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Christie Porter

Christie Porter has worked as a journalist for nearly a decade, writing about everything under the sun, but she really loves writing about nerdy things and the weird stuff. She recently published her first comic book short this year.

Dec 02
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7 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Utah

By City Watch

When it comes to the holidays in Utah, we go big. But it’s not all borderline offensively festive Christmas light displays and hand-holding by a nativity at Temple Square. We have put together a list of ways to celebrate the holidays in Utah to get you out of your winter rut and break from tired traditions. 

Get cozy with a drink and a holiday movie

A Christmas Parlor at Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club

Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club Holiday Pop-Up Bar And Christmas Movie Series
Home Alone on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.,  Elf on Wednesday, Dec.14 at 8 p.m., Die Hard on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m., Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club
Soak in the season in an immersive, magical Holiday Parlor where you can sip festive holiday cocktails and catch a classic holiday movie. The holiday-themed A Christmas Parlor features design and decor by Utah Arts Alliance and a special menu of seasonal cocktails from famed mixologist and Carver Road Hospitality VP of Beverage, Francesco Lafranconi. Reservations for The Holiday Parlor are highly recommended

Shop your local holiday market

JCC Hanukkah Market 
Sunday, Dec. 4, 12 p.m.–5 p.m., IJ & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center
The event features local vendors, family-friendly entertainment, a book sale hosted by the King’s English Bookshop, a Hanukkah gift shop, a children’s art yard and delicious Jewish food.

Salt and Honey Makers Market 
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Visit Salt Lake Visitor’s Center 
Visit Salt Lake is partnering with the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) for a festive day of holiday shopping geared toward the whole family. Shoppers can experience an innovative gift and craft sale while supporting local artists and artisans.

Find more holiday markets here.

Experience the sounds of the season

A Holiday Celebration of Music with Utah Symphony
Dates, time and performances vary, Abravanel Hall
Experience a winter wonderland with the Utah Symphony as they perform your favorite holiday music live. This season features cherished traditions and soulful carols, pre-concert activities for children, and performances with Broadway star and Postmodern Jukebox alum member Morgan James and of the music of Nightmare Before Christmas.

Strap on your skates for some ice skating

Ice Skating at the Gallivan Center
Open through February, Gallivan Plaza
East Gallivan Plaza transforms into an outdoor public ice skating rink in the winter. They offer both hockey and figure skates for rent with admission. You can also warm up with hot cocoa and enjoy other sweet and savory treats at the concessions booth. You can privately rent the ice rink Monday-Thursday during off hours. Adults $12, Seniors and Military $11, Children under 12 years old are $10.

Holiday Festival 2022
Saturday, Dec. 10, Utah Olympic Oval
The Utah Olympic Oval is proud to carry on a community holiday tradition. Enjoy activities for the whole family, including public ice skating, sports clinics, an Oval Figure Skating Ice Show, holiday crafts and visits with Mr. & Mrs. Claus. 

Midway Ice Rink
Open daily through March 18, Midway Ice Skating Rink 
The scenic outdoor ice rink is open seven days a week, except Christmas Day. General admission $8 (13 and up), Kids $7 (ages 6-12), Kids 4 and under are free, skate rentals are $5.

Take in a twist on holiday lights, displays and decorations

Holidays in Utah: ZooLights display at Utah's Hogle Zoo
(Photo credit Utah’s Hogle Zoo)

ZooLights
Through Dec. 30, Utah’s Hogle Zoo
Utah’s Hogle Zoo 16th Annual ZooLights welcomes guests of all ages to see fantastical light displays of animals, characters and holiday scenes around the zoo. ZooLights features new light displays with an animals around the world-themed scavenger hunt, the 12 gifts you can give for conservation, memorable photo opportunities, a 135-foot kaleidoscopic light tunnel, exclusive treats, a 20-foot grand tree and visits with Santa

Evermore Park’s Aurora 2022
Through Jan. 7, Evermore Park
Experience magic in Evermore’s Old European Holiday Village, featuring a variety of fantasy themed characters! Explore a Winter Wonderland filled with lights, projections, lasers, music and live performances, as well as warm food and hot drinks, shopping in the Kris Kringle Marketplace or one of Evermore’s themed holiday shops. 

Luminaria
Through Dec. 30, Thanksgiving Point’s Ashton Gardens
A one-way path guides you past a light and music show, including 6,500 programmable luminaries blanketing a hill, songs, shows and a 120-foot tree.

2022 Fantasy at the Bay: Drive-Through Holiday Light Show
Through Dec. 30, Willard Bay State Park
Celebrate the magic of the holidays while staying warm and cozy inside your car.

Snow Globe Stroll
Through Jan. 8, Park City’s Historic Main Street
Returning for the third year in a row, the Snow Globe Stroll will feature seven life-size snow globes, each themed around different holiday songs, including “Last Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Let It Snow!” and “Happy Holiday.” Passersby can enjoy festive Historic Park City holiday decorations including Santa’s mailbox and Main Street Christmas tree. 

Utah Governor’s Mansion Holiday Tours
Dec. 6-13, Kearns Mansion
The Kearns Mansion is decked out every holiday season with some sort of theme. This year’s theme is the “Roaring ’20s.”

Celebrate on the slopes

Montage Deer Valley
The holiday fun includes Family Tubing Nights at Powder Park, Christmas Eve Magic at Santa’s Workshop and Christmas Feasts. For a complete list of holiday festivities, pricing, reservations, and more information on holiday events at Montage Deer Valley, visit “Upcoming Events” on their website 

Santa’s Christmas Eve Parade and Fireworks
Dec 24., 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Plaza Deck, Snowbird Center
Visit Snowbird at dusk on Christmas Eve on the Plaza Deck for bonfires, hot cocoa, the torchlight parade and fireworks. Afterward, keep your eyes to the sky for a special appearance from Santa Claus.

Visit Santa at the North Pole

North Pole Festival
Thursday-Monday, through Jan. 1, 6 p.m.- 9 p.m., America First Field
Explore the North Pole with millions of lights, larger-than-life decor, gigantic Christmas trees that come to life with Christmas music, walk-thru light tunnels, in an immersive experience for all ages. 

Santa Comes Down the Town Lift
Saturday, Dec. 17, Park City’s Town Lift
Santa will be doing a trial run the week before the Christmas holiday and will make an appearance coming down Park City’s Town Lift. 

Festival of the Seas 2022
Through Dec. 3, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Meet Santa, Mrs. Claus and Santa’s workshop helpers, plus enjoy fun holiday crafts and photo ops throughout the Aquarium.

Photos With Santa
Dec. 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 17 & 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City
Open to both guests and Salt Lake residents, the hotel will feature a massive 18-foot tree on the scenic rooftop Sundance Terrace, a custom-built Santa House, holiday vignettes and photo-ops with Santa Claus. Holiday carolers will sing joyous classics at both the sixth-floor rooftop Sundance Terrace and in the lobby space Saturdays & Sundays in December, prior to Christmas, from noon–2:00 p.m. Tickets to experience are available on Tock here. Tickets start at $20 per photo for non-dining guests.  For guests who would like to dine prior to their photo with Santa, pricing is $10 with proof of brunch or lunch purchase.

Nov 28
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Haunted by ‘A Christmas Carol’

By Arts & Culture, Theater

When Charles Dickens sat down to write his “ghostly little book,” he endeavored to raise an idea that would not sour his readers on the Christmas season but “haunt their houses pleasantly.” Indeed, we have been haunted by A Christmas Carol since 1843. Its longevity may be due, in part, to Dickens’ performances of it. Starting in 1853, he took his show on the road in Britain then to the United States, and audiences could not get enough. Rather than read directly from his book, he transformed it into a performance piece. He rewrote, cut and pasted together pages, and added stage cues until he had a script worthy of the stage.

This too has passed into modern tradition with actors, storytellers and speakers who channel the spirit of Dickens and perform A Christmas Carol as he once did: one man, one stage, one book. Dane Allred is one such man, but it didn’t start out that way. “The first time I performed A Christmas Carol, I was the narrator in a version of it that one of my friends had written,” says Allred. He’s a retired Payson High School drama teacher and teaches public speaking at BYU and UVU. He started performing a version similar to Dickens’ at places like the Provo Tabernacle (before it caught fire) and the Provo Public Library. Even though he had it mostly memorized from playing the narrator, Allred says, “I like to recreate Dickens’ reading of it from his book.” In all of the years Allred performed A Christmas Carol at the library, he says, “There were people who came every single time. I would say, ‘You know the story isn’t going to change, right?’ and they would say, ‘That’s the point. We like it.’”

A Christmas Carol Utah
Photo by Adam Finkle

Now in his mid-60s, Allred hopes to pass the proverbial Dickensian torch to a new generation of orators and actors. Actors like Matthew Delafuente, who played Dickens two years running in A Christmas Carol one-man show at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo. When it comes to the story’s staying power, Delafuente points to a passage when Scrooge is with the Ghost of Christmas Past and Dickens describes the brightness and joy of the Christmas celebration—family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, festive music, singing and dancing and playing games. “There are all of these things from A Christmas Carol that are now embedded in our own Christmas traditions,” says Delafuente, who has also played George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, so he’s becoming quite familiar with holiday traditions. “Dickens was a pioneer.”

Both Delafuente and Allred point to the themes in A Christmas Carol as another secret to its long-lived success. “Dickens used his performances to raise money for children’s hospitals,” says Allred (who was inspired by that charity to perform A Christmas Carol with free admission). Dickens’ concern for children in poverty was a key impetus for writing A Christmas Carol, and, in doing so, he inextricably merged the virtues of giving and charity with Christmastime.

“Ultimately, it’s a story about a selfish man who, by the end, learns to see the needs of others in a new light,” says Delafuente. “We relate because we all have that battle of learning to see things from a perspective outside our own.” 

“It’s a story of redemption,” says Allred. “I think it’s important to remember that Scrooge ends up as the good guy. We get to see him change, and think, ‘if he can change, why can’t I?’”

As much as the hundreds of film and TV adaptations and thousands of stage performances of A Christmas Carol might haunt us, it is the spirit of generosity that Dickens endeavored to have “haunt our homes pleasantly.” Less pleasantly, in the Ghost of Christmas Present’s parting words, there is also a warning concerning the children of Man, Ignorance and Want. “Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy [Ignorance], for on his brow I see that written which is Doom unless the writing be erased…Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And abide the end!”  

A Christmas Carol Utah
Photo Courtesy Dickens’ Christmas Festival

Dickens’ Christmas Festival 

Every holiday season, Christmas magic transforms the Dixie Convention Center in St. George into a 19th century Victorian market. At the Dickens’ Christmas Festival, Utah vendors and performers travel back in time, don their (period-appropriate) gay apparel and celebrate the holidays with seasonal treats, locally made gifts and Father Christmas himself. 

Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2022

Nov 22
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Why Is Utah Gas More Expensive Than The Rest Of The Country?

By City Watch

If you have plans to travel this Thanksgiving, you’re not alone. AAA predicts 53.4 million people will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday. That’s up 13% from 2020. Rather than the hassle of flying, many of us will hit the road instead, which means we’ll be subject to sky-high gas prices. This isn’t something new for residents of the Beehive State. At the end of last week, the national average price at the pump for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $3.707, while Utah’s average price was $4.011, according to AAA’s gas price tracker. And Utah gas prices are consistently higher than the national average. It’s a fact that often raises some eyebrows, considering the five oil and gas refineries right in our backyard. 

Can we blame California for high Utah gas prices?

Utah Governor Spencer Cox tasked the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED) to solve the mystery of why Utah’s gasoline prices are, on average, higher than the rest of the nation, and OED released their report last week. “After seeing historic gasoline prices across the country and that Utah’s prices were trending higher than the national average, it became clear that we needed a deeper understanding of the petroleum supply chain in Utah,” said Gov. Cox in a statement. “We’ll continue working with policymakers and [the oil and gas] industry to find ways to increase supply and reduce prices.”

According to the OED report, Utah’s gasoline market is seeing increased demand for its products both inside and outside of the state, and there is no way to make more gasoline locally, at least right now. Utah’s refineries are already producing as much refined product as they can, operating at 90% capacity or greater. “The additional demand seems to be caused by Utah’s growing population along with refinery closures and higher prices in other states,” said Greg Todd, the governor’s recently appointed Energy Advisor and Executive Director of OED. 

Intermountain West Refining Capacity By State, 2022 (barrels per day) 

  • Utah: 206,714 (North Salt Lake, five refineries)
  • Wyoming: 125,850 (New Castle, Evansville, Evanston, Sinclair)
  • New Mexico: 110,000 (Artesia)
  • Colorado: 103,000 (Commerce City) 
  • Nevada: 2,000 (Ely)
  • Idaho: 0
  • Arizona: 0 
  • Total: 547,564

Source: Energy Information Administration, via Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

The report goes on to blame policies in other states for diminishing the supply of gasoline and thus increasing the demand for Utah gas products. Specifically, the diminishing supply on the West Coast is caused by refinery closures and biofuel conversions. According to the report, these closures and conversions are incentivized by state and federal government regulations as a part of decarbonization efforts to improve climate outlooks and air quality. In short, the report puts the blame on progressive energy policies in “West Coast” (read: “liberal”) states for reducing the supply of good old-fashioned gasoline in the region. That decreased supply in other markets where Utah products are sold creates more demand for Utah gas and upward pressure on prices.

It’s yet another thing Utahns hate (high gas prices) that we get to blame on California, but, as one might expect, it’s not quite that simple. There are many other factors that go into determining the price of a gallon of gasoline.

What else could be to blame for high Utah gas prices?

“No one likes high prices for their energy. Nobody does.” Thomas Holst is the Senior Energy Analyst at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. As far as the upward pressure on prices caused by Utah gas exported to out-of-state markets, he says, “If Utah refineries get higher returns by sending their product west, I can’t fault them for doing that.” 

The price we pay at the pump is generally driven by both state and federal taxes (which account for about 15% of the cost at the pump), product distribution and marketing costs (21%), refining costs (12%) and the cost of crude oil (53%). “The price of crude oil and taxes are generally fixed. There’s nothing we can do about those,” says Holst. But what about product distribution and refining costs?

Kim C. Gardner Policy Institute presentation addresses Utah gas prices, at April Newsmaker Breakfast Putin’s War of Choice: Impacts on Utah’s Energy Prices April 13, 2022
Presentation given at Kim C. Gardner Policy Institute’s April Newsmaker Breakfast, “Putin’s War of Choice: Impacts on Utah’s Energy Prices,”
April 13, 2022

Consider another way of looking at the issue. Rather than asking “why are gas prices in Utah so high,” we could ask “why are gasoline prices in other places so low?” For one, it’s cheaper to refine and distribute products in other places in the country. Utah is the largest refiner in the Intermountain West. Utah’s five refineries in North Salt Lake account for 206,714 barrels of the Intermountain West’s total refining capacity of 547,564 barrels. “Compare that to the Gulf states, where there are 19 refineries and their capacity is 5.2 million barrels,” says Holst. “You have what is called an economy of scale.” This means you have a proportionate saving in costs gained by an increased level of production. “So, refining costs are going to be lower with larger operations.” And distribution? The Gulf state refineries distribute a good deal of their product by pipeline. Utah transports its refined products primarily by road (which means they also have to pay through the nose at the pump and that cost gets passed down to the price at the pump).

Is it always going to be this way?

So what policy options are available to us? It might not be what we want to hear, but the proven methods are already in play. Holst points to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The SPR was implemented in 1975 and it’s still active. The SPR is meant to be used as a buffer for emergencies such as acts of war—like the Russian invasion of Ukraine—and natural disasters. Without SPR assistance, the Gulf Coast region would have faced larger gasoline price hikes. In the spring, after the invasion of Ukraine, President Biden authorized the release of 180 million barrels of SPR reserves over a six-month period as well as an additional 15 million barrels in December, and that is putting downward pressure on prices, says Holst. While the average price at the pump in Utah is still hovering around $4 per gallon, “that’s coming off of a high of $5.25 on July 1st of this year.”

There are always alternatives as well. “Drive a smaller car, lower your freeway speed for maximum fuel efficiency, turn down the thermostat,” says Holst. And, there’s always public transportation. “UTA had Free Fare February and saw a big spike in ridership,” he says. “Now, going free fare year-round is a topic of discussion up on the hill.” Using mass transit also has the added benefit of reducing the amount of carbon emissions per trip. “It’s much lower than driving a single occupancy vehicle.” And, of course, there’s switching to an electric vehicle. “The sticker price has traditionally been an impediment to purchasing an EV,” says Holst. Electric vehicles account for only 5% of new vehicle purchases, he says, but that could change with the recent passing of The Inflation Reduction Act, which created a tax credit, worth up to $7,500, for consumers who buy new electric vehicles.

And, Holst says, it could always be worse. “I like to point out to people what the average price of gasoline is in Europe right now,” he says. “It’s about $6.50 per gallon.” It’s at least something to keep in mind when we’re talking about what we’re grateful for this Thanksgiving. 

Nov 21
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Two Ways to Vacation for the Holidays in Denver

By Adventures, Travel

Denver holiday vacation
Blucifer. Photo by Mike Sinko via flikr

Emerging from the gates of the Denver Airport, visitors are greeted by Blucifer—a towering cerulean horse, reared up on its haunches, mouth agape in an equine scream, staring down new arrivals with glowing red eyes. The 32-foot statue, formally titled “Mustang,” cuts a powerful figure against clear Colorado skies and elicits both fondness and tolerance from residents. But the reaction elicited from first-time visitors is more likely to be, “what the hell?”

“It’s weird. It’s very Denver,” one local explains to her friend, once they were aboard the A-Line commuter train to Denver’s Union Station and safely hidden from the penetrating gaze of Blucifer. Legends abound about Blucifer’s origins and intentions. The same is true for Denver International Airport itself. Some say the underground tunnels beneath the airport lead to the secret headquarters of the Illuminati and it was built by the Freemasons and New World Order. Officially, airport representatives have denied all of these conspiracy theories, but isn’t that exactly what an agent involved in a massive cover-up would say? 

If that’s all “very Denver,” then Denver is cool. Sure, SLC is closer to mountain resorts and our snow is the best there is, but once you get the jokes out of your system, you’ll find there’s so much to love about the Mile-High City that isn’t skiing. Denver offers a comfortingly familiar climate and eclectic culture that can surprise and delight even the most entrenched of Utahns. And, its proximity to home makes it the perfect destination for a quick holiday getaway without the pressure to cram too much into a single weekend. You can do Denver your way. 

Denver holiday vacation
Denver Botanic Gardens Blossoms of Light. Photo by Visit Denver

Adventure No. 1—History and Mystery

If you saw Blucifer, fell in love, and then started scouring airport conspiracy theory message boards, there’s plenty more weird in Denver to keep you hooked. Head to the Cheesman Park neighborhood, grabbing a strong cup of joe at Russian coffee joint Dazbog on the way. Cheesman Park is home to the Denver Botanic Gardens, a welcome winter reprieve, and a stunning neoclassical colonnade, but the park’s tranquil trails belie a haunting history. Back in the 1800s, Cheesman Park was a cemetery. When the city converted it into a public park, the undertaker responsible for moving the bodies was accused of dismembering corpses so they could be placed in child-sized coffins (allegedly, he was paid per coffin) and fired before the job was done. Instead of hiring someone else, the city simply removed the remaining headstones, leaving an estimated 3,000 bodies buried under the park still today.

Meow Wolf. Photo by Kennedy Cottrell

From Cheesman Park, dispel the chill from your bones with a beer, cocktail and tasty pub grub at the Capitol Hill neighborhood’s favorite bar, Wild Corgi Pub, where “Yappy Hour” is every day from open–7 p.m. Nearby, there’s another historical gem and home to one of Denver’s most famous residents: the Molly Brown House Museum. Margaret Brown didn’t receive the moniker “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” until after her death—a death which she did not meet 110 years ago aboard the RMS Titanic. Although memorably portrayed by Kathy Bates in the 1997 film, Brown was more indomitable in reality. Her Denver home has been lovingly restored by Historic Denver and is open to the public for tours. 

Set aside as many hours as you can for the psychedelic trip that is Meow Wolf Denver’s Convergence Station. This interactive, surreal, sci-fi art exhibit has an underlying narrative about converged worlds and deep lore and mysteries to explore. Spanning four stories, 70+ unique installations, rooms and portals, Convergence Station took three years and 300 creators to make. (Pro tip: pay a little extra for the QPass for an even more immersive experience.) Return to earth with a craft beer at Little Machine, or a unique Cinnamon Horchata Ale at Latinx-owned Raíces Brewing Co.

For dinner, we’re taking a jaunt to Denver’s Lower Highland (LoHi) neighborhood to Linger. The restaurant’s semi-macabre décor reminds patrons that it’s housed in a former mortuary. Start off with a cocktail and a shareable plate like the steamed bao buns. For a nightcap, head up the street to the intimate speakeasy Williams & Graham. If you didn’t make a reservation at W&G beforehand, the punk rock bar around the corner, Occidental welcomes all. 

Denver holiday vacation
Linger. Photo courtesy of Visit Denver.

Where to Stay: Patterson Historic Inn is in the heart of Capitol Hill. The renovation of the 130-year-old mansion turned B&B is the subject of the film The Castle Project, which documents the workers’ ghostly encounters. Rumors also abound about the unexplainable occurrences at the Victorian mansion Lumber Baron Inn & Garden. 

Adventure No.2—Treat Yourself (And a Few Select Others)

Denver holiday vacation
Union Station. Photo courtesy of Visit Denver.

The A-Line from the Denver airport will take you to Union Station in Denver’s Lower Downtown (LoDo), where it’s a choose-your-own dining adventure, depending on your mood or the time of day: restaurants Stoic & Genuine, Ultreia and Mercantile offer cuisine from James Beard award-winning chefs. During the winter, your visit might be in time for Miracle at Union Station, a pop-up cocktail bar that unapologetically leans into the Christmas spirit. The holiday décor is ostentatious, coinciding with the Merry & Bright Lights strewn outside. 

Afterward, you can walk off your meal at the 1.25-mile-long 16th Street Mall. For some holiday shopping, the Dairy Block is a retail incubator for local high-end boutiques. And, because we all have at least one cowboy in our lives, the iconic Rockmount Ranch Wear shop is where the first snap-button cowboy shirt was invented. Also in LoDo, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver hosts changing exhibitions throughout the year of modern painting and sculpture, and the gift shop sells unique gifts for art lovers or eclectic souvenirs for yourself. 

There’s more retail therapy to be had in the Cherry Creek North neighborhood. Start off with brunch at Urban Egg Eatery, where they use local ingredients from small producers whenever possible. Now ready to brave the holiday rush, head to Cherry Creek Shopping Center. While in the neighborhood, make sure to swing into Show of Hands. The local, female-owned art and gift gallery sells whimsical and vibrant creations that you won’t find anywhere else. Across the street, treat yourself to bottomless bellini brunch—who says you can’t have a second brunch?—at Quality Italian.

Denver holiday vacation
Aprés in the Clouds. Photo by Elevated.

During the holiday season, Cherry Creek Holiday Market hosts 50 local makers selling their wares. If that’s to your liking, go full Santa’s elf at the Denver Christkindlmarket. Shop for handmade gifts in a replica European village decorated for the holidays. Indulge in Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, goulasch, Nürnberger sausages, and wash it down with Glühwein.

Elevated Rooftop Bar (249 Columbine St., Denver, 720-520-1474) hosts Après in the Clouds during the winter—a multiple course dinner, around the fire in a cozy cabana, complete with s’mores and spectacular views. Close out the day with a meticulously crafted cocktail at B&GC, a sleek basement bar hidden in an alley behind an unmarked door with an antique gold doorbell.

Where to Stay: After shopping, wind down at one of the yoga and barre classes at Halcyon. Halcyon’s Kitchen Counter invites guests to socialize during happy hour, daily, 3-6 p.m, and its Gear Garage has complimentary bicycles, scooters and seasonal equipment like sleds and snowshoes for guests to check out. For a downtown locale—and a familiar pampered treatment for SLC natives—the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver has newly renovated luxury accommodations, nightly wine hour from 5-6 p.m., pet-friendly rooms, and complimentary hotel bicycles to get around downtown.

Nov 09
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Blasphemous Utah Brands

By Eat & Drink

One of the first things that I bought when I moved to Utah was a Polygamy Porter baseball cap. The Wasatch Brewery label had an additional layer of humor for myself, seeing as my surname is Porter and the Porters from which I hail are Mormon polygamist stock. Even without the personal connection, Wasatch’s Polygamy Porter, which launched more than two decades ago, was at the forefront of what is now a trend: brand and product names that subvert Utah’s predominate religious culture. I say “subvert” because most of these products are forbidden for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to consume. 

For the creators of these spirits and brews, however, it’s about more than having a bit of fun. They want to make a good product while tapping (pun intended) into an alternative culture, creating a community for the non-religious, united by more than their love of liquor, coffee and beer. 

“I really care about the community, which is something that a lot of people lose when they leave the church,” says Melissa Anders, a former Mormon who runs Apostate Coffee. Apostate’s labels feature roast names that reference LDS teachings (Choose The Light roast instead of “Choose the right”) and the Word of Wisdom (Iced “Hot Drink” roast). Apostate also posts customers’ “I’m an Apostate” stories, inspired by the LDS Church’s past “I’m a Mormon” campaign. “I think a lot of people feel they are alone after leaving, so hearing other people’s stories can be affirming,” says Anders. 

Chris Vines of Temple Grounds Coffee Co. says making reference to Mormon culture was a way to instantly connect with their community of Utah coffee drinkers. Their coffee blends include The Holy Roast and, their most popular, Outer Darkness and Celestial Blend. It was also important to her and husband Ben to find a way to thread the needle. “We wanted it to be funny, but not rude or disrespectful to members of the church,” says Chris, whose family still belongs to the LDS Church. 

But, at the end of the day, that’s not who these products are for. “These are hot drinks for the people who drink them,” says Ben. 

In another reference to Utah’s polygamist past, there’s Five Wives Vodka. “It’s a message in a bottle,” says Mark Fine, President and CEO of Ogden’s Own Distillery. “Our spirits are telling the stories that the church might want us to forget.” In fact, pretty much all of Ogden’s Own labels fit that bill (e.g.: Madam Pattirini Gin). Now, with Five Husbands, Ogden’s Own is telling the stories of members of Utah’s LGBTQ+ community who appear on this year’s label (and a portion of the profits of Five Husbands Vodka is donated to support LGBTQ+ causes). They are people who are “authentically themselves,” says Fine. “These are not just ‘Five Husbands’, but truly ‘Five Stories’ that I hope people will relate to and support who one is or who one wishes to be.” 

Nov 07
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Veteran Utah Crime Reporter Marcos Ortiz Dies Unexpectedly At 68

By City Watch

Longtime Utah journalist Marcos Ortiz died in his home on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 68 years old, according to ABC4. The local news outlet says the cause of his death is as of yet unknown.

Ortiz worked as a journalist in Utah for more than 30 years. With a penchant for true crime, he became ABC4’s senior crime and justice reporter and developed the long-running ABC4 series, The Justice Files, about unsolved crimes in Utah. He reported on some of Utah’s most notorious crimes and criminals, like Ron and Dan Lafferty, the Salt Lake City Strangler, the death of Elizabeth Salgado, the disappearance of Susan Cox Powell, the Ogden Hi-Fi murders, and even D.B. Cooper.     

ABC4 general manager and vice president Mark Danielson said in a statement, “Words are difficult to find as we learned of the loss of our colleague and friend, Marcos Ortiz. He was an icon in Utah: a journalist, a mentor, a coach, and a friend. He reminded us how to be curious while leading by example. He will be missed by all and remembered always.”

Ortiz was more than his work, of course, as celebrated as it is. He is survived by his wife Sandy, to whom he was married for 34 years, his daughter Olivia, who graduated from law school at the University of Utah, and their family dog Franklin. In his own words, Ortiz loved his Cavalier King Charles’ dog, Sir Charles, a wonderful companion for more than 17 years who preceded Ortiz in passing. On a personal note, Ortiz also gave solid wine recommendations. 

Some stories are hard to tell. Especially stories about those who have died tragically. They’re often surrounded by grief and shame and pain that we would rather turn away from than confront. As a journalist, Marcos Ortiz did not shrink from telling those stories. He made a career out of it. He spoke to countless grieving family members, desperate friends and investigators so he could tell those hard stories. Now, the people who knew Marcos Ortiz are trying to tell his story. As someone who worked with Ortiz for years, I don’t know if any of us could do that job as well as he could.

Nov 02
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Tree-of-Light

Upcoming Holiday Events: Halloween Is Over, Christmas Is Here

By Community

Any amount of time on social media will show, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, it’s spooky season. But as soon as the calendar turns over to Nov. 1, the Halloween decorations, parties and content disappear, gobbled up by Christmas cheer, winter holiday events and Mariah Carey. The pop singer shows off her famous range (in more ways than one) with a video on Twitter, transforming from a catsuit-clad witch to a Santa Claus-inspired holiday reveler, looking like she walked straight out of her “All I Want For Christmas Is You” music video. And who are we mere mortals to disagree with Mariah Carey? “All I Want For Christmas Is You” tops the charts every year around the holidays and it’s one of the best selling singles of all time. 

“But what about Thanksgiving?!” Come the cries from a small contingent in the back. To which we say, “What about it?” There’s a reason radio stations start playing Christmas music as soon as the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 1 and not Thanksgiving music. What is Thanksgiving music, anyway? Aside from listening to Taylor Swift’s Red or Folklore albums on loop? Most people seem fine dedicating Thanksgiving to just one day—Thanksgiving Day—and these holiday events throughout the month of November, all over the state of Utah, reflect that sentiment. Happy Holidays! 

Upcoming Holiday Events

Holiday Lights

Lighting of Riverwoods 2022
Nov. 18, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., The Shops At Riverwoods, Provo 
This is the annual Lighting of Riverwoods event featuring over one million lights, live entertainment, ice sculptures and a firework show.

Lights On! at the Eccles
Nov. 21, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City
An event to light up the annual Eccles Theater holiday art installation by local artist Lenka Konopasek. The evening includes a performance from One Voice Children’s Choir and tasty holiday treats. This is a free festive event. Eccles Theater has partnered with Volunteers of America, Utah to collect coats and other warm winter items for families in need. Attendees are encouraged to bring clean, gently-used donations to this event.

Kanab Christmas Light Parade & Festival 2022
Nov. 26, 6:30 p.m., Kanab Center, Kanab 
The event starts with a tree lighting ceremony and then shuts down the highway to begin the Christmas Light Parade. After the parade entries float down Center Street comes the launch of the Wishing Lanterns.  

Ogden’s Holiday Electric Light Parade 2022
Nov. 26, 5:30 p.m., Downtown Ogden, Ogden 
Ogden’s holiday season begins with the Electric Light Parade that fills Washington Boulevard from 22nd Street to 26th Street. The parade is full of elaborate floats, sensational themes and fantastic performers.

2022 Midway Tree Lighting Celebration
Nov. 26, 6 p.m., Midway Town Hall, Midway 
Festivities include holiday entertainment, hot cocoa and cookies, live reindeer, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, old fashioned candy and peanut bags, tree lighting ceremony and fireworks. Bring a canned food item for discounted ice skating at the Midway Ice Skating rink.

Draper Tree Lighting Ceremony 2022
Nov. 28, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Draper City Park, Draper
Draper City’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will include appearances by Santa and special guests, with more than three million lights placed on trees throughout the park. The biggest attraction is the large Globe Willow tree in the center of the park which alone boasts over 75,000 lights.

Sandy’s Light up the Cairns 2022
Nov. 28, 6 p.m., Sandy City Hall and Promenade, Sandy 
Sandy City turns on the Holiday lights at City Hall with holiday music and hot chocolate. This year will also include a drone show.

Herriman Night of Lights 2022
Nov. 28, 6 p.m., J. Lynn Crane Park, Herriman 
Ring in the season with the annual Night of Lights, featuring musical performances, games, crafts and ice skating.

Mapleton City Christmas Tree Lighting, Wreath & Christmas Festival 2022
Nov. 28, 5 p.m., Mapleton City Park, Mapleton 
This yearly event includes the annual lighting of Mapleton City Park, children’s choir, carolers, a visit from Santa, face painting, s’mores by the fire and food trucks. There will also be a display and silent auction of wreaths to benefit the Sub for Santa program.

2022 Saratoga Springs City Christmas Tree Lighting
Nov. 28, 6 p.m., Neptune Park, Saratoga Springs 
This is the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting with Santa, featuring crafts for the kids and musical entertainment, food truck and a fireworks show. 

Performing Arts & Entertainment Holiday Events

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Nov, 2, 7:00 p.m., Peery’s Egyptian Theater at Peery’s Egyptian Theater, Ogden
Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion. Rated PG. Run time: 1h 16m

‘Fright-mare Before Christmas’
Nov. 4-26, The Off Broadway Theatre Company, Draper
Playwright Eric Jensen’s newest parody for the ‘tween season (between Halloween and Christmas)—a horror/comedy/musical/holiday extravaganza! Skully, a lonely skeleton, and the icons of other holidays around the calendar battle Dracula, ruler of the underworld, in Christmasland. 

‘The Nutcracker’
Nov. 11-12, Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, Taylorsville
Utah Dance Institute presents The Nutcracker.

The Utah Baroque Ensemble 2022 Christmas Concert
Nov. 13, 1081 W. 1060 North, Provo; Nov. 20, 481 E. Center Street, Orem
A concert of Christmas-themed baroque music. The 2022 concert includes works by Bach, Byr and Sweelinck, as well as music in the Baroque style by a variety of composers including Rutter, Mathias and Sargent. This is a free event.

Ballet West Academy’s ‘A Merry Little Christmas Show’
Nov. 14-15, 7 p.m., Covey Center for the Arts at Covey Center for the Arts, Provo 
This ballet student performance includes holiday music and entertaining choreography.

Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular!
Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., The Maverik Center, West Valley City
Three-time Grammy Award-winning artist Pentatonix brings their Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular! 2022 Tour to West Valley City on November 19th. In tandem with the tour, Pentatonix will unveil their 11th overall full-length and sixth holiday album,  Holidays Around The World (RCA Records).

As Long as There’s Christmas
Nov. 19, 7 p.m., Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, Taylorsville 
Join Santa’s elves as they try to raise enough Christmas Spirit to save the holiday season. All of their efforts are in vain until one little girl reminds everyone of the reason for the season.

David Archuleta: The More the Merrier Christmas Tour
Nov. 18-19, 7:30 p.m., Tuacahn Amphitheatre and Center for the Arts, Ivins 
David Archuleta brings his The More the Merrier Christmas Tour to Utah. 

Bells at Temple Square Concert 2022
Nov. 18-19, 7:30 p.m., Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City UT
The Bells at Temple Square will present its annual holiday season concert, led by LeAnna Willmore, conductor of the Bells at Temple Square, and featuring the handbell choir playing on two sets of English handbells. 

The Forgotten Carols 2022 Tour
Nov. 21, 7 p.m., Wasatch High School, Heber City 
Touring since 1991, The Forgotten Carols brings to life the story of Constance Louise Chamberlain, a nurse who hasn’t laughed or cried in over 30 years. But that all changes when she meets and cares for a homeless man with dementia who insists he’s been alive for over two thousand years and recounts the story of Christmas. 

Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve
Nov. 22, 3 p.m., Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City
The holidays rock a whole lot harder with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. By infusing seasonal classics with rock flamboyance, a symphonic sense of scope and an eye-popping visual presentation, complete with lasers and pyrotechnics.

Ballet West’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Nov. 25-26, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, Ogden 
For nearly 70 years, The Nutcracker by Ballet West has been one of Utah’s most beloved traditions. The longest-running Nutcracker in the country, Ballet West’s production features fantastical sets, gorgeous costumes and spell-binding special effects.

GENTRI Christmas
Nov. 25-26, The Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City 
Live at the Eccles presents GENTRI: The Gentlemen Trio. GENTRI: The Gentlemen Trio brings their holiday spectacular show, CHRISTMAS, to the Eccles stage. 

‘The Polar Express’
Nov. 26, 10:30 a.m., Peery’s Egyptian Theater, Ogden 
The Polar Express Event is back for the 8th year, and this year it’s a holiday pajama party. We encourage everyone to wear your most festive fuzzy pants and slippers. This is also a fundraiser to benefit the Egyptian Theater Foundation. Rated G. Run time: 1h 40m.

2022 Messiah Sing-in
Nov. 26-27, 7:30 p.m., Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City
This cherished tradition invites all to share in the joy of singing Handel’s masterpiece with the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera Chorus. Ranked as one of the “Top 100 Things to do in Salt Lake Before You Die” by Salt Lake editor Jeremy Pugh.

Holiday Fairs And Shows

Salt Lake’s Family Christmas Gift Show
Nov. 10-12, Mountain America Expo Center, Sandy
Start your holiday shopping at the 23rd annual Salt Lake’s Family Christmas Gift Show with 485 booths of gifts amid holidays light displays, decorations, music and, of course, Santa. Children 13 years of age and under enter free. 

Highland Holiday Craft Fair
Nov. 11-12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Highland Community Center, Highland
The Highland City Arts Council is sponsoring the Highland Holiday Craft Fair. The two-day event will feature local crafters and artisans, live music, food and door prizes. This is a free event.

Logan Holiday Gift Show 2022
Nov. 11-12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Riverwoods Conference Center, Logan 
This is Cache Valley’s place to find the most unique gifts and holiday décor made by local artisans. 

2022 Helper Christmas Craft Fair
Nov. 18-19, Helper Civic Auditorium, Helper 
The small town of Helper, Utah comes alive during the Christmas season, starting with the Annual Christmas Craft Fair, featuring booths, food and entertainment.

5th Annual Gingerbread Competition Display
Nov. 21-28, University Place Orem, Orem
The 5th annual University Place Gingerbread House Competition houses will be on display in the west wing of the shopping center, near Tradehome Shoes.

2022 Jubilee of Trees
Nov. 22-23, Dixie Convention Center, Saint George 
Jubilee of Trees is a holiday celebration to raise funds for the advancement of medical services at Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital. It is open to the public and showcases decorated Christmas trees and wreaths created by local designers, businesses and community groups that are available for auction.

19th Annual Vernal Holly Days Festival
Nov. 25, 11 a.m., Various locations in Vernal, Vernal UT
The Vernal Holly Days Festival is back with zipline, bounce houses, swings, pony rides, cotton candy and prizes. The Annual Vernal Holly Days Festival is a free event.

Parowan: Christmas in the Country
Nov. 25-26, 10 a.m., Various venues in Parowan, Parowan 
This holiday event features the Holiday Bazaar, Santa’s Parade and Candlelight Walking Parade.

2022 Spanish Fork Christmas Gift and Craft Show
Nov. 25-26, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, Spanish Fork UT
This is Spanish Fork’s 43rd Annual Christmas Gift and Craft Show.

2022 Novemberfest Arts and Crafts Fair
Nov. 25-26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cache County Event Center, Logan 
The Novemberfest Holiday Fair has become an annual tradition, featuring nearly 100 vendors and artisans.

Holiday Market 2022 at Legacy Park
Nov. 25–26, 10 a.m., Washington County Legacy Park, Hurricane 
Get your holiday shopping done all at once while supporting local businesses, crafters and artisans. This is a free event. 

2022 Wheeler Holiday Market
Nov. 25-27, Wheeler Historic Farm, Murray 
Shop locally made treats for those on your holiday list at the Wheeler Holiday Market.

Santa Claus Comes To Town

Santa’s Grand Arrival at University Place
Nov. 25, 9:30 a.m., University Place Orem, Orem 
A long-standing tradition at University Place, Santa makes an unforgettable entrance to University Place. Santa’s Grand Arrival will take place in the parking lot in front of Tucano’s Brazilian Grill. There will be live entertainment and refreshments, while supplies last, as attendees wait for the big guy to land in his helicopter.

Santa’s Arrival in Riverton 2022
Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m., Riverton City Park, Riverton
Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the park on a bright red fire engine. Children can greet Santa to make their Christmas requests and also write their letter to Santa. There will be free scones, hot chocolate, marshmallow roasting, cookie decorating and crafts.

Oct 19
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Satire: A Guide to Ordering Liquor in Utah

By Utah Lore

The regulatory body over alcohol sales in Utah is touting a new, cuddlier image. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Department is out. Now, it’s the Department of Alcohol Beverage Services. That’s right, they’re here to serve us—the drinkers. The DABC DABS has a new online ordering system and a version of wine subscriptions in the works, but it’s hard to give everyone what they want, and our local liquor stores might not carry your spirit of choice. In that spirit (see what we did there?), Salt Lake Magazine has put together this handy guide to the “service-oriented” special ordering process to acquire your favorite tipple.

ordering liquor Utah

The latest from the DABS

While the promised, more user friendly, DABS ordering system is still in the works, Utah’s version of wine of the month clubs has arrived. Boutique wine broker Vin7000 announced that they were the only way for Utahns to experience popular wine clubs, and it seems like that might be the case, at least for right now. Utah law forbids direct-to-consumer shipping of alcohol to Utah residents (although Utah winemakers can ship it to consumers out of state), but the Utah State Legislature recently budged on that front…sort of. Now, Utah residents can theoretically sign up for wine of the month clubs, but they have to ship their orders to a state liquor store and pay an 88% markup.

According to the announcement from Vin7000, they deal exclusively with small, independent, family-owned wineries and wines that are typically limited production and not otherwise available in Utah. Currently, customers can choose from six wine clubs to join, through the DABS ordering system, and their regular shipments are delivered to the Utah State Liquor Store of their choice.

The bar scene is dealing with red tape as well. At the most recent DABS meeting, the regulatory body gave out no new full-bar licenses to the 11 businesses trying to acquire them, and the DABS might have only one available to dole out come the next meeting. Two bars are currently ready to go and operating with tavern licenses (which means they can serve low-point beer), West Side Tavern and Fisher Brewing Company in Salt Lake City. Of the bars that will be ready to open and operate in the upcoming weeks or months, there’s LBGTQ+ club called Verse, hoping to expand the list of Utah’s diverse nightlife options. The next DABS meeting will is scheduled for Oct. 25, 2022.

Are you enamored with the Beehive state’s ludicrous liquor laws? Read a full history of drinking in Utah here.

Oct 14
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Great Salt Lake Summit Discussions On Saving The Great Salt Lake

By Community

Attended by researchers, policymakers, state and federal leaders and other lake stakeholders, the second annual Great Salt Lake Summit convened Thursday. Presenters tried to outline progress that has been made to save the lake since the last summit and experts explained the threat, Utah’s water sources, trends and cycles, and discussed possible solutions.

The Great Salt Lake is at a historical low elevation. Should the Great Salt Lake continue to follow the current trend and dry out, the environmental, economic and ecological impacts would be devastating. The increased dust would worsen Utah’s air quality and introduce more particulate matter, including heavy metals and arsenic, to the air. The industries that depend on the lake, like magnesium mining and aquaculture harvesting, could dry up as well. The life that dwells in and relies on the lake are already in decline.

Presenters Dr. William Anderegg, Director of the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy, and Dr. Brian Steed, Executive Director of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air, surmised, if we act now, with interventions, the lake can return to healthy levels over the next 30 years. However, we have to recognize that human activity and water consumption are the dominant contributors to the Great Salt Lake’s dramatic drop in water level (from 67-73%). And of that water consumption, agriculture interests divert the most water from the Great Salt Lake. The difficulty of addressing this challenge is multiplied when we consider that Utah is projected to double in population in the next 4-5 decades. In short, Utah needs to dramatically change the way it diverts and consumes water, mostly by using a whole lot less of it than we are now. 

“I am proud of the work we have done and the progress that has been made, but we still have a long way to go,” said Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, who hosted the summit. “Protecting and preserving the Great Salt Lake is a marathon, not a sprint. It will take a continuous effort for many years, from government, the private sector, and all Utahns. And while we may never fully see the impacts of our work, this is simply a race we cannot afford to lose.” 

Speaker Brad Wilson at the second annual Great Salt Lake Summit (photo courtesy Utah House of Representatives)
Speaker Brad Wilson at the second annual Great Salt Lake Summit (photo courtesy Utah House of Representatives)

Wilson began the summit by referencing a recent Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics poll that found that 80% of Utahns are either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about the Great Salt Lake, which seems to show public support is behind efforts to stave off the lake’s demise. So far, those efforts have included throwing some money at the problem, including a $40 million trust to increase water for Great Salt Lake and improve the lake’s upstream habitat, created by the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Program (H.B. 410). The Utah legislature also appropriated $50 million in 2022 (to supplement $20 million in funding appropriated in November 2021 and the Agricultural Water Optimization Task Force created in 2018) for agricultural water optimization to reduce water use.

At the summit, Speaker Wilson announced his intent to introduce legislation to create “Utah Water Ways,” which he described as a nonprofit, public-private partnership with the mission to help educate all Utahns on how they can do their part to conserve water. 

But there is much more to do to build on the State’s piecemeal approach, including the retrofitting of landscapes away from traditional turf and new practices to avoid over-watering. Wastewater reuse might not be the answer, given that water is depleted in the recycling process, but it could have its place, according to Candice Hasenyager, Director of Utah Division of Water Resources. Cloudseeding could also play a part. Steed explained that further examination is also needed of how to keep agriculture production up while using much less water. A pipeline from the Pacific Ocean to the Great Salt Lake probably isn’t the most feasible option. 

To conserve water, experts hit on the need for more education, incentives and regulation. While many of the State’s water-wise incentive programs are just barely up and running, when it comes to regulation, “Every municipality needs to be looking at their water ordinances,” said Bart Forsyth, Director of Jordan Valley Water Conservancy. He added that there should not be any new building construction without planning for water optimization.