Page 20 • Salt Lake Magazine

Jul 10

Giddy Up—Rodeo Roundup in Utah

By Avrey Evans Community

Saddle up, Utah—rodeo season is officially here! From high-speed barrel racing to heart-pounding bronc riding, local cowboys and cowgirls are showcasing serious skill in the arena. Whether you’re headed out for a night of classic fair food and family fun or dressing the part in honor of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour (Her closest show is in Las Vegas on July 25 and 26), these rodeos promise an unforgettable show.

What: Draper Days Rodeo
Where:Andy Ballard Arena & Equestrian Center, Draper
When: July 11-12
Draper’s much-attended rodeo is sold out this year, and ticketholders can expect an action-packed weekend of classic rodeo events. Make sure to snap a pic with the 2025 rodeo royalty, and visit the wild cow milking competition (huh?) in which teams of three attempt to catch and milk a wild cow.

What: Ogden Showdown
Where: Golden Spike Outdoor Stadium, Ogden
When: July 12
Adrenaline seeking cowboys will go head to head with bucking bulls, the winners may go on to the World Finals in Las Vegas. Enjoy food, drinks, local vendors, live music and a mechanical bull along with the main event.

What: Draper Days Horse Pull & Activities
Where: Ballard Arena, Draper
When: July 14
Horse Pulling originated in Amish communities, whose draft horses are used for everything from farm work to transportation. Prone to the same competitive whims of outsiders, Amish farmers began challenging their neighbors to see which of their horses could pull the most weight in the 1860s. In today’s arenas, equine athletes are trained specifically for strength and teamwork, competing to pull the most weight for the required distance. The event will also feature kids activities like a petting zoo, climbing wall and free cowboy hats.

What: Bluffdale OWD Rodeo
Where: Bluffdale Rodeo Arena
When: July 17-19
Take in the sights at Bluffdale’s recently updated arena for an action-packed weekend of barrel racing, horse shows, dancing and fireworks.

What: Spanish Fork Fiesta Days
Where: Spanish Fork Fairgrounds
When: July 18-24
A mid-July celebration with parades, live entertainment, craft fairs, firework shows and a PRCA Rodeo. The rodeo takes place on the 19, 21-24.

What: Miss Rodeo Utah
Where: Various Venues in Ogden
When: July 19-24
Miss Rodeo is a pageant for young women to promote the sport of rodeo and the values aligned with it. Contestants will participate in horsemanship competitions, speeches, fashion shows and more until a winner is crowned on Thursday, July 24.

What: Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo
Where: Ogden Pioneer Stadium
When: July 29-24
Utah’s largest rodeo event, the Ogden Pioneer Days rodeo is also recognized as one of the top PRCA rodeos in the country. Join 50,000 fans for a weekend of electrifying events like saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling and mutton busting.

What: Days of ‘47 Rodeo
Where: Days of 47 Arena
When: July 22-26
A destination rodeo with over 10,000 stadium seats, the Days of ‘47 Rodeo is one of Utah’s longest standing traditions. Featured rodeo events include team roping, bareback riding, women’s breakaway roping, barrel racing and more. Stop by the frontier fun zone between events for cultural displays of life as a Pioneer, and as a Lakota tribe member.

What: Marysvale Town Biggest Little Rodeo in the World
Where: Marysvale, Utah
When: July 23-24
A family-friendly Pioneer day celebration with a parade, sack races, fish roundups and rodeo events.

What: Panguitch Invitational
Where: Triple C Arena, Panguitch
When: July 24-27
An invitational rodeo showcase for young cowgirls and boys.

What: Alpine Rodeo
Where: Alpine Rodeo Grounds
When: Aug 7-9
Part of the 2025 Alpine Days programming, the Alpine rodeo includes eight classic rodeo events. The event is sold out to non-residents, Alpine residents may still acquire tickets through City Hall.

What: Peach Days Rodeo
Where: American Legion Equestrian Park, Hurricane
When: Aug 29-30
Two action-filled days of classic rodeo events, and family-friendly activities like mini bull riding, mutton busting and a professional rodeo clown. Visit the nearby Brigham City for their annual Peach Days celebration, a street festival bustling with vendor and food booths, contests, parades and more.

What: Bryce Canyon Rodeo
Where: Ruby’s Inn Rodeo Grounds, Bryce Canyon
When: May 28-Aug. 23
Held four times a week, the Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo pays homage to the area’s wild west past. The largest rodeos of the year are the Jackpot rodeos, where contestants compete for cash prizes. Jackpot rodeo dates: 7/24, 8/09, 08/23.

What: Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo
Where: Utah State Fairgrounds
When: Sept. 5, 6 and 8
Cheer on top cowgirls and boys as they face off against bucking broncos and fierce bulls. The event coincides with the annual Utah State Fair, so make sure to fill up on funnel cakes and corn dogs before you hit the stadium.

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

Jul 10

Love0

The Handcart Days parade, image courtesy of Handcart Days

Bountiful’s Handcart Days marks 75 years

By Jaime Winston Community

Celebrate Pioneer Day in Bountiful City this year with a 75-year-old tradition.

Handcart Days, the city’s annual celebration of the arrival of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints pioneers and others who helped shape the community, held its first event in 1950.

“We have something for everyone,” said Lori Poole, who serves as president of the executive committee alongside her husband, Curtis. This year, the event includes food, games and activities, along with a concert, in Bountiful City Park on Friday, July 25; and 1K, 5K and half marathon races and a parade on Saturday, July 26.

The city will allow guests to set up chairs for the parade at 9 p.m. on July 25. “The parade is going to be amazing this year with lots of professional floats, exciting bands, horse entries and much more,” Poole said. “Our parade committee has really outdone themselves, and we are going to have 1.8 miles of pure entertainment on Saturday morning.”

The concert features Roy Rivers, a John Denver tribute artist and singer-songwriter. “Just bring a blanket or some chairs to watch him perform on stage at Bountiful City Park,” Poole said. “All of our concessions will be open during the concert, so people can grab a fresh scone and a soda and sit back to enjoy the show.”

Handcart Days is a nonprofit organization. Poole said that around 100 volunteers are involved in year-round planning, and about 800 additional volunteers help with food, the parade, games and more during the event. She added she’s grateful to the city, park maintenance, local police, fire services and the people behind the fireworks for helping make it all happen. “It’s truly awe-inspiring to see how this community rallies together to create something so special,” she said.

Handcart Days is one of many Pioneer Day celebrations in July. Visit city websites for others.

Handcart Days schedule

Friday, July 25

Food, games and activities, Bountiful City Park, 5–9:30 p.m.
Roy Rivers concert, Bountiful City Park, 8–9:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 26

Handcart Days Race (1K, 5K, half marathon), races starting at 5 a.m., 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.
Parade, Bountiful Main Street, 9 a.m.
Food, games and activities, Bountiful City Park, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Fireworks, Mueller Park Junior High, 10 p.m.

Find more information at handcartdays.org.

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

Jul 10

Love0

Utah Housing Market Ranked Among Nation’s Most Expensive

By Utah News Dispatch City Watch

Even though home prices in Utah have grown less than 1% since 2022, Utah in 2024 ranked as the ninth most expensive housing market in the nation.

Statewide, the median sales price of a single-family home hit $547,700 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

That’s according to a new report published Tuesday, marking another yearly iteration of the “State of the State’s Housing Market” published by the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.

The report, written by Jim Wood, senior research fellow and one of the state’s leading housing market experts, paints the latest picture of Utah’s housing market for 2024.

“High but stable housing prices” underscored Utah’s housing market that year, he wrote. “Stable prices, however, offered little relief to potential homebuyers as high interest rates and housing prices excluded many households from homeownership.”

His big takeaway from last year? Utah’s housing marketplace — for both homebuyers and renters — is seeing a “correction” from the COVID-19 era, when low interest rates and new remote work opportunities sparked a homebuying spree, especially in the West.

“We’re living in the shadow of that,” Wood told Utah News Dispatch in an interview Tuesday, adding that when prices skyrocket more than 40% in two years like they did from 2020 to 2022, some level of correction is “inevitable.”

But the housing market isn’t imploding like it after the 2008 bubble popped. What’s happening now isn’t as dramatic of a correction. Price increases have slowed — but they’re still every so slightly up. Home building and apartment construction has declined after a record home building boom in 2021. It’s all leveling off as interest rates remain high, squeezing affordability for homebuyers, renters and developers.

“We haven’t seen housing prices go down substantially like some thought would occur,” Wood said. Yes, prices dipped slightly in 2023, he said, by less than 3%, but they came back up slightly in 2024.

That 1% increase since 2022 reflects a “very stable” market, Wood said.

“But we’re still (seeing), unfortunately, very high housing prices,” he said. Today’s high interest rates, hovering around 6.6%, combined with high prices, “introduces into this market a more extreme level of (lack of) affordability. … It’s still a huge issue.”

In Utah’s five largest counties — Salt Lake, Weber, Davis, Utah and Washington — housing prices “are seriously to severely unaffordable,” when comparing median sales prices to median household income, Wood wrote in the report.

Utah’s housing affordability level has only slightly improved from 2022, but not much. In 2022, the state’s “median multiple ratio” — which measures the severity of housing affordability by dividing the median sales price of a home by median household income — was a record 5.7, or “severely unaffordable,” according to the report. Last year, that dipped slightly to 5.1 after housing price growth leveled off, but a ratio of 5.1 is still considered “severely unaffordable.”

Consider that Utah’s median multiple ratio was 3.5 just over 10 years ago, in 2014. That ratio was considered “moderately unaffordable.”

And while rental rates showed little to no change in 2024 (and even dipped in some areas), the average rental rate of all unit types in Salt Lake County increased from $1,582 a month in 2023 to $1,593 in 2024. That’s a less than 1% decrease — but came after rent prices jumped 20.7% in 2021.

As for Utah’s housing shortage? It’s expected to persist since construction has contracted. About 22,000 residential units were permitted in 2024, the lowest number since 2016, according to the report.

“A drop in apartment development accounted for 90% of this decline,” Wood wrote, noting that apartment unit permits fell from 7,622 in 2023 to 4,801 in 2024 — which he described as “the lowest level since the Great Recession.”

However, that’s after the “apartment development boom peaked in 2021, at 14,143 units, leading to an overbuilt market with higher vacancy rates and, in some cases, lower rents,” he wrote.

Today, Salt Lake County has a rental inventory of 160,000 units. Only 1,283 apartment units were permitted in 2024 in that county, making up less than 1% of its inventory. That’s not on pace with 3% growth, so inventory continues to pace behind demand.

“We probably need at least 4,000 or 5,000 (units) if we have consistent growth in our net immigration and kids going from living with their parents and form households,” Wood said.

Housing affordability could be impacting Utah’s growth

With supply continuing to pace behind projected demand, Wood predicted Utah will continue to face high prices and a limited inventory.

“To get an equilibrium, good balance is really tough,” he said. “We’re in a period right now where we had a ton of supply, so the builders cut it off, we got no supply, demand continues to grow, and then by the time the supply is induced, you know it’s a year or two too late so we have a tight market.”

However, Wood noted Utah is feeling the impacts of its housing affordability issues.

“Utah’s growth is slowing down. Employment growth and demographic growth are both just drifting lower and lower,” he said. Last month, Utah’s job growth increased an estimated 2.5% year over year, down from more than 3% job growth in 2019, according to state estimates.

Combined with other factors including slowing population growth, Wood said that and demand for lower-priced homes like apartments, townhomes and condominiums show that the state’s housing affordability issues could be having a real impact on its growth.

“Now the question is, why? Why is employment growth slowing down in Utah? A couple of us here at the institute, we’ve discussed that, and we think it has a lot to do with housing prices,” he said.

Anecdotally, Wood said he personally knows of people who have quit their jobs and moved out of the state in search of lower-priced homes.

“We’ve got more people leaving than we’ve had years past because they couldn’t get into the housing market, or they wanted a bigger home and it was too expensive here,” he said. “So we’re probably losing people that we didn’t years ago, and we’re not getting as many coming because of high housing prices.”

This story was originally published by Utah News Dispatch, read the full piece here.

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

About the Author

Katie McKellar covers Utah government as a senior reporter for Utah News Dispatch. She specializes in political reporting, covering the governor and the Utah Legislature, with expertise in beats including growth, housing and homelessness.

Jul 09

Love0

Salt Lake magazine’s July/August Social Pages

By Salt Lake Magazine Community

Salt Lake Magazine’s 2025 Dining Awards Ceremony

Feb. 24, 2025 • This is the Place Heritage Park, SLC
Photos by Natalie Simpson, Beehive Photography

Salt Lake magazine held its 2025 Dining Awards at This is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City on Feb. 24, 2025. The event, sponsored by Cuisine Unlimited, Swire Coca-Cola and Sysco, honored Utah restaurants and food service professionals for their contributions to Utah’s food and dining culture. Nineteen ‘Best Restaurants’ were selected this year, along with six new ‘Restaurants to Watch.’ Some of the evening’s highlights included the Golden Spoon For Hospitality Award given to Ali Sabbeh from Mazza and his team, the Spirit Award presented to Alpine Distilling and the Outstanding Restaurant of the Year for Matteo Ristorante Italiano.

Morgan Reedy, left, Jenn Castle, Jeremy Pugh (Editor, *Salt Lake* magazine) and Blake Spalding of Hell’s Backbone Grill, which was awarded Salt Lake’s “Walk the Talk Award.”

Grand America’s Derby Day Celebration

Saturday, May 3, 2025 • Laurel Brasserie & Bar at the Grand America Hotel, SLC
Photos by The Grand America Hotel

The third Derby Day at the Grand was a spirited afternoon of Southern charm benefitting the Utah Food Bank. Hosted by Good Things Utah’s Deena Marie Manzanares, the event invites guests to don their finest Churchill Downs attire for patio festivities, including live music, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, an exclusive small bites menu, mint juleps and peach & bourbon smashes, prize opportunities and the Kentucky Derby viewing. All to support meals for Utahns in need.

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

Jul 09

Love0

The Downtown Farmers Market Still a Saturday Morning Win

By Heather Hayes Community

While I like to hunt for little gems “off the beaten path” to share with readers, I haven’t forgotten why the path itself is well-trodden. Today, I pay homage to a time-tested favorite: the Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park in Utah.

It’s hard to believe it’s been around for 34 years. Like so many farmers markets all over the country, it’s evolved from a handful of stands offering home-grown fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, dairy and honey into lines of arts and crafts stalls and food trucks. It’s been the launchpad for many of Salt Lake’s most successful and iconic businesses—yes, Bruges Waffles and The Bagel Project were once just a food truck and a dream. You might even remember when Rico Mexican Foods, Saffron Valley, Laziz Kitchen, Licke’d Popsicles or Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade were just making a name for themselves as charming little stalls or trucks.

Treanna Carrol serves up limeade at the Sweet Lakes Limeade stall

And while they’re all grown up with a proper storefront now, many haven’t exactly flown the coop. The line for fresh limeade at the Sweet Lake stand every Saturday isn’t going anywhere.

“The limeade stand started 19 years ago, and it was so successful that the owners opened a breakfast and lunch restaurant and expanded the menu,” says Tara Sperry, who manages the stand. “But the Farmers Market is still one of our biggest money-makers.”

Every June through the end of October, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Downtown Farmers Market serves as a community gathering space, even hosting hair-brained stalls like the “Old Coots,” where folks line up to get free advice from old guys.

For years, the “Old Coots” gathered at Caputo’s Market and Deli, sipping coffee and shooting the breeze with their leader, Tony Caputo. Later, they set up some lawn chairs by his stall at the Farmers Market and put up a sign: “Old Coots Giving Advice: It’s probably bad advice, but it’s free.”

People started wandering over—after years, they still do. Even though Tony passed away in 2021, the “Old Coots” live on, and so does the line of market-goers asking for advice on everything from cheating husbands to pets to what kind of car they should buy.

Farmers Market Utah — A favorite Farmers Market treat: apple cider donuts

I’m a regular at the market—a sucker for the bakery stalls, apple cider slushies and unique artsy gifts. My daughter loves to shop for turquoise jewelry (the only thing stopping her from buying more is the simple fact that she is out of real estate—every finger is taken, every square inch of her ears). I tend to eat my way through baked goods and limeade, then I inevitably buy a carton of apricots, raspberries, cherries, or whatever fruit is at its peak. Sometimes I buy a jar of lavender honey or pineapple salsa or whatever is new and interesting.

Volker Bakery serves up summer bakes at the Downtown Farmers Market

After I’m loaded down with food, I love soaking in the creativity that surges through the market. One woman’s passion for crochet has evolved into a stall filled with wearables and home decor. Another guy makes astounding treasures out of leather. I spotted longtime artist Stephanie Swift’s Pretty Little Pixel stall. She digitally illustrates iconic neon signs from around Salt Lake City, selling her art at the Farmers Market since 2015. Her prints and wood blocks tickle nostalgists like me who love gazing at the city’s old-timey signs like the Villa Movie Theater, Ex Wife’s Place, Blue Plate Diner, Dee’s, CarpeTown and Snelgroves.

“The Farmers Market makes up the majority of my livelihood,” Swift says between conversations, hugs and hellos from fellow artists and friends. “The other six months of the year I take on freelance art and graphic design work.”

Of course, there are many new faces at the Market, too. AmsterDam Delicious (Dutch stroopwafels), Do Young Kimchi, Beehive Freeze Honey Slush, Girls Who Smash (burgers), Grumpy Dough (Filipino sandwiches), Heat Street (hot sauces) and at least a dozen more are exciting new additions for 2025.

I wonder if this will be the origin story for the next wave of Utah’s favorite restaurants. Time will tell, but upon my 12:30 arrival, a few of these new stalls were plumb out of food—they may still be feeling their way through the supply process, but whatever the reason, it’s a good problem to have.

Since Utah prides itself on all things bee-related, I think the honey slush-makers are on to something. I haven’t even tried their product yet—they were out of slush and packing up. As I walk back to my car, I’m already planning an earlier arrival time next week so I can get a taste —I’m sure I’ll need another carton of apricots and another loaf of sourdough bread anyway. My daughter catches up to me, and…ope, it looks like she bought yet another ring. I guess she’s hoping to grow another finger.

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

Jul 08

Love0

Alpine Distilling’s Triple Oak Whiskey Awarded 98 Platinum in Global Competition

By Avrey Evans After Dark

Just about every spirit company claims to have the “Best.” “Best Triple Distilled Vodka,” “Best Single Barrel Bourbon,” how about “Best Tequila That Definitely Won’t Give You a Hangover, We Promise.” But how many of those brands can back up their claim with a panel of impartial industry experts who have tasted and rated their products on a rigid rubric? One such spirit vanguard that can proudly proclaim its “Bestness” with conviction is Alpine Distilling, whose Triple Oak Whiskey recently received a stellar 98 Platinum rating in the Enthusiast Reports International Spirit Competition.

“In my 15-year career in the spirits industry, we’ve only had three other instances of a 98 rating that came in from our panelists,” says Enthusiast Report CEO and publisher Lincoln Salazar. The rating is derived from a group of expert panelists with a combined over 100 years of industry experience. And they take their judging roles extremely seriously. During the blind tasting, judges appraise thousands of spirits submitted from across the globe. To ensure an unbiased rating, judges are restricted from eating or drinking hours prior, and roaming proctors ensure they keep from conferring with each other. It’s like an SAT, but with booze.

Alpine is no stranger to international accolades. Master Distiller Sara Sergent was recently inducted into the London Gin Guild as “Warden Rectifier”—only the second woman in U.S. history to do so. Their Elevated Gin was named “Gin of the Year” in 2021 and continues to shine in local and national competitions. While Alpine’s botanical brilliance is derived from Sara, founder and husband Rob Sergent leans into his roots—Kentucky roots to be exact. The Bluegrass State native comes from generations of distillers and has honed his process to perfect award-winning whiskey in Utah, a locale known for its elevational challenges and stringent spirit laws.

Alpine’s Triple Oak is a feat of distilling ingenuity, starting with locally sourced mountain water fed from a subterranean aquifer and grain imported from Rob’s home state. Each production stage is tedious and hyper-monitored, from the open-fermentation stage to secondary aging in double-toasted oak barrels. The latter process, artisanal aging in hand-crafted barrels, is in itself a signal to Alpine’s pursuit of perfection. The distiller tapped Chris Hansen to craft barrels with wood that could counteract Utah’s low humidity with faster lignin extraction, allowing hemicellulose to release from the oak and dissolve into the spirit. For all you non-master distillers: these are the yummy sugars that create caramel, toffee, and honey-like notes in your bourbon. The additional year spent aging in hand-crafted barrels of quarter-sawn American Oak with hand-split French Oak heads results in a sophisticated flavor profile.

All of that painstaking labor pays off in a whiskey that is rich and creamy on the palate, with a luxurious finish of roasted nuts and molasses. It’s a delightfully smooth sipper, and we can attest, Triple Oak is truly greatness in a glass.

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

Jul 08

Love0

Most of Utah in Severe or Moderate Drought

By Utah News Dispatch City Watch

Drought conditions across Utah continue to worsen, which officials say is leading to lower reservoir levels, heightened fire risk and an increased demand for water.

The state experienced unusually high spring temperatures and an average (in some areas, below average) snowpack, which led to a quick runoff season.

Now, with summer underway, more than 90% of the state is either in moderate or severe drought, with some high elevation areas in central Utah classified as abnormally dry.

“Temperatures have soared, and with that comes a natural increase in outdoor watering,” said Utah Division of Water Resources Director Candice Hasenyager. “We want our lawns and gardens to look nice and there are ways to do this through smart planning and new technologies that save water.”

According to the division, reservoir levels around the state remain at about 8% higher than normal for this time of the year. In northern Utah, Strawberry, Deer Creek, Jordanelle, Rockport, Smith and Morehouse, Echo, East Canyon and Pineview reservoirs are all at about 90% capacity or higher.

As of Wednesday, the Great Salt Lake was at about 4,192 feet in elevation, slightly below the state’s “ecologically healthy” level of 4,198 feet. Utah Lake was at about 91% capacity.

But with the drought worsening and peak summer temperatures still ahead, water levels in the state’s lakes and reservoirs are expected to drop.

“Right now, we’re generally seeing outflows from reservoirs begin to exceed inflows,” Hasenyager said. “That pattern typically sets in later in the summer, but this year’s heat is accelerating things. Across all sectors, we need to look for ways to be efficient with our finite water supply.”

The drought prompted Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to declare a state of emergency in 17 counties earlier this spring

The executive order allows farmers and ranchers to access low-interest loans from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Agricultural producers in Beaver, Carbon, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele, Uintah, Washington and Wayne counties can apply to receive up to $100,000, with loans available until the end of October.

The drought is also contributing to the high fire danger in Utah. So far this year, the state has seen more than 52,000 acres burned in 438 fires.

That includes the Forsyth Fire, which as of Wednesday afternoon was at about 13,419 acres and 42% contained, and the 33,362-acre France Canyon Fire, which is now 64% contained.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kyle Dunphey covers politics, public safety and the environment for Utah News Dispatch. He was named Best Newspaper Reporter by the Utah Society of Professional Journalists in 2023 for his work on crime and immigration at the Deseret News.

Jul 07

Love0

Interview: Catching Up with Lyle Lovett

By Dainon Moody Music

Lyle Lovett is busy doing all he loves.

I was lucky enough to talk with the decorated singer-composer while he was at home in Texas recently and enjoying a day off. He’s touring almost nightly with his infamous Large Band throughout July and, with a crew and band totaling 30 altogether, he’s quick to admit it’s like moving a small village every time they uproot from one city and head to the next.

Still, it’s the lifestyle he and his group are accustomed to. Lovett’s been with his Large Band since 1988, allowing the collective to play his songs in concert the very way they recorded them.

“It took a couple years before I could afford having a band [of that size] on the road with me, but now I have the full range of possibilities at my fingertips,” Lovett says.

Put another way, it allows the background singers and sax players and multiple guitarists (and pretty much everyone else) plenty of freedom when it comes to genres. Some songs are better expressed as country tunes, while others are best stripped down and done acoustically. Still others demand a full horn section.

Whatever is warranted at the time, chances are they’re able to tackle it, and with a fair amount of panache. Besides, he’s had some time to get really, really great at this: Lovett’s been in the business of creating and playing songs since 1976. Next year marks 50 years since he started.

“Playing live is what I will always love to do. When you play for people who support you and come to your shows, you know they want to be there. What could be better than that?”

He’s a fan of music, period. He enjoys surrounding himself with musicians who are free to improvise whenever they see fit. Night after night, they’ll change songs when Lovett least expects it, and he’s the only one who gets to hear how they transform with every performance; he likens that to having the best seat in the house, getting to listen to and be inspired by a group that’s both smart and talented at what they do.

“I’ve never approached my career stylistically. I think of myself as a songwriter, giving voice in the best ways possible to each song,” Lovett says. “And I want to give everyone in the ensemble a chance to play, too. When the show’s over, I want the audience to feel like they know everybody on stage, not just me.”

Playing a wide range of genres came from habits that started early in his life. Lovett grew up in Houston, and was often glued to the radio and absorbing whatever stations came in clearest. When he wasn’t doing that, he dug through his parents’ records, albums by time-tested greats like Ray Price, Glenn Miller, Ray Charles, and Nat King Cole. And when they gifted him a record player that played 45s, he built out his own library of Elvis Presley, Beatles, and Rolling Stones records, a collection he still has and cherishes.

“And when I started first grade at a Lutheran school, singing in the choir was a big part of every day, trying to sing in tune and keep pitch. I always looked forward to it,” Lovett says. “It felt as much fun for me as recess.”

While Lovett can’t pick a favorite song he’s written — each occupying unique periods throughout his life — he doesn’t hesitate at picking favorite singers. Randy Newman and Paul Simon are standouts. So are Guy Clark and Michael Martin Murphey and Jackson Browne. Their songs offer deep insight into their humanity, he says, undeniable connections between what they have created and paired with their authentic singing voices.

When asked about using AI to help write music, he’s quick to say he’ll steer clear. He’s not even remotely curious to hear what a music generation assistant might do with his voice or writing. In the same breath, it strikes him as funny that he’s lived long enough to even have a conversation about it, and to see it beginning to happen.

AI won’t be creeping into anything he or his band does, though, and that feels right.

“No matter how accurate computers are, I’d rather listen to a real person and know the song came from them, rather than listening to an interpretation,” Lovett says. “There’s something about that human connection and feeling that is important, and I much prefer it.”

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band play Sandy Amphitheater on Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.

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

Jul 07

Love0

Contento Cafe in Salt Lake City Serves up Goodness and Contentment

By Lydia Martinez Eat & Drink

Contento Cafe is delightfully unique in the Salt Lake City food scene, with some thoughtful culinary principles: a 100% gluten-free kitchen, seed oil-free ingredients, grass-fed and finished beef, wild-caught fish, pasture-raised eggs and organic whenever possible. It also has solidly flavorful food to go with its culinary philosophy, which brings me to my current food crush of which I’ve now ordered thrice: the Contento Bowl.

The Contento Bowl with Wild-Caught Salmon and Roasted Pineapple. Photo by Adam Finkle.

One of those dishes that is so much more than the sum of its parts, the Contento Bowl’s rainbow base consists of rice, black beans, house-made queso fresco and sour cream, pico de gallo, pickled red onion and esquites in a roasted jalapeno aioli. Served with handmade, warm blue corn tortillas, add one of five protein options or a mix of veggies. I love dishes that feel like a personal buffet with little colorful dabs of food that can be mixed and matched for maximum flavor.

Here is where the crushable elements come in: nuance in every bite. I always judge a Mexican restaurant on its rice and beans. If you can’t do the basics right, then I question everything. The Spanish rice actually has flavor to it (rather than just some red color from tomato paste) and the beans are blow-the-skin-off tender (a quality only attainable when freshly made). They are simmered with aromatics and topped with crumbly, salty cheese. The guacamole also arrives freshly made. I cannot abide oxidized avocado; it is one of the great culinary crimes in my book. And Contento is not guilty. Pickled red onions are standard but so critical when composing the perfect nibble, they cut down the fattiness of any meat and add a freshness with a nice little vinegary bite.

I recommend getting the Contento Bowl with the grilled chicken or the wild-caught salmon if only to get the roasted pineapple bonus. The pineapple is sweet with a little caramelized char and chopped up to pico de gallo-sized bits, the better to mix and match with. It is a nice little contrast to the savory plate. While we are discussing contrasts, let’s talk esquites: Mexican street corn OFF the cob (an important distinction). More of a little salad/slaw at Contento than the traditional esquites; the toasty corn is held together in a creamy-smoky-spicy aioli with onion and cilantro. I would eat it with chips, in a quesadilla, with a spoon, on a boat, with a goat. You get the idea. Finally, speaking of chips, get the Chips + Guacamole+ Salsa to go with everything. The housemade tallow chips are crispy/salty wedges that come out piping hot, perfect for building mini-tacos with the Contento Bowl.

Spicy Margarita and house made tallow chips. Photo by Adam Finkle.

For something breakfast-y, I suggest the Chilaquiles. Tallow chips with eggs (your way), avocado, beans, rice, sour cream and the option of grass-fed steak, it hits the spot, as does a Horchata Latte, Mexican Mocha or the splurge-worthy Batanga or Spicy Margarita.

When You Go

Contento Restaurant & Cafe
2280 S. West Temple, SLC
Insta: @contentocafeslc

Jul 05

Love0

Utah’s Best: Adib’s Rug Gallery

By Salt Lake Magazine Sponsored Post From Our Partners

Homegrown Excellence

Greatness isn’t just found elsewhere—it’s built right here. From trailblazing startups to beloved local staples, these businesses shape Utah’s economy, community and future.

Adib’s Rug Gallery

Located in Salt Lake’s historic Villa Theater, Adib’s Rug Gallery is more than a local gem, it’s a nationally recognized destination for collectors, designers and lovers of fine craftsmanship.

With more than 37 years in Utah and 55 years of family heritage in California, Adib’s has become one of the most respected rug galleries in the country and a proud leader in Utah’s design community. Consistently ranking among the best, the gallery is a go-to for those seeking unmatched quality, service and selection.

Showcasing hand-knotted and handwoven rugs from Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, China, Morocco, Egypt, Nepal and beyond, the showroom offers everything from antique Persian treasures to bold modern designs. The expert staff sets itself apart with dedication to the details, helping clients discover pieces that speak to both soul and space. Visitors are encouraged to try rugs at home before they buy, ensuring satisfaction without pressure. Adib’s also offers expert cleaning, repair, restoration, padding and moth-proofing.

More than a showroom, the gallery is a cultural hub. Through lectures, art shows and community events, Adib’s celebrates centuries-old weaving traditions while fostering connection and appreciation for handmade beauty. The gallery also supports humanitarian efforts, educational outreach and cultural preservation. Owner, Dr. Hamid Adib, believes that a life lived with purpose, compassion and service to others is a life fulfilled. His commitment to giving back always starts locally, through partnerships with organizations that address pressing needs in Utah.

Adib’s Rug Gallery isn’t just a place to buy a rug—it’s a place to experience history, culture and art underfoot with a dedication to service.

3092 Highland Dr., Millcreek
801-484-6364
adibs.com | @adibs.rug.gallery

Find more businesses shaping Utah’s community and future. And while you’re here, subscribe to Salt Lake magazine to receive six beautiful print issues a year!

Giddy Up—Rodeo Roundup in Utah

Bountiful’s Handcart Days marks 75 years

Utah Housing Market Ranked Among Nation’s Most Expensive

Housing affordability could be impacting Utah’s growth

About the Author

Salt Lake magazine’s July/August Social Pages

Salt Lake Magazine’s 2025 Dining Awards Ceremony

Grand America’s Derby Day Celebration

The Downtown Farmers Market Still a Saturday Morning Win

Alpine Distilling’s Triple Oak Whiskey Awarded 98 Platinum in Global Competition

Most of Utah in Severe or Moderate Drought

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Interview: Catching Up with Lyle Lovett

Contento Cafe in Salt Lake City Serves up Goodness and Contentment

When You Go

Utah’s Best: Adib’s Rug Gallery

Homegrown Excellence

Adib’s Rug Gallery

See Latest Issue Below:

Join The Hive

MediaKit