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Discover Salt Lake magazine’s Arts & Culture section. Here you’ll find stories and reviews about local arts, music, film, theater and great events to help you explore the vibrant arts & entertainment communities along the Wasatch Front and Wasatch Back and across Utah.

From our music writers, you’ll find local show previews, festival reviews and interviews with artists. We are also your premiere source on all things Sundance Film Festival. Peruse our archives for film reviews, event roundups and more!

The Beehive State is buzzing with Arts & Entertainment activities, find an event that fits your interest at Salt Lake magazine. Between live performances, arts festivals, craft courses and visual art events, there is bound to be something that fits your interest.

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Mar 12
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Park City and Deer Valley Heat Up for Spring

By Arts & Culture

The first day of spring is just around the corner, which means its time to endlessly argue about the alleged merits of daylight saving time—trust me, late light is far more important than early light—and kick back for spring skiing festivities at Park City and Deer Valley. Thanks to this season’s massively-healthy snowpack, this should be a March and April for the ages on the slopes, and local resorts are gearing up to keep the good times rolling during après hours with live music and costumed shenanigans for all.

Celebrate St. Patricks Day the right way at Park City Mountain with live music at both base areas on Sunday, March 17. From 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pennyland will perform at Park City’s Payday Deck with their meld of traditional Irish and Scottish folk music and dance tunes while Folk Hogan rocks the Canyons Village Stage with high-velocity, whiskey and humor infused punk/folk that will have the crowd tearing up the dance floor. If you’re out on the slopes before the concerts, check in with Epic Mix photographers to snap a few complimentary shots with festive holiday props.

Canyons Village is the place to be for spring apres concerts.

The following week things kick into high gear as Park City Mountain’s famed Spring Gruv Festival gets underway. This year’s Gruv features performances from local favorites like country/blues legends Lash LaRue and the ever-expanding funk collective Superbubble. Concert schedules for both Park City Mountain Village and Canyons Village are listed below, and you can check out the full lineup of events by visiting the resort’s events calendar.

CANYONS VILLAGE CONCERTS 

  • 3/16/19: Pixie & The Partygrass Boys
  • 3/23/19: Changing Lanes Experience
  • 3/30/19: King Cardinal
  • 4/6/19: Henry Hunter (2:00-3:30 p.m.), Dragondeer (4:00-6:00 p.m.)
  • 4/7/19: Metal Dogs (1:00-2:30 p.m.), The Breakfast Klub (3:00-5:00 p.m.)

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN VILLAGE CONCERTS

  • 3/16/19: Lash Larue
  • 3/23/19: Jamie Drake
  • 3/30/19: Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds (2:00-3:30 p.m.), Anderson East (4-5:30 p.m.)
  • 4/6/19: Brothers Brimm
  • 4/7/19: Big Blue Ox (1:00-2:30 p.m.), Superbubble (3:00-5:00 p.m)

The crown jewel of spring skiing is the 23rd annual pond skim outside of Red Pine Lodge at the Canyons on Saturday, April 6. The antics kick off at 12:00 noon as competitors try to skip across the 100-foot long pond in all manner of impractical attire. Sign up for the competition if you have the courage to give the skim a go, or sit back and enjoy the show free of charge.

Even the Judges get into the spirit during Pond Skim.

Deer Valley may not have the party-time pedigree of Park City, but the resort is hosting its own lineup of spring concerts for the après crowd to jam out to. The EBS Lounge at Deer Valley’s Snow Park Lodge is rolling out a rollicking lineup including Badfeather frontman Rick Gerber and cover masters Chris Bender and Fastback. EBS Lounge shows are listed below, and you can visit the Deer Valley Events Calendar page for the complete lineup and an up-to-date listing of après shows at Silver Lake Lodge.

EBS Lounge CONCERTS

  • 3/16/19: B.D. Howes (3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.)
  • 3/22/19: Chris Bender and Fastback (3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.)
  • 3/23/19: Chris Bender and Fastback (3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.)
  • 3/29/19: Rick Gerber (3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.)
  • 3/30/19: Ché Zuro (3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m

 

 

Mar 11
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Shoe-shots and Salty Sarcasm at The State Room

By Arts & Culture, Music

Last Thursday, March 7 at the State Room was so weird that I needed a couple of days to process what happened. So forgive me if this all comes out discombobulated—the show was likewise all over the place, sometimes in the best of ways, and at other times, irritatingly so.

Openers UPSAHL was by far the most coherent and musical act of the night. The lead singer (whose last name is Upsahl) sang with the coyness of Gwen Stefani and pipes reminiscent of SHAED’s frontwoman, Chelsea Lee, relating to us with songs called “Drugs,” (a fun singalong about her party priorities), “All My Friends Are Rich,” and “Stressed” (“Hey, I’m stressed!” shouted one guy when she introduced the song). Most of the set featured smart pop-meets-R&B songs poised to become mainstream hits, should she keep her momentum and publicity up. “Can You Hear Me Now,” features a killer bass line plus UPSAHL’s versatile vocals. She dedicated it to “all the f*ckboys out there!” “Anyone here know someone like that?” she asked. “No! We’re in Utah!” shouted a woman in the front row. “That’s true,” the singer acknowledged.

Second opener Mikey Mike really wanted us to know he showered yesterday. The first time he shared the information was after he called up the aforementioned woman to spin a big wheel with an illustration of his crazed face in its center. It landed on a free-for-all, which meant she could either take A) a “shoe shot” – drink Jim Beam whiskey out of Mikey’s shoe, or B) a shot from his belly button. The woman understandably grappled with her decision for a good minute before deciding on option B. “I support this!” her husband shouted from the front row. And as assurance, Mikey let her and us know that it shouldn’t be too bad of because he had showered the night prior. The woman emerged from his torso, grimacing, but also seemingly fulfilled with the overall experience.

He also played some music with his band. He had the country-rock vibe of Kid Rock and the feel-goodness of Jason Mraz or Jack Johnson. While none of these artists are especially relevant anymore, Mikey made his songs special because of his effervescently nihilistic charm. “How y’all doing tonight?” he said. “Good!” we replied. He adjusted his backwards baseball cap and took a swig from his paper cup, which likely held more Jim Beam. “Alright, well f*ck you!” he slurred, before going into a song. The second wheel-spin was met with more reticence from potential crowd participants. Some tentative hands were raised, then one lucky girl was hoisted onstage. Again, the spin landed on a free-for-all. Mikey gave her the choice between A) a shoe-shot, or B) lighting him on fire. The girl opted for both. She unfortunately waited too long to take the shot, as the whiskey soaked into Mikey’s boot (“These were new shoes, too!” he lamented), so she had a do-over. Borrowing a lighter from a kind audience member, she then lit some of his chest on fire. Fortunately, it was put out quickly. “My hair usually sets on fire and does this cool thing,” said Mikey, “but I showered, so…”

I’ve listened to, and liked, Max Frost’s music without knowing much else about him: what he looked like; his personality. And maybe that was for the best. The solo singer and instrumentalist was no-doubt impressive, darting from one side of the stage to set up his vocal and instrumental loops, then to the other side, to sing and drum. It was a strange and somewhat distracting setup, and I wondered why all the equipment couldn’t just be right next to each other, but the energy it demanded justified the track suit he wore, I guess. It can be cool when a singer’s visual aesthetic unexpectedly clashes with his music: his voice was soulful, he busted out an impeccable falsetto at one point, and he played virtually every instrument while seamlessly transitioning between songs.

But it was hard to get over the high school jockiness he sporadically exuded. He jabbed at those sitting at the back to “get up and party” because “this isn’t a James Taylor show,” and said he “wasn’t going to let it go” until they obliged. And indeed, he really didn’t let it go. One person made a good point, that she could hear better from the back, others followed his instructions, and others simply left the room. Another uncomfortable moment came when he talked about it being good to be back in Utah. “Last time I was in Salt Lake City, I was playing at that arena,” he tells us, referring to his February show at Vivint. He chuckles. “I guess that means my career has taken a downward spiral, now that I’m playing here?”

But “White Lies” and “Withdrawal” were particularly excellent live, and his general showmanship (minus the awkward banter) seemed to get people bopping, so tomato tomahto.

For more photos from the show, check out the full album. See all our music coverage here.

Mar 04
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Ballet-West_Apollo_S18-19_Principal-Artist-Adrian-Fry_Photo-by-Beau-Pearson

Ballet West Rolls Out Its New Season

By Arts & Culture

Ballet West has announced its 2019-20 season upcoming season of 2019/20. The new season will begin with a new production that celebrates the 110th Anniversary of Sergei Diaghilev’s revolutionary company, “Balanchine’s Ballets Russes.” The three performances of the cycle will explore the origins of George Balanchine’s choreographic genius.

Single tickets will go on sale in September but us regulars will have early access subscribe now or renew season memberships for best availability. Three-show subscription packages begin at just $64. Contact Ballet West at 801-869-6920, or visit www.balletwest.org

The program begins with a United States premiere, The Song of the Nightingale (Le chant du rossignol) that tells the tale of a mysterious songbird who cures an ailing Chinese emperor. Balanchine created this work in 1925 when he was just 21 year old. Ballet West will be only the second company in the world to present this piece of ballet history.

The second collaboration on the bill is Apollo. The Ballet West premiere features a rarely performed original childhood scene from the ballet and a presentation of the final ascent to Mount Olympus, that is not often done. This piece remains a standard of Balanchine’s clean and refined approach to dance.

The cycle will close out with  Prodigal Son’s story of sin and redemption taken from the Gospel of Luke. Prokovfiev composed this musical score shortly before the premiere and passed away soon after. I’m listening to the music as I write this post and it is powerful. This triple threat should not be missed. Mark your calendar for Oct. 25 through Nov. 2.

The 75th staging of Mr. C’s The Nutcracker will run Dec. 6 to 24. I know it is a family tradition of ours and if it isn’t this landmark year is the year to start a new Holiday tradition with family and friends.

In the new year, the company will roll out a wonderful love story just in time for Valentine’s Day. Giselle a Utah favorite (heck it’s an anywhere favorite). Ballet West’s rendition was reconceived by the company’s creative director, Adam Sklute, in 2014. This ballet has it all. Love, ghosts all wrapped up in a tale of elusive forgiveness. Giselle runs Feb. 7 to 15, 2020.

Spring will The Dream and resident choreographer Nicolo Fonte’s Bolero. Felix Mendelssohn’s music powers the ballet based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream which will be starkly contrasted with the power and the athleticism of Ravel’s Bolero. This fantastic double bill will run April 17 to 25, 2020.

The 2020 World Choreographic Festival comes again to Utah on the small intimate stage of the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Renowned international companies like the Singapore Dance Theater and Royal New Zealand Ballet, will present one week of explosive new works. During the festival, Ballet West will premiere two new creations from athletic and soulful international choreographer Jennifer Archibald and Matthew Neenan.

Ballet West II will present Snow White, a world premiere from gifted in-house choreographers Pamela Robinson and Peggy Dolkas. A new addition to the popular Family Classics Series, this re-creation runs for just three performances, Nov. 8 and 9, 2019 The Grimms’ fairy tale is given a ballet treatment, to a score from Edvard Grieg, and is presented in 90 minutes with guided narration to ensure the youngest audience members can enjoy the ensuing drama on stage.

Single tickets will go on sale in September but us regulars will have early access subscribe now or renew season memberships for best availability. Three-show subscription packages begin at just $64. Contact Ballet West at 801-869-6920, or visit www.balletwest.org

Feb 21
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COIN, Tessa Violet show fans “Simple Love”

By Arts & Culture, Music

Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at The Depot gave audiences the perfect pairing of two very smart pop acts, who knew how to meaningfully touch the hearts of their young fan base: opener Tessa Violet, and headliners COIN.

Photo credit: Charissa Che

Contrary to her observation that the crowd was not “warm enough” for the main act, Violet was more than apt at getting everyone to sing along to songs (and even dance to her choreography) that were largely unfamiliar to us. In between songs were mini confessionals that helped construct a living scrapbook of her journey through depression, love lost, and, as one song spells out, “Bad Choices.” “When I started writing this, I wanted to write about how sexy and sassy I was,” she said endearingly, by way of introducing the song. Alas, she tells us how it took on an agency of its own, to be about “what pretty much sums up my whole life thus far.”

Photo credit: Charissa Che

While Violet’s asides were frank and vulnerable, they did not pander, which is why her set was so memorable. Scanning the room, even teens wearing the toughest facades sang along to the lyrics of “Make Me a Robot,” an autobiographical song about her recent struggle with mental illness, and her journey toward self-love. “Make me a robot. Make me a robot. Make, make me cold,” the room sang. The flashlights lit up on their phones, and swayed. “Make me a robot. Make me a robot. Take, take my soul.”

Photo credit: Charissa Che

With the scene sufficiently “warmed up” (the bassist took off his shirt at one point because he was so warm, and probably at the persuasive chanting of “Take it off!” led by Violet), COIN gave us a set featuring tracks from their 2017 LP, How Will You Know if You Never Try and their more canonical 2015 self-titled debut album. Some songs from their upcoming album upped the groove of their usual sound; i.e. “Simple Romance,” which recalls “Feeling” with a teasing dash of falsetto. Echoing like The Wombats and Spoon and probably an amalgamation of others from the best of 2000s indie pop, the band rightfully deserves the traction they’ve gained this past year.

Photo credit: Charissa Che

The stage setup was simple: just four guys in front of a backdrop of horizontal neon lights. But seen especially from the back, it looked effortlessly cinematic. Silhouetted frontman Chase Lawrence threw himself on the keys, moppy hair flying and tongue out. “Run” and “Talk Too Much” were of course the popular hits that brought out the Snapchats. The latter’s guitar solo was especially delicious to behold live.

Photo credit: Charissa Che

To view more photos from the sold-out show, go here.

See all our music coverage here.

Feb 15
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Park City Film Series to Screen Oscar-Nominated Shorts

By Arts & Culture

Sundance 2019 is in the rearview mirror, but the 91st Academy Awards is just over the horizon, which means we can’t quit pretending we’re film buffs just yet. Park City Film Series is keeping us in the loop by showing all the Oscar-Nominated Short Films from Friday, February 22 through the big show on Sunday, February 24. Each night will feature a different selection of short films from the three categories—animated on Friday at 8:00 p.m., documentary on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and live action on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.

This unique opportunity to see the shorts on the big screen will serve you well whether you’re a degenerate gambler looking for some advanced intel to top your Oscar Pool or you’re merely seeking conversation fodder that extends beyond a pseudo-intellectual interpretation of Killmonger in Black Panther and a string of excuses about how you’ll see Roma just as soon as you can find the time. Short films give filmmakers the opportunity to tackle daring subject matter and experimental formats, and this year’s crop is no different. From the true story of the courageous women leading the revolution against the stigmatization of menstruation in Delhi, India in Period. End of Sentence to an argument about the merits of sexual cannibalism between an anthropomorphized leech and preying mantis in Animal Behaviour, moviegoers will find something challenge, entertain and inspire them.

The screenings all take place at the Jim Santy Auditorium. General admission is only $8 and tickets can be purchased online here. $50 gets you into the Oscar Party on Saturday night beginning at 6:00 p.m., which includes three drink tickets, appetizers and access to the documentary shorts screening.

Jim Santy Auditorium, 1255 Park Ave, Park City, parkcityfilm.org

Scene from Oscar-Nominated Short ‘Skin’

Animation Shorts: Friday, February 22, 2019

Animal Behaviour

Dealing with what comes naturally isn’t easy, especially for animals. In ‘Animal Behaviour’, five animals meet regularly to discuss their inner angst in a group therapy session led by Dr. Clement, a canine psychotherapist.

Bao

An aging Chinese mom suffering from empty nest syndrome gets another chance at motherhood when one of her dumplings springs to life as a lively, giggly dumpling boy.

Late Afternoon

Emily is an elderly woman who lives between two states, the past and the present. She journeys into an inner world, reliving moments from her life. She searches for a connection within her vivid, but fragmented memories.

One Small Step

Luna is a vibrant young Chinese American girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut. From the day she witnesses a rocket launching into space on TV, Luna is driven to reach for the stars. As Luna grows up, she enters college, facing adversity of all kinds in pursuit of her dreams.

Weekends

Weekends’ is the story of a young boy shuffling between the homes of his recently divorced parents. Surreal dream-like moments mix with the domestic realities of a broken up family in this hand-animated film set in 1980’s Toronto.

Documentary Shorts: Saturday, February 23, 2019

A Night at the Garden

In 1939, 20,000 Americans rallied in New York’s Madison Square Garden to celebrate the rise of Nazism – an event largely forgotten from history. ‘A Night at the Garden’ transports audiences to this chilling gathering and shines a light on the power of demagoguery and anti-Semitism in America.

Black Sheep

After the high-profile killing of Damilola Taylor, Cornelius’ family move out of London. But when they discover their new town is run by racists, Cornelius takes a drastic step to survive.

End Game

Where will loved ones spend their last days? Who will be in the room? What feelings and secrets need to be shared with family before it is too late? ‘End Game’ probes these questions and more as it follows visionary medical practitioners who are working on the cutting edge of life and death.

Lifeboat

Volunteers from a German non-profit risk the waves of the Mediterranean to pluck refugees from sinking rafts pushing off from Libya in the middle of the night.

Period. End of Sentence

n a rural village outside Delhi, India, women lead a quiet revolution. They fight against the deeply rooted stigma of menstruation. ‘Period. End of Sentance’ tells their story.

Live Action Shorts: Sunday, February 24, 2019

Detainment

Two ten year-old boys are detained by police under suspicion of abducting and murdering a toddler. A true story based on interview transcripts from the James Bulger case which shocked the world in 1993 and continues to incite public outrage across the UK today.

Fauve

Set in a surface mine, two boys sink into a seemingly innocent power game with Mother Nature as the sole observer.

Marguerite

An aging woman and her nurse develop a friendship that inspires her to unearth unacknowledged longing and thus help her make peace with her past.

Madre (Mother)

A single mother receives a call from her seven-year-old son who is on vacation with his father in the French Basque Country. At first the call is a cause for joy, but soon it becomes a horrible nightmare when the child tells her that he is alone and cannot find his father who left a while ago.

Skin

A small supermarket in a blue collar town, a black man smiles at a 10 year old white boy across the checkout aisle. This innocuous moment sends two gangs into a ruthless war that ends with a shocking backlash.

Feb 15
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Small Lake City Concert: Pixie and the Partygrass Boys

By Arts & Culture, Music

Ben Weiss invited some musician friends he knew, Zach Downes and Andrew Nelson, to jam at a party for a few hours with a musician he’d never really played with, Katia Racine. “Three hours flew by,” Weiss says, “So at the end we all looked at each other and said ‘Well, we should start a band.’”

And that’s how the Salt Lake-based band Pixie and the Partygrass Boys was born four years ago.

Since joined by Amanda Grapes on fiddle, the band has been an important part of the Salt Lake music scene. On any given night you might find Pixie and the Partygrass Boys as the opener at The Commonwealth Room, playing a regular gig at the Hog Wallow or at their once-weekly bluegrass jam at Gracie’s.

Part of the band’s popularity is their genre-busting style—Weiss describes the band as “non- traditional bluegrass with heavy jazz and funk influences. “The crossover of playing Stevie Wonder with a bluegrass band seemed like a no-brainer for us,” says Weiss. “People who love bluegrass get to see something they might not usually see at a bluegrass show, and people who don’t normally like bluegrass might find something that they do like because we’re playing something familiar with a bluegrass style.”

And while the band started with a lot of covers, these days they play more and more of their own music. “Every member of the band is a composer,” says Weiss, “We all write songs then get together as a band to arrange them.” The fans are happy with the transition, too, he says, “It’s a really special thing to watch our fans come because we are fun and we play songs we write and now they come and sing along to songs we’ve written.”

Ultimately, Weiss says the goal of the group has always been the same, “When we started this band we wanted to have fun. We wanted to play music people could dance to and we wanted to have a creative outlet to express ourselves freely. We always try to have the most fun in the room, and you know, sometimes we do. It’s not traditional but we always keep it ‘grassy.”

Watch all of our Small Lake City Concerts at saltlakemagazine.com/small-lake

Feb 15
Love0

Bollywood Boulevard: An evening of Indian food and cinema

By Arts & Culture, Eat & Drink

Cinema these days seems to have abandoned the visual for the visceral—going to the movies can be more of an amusement park ride than a feast for the eyes.
Never in Bollywood. In Hindi films, the color alone blows you away and makes you happy, just like the fragrance of Indian food.

Friday night, February 15, you can experience both: Saffron Valley is partnering with this season’s Utah Presents: after a 6 p.m. dinner—chaat, curries, kebabs, vegetarian or not—at the Sugar House restaurant, the show, Bollywood Boulevard, commissioned by Lincoln Center and portraying a history of Hindi cinema, starts at Kingsbury Hall. Expect live music, dance and film. And lots of color.

Performance tickets start at $20; dinner is $20 per person. Tickets for both the performance and the dinner are available at 801-581-7100 or utahpresents.org.

See all of our food coverage here.

Feb 13
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Ballet West’s Swan Lake Soars

By Arts & Culture

The original performance of Swan Lake was in 1877 by Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet. Adam Sklute said “The founder of Ballet West, Willam F. Christensen, created the first full-length American production of Swan Lake in 1940 when he was the Artistic Director of San Francisco Ballet. Mr. C’s version of Swan Lake pre-dates his world-famous version of the The Nutcracker.”

February 8, 2019 was opening for the 2018-19 season performance of Ballet West’s Swan Lake at the Janet Quinney Lawson Theatre. It was a full house and the dancers seemed to feed off the energy of the audience. The last time that Ballet West performed Swan Lake they brought in a guest artist to perform the role of Odette/Odile or the White/Black Swan.  It was wonderful to see that our own Ballet West dancers were ready for the role and did a stunning job.

The evening’s lead dancers Beckanne Sisk and Chase O’Connell were featured in the February/March issue of Pointe magazine as one of the Ballet world’s most romantic couples and this was plain to see as they dance the lead roles of Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried. I believe Beckanne has been an amazing dancer since she joined Ballet West and was excited to see that she was the lead the evening I was attending. Chase has moved up the ranks and to honest I was not really excited that he was dancing the lead, but I have to say I was not disappointed at all. He stepped up to the role in a big way, he seemed much stronger and partnered Beckanne in a way that you could see there was a connection beyond the dancing and performing. Beakanne’s change of personality as she danced the role of the evil Black Swan/Odile was pronounced and done so well you could see the sinister side come out in that mischievous smile. As she got ready to do the very difficult and famed 32 fouettes you could feel the audience on the edge or their seats in anticipation, she performed these beautifully and the audience breathed a sigh of relief with her when they were completed.

The other stand outs that evening were Trevor Naumann, Katlyn Addison and Sayaka Ohtaki in their Pas de Trois. All three dancers as a “team” and in their solo parts were powerful and yet graceful while they completed some very difficult choreography. Also Lindsay Bond, Katie Critchlow, Jenna Rae Herrera and Chelsea Keefer were strong as they performed their roles as the Cygnettes. Their timing was impeccable and the intricate details of their moves looked effortless. The lead Swan Maidens Emily Neale and Gabrielle Salvatto were regal along with the Swan Maidens.

When the third act begins it was so breathtaking to see the beautiful swan dancers come out of the fog. There were many gasps as they gracefully emerged. Swan Lake ends in tragedy as many of the fairy tales do, but in the end good wins over the evil. Rex Tilton did a wonderful job as the evil sorcerer Baron Von Rothbart. His costume was beautiful as well as all the other costumes. Ballet West’s costumes are always spot on and gorgeous. The music by Tchaikovsky was played to perfection. In fact as I write my review I listen to the music of the ballet I have just watched and I really do wish I had recordings of the Ballet West Orchestra to listen to. Jared Oaks does an incredible job. It was hard to tell any difference between Ballet West’s Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

On a personal note, opening Night at Swan Lake was also my birthday. What a gift and treat it was to have this to go and celebrate with my favorite ballet. The audience agreed as there was a standing ovation and many curtain calls. I have said this often but we are so lucky to have such incredible talent here. This is something that should not be missed. For those of you that are still trying to think of something for your Valentine, Swan Lake would be a wonderful way to celebrate the season of love. For tickets go to balletwest.org.

See all of our dance coverage here.

Feb 11
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11 Ways to Slay Valentine’s Day 2K19

By Arts & Culture

The shortest month of the year is finally here and so is that one day out of the year where cheesy love cards, heart-shaped candies, and cuddly teddy bears are trending (as well as guilt, anxiety and pressure NOT TO SCREW IT UP.) Yep. Valentine’s Day has finally come and if you better NOT SCREW IT UP. So. Salt Lake Magazine is here to take the stress out of the Valentine’s Day 2K19. You may also want to update your Xanax prescription.

Yoga and Beer at The Gateway

Yoga and Beer. While the idea of doing a down dog with a belly full of suds seems like a surefire way to give you acid reflux, this is actually a thing. The Gateway on February 13 will be celebrating this Valentine’s Day with a free yoga class for lovers and afterwards will have drinks for just $5 after you get your namaste on. All levels of yogis and beer drinkers are welcome. Mat rentals are $2. RSVP today!

Powder at The Waldorf Astoria

A plethora of Park City restaurants have just announced their Valentine’s Day specials among them Powder, Waldorf Astoria’s signature restaurant will be offering a three-course prix fixe starting with a choice of oysters on the half shell, wagyu bavette tatakem or organic frisee and mizuna. After a champagne intermezzo, enjoy a choice of grilled swordfish, rack of lamb or New York steak, followed by passion fruit mousse for dessert. The best part about this entire meal is the price at $69 per per person. We see what you did there. Powder.

Grub Steak House

We couldn’t do a post without mentioning a proper steakhouse in Park City. Grub Steak Restaurant will be serving a prix-fixe for two that is sure to impress. Start with a choice of baby romaine Caesar salad, wild rice and mushroom soup, or Grub Steak’s famed salad bar, followed by coffee-rubbed New York steak with crème fraiche. For dinner, enjoy a classic chocolate lava cake with fresh raspberries and vanilla ice cream. All of this for just $47.75 per person. Make your reservations today.

Tin Angel

If you are just wanting to stay within Salt Lake, Tin Angel will be doing a “blind” dinner where one of the four courses is tasted while blindfolded. They only do this a few times a year and Valentines Day happens to be one of those times. Tin Angel has been around since 2007 and has been very well received by the Salt Lake community. The owners have a passion for quality, local ingredients and offering high end cuisine, wine, and cocktails. For more information visit them on their website. UPDATE: V-Day is sold out. See you are totally blowing it. BUT you might could make a make-good. The blind dinners run through the weekend. It’s going to be OK.

East Liberty Tap House

For those of you who are toughing the day out single we have a pretty rad option. East Liberty Tap House will be holding a Single Awareness Day (S.A.D) event on Febrauary 14th. They’ll be offering specials like a delicious (slightly bitter) Aperol Spritz cocktail, loaded garlic fries (never to be eaten with a date), single serving (unshare-able) desserts, and our popular untidy sloppy lamb and sloppy shroom sandwiches (eaten without polite napkin wiping).

Movie Night

Larry H. Miller Megaplex theaters are offering an all-inclusive movie package including dinner and dessert followed by a movie, popcorn and drinks with a chocolate gift for your special someone. The event starts on Valentine’s day at 5:45 and tickets are125$ per couple for the night.

Visit the Ice Castles

valentines day

Midway Ice Castles. Photo Courtesy Go Heber Valley by AJ Mellor

The Midway Ice Castles located just outside of Park City are a winter wonderland. A wonder of ice and lights, the Midway Ice Castle springs up during the coldest parts of the ski season. The castle is created by a flood of water that creates a sprawling maze of winter fun that weighs more than 25 million pounds. There are slides built into the ice, winter princesses (like your lady!) strolling through and light and fire shows at night. 

Finally learn to dance dude

valentine's dayDF Dance Studio is hosting a dance night on Valentine’s Day. Absolutely no experience is required and lots of fun guaranteed. It says so on their website. Instructors will be on hand to help you sort out those two left feet. And maybe they can talk you into actually signing up for lessons.

Galentine’s Party

Salt and Honey Market is hosting a Galentine’s party on the big day. We don’t know what that means but the event features two fun craft projects, a chocolate tasting, Hot Cocoa Bar, and sweet and savory treats.

Wine, Flowers (and Olives)

Join Alice’s Table and We Olive and Wine Bar for a romantic night out with your partner. Create a beautiful bouquet together while sampling a flight of five wines and enjoying small bites. You’ll learn all the tips and tricks to floral arranging and walk away with a beautiful flower arrangement of your own.

Valentine’s Evening at UMFA

Enjoy a romantic night at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and appetizers, as you stroll through the galleries, and listen to a selection of music in the G.W. Anderson Family Great Hall.

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Feb 08
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25 Years of Shut Up & Dance!

By Arts & Culture

Odyssey Dance Theatre (ODT) celebrates its 25th Anniversary this Spring. To celebrate this landmark occasion they are performing three different programs which will highlight ODT over the years and exciting new works. There is a large variety of dance styles; ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, ballroom and hip-hop. Such a wide range of styles that shows great diversity, skill and hard work that makes up ODT and shows the uniqueness of this dance company.

Chicago Nights – February 27, March 1, 7, 9 – 7:30 pm

Odyssey Dance

The return of last year’s world-premiere full-length hit, directed and produced by Founder and Artistic Director Derryl Yeager, tells the story of Chicago in the 1920’s, when the specter of Prohibition gave rise to speakeasys, jazz and gangsters. Men and women who brought corruption, racketeering, vice and murder to the headlines of the day. Al Capone meets Roxie Hart. And it all leads up to the most infamous mobster event of all – The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Odyssey puts its unique stamp on these amazing stories from 1920’s Chicago.

Romeo+Juliet – February 28, March 2 – 7:30 pm, March 6, 8

Odyssey dance

One of my favorite full-length pieces of all time! The Deseret News said it was, “…to die for!” Based on the Shakespearean tale about star-crossed lovers, but in the Odyssey tradition: a hip-hop/latin/contemporary dance version. Choreographed by former Odyssey Principal Eldon Johnson, along with sections by Ashleigh and Ryan Di Lello from So You Think You Can Dance, Derryl Yeager and others, this is a unique and powerful tour de force. And the audience will get to choose the ending—whether they live or die.

Reflections – 25 Years of Odyssey Dance – March 2 & 9 – 2 pm, March 5 – 7:30 pm

Odyssey Dance

A collection of past pieces from the early years of Odyssey Dance Theatre, which will include amazing works by Mia Michaels, Christian Denice, Eldon Johnson, Janalyn Memmott and Derryl Yeager and will close with the Bee Gee’s favorite – Dance Fever! “The hardest thing for me was choosing what to put in the program – with 25 years under our belt there was soooo much great stuff to choose from!  Ultimately, I decided to present pieces that were pivotal artistic achievements for the Company – and a chance for me to walk down memory lane,” said Founder and Artistic Director Derryl Yeager.

After this season at Kingsbury, Odyssey will head out for its 14th consecutive European Tour.

See them all and get a 15 percent discount. (Senior, student, family and military discounts also available.) To buy tickets, go to www.odysseydance.com, tickets.utah.edu or call the Kingsbury Hall Ticket Office, 801-581-7100.

See all of our dance coverage here.