Start your pride celebrations early this year at Queer Feastival, returning to Mountain West Cider on May 9. Hosted by the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, this vibrant spring gathering spotlights queer and allied businesses across Salt Lake—while serving up delicious bites from some of Utah’s most beloved local restaurants.
For Chamber President and CEO Lizz Pitts, the Feastival is more than just an evening out—it’s a joyful act of community care. In a year marked by growing challenges for LGBTQ+ rights during the 2025 legislative session, the event offers a powerful moment of joy, connection, and defiant celebration. “The point of the event is to provide a celebratory and fun space where we can all get together,” says Lizz. “And in doing so, we’re also lifting up our local businesses
Food from the 2024 Feastival. Photography by Dee & Cory Productions
The event, which sells-out every year, indulges 21+ attendees with a “taste of Queer Salt Lake.” This year’s food vendors include Beehive Cheese Co., Kahve Cafe, Laziz Kitchen, Thai Land, Xiao Bao Bao, RedRock Brewing, Cuisine Unlimited and more. Along with culinary creations, the festival will also include craft cocktails, beer and, of course, cider. As you savor the flavors, Lizz encourages everyone to make meaningful connections. “It’s a great place to discover businesses that align with your values—you might just meet your next hairstylist, real estate agent, or favorite new coffee shop. All of the things!”
No celebration is complete without entertainment—and the Feastival brings it in fabulous form. Local drag legends Kory Edgewood, Hysteria and Lilia Maughn will take the stage throughout the evening, gracing the crowds with burlesque numbers, lip-synced perfromances and gender bending regalia. And of course, all those in attendance are encouraged to get in on the fun with drag karaoke, a live DJ and more entertainment by Salt Lake’s own Drag Collective.
Performers and attendees from last year’s event. Photography by Dee & Cory Productions
Tickets to Queer Feastival are on sale now and are expected to sell out. Find more information about this and future events by following the LGBTQ+ Chamber @utahlgbtqchamber
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Bear Lake offers one of Utah’s most scenic vistas. As you crest the hill of Logan Canyon into Rich County, the lake sprawls out into a vivid, sparkling blue jewel defining the valley that bears its name. If Delicate Arch is southern Utah’s Mona Lisa, then Bear Lake is northern Utah’s Girl with the Pearl Earring. But beware. Bear Lake’s stunning blue waters are said to hide a great serpentine beast, as wide as a man and, depending on the account, anywhere from 40 to 200 feet long. The creature’s head is alternatively described as a betusked walrus or a toothy alligator, both bearing giant eyes, set widely apart. The beast has conical ears (“like a pint glass”) and an indeterminate number of legs, is awkward on land but can swim, as one written account has it, “faster than a locomotive.”
The local lore, even today, has it that the depths of Bear Lake have never successfully been fathomed, and it is within these deepest, coldest depths that the creature lurks, hidden from the eyes of man. Down there. In the dark. That’s where the Bear Lake Monster waits.
But Bear Lake’s depth has been measured plenty, says the late Ted Alsop, the affable and beloved Utah State University professor of physical geography, from whose lips I first heard tell of the beast. Alsop used the story to debunk the myth that the lake’s depths had never been plumbed and to artfully describe the scientific difference between a crater lake and a lake, like Bear Lake, created from a “dropped-down graben.” (Which sounds equally monstrous, really: Watch out child, or the Graben will get you!)
“It was a story made up by drunk Mormons,” Alsop, who passed away in 2017, told his freshman classes year after year. “The lake is 280 feet deep at bank full, and no, it’s not a crater lake, although there are crater lakes in the area…,” etc.
But the legend (and all legends like it: Loch Ness, Sasquatch) persists because these tales of fearsome, left-behind creatures are vestigial holdouts from the time when we were fighting for control of this world.
They live on in our deep cortex. The feral, fight-or-flight memories of a time when we named the monsters and mastered them. But on a darkened shore of a silvery lake, these long-forgotten fears spring forth as a primal response to errant and suspicious splashes amid the lapping waters.
And we can easily see in our mind’s eye the scaled beast breaking the water’s surface, gliding in the moonlight in stern warning. It is a shadow of what we once encountered and conquered, and it waits with the patience of eons in its dark, murksome home to rise from the waters and take back what we took.
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Tucked behind the lively Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club at the Gateway, you’ll find a surprise waiting: the Hidden Boot Saloon. This rotating speakeasy transforms with each season, and its current Western incarnation is all boots, neon, and nostalgia. Expect a lively mash-up of vintage cowboy decor, glowing LED signs, and the unmistakable charm of swinging saloon doors.
The bar is dressed in its wild-west best. Photo courtesy of Flanker.
“At Flanker we pride ourselves on curating immersive experiences that bring our locals together, and our latest pop-up, the Hidden Boot Saloon, is no exception,” says Francesco Lafranconi, VP of Beverage & Hospitality at Carver Road. “From the moment you walk through the swinging doors, you’ll feel the Western spirit and know you are in for an exciting, unforgettable evening.
For those thrill-seeking revelers, the speakeasy also includes a mechanical bull. Whether you’re channeling your inner rodeo star or just along for the ride (and the inevitable tumble), it’s a playful centerpiece with a cushioned landing for all levels of bravery.
Whirling Ropes And Snarlin’ GunsRattleSnake MilkBow-Legged Swagger
To complete the Western experience, the bar serves up a special cocktail menu showcasing regional flavors and modern flair. Take the Cowboy Colada, a fusion-style piña colada that combines caramel whiskey, High West Double Rye, house-made colada mix and pinto beans—served with a crunchy bacon-coated straw, naturally. Other standouts include the RattleSnake Milk (spiked with Ancho Reyes Chile liqueur, rum, ginger-laced condensed milk, and a whisper of absinthe) and the Here Comes Dolly, a charcoal-blackened sipper with Tito’s, apple, berry, seltzer, and a pinch of sea salt. Hidden Boot also offers plenty of zero-proof options, alongside hearty Western-inspired bites like pulled pork sliders, BBQ burnt end wedge salad and carnitas tacos.
All American BurgerBBQ Burnt End Wedge Salad
From the bull rides to the bar menu, Hidden Boot Saloon delivers a lighthearted dose of saloon-style escapism—just don’t wait too long. This pop-up rides off into the sunset at the end of summer.
If you go…
Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club 6 N Rio Grande St Suite 35, SLC Open Wednesdays and Thursdays 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
More Saloon-Style Fun in Utah
The Westerner Salt Lake’s first country dance hall features live music every weekend, and free line dancing lessons during the week.
3360 S. Redwood Road, West Valley Open Wednesday through Saturday 6 p.m. to 2 a.m
Aces High Saloon A no-frills neighborhood bar dedicated to metal, punk rock and outlaw country music. Make yourself comfortable at a leather-tufted booth and enjoy live music most days of the week.
1588 S. State Street, SLC Open Monday through Sunday 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Kemo Sabe At the top of Park City’s Main Street, Kemo Sabe is a high-end western ware boutique with a well-kept secret. Behind their storefront is a hidden speakeasy serving up saloon-style sips in a stylish setting.
268 Main St., Park City Open Monday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
It’s time to dust off your picnic baskets and unpack your Tommy Bahama festival chairs! Red Butte Garden just announced an amazing 30-concert lineup for summer and, as usual, I am very excited.
My must-see list includes Rhiannon Giddens and Elephant Revival, two artists whose ethereal music is meant to waft through mountain landscapes.
Snuggled against the Foothills in the state’s botanical garden, the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre offers the perfect. outdoor concert experience. Generations of Salt Lakers continue to enjoy the stellar mountain and valley views, a lush setting and unparalleled sound, and an easygoing, picnic-with-friends energy. Music just feels better here.
From rock legends and Grammy award winners to genre-blending performers you’ll experience nowhere else, Red Butte Garden’s 2025 Summer Outdoor Concert Series offers something to captivate every music lover.
TaThe full concert lineup and ticket purchase details are available on the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum website, redbuttegarden.org.
Concert tickets will go on sale in two waves.
Wave One ticket sales for show dates between May 19 and July 27, 2025
Monday, April 21- Member online-only presale at 7 pm
Tuesday, April 22- Member in-person sales at 9 am
Friday, April 25- Public on sale at 10 am
Wave Two ticket sales for show dates between July 28 and September 16
Monday, April 28- Member online-only presale at 7 pm
Tuesday, April 29- Member in-person sales at 9 am
Friday, May 2- Public on sale at 10 am
Mark your calendar because tickets can go fast.
What: The 2025 Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre When: Throughout the summer Info and tickets: www.redbuttegarden.org/concerts
They’ve put their stamp on Utah over decades, weaving threads of economic impact, cultural influence, social change and compassion into our community tapestry. When we ski next to a double amputee, cheer at a Jazz game, enjoy cuisine prepared by a culinary-trained refugee, take in community theater, serve food at a homeless resource center, or see a 12-year-old sporting his very first pair of new shoes, there’s a good chance that Gail Miller, Lavanya Mahate, Celeste Edmunds or Meeche White were involved. Get to know these long-standing women of influence.
Gail Miller
Co-Founder and Owner, Larry H. Miller Company
Gail Miller says it was her dream to be a mom. “I loved raising our five children, but because of Larry’s crazy schedule, I did it mostly by myself,” she says of her husband, Larry Miller, whose major automotive group with a portfolio of over 70 dealerships still bears his name. By the 1980s, the Millers became a powerhouse capable of building megaplexes and buying a failing NBA franchise, building a 20,000-seat downtown arena, and transforming the Utah Jazz not just into a goldmine, but into a truly unifying organization for the people of Utah.
With twinkling eyes and an easy smile, the soft-spoken Gail describes their clearly defined roles. “He was the breadwinner and I was the homemaker.”
Gail Miller
CO-Founder and Owner, Larry H. Miller Company
The plot twist: while he went to the office and she stayed home, Gail and Larry were more than life partners—they were business partners, too. Gail describes daily discussions of nearly every detail of the Larry H. Miller Company (LHM). “I was always plugged in as an equal partner and we made company decisions together, even though I didn’t work in the office.”
When Larry died from complications of diabetes in 2009, Gail, then 65, was enjoying her grandkids and looking forward to their quiet retirement. Instead, she stepped in to take over.
“Before he died, he knew there were things that needed to change and he asked me to stabilize the ‘now’ and create a bridge for the future,” she says. Although he acknowledged Gail as his business partner throughout his career, Larry’s role was highly visible and she preferred flying under the radar. Now, there was no avoiding it. “I had to preserve what we’d built,” she says.
What happened next may have surprised even Larry. “I think he knew I’d meet the challenge, but I don’t think he’d believe how far we’ve come since then,” she says of the company’s extensive growth.
Right away, she set up a board of directors, describing it as a tough sell to a company that didn’t see itself as broken. “I was a little unpopular for the decision at first, but everyone eventually realized it was a good change,” Gail says.
She admits she suffered from imposter syndrome, with fears and self-doubt. “I think as women we sometimes wait for someone to give us permission to move forward with an idea,” she says. “We let timidity and fear get in the way. We may have to fight a little harder, but we have the right to put ourselves and our ideas forward.”
At LHM, Gail directed the focus of the company’s growth and diversity of its operations. She oversaw the eventual sale of the dealerships and the Jazz and the subsequent investments in healthcare and real estate.
“I think as women we sometimes wait for someone to give us permission to move forward with an idea…We let timidity and fear get in the way. We may have to fight a little harder, but we have the right to put ourselves and our ideas forward.”
During the past 15 years, LHM has doubled in both size and revenue, making Gail the wealthiest individual in Utah.
She deflects praise and attributes her success to the confluence of many minds. She sees her leadership style as a gatherer of viewpoints, rather than a commanding executive.
“You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room, you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, you just have to be willing to learn,” she says.
While the “Grand Matriarch of the Beehive State” remains highly involved in all areas of LHM, Gail recently stepped down as chair to turn more attention to her family foundation and many community endeavors. Founding arts venues, fighting child abuse and campaigning for Major League Baseball to bring top level a team to Utah is all in a day’s work for Gail.
Her work with homelessness is something she’s especially proud of. The Gail Miller Resource Center provides a comprehensive network of support for unhoused individuals, and her work with the Utah Impact Partnership helps to humanize homelessness and encourage compassion.
As for her legacy, she says she’d like to be remembered for her values. “I think women have to understand who they are and not deviate from it to please someone else,” she says. “My values come out in whatever I do and I think that’s why people notice me. I haven’t tried to change who I am for anyone.”
Annual Impact
Pledged $22 Million to Ballpark development fund
Served 5,000 Thanksgiving Day meals
Donated $3 million and launched $500,000 grant initiative to improve lives on the SLC west side
$25 Million to Salt Lake County for new South Jordan Regional Arts Center
$2.2 million to for water conservation and water education
$850,000 for mental health resources at SUU
$1 million to the OTECH Foundation for a new Pathway Building
$394,500 toward new center for Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation
Larry H. Miller Family Foundation Community Organization Grants
The Miller Family Foundation supports community programs with missions related to health and medicine, shelter and food security, education and skill development, jobs and economic self-reliance, and cultural and spiritual enrichment. Learn more or apply for a grant for your organization at lhm.com/doing-good.
Discover more leaders who influence and shape life in Utah, here.
Vieux Farka Touré and his band of the very merriest men played on The State Room’s stage in Salt Lake City last Saturday (4/12/25), and everything about it felt electrified.
For a sold-out show, it never felt like one. Instead, the air was thick with a swath of palpable joy as smiles hardly left their faces (or ours). It was an out-and-out celebration care of Mali, and it felt like briefly going on a vacation to a warm and inviting country we may never have the opportunity to visit otherwise. To further paint that picture, the band wore traditional clothing from their far-off West African homeland, too — a tunic and loose-fitting trousers — immediately resembling the most stylish, comfortable pajamas on the market.
Photo by Jesse JusticePhoto by Jesse Justice
When singer/guitarist/composer Vieux Farka Touré and his small band of three performed, he absolutely commanded with his guitar, as the others played a combination of bass, percussion (drums & calabash drum), and ngoni. There was more singing than speaking, and that hardly mattered. When there were vocals, they were rarely in English (and again, totally unimportant). Instead, we tapped into how they were feeling, marveled at the rare treat we were experiencing, and gladly lost track of time. It hardly felt like enough when a one-song encore got tacked on to the end of 90 minutes. And yet? It was hard not to be grateful.
While it’s a little early in 2025 to throw this prediction out, here goes: Vieux Farka Touré may have given us the best concert of the year. It’ll be hard to see any local or touring bands top that kind of magic.
Anyone who has walked along the shores of the Great Salt Lake during the summer months is probably acquainted with the brine fly.
They’re hard to miss—according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, brine fly populations around the lake have been in the billions during peak years, swarming in what sometimes looks like small, black clouds. The flies are an integral part of the lake’s ecosystem, a key source of food for the nearly 10 million migratory birds that stop by each year.
But as water levels decline, the lake’s salinity levels become more concentrated, in turn impacting brine fly and brine shrimp populations. That’s essentially what researchers at Westminster University in Salt Lake City are gearing up to research after securing new funding.
Last week, the university announced a $50,000 year-long grant from Northrop Grumman, one of the world’s largest aerospace and military defense companies, with a campus in Roy, Utah.
The grant will allow Westminster’s Great Salt Lake Institute to expand its ongoing research into the brine fly, the insect’s impact on the lake’s ecosystem and how populations react to changes in lake salinity.
According to the nonprofit Friends of the Great Salt Lake, a healthy salinity range for the Great Salt Lake’s south arm is between 13% and 15%. In 2022, as lake levels hit a historic low, salinity levels in the south arm hit 19%, nearing the tipping point of what brine flies can handle.
The flies help sustain a number species of migratory birds that stop at the lake, with species of phalaropes, a shorebird, often congregating in areas with large populations of brine fly adults and larvae, according to the Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative.
“This funding will allow us to test our hypothesis that brine fly populations will be reduced at high salinity and may rebound when the lake level rises and salinity lowers,” said Georgie Corkery, the principal investigator on the grant and a coordinator for the Westminster’s Great Salt Lake Institute.
Now, the grant from Northrop Grumman will support the institute’s brine fly monitoring, where Westminster students will work alongside faculty and staff. Researchers will also collaborate with the National Audubon Society and Sageland Collaborative.
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
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. Read the original article on Utah News Dispatch’s website, here.
Spring has officially arrived in the Beehive state! Stop to smell the flowers at one of the following events, hand-picked by the staff at Salt Lake magazine. Of course, there’s plenty of Easter-themed fun to choose from, let the eggstravaganza commence!
Monday 04/14
What: Spring Festival Where: Cross E Ranch When: 04/10-05/10 Enjoy the sunny springtime weather at Utah’s Cross E Ranch. The annual Easter event combines all types of seasonal fun, including a petting zoo, craft areas and spring treats. Select dates through May 10th, see their site for hours.
Tuesday 04/15
What: Cider Education Night Where: Scion Cider When: 04/15 at 7 p.m. This weekly education night features curated flights and bites from Scion Cider pros. $7 for the Cider 101 flight, and $10 for a guided tasting flight.
Wednesday 04/16
What: Spring Utah Art Market Where: Four Lemons (4850 S Highland Dr, Holladay) When: April 16-19 at 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Shop local artists at the Utah Art Market, now going on 30 years. Vendors include craft jewelers, painters, artisan soap makers and much more!
Thursday 04/17
What: ZooLuminate Where: Utah’s Hogle Zoo When: Select dates 03/28-05/26 Hogle Zoo’s new after-hours event invites guest to immerse themselves in a vibrant world of glowing displays and wildlife interactions.
What: 2025 Easter Dog Bone Hunt Where: Wheeler Historic Farm When: 04/17 at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Treat your pup to some Easter fun at Wheeler Farm’s annual Bone Hunt! The hunt is divided into three sections for small to large breeds, and ends with a visit from the Easter Bunny himself. Register your dog here.
Friday 04/18
What: Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Where: Gardner Village When: 04/18 at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Celebrate the spring holiday with a delicious buffet of fresh bacon, potatoes, French toast sticks and more. Continue the festivities with delightful photo ops, live animal encounters and more. Gardner Village will host another brunch the following morning, April 19.
What: Easter Bunny Tea Where: The Grand America When: 04/18 Dress in your springtime best and join the Grand America for an Easter-themed high tea. The cherished afternoon tradition begins with savory tea sandwiches, carefuly chosen teas and house-made pastries. Afterward, stroll through the Grand’s gardens where tulips are in full bloom. Make your reservation here.
What: Kevin Hart: Acting My Age Where: Delta Center When: 04/18 at 7:30 p.m. Emmy & Grammy nominee Kevin Hart is touring with his ninth standup special: Acting My Age. This event is a phone-free experience, and all attendees will place devices in individual Yondr pouches which will be unlocked after the show. Find tickets here.
What: Market and Craft Fair Where: The Gateway When: 04/18 at 4 p.m .to 9 p.m. A monthly craft fair featuring over 50 local vendors, prize drawings and a scavenger hunt. This month’s affair will also star a special appearance by the Easter Bunny!
Saturday 04/19
What: Literary Libations Where: Ken Sanders Rare Books When: 04/19 at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. X96 Radio From Hell personality Bill Allred, Ken Sanders and Wine Academy of Utah’s Jim Santangelo will host a lively discussion of author Wendell Berry and his book Mad Farmer Poems. Keep the conversation flowing with a paired cocktail and more boozy fun.
What: Second Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza Where: Memory Grove Park When: 04/19 at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Spend Easter weekend frolicking at Memory Grove Park, where colorful Easter eggs have been scattered across the grounds. This year’s hunt will offer separate areas for different age groups for maximum enjoyment for your little ones.
What: Living Planet Aquarium’s Eggstravaganza 2025 Where: Loveland Living Planet Aquarium When: 04/19 at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join the Loveland Aquarium for an exciting day of Easter events in Utah, like face painting, educational activities, bunny meet and greet and two egg dashes.
What: Easter Egg Hunt Where: Galena Park, Draper When: 04/19 at 10 a.m. Bring your little ones for a free egg hunt separated by age group. The fun continues with an appearance by the Easter Bunny and face painting.
What: Egg Legs Half Marathon, 5k, 10k Where: Gardner Village When: 04/19 at various start times Test your mettle at an Easter themed race at Gardner Village. End the day an easter egg hunt and photo ops with the REAL Easter Bunny after.
What: Easter Egg Hunt Where: Butler Park, Cottonwood Heights When: 04/19 at 10 a.m. A family-friendly egg hunt featuring food trucks, balloon artists and plenty of Easter fun. Bring your own basket and go wild!
Easter Sunday 04/20
Celebrate Easter with a springtime brunch at a Utah restaurant. From bountiful buffets to curated prix fixe menus, there’s a little something for every diner this spring. Find our top picks for Easter brunch, here.
Spring has sprung in Utah. Trees are budding, the grass is greening and everywhere you look, bulbs are blooming. If you love the season’s pageantry of flowering tulips, crocus, daffodils and more, now is the time to gather ideas and inspiration from this season’s show for next fall’s bulb planting. Yes, autumn is the season for planting many flowering bulbs, but spring is the time to watch and learn.
Garden designer Emily Brooks Wayment lined a path with masses of tall tulips, creating a vibrant statement of color and motion. Photo by Mikki Platt. A mix of snowdrops, hyacinths, and tulips edges the garden, layering early, mid, and late bloomers to create a continuous wave of spring color that lasts all season.Photo by Mikki Platt.
As you look at your neighbor’s colorful flower beds, public gardens and commercial landscapes, take note of the colors, shapes, and combinations of flowering bulbs that stand out. “There’s inspiration everywhere,” says garden designer Emily Brooks Wayment, who has planted more than her fair share of bulbs across Utah, from clients’ private gardens to the grounds of The Grand America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City. “Visit Temple Square, Thanksgiving Point’s Tulip Festival, Red Butte Garden, Tulips at the Grand and neighborhood gardens,” she says.
“Take note of what speaks to you,” Wayment suggests. Consider the layout and interplay of the plantings. Observe how different color schemes create distinct moods, from bold and dramatic reds and yellows to soothing pastel palettes. Take note of height variations—taller blooms like alliums or fritillaries can add drama at the back of a bed, while low-growing crocuses or grape hyacinths work beautifully as borders or groundcover. And in many gardens, layering is key. By combining early, mid and late-season bloomers, there is always something catching the eye. “I like the late spring bloomers the most because we can have late snows,” Wayment says.
Wayment artfully layered springtime blooms of varying heights, creating a stunning display of color, all anchored by a timeless boxwood hedge. Photo by Mikki Platt. Tall alliums rise above a lush bed of white spring blooms, creating a striking contrast of texture and form. Photo by Mikki Platt.
To ensure the garden remains attractive after the bulbs have faded, many garden designers pair bulbs with perennials, ornamental grasses or evergreen plants. Often, they incorporate companion plants, such as hellebores or hostas, that can fill in gaps and provide texture and interest throughout the growing season. “Don’t be afraid to experiment,” Wayment encourages. “Gardens evolve and each year is an opportunity to refine your design.” Whether you prefer the natural, meadow-like look of Red Butte Garden or a formal, structured displays like those at The Grand America, the combinations you envision now and emulate with fall planting will shape a vibrant, thriving springtime garden next year.
Wayment planted a mix of daffodils to fill the square well at the base of a tree. Photo by Mikki Platt.
