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Salt Lake Magazine

Salt Lake is your best guide to the Utah lifestyle. From food to fashion, travel and the arts, Salt Lake magazine has something for everyone. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @SLmag.

Nov 25
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Thanksgiving Weekend in Utah

What to Do During Thanksgiving Weekend in Utah

By Community

Not to sound sappy, but Thanksgiving is the one time of year when we can connect, without expectations of gifts and best decorations, but through shared food, drinks and conversations (good and bad). As a kid, seeing distant relatives my age was like meeting new friends, or seeing an old friend and reconnecting. As an adult, it can be much harder to reconnect, make new friends or even schedule Thanksgiving dinner to meet everyone’s busy schedules. If you’re looking for ways to connect and get out of the house by yourself, with your immediate family, in-laws or long-lost relatives, here are some ideas to get out and enjoy Thanksgiving weekend in Utah.  

Take a Scroll Through The Grand America Hotel 

Stay warm strolling through the Grand America during their annual window stroll; this year’s theme is Chuck the Snowball and his Yeti friends. Follow the window stroll map and be entered to win a stay at the Grand America Hotel after correctly answering 14 questions to prove you’ve found Chuck at each display. During your stroll you will come across the hotel’s annual gingerbread house and many more fun holiday activities, food and performances. 

Hit The Ice at the Gallivan Center Outdoor Ice Rink 

Ready to work off all that turkey and pie? Bundle up, lace up and hit the ice at the Gallivan’s outdoor ice rink. You’ll feel like you’ve entered a holiday movie while skating outdoors in the middle of the city and maybe even with some Thanksgiving drama included. Stay warm with hot chocolate and snacks for purchase; and if you plan on bringing your entire Thanksgiving party, consider reserving a party area, or even rent the entire rink outside of their regular hours. Find more information here. 

Enjoy an Untraditional Light Show at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium 

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is starting new traditions with its all-new outdoor holiday Aquarium Lantern Festival, open daily from 5:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. You will be enchanted with larger-than-life lanterns, enjoy holiday activities and head inside to see the many animals of the aquarium. 

Get Crafty with help from Gale Museum 

This month’s free family activity at the Gale Museum is Museum Mashup: Pumpkin Pie Plates. While craft kits are available, pick up and create your own fun pumpkin pie craft plate. Check out more information here. 

Learn to Make Pie with a Harmons Chef 

Feel like showing off your baking skills to your family this year? Join Harmons’ Chef Tyler, on November 27 and learn to bake both a cheddar crumble apple pie and a mango cream pie. And get a third pumpkin pie to take home from Harmons; we won’t tell if you claim it as your baked masterpiece. Register here. 

Feast with a Beast at Utah’s Hogle Zoo 

Need to send your family out of the house while you cook? Send them off to Utah’s Hogle Zoo where the animals are participating in a special feast of their own.  The zoo’s lions, polar bears and more stomp, roll and chomp pumpkins and other themed items for themed enrichment. The Zoo will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. that day, get tickets here. 

Kick Off the Holidays at City Creek 

Take the family to City Creek to kick off the holidays with fountain shows, balloon artists, an elf hunt and welcoming in Santa, happening on Monday, November 25 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. While you’re there get started, or finish,  your holiday shopping.  Find more details and register for the free event here. 

Be Dazzled at the Christmas in Color Light Show

Beat the December crowds and enjoy the light shows early, at the Christmas in Color drive-thru light show. Enjoy sparkling lights that are synchronized to fun Christmas music all while in the warmth and privacy of your car. Pack a snack, a warm beverage and get ready to sing and dance in your seat and be amazed by the beautiful glowing holiday lights. 

Go to the Ballet 

The Utah Festival Ballet presents a classic, The Nutcracker, performing on November 29 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and November 30 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.,  at the Mid Valley Performing Arts Center, Main Stage Theater, in Taylorsville. Get your tickets here. 

Join Thanksgiving Points Runtastic Thankful Turkey Trot 

If a Thanksgiving run is your thing, do it at the largest one in Utah. Thanksgiving Point hosts a half marathon, 10K, 5K, or a kid’s ½ mile run along the scenic Jordan River Trail. Runners will receive a shirt, a finishers medal, a finishers shirt, stickers, swag from local sponsors and free event photos. After the race, stop by for some pie and other treats and drinks. Plus, complimentary recovery sessions from Athlecare offering hyperbaric chamber, dry needling, sports massage, stretching and coaching; and Performance Recovery, offering TheraGuns or an upgraded Normatec Compressions Boots sessions or a race special IV hydration therapy. Sign up and find out more here. 

Nov 19
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Blind Pilot at Commonwealth- Photo Fawn DeViney

Interview: Blind Pilot at Commonwealth

By Music

In the ever-evolving landscape of pop music, the announcement that a band is going “on hiatus” often doesn’t bode well for their future. So for Blind Pilot fans who had watched seven years go by without the release of a new album, the likelihood of the group reuniting appeared slim at best. Blind Pilot will play The Commonwealth Room on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024.

All that changed earlier this year with the release of Blind Pilot’s fifth album, “In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain.” The Portland-based indie-folk band, known for their intimate storytelling and lush instrumentation, emerged from their extended break with a renewed spirit and a transformative approach to making music. And no one was more surprised by that than the band members themselves.

“It feels miraculous that this all came about the way it did after so many years of trying,” said bandleader Israel Nebeker, who’d reached the point where he didn’t know if there’d ever be a fifth album. For the first time in the band’s history, he’d found himself at a total loss when it came to writing new Blind Pilot songs.  

“I read a lot of books on writer’s block and did some therapy around it for quite a bit,” he explained in this early November interview. “But I don’t think writer’s block really felt like what I was going through. It wasn’t like I was sitting there at my writing desk and banging my head against it. I could write; it’s just that the songs didn’t want to come through the way that they typically do.”

After years of trying, Nebeker came to a realization. The type of songs he’d been trying to write wouldn’t work for Blind Pilot. But they could for a solo project. So he set about making a deal with his muse and the songs that were just out of reach. 

“I said, ‘Okay, how about if this is a solo album, I won’t censor you,’” the singer-songwriter recalled. “Whatever you come through as, I’ll bring you through, and I will take care of you. I won’t expose you to the scrutiny of anyone. You’ll just be mine. And that’s when the songs started coming again.”

Nebeker soon found himself writing enough material to record his own album, which he aims to release next spring. But the solution to one dilemma had led to the creation of another.

“At that point, I had a very tricky problem on my hands,” he said. “I had to go to my band and say, ‘Hey, thanks for waiting, like, five years for me to write another album. I have one. But it’s a solo album, not Blind Pilot.’ And I didn’t want to deliver that message to them.”

 As it turned out, he didn’t have to, thanks to a lucid dream that made perfect sense, at least for a moment. “The thought was, just write a Blind Pilot album in a month, and whatever comes through, you can just give that over to the band and it’ll be easy,” Nebeker said. “And I thought, ‘Yeah! That’s the solution!’ And then I woke up and thought, ‘What am I crazy? How am I going to do that?’”

But he did, and the band found itself back in the studio with an album’s worth of songs and a reputation to live up to. Inspired by artists ranging from Joanna Newsom and Gillian Welch to Bright Eyes and Neutral Milk Hotel, they’d progressed from the stripped-down charm of 2008’s “3 Rounds and a Sound” to the more expansive arrangements of 2016’s “And Then Like Lions.” Then “In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain” became their most significant leap yet, and in more ways than one.

The most significant shift for Nebeker was learning to let go of his need to “protect the songs” and be involved in every aspect of the record. This change in mindset led to a more collaborative and adventurous atmosphere in the studio. 

“I wanted to focus on the band as its own living entity, and less about the songwriting part of it” Nebeker said. “I said this time I’m just the songwriter and the singer, and that’s my only role. And that sense of respect and trust started to create a real camaraderie, this feeling of adventure where everyone was kind of magically invested in everything we were doing.”

The adventurous approach was complemented by producer Josh Kaufman’s exploratory methods in the studio, which captured the essence of live performances while pushing the boundaries of the band’s sound. That expertise allowed for spontaneous creativity, resulting in unexpected transformations of songs like “Just a Bird,” which gained its uptempo drum beat in the chorus during the recording process.

The group, which is now on tour promoting the new album, also took advantage of the fact that they were recording in a century-old church that had been converted into a studio, adding a unique ambiance to the sessions. That was particularly the case on the song “Coming Back,” which was recorded in darkness.

“The reason I asked to turn the lights off,” Nebeker said, “was because there was something about that song in that space where I only wanted to hear it. I didn’t want to be reminded of anything visual. I just wanted to be with the piano and my voice in that large, grand space.

“It’s not that I’m into the religion thing,” he added, “but I do love intentionally meaningful spaces, whether it’s a dojo or a yoga studio or a church or a temple.”

Or, for that matter, a mountain, like the holy one that gave the album its name. Nebeker saw it in a vision during a shamanic drum journey to northern Scandinavia, where he sought to reconnect with his ancestral lineage. 

“I think that traveling, especially when it’s off the beaten path, is definitely something close to a spiritual practice,” Nebeker said. “Right now, it’s very easy to be afraid of what’s foreign and unknown. But when you put yourself out there vulnerably, I have found that people show up and repeatedly prove that everyone wants the best for each other.”

Blind Pilot played The Commonwealth Room in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. Read Salt Lake magazine’s review of their performance here.

Nov 15
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Volunteer

Where to Volunteer in Utah This Holiday Season

By Community

According to Feeding America, over 414,000 people face hunger in Utah, including one in six children. It’s a heartbreaking reality for more Utahns than ever, as inflation has sky-rocketed in recent years and resulted in alarming food insecurity. This holiday season, we can show our gratitude by getting involved with community efforts to alleviate hunger. Here are a few ideas of where you can volunteer in Utah:

Donate to the Holiday Food Drive at Utah Food Bank

The Utah Food Bank is doing their annual food and fund drive through the holiday season. To participate, drop off food donations at any Harmons in the state, the Riverton Chevrolet Car Dealership, Karl Malone Auto, or Utah Food Bank’s locations in SLC or St. George. Their most needed food items are peanut butter, mac & cheese, canned meats, chili, spaghetti-Os or ravioli, canned fruits or any other boxed meal. You can also volunteer in person by working in the warehouse or by decorating and delivering food boxes. If you don’t have time to go in person, you can donate money to the food bank. Every dollar donated turns into $7.80 worth of goods and services. Learn more about volunteering opportunities. 

Get Involved with The Road Home

The Road Home invites volunteers to help with meal prep and service seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You also get involved by donating items, reading books on their literacy night, and leading craft activities.

Volunteer at the International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee’s programs are designed to help refugees thrive in the United States. There are a variety of ways you can get involved: donate, volunteer, gather supplies, advocate, partner, raise awareness, and stay informed. Find out how to get involved.

Serve a Thanksgiving Meal with Salt Lake City Mission

Take some time this Thanksgiving to serve dinner to those who are currently going without food or shelter. The Salt Lake City Mission needs volunteers of all ages to help distribute the meals. If you can’t make it for Thanksgiving, the Mission also does a Christmas food box giveaway and another dinner on New Year’s Day. They could also use some help with their day-to-day operations including attendants in the food pantry and clothing room as well as drivers to pick up and deliver donations. 

Be a Driver for Meals on Wheels

Every day, Meals on Wheels delivers food to homebound seniors. Volunteers are needed to help deliver these meals, but perhaps the most important part of this job is being the friendly connection for these isolated elders as you deliver their meals. Volunteers will be asked to deliver meals during a 1-2 hour route at least twice a month with a delivery time between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This service opportunity is available year-round, so help is needed even after the holiday season.

Prepare and Serve a Meal at the Women’s Resource Center

The WRC serves up to 200 women experiencing homelessness a day. Volunteer your time to help prep weekly meals, or spend your time providing positive community engagement as you serve a meal. Other volunteer opportunities include sorting donations, refilling hygiene bins, mentoring youth and more. Apply for a shift here.

Can Food at Welfare Square

Volunteers are essential to the success of the Welfare Square cannery, which supplies food banks and other community resources with food for those in need. Get a couple friends or your family and come help process and can goods like applesauce, jams, salsa, and spaghetti sauce. Schedule a shift with the program coordinator. 

These organizations rely on volunteers and donations from the community, so give the gift of your time and generosity this holiday season.

Donate your Food When You Move

Move for Hunger is an organization committed to reducing food waste during moves. Instead of throwing out your non-perishable pantry items when relocating, connect with their large network of volunteers to donate items. Simple set aside unopened, non-perishable food items and their crew will pack it up and deliver it to a local food pantry. Find a mover near you here.

“Rescue” Edible Food for Waste Less Solutions

Help Waste Less Solutions divert food from landfills to feed those in need. The organization teams up with food purveyors and companies with excess high quality food to transform their would-be needless waste into nutritious meals. Get involved in food rescue using your own car to transport edible food to nonprofit partners. Create an account with Food Rescue US to get started.

Scrambling to prep Thanksgiving dinner? Check out these restaurants serving Thanksgiving feasts for dine-in or take-out.

Nov 13
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Kevin Costner filming Horizon An American Saga in Southern UT_SLM ND24_© 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

New Horizon: Kevin Costner’s Western Saga Horizon Invigorates Utah’s Film Industry

By Film

From the awe-inspiring mountain ranges to the vast deserts, Utah’s versatile landscape has drawn filmmakers for 100 years, shooting classic movies from The Searchers to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In recent years, one of the biggest productions to hit Southern Utah was Kevin Costner’s hotly-anticipated Horizon: An American Saga.

Kevin Costner Horizon
Kevin Costner as Hayes Ellison in Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter One.
Photo courtesy of the Everett Collection

The iconic Hollywood star, best known for his classics Dances With Wolves, Field of Dreams and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, has made Utah the setting for his hugely ambitious four-part Western saga. 

The first part of the saga, which premiered at Cannes and hit cinemas earlier this summer, is a multi-faceted chronicle that covers the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West.

Kevin Costner believed that Utah was the perfect destination to film his movie. “There’s a lot of heaven in Utah,” he said in an interview with the Deseret News. 

“I knew the story wanted to be set there. I thought that it would be the best possible thing for the movie,” he added. “There are these wide, open spaces that almost defy imagination. That kind of look is fabulous for a Western.”

Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter One covers the westward expansion and manifest destiny—the concept that white Americans were divinely ordained to settle North America. 

Therefore, the movie is set across various states as the settlers make their way West through Arizona, Wyoming and New Mexico. However, it is predominantly filmed in Utah.

The Utah landscape gave Costner what he needed to bring his vision to life. For the rest, he got crews to build sets from scratch.The crew built a fort along the Colorado River outside of Moab and even designed an entire village in the La Sal mountains.

Kevin Costner Horizon
Horizon: An American Saga Utah spending: an estimated $54 million for part one and $75 million for part two.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

The second installment of the saga was slated to hit cinemas on Aug. 16, but Costner delayed the release and instead premiered the movie on Sept. 7 at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. This will be eventually followed by Chapter Three, which entered production in last May.

The Utah Film Commission estimates that Horizon has pumped more than $120 million into the state’s economy, with the most spending in the St. George area and rural Utah. The production also made good on its commitment of hiring local cast and crew and purchasing materials and services locally, says Joyce Kelly of Greater Zion Convention and Tourism.

The legacy and impact of the movie in Utah stretches far beyond the boost to the local economy, as Kevin Costner is in the process of building a state-of-the-art film studio near Zion National Park.

 “I was out on a location scout with Kevin years ago,” says Kelly, when they unwittingly scouted the location of the future studio. “And he said, ‘Joyce, I’m going to film on this spot one day.’” 

Costner got his wish when filming on the spot for Horizon’s next chapter. At the end of the shoot, he announced it would also be the future home of Territory Film Studios. 

The studio itself will be home to 70,000 square feet of sound stages and 51,000 square feet of production warehouses. It’s exciting news for the next generation of filmmakers in Utah, as there are currently an estimated 4,000 students enrolled in film school and higher education and colleges throughout Utah.

A career in film and TV will now be a realistic prospect for these aspiring students, and they can achieve this without moving to L.A. or New York but instead staying in Utah and continuing to contribute to the booming industry.   

Kevin Costner Horizon
Kevin Costner in Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter One, the first of the four-part Western epic.
Photo courtesy of The Everett Collection

Utah and The Western

Despite the variety of movies shot in Utah, it is most closely associated with the Western genre. The vast landscapes place the audience in the heart of the American frontier as they feel everything from the beauty of the locations to the potential dangers of the terrain. 

The deep association between Utah and the Western genre started 100 years ago with two silent movies in 1924, including The Deadwood Coach. The movie was made during a period when Southern Utah was experiencing agricultural depression and there weren’t many avenues to make money for the local economy. 

The Parry Brothers wanted to change the fortunes of Southern Utah and decided to entice Hollywood productions to film here as they took photographs of the landscape and pitched around to big-wig producers. Hollywood was drawn by the beauty of the state and has been ever since with classics such as Back To the Future, Stagecoach and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid being filmed in Utah. 

The magnitude of movies being filmed in Utah is undoubtedly a great advertisement for tourists, but it also has great benefit to the economy by creating jobs and using local services throughout production. A 2019 report by the Utah Film Commission found that Utah’s film incentive generated $669.1 million in economic impact over a five-year period. An incentive that would not have seen the state legislature raising its cap were it not for the intervention by Kevin Costner. 

Meanwhile, Utah’s allure shows no sign of fading as filmmakers continue to choose the state as their preferred filming destination for Westerns and beyond.

Nov 12
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Eat Drink SLC-Jenna Dellarusson, Scott Albert and Mike Muir of Nicholas and Company_SLM ND24_AustenDiamondPhotography

Salt Lake Magazine’s November/December Social Pages

By Community

Eat Drink SLC

Sept. 10–11, 2024 • Tracy Aviary, Liberty Park, SLC
Photos by Austen Diamond

Salt Lake’s cultural community came together with chef-driven, locally-owned restaurants, craft beverages, and artisan purveyors on Sept. 10 and 11, 2004. The 10th Annual Eat Drink SLC festival took place over two days on the lush grounds of Tracy Aviary. Each night featured different food and drink partners accompanied by live music, dance and other performing arts. Eat Drink is hosted by a nonprofit partnership between Tracy Aviary and SB Dance. These two organizations represent, respectively, a place and an arts-maker that contribute to the unique character of our community. 50% of net proceeds is split to support these two organizations. 50% of proceeds are contributed to a third local nonprofit that works with underserved communities. This community beneficiary has included Women of the World, Neighborhood House and Race Swami. eatdrinkslc.com  

The Franklin Ave Cocktails and Kitchen team (from left to right): Jim Rose, Keshav Pandey, Matt Crandall, Executive Chef Jason Andersen and John Parrott.  

Eat Drink SLC
Kristin Case, Virginia Rainey, Lesley Christoph and Sue Piccone   

Eat Drink SLC
FELT Bar and Eatery was represented by Chef Travis Herbert, Darren Witkowski, Richard Romney (Owner) and Josh Van Gorden. They served their cocktail “Dreamboat Annie”: (Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin, cucumber cordial, mango, lime and Aperol).

Eat Drink SLC
Scott and Michelle Woodward from Appellation Wine Co.

Eat Drink SLC
Julia Dehring and Alex Slater of Vine Lore Wine and Spirits    

Nov 06
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Amie Collier and Lauren Boyack at the Edison House_SLM ND24_Adam Finkle

Holiday Hosting Tips from The Pros at Edison House

By Lifestyle

The swanky Edison House is not only a private club but also a stunning events venue. Between member events, rentals and private parties, its events team presents hundreds of events each year, which makes them pros by any metric. Amie Collier, who oversees events, and Lauren Boyack, Head of Membership and Marketing, share their top suggestions for creating the perfect holiday party. 

Ask yourself, ‘What is the purpose of this party?’ 

Start by deciding what you want your guests to experience at the party. Do you want a big group with great music and lots of cocktails? Do you want an intimate dinner party with just a few people and great conversation? The purpose of the occasion will dictate what it looks and feels like. 

From there, think about the mood and impression you want your guests to leave with. This will guide how you arrange your space and decor. “I try to imagine what I want the ambiance of the event to be,” says Amie. “Do I want it to be more of a sit-down event? Do I want it to be a little bit higher caliber? Or do I want it to feel more cozy? Do I want it to feel more inviting and intimate? Once I decide on the ambiance and vibes and the impression I want my guests to leave with, I select a space for the party and start thinking about decor.”

Get people mixing and mingling 

The point of a party is to gather people together and get them talking and having fun. But tossing strangers together in a room can make for awkward interactions. As a host, think about setting up built-in chances for people to start talking. Surprise elements on the table will get people talking. “You have to start with the 30,000-foot view and work down,” says Lauren. “Something Amie often implements—that’s easy to replicate at home—is the idea of ‘surprise and delight.’ For a holiday gathering or any event, consider hand-writing and customizing place settings, having conversation cues on the tables, and thoughtfully arranging seating so guests can meet new people, learn something new and spark fresh conversations.”

An Edison House Gathering. Photo courtesy of Edison House.

Direct the atmosphere with music and lighting

Music and lighting are key to setting the tone of your event. Whether it’s light background music, a nostalgic playlist, a DJ or live entertainment, music is essential to help guests feel relaxed and encourage mingling. Dim lighting, sparkling holiday lights with brighter lamps at food stations all help the overall party atmosphere. 

Use food to foster connection 

Food is a universal connector. Think about family-style serving or themed menus to get your guests talking. “I think part of the human condition is that we bond over food,” Lauren says. “That’s where we share our stories. That’s where we make our connections. I think something simple that you can do if you’re throwing a dinner party at home is embrace family-style service as opposed to plated. You have to pass big platters back and forth. But that’s what we think of when we think of gathering around the hearth and bonding with our friends and family is that shared experience. It facilitates interaction.”

Set up different food and drink stations. It will get guests moving through the space. Which means more changes to mix up conversations. It will also keep guests from clumping in the kitchen all night. 

Come up with fun winks to the theme of the party. Even renaming dishes or drinks can spark conversation. “We had one company that renamed all their cocktails as inside jokes. It was a great conversation starter,” Amie says.

Surprise with comfort foods

The holidays are a time for nostalgia and comfort. But for a party, elevate those traditional comfort foods or offer unexpected twists to dishes to delight guests. 

Even simple meals can become memorable when presented with a twist. “Our Chef is very creative with our appetizers and finger foods at Edison House,” says Lauren. “While it’s a high-end, premier venue, we serve elevated versions of classic comfort foods. For example, offering an elevated take on pigs in a blanket at new member initiations is always a conversation starter—it’s unexpected in a luxury setting, but everyone loves it.”

If you don’t want to host your holiday party at home, Edison House may be the perfect place for a private gathering, small or large. 

With everything from a speakeasy to a jazz parlor to a private karaoke room, with beautiful food and great service they can help you with the perfect experience for your guests.

Nov 04
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November Events in Utah

Your Week Ahead: November 4 —November 10

By Salt Lake Magazine

Looking for a way to liven up your week ahead? Luckily, Utah has no shortage of exciting events to fill out your calendar. To help you make a selection, we’ve gathered a list of our favorite November events in Utah. Get your week started, and finish off the spooky season, with the Day of the Dead Exhibit, then end your week entering the holiday season with holiday musicals and festivals. For even more events happening in Salt Lake City this week and throughout the month, visit our community events calendar! 

Monday 11/4

What: 2024 Day of the Dead Exhibits
Where: Utah Cultural Celebration Center (1355 W. 3100 S., West Valley City)
When: now until 11/7
Enjoy multiple annual and traditional exhibitions that include Ofrendas, Alabrejes and traditional arts and crafts that coincide with The Utah Cultural Celebration Centers’ Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration. 

What: The Off Broadway Theatre, inc. Presents Christmas Carol Part 2  
Where: The Off Broadway Theatre, Inc. (Draper Historic Theatre 900 East, Draper )
When:  Select nights in November at 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Start the holidays off with a classic musical, Christmas Carol Part 2. The story continues with Scrooge, a few years later. But, he still isn’t getting things right and instead of being kind and giving for the right reasons, he is doing it out of desperation and fear. The ghosts return to teach him how to live the true Spirit of Christmas.

Tuesday 11/5

What: 2024 Juried Art Show
Where: Murray City Library (166 E. 5300 S., Murray) 
When: Now until 11/13 
The Murray Juried Art Show is an annual event showcasing the artistic talents of Murray residents and is open to both amateur and professional artists aged 18 and older. The show includes the following categories: Watercolor, Oil and Acrylic, Graphics (pen, pencil, pastil, ink), Original Photography, Mixed Medium, Ceramics, Woodwork, and 3D.

Wednesday 11/6

What: Sip & Paint Night at Scion
Where: Scion Cider Bar  (916 S Jefferson Street, Salt Lake City)
When: 11/6 at 6 p.m. 
Get your hands dirty during this month’s Sip & Paint at Scion Cider Bar. Kick back and unwind from the week, enjoy a beverage, meet new friends (or bring your bestie), and paint a mug. A one-of-a-kind piece painted by you to take home as a reminder of your experience. Glazed pieces will be taken to Salt Lake Pottery Studio to be fired. All finished pieces can be picked up two weeks after the event during open studio hours.

What: Drop-in Drawing Disco
Where: Marcia and John Price Museum Building  (410 Campus Center Drive, Salt Lake City)
When: 11/6 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
This UMFA is thrilled to partner with the Arts Education Program in the College of Fine Arts on the crowd-favorite program, Drop-in Drawing Disco. This free, fun and informal event is artist-led and offers a space for you to explore or flex your drawing abilities. The session will feature individual and group drawing exercises, tasty snacks, and a community playlist for amping up your creativity. All levels of drawing experience are welcome. Bring your own sketchbook or current project, and let’s make some incredible art together!

Thursday 11/7

What: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE™ IN CONCERT
Where: Abravanel Hall  (123 W South Temple, Salt Lake City) 
When: 11/7 to 11/9 at 7 p.m. 
Learning on his 11th birthday that he is a wizard destined for greatness, Harry leaves for wizarding school for the first time in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™. This concert presents the first movie of the unforgettable series while a live orchestra performs John Williams’ enchanting score. Join us for an evening of music and magic. 

Friday 11/8

What: 35th Annual Navajo Rug Show & Sale
Where: Online Event
When: 11/8 at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  
Join this online event where you can view and purchase Navajo rugs. Navajo rugs tell enchanting stories through intricate designs, connecting you to ancestral ties and spiritual meanings. Every rug embodies authentic and meaningful traditions, bridging cultural gaps and fostering respect. 

What: Plan-B Theatre’s Full Color
Where: Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center  (138 W. 300 S., Salt Lake City)
When: Now until 11/10 at 8 p.m.
Full Color comprises eight monologues, through which eight BIPOC actors speak the truths of their eight BIPOC playwright counterparts, in a bold declaration that their experiences are not monolithic, dispelling stereotypes, and presenting the depth and breadth of BIPOC experiences here and now in Utah.

Saturday 11/9

What: Santa’s Village Experience
Where: Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City  (170 S. West Temple Street, Salt Lake City)
When: Every Saturday from 11/9 to 12/21 at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  
This holiday season, Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City will transform into Santa’s Village, decking the halls with merry holiday décor and festive cheer. Open to both hotel guests and Salt Lake City residents, the hotel will feature a massive 18-foot tree on the scenic 6th-floor rooftop Sundance Terrace, a custom-built Santa House, holiday vignettes, and photo-ops with Santa Claus every Saturday, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, leading up to Christmas. Tickets to experience the holiday décor and carolers and get a picture with Santa are available on Eventbrite here.

What: ILLUMINATE: Light Art + Creative Tech Festival
Where: Library Square  (200 E. 400 S, Salt Lake City)
When: 11/9 at 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
ILLUMINATE is a festival celebrating the intersection between art and technology. Utah Arts Alliance works with a wide variety of artists, makers, performers, and community partners to showcase innovative creativity through large scale art pieces, an interactive STEAM Lab, drone shows, and multimedia artwork. Through ILLUMINATE, Downtown SLC is turned into a canvas for light, art, technology, and innovation.

Sunday 11/10

What: Grand Kyiv Ballet Nutcracker
Where: Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center (138 W. Broadway, Salt Lake City)
When: 11/10 at 7 p.m.
The Nutcracker is a beautiful, intelligent and relevant fairy tale where dreams can change lives, good triumphs over evil and where kindness turns the world for the better. The Grand Kyiv Ballet Company also wants to do good,  part of the money received during the tours will be spent on restoring the Main Ballet Academy of Ukraine and repairing the children’s dormitory.

What: Living Planet Aquarium Lantern Festival
Where: Loveland Living Planet Aquarium  (12033 Lone Peak Pkwy, Draper)
When:  November 8 to January 6 at 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.  
The Lantern Festival spectacular is an all-new holiday experience at the Aquarium Lantern Festival, open daily from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Immerse yourself in a night of enchantment as larger-than-life, nature-inspired lanterns illuminate the sky and ignite your imagination. Stroll through the captivating plaza with loved ones, enjoying festive activities and creating unforgettable memories. Then step inside the Aquarium to warm up and see your favorite animals. This holiday season, let the Aquarium Lantern Festival be your escape to a breathtaking winter wonderland.

Nov 01
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2024 FTG Cocktail Contest_ Winner Story Post Templates_2024 copy3

Announcing the Winners of our 2024 Farm-to-Glass Cocktail Contest

By Eat & Drink

For this year’s Farm-to-Glass Cocktail Contest, we took the competition on the road—a cocktail trail, if you will. From smooth to savory and spicy to sweet, 18 bars across the state presented delicious cocktail creations and competed for the best in Utah. This year’s contestants utilized the full breadth of Utah’s native herbs, homegrown produce and locally distilled spirits to embody the farm-to-glass ethos in unique and even surprising ways. While each thoughtful cocktail shined in its own right, there were a few unifying themes. Many bartenders emerged with bright, juicy, end-of-summer flavors that had us reminiscing of warmer days. A few cocktails even went so far as to offer sippers a “salad in a glass,” combining tart tomatoes, herbaceous basil, ambrosial strawberries, and sweet carrots. We also noticed many bartenders drawing inspiration from international flavors and traditions, using ingredients like sake, gochujang, Tepache and jackfruit. 

As with every year’s cocktail contest, we asked Salt Lake’s voracious sippers to weigh and select one winner as their overall favorite. Our online voting system garnered hundreds of new votes each week, with a final total of 2,956 votes cast over the contest’s two-month duration. From the jump, three entries topped the leaderboard and continued to duke it out for the top spot. HSL’s Amarga Esplendida held on to the top spot for four weeks in a row, closely followed by Post Office Place and Urban Hill who stayed neck-in-neck for second place. In the final week of our contest, over 500 votes were cast which ultimately resulted in an upset of the Reader’s Choice. 

Without keeping you in further suspense, we’d like to announce the Reader’s Choice, Judge’s Choice and Innovator Award for our 2024 Farm-to-Glass Cocktail Contest, as well as name a few especially “Notalbe Potables.” Thank you to every bartender who participated this year, your thoughtful and delicious creations never fail to delight and inspire!

JUDGE CHOICE: Bar Nohm 

As always, this is a tough choice, the contestants across the board created one of our best-ever competitions. In the end, though, our judges kept coming back to Bar Nohm. Their cocktail Liquid Luxury was an innovative drink assembled in a unique collaboration among four Nohm bartenders (Crystal Daniels Arnold HSU, Caine Wenner, Dylan Huff and Clifton Reagle). Judge Francis Fecteau called them the “Hive Mind,” saying, “They’ve got a little bartender university over there.” Judge Darby Doyle summed it all up, saying, “When I see foam on a dinner menu in this year of our Lord 2024 I groan and there may be eye rolls involved. But in a cocktail? Gimme more, especially when it’s an integral and intentional part of the drink, as is this foam made with Korean rice wine and Oloroso Sherry. Also loved the use of local Sugarhouse Distillery rye and Waterpocket Snow Angel in this boozy and complex sipper.” Congratulations to the Hive Mind at Bar Nohm.

Salt Lake Magazine Cocktail Contest

READER’S CHOICE: Urban Hill

The voters have chosen their champion and it is Sam Black at Urban Hill. Sam’s entry, Rye Skies, was a tart and fruity riff on a Paper Plane. The elegant libation combined Sugarhouse Rye whisky and Waterpokcet Notom Amaro for a strong amaro-forward base, and balanced it out with house-made plum cordial for some pure fruity flavored joy. Urban Hill stayed consistently in the top three throughout the contest and swooped in on the last week with a total of 822 votes to claim first place.

Salt Lake Magazine Cocktail Contest

INNOVATOR AWARD: HSL 

Jordon Strang has become a man-about-town when it comes to Amaro. His collaborative pop-up series “Bitter Lovers” partners up with bars throughout the city to create unique one-night-only events that celebrate the diversity of Amaro. His propensity for bitter, and delicious, cocktails fully came through in his Farm-to-Glass entry dubbed Amarga Esplendida. The complex yet approachable sipper featured high-proof tequila, rooibos tea, gochujang syrup, local carrot juice, and a globe-hopping combination of Italian amaro. The result was a show-stopping sipper we wanted to return for again and again. 

NOTABLE POTABLES 

BEST NARRATIVE: Tupelo 

Not only is Mackenzie’s cocktail a delightful sipper but it also tells a story that is near and dear to the bartender—in this case her many trips to Oaxaca where she learned of a local tradition where agave farmers eat a scrambled egg chicken soup before heading out to the fields for the day. The combination of Wahaka Mezcal, local Waterpocket Temple of the Moon Gin and Ransom Dry Vermouth make for a robust yet palatable base. Add in a measure of reduced chicken brine and you have a savory, rich cocktail that sparks conversation. As Libations LLC judge says, Sopa De Polla para el Alma is “An interesting original cocktail idea, a twist on a Martini using a Wahakan breakfast soup. It’s crazy. You either love it or hate it.” 

MOST GLOBETROTTING: Post Office Place 

Hannah Erikson represented Post Office Place with her entry, the Malabar Bloom. The crushable cocktail drew from flavors and traditions around the world, staying true to the bar’s multicultural ethos and taking us on a globetrotting journey with each sip. Starting with Beehive Distilling Decade Dry Gin and silk Nigori sake, Hannah upped the acidity with calamansi lime juice and house-made Tepache. 

MORE THAN A GREAT PUN: Log Haven

Log Haven’s Duncan Campbell presented Knaughty Pine—an elegant Ramos Fizz spin featuring Beehive Jack Rabbit Gin, Pear Brandy, Waterpocket Notom Amaro and house-made pine nut orgeat. A well-thought-out and intentional cocktail that not only captures the spirit and atmosphere of Log Haven in a glass, The Knaughty Pine also evokes a sense of playfulness with its name and construction. 

MOST HYPERLOCAL: Alpine Distilling

An approachable, rustic take on a gin-based French 75 that is Utah to its core. Of course Alpine used their own juice (the Elalavated Gin) but the homegrown apple pie spice and the interesting addition of Etta Place’s Grand Circle Semi-Dry Apple Cider created our most hyperlocal cocktail. 

AND: Many Thanks to Francis Fecteau of Libation SLC

This year’s Farm-to-Glass featured partner is Francis Fecteau and his spirit and wine brokerage Libations LLC. Francis Fecteau represents unique and small brands across the spectrum and he truly represents them. Spirit brokerage in Utah is a relationship and shoe-leather business and Francis Fecteau puts a lot of miles on his Hokas representing his clients. This year (once again) Libations LLC has generously donated the prize money for our winning bartenders. Find him on Instagram @libationslc

Salt Lake Magazine Cocktail Contest

Nov 01
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Thanksgiving Dinner in Utah

Forget Cooking: Where to Get Dinner This Thanksgiving

By Eat & Drink

Snow-capped mountains, resurfacing Christmas displays and jovial family gatherings—the holidays are upon us. For many, the happiest time of the year is muddled by the thought of anguishing in the kitchen over Thanksgiving feasts. Between brining the turkey and setting the table, there’s a lot that can go wrong. This year, let the restaurant pros in Utah handle Thanksgiving dinner as they serve up delectable four-course meals or offer foolproof take-home dinners for you and yours. 

WASATCH FRONT

Asher Adams Hotel
The newly opened hotel at the Gateway is hosting a family-style Thanksgiving feast at their restaurant, Rouser. Menu highlights include burnt fennel and tomato soup, Foie Gras croissant casserole, whipped potato puree, Turkey roulade and pumpkin rolls with cream cheese frosting. Available 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving day, $85 for adults, $35 for kids 12 and under.

Bambara 
The sleek restaurant inside the Monaco hotel downtown is offering a delectable Thanksgiving Buffet with all the seasonal favorites like roasted turkey, wild mushroom stuffing, charred baby carrots, whipped potatoes and more. Available Thanksgiving day from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., $85 per person. 

Emigration Cafe
Let Pago Restaurant Group Executive Chef Phelix Gardner do the cooking for you this holiday. Reprising their Thanksgiving Buffet, Emigration is offering all your seasonal favorites for a memorable holiday meal. Reservations available starting at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving day. $65 for adults, $24 for kids 11 and under, kids five and under eat for $10. 

Eight Settlers Distillery
Eight Settlers is offering a special Thanksgiving Heat and Eat meal kit this season with four package options. Choose from their “All the Works” feast which feeds six and includes 36oz of turkey meat, along with ham and several classic side dishes. Start your order here. 

Fleming’s Steakhouse
Visit Fleming’s Steakhouse for a seasonal prix fixe three-course menu, featuring their traditional style herb-roasted turkey, filet mignon or prime bone-in ribeye. Includes a starter, all the fixings and dessert. Guests can also choose from their full dinner menu, and children can enjoy a special three-course menu as well. Reservations available at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Adults $53, children’s menu is $25. 

Franck’s
Skip dish-duty and join Frack’s for their annual six-course Thanksgiving dinner featuring lemon thyme dry aged swordfish, six day local cider brined turkey steak and pumpkin pie cake.  $105 per person; from 12 p.m.. to 6 p.m. Find the full menu, and make a reservation, here. 

Harmons 
Harmons takes the work out of your Thanksgiving feast with their signature take-home meals. Their large traditional turkey dinner serves 10 to 12 people and includes Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, fresh herb stuffing, Beehive dinner rolls, and a 12Ib ready-to-roast basted Turkey from Diestel Turkey Ranch. $230. Place your order here. 

Hub & Spoke
Hub & Spoke’s annual Thanksgiving Buffet returns on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2022, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Menu highlights include turkey-day classics like candied yams, house-made stuffing and mashed potatoes, along with Hub & Spoke faves like chicken & waffles and benedicts.. Reservations recommended with first-come seating on patio; $45 adults, $23 for children under age 12. 

La Caille
Enjoy a unique Thanksgiving meal at La Caille with menu items like quail and truffle pot pie, roasted butternut squash soup, maple bourbon glazed king salmon and rosemary cider brined free range turkey. $150 for adults, $65 for children five to 12, kids under four eat for free. 

Little America 
Gathering friends and family around the table with homemade, comfort food is a Little America tradition. Breakfast will be available at The Coffee Shop on Thanksgiving from 6:30 to 11:00 a.m. and a three-course holiday menu from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Lucky H is proud to offer a special dinner buffet this Thanksgiving available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. Little America’s Thanksgiving Buffet will be served in the Grand Ballroom and is available by reservation only. Make one here. 

Log Haven 
Log Haven is offering a 3-course plated luncheon this Thanksgiving season from noon until 5:30 p.m. Adults $85, children ten and under eat for $49. 

Salt Republic

The Hyatt Regency’s Salt Republic is serving a three-course Thanksgiving dinner, with dishes like applewood smoked turkey, pancetta stuffing, homestyle gravy and more served family style. Reservations can accomodate groups of up to 14. $55 for adults, $27 for kids 6-12, children under 6 dine for free. Make your reservation here.

In addition to their dinner, Salt Republic is also offering Thanksgiving dinners to-go this year. Let the pros take the heavy lifting out of your hands and enjoy all the seasonal favorites. Pickup time between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m on Thanksgiving day, $45 per person. Place your order here.

Sundance Mountain Resort
Gather with family and friends up at Sundance’s Foundry Grill & Tree Room for their annual Thanksgiving brunch. Menu highlights include butternut squash steaks, savory roasted yams, roasted turkey, farro and quinoa salad, charcuterie board, beet cured salmon and more. Served 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. Adults dine for $89, kids $39. Make your reservation here. 

Tuscany
Tuscany’s three-course Thanksgiving feast is back this year. Menu highlights include butternut squash soup, sage cranberry stuffing, and herb roasted turkey. $95 for adults, $45 kids 12 and under. 

Vessel Kitchen
Vessel Kitchen’s ‘Everything but the Bird’ family bundles are back for the seventh year in a row, alleviating the stress for guests this season. This all-in-one holiday bundle provides guests with the perfect personalized array of Thanksgiving dishes, allowing them to focus on just one thing, the turkey! With options for every type of eater including vegan, vegetarian, keto or paleo, gluten-free, or no holds barred – Vessel has something for everyone this Thanksgiving. The deadline to place orders is Nov. 26 with options for pickup from Nov. 22 to Nov. 27th. 

WASATCH BACK

Deer Valley Café
Deer Valley Cafe is offering delicious take-away items to complement your Thanksgiving dinner. Sides include lemon thyme sauce, cranberry chutney, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, green bean au gratin, and wild mushroom stuffing. Pie selections include pumpkin, pecan, country apple, blueberry and cherry. Place orders by 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 22, and pick up orders on Nov. 27. Orders can be placed here.

Hill’s Kitchen Café & Catering
Pick up dinner for eight including Mary’s free range whole turkey, red bliss mashed potatoes, maple roasted brussel sprouts, classic herb and sausage stuffing, turkey gravy, cheddar biscuits, caesar salad, pear and blue cheese salad and more. Don’t forget Pastry Chef Jessie Rae’s house roasted pumpkin, double crust apple, and pecan pies. Orders are available for pickup on Thanksgiving from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call (435) 800-2870 to place orders.

KITA
Celebrate ‘Chefsgiving’ with an expertly-crafted traditional feast at KITA with roasted pumpkin soup, autumn harvest salad, herb roasted turkey, and strip loin carving station. A percentage of every meal goes toward the Christian Center of Park City’s Food Assistance Programs. Dinner served on Thanksgiving, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. $135 for adults. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.

Salt Box Eatery & Catering
Save time in the kitchen by picking up Thanksgiving dinner from Salt Box Eatery & Catering. All items are available a la carte, choose from Swedish wild game meatballs, butternut squash soup, herb roasted turkey and house cured honey baked ham. Sides include applewood smoked bacon wrapped asparagus, mashed potatoes, blood orange cranberry jam, baked mac and cheese and more. Place orders one week in advance, call 435-962-9662 or visit saltboxpc.com to order. 

Zermatt Resort 
On Thanksgiving day, Midway’s Zermatt Resort is offering two dining experiences. The Thanksgiving Buffet at Z’s restaurant will be a 2 hour dining experience from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and featured items like oysters, split crab legs, turkey carving station, potato and ham casserole and more. $95 for adults, $43 for children 9-12, $28 for children 8 and under. 

Hosted in the Matterhorn Conference Center, the second Thanksgiving buffet features more traditional items like stuffing, candied sweet potato, turkey carving station, butternut squash soup and more. $51 for adults, $25 for children 12 and under, kids under two eat for free. 

Oct 21
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Annual Witches Tea at The Grand America Hotel 

By Eat & Drink

Gather your witches and get ready to spill the tea at The Grand America Hotel’s annual Witches High Tea. Spend an afternoon luxuriating around an intimate table, sipping tea, enjoying bites like sandwiches, pastries and fall-themed desserts. Dressed in your autumnal best, you’ll feel like royalty walking into the Lobby Lounge that lives up to the hotel name, being grand in every sense of the meaning. At select times, the high tea features a live harpist adding to the relaxing and elevated ambiance.

Donning your favorite witch hat and upturned pinky, the tea party begins with a welcome table of chantilly and berries waiting for you to devour. After you’ve finished, select from a variety of teas, including their seasonal-specialty tea— autumn leaves, that I opted for and loved. The spiced aroma and warming effect completed the Halloween themed event and complimented the seasonal treats. If you’d prefer a mommy-daughter date, they offer a selection of hot chocolates and kid-friendly sandwiches; the little ones will love dressing up as a witch and spending an afternoon with their favorite person. When you’re finished, pursue The Grand America shops and sights, all dressed up for the Halloween occasion. Don’t forget to stop by the courtyard for some fresh air, views of the fountains and beautifully kept landscaping. 

If you can’t make it for the Witches Tea, they also offer Holiday Tea with delightful winter treats perfect for season’s greetings. If you love the experience and are looking to do it again, without the holiday themes, they also offer year-round afternoon tea. 

For more holiday fun, visit the hotel for a Grand thanksgiving dinner at Laurel Brasserie and Bar, where they are offering a “Thanksgiving meal without the stress and mess of cooking.” And be sure to get the holidays off to a festive start by joining their indoor Holiday Window Stroll. You can view all their seasonal, holiday window displays that feature a new theme each year, and stop to see their magnificent, life-sized gingerbread house.