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Dec 22
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The Lord of Misrule: A Chaotic Christmas Play Unlike Anything Else

By Arts & Culture

During the holidays as a kid, I was dragged to theatrical productions of The Nutcracker, It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, but never once did I get to pelt Ebenezer Scrooge with garbage while the character was on stage. But, during a performance of The Lord of Misrule, audience members’ throwing garbage on stage is actively encouraged.

Audience disruption is among the key features of this Christmas play, and for the chance to disrupt the action on stage, audience members make charitable donations during the performance. It’s sowing Christmas chaos for a good cause. Oh, and the tickets are free.

"The Lord of Misrule: An Interactive Play" (courtesy The Lords of Misrule Theatre Co.)
“The Lord of Misrule: An Interactive Play” (courtesy The Lords of Misrule Theatre Co.)

The Lord of Misrule is coming to Salt Lake City’s The Beehive, a venue in the vegan diner Mark of the Beastro, (666 S. State St., Salt Lake City) for five nights only, starting this weekend:

  • December 22, 2023 at 8 p.m.

  • December 23, 2023 at 8 p.m.

  • December 24, 2023 matinee at 2 p.m.

  • December 26, 2023 at 8 p.m.

  • December 27, 2023 at 8 p.m.

The origins of The Lord of Misrule

According to the theatrical company, “The Lord of Misrule” dates back to an ancient Christmas tradition called Saturnalia, during which “A beggar is crowned the Lord of Misrule to preside over drunken mobs and Christmas parties. The Lord of Misrule would often make demands of local gentry.” Typically, they would demand more alcohol to keep the party going, and “If the gentry failed to meet the demands, the Lord of Misrule would incite a riot…Basically, forced Christmas Charity.”

The modern version of The Lord of Misrule keeps the absurdity to the stage and audiences willingly donate money to charity to influence how actors perform their scenes.

The first Lord of Misrule production was in winter of 2019, as a reaction to the closing of the Road Home in downtown Salt Lake City. The show raised money to help transport people from downtown to the new Road Home location in South Salt Lake, so they wouldn’t have to make the journey on foot in the middle of winter.

Even though the modern tradition began in 2019, audiences will never see the same performance twice, thanks to the clever and chaotic mechanic of audience disruption and challenges for the actors.

How does audience donation/disruption work?

The show’s program contains a list of 69 (of course there are 69) challenges for the actors. Any member of the audience can “order” one of these disruptive challenges by making a charitable donation during the show either with cash or Venmo.

For example, an actor could be forced to perform their scenes while doing physical challenges like squats or planking, or they may have to affect an accent, chug water or end every sentence with “Daddy.” As more and more of these challenges are piled onto the characters throughout the show, the more their “real personalities” bubble to the surface for the audience to see. By the third act, the show has likely and delightfully gone completely off the rails.

This year, the charitable donations given during productions of The Lord of Misrule will benefit Our Unsheltered Relatives, an organization that prepares fresh, hot meals for the homeless population on Rio Grande every weekend. The funds will help purchase healthy ingredients, kitchen equipment, and other operational costs.

On certain nights of the show, donations will also help fund Alternative Arts and Music Program (AAMP), which works to improve arts access by providing free or no-cost resources and classes to Utah’s independent performance artists, with a focus on alternative art and communities who are underrepresented; as well as help cover the costs of friend of the show Pidgin Green’s gender-affirming surgery.

R.J. Walker, Creative Director, The Lords of Misrule Theatre Co. for "The Lord of Misrule: An Interactive Play"
R.J. Walker, Creative Director, The Lords of Misrule Theatre Co. for “The Lord of Misrule: An Interactive Play”

What is the show about?

As Creative Director, R.J. Walker puts it, The Lord of Misrule is a crass interpolation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, but it is also so much more than that.

The main action of The Lord of Misrule concerns televangelist character Lucas Karol. Karol purports to heal the “sick,” perform “exorcisms,” and, while doing this, collects donations from his faithful followers in exchange for performing these miracles. It all happens on his daytime TV show, Scriptures Unscripted. Then, as the play’s summary puts it, “during Pastor Karol Presents: A Christmas Carol, a rowdy mob hijacks the show and the Pastor, his wife, and his special guests are forced to obey the orders of the Lord of Misrule who is leading the mob while performing their Christmas pageant…Will Pastor Karol’s church survive this hostile yuletide takeover?” This year, The Lord of Misrule has an all trans/non-binary cast.

For more information, visit The Lords of Misrule Theatre Company’s website.

Oh right, I almost forgot about the garbage throwing! During the show, there’s a trash can in the middle of the stage, and there’s a big surprise that happens if a member of the audience manages to sink a basket in the garbage can by throwing their trash on stage.

Merry Misrule, everyone!

Dec 21
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A Holiday Wreath You Can Eat: Caprese Salad Wreath Recipe

By Eat & Drink

It is that time of year when we get together and clink glasses with family and friends and cheers to the holidays. Our schedules get a little busier with the plethora of gatherings during these months where food and drinks are always the center of attention. Whether preparing dishes for hosting folks or needing to bring something for everyone to share at a party, this festive appetizer is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! The saying, “We eat with our eyes first,” definitely holds merit. We go all out for decorating our homes with holiday cheer, so why not our dishes? Turn an easy caprese salad into a gorgeous holiday “wreath” to brighten up any table. Fresh green herbs, such as basil, completely “pop” on top of red tomatoes that lie on a bed of fresh and creamy mozzarella slices. Buon appetito e salute!

Caprese Salad ‘Wreath’ 

Ingredients:

1 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into ¼ inch slices 

4 medium tomatoes, cut into ¼ inch slices

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ cup loosely packed fresh basil

Salt and pepper to taste

Balsamic Reduction

1 cup balsamic vinegar

Directions:

1. To assemble, arrange the mozzarella on the bottom of a serving platter in a circular form (like a wreath). Top the mozzarella with tomato slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 

2. To make the balsamic reduction, add the vinegar to a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring often, until thick and reduced by half. About 15 minutes depending on your desired thickness. The balsamic will also thicken as it cools. (Note: It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.)

2. Drizzle the mozzarella and tomatoes with your desired amount of balsamic reduction and olive oil. Decorate the Caprese “wreath” with the basil leaves on the bottom and/or over the top. 

@jbcookinghost / hostjenniferburns.com

Dec 20
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Winter Magic in Utah

By Adventures, Outdoors

A frequent point of pride you might hear from a longtime Utah resident is, “At least we have seasons!” This is technically true. Spring and fall are brief and summer is too hot but, boy, can we do winter. While some locales wear a fresh coat of snow well, others commit to a full transformation once the temperatures drop. Take, for instance, the Midway Ice Castles, which emerge every winter like the Northern Lights, seemingly out of thin air. While enough to stand on their own, the Ice Castles are just one of Utah’s winter wonderlands that you’ll find outside of traditional ski resorts. Some you can see in a day, but others provide a full weekend of winter activities.  

Heber Valley

 


Midway Ice Castle. Photo Credit AJ Mellor/courtesy midway ice castles

While Park City might be the obvious choice for the winteriest of Utah’s winter wonderlands, Heber Valley might be the most wonderful. In the winter, you’ll find sleigh rides, ice skating, ice fishing, snowshoeing, snow tubing and Utah’s only ice castles. 

As the story of the Midway Ice Castles (icecastles.com) goes, a father from Alpine built an ice cavern in his yard for his kids during their first winter in Utah. 

It was such a success, the enterprise grew. The current iteration is a sprawling architectural marvel and the work of dozens of artists, featuring ice caverns, slides, tunnels and sculptures, weighing more than 25 million pounds. Nearby, Soldier Hollow Nordic Center (utaholympiclegacy.org) is home to a 1,200-foot-long snow-tubing hill, with multiple lanes, for some high-velocity winter thrills. It’s a must for kids and families that like an adventure they can do together. Likewise, in winter months, Wasatch Mountain State Park (stateparks.utah.gov) is open for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling through alpine terrain. 

In the heart of Midway, the Midway Outdoor Ice Rink (​ midwayicerink.com) at Midway Town Square is a spacious, open-air rink. In Midway and Heber, you’ll also find local outfitters who offer horse-drawn sleigh rides (rockymtnoutfitters.com) at the Ice Castles and guided ice fishing tours on Strawberry Reservoir (utahicefishing.com), which is especially scenic covered in ice and a blanket of snow.

Salt Lake City

When holiday shopping drives the crowds to Downtown Salt Lake City, anywhere you look winter magic can be found, and no visit to the Gateway Mall or City Creek Center is quite complete without a little holiday treat. People strap on skates and sip hot cocoa while taking the sights and sounds of the season at Gallivan Center Ice Rink (thegallivancenter.com). The outdoor public ice skating rink is open all winter long. 

 

The Holiday Window Stroll at The Grand America. Photo courtesy of The Grand America.

A staple on the list of seasonal sights is The Grand America (grandamerica.com) in the heart of Downtown. Seemingly overnight, the hotel is decked with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights (70,000 strands of lights, to be exact) and the pièce de résistance is the window displays. As visitors progress from window to window on The Holiday Window Stroll, artists tell a beautifully intricate visual story with Christmas themes. 

Northern Utah

A little north of Salt Lake City, discover a mix of winter adventure and small-town holiday charm. Tour Bountiful, all lit up for holidays while taking a spin on the Ice Ribbon (southdavisrecreation.com)—a 520-foot ice loop. Further north in Ogden, the Ogden Christmas Village (christmasvillage.ogdencity.com) illuminates downtown with North Pole-inspired cottages, lights, entertainers and fireworks at the Ogden Amphitheatre. The centerpiece of the season is the Ogden Electric Light Parade on Washington Boulevard.  

Fireworks above the Ogden Christmas Village. Photo courtesy of Visit Ogden.

Dec 19
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A Winter Cocktail Recipe from Beehive Distilling

By After Dark, Eat & Drink

Beehive Distilling Bar Manager Caspiel Sjöström shows us a sustainable and delicious use for your holiday orange scraps. Combine peels with some sugar, vanilla extract and cinnamon, and voilà, you have a warming spiced syrup that’s a perfect addition to any stiff drink. Inspired by his love for local products and nostalgia for holidays at home, Sjöström combines his orange syrup with Beehive’s Desolation Rye Whiskey and Waterpocket’s Notom Amaro. Once added to a cinnamon-smoked glass, the resulting concoction is an indulgent spin on a classic winter favorite. 

Beehive Distilling
Photo by Adam Finkle

Beehive Distilling
Photo by Adam Finkle

The Hanukkah Orange

What’s Inside: 

1.5 oz Waterpocket Notom Amaro 

.75 oz Beehive Desolation Rye Whiskey

.25 Spiced orange syrup

2 Dashes ango bitters

2 Dashes orange bitters

Garnish with an orange peel and toasted cinnamon stick

DIY Spiced Orange Syrup

Combine equal parts sugar and water in a pot, add orange peels, vanilla extract and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a simmer, strain, chill and serve. 

Stir all ingedients until well combined. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with an orange slice and toasting cinnamon stick. 

Go Behind the Scenes at Beehive Distilling

Beehive Distilling offers tours for just $5 a head on Thursdays and Saturdays. Learn about their distilling process, taste products, and maybe even get a peek of their live-in mouser, Gimlet. Visit beehivedistilling.com for more info.

Dec 18
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One Mountain’s Trash is Another’s Treasure

By Adventures, Outdoors

Unlike last year, Park City Mountain’s parking lot was empty over the summer. In advance of the 2022-2023 ski season, the behemoth structure of a new chairlift sat in pieces in the Mountain Village parking lot, awaiting construction as part of the resort’s chairlift upgrades meant to ease on-mountain congestion and increase uphill capacity. Now that chairlift is doing what most of us always wish we could: permanently relocating to Whistler. 

That’s right, two new chairlifts intended to shorten base-area lift lines—a six-pack chairlift slated to replace the little-used Eagle and Eaglet lifts and an eight-pack chair intended to upgrade the frequently slammed six-pack Silverlode Express—are headed to the vaunted British Columbia resort to replace Blackcomb’s Jersey Cream Express and Whistler’s Fitzsimmons Express. 

The story of Whistler Blackcomb’s new chairs started with a successful appeal in 2022 by four Park City residents. The appeal led City Planning Commissioners to determine the resort’s lift proposals were not included in the mountain upgrade plan as part of the resort’s 1998 development agreement. Originally the lift upgrades had been granted administrative approval by former Park City Planning Director Gretchen Milliken, but the planning commission determined upon hearing the appeal the plan didn’t meet the requisite criteria for such approval, rendering the upgrades subject to a planning commission vote. 

“We continue to disagree with the decision the Park City Planning Commission made in overturning our permits for Eagle and Silverlode, and our appeal is currently pending before the district court,” says Park City Senior Manager of Communications Sara Huey. As of publishing, the appeal of the appeal was still awaiting resolution. 

Sitting in limbo, Vail Resorts—owner of Park City Mountain—decided not to let a couple of perfectly good chairlifts go to waste and shipped them north of the border as they iron out the details locally in Park City. One of the primary issues at hand concerned parking at the resort.  The Planning Commission deemed Park City’s outlined paid parking system wouldn’t adequately mitigate the increased demand the new lifts would cause, a point Huey disagreed with based on last season’s implementation of paid parking at the Park City Mountain Village base area.  

  “During the 22/23 winter season, an average of 63% of cars parking in the Mountain Village surface lots had four or more occupants, and that jumped to nearly 70% on weekends. Park City Municipal confirmed that they saw a reduction in overflow and cutting through neighborhoods surrounding our base area. In addition, High Valley Transit reported a 20% region-wide increase in transit ridership over the winter ski and snowboard season,” says Huey. 

The SNAFU hasn’t totally derailed Park City’s lift upgrade plans. Red Pine Gondola in Canyons Village has all-new cabins for this season, a welcome addition as the moribund state of non-functional gondola cabins last season left guests peeved despite cheeky signs promising replacements were on the way. Vail Resorts also reached a joint funding agreement with the Canyons Village Management Association for a gondola with 10-person cabins from the base area to the mid-mountain Red Pine Lodge, replacing the Sunrise double, which had essentially only served to take hotel guests to the base area. 

Canyons Village sits in unincorporated Snyderville, so the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission, rather than Park City, will have jurisdiction over this lift upgrade plan. Recent experience with the relatively new Quicksilver Gondola and Over and Out Chairlift suggest the resort won’t run into the same types of delays along the 36-month timeline to get the Sunrise Gondola operational. 

Skepticism surrounding resort plans is often warranted, as changes on the mountain are frequently felt downstream in the community. That said, increasing base area uphill capacity is possibly the most skier-centric move Park City Mountain could make outside of ditching the multi-resort mega pass, which frankly isn’t going to happen. Locals have been clamoring for exactly the type of upgrade the Sunrise Gondola represents, and a similar move at the Park City Base Area would do wonders to help spread skiers out across the resort’s significant terrain. 

More skiers are coming, whether there’s new infrastructure to accommodate them or not. Incentivizing skiers to use public transit while helping them get up on the hill faster on powder days is something the community should seemingly get behind.  

The Sun Rises on a New Gondola

The Sunrise Gondola will whisk skiers 1,100 vertical feet in 10-passenger cabins from the south end of Canyons Village up to Red Pine Lodge at just over 8,000 feet. The new gondola will help alleviate base area pileups that plague powder days while providing additional access to higher-elevation terrain, which is increasingly important for early and late-season operations as climate change encroaches on both ends of winter with higher temperatures.  

Dec 14
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Yurts in Utah Perfect For a Remote Winter Retreat

By Outdoors

There’s a stillness to the mountain air when tucked into a remote yurt in Utah, a quiet at times which is almost startling. It’s the kind of quiet where the only thing breaking the hush is the mild tinnitus acquired from loud concerts, late nights and a life spent in earbuds. Now more than ever that audible void is serenity and safety, the chance to breathe deeply, filling your lungs with cool air instead of pestilence and anxiety.

It’s tranquility you won’t find on a typical ski vacation. Don’t look for it in the mess resort skiing’s become, what with mandatory online pass reservations and clandestine skier limits. Finding it means venturing beyond the frenetic restaurants, hotels, resorts and shops to somewhere more remote.

I’m talking about comfortably warm, rustic lodging for the medium-core outdoor enthusiast. You know, something in between the indulgent comforts of a posh slopeside Airbnb and the excruciating type two fun of winter camping. Lodging that requires some self-reliance but comes with outrageously convenient access to the outdoor activities that drive you. These three yurts in Utah are an escape. Exit chaos and enjoy.

Cross Country Ski at the Bear River Yurts

The Bear River Outdoor Recreation Alliance (BRORA) grooms the trails on a weekly basis and after large storms, and they also manage a system of yurts in Utah that lets you ski the trails right from your doorstep. Bunks, cooking utensils and propane stoves in the six yurts provide everything you need to stay warm and well-fed after a day spent working your lungs and legs. Reservations can be made by calling the Evanston Recreation Center, or book online. Yurts start at $100 per night and require a $20 BRORA membership. brorayurts.org

Mountain Bike at Gooseberry Mesa

Yurts in Utah

Composed of surrealistic sandstone shapes in Southern Utah’s red rock country, Gooseberry Mesa is home to famously technical and unique mountain bike trails. Even the desert gets chilly at night this time of year, which makes the Gooseberry Mesa Yurts your perfect hideout. Owner Kenny Jones, who coaches local rippers for the National Interscholastic Cycling Association’s mountain bike team, knows a thing or two about riding through the unique, iconic terrain atop Gooseberry Mesa, which is why he’s spent the past decade building and maintaining the yurts adjacent to the trails.

The yurts aren’t bespoke glamping shelters, and they aren’t ideal as a basecamp to explore nearby Zion National Park—the unforgivingly rugged road to the top of the mesa isn’t exactly a cakewalk, especially for low-clearance vehicles—but they’re the perfect temporary Gooseberry Mesa home for enjoying a little sun during an off season bike trip. The four structures dot the mesa’s edge with incredible views of the surrounding landscapes.

Reservations can be requested online and are available starting at $175 per yurt, which can fit between four and seven adults depending on how cozy your group wants to get. 801-318-6280, gooseberryyurts.com

Snowshoe and Backcountry Ski at The Castle Peak Yurt

Yurts in Utah

Tucked atop a knob at 9,600 feet in the Uinta Mountains, the Castle Peak Yurt isn’t exactly a piece of cake to get to, but it’s well worth the effort. The yurt itself is unremarkable, just another iteration of the Gooseberry Mesa Yurts traditional temporary Mongolian shelter with a few amenities like a wood stove, some bunk beds and a gas stove, but its remote location makes it the perfect basecamp for high alpine adventure.

Inspired Summit Adventures manages the yurt and offers both guided and unguided trips depending on your comfort in winter camping and experience in avalanche terrain. Those who want to go it alone can reserve the yurt starting at $450 per night (accommodates a group of four) for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing and snowboarding. Those who prefer a more inclusive experience can sign up for a guided trip that not only helps you safely find the best snow around but will also give you a snowmobile bump for the six miles trip to the yurt and cater your meals. Reservations available online at inspiredsummit.com.

Looking to upgrade your winter adventure to thrilling heights? Check out our list of heli-skiing, cat-skiing and backcountry tours in Utah!

Dec 13
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6 Benefits of Laser Hair Removal: Tips from Milan Laser

By From Our Partners

If you spend a good portion of your morning removing unwanted hair, listen up! Laser hair removal is the safest and most effective way to get rid of stubble for good. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can start seeing the results you want.

But we get it—laser hair removal is a big decision. However, the benefits of laser hair removal make the investment worth it. Salt Lake City’s laser hair removal experts and the country’s largest laser hair removal company, Milan Laser Hair Removal, shed some light on the major benefits of laser hair removal.

1. Permanent results = convenience!

Light from the laser targets and destroys the hair follicles so they can never grow again. When done correctly, laser hair removal results are permanent—many see a change in growth after their first treatment. Hair is constantly in different growth cycles, so multiple treatments are needed to ensure they’re all zapped. The average client at Milan Laser usually needs seven to 10 treatments to be 95%+ hair-free.

New hair follicles can become active due to age, hormones, and genetics, causing new hair to grow. Choose a provider who offers unlimited treatments rather than paying by the session. Some places like Milan Laser will even guarantee your results for life, so there are no touch-up or membership fees that can accumulate to hundreds of dollars a year.

2. It saves you money over time.

Laser hair removal is an investment, and it’s surprisingly cost-effective! The average person who shaves their legs and underarms spends upwards of $10,000 over a lifetime on razors, shaving cream, and exfoliators. But no one has ever shaved and then never had to again. The regrowth sometimes happens in just a day or two. With waxing, the average person spends $24,000 over a lifetime on salon appointments. Again, this is for temporary results.

On the flip side, since the results of each treatment are permanent, you can view the cost of laser hair removal as an investment rather than an expense. Many providers have different payment options to help make laser hair removal affordable for everyone. For instance, Milan Laser offers affordable laser hair removal payment plans to fit anyone’s budget.

3. It’s safe for all skin tones.

Laser hair removal is safe and effective for all skin tones with the proper technology. Milan Laser uses the Candela GentleMax Pro, which contains two separate lasers: Nd:YAG and Alexandrite. The Alexandrite is used for lighter skin tones, while the Nd:YAG is best for brown to black skin tones. It’s worth noting that not all providers offering this technology have safety protocols and proper training, so do your research!

But it’s more than just having the right technology. For the safest treatments possible, select a provider with experience treating all skin tones and who knows how to tailor treatments to your skin tone and hair color. Providers at Milan Laser have extensive experience with Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser technology, and they safely and effectively treat all skin tones to make hair-free skin a reality for everyone.

4. Bonus skincare benefits!

Aside from impossibly smooth, hair-free skin, the skincare benefits of laser hair removal are myriad. If you deal with “strawberry legs,” the dark spots on the legs filled with oil, dead skin, and bacteria from shaving, laser hair removal can help by removing the dark pigmented hair and reducing the look of strawberry legs.

Everyone who shaves knows a thing or two about nicks, cuts, ingrown hairs, and razor burn. But with laser hair removal, you won’t have to worry about those things again! Laser hair removal can also treat razor bumps or inflammation on the skin and help avoid ingrown hairs and clogged pores from a dull or dirty razor.

5. It’s less painful than waxing.

Anyone who’s waxed their legs or bikini area knows about the ouch factor. Hair is ripped from the skin, and in delicate areas, this can cause bruising, bleeding, and clogged pores. Once again, this is all for temporary results.

Clients say laser hair removal stings like a rubber band snap, but only for a millisecond. The Candela GentleMax Pro used at Milan Laser works alongside cooling technologies to reduce potential discomfort so clients have the most comfortable experience possible.

6. It’s quick!

Who has time for shaving and plucking every morning or spending hours on one area with an IPL device? Laser hair removal treatments are so fast they can be done over a lunch hour. No more carving out time every month, every year for waxing appointments, or wasting time on fleeting results.

Are you ready to reap all the benefits of laser hair removal? Call Milan Laser at 833-NO-RAZOR or go for a FREE consultation and one complimentary treatment! Visit a local laser hair removal expert at any of Milan Laser’s Salt Lake City locations, conveniently located in Bountiful, Orem, Riverdale, and Sandy.
Keep up with Milan Laser and follow on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to learn more!

Learn more about laser hair removal in Salt Lake City.

Dec 13
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Where to Eat in the Delta Center

By Eat & Drink

Home to the Utah Jazz and a beloved venue for concert goers, the Delta Center (doesn’t it just feel right to call it that again?) welcomes 1.8 million guests each year. Apart from a night of thrilling live sports or music, the stadium is also expected to offer plenty of delicious eats. During the NBA All-Stars event last year, the Delta Center honed in on their local-first identity and became a home to several Utah-bred food stands. Most recently in October of 2023, five new local food and beverage providers joined the ranks, serving up dishes well-known to Beehive residents. 

So, when you’re ready to head downtown for a night at the Delta Center, be sure to arrive with an empty stomach. The stadium’s 31 food stands offer something for everyone, and we believe the following local vendors deserve a little extra love for their creativity, dependability and flavor. 

Eats at the Delta Center

Brisket Empanadas at Jazzmen’s Kitchen

Jazzmen’s Kitchen 

If you’ve ever wondered what a professional athlete eats on a daily basis, now is your chance. From the mind of Chef Anthony Zamora, the Utah Jazz nutritionist and dietitian, Jazzmen’s Kitchen is a limited-time pop-up restaurant serving dishes similar to those preferred by the players and coaches. The three entrees feature lean proteins, fresh produce and locally-sourced options. Try the Brisket Empanadas or Chilled Chicken Bowl before settling in for a game. 

Proper Burger 

The locally beloved burger and beer joint found a home at the Delta Center in 2017 and has quickly become a favorite for Jazz fans and concert-goers. Their stadium menu has been paired down, but still offers standouts like the BIG Proper burger and the Chicken Club Salad, you can even get a Plan Jane Cheeseburger for $9—pair it with one of their locally-brewed IPAs. 

Santorini’s

Award-winning local restaurant Santorini’s was introduced to the Delta Center in the stadium’s most recent 2023 update. Fans flock to their food stand on the third floor for healthy, and flavorful options, like the Puffy Pita Tacos or their signature Mediterranean Bowl. 

Salt City Smokehouse 

Fans were understandably upset when R&R Barbecue left the Delta Center, but the venue was quick to fill the void with another worthy BBQ stand: Salt City Smokehouse. Each menu item was designed to be eaten with ease, no wet wipes necessary. Try their Chimichurri Tri Tip Sandwich and finish with a S’mores Ice Cream Sandwich. 

J Dawgs 

In 2004, BYU student Jayson Edwards took a risk to open a small hot dog shack for the Utah Valley community. What started as a mission to offer simple and delicious street food turned into a successful business with locations throughout the state. Stop by one of their Delta Center locations between quarters for a Polish dog with all the fixins’. 


Iceberg

Utah-born burger stand Iceberg Drive Inn first opened their doors in 1960, and their over-the-rim shakes and classic eats had no trouble earning the devotion of Beehive residents. The restaurant began franchising in 1999 with locations across the Western United States—including our own Jazz stadium. The food booth is a top pick for fans craving some classic cheeseburger and shake action. 

Sweets at the Delta Center

Farr’s Ice cream 

The Farr brothers started their company in 1891 as one of the most substantial suppliers of naturally harvested ice from the Ogden River. In their second year, the business harvested eight million pounds of natural ice. Eventually, commercially-made ice overtook the enterprise and the brothers pivoted to focus their efforts on ice cream manufacturing. ⁠

⁠The business barreled on through the Great Depression, World Wars and transfers of ownership. Now in its 100th year of business, it’s estimated that over one billion servings of Farr Better ice cream have been enjoyed over the last century. Their flagship Ogden ice cream parlor is still serving up scoops!⁠ Get a taste of history at their Delta Center locations throughout the stadium 

San Diablo Churro

⁠San Diablo Churros 

San Diablo started up back in Fall of 2016 serving up churros to Cornbelly’s visitors at Thanksgiving Point. Since then, the churros have been featured at all kinds of events and pop-ups around the valley. Their Delta Center booths serve their beloved deserts piping hot, coated in sugar, and stuffed with your choice of filling. 

Totally Nutz

There’s nothing like wandering through a busy stadium full of excited fans, and you get that first whiff of cinnamon-roasted almonds. There’s no other choice but to follow your nose to the nearest stand and get yourself one of those oddly cone-shaped bag o’ nutz. 

Spilled Milk

Decadent ice cream meets your favorite childhood cereal with Spilled Milk. The local ice cream spot started as a food truck in 2019 and recently opened up their first brick-and-mortar location on 9th and 9th. Try one of their signature flavors, or mix it up with a creation all your own. 

Sips at the Delta Center

Swig

Would this even be a Utah stadium without a Swig? Through popular demand, Swig gained a spot at the Delta Center in October. Known for their “dirty sodas”, the drink stand your one stop shop for caffeine and cavities. 

Booze

We’ll be honest, there’s no avoiding doling out the big bucks for a brew at the Delta Center. Located throughout the stadium, Hop Shops offer local and national favorites in tall boy form. If you’re looking for something harder, and pricier, the Casamigos corner on the fifth floor doles out margaritas and mules. Expect to pay at least $12 for a one ounce shot of Titos though. 

Instead, we suggest hopping over to the Gateway to get your buzz on before the game. Seabird is a laid-back option for a craft cocktail and good conversation, or continue your post-game deliberations at Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club. The latter is fully decked out in their holiday best, and their Christmas Tiki Parlor is well-worth a visit. 


Dec 12
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Take the Train to a Holiday Getaway in Glenwood Springs

By Adventures, Travel

Amtrak’s California Zephyr runs from Chicago to San Francisco with a stop in Salt Lake City, the eastbound train boards at “Oh-Dark-Thirty” (3:30 a.m.) which makes for a bleary, early morning at Salt Lake’s Central Station. Once on board, though, you can grab a nap as the train moves through Provo, Green River and Grand Junction, waking up in time to view the scenic stretch through Glenwood Canyon along the Colorado River before arriving at your destination: Glenwood Springs, Colo. Glenwood Springs is famous for its hot springs. Once a railroad and mining town, it became a destination for travelers to “take the waters.” Fittingly, the town’s center is the world’s largest hot springs pool, making Glenwood an ideal destination for a wintertime getaway. Enjoy this historic, walkable western town all decked out for the holiday season, with your choice of basecamp.

The Amtrak train station across the street from the Hotel Denver. Photo courtesy of Visit Glenwood.

1. The Hotel Denver

During the early 1900s, the train was the heartbeat of Glenwood Springs. The train brought supplies, workers and tourists into town, who needed a place to stay. The Hotel Denver has been hosting visitors since 1915 and the classic three-story retains its classic charm but has evolved into a chic, modern boutique hotel. Its location, steps away from the train station, makes it an ideal base for exploring the town.

2. The Hotel Colorado

The Hotel was built in 1893 by Walter Devereux, a silver baron and one of the early settlers who saw the potential of the town’s main attraction, the hot springs. Devereux sought to attract the wealthy and elite to this grande dame of a hotel, which is a real name-dropper of a hotel. Its registries have logged many famous guests, notably President Theodore Roosevelt who visited the area on his many hunting excursions and would decamp to the Hotel, which would become a temporary White House during his stays. During the holidays, the Colorado is all decked out, with twinkling lights and a lobby stuffed with a menagerie of Christmas displays. Also, there are ghosts.

Exterior of the Hotel Colorado’s Holiday decor. Photo courtesy of Visit Glenwood

Spa of the Rockies at Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, Glenwood Springs, Colo.

3. Glenwood Hot Springs Pool

Glenwood’s therapeutic spring waters—called Yampah, or literally “Big Medicine,” by Ute Native Americans—have been bubbling up from the earth’s core for millions of years. The Utes were the first known visitors to the mineral-rich hot springs that flowed along the banks of the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon. Devereux bought the land around the natural springs and harnessed the 3.5 million gallons of naturally hot mineral water that rises from the source of the spring each day. The pool dominates the town’s center and is filled with soakers, basking in the warm water. You should be one.

4. Iron Mountain Hot Springs

The newest iteration of a hot springs destination that dates back to 1896, Iron Mountain is located on the banks of the Colorado River. Designed in the Scandinavian way, Iron Mountain has 16 pools dotting the site which range in temperatures from 98 to 108 degrees. Guests brave the winter chill between pools and hop around to find the perfect temperature. Iron Mountain also has an adults-only area and serves beer, wine and (in the winter) mulled wine.

Father and daughter tour Glenwood Caverns

5. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Although coasters and more adventurous attractions at the park are closed in winter, the park’s main attraction, the Glenwood Caverns, remains open for tours. Descend into a subterranean world guided by a young enthusiastic collection of tour guides who point out geology, unique formations and share the cave’s history.  

Getting There

Glenwood Springs is about eight hours from Salt Lake City’s Central Station by train. And while it would certainly be faster to drive, what’s your hurry? The train ride is half the fun of a trip to Glenwood Springs, you can play games in the club car, relax in the observation deck and just enjoy the ride. amtrak.com

One Cool Thing: Doc Holliday’s Last Stand

John Henry Holliday (1851-1887), better known as Doc Holliday, was an American gambler, gunfighter and, oddly, a dentist. A close friend and associate of lawman Wyatt Earp, Holliday is best known for his role in the events leading up to and following the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Ariz. Holliday was afflicted with tuberculosis and spent the few remaining years of his life in Glenwood Springs, where he hoped the healing waters would cure his ailment. He died of tuberculosis in his bed at the Hotel Glenwood, now the Hotel Denver, at age 36. One of the Hotel Denver’s eventual owners, Art Kendrick, got his start as a bellhop, where he recalls Doc Holliday as a “pretty good” tipper. His name is all over the town, including the Doc Holliday Saloon, filled with memorabilia dedicated to the famous gunslinger (and serving Rocky Mountain Oysters for the brave). You can also explore the Doc Holliday Collection, a small museum in the lower level of Bullock’s Western Store. 

Teddy Roosevelt’s Failed Bear Hunt

Long before Barbie, there was the beloved childhood toy, the Teddy Bear, named after President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. The Hotel Colorado claims to be the “real” origin of the iconic stuffed bear. Although other accounts attribute its creation to a penny candy store owner in New York, there’s a large display in the hotel lobby dedicated to an apocryphal story. The president, despondent after an unsuccessful bear hunt, was cheered when the hotel staff presented him with a stuffed bear. True or not, it’s one of the many historical artifacts and displays located throughout the hotel, including limited bookings for the Roosevelt Suite, where the president would conduct business during his stays.