Though we’re well into the darkest and coldest days of the year,downtown Salt Lake features an oasis of light so jam-packed with joy and wonder it’s sure to chase off even your most stubborn midwinter doldrums. GLOW, on display now at the Gallivan Center Plaza (239 S. Main St., SLC), encompasses nine different LED-lit sculptures, commissioned by THE BLOCKS and created by In Theory Art Collective.
Photo by Bobbi Tolman.
But calling GLOW’s art pieces sculptures doesn’t do this experience justice. Gallivan Plaza has been transformed with luminescent flowers and animals, multidimensional stars that float overhead from the plaza’s pergolas, and a tunnel of offset-lit cubes and a glowing arch that invites passing through and under. Iterations of GLOW have appeared at the Gallivan for the past two winters, but never with as many pieces as are displayed for this year’s installation. “THE BLOCKS gave us carte blanche to create what we wanted, and the vision became to not just have one or two pieces but to draw people through the space in a celebratory and inspirational way,” says Emily Nicolosi, In Theory Art Collective director and artist.
Emily and Ian Nicolosi (and their baby). Emily is the lead artist and director of In Theory Art Collective and Ian is a contributing artist to the collective. Photo by Bobbi Tolman
A theme central to this year’s GLOW is celebrating Utah’s diverse natural, cultural and social landscapes “in an inherently positive way, full of joy and love,” says Nicolosi. “And we wanted at least one of the installations to be created in collaboration with a Native American artist or group of artists.” And so In Theory invited author Laura Tohe (lauratohe.com), a Navajo Nation Poet Laureate, to write a short poem inspired by GLOW’s place-specific theme. The result is “You belong to the earth,” a beautifully optimistic and comforting elegy that In Theory republished in scripty neon text as part of GLOW. “The inspiration,” Tohe explained, “was to remind us that we are all a part of this planet we call Nahasdzáán, Mother Earth. She sustains us, human and non-human, animate and non-animate, by providing us with everything we need to exist. We don’t have another place to live. More so during global warming, I hope that we take more seriously our responsibility to care for the earth and in doing so, we take care of ourselves. I want my children and grandchildren to live in a world that has a healthy heart.”
Other GLOW pieces include Columbine Clusters, illuminated interpretations of one of Utah’s most defining native wildflowers, and Fauna Illuminata, clear acrylic, LED-lit animal sculptures created on a 3-D printer depicting Utah’s endangered species—both of which are interspersed among Gallivan Plaza’s evergreen “forest.” Treehive is a collection of neon hexagons in varying sizes, created originally for THE BLOCKS Open Streets initiative, revived for GLOW to call attention to the threatened Western bumble bee. And those who’ve visited the Gallivan Center in the past will remember Miri the Star, a multidimensional, lit snowflake sculpture, and koro loko, an on-point heart Nicolosi made originally to display at the 2019 Burning Man Festival and that seeded creation of In Theory Art Collective.
Even in daylight, GLOW’s dichroic sculptures liven up the winter landscape. Photo by Bobbi Tolman.
Nicolosi invites you to enter GLOW from the Gallivan Plaza’s Main Street entrance when you go. You’ll be greeted by Polychroma, a 16-foot-tall, steel-framed arch lit with LED lighting that graduates from black and white to the colors of the rainbow. “This piece acknowledges Utah’s LGBTQ+ community and is a metaphor for the fact that diversity is a beautiful thing,” Nicolosi says.
GLOW is on display at the Gallivan Center through the end of February. Admission is free and open to the public.
The legend lives somewhere in the peaks of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Dendrites of just such a density, perfectly stratified, falling endlessly. The Land of “Gnarnia” blanketed with the Greatest Snow on Earth. If only you can get to it. The word is out. Denver is mercifully passé. Everyone is chasing the legend, and therein lies the foundations of the problem. There may not be enough of it to go around.
Wintertime traffic in and out of Little Cottonwood Canyon has reached a breaking point. The Red Snake of Death appears on Utah Highway 210 in both directions, devouring unsuspecting skiers and snowboarders. It’s still not the four-hour slog on Interstate 70 on Colorado’s Front Range, but it’s gotten grim enough for both public and private enterprises to take notice.
The fix, we’ve been told, is an eight-mile gondola—which would be the world’s longest—running from Wasatch Boulevard to Snowbird and Alta. There are roughly two decades and a host of other changes coming between now and then, but the Gondola has become Salt Lake City’s very own Monorail. It has captivated the attention of Utah, unleashed a torrent of emotion, and, frankly, sowed a wild amount of confusion.
How did we get here? What’s going to happen? Let’s Ask The People Involved
WHICH VISION OF THE FUTURE ARE WE FOLLOWING?
The winter of 2022-23 brought into acute focus the bottleneck in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The record snowfall and created historic avalanche conditions and led to repeated road closures that made traffic snarls a regular occurrence. It was a nadir for many powder hounds who found their ability to fit ski days into their everyday lives suddenly disrupted. The issue, however, had been on the minds of myriad officials for years.
Ralph Becker, the former Mayor of Salt Lake City and former Executive Director of The Central Wasatch Commission, has worked extensively on watershed and transportation issues in the Cottonwoods and says current planning “has lost the forest for the trees.” Photo by Adam Finkle
In 2018 the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) began an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Little Cottonwood Canyon and Wasatch Boulevard to devise a future system that would improve transportation on Utah Highway 210. While the EIS may have been the State’s formal start in seeking a solution for canyon traffic, interested parties already had been circling the issue.
A full decade ago, in 2013, a collaborative group of state, county and city elected leaders, transportation wonks, ski resort general managers, local property owners and environmental groups began a two-year process to develop a long-term sustainable solution for the Wasatch, culminating in the 2015 Mountain Accord Charter. The Accord’s recommendations were non-binding, but the extensive work involving often warring parties resulted in a meaningful set of goals to address the environment, transportation issues, recreation and the economy. The Accord offered a glimmer of optimism.
“Mountain Accord came up with a comprehensive solution that everybody agreed on—from the Governor to the legislature to conservation groups to the ski areas,” says Ralph Becker, the former Mayor of Salt Lake City who worked on Mountain Accord and later became the Executive Director of its successor, the Central Wasatch Commission (CWC). Becker was not the only person who felt this way about the promise of The Accord.
“I believe in shared pain and shared gain,” says Carl Fisher, Executive Director of the environmental advocacy group Save Our Canyons (SOC). Fisher had a seat at the Mountain Accord table and still represents his group’s interests on the CWC Stakeholder Council. “SOC has our agenda, vision, feelings and ideas, but when partnering with people their problems are ours and ours are theirs. That’s the only way things get done.”
However, as the process became more formalized, the issue’s focal point began wandering from where Mountain Accord and CWC had sought a solution. Instead of a holistic review of the Wasatch Front and Back, the EIS as outlined in 2018 called for focus specifically on Little Cottonwood Canyon.
“The scope of UDOT and the state’s work narrowed the assessment,” says Becker. “I think the EIS process had a faulty goal. We lost the forest for a few trees.”
Fisher concurs. “The problem was redefined,” he says. “If the question becomes, there’s an issue four months a year at two ski resorts, then what’s the answer going to be? The collective failure of our leaders was in abandoning a genuine process to find a solution for the ski industry.”
Josh Van Jura, UDOT’s project manager for the Little Cottonwood Canyon EIS, says skier traffic became the focal point because of its impact on the Cottonwood Canyons.
“The vast majority of people going up the canyon in the winter are going to the resorts,” Van Jura says. “We know the number of parking stalls at the resorts in Little Cottonwood compared to the rest of the canyon is about nine to one, so we were looking for solutions to provide direct transit service to the resorts to alleviate traffic. If we can reduce the number of private vehicles on the road by 30%, it will provide much more reliable travel time for everyone in the canyon.”
WAIT. BACK UP. WHAT IS AN EIS PROCESS?
Carl Fisher, Executive Director of Save Our Canyons, wonders, “If the question becomes, there’s an issue four months a year at two ski resorts, then what’s the answer going to be?” Photo by Adam Finkle
In essence, the EIS is a federal process required by the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the guidelines of the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) executed with UDOT acting as the lead agent. Funding comes from the Utah Legislature. No matter what UDOT ultimately recommended from the EIS process, nothing gets built without some combination of the legislature allocating bonds, digging one-time surplus funds or rounding up federal funds with a local match.
With the EIS focused primarily on Little Cottonwood, the goalposts moved, at least that’s what Fisher and Becker think, both of whom worked on Mountain Accord and with the CWC. But back in 2018, a gondola was little more than an aspirational marketing twinkle in the eyes of a few ski industry executives. Numerous transit options were on the table, including two enhanced bus options, two gondola options and a train. A sixth option, which involved doing nothing and maintaining the status quo was also on the table.
Through an endless string of meetings, public comment periods and engineering, environmental and cost analysis exercises, UDOT eventually issued its official Record of Decision on July 12, 2023, identifying “Gondola Alternative B” as their recommendation.
“It’s an amazing milestone to reach this point after five years of intense effort,” Van Jura says. “So many people worked extremely hard on this, and tens of thousands of members of the public provided their input. People care so deeply about these mountains, and that’s reflected in how involved everyone was.”
WHAT ON EARTH IS ‘GONDOLA ALTERNATIVE B?’
The future is Gondola Alternative B. What does that mean? In very broad terms, Gondola Alternative B is a phased approach to implementing enhanced bussing—replete with mobility hubs at the bottom of the canyons—along with periodic tolling in Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons before ultimately constructing the world’s largest gondola from a base station at La Caille on Wasatch Boulevard with stops at Snowbird and Alta. The proposed plan will unfold in three phases.
Phase 1: (Estimated start date: Fall 2025, funding secured) Improved and increased bus service with mobility hubs, resort bus stops, tolling and roadside parking restrictions.
Phase 2: (Start date and funding TBD): Show sheds for avalanche protection in Little Cottonwood, Wasatch Boulevard widening and trailhead improvements.
Phase 3: (Start date and funding TBD): Gondola system with 35-person cabins arriving every two minutes, base station access roads and parking with 2,500 stalls and canyon bus service ending once the gondola is operational.
As of now, only Phase 1 is funded. UDOT secured $211 million of the estimated $240 million it requires. The remaining two phases will require an additional $716.1 million in capital costs, totaling roughly $955.4 million for the entire project. Other total estimates are as high as $1.4 billion. Neither figure includes the estimated annual $21.7 million in gondola operating costs. When major project budgets extend several decades out, rounding errors veer into the tens of millions. Hazarding a guess at the final bill is a fool’s errand.
The gondola isn’t expected to start until 2043 at the absolute earliest. Visitors to Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons won’t notice any changes until at least 2025. “Starting bus service by 2025 is pretty optimistic,” Van Jura says. “There’s an 18–24 month delivery time for new buses, especially the specialized ones with lower gear ratios and automatic deployed chains needed in the canyons.”
Tolling won’t begin until the enhanced bus system—a low-cost alternative for riders—is available. This is a NEPA requirement and a moral imperative from an environmental justice standpoint. Restricting access to public lands in the Wasatch by implementing economic barriers is deeply problematic. Details are yet to be finalized, but UDOT estimates tolling vehicles roughly 50 days a year in the upper canyons during peak season and holidays.
So, expect mobility hubs, bus service and tolling restrictions in a couple of years. If you eat well, watch your blood pressure and exercise regularly, with a little luck you may get to ride a gondola in 25 more.
HOW INEVITABLE WAS THE GONDOLA DECISION?
This question is at the heart of anti-gondola ire. UDOT never released an estimation of public approval for the project. But a glance through public comments showed plenty of opposition, and others have undertaken the effort. Salt Lake City resident Nick Firmani posted on Reddit, as reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, an analysis showing 89% of the roughly 13,000 comments obtained from the UDOT website were against the gondola. Reasons for opposition include environmental and watershed concerns, the visual impact of 250-foot-tall gondola towers, and queasiness about utilizing vast sums of public money to shuttle people primarily to two private resorts, among others.
Van Jura says he personally read every public comment but defends not quantifying their content
“The comment period isn’t designed to be a ballot referendum,” he says “We didn’t count ‘yeas’ and ‘nays.’ It was designed to get feedback from the public, and in fact, much of what we decided ultimately came from public input.” He refers to both the phased implementation structure and the overall layout with a revised starting point for the Gondola Alternative B. The gondola, he insists, was identified as the best choice because of its reliability and its limited environmental impact compared to alternatives
Still, some feel top-down influence precipitated momentum towards a gondola despite the collaborative efforts of Mountain Accord/CWC and the tide of public opinion and believe UDOT put its sizable thumb on the scale.
“I wasn’t on the inside at the state level, but I saw some things unfolding at the beginning,” Becker says. “The gondola was a dream in the eye of Nate Rafferty at Ski Utah and the ski area. Gondola Works was formed and a six-figure PR campaign convinced some state leaders on how cool this would be and how much it would help the ski industry and the state economy. I don’t know how big a role it played, but I think it led to the gondola being given favorable treatment compared to some alternatives.”
Josh Van Jura is UDOT’s project manager for Little Cottonwood Canyon. Photo by Adam Finkle
“Pressure comes on UDOT from a handful of places. It’s an agency in the governor’s administration and their budget is set by the legislature, so they’re somewhat at the mercy of their bosses,” Fisher says. “How is UDOT supposed to convene an open and transparent process? If they had, they would have listened to the public comments which were overwhelmingly against the gondola.”
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), were intentionally agnostic to UDOT’s decision. Both organizations stressed their assistance on the project was to help UDOT simply by providing information and expertise. In fact, according to UTA Board of Trustees Chairman Carlton Christensen, UTA emphatically avoided taking sides.
“UDOT relied heavily on UTA for expertise and estimation of operational costs,” Christensen says. “I would say [UDOT] wanted us to take a stronger position on almost every front, but we felt as an organization it was not our place to take a formal position.”
And over at the WFRC, Communications Manager Mike Sobczak said in an email that his organization sat firmly on the fence.
“This is ultimately UDOT’s decision—not the WFRC’s,” Sobczak says. “We just play a required role in including the project in our 2023 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), as well as identifying funding resources for upcoming prioritized projects on the immediate horizon.”
WHO IS GOING TO OPERATE THIS?
There’s a lot of infrastructure that needs to be built, operated and maintained, and many questions remain. Who is going to operate the buses? Who is going to build and operate the gondola? Those remain open questions. UTA is the obvious choice for the buses, as the organization runs the ski buses currently in operation, but even that’s uncertain. UTA, after all, has a lot more on its plate than just getting skiers and snowboarders to the lifts.
“UTA may or may not be the actual provider of bus service for skiers. It depends on what UDOT decides,” says Christensen. “The reality is this concentration of ridership is a seasonal thing for us. UTA has no intention to walk away from ski service until there’s a good solution, but it isn’t what drives our long-term plans. If you provided this level of funding to our mid-range and long-range planners, there’d be a lot of excitement about what they could do to increase ridership throughout the state for people who rely on public transit to get to work and school.”
The gondola, meanwhile, would almost surely come from someone other than UTA. “UTA has never operated a gondola and we have no experience in that sort of planning,” Christensen adds.
SO, IS THIS ACTUALLY, DEFINITELY A GONDOLA PLAN?
“I’m not sure they communicated the phases particularly well,” Christensen says. “Phase 1 and Phase 2 are mostly about buses, and Phase 3 is the most expensive and controversial part. If enhanced busing works, it could save a lot of money. People don’t seem to understand that buses are stuck in the same traffic as private vehicles. Until controlled access is implemented with tolling and parking restrictions, I don’t think we’ll see the effectiveness enhanced bussing could have.”
UDOT’s Van Jura echoed this sentiment, indicating that, at least in the short term, this is a bus project. “All of our attention is devoted to Phase 1 at the moment. It’s the only thing we have funded right now,” he says.
Even Fisher finds some solace in the phased approach but worries little thought is being given to how the success or failure of early stages will impact the future.
“Many of us broadly support Phase 1 components, but the process has prevented us from finding broader solutions for the long run. We’re going to spend $240 million, but UDOT hasn’t demonstrated what success from that would even look like or how that could affect future decisions,” he says.
UDOT’s recommendation essentially kicks responsibility to the Utah Legislature. For each upcoming phase, the legislature must provide funding to move forward. However, there’s no formal process to reassess the need for additional phases, which is something the WFRC had originally voted in favor of.
In theory, even if the first and/or second phases are wildly successful, there’s no formal review process to assess needs going forward. The only thing keeping taxpayers off the hook for the remainder of roughly $1 billion is the legislature voting explicitly to deny those funds without a true process to help determine if they should. Basically, while there’s no guarantee the gondola gets built, there’s not a lot checking its inertia.
WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?
Right now? Not much. Beware the Red Snake this winter. The future promises legal challenges, pro- and anti-gondola messaging and tussles from every interested corner, and probably a lot more misunderstanding and more consternation.
Amidst all that, there remains beauty to behold. The Cottonwood Canyons. The delicate grandeur of the Wasatch. The fleeting weightlessness of a perfect powder turn. It’s all still there if a bit more difficult to access than it once was. The plans may be drawn up, but the future remains unwritten. Don’t forget to enjoy the little things along the way there.
For this issue’s special section, we asked philanthropic organizations from around our state to share their missions, success stories and plans for the coming year. We know our readers are generous and community-minded individuals. By sharing good works, we hope you’ll learn about a wide range of opportunities to get involved and help fulfill our partners’ missions.
MAKE-A-WISH UTAH: CREATING BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES
We’ve all seen the clips that go viral on social media. Make-A-Wish Utah moments can be powerful to watch and witness. But wishes can be even more impactful than just stirring up emotion for those who see a bit of magic come to life. The wishes granted by Make-A-Wish Utah can be just what the doctor ordered—literally.
WHAT IS MAKE-A-WISH UTAH?
Make-A-Wish Utah creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
“A wish is a tool to help children be more resilient as they battle their life-threatening medical condition,” says President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Dudley. “Medical professionals frequently call on Make A-Wish Utah to be an important component of a child’s treatment plan.”
Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. This may improve their quality of life and produce better health outcomes. The impact of a wish far exceeds any one day and can often create benefits that last a lifetime. This impact was evident when teen Laycee received her wish to have her own horse earlier this year.
17-year-old Laycee was born with a congenital heart defect that has created significant challenges in her day-to-day life. She underwent four open-heart surgeries by the time she was five years old and has spent every night of her life on oxygen. Her condition has created many challenges to her health and makes it difficult for her to keep up with her peers as she tires easily. However, Laycee has always indulged in a deep love for horses, and when she learned she could have a wish granted, her decision to have her own horse sparked a turning point in her life. After months of searching for the perfect companion and with invaluable help from community partners, Make-A-Wish Utah presented Laycee with her new horse. Through tears of gratitude, she announced her name would be Willow.
CREATING A LASTING IMPACT
Willow has been a priceless aid to Laycee, providing inspiration and encouragement in trying times. Laycee has undergone two surgeries since her wish for Willow was granted, and during recovery for each Laycee focused her thoughts on riding Willow again and looking forward to spending time with her best friend.
“Willow has motivated Laycee to get through the hard times and never give up,” Laycee’s mother explained. “Laycee has always said that horses are her wings. They allow her to run and play and do things that other kids can do. Horses are her way out of her disability.”
When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope. Willow has given Laycee the strength she needs to continue battling her critical illness and has unlocked many of the limitations that Laycee’s condition has put on her body.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
component of a child’s healing process. More children are waiting for a wish than ever before and wishes only come true through the generosity of our community. Make-A-Wish Utah needs the engagement of individuals, local companies, and community organizations to provide the financial resources to create life-changing experiences for children with critical illnesses. Make-A-Wish Utah has many creative avenues to raise funds, find out how at wish.org/utah or make a direct contribution now with the QR code on this page.
Make a Wish Utah
771 E. WINCHESTIER ST., MURRAY (801) 262-9474 • WISH.ORG/UTAH
For this issue’s special section, we asked philanthropic organizations from around our state to share their missions, success stories and plans for the coming year. We know our readers are generous and community-minded individuals. By sharing good works, we hope you’ll learn about a wide range of opportunities to get involved and help fulfill our partners’ missions.
SERVING THE WHOLE PERSON: FIRST STEP HOUSE
You might have heard a little bit about First Step House, the treatment provider for those experiencing homelessness or battling addiction. But what exactly does the nonprofit do?
A bit of everything, First Step House’s Development Director Mary T. Calhoon, explains.
“We have a continuum of treatment, housing, and built-in supportive services to help men and women who are experiencing some of the most significant struggles a person can have,” Calhoon said.
First Step House was founded in 1958 to provide shelter and rehabilitation to Utahns struggling with addiction. Since then, First Step House has helped many thousands of people in the Salt Lake Valley build lives of meaning, purpose, and recovery. The nonprofit has steadily evolved to meet the changing needs of the community, fulfilling a commitment to serve those who would otherwise get left behind.
One of the biggest life-saving services offered by First Step House is safe and supportive housing.
All of us have felt the pressure of rising housing and living costs over the past decade. For some Utahns without a safety net, rising costs have led to disastrous outcomes: loss of housing, and a spiral into homelessness that is difficult to climb out of. With a growing portfolio of deeply affordable housing, First Step House seeks to interrupt that cycle.
Housing needs look different for First Step House clients at different stages of rehabilitation and recovery. Many come to treatment directly from incarceration or an untenable living situation, like couch-surfing; when they graduate, they may need to stay in a sober residence for a few months while attending outpatient treatment. They’ll work with a case manager and participate in an employment program as they prepare to move into housing on their own. Others, with diagnoses of serious mental illness or experiences of chronic homelessness, may need a supportive housing arrangement that’s permanent.
In 2019, First Step House opened Central City Apartments downtown, creating 75 supportive apartments—permanent homes—for people with long histories of being homeless. The following year, they opened 40 more apartments next door at Medina Place. In 2024, the freshly renovated Stratford Apartments will add another 46 units – and more buildings are already in development. This pivot to housing was a natural step for the nonprofit, explained Executive Director Shawn McMillen.
“We had decades of experience as a behavioral healthcare provider. We had developed a whole suite of wraparound services: case management, employment, medical care, and long-term recovery support. It made sense to build housing that incorporates treatment and services,” McMillen said.
This housing helps meet a crucial need in our region, where chronic homelessness has risen sharply in recent years.
First Step House aims to treat the whole person, taking an individualized approach to address barriers in all areas of life: from health to relationships to finances.
“Our goal is to work alongside our clients as they build a more stable foundation, so they can recover and thrive,” Calhoon said. “We see them overcome obstacles, persist in recovery, and rebuild their lives and their families. Our clients amaze us.”
Join First Step House in celebrating a Month of Valor, a special campaign to end veteran homelessness. First Step House operates the only transitional housing in Salt Lake County for veterans experiencing homelessness. It’s called Valor House, and you’ll find it on the VA Medical Campus. Learn more and get involved with Valor Month at firststephouse.org/donate.
For this issue’s special section, we asked philanthropic organizations from around our state to share their missions, success stories and plans for the coming year. We know our readers are generous and community-minded individuals. By sharing good works, we hope you’ll learn about a wide range of opportunities to get involved and help fulfill our partners’ missions.
EMBARKING ON A JOURNEY THROUGH LIVES:
ADIB’S RUG GALLERY
At the historic Villa Theatre on Highland Drive, you’ll find Adib’s Rug Gallery, a treasure trove of exquisite and eclectic rugs. But this story isn’t just about rugs; it’s about the incredible man behind it all—Dr. Hamid Adib.
Dr. Adib’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. He immigrated to the U.S., earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at UC Berkeley and San Jose State, and later a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Utah. His professional career soared to remarkable heights. Yet, today, he’s on a new quest to uplift and support those in need. His inspiration? His parents, who planted the seeds of compassion in him during his upbringing.
“My parents’ philosophy was to immerse ourselves in the lives of others and strive to make a positive impact in their world,” Dr. Adib says.
Dr. Adib’s daily agenda is now a whirlwind of philanthropic endeavors. Name a charitable organization in the Salt Lake Valley, and there’s a good chance that he and his dedicated team are actively involved. Dr. Adib believes that by uplifting individuals, he can trigger a ripple effect that benefits the entire community. Adib’s Rug Gallery has long been a dedicated supporter of numerous charitable organizations in the Salt Lake area.
Dr. Hamid Adib, Owner of Adib’s Rug Gallery. Photo by Adam Finkle
But Dr. Adib’s reach extends well beyond Utah’s borders. Having firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by families around the world, he regularly embarks on humanitarian journeys. One of his most significant involvements is with the Heal Child Skin Disease Foundation, a cause dedicated to sponsoring medical treatments for children suffering from severe and agonizing skin conditions, including Epidermolysis Bullosa, which ranks as one of the most excruciating conditions a person can endure.
So he works tirelessly. Dr. Adib often dedicates entire nights to projects aimed at improving the lives of others. He’s found joy in creating vibrant and imaginative paintings in his home, which he sells privately, donating every penny to the Heal CSD foundation and some other charitable organizations.
Thanks to Dr. Adib’s efforts and the generosity of kind art lovers, the foundation has been able to establish means for two clinics in Iran.
Dr. Adib refers to his endeavors as “the sweetest pain.” To this remarkable rug gallery owner, who claims to have everything he could desire in life, this mission has become his life’s purpose.
“I always strive to leave a positive and indelible mark in people’s hearts,” Dr. Adib declares with determination. “I aspire, at the end of my journey on this planet, to possess a notebook filled with those indelible footprints, each representing a meaningful connection. I hope this notebook serves as a testament to who I was and the positive difference I’ve made while I passed through.”
For this issue’s special section, we asked philanthropic organizations from around our state to share their missions, success stories and plans for the coming year. We know our readers are generous and community-minded individuals. By sharing good works, we hope you’ll learn about a wide range of opportunities to get involved and help fulfill our partners’ missions.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
The Ronald McDonald House has long been a mainstay of local support from its location on South Temple. As Carrie Romano, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Intermountain Area, explains, the organization prides itself on making life easier for those in the middle of a difficult challenge.
“Our goal is to support caregivers like mom and dad so that they can actively participate in the healing and medical care of their child,” Romano says. “Here, they don’t have to worry about where they’re going to sleep or how they’re going to eat. They can actively participate in the healing of their child.”
At the Ronald McDonald House, families of children receiving attention at one of Salt Lake’s top-notch pediatric care facilities have it all taken care of for them. They have a place to stay, food to eat, and room to relax when needed. It makes a huge difference to a family needing to give greater attention to their infirm child.
But while those families will have everything they need, the Ronald McDonald House itself has a big need of its own: volunteers. Supporting more than 10,000 patient families a year requires a lot of manpower. Romano explains that having a robust volunteer force can make things even easier for families who could use a helping hand.
“Our mission is fueled by the community,” Romano says. “Anybody can go onto our website, RonaldMcDonaldHouseUtah.org, and check out our get involved tab to look at our adopted meal calendars. We also have volunteers and some of our biggest donors come in to answer the phone at the front desk or drive the shuttle. They love doing that.”
Unfortunately, ever since the pandemic threw the volunteer program for a loop, Romano has seen a real shortage of folks giving of themselves at the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City. There is an urgent need for volunteers looking to support the staff on site.
“We have a staff of approximately 50 employees and a 24-hour-a-day schedule. We simply cannot carry out our mission without strong volunteer support at every level,” Romano says.
“Here, the volunteers don’t just do the fluffy work, we have volunteers that do the truly meaningful work. We need them and welcome them.”
And, as we enter the new year, now is the perfect time to volunteer.
The warm and fuzzy feeling of giving makes it all worth it. Romano has seen many volunteers over the years feel overwhelmed with the satisfaction of having helped a family in need.
“When people volunteer for us, they tend to have the most extraordinary experience, because it’s so direct they get such a clear sense of what their service means for people and the kind of hardships people are going through when they’re staying with us,” Romano says. “It’s an incredible feeling.”
Ronald McDonald House Charities
935 E. SOUTH TEMPLE, SALT LAKE CITY (801) 363-4663 • RMHCSLC.ORG
You can spend decadesdelving into the place you live and keep finding more. Utah’s national parks are well-trod turf for me. But I took a seven-day road trip to rediscover them—in winter. The otherworldly landscape of Southern Utah is transformed. Yes. It’s cold. Yes. It snows. Who thinks of hiking up the Virgin River in Zion National Park when it’s 50 degrees and the water’s edge is rimmed with ice? Well now, hopefully you will. Follow my trail with our detailed guide to winter in the national parks (“Explore the Mighty 5 in Winter”) With planning, decent gear, plenty of weather-dictated improvisation and a healthy dose of internal fortitude, you too can witness these wonders without the main drawback in warmer times of year, the crowds.
Oh, Right. Crowds. During peak seasons, the line to get into Arches spills out into the highway, and, up north, the highways become a parking lot nicknamed the “Red Snake.” It has become a universal lament. I don’t blame the many, many visitors drawn here from around the globe to experience our mountains and red cliffs—heck, I’m one of the folks spilling the tea. But it does become wearisome and it’s an easy kvetch.
It was with this in mind that we asked writer Tony Gill to tackle the thorny issue of transportation in the Wasatch (“Big Trouble in Little Cottonwood”). The gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon appears to be moving forward, but the plan has plenty of detractors and has generated more than a lot of confusion. We all agree that winter traffic on Utah Highway 210 is untenable but is a Gondola the answer? We don’t know. But hopefully, our look at the history, the players and the uncertain future will give you some ammo for your next dinner-party debate.
Joining a multi-level marketing (MLM)company is not a requirement for living in Utah. It only feels that way. MLMs or “direct-sales” ventures are big business here and prominent features of the state’s cultural and physical landscape. Interstate 15 through Utah County is lined by grand, spacious buildings emblazoned with marquee signs celebrating the largest MLMs in the state—DoTerra, Young Living, Nu Skin, Younique, LifeVantage, and the hits keep on coming. We’ve all been hit up on social media with a “Hey Girl!” from a former high school classmate who is “reaching out with this AMAZING miracle product!” Unfriend. MLM girlies are always hustling and almost every Elder on your mission did a stint selling solar panels or pest control after he got home.
Why, pray tell, is Utah such fertile ground for MLMs? The culture within the ward houses likely plays a part. The LDS faith promotes industriousness and self-reliance. Young return missionaries easily morph into a fleet of pre-trained, often bi-lingual salespeople who are no strangers to knocking on doors. After marriage, LDS women are encouraged to build loving homes and, for many, hawking essential oils can earn pocket change (and break up the monotony). The Church also provides a built-in community (and weekly meetings) to recruit “downline” sellers. For one reason or another, some LDS folks are particularly susceptible to some of the sleazier schemes. In fact, Church leaders have admonished members to avoid being “too vulnerable to the lure of sudden wealth.”
Meanwhile, Utahns in high places have a history of looking out for these companies. Many MLMs peddle health and dietary supplements with unproven effects, unevaluated by the FDA. How is that legal? Thank the late Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who championed the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act which legitimized the sale of supplements and limited FDA oversight. Meaning, that if a company gets too bold with its claims, the FDA cracks down by sending them a strongly worded letter.
Despite the blessing of the U.S. Government, some MLMs have a nasty reputation for their business practices. For example, LuLaRoe was the subject of LuLaRich, an Amazon Prime documentary. The series shows how the LDS founders of MLM apparel company, LuLaRoe, used deceptive recruiting practices—preying largely on women who shared their religious beliefs—and saddled them with mountains of unsold, and often unwearable, inventory and massive debt. (Sales reps are not directly employed by the companies and often have to buy upfront the product to sell.) The model particulars might differ slightly from company to company, but it usually involves committing sales reps to market and sell products directly to consumers and to also recruit “downline” reps who pay a commission to their “upline” rep with every sale. Kind of like a pyramid.
Still, the direct-sales industry brings in a lot of money to the state, accounting for 2.2% of the annual earnings in Utah in 2020. Ten of the largest MLMs headquartered in Utah (surveyed in 2020) made $10.3 billion in sales, the majority of which (about $6 billion) was made overseas. Those profits do not trickle “downline,” however. Those 10 Utah companies had 21,500 independent sales reps in Utah whose median earnings (before expenses) ranged from only $70 to $3,000 per year.
That could explain why some MLM reps come across as aggressive and pretty desperate when they DM you on social media.
So, maybe, the next time an MLM girlie or solar sales bro emerges from the past with a sales pitch, why don’t we let them down easy?
Hotel bars have often been dismissed as mingling spaces for out-of-towners and peacocking opportunities for the new hire to impress their ancient CEO. But as Salt Lake becomes inundated with sleek new lodgments left and right, hotel bars join the ranks of our increasingly acclaimed nightlife scene. Between rooftop lounges and hidden alpine watering holes, these five hotel bars in Salt Lake are topping locals’ lists of places we’d like to spend a Saturday night.
Van Ryder—
Le Meridien. Photo courtesy of Van Ryder.
Van Ryder—Le Meridien
Located in a new mixed-use development called The West Quarter, Van Ryder is a rooftop bar inside Le Meridien hotel. Inside, moody decor and polished wood accents convey an air of maturity juxtaposed by furry loungers and modern LED rope lights. The covered patio is the real star, where you can take in mountain views gathered around afire pit. The modest menu offers casual fare with a sophisticated twist, with standouts including Pork Belly Bao and Short Rib Poutine. Van Ryder’s cocktail offerings are equally delicious, with favorites like The Butch Cassidy and Ride or Die.
European-inspired brasserie Laurel Brasserie & Bar offers a grand experience without the lavish price tag. The dual-sided bar overlooks the city and its bartenders whip up refreshing takes on classics using local spirits. Offered daily from 3-5 p.m., Laurel’s happy hour is a worthy mention with half-priced items like heirloom tomato tartlet, burrata, cheese platters and pigs in a blanket.
Drink like an outlaw at the same watering hole Butch Cassidy frequented in Wyoming. No need to head up North, the 1890s bar was moved from Thermopolis and restored in another notorious Utah man’s hideaway—Sundance Resort. The cabin-like bar is a perfect place to heal your bruised body and ego after an epic yard sale, and its spacious patio offers sweeping alpine views. Visit Owl Bar on a weekend for live music from national and local talent. Another tip: Get the Dirty Fries.
Two words: Mountain. Views. St. Regis’ flagship bar embraces Park City opulence in every sense. Leather seats pull up to a mahogany bar where a hand-painted mural depicts the mining town’s rich history. Stop in for an après-ski whiskey and a selection of raw bar items. Of course, any mention of St. Regis would be incomplete without a tip of the hat to the 7452 Bloody Mary. Combining the usual ingredients with green apple, celery juice and wasabi powder, it’s no wonder the resort churns out over 150,000 bloodies every year.
There’s no denying the fun in a good-old-fashioned drinking game. With a beer in your hand, even a four-hour game of Catan becomes bearable. So if you’re in the mood for some competition with cocktails, consider these bar games found at breweries, dive bars and pubs.
Trivia at Bewilder Brewing: Test your brainpower at Bewilder Brewing’s Trivia night hosted every Wednesday.
Breaking Bingo at Bar Named Sue: Try your luck at winning a bingo jackpot at Bar Named Sue. Their breaking bingo event occurs every Thursday and offers a cash prize of up to $3,000.
Board Game night at Level Crossing Brewery:Every Tuesday night, Ales and Allies brings in 120 board games free to use with your crew.
Mario Kart Tournament at Piper Down: Show off your Mario moves at a tournament hosted every Monday at 7 p.m.
It’s summer and it’s snowing outside of the Tower Movie Theater. There are bundled up couples wearing earmuffs and sipping hot chocolate at tables arranged in front of the theater. Two giant nutcrackers guard the Tower’s entrance and the marquee above reads “The Nutcracker, Dec. 1 to 24.” But don’t panic, not climate change at work. It’s just another Hallmark Channel Christmas movie being filmed in Utah.
Dozens of Christmas (or holiday adjacent) movies and counting have been filmed in Utah, many are low-budget affairs for the assembly line of films that air each season on Hallmark’s “The Countdown to Christmas.” But why Utah? State incentives for film and television production, homegrown crews, great locations and an easy jaunt from L.A. are a recipe for holiday cheer.
Filmed in Salt Lake City, this NBC Christmas special, starring James Stewart, became a household classic in Utah following its premiere on Dec. 21, 1980. Featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the short tells the tale of an elderly widower who relies on his daydreams and faith to get through a lonely Christmas.
Better Off Dead (1985)
Starring John Cusack, this teen romantic comedy tells the story of high school student and avid-skier, Lane Myer, who is suicidal after his girlfriend breaks up with him just before Christmas. The ski scenes including the finale “K2 Race” against the film’s bad guy were filmed at Snowbird, Alta and Brighton Resorts.
The Housewives of the North Pole. Photo Courtesy of Peacock.
The Housewives of the North Pole (2021)
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, Kyle Richards, and Breaking Bad actress, Betsy Brandt, star as a type-A duo who battle for the neighborhood title for Best Holiday House Decorations. The Housewives of the North Pole was filmed in locations around Salt Lake City and Ogden.
Good Luck Charlie, it’s Christmas! (2011)
Based on the popular Disney Channel original series, Good Luck Charlie, this festive film follows the Duncan family’s road trip. Idiocy strikes when a woman and her daughter get separated from their family during the holidays. The production filmed in Salt Lake City’s Gateway Mall, the Salt Palace Convention Center and in St. George.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Who knew that one of the filming locations for the Grinch’s mountain top redoubt is right here in Utah? The film adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic, directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen, was filmed at Solitude Mountain Resort, where the powdery peaks provided the backdrop while mean old Mr. Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for all the Whos in Whoville.
Switched for Christmas, Photo Courtesy Hallmark.
Switched for Christmas (2017)
A Hallmark Channel regular until she left the network in 2021, Candace Cameron Bure filmed many films for Hallmark in Utah. Notably, Switched for Christmas, the story of twin sisters who swap lives until Christmas Day. In doing so, each woman gains a deeper perspective and appreciation of what she has. Filmed in downtown Salt Lake, Federal Heights and the Utah State Fair Park
