SLM Jan/Feb 26

Meet the Brothers Behind Edison House

THE MAGAZINE FOR UTAH

THE SUN SETS ON

Sundance WHAT’S NEXT?

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Cozy Winter Adventures

Cozy Winter Adventures

TO CURE THOSE WINTER BLUES

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TO CURE THOSE WINTER BLUES

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contents

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2026

Sundance Mountain Resort is 5,000 acres of snowy wilderness, with brand new lodging and terrain expansion on the way, p. 50.

FEATURES

50 GET INTO WINTER

BY AVREY EVANS AND JEREMY PUGH

Winter is here, and with it come the blues. But instead of holding out for warmer days, why not lean into Utah’s frosty wonderland? These four quick getaways will help you remember what you love about snow season.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN RESORT

58 THE FINAL DANCE

BY CHRISTIE PORTER

The sun sets on Park City’s Sundance Film Festival. Before the fi nal good-byes, we reflect on how it began, how we lost it and what’s next for the Boulder-bound independent fi lm festival.

ON THE COVER A focal point of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival will be a tribute to its late founder-in-chief, Robert Redford, p. 58 PHOTO COURTESY OF THE E VERET T COLLECTION

J ANUAR Y /F EB R UAR Y 2026 | SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM

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contents

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2026

15

the hive

BY SALT L AKE STAFF

Find events to fill your winter calendar in Salt Lake’s curated Hot List. Then, meet the folks helping give the Great Salt Lake a fighting chance and the brothers behind the Edison House.

39

adventures

BY MELISSA FIELDS

Trade winter snow for white sand in Mexico’s best-kept coastal secret: Punta Mita.

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around the state The Utah Grizzlies are packing up their pucks and moving to New Jersey, but there’s still time to cheer them on for their final season at the Maverick Center.

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on the table

BY LYDIA MARTINE Z

Discover where to dine with your valentine and meet the woman who coaxes cheese to perfection at Caputo’s.

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after dark

BY AVREY EVANS

Sugar House’s new neighborhood bar, and liquid courage from Salt Lake magazine’s favorite winter tipples.

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social pages

BY SALT L AK E STAFF

Highlights from our 2025 Farm-toGlass party and the 25th anniversary of The Christian Center of Park City.

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last page

BY JEREMY PUGH

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Skiers at Utah’s oldest resort have serious Alta-tude.

volume 37 number 1 Salt Lake magazine (ISSN# 1524-7538) is published bimonthly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October and November/December)

by Utah Partners Publishing, Ltd. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 515 S. 700 East, Suite 3i, SLC, UT 84102. Telephone 801-485-5100; fax 801-485-5133. Subscriptions: One year ($24.95); for shipping outside the U.S. add $45. Toll-free subscription number: 877-553-5363. Periodicals Postage Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah, and additional mailing offices. Copyright 2026, JES Publishing Corp. No whole or part of the contents may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of Salt Lake magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Manuscripts accompanied by SASE are accepted, but no responsibility will be assumed for unsolicited contributions. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Salt Lake magazine, PO Box 820, Boca Raton, FL 33429.

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(CLOCK WISE FROM TOP) PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT SALT L AKE; BY CALI WARNER /ELLE MARKETING; COURTESY OF SNOWBIRD

BY SALT L AKE STAFF

THE MAGAZINE FOR UTAH EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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Salt Lake magazine is published six times a year by Utah Partners Publishing, Ltd. The entire contents of Salt Lake magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Salt Lake magazine accepts no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts and/or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. Salt Lake magazine reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for products.

Please refer to corporate masthead.

Since 1989, Salt Lake magazine has been Utah’s guide to the stories, people, and culture that shape our state. We’re thrilled to congratulate our team for earning multiple honors at the 2025 Utah Society for Professional Journalism awards.

Your talent keeps us curious, connected and proud to be THE MAGAZINE FOR UTAH.

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(Division B) HUMOR/LIFESTYLE Campers on Parade

Business/Consumer Writing Climate & Environment General news Government (Division B) Growth & Development

LONGFORM STORYTELLING: Dust to Dust. (Anniversary of the Scofield Mining Disaster) SPORTS FEATURE: What’s All The Racquet?

10 SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2 0 2 6

WRITING & REPORTING SERIES Utah Lore

(Division B) REVIEW/CRITICISM Go Beyond Chicken Noodle Soup

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Beyond Promises Scan to request information about Promontory Club Equal Housing Opportunity. © 2025 Promontory Development, LLC. A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Lean into Winter around the five worldfamous national parks in Utah.

My foray into Zion National Park included a winter ramble into the Narrows. This experience makes the Top Five in my lifetime list of outdoor experiences. And, it charts at No. 1 among my all-time greatest hits of winter adventures.

Southern Utah’s Martian-like landscape is surreal in any season, but the Zion Narrows in February is truly out of this world. You wear insulating and water-tight dry suits that make you look like a crew member on the Starship Enterprise beaming down to boldly go where, yes, plenty of people have gone before. (After all, it is a very popular hike in a very popular national park.) But when icicles dangle from the canyon walls above and eddies in the Virgin River crackle with thin layers of frozen water, the crowds thin out.

When we were noodling about our winter issue, that experience sprang to mind. I think we all deal with a bit of the winter blues as we go about our day-to-day lives underneath a gray inverted sky.

Once the holidays have passed, we start pining for spring. The solution, which I discovered in the Virgin River 10 years ago, is not to

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hide under your covers; you must go deeper into winter. Our feature “Get into Winter,” p. 50, includes four escapes from the dreary into the splendor and cozy places to get out of the cold. Plus, hot springs.

And on your way in, you probably noticed a favorite adopted son of Utah, Robert Redford, on the cover, gazing serenely into the distance. The Sundance Kid passed away last September. The 2026 Sundance Film Festival will be the last held in Park City and Salt Lake.

(Fine, go to Colorado.) Got to give it to him, his timing was perfect.

It’s Sundance’s last (Utah) ride.

Inside, we take a look at Redford’s legacy (“The Sun Sets on Sundance,” p. 58) and everything he brought to Utah with that charming smile.

Vaya con dios, Bob.

Jeremy Pugh, Executive Editor Follow us on Instagram @slmag

PHOTO BY NATALIE SIMPSON/BEEHIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

T

EN YE ARS AGO, IN F E B R U A R Y, I trekked

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PHOTO BY BE AU PETERSON

The HIVE Lydia’s Food Crush

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Style

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Utah Lore

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Home

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Statewatch

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Beauty

28

Community Profile

30

Inside Edison House

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The Hot List

34

“ FA I T H , T R U S T A N D P I X I E D U S T ” Ballet West’s first production of 2026 is a fantastical reimagination of Peter Pan. Find even more can’t-miss events, including an outdoor test of endurance and an oceanic lantern festival, in The Hot List, p. 34.

BALLET WEST’S PETER PAN: FEB. 13–18 | BALLETWEST.ORG

J ANUAR Y /F EB R UAR Y 2026 | SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM

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THE HIVE

F OOD CRUSH

LYDIA’S

FOODCRUSH Winging It, VietnameseStyle: SOMI Wings LYDIA MARTINE Z

SOMI’s Singapore Sling cocktail can help extinguish heat after tearing into a few wings.

SOMI puts a Vietnamese spin on fried chicken wings with fried Thai basil, jalepeño, garlic and fresh lemon juice.

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F O O D C R U S H is my way of

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celebrating the dishes I can’t stop thinking about—the ones that linger long after the last bite. It’s not about hype or headlines; it’s about flavor, craft and that perfect something that makes me start planning my next visit before I’ve even put down my fork.

Since it is bowl game season, it only feels fitting to discuss wings. Americans eat, on average, 1.5 billion chicken wings during the Super Bowl, according to the National Chicken Council. I love wings.

And my favorite wings in Salt Lake City happen to come from a restaurant that isn’t a wing specialty. SOMI Vietnamese Bistro, located in Sugar House, does a beautiful job with its pho, but it is their wings that keep me coming back.

In Vietnam, fried chicken has become ubiquitous, but it started out as a delicious marriage between Americanstyle fast food (KFC arrived in 1997) and the traditional Gà Rán, a staple Vietnamese chicken dish where the chicken is marinated in fish sauce and spices before being coated in starch and fried.

The SOMI wings are breaded and double-fried, but the best part is that they are served draped in fried Thai basil, fried jalapeño and garlic.

WHEN YOU GO SOMI VIETNAMESE BISTRO 1215 Wilmington Ave, SLC ︱ somislc.com

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PHOTOS BY ADAM FINKLE

To be honest, I order it as much for the spicy fried jalapeño (that I pick off and eat individually) as for the fried chicken. The Thai basil wilts beautifully in the fryer and becomes even more flavorful, layering the aromatic licorice-y clove scent over everything. The crispy leaves are a nice textural note. And finally, the garlic... which makes everything better.

I tend to order it with extra of everything: garlic, basil and jalapeño. The plate comes out piping hot with 10-12 wings and lemon. I don’t skip a squeeze or two of lemon juice on top of a wing right before popping it in my mouth. Prep the perfect bite by layering on extra garlic. Especially if your goal is to repel vampires. You will be untouchable. And your stomach will be happy.

If you can’t handle the heat, you can request the dish with no jalapeños (or eat your way around them), as the fried chicken itself isn’t overly spicy. But don’t skip the basil and garlic.

While you’re at SOMI (and since it is cold out there), grab a bowl of their grass-fed Wagyu pho. It is my to-go order every time I have a cold. The broth is rich and smells of star anise and fresh onion, and the Wagyu is sliced paper-thin, so it cooks instantly in the hot broth.

Finally, don’t miss out on a cocktail to wash down the wings. I like the Singapore sling (Beehive Gin, cherry brandy, triple sec, grenadine, lime juice, pineapple juice, Angostura bitters) or the hibiscus HOA (Patron añejo, Patron citronia orange, simple syrup, lime juice, red wine). If you are a believer that nothing pairs with wings like a good beer, snag the Epic Pfeifferhorn Lager or the Park City Imperial Pilsner.

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THE HIVE

ST Y LE

The Appeal of Teal Cloud Dancer is Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year. And that’s boring. So we’re ignoring Pantone and saying Transformative Teal is poised to be everywhere.

And we’re not mad about it.

ST YLING | PHOTOGR APHY BY: CHELSEA RUSHTON & KIMMY HAMMONS

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1. Mini Dark Teal Velvet Luna Tarot Beaded Embroidered Throw Pillow, $18, available in-stores and online at worldmarket.com 2. Gentlesoft® Tufted embroidered boho bedset in Elegant Teal, $70, bedsure.com 3. Wool Chimayo-style saddlebag clutch by El Paso Saddle-blanket Co., $40, available online at elpasosaddleblanket.com 4. Women’s Ariat Crius Insulated Vest, $90, scheels.com 5. Hand dyed BULKY: 100% Superwash Merino wool yarn by lovejoy fibers & knits, $30, available at the Hive Market or online at lovejoyfibers.com 6. Screenprint Rocky Mountain Flower Coasters, set of four, by Anna Bugbee Studio, available at the Hive Market, or at etsy.com/ shop/AnnaBugbeeStudio 7. Seahorse hair clip and bracelet set by Evi Studio; $27, available at Salt & Honey, The Hive Market, follow on IG @evistudioart 8. BruMate Era 40oz Tumbler in Juniper, $45, scheels.com 9. PAPERAGE Dotted Journal Notebook in turquoise, medium (5.6”x 8”) hardcover, $13, available at Barnes & Noble

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10. Traveller Fountain Pen, Titanium-Coated Black Fine Soft Nib, Peacock Blue & Octagonal Geometric Design with Metal Case Set, $85, available at Tabula Rasa 11. Screen printed, hand dyed tea towel with a map of the central Wasatch in sage, $30, by Anna Bugbee Studio, available at The Hive Market, or at, etsycom/shop/AnnaBugbeeStudio 12. Smith Lowdown 2 Photochromic Sunglasses Smith2Optics in matte pacific crystal/polarized opal mirror, $277, scheels.com 13. Adidas VL Court 3.0 Skateboarding kids shoes, $38, adidas.com 14. Kids button-up plaid shirt with skull, $20, by Bright & Stormy Kids, available at the Hive Market, follow on IG @bright.stormy.kids 15. Vintage Books, $25, available in-store at Nouve Home Goods, nouve.shop 16. Women’s Smartwool Classic Thermal Merino Boxed Base Layer in Twighlight Blue Heather, $115, available in-store and online, rei.com 17. Men’s The North Face Camden Thermal Hooded Softshell Jacket, $190, Midnight Petrol Dark Heather, thenorthface.com 18. Le Creuset Enamel Demi Kettle & Stoneware Set of (2) 14 oz. mugs and (1) 1.25 qt. Kettle, Deep Teal, $100, lecreuset.com 19. Kuyana Ecaudor Blanket, $85, available at The Hive Market and online at kuyanalove.com 20. Bogg Bag original tote in dockside stripe, $100, boggbag.com 21. Mulberry silk scarf, 20 $20, available at Spark 22. Women’s ankle deck boots, byXtraTuf in navy, $125, available at Sportsman’s Warehouse, sportsmans.com 23. Faux book box, $20, available in-store at Dancing Cranes

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U TA H L OR E

THE SWISS CONNECTION Why is there a piece of the Matterhorn Mountain at Snowbird?

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Dick Bass, financed the creation of Snowbird.

The chunk of the Matterhorn displayed on Snowbird’s Tram Deck.

Ted Johnson, the “Founder” of Snowbird, cir 1971.

ACK IN THE 1970S,

skiing was much more a European sport than an American one, so American resort owners borrowed many of the accoutrements and affectations of their Continental forebears. A-frame, Swissstyle chalets, Bavarian flourishes and food such as sauerkraut and bratwurst helped legitimize the growing sport in America at now-venerable resorts like Alta and Sun Valley, which had long been hot spots for the jet set but still were catching on with everyday Americans.

Snowbird, in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon, was built in the 1970s. Today, it’s one of the world’s most famous and celebrated ski and snowboard areas, known for its iconic tram, steep terrain and ample snowfall. It was the brainchild of Alta Ski Patroller Ted Johnson and a Texas oilman named Dick Bass. To put it mildly, Bass was a world traveler. In 1985, he became the first to climb the highest peaks on each of the world’s seven continents.

Linking turns in The Cirque at Snowbird

Extra! Extra! Extra!

longest ski ​​Snowbird has one of the a, often eric Am seasons in North mer, sum into ll we n remaining ope July. of rth Fou the il sometimes unt

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In planning Snowbird, Bass and Johnson visited ski areas and resorts around the globe to glean ideas for the new resort. One of the most inspirational stops was at Zermatt, the famous ski village in the Swiss Alps, known for its access to the Matterhorn.

Bass met with then-mayor of Zermatt, Amaday Perry, with a diplomatic proposal.

Zermatt and Snowbird would be sister cities (although Snowbird isn’t so much a town as a ski area base).

Zermatt’s mayor agreed and had an actual piece of the Matterhorn chiseled off the famed peak and sent to Utah to seal the deal. Upon its arrival, a celebration was held on the Tram Deck in the brand-new Snowbird Center.

Jerry Guiles, who worked at Snowbird from the early days, said it was “a great occasion.

All the Swiss dignitaries flew in and we put on a big dinner with raclette and Swiss chocolate.

Of course, schnapps was the big drink of the night.” Times change, of course. Swiss mayors come and go, and the importance of the Snowbird-Swiss connection has faded into obscurity. But the large chunk of the Matterhorn remains prominently located at Snowbird’s base as a testament to the early days of skiing at the ’Bird, and its international aspirations.

(TOP DOWN) PHOTO COURTESY OF SNOWBIRD; BY JEREMY PUGH; COURTESY OF UNIVERSIT Y OF UTAH MARRIOT T LIBRARY; BY BBI MEDIA /SNOWBIRD

BY JEREMY PUGH

THE HIVE

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A House with Heart (and Humor) Designer Stephanie Hunt infuses her family’s Park City home with color, creativity and charm—proving that sophistication and playfulness can live under one roof

BY TESSA WOOLF

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PHOTOS BY MELLON STUDIO

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HETHER DESIGNING FOR C L I E N T S I N PA R K C I T Y O R SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA—

or crafting a space for her own family—designer Stephanie Hunt, AKA The Flairhunter, believes the magic is in the mix: old and new, high and low, bold and subtle, funky and refined. Case in point: the dream dwelling she and her husband, Brandon, created for themselves and their two grown sons when they visit.

They built three distinct structures on their sprawling Park City property. The main residence—a Scandinavian-inspired modern farmhouse—features long, glass-enclosed hallways that act as galleries for their art collection. Inspired by a trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, Hunt envisioned a series of barnlike “pods” connected by breezeways, each serving a unique purpose. The two additional buildings include a freestanding barn that serves as her office and design studio, and a newly rebuilt big red barn—nicknamed “the fun barn”—complete with climbing walls and a mini halfpipe for her sons and their friends.

The grounds also boast a pool, bocce court, fire pits, 600 newly planted trees and seating areas with sweeping ski resort views.

While the home’s architecture is restrained, the interiors are anything but. “I’m not a minimalist,” says Hunt. “It’s not me. It’s not us. I tried the sophisticated, neutral look, and my husband said, ‘This feels boring.’”

Instead, bold color, striking patterns, playful art and sentimental pieces abound. Blonde wood f loors and dark beams form a neutral base punctuated with moments of surprise: a powder room cloaked in jungle-cat wallpaper, framed vintage swim gear and f lags that nod to the couple’s California roots, and in Hunt’s office, a taxi-yellow Smeg fridge, tumbleweed pendant and ceiling swing—all expressions of her more-is-more design ethos. “If you love it, that’s what matters,” she says. “Why shouldn’t your house be fun?”

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ART OF THE MIX Bold design elements make Hunt’s home as expressive as it is inviting 1. DESIGNER STEPHANIE HUNT—AKA The Flairhunter—in her home office, located inside a freestanding barn-like structure on her 5-acre property in Park City.

2. EXTERIOR: Hunt’s home was inspired by the simple, barn-like structures she fell in love with while traveling in Iceland. The dwelling has dark gray vertical siding, steep gabled rooflines, touches of gray stone for texture, and very minimal fascia and eaves.

3. STUDIO: In Hunt’s home office, artwork by her sons hangs alongside paintings from local galleries. The oversized tumbleweed light fixture is from Summit Gallery in Park City.

4. KITCHEN: In the soaring kitchen/great room, Hunt created specific spots for beloved salvaged pieces, like a vintage airplane propeller, train station clock and crusty pendant lights. “I love old things in a new home to give it a soul,” she says.

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5. POWDER ROOM: “I wanted the powder room to be a bit zany and irreverent,” says Hunt. She chose a patterned, multicolored wallpaper with snakes, jungle cats and greenery. The floor is a riff on a traditional checkerboard design but is actually made up of mosaic tiles.

6. STAIRWELL: In the light-filled stairwell, Hunt hung a trio of framed vintage life preservers—a nod to her California roots—and other sentimental items. “I love using objects as art,” she says. The light fixture was custom-designed in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

7. MASTER BATHROOM: The primary bath’s floor features three tones of green tile in a random chevron pattern—“perfectly imperfect,” says Hunt, referencing Wabi Sabi, her favorite design principle. A cheeky “Get Naked” sign from London adds a playful touch.

8. GREAT ROOM: Opposite the kitchen, the great room echoes its colors and concepts. Hunt added giant retrofitted factory lights from a flea market and a dramatic stone fireplace framed by board-andbatten that soars to the ceiling peak.

J ANUAR Y /F EB R UAR Y 2026 | SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM

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For the Fun of It Spirited pieces can deliver color, character and a wink of wit to any space

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LIFE IS SERIOUS; DESIGNING IT SHOULD BE FUN”

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—STEPHANIE HUNT

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1. Ova Sconce by Arteriors, to the trade, Curate to the Trade, SLC, curatetothetrade.com 2. Cabochon Ring Chandelier, $12,875, Hammerton Studio, studiohammerton.com; 3. Effie Lena Velvet Tripod Chair, $998, Anthropologie, SLC, anthropologie.com 4. Camilla Fossilized Clam Round Dining Table

by Palecek, to the trade, Curate to the Trade, SLC, curatetothetrade.com 5. Snake Trinket Tray, $75, Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com 6. Sunburst Tassel Pillow, $210, Hue & Hem, Alpine, huehem.com 7. Ripple Console, $4,499, San Francisco Design, SLC and Park City, sanfrandesign.com 8. Olive Mushroom Ottoman, $585, Alice Lane Home Collection, Draper, alicelanehome.com 9. Isadora Sofa by Natasha Baradaran, to the trade, John Brooks, Inc., SLC, johnbrooksinc.com 10. Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven, $270.

Williams-Sonoma, SLC, williams-sonoma.com

Textured walls that wear winter well.

Inspired by winter knits.

Crafted in tile.

THE HIVE

STAT EWAT CH

Starting at the Top Saving the Great Salt Lake by preserving land where the lake begins

With or without conservation easements, farmers are always looking for ways to save water, says Jamila McFarland, who, with her husband, Kenny, manages the Historic Monastery Farm in Huntsville, as well as several hundred acres of the McFarland Family farms in West Weber.

“Water efficiency is a top priority for us.” Jamila says.

The acute sense of stewardship the McFarlands feel toward the lands they steward is something Fox has witnessed with all the farm families she’s worked with since cofounding Summit Land Conservancy more than 20 years ago. “A farmer’s connection to the land is as deep as it is to their family,” she says. “Anyone who spends time outdoors on the land will tell you the land speaks to them.”

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collectively serve as the lake’s primary inflow. The Wasatch Back is also in a building boom, fed by record real estate sales and high-profi le developments like Deer Valley’s East Village, Wasatch Peaks Resort and Powder Mountain. The result is the suburban spread of once small towns into the surrounding farmlands. “But protecting open space is not only about preserving a way of life, it’s also about protecting water,” Fox says.

Farmland, Fox explains, is a critical player in the hydrology system sustaining the entire Great Salt Lake Watershed. In fact, much of the water farmers use to irrigate their crops goes back into the watershed. “About 50 percent of the water used to irrigate alfalfa, for example, flows downstream,” says Deputy State Water Engineer Blake Bingham.

Alarmed by predictions that the Great Salt Lake could vanish by 2030, Summit Land Conservancy launched its Utah Headwaters Initiative in 2023—an ambitious plan to triple the number of acres it protects within the headwaters of the Weber, Bear and Provo River Watersheds. Since then, while the Conservancy continues to use conservation easements as a tool in land preservation, it now places increased emphasis on partnering with the landowners within these watersheds, working with them to adopt stream restoration practices and upland land management activities that help improve aquatic habitat and conserve water. “If we don’t work to save the remaining undeveloped land around these rivers,” says Caitlin ... PROTECTING OPEN Willard, Summit Land SPACE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT Conservancy vice president PRESERVING A WAY OF of communications, “they will be developed and the LIFE, IT’S ALSO ABOUT water feeding these rivers PROTECTING WATER.

T FIRST GLANCE, the bucolic,

green pasturelands framing Wasatch Back towns like Heber City, Kamas and Peoa seem worlds away from Great Salt Lake’s receding shores. Yet the connection between the two runs deep.

It’s this intrinsic link that Summit Land Conservancy has zeroed in on to help give the imperiled lake a fighting chance.

CEO Cheryl Fox co-founded Summit Land Conservancy in 2002 based on a vision of fairness. “It’s about that last farmer on the road,” she explains “The one who’s held out and resisted selling to a developer long after all the farms around them have become subdivisions.” Th rough conservation easements—voluntary, legally-binding agreements that permanently protect land from development—landowners can continue to own and farm their land by tapping into its equity. Summit Land Conservancy has helped dozens of families safeguard their properties from development with conservation easements, properties like the 121-acre Osguthorpe Ranch in Park City, the 96-acre Andrus Ranch in the Kamas Valley, and the 5,000-acre Warrior Rizen Ranch in Morgan.

But in recent years, increasing development pressure and news of the Great Salt Lake’s looming demise have expanded Summit Land Conservancy’s purview.

The Wasatch Back cradles the Weber, Provo and Bear Rivers, which

— CHERYL FOX

In 1893, 12 American bison were relocated to the Great Salt Lake as part of a conservation effort to protect the species after widespread overhunting had drastically reduced their numbers.

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PHOTO BY HARRISON STEEN/UNSPL ASH

Giving Credit Where It is Due

BY MELISSA FIELDS

(TOP DOWNA) PHOTO COURTESY OF WESAVEL AND/FACEBOOK; SUMMIT L AND CONSERVANCY

The Historic Monastery Farm in Huntsville is a Cheryl Fox coparticularly striking founded Summit Land example of how Summit Conservancy in 2002.

Land works with landowners to help mitigate the Great Caitlin Willard, Summit Salt Lake crisis. Once run by Land Conservancy vice president of Trappist monks, the communications.

1,600-acre property was rescued from development in 2016 by Bill White, a retired water attorney who worked with Summit Land Conservancy to place 1,050 acres of the farm into conservation easements.

Last summer, the Historic Monastery Farm became one of the fi rst farms in Utah to apply for an instream flow amendment, which allows water rights holders to temporarily lease a portion of their water to the state to benefit the Great Salt Lake.

Leasing water rights was made possible in 2022 through House Bill 33, legislation that changed the state’s 150-year-old “use it or lose it” water rights statute. “It was revolutionary,” Fox says. Furthermore, will be sucked into municipal water through the Great Salt Lake Watershed systems and never have the chance to Enhancement Trust, water rights holders flow downstream to the lake.” are eligible for compensation for leasing Still, putting land into a conservation water rights to benefit the lake. easement takes time—usually anywhere Hannah Freeze, deputy Great Salt Lake from two to five years—time that the commissioner, is hopeful other farmers Great Salt Lake does not have. To will follow the Historic Monastery Farm’s fast-track saving these critical watershed lead. “It’s a big lift to unravel 150 years of lands, Summit Land Conservancy how things have been done,” she says. launched its For The Future Fund “But early adopters are the key to making campaign, a five-year effort to raise $10 instream flow amendments a success that million to protect 36,000 additional works for both farmers and the lake.” acres of the Great Salt Lake’s Watershed During the coming 2026 growing in four counties across the Wasatch season, Kenny McFarland, a sixthBack. The fund gives the conservancy generation farmer who manages the cash on hand to act quickly when a Historic Monastery Farm, will establish critical watershed property comes on the cover crops on the 215 acres he and market, as well as enhances its ability to White identified for dry farming to take advantage of federal funding. supply the extra water they plan to send “Donations from individuals are crucial downstream to the lake. And then, if the to what we do,” Willard says. “Without Utah State Water Engineer approves their support from individuals, we would not application, beginning in the 2027 water be able to access the federal dollars that year, the farm will send 650 acre feet of make these transactions possible.”

its water down to Great Salt Lake’s Willard Bay via Pine View Reservoir.

While 650 acre feet may seem like a lot, in the context of Great Salt Lake, it’s a literal drop in the bucket. To bring the lake up to the 4,198-foot goal Governor Spencer Cox hopes to hit by the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games, an additional 1 million acre feet of water will need to reach the lake each year between now and then.

Despite the enormity of this task— one that everyone agrees will take many different approaches—the prospect of helping save the Great Salt Lake by conserving land seems to be resonating with Wasatch Back landowners. In 2025 alone, Summit Land Conservancy safeguarded more than 5,000 acres, including Marchant Meadows, 86 acres along the Weber River in Peoa, and Bally Watts Ranch, 2,772 acres southeast of Huntsville that safeguards clean water flowing into Pineview Reservoir and the Ogden River.

Summit Land Conservancy continues to advance other projects across northern Utah as well. “We’re working with the City of Oakley on several projects,” Fox says. “We’re protecting the public benefit of the Homestead Resort redevelopment, We also partner with other Utah-based land trusts, like Bear River Conservancy and Ogden Valley Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy, to support land conservation across the state.”

As of November 2025, Summit Land Conservancy had raised $5.5 million of its $10 million goal, enabling it to protect 11,000 of the 36,000 acres of critical watershed lands it’s targeting to place in conservation easement by May 2028. “The private donations made to the For The Future Fund allow [Summit Land Conservancy] to keep doing what we do,” says Fox, “keeping open space open on the Wasatch Back, and playing our part to give Great Salt Lake a fighting chance.”

Donations to Summit Land’s For the Future Fund can be made at WESAVELAND.ORG.

J ANUAR Y /F EB R UAR Y 2026 | SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM

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THE HIVE

BE AU T Y

WHAT’S IN MY BAG?

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Sundance Edition 7

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A&E writer Autumn Thatcher shares her must-haves to be red-carpet ready at the Sundance Film Festival

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BY AUTUMN THATCHER

1. The gunmetal studs and accents of red on the Hammitt Kyle bag speak to my punk-rock heart while keeping things subtle. I love that it’s got plenty of storage spots for things that every reporter needs (think snacks, pens, a notebook, mints, etc.,) and those beauty essentials that help me feel ready to interview some of the world’s most beautiful people.

2. Lancôme’s warm vanilla accompanied by soothing scents of jasmine make for an aromatic experience that brings a sense of confidence and calm amid the chaos of Sundance.

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3. Tried-and-true shadows elevate any look—and dazzle at after-hours events where photographers are buzzing around.

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4. Setting spray is an essential for locking in makeup at the start of the day and using as needed to refresh what Mother Nature has messed with.

5. Shine plus that tingling, oh-so-good lip plumping sensation quickly brings lips to life. Wear Kissio’s plumper alone or on top of your favorite seasonal lip stain.

6. Trekking up and down Main Street in cold, dry climates has taught me one valuable lesson: bring lotion. Aveda hand relief offers various scents and moisturizing intensity.

7. Bye Bye Redness cream conceals red splotches that surface after a full day in and out of the winter elements.

8. EltaMD’s sunscreen—tinted or clear—is a musthave any time of year.

9. Lights, reflection, action! This Mila mirror has everything you need to reapply makeup (or check your teeth) anywhere, anytime—good lighting included.

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1. Kyle Lrg hand bag in cherrywood and brushed gold by Hammitt, $475, hammitt.com; 2. Lancôme La Vie Est Belle Vanille Nude Eau de Parfum with warm vanilla & musk travel spray, $35, sephora.com; 3. Glitter pigment in rose/peach gold by bodyography, $25, bodyography.com; 4. All Nighter waterproof makeup setting spray, $34, urbandecay.com; 5. Kissio lip plumper, $16, kissio.com; 6. Aveda travel size hand relief™ moisturizing creme, $11, aveda.com; 7. Bye Bye Redness neutralizing color-correcting cream, $38, itcosmetics.com; 8. EltaMD UV clear tinted SPF 46, $47, eltamd.com; 9. Mila 2 LED compact mirror, $59, fancii.com.

THE HIVE

COM M U N I T Y PROF I LE

KATHARINE BIELE: FROM ‘HITS AND MISSES’ TO BIG WINS

BY HE ATHER HAYES

I Defending the Ballot As Utah’s long-praised vote-by-mail system has been under partisan suspicion, Biele has been quick to defend it, calling Utah “a model for the nation” in expanding ballot access.

F T H E S T E P S AT T H E S TAT E C A P I T O L C O U L D TA L K , they’d

know the cadence of Katharine Biele’s footsteps by heart. The 76-year-old president of Utah’s League of Women Voters (LWV) has tread them too many times to count, earning her rightful place as a watchdog for voting rights and transparent governance in Utah. In 2024, Salt Lake Tribune readers named Katharine, “Utahn of the Year.”

“I certainly wasn’t expecting that,” she says with a chuckle. “I didn’t even know I was nominated until they told me I’d won. But I took it as a win for the League.”

It’s one of many recent wins for the organization over the past few years. Founded nationally as the successor to the suff rage movement in 1920 after women gained the right to vote, the nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization spread its branches to every state in the Union, including Utah.

“I sort of fell into this role by accident,” says Katharine, who describes initially responding to a plea in LWV’s weekly email newsletter for help with their website. “I knew nothing about websites, so I thought, well, this will be fun.” She joined them, writing communication material and voter guides, but soon found herself taking on dramatically larger roles.

FROM REPORTING TO REFORM A Salt Lake native, Katharine’s career began in newsrooms. With a master’s degree from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, she spent years covering stories abroad in Taiwan and Hong Kong, then worked for Alabama’s Birmingham Post Herald.

When her brother was killed by a drunk driver in the early eighties, Katharine decided to move back to Utah to be near her parents. She

DID YOU KNOW� VOTE411.org is the League of Women Voters’ nationwide voter information website, designed to give voters clear, nonpartisan, personalized election guidance. It provides ballot information and a personalized sample ballot showing the races and candidates in your district.

• Candidate Information: Side-by-side candidate responses to League-curated questions, in their own words.

• Election Dates & Deadlines: Registration deadlines, early voting dates and election day info for your state.

• Voting Rules: Details on ID requirements, vote-by-mail procedures and accessibility options.

• Polling Places: Where and how to cast your vote, including ballot drop box and polling site locations.

• Multilingual Resources: Information available in English and Spanish.

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The Utah State Capitol building

spent nearly a decade as the business editor for the Ogden Standard-Examiner until the newspaper was forced to restructure and Katharine found herself without a job.

“I was a mother, I’d moved back to Utah, and now I found myself suffering from an identity crisis,” she says. “I tried public relations for a little while but realized it was not who I am.”

(TOP DOWN) PHOTO BY CHELSE A RUSHTON,

BY ZACHERYNIELSON/UNSPL ASH

As for Katharine, a journalist by trade, she is more accustomed to asking the questions than answering them—avoiding the spotlight, not reveling in it. Even as League president, she treats democracy like a beat reporter treats city hall—continuously probing, studying and reading the fi ne print. And while Katharine is more at home writing op-eds, shaping strategy and attending hearings, she has learned to lean into visibility, speaking out publicly—often on those capitol steps—on issues like voting rights, ballot initiatives and redistricting.

to head the entire Utah League. Under Katharine’s guidance, LWV has leaned into watchdog work: producing detailed reports, scrutinizing ballot initiatives and, when necessary, suing the state to uphold the integrity of Utah’s constitution.

In 2022, the League (joined by Mormon Women for Ethical Government) sued after lawmakers repealed Proposition 4, a voter-approved anti-gerrymandering initiative mounted

by Better Boundaries, and replaced it with partisan maps.

The initiative called for an independent commission to make boundary recommendations, all of which were rejected by the legislature in favor of their own maps.

“None of the maps proffered by the independent commission even created an all-democratic seat,” Katharine points out, adding that the legislature was more interested in a power grab than upholding the will of the people, who’d made their voices known. “It may create a more competitive district, which sounds good to the voter. It’s a reason to come out and vote.”

Katharine says 300,000 eligible Utah women are not registered to vote. “Why is that? Perhaps they think their voice doesn’t matter,” she says. “When we allow gerrymandering to occur, they might be right.”

She says the legislature’s attempt to change or ignore initiatives passed on the ballots is not only a silencing tactic, but it’s illegal. “Proposition 4 is the law of the land, plain and simple.”

THE COURTS AGREE

WE LIVE IN A POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT CAN BE VERY NEGATIVE AND DEPRESSING. BUT GETTING INVOLVED GIVES ME HOPE, IT SHOWS ME THAT CHANGE HAPPENS.

PHOTO BY ADAM FINKLE

— K AT H A R I N E B I E L E

She was a journalist—that was clear enough. So she met with City Weekly, Salt Lake’s independent, alternative newsweekly, where she became a regular contributor. After over 30 years, she’s best known for writing the recurring opinion-briefs feature “Hits & Misses,” in which she crafts sharp and insightful commentary on local politics, policy and community issues.

“It was the best choice I’ve ever made. And they’ve been putting up with me since 1992,” she says with a laugh.

AT THE HELM Katharine calls her entry into the League a true “baptism by fi re.” What began as lending a hand quickly turned into leading the Salt Lake chapter—and within five years, she stepped up

In a string of recent courtroom showdowns, the League of Women Voters has cemented its reputation as Utah’s unlikely guardian of fair representation. After helping secure a 2024 Utah Supreme Court ruling affirming voters’ initiative rights— and successfully challenging the legislature’s misleading “Amendment D”on last year’s ballot—the league notched another victory this past November.

Third District Judge Dianna Gibson tossed out the legislature’s partisan map (twice) before adopting a neutral, algorithm-drawn version that reunites Salt Lake City into a single district for the first time in decades. The legislature, fuming, is appealing and even floating impeachment talk. But for now, the court’s message is clear: Utah’s voters—not its politicians—get the final say.

THE STAKES AHEAD Looking forward, Katharine sees both peril and promise.

Polarization and mistrust of institutions run deep, yet she remains convinced that citizens, especially when given accurate information and a fair process, are more resilient than they’re often given credit for.

“The reason I joined the League and have stayed for as long as I have is because it’s the one positive thing I can do,” she says, calling herself proof that one needn’t run for office to hold power accountable. “We live in a political environment that can be very negative and depressing. But getting involved gives me hope, it shows me that change happens.” lwvutah.org

J ANUAR Y /F EB R UAR Y 2026 | SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM

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THE HIVE

Q& A

WHO STARTS A SOCIAL CLUB IN AN ANTISOCIAL AGE? The guys behind Edison House. That’s who.

BY SPENCER WINDES

|

PHOTOS BY ADAM FINKLE

I Edison House COO and cofounder Charlie Cardon.

N DECEMBER OF 2022, T WO B R O T H E R S from Salt Lake, George

Cardon-Bystry and Charlie Cardon, decided to open Edison House, a social club for a distinctly anti-social era. The two started with a bare lot and constructed their design-forward space from the ground up to be a new kind of place, casual and inviting.

Somewhere you could work remotely, have lunch, meet friends for drinks, take in a lecture and then attend a high-class party.

It’s three years later, so we checked back in with the brothers to see how it’s going, what’s worked and what hasn’t, and what lessons they’ve taken to heart.

HOW DO YOU HELP PEOPLE MAKE REAL-LIFE CONNECTIONS?

George Cardon-Bystry, CEO and co-founder of Edison House.

Charlie: The process of creating connections and friends requires buy-in and investment, no matter how much scaffolding you put around it. The way we think about connection and friendship is that it’s our job to create as many fertile opportunities as possible for connections—we build that scaffolding, but there’s still always that next level of investment.

We had some members who came to us and said, “I didn’t meet anybody.” We’d ask them, “Did you go to the events?

Did you go to the parties? Did you go up and say ‘Hi’ to people?” They didn’t. That next step is scary for people. But we had a member tell us last year, “I made more friends in the last year at Edison House than I have in the last 10 years in Salt Lake.”

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IT’S HARD TO MAKE REAL-LIFE FRIENDSHIPS. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO JUST LOOK AT THEIR PHONES?

George: We have learned that creating a social scaffolding is difficult. Our reaction has been to improve that scaffolding—for example, implementing member clubs in the last year or so.

These are interest clubs that allow members to coalesce around others who are like-minded. We have a wine club, an outdoors club, a women’s club, a men’s club and an LGBTQ club. They are all led by members, volunteering to bring further programming and connections among people like themselves.

There are aspects of who we are that we want to be foundational, but that foundation is all built on the idea of being adaptable to our environment.

HOW DO YOU CREATE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE?

Charlie: My experience is that a lot of that sentiment is captured online. When we’re here in person, I know we have lots of people who disagree on lots of topics, and they all seem to be friends. We hope we’re an antidote.

Everybody comes to this club, and if there are disagreements, we’re presenting a talk that might raise different opinions.

When people get on the microphone to ask questions, they are always respectful.

It’s never nasty. It’s “Hey, I view this differently than you; let’s talk about things we have in common.”

George: A huge part of our value is helping [people] see that ‘this little box in my pocket is not serving me. It’s not good for my mental health.’ What’s good for your mental health is talking to others and connecting with others in a real way. Social media promised to connect us, but it didn’t do it in a way that actually served us. That’s what we’re here for.

...WE HAD A MEMBER TELL US LAST YEAR, ‘I MADE MORE FRIENDS IN THE LAST YEAR AT EDISON HOUSE THAN I HAVE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS IN SALT LAKE.” —CHARLIE CARDON

WHEN YOU GO EDISON HOUSE 335 S. 200 West, SLC edisonhouseslc.com

TRADITIONALLY, SOCIAL CLUBS SELL THEIR EXCLUSIVITY. DO YOU DO THAT?

George: We are exclusive, but it’s a different type of exclusive. The exclusivity of the old type of social club is money and network. That’s not at all how we feel about it. What we think about it’s like a bell curve and we’re chopping off the ends, those people that none of us want to be around. No egos. No jerks.

Are you interesting, courteous and kind?

We look for people who are interested in what they are doing. We have everyone

The Edison House brothers are 8th generation Utahns who wanted to bring the “Big City Value” of social networking and community connection to Salt Lake.

from people in the symphony to doctors, to people in the military and artists. It’s a different type of exclusivity.

HAVE YOU HAD TO REVOKE MEMBERSHIPS?

Charlie: Yeah, a couple of people! That is part of being a club. We do curate an environment and we uphold community values. You can’t come in here and be a jerk.

WHAT’S THE NEXT THING?

George: We just bought a doubledecker bus!

WHAT? A LONDON DOUBLE-DECKER BUS?

George: They are shipping it over from the UK. We’re going to deck it out and turn it into an Edison House on wheels.

It’s going to be part of our effort to get into the community. We’ll take members out to concerts or tailgating at the stadium. We’re taking Edison House on the road. We’re always looking for something dynamic like that. We do anticipate and plan on growing, opening more locations and expanding our footprint in the not-too-distant future.

J ANUAR Y /F EB R UAR Y 2026 | SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM

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THE HIVE

T H E HO T LIST

Six Don’t-miss Events This Winter (That aren’t Sundance)

1. TEST YOUR METTLE IN THE SNOW All your pre-season training comes down to this—The Soldier Hollow Grand Tour challenges winter athletes to push their limits at a Valentine’s Day skate race.

Participants can choose between three distances (3K, 15K, 30K), as they traverse SOHO’s renowned terrain and world-famous grooming. The top winning male and female of the 30K race will walk away with $1,000 and major bragging rights. utaholympiclegacy.org. A tamer option for cold-weather competition, Springdale is hosting the Zion Half Marathon on February 28. The paved course slopes gently uphill through some of Utah’s most stunning scenery and is rated a beginnerfriendly race. Bonus points if you hit the park afterward for some rare crowdless adventuring. vacationraces.com

2. SLOPESIDE DINING SEASON

Dining at the Viking Yurt begins with a 25-minute sleigh ride up the mountain, followed by a six-course meal and traditional Viking ‘skål!’

You’ll encounter a few canonical Wasatch Range tokens this winter: Proud moose, lost backcountry skiers, Chanel-clad Angelenos. You’ll also find yurts, lots of them. Inside the slopeside sanctuaries, chefs serve up delectable prix-fixe meals and indulgent wine pairings. The intimate affairs promise not only a hearty meal, but an adventure.

Accessed by snowshoe, snowmobile or snowcat, these on-mountain dining experiences are a must-try this winter.

• Nordic Yurt, 2002 Soldier Hollow Ln., Midway. nordicyurtutah.com • The Yurt at Solitude, 12000 Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd., Brighton. solitudemountain.com • The Viking Yurt, 1345 Lowell Ave., Park City. vikingyurt.com

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The Aqaurium’s festive decor is handmade by Tianyu Arts & Culture.

3. LANTERN FESTIVAL WHEN: Through Jan 10 WHERE: Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, 12033 Lone Peak Parkway, Draper COST: $13.95–$18.95 The Aquarium has transformed its outdoor Rio Tinto Kennecott Plaza (AKA the U2 stage claw) into a luminescent underwater display to outshine winter’s melancholy.

Giant glowing octopi, twinkling schools of yellow tang and regal seahorses dazzle as you make your way through the aquatic dreamland. The entire experience takes about two hours to complete, factoring in time for pit stops at the many play areas and swings. Admission to the Lantern Festival is not included with a regular daytime Aquarium ticket. livingplanetaquarium.org

(CLOCK WISE FROM TOP) PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOLDIER HOLLOW/FACEBOOK; LOVEL AND LIVING PL ANET AQUARIUM; GRAFF PUBLIC MEDIA

Soldier Hollow Grand Tour competitors tackle 475 meters of uphill climbing per 15K lap.

Make Your Event Revolutionary A ARON BURR’S MURDEROUS SHOT

ALE X ANDER HAMILTON’S NOT THROWING AWAY MY SCOOP PATRICK HENRY’S GIVE ME CHOCOL ATE OR GIVE ME DE ATH

TORY APATHY

Scan the QR code to find the nearest Brooker’s ice cream tavern and bring our handcrafted ice cream to your next event! You can also reach us at brookersicecream@gmail.com

THE HIVE

T H E HO T LIST

4. BALLET WEST PRESENTS: PETER PAN

5. GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT

WHEN: February 13–18

WHEN: February 26–March 21

WHERE: Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, SLC

WHERE: The Grand Theatre, 1575 S. State St, SLC

COST: $30–$113

COST: $89

Ballet West’s first production of 2026 reimagines the spectacular tale of Peter Pan. Featuring a whimsical score by Sir Edward Elgar and costume design by Broadway alumna Jeanne Button, the enchanting performance will transport you to another world of mermaids, sword fights, pixie dust and nostalgia.

Balletwest.org

Politically charged punk rock meets the dramatic storytelling of the stage in this high-octane rock opera. The community theatre presents a visual tribute to Green Day’s concept album American Idiot, a coming-of-age story following three young anti-heroes as they navigate love, adolescence and societal anxiety post-9/11. Powerfully blending music by Green Day, lyrics by Billie Jo Armstrong and topical subject matter, this striking musical is a can’t-miss in your winter entertainment calendar. grandtheatrecompany.com

6. UTAH’S WILDEST WINTER TRADITION

The first official skijoring event was held during Stockholm’s Nordic Games in 1901.

36 SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2 0 2 6

WHEN: January 16–17 WHERE: Heber City COST: $35–$1,200 (Tailgate ticket with two-day access) Skijoring is a thrilling competition that combines Utah’s Greatest Snow on Earth with our wild west heritage. Navigating a high-speed course packed with gates, jumps and rings, a horse, rider and skier must work together to wow audiences and earn points to place in the final showdown. This year, the sport is expanding its annual event into a six-stop tour that begins in Heber on Jan 16 & 17.

The tour will continue on to Logan and return to Salt Lake City (left) for the Championship Finals at the end of February. proskijor.com

(TOP DOWN) PHOTO BY BE AU PETERSON; COURTESY OF VISIT SALT L AKE

Tinkerbell is a mischievous character audiences will met through their journey in Neverland.

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PHOTO BY GIORGIO PULCINI

Adventures Travel: Punta de Mita

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Rating fitness trackers

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ONE TR ACKER TO RULE THEM ALL Are all fitness trackers created equal? Outdoors writer Melissa Fields gives us the rundown on three wearable health monitors—and dishes on why they might be doing more harm than good for your headspace, p. 44.

J ANUAR Y /F EB R UAR Y 2026 | SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM

39

ADVENTURES

T R AV EL

Salt Water, Style and Soul Punta de Mita is known for its luxury hotels and high-end private communities, but beyond ‘the gates,’ you’ll find a rare and laid-back corner of Mexico

BY MELISSA FIELDS

Getting There

T

40 SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2 0 2 6

H E S E A G E N T LY R I S E S A N D FA L L S as we paddle toward the

cluster of moored sailboats. The tension I didn’t even realize I was holding, drains out of my body with each paddle stroke. Once we reach the boats, we sit back on our surfboards and lazily chat as we watch a flock of gulls bob in the surf closer to shore.

It’s the first week of April, or the traditional final week of spring break in the U.S. but on the white sand, shell-littered shoreline where we launched the SUPs, except for a lone swimmer, the beach is blissfully empty.

Earlier that day, following a direct flight from Salt Lake, my husband and I made the 45-minute drive from the Puerto

Alma Surf Lodge blends laid back vibes with elevated comfort and south-of-the-border hospitality.

Vallarta Airport to Punta de Mita in search of a much-needed respite from Utah’s slow-to-come spring. This sleepy coastal village (interchangeably referred to as Punta Mita) is located on the tip of a squarish Punta de Mita peninsula, reaching west into Banderas Bay between Puerto Vallarta to the south and Sayulita to the north. While Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita bustle with sun-seeking visitors, who pack each town’s pools and beaches and fuel an all-hours nightlife, the vibe in Punta de Mita is definitely more low-key, with a firm focus on water-borne adventures. In other words, just the kind of laid-back, low-stress beach vacation we were after.

(LEF T) COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS; (TOP) COURTESY OF ALMA SURF LODGE

Delta Airlines and Aeromexico both offer daily nonstop flights between Salt Lake City (SLC) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR).

Rent a car through Enterprise, Avis or National at the PVR airport. Alma Surf Lodge features secure parking for lodge guests or book a private transfer in advance for up to 18 passengers between the airport and Punta de Mita through the airport (thepuertovallartaairport.com/ airport-transportation).

Alma also offers to arrange airport transfers at booking.

and seats-on-the-beach taquerias. Street vendors line Punta de Mita’s very safe main drag, Av. El Anciote, which parallels the ocean and ends at a jetty lined with fishing boats and boats for hire, (or pangas). Extra-long golf carts are a common sight along the town’s quiet streets, used in equal measure by families, groups of guys on a golf getaway, bachelorette parties and gaggles of teens, to shuttle themselves from inside the gates into Punta de Mita proper to sample the town’s creative commercial mix … and perhaps be reminded they are in Mexico.

WHAT TO DO

An aerial view of Punta de Mita’s white sandy beaches.

(TOP) PHOTO BY CARLOS FLORES/ADOBESTOCK; (BELOW) COURTESY OF ALMA SURF LODGE

Each Alma Surf Lodge room features a private patio where guest can relax, unwind and escape within the pages of their favorite read.

THE GATES The Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita opened in 1999, establishing a luxury destination ecosystem on the peninsula that attracted several other elite hotel brands, including the St. Regis, Montage, W and, coming soon, Pendry—all of which are private and located inside gated complexes. As such, separating the peninsula’s luxe resorts and private beaches from the town, public beaches and local residential areas is referred to as “The Gates.” While separated physically, the influence of the gated resort communities is apparent in the town of Punta de Mita, but not overwhelmingly so. There, curated boutiques, refined dining and espresso bars mingle with locally run bodegas, surf shops

White-sand beaches and surf breaks are Punta de Mita’s headliner draw. Get a fun intro to surfing or ocean SUP basics at Playa Punta Mita or down the beach to La Lancha, a consistent break popular with locals, with a lesson from Mictlan Surf (Av. El Anclote 200, Nuevo, mictlansurf.com).

More advanced wave riders can hire a panga to gain access to offshore breaks through Mictlan or from the fisherman’s co-op based at the jetty at the end of Av. El Anciote but water adventure is not limited to surfing in Punta de Mita. Sailing, snorkeling and sightseeing tours to Isla Marietas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve located just a few miles off the coast, also launch daily from Punta de Mita. And Banderas Bay is a well-established humpback whale mating and calving ground. Whales are known to visit the bay from December through March, though the best times to spot humpbacks is in January and February.

WHAT TO EAT After a day on the water, head to Zicatela (Av. Anclote 14, Punta de Mita, zicatelarestaurante.mx), a seafood-forward eatery with a chic, open-air dining room that also offers an afternoon tequila tasting (reservations required). Or head up to the second-level, open-air Tora Izakaya (Pez Vela 136 A, Corral del Risco), a sake bar and “motorcycle studio” where you can sit along the restaurant’s exterior bar and watch the world go by while you sip an expertly made cocktail and dine on sushi made with fish pulled out of the bay earlier that day. For a casual, yet still upscale, seat on the beach, pay a visit to Mauka (Rinconada Careyeros L10). Be sure to begin at least one morning at El Cafecito de Mita (Av. El Anciote 15, cafecitodemita.com) for a strong coffee, fresh smoothie, mouthwatering pastry or one of their stick-to-your-ribs breakfast burritos, big enough to share.

WHERE TO STAY While the options for laying down your head inside the gates of Punta de Mita are many, we chose instead to stay in town at one of the peninsula’s newest hotels, Alma Surf Lodge (Corral Del Risco, Punta de Mi, almasurflodge.com, rates: $150-$250 per night). There, co-owner Matt Lambert and his wife, Alex Harris, have crafted an undeniably inviting lodging experience centered around modern south-of-the-border hospitality and 1970s longboarder surf culture. The hotel’s entrance is framed on

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(LEF T TO RIGHT) PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALMA SURF LODGE; INSTAGRAM.COM/CONRADPUNTADEMITA

one side by the palapa-topped bar, outfitted with a bocce court, and, on the other, a rainbow-like rack of surfboards. Indoors, the lobby lounge is finished with darkstained wood ceilings and accent walls hung with colorful local art. Clusters of books and plants are placed artistically along shelves and Midcentury modern furniture is arranged in conversation areas over layered rugs. “When people walk in here, I want them to feel like they are coming home,” Lambert says.

In our guest room, a bright yellow surfboard, handmade by local surfer Miguel Sinclair (massurfboards.com), hung on the wood-paneled wall over the bed. Our generously sized bathroom was tiled from floor to ceiling in mossy green, reflecting the tropical trees and shrubs on the room’s private patio, where I spent more than a little time swaying in its macrame hammock.

Alma’s piece de resistance, however, is its rooftop pool and hangout area, where views from the town to the ocean frame comfy patio furniture and a saltwater pool.

Alma leans heavily into thoughtful details like daily delivery of coffee and the morning surf report outside of each guestroom door; terrycloth surf ponchos in lieu of robes; and

Alma Surf Lodge Owners Matt Lambert and Alex Harris.

Conrad Punta de Mita spa is known for its outdoor massage palapas.

Hugo spritz, Punta Mita style.

complimentary use of the house’s foam surfboards.

Two cold beers await guests upon check-in and the onsite store sells beach essentials and Alma merch. The lodge’s open-air restaurant serves housemade biscuit sandwiches and granola bowls for breakfast, and chicken sandwiches or smash burgers for lunch, dinner and late night.

Lambert and Harris, both native Midwesterners, discovered Punta de Mita while on a 2021 sailing trip.

Though they’d planned just a brief stop, their itinerary to sail on to French Polynesia was thwarted by COVID’s second wave. They fell in love with Punta de Mita anyway and decided to stay. “I have a problem with dreaming,” Lambert says, “and when we weren’t able to continue on sailing, we came up with another dream.”

Lambert invited Ryan Carlson, a Salt Lake City-based real estate developer who’s completed other projects along the Banderas Bay coast, to partner with him in what would become Alma Surf Lodge.

“Alma truly rivals any boutique hotel,” Carlson says. “It feels like staying in a guesthouse in Austria—warm, personal, and welcoming—where you get to know the family and the staff,” he says. “It’s eclectic, thoughtfully designed and incredibly comfortable.”

After paddling back to shore that first day in Punta de Mita, my husband and I sat in plastic chairs at a beach bar, sipping what was possibly the best Hugo spritz I’ve ever had. What makes this place special, I thought, is not its stunning natural beauty, ample recreation, great restaurants or thoughtful lodging—it’s how Punta de Mita has managed to hold onto its soul.

A Luxuriant Peek Inside “The Gates” Get an indulgent taste for life inside “the gates” by paying a visit to the mind-blowing spa at Conrad Punta de Mita (844-298-4300, hilton. com/en/hotels/pvrpmciconrad-punta-de-mita).

This leafy and serene indoor-outdoor oasis infuses each treatment with elements of the local Huichol culture. While this spa is known for its spiritual ceremonies, it would be hard to resist booking a massage in one of the spa’s outdoor, palapa nests. Best yet, each treatment comes with day-long access to the spa’s adult pool and the resort’s private beach.

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ADVENTURES

F I T N E SS

Although they can be helpful, trackers can also lead to frustration and demotivation.

Basically, take what your watch says with a grain of salt.

FITNESS TRACKER THROWDOWN A comparison of three popular fitness trackers, with a warning from science: Don’t take metrics too seriously.

I

F IT SEEMS LIK E E V ERYONE YOU K N O W is wearing a fitness tracker,

your assumptions are not anecdotal.

According to a 2023 National Institutes of Health study, 1 in 3 Americans use a wearable device to monitor their health and fitness. I began using fitness trackers in 2015, around the time the Surgeon General recommended that everyone walk more. Since then, my fitness journey has evolved and, along the way, I’ve used several different trackers, each with its own set of pluses and minuses. The following are my impressions of three popular fitness trackers, with rankings from experts and a caution about the downsides of having access to so much health data.

At first blush, my current fitness tracker, the Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED Smartwatch, may feel targeted toward elite athletes training for a race or other big fitness objective. The performance stats it tracks— from VO2 max and critical swim speed to running lactate threshold and hill score— along with its ability to create training plans and race-day strategies, make this

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powerhouse tracker an obvious choice for the serious athlete. But it’s also an excellent choice for people, like me, who regularly recreate outdoors. Alongside all the modern fitness tracker metrics—from training readiness to sleep score—I love the maps function, which allows online and offline trail and street navigation, and includes trail descriptions with difficulty, length and elevation gain. Its LiveTrack function allows my family to track my location while I’m out on the trail. The fenix also has a super long battery life and is bomb-proof durable.

I wear mine daily and have not scratched it through rock climbing, mountain biking and plenty of yard work. The only downside is that it’s a big and relatively heavy watch. And it’s pricey: Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED Smartwatch retails for $1099 at Scheels.

Like many, my first fitness tracker was a Fitbit, which at the time, was good for tracking steps, checking text messages, telling time… and that’s about it. The latest Fitbits, the Versa 4 and Inspire 3, have evolved to include all the standard fitness tracker features—step logging, sleep rating,

PHOTO BY FITNISH MEDIA /UNSPL ASH

BY MELISSA FIELDS

dozens of activities, heart rate, SpO2, etc. Overall, the main difference between the two is that the Versa 4 is a full-fledged smart watch, which drills down deeper within each of those features, whereas the Inspire 3 is a more basic fitness tracker. Both have received high rankings from reviewers (The New York Times’ product recommendation service, Wirecutter, named the Inspire 3 as its top pick of fitness trackers in September 2025) for accuracy and wearability. Both are slim and light, though the Versa features an AMOLED screen that’s about twice as large as the Inspire 3. And the Versa 4 has built-in GPS, while the Inspire requires a

Oura ring, silver, $349, ouraring.com

(TOP DOWN) PHOTO COURTESY OF OURARING.COM; BY K AROL A /PE XELS; HAROLDWAINWRIGHT/UNSPL ASH

Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch, petal/ copper rose, $85, walmart.com Garmin fenix 8 AMOLED Smartwatch 51 MM, carbon gray Dlc titanium/gray, $1,200, garmin.com

connection to a phone to use GPS. Both are great all-around fitness trackers, with the Versa 4 offering more fitness metrics and that bigger, easier-to-use screen.

As such, the Inspire 3 will set you back about $100, while the Versa 4 is $200. The future, however, is a little uncertain for all Fitbit products. Google purchased Fitbit in 2021 and, since then, seems to be phasing out Fitbit trackers in favor of its Pixel Watch 4 (starting at $350).

Released in October 2025, it quickly earned a best smart watch for Android users rating from theverge.com.

The Oura ring was a pioneer in sleep tracking, making the connection between rest and optimizing training

performance. And it’s the only fitness tracker with sleep tracking accuracy backed up by a scientific study, published in March 2024 in Sleep Medicine. My husband owns an Oura, which I have used intermittently, mostly to track my sleep. When I have worn it during the day, I like how the Oura automatically detects more than 40 different activities, versus requiring a manual start for activities beyond walking or running, as is the case with many other trackers, including my Garmin. I also like how, with no screen, users are required to consciously check their health and fitness data versus having immediate, real-time access via a smartwatch. Downsides of the Oura are that it’s a ring that tends to get in the way when doing any activity that involves your hands, like lifting weights, doing push-ups and pull-ups or rock climbing. Its ceramic finish is also easily scratched, $499 at ouraring.com.

Something else to consider when using a fitness tracker is the potential psychological impacts. A study using AI to analyze social media posts about the use of fitness trackers and apps, published in the British Journal of Health Psychology in October 2025, found that people expressed frustration and demotivation when using fitness trackers and apps when they didn’t measure up to the algorithm-created benchmarks like calorie consumption, fitness intensity and sleep. This news rang true for me regarding my sleep scores. I found that several less-thangood sleep readings in a row caused the opposite result of why I was tracking my sleep in the first place: lying in bed worrying about not getting enough sleep. So, I stopped wearing my Garmin at night and have slept (mostly) soundly ever since. What’s next in the thriving fitness tracker market may be rooted in the recommendations made by the British researchers: fitness trackers and apps should shift to a more usercentered tracking format, based on psychological theory, prioritizing well-being and intrinsic motivation over rigid, quantitative goals.

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LIKE MOST PHYSICIANS, I CHOSE THIS WORK BECAUSE I SINCERELY WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.

PHOTOS BY ADAM FINKLE

–DR. JOEL MACDONALD

FROM OUR PARTNERS

HEALTHCARE EXPERT ade M h ta

U

DR. JOEL MACDONALD, MD CommonSpirit Brain & Spine

Neurological Surgery 385-234-4787 mountain.commonspirit.org

W

H AT D O E S I T M E A N T O B E A H E A LT H C A R E H E R O ?

To Dr. Joel MacDonald, it means a lot. “It’s a privilege to care for people—especially in my field, where patients often face life-altering and life-threatening problems, Dr. MacDonald, MD, FAANS, explains from his office at CommonSpirit Brain & Spine in West Jordan.

Patients who see Dr. MacDonald are usually suffering from serious ailments.

The treatment process brings together both technology and the human touch.

“Like most physicians, I chose this work because I sincerely want to help people,” he says. “Humankindness,” as CommonSpirit’s slogan reads on billboards all over the Salt Lake Valley, is combined with cutting-edge technology.

“Treating a neurological ailment, like brain cancer or lumbar degenerative disease, is a team effort,” Dr. MacDonald says. You have to marshal all your resources to succeed. One of the most important resources? A commitment to a higher calling by a dedicated medical staff.

That’s what you find at CommonSpirit, Dr. MacDonald says, who also serves as the President of the Medical Staff at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital, Salt Lake.

“We’re a faith-based organization focused on improving community health and prolonging life through

clinical excellence,” says MacDonald.

“Healthcare is fundamentally altruistic; our slogan encapsulates that mindset. We aim for humane care, optimal outcomes, and safety throughout the process, and we use that as a frame for every patient and every problem.”

A large expansion of neurological medicine treatments highlights Dr. MacDonald’s tenure at Holy Cross. Brain tumors, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease all fall within his area of special interest.

It didn’t happen overnight.

Building a program to bring neurosurgical capabilities to Holy Cross took a sizable effort. Now patients can receive care closer to their homes. Because patients can remain in their community for treatment, their family and friends can fill the practical roles like childcare and chores, and of course, emotional ones, like cheerleading during recovery.

“Neurosurgery diseases include spine disease, trauma, brain injury, tumors, epilepsy, movement disorders, and diffuse issues like pain and peripheral nerve injuries. Many of these problems weren’t managed here before,” Dr. MacDonald says.

“Over the past seven years, we’ve built the foundation—investing in technology and extensively training nurses and staff. You can’t just say,

‘We’re open for neurosurgery.’ You need processes, equipment, and people with the right competencies.”

Now, many neurosurgical treatments happen in a part of the Salt Lake Valley that was previously underserved.

“For us, it’s been a long, ongoing effort, and we’re still adding capabilities and extending our reach.”

Spoken like a true hero.

Over the past seven years, we’ve built the foundation—investing in technology and extensively training nurses and staff...

—DR. JOEL MACDONALD

Scan the QR code and make your donation today Help us ensure that everyone in Utah has the opportunity to live a longer, healthier life.

WE ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH

PHOTO CREDIT

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MAGAZINE

FROM OUR PARTNERS

DR. HAMID ADIB Adib’s Rug Gallery

PHILANTHROPY ade M h ta

U

3092 S. Highland Drive, SLC | adibs.com | 801-484-6364

F

EW FIGURES BRIDGE THE WORLDS OF S C I E N C E , A R T A N D C O M PA S S I O N as

seamlessly as Dr. Hamid Adib. A scholar of vast curiosity and an artist of boundless heart, Dr. Adib has spent his life exploring the delicate intersections between knowledge and beauty, intellect and empathy. His expertise ranges from science and technology to the fine artistry of handwoven rugs, each thread representing a dialogue between culture, history and human touch.

Born into a tradition that values craftsmanship and meaning, Dr. Adib forged a lifelong connection to antiquity and design, curating collections that honor both local artisans and global heritage. His galleries have become cultural crossroads—spaces where past and present, East and West, art and philosophy coexist. Throughout the years, his vision has earned him a devoted following of collectors, designers and clients whose support has fueled both his artistic pursuits and his humanitarian missions.

Beyond art, Dr. Adib’s compassion extends into humanitarian service. Throughout numerous organizations, he has devoted time and resources to those suffering from chronic and rare illnesses, from children battling life-threatening diseases to families in medical crisis. His paintings, created with soul and purpose, are dedicated entirely to helping critically ill children. In every stroke, one senses his conviction that, at its highest form, exists to heal.

Within the worlds of design, fashion and film, Dr. Adib’s influence is profound. His approach brings harmony where chaos might otherwise rule, blending color, texture and light with a philosophical understanding of how environment shapes emotion.

Whether consulting for designers, collaborating with filmmakers, or mentoring young artists, his message remains the same: creativity must serve humanity.

Dr. Adib reminds others that success is not measured by achievement alone, but by the kindness we extend. “Respect for life begins when we see ourselves in others, when we listen, give and create not for applause, but for love.”

In a world often divided by indifference, Dr. Hamid Adib stands as a testament to unity through art and compassion, a reminder that the truest masterpiece is the human spirit itself.

Entrepreneurial Spotlight

Respect for life begins when we see ourselves in others, when we listen, give and create not for applause, but for love.

—DR. HAMID ADIB

(CLOCK WISE FROM UPPER LEF T) PHOTOS COURTESY OF ZION CANYON HOT SPRINGS; HOMESTE AD RESORT; SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN RESORT; ST. REGIS

Springdale Midway Deer Valley Sundance

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Winter G E T INTO

Four Quick Escapes Into the Snow

(and cozy spots to escape the cold)

BY AVREY EVANS AND JEREMY PUGH

W

INTER HAS COME. T H E H O L I D AY S A R E B E H I N D U S . And now…

storm on a clear day, blue skies above with everything all clean and white…

C’mon. You know what we’re talking about. Don’t lie. This is your guide to curing those winter blues. We present four easy destinations that offer wintery fun along with, most importantly, a cozy spot to retreat into afterwards. Hot springs, as the flakes descend, hot toddies and crackling fires. So dig the car out, load up and get into it. Cozy is calling and you must go. (Plus, remember, February is the shortest month.)

PHOTO BY GITA /ADOBESTOCK

the long, interminable slog through to the end of February. Let’s just admit that even the sunniest among us tend to get a bit, well, winter weary. We’re tired of digging the car out. We’re tired of the gray days and early nights. Sure, we ski and sled and find ways to play in the snow, but really, how many snowmen can you build? We say, just admit it. Winter blahs are real. So, how about instead of

bemoaning winter, you go deeper into it? We live in Utah after all. Home of the Greatest Snow on Earth. Legions of travelers from around the world visit here every year to marvel at our winter wonderland. What says you have to grouch your way through it? And sure, the kids are in school and you have a job, but maybe take a respite to remember what you love about winter. Accentuate the positive here. Play tourist in your own backyard. Because Utah winters are glorious. Looking outside after a big

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1

Sleep Under the Stars

We thought we were over glamping, it was so 2020, right? But then we visited Open Sky Zion in Virgin. They had us at luxe safari-style tents with fireplaces and heated floors. Many of the “tents” (if you can call them that) feature the resort’s namesake Open Sky roofs, allowing you to gaze on the night sky as you drift off (or reaffirm your love for your partner).

Bonus: the on-site destination restaurant, Black Sage, offers farm-to-table fine dining with jaw-dropping views and an excellent wine list (open in February), stayopensky.com.

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2 Cabin on

the Outside, Business on the Inside

Less than 3 miles from Zion’s southern entrance is the Hotel De Novo Springdale. Its exterior looks like many a generic western-town cabin, but Hilton has renovated this prime location and made it part of its “Tapestry Collection” with functional, wellappointed rooms suited to the traveller who wants to get out and go explore. But after a day scrambling around Zion, you’ll welcome the views of Zion Canyon from

You Didn’t Know, but Winter is the Best Time to Go WHY? Traffic dwindles inside one of the most popular national parks in the world. (Really, Zion rivals the Grand Canyon in annual visitation.) On the trails, its most popular hikes, the Narrows and Angels Landing, are blissfully free of the human traffic jams and bottlenecks endemic to the summer season, but make sure you check conditions before you go, as flash flooding and ice can make trails dangerous.

Zion is Utah’s lowest park in both elevation and latitude, so its weather tends to be fair year-round. You can expect rain but rarely snow. FINE. THAT SOUNDS COLD. Springdale used to pretty much shut down during the winter season, but it’s becoming a year-round destination that makes a great base camp for a day trip to La Verkin to enjoy the largest hot-spring resort in Utah. WHAT? HOT SPRINGS? Yes. Zion Canyon Hot Spring Resort (zioncanyonhotsprings.com) opened last year, featuring 32 natural mineral hot springs and 16 mineral pools. Plus saunas and a cold plunge.

And, bonus, a 21-and-over area. BOTTOM LINE. Zion National Park is stunning during the season of ice. It’s a quieter time where its beauty can be appreciated without the crowds.

Plus, hot springs.

your window and the heated infinity pool on the banks of the Virgin River, hilton. com/en/hotels/sgumtup-hotel-de-novo.

3 A Table

with a View

Southern Utah is still a meat-andpotatoes locale. Steak-and-pie joints stubbornly dot the dining landscape.

But that’s not the case with Añu, a New American-style restaurant with South

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZION CANYON HOT SPRINGS

Springdale & Zion National Park

American roots that pulls in the Japanese and Chinese influences that run through South America. Basically, you’ll really want to try what’s melting in this pot. Bonus: Canyon views, a polished, rustic vibe. Try it for breakfast or dinner, anuzion.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT UTAH

4 Water and Ice

One of the most ’grammed hikes in Zion National Park, The Narrows is less “hike” and more “scramble up the Virgin River” into an ever-narrowing canyon, over centuries of riversmoothed cobbles (against a current). In winter, however, the ’gram-rabid crowds thin to a trickle and the river’s level drops. But… you’re in a freezing river.

You will need gear. Try Zion Outfitter or Zion Adventures, just outside the park in Springdale. Either can outfit you

with waders or drysuits, sturdy wooden poles and felt-bottom shoes to aid your journey, zionoutfitter.com, zionadventures.com. ​​

5 Behold!

The Night Sky

Southern Utah is home to some of the West’s darkest night skies, owing to the large proliferation of national parks and undeveloped (for now) federal land.

Many towns, like Springdale, have fought hard to limit exterior lighting that obscures the stars above.

Springdale and Zion National Park tick both those boxes. Find yourself on one of Stargazing Zion’s expert-led telescope tours under the ultra-dark sky and finally comprehend just how tiny you are, stargazingzion.com.

Dry suits look pretty sci-fi, but these waterproof, full-body get-ups have seals at the neck and wrists to keep you dry (hence the name) and warm. Plus, you can pretend you’re part of a Star Trek away team beaming down to an alien planet.

LEAVING SO SOON? HERE ARE THREE MORE ADVENTURES NEARBY

RED ROCK DUNES

Surrounded by the encroaching town of Ivins, Snow Canyon State Park remains an oasis of red-rock tranquility. There are plenty of hikes, which range from easy strolls perfect for kids to long scrambles over the red-rock dunes. Be sure to stop by before you head north (or south). stateparks.utah.gov/parks/snow-canyon.

PLAY THE BACK NINE

It’s a strange thing to tee off on 17 in February, but Washington County is a golfer’s paradise, with courses open year-round in mild temperatures under sunny skies. Black Desert Resort is the pinnacle of the many courses in the area.

In 2024, it became the first Utah resort to host a PGA Tour stop in decades, and the course is open to the public, blackdesertresort.com.

BRING BACK SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF

Cosy House owner Nancy Van Matre says she wanted to create the quintessential cool home store, gift go-to and “shop around the corner.” Now, her shop in St. George hosts a loyal following of local and social media friends who celebrate her effortless, laid-back aesthetic. The store features mounds of books, cozy furniture, ridiculously un-faux-looking faux foliage (because of all the secondhome owners in St. George), sleek lamps, precious oil paintings, modern rugs, marble cake stands, delicate soap dishes and yummy-smelling candles, becosyhouse.com, on Instagram @becosyhouse.

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Sundance Mountain Resort

Cradled between the peaks of Mt. Timpanogos, Sundance Mountain Resort is a world-renowned retreat with terrain for powder hounds, spas for the high-strung and Chef-prepared meals for those who prefer to let their phone eat first.

WAIT, LIKE THE SUNDANCE KID? The late and great Robert Redford stumbled upon the Provo Canyon property, then known as a small ski resort called Timp Haven, in 1969. The single chair lift, T-bar and homemade rope tow inspired something in Redford, who purchased the land to shield it from development and renamed it after his iconic character, The Sundance Kid. The resort has hosted countless actors, writers and artists over the years, and in 1981 became the home of the Sundance Institute. STAR QUALITY, STAR RATING. Humble beginnings notwithstanding, Sundance is a top-rated luxury resort that has retained a One Michelin Key distinction since 2024.

Accommodations range between rustic suites, private mountain homes and, new this year, The Inn is a 63-room lodge with ski-in ski-out access. WON’T I GET BORED? Sundance Resort encompasses 5,000 acres of snowy wilderness and is about to add an extra 165 acres of skiable terrain in the 26/27 season.

Accessed through a new high-speed quad lift, the Electric Horseman Express, the expanded footprint is part of Sundance’s multi-year plan dubbed “Act II.” sundanceresort.com.

1

Pick Up a New Skill

How about taking a crack at one of your New Year’s resolutions to learn a

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Sundance Resort’s 2026/27 expansion will unlock 165 acres of new terrain, including a groomed run with 360-degree views of Utah Valley, Heber and three mountain lakes.

new skill at Sundance Resort’s Art Studio? Choose between a variety of single-session workshops, from silversmithing to wheel-thrown pottery and soapmaking. You might even leave with a new signature scent (and well-earned snobbery) after attending an authentic Frenchstyle perfume workshop.

2

Soak Up the Views

New in 2025, The Springs is a year-round outdoor sanctuary featuring three relaxation pools, outdoor showers and a sauna.

The wooded spa is surrounded by sweeping views of Mt. Timpanogos, allowing you even more time to soak in winter’s majesty. A limited number of mountain suites also feature private balcony hot tubs, available by request when booking.

3 Drink Like

an Outlaw

Lined with local booze and glassware hand-blown on-site, The Owl Bar is Sundance’s f lagship watering hole. The interiors pay homage to Utah’s favorite Robin hood figures, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance

Kid, with wanted posters, revolver draft handles, and the original bar frequented by the Wild Bunch. The 1890s bar counter was relocated from Thermopolis, Wyo., to Sundance, where it has become a weekend hotspot for live entertainment, imaginative cocktails and the resort’s notorious dirty fries.

4 Post-Ski Self Care

Winter R&R begins with early mornings carving turns, and ends with après-ski spa treatments. Sundance’s wellness sanctuary, The Spa, offers everything from CBD sports massages to ultrasonic infusions to collagen facials and ski boot soothing foot soaks.

The spa is tucked away from the main base at the Mandan Cottages. Arrive early to cozy up in complimentary robes and rest by the fire.

5 Feel the Rush

Sundance’s Winter Ziptour is 3,870 of high-speed fun on a doublelined cable system that gives riding pairs full control over their speed, the ability to stop mid-air for epic selfies, and to top off their adrenaline at 65-mile-per-hour cruising speeds. Explore even more of the mountain with a Ziptour + Full-Day Lift Ticket package.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN REORT

Sets a Michelin-Key Standard

Homestead Resort & Crater

The Homestead Crater is the only warm-water scuba diving spot in the continental U.S.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOMESTE AD RESORT & CRATER

1

Geology in Plain Sight

Ok. About the crater. Before the Schneitters arrived, the geothermal forces below the Homestead were formidable and erupted in geysers. A 55-foot-tall beehiveshaped mound with an open “blow hole” in the top, created by mineral deposits, serves as evidence. Until the 1990s, apart from some intrepid folks who had rappelled down in, few people had seen its interior, but the resort blasted a 110-footlong tunnel into its base and opened it up.

Now it’s open to swimmers, snorkelers and even SCUBA divers. (The water is deep enough to practice skills necessary for earning an open-water diving certification, which, we think, is cheating.)

Things Have Changed at the Old Schneitter Place When many Utahns think of Homestead Resort in Midway, east of Park City, phrases like “quaint” or “I went there with my grandparents” come to mind. In other words, “old.” YEAH. BUT IT IS OLD. Yes. It is. Homestead is a piece of Utah history. In the 1880s, the Schneitter family homesteaded a patch of land in Midway in the foothills of the ridge that separates Park City and the Heber Valley. GET IT? “MIDWAY.” There was silver in them ’thar hills above and the Schneitters discovered a generous hot spring source below. Simon “Jake” Schneitter created a bath and rooming house in 1886, where a dusty miner could scrub and rest. They

2 ‘This is Bowling,

There are Rules’

Compared to schussing the slopes at Deer Valley and the crater, a geological wonder, how does a bowling alley rate this list? Well, we’ll tell you. Holiday lanes in Heber has Big Lebowski-Wes Anderson vibes with decor that was retro before we thought it was and serves one of the best burgers in Northern Utah. It’s nothing fancy, just a smashburger made on a grill that dates back to the Kennedy administration.

Plus, they have beer. Both kinds: Bud and Bud Light, (435) 654-0372.

3 En-Globe Dining

On the back of the historically registered Virginia House, the preserved Schneitter residence features a patio with four heated globes for a private dining experience as the snow falls.

added dining, more rooms and the resort was born, becoming a retreat centered around the Homestead Crater (more below).

BUT WHAT NOW? New ownership has renovated the time-worn lodging and preserved the historic structures. But notably, the resort has six year-round heated (!) pools in a sprawling oasis outside the crater. WE’LL GET TO THE CRATER. New event spaces are planned and luxe suites and cabins have been added. This ain’t old Jake Schneitter’s homestead anymore. But it’s a welcome respite for a cozy winter escape with access to the new East Village at Deer Valley, homesteadmidwayutah.com.

4 Waterfall

in the Snow

The biggest change at Homestead since the then-owner Jerry Simons blasted a tunnel in the crater in 1996 is the complete reinvention of the resort’s pool area. Six heated pools ranging up to temperatures of 94 degrees are spread across the grounds, and they offer private cabanas and curb service in the summer. The centerpiece is a huge pool that features a giant, flowing, churning waterfall above. We see what you did there, Homestead. Make a big, fun pool with a waterfall to tire the kids out while mom and dad look on from the hot tub.

Good call.

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Park City & Deer Valley

A SplurgeWorthy Getaway to the Wasatch Back

1

High-End Hospitality

Among the wide scope of luxe accommodations available in Park City, you’ll find no better host than the St. Regis Deer Valley. The distinguished hotelier boasts slopeside ski access,

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mountain-chic rooms, a 14,000-square-foot spa, award-winning dining and exceptional service.

It’s also the only resort in North America with a funicular to transport guests up the mountain. A St. Regis standard, the hotel offers several brand rituals, from a signature scent and butler service, to nightly s’mores and Bloody Mary workshops, marriott.com.

The St. Regis sabering rituals begin with a quote from Napoleon Bonaparte, who famously sabered champage on the battle field: “Champagne: in victory, one deserves it; in defeat, one needs it.”

2 Refined Dining,

Western Charm

Inside the new Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, Remington Hall serves up a fresh take on Americana with locally-sourced ingredients and internationally-inspired flavors. Enjoy bison filet, tuna poke, spicy rigatoni and sweeping views of Jordanelle in the main hall, or escape to The Lounge for caviar and cocktails. And for a different take on après, head to The Living Room

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ST. REGIS

WHY? BECAUSE YOU’RE WORTH IT. If your ideal winter staycation includes a four-course meal, a glass of Veuve and rooftop views, set your sights on the Wasatch Back. With a bevy of high-end stays and exclusive dining experiences, Deer Valley and Park City invite you to indulge your inner hedonist.

WHAT’S NEW? If you haven’t heard, there’s a development boom happening in the Wasatch Back right now. Deer Valley’s East Side Expansion (East Village is open for the 25/26 season) will make the resort the fourth largest in the country. Real estate developments in Canyons Village (Pendry Townhomes) and Heber (The Slopes) are meeting a demand for high-end housing and a myriad of world-renowned chefs have made the mountain town their canvas for culinary creativity. All that’s to say, there’s always something new to explore in Salt Lake’s bougier sister city. BOTTOM LINE. Skiers, celebrities and sybarites flock to the Wasatch Back during the winter, and the après destination always aims to please. So go ahead, pamper yourself with the finer things in life. You deserve it.

MAIN STREET NIGHTLIFE PARK CITY’S MAIN STREET IS A HUB FOR AFTERDARK INDULGENCE. ADD THESE THREE BARS TO YOUR SATURDAY NIGHT ITINERARY.

FOR THE GIRLS

Seafood-forward small bites, smokecrowned cocktails and an impressive agave collection—Palomino is the perfect cocktail bar to kick off your night on the town. The sister-bar to Park City’s legacy restaurant, Riverhorse, Palomino maintains the standards of quality service and small touches that make a difference. The bar runs specials through the week, and typically hosts a live DJ on the weekends. And for the ladies (and all caffeine fiends) there’s an entire menu section dedicated to espresso martinis. palominoparkcity.com

for “High Chocolate.” The high-tea-meetsartisanal-chocolate experience features curated small bites and a tableside hot chocolate service, remingtonhalldv.com.

3

Dinner and a Show

New Year’s Eve has come and gone, but at the St. Regis, bottles pop all year round. In favor of showmanship, the hotel hosts a nightly Champagne Sabering ritual on its Mountain Terrace.

Learn more about the tradition’s history,

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAN CAMPBELL /DEER VALLEY/REMINGTON HALL

SWITCH SKI BOOTS FOR DANCING SHOES

A music venue first, bar second, The Cabin is Park City’s most popular haunt for live entertainment. Both local and touring musicians take the stage throughout the week, along with line dancing and drag brunch.

The Cabin comprises two stories, so you can seek shelter from the Friday karaokers that have had one too many, thecabinparkcity.com

HOUSEWIVES & HOUSE MUSIC

Lisa Barlow, eat your heart out.

Premiere Lounge, AKA the Vida Tequila Lounge, is a club venue complete with chandeliers, disco balls and fire dancers. The bar can be rented out to host a variety of events, so on any given night, you may find yourself at a bluegrass concert or a masquerade ball.

Of course, there’s also frequent Housewife sightings. Bring your swig cups for signatures, premiereparkcity.com

their 19th-century mining vault where a house sommelier will guide you through their entire portfolio, otcwines.com.

5 Rooftop Après

It’s ski season in Park City.

Adhering to the laws of après has never been more pressing. You can find bars hosting live bands and wind-kissed riders across the Wasatch Range, but one lounge doing après ski in style is The Pool House at Pendry. Every Friday through Sunday, the rooftop hotspot brings in DJs, cocktails, curated bites and cuvee, no reservations required. With panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, the Pool House is also an ideal viewing spot for Silver Sky Nights fireworks shows hosted by Canyons Village.

(Jan. 03, Jan. 17, Feb. 14), pendry.com.

The spicy rigatoni is one of Remington Hall’s classic dishes, add lump crab for maximum decadence.

The Vintage Room is a heated tent at the St. Regis. Inside they serve up sushi and après DJ sets.

and try to stay out of the line of fire.

Afterward, head to the resort’s renowned seafood and steak house, RIME, for Market Cut fish f lown overnight and sustainably sourced meat.

We recommend the pan-seared diver scallops and 40 oz bone-in Tomahak— we said splurge, srdvdining.com.

4 Private

Wine Tastings

Near the Main St. Banksy painting, Old Town Cellars is a hidden tasting room with mountain charm and house-blended vino to boot. The private label purchases wine from the world’s most renowned growing regions, then blends and bottles it locally. Book a private wine tasting in

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Su

THE SUN SETS ON

Sundance’s Greatest Hits 58 SALTLAKEMAGAZINE.COM | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2 0 2 6

Redford purchases 5,000 acres in Provo Canyon. With a name inspired by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, he opens Sundance Mountain Resort.

PHOTOS BY TK

1969

ndance The sun sets on Park City’s final Sundance Film Festival. The independent film festival transformed the cultural landscape of Utah and continually disrupted the film industry. Although Sundance is moving on from Park City, neither would exist without the other.

BY CHRISTIE PORTER

I

HUDDLED IN A SMALL WHITE TENT WITH DOZENS OF OTHER J O U R N A L I S T S , reporters,

critics, photographers and puffy-coated volunteers. A gate separated the rabble from a stretch of plush blue carpet. Icedover heaps of dirty snow walled us in on either side, forming a sallyport through which actors, directors, screenwriters and producers could be ushered through, then pause a moment for the cameras and a veritable pincushion of stick microphones. I extended my microphone as well, nearly elbowing the gorgeous face of a reporter from Brazil wedged against me. The crowd brought to mind flashes of being crushed in the pit at a punk rock show. A cameraperson from Variety

screamed over our heads, “Luke! Luke!

Mr. Wilson!” as the actor entered the tent.

Bill Hader of SNL fame followed after, soon greeted by shouts of “Bill! Bill!”

It struck me then at just how unglamorous the tableau was. We were far from the gilded movie premieres of Hollywood—nearly 600 miles away, in fact. What it lacked in glamour, however, it compensated for with scrappiness, a true belief in the power of visual storytelling, and black wool peacoats and UGG boots.

The Skeleton Twins (2014) premiered that night at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, and the people responsible were obliged to pay the price of admission by speaking to the clamoring press. That

1978

1979

The first of what would become the Sundance Film Festival opens in Salt Lake City, then known as the Utah/US Film Festival, cofounded by John Earle, Cirina HamptonCatania and Sterling Van Wagenen.

The festival screens more than 60 films, hosts panels with Hollywood filmmakers and awards the first Frank Capra Award to actor Jimmy Stewart.

was my first year covering the festival as a member of the press, and I was determined to capture the secret to what made Sundance special—singular among independent film festivals as a beacon of culture, fount of artistic discovery and venue of revolutions in cinema.

The executive producer of The Skeleton Twins, Mark Duplass, along with his brother Jay, had long been a Sundance darling before I spoke with him at that premiere. He’d brought his first film to Sundance a decade before that, launching his career. If anyone knew the secret to Sundance, it would be him. He alluded to an alchemy that took the base elements of timing, location, influence and audience, and transformed them into gold.

1981 The festival moves to Park City, Utah, is renamed the US Film and Video Festival and is held in January for the first time, in an attempt to lure the Hollywood crowd to the slopes.

The Sundance Institute holds its first official lab at Sundance Resort hosting 17 independent filmmakers. Director Sydney Pollack and screenwriter Waldo Salt act as advisors. Institute alumni include Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, Darren Aronofsky, Wes Anderson and many more big Hollywood names.

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“We’re in a small town, Park City, but since the 1980s, Redford has brought them this culture of really smart, interesting films,” said Duplass.

“There’s not a more appreciative audience for strange, on-the-periphery cinema in the world.”

It never would have happened without Robert Redford’s idealism and inf luence, Park City’s beauty and ski town charm, and a hungry film-loving audience willing to give upstart young filmmakers a chance.

And now it’s over, at least for Utah.

Butch Cassidy has lost his Sundance Kid. Freeze frame. Fade to black.

That’s a wrap.

The Sundance Film Festival will hold its 2027 season (and its foreseeable future seasons) in Boulder, Colo. The decision came after months of speculation and demurring on behalf of the Sundance Institute, but they could not keep it under wraps forever. Boulder competed with Cincinnati, Ohio and Salt Lake City/Park City for the contract to host the Festival after its agreement with Park City expired at the end of 2026, and Boulder won out.

While the eschewing of glamour was intentional, a decade ago, festival co-founder Robert Redford did not portend a move out of Utah. As Redford told Salt Lake in 2010, “The festival, for my money, needs to always be in touch with where we were when we had the first festival,” he said. “It was meant to be contrary to a Hollywood festival, where you have a red carpet and limousines. It was meant to be much more grassroots.”

Then, why the move? The Sundance Institute referenced much the same alchemy that helped make Sundance

special in the first place; small-town charm, an engaged community and a vibrant arts scene.

One could argue that Park City and Salt Lake City possess the same qualities. So, what does Boulder have that we don’t? The Institute flaunted its plans to build the Festival, at least in part, around Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall, a pedestrian-only street. Park City, too, had announced it would close Main Street to vehicle traffic during the festival. So, it’s a draw.

It’s rare for a film festival to change locations. (Could you imagine if Cannes moved to Versailles? Ridiculous.) But it’s not without precedent. In 1981, the film festival that would become Sundance moved to from Salt Lake to Park City. Part of the allure of Park City in January was drawing the Hollywood set to the slopes.

This will arguably be preserved with this

For 11 days every January, Park City’s Main Street becomes a proverbial circus of celebrities and locals alike; all with the same goal in mind... to spot their other favorite celebrity.

new second move, but skiing is far more accessible in Park City than it is in Boulder. Point to Park City.

Before he passed away in September 2025, founder Robert Redford said of the Festival’s move, “As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival.”

The answer may lie in that desire to grow, which Sundance Institute leadership seemed to feel was stymied in Park City.

Participation had become prohibitively expensive for many. Even if one can afford to attend, they must still compete with 73,000 other attendees to secure tickets, travel and lodging in a town of just 8,000 people. Perhaps Festival organizers felt the

1984

1989

1990

1991

The Sundance Institute takes control of the US Film Festival.

The Steven Soderbergh film Sex, Lies, and Videotape wins the Dramatic Audience Award at the festival. The success of the film signals a shift in the independent film landscape. The festival begins to cement its reputation as a cultivator of spectacular emerging talent. Miramax acquires Sex, Lies, and Videotape, marking the beginning of the “Miramax era” at Sundance—a longtime symbiotic relationship between the festival and the production company owned by the now criminally infamous Weinstein brothers.

Jennie Livingston’s foundational NYC drag queen documentary, Paris is Burning, appears at the festival to critical acclaim, winning the grand jury prize for documentary.

The festival receives its new name for the final time: The Sundance Film Festival.

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Richard Linklater screens Slacker at the festival, inspiring an entire genre of future independent film. Slacker is produced on a shoestring budget of $23,000 and later grosses more than $1.25 million and launching Linklater’s career as an auteur.

The festival introduces the Midnight category for films, genre films and genre-defying films.

balance between the independent creative spirit and commerce could no longer be maintained in Utah’s most expensive city.

“The quality and diversity of the independent films at the festival have gotten better each year. I’ve been very proud of its growth and what it has become.

Obviously, it’s been great for the Sundance Institute, but it’s also provided tremendous dividends for independent film, as well as the state of Utah. Our biggest problem now might be trying to control it, to not let it get too elite or become self-important,” Robert Redford told Salt Lake Magazine way back in 1993.

When he spoke again to Salt Lake magazine in 2004, Redford reflected on a pivotal year for the Festival. In 1989, then-unknown

director Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape premiered at Sundance. “People started to pay attention to what we had and, once the films clicked, came the merchants; once the merchants came, then the Hollywood studios came; once the Hollywood studios came, celebrities came; once the celebrities came, fashion came; once fashion came, the paparazzi came,” recalled Redford. “All that has nothing to do with why we started the program. I don’t mind it at all, the more the merrier, if it helps— fine. But the fact is, nothing has changed from the way we first ran this festival and program.”

While the push-pull films as art and films as big business remains a point of contention, there is at least one notable change: Redford went on to say in that 1993 interview,

“Anyone from Salt Lake or Park City can still walk up to a theater and buy a ticket.” Will that be attainable in Boulder?

Boulder does, however, seem to allow for the festival to grow with over 130 cultural organizations and more venues and theaters. Before Park City knew it would be losing the Festival to Boulder, the Arts Council of Park City & Summit County had identified Boulder as a benchmark city to aspire to. (How embarrassing.) In short, the report found that Boulder’s commitment to arts, culture and innovative urban planning is more effective, stating, “Through these efforts, Boulder cultivates an environment where residents and visitors alike can engage with a rich tapestry of experiences and contribute to a thriving, inclusive community.”

Sundance Celebrity Spotting For years, Salt Lake magazine’s Sundance correspondent Stuart Graves has shared his adventures running around Main Street in Park City searching for celebrities during the Sundance Film Festival and asking them to take “an old-school selfie” with his ancient point-and-shoot camera.

To stalk celebrities at Sundance and the chance to secure a selfie for yourself for the last time, there are some tried and true places to lurk around Park City: haunt the coffee shops, belly up at the local bars or hit the slopes. If you don’t mind waiting in the cold, Stuart recommends lingering outside the celebrity lounge, where the stars come to you. Happy Hunting!

1992

1994

1998

1999

Quentin Tarantino debuts his film Reservoir Dogs after workshopping it in the Sundance Institute’s Director Lab. The same year, Robert Rodriguez debuts El Mariachi.

Four Weddings and a Funeral opens at Sundance. Directed by Mike Newell, written

by Richard Curtis and starring Hugh Grant, the film earns Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. According to popular legend, the U.S. distributor of the film objected to the word “fu**” in the opening scene, which is said to have caused Mormon audience members to storm out of the theater at a Salt Lake City screening.

Sundance Institute film Smoke Signals, directed by Chris Eyre and written by Sherman Alexie, a Native American, makes history, winning the Festival’s Dramatic Audience Award and Dramatic Filmmaker Trophy and receives a commercial release.

Three Seasons, written and directed by Tony Bui, is the first film to receive both the Grand Jury Award and Audience Award. Pioneering the “found footage” genre, The Blair Witch Project premieres at Sundance and became one of the highest-grossing independent films of all time, earning $250 million worldwide. Local filmmaker James Merendino’s semi-autobiographical SLC Punk! gets a Sundance screening this year as well, which will go on to become a cult classic.

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The fear that the Sundance Film Festival had become too expensive and “too Hollywood” does not fully undercut its significance as a discoverer of diverse voices and purveyor of challenging cinema.

As Utah filmmaker Trent Harris said to Salt Lake magazine more than 20 years ago, “A lot of them [filmmakers] look at Sundance as an audition for Hollywood, and that’s not Redford’s fault. What happens is these filmmakers try to tailor their movies to appeal to some commercial sponsor or studio. And if they win a prize, I’d say 95% of them get sucked into the Hollywood system and they’re no longer an independent filmmaker; and that’s what they want, which is OK, too; it gives people from the outside a way to get in, which didn’t exist before Sundance.”

What some believe ultimately drove the wedge between Utah and the Sundance Film Festival is what a divorce attorney might call “irreconcilable differences.”

With the Sundance Film Festival and the Sundance Institute Labs, outsiders had a rare opportunity to become insiders and, for many, showcase work that would never have been seen by the public otherwise.

The labs have helped launch careers and develop contemporary classics, including Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and the landmark films Smoke Signals (1998) and Pariah (2011), which filmmaker Dee Rees premiered at the Festival, where it won the Dramatic Excellence in

Here’s to you, Bob A focal point of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival will be a tribute to the Festival’s founder-in-chief, Robert Redford. In honor of his memory, the festival will show a commemorative screening of Downhill Racer (1969), his first independent film, which elicited no interest from Hollywood studios. “That was very, very painful. The studio just dumped it and had no faith in it,” Redford once told Salt Lake magazine. “And I thought, ‘How many people like myself have gone through this experience? How many good projects are out there that we’re not seeing?’” The rejection of his passion project became a catalyst for the creation of the Sundance Institute.

The 2026 Festival will also host gatherings honoring Redford, such as the Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford event. “His fearless support of artistic integrity and risk-taking is at the core of the work we continue to do,” said Eugene Hernandez, Director of the Sundance Film Festival.

“And the 2026 Festival will be a celebration of that important mission.”

2003 Jared and Jerusha Hess debut their future cult classic comedy, Napoleon Dynamite, at Sundance.

It is bought by Fox Searchlight Pictures for $4.75 million.

Cinematography Award. For her third film, Mudbound, Rees became the first African-American woman nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Smoke Signals had the distinction of being entirely developed and produced

by Native Americans. “There’s nothing like it in the world,” Smoke Signals director Chris Eyre told Salt Lake magazine about the Sundance Labs.

“To have an art organization put you up at their expense, and give you a crew, editors and mentors—well, that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

For the 2019 Festival, Kim Yutani took over as director of programming, and she doubled down on Sundance’s

Courtesy of visitboulder.com, this map illustrates Pearl Street, located in the heart of downtown Boulder. With plenty of room to grow, will Boulder be better than the Beehive?

2005

2012-2014

2017

2021-2022

2021

The Sundance Film Festival introduces the World Cinema Competition.

The Institute launches three new diversity initiatives: Women at Sundance Institute, Catalyst, and the Outreach and Inclusion Initiative.

Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, the landmark horror film Get Out, premieres at Sundance.

In a dramatic shift, necessitating a logistical high-wire act, the 2021 and 2022 Sundance Film Festivals are held largely online amid the pandemic.

Written and directed by Sian Heder, the coming-of-age film starring actors in the deaf community, CODA, premieres at Sundance. It becomes the first Sundance film to take home the Academy Award for Best Picture.

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commitment to inclusion. That year, the Festival featured 41% of films by people of color, 17% by people who identified as LGBTQ+, and 45% by women.

Utah politicians would call this textbook “DEI initiatives.” Through pride f lag bans, restrictions targeting transgender children and Salt Lake City residents avoid the chaos of Park City and enjoy festival films at Salt Lake Film Society supported theaters like Broadway in downtown SLC.

IN SHORT, THE REPORT FOUND THAT BOULDER’S COMMITMENT TO ARTS, CULTURE, AND INNOVATIVE URBAN PLANNING IS MORE POTENT AND EFFECTIVE

vilifying longstanding values of inclusion and diversity, Utah lawmakers have alienated the diverse artists, outsider filmmakers and the adventurous movie lovers that make the necessary alchemical ingredients for an independent film festival to be successful. And they’re not sorry.

As State Senator Dan McCay (R-Riverton) posted after learning the news of Sundance’s departure, “Bye Felicia...Sundance promotes porn; Sundance promotes alternative lifestyles; Sundance promotes anti-LDS themes; Sundance does not fit in Utah anymore.”

In contrast, Colorado’s equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives remain intact, and the legislature there amended

its Anti-Discrimination Law in 2025 to add new protections for transgender people in the workplace and improve public accommodations for those with disabilities. Point: Boulder.

Despite their values not exactly aligning with Sundance Institute’s, some Utah politicians didn’t want to lose out on the contributions, both artistic and otherwise, the Festival brings to the state.

State and local leaders, including the Governor who signed the aforementioned laws, drafted a letter to the “Sundance Community,” urging them to stay in Utah. Writing, “Robert Redford had a vision—to create a platform for independent artists to share their work with the world. At the same time, Utah was still something of the Wild West, a smaller state with a quiet reputation for the Greatest Snow on Earth. When we came together, it was clear we had something special.

“Today, you’re an icon of artistic expression, a cradle for emerging talent

and a beacon for people to feel seen through the art of storytelling. Through the Festival, Institute programming and the many artist labs, you cultivate creativity, inspire dialogue and provide a space for artistic expression…Sundance is much more than an economic impact or a bump in tourism. For us, it’s about the art of film.”

But it’s hard to separate creativity from commerce. Sundance Institute commissioned an economic impact study, finding the 2024 festival added $132 million to the Utah’s gross domestic product and $13.8 million in state and local tax revenue. That’s a lot to lose. To sweeten the pot, Utah’s sweetheart letter came with a budget allocation of $3.5 million, an offer competitive with a new Colorado tax incentive. We know how this story ends.

For 11 days every year for 40 years, Utahns engaged in a love affair with independent cinema. But Sundance broke up with the Beehive.

There’s no reason we can’t part as friends. In one of his final public statements, Redford thanked Park City, the state of Utah and the local community that helped to build Sundance. “What we’ve created is remarkably special and defining,” he said.

Utah’s final Sundance Film Festival will run January 22–February 1, 2026 and serve as a tribute to actor, director, visionary, and festival founder Robert Redford. Bob would have hated it.

2021

2023

2024

2025

Questlove’s Sundance documentary Summer of Soul (...or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) premieres, going on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

After two years of online Festivals, Sundance holds its first hybrid— in-person and online— festival.

Park City announces its plan to close Main Street to cars during the 2025 Festival. However, even with this and other attempts to convince the festival to stay, Sundance announces it will move to Boulder, Colo., after its contract with Park City expires following the 2026 festival. As partial motivation for the move, some cite the Utah Legislature’s red state agenda as being at odds with Sundance’s focus on inclusion.

Robert Redford passes away at 89 years old on September 16, 2025, at his home in Sundance.

Rumors begin to circulate that the Sundance Film Festival is looking for alternative host cities to Park City.

Sundance Institute celebrates the 40th edition of the Festival, setting a record with 17,000 film submissions from around the world.

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A UTAH CLASSIC.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Scan the QR code and USE CODE SLM26 AT CHECKOUT to get a full year FOR ONLY $19.95 Let Salt Lake magazine be your guide to all things Utah!

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PHOTO COURTESY UTAH GRIZZLIES/FACEBOOK

Around the State Grizzlies’ last season

66

Tupelo’s Matt Harris

68

S AY I T A I N ’ T S O Apparently, there ain’t room enough in this town for two professional hockey teams, now that the Utah Mammoth have lumbered onto the scene.

The Utah Grizzlies, once the only pro game on ice, are packing up their pucks and going to New Jersey. But there’s one final season. Be sure to pay your respects at the Maverick Center, p. 66.

UTAHGRIZZLIES.COM

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AROUND THE STATE

NORT H ER N U TA H

THE FINAL FACEOFF

Upcoming Theme Nights

After three decades in Utah, the Grizz are moving to New Jersey

Jan. 31: Guns & Hoses Feb. 14th : Valentine’s Day Feb. 27 & 28: Grizz Fight Cancer March 14: Military Night March 27: Wild West Night April 4: Star Wars Night April 11: Fan Appreciation

BY JAIME WINSTON

T

|

PHOTOS COURTESY UTAH GRIZZLIES

H E U TA H G R I Z Z L I E S A N N O U N C E D they were preparing

to sell the team last summer. In 2023, David Elmore, who owned the team with his wife, Donna Tuttle, passed away. Due to health concerns, Tuttle was unable to stay actively involved.

The Maverik Center in West Valley City, the team’s home base, will still host the local NBA G League team, the Salt Lake City Stars. The higher-tier NHL team, the Utah Mammoth, will continue playing at the Delta Center. So, while there will be plenty of hockey in Utah, actual Grizz games will soon be only memories for the team’s longtime Utah fans.

Grizzlies supporters will remember enforcers like Mick Vukota showing their strength on the ice, team mascot Grizzbee hyping up kids in the audience, goalie Trent Miner’s impressive shutouts and the crowd going wild as the team won the 1996 Turner Cup. Thankfully, there’s still time to make new Grizzlies memories as they play one final season on Utah ice.

“You see a lot of families there,”

The Grizzlies have made playoffs in 21 of their 29 seasons and sent 200 alumni to the NHL.

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said Tyson Whiting, director of broadcasting and media relations. “It’s a good time at an affordable price.”

Whiting recommends getting tickets early for Grizzlies-themed nights, like the annual Guns & Hoses game on Jan. 31. Tickets include entry to police vs. firefighters charity games before the Grizzlies take on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Proceeds from tickets and raffles will support first responders. Whiting also suggests attending Grizz Fight Cancer nights on Feb. 27 and 28, when the team will honor all who have battled cancer, and Military Night on March 14, when the Grizzlies honor former and current military service members.

Heading into the season, Whiting names the following players to watch: returning team captain Mick Messner, goalie Dryden McKay—statistically one of the best goaltenders in college hockey history—and defender Luke LaMaster, who will have his first full season with the team after joining and impressing toward the end of last season.

KNOW YOUR GRIZZ HISTORY

Following a 1994-95 Turner Cup championship season, the Grizzlies arrived in Utah from Denver as the Colorado Avalanche

The Utah Grizz have played in three different leagues over three decades in Utah.

They will move to New Jersey for the 2026-27 season.

Grizzbee participates in community events throughout the year; request an appearance at utahgrizzlies.com

established themselves in the Mile High City.

The Grizzlies played home games at the Delta Center during their first Utah season, where they won their second consecutive Turner Cup title in 1996. “That night, a minor league hockey record of 17,381 was set at Delta Center,” Whiting said. “That had to be the first sign that if someone had the money to bring an NHL team to town that it would be successful.”

The Maverik Center, originally called the E Center, was built in 1997 to host the Grizzlies and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Fans filled the arena on game days, many losing their voices from cheering after each Grizzlies goal.

Over the years, more than 200 Grizzlies players have went on to play in the NHL. Of course, you don’t have to know the team’s history, research its players or even go on a theme night to enjoy the experience. Order a beer, sit back and watch a classic Utah team once more before they’re gone.

Along with lighthearted, fun activities for fans before the game and between periods, “the hockey on the ice is a lot of fun as well,” Whiting said.

Where Dinosaurs Still Roam From towering T. Rex to gentle giants of the Jurassic, Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park brings Utah’s prehistoric past to life. A must-see destination for families, travelers, and locals alike. Explore 8.5 acres of history – it’s closer than you think!

PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE AT

dinosaurpark.org

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AROUND THE STATE

PA R K CI T Y

Rooted and Rare Chef Matt Harris’s culinary journey from the South to the Wasatch

BY LYDIA MARTINE Z

landscape. It is both fine dining and unpretentious, earthy and sophisticated, a mom-and-pop operation and a culinary destination. The restaurant, Tupelo, is named after a rare and sought-after honey produced from the White Tupelo tree, a native species found in the southeastern United States. It is distinct in flavor and doesn’t crystallize.

Thus, the honey bee in the restaurant logo (also a subtle nod to its Utah roots).

Chef Matt Harris, who has headed up Tupelo since its inception in 2015, is a rare and sought-after culinary talent. He brings a distinct flavor to his menu and is constantly innovating rather than crystallizing. “Tupelo means something rare, something pure,” Chef Matt says. “Not commodity—it’s what we aim for in every dish.” He could be describing himself, although with his humble Southern roots, he would never say so. Recently, he received a James Beard nod as a semi-finalist in the Mountain Region for Best Chef.

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A SOUTHERN START: FROM BISCUITS TO UTAH BACKCOUNTRY Before he was a Chef, Matt learned to appreciate great food and great ingredients in his mother’s kitchen. A riff on mom’s biscuit recipe is on the menu today at Tupelo.

At 21, Chef Matt was living in Atlanta, working as a sous chef for several prominent restaurants and realized that he wanted to expand his horizons and see more of the world. “I packed up my Tacoma and hit the road—Utah was one of my first stops and I fell in love,” he said. After a stint cooking in Utah and then in California, he moved back to Atlanta to work with Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Who, on a pivotal day, asked Chef Matt, “What do you think about moving to Utah and opening a restaurant?”

Matt’s answer? “Hell yeah!” Back in Utah, he oversaw the J&G Grill at the St. Regis, which is where he met his other half, Maggie and fell in love again. “I spent a couple more years kind of floating around the country, finding myself culinarily.” Then came the

PHOTO BY ADAM FINKLE

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chance to move back to Utah for a third time to open Tupelo. “When I first came to Utah, I was like, ‘Wow! There’s something special about this place. Every time I left, I just thought, ‘I want to be in Utah.’”

(LEF T TO RIGHT) PHOTOS COURTESY OF TUPELOPARKCIT Y/FACEBOOK; BY ADAM FINKLE

MORE THAN LOCAL: A PHILOSOPHY OF PURVEYOR COLLABORATION AT TUPELO Since returning, Matt has been putting down roots and building relationships with local purveyors. From farmers, ranchers and regional producers, the approach at Tupelo differs from that of most restaurateurs who work with small vendors. He changes the menu based on what a small farm is harvesting that week.

“We change 75-80% of the menu regularly.

It keeps us fresh—and our guests curious.”

He’ll call up a rancher and ask, “What do you need to sell? I’ll take the odd bits, the underloved cuts.” He’ll take these random bits and bobs and give them love. It also means that his rancher friends love him.

They know that he is there to help keep them in business, too.

Matt and Maggie even have their own farm operation out of Midway to supply the restaurant. They grow summer vegetables, including collards (like a good Southern boy), tomatoes and cucumbers. In the fall, the harvest switches over to winter squash.

He laughs, “I found wild hops on the property and I pulled them out and I put them on an actual trellis where they grow up. Maggie was super happy because they hid my snowmobiles so she didn’t have to see them.” Chef Matt uses the wild hops

from his farm. “We harvest them at the end of the summer in September. In September or October, depending on the year, Copper River Salmon is coming on. We make a bunch of cured salmon. We buy as much salmon as we have hops and we do hop-cured salmon. It goes on the menu until it sells out.” It is a perfect illustration of how Chef Matt’s culinary brain works.

COMMUNITY AND CULTURE REIGN Chef Matt passionately dislikes the question, ‘What sets you apart?’ Instead, he says, “I don’t want Tupelo to be set apart. I want it to be part of a culinary community. I want to be with other people. I want to do what we are doing culinarily with like-minded people. I want to be a community.”

I packed up my Tacoma and hit the road—Utah was one of my first stops and I fell in love.

— CH E F H A R R I S

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Matt and Maggie have their own farm in Midway. They grow summer vegetables, tomatoes and cucumbers. In the fall, the harvest switches over to winter squash.

Chef Matt Harris and his wife Maggie created Tupelo as a labor of love.

Tupelo Honey is always on the menu at Tupelo. It’s served here with Matt’s lovely biscuits.

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The music just feels better here.

Coming summer 2026!

PHOTO COURTESY OF CALI WARNER, ELLE MARKETING

On the Table Discover Chef Pop-ups

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Date Nights on a Budget (or Not)

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Peek Inside Caputo’s Cheese Cave

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Kiitos Opens in Sugar House

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Staff Picks: Our Favorite Après Tipples

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L O V E AT E V E R Y P R I C E P O I N T A beautiful salmon filet from the latest Mexican spot to inhabit 268 S. State Street in downtown, Monarca, beckons for a Valentine’s Day dinner out. But why just one day?

We present our options for date nights from affordable to splurge-worthy, p. 76 MONARCA 268 S. STATE STREET, SLC MONARCAUT.COM

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ON THE TABLE

One Table, Six Chefs, Endless Stories RIME’s culinary takeover with Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and ‘Sandwich King’ Jeff Mauro The Culinary Takeover featured celebrity chefs Jeff Mauro (left) and Geoffrey Zakarian (middle), along with Mar | Muntanya’s Chef Tyson Peterson and the St. Regis Deer Valley culinary team

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I M E AT T H E S T. R E G I S D E E R VA L L E Y has been

creating unique culinary takeover collaborations with internationally renowned tastemakers.

Last year, they brought together Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and Jeff Mauro, known as the Sandwich King, for a collaborative wine dinner. It was a small, intimate showcase of talent.

It came about by happenstance. Chef Zakarian was vacationing in the area and happened to pop his head into a Deer Valley yurt. The team at the St. Regis immediately recognized him and struck up a conversation. One thing led to another, and six months later, Zakarian found himself back in Deer Valley, cooking it up with the St. Regis team. He brought along his friend Jeff Mauro as well.

When asked about what makes for a good collaboration, Chef Zakarian says, “The trick with collaborating when you aren’t in your own restaurant is to be respectful. You are the guest, not the star. And so you go in and create something that feels special to that place,” Chef went on to talk about why

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how much he loves seeing what other chefs come up with and where the local ingredients take him. “I do have to be careful,” he adds. “I want to pick ingredients that feel like the place I’m cooking.” He currently lives in Tampa, Florida. “I can’t assume that the fish that I cook with back home will be readily available. I want to see what is local and how I can partner with locals.”

Six chefs in total collaborated on the meal, including Mar | Muntanya’s Tyson Peterson, and three members of the St. Regis team; former Chef de Cuisine Larry Abrams, Pastry Chef Marcela Ferrinha and Executive Sous Chef Jason Lahrman. The winter menu ranged from Whistling Springs trout toast with pickled chile and herbs, created by Chef Tyson Peterson from Mar | Myuntana, a winter chicory salad with Pecorino Romano and black truffle, prepared by Chef Zakarian.

Former Chef Larry Abrams of RIME prepared Utah rabbit carnitas with red mole, while Chef Jeff Maura created a perfectly on-brand Chicago-style braised short rib paired with creamy polenta. Chef Jason Lahrman from The

BY LYDIA MARTINE Z PHOTOS COURTESY OF RIME

St. Regis Deer Valley prepared a junipercrusted local lamb loin with parsnips and morels. Pastry Chef Marcela Ferrinha of The St. Regis Deer Valley finished strong with a honey gorgonzola mousse featuring white chocolate, beet tuile and port gel.

Chef Tyson Peterson of Mar | Muntanya prepared his ‘Troutxovey Toast,’ a cured Whistling Spring fryer trout on milk bread.

WHERE TO EAT A select list of the best restaurants in Utah, curated and edited by Salt Lake magazine

SALT LAKE CITY & THE WASATCH FRONT Alpha Coffee–Find all locations at

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alpha.coffee.com. Highly rated craft coffee served at two inviting locations, with a mission to give back.

Innovative drinks and local goods. Veteran and Woman co-owned since 2010. Taste the Alpha Difference.

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Arlo–271 N. Center St., SLC. arlorestaurant.

com. Chef Milo Carrier has created a destination in a small, charming house at the top of the Marmalade neighborhood. A fresh approach and locally sourced ingredients are the root of a menu that bridges fine and casual dining, at once sophisticated and homey.

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Asian Star–7588 S. Union Park Ave., Midvale.

asianstarmidvale.com, asianstarrestaurant.com. The menu is chef driven and not frighteningly authentic or disturbingly Americanized. Dine-in and takeout available. Dishes are chef-driven, and Chef James seems most comfortable in the melting pot.

The Bagel Project–779 S. 500 East,

Café Med–420 E. 3300 South, SLC. medslc.com.

Get the mezzes platter for some of the best falafel in town.

Entrees range from pita sandwiches to gargantuan dinner platters of braised shortribs, roast chicken and pasta.

Cafe Niche–779 E. 300 South, SLC. caffeniche.

com. The food comes from farms all over northern Utah, and the patio is a local favorite when the weather is fine.

Café Trio–680 S. 900 East, SLC. triodiningslc.com.

Pizzas from the wood-fired brick oven are wonderful.

One of the city’s premier and perennial lunch spots. Be sure to check out their weekly specials.

Caffé Molise & BTG Wine Bar–404 S.

West Temple, SLC. caffemolise.com. The old Eagle building is a gorgeous setting for this city fave, with outdoor dining space and much more. Sibling wine bar BTG is under the same roof. Call for hours.

La Caille–9565 Wasatch Blvd., Sandy. lacaille.com.

Utah’s original glamour girl has regained her luster. The grounds are as beautiful as ever; additions are functional, like a greenhouse, grapevines and vegetable gardens, all supplying the kitchen and cellar.

Bricks Corner–1465 S. 700 East, SLC.

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1500 East, SLC. casotwinework.com. In a town with a dearth of neighborhood bars, Casot is the real deal. Located in the established 15th and 15th neighborhood, this small wine bar is a welcome addition featuring an interesting, rotating wine list from Pago’s Scott Evans.

feldmansdeli.com. Finally, SLC has a Jewish deli worthy of the name. Stop by for your hot pastrami fix or to satisfy your latke craving or your yen for knishes.

chanonthaislc.com. A meal here is like a casual dinner at your best Thai friend’s place. Try curried fish cakes and red-curry prawns with coconut milk and pineapple.

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Copper Common–111 E.

evasbakeryslc.com. A smart French-style cafe and bakery in the heart of downtown. Different bakers are behind the patisserie and the boulangerie, meaning sweet and daily breads get the attention they deserve. Go for classics like onion soup and croque monsieur, but don’t ignore other specials and always leave with at least one loaf of bread.

Feldman’s Deli –2005 E 2700 S, SLC.

Chanon Thai Café–278 E. 900 South, SLC.

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Eva’s Bakery–155 S. Main St., SLC.

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Felt Bar & Eatery–341 S. Main

St., SLC, feltslc.com. Appropriately named after the building where it resides, Felt’s menu is a wonderful mix of classic and more experimental cocktails, shared plates, filling main dishes and bar bites. The Filet and Marrow Tartare is a must.

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Broadway, SLC. coppercommon.com.Here, owner Ryan Lowder took inspiration from the high-end side of NYC nightlife. Oysters are on the menu and the cocktails are on the highest of ends, but it’s the food that put Copper Common over the top.

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cafemadrid.net. Authentic dishes like garlic soup share the menu with port-sauced lamb shank. Service is courteous and friendly at this family-owned spot.

Casot Wine + Work–1508 S.

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Café Madrid–5244 S. Highland Dr., Holladay.

thedodorestaurant.com. A venerable bistro and SLC classic. It’s nice to know where to get quiche.

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brickscornerslc.com. Bricks is the sole purveyor of Detroit-style pizza in Salt Lake City, baked in a steel pan and smothered in cheese, some might think it resembles a lasagna more than a pizza. You’ll want to come hungry.

The Dodo–1355 E. 2100 South, SLC.

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Traverse Pkwy, Lehi., brazagrillutah.com. Meat, meat and more meat is the order of the day at this Brazilianstyle churrascaria buffet.

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Braza Grill–5927 S. State St., Murray; 1873 W.

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dangerouspretzel.com. This Post District fave serves up Bavarian-style soft pretzels with names like the Spicy Bee, Brush Before Kissing and Hot Devil’s Delight.

Bonus: they sell beer too.

eggsinthecityslc.com. A familiar face in a whole new space—the favored breakfast joint has moved to Millcreek. Hip and homey, all at once.

Carmine’s Italian Restaurant–

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toscanaslc.com. This longtime favorite turns out Italian classics like veal scaloppine, carbonara and a risotto of the day in a chic setting.

Eggs in the City–2795 S. 2300 East, SLC.

carluccisbakery.com. Plus a few hot dishes make this a fave morning stop. For lunch, try the herbed goat cheese on a chewy baguette.

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2477 Fort Union Blvd., SLC. carmines.restaurant.

Carmine’s has a robust menu of Italian classics, including housemade pasta, Neapolitan pizza and a wine list expansive enough for picture-perfect pairings.

bambara-slc.com. The menu reflects food based on sustainability and the belief that good food should be available to everybody. Prizing seasonally driven dishes sourced from local farmers, they turn out dishes with a community-minded sensibility.

Cucina Toscana–282 S. 300 West, SLC.

Dangerous Pretzel–352 W. 600 South, SLC..

Bambara–202 S. Main St., SLC.

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Cucina has added fine restaurant to its list of descriptors—good for lunch or a leisurely dinner. The menu has recently expanded to include small plates and substantial beer and wine-by-the-glass lists.

ilovecurryinahurry.com. The Nisar family’s restaurant is tiny, but fast service and fair prices make this a great take-out spot. But if you opt to dine in, there’s always a Bollywood film on.

Carlucci’s Bakery–314 W. Broadway, SLC.

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Cucina–1026 E. 2nd Ave., SLC. cucinawinebar.com.

Curry in a Hurry–2020 S. State St., SLC.

SLC; 1919 E. Murray-Holladay Rd, Holladay. bagelproject.com. “Real” bagels are the whole story here, made by a homesick East Coaster. Of course, there’s no New York water to make them with, but other than that, these are as authentic as SLC can get.

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Listings

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2025 Salt Lake magazine Dining Award Winner

Quintessential Utah

Salt Lake 2025 advertising partner

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During dinner, Chef Mauro added “I’m just here to cook good food with good people.” Watching from behind the scenes, these chefs, celebrities though they may be, had their hands in the kitchen. They worked side by side with the staff at RIME, ensuring every plate was pristine and the experience was stellar. One of the RIME line cooks was absolutely amazed that both guest chefs just dove in and helped on his station.

Former Chef Larry Abrams from RIME says, “I love bringing people together. Over a glass of wine, over a good meal and through good conversation. Seeing these guys work and seeing their passion is inspiring to all of us.”

With a lot of big names in the room, I would have expected a little bit more competitiveness but it was delightful to see the level of creativity and support.

The St. Regis Deer Valley promises more collaborative dinners in the future. We say “Cheers to that!”

‘Sandwich King’ Jeff Mauro cooked up a Chicaco-style braised short rib and creamy polenta.

ST. REGIS’ CULINARY TAKEOVER RETURNS IN 2026

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St. Regis will reprise the collaborative chef dinners in 2026 with return appearances from Chef ’s Geoffrey Zakarian, Jeff Mauro and St. Regis culinary team members. Keep an eye on their site and socials for the full lineup

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Harbor Seafood & Steak Co.–2302 E. Parleys Way, SLC.

harborslc.com. A much-needed breath of sea air refreshes this restaurant, which updates their menu frequently according to the availability of wild fish. A snappy interior, a creative cocktail menu and a vinecovered patio make for a hospitable atmosphere.

Himalayan Kitchen–360 S. State St., SLC; Finn’s Cafe–1624 S. 1100 East, SLC. finnscafe.net.

The Scandinavian vibe comes from the heritage of owner Finn Gurholt. At lunch, try the Nordic sandwiches, but Finn’s is most famous for breakfast (best Benedicts in town), served until the doors close at 2:30 p.m.

Five Alls—1458 Foothill Dr., SLC. fivealls.com. Five

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Alls offers a unique dining experience in a romantic, Old English-inspired location that overlooks the valley. The names a reference to the menu’s five courses.

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Franklin Avenue–231 S. Edison

Gourmandise– 250 S 300 East, SLC.

gourmandise.com. This downtown mainstay has cheesecakes, cannoli, napoleons, pies, cookies, muffins and flaky croissants. And don’t forget breads and rolls to take home.

Hong Kong Tea House & Restaurant–565 W. 200 South, SLC.

hongkongteahouse.yolasite.com. Authentic, pristine and slightly weird is what we look for in Chinese food. Tea House does honorable renditions of favorites, but it is a rewarding place to go explore.

HSL–418 E. 200 South, SLC. hslrestaurant.com.

The initials stand for “Handle Salt Lake”—Chef Briar Handly made his name with his Park city restaurant, Handle, and now he’s opened a second restaurant down the hill. The place splits the difference between “fine” and “casual” dining; the innovative food is excellent and the atmosphere is casually convivial. The menu is unique—just trust this chef. It’s all excellent.

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of food talent, and mark your calendars for March 16-21. Visit srdvdining.com for all dining and special events.

Indochine–230 S. 1300 East, SLC.

indochinesaltlake.com. Vietnamese cuisine is under-­ represented in Salt Lake’s Thai-ed up dining scene, so a restaurant that offers more than noodles is welcome.

Try broken rice dishes, clay pots and pho.

Kathmandu–3142 S. Highland Dr., SLC. thekathmandu.net. Try the Nepalese specialties, including spicy pickles to set off the tandoor-roasted meats. Both goat and sami, a kibbeh-like mixture of ground lamb and lentils, are available in several styles.

Kaze–65. E. Broadway, SLC. kazesushiut.com. Small and stylish, Kaze has plenty to offer besides absolutely fresh fish and inventive combos. Food is beautifully presented and especially for a small place the variety is impressive. A sake menu is taking shape and Kaze is open until midnight.

King’s Peak Coffee–412 S. 700 West, SLC;

592 W. 200 South. kingspeakcoffee.com. All of King’s Peak’s coffee is sourced directly from farmers or reputable importers. In the end, the result is a better quality coffee.

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St., SLC. franklinaveslc.com. The menu offers intelligent, well-executed plates. There is a burger (a Wagyu burger, actually) but bolognese, as well, and a rotating menu of specials that will delight. The stellar bar program (it is a bar, after all) must certainly be mentioned and experienced.

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11521 S. 4000 West, South Jordan. himalayankitchen.com.

Indian-Nepalese restaurant with an ever-expanding menu. Start the meal with momos, fat little dumplings like pot stickers. All the tandoor dishes are good, but Himalayan food is rare, so go for the quanty masala, a stew made of nine different beans.

St. Regis’ Chef Jason Lahrman presented a junipercrusted local lamb loin with morels and parsnip.

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Kimi’s Chop & Oyster House– 4699 S. Highland Dr., SLC.

kimishouse.com. A high-style, multipurpose restaurant with new digs: It’s an oyster bar, it’s a steakhouse, it’s a lounge.However you use it, Kimi’s makes for a fun change from the surrounding pizza and beerscapes, with dramatic lighting, purple velvet and live music.

Kobe Japanese Restaurant–

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3947 S. Wasatch Blvd., MillcreekSLC. kobeslc.com.

Mike Fukumitsu, once at Kyoto, was is the personality behind the sushi bar and the driving spirit in the restaurant. Perfectly fresh fish keeps a horde of regulars returning.

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Koyote–551 W. 400 North, SLC.

koyoteslc.com. The menu features a wide selection of traditional Japanese dishes, including ramen, okazu and washoku. They also offer a variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

The showstopper for the night was the Karage wings.

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Krua Thai–212 E. 500 South, SLC.

tg-kruathaiut.square.site. Curries and noodle dishes hit a precise procession on the palate—sweet, then sour, savory and hot—plus there are dishes you’ve never tried before and should: bacon and collard greens, red curry with duck, salmon with chili and coconut sauce.

Left Fork Grill–68 W. 3900 South, SLC.

Romantic Wi{derness Vining

Enjoy our award-winning seasonal cuisine, outstanding service and elegantly rustic ambiance every night of the week, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Celebrating 30 Years of Nature, Nurture, Nourishment

=••

leftforkgrillslc.com, leftforkgrill.ipower.com. Every booth comes with its own dedicated pie shelf. Because no matter what you’re eating—liver and onions, raspberry pancakes, meatloaf or a reuben—you’ll want to save room for pie. Tip: Order your favorite pie first, in case they run out. Now serving beer and wine.

LO�T��Y�.�

Log Haven–6451 E. Mill Creek Canyon Road,

For reservations, call 801-272-8255 or visit log-haven.com

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SLC. log-haven.com. Certainly Salt Lake’s most picturesque restaurant, the old log cabin is pretty in every season. Chef David Jones has a sure hand with American vernacular and is not afraid of frying, although he also has a way with healthy, low-calorie, high-energy food. And he’s an expert with local and foraged foods.

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Open every night for dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.

Located 4 miles up Millcreek Canyon - just 20 minutes from downtown SLC.

Manoli’s–402 E. 900 South, SLC.

manolison9th.com. Manoli and Katrina Katsanevas have created a fresh modern approach to Greek food. Stylish small plates full of Greek flavors include Butternut-squash-filled tyropita, smoked feta in piquillo peppers and a stellar roast chicken.

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Mar | Muntanya –170 S West Temple,

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SLC. mar-muntanya.com. Inside the Hyatt Regency hotel, the menu at Mar (meaning ocean) | Muntanya (meaning mountain) is a nice blend of Spanish coastal seafood and mountainous Basque-inspired dishes.

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Matteo–77 W. 200 South, SLC.

matteoslc.com. This family-run Italian restaurant comes with a mission statement: “Food. Wine. Togetherness.” The menu is inspired by the rustic and comforting recipes and techniques passed down through generations of Matteo’s family and perfected by Chef Damiano Carlotto.

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Mazza–1515 S. 1500 East, SLC.

mazzacafe.com. Excellent. With the bright flavor that is the hallmark of Middle Eastern food and a great range of dishes, Mazza has been a go-to for fine Lebanese food in SLC before there was much fine food at all.

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SAKEUT.COM | (801) 938-9195 | 8657 HIGHLAND DR, SANDY, UT 84093 @SAKERAMENSUSHI

@SAKE.RESTAURANT

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Love at Every Price Point 5 Valentine’s spots from sweet deals to decadent splurges

BY LYDIA MARTINE Z

small plates or white glove service, there’s a perfect Valentine’s Day dinner waiting for you. From a once-a-year splurge to a cozy neighborhood spot, here are five restaurants that prove romance isn’t about the price tag. It’s about the company. (And just maybe the wine list.)

1. ‘The Meet-Cute’ for Brunch

MARMALADE BRUNCH HOUSE AFFORDABLE PLATES: $9-13 / dish COCKTAILS: $5-14 / drink

Who said that a Valentine’s date has to be dinner? Marmalade Brunch House is sure to dish up the perfect sweet treat for your sweetheart. You’ll swoon over the blueberry lemon curd pancakes or the crème brûlée French toast. And the morning after burger? Well, enough said…

Sip from the mimosa bar (with blueberry, strawberry, green, apple, lychee, hibiscus or mango juices). Or indulge in a honey lips cocktail with vodka, muddled strawberry, lemon, simple syrup and citrus soda. Sounds sweet to me.

When You Go

MARMALADE BRUNCH HOUSE RESERVATIONS NOT REQUIRED. (BUT YOU MAY WAIT DURING THE WEEKEND) 535 N. 300 West, SLC marmaladebrunchhouse.com

2. The First Kiss

SETTEBELLO PIZZARIA NAPOLETANA AFFORDABLE AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY. $17-22 for Pizza

Sometimes love doesn’t need roses or reservations, just a perfectly blistered Neapolitan crust and a dinner date who won’t judge you for eating every last slice. At Settebello, the magic is in the simplicity: imported Italian flour, San Marzano tomatoes and wood-fired pizza crust perfection. This is the perfect spot if your Valentine is your entire family. There are plenty of kidfriendly options as well as adult selections.

Try the bianca (prosciutto crudo, mozzarella, arugula, shaved Parmigiano, and olive oil) or heat things up with the diavola (crushed tomato, mozzarella, red

Marmalade Brunch house dishes up love in the form of burger, beignets and bacon.

bell pepper, Calabrese salami, crushed red peppers, garlic, basil,and olive oil).

Be sure to leave room for the piatto di cannoli—a sample of three small cannoli, traditional, with Nutella and pistachio.

Perfect for sharing.

When You Go

SETTEBELLO PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA RESERVATIONS NOT REQUIRED 260 S. 200 West, SLC settebello.net

End your date night on a sweet note with Settebello’s cannoli sampler.

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HE THER YOUR D AT E N I G H T L O V E L A N G U A G E is communal,

Millcreek Café & EggWorks–3084

E. 3300 South, SLC. millcreekcafeandeggworks.com.

This spiffy neighborhood place is open for lunch, but breakfast is the game. Items like a chile verdesmothered breakfast wrap and the pancakes offer serious sustenance.

Monte Underground Restaurant–

2245 S West Temple, SLC. monteunderground.com.

Hosted within Beehive Distillery, Chef Martin is serving up multi-course tasting meals that celebrate local ingredients and indigenous cuisine.

My Thai–1425 S. 300 West, SLC.

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mythaiasiancuisine.com. My Thai is an unpretentious mom-and-pop operation—she’s mainly in the kitchen, and he mainly waits tables, but in a lull, she darts out from her stove to ask diners if they like the food. Yes, we do.

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Nomad Eatery–1722 Fremont

Drive, SLC. nomad-eatery.com. Nomad Eatery has reopened inside the Uinta Brewery. Find perfectly crafted classic American cuisine with a craft brew to pair. An oasis for the west side.

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Sip, Savor & Get Lost In The View At Black Desert Resort®, amidst the breathtaking landscape of Southern Utah, laidback luxury meets endless adventure. The grill is fired up and the smoker is hot. From All-American steak and barbecue to taqueria-style Mexican, no matter your craving or the occasion, incredible food and good company await.

Our meat is sourced regionally, and our seafood is sustainable. Our produce is seasonal and just off the farm, fresh. But, above all, it’s delicious. This is modern resort life at its most extraordinary. We’ll have a table waiting.

Make Your Reservation Now

Nuch’s Pizzeria–2819 S. 2300 East,

Millcreek. nuchspizza.com. A New York-sized eatery (meaning tiny) offers big flavor via specialty pastas and wonderful bubbly crusted pizzas. Ricotta is made in house.

BlackDesertResort.com | 1500 E Black Desert Dr. Ivins, UT 84738

Oasis Cafe–151 S. 500 East, SLC.

oasiscafeslc.com. Oasis has a New Age vibe, but the food’s only agenda is taste. Lots of veg options, but meat, too. The German pancakes are wonderful, but its evening menu suits the space­—being both imaginative and refreshing.

FROM THE DOCK TO YOUR TABLE, WE BRING THE HARBOR TO YOU!

Oh Mai–850 S. State St.,SLC; 3425 State St., SLC;

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Other Utah locations. ohmaisandwichkitchen.com. Fast, friendly and hugely flavorful—that sums up this little banh mi shop that’s taken SLC by storm. Pho is also good and so are full plates, but the banh mi are heaven.

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Oquirrh–368 E. 100 South, SLC.

oquirrhslc.com. Little and original chefowned bistro offers a menu of inventive and delicious dishes—whole curried lamb leg, chicken confit pot pie, milk-braised potatoes—it’s all excellent.

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Osteria Amore–224 S. 1300 East, SLC.

osteriaamore.com. An offshoot of the ever-growing Sicilia Mia group, Osteria Amore is a luxurious neighborhood gem—expect carpaccio, fried octopus, all kinds of pasta and pizza in the nicely redesigned space.

Passion Flour Patisserie–165 E. 900

South, SLC. passionflourslc.com. A vegan-friendly cafe located in an up-and-coming neighborhood. They offer coffee and tea lattes and a variety of croissants: the crust is flaky and buttery (despite the lack of butter). They also bake up some deliciously moist custom vegan cakes for any occasion.

Add Lobster Tail, Crab Legs or Maine Scallops to any Entree. We specialize in fresh Seafood and feature Wagyu Beef from Mishima Reserve, Montana.

2302 E. PARLEY’S WAY 801-466-9827 harborslc.com Monday–Thursday 5p–9:00p | Friday–Saturday 5p–10p | Sunday 5p–8:30p

Located on the corner of 2100 South & 2300 East in Sugar House

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The Pearl–917 S. 200 West, SLC, thepearlslc.com.

The Pearl is a hip space W A RD serving craft cocktails and Vietnamese street food, conceived by the same minds behind Alibi Bar. The menu has items like banh mi sandwiches, caramel pork belly and chicken pho.

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Per Noi Trattoria–3005 S. Highland Dr.,

SLC. pernoitrattoria.com. A little chef-owned, red sauce Italian spot catering to its neighborhood. Expect casual, hands-on service, hope they have enough glasses to accommodate the wine you bring, and order the spinach ravioli.

Porcupine Pub and Grille–

3698 E. Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights. porcupinepub.com. A lodge-inspired apres ski spot and gathering place for a hot meal and a cold beer after a day on the mountain.

Provisions–3364 S. 2300 East, SLC.

slcprovisions.com. With Chef Tyler Stokes’ bright, fresh approach to American craft cuisine (and a bright, fresh atmosphere to eat it in), Provision strives for handmade and local ideals executed with style and a little humor.

Rodizio Grill–600 S. 700 East, SLC.

rodiziogrill.com. The salad bar offers plenty to eat, but the best bang for the buck is the Full Rodizio, a selection of meats—turkey, chicken, beef, pork, seafood and more—plus vegetables and pineapple, brought to your table until you cry “uncle.”

Roots Café–3474 S. 2300 East, Millcreek.

rootscafeslc.com. A charming little daytime cafe in Millcreek with a wholesome, granola vibe.

Monarca’s shrimp ceviche is an explosion of vibrant flavors reminiscent of coastal Mexico.

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SOPHISTICATED AND INTIMATE MEXICAN ENTREES: $29-39 COCKTAILS: $14-30

Romance glows warm and red at Monarca, where every detail from the artistic plating to the moody ambiance and mezcal cocktails feels designed for lingering. If your lover is a lover of all things spicy, this is the spot for you.

Start with several small plates. The shrimp ceviche, cured with fresh lime juice, is vibrant and almost aphrodisiac.

When You Go

MONARCA

RESERVATIONS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 268 S. State Street, SLC monarcaut.com

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Rouser–2 S. 400 West, SLC.

rouserslc.com. Rouser sparked into the scene in late 2024 in the old Union Pacific Depot Train Station as part of the new Asher Adams hotel. Keeping with the theme, the restaurant boasts charcoal-flavored moments across the menu.

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Royal India–10263 S. 1300 East, Sandy; 55 N. Main St., Bountiful. royalindiautah.com. Northern Indian tikka masalas and Southern Indian dosas allow diners to enjoy the full range of Indian cuisine.

Ruth’s Diner–4160 Emigration Canyon Rd.,

SLC. ruthsdiner.com. The original funky trolley car is almost buried by the beer garden in fine weather, but Ruth’s still serves up diner food in a low-key setting, and the patio is one of the best. Collegiate fare like burgers, BLTs and enchiladas rule here. The giant biscuits come with every meal, and the chocolate pudding should.

Sake Ramen & Sushi Bar–

8657 Highland Drive, Sandy. sakeut.com. Sake has a focus on modern interpretations of classic Japanese Dishes. They promise their Agadashi tofu “will make all of your problems disappear.”

The Salt Republic–170 S. West Temple,

SLC. A modern eatery with a focus on healthful and hearty dishes from local ingredients, prepared in the kitchen’s rotisserie and wood-fired oven, for breakfast, lunch or dinner at the Salt Lake City Hyatt Regency hotel.

PHOTO CREDIT CALI WARNER, ELLE MARKETING

MONARCA

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The elote is playful, featuring roasted corn off the cob, mixed with crema and garnished with popcorn, and the queso fundido (Mexico’s version of fondue) is decadent and perfect for sharing. The salmon al chorizo is one of the sexiest dishes in town. The carne asada comes in at a close second. Wash it all down with a margarita, a guava pisco sour or a freshly made mojito to toast your love.

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You and your date are in good hands with Monarca’s Chef Alfonso.

Sauce Boss Southern Kitchen—

877 E. 12300 South,Draper, saucebosssouthernkitchen. com. The menu at Sauce Boss embodies nostalgia, Southern comfort and Black soul food at its best. The focus is on authentic flavors, consistent quality and the details: Red Drink (a house-made version of Bissap), real sweet tea, crunchy-crust cornbread, fried catfish, blackened chicken wings and collard greens.

Sawadee Thai–754 E. South Temple, SLC.

sawadeethaiutah.com. The menu goes far outside the usual pad thai and curry. Thai food’s appeal lies in the subtleties of difference achieved with a limited list of ingredients.

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Scelto– 849 E. 9400 South, Sandy. sceltoslc.com. When it comes to delivering stylish dining to our suburbs, Scelto is there. The wine list is very Italian, a good sign, and it has some nice splashes of French. The beef ragu is appropriately simmered for hours, which is the most important and complex part of a good lasagna.

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Settebello Pizzeria–260 S. 200 West,

SLC. settebello.net. Every Neapolitan-style pie here is hand-shaped by a pizza artisan and baked in a woodfired oven. And they make great gelato right next door.

Silver Fork Lodge–11332 E. Big

Cottonwood Canyon Rd., Brighton. silverforklodge.com.

Silver Fork’s kitchen handles three daily meals beautifully. Try pancakes made with a 50-year-old sourdough starter. Don’t miss the pulled pork poutine appetizer.

Skewered Thai–575 S. 700 East, SLC.

skeweredthai.com. A serene setting for some of the best Thai in town—perfectly balanced curries, pristine spring rolls, intoxicating drunk noodles and a wellcurated wine list.

Slackwater Pizza–684 S. 500 West, SLC.

209 24th St. Ogden. slackwaterpizzeria.com. The pies here are as good as any food in SLC. Selection ranges from traditional to Thai (try it), and there’s an excellent selection of wine and beer.

SOMI Vietnamese Bistro–1215 E.

Wilmington Ave., SLC. somislc.com. Crispy branzino, pork belly sliders on bao and vermicelli are some of the highlights to the menu, which also includes the standard spring rolls and pho. But there’s also Chinese food and a cocktail menu at this stylish Sugarhouse restaurant.

Spencer’s–255 S. West Temple, SLC.

spencersslc.com. The quality of the meat and the accuracy of the cooking are what make it great. Beef is aged on the bone, and many cuts are served on the bone—a luxurious change from the usual cuts.

Stella Grill–4291 S. 900 East, SLC.

stellagrill.com. A cool little arts-and-crafts-style café, Stella is balanced between trendy and triedand-true. The careful cooking comes with moderate prices. Great for lunch.

THANK YOU SLC FOR YOUR LOVE & SUPPORT

15th & 15th

MONDAY - SATURDAY 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM DINE IN, TAKE OUT & DELIVERY

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4. The Name Says It All

Stoneground Italian Kitchen–

OSTERIA AMORE

CLASSIC ROMANCE, ITALIAN STYLE, ELEVATED NEIGHBORHOOD COMFORT

If love had a flavor, it would taste like fresh pasta, truffle cream and a glass of Sangiovese. Osteria Amore is the quietly luxurious neighborhood gem. The tablecloths are white and crisp, the staff is dressed to the nines, but the service is warm with Italian charm and the food is meant to be shared. Whether it’s your first date or your 50th, the housemade gnocchi and lasagna are proof that amore really is the secret ingredient.

When You Go

OSTERIA AMORE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED 224 S. 1300 East, SLC osteriaamore.com

Pappa al pomodoro is a classic Tuscan dish. And no one does it better than the pros at Osteria Amore.

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ENTREES: $26 and up WINE: $12 / glass and up ANTIPASTO + PRIMI + SECONDI + WINE: (PLAN ON $150 PER PERSON)

Plan on the full dinner experience.

Start with a shared antipasto, indulge in the tableside Caesar salad, order a primi plate of pasta each, such as the cacio e pepe or pappardelle ai funghi, and share a secondi, like the trancio di salmone or the tagliata di angus.

Take advantage of the sommelier for wine recommendations.

249 E. 400 South, SLC. stonegrounditalian.com.

The longtime pizza joint has blossomed into a fullscale Italian restaurant with chef Justin Shifflet in the kitchen making authentic sauces and fresh pasta. An appealing upstairs deck and a full craft bar complete the successful transformation. Oh yeah, they still serve pizza.

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Table X–1457 E. 3350 South, SLC.

tablexrestaurant.com. A trio of chefs collaborate on a forward-thinking thoroughly artisanal menu—vegetables are treated as creatively as proteins (smoked sunchoke, chilecured pumpkin, barbecued cannelini beans) bread and butter are made in-house and ingredients are the best (Solstice chocolate cake). Expect surprises.

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Takashi–18 W. Market St., SLC. takashisushi.com.

Takashi Gibo earned his acclaim by buying the freshest fish and serving it in politely eye-popping style. Check the chalkboard for specials like Thai mackerel, fatty tuna or firefly squid, and expect some of the best sushi in the city

Takumi–618 E. 400 South, SLC.

takumisushibuffet.com. An all-you-can-eat sushi buffet with all the regular suspects, plus made-toorder sashimi and rolls.

Tandoor Indian Grill–3300 S. 729 East,

SLC; 4828 S. Highland Dr., Holladay; 1600 N. Freedom Blvd., Provo. tandoorindiangrill.com. Delicious salmon tandoori, sizzling on a plate with onions and peppers like fajitas, is mysteriously not overcooked. Friendly service.

Thai Garden–868 E. 900 South, SLC.

thaigardenbistroslc.com. Paprika-infused pad thai, deep-fried duck and fragrant gang gra ree are all excellent choices—but there are 50-plus items on the menu. Be tempted by batter-fried bananas with coconut ice cram.

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Urban Hill–510 S. 300 West, SLC. urban-hill.com. The menu is seafood forward and takes inspiration from Southwest cuisine. Its wood-burning flame grill is unique, and the ember-roasted carrots with salty feta and a New Mexico red chili sauce are a ININ

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winner. Be sure to save room for dessert.

Vertical Diner–234 W. 900 South, SLC.

verticaldiner.com. Vertical Diner boasts an animalfree menu of burgers, sandwiches and breakfasts.

Plus cocktails, organic wines and coffees.

Vessel Kitchen–Find all locations at vesselkitchen.com. Each of Vessel’s locations is in an area of Utah they feel they can engage with the local populace through straight-forward, fast, casual cuisine that’s also healthy. Online ordering and takeout are available at every Vessel restaurant.

Woodbine Food Hall & Cocktail Bar–545 W. 700 South, SLC. woodbineslc.com. A

cornerstone of the Granary District, Woodbine has a full liquor license with a 21-and-over bar up front and on the roof. Inside the hall beer and wine is available.

The Hall has spaces for up to nine establishments.

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Yoimi Hibachi & Sushi–1280 S. 300

West, SLC. yoimisaltlakecity.com. Hibachi elevated.

Upgrade your experience with a sushi boat, tuna tataki and a jalapeno ‘bomb.’

Yoko Ramen–473 E. 400 South, SLC.

yokoslc.com. More ramen! Utahns can’t seem to slurp enough of the big Japanese soup—Yoko serves it up for carnivores and vegans, plus offers some kinkier stuff like a Japanese Cubano sandwich and various pig parts.

Zest Kitchen & Bar–275 S. 200 West, SLC.

zestslc.com. Zest has sophisticated vegan cooking plus a cheerful attitude and ambience fueled by creative cocktails. Pulling flavors from many culinary traditions— the menu is all vegan and changes frequently.

PARK CITY & THE WASATCH BACK Baja Cantina–1355 Lowell Ave., Park City.

bajaparkcity.com. The T.J. Taxi is a flour tortilla stuffed with chicken, sour cream, tomatoes, onions, cheddar-jack cheese and guacamole.

Big Dipper–227 Main St., Park City.

bigdipperpc.com. Located in the historical Star Hotel, the Big Dipper brings in a little old world and a little new, serving up old-world inspired French dip sandwiches that have a modern spin.

Billy Blanco’s–8208 Gorgoza Pines Rd., Park

City. billyblancos.com. Motor City Mexican. The subtitle is “burger and taco garage,” but garage is the notable word. This is a theme restaurant with lots of cars and motorcycles on display, oil cans to hold the flatware, and a 50-seat bar made out of toolboxes. If you’ve ever dreamed of eating in a garage, you’ll be thrilled.

Blind Dog Grill–1251 Kearns Blvd., Park City.

Log Haven’s romantic dining room as been the site of countless proposals. Contact them in advance to help you pop the question.

Spoil your date (and yourself) with a pepper-seared filet at Log Haven.

blinddogpc.com. The kitchen offers imaginative selections even though the dark wood and cozy ambience look like an old gentlemen’s club. Don’t miss the Dreamloaf, served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOGHAVEN/INSTAGRAM.COM

The Blue Boar Inn–1235 Warm Springs

Rd., Midway. theblueboarinn.com. The restaurant is reminiscent of the Alps, but serves fine American cuisine. Don’t miss the award-winning brunch.

5. The Grand Gesture

Chimayo–368 Main St., Park City.

ENTREES: $29-$50 SEE WEBSITE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIALS

chimayorestaurant.com. Bill White’s prettiest place, this restaurant is reminiscent of Santa Fe, but the food is pure Park City. Margaritas are good, and the avocado-shrimp appetizer combines guacamole and ceviche flavors in a genius dish.

Freshie’s Lobster Co.–1915

Prospector Ave., Park City; 356 E. 900 South, SLC. freshieslobsterco.com. After years as everyone’s favorite summer food stop at Park Silly Market, Freshie’s has settled into a permanent location selling their shore-to-door lobster rolls all year round.

Ghidotti’s–6030 N. Market St., Park City.

ghidottis.com. Ghidotti’s evokes Little Italy more than Italy, and the food follows suit—think spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and rigatoni Bolognese. Try the chicken soup.

LOG HAVEN

If romance had a home, it would be tucked away up Millcreek Canyon beneath towering pines and twinkling lights. Log Haven has long been Utah’s gold standard for love stories. The ambiance is cozy and romantic, with fireplaces flickering, a blanket of snow and plates that make every bite feel like a celebration of your love. Whether you’re clicking Champagne glasses over elk tenderloin or nervously fingering the ring box in your pocket, this is the place where ‘Will you?’ turns into ‘I do!’

The best part? The team at Log Haven is experienced in catering to love stories.

Contact them in advance, and they will help you plan the perfect proposal.

When You Go

LOG HAVEN

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED (ESPECIALLY FOR PRIX FIXE DINNERS) 6451 E. Millcreek Canyon Road, SLC log-haven.com

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Grub Steak–2093 Sidewinder Dr., Prospector

Square, Park City. grubsteakparkcity.com. Live country music, fresh salmon, lamb and chicken, and a mammoth salad bar. Order bread pudding whether you think you want it or not. You will.

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Handle–136 Heber Ave., Park City. handleparkcity.com. Chef-owner Briar Handly offers a menu, mostly of small plates, with the emphasis on excellent sourcing.

There are also full-meal plates, including the chef’s famous fried chicken.

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Hearth and Hill–1153 Center

Dr., Park City, 2188 Highland Dr., SLC. hearth-hill.com. This all-purpose cafe serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, focusing on bright, approachable American dishes with a kick.

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Kuchu Shabu House–3270 N. Sundial

Ct., Park City; 2121 S. McClelland St., SLC. kuchushabu.com. The second shabu-style eatery in PC is less grand than the first but offers max flavor from quality ingredients.

Lush’s BBQ–7182 Silver Creek Rd., Park City.

Where Cheese Lives Inside the microbial magic of Caputo’s cave with Antonia Horne |

PHOTOS BY ADAM FINKLE

350 Main–350 Main St., Park City.

350main.com. Now run by Cortney Johanson who has worked at the restaurant for 20 years, this mainstay cafe on Main Street is seeing another high point. With Chef Matthew Safranek in the kitchen, the menu is a balanced mix of old favorites and soon-to-be favorites like Five Spice Venison Loin in Pho. Amazing.

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FFINEUR (AH-FEE-NUR) I S A F R E N C H T E R M for

the person who finishes and matures cheeses. Think of them as the cheesemakers’ counterpart. In truth, an affineur is like a caretaker and gardener for cheese. Part scientist, part artist and part virtuoso, their job is to guide cheese from good to extraordinary through time, temperature and touch.

Antonia Horne, the affineur at Caputo’s Market & Deli, spends her days coaxing cheese to perfection through aging, flipping, brushing, bathing, massaging and tasting cheese in the Caputo’s cheese “caves.” You can walk by the window in the entrance to the Downtown Caputo’s location and gawk at the cheese cave through the glass. A living laboratory and a place that Antonia calls home.

The Origin Story of Biochemical Awakening Antonio got her start as a college cashier at a small local market. Like any college student, she would, in her own words, pester her co-workers for samples. “The cheesemonger, who I think was trying to get rid of me,” Antonia laughs, “gave me a pretty overripe sample of Taleggio.

It was funky. But I had this biochemical experience—some pleasure receptors in my brain that had never been triggered before. It was mind-blowing.” From that moment on, she fell in love with cheese.

She spent her early 20s curiously tasting everything and traveling around Europe learning about cheese. From there, Antonia managed the cheese program at Liberty Heights Fresh and in 2013 moved to Caputo’s. She’s been working with cheese for 21 years.

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lushsbbq.com. Tennesee-inspired BBQ you won’t soon forget. Think sharp vinegar with a hint of citrus and just a touch of sweetness. When the meat’s just coming off the smoker, you’d be hard pressed to find better ribs, brisket or pulled pork anywhere else.

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Rime Seafood & Steak–

2300 Deer Valley Dr. East, Park City, St. Regis, Deer Valley. srdvdining.com.

Acclaimed Chef Matthew Harris heads the kitchen at this simply brilliant restaurant at the St. Regis— meticulously sourced meat and seafood from his trusted vendors, perfectly cooked.

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Royal Street Café–7600 Royal St., Silver Lake Village, Deer Valley Resort, Park City. deervalley. com. (Open seasonally) Don’t miss the lobster chowder, but note the novelties, too. In a new take on the classic lettuce wedge salad, Royal Street’s version adds baby beets, glazed walnuts and pear tomatoes.

Sammy’s Bistro–1890 Bonanza Dr., Park

City. sammysbistro.com. Down-to-earth food in a comfortable setting. Sounds simple, but if so, why aren’t there more Sammy’s in our world? Try the bacon-grilled shrimp or a chicken bowl with your brew.

Sushi Blue–1571 W. Redstone Center Dr. Ste.

140, Park City. sushiblueparkcity.com. Find the yin and yang of Asian-American flavors in Bill White’s sushi, excellent Korean tacos, crab sliders and other Amer-Asian food fusions, including the best hot dog in the state, topped with bacon and house-made kimchi

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Tupelo–1500 Kearns Blvd., Park City.

tupeloparkcity.com. Tupelo is a homegrown dining experience that deserves a visit. The menu features some favorites carried over from Tupelo’s inception, like the Idaho Trout and the famed buttermilk biscuits with butter honey, as well as newer dishes such as the vegan-friendly grilled cauliflower steak with herb-chili pesto.

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Wasatch Bagel Café–1300 Snow Creek

Dr., Park City. wasatchbagelandgrill.com. Not just bagels, but bagels as buns, enfolding a sustaining layering of sandwich fillings like egg and bacon.

Windy Ridge Bakery & Café–

1755 Bonanza Dr., 1750 Iron Horse Dr., Park City. windyridgebakery.com. One of Park City’s most popular noshing spots—especially on Taco Tuesdays. The bakery behind turns out desserts and pastries for Bill White’s restaurants as well as take-home entrees.

Woodland Biscuit Company–

2734 E. State Hwy. 35, Woodland, Park City. woodlandbiscuitcompany.com. Breakfast is the real deal here so pile on the bacon and eggs but if you sleep late, not to worry—burgers, sandwiches and tacos are good too.

NORTHERN UTAH Hearth on 25th–195 Historic 25th St.,

Ogden. hearth25.com. The charming upstairs dining room is a great setting for some of the best and most imaginative food in Ogden. Handmade hearth bread, espresso-rubbed yak, killer stroganoff—too many options to mention here—this is really a destination restaurant.

Ramen Haus–12550 Washington Blvd.

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Ogden. ramenhaus.com. Sergei Oveson’s training under ramen master Tosh and Shani Oveson’s time at Naked Fish are evident throughout their standout Ogden restaurant. The space is simple yet stylish, and the ramen is nothing short of exceptional. Don’t leave without trying the honey toast—even if you think you’re not in the mood for dessert.

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Table 25–195 25th St., Ogden.

table25ogden.com. A bright, contemporary space in Downtown Ogden has a patio right on Historic 25th Street. The elevated yet approachable menu includes Spanish mussels and frites, ahi tuna and a classic cheeseburger.

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Tona Sushi–210 25th St., Ogden.

tonarestaurant.com. Set in a charming historic space on Ogden’s main drag, this top-tier sushi restaurant is a hidden gem. Owner Tony Chen grows fresh herbs and sprouts in the basement, and every plate reflects his artistic touch. Be sure to ask about the secret menu.

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Shining a Light into the Cheese Cave Cheese can be intimidating. I will admit it, even as someone that used to teach cheese education classes.

Sometimes it feels overwhelming.

“Nobody is born knowing about cheese,’’ Antonio says. “We all started with zero familiarity. Our job as cheesemongers isn’t to gatekeep.

It’s to be a tour guide.” That is the beauty of the cheese program at small local markets like Caputo’s. You can walk up to the counter and have a

Cheese is Like a Garden

Chom Burger–45 W. 300 North, Provo;

496 N. 990 West, American Fork. chomburger.com.

Colton Soelberg’s (Communal, etc.) low-key high-end burger place has an eye towards infusing highquality ingredients into America’s favorite sandwich.

Inexpensive, innovative and delicious burgers and shakes, as we have come to expect from Soelberg who has a knack for elevating comfort food.

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Foundry Grill and The Tree Room–8841 Alpine Loop Dr., Sundance

Resort, Sundance. sundanceresort.com.

The Tree Room is known for its seasonal, straightforward menu and memorable decor, including Robert Redford’s kachina collection. Meanwhile the grill serves comfort food with western style. Sunday brunch is a mammoth buffet.

Strap Tank Brewery–596 S. 1750

West, Springville; 3661 Outlet Parkway, Lehi, straptankbrewery.com. With locations in Lehi and Springville (and now St. George), Strap Tank provides a much-needed watering hole to the people in Utah County and points south. Reliable American fare and plenty of beers on tap.

SOUTHERN UTAH Anasazi Steakhouse–1234 W. Sunset

Blvd., St. George. anasazisteakhouse.com. Diners cook their own steaks and seafood on volcanic rocks at this stylish and artsy spot that also serves up fondue and cocktails.

Angelica’s Mexican Grill–101 E. St.

George Blvd., St. George. angelicasmexicangrill.com.

A bright Mexican eatery serving up traditional street food in a cozy space.

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“I liken what I do to gardening,” Antonia says.

“You cultivate what you want to grow and manage the weeds. You vacuum the rinds not to sanitize them, but to let the flowers (your desired microbes) bloom.”

Cheese is a living system and part of Antonia’s job is to “wake it up” after travel.

Just like each of us feel a

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Working inside a cheese cave, “it’s not glamorous,” she admits. There are a lot of spreadsheets, food safety and timing.

But it’s never boring.” A day in the life might look like rotating wheels within the cheese cave, massaging cheddar with duck fat and butter and managing microbial populations.

The cheese caves at Caputo’s (carefully managed refrigeration spaces used exclusively for cheese) have developed their own terroir over time. Terroir being the flavor of a place. “We have French cheeses, Idaho triple creams and Vermont cheddar’s coexisting in one space,” Antonia explains. “Each with their own microbial footprint. Which means they have to compromise with each other and, because of that, they start influencing each other. No other cave in the world is quite like that. Most will only have one or two types of cheese instead of dozens.” Which makes the caves at Caputo’s entirely unique and special.

little bit flabby and colorless after a long flight, cheese is not always at its best after making a journey. It’s still good, but it can use a refresher. One prime example is the Caputo’s Taleggio (which was also the first cheese Antonia fell in love with). Already a funky cheese, Caputo’s has crafted a flavor that is more supple, mushroomy, softer and almost brothy. All of this happens under the care of Antonia.

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The Work. Where Microbes Meet Mindfulness

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ON THE TABLE

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Basalt–1500 E. Black Desert Dr., Ivins.

blackdesertresort.com. The high level of quality is apparent in every detail from the table settings to the space design to the food that came on the plate (despite the limited menu). This is an acorn determined to be a mighty oak, like yesterday.

W A RD

Bear Paw Café–75 N. Main St., St. George.

bearpawcafe.com. St. George’s favorite breakfast and lunch cafe for more than 25 years! Bear Paw Cafe serves breakfast at anytime of the day. Don’t forget to try the guest favorites, including belgian waffles, hand-crafted pancakes, world-class french toast and fresh crepes.

Canyon Breeze Restaurant—

Antonia Horne spends her days coaxing cheese to perfection through aging, flipping, brushing, massaging and tasting.

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1275 E. Red Mountain Cir., Ivins. redmountainresort.com. Red Mountain’s Canyon Breeze Restaurant has spectacular views and outdoor patio seating. The menu focuses on whole foods, local meats, homemade baked goods and desserts made from scratch.

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Hell’s Backbone Grill–

20 N. Highway 12, Boulder. hellsbackbonegrill.com. Owners Blake Spalding and Jen Castle set the bar for local, organic food in Utah. Now the cafe has gained national fame.

They garden, forage, raise chickens and bees, and offer breakfasts, dinners and even picnic lunches.

W A RD

Painted Pony–2 W. St. George Blvd., Ste. 22,

St. George. painted-pony.com. The kitchen blends culinary trends with standards like sage-smoked quail on mushroom risotto. Even “surf and turf” has a twist— tenderloin tataki with chile-dusted scallops. .

Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen–233 W. Center St., Kanab.

peekabookitchen.com. Complementing Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, this casual eatery serves vegetarian cuisine—artisanal pizza, local beer, craft cocktails and a rocking patio.

The Pizza Factory–2 W. St. George Blvd.,

St. George. stgeorgepizzafactory.com. The original St. George Pizza Factory, founded in 1979, is one of the city’s main attractions. It was born of a desire to create the perfect pizza parlor, where friends and family could come together over a slice or a whole pie.

Red Rock Grill at Zion Lodge–

1 Zion Lodge, Springdale. zionlodge.com. Try eating here on the terrace. Enjoy melting-pot American dishes like smoked trout salad with prickly pear vinaigrette. And you can’t beat the red rock ambience.

Rylu’s Bistro–2862 Santa Clara Dr., Santa

Clara. ryulusbistro.com. The repurposed circa 1880 homestead is charming and welcoming, and the menu is seasonally driven.

Sakura Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi–81 N. 1100 East, St. George.

sakuraut.com. The Hibachi side of the restaurant gives both dinner and a show in one, but if you’re shy about open flames, Sakura also offers tasty sushi rolls.

Tifiny’s Creperie–567 S. Valley View Dr.,

St. George. tifinyscreperie.com. Enjoy the cozy dining room and the comforting, casual French cuisine, featuring classic sweet and savory crêpes. vermillion45.com. Who would expect a fine restaurant with a French chef in Kanab? But here it is, and it’s excellent.

Whiptail Grill–445 Zion Park Blvd.,

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Springdale. whiptailgrillzion.com. Tucked into an erstwhile gas station, the kitchen is little, but the flavors are big—a goat cheese-stuffed chile relleno crusted in Panko and the chocolate-chile creme brulee.

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ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF DIAN’S/ADOBESTOCK

Vermillion 45–210 S. 100 East, Kanab.

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Xetava/ The Rusted Cactus–815 Coyote Gulch Court, Ivins.

therustedcactus.com. Blue corn waffles for breakfast and lunch are good bets. But to truly experience Xetava, dine under the stars in ecoconscious Kayenta. For a full bar and more tasty bites, visit The Rusted Cactus, also on-site.

Caputo’s Revived Taleggio D.O.P. spends three weeks in rehabilitation within Caputo’s Cheese Caves.

It emerges as a new cheese altogether—fudgy, funky and at the peak of flavor.

conversation with the cheese person.

They will geek out with you and help you find exactly what you are looking for. They’ll pull out a knife and give you a sample or three. And you will walk away happy. “We are really just here to spread joy,” she adds. “Cheese is joyful.”

In Antonia Horne’s hands, cheese isn’t left to age—it’s invited to bloom.

Visit Caputo’s Market & Deli w/ three locations (Downtown, 15th & 15th, Holladay) or online at caputos.com

YOUR CHEESE MONGER’S SELECTIONS

Antonia’s Foolproof Cheese Board for Adventurous Beginners A tour of the cheese cave in four cheeses • BLAKESVILLE CREAMERY LINEDELINE (WI): “A large-format soft-ripened goat cheese with an ash rind—think Humboldt Fog in its glory days.

Creamy, citrusy and elegant without being ‘goaty’.”

Pairings • Honeycomb, tart cherries and roasted nuts for texture.

• TONY’S FLOWERS (UT) “Our most technical cheese, named for Tony Caputo himself. Sheepy/cowy, herbal, creamy—currently evolving toward a fudgier alpine texture.”

• CHÄLLERHOCKER (SWISS) “Balanced, versatile and cooperative—pairs beautifully with sweet or savory. A gateway to alpine-style cheeses.”

• Sliced pears or figs for sweetness.

• A crusty baguette or seeded cracker.

• Pour: a dry cider, sparkling wine or malty brown ale.

• JASPER HILL FARM BAYLEY HAZEN BLUE (VT) “Raw milk, farmstead, earthy but approachable. The perfect blue for those who think they don’t like blue.”

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AFTER DARK

The People’s Bar Kiitos Brewing is Sugar House’s newest neighborhood bar

BY AVREY EVANS

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N S I D E K I I T O S ’ S U G A R H O U S E B R E W E R Y, you’ll

find many relics of Salt Lake’s past. Doors and furniture recovered from the now-shuttered Garage on Beck, a stately brass chandelier from a downtown theatre, vintage signage from Shingleton’s Sewing, the building’s previous occupants and even a 54-year-old Shingleton’s receipt that fell out of a wall during recent renovations. And, apart from preserving a piece of the community’s history, the bar is also providing the surrounding neighborhood with a space for working, gathering and celebrating.

“I knew it would be a neighborhood bar, but I didn’t realize just how neighborly it would be,” says Andrew Dasenbrock, owner and CEO of Kiitos Brewing. Since opening the doors in fall 2025, Andrew has seen friendships formed between bar patrons that strike up a conversation only to realize they’ve been living on the same street for years. There’s already a modest crew of regulars that frequent the bar daily, and on any given day, you’ll find a crowd of locked-up bikes out front. The localized demographic fills the bartop with laptops during the day, and filters through to the back areas to lounge on velvet sofas or pack into wooded booths. In the last room, antique

Andrew Dasenbrock founded Kiitos in 2015. Just over a decade later, he has big plans to expand the brand to multiple locations.

WHEN YOU GO KIITOS BREWING SUGAR HOUSE BAR 1533 S. 1100 East, SLC instagram: @kiitosbrewing

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PHOTOS BY ADAM FINKLE

The back room at Kiitos Sugar House displays vintage exterior signage from the building’s previous tentant; Shingleton’s.

BAR GUIDE The Aerie–9320 Cliff Lodge Dr., Snowbird Resort,

snowbird.com. Floor-to-ceiling windows mean drinkers can marvel at nature’s handiwork while feasting from the sushi bar. The menu is global with live music some nights.

Bar Nohm–165 W. 900 South, SLC. barnohm.com.

Bar Nohm is more of an izakaya spot than a sit-down restaurant, with an innovative cocktail menu and Asian fusion sharing plates.

Bar X–155 E. 200 South, SLC. barxslc.com. This was the vanguard of Salt Lake’s new cocktail movement, serving classic drinks and creative inventions behind the best electric sign in the city.

Beer Bar–161 E. 200 South, SLC. beerbarslc.com.

Ty Burrell, star of ABC’s Modern Family, co-owns Beer Bar, which is right next to Bar X. It’s noisy, there’s no table service, but there are 140+ brews to choose from and a variety of wurst.

The Bayou–645 S. State St., SLC utahbayou.com.

This is Beervana, with 200-plus bottled beers and even more on draft.

Beerhive Pub–128 S. Main St., SLC.

@beerhive_pub. More than 200 beers­­—domestic, imported and local—with a long ice rail to keep the brew cold, the way Americans like ’em, are the outstanding features of this cozy downtown pub.

BTG Wine Bar–404 S. West Temple, SLC,

btgwinebar.com. BTG stands for “By the Glass” and though BTG serves craft cocktails, specialty beer and good food, the pièces de résistance are the more than 75 wines by the glass.

Casot Wine + Work–1508 S. 1500 East,

SLC. casotwinework.com. In a town with a dearth of neighborhood bars, Casot is the real deal. Located in the established 15th and 15th hood, this small wine bar is a welcome addition featuring a Spanish forward list from Pago’s Scott Evans.

Contribution Cocktail Lounge –

170 S. West Temple, SLC, hyatt.com. For an escape from the hustle of downtown, pop into the Salt Lake City Hyatt Regency hotel’s cocktail lounge, to enjoy a small bite or a drink from the thoughtful cocktail menu.

sewing machines and retro Shingleton’s signage pay homage to the building’s provenance. When dusk settles, you might be hard-pressed to find an open seat as folks pack in to watch the game on flatscreens or huddle around a high top with a deck of cards.

The vibe is casual and unhurried, quite the departure from Kittos’ flagship westside bar—known for heated pinball tournaments and sold-out events held among massive fermentation tanks. That’s by design, says Andrew, who wants each Kiitos location to have its own identity. (Word on the street is: there are more Kiitos branches on the horizon.)

The unifying element is, of course, the beer that has elevated the Kiitos name into one of the most respected craft breweries in the state. The rotating tap features a sweeping range of seasonal releases and novelty flavors. I sipped on the Salt ’n’ Pickle and Nitro Pumpkin Latte—exceptional on their own and bizarrely intoxicating in sequence. For those in search of a higher ABV beverage, the brewery offers four signature cocktails. The Koori Hana combines Empress Indigo Gin, elderflower, lime and sugar, crowned with a bubble of

smoke. A full food menu is in the works, as of this writing, and Andrew has plans to build out the kitchen to offer a full line of brunch, lunch and dinner.

The Kiitos Sugar House bar is open daily from 11–1 a.m., stop by when you’re in the mood for good beer and even better vibes.

The brass chandelier was sourced from an old theater and required several hands to install overhead in the Sugar House brewery.

Antique sewing machines collected at estate sales and thrift shops pay homage to the building’s history.

Copper Common–111 E. Broadway, SLC.

coppercommon.com. Copper Common is a real bar— that means you don’t actually have to order food if you don’t want to. But on the other hand, why wouldn’t you want to? This bar has a real chef.

The Cotton Bottom–2820 E. 6200 South,

PHOTOS BY AVREY E VANS

Holladay. thecottonbottom.com. Remember when this was a ski bum’s town? The garlic burger and a beer is what you order.

Dick n’ Dixie’s–479 E. 300 South, SLC.

@dickndixies. The classic corner beer bar where cronies of all kinds gather regularly to watch sports, talk politics and generally gossip about the city and nothing in particular.

East Liberty Tap House–850 E. 900 South,

SLC. eastlibertytaphouse.com. Half a dozen beers on draft and 20 or more by the bottle, which rotates regularly. The menu does clever takes on bar food classics.

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AFTER DARK The Vintage Room is an après hot spot during the ski season.

Salt Lake magazine’s Favorite On-the-Hill Tipples Winter beverages to wet your whistle this ski season

BY AVREY EVANS

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H E T H E R Y O U ’ R E A P O W D E R H O U N D in

need of a little extra liquid courage before heading off-piste, or a slope-averse lodge loiterer seeking to kill some time while the family carves up the mountain, this libation lineup offers a little something for everyone. Curated by the Salt Lake magazine staff and contributors, here are our picks for on-the-hill refreshments.

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AVREY EVANS, MANAGING EDITOR WHAT I’M DRINKING: The 7452 Bloody Mary at St. Regis, Deer Valley Resort ONE COOL THING: Named in reference to the hotel’s altitude, this zesty brunch favorite is served at multiple locations throughout the St. Regis property—though my favorite is inside the slopeside lounge, The Vintage Room. In place of the typical soggy bacon and predictable Spanish olive garnish, the 7452 Bloody is topped with a sexy blend of black lava salt and wasabi-celery espuma.

MELISSA FIELDS, OUTDOORS WRITER WHAT I’M DRINKING: Espresso Martini from The Aerie Lounge, Snowbird Ski Resort ONE COOL THING: This festive sip is garnished with a dusting of cinnamon in the shape of the Snowbird wings. It’s the perfect pick-meup after a day of skiing. Also, the view from the Aerie Lounge is incredible. While you sip, you can watch the alpine glow light up Snowbird’s Peruvian Gulch.

Snowbird never misses a chance to “give em the bird.” The Aerie Lounge tops their espresso martini with a wing-shaped cinnamon garnish.

(TOP DOWN) PHOTOS COURTESY OF ST. REGIS DEER VALLEY; BY NICKFE WINGS/UNSPL ASH

St. Regis’ 7452 Bloody comes with a pipette loaded with tabasco and Worcestershire sauce.

Flanker–6 N. Rio Grande, The Gateway, SLC.

flankerslc.com. A little bit sports bar, a little bit nightclub and a little bit entertainment, with a parlor and bowling alley, private karaoke rooms and a golf simulator.

Franklin Ave.–231 S. Edison Street, SLC.

franklinaveslc.com. A swanky restaurant and bar by the minds of Bourbon Group. The food is multicultural fusion with roots in modern American.

Felt Bar & Eatery–341 S. Main St., SLC.

feltslc.com. Appropriately named after the building where it resides, Felt’s menu is a wonderful mix of classic and more experimental cocktails, shared plates, filling main dishes and bar bites. The Filet and Marrow Tartare is a must.

The Gibson Lounge–555 S. Main St.,

SLC. grandamerica.com. Grand America’s inimitable style is translated into a cushy but unstuffy bar, the antithesis of the current hipster style. You can actually wear a cocktail dress to this cocktail bar.

Gracie’s–326 S. West Temple, SLC.

graciesslc.com. Play pool, throw darts, listen to live music, kill beer and time on the patio and upstairs deck.

Green Pig–31 E. 400 South, SLC.

thegreenpigpub.com. Green Pig is a pub of a different color. The owners use eco-friendly materials and sustainable kitchen practices. The menu star is the chili verde nachos with big pork chunks and cheese.

Hive 435 Taphouse–61 W. St. George

Blvd, St. George. hive435taphouse.com. Providing a service to the St. George nightlife scene, Hive 435 also serves up live entertainment, gourmet pizza, sandwiches and favorite cocktails.

HK Brewing Collective–370 W. Aspen Ave., SLC. hkbrewing.com. Before the HK Brewing taproom, there was Hans Kombucha, a womenfounded and queer-owned brewery. Now they’re slinging ‘booch-cocktails, local spirits, beer, cider and small bites from their taproom and lounge.

Ice Haus–7 E. 4800 South, Murray.

icehausbar.com. Ice Haus has everything you need from a neighborhood bar: a wide selection of pub fare, regular entertainment and plenty of seating in the beer-hall inspired location. The menu has great vegan options.

Junior’s–30 E. Broadway, SLC. @juniorstavern.

A downtown joint known for jazz, pool and a vintage beercan collection. The interiors recently got a facelift and a new owner.

Lake Effect–155 W. 200 South, SLC.

lakeeffectslc.com. An eclectic bar and lounge with a fine wine list and full menu. Live music many nights.

Laurel Brasserie & Bar–555 S. Main

St., SLC. laurelslc.com. Laurel Brasserie & Bar’s food focuses on classic European cuisine with an American approach. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the real star is the Happy Hour menu.

The St. Regis Deer Valley offers exquisite dining as inviting as the mountain ambiance.

Enjoy world-class cuisine that celebrates the best of locally sourced ingredients, delivering the singular taste of a truly defining dining experience The St. Regis Deer Valley, Park City, UT 84060 t. + 435 940 5700 or srdvdining.com or marriott.com/slcxr

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B A R GU I DE

CHELSEA RUSHTON, ART DIRECTOR WHAT I’M DRINKING: A Boomerang at the Alta Peruvian Bar, Alta Ski Resort (affectionately known by locals as The P-Dog).

ONE COOL THING: I used to work at Alta, and there was nothing better than hanging out at the P-Dog with coworkers after a long day at the office.

The bar itself has serious Grandma’sbasement energy—in the best possible way. Think: wood paneling, well-worn (but comfortable) sofas, a cozy fireplace and years of history you can feel the moment you walk in. Add in the beautiful mountain views of Wildcat and Collins, while sipping a little boozy cider and you’ve got yourself the ultimate Utah après-ski experience.

JAIME WINSTON, OGDEN CORRESPONDENT WHAT I’M DRINKING: Märzen Style Fest Lager at Top of Main Brew Pub, Park City ONE COOL THING: While in Park City, enjoying Sundance, the winter scenery or ski slopes, I recommend heading to Top of Main Brew Pub and getting cans of this malty brew to go. After you’ve done all the things outdoors, they’re the perfect treat for unwinding in your hotel room.

DARBY DOYLE, FOOD WRITER WHAT I’M DRINKING: Bourbon Maple Cider at Molly Green’s, Brighton Resort ONE COOL THING: On a blustery day, there’s nothing better than settling in by the fireplace at Molly Green’s for some loaded nacho fries, a round (or three) of drinks with friends and enjoying the view out the big A-frame windows. Molly’s bourbon maple cider is like a boozy dessert in a glass, with a nice kick of spice from ginger liqueur and a dusting of crushed black pepper to balance it all out.

LUIS HENRIQUES, PRODUCTION MANAGER WHAT I’M DRINKING: Uinta Brighton IPA at Molly Greens, Brighton Resort ONE COOL THING: While everyone is f lying down the mountain, I’m working on my form at the lodge, beer in hand, ready with a drink for friends when they come back inside.

As a Utah transplant, my go-to is whatever Uinta’s seasonal beer happens to be, both to support local and to blend in with the locals.

Lucky 13 —135 W. 1300 South, SLC,

lucky13slc.com. Known for their heaping burgers and intriguing shot selection, Lucky 13 also offers classic fried dill pickle spears. Order with secret sauce and pair with a buttery chardonnay, bright prosecco or crisp lager—you’ll thank us later.

Melancholy–556 S. Gale St., SLC,

melancholy.com. A new wine bar in the Post District, the interiors are a little bit Gothic library and a lot a bit eccentric apothecary. The wine list rotates frequently.

The Pearl–917 S. 200 West, SLC, @thepearlslc.

The Pearl is a hip space serving craft cocktails and Vietnamese street food. The menu has items like banh mi sandwiches, caramel pork belly and chicken pho.

Post Office Place–16 W. Market St., SLC.

popslc.com. Post Office offers craft cocktails, multicultural small plates and the largest selection of Japanese whisky in the state. Ask for a “special delivery” if you’re up for a boozy adventure.

Prohibition–151 E. 6100 South, Murray.

prohibitionutah.com. Step behind the bookshelf and into Prohibition—a 1920s-inspired speakeasy in Salt Lake City with live jazz, burlesque, and cocktails crafted for nights of mystery, laughter and timeless intrigue.

Quarters Arcade Bar–5 E. 400 South, SLC; 1045 E. 2100 South, SLC. quartersslc.com.

Nostalgic for all those Gen Xers and gamer geeks, Quarters features retro gaming, pinball and a game called Killer Queen, only one in Utah.

Repeal–19 E, 200 South, SLC. repealutah.com.

Where vintage allure meets modern sophistication.

Enjoy handcrafted cocktails, live jazz, and distinctive dining in Salt Lake City’s most elegant, soul-filled bar experience

The Rest and Bodega–331 S. Main St.,

Alta’s ‘P-Dog’ pub is frequented by Alta shredders, and even a few snowboard-booted strays that make their way from Snowbird.

SLC, bodegaslc.com. The neon sign says “Bodega;” drink a beer in the redesigned main floor or head downstairs to The Rest. Order a cocktail, settle into the book-lined library, take a booth or sit at the bar

Sayonara–324 S. State St., SLC,

sayonaraslc.com. Neon adorns enclosed booths, scenes from anime project on the walls and the bar serves up highballs and Japanese microbrews. It’s like someone picked up a bar in Tokyo and placed it right here in SLC.

Scion Cider Bar–916 Jefferson St., SLC.

scionciderbar.com. Cider has often taken a back seat to its more prevalent siblings, wine and beer, but not at Scion. It’s another favorite bar in the Central Ninth.

Seabird Bar & Vinyl Room–7 S. Rio

Grande, The Gateway, SLC. seabirdutah.com. A vibey little locally owned bar in the Gateway with great views, Seabird features a fun little patio, friendly bartenders and plenty of style.

The Shooting Star–7350 E. 200 South,

Huntsville, @shootingstarsaloon. More than a century old, this is gen-you-wine Old West. The walls are adorned with moose heads and a stuffed St. Bernard.

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(TOP DOWN) PHOTO BY ILIAS KOUROUDIS/ADOBESTOCK; COURTESY OF VISITSALTL AKE / AUSTEN DIAMOND PHOTOGRAPHY

Grab a pitcher of Uinta’s Brighton IPA while you soak in the slopeside views at Molly Green’s.

Corporation in 1895 but still hung around the office until he died in 1948. I’m weird that way.

LYDIA MARTINEZ, FOOD WRITER WHAT I’M DRINKING: Boulevardier at Alpine Distilling Park City Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Park City ONE COOL THING: Nothing like an Alpine Distilling award-winning whiskey swap in a Negroni to make a Boulevardier. The Park City Social Aid & Pleasure Club is just small enough that you don’t have to yell to have a conversation and just swanky enough to feel like you’re getting the true après-ski experience. This cocktail is served with smoked bourbon pecans, for a little post-ski nibble before dinner.

The Gulch Pub inside Snowpine is a sleek bar to belly up after a day on the slopes.

Sugar House Station–2155 S. Highland

Dr., SLC. sugarhousestation.com. Utah’s first “bar hall” from the minds of Pago Group’s Scott Evans and local distilling vanguards from Sugar House Distillery and Waterpocket Distillery,

Thieves Guild Cidery—117 W. 900

South, SLC, thievesguildcidery.com. In the Central 9th neighborhood, this cidery has put in the work to develop experimental cider and meads fit for an adventurer with a period-fantasy aesthetic to match.

Varley–63 W. 100 South, SLC, varleyslc.com. A

craft cocktail bar and lounge situated right next to its companion restaurant The Ivy. The modern aesthetic pairs well with a classic cocktail and conversation.

The Vault–202 S. Main St., SLC,

bambara-slc.com. A quintessential hotel bar with big windows overlooking pedestrian traffic. Special cocktails may be themed to what’s on stage across the street at Capitol Theatre.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SNOWPINE /ALTA SKI RESORT

Water Witch–163 W. 900 South, SLC,

waterwitchbar.com. Three of Utah’s leading bartenders join forces in this charming tiny bar. They even have a James Beard nod. Whether you want a classic drink or a cocktail custom-designed to your taste, this is the place to belly up.

Why KiKi–69 W. 100 South, SLC, whykikibar. com. A tropical beach-themed club invites you to get away from it all. Enjoy a fruity drink in a tiki glass (or bowl!) or shake it on the dance floor. Don’t miss Taco Tuesday or the drag shows.

Beers & Brews

JEREMY PUGH, EDITOR IN-CHIEF WHAT I’M DRINKING: The EBS Martini at Edgar’s Après in Snow Park Lodge, Deer Valley Resort ONE COOL THING: By far the unflashiest bar at Deer Valley, Edgar’s Après is tucked into a corner on the top floor of the Snow Park lodge. The cozy bar is named after Deer Valley’s founder, Edgar Bloom Stern, the eldest son of Edgar Bloom Stern Sr. The senior Stern was a board member of the Sears & Roebuck corporation, among other fortunemaking endeavors. The younger Stern came west and invested heavily in real estate, notably in the land on which he founded Deer Valley. The EBS martini is the bar’s signature drink and is nothing more than a Beefeater’s Gin Martini, with a whisper of vermouth and a twist.

Served up, it was Edgar’s favorite tipple after a day surveying his realm.

I like to sip and wonder if the senior Stern knew Alvah Curtis Roebuck, who sold his shares in the Sears

KIMMY HAMMONS, GRAPHIC DESIGNER WHAT I’M DRINKING: Mini bottles of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum ONE COOL THING: When hitting the slopes this winter, sometimes a little kick of spiced rum helps give me the liquid courage to take on the unknown…and since it is always unknown how long I’ll be up there I find sneaking a mini bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum into my snow coat one of the best ways to keep my spirits up, even after I’ve fallen face down in the snow a few times.

HEATHER HAYES, EDITOR AT-LARGE WHAT I’M DRINKING: Muddled Mule Mocktail at Snowpine Gulch Pub, Alta Ski Area.

ONE COOL THING: After a day chasing turns through Baldy Chutes and Ballroom Bowl at Alta, I love warming up by the fire at Snowpine Lodge with this crisp and tangy mix of muddled blackberry, fresh lime, rosemary syrup and ginger beer. It hits that perfect après-ski note—a bright, refreshing contrast to frozen toes and face shots on the mountain.

Bohemian Brewery–94 E. 7200

South, Midvale, bohemianbrewery.com. Enjoy the lagers beloved by Bohemian’s owners’ Czech forebears, following the ancient Reinheitsgebot or German Purity Law.

The Muddled Mule at Gulch Pub puts a fruity twist on a classic cocktail. Add Tequila for a boozed-up Mexican Mule.

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AFTER DARK

B A R GU I DE

Bewilder Brewing–445 S. 400 West, SLC,

bewilderbrewing.com. In a building decked out with an awesome Trent Call mural, Bewilder Brewing has house-made sausages and a beer list that skews toward traditional German styles.

Desert Edge Brewery–273 S. Trolley

Square, SLC, desertedgebrewery.com. Decades of experience sets Desert Edge apart from all the others. This classic Salt Lake bar (and restaurant) continues to innovate its brews.

Epic Brewing Company–825 S. State

Level Crossing Brewing Company–2496 S. West Temple, South Salt

Lake; 550 S. 300 West, SLC, levelcrossingbrewing. com. A welcoming bar and community-minded gathering place for trivia and board game night and, of course, hand-crafted beer and wood-fired pizza.

Mountain West Cider–425 N. 400 West,

SLC, mountainwestcider.com. With handcrafted ciders ranging from dry to sweet, all named for Utah’s iconic natural features, the people at Mountain West Cider know their craft and their community.

St., SLC, epicbrewing.com. Epic became Utah’s first brewery since prohibition to exclusively produce highalcohol brews when it opened in 2018. Enjoy them at the brewery two ounces at a time or take some to-go seven days a week.

Park City Brewing–764 Uinta Way #C1, Park

Fisher Brewing Company–320 W. 800

Logan, prodigy-brewing.com. A family-friendly brewpub, Prodigy serves an upscale twist on classic brewpub fare and beers.

South, SLC, fisherbeer.com. Fisher takes its name from a brewery originally founded in 1884, but the brews and low-key atmosphere are strictly right now.

One of the few in town that has cask ale occasionally.

Grid City Beer Works–333 W. 2100 South,

South Salt Lake, gridcitybeerworks.com. Grid City has teamed up with Drunken Kitchen to fill their food menu with bao and noodles. They also triple the ways they serve their one-of-a-kind beers—cask, nitro or CO2.

Hopkins Brewing Company–

1048 E. 2100 South, SLC, hopkinsbrewingcompany.com.

If you like craft beer served with a focus on sustainability, “The Hop” could be your new favorite watering hole. The vibe fits the Sugar House scene with frequent live music.

Kiitos Brewing–608 W. 700 South; 1533 S..

1100 East, SLC, kiitosbrewing.com. Kiitos brews are on several menus around town. But if you stop by their downtown brewery to taste, you can play pinball, too.

City, parkcitybrewing.com. Their core beers are brewed in Park City. The brewpub is kid-friendly, making it the perfect family après spot.

Prodigy Brewing–25 W. Center Street,

Proper Brewing Co.–857 S. Main St.,

properbrewingco.com; 1053 E. 2100 South, SLC, craftbyproper.com. From the same proper folks who brought you the Publick House, Proper Brewery and Burgers hugely expands the brewing capacity of the original.

Red Rock Brewery–254 S. 200 West, SLC, redrockbrewing.com. A longtime favorite for tippling and tasting, the pub draws on 45 recipes for its rotating selection.

RoHa Brewing Project–

30 E. Kensington Ave., SLC, rohabrewing.com. A friendly local taproom in the heart of Salt Lake’s Ballpark neighborhood. This taproom offers a variety of draft and high-point beer, cider, wine, canned cocktails and spirits.

Roosters Brewing Co.–253 25th Street,

Ogden, roostersbrewingco.com. A local favorite in the heart of Historic 25th Street in Ogden, Roosters Brewing Co. offers both a comfortable dining experience in their restaurant and a 21+ tap room.

SaltFire Brewing–2199 S. West Temple,

South Salt Lake, saltfirebrewing.com. Located in a distilling and brewery hub of South Salt Lake, SaltFire brings tongue-in-cheek labels of its tasty craft brews.

Salt Flats Brewing Co.–

2020 Industrial Circle, SLC, saltflatsbeer.com. Born in a garage—the Garage Grill to be exact—Salt Flats’ drinkable beers each takes its name from racing and motorsports culture.

Shades Brewing–1388 S 300 West,

SLC, shadesbrewing.beer. A mom-and-pop brewery supplying many local restaurants, check the website and stop by their tap room.

Squatters/Corner Brew Pub–

147 W. Broadway, SLC; 2110 Highland Dr., SLC, saltlakebrewingco.com. The original breweries merged to form Utah Brewers Cooperative and are now in the hands of Salt Lake Brewing Company. Squatters and Wasatch are the most-visited watering holes in Salt Lake.

Talisman Brewing Company– 1258 Gibson Ave., Ogden, talismanbrewingco.com. At Talisman’s friendly tap room, you can stay and drink or pick up beer to take home. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food or order from a nearby restaurant. Dog friendly.

TF Brewing–936 S. 300 West, SLC,

tfbrewing.com. Brewmaster Kevin Templin has a long history in Salt Lake’s beer scene. Enjoy his meticulously made German-style beer and don’t miss game night.

Uinta Brewing Company–1722 S.

Fremont Dr., SLC, uintabrewing.com. Founder Will Hamill says, “We make beer. Period.” Uinta produces certified organic beers and beer in corked bottles.

LOCAL DISTILLERIES A selection of Utah-based distilleries. Call ahead to confirm tasting room hours and availability for tours and private tastings.

• Alpine Distilling—7132 N. Silver Creek Rd.,

• High West Distillery—27649 Old Lincoln Hwy,

Park City, alpinedistilling.com.

• Beehive Distilling—2245 S. West Temple, South

Wanship, highwest.com.

• Holystone Distilling—207 W. 4860 South,

Salt Lake, beehivedistilling.com.

• Clear Water Distilling Co.—564

W. 700 South, Ste. 401, Pleasant Grove, clearwaterdistilling.com.

• Dented Brick Distillery—3100 S.

Washington St., South Salt Lake, dentedbrick.com.

• Eight Settlers Distillery—7321

Canyon Centre Pkwy., Cottonwood Heights, eightsettlersdistillery.com.

Murray, holystonedistilling.com.

• Moab Distillery—686 S. Main St., Moab, moabbrewery.com.

• New World Distillery—4795 2600 North, Eden, newworlddistillery.com.

• Ogden’s Own Distillery–615 W. Stockman Way, Ogden, ogdensown.com.

• Outlaw Distillery–552 W. 8360 South, Midvale,

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outlawdistillery.com.

• Proverbial Spirits–4175 Forestdale Dr., Park City, proverbialspirits.com.

• Salt Flat Spirits—2020 Industrial Cir., SLC, saltflatsspirits.com.

• Simplicity Cocktails—335 W. 1830 South, SLC, drinksimplicity.com.

• Sugar House Distillery—2212 S. West Temple, #14, SLC, sugarhousedistillery.net.

• Vintage Spirits Distillery—6844 S. Cottonwood St., Midvale, vsdistillery.com.

• Waterpocket Distillery—2084 W. 2200 South, West Valley City, waterpocket.co.

FIELD GUIDE

You can spot acolytes of the Alta religion by their broken-in skiis, threadbare gear and snowflake insignia.

The Alta Vibe You’re not wrong, it’s a thing

T

day of the season, on which they imbibe hot-buttered rum like sacramental wine and offer prayers in thanks for the season that was and more prayers for the early arrival of the next.

HE WAIT LIST FOR A SEASONAL SKI LOCKER

at Alta is decades long. Alta locker holders are zealots, high priests in the Church of Snow and Ice. True believers hike up the mountain, like Knights Templar on a grail quest, skis crossed on their backs, traversing pencil-thin ridgelines. They punish themselves with physical penance, blissfully embracing pain as they preach to heretics the John 3:16 of the Church of Snow and Ice: “Earn your turns.” An Alta skier doesn’t invest in the latest ski fashion. Their gear is often decades old, duct-taped and threadbare.

To Alta acolytes, skiing on the same skis they received 20 years ago as a high-school graduation present is a symbol of dedication, contrition. They grind their own edges, wax their own skis, like fingering a rosary, a preseason meditation and appeal for snow.

Opening day is a holy day, as is the last

Alta is one of only three resorts in the U.S. that deny snowboarders.

Snowboarding is a blasphemy, a road to perdition.

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Although, there are now more creature comforts at Alta with new lodging properties and renovations.

There are still pockets of Spartan accommodations and weather-worn lodges to match the asceticism of the true Alta skier. The Alta Lodge, for example, still rents out rooms built in

the ’30s that are essentially a monk’s cell—a bed and a coffee maker. Pilgrims return year after year to those very rooms, while suites in the new additions boast in-room hot tubs and 600-threadcount sheets. Alta acolytes are members of a congregation, parishioners who consider niceties sinful.

At Alta, you come to ski; sleep and comfort are the devil’s work. And the hated snowboarder is the devil’s henchman. Alta is one of only three resorts in the U.S. that deny snowboarders. Snowboarding is a blasphemy, a road to perdition.

Heaven forbid an Alta-ite marries a snowboarder; one would have to wonder how such an unholy union began in the first place. All of Utah’s resorts have their devotees, fanatics and worshippers.

But Alta breeds Alta-tude. Watch for its practitioners as you drive up the canyon.

Seek the lone Alta symbol in the center back window and ye shall find them.

ILLUSTRATION BY KIMMY HAMMONS

BY JEREMY PUGH

Be Social f a c e s a n d f u n f r o m a r o u n d t h e b e e h i v e s t a te

Utah Film Center’s Geralyn White Dreyfous Building Grand Opening VIP Reception Friday, Sept. 26, 2025 • Utah Film Center | Photos by BW Productions

Utah Film Center kicked off a weekend of celebration marking the grand opening of its new home—the Geralyn White Dreyfous Building in Salt Lake City’s Marmalade District. Festivities began Friday evening with an energetic VIP Reception, where more than 100 supporters gathered to toast 23 years of creativity, community, and big-screen magic—and most importantly, a permanent space for the film center.

Guests were greeted with cocktails and local bites while exploring the newly transformed space—a 1950s simple cinder block structure reimagined with the stunning design work by local designer, WOW Atelier.

Every detail of the building has been thoughtfully designed to spark storytelling and connection.

A highlight from the evening was stepping into the Black Box Theater—an intimate cinematic space where dark velvet curtains and custom seating set the stage for future film screenings. Spiritual and gospel music from the Salt Lake City Mass Choir filled the room, offering a joyful tone before filmmaker Nicholas Ma (Won’t You Be My Neighbor? and Leap of Faith) gave a heartfelt thanks to all who helped bring this new home for film to life. utahfilmcenter.org

GET SOCIAL! Submit your photos and be featured in Salt Lake magazine!

For more information, email:

magazine@saltlakemagazine.com

Above: Jacki Zehner, Geralyn White Dreyfous, McKarah Dreyfous and Lauren Pasternak

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Salt Lake Magazine’s 2025 Farm-to-Glass Cocktail Contest Reveal • Oct. 20, 2025 Oct. 20, 2025 • This is The Place Pioneer Center | Photos by Adam Finkle and Jazmine Worthen

Last September, 23 bars from across the state presented delicious cocktail creations and competed for the best in Utah. With prize money provided by Francis Fecteau of Libations, we awarded trophies to the top reader’s choice winners, Water Witch and Palomino and judge’s choice awards to Rouser at Asher Adams and Current Fish & Oyster (RIP). Other “Notable Potables” were given nods at the event, which featured bites from Good Day Catering, libations from Vine Lore, Old Town Cellars, Mecca, Sugar House Distillery, Speakeasy Mixology and Flair and Mountain West Hard Cider. Thanks to our partners at City Cast Salt Lake and This is the Place. And special thanks to all of our contestants and our presenting sponsor, Sysco.

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Dawson Jenkins; Water Witch, Cole Jones; HSL, Josh Van Gorden; Felt

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Elisabeth

Osmeloski; Scion Cider, Chad Hopkins, Maddie Villano; Hopkins Brewing 3 Allicia Andersen, Jodi Nelson, Liz Sollis; 4 Crystal Daniels; Bar Nohm, Taylor Ready 5 Francis Fecteau, Darby Doyle, Jeremy Pugh 6 Alen Feukic, April Long, Jacob Sanders; Post Office Place

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The Christian Center of Park City’s Tables of Late Summer Gala September 2025 • The Christian Center, Park City | Photos by Dan Campbell

The Christian Center of Park City (CCPC) celebrated its 25th anniversary of fighting food insecurity with the Tables of Late Summer Gala in September.

The fundraising event featured a seasonal dinner created by Blake Spalding and Jen Castle, founding chefs of Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm, with inspiration from Alice Waters, founder of Chez Panisse and The Edible Schoolyard Project. Waters, Spalding and Castle participated in a conversation moderated by Davia Nelson of NPR’s The Kitchen Sisters, while The Blended Table prepared dinner using locally sourced ingredients.

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Betsy Wallace, Ginger Tolman and Jessica Bryant

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Jamie Waters, Brandon Waters, Austin

Smith, Lauren Smith, Craig Knight and Janice Knight 3 Alice Waters, Blake Spalding, Jen Castle

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Nelson Labs 40th Anniversary Open House Oct. 2, 2025 • Nelson Laboratories Headquarters, SLC Photos provided by Love Communications

Nelson Labs, which provides microbiological and analytical chemistry testing and advisory services for the medical device and pharmaceutical industries, showcased how medical products are validated for safety before they reach hospitals. Guests received escorted access to select areas of the campus for guided tours of facilities and timed “innovation stations” that highlighted Nelson Labs’ unique contributions to the industry over the past four decades. Nelson Labs welcomed over 100 guests, including Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson and representatives from Sen. Mike Lee’s office, as well as customers, partners and community leaders. Nelson President Joe Shrawder, Laboratory Operations Leader Zach Anderson and President & CEO of BioUtah Kelvyn Cullimore delivered remarks on Nelson’s growth over the past 40 years and the future of the medical device and pharmaceutical industries in Utah. Learn more at nelsonlabs.com.

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WE’RE ON OUR FINAL

APPROACH PHASE 4 OF YOUR NEW SLC IS WELL UNDERWAY! HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT BY FALL OF 2026:

MORE FLIGHTS TO MORE DESTINATIONS MORE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS

MORE PLACES TO PLUG-IN

• An extension of Concourse B consisting of approximately 317,000 sq. ft on three levels • A total of 16 new gates—first five gates to open in fall 2025, followed by 11 additional gates in fall 2026 • New restaurants and retailers, including &Go SLC, Art of Aesthetics, Good Earth Markets, Hudson, Utah National Parks Store, Aubergine Kitchen, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Moab Brewery, Monarca, Moochie’s, Mr. Charlie’s Chicken Fingers, and Swig

MORE GATES

The final phase of your new SLC is landing in 2026. We can’t wait for you to experience the completion of the first new U.S. hub airport built in the 21st century!

slcairport.com