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Avrey Evans

Avrey Evans is the Managing Editor of Salt Lake Magazine. She has been writing for city publications for seven years and enjoys covering the faces and places of our salty city, especially when a boozy libation is concerned.

Oct 27
Love0

New Additions to the Salt Lake City Airport

By Community

The SLC airport has been teasing the final phase of its B concourse build-out for some time, and the wait is almost over. In 2024, travelers were awed by the river tunnel connecting the two terminals—a 1,000-foot-long installation by Gordon Huether featuring wave-like panels overhead, blue ambient lighting, and convenient moving sidewalks. Now, the travel hub is about to introduce a new extension to the B gate terminal, complete with additional full-service restaurants, grab-and-go concessions and two swanky lounges. 

Officially open to the members today, the all-new Delta Sky Club is 34,000 sq. feet of pure elegance. The Delta team worked with HOK architects (the designers behind the SLC airport architecture) to bring pieces of Utah’s natural landscape indoors. Warm hues and natural textures bring an air of comfort to the sweeping lounge, and a variety of unique light fixtures provide an atmospheric glow throughout the space. Separated into several distinct areas, highlights of the lounge include a panoramic fireplace circle, a sexy backlit bar and a novel room that Delta leadership are calling “the digital immersion room.” Located on the quiet side of the Sky Club, the immersion area features hyperrealistic visions of Utah landscapes displayed on several floor-to-ceiling LED panels. Combined with comfortably wide chairs, private work stations and natural soundscapes, it’s a surefire way to calm the frayed nerves of weary travelers. 

Photo courtesy of Delta Sky Club

Apart from the Sky Club’s attention to functional and appealing design, the exclusive lounge also draws inspiration from the local community and culture. Throughout the lounge, guests can admire artwork from Utah artists, including two clever paintings of matchbooks featuring iconic Beehive businesses—Red Iguana, This is the Place, Cotton Bottom and Alta included. At the dual beverage stations, visitors can get their fix of ready-to-serve lattes, infused water or blend in with the locals at the dirty soda bar. However visitors choose to enjoy the Sky Club, Delta team members promise a comfortable experience with a high priority on hospitality. 

The new B-gate Sky Club is the second-largest in Delta’s system, and signals a bold new chapter for Salt Lake’s travel industry. Stop in the next time you’re catching a flight. 

More Additions to the SLC Airport Concourse B Extension

Along with 16 new gates, Phase 4 of Concourse B will add 20,723 sq. ft., 12 retail spaces and five concession operators. Final finishes to the extension will be complete in 2026, though there are still plenty of new restaurants opening this October. 

American Express Centurion Lounge
AMEX Card Members will be treated to a luxe lounge space, opening on Tuesday, October 28. More details on this two-story sanctuary to come. 

Sunday’s Best
The brunch lovers at Sunday’s Best have two locations in the city, and now you can get their iconic monkey bread and a pre-flight mimosa in the B concourse. 

Monarca 
Coming in 2026, the airport Monarca will be the Mexican restaurant’s second venture under the same moniker. 

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburger
The burger chain is known for its shoestring fries, secret fry sauce and retro diner vibes. 

Moochie’s
This lunchtime hero serves up delectably greasy cheesesteaks, meatball subs and eggplant parm—just ask Mr. Fieri. The airport location is slated to open in 2026. 

Swig
Grab yourself a 44 oz dirty Texas Tab, you know you want it. 

Einstein Bros. Bagels
The bagel shop will sling freshly-baked asiago and everything bagels when they open during the final phase in 2026. 

Moab Brewery 
A taste of Southern Utah can soon be found in the B Concourse when Moab Brewery begins pouring this week. 

Aubergine Kitchen 
Best known for their protein bowls, healthy breakfast options and fresh smoothies, grease-averse travelers can grab a tasty bite at Aubergine Kitchen—opening tomorrow, October 28. 

Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen & Bar 
Bambuza serves up authentic Vietnamese cuisine and traditional family recipes, because who doesn’t love a warming pre-flight pho? 

Read more stories like this and all of our Community coverage. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Oct 16
Love0

The Best Halloween Bars in Salt Lake City This Year

By After Dark

Despite the snowcapped Wasatch Range and garish Christmas merchandise infesting retail shops and grocery stores—there’s still plenty of time to get in the Halloween spirit. Grab your ghouls and hit one of these Salt Lake City bars that are embracing the season with themed brews, booze and boos. 

Full-Blown Experiences 

The Fright Club at Varley 
The sleek downtown bar has transformed into an enticingly eerie speakeasy with all the promise of Halloween revelry. Dressed in dimly lit lightscapes and moody tones, the bar has concocted a range of spooky cocktails from blood-bag-filled sours to doll-head tiki drinks. On Thursdays, Varley teams up with The Fear Factory to present a special evening of guest DJs, dancing and giveaway opportunities for VIP tickets to the haunted attraction. 

@varleyslc | 55 W 100 South, SLC 

Quarters Sugarhouse
The arcade bar’s year-round mascot, a giant skeleton, is joined this month by a barrage of classic All Hallows Eve totems. We’re talking spider webs, haunted circus clowns and jack-o-lanterns. This year, the Sugar House watering hole is going all out with a weekly event series, Terror Tuesdays, a free classic horror movie screening, along with a Zombie Prom, Monster Bash, and a walk-through haunted house pop-up on the outdoor patio. Scared yet? 

@quarterssugarhouse | 1045 E 2100 South, SLC 

Toned-down Halloween vibes 

Thieves Guild 
The Dungeons & Dragons bar on 9th South has released a new selection of potions for your autumnal sipping pleasure. The fantasy bar is already adorned with whimsical furnishings and flair, so it doesn’t take much suspension of belief to feel transported to a Halloween town tavern. The bar is also hosting a variety of events this October, like pumpkin carving on Oct. 20, and the Apples & Daggers festival—a one-of-a-kind anniversary party featuring smoked turkey legs, prize quests and even armored combat by professionals. 

@thievesguildcidery | 117 W 900 South, SLC

Melancholy
A cozy wine bar in the Post District, Melancholy is a dark academia novel come to life. Thoughtfully decorated with vintage furnishings and eclectic decor, the bar has sprinkled in a healthy dose of Halloween pieces that maintain the sophisticated vibe. Stop by for one of their many cocktail education classes or tarot readings, and don’t forget to pick the bartender’s brain about their constantly rotating wine menu. 

@melancholyslc | 556 S Gale Street, SLC 

Social Axe Throwing
Axe throwing, local brews on tap and spooky decor? Jason Voorhies, eat your heart out. Utah’s premier axe-throwing bar is decked out for the season, and they’re even throwing a Halloween party on October 23rd. The event brings in representatives from the city’s leading breweries for an axe-throwing competition, local food vendors and a costume party. 

@socialaxethrowing | 1154 S 300 West, SLC 

Duffy’s Tavern 
An industry favorite, Duffy’s Tavern is serving up damn good sandwiches and dive bar vibes with an October twist. Spider webs on the ceiling, skellies on the back patio and most horrifying of all—karaoke on the weekends. 

@duffystavernslc | 932 South Main Street, SLC 

SLC Pub
Occupying the former Good Grammar space, SLC Pub is a new movie-focused bar that screens classic and occult films. The interiors are plastered with punk movie posters, graphic art and lounge spaces. Stop by during the week for screenings of Halloween favorites, like the Alien series and the horror-comedy Troll 2.

@slcpub | 69 E Gallivan Ave, SLC 

Get the latest on Salt Lake nightlife, and find all our Food and Drink coverage.  And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Oct 07
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Plan-B’s ‘Just Add Water’ is a Witty yet Confronting Production about the Climate Crisis on Utah’s Doorstep 

By Theater

Plan-B’s latest production, Just Add Water, is a climate fiction dramedy that keeps audience members laughing through the delivery of a harsh reality check. The tale follows a personified Great Salt Lake (Latoya Cameron) and her bubbly brine shrimp sidekick (Amona Faatau) as she embarks on a journey to discover what is happening to her, and what’s being done to fix it. Through a series of mic drops, musical numbers and vulnerable monologues, Just Add Water pulls no punches while sparking a sense of conservation hope.

Written by Elaine Jarvik and Matthew Bennett, Just Add Water is the latest installment within Wake the Great Salt Lake art initiative funded by the Salt Lake City Arts Council and Bloomberg Philanthropies. Through a series of temporary art installations—mobile phone booths, photorealistic billboards and site-specific dance performances among them—the public art challenge aims to raise awareness for the Great Salt Lake, and above all else, inspire hope. Plan-B’s production follows the prompt to the T, creating an anthropomorphic version of the Great Salt Lake that is both relatable and assertive. Written as an ancient deity with divine providence over the entire Great Salt Lake ecosystem, GSL takes on the hero’s journey with a rotating ensemble of city dwellers, lake critters and institutional figures. “Brien [the shrimp] acts as the herald in the hero’s journey, he calls her on the adventure and accompanies her,” says Matthew. As you could imagine, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The ecological dilemma is shown in all its complexity, delivered through the channel of hard-hitting comedy. Because if we can’t laugh, we’ll cry—though I unashamedly admit to both during the 90-minute show. “You’re not going to win people over with doom and gloom—although gloom is important in this case,” Elaine adds. “We wanted to approach this issue in a playful, yet hopefully meaningful way.” 

Just Add Water cast includes Latoya Cameron, Amona Faatau, Alec Kalled and Isabella Reeder. Photo credit Sharah Meservy

In the spirit of grassroots theatre, the set design is simple, functional and evocative. Sheer blue fabric drapes from the ceiling, adding both vertical appeal and visions of moving water. Framing the open stage is a collection of pale plastic items one would likely find along the shores of any body of water, and they come in handy when a cast member needs to host an impromptu game show or operate an imagined bulldozer. The costume design is similarly simplified, blending classic Utah attire like puffy jackets and Chacos with organic shapes and materials. 

I’d like to give a massive kudos to this cast. With only four members , they manage to embody a range of characters without skipping a beat. One minute, they are tipsy karaoke singers and the next, farmers engaged in a slam poetry battle about alfalfa and water usage. Amona Faatau hits the comedic timing like a seasoned stand-up, and Latoya Cameron shines while unleashing stirring monologues that leave the audience breathless and teary-eyed. This is a cast with chemistry and skill, and it’s absolutely enthralling to watch. 

Photo credit Sharah Meservy

Just Add Water holds a mirror to Utahns in a time when the lake’s recovery seems both improbable yet imperative. It’s a bitter dose of reality that goes down a little easier with laughter, and in the end, encourages us to do better than we did yesterday. Matthew and Elaine hope audiences will walk away with a deeper sense of connection to our environment, “We need to develop compassion deep enough to lead to compassionate action.” And if we can step up, “we could be the first community to save a dying saline lake in the entire world.” Doesn’t that sound nice?  

Just Add Water runs through October 19, 2025. Tickets are nearly sold out, but they’ve added two more seats to each performance. More information and tickets available at planbtheatre.org. 

Plan-B is also touring a student-friendly production about the Great Salt Lake called Eb & Flo, find more details on their website.

Read more of our Theater coverage and get the latest on the Arts and Culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Sep 25
Love0

Making sense of Utah’s Alcohol Laws with the Liquor Lawyer

By After Dark

“Every state has a weird liquor law or two. Utah just happens to have all of them.”

Tanner Lenart, better known as the Utah Liquor Lawyer, has been helping businesses navigate our state’s tedious alcohol regulations for more than 13 years. From handling license transfers to negotiating fines for violations, Tanner’s main goal is simple: keep businesses up and running. Lenart took a shine to the field of beverage law early on in her career. “I remember thinking, ‘gosh, this is so great,'” she says. “So much better than dealing with death, destruction or divorce.”

Her work in the field ranges from assisting expanding franchise hotels with license applications to ensuring manufacturers operate within statutes and negotiating with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS) over compliance violations. “I even have clients that plan to launch their business within the next two years and just want to understand the legal landscape,” she says. “Other businesses I work with have been operating for decades with a clean history, but they all of a sudden get a violation and I help negotiate settlements with the Attorney General’s Office.”

Tanner Lenart has developed a reputation as the Utah Liquor Lawyer. She helps booze related business with license transfers, detailed negotiations and general DABS relations. Photo by Adam Finkle

The scope of Lenart’s work is no surprise when you consider Utah’s militant liquor regulations–statutes that change frequently and impact each type of license differently. the transfer of licenses, for example, has undergone a pendulum-swing of changes over the years that confuse both resident and transplant business owners.

“For a while, you couldn’t transfer your liquor license, but you could sell it,” Lenart explains.

As of 2022, a new law eliminated the market value of licenses, forcing businesses to apply for new licenses awarded by the DABS commission or undergo a tedious process of restructuring. Another change DABS introduced in recent years allows customers to carry their drinks when moving from a waiting lounge to a tale. Before, 2023, your cocktail required an official babysitter to relocate 15 feet. Every so often, new laws will move toward easing restrictions, but that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all in the beverage industry. Utah operates under an Express Language Clause, which basically says: unless it is expressly permitted in a DABS statute, go ahead and assume it’s prohibited.

With so many hair-splitting laws, the odds of a bar, restaurant or any beverage-related operation receiving a compliance violation are high. “I can say that my practice in the violation are has grown,” Lenart says.

Whether that increase is due to a crackdown in DABS enforcement or her reputation growing in the community, Lenart can’t say. Though she does acknowledge a change in how DABS is approaching compliance missteps. DABS’ undercover operations used to primarily focus on the CUBS program (Covert Underage Buyers), in which 19-year-olds use their real underage IDs and attempt to purchase alcohol at bars, restaurants, etc.

“They still do that, but I’m seeing a lot more manpower being used on DABS agents going in to look for other violations like having too many drinks in front of customers at a time,” says Lenart. Minor infractions like bartending without a name tag, can result in a written warning.

But even those violations can stack up, and that’s where Lenart can help. “There are statutes and administrative rules with select penalties, but those penalties range,” she explains.

Lenart can facilitate negotiations between businesses and DABS, using factors like violation history and level of cooperation, to her clients’ advantage. Best-case penalties may include warnings and small fines, but extreme cases can be devastating.

“I remember a male revue show coming into town selling alcohol on their premises, while doing full nudity,” Lenart recalls in disbelief. “That resulted in full suspension of there license an a five-figure fine, and that’s just a first offense.”

The fast-paced nature of Utah’s liquor landscape can be an intimidating reality for both new and legacy businesses, but its advocates like Tanner who are guiding Utahns toward continued success.

Want to stay in the loop on all things liquor law? Check out Lenart’s X (formerly Twitter) @UTliquorlawyer, where she breaks down the legal stuff into easy-to-get updates you’ll actually want to read.

Strange Changes to UT Liquor Laws 

  • Good: Straw Tasting
    As of May 2025, Utah bartenders can officially straw taste their cocktails. It’s a standard industry practice akin to a chef tasting a sauce; the technique was previously considered “illegal consumption of liquor on the job.” Now, bartenders can get high on their own supply, a few drops at a time. (They don’t.)
  • Tricky: ID Checks for All
    A huge change is coming for Utah in 2026. H.B. 437 mandates a 100% ID check for alcohol sales, regardless of age. “I can see someone in their 70s ordering a $500 bottle of wine at a resort pool in Park City getting feisty over this one,” Lenart remarks. 
  • Umm: Interdicted Person Identifier
    Starting in January 2026, Individuals with extreme DUIs, or otherwise restricted from purchasing alcohol for a set period, will surrender their license to the DMV in exchange for a replacement ID displaying a big red stripe and the words “NO ALCOHOL SALE.” It’s unclear how DABS will provide training on how to verify the interdicted status, if ID scanners will be used to identify out-of-state restrictions, and how to address interdicted individuals who are using a passport.

Get the latest on Salt Lake nightlife, and find all our Food and Drink coverage.  And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Sep 24
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Pumpkin Patches and Family-Friendly Fall Activities in Utah 

By Community

It’s officially fall in Utah. Make the most of the fleeting season with U-pick pumpkin patches, Halloween displays, corn mazes and more! 

Pumpkin Patches 

Kuwahara’s Pumpkin Patch and Thriller Park

More of a Halloween attraction than a traditional pumpkin patch, Kuwahara’s is the perfect family fall outing. Guests can choose their own pre-picked pumpkin while exploring the 31 on-site attractions, including corn mazes, Halloween Mainstreet, obstacle courses and more. Throughout October, Kuwara’s Thriller Park is also hosting four themed weekends of Halloween fun, check their website for the full schedule 

12153 S. 700 West, Draper | Open every day at 10 a.m. 

Mabey Farms 

If you’re craving that classic family-owned farm setting, Mabey Farms in South Jordan has you covered. Spanning over 16 acres, the pumpkin patch boasts 45 varieties all grown on-site. There’s also plenty of photo booths across the farm for an obligatory family photo shoot. 

10090 S 1000 West, South Jordan | Open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.  

Cross E Ranch 

The gourd enthusiasts at Cross E Ranch want every kid to experience the joy of choosing, cutting and hauling around their own pumpkin. One of the only U-pick options in the state, Grandpa’s Pumpkin Patch is ornamented with hundreds of pumpkins sold by the pound. The ranch is also hosting its annual Fall Festival, comprising a corn maze, pig racing, an adventure farm and more. 

3500 N 2200 West, SLC | See full festival and pumpkin patch hours at crosseranch.com

Black Island Farms 

Pumpkin picking and hay rides—how could a fall day get any more perfect? Black Island Farms offers several Halloween attractions, including an eight-acre corn maze, zombie laser tag, and a pumpkin patch accessed by a tractor-pulled hayride. Each hayride ticket comes with one pumpkin picked straight from the vine. 

2075 S 4000 West, Syracuse | Find all hours at blackislandfarms.com 

Rowley’s Red Barn 

Now through October 30th Rowley’s Red Barn is hosting the Fall Festival, featuring apple cider donuts, wagon rides, corn mazes and more. The ranch fills every inch of its sweeping grounds with something fun, including a wagon ride through its pumpkin patch. 

901 S 300 West, Santaquin | Open Monday–Friday 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Wheeler Historic Farm 

Explore Wheeler Farm’s free admission pumpkin patch during their Pumpkin Days (9/26–10/31). Keep the fall fun going with even more activities like a corn pit, duck race, cow rides and more. 

6351 S 900 East, Murray | See all hours on their website. 

More Family-Friendly Fall Events 

North Logan Pumpkin Walk 
Oct. 16–21, 2025

A beloved Cache Valley tradition for more than 40 years, this free community event features hundreds of intricately carved and glowing pumpkins, along with giant imaginative displays made from various gourds and vegetables.

American West Heritage Center’s Fall Harvest Festival 
Oct. 10–11, 2025

Bring in the harvest the old-fashioned way with cider pressing, corn shelling, candle making, threshing with antique tractors, a corn maze, wagon wides, pony rides and more.

Cornbelly’s 
Now through Nov. 1, 2025

A full-on Halloween extravaganza, Corbelly’s has two locations in Lehi and Spanish Fork, each bursting with haunted scenes, pumpkin sculptures and Halloween lights. For thrillseekers, Insanity Point is an all-new terrifying corn maze with 23 spooky scenes, hayrides, campfires and more. 

Gardner Village WitchFest 
Sept. 19–Oct. 31, 2025 

The whimsical Gardner Village transforms into a Halloween haven of witch displays, seasonal boutique shopping, scavenger hunts and more. Visit on select nights for dinner theatre, escape rooms and magic shows.  

Halloween Lift Rides at Sundance Resort 
Oct. 16–31, 2025 

Enjoy Halloween displays and lights from the comfort of the Outlaw Express Lift at Sundance Resort. The 30-45 minute ride also comes with hot chocolate, seasonal treats and a cozy blanket. 

Frightmares at Lagoon
Now through Nov. 2, 2025 

Utah’s only amusement park gets a spooky makeover for the fall season. Get all your thrills at Lagoon’s staple rides and games, along with over nine haunted attractions ranging from scaredy-cat-friendly to enter-if-you-dare. 


Read more stories like this and all of our Community coverage. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Sep 09
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Sugar House Station Brings Some of SLC’s Best Food, Drinks, and Distilleries Under One Roof

By After Dark

The historic Post Office building off 2100 South in Sugar House has been a drug store, an ice cream shop, a seafood restaurant, and now, the 1930s landmark is the home of Utah’s very first “bar hall”. Sugar House Station is the latest endeavor from Pago Group’s Scott Evans, who has partnered with local distilling vanguards James Fowler and Alan Scott of Sugar House Distillery and Waterpocket Distillery, respectively, to bring the building into a new era of business. 

Salt Lake City Bars
(From left to right) Waterpocket’s Alan Scott, Sugar House Distillery’s James Fowler and Pago’s Scott Evans. Photo by Adam Finkle.

“One of our main goals was to offer those visiting Salt Lake City a one-stop shop for what our city has to offer in terms of food and beverage,” Evans says. The 10,000 sq. foot bar hall certainly hits that mark, housing 11 unique stalls where customers can enjoy everything from fried chicken to gyros, to smashburgers and bolognese. Diehard Aristos and Cannella’s fans were undoubtedly thrilled when Sugar House Station announced both establishments would come out of retirement for the project. Joining those legacy restaurateurs are Birdhouse, Pizza Bar, Proper Burger & Brewing, Publik Coffee and Santo Taco. Unlike other food halls, Sugar House Station offers tableside service and walk-up ordering for a balanced dining experience. “It’s a totally different concept, there’s nothing like it in Utah, the way we are operating it,” Evans remarks.

Sugar House Station’s well-rounded food program has been praised by the community, but it’s their bar collaborations that have this writer even more excited. In addition to the two main bars in the center of Sugar House Station, three entity-specific bars line the north side of the space: a new outlet for the excellent Casot wine bar, as well as spaces for Waterpocket and Sugar House Distillery. Serving as their first brick-and-mortar bars (outside of distillery tasting rooms), Waterpocket and Sugar House finally have a dedicated space to showcase their product. These grain-to-glass distillers represent exactly the sort of high-quality, intentional epicureans that Evans wants to put on the forefront of our community’s tastebuds. “We want to showcase what these spirits are capable of,” he says. Bartenders from Waterpocket and Sugar House have collaborated on ten classic cocktails featuring their products, as well as five unique drinks. Throughout the hall, customers can order from one master bar menu, but each dedicated bar stall has its own unique offerings. To accompany the spirit-forward menu items, beer from Proper Brewing contributes a rotating lineup of house-brewed beer. 

Of course, would this even be a Pago concept without an emphasis on wine? Evans has curated an exceptional by-the-glass lineup, focusing particularly on bubbles. “My goal with the Casot stall is to have the largest sparkling wine program by the glass in the state,” he says. Investing in special Coravin wine preservation systems, Casot can sell high-end pours at an affordable price. “I want to give Salt Lakers the chance to taste these reputable, famous sparkling wines without having to spend $500 on a bottle.” From all of us “value vino” enthusiasts, we thank you, Scott! 

With so many great minds in one space, Evans is excited about the collaborations to come. Expect special releases like barrel-aged Negronis and Manhattans, and an ever-evolving bar menu that touches on products from on-site purveyors. Sugar House Station also hosts live music and special events throughout the week. Check their site and socials for the most up-to-date calendar.  

When You Go

Sugar House Station

2155 S. Highland Dr., SLC
sugarhousestation.com | @sugarhousestation.slc

See more stories like this and all of our Food and Drink coverage. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best life in Utah?

Sep 05
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Public Art Project Wake the Great Salt Lake Addresses Environmental Crisis Through Art

By Arts & Culture

Measuring in at an average depth of little more than 10 feet deep, Utah’s capital city namesake is shrinking toward a quiet demise. Each year, the Great Salt Lake loses an average of 1.2 million acre-feet of water, and is 6.9 million acre-feet short of minimum levels considered healthy. The fallout of a vanished lake ripples across every corner of Utah life—from city dwellers who will breathe toxic lakebed dust, to skiers who will recall powder days only as fading memories, to the 12 million migratory birds forced to seek new places to refuel on their long journeys. Some experts suggest the Great Salt Lake could dry up within the next five years. And so we ask: How do we, as a community, rise to meet this moment? How can each of us enact real change? How do we save the Great Salt Lake? These are the questions that Salt Lake City Arts Council’s public art project, Wake the Great Salt Lake, is aiming to answer. 

Wake the Great Salt Lake (WGSL) is one of eight programs awarded a $1 million dollar grant by Bloomberg Philanthropies, joining cities like Atlanta, Orlando, Phoenix and Houston. Each grant recipient selects an urgent civic issue to address through a series of temporary public art projects, this year’s topics include inequality in healthcare, perceptions of homelessness, and rising temperatures in urban environments. For the Salt Lake City Arts Council, responding to the persistent drought threatening to dry out the Great Salt Lake became a driving force. But instead of approaching the issue through a lens of fear and dread, Wake the Great Salt Lake focuses on values of hope, and unity. “When you’re presented with a great existential issue like the decline of the lake, it’s really easy to lose hope,” says WGSL Project Lead Andrew Shaw. “But artists help us to imagine positive futures. They help us see not only what we’re losing, but what we’re saving—what we’re restoring.” 

Nick Pederson’s “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,” consisted of giant billboards displaying photorealistic depictions of two different outcomes for the Great Salt Lake. Photo credit
Courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies

To inspire such positive visions, WGSL has spent the last year collaborating with local and international artists on a series of 12 temporary installations. “We wanted to focus on maximum diversity by representing as many artistic mediums as possible, artists of all stages of their careers and from all geographic locations across Salt Lake,” Shaw explains. Each local activation engages with the viewer in its own unique way; some invite the spectators to physically interact with the installation, while others use the power of storytelling to connect with audiences from the stage. 

Mitsu Salmon’s “Feathered Tides” took place at the Miller Bird Refuge. Photo credit
Courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies

Most of the installations have already happened. Artist Nick Pederson’s May-June installment, “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,” consisted of giant billboards displaying photorealistic depictions of two very different outcomes for the Great Salt Lake—one with abundant water and a thriving ecosystem, and another marked by toxic dust storms and aridification. Acclaimed interdisciplinary artist Mitsu Salmon presented a site-responsive dance performance at Miller Bird Refuge and Nature Park, blending dance, soundscape and visual storytelling. Taking place over four days, “Feathered Tides” guided audiences through the park as dancers embodied movements of Great Salt Lake shorebirds. Another visual artist, Kellie Bornhoft, consulted with the Great Salt Lake Institute and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to identify and illustrate 64 species that depend on the lake. Printed on sheer fabric banners, viewers flipped through the images of birds, insects, plants and more, observing how the transparent material interconnected them. 


The Great Salt Lake Hopeline is a mobile phone booth and dial-in hotline that invites callers to record their memories, hopes and fears for the lake. Photo by KNOWA

An ongoing collaboration between three Salt Lakers, Han Calder, Nick Carpenter and Ben Doxey, the Great Salt Lake Hopeline is a mobile phone booth and dial-in hotline that invites callers to record their memories, hopes and fears for the lake. Marked by bright pink lettering, the phone booth will appear at events across the city throughout 2025, but callers can dial in to 979-GSL-HOPE to leave their messages, and listen to sounds of the lake itself. 

Coming soon, Plan-B Theatre will present two original shows for a range of audiences. Eb & Flo follows a capricious flamingo who longs for adventure, and a pragmatic seagull who frets over the shrinking lake. Together, they find a way to spread word about the Great Salt Lake, and inspire messages of small actions with big effects. Created for grades K-3, this show will tour elementary schools across the state during the 2025-2026 school year, and offer free public performances on select dates in October. Suitable for older audience members, the Great Salt Lake takes human form in Plan-B’s Just Add Water. The climate-fiction dramedy tells the story of nature spirits, open mics, humans, dust and hope. Audiences can catch performances from Oct. 2-19, see planbtheatre.org for performance times. 

As the first phase of Wake the Great Salt Lake comes to a conclusion, Shaw is excited to finish the public art challenge with a bang. The organization has commissioned a notable artist to draw some attention from the international arts community, though Shaw couldn’t announce the partnership at the time of our interview. “It’s going to be a big splashy spectacle,” he teases. “We’re hoping to draw the eyes of the national and international arts and environmental communities to what’s happening at the Great Salt Lake.” 

At its core, Wake the Great Salt Lake invites the community to take part in a conversation. A conversation that isn’t just about what we’ll lose if the lake disappears, but what we will gain if we save it. “I hope everyone who encounters one of these artworks is not only inspired, but also leaves with a sense of purpose. We all have a part in this conversation.” 

Visit Wakegsl.org to learn more about upcoming installations, and follow them on Instagram for the latest updates @wakegsl

Wake the Great Salt Lake recently teamed up with cocktail bar Post Office Place to design a drink with a purpose! Check it out in our 2025 Farm-to-Glass Cocktail Contest.

Get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Aug 25
Love0

Kemo Sabe’s speakeasy in Park City Embraces a Sip-and-Shop Experience

By After Dark

The folks at Kemo Sabe don’t mess around when it comes to high-end Western luxury. Their Main Street shop in Park City is a magnet for those seeking custom-fitted felt hats, top-tier cowboy boots and a trove of Americana accessories. And to elevate the retail experience even further, the boot shop has a hidden speakeasy where you can sip while you shop.

“We’re the hat store in town,” says General Manager Lindsay Perez of the Kemo Sabe location, which began as a family-owned shop in Aspen and has now expanded to six locations in the American West. “But each location also goes the extra mile to give shoppers a one-of-a-kind experience that you can’t find at other retailers: a secret speakeasy.” 

Photo credit Deborah DeKoff.
Photo credit Deborah DeKoff.

Kemo Sabe PC, which opened in 2023, fills its shop with family-owned vendors and artisan ware. But tucked away within the curated floor is an unassuming display shelf that, when touched just right, reveals the entrance to the hidden bar. You can thrill in the hunt by kicking around for it, or avoid damaging a pair of $1,800 python boots by simply telling the staff you’re looking for a drink. It’s your call. 

Photo credit Deborah DeKoff.

Complete with cowhide rugs, long-horn mounts and natural wood finishes, guests are greeted with old-world saloon vibes. The full-service bar can pour up any number of classic cocktails, or a few fingers of a high-end local bourbon. With a glass in hand, step over to Kemo Sabe’s hat-steaming or boot-fitting stations, where stylists can help you find the perfect fit. 

Kemo Sabe’s speakeasy is open to the public seven days a week during regular 
tore hours and is also available for private rentals. Grab your gals and spend an afternoon customizing hats with feathers, pins, beaded chains, brands and all the other bells and whistles your little cowgirl heart desires. And hell, why not pair the experience with a bottle of bubbles and a round of espresso martinis? A little shopping under the influence never hurt anyone.   

If You Go

Kemo Sabe
268 Main St., Park City
Check their website for seasonal store hours | kemosabe.com

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Jul 30
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7 Exclusive Chef Dinners to Attend this Summer

By Eat & Drink

This summer, exclusive chef-led dinners across Utah are giving adventurous diners a front-row seat to the creativity unfolding in local kitchens. From rooftop suppers in the mountains to omakase artistry and BYOB wine-paired feasts, these events are more than meals—they’re culinary experiences.

Pendry Summer Supper Series 

On select Thursdays through September 4, Pendry Park City hosts an intimate farm-to-table meal created by a rotating roster of chefs. Served on their rooftop patio dubbed The Pool House, each dish showcases honey, apple, snap peas, plums and more sourced directly from the Park City Farmers Market. I recently attended a supper in early July and was thrilled by the flavors, presentation and attentive staff. Kita’s head Chef was our culinary guide that evening, and definitely showcased his restaurant’s Japanese proclivities with dishes like local bread with yuzu honey butter, tuna tartare with caramel ginger emulsion and, of course, unexpected sake pairings. Plan for a three-hour dining experience—perfect for a sunset pic between courses. Tickets are $175 per person, additional costs for wine pairings. This is a 21+ dining experience, reservations available on Open Table. 

2417 W. High Mountain Rd, Park City 

Seared cod with cherry tomato and green olive ragout
Roasted striploin with potato moussline, turnips and baby beets.

Rouser Chef’s Table 

Inside the stunning Asher Adams hotel in downtown Salt Lake City, Rouser offers a taste of Americana excellence—with a twist. The charcoal-fired open kitchen is a high-spirited dining experience showcasing not just how the food tastes, but how it is prepared. Now, Chef de Cuisine Emilio Camara is taking that immersion to the next level. Every Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., Chef Camara hosts an intimate six course meal that reflects his own heritage and culinary journey, with plenty of live-fire displays, naturally. Seats are extremely limited to six to eight diners per evening, $100 per person and $62 for an additional wine pairing. Find the entire menu, here.

2 400 W, Salt Lake City    

Deer Valley Taste of Luxury Series 

Wine dinners, multi-course meals and even Michel Chef-led cooking classes—Deer Valley is doing it all this sumer. With several unique events through August 23, the Taste of Luxury series invites guests to indulge in fine flavors in a truly spectacular alpine setting. Closing out the series next month, Italian powerhouse Chef Giancarlo Morelli will host a hands-on pasta making course, VIP meet and greet, and a five-course Italian dinner with wine pairings from the Bon Vivant Imports portfolio. Tickets start at $215 per guest. Learn more about the Michel Star Chef, here.

2250 Deer Valley Drive, Park City  

Mountain Wine Storage x Tupelo BYOW Dinner

Utah’s first professional wine storage facility made a splash when they first opened in 2024, and they’ve only gone up from there. This year, the vino enthusiasts have partnered with the industry’s leading wineries and notable local chefs to host a series of elevated wine dinners. Their next iteration will feature five-courses from Tupelo’s Executive Chef Matthew Harris, highlights include Niman Ranch porchetta, cocoa spice venison carpaccio and spaghetti amatriciana. To complement the meal, Tupelo and MWS invite guests to embrace their inner sommelier and bring their own bottles of Italian Super Tuscan to show off and share with their fellow diners. This is a 21+ event starting at $200 per person, reservations available on Resy. 

1500 Kearns Blvd, Park City 

Omakase at Post Office Place 

Omasake translates to “I leave it up to you,” and at Post Office Place, you’re in good hands. Takashi Chef Brice Okubo, Post Office Head Chef Brendan Kawakami and Takashi Gibo himself have curated a fifteen-course culinary journey, with dishes ranging from contemporary Japanese nigiri to experimental global cuisine. I tried their July menu (the lineup changes each month) last week and was absolutely blown away by the creativity and collaborative nature of this experience. Though it’s hard to choose favorites when you have 15 delectable morsels to choose from, standouts included the hand-tied kaizen-men noodles, grilled toro temaki, Brazilian fish stew and the tempura kombu with uni (are you hungry yet?) The communal dinner is available on Wednesday nights, with seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets for August are already sold out, but keep an eye on their site and socials for the September ticket drop near the end of the month. Note: This is a 21+ event. 

16 W Market St., Salt Lake City

Brazilian Fish Stew
Duck with Black Eyed Peas
Takashi’s Sampler

Chef Collaboration Series at Urban Hill

Launched in spring, Urban Hill has hosted two special dinners in collaboration with notable chefs around the city. Last week, Chef Manoli Katsanevas and Urban Hill’s Nick Zocco presented a delectable lineup of Greek meets American cuisine. I will admit, these dinners are a bit hard to pin down—check Urban Hill’s site and socials to stay in-the-know. Apart from their collaboration series, the restaurant is also offering a Hungarian wine dinner on August 19 for $190 per person. The six-course meal includes highlights like blue corn langos, pork and duck sausage and stone fruit dumplings all paired with pours from Boutique wine. Reservations available on Resy. 

510 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City

Mar | Muntanya Chef’s Garden Table 

Once a week, Mar | Muntanya Chef Tyson prepares a multicourse journey of Northern Spain’s coastal flavor. The menu adapts through the season and showcases produce harvested directly from the Chef’s Garden, the SLC Farmers Market, and local greenhouse growers. Diners will gain an insight into each dish directly from the Chef, and maybe even make a few new friends at the communal tables. Tickets are limited to 10 seats per evening at $150 per person, get yours on Tock. 

170 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City (Inside the Hyatt)

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Jul 28
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Your Week Ahead: July 28–August 3rd

By Community

Before you know it, summer will have slipped into fall with back-to-school stress and slimming daylight hours. Luckily, there’s still plenty of opportunities for making the best of the season with events throughout the valley. From free movies in the park to summer festivals and exclusive dining experiences, there’s a little something for everyone in this week’s curated event guide. 

Monday 7/28

What: The Wizard of Oz 
Where: Sundance Mountain Resort Outdoor Stage
When: 7/28 at 8 p.m. 
In partnership with UVU School of the Arts, Sundance Mountain Resort presents a summer production of L. Frank Baum’s classic, The Wizard of Oz. Framed by majestic views of Mt. Timpanogos, this unique outdoor performance is perfect for all ages. Arrive at the venue early for a special barbecue dinner served in the Sundance Grove from 6-8 p.m. Tickets start at $34. 

What: Free Concert Series in the Park
Where: Liberty Park 
When: 7/28 at 7 p.m. 
The Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts has reprised their free summer concert series at Liberty Park this summer. Every monday in front of the Chase Museum in the middle of the park, spectators can enjoy a lively concert of traditional folk music and cultural dance. The performers on July 28 are Finch & the Magpies, and the Nepalese Association of Utah. 

Tuesday 7/29

What: Friends & Family Night in the Garden
Where: Red Butte Garden
When: 7/29 at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On select Tuesdays this summer, Red Butte hosts special hands-on garden experiences with crafts, live music and more. This week’s theme is ‘Water Walkabou’, encouraging guests to learn more about water-wise living through garden tours, drought-friendly gardening practices, and a DIY rain catcher activity. 

Wednesday 7/30

What: Star Party 
Where: UofU South Physics Observatory
When: 7/30 at 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. 
The final star party of the evening will be held Wednesday night at the South Physic Observatory, near Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus. Observe galaxies, nebulae, planets and more at this free-to-attend astronomic educational event. Summer viewing hours begin at 9 p.m. weather permitting. 

Thursday 7/31

What: Ritual Chocolate Tasting 
Where: 2175 W 3000 South Ste. 100, Heber 
When: 7/31 at 7 p.m. 
Learn how to taste chocolate like a connoisseur with the artisanal chocolatiers at Ritual. The intimate, guided tasting will teach guests how to slow down and savor a curated selection of chocolates, learn about their origins and discover unexpected pairings. $25 per person, reserve your spot by emailing info@ritualchocolate.com

What: Movies in the Park
Where: Centennial Park, West Valley City 
When: 7/37 at sundown
Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and settle in for a free screening of Ferdinand. Arrive early to enjoy food trucks and shop the West Valley City Farmers Market. Find even more free movies at parks across the valley, here! 

Friday 8/01

What: 2025 Kimball Arts Festival
Where: Main Street, Park City 
When: 8/01–8/03
The 56th Annual Kimball Arts Festival connects community members with a network of jury-selected artists. Considered a premier Park City event, Main Street is transformed into a promenade of artist booths displaying everything from ceramics, to jewelery, to metalwork and photography. In addition to viewing and purchasing art, festival goers can enjoy live music, artist demonstrations, craft beer and local cuisine. Purchase single day and weekend passes, here. 

What: 801 Days
Where: Gallivan Center
When: 8/01 at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Commemorating a new holiday, 801 Day is a celebration of Utah’s favorite area code (sorry 385-ers). Hosted by City Cast Salt Lake, the free block party features a beer garden, live music, artisan marketplace, food trucks and more! This event is free to attend but requires a RSVP, do so here!  

What: Beautifica 360
Where: Clark Planetarium
When: 8/01 with showings at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. 
Visionary composer James Hood has created a fulldome music experience designed to promote joy with fantastic imagery and inspiring audio. 

What: Hogle Zoo’s 94th Anniversary 
Where: Hogle Zoo
When: 8/01 at 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
Celebrate Hogle Zoo’s lasting legacy at their anniversary event on August 1. Throughout the zoo guests can interact with themed games, animal biofact stations, animal enrichment activities and keeper chats, don’t forget to sign a personalized post card with your favorite memories at the zoo. See the full schedule of trainings, feedings and enrichment, here! 

Saturday 8/02

What: Chef’s Table with Emilio Camara
Where: Rouser 
When: 8/02 at 7 p.m. 
Every Friday and Saturday, Rouser’s Chef de Cuisine hosts an exclusive dinner series featuring live-fire and charcoal grilling, culinary storytelling and six delectable courses. The private evening is only available for groups of six to eight, priced at $100 per person. Explore the menu, here. 

What: Brewlastic Book Fair
Where: Kiitos Brewing
When: 8/02 at 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. 
Ken Sanders Rare Books and Kiitos Brewing have joined forces to present a full day of books and brews. The free-to-attend Brewlastic Book Fair showcases Utah’s literary community with live readings, author speed dates, blind dates with a book, and a large market filled with local bookish vendors and booksellers. 

What: 6th Annual Indian Food Fair 
Where: Liberty Park 
When: 8/02 at 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
Immerse yourself in the vibrant flavors of India at this free outdoor festival. Local vendors will offer everything from aromatic spices, to classic Indian dishes, to clothing, jewelry and more. 

Sunday 8/03

What: Summer BBQ Jam with Celebrity Chef Jack Arnold
Where: St. Regis Deer Valley
When: 8/03 at 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
Famed barbecuer Jack Arnold will showcase his renowned grilling techniques set to high-energy music from DJ Dolph at this slopeside event. The all-you-can-eat evening features multiple food stations and collaborations from Colorado Craft Beef, Grilla Grills and Manukora Honey, all located inside the luxury resort’s Vintage Room and patio. This event is 21+, tickets are $125 per person. 

What: Salt Lake Sideways Rooftop Tasting 
Where: The Camber | 320 N 490 West, SLC
When: 8/03 at 4:30 p.m. 
Learn more about Salt Lake’s small business community at this casual tasting event. A $5 entry fee includes samples of food and drink from eateries like Xiao Bao Bao, Vertical Diner, Argentina’s Best Empinadas, Laziz Kitchen and more. 

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