Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue. Exhibits at the South Visitors’ Center include a scaled model of the Salt Lake Temple, providing a glimpse inside the historic building. In the southwest corner of the Square, is the Assembly Hall, which hosts free concerts and recitals on weekends. Historic buildings, libraries, a museum, and the Conference Center, along with landscaped open spaces, have been added to the original 10-acre block, creating the 35 acres at Temple Square. Travelers who have layovers at the Salt Lake International Airport can take a free shuttle to Temple Square, and take a tour while they are waiting for their next flight. I Visitor Activies All venues are free and open to the public. For information, go online to: visittemplesquare.com
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When you come to Utah, be sure to visit
TEMPLE SQUARE in the heart of Salt Lake City Tours are available in more than 30 languages
•
Many venues to choose from, and all are free
Listen
© Busath.com
Your tour group can:
to the glorious music of the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir, rehearsing and performing in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. They also perform in the 21,000-seat Conference Center. See visittemplesquare.com for details. your roots in the FamilySearch Center, where helpful volunteers can assist in retrieving family history information from the world’s largest repository of genealogical records.
Meander
through two upscale visitors’ centers that include the Christus statue by Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen. Visit the interactive map of ancient Jerusalem (kids love it!) and much more.
Step into the past,
Mark Cannon, © 1989 IRI
Discover
where the story of family life of yesteryear will unfold room by room in the Beehive House, the seat of government in early Utah.
For information on these and many other fascinating venues on Temple Square, go to templesquare.com, or call 800-453-3860.
fall / winter 2016
© 2015 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. PD50020206
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H O L I DAY G U I D E
Ballet West’s Nutcracker in a Nutshell STORY BY JOSHUA JONES. PHOTOS BY BALLET WEST
F
or six decades, Ballet West’s The Nutcracker has been a centerpiece of Salt Lake’s holiday festivities. Tchaikovsky’s moving score, magical costumes and fairytale sets are are all showcased in the exquisite Capitol Theatre to create one of the most visually stunning productions of The Nutcracker in the world today. While many Utahns consider it a holiday tradition, they may not know how this institution became woven into the fabric of our city, how it helped to save ballet in America or what extraordinary efforts are being taken to keep The Nutcracker relevant for another six decades. Even if you have never journeyed to the Capitol Theatre and enjoyed The Nutcracker, almost everyone has been exposed to its music, story and imagery. The ballet is ubiquitous with Christmas culture, from Fantasia to SpongeBob SquarePants, and Care Bears to Grand Theft Auto; there are literally thousands of references in pop culture to The Nutcracker, making it a timeless piece of art, like da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans. It was Ballet West’s founder, Willam Christensen (affectionately known as Mr. C.), who first choreographed a full-length Nutcracker in America, making Ballet West’s production the longest-running in the Western Hemisphere and perhaps the world. The New York Times’ principal dance critic, Alistair MaCaulay, went on a nationwide Nutcracker tour in 2010 and called Ballet West’s version, “one of the best productions I’ve ever seen.” Earlier this year, Ballet West announced that it has received a grant from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation to enrich 22
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and enhance the physical production of The Nutcracker. (Just like the Mona Lisa, sometimes a great piece of art needs some refurbishing.) Work on the project is well underway, with diagrams being submitted and backdrops being painted at the Utah Opera studios. Over the next year and a half, literally hundreds of Utah artisans will be contracted to build sets, sew costumes and incorporate special effects into the dazzling new production that will premiere in the winter of 2017. “During his lifetime, Mr. C. frequently updated The Nutcracker to keep it fresh and alive, but he maintained the framework and charm of the story that kept audiences coming back every year,” said Ballet West CEO & Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “Our intention with this generous gift from the Eccles Foundation is to keep the choreography exactly the same while updating the physical production.” Sklute recently announced some of the more whimsical embellishments will include elements that fly through the air and
Willam Christensen, Founder of Ballet West.
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an enhanced Christmas tree that will grow much wider, giving it a 3-D effect. “Some of these spectacular effects Mr. C. originally imagined, but did not have the technology or funding to accomplish during his lifetime. This gift will help us honor his vision and move it into the future,” said Sklute. While Ballet West looks to the retirement of the current production’s sets and costumes, the story of how Utah carries the banner of owning the longest-running Nutcracker in America is also a timeless story. In 1816, E.T.A. Hoffman wrote The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The story tells of a Christmas party at which little Clara, daughter of the house, receives the gift of a nutcracker from her mysterious uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer. After the party, she falls asleep and dreams of dancing snow, sugarplums and her nutcracker, which has turned into a handsome prince. The story is filled with magic, wonder and whimsy. In 1892, the story was used by Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov to create the ballet, The Nutcracker, which became one of Tchaikovsky’s most famous compositions, and possibly the most popular ballet in the world. Surprisingly, the ballet had never been performed in its entirety in the United States until Mr. C., then at the San Francisco Ballet, was looking for a ballet to fill the company’s coffers. It was 1944, and World War II had made money for arts very scarce. Looking for a ballet which would lighten the hearts of a dreary nation, Mr. C. spoke to the great dancer and choreographer, George Balanchine. Over the course of one night, Balanchine and his friend Alexandra Danilova, both of whom had danced The Nutcracker in Russia, recounted the steps and explained the story to Mr. C. He instantly recognized how this ballet could be marketed to both children and adults, and also how it could likely be financially lucrative. After Mr. C. staged the production, one critic wrote, “We can’t understand why a vehicle of such fantastic beauty and originality could be produced in Europe in 1892 and never be produced in this country until 1944. Perhaps choreographers will make up for lost time from now on.” Not only had Mr. C. choreographed a smashing success, but he had also unknowingly created an American phenomenon, a fact that is said to have surprised and thrilled even Mr. C. Since then, The Nutcracker thrives across the Americas, and is an iconic holiday tradition and a mainstay of countless ballet companies across the country. Nowhere is this more evident than at Ballet West. The Nutcracker is an audience favorite fall / winter 2016
and continues to break records. Just last year, The Nutcracker broke its long-held revenue record, and the year before that, it sold out every performance during a tour to The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. While the Ballet West production has been watched and beloved by millions, it also holds a special place for dancers. In its 60-year history, it is estimated that more than 100,000 children have learned Mr. C’s choreography and had the opportunity to dance with Ballet West artists. Last year, Ella Whitney, an 11-year-old was cast as Clara, the most coveted role for the children’s cast. What made this especially serendipitous was that Natalie Whitney, her mother, had also played Clara exactly 20 years before. More incredibly, Natalie’s mother, Connie, also had a role in The Nutcracker, and has vivid memories of Mr. C. teaching his choreography. With more Whitney’s on the way, it’s very possible this chain will continue. On the other side of the stage, audience members regularly come with two, three or even four generations in tow. Kelli Wood, a local photographer, has purchased grand-tier seats with her mother every year for 31 years. Now, Kelli’s daughter also comes along for the Christmas tradition. “When I was young, it wasn’t easy for my mom to purchase those tickets, which made it even more magical entering that beautiful theater,” said Kelli. “I know my daughter is loving it just as much as I did 31 years ago.” In 2001, when Mr. C. passed away at the age of 99, The San Francisco Chronicle called him the grandfather of American ballet, and he is still credited with rejuvenating dance in America. That renaissance is directly credited to his Nutcracker dream, which continues to flourish today. I
By the Numbers • It takes more than 16 yards of net to make one tutu for The Nutcracker. • Each Sugar Plum Fairy tutu is decorated with more than 200 handsewn jewels and is worth $2,500. • The costume shop begins preparation of the 250 Nutcracker costumes in July. • It takes 40 hours to make each tutu. If the stitchers worked 24 hours a day, it would take more than two straight months to complete all of The Nutcracker tutus worn in a single performance. • 110 pounds of dry ice is used in each snow scene, amounting to 3,190 pounds during the entire run. • If all of the 100 pounds of plastic snow used for the first act (during the entire run of The Nutcracker) fell at once, the stage would be covered in four feet of snow • The Nutcracker set and props cost about $500,000, and took 3,000 man hours to construct. • It takes four semi-trucks, 42 people, and an entire day to load The Nutcracker set into the theater. It then takes 23 people to run each performance. The Nutcracker remains one of the most beloved and enduring masterpieces in all of ballet. This production comes to the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre from December 2-26. Tickets start at just $20 and are available at balletwest.org, at all ArtTix locations or by calling 801-869-6920.
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H O L I DAY G U I D E
Utah Symphony | Utah Opera 123 S South Temple Celebrate the 75th anniversary of these legacy arts organizations at the veritable Abravanel Hall. Southam Gallery 152 S Main Make a statement with a large painting or sculpture for that special someone who wants a unique centerpiece featuring the American landscape.
SPORTS/OUTDOOR
LUXE Porsche Design 50 S Main Sportswear and accessories for the global traveler and business person who likes to travel in style. O.C. Tanner 15 S State Elegant timepieces from Breitling, Rolex and more, plus a plethora of jewelry options. Tiffany 50 S Main Has someone been extra good this year? Remember these three “C’s”: cut, color and clarity.
QUIRKY Jitterbug Antiques 243 E Broadway Find a classic board game or slice of nostalgia from
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yesteryear. Most items are small sized, ideal for stocking stuffers. Boozetique 315 E Broadway For the teetotaler in your life. Wine racks, corkscrews, bitters and anything else the home bar and bartender will enjoy. Green Ant 179 E Broadway Mid-century modern furniture. Been eyeing a Wassily Chair for the boss’s corner office as a staff gift? This is the place.
ARTSY Utah Artist Hands 163 E Broadway This gallery with rotating showings of Utah artists and artisans features paintings, sculptures, ceramics and more.
FOOD Gift Certificates Whoever said dining gift certificates were an easy cop-out gift didn’t have to choose between dozens of award-winning restaurants in downtown SLC. Harmons Cooking Classes 135 E 100 South Send a message to the novice home cook or help the expert fine-tune their culinary craft. Sur La Table 10 N Rio Grande Every kitchen gadget, glassware or platter you can imagine. And more. Much more. For the home chef who has every utensil, you’ll find something new here.
GROOMING
Cotopaxi 74 S Main Take a hike! Backpacks, outerwear and urban essentials at this Utahbased company's flagship store and office.
Ray's Barber Shop 154 S Main More than just haircuts: beard trims, shoe shines and more at this throwback Main Street location.
Real Salt Lake Store 55 E Broadway Stock up scarves, jerseys and all things RSL for your favorite soccer hooligan.
Art of Shaving 50 S Main For the DIY’er who prides themselves on a close shave the old fashioned way: badger hair brush, shave soaps and oils, aftershave lotion, and classic razors.
Utah Jazz Tickets 301 S South Temple Root, root, root for the home team! With more than 41 home games, make a night of it downtown and cheer for this exciting group of young players and NBA veterans.
Sanctuary Day Spa Gateway 42 N Rio Grande St Who doesn’t like to be pampered? Plenty of options for hard-to-buy-for individuals from facials to peels, as well as haircuts and waxing services.
fall / winter 2016
2016–17 UTAH SYMPHONY SEASON
THE SOUND of INSPIRATION UTAHSYMPHONY.ORG OR CALL 801-533-NOTE (6683) FOR TICKETS VISIT
SYMPHONY SEASON SPONSOR
H O L I DAY G U I D E
Holiday Party Guide
T
hrowing a holiday party for the whole office? From cozy to stately, party to refined, downtown has all the bases covered, including many restaurants perfect for groups of all sizes, as well as caterers if you decide to “order-in.” Many popular spots book up far in advance, but we think there are a few spots on this list even the most seasoned party planner might not have thought of. You’re welcome, and feel free to thank us with an invite to your shindig!
COZY
REFINED AND ELEGANT
Hope Gallery 151 S Main
Capitol Theatre 50 W 200 South
Phillips Gallery 444 E 200 South
The Grand Hall 466 S 400 East
The Acoustic Space 124 S 400 West
McCune Mansion 200 N Main
Memorial House Memory Grove Park
Maurice Abravanel Hall 123 W South Temple
Pierpont Place 163 Pierpont Ave
Utah Museum of Fine Arts 410 Campus Center Drive
SPACIOUS AND STATELY
Caffé Molise 55 W 100 South CC Tasting Room 357 W 200 South #100 Christopher's Prime Steak House 134 Pierpont Ave
Market Street Grill 48 W Market Naked Fish 67 W 100 South New Yorker 60 W Market St Spencer’s Hilton Salt Lake City Center Texas De Brazil 50 S Main #168 CATERERS The Blended Table theblendedtable.com
Cucina Toscana 282 S 300 West
Cedars of Lebanon 152 E 200 South
Current/Undercurrent 279 E 300 South
Culinary Crafts 357 W 200 South
RESTAURANTS
Finca 327 W 200 South
Cuisine Unlimited 4641 S Cherry St
The City County Building 451 S State
Bambara 202 S Main
Flemings 20 N 400 West
Main Event Catering maineventcaterers.com
The City Library 210 E 400 South
Brio 80 S Regent Street
Martine 22 E 100 South #200
Utah Food Services 100 S West Temple
Clark Planetarium 110 S 400 West Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center 138 W 300 South Salt Palace Convention Center 100 S West Temple Temple Square (Multiple Locations) 50 W North Temple Utah State Capitol Building 340 N State Street PARTY DOWN The Depot 400 W South Temple Discovery Gateway 444 W 100 South Falls Event Center 580 S 600 East Gallivan Center 239 S Main Infinity Events Center 26 E 600 South The Leonardo 209 E 500 South
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MB E C E D
D
S LC N W O T OW N
ER
2016
T H E S A LT P A LAC E
H O L I DAY G U I D E
November 2016
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
One Downtown, Dozens of Ways to Celebrate 20
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MESSIAH SING-IN
JINGLE BUS
ICE SKATING
Sing Hallelujah with the Utah Symphony.
Hop on this free downtown circulator to see the holiday lights and move between malls.
Bring the family or bring a date to the most scenic skating rink in the state.
Runs through Dec 31
Open all winter @ Gallivan Center
Nov 26 & 27 @ Abravanel Hall
27 THE NUTCRACKER Get your tickets early for Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic. Through Dec 26 @ Capitol Theatre
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MACY’S CANDY WINDOWS A family tradition as rich as the candies that create these works of art.
29 IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS ON TEMPLE SQUARE
One of the most popular holiday traditions, these lights draw thousands of people from the Intermountain West.
You’ve seen the movie, now see the performance.
Over a month of lights, concerts, food and more.
Through Dec 11 @ Eccles Theater
Through Dec 23 @ Temple Square
5 SANTA PAWS
Animated holiday stories along the creek.
Learn about the history of flight with your Leonardo All Access Pass.
Get your dog’s photo taken with Santa.
Through Jan 1 @ City Creek
The Leonardo
Off Broadway Theatre’s rendition of Miracle on 34th St.
Nov 22, 29, Dec 6, 13 @ City Creek Center
12 BELLS ON TEMPLE SQUARE HOLIDAY CONCERT
Christmas Songs of Worship Tour. Abravanel Hall
18 CHRISTMAS DAY Don’t feel like cooking? Come eat downtown!
13 HOLIDAY FIRE FOUNTAIN
Through Jan 1 @ City Creek Center
19 LET IT SNOW (WITH SOME LASERS)
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Check out Discovery Gateway’s latest exhibit with the whole family.
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21 KEEP THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT ALIVE! Donate to the Utah Food Bank, volunteer your time or donate gently used products.
Discovery Gateway
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14
City Creek Center
SID THE SCIENCE KID
Clark Planetarium
Nov 18 - Dec 24 @ Off Broadway Theatre
CELTIC WOMAN: “HOME FOR CHRISTMAS” WITH THE UTAH SYMPHONY
Performances at the top of every hour!
The Tabernacle
7 MIRACLE ON 3RD & MAIN
Center
11
30
6
FLIGHT
CHRIS TOMLIN
Through Jan 1 @ City Creek Center
HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT TEMPLE SQUARE
4 STORYBOOK LANTERNS
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THURSDAY
FRIDAY
NEED MORE FUN?
SATURDAY
BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING
Don’t forget to grab tickets to a Utah Jazz game or head to The Gateway for musical performances, fountain shows and holiday shopping deals!
BRYAN CALLEN Comedian From Mad TV, The Hangover and more!
Get your holiday shopping done early and save some dough at the same time.
Wiseguys Comedy Club
City Creek and The Gateway
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What do you want for X-mas? Tell Santa when he arrives at City Creek. Nov 17 - Dec 24 @ City Creek Center
SALT LAKE GALLERY STROLL
BEETHOVEN & RACHMANINOFF
Browse downtown’s best art galleries with your favorite warm drink.
Enjoy works from two of the most notable composers in history.
1 MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA Only performing for three nights! Get your tickets in advance.
2 CIRQUE MUSICA HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR!
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Abravanel Hall
3
SANTACON Dress up as Santa with your friends as you sleigh from bar to bar.
Like a holiday-infused Cirque De Soleil.
Dec 8, 9 & 10 @ Conference Center
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Dec 9 & 10 @ Abravanel Hall
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December 2016
SANTA ARRIVES!
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2016/17 HOME GAMES At Vivint Smart Home Arena Nov 25 vs. ATLANTA Nov 29 vs. HOUSTON Dec 1
vs. MIAMI
Dec 3
vs. DENVER
Dec 6
vs. PHOENIX
Dec 8
vs. GOLDEN STATE
Dec 10 vs. SACRAMENTO Dec 14 vs. OKLAHOMA CITY
WINTER MARKET AT RIO GRANDE
A KURT BESTOR CHRISTMAS
VISIT THE BIG PINEY CHRISTMAS TREE
Kurt Bestor will be taking his holiday musical to the brand new Eccles Theater this year.
50 + feet of Christmas tree.
Pick up farm fresh produce all winter long.
The Gateway
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
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FREE LUNCHTIME HOLIDAY CONCERT
SAVIOR OF THE WORLD
Church Office Building
LDS Conference Center
This spectacle will feature high-flying acrobatics with a holiday twist.
CHILDREN’S SING-ALONG
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Dec 23 vs. TORONTO Dec 29 vs. PHILADELPHIA
Discovery Gateway
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Several days of live music and activities for all ages.
WINTER WONDERLAND CONCERT Assembly Hall
Dec 31
vs. PHOENIX
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24 EVE WINTERFEST
EVE WINTERFEST
CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE
vs. SACRAMENTO
CHRISTMAS EVE
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Dec 21
Eat breakfast with Mr. & Mrs. Claus.
Dec 15 - 17 @ Eccles Theater
Assembly Hall
Dec 16 vs. DALLAS
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MirrorBall drop, fire dances and more.
BACK-TO-BACK PERFORMANCES The Tabernacle and Joseph Smith Memorial Building
BROADWAY SING-ALONG Assembly Hall
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STORY BY ISSAC RIDDLE. PHOTOS BY JOEY JONATIS
Culture + Commerce Combine in a Downtown that Continues to Rise
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t can be difficult to finish one project on time, but for Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake (RDA) Agency and City Creek Reserve Inc., (CCRI) — the real estate investment portfolio of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints — the task was to finish three projects on time and simultaneously. Their respective projects: the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater (RDA) and the 111 Main office tower (CCRI) will open in the fall, all the while reimagining Regent Street, a new festival street on the backside of both projects, which was worked on collaboratively by both the RDA and CCRI. It required a unique public/private collaboration to build both the theater and office tower at the same time. The City, through the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake, worked with CCRI to dramatically alter Block 70, the block between 100 and 200 South and Main and State Streets. “These projects couldn’t have happened independently of each other,” said Justin Belliveau, 30
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the executive director of the RDA. Once the city selected Block 70 as the site for the new theater, it immediately began working to design a new node in the city that would be a destination in itself. “The goal was to use the Eccles building to create a district” said Stephen L. Swisher, principal at GTS Development, the developer of the theater. “With the pedestrian connections, we’ve taken the two streets and created a district.” The concurring construction of both the theater and the office tower made it possible for the city to include street improvements to Regent Street, a mid-block street connecting 100 and 200 South, as part of the larger development. While the block has several different landowners, the collaboration with CCRI was critical to the block’s success. CCRI owns more than half of the project and working in tandem with the city, through the RDA, allowed for the synergy necessary to turn Block 70 into a district. “We were both very nervous in the beginning, but this has been a landmark experience in terms of a public/private partnership,” said Matt Baldwin, the director of investment for City Creek Reserve Inc. “We wouldn’t hesitate to work with the RDA again.” Both projects will share a 10,000 square-foot lobby. That relationship has required unique engineering for the 24-story, 111 Main Tower. fall / winter 2016
111 Main Buildings are typically built from the ground up with the weight of the building supported at its foundation. The 111 Main office tower is different. When the RDA informed CCRI that the theater would take up more square feet than originally planned, the team at CCRI had two options: design a slimmer tower with less leasable space or get creative and find a way to incorporate the original design with an expanded theater. The tower’s architects, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and VCBO Architecture, and engineers decided that larger floor plans were still possible, but it would require the building to be constructed in a way never before seen in Utah. Instead of using the building’s foundation to support its height, the building essentially hangs from a roof hat-truss that supports the building’s weight over the theater. The hat-truss and central reinforced concrete core walls allow the lobby to be column-free and columns on the office levels to be leaner, which creates more leasable workspace. The team had to get creative to accommodate the smaller floor plates required for the first five floors to allow for a larger theater. The tower suspends over the theater from floors 5-24. To make this suspension possible, eight miles of steel h-piles (long steel rods) were installed under the ground floor. Temporary steel was erected at the ground floor to support the building during construction. The building consists of 2,100 tons of fall / winter 2016
suspended structural steel, 3,000 tons of rebar, 15,000 cubic yards of concrete and 2,600 cubic yards of concrete seismic footings. Workers had to place the steel strategically to ensure that the building’s weight was balanced. The construction team also built temporary suspension cables that helped balance the building’s weight during construction. The 24-story office tower is designed to be LEED Gold certified and consists of 440,000 square feet of leasable space, with 21,000 square feet per floor. The 10,000 square-foot lobby is entirely column-free with 10-by-35 foot floor-to-ceiling clear glass panels that open up the lobby to the street level. The lobby includes 2,000 square feet of retail along 100 South. According to Baldwin, the lobby will be open during theater performances and will include a large art media wall. Designers originally planned for a large painting in the lobby, but realized that the 35-foot windows
would essentially bake the painting over time. The media wall will show images of Utah’s landscape. The 111 Main office tower is built to last. The tower is designed for a 2500-year seismic event. The tower is only one of two buildings in Utah built to the highest seismic design standards, the other is the Public Safety Building on 500 South. Eccles Theater Renowned architect, Cesar Pelli of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, designed the 2,500seat, state-of-the-art George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater. Pelli’s firm has designed dozens of theaters and performing art centers, including: the Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami, Fla; and the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, N.C.
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THE GRAND OPENING
IS
JUST
THE
B E G I N N I N G EXPERIENCE THE EXCITING INAUGURAL 2016-2017 SEASON
NOVEMBER 15–20, 2016
DECEMBER 6–11, 2016
JANUARY 17–22 , 2017
FEBRUARY 21–26, 2017
M AY 3 0 –J U N E 4 , 2017
JUNE 20–25, 2017
T I C K E T S A N D I N FO R M AT I O N : Broadway-At-The-Eccles.com
CO N C E RT S , C O M E DY & M O R E
SERIES LINE-UP AND TICKETS: Live-At-The-Eccles.com
fall / winter 2016
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“This will be the new model for urban theaters,” said Swisher. The City selected GTS Development to act as the theater’s developer. HKS Architects provided an advisory role. The theater’s grand lobby features two commissioned art projects, including a terrazzo floor design by Sugar House artist, Laura Sharp Wilson, titled, “Thread, Trail, Rope and Yarn.” Wilson used purple, green, khaki and gray tones to represent the weaving of rugs and cloth used by Native Americans and early Mormon pioneers. The second commissioned art project is by Rhode Island artist, Paul Housberg. Housberg’s project features a colorful glass balustrade on the second and third levels. The theater includes a galleria, which will act as public thoroughfare and connect Regent and Main Streets. The galleria will be the main pedestrian connection for 111 Main workers to go to and from the office tower and the Regent Street Garage. To take advantage of 4,000 workers passing through the theater lobby daily, the walls of the galleria will feature posters announcing upcoming shows. The ticket lobby was also strategically placed directly between the galleria and the entrance to 111 Main. The lobby will house a bistro featuring a fullservice restaurant in the south end of the lobby in a kiva type design, dropping several feet below the main lobby level. The bistro will seat 60 inside and even more outdoors as weather permits on the outside steps. While the theater will be the region’s largest in terms of seating, the theater is designed in a way to make it feel intimate despite its size. The 2,500 seats are dispersed through four floors of seating, three of which are balcony seating. The three balconies means that no seat is a bad seat. The back seats on the main level are 98 feet from the stage, while the back seat on the highest balcony level is 118 feet. The city decided to include a black box theater after receiving multiple requests for such from the local arts community. The black box theater will actually be more of a purple box theater with a deep lavender interior coat instead of the traditional black. The room will have adjustable seating and can seat up to 150 people for a traditional theater performance and can hold more than 270 people for private parties. The room is unique for a black box theater in that it features floor-to-ceiling windows on the south side that look out to the pedestrian walkway and plaza on Regent Street. Large curtains will cover the windows for theater 34
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performances. “We are very proud of the theater,” said Katherine Potter, senior advisor for the RDA. “It will bring some amazing performances to the stage.” According to Potter, more than 12,000 people have purchased subscriptions for the debut season. The first show, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, will run November 15 - 20. The debut season will include popular Broadway shows: Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia, The Lion King and The Book of Mormon. Central to the city’s initial argument on the need of a broadway-style theater was that current facilities made attracting first-run shows difficult. Supporters argued that a larger theater with a larger stage would make loading and unloading for shows easier, while the increased seating would entice shows with the potential for increased revenue from ticket sales. The theater’s loading dock opens right up to the south stage doors. The loading dock is accessed from the Regent Street plaza and has three doors that can accommodate three semis at once. The city and county are co-owners of the theater. Long before construction started, the city and county worked out an operating agreement that will have the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts manage the theater when it opens. Salt Lake County also manages the Abravanel Hall, Capitol Theatre and Rose Wagner Center. The city owns 75 percent of the theater property, while the county has 25 percent ownership. The theater was financed from a mix of public and private funds, including $15 million from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and $6 million from Delta Air Lines. Other donors include O.C. Tanner Company, Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation, Dell Loy and Lynette Hansen and the Call-Maggelet Family. The city will host an opening gala on October 21 followed by a free open house on
October 22. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform Music and the Spoken Word on October 23 from the theater. Regent Street Both the 111 Main Tower and Eccles Theater were designed to engage on the street level. Both buildings go right up to the street level with multiple entry ways and large glass panels that allow pedestrians to see inside. Main Street in downtown has been one of the city’s recent success stories. The stretch of Main Street from South Temple to 400 South has become one of the most vibrant corridors in the entire city. The city decided to capitalize on that energy and enliven Regent Street by ensuring that pedestrians have multiple access points to Regent Street from Main. The galleria will allow pedestrians to access Regent Street by crossing through the theater lobby. Just south of Neumont University in the former Tribune Building, a second pedestrian walkway connects Main to the plaza on Regent Street. CCRI, which owns the Regent Street Garage, a 10-story parking garage as well as the 40 East building on the corner of 100 South and Regent Street, is converting the ground floors of both buildings into restaurant and retail space. The 40 East building, which was previously walled off at the street level, will be opened up with large floor-to-ceiling windows on both Regent Street and 100 South. A restaurant will occupy the ground floor along Regent Street. Regent Street Garage will offer more than 20,000 square feet of street-level retail on Regent Street and place-making signage that will pay homage to theaters of the past. The theater will include two restaurants fronting Regent Street. The entrance to the black box theater will also be off Regent Street. When all three projects open this fall, a new entertainment district will emerge in the heart of downtown Salt Lake. I fall / winter 2016
Taste the theater like never before.
Be one of the first to reserve your private event: fall / winter 2016
cuisineunlimited.com/ecclestheater
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STORY BY SABRENA SUITE-MAGNUM. PHOTOS BY JOEY JONATIS
Neumont at a Glance Five Bachelors Degree Programs • Computer Science • Software & Game Development • Computer Information • Technology Management • Web Design & Development 97% of NU grads are employed within six months of graduation. Neumont grads earn an average starting salary of $63,000 per year. 82% of Neumont students come from outside of Utah. More than 50% of Neumont grads start their tech career in Utah.
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Neumont University: Tech Success from Salt Lake’s Epicenter
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t’s an idyllic downtown Saturday morning in early June. Even before the bustle of City Creek traffic has arrived, there’s a buzz of electricity on Main Street. Next door to the Eccles Theater, the historic Ezra Thompson Building at 143 S Main (more commonly known as The Tribune Building) is filled with hundreds of kids and their parents prepping for a day of programming at Neumont University, a private institution that grants bachelor’s degrees in three years in computer science and related fields.
Sponsored by Neumont University, Utah Geek Events and a host of other tech-savvy organizations, Kids Code Con is just one of many ways the institution is helping to support initiatives to make downtown the state’s new technology center with Neumont poised appropriately at the epicenter. Monday through Friday a different set of tech enthusiasts fill the halls and classrooms of Neumont. Around noon, scores of college students flood into the commons area of campus. They stopped noticing the rumble of TRAX long ago. Inside the university, modern minimalist décor with splashes of contemporary and hightech style showcase the intersection of the school’s technology focus and the building’s rich history: cement floors, exposed beams and steel cables juxtapose the art-deco exterior and the building’s original elevator lobby. Giant two-story windows are less a line of demarcation between where the building ends and the city begins, but more like Alice’s looking glass –a portal to a different kind of wonderland. In this case, it’s a snapshot of Neumont’s larger campus: the urban playground of downtown Salt Lake. Amidst the sounds of ping pong and billiard fall / winter 2016
in the school’s main gathering place, students are huddled over laptops or noshing on takeout from local purveyors. The unofficial uniform of the school is a hoodie, jeans and Neumont t-shirt with phrases like, “Eat. Sleep. Code.” or “I know your password” across the chest. You won’t find a fitness complex, a football team or Greek row at Neumont. Instead, shared interests in technology and gaming are manifested through student groups like League of Legends, Magic the Gathering and activities like coding competitions, gaming tournaments and LAN parties (translation: “local area network,” usually formed for the purpose of engaging in multi-player video games). Needless to say, this is not your typical institution of higher education, and Neumont President Shaun McAlmont says that is entirely by design. “Our curriculum is built on best practices in the industry,” McAlmont says. “We’ve met with and are continually receiving input from educators and employers from around the country about the needs of the rapidly evolving technology industry and tailor our curriculum to those needs. The result is a computer science education that merges academic rigor, exposure to cutting-edge technologies and relevant professional knowledge through real-world, project-based experience in the workplace before our students have even graduated.” For students who can handle the pace and demands of the program, it often means not just the start of a career, but landing their dream job right out of college. Enterprise Projects are the key and crown of Neumont’s project-based curriculum. Understandably, Neumont leadership keeps the phrase “internship” out of their vocabulary like, “Voldemort.” But, unlike an internship where office lackeys are getting coffee or doing grunt work, Enterprise Projects are contracted work between the university and an employer. For 10 weeks at a time, student teams are given a specific project to use the company’s code and solve real-time issues. It’s a win-win for everyone. The companies get help tackling projects, and Neumont students get actual work experience. Both sides also get a chance to ‘try on one another for size,’ so to speak. Some students are hired to work for an Enterprise Partner before they even graduate. Willis Towers Watson, an international professional services company with a main office in downtown Salt Lake, is a great example of the Enterprise Partner program’s success. The global company has hired more than 30 Neumont graduates in less than 10 years at its Main Street location. In fact, 97 percent of Neumont graduates are hired in their field within six months of graduation with an average starting salary of $63,000. Yes, that’s the average. Graduates taking positions at big-name tech giants can kick off their careers with compensation packages in the six-figure range. Class of 2015 alumnus Anthony Corbin of Saginaw, Mich., had lucrative offers from both SONY Santa Monica Studio (i.e. PlayStation) and Google before he had even graduated. He accepted Google’s offer before his last day of class and then relocated to California with his wife, Brittany Corbin (neé Waite), a fellow Neumont grad. Like the Corbins, Neumont graduates are found all over fall / winter 2016
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the country in jobs at startups to companies like Microsoft, eBay, Amazon, IBM, Nike and Tesla. And, even though 82 percent of Neumont students come from outside of Utah, an impressive portion (more than 50 percent) stay in Utah to take jobs locally – from previously mentioned Willis Towers Watson to companies like, 1-800 Contacts, IHC, Vivint, Novell and more. Besides Enterprise Projects, McAlmont says Neumont’s faculty is another key to the school’s blueprint for graduate outcome success. “Our faculty are specifically chosen for their professional experience and expertise currently in the tech industry,” he says. “We’re not asking them to focus on research or publishing. We recruit faculty that are passionate about teaching, about helping students and have real-world experience. Our students are interested in much more than theory. They don’t want to sit and listen to lectures about their field; they want to be creating and solving. They want hands-on participation guided by people who are as passionate as they are, which is why everything at Neumont has a tech slant.” The methodology works and has seen so much success that many local companies and individuals have asked when the curriculum will be opened up outside of the traditional student. After years of saying no, a solution came via Helio Training – a sister endeavor, under Neumont University’s parent company - housed just a few buildings down from the school. Helio’s President Aaron Reed, who has worked with Neumont University for more than 12 years holding positions ranging from teacher and university relations manager to chief operating officer, says Helio’s focus is training primarily in the form of coding “bootcamps” and corporate training – the company has already lead workshops for Willis Towers Watson and eBay. “We recognize that it isn’t possible for everyone to take off three years of work and go to school full time,” Reed said. “We needed to find creative ways to help a different group of people improve their skills. We know what employers are looking for. At Neumont we spent years tailoring our curriculum to fit those needs. So with Helio, non-traditional students get an opportunity to learn software development.” While Helio is one of the latest innovations in Neumont’s arsenal of tech education, there’s even more on the horizon. 38
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“We’re an educational institution that prides itself on raising the next generation of the tech elite,” McAlmont said. “I’ve seen firsthand how education changes lives. It’s the key to success.” And he knows a thing or two about success. In addition to his work and leadership roles at Lincoln Educational Services, Brigham Young University and Stanford University, McAlmont ran track for the Canadian National team and to this day, holds BYU’s sixth-fastest time in the 400-meter hurdles. His résumé includes more than 20 years of experience in the field of education and training. “A passion for coding shouldn’t start in college,” McAlmont says. “It’s why our students volunteered their time to help elementary students participate in the annual Hour of Code last year, and why we offer our building and resources to help host events like Kids Code Con. It’s a natural fit for Neumont as we support success in STEM education at every level. Plus, it’s one more way we can be a force for good in the community.” While McAlmont took the reigns as Neumont’s president just over a year ago, one of his key initiatives is for the school to
be a more vibrant and active member of the community. The result has been even greater participation in events like Salt Lake Comic Con and FanX, Salt Lake Gaming Con, Utah Pride Festival and EVE WinterFest. At his encouragement, staff and students have found other ways to volunteer with quarterly events to help organizations throughout the Salt Lake Valley, including the Road Home, Utah Humane Society and Habitat for Humanity. Neumont also served as the host site for a meeting of the minds with Downtown Alliance and other tech businesses to talk about more ways to make Salt Lake the tech hub of Utah. McAlmont also recently met with Mayor Jackie Biskupski to discuss ways the university can be used to support STEM outreach in the community. Neumont may not be a household name yet, but with McAlmont at the helm along with a student body and force of alumni poised to confront whatever tech challenges are on the horizon (from Pokémon Go to a zombie apocalypse), rest assured this institution will be front and center, leading the charge, one keystroke at a time. I
fall / winter 2016
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STORY BY ISAAC RIDDLE. PHOTOS BY JOEY JONATIS
Code Lake City
Downtown playing a key role in Utah’s growing tech scene
M
o Reeder knows a lot about coding and technology hubs. The University of Utah graduate had worked for and developed several coding schools in San Francisco and Provo before deciding to launch his own coding school, V School, which will open a Salt Lake campus this fall in the Greektown neighborhood in the western edge of downtown Salt Lake. Reeder worked as the regional campus director at General Assembly, a co-working and global educational company specializing in the skills training technological economy and
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is one of the largest coding boot camps in the country. Living in the Bay Area taught Reeder a lot about coding, with about 15 boot camps in the San Fran area. That experience makes Reeder confident in downtown Salt Lake’s growing tech scene and the role coding schools play in producing skilled tech employees. “Pound for pound, the tech scene in Salt Lake is a well-kept secret,” said Reeder. V School is one of four coding schools to move downtown, including DevMountain (a school Reeder helped launch) that like V School downtown the magazine
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began in Provo, but has recently added a campus on Main Street between 300 and 400 South. “Salt Lake has an important role in the growing Utah tech scene” said Cahlan Sharp, the co-founder and CEO of DevMountain. “It is the center of what is happening in Utah.” Utah’s growing tech scene has received an abundance of national press recently. The state is regularly voted the “Best State for Business,” including a July top ranking by CNBC. Forbes Magazine ranked Utah the “Best State for Business and Careers” in 2016 for the second consecutive year. The magazine also ranked Utah the second in the country in its list of the “Fastest-Growing States for Tech Jobs in 2015” for Utah’s nearly six percent job growth in the technology sector in 2015. Companies are drawn to the Wasatch Front, and specifically downtown, for its education, workforce and quality of life. With companies like Adobe and Vivint bringing attention to Utah’s Silicon Slopes and Provo becoming an emerging hub for startups, more and more national technology companies will find their way to Utah. It’s not just companies relocating here to attract national attention. Utah is also building a reputation for quality coding camps. In May, Capella Education Co., a Minneapolis-based company, purchased DevMountain for $20 million. DevMountain started in Provo in 2013, but has expanded to four campuses. Besides its downtown Salt Lake location, the coding camp has locations in Dallas, Texas and Addison, Texas. Coding camps are different from a standard higher education program. Students learn in small cohorts with full-time coding cohorts usually lasting only 13 weeks. Graduates of coding camps have no trouble 42
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finding work. According to Reeder, 100 percent of V School’s graduates found work within the first month after completing the course. As the technology sector grows, so will the demand for skilled workers. Reeder argued in Salt Lake’s tech sector, there is a negative unemployment rate with an estimated 6,000 unfilled coding jobs in the Salt Lake Valley The people at coding camp Iron Yards saw the potential of Salt Lake’s growing tech economy. The company, which has 22 campuses nationwide, opened up a temporary campus in February in South Jordan. In September, the school will begin classes in downtown on Main Street near 300 South. “Salt Lake has a very strong, robust startup and tech echo system that continues to grow,” said Garrett Clark, the Salt Lake City campus director for Iron Yards. “The business community is doing the right things to attract technology downtown.” Clark cited the growing amount of large companies relocating to downtown Salt Lake as well as the walkability and nightlife as reasons why Iron Yards wanted to be downtown. The team at Iron Yard estimates there are 300 jobs open for software engineers every 90 days in the Salt Lake Valley. The challenge for Salt Lake City is to ensure that it is capitalizing on the regional economic growth, especially from Utah County. Reeder argues that Salt Lake is the best physically connected city in the region with its public transit access and proximity to the airport. Salt Lake not only has its connectivity to attract companies, but it has the state’s largest and most vibrant downtown. When Iron Yards and V School start classes this fall, there will be four coding schools operating downtown, along with Neumont
University, a for-profit school offering undergraduate degrees in technology. Neumont moved into the old Tribune building, directly south of the Eccles Theater, bringing hundreds of students downtown. Neumont recently launched Helio Training and will offer coding courses at the university’s downtown campus. Helio joins DevMountain and Iron Yards as coding boot camps operating in the heart of downtown on Main Street. “We love being in downtown Salt Lake. It is not only unique and interesting, but it is also really safe,” said Sharp. Sharp argued that Salt Lake’s startup and tech community sets itself apart from Provo and the Silicon Slopes because of its diversity in the variety of startups the city produces. Coding camps are not only providing training for locals, but both schools attract students from out of state. About half of the student body at DevMountain and V School come from out of state. According to Reeder, most out-of-state students have expressed a desire to stay in the region if they find the right job. While many of the graduates seek employment from established companies, many go the entrepreneurial route and start their own companies. “We are unique because we spit out more companies,” said Reeder. “Twenty-five percent go on to open their companies, meaning every time a student enrolls there is a 25-percent chance that a new company will open in the community and improve economic development.” Reeder hopes the V School's location in the Rio Grande District will be a catalyst for growth in the challenged neighborhood. The city, through the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City, has created the Station Center project area for the city blocks between the Rio Grande Depot and the Intermodal Transit Hub. The city plans to turn the area into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood that takes advantage of the best public transit access than any other neighborhood along the Wasatch Front. V School’s location on 200 South is directly north of the project area. Reeder expects that many of the school’s students will stay in the area after graduation. As some of the students look to start their own companies, Reeder hopes they’ll consider building their companies in the Depot area. “We aren’t leaving; we will stay on and see the neighborhood get better,” said Reeder. I fall / winter 2016
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Winter Market Turns Five would show up. The “Pop-Up” concept offered only dates, times and themes in advance. Location and vendor lists were announced two weeks prior to create a sense of excitement and anticipation in hopes of driving attendance. It turned out, locals did attend. They attended in droves, and most vendors sold out each market.
T
o many Utahns the first official sign of summer is opening day of the Downtown Farmers Market. For more than two decades, thousands of urbanites flock to Pioneer Park to shop for local produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, as well as arts and crafts. The Market became a defining gathering place, where the city would come together, connected by fresh food and created its unique identity.
Then, in October after the harvest, the Market would hibernate again until the following June. A hunger for local food began to grow (no pun intended) as people became more connected to their local food sourcers and purveyors. However, a venue and outlet for sales was lacking during the winter months between food producers and the public. Pop-Up Markets Local farmers are able to store many of the season’s bounty for many months: think root vegetables, winter greens, apples and more. While the supply is not as great as in warmer seasons, there was certainly opportunity, and thus the Winter Market was born. A natural partnership with Utah State University offered farmer trainings and seminars for growers about what to plant and when to reap and yield the best winter crops. Plus, Utah offers many non-produce food items, such as breads, meat and cheese. In the winter of 2012-2013, a series of “Pop-up” markets was launched at different downtown Salt Lake City locations to gauge the local appetite for a year-round market. These single day markets were held monthly to see if food producers could meet demand, and if anyone 44
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Dates November 5, 2016 to April 2017 Times Every other Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where Rio Grande Depot, 300 S Rio Grande Street
Winter Market at Rio Grande Due to the “Pop-Up Market” success, the Winter Market moved to the historic Rio Grande Depot in 2013. The Winter Market is now held bi-weekly on Saturdays, starting November and running through April. By the end of the 2015-2016 season, the Winter Market averaged more than 2,500 patrons per market, with an average of 65 vendors. The Winter Market also helps foster business growth and new economic activity by sustaining an environment for small business incubation and job creation. More than a dozen farmers market vendors have grown and transitioned to become brick-andmortar businesses. Their transition to brick-and-mortar creates sustainable local jobs in the community, allows for a wider array of diversity in the small business community by offering an affordable and lower-risk means to gain entry into the desired retail markets, allowing them to grow at a reasonable pace with less capital investment, and be set up for long-term success. What’s Next? Like many other cities, Salt Lake has proven its ability to sustain a year-round public market. Thinking of the Winter Market as an incubator of this year-round concept, as well as an opportunity to allow vendors time to ramp up production to meet increased demand throughout the calendar year, the past five years have built a solid foundation for the next steps. In addition to food vendors, a public market concept could also include a demonstration kitchen to teach classes, as well as hold food and nutrition-related seminars and other events, supporting the entity’s education mission. Similar examples of public markets in other cities include Pikes Place in Seattle and The Ferry Building in San Francisco. A blend of small food producers, covering a wide range of products are joined together under one roof. Imagine fish mongers, fresh flowers, chocolates, baked goods, cheese, meats and baked goods, made by local producers, highlighting the best Utah has to offer, in one space. For a preview of what is next, head to the Rio Grande Depot this winter and take part in the story that helped paved the way for a changing food scene in our city. I fall / winter 2016
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STORY BY JULIA PARTAIN. PHOTOS BY DAVID NEWKIRK, DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE AND JOEY JONATIS
Top photo: Members of the "clean team" work on picking up trash.
Our city is at its best when we come together to solve big problems
A
strong sense of community stewardship and teamwork helps to set downtown apart from other urban centers in the West. As our city has looked for new ways to help homeless individuals and families, a teambased approach is making a difference in programs designed to move people out of homelessness and into mainstream life.
Clean Team Life on the streets can be dirty for Utah’s homeless population. Limited bathrooms and trash services sometimes create a lack of cleanliness in and around Pioneer Park and the Rio Grande Street. In September 2013, the Downtown Alliance, Salt Lake City and homeless service providers worked with Advantage Services and created the Clean Team to help clean up the shelter neighborhood. fall / winter 2016
Members of the Clean Team include 20 homeless residents and those living in supportive housing who have been hired to work part-time cleaning up trash and performing small property maintenance around the Rio Grande area and in Pioneer Park at 350 S 300 West. Camille Winnie, director of community services for the Downtown Alliance, helped to launch the program and has watched it make a difference downtown the magazine
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“This program is literally cleaning up the neighborhood and giving people a chance to improve their own lives.”
Members of the "clean team" work on picking up trash. Left, the entrance to the Road Home, located at 210 S Rio Grande St.
in the lives of the workers and in the larger community. “The goals of this program are to help team members get a résumé, acquire some work experience and a positive reference, and to introduce them to new things that they might not have done on their own,” Winnie says. Advantage Services employs and services the Clean Team. Members earn minimumwage and work four-hour shifts during the weekdays, picking up trash, shoveling snow, pulling weeds and power-washing sidewalks and buildings. There is even room for job
growth within this program. Work on the Clean Team can lead to other employment opportunities with Advantage Services. “This has been a productive program allowing people to take the next steps to get out of homelessness,” Winnie adds. “People have the opportunity and resources to better themselves and the community where they reside.” “As a downtown resident, I have seen a real improvement in my neighborhood from the Clean Team,” said Christian Harrison, chair of the Downtown Community Council.
Green Team Last year, the Downtown Alliance, Wasatch Community Gardens (WCG) and Advantage Services joined forces to build on the success of the Clean Team with a new garden-based job training program for homeless women called the Green Team. Funded by Salt Lake City and on land donated by the city’s Redevelopment Agency, this new 10-month program empowers homeless women through urban farm education, job skills training and employment. “This is a transitional job program that is being used for women to gain skills to transition into a full-time job,” states Winnie. “The Green Team facilitates employment opportunities for homeless women and creates vibrant community spaces and community involvement.” The plot, located behind The Gateway outdoor mall at 100 S 625 West, is in the process of being built. It is an ideal location for a job training garden since it is within walking distance of the majority of homeless services in Salt Lake City. This garden will enhance
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fall / winter 2016
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neighborhood appeal for current and future residents of the new housing developments in the neighborhood as well as for other downtown residents. Eight women are hired to work during the growing season, February through November. Green Team members learn to grow herbs and produce, and receive life skills training on topics like personal resource management, interpersonal skills, and health and wellness. They are in class one day a week and spend the other four days in the garden. Additionally, participants have a field trip each month to visit potential employers in food-related businesses in Salt Lake City. Crops grown in the Green Team garden will be sold at a subsidized rate to the Salt Lake Head Start program and will be used as a resource for the meals served at area shelters. Head Start currently produces over 4,000 hot, healthy meals each day for the children in their program. It takes a village to make this garden grow. WCG manages the gardening operations and Advantage Services provides the hiring and HR functions, future job placement, job training and education components of the program. Downtown Alliance assists Advantage Services with their functions and helps establish collaborative partnerships with local businesses, residents and organizations.
across the nation, and Salt Lake City is not immune. Usually donating spare change to an individual only enhances their problem. This is where the Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST) program is introduced to help “turn spare change into real change.” HOST is a proactive and collaborative effort to move the community in Salt Lake City into a partnership with the police and homeless service providers to connect homeless individuals with social services and resources. Bright red donation meters are located throughout downtown and allow people to give spare change to the homeless rather than to those who ask for it on the streets. All money collected in the meters goes to the Pamela J. Atkinson Foundation and are dispersed to local homeless services providers that provide help for those that need it most. “This project was started based on the reality that no one ever panhandled their
way out of homelessness,” Winnie says. “It’s teaching our community a better way to help.” In 2010, the first 10 meters were installed. Six years later, 40 meters pepper the downtown scene. Zions Bank was the first to partner with Salt Lake City and the Downtown Alliance on the donation meters. Meters, street signs and stickers direct donors to a website (slchost.org) if you don’t have change to spare. The campaign #HandupNotHandout has been created to get resources to the right people in our community who can make the biggest impact. Jobs, volunteers and donations are ways to help those who face homelessness. But what is the best way to end homelessness? “Give them housing,” says Celeste Eggert, director of development for the Road Home. “Shelter is often the first step on the road home.” The Road Home The Road Home is a leading homeless service provider for the Salt Lake region. As a private nonprofit social service agency, the Road Home offers emergency shelter and low-income housing options to single men, women and families experiencing homelessness. Staff provides personalized case management to help their clients identify and overcome the obstacles that have led them to becoming homeless. The shelter is open every day of the year and doesn’t turn people away if they are in need of a place to stay. Logging 18 years at the largest homeless shelter in Utah has given Eggert a pretty good grasp on the topic. “For 90 percent of the clients we serve, they experience a short, one-time period of homelessness and just need a little assistance to get back on their feet, and then we never see them again,” says Eggert. “We find that
HOST Creating jobs is an obvious way for the less fortunate to earn money, but so is panhandling. Panhandling is an epidemic 50
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The Road Home team.
the other 10 percent have something deeper causing them to become homeless and stay homeless for an extended period of time.” Case managers work closely with these clients to help connect them with services that will help them overcome the barriers causing them to be homeless. That connection with services and resources can only happen in an environment that is built on teams. No individual or organization can solve homelessness singlehandedly. It takes a strategic and thoughtful approach that leverages the strengths of multiple entities to help people who lose their homes. When an individual or family comes to the Road Home, they are provided with basic needs. The emergency services shelter offers assistance to low-income and homeless individuals on a walk-in basis while the family shelter helps meet the needs for families with children. Case managers are assigned to each family and select single clients to help them develop a plan for housing. Over the next few years, the Road Home will continue to offer services as part of an integrated team approach that also includes other agencies, organizations and government entities. Instead of providing emergency shelter in a single location, additional facilities fall / winter 2016
will be built to care for distinct populations and additional resources will go towards preventing homelessness and treating the root causes of homelessness instead of just providing emergency services. The end goal is to phase out the Rio Grande shelter through new facilities and services that reduce the need for emergency shelter. The Road Home is already lauded as a national leader for finding solutions for people who have been homeless for a year or more. In the Rapid Rehousing program, families receive a small amount of funding to allow payments for utility debts, deposits and rental assistance as well as a strong case management component. Once in housing, families rarely need to return to emergency shelter again. For the small number of families and individuals who have a greater need for supportive services, the Road Home manages
several Permanent Supportive Housing programs, including Palmer Court. Palmer Court is a 201-unit apartment complex for former chronically homeless families and individuals with mental illness and substance abuse disorders. As part of a regional team-based approach, the Road Home will work even more closely with other providers like Catholic Community Services, The Fourth Street Clinic, the Salt Lake Mission, Crossroads Urban Center and local, regional and state governments to identify concrete goals to prevent people from becoming homeless and to get them stabilized and into housing as quickly as possible. “The services that these teams offer exist by the help and generosity of our community,” says Eggert. “The city and volunteers step up to support all of us.” I downtown the magazine
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With compassion and community engagement, Salt Lake will lead in addressing homelessness BY JACKIE BISKUPSKI
W
hether you live, work or own a business in Salt Lake City (maybe all three), you understand the reality: We continue to experience a humanitarian crisis in our own backyard. In spite of previous and praiseworthy work to meet this challenge, we know there are still far too many people in need of help in our city. Too many sleeping in parks, under bridges and in their cars. Too many families shuffling in and out of shelters. And too many suffer every day with untreated mental illness and addiction. Salt Lake City pioneered supportive programs for people experiencing homelessness. Ours was the first city in Utah to provide year-round shelter when the numbers of homeless people began to skyrocket in the mid-‘80s. For years, our residents and businesses have been open and accommodating to dozens of programs that address the challenges of homelessness. The work continues, and with state funding committed over three years, we are in a unique place to find lasting, outcomes-based and statewide solutions to homelessness. For years, Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County have been working to address causes of homelessness and long-term solutions. It’s now time to put these ideas into action. Salt Lake City has taken responsibility for locating two new homeless resource centers in our community. The Salt Lake City Homeless Services Site Evaluation Commission, co-chaired by former mayor Palmer DePaulis and Gail Miller, helped set criteria for this location process. We also committed from the outset to engage the public in this work. We hosted workshops in four diverse areas of the city, where residents prioritized criteria for locating the facilities. In time, and because we are confident this model will succeed, these facilities will be replicated around the state.
These two centers—both in design and function—will redefine our approach to addressing homelessness. We are embracing a more holistic and targeted approach. The facilities will each be capped at 250 beds. Each will provide easy access to overnight shelter, day services, detox services, and medical and behavioral health support. They will be aesthetically pleasing, promote safety and integrate into surrounding neighborhoods. No sites have been finalized, yet we needn’t go far to see how well this model can work. The Volunteers of America Homeless Youth Resource Center at 888 S 400 West opened recently to rave reviews from service providers and neighbors. One of our community’s most stable homeless services centers is YWCA Utah. The campus at 300 South and 300 East has expanded over decades to include shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence, housing for teen mothers and a full range of support services at the Family Justice Center. Meanwhile, the surrounding
Jackie Biskupski Salt Lake City Mayor though certainly not all — programs to assist those experiencing homelessness. As mayor, I embrace this challenge, and I call on all elected officials to show courage,
“By honestly and transparently engaging with our community, we can come together to manage what often seems like an intractable problem.” neighborhood continues to grow, with some of the most vibrant real estate in town. These examples show that by honestly and transparently engaging with our community, we can come together to manage what often seems like an intractable problem. We also know throwing up walls of NIMBYism is unacceptable. That behavior will get us nowhere. As is our way, Salt Lake City will continue to host many —
compassion and the same willingness I have to get this work done. I know Salt Lake City leaders and residents will unify around this cause and do the right thing. We will speak with a voice both productive and compassionate. Because our fellow human beings are suffering, and we can help. We need you now. We have to get this right, and I know we will with your help. I
City and County Mayors Step Up to Find Solutions for a Challenged Homeless System It’s time for action to reduce and prevent homelessness BY BEN MCADAMS
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am ready to make changes that will result in minimizing and preventing homelessness and moving individuals and families away from crisis in their lives towards self-reliance. Our action plan follows two years of hard work by many groups who care deeply about the complicated, long-running challenge presented by people experiencing homelessness in our community. We identified two issues. First, the main door to access Utah’s homelessness services system turns out to literally be the door of the emergency shelter, when a crisis occurs in a person’s life. Second, our large “one-sizefits-all” emergency services model does not serve people well, especially families, children, youth, domestic violence victims, individuals with disabilities and working single adults. These challenges affect the entire state, so we asked for legislative help. The first installment ($9.4 million) of our $27 million legislative request is being put to use right now. We’re ready with design concepts for two smaller emergency shelter facilities. The plans take into account what we’ve learned; that in order to support safety and a pathway to self-reliance, the shelter must provide more than a bed and a meal. Services such as medical and behavioral health care, job training and education must be part of the offering. Just as the causes of homelessness vary, so do the needs of the individuals that find themselves without a stable home. Services must also be geared towards selfsufficiency so people can recover their own lives. The same services must be available to help people avoid a crisis and last resort options. We’ve already moved many families out of the Road Home at Rio Grande and into the family shelter in Midvale, which is now open year-round. But emergency shelter is not the solution to homelessness. We must prevent children from experiencing homelessness. That’s why my action plan calls for a new family and community resource center that pairs fall / winter 2016
affordable, transitional, market rate housing with proximity to school, health care and jobs to help families lift themselves out of crisis. After agreeing on challenges, we worked together under our Collective Impact model to find solutions. Along with developing the two facilities described above, and using a third strictly for families, my proposal includes: • Developing and supporting a common assessment and referral tool that meets people where they are and offers help. Good programs are already in place and can be aligned to be more effective. Recently the county issued a contract request for help to coordinate assessment and referral, starting with families and kids facing a crisis now. • Launching Salt Lake County’s “Homes Not Jail” program, a Pay for Success program that will use the private housing market to increase stable housing options for single adults who are persistently homeless. • Increasing the availability of affordable housing.
Ben McAdams Salt Lake County Mayor improvements to our services. Where the new facilities will be located is up to Salt Lake City officials, following their public process, which is designed to gather feedback
“Just as the causes of homelessness vary, so do the needs of the individuals that find themselves without a stable home.” • Developing and implementing a 10-year initiative to end child homelessness. We will reduce the numbers of families and individuals who rely on emergency shelter by effective individual support and by helping people find housing. Through their increased self-reliance and as we bring the smaller emergency shelters online, we can transition people out of the current emergency shelter at the Rio Grande facility until the need for it eventually drops to zero. My plan gives the ‘how’ and ‘what’ of
on possible sites. Many good, caring people and businesses have worked diligently over the past decade to address homelessness. In Utah, hearts are big and hands are generous. With this plan, I believe the fewest possible number of our residents will experience homelessness. We’ll see improved services, and increased self-reliance for individuals and families in poverty and neighborhoods that are safe and welcoming for everyone. The actions start now. I downtown the magazine
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FA L L S E A S O N WINTER SEASON SPRING SEASON SEP 15-17, 2016
Jeanné Wagner Theatre
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Additional Sponsorship by: Mary Jane O’Connor Ririe and Kirk Ririe
FEB 3-4, 2017
Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
APR 13-15, 2017
Leona Wagner Black Box
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center Additional Sponsorship by: Bick Robbins
A SPECTACULAR NEW SEASON OF DANCE
E
ARD OF BO E CATION DU
EMMA ECCLES JONES FOUNDATION
UTAH STA T
www.ririewoodbury.com Tickets available now at www.arttix.com or 801.355.ARTS
. E C N E I C S A O T N W O D G N I T S O H T N E V ’VE GOT E
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Whether it’s 10 people or 1000, The Leonardo Museum can make your event beautiful and engaging, at a price you can afford.
Spaces fill quickly! Call us today at 801-531-9800, ext 123 or email events@theleonardo.org.
We understand the vital role that businesses play in creating a strong local economy. And we’re excited to be part of that. Whether we are investing in small business start-ups, helping successful businesses expand, or supporting the arts and education, Zions Bank will always remain an active participant in improving the quality of life in our communities.
A division of ZB, N.A. Member FDIC
1603-xxx - Downtown Alliance Mag.indd 1
3/4/16 3:55 PM
STORY BY NICK COMO. PHOTOS BY JOEY JONATIS
Sept. 9-25 I
f you like to eat out, Dine O’ Round is a Christmas in September for foodies. Dozens of downtown’s top restaurants offer diners specially crafted three-course dinner menus for $15 or $35, or two-item lunches for either $5 or $10. There are no coupons to clip or internet specials; all you have to do is ask any participating restaurant for the Dine O’ Round menu. In fact, most restaurants bring it along with the regular menu. Running from Sept. 9-25, Dine O’ Round encompasses three weekends, as well as the two full weeks in between. Options range from gourmet— think Finca, Current and Tin Angel — to casual options, as well as newly opened restaurants such as Stanza or Oak Wood Fire Kitchen. Veterans use Dine O’ Round as a way to try out new restaurants, as well as the opportunity
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to revisit an old favorite. For many, a close favorite behind actually eating at restaurants, is memorializing the restaurant experience by taking photos of said meals. We’re on board with this! In fact, photos tagged #dineoround on Instagram are entered to win our “Dinner For A Year” contest. Several restaurants offer the same Dine O’ Round meal each day, while others, such as Squatters, offer up a new dish each day. The game plan is simple: Follow all the restaurants on social media to see daily Dine O’ Round specials, visit dineoround.com several times a week and download the sample menus. Want to hit them all? We’ve done the math: it would require eating out more than twice a day during the 17-day run. Good luck! I fall / winter 2016
2016
salt lake
greek festival september 9th - 11th
www.saltlakegreekfestival.com
DINE DOWNTOWN
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What’s on the Menu? owntown’s dining scene is in the midst of a culinary renaissance. Imaginative chefs have redefined modern cuisine, while entrepreneur owners have pushed downtown Salt Lake City into the national spotlight as one of America’s great foodie cities with chic and fresh spaces—as unique as the food they serve. Fresh sushi to classic Italian and vegan fare to unique gastropub options
round out a landscape, which features tastes from all points on the globe. Downtown is rising, and the food has clearly reached new heights.
Blue Iguana Featuring authentic flavors from deep in the heart of Old Mexico, Chef Manuel Castillo takes great pride in the constant refinement of generations of Aztec family recipes. Whether you indulge yourself in the tender Chile Verde, mouth-watering Enchilada Suizas or one of the dozen signature "Holy Molés," close your eyes and you'll surely feel transported to the Zona Romantica of Puerto Vallarta! Enjoy an award-winning "Iguanarita," an ice cold beer or a glass of proprietary Blue Iguana wine with your meal. Please visit Blue Iguana, a Best of State winner and Utah Institution since 1997, Downtown SLC located directly across from the Salt Palace Convention Center, or in Park City at the top of old Main Street, inside the Treasure Mountain Inn. 165 S West Temple | 801-533-8900 | blueiguanarestaurant.net
Caffé Molise Caffé Molise is a full-service restaurant featuring fresh Italian cuisine inspired by the Molise region of Italy. Enjoy dinner surrounded by local art in the dining room, choose a table on the delightful garden patio or request a table in the caffe's sister establishment, BTG Wine Bar. Friday evenings feature live jazz with John Flander’s Trio. Caffé Molise is the perfect pretheater, opera, symphony, concert or sporting event dining location. Caffé Molise is currently located downtown, half a block east of the Salt Palace Convention Center. As a liquor licensee, the restaurant offers beer, wine and cocktails. Open all day, seven days a week. 55 W 100 South | 801-364-8833 | caffemolise.com
Cedars of Lebanon As the first family-owned Mediterranean restaurant in Salt Lake City, celebrating its 35th year, Cedars of Lebanon has always had an unwavering desire to introduce the best recipes. From a melting pot of Lebanese, Moroccan, Armenian and Greek cuisine, dietician and head chef of more than 30 years promises the healthiest ingredients and most exotic flavors made from scratch. With a belly-dancing show entertaining on weekends and the Moroccaninspired Casbah Room, adorned with plush couches, Cedars of Lebanon sure to make for an exceptional evening out. Also offers huka service. 152 E 200 South | 801-364-4096 | cedarsoflebanonrestaurant.com
Copper Canyon Enjoy Salt Lake City’s local flavors at the Radisson hotel’s Copper Canyon Grill House & Tavern. Whether you’re eating a farm-to-table salad or a hearty burger, you can taste the local ingredients in this American cuisine. Wake up your taste buds at the breakfast buffet while you enjoy panoramic views of the city. You can also indulge in specialty dishes for a casual yet classy lunch or dinner.
215 W South Temple | 801-521-7800
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DINE DOWNTOWN
Cucina Toscana Cucina Toscana has been Salt Lake’s favorite Italian restaurant for more than 10 years. Toscana’s authentic Northern Italian menu includes housemade pastas, decadent sauces and a wide selection of entrees that are paired perfectly with wines from the region. Toscana features three beautiful, private rooms that can be reserved for parties, meetings or special events. Whether you are planning for two or one hundred people, Toscana’s ambience, delicious food and impeccable service ensures a successful evening. Located at the corner of 300 South and 300 West in Salt Lake City with the main entrance on 300 West. Parking available on the north side of the building. 282 S 300 West | 801-328-3463 | toscanaslc.com
Gourmandise Gourmandise has served European pastries and desserts in the Salt Lake Valley for more than two decades. Morning begins with fresh breads, croissants and made-toorder breakfast plates. Gourmandise offers bistro-style lunch and dinner with evening small plates, entrees with beer and wine pairings. Complementing the cafe is an expanse of 30 feet of display cases, filled with scratch-made Old World favorites, delighting guests throughout the day. Walking into Gourmandise feels like a visit to a bustling, lively European Cafe, surprisingly located downtown.
250 S 300 East | 801-328-3330 | gourmandisethebakery.com
Market Street Since 1980, the Market Street Grill has been rated as Utah’s most popular seafood concept, providing exceptional service and award-winning menu selections. Bustling wait staff and exhibition kitchens contribute to a sparkling, high-energy atmosphere where the best seafood between Seattle and Boston is served in an expansive variety of contemporary dishes.
222 S Main | 801-456-0347 | marketstreetgrill.com
Martine Recently renovated, Martine offers a welcoming atmosphere to enjoy locally sourced, handcrafted cuisine. A standout lunch spot by day and classic date-night choice by night with flavorful tapas and wine options. Located adjacent to the forthcoming Eccles Theatre in downtown Salt Lake: 22 E 100 South.
22 E 100 South | 801-363-9328 | martinecafe.com
fall / winter 2016
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From upstairs...
323 south main st whiskeystreet.com
To downstairs...
19 east 200 south | bourbonhouseslc.com
DINE DOWNTOWN
New Yorker Salt Lake’s premier dining establishment, specializing in Modern American cuisine featuring seasonal refined dishes and approachable comfort food enjoyed in a casually elegant setting with impeccable service. From classic to innovative, from contemporary seafood to premium steaks, the menu provides options for every taste.
60 W Market Street | 801-363-0166 | newyorkerslc.com
Oak Wood Fire Kitchen Started in Draper in 2014, the creators of Oak Wood Fire Kitchen wanted to provide a relaxed neighborhood eatery that still felt upscale enough for any occasion. After two years of growth and support, they are bringing that same feel to downtown. Come watch a game or celebrate your special occasion, as the food and atmosphere can fit.
110 W Broadway | 385-259-0574 | oakwoodfirekitchen.com
Squatters Salt Lake's original brew pub has been brewing legendary beers for more than 25 years. Squatters' mouth-watering menu features daily specials and traditional pub favorites, such as fish and chips, buffalo wings and an array of delicious burgers paired with award-winning beer, a welcoming atmosphere and hospitable service. Squatters' purchasing philosophy is to procure organic, locally produced and environmentally friendly products, supporting local companies whenever possible. Serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Squatters also features an urban garden patio and spectacular city views, as well private event space on three different floors that can accommodate groups from 20 - 300. Squatters. Good For What Ales You. 147 W Broadway | 801-363-2739 | squatters.com
Tin Angel Tin Angel is a locally owned, locally driven art and dining experience in the heart of downtown Salt Lake's Historic Pioneer Park District. The rituals of dining are lovingly balanced with a practiced, irreverent and creative culinary palate directed by Chef/Owner Jerry Liedtke. Nestled into a pioneer era home with large patio facing Pioneer Park, Tin Angel has become a unique and much loved addition to the downtown Salt Lake dining scene. Reservations are always welcome and sometimes necessary.
365 W 400 South | 801-328-4155 | thetinangel.com
fall / winter 2016
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CORNER STONES BY VALTER NASSI | VALTER’S OSTERIA
La Belle Vita
We Are Now in the Most Glorious Moment of the Renaissance of Downtown
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love Salt Lake City! I love the people, the energy, the open arms of everyone who lives here! I came to Utah in 1997 to open Il Sansovino in the American Stores Building (now the Wells Fargo Tower). Vic and Jeramy Lund brought me here because they knew me from my restaurant in New York, and they knew that we could do well here. My family, Phyllis and Enrico, welcomed a chance to move to the Southwest, so the decision to 64
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come was easy. At the beginning, it was an incredible contrast with New York City. Success for me is a happy life and when I came here I saw that people were genuinely happy. That isn’t the way in every other city. There is a beautiful contrast between the success of Salt Lake City and the mentality of the people. Even with our incredible success, we still remain sweet, gracious and kind. The people of Utah have humility;
there is not the anger that drives business in many other cities. The first most important thing for the people of Salt Lake City is family. We are simple and care about the relationship. The past gives us history, and history is a beautiful tool. But let’s talk about what Salt Lake City is now, and about what it will be in five years. I believe that this town is magnificent—a place to love for so many people. As I have grown with this city, I have seen the possibilities. What is Salt Lake City today? It is one of the best places—actually the best place to live. After nearly 70 years of my life—living in Italy, Africa and New York—I can say that Salt Lake City is the only place I want to live. From my perspective as a restaurateur, I have seen a change in the culture and food of our city. There is a willingness to take risks and to evolve. Five years ago, tourists were surprised to find incredible restaurants in Salt Lake City. The base was there, but it took leadership to make progress. It took courage for restaurants that had so much willingness to create beautiful food. Everyone knows now that our restaurants do great things every day. Every night, I see the reality that is Salt Lake City here in my restaurant, because here, there is a mix of locals, tourists and business. There are mothers with children, skiers and convention delegates. I am like a thermometer for the city. And I see the progress that brings us success every night. Today, the citizens of the city are so incredibly welcoming of other people from other places. We mingle with them and embrace them. We live well here. And the magnificent human beings who live and work here will continue to drive our city to even more success. There is always progress. Sometimes it is slow. But you can always see the progress. I grew as a restaurateur and person here. This is my personal experience. One of the reasons I am so positive about Salt Lake City is my personal experience. I love Salt Lake City because of the people. We are now in the most glorious moment of the renaissance of downtown. Grazie Downtown Alliance, our government and other business associations for the great and sincere job you do for all of us! I fall / winter 2016
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